Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Fuse

Ferda checked the bag brought from the demon research center.
Inside were research journals and a few ampoules.
It was in the exact same state as when he had handed it to Jed.
“He certainly handles work thoroughly.”
He admired himself for recruiting Jed Swallow, considering it to have been an extremely astute move.
What Ferda could give him was a bonus to deliver.
“And Emilia’s whereabouts.”
He had to manage it somehow before Jed voiced his complaints.
That was the condition for keeping the uncatchable phantom thief trapped.
He had to do something before Jed revealed his dissatisfaction.
“For now, let’s just keep it in mind…”
Ferda took the bag and carried it to the study.
There, as always, a girl was awaiting orders.
— Mori.
Mori turned her head and looked up.
With her hair full of voluminous curls, she looked every bit like a young noble lady today as well.
— Can you decipher this for me?
Ferda handed the journal to Mori.
Linne’s journal was written in code.
Using Mori’s Miscellaneous Library ability, the contents of the code could be deciphered easily.
“Deciphering is impossible.”
However, what returned was a declaration of impossibility.
— What do you mean by impossible?
“It is a script for which I possess no interpretation clues.”
A script without clues in the Miscellaneous Library.
That meant only one thing.
— It means it is an Oral Script.
Transmitted only by word of mouth, not through records, with meanings fixed differently for each individual.
The race that possessed that script was exactly one.
“High Elf.”
Nobles among nobles who can enter the depths of the World Tree.
Each individual constructs their own unique language, an extreme difficulty that no one other than themselves can interpret.
If the director of the Linne Research Institute was a High Elf, it would be possible.
“So that Dark Elf was originally a High Elf?”
An unusual matter.
Thinking solely of the World Tree, the most conservative and closed-off High Elves swearing allegiance to Godwin and falling into corruption.
Like a beheaded chicken taking a walk, like a catfish breathing on dry land.
— Are there records about the High Elves then?
“Several observation records exist.”
— Any related to the script?
“None.”
It was a pity to end it this way.
— Is there no way to attempt to interpret it?
Mori nodded.
Then she gazed quietly into the air.
Creak, creak.
Her body bent unnaturally like a puppet.
Her face flushed intensely red, trembling as if it would explode at any moment.
— I’ll cancel it.
Pshuuu
Like steam being released, she returned to normal.
Even if he wanted to know the script, he had no intention of breaking Mori to achieve it.
Mori looked at Ferda with a languid expression, her head tilted toward her shoulder.
— Are you in condition to work?
Mori nodded.
“Currently there are no major problems regarding matters within the Regent’s Territory. However, external problems exist.”
— What kind?
“The first is Helus Povidas.”
The man whose nose had been pierced using the Eradication Corps.
In exchange for swearing loyalty to Ferda, he borrowed Mori’s wisdom, thereby maintaining his life as a sage.
— Why that guy?
“Helus Povidas has many inefficient questions. Occasionally his logic does not connect, and he often demands narrations with fantastical stories.”
Conversations without answers are always exhausting.
Remembering just now when Mori tried to forcefully decipher and squeezed her brain, one could notice how much inefficient stupidity Helus does.
— So he is interfering with work. What else?
“He showed signs of attempting to usurp Lady Valdrova’s authority eight times.”
Less surprising than the inefficient questions.
Since he never thought Mori would say such things to Ferda, that was why he decided to use her.
— Limit the questions to five from now on. And if you judge beforehand that no conclusion will be reached, you may refuse to answer. Will that raise efficiency a bit more?
“Efficiency is projected to rise, but one more element remains.”
— Which is?
“Echidna Philias.”
To say he didn’t know would be a lie.
He had seen her eyes turn over several times with Mori.
— If Echidna’s actions are the problem, I can restrict her a bit, but I cannot control her completely.
“Echidna Philias’s impact is three times that of Helus Povidas. She occasionally demands to be called by incomprehensible titles.”
— What titles?
“From ‘eonni’ to mom, mother, emama; titles unfit for the relationship.”
To Ferda, it seemed like a simple demand.
— Then just grant her that demand?
“If that demand is accepted, she then demands role-playing. If the role-playing is accepted, she immerses herself and begins accepting it as real. The delusional disorder deepens.”
That is why it is three times more difficult.
“Because she is a witch.”
Understanding Mori’s position, Ferda was still worried.
The only one who could be tasked with taking care of Mori was Echidna, and above all, recently her eyes had turned over due to the Jed matter.
— Bear with it for now. We need that witch too. Aside from that, is there no way to extract your efficiency?
