Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Dilemma

A blizzard was blowing so fiercely that it was impossible to see ahead.
Cold air seeped in from everywhere.
However, an even colder atmosphere seemed to pierce Ferda’s heart.
His eyes fixed their gaze clearly on the intruder.
— Greetings, Lord Regent.
He introduced himself brazenly, treading upon the snow.
— I am Abel, one of the sons of Silverwind. Perhaps you do not remember, but I was the one guarding the door when the Grand Council convened.
— …….
— What are you doing in such a remote place as this? Did you come to enjoy the scenery while gazing at the northern snow?
— …….
— Hmm, but for someone who came sightseeing, you are doing something rather stupid. If you are not a decrepit old man who came to gather wild herbs, but a Regent, you should know that this is Silverwind territory.
— …….
Abel walked slowly toward Ferda, mocking him.
Ferda took a step back, stepping into the depths to the rhythm of his footsteps.
— Why so quiet? Are you perhaps too scared and frozen stiff?
— I just find it fascinating.
— Ah? What is fascinating?
— A beast standing before my eyes is talking… how could I not respond with fascination?
In front of Ferda stood only Abel.
— Haha, is that so?
Abel laughed even deeper.
At the exact moment his casual footsteps hit the ground, his figure vanished.
Fuuush—!
Leaving behind wind and sound, he moved until he stood in front of Ferda.
He laughed heartily.
— You make quite harsh jokes. Haha!
Abel tapped Ferda’s chest with his index finger, like someone flicking a forehead.
Crack!
— Keuhp!
With an atrocious sound, bones fractured.
Ferda stifled a groan of pain.
— Heavens! Did that hurt? But I barely gave you a light tap!
— Kof, kof!
— No, but really I only tapped you softly… what will we do if your ribs break? Huh? How does someone who is a Regent have such a weak body? Your body isn’t going to hold up when doing the deed at night.
Ferda spat out the blood accumulated in his mouth.
With a face as if he were spitting simple saliva, totally indifferent.
— You talk too much.
— Wow, truly incredible. I heard you confronted Lord Goz without fear. So it’s not just because you have Lady Whiterose backing you.
Abel grabbed Ferda by the neck and lifted him up.
He raised his claws as a warning.
— But constantly provoking the descendants of Silverwind is not good. We are very far from knowing mercy.
Ferda checked his remaining mana with a composed expression.
Enough mana to use 4th Circle magic a couple of times.
“So can I defeat this dragon spawn?”.
Impossible.
This was a completely different dimension from when he fought the dark elf.
However, he did not show the slightest sign of being at a disadvantage.
Ferda answered with a cold laugh.
— The descendants of Silverwind… are they the kind that recommends making deals with demons?
— What nonsense is that?
— Don’t play dumb. I already know you are the one who will clean up Sitri’s mess. What you were probably looking for was the demon we are supposed to rescue.
Force gripped the hold on his throat for a moment.
Enough to be slightly painful.
It meant he was unsettled.
Ferda continued letting his tongue loose.
— What did you plan to do by fucking that bitch? Did you get tired of the rules you maintained for hundreds of years and want to enjoy a promiscuous sex life?
— Ha! Do you think we are beasts that breed and raise children like you humans? Something so boring… fighting is much better!
His vertically split pupils flashed sharply.
— Right now, a guy unfit for the throne is sitting on it. He calls himself the successor of Silverwind and possesses his father’s soul.
A blade of rebellion aimed at Goz Silverwind.
— How strange. It doesn’t suit you either.
— Aah, I know. If I go against Goz, I’ll be beaten to a pulp and die in seconds. Captain Goz is that strong.
He smiled perversely.
— But Ruri Silverwind is different.
A familiar name surfaced.
— Do you know how incredible that brat is?
— I know that child is strong.
— It’s not simply about being strong. She was the only figure capable of challenging Captain Goz, who is the captain of the Silverwing Mobile Brigade and the royal guard. When the question of who would succeed Lord Silverwind arose, both were mentioned.
— So Goz is trying to kill that child?
— No. Captain Goz wants to keep her by his side. That is also the reason why the war hasn’t started.
So the war didn’t start because of that?
— What does that mean?
— If war breaks out between Valdrova and Silverwind, whose side would Ruri Silverwind take? If she insists on taking Valdrova’s side, she has to die. Captain Goz will not allow that death.
It was unexpected.
The reason they couldn’t wage war until now was because Ruri was there.
Whatever the case, Abel’s intention in bringing that up now was clear.
— But you are different from Goz.
— Ruri is a warrior who does not use a sword. What action would you take against such a warrior?
— Steal the sword, I suppose.
— Correct. Holding a famous sword and not using it is a sin in itself. And I’m just trying to use that sword that Ruri Silverwind is not using.
