Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Loyalty

“……Euri.”
“…….”.
“……Euri!”.
“…….”.
“Naeuri!”.
“Uh, yes?”.
Stefan jumped in surprise.
His servant had turned his head and was shaking Stefan’s shoulder.
“Are you alright? You haven’t said a single word all day since you got into the carriage.”
“Ah, I’m fine.”
Of course I’m fine.
Stefan turned his head to look out the window.
They had departed from Herman Pascal’s residence and were on the move.
“When did the carriage start moving?”.
“Thirty minutes ago, Naeuri.”
“Thirty minutes…….”.
Not only had the memories of those thirty minutes vanished, but even the recollection that the meal had ended.
Stefan’s head felt as if it were wrapped in a dense fog.
And before that dense fog could even clear, it tried to devour him again.
That fog was made of Herman Pascal’s words.
It was obvious that he had attempted to interfere openly.
Coming from Herman Pascal,
It meant he wouldn’t have done such a thing in his capacity as a Great Merchant and respected trader.
Had anyone ever shown true interest in the East?
Stefan worried and worried.
However, worrying did not solve the problem.
“Where is the carriage headed?”.
“Where else would it go but home, Naeuri?”.
“Ah, right. Makes sense…….”.
I asked a question that was too obvious.
Why did I ask such a question?
Stefan asked himself.
Deep down in his heart, he was thinking that he shouldn’t go home.
Then, where should he go?
The destination was clear.
“How is the horse?”.
“It’s fine, Naeuri.”
“Then don’t turn around, let’s go somewhere else.”
“Where to, Naeuri?”.
“To Valdrova Castle.”
“It will take days, and you wish to go without any preparation? You need to pack clothes and send letters and so on. Why don’t we just head back?”.
“Cut the chatter and move forward.”
Seeing his absent-minded state, the coachman didn’t dare say anything more and changed the route.
Stefan’s head filled with that dense fog once again.
Stefan merely walked through that fog for the moment.
“The Far East.”
What kind of existence is the Far East?
There were those who dreamed of a gold rush in that undeveloped wasteland, but they failed every single time.
It was only natural.
Magi is a calamity that not even immortals can handle, so how could humans overcome it?
Like moths flying into a furnace, the outcome was obvious.
With such an obvious outcome, what am I believing in to do this?
“Is it because of the magic stones?”.
Stefan had gotten hooked on those magic stones and caught their scent.
But his father, Herman, wasn’t like that.
Tilda and Merkat didn’t seem interested in it either.
If they had caught the scent, they would have been desperate to interfere or take it.
Stefan asked himself.
“Then am I wrong?”.
I want to believe in myself, but my existence is always like this.
Believing in the conviction that I am objective, I become arrogant and fall.
His father, Herman Pascal, always made him witness the miserable ends of those merchants with his own eyes.
As a merchant who amassed wealth, and as a father, he advised Stefan.
Am I being arrogant?
Am I only seeing him as a savior because I have blindfolds on?
Is he perhaps just another scammer?
The thought that he might end up just like those who died believing and being arrogant about “themselves” wouldn’t leave his mind.
Am I a person prepared enough to dedicate my life to him?
I am afraid.
Afraid of being unable to leave the Empire due to the transit tax and slowly dying inside.
I need something to make me forget this fear.
Alcohol? Women?
Or…….
“Euri!”.
“Eok! You scared me! What?! Why?! What?!”.
“We have arrived, Naeuri! Pull yourself together now!”.
“What? Did we reach Valdrova Castle? In just a few minutes?”.
“What nonsense are you saying? It took us four days, Naeuri.”
Four entire days in a state of trance.
He hadn’t washed properly, so he reeked, and his finest robe had yellow bodily fluid stains.
Why did I come here?
He realizes the question was strange.
Didn’t I come here to look for that answer?
Stefan walked through the inner fortress looking for Ferda.
He was with Vernel, the Chief Researcher.
They seemed to have just finished a conversation right at that moment.
“What’s the matter?”.
Ferda asked.
“Well, that is…….”.
What did I come here to say?
The only words circulating in Stefan’s head were a single thing.
“I withdraw here.”
I don’t believe in myself, and I’m afraid of ending up a complete mess, so I’ll cut my losses here.
He tried to say that, but Ferda spoke first.
“Actually, there is good news. The Chancellor of Escolleia made a great offer to Vernel.”
At those words, different ones rose up his throat.
“Uh, what kind of offer?”.
“He proposed that he be the main exhibitor at the Halim exhibition in two weeks.”
Stefan felt as if his head had been struck with a thunderous roar.
The fog cleared, and a ray of light poured inside.
“Congratulations! Being the main one in the Escolleia exhibition is something huge, isn’t it? As far as I know, it is!”.
“Yes. It is that position of glory for all scholars.”
Being recognized among those scrupulous scholars means a lot.
It is also notable among merchants, and nine times out of ten, it means money.
“This isn’t something that should be overlooked, right? How about we eat, drink, and celebrate today?”.
