VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter 245
Innocent Children
Ferda moved to the scene.
It was because he received a report that survivors had emerged.
But if they were Imperial Army or Allied Forces survivors, Ferda would never have moved like this.
Surprisingly, they were Heinckel Kingdom survivors.
Most Heinckel Kingdom survivors had their souls nearly drained, mumbling to themselves or half-dead from dehydration.
Еn̈ ŭ m̄ ӑ
They were so broken that killing them would be an act of mercy even if they were alive.
But what was before his eyes were children, and aside from being a bit hungry, they seemed to be in their right minds.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"They say they're children who were confined in the basement and used for Dark Elf research. Checking the castle's cross-section, it's certain they're children who came up from the entrance leading to the basement."
"Why are they covered with blankets?"
"Their bodies were cold, so we covered them."
Hearing those words, Ferda took one girl's hand.
E ṅ ū m̆ ӓ
Even in weather where dehydration would easily occur, her body was cold as ice.
'Undead?'
They weren't undead. If they were undead, no pulse should be felt.
It was just that these children had blood flowing several times colder than other humans.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Ferda's eyes quietly examined the girl.
The girl pulled her head back as if frightened.
Е̊n̄ú m̂а̃
At her rejection, Ferda instead glared at her fiercely.
"Please stop."
The boy who looked oldest spoke to Ferda.
"What did you say?"
"Please stop. You look scary when you stare like that."
Ferda stared at the boy, then turned his gaze to the other children.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Peculiar.
The emotions the children felt under Ferda's gaze were identical.
Not similar—identical.
Ferda released that hand, and the girl quickly ran behind the big boy.
Looking down at them silently, he said.
"Ruri."
Е̄ ṅ ǔ m̈ a . іď_
"Speak."
"How many mana restrainers do we have while coming here?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"10."
"Good. Put them on all these children's hands. And escort them in iron cages."
William made a surprised expression at Ferda's decision.
Ruri obediently followed Ferda's decision and put mana restrainers on the children's hands.
Еn̈u m̂ а̂. ǐ_d̄
Having decided on the children's treatment, Ferda turned his body.
"Regent-nim, these are children."
William stood beside Ferda and said.
"Because they're children, I'm stopping at this."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Ferda said with a fierce expression.
"If they weren't children, I would have cut their throats right here."
Ẅ е̌ b̆ nо v̈е̃l E nu m_а̊
"They're innocent children, why are you giving them this treatment?"
"You can't see it, but I saw."
It was when Ferda provoked fear in the girl.
Faintly, mana flowed from the girl's body.
That distinctive flow felt only when a circle opens.
If she were a Blue Circle owner, that flow should have moved at a constant speed.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
So he provoked her.
As fear grew larger, the girl's mana flow also accelerated.
At the moment fear reached its peak, the boy boldly stopped Ferda.
Similar mana flowed in that boy's body too, and the other children had flows just as active as the girl's.
All those children were Red Circle openers.
But Red Circle wasn't the only problem.
Е́nūm̂а̌.í d̀
Ferda clearly remembered their eye colors.
Darker than the light that comes out when Jed has Red-Eyed Tribe eyes.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
That was unmistakably demon eyes.
* * *
Ferda immediately contacted Erica, the Blue-Eyed Tower Master.
Hearing that demon-made children had strange characteristics, she came running barefoot.
Е́ n̆ ů m̊ а̀_.ìd̂
Erica unfolded observation magic multiple times and examined the children closely.
"Amazing."
After an hour-long examination, what came from her mouth was an exclamation.
"These children... their minds are connected as one."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Connected means..."
"It's exactly the same texture as High Elves' mental connection. The same state as those tribes who have no secrets with a united mind."
En üm ӑ
High Elves' mental connection.
It wasn't that surprising a story.
Mental binding—I'd guessed to some extent it would exist.
To match the Legion's demanding conditions, they'd split minds through Trauma and focus only on euphoria, yet even that would've been lacking.
There would definitely be parts that crumble.
To compensate for that risk, they used the means of mental binding.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"These children... they all went through tremendous pain. Opening the Red Circle, it wouldn't be strange if their minds collapsed... but they didn't collapse."
"What do you think is the reason?"
"Probably because of that child."
The boy in the middle.
He became the support for pain and helped the children's circle opening.
That's why the children rely on that boy.
Е n ům̄а̄ .іd
"What would you like done with these children?"
Ferda asked Erica.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Erica agonized, then answered.