Mori thought.
Lightly tapping the paper with a pen, she replied briefly.
“Please praise me.”
— What?
“When I achieve something, please praise me. Praise corresponding to the difficulty of the work is needed.”
A truly unexpected demand.
For the word “praise” to come from the pen of a Slave Sage who held the Miscellaneous Library in her head.
— Is that necessary work?
“Consistently published papers state that praise raises work efficiency and is excellent for stress reduction.”
— That is for humans, isn’t it?
“In the gladiator city Colosenia, the victory rate of praised gladiators is 20% higher.”
— I don’t think you need it?
“In the mining city Ophelis, miners who received praise showed 12% higher performance, according to reports.”
She pushed facts as if completely denying Ferda’s words.
Something strange.
Mori is a Slave Sage without an ego.
The ultimate rational being who feels no emotion whatsoever, why would she need such a thing?
Ferda decided not to argue further.
It was better to utter three syllables than waste time on such a useless debate.
— Thank you.
This should be enough.
Then Mori’s pen scribbled characters.
“Research shows that when adult men praise children, patting their heads is effective, according to what I have heard.”
Damnably annoying.
Even so, Ferda placed his hand on her head just as she said.
A soft contact occurred.
— Thank you.
Praise tossed out with disdain.
Yet a strange light gleamed in the eyes looking toward Ferda.
Mori, who could not hold her head up, returned to normal.
— Ready?
Having heard the response, Mori nodded and turned her head.
Without knowing for sure if it really worked.
Ferda set the journal aside and took out the box.
“He took the drug from here.”
The box contained eleven ampoules.
Three Doppler Reagents and eight ampoules with the name of each Night-class Demon and the word (Prototype) attached.
They all shared the common characteristic of being a viscous black liquid, so without labels they could not be distinguished.
“Including the Gorilla drug, that totals twelve.”
Ferda recalled the bastard who had turned into a Gorilla.
Gorilla: low intelligence but a powerful style.
Intelligence definitely dropped, strength definitely increased.
“If the same situation presents itself next time, he will become even stronger than that bastard.”
The reason they were able to win was solely because the drug was a prototype.
The finished product will reduce side effects and increase power.
“That woman definitely survived and returned.”
Before the Director of the Linne Research Institute does anything, Ferda’s side must respond quickly.
Ferda has samples, the Director of the Linne Research Institute has knowledge.
The starting line is good, but in the end, no one knows who will win.
“Who do I assign the research of this substance to?”
The difficulty began there.
Ferda recalled talents.
Vernel?
Intelligent, but that is a magitechnical engineering specialty.
He needs to focus solely there.
Then Echidna?
Master of runes, but I do not want her touching this type of substance.
Chancellor Bernard?
I still don’t know what that human does, I still cannot trust him.
“Then do I have to do it myself?”
Ferda also had experience with various researches.
Training the mana cultivation method to become stronger, and only in terms of form, but the tenacity was sufficient.
If he applied that tenacity to research, wouldn’t it be fine?
It was while Ferda was worrying.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The sound of an alarm bell never before heard in the castle resonated.
Something strange.
For an alarm bell warning of danger to sound in the main camp of Valdrova, the Red Dragon.
Shortly after, someone burst through the door and entered.
It was Ruri.
She had a face showing urgency.
— Ferda-nim.
— What is happening?
— They are coming.
Ruri spoke again.
— The descendants of Silverwind are heading this way.
What had to come has arrived.
Ferda headed to the balcony.
Dots visible in the sky.
Soon, clear features became visible even to Ferda’s sight.
At the lead was an overwhelmingly large pair of wings.
— That’s the boss, huh?
— Yes. It is Goz-nim.
For the captain to come directly meant a serious matter.
Whatever it was, a situation that required preparation.
— What do we do?
Fear could be felt in Ruri’s voice.
Usually she hid it well, but at this moment her anxiety was deeply felt.
— For now, we wait.
— Even when enemies are coming?
— Whether they are enemies or not, we will know soon.
Ferda gazed at the approaching dots.
Unconsciously, his clenched fist was soaked in sweat.
“Sitri.”
Did that dog-like demon bitch stab him in the back?
She could distort information very cleverly to make it seem like it was Ferda’s fault.
However, he did not rush to draw conclusions.
Demons know their lives are important too.
The demons who crossed into this world act as if they have guts of steel, but they are more cowardly than humans.
Shortly after, the result of Ferda’s judgment came to light.
The descendants of Silverwind all descended and lined up before the outer gate.
— Good news.
— That they are at the outer gate is good news?