He understood.
The condition of the deal with Sitri was exactly this.
Ruri, who possessed a power capable of opposing Goz.
In exchange for making that power completely his, he provided her with logistical support.
“Stagnant water rots.”
No matter how much they were dragon spawn, they were powerless before time.
His greed was trying to kill everything.
“Ruri….”.
Ferda called that name within himself.
A strange irritation welled up from deep within his chest.
That irritation took the form of murderous intent.
That irritation broke through his lips as laughter.
— Truly incredible.
— Haha, now that you’re about to die, do you finally have the time to be a flatterer?
— No. Complementing your weak points is important. If you don’t have them, being able to borrow them is also the basics.
Ferda laughed along.
— The fact that an idiot like you has the guts to think of such basic stupidity is what seems too incredible to me.
Snap!
He bent Ferda’s index finger.
— Keueuk….
— You really use that mouth without any care. That won’t do. I’ll have to play with you a bit more.
He left the index finger bent and this time grabbed the middle finger.
— Well, I guess so. In the end, that bitch Ruri will submit.
— Ruri won’t even blink.
That child hates humans.
And she hated Ferda.
Nothing he did pleased her, nothing he did she liked.
So even if you threaten her, nothing will change for her.
And before that child comes, you will die.
It was at that moment.
Another sound piercing through the blizzard.
What became visible among the thick snowflakes was a small figure.
— Right now… what are you doing?
It was Ruri.
Quite different from the expression of Ruri that Ferda had imagined.
She was shaken.
— —
The story Ruri heard from the spirit was simple.
That Ferda made a deal with a demon for the infiltration.
And that he fell into a trap.
At least what the spirit saw took that shape.
That is why Ruri flew quickly to Count Consillus’s territory and secured the place where Ferda went.
The total time spent was 5 minutes.
She entered the cave with the plan to take Ferda quickly and escape.
But it was already too late.
There stood the Silver Dragon spawn.
And Ferda, beaten to a pulp.
— Right now… what are you doing?
A menacing murderous intent spread from Ruri’s body.
Ruri’s murderous intent, strangely strong enough to project Dragon Fear despite being a dragon spawn.
Even though that murderous intent was directed at Abel, he did not flinch.
He welcomed her appearance with a broad smile and spoke.
— Ruri Silverwind. Good to see you again. Do you remember me?
— You’re the one who was with Percival.
— Ooh, you remember as expected. Well, not even two weeks have passed, so it’s natural.
Abel smirked.
Ruri found that smile unpleasant.
She wanted to leave this place at this very moment.
The more that unpleasant feeling increased, the more Ruri adopted a grim expression.
— Please release Ferda-nim.
— I don’t want to.
— If you don’t like it—.
— What will you do? Start a war?
At those words, Ruri hesitated.
— You entered Silverwind territory. And this human here is the same.
— …….
— I have a just cause. Ruri Silverwind. You, as a Silverwind, know it well, don’t you? Those who invade the territory are arrested, and if they resist too violently…?
She bit her lower lip and forced the words out.
— Summary execution….
— You know it well! Yes! Execution!
Abel shouted as if delighted.
There was no way she could accept that.
— If you kill the fiancé, Lady Valdrova will not stay still. Then all of Silverwind will have to oppose her.
— Try it! If you can! Then war will break out!
Abel sneered with mockery.
— What would you gain from that? The descendants of Silverwind will die, and your mistress will only carry another burden of guilt.
— Ugh…!
— Do you want that? If so, go ahead and spread it all you want!
Ruri was deeply shaken.
Every word he said precisely pierced her weak point.
— Ruri. This bastard was instigated by a demon.
— A demon’s…?
Ttuduk!
— Heavens, you keep saying useless things. Don’t you know your life is in my hands? Why do you keep acting tough?
Ruri’s gaze held an even deeper disgust.
But to Abel, even that disgust was cute.
— Let’s say I joined forces with a demon. If you want to testify, go ahead and testify! “That bastard was bewitched by a demon. He was bewitched by a demon and broke in without permission, so I caught both!”. But they won’t listen.
He acted with total righteousness.
No, on the surface, he had no choice but to be righteous.
— There is no trace of a demonic deal on my body.
Those words were probably true.
Ferda also made a deal with Sitri, but there was no seal proving a contract had been made.
All he had was circumstantial evidence.
But there was no way they would believe circumstantial evidence.
The traitor Ruri and the royal guard Abel.
There was already a difference in who was speaking.
— You can kill me here. But what do you think will happen to you?
— I….
— You betrayed your father, and now you won’t even be able to protect what you tried to protect. Truly incompetent, aren’t you?
Abel continued provoking her.
No words came out of Ruri’s mouth.
— Incompetent Ruri. There is nothing you can do here.
