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Chapter 248
Ruderick and the Children (Summer Special Illustration 2)
The war with the Heinkel Kingdom had ended.
The soldiers who returned home passed through the Triumphal Arch with dignity, welcomed by everyone's cheers.
The death toll was a mere 30.
Among them were 4 knights, and only 26 infantry.
Nobles from across the Far East gathered around Count Consillus to celebrate Ferda's safe return.
Ẁe b ň о̌ v̄ е̃ľ Ĕ n̈u ṁ_а́
Following that, a banquet was held, offering joy to the survivors and comfort to those who had faced death.
"May we proceed with a festival?"
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Administrator Isabella asked with concern in her voice.
"The situation in neighboring countries isn't good......."
In the Far East, they had few troops and few casualties, so they could laugh like this, but other kingdoms' situations were not the same.
Separate from the ringing of victory bells, heavy footsteps were the last thing they saw.
Е̃ n̄ ūm̌а ._і̆d̆
There was no notable spoils of war; all they had were the dog tags of soldiers who had been chatting and laughing just yesterday.
The most important thing was the fact that the kings who had participated in the war had died.
That was a headache for each nation's leadership as well.
They hadn't fought valiantly on the battlefield to become exemplars,
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But the fact that they had stabbed each other to death purely out of their own desires was unbelievable.
Though their heads were in chaos, they could know just one thing for certain.
Е̄.n̄ûm̄ а̌
That even if they returned home, the war would not end.
"The Empire is also trying to proceed with a state funeral first......."
The Empire's Second Prince, Ureas, and the Reverse Hero, Count Rooster, had died.
The Empire's most trusted hero and the Golden Bloodline dying simultaneously was enough to turn the parliament into a mess.
"How is that going?"
"A trivial agenda came up first. Whether to hold the Second Prince's funeral first, or Count Rooster's funeral first."
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"That's the Empire for you."
"And then the agenda coming up now is asking what the Far East was doing."
"That's also the Empire for you."
If he hadn't expected it, that would be a lie.
Diverting internal dissatisfaction outward had been the Empire's way all along.
"Still, they won't be able to act recklessly."
Е̃ṅũm а .id
"May I ask the reason?"
"Because we decided to forfeit all of the Heinkel Kingdom's merits."
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"Forfeit merits......."
It was a shocking statement for Isabella.
Hadn't they achieved merits through the most efficient and effective tactics in this war?
They had to take 30% from the Empire, and at minimum had the right to obtain several business rights.
Е̂ n̊ ù ḿ a. ï d̈
But on the surface, Ferda's army looked like the most selfish bastards.
While everyone was dying on the front lines, Ferda's army was thought to have huddled in the rear, playing it safe.
People feel the blood of those ground up more keenly than technological advancement.
Ferda said to Isabella.
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"I'm sorry, Administrator. For not being capable enough."
If she wasn't disappointed, that would be a lie.
Е̃ ṅu m а
All the plans for the immediate future were scheduled to proceed using the gains from the Heinkel Kingdom.
"One shouldn't hope for everything in the world to go as one wishes."
Ferda had accomplished many things even before this.
He had forced through things that seemed somewhat unreasonable, achieving growth different from others.
That's why she believed there was something this time too.
"I think Ferda-nim must have something more valuable than that, which is why you gave it up. Could you tell me what it is?"
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The decisive event that made her give up the merits that could have accelerated the village's revival.
Wondering if she would accept it, Ferda answered.
"Five children."
* * *
The City Hall's meeting room.
Ferda seated the children and was feeding them the food used for the village banquet.
Ё nŭm.ӑ
The children started eating frantically.
As if they would never eat again if they didn't eat right now.
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"Eat slowly."
Ferda's voice made them flinch.
"No one will take it away. If it's not enough, I'll give more, so don't eat in such a hurry."
Only then did their eating speed slow down.
Е̃n̂ umã.іd
Ferda spoke to the boy who seemed to be the only one communication worked with.
"Your name is Rudelek, right?"
"Yes. What about you, mister?"
"Ferda Valdrova."
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"Call him Regent-nim, not mister, Rudelek-gun."
Isabella warned politely.
W.еb́ ňо̌v́ ё ĺ È n̊ ů m а
"Okay. I'm sorry, Regent-nim."
"It's fine. You all know well that your minds are connected as one."
"Yes. That older sister similar to that noona over there said so."
"Hmm......."
Isabella let out a low dry cough.
Her face strangely looked like she was in a good mood.
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"I heard that elf woman tried to make them do a lot of work in her place."
"Do you know what for?"
"I don't know. I'm a kid so I don't know stuff like that well."
Ferda stared intently at Rudelek's face.
Wearing a mask was very much innate to him.
However, separate from that, Ferda could see through lies of that degree.
W еb ňоvе ĺ Еn̈ u.m̃а
Ferda placed his hands on the table and spoke.
"There's no need to lie unnecessarily. I made a promise with the knight who protected you."
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"Everyone made promises."
The boy said, glancing at the smallest girl sitting next to him.
"That kid's name is Yuri. When they took Yuri, they said they wouldn't hurt her. And she believed it. But they gave her an incredibly painful drug. She screamed. Even when her voice went hoarse, she screamed. You know what the adults did then?"
"What did they do?"
Е̃ ṅ u m̂a .і́ ď
"They pulled out her tongue."
"Such......."
That's why she can't speak.
Isabella's blue eyes gleamed, expressing anger.
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It was a strange thing.
For that rational woman who never got angry at ordinary things to show such a reaction.
Ë n̈ ú m а̃ .і d̄
"Did everyone who screamed get that punishment?"
"No. Just Yuri, one person. But except for me, everyone forgot how to speak."
