Chapter 36
Chapter 36: Demon Follower
The man who stopped the carriage approached where Ferda was.
He took out something he had been hiding.
Ferda tried to release the mana sphere enveloping his hand.
Yet he did not do so.
The moment the mana sphere was about to fly, Ferda stopped.
What the man was holding was not a weapon, but a piece of cloth.
— The Emperor has betrayed the people’s faith!
The carriage ambush was for a protest.
— Ignoring the suffering of the people, filling his own belly, continuing incompetent policies! Those who suck our blood and sweat are not children of the light!
The man’s actions drew everyone’s attention, just as he had planned.
Knight Captain Marco shouted with veins bulging on his neck.
— What are you doing?! Subdue him immediately!
— Yes!
Armed soldiers approached the carriage, dragged the protester away, and began beating him with clubs.
— Ack! Ack! People! Rise up! We are not slaves!
— You bastard! Can’t you shut up?!
The man was beaten and dragged away.
Bleeding profusely, he was removed from the boulevard.
The people in the capital began going their own ways, turning away as if nothing had happened.
— Oh, my, haha! I have shown you an unpleasant scene.
Knight Captain Marco apologized.
A knight trying to smooth things over with a smile.
Ferda kept his eyes on the man being dragged away, rather than returning that smile.
— What about that man? He seemed wronged.
— Wronged? You must not be deceived by such appearances. They are demon followers.
— Demon followers?
— Yes.
Marco spoke with gravity.
— Lately, as we enter the golden age, the demons are trying to gain power. They do not hesitate to slander His Majesty the Emperor with propaganda that does not even work.
Marco explained it that way.
However, Ferda knows, and Marco himself knows well.
“That man is not a demon follower.”
It looked like he had not eaten properly in at least three days.
Starving, with nothing he could do at that moment, he must have desperately stepped forward crying out against tyranny.
Ferda decided to display a reaction no different from other nobles.
— I see.
He did not feign surprise at not knowing, nor did he show sympathy.
Ferda merely sent a gesture signaling he was not interested.
That way, they would feel at ease.
The surprise protest failed, and the carriage resumed its journey.
Ferda observed the prosperous landscape of the capital and thought.
“Is an empire like this necessary?”
To Ferda, in truth, it did not matter either way.
Whether it fell, continued rotting, or if a revolution arose.
It was an attitude of “let it flow as it flows.”
Yet Valdrova is different.
Who is that woman?
She possesses a body that has guarded the Serdes Continent through the most difficult times more than anyone, but her spirit is like a greenhouse flower.
She is a pure woman who wishes for everyone to be happy.
From her perspective, the empire’s actions are evil and unforgivable deeds.
“Yet she does not move.”
Because she only concentrates on her mission of blocking monsters.
And making her deal with such a headache is no different from abuse.
“Internal affairs are what I must handle.”
Ferda had to decide for Valdrova.
That was why he wrote three letters.
All of them are trash without exception, and choosing the lesser evil by comparing superiority among them is a foolish act.
“Better to roll the dice.”
Ferda substituted those dice with three letters.
He would go with whoever reached out first.
That was all.
The carriage entered the imperial palace, and Ferda stepped down from it.
Massive granite pillars, a magnificent palace view.
Everything was unrealistically enormous, befitting a place where gods reside.
The Imperial Guard was lined up to welcome the guest.
And at the end stood the one who had inherited the great bloodline, come to receive Ferda.
The moment Ferda saw that person, his expression hardened.
It couldn’t be.
That is not possible.
Words of denial tried to block the encroaching reality.
“A person who was intentionally not chosen… appears…”
No wonder. The person who came to greet Ferda was not the Emperor.
Nor was it the First Prince.
And neither was it the Second Prince.
— Greetings, Regent of Valdrova.
The Imperial Princess of the Arken Empire, to whom he had purposefully not sent a single letter.
— I am Olivia Arken.
It was Olivia Arken.
— I pay my respects to the Imperial Princess.
Ferda bowed by reflex.
With his head lowered, Ferda still felt as if he were being tossed around in a giant palm.
“Fate.”
Magical Fatalism: that all mana is determined by fate.