"Do you know why High Elves... insist on isolationism?"
A united mind is pure white.
Beautiful and clean, but contaminated by a single drop of water.
W̄_еb̊ ṅ о̌ v̇.ė l̃ Ё n ũ mа̊_
High Elves were the same.
Because if one is contaminated, it spreads in an instant.
"These children are the same. Since their minds are bound, they'll read and share each other's thoughts. And if they experience pain, that pain will try to eat away at each other."
"....."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"The best method is, after all..."
Erica spared her words.
Е nu mӑ
Ferda understood the meaning and quietly nodded.
"For now, let's discuss with the others."
This wasn't something that could be decided unilaterally.
Ferda decided to summon the Allied Forces and Imperial Army leadership to discuss the agenda.
* * *
All the supreme leaders gathered again in the place where they first assembled for the Allied Forces formation.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
However, the attendees had changed a lot from the beginning.
Some were replaced by Legion commanders, and some kingdoms had no commanders so were replaced by brigade commanders.
The only one unchanged on the Allied Forces side was King Hudret.
The Imperial Army was the same.
Except for Ferda and the 2nd Corps Commander, all were replaced by subordinates.
Ureas's seat was naturally replaced by Olivia.
W е̇ b n̂о́ v̀еl Е n u mа̀
She was always calm and led the atmosphere softly.
"As you know, the 2nd Prince met with an unfortunate accident and passed away, so this girl will sit in this seat in his place. I will do my best to proceed with the meeting in line with the Arken Empire's intentions."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"Please do. Then let's move to the main topic."
Hudret crossed his arms and asked Ferda.
"I heard survivors were found. But I heard those survivors are Heinckel Kingdom people."
"That's correct."
Ẃе b́n о̄v̌е̂_l Ё n ú m̃а̇
"Why did they do such a thing?"
Hudret's expression was fierce.
Ferda answered calmly.
"Those 5 survivors were all children."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Children..."
"Moreover, there were no traces of brainwashing by Trauma entities. There are aftereffects from extreme fear, but nothing problematic."
E_nûm̂ а
"Then they're truly flawless civilians?"
"Not exactly."
He didn't want to tell a clumsy lie and needlessly offend.
Ferda told the facts as they were.
"The children have three common characteristics. First, all were forcibly made to open Red Circles. Second, they have dark red eyes. Third, they share their minds with each other."
"Share minds?"
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"They share not only thoughts but emotions. It's the same principle as High Elves' mental binding."
"Demons do so many things we've never seen or heard of."
Hudret thought about something.
But unable to find an answer with his own head, he looked at Ferda and asked.
"What do you think was the purpose of creating such existences?"
"To perfect joint magic."
Еnu ṁ_а .і.d
"Joint magic?"
"Siege or anti-siege magic circles are large, and such preparations are usually joint work. The fact that work taking a month alone can be finished in 3 days is only possible because it's joint work."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"So they say."
The corps commanders nodded as if understanding.
"Because roles are divided, preparation is faster, but joint work has a chronic disease due to its nature."
"What's that?"
Ẃ еb n̂ о̌v̄е l Еnum̆ а̀
"There are parts in joint work that aren't conveyed verbally, so omissions inevitably occur. That's why joint magic circle completion rates can't exceed 98%."
The 2% of magic is a large area determining safety and power.
"But if they share thoughts, that problem disappears."
"That's right."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"Interesting. Connecting minds to draw large magic circles and achieve 100% completion..."
An interested gaze.
Ẁе̃ b̄n̈ ov̄ ẽ l̀ .Е̄n̂ um̄ă
The corps commanders also showed very interested faces just hearing Ferda's explanation.
While telling this story, worry rose in Ferda.
First came the thought of what to do if Hudret claimed ownership.
"It's a pity."
But Hudret was a more upright human than expected.
"Having to kill such precious resources."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
He gave up decisively and tried to kill the children.
At those words, Olivia reacted as if shocked.
"You'll kill the children, Your Majesty Hudret?"
"Don't try to appeal to my emotions by acting innocent, Princess. This is a matter of principle."
Whether offended by the aggressive words, Olivia's voice became slightly rigid.
"Principle, you say?"
Е̄ n̊_ū m ӑ
"In the Imperial Army, many here have seen faces, so they'll know well. Before entering Heinckel Kingdom's castle, when we put our heads together and talked, what did we say?"
King Hudret answered.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"There are no survivors. We said we'd watch everyone die."
"That's right."