“Haha, isn’t that counting our chickens before they hatch…….?”.
“What’s wrong with that?! I’ll even spend my own money to throw a grand banquet for you all. Haha!!”.
Stefan laughed loudly.
It was an exaggerated gesture, uncharacteristic of his usual self, but they let it slide thinking he was simply that happy.
“Stefan.”
“Yes?”.
“Weren’t you going to say something?”.
At Ferda’s question, Stefan scratched his head and answered.
“Ah, that……. I just came to say let’s do a good job! Haha!”.
The fog that had covered Stefan’s head had vanished.
Let me believe in myself.
Even if I become a beggar.
I will move forward without regrets.
— —
A week later, Iorga and Valdrova officially declared their alliance.
The Serdes Continent was turned upside down.
Guardian Dragons and Evil Dragons that could not mix, like water and oil.
They had exchanged views several times through the Grand Council, but their conflict always ended unresolved.
An alliance between such an Evil Dragon and a Guardian Dragon.
Suspicions grew that Iorga’s side must be misunderstanding something.
Her stance was as follows.
— Although Valdrova caused the Second Damage, its Regent showed the will to settle the past and conquer the Demonic Land, which is why she supports his will and decided to participate.
On the surface, it was the best-looking pretext.
Her support gave weight to the energetic declaration of the young Regent.
Even so, public opinion was mostly that the conquest would fail.
— Even if the Blue Eye supported it…….
— How could a mere human achieve what everyone else has failed at in the purification work?
Ever since Godwin died, no one had approached that Demonic Land, and those who did all died.
However, quite a few people also placed hopes in Ferda’s will.
— Maybe the conquest of the Far East is truly possible?
— Reclaiming the beautiful lands of the Far East that only existed in history would be a tremendous feat.
Regardless, the wind began to blow.
For a sailboat drifting in solitude, it was a favorable wind either way.
— —
Halim.
A city known for gambling and entertainment, and a place I had once visited to recruit Jed.
I was visiting it again for the exhibition.
The difference this time was that Ruri was not accompanying me.
There were already enough people around Ferda, and another Dragon Spawn was stationed in the inner fortress.
Ruri still held the slight belief that Isabella came to commit sabotage.
Since keeping her in check wouldn’t hurt, I left Ruri alone.
Ruri only said a short sentence on the way while seeing me off.
“Don’t gamble.”
“Isn’t there a lack of funds? To get money, it’s perfect—”.
“D.O. N.O.T. D.O. I.T.”.
Two silver eyes gleamed full of murderous intent.
It felt as if a Magic Blast were going to pour out at any second.
Seeing that, a rebellious feeling washed over me.
What expression would she make if I simply threw away my entire fortune?
Since I don’t have two lives, I had no choice but to engrave that single word in my heart and head to Halim.
Stefan said he would return early to prepare the necessary props for the main presentation and meet in Halim.
Vernel was organizing the presentation materials inside the carriage, not letting his guard down a single centimeter.
As it was an important seat, I spared no support and created an environment so that he wouldn’t worry about other things.
The other companions were the knights Jed and Malcolm.
“Huaaaa, am I really okay? Am I really okay?”.
And Penelope as well.
She was screaming like a siren standing in a meadow.
Just as we arrived at the entrance of Halim and were about to step down to go through the entry procedures,
One step away from the magic circle that protected Halim.
“I’m fine, so let go of this arm, bitch.”
Jed pushed Penelope’s head that was clinging to him and pried her off by force.
She clung tenaciously and did not stop whining.
“I heard it when I was in Hell! They say demons can’t enter Halim! If you try to enter, your body melts! They say my half-brother actually died like that!”.
“No, I’m telling you it’s fine! That’s just a lie to scare you, so trust me and try to enter.”
“Is it really okay? Won’t I die?”.
Jed grew sick of the question-and-answer session and shut his mouth.
Instead, he grabbed Penelope’s firmly attached arm in reverse and dragged her along with him.
Penelope began to scream like a cat being dragged into water.
“Aaaaah! What are you doing?! No, I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die, ugh my stomach is churning…… Huh? Nothing’s happening?”.
Penelope confirming that nothing was wrong the moment she stepped into the magic circle.
Where did that screeching and rowdy face go? She got up abruptly as if nothing had happened.
“Human magic circles aren’t that big of a deal.”
“…….”.
Jed looked at her with eyes full of pity.
The others, including him, were the same.
“Was bringing this chick along a mistake?”.
Penelope possesses Sitri’s Life Vessel.
Just in case, I brought her along with me to keep her in a visible place.
Furthermore, trust in Penelope had not yet been established.
I was worried that bringing a demon might cause noisy incidents, but that was an unfounded fear.
As long as she held Sitri’s Life Vessel, she gained a special ability: most demon detection magic could not identify her.
As long as she maintains human skin, she is practically a human.
“And the noisy one was herself.”
I expected her to be frivolous and loud, but she exceeded expectations by far.
She is an existence similar to a storm.