Ferda had been thinking a lot about that fate lately.
That was why he thought this now.
Is fate truly something predetermined?
For the princess to whom he did not send a single letter to respond to him.
“As expected…”
Suspicion leaned into conviction.
“It seems the empire is destined to fall.”
Olivia Arken.
This woman, called the Golden Rose of the Empire, is truly beautiful.
Blonde hair with blue eyes.
Inherited from her mother, a full bust and a slender waist capture the hearts of men.
Innocent eyes and actions stimulate protective instincts.
This woman, radiating uncontrollable charm from her appearance alone, would truly be desirable even if she renounced her status.
Any man would wish to be entertained by Olivia Arken.
— I didn’t know what to prepare, so I will serve you the black tea I enjoy. I wonder if it will suit your taste.
Olivia offered the teacup with an apologetic expression.
— His Majesty the Emperor and my brothers are busy with official duties, so I came out personally. I hope you are not displeased?
She tilted her head slightly and looked up with blue eyes.
She had the face of a pitiable young lady.
To begin with, they were not busy with official duties.
They had simply discarded Ferda’s letter as trivial, and the princess eagerly seized upon it.
— Not at all. It is an honor to meet Olivia Arken, named the greatest beauty of the Serdes Continent.
Words that did not originate from his heart.
— Thank you for saying that. I will do my best to carry the conversation despite my shortcomings.
Olivia smiled radiantly and pumped a clenched fist as if to say, “let’s do our best.”
— You mentioned wanting to attend the Grand Council? Do you happen to know where it is located?
— Yes. The Absolute Zone of the White Dragon, Blancaros, commonly known as the White House, correct?
— Yes, that is right.
The absolute neutral zone created by the White Dragon Blancaros, Lord of Order and Creation.
A venue to mediate wars or deliberate on matters spanning the entire continent.
“My name was also once on people’s lips there.”
There are hardly any instances of discussing an individual in a place centered around national or organizational affairs.
Yet Ferda became the subject of discussion there.
Had he been singled out at the Grand Council, Ferda would surely have been designated a public enemy and faced concentrated fire.
Even Ferda, whom trials strengthen, would not have survived that.
Yet Ferda escaped from it.
“Emperor Arken.”
The Emperor was useful in many ways.
Seemingly incompetent, yet when it came to his power, a human who used his head like a ghost.
The Emperor took Ferda’s side, and in return, Ferda solidified the Emperor’s hold on power.
— The Grand Council may be attended by officials of Duke rank or higher. Ferda’s spouse, Lady Valdrova, is a Grand Duchess, and a Red Dragon to boot, so you can participate as her representative!
— If I attend as a representative, no one will look upon me favorably. Would that be acceptable?
Ferda tested the waters, feigning a lack of confidence.
Olivia nodded vigorously.
— It is perfectly fine! You are none other than the Guardian of the East! You have more than enough qualification to voice your opinion there!
As expected of Olivia.
She certainly knows how to say things that make people feel good right away.
Although a moment’s reflection would reveal it was something Ferda would dislike, she did not seem to consider that he might get angry.
Olivia is a woman with that kind of demonic charm.
— And in any case, dragons basically send representatives.
— Representatives… that means Spawns.
— There are Spawns, and there are also simply humans.
He knows, but does not know thoroughly, so Ferda asked her.
— Which dragons send representatives?
— Hmm… well. It is very fluid. Dragons, as you know, are those whose next move cannot be predicted even an inch ahead?
As she said that, she suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, startled.
— Oh dear, I went and spoke ill of them. It was not my intention!
— It is fine. Please, continue.
— Uh, um, so… for now, those who attend regularly are Lord Silverwind, Lord Orosagrade, Lord Iorga, and Lord Storeus.
Lord of Steel and Wind, Silver Dragon
Lord of Faith and Light, Golden Dragon
Lord of Magic and Water, Blue Dragon
Lord of Storm and Lightning, Grey Dragon
“A dragon that sends a human rather than a Spawn… that would be the Golden Dragon, Orosagrade.”
Orosagrade built his holy nation in the central-western region, a dragon who is faith itself.