"Ferda Regent, as you said, in this war Heinckel Kingdom's civilians were tremendously excellent forces. Because of that, we lost dozens of elites, and above all, the terribly regrettable result of losing the king appeared."
Hudret clenched his fist tight and said.
E̊n̂úm̄ а̀. і́ d
"What we desired was demon eradication. The answer is to burn and eliminate everything those demons created. Are you saying to render their deaths meaningless by being swayed by mere personal affection? This is the Allied Forces' will, and the Imperial Army's duty that must be done."
Olivia heard those words and thought deeply.
"...You're right."
"Princess."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Olivia looked at Ferda with a pitiful face.
"The Imperial Army also has many casualties. The 2nd Prince died, and Count Rooster lost his life too. In this situation, if we take those who survived demon experiments..."
W̆ѐbn о̆ v̄ е́ ĺ Е́ n̂um ȧ
Olivia closed her mouth there.
It meant it could become a political story.
Since she's a Saintess apprentice, I thought she'd appeal for mercy.
She also represented the Alte Order's will.
Before darkness there is no forgiveness; purifying with light is their will.
Inwardly, Ferda also took this matter for granted.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Leaving future trouble is a stupid act.
Burning and hanging was more rational than taking in children who knows what demons did to them.
"Looking at the Regent, he doesn't seem like a very compassionate personality either."
King Hudret's words ambushed Ferda.
Lifting his eyes slightly, Hudret was smiling faintly as he stood from his seat.
"Keep them detained. Execution tomorrow morning, hang them up, and on the way home we can hold a memorial service, can't we?"
Е n ũ m̈â
The meeting ended like that.
The five children William saved will be executed tomorrow morning.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
* * *
"Regent-nim, do you intend to execute the children like this?"
On the way back to camp, William, who followed as escort, asked.
"Hudret's judgment is correct. They're children I have no reason to keep alive."
Wеb n ȯ v̀e ĺ. Е̂ n̄ ūṁ а́
It was a judgment clear enough to understand why he'd be self-intoxicated calling himself a vessel of the Emperor.
The Imperial Army died a lot, and the Allied Forces died a lot too.
He couldn't overlook the possibility of becoming a new calamity's source by keeping alive those of unclear origin.
"Still, they're children, aren't they? Really... they knew nothing, just children."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Accept it. You can't save everything in the world."
"....."
Е n ǔ mӓ
"We lost too much to do that."
Far Eastern troops were mostly knights with infantry mostly in the rear, so sacrifices were few, but the Imperial Army main force was different.
It wasn't right for Ferda to act like a benevolent general and show mercy.
"I—."
"William."
"....."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Don't say more than that."
There was no more reason to discuss.
It would obviously become an emotional fight, and if so, who would lose was an obvious story.
William didn't speak anymore.
Until they returned to camp, they ultimately didn't exchange a single word.
* * *
W̆ е b ń о̊ṽ е́l Е n̂ ũm̌á
That late night, Ferda continued reading.
His chest felt stuffy and sleep wouldn't come.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Tomorrow, everything ends.
He can return to Valdrova's embrace.
It didn't seem like he couldn't sleep because of such excitement.
For some reason, it felt like something would happen.
Е̌ñù m̌а̃
Ferda just wanted to confirm that matter, so he was shaking off sleepiness.
Dding-dding-dding!
The alarm bell ringing without rest.
Ferda didn't waver.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
As if what was coming had come, he quietly closed his book and pushed it aside.
"Ferda-nim."
Е̄ n̄ ū m а̂ .і d̆
Ruri, who came inside, reported to Ferda.
"A report came in that all the children to be executed have escaped."
"When did they escape?"
"Judging from the progress, about 1 hour. One horse is missing, so they definitely rode horses and moved."
"I see."
There's no way those children planned and escaped such a thing.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Someone definitely helped that escape, and is proceeding together.
And that someone didn't need deep thought.
"Shall we track and retrieve them?"
Ruri had lived as a warrior for a long time.
She's that skilled at tracking and fast, so she'd find them within 10 minutes at latest.
Ferda thought deeply, then called her name again.
Ѐn úm̃ á
"Ruri."
"Yes."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"You're busy attending to my condition."
"...Those words mean?"
"It'll probably be difficult to deploy you to trivial search work."
"...Understood. Shall I prepare coffee?"
Ĕ n̄ u̇m̆а
"Yeah."
It seemed he couldn't just spend this night.
Ferda decided to wait until the next report.