Ruri thought about what the best option would be.
If she leaves him, war breaks out.
If she doesn’t leave him, war breaks out.
The castle she protected crumbles.
A variable.
She cannot control the variable.
It has always been like this.
— I….
She asks carefully with trembling lips.
This is the only way.
A small sacrifice that can protect everyone.
— What should I do?
Ruri knelt.
Even Abel, who was laughing mockingly, showed a look of surprise.
— Haha… it was real.
Abel’s body trembled.
— Ruri Silverwind actually kneels.
He never imagined it.
The Unbreakable Wall of the North.
The Nightmare of the Frost Giants.
Ruri Silverwind, at the center of that fame, collapsed with just a few words.
A wicked smile formed on Abel’s mouth.
The power of Ruri Silverwind is now mine.
That sense of accomplishment was brief.
— If that is your will.
The voice heard at that moment was Ferda’s.
— Then do it.
At the same time, Abel’s body shuddered tremendously.
— Kuheok!
Abel spat blood just like that.
Strength drained from his entire body and he knelt right there.
He let go of the neck he was holding.
Abel felt it clearly.
Something was pressing heavily on his heart.
Is it Ruri’s doing?
No way.
She can use spiritual arts or simple magic, but touching the inside without external wounds is impossible.
The remaining variable was exactly one.
Abel lifted his head, bleeding.
The Ferda he had been playing with stood firmly in that place.
He was emitting a blue light from his eyes.
As expected, it was his doing.
But the only thing he didn’t expect.
Was the darkness.
Only a pitch-black darkness that could not be pierced even with the eyes of a dragon spawn had settled there.
Ruri came.
How she came here was roughly predictable.
She left a wind spirit, heard that spirit’s report.
She must have rushed to pursue him upon hearing it was dangerous.
A very fast response.
But the worst.
She was the most reliable reinforcement, but at this moment, she was the worst mistake itself.
Because he knew Abel had his sights set on Ruri.
Abel began wagging his tongue.
Every time he said something, it felt like it pierced Ruri’s heart.
Abel was seeing right through Ruri with precision.
Unnecessarily smart.
“Was this the deal?”.
Ferda intuitively sensed it was the demon’s advice.
“If a demon said it, it wouldn’t work at all.”
“But if a relative says it, there is no choice but to be unsettled.”
A dilemma.
Being forced into an impossible choice between Valdrova and the descendants of Silverwind.
“Neither side can be discarded.”
Ferda knew the reason.
And precisely because of that.
— What should I do?
He watched Ruri kneel.
The best option that could encompass both choices.
And
“The worst option.”
Now I understand.
“So that was how you tricked Ruri?”.
The demon’s trickery and a greed unfitting of his position.
All of that extended its demonic hands toward the child who tried to maintain peace.
“So that’s why you didn’t stay by Valdrova’s side?”.
Because she loves peace,
Because she loves Valdrova,
Did she take the worst option of sacrificing herself?
It was at that moment.
The mana circuits inside Ferda’s body began to spin.
A sensation distinctly different from when he thought of Valdrova and searched for her desperately.
Something buried in his chest slowly crawls up.
It caresses Ferda’s heart and spins the circle inside his danjeon with its fingers.
Valdrova’s face overlaps on Ruri’s helpless face.
She is suffering.
It whispered with a sweet voice.
Are you just going to watch?
No.
He couldn’t just watch.
He knew that wasn’t Valdrova.
But if Ruri disappears, it will become Valdrova’s future.
“That must not happen.”
The chains of restriction break.
The mana created in the Red Circle spread secretly in all directions.
It devoured everything in darkness.
In that manner, everything fell within Ferda’s reach.
The cave too.
Ruri too.
Abel too.
And even his own interior.
— Kof, kuhek!
Abel curled up in agony.
Blood poured from his mouth.
He couldn’t breathe.
Lungs destroyed.
— Damn d-dog, bas-tard, kof!
He tries to move, taking Abel with him, but he cannot move at all.
The deep darkness and the Red Circle unleashed wildly.
Enough to subdue a dragon spawn.
Abel, who held the upper hand just moments ago, was now in the completely opposite situation.
— If you kill me….
Abel said, vomiting blood.
— All of Silverwind will remember your face and your name.
The price of killing a dragon spawn is no joke.
A life being tracked forever, praying to be able to wake up the next morning.
A life where you are alive but cannot say you are alive.
— It doesn’t matter.
It was already something familiar to Ferda.
— I am sick and tired of threats from the likes of you.
Ferda raised his hand.
His blackened palm looked as if he were holding something.
Like holding an object with a round base that completely fills the palm.
Like holding a heart.
— If you bastards want war so badly, I won’t avoid it either.
Ferda clenched his fist.