Because anyone who believes in him can serve as his representative, he did not create Spawns.
— Thank you for the answer.
— You are welcome. It is I who am grateful.
Olivia’s eyebrows arched seductively.
— With the Grand Duke’s consort attending, our empire can gain great strength.
— I am still merely a Regent. I do not hold such status.
— Once you marry the Grand Duke, won’t you also gain that status?
— Even if I marry, I will remain a Regent.
— Oh my, why?!
Olivia covered her mouth, her eyes gleaming.
— I did not come for power. I assumed this position purely to take care of our Grand Duke’s territory.
— Ah, I see. Hmm, hmm…
For a fraction of a second, Olivia’s eyes sharpened.
Yet as if brushing it off as an illusion, she returned to a soft atmosphere.
— You are an incredibly devoted husband. I, too, would like to meet a spouse like you.
Olivia let out a deep sigh.
— His Majesty the Emperor, my father, you know? It seems he does not want me to marry. Everyone is getting married, yet I remain alone… It is so sorrowful.
Olivia pouted, pretending to weep, gazing with deep eyes.
Her gestures implied that someone like him could also approach her.
Of course, it did not work on Ferda in the slightest.
— You will meet someone. A good match arrives at unexpected moments.
— Hehe, thank you for the kind words alone.
Having heard about the Grand Council, Ferda decided to move toward his real objective.
— Today, on my way here, I saw those so-called demon followers attacking in the empire.
— Oh my, really? How terrifying…!
Olivia trembled.
— I also heard that things have been very unsettling lately. Previously, I used to sneak out with the maids to buy snacks, but they started tightening security, saying the demons are gaining power.
— The situation certainly has not improved.
— But we receive the blessing of the great light, Alte! As long as that light watches over the Emperor, there is nothing that can threaten the empire.
She spoke words like a woman with a flower garden in her head.
— Yet the discontented are like monsters. If not addressed in time, they pollute the land and turn it into useless ground.
— Umm… I acknowledge that. Demon followers must be eradicated to protect our people.
Olivia nodded with a tense expression.
Ferda made his proposal here.
It was time to lay the groundwork for the plan.
— Then why not deal with those demon followers on this occasion?
— Of course that would be good, but… we searched everywhere to find their hideout, and there was nothing.
It was not so much that the imperial soldiers were incompetent, but that the empire was needlessly vast.
Unless struck everywhere at once locally, suppressing their forces was difficult.
Thus Ferda had prepared for this.
— Recently, there was also a demon follower in our territory. This was found among his possessions.
Ferda took out a piece of paper wrapped in cloth and placed it on the table.
Unfamiliar characters were written on that paper.
Olivia picked it up without hesitation and examined it.
— This… what is this?
— Demon Language.
— Kyaak!
Olivia flinched and dropped the paper.
As if it were filthy, she wiped her hands with a scented handkerchief.
— Why Demon Language…? These are things only demon followers would use, right?
— Yes. I showed it to our castle’s secretary, and he said it is Demon Language. The detailed deciphering must be left to the Magic Investigator.
Olivia looked at the paper with Demon Language and put on a troubled face.
The innocent act from a moment ago was nowhere to be found.
She knew it was no time for foolish acts and pretenses.
With that thought, Olivia lightly raised her hand.
The butler, standing like a folding screen behind her, bowed his head.
— Speak.
— Summon the Magic Investigator right now. It is urgent.
Demons are forbidden existences across the Serdes Continent, without exception.
So there are few who can hold their heads high when encountering the Demon Language.
Within the empire, only the Magic Investigators who examine heresy and demonic magic, and high-ranking scholars who record, preserve, and investigate all information.
The Magic Investigator, a man who introduced himself as Yuren, looked at the paper Ferda gave him and spoke with a grave expression.
— This… is certainly Demon Language.
— Oh dear…
Olivia let out a groan.
Contrary to her trembling body, her eyes did not waver an inch.
— Do you also know what this means?
— Yes. This indicates a location. And that place…
Yuren took out a map from his subspace storage, unfolded it, and pointed to a spot.
— It means precisely the interior of the capital’s underground sewer system.
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