— If they had come to fight, they would have charged toward the balcony. If it were to pick a fight, they would have come to the inner gate.
Ferda looked down from the balcony and made eye contact with Goz.
A strange exchange of glances occurred.
— Ruri, prepare to receive the guests… eh?
Ferda’s words were cut short upon turning his head.
Ruri was looking toward the Silverwind side.
If she were merely looking down, Ferda would not have reacted like that.
— Ruri?
— Did you call?
— Why are you holding onto my clothes?
— That is…
Ruri’s words trailed off.
Just as Ferda said, she was holding onto his clothes.
A surprised face even to herself.
She pulled her hand back and tried to brush it off as nothing.
— …There was dust.
— Is that so?
In no way was there dust on Ferda’s clothes.
Much less that she would personally dust it off just because there was dust.
— I will go prepare to receive the guests.
Ruri withdrew like that.
Ferda also went down to greet Silverwind.
— —
The alarm sounded.
The non-combat personnel in the castle entered rooms and hid; the combat personnel were deployed.
And in Valdrova Castle, there were exactly two combat personnel.
Jed and Malcolm.
They held the status of knights, so they were deployed at the outer castle gate.
“Shit, what the hell is this bitch of a situation?”
Jed cursed inwardly, scanning with his gaze once more.
They were Silver Dragon Spawns straight out of a textbook.
Silver hair, silver eyes.
Fierce faces and horns protruding sharply.
Wearing armor, their muscles looked ready to burst through it.
Just facing one would cause tension, but they were gathered in a horde.
The ring suppressing Dragon Fear could not overcome the pressure of numbers nor their fierce impressions.
“Especially that bastard.”
The man standing at the front with soldiers behind him.
Wearing a silver cape, clearly the captain at first glance.
That man accounted for 80% of this tension, without exaggeration.
He was emitting an aura that vicious.
— Your master…
He opened his mouth.
— When will he show himself?
What flew from his mouth was a cold death like a soul obtained by sweeping through thousands of Frost Giants.
Nearly overwhelmed by the low tone, Jed barely replied with a serene face.
— Would you wait a moment? He said he would come down soon, so he will arrive.
— A moment…
A displeased face.
Even knowing the hostility was not directed at them, it was not easy.
Above all, the most disastrous thing was another variable for Jed.
— Sniff, hiccup!
Despite being a knight, Malcolm beside him was sobbing.
— Almighty God of Light Alte-nim, please save me.
Not just crying, he was praying to a god.
Jed tilted his head slightly toward him and said.
— Just leave.
— Hic, as a knight of this Grand Duchy, I cannot step aside…
— No, you are getting in the way, so leave. I can handle it alone.
Even at Jed’s suggestion, Malcolm did not leave.
However great his chivalry was, he kept enduring with legs forcefully straightened despite trembling.
“Ah, to hell with my life.”
Just when things get a little quiet, something comes along and smacks the back of his neck hard.
Chivalry and all, should he just give up on everything?
While he was thinking that, he heard the footsteps of salvation from behind them.
— I made you wait.
Ferda arrived.
He stepped between Jed and Malcolm and stared fixedly at Goz.
— Do you make guests wait?
The reproach he tossed out.
— Usually guests send a letter before coming. Those who do not are uninvited guests.
Tense standoff.
Jed and Malcolm, who thought it was over, realized that now was the beginning.
— On that point, I acknowledge it. I apologize for not notifying in advance.
He yielded easily.
Ferda thought.
This guy would not normally be like this.
— But as much as I apologize, you bastard must also make things clear.
As expected.
If there is a reason to take a step back, it is to take three more steps forward.
— Regent Ferda, you are suspected of borrowing demonic magic to kill Abel Silverwind and concealing evidence, so we came to this position.
At the words “suspicions raised,” it emerged by reflex.
“Sitri?”
Animal reflex shouted that name again.
The most likely candidate was Sitri after all.
Not handling things cleanly is a characteristic of a demon.
Ferda kept thinking what scheme to use to feed him shit.
Surprisingly, however, he learned the fact that Sitri had no intention of feeding Ferda shit.
The reason came out immediately.
— Hello, Regent Ferda?
A cheerful voice among men who make you smell sweat just by looking at them.
A small woman wearing a wide-brimmed wizard hat appeared.
The insignia of the Serdes Human Magic Academy was placed in large size upon the pointed hat.
Only one person can wear that kind of hat.
President of the Serdes Human Magic Academy, Erdes Roton.
— We know each other, right?
This board was made by that bitch’s work.