The type where incidents occur just by standing still.
How was it that Sitri had her Life Vessel stolen because of such a brat?
“Even so, there must be something.”
Everything has a reason.
Not wanting to overlook it, Ferda asked Penelope.
“Tell me about your abilities. You are a descendant of Sitri, so do you wield illusion magic?”.
“Yes, just a few light illusion and trickery-type magics.”
“An Arcane Trickster.”
“Oh, a cool name? Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded with a smug posture, and Jed snorted.
“Arcane Trickster my ass. Trouble Maker.”
“What did you say?!”.
Pink eyes glared intently at Jed.
Jed did not back down and brought his face close to hers.
“Did I say something wrong? Is there ever a quiet day with you around?”.
“That’s not my fault! Who told you to catch that witch’s attention? You go around picking up this woman and that woman, that’s why!”.
“Did I want to do it? I know better than anyone that I shouldn’t touch her!”.
The two arguing.
Ferda looked beyond that scene and thought about the abilities Penelope and Jed possessed.
Arcane Trickster Penelope and Master Thief Jed.
“One way or another, you seem made for each other.”
“Huh?”.
Jed looked at Ferda with a stunned expression.
“I’m sorry, but could you not lump me together with this whiny airhead?”.
“Isn’t she the woman you like?”.
“You speak as if I’d eat anything, but I refuse to walk around with an accident waiting to happen.”
“I don’t want to get involved with this violent man either! I like women. Only beauties among women! I want to absorb life energy from beauties without restraint!”.
“You absorbed my life energy yesterday too, so what are you talking about?”.
“I have to eat too, food! I only eat the bare minimum to maintain this material plane! That’s why I can exist as a human!”.
Loud enough to kill.
Ferda decided to take back what he had said.
“If you want, I’ll find you a new partner.”
“Eh?”.
“What?”.
The guys who were tearing each other apart just a moment ago began making subtle expressions at those words.
Why are these guys like this?
“Ahem, w-well, I’d like to maintain the status quo for now.”
“Why?”.
“Because it’s hard to find another handsome man with such sweet talk to seduce beauties…….”.
Penelope’s reason was whatever, but Jed’s reason was unclear.
“This guy says I absorb life energy and erase the memories of the girls he seduced…….”.
Hearing those words, Ferda realized he had thought wrongly.
“Both of them are the same kind of bastards.”
A match made in heaven.
Their release into the wild is strictly prohibited.
— —
The Escolleia exhibition was taking place by renting out an entire casino in Halim.
It was one of the largest casinos even in the entertainment city, suitable for hosting many nobles, merchants, and scholars.
When Ferda arrived, it was Day 1 of the exhibition, right when the opening preparations were wrapping up.
“Oh my, Regent-nim! Have you arrived safely?”.
Stefan, who was pacing back and forth, approached Ferda and greeted him politely.
“Safe journey. And you?”.
“I’m fine as well. The exhibition booths are ready according to plan. Would you like to take a look?”.
“Since that’s what I came for, I should see it.”
Stefan guided Ferda, and they moved.
Ferda broadly examined how the exhibition operated.
Scholars displayed their items in the form of booths at the exposition, and merchants and nobles passed by to view them one by one.
And the participating scholars were all burning with fighting spirit.
What researchers always lack is money.
This exhibition was a crucial moment to continue their research lives.
Those who filled that money were the merchants and nobles viewing the exhibition.
With any luck, Ferda could become their patron as well.
Ferda examined the scholars’ items starting from the entrance.
“Really nothing catches my eye.”
Only things that exist in theory or have poor commercial viability.
Probably that’s why it feels so distant in this remote periphery.
But as we moved toward the center of the exhibition, the booths became larger and the items more splendid.
Some were items useful in the future.
Vernel’s booth was in the center.
Vernel’s booth, built with the backing of the Pascal Company, was splendid like the large booths sponsored by other corporations.
“How is it?”.
“Well done.”
“Right? We brought our decoration experts to do it, haha.”
It stood out enough to draw the attention of many people.
The booth was ready, but there were no items on display yet.
That had to be brought from Ferda’s side, so they were waiting.
“But where are the magic stones we need to prepare?”.
“Vernel seems to have them. Where did Vernel go?”.
“It seems he went to the lodgings first.”
“Without saying a word?”.
He hadn’t slept properly for days, so maybe he’s trying to get some sleep before the main stage?
Since he was by his side, Ferda knew how hard Vernel had worked.
“I’ll go get them.”
“No, I will go.”
Since he had nothing to do anyway, Ferda attempted to move himself.
Despite Stefan’s dissuasion, he walked stubbornly toward the lodgings.
Contrary to the expectations of finding him collapsed in the lodgings, Vernel was discovered in the hallway leading to the rooms.
Bernard, the Chancellor hosting this exhibition, was also there.
The two were in the middle of a conversation, and Ferda eavesdropped.
“Marquis Vernel.”
Chancellor Bernard looked at Vernel and said.
“I cannot hide my disappointment in you.”