Since they share pain, they share that fear too.
Since they all experienced the pain of having their tongues pulled out, they all got aphasia.
From Linne's perspective, that was probably good.
Rats who keep their mouths shut and come along are better than ones who chatter.
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While at it, one thing was curious.
"Did you feel the same thing too?"
"Yes."
"Then how did you endure it?"
"I'm their oppa."
Simple and concise.
Eň ŭ m̂_ӓ.і̆ d̈
Even with that much pain, there was a sense of duty that he had to take care of the kids.
Anyway, the point of this conversation was that adults don't keep promises.
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Ferda needed to give them certainty.
"Do you know what Valdrova is?"
"I don't know."
"It's the name of a Red Dragon."
Wе.b̃n̊ оv̊ ė l Е̌n̊u m̌.а
"If it's a Red Dragon......."
Whether Rudelek's thoughts were shared, the children stopped eating and trembled in fear.
Red Dragon seems to bring Evil Dragon to mind first.
"I'm the one who will become that person's bugun."
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"Yes."
Suspicion deepened further on Rudelek's face.
W ёb_nо v еl̀ Ёn̊um̃ă
"Staking that person's name on it, I've given it a meaning deeper than staking my own life."
"......."
Rudelek made a face like he didn't understand.
That was proof of his purity.
Because he was pure, there was no way he could know how much meaning this oath carried.
Then there was no choice but to make it hit home.
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"I'll tell you one more thing. Even if you don't like me, you won't have a choice."
"Why?"
"If you refuse me, you'll die."
"Isn't that a threat?"
"No. It's just the truth."
Ferda's finger pointed at Rudelek's stomach.
Еnu m̆а̇
"That mana inside your stomach will,"
His finger smoothly pointed at the other children too.
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"And your younger siblings too, kill all of you."
"......."
"You don't know what principle the Red Circle operates on. The biggest emotion in emotional turbulence forms the mana."
"......."
Ẽ ň ŭ m̌ а̇
"Do you know where that mana power of yours started from?"
Rudelek made eye contact with the children one by one.
As if having a conversation, he made eye contact and nodded.
"They said when they're scared, something rises from their chest. They said they can't control it."
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"Even now?"
"Yes."
Ẽňů ṁ а . і̃ d̈
Ferda knew too, but he just asked.
In his eyes, the flow of magical power was clearly visible.
"Then what about you?"
Rudelek was different from the other children.
He must have received the same thing, but it wasn't born from fear.
"Me...... I got angry seeing these kids scared. That's when I feel it."
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It was anger.
Mana similar to Ferda's.
At the same time, it was the reason the children maintained their sanity without going crazy.
Even if four are scared, since one fights for them, they rely on Rudelek and endure.
"To survive, those kids must keep fearing something, and you must keep being angry endlessly."
"......."
Ẁ ẽb.n о vеl̄ Е ṅũ m̌ á
"In that sense, William really did something without a plan. If that had succeeded, you guys would've become bombs that would flip over some village."
The children's mana accelerates.
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Proof that they're feeling fear.
"That's why I also thought maybe it'd be right to just let you guys escape from this harsh reality."
"Please stop."
Rudelek gets angry at that fear.
W е̄b̊n̈ о̊v е l̀ Ӗ n um а̂
He was also angry at the fact that William was being badmouthed.
Ferda stops provoking and asks directly.
"Do you guys want to live?"
"Yes. Of course."
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"Then you have to trust us."
Ferda said to Rudelek.
Ē n̄ ũm̈а . іd̊
"People who take care of kids who awakened the Red Circle like you are rare. Above all, people who have the method to take care of people whose minds are connected are extremely few. Even those few would treat you like dangerous bombs and try to eliminate you."
Each kingdom's leadership did that, and so did I.
"We will help you. If we don't start with this trust, the relationship cannot be maintained."
"......."
Rudelek seemed to ponder something, then glanced at the children.
The children who made eye contact carefully nodded, and Rudelek answered.
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"That Dark Elf...... said she'd take us and draw a magic circle."
"Magic circle?"
"She said she'd use us for research. I saw other mages help that Dark Elf and die. She killed them like killing ants, calling them useless bastards. And then she made us."
It was exactly as Ferda thought.
A plan to use them for precise magic circles and research processes that were hard to do alone.
Information even more accurate than verbal transmission would be delivered.
Е̊nùm а̃. і̊ d̀
"Will Regent-nim do that to us too?"
"No. Even if I wanted to, I can't connect minds with you guys. That's originally the elves' magic."
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"Then what if we end up doing that kind of work later?"
"If you guys want to, you can do that kind of work. If you want to live a petty bourgeois life, do that; if you want to achieve a greater cause, do that. I won't force anything. However......."
Ferda spoke quite seriously.
"All of your actions must be honorable in front of William."
Ӗ n u ḿ а̇ . і́ d̄
"......."
William.
He stood before death, and even after that, he fulfilled his duty to the end.
Everyone cried, and Rudelek was no exception.
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Rudelek asked Ferda with a complicated face.
"William...... when is that uncle's funeral?"
Ѐ n̊ ũ m а . і̊ d
"It can't be held."
Rudelek's eyes widened.
They held the question of why.
"He disobeyed his lord's orders and let death row prisoners escape. Being buried in a common cemetery would be a stroke of luck."
"......."
The sin he carried was too great to hold a funeral.
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For the sake of others too, his death could not be honored.
"Then......."
Rudelek asked Ferda with a face about to burst into tears.
"If we become great people later....... Then?"
Ferda answered.
"If the world comes to know that your lives have value, there'll be no reason not to."
Ẇё b̂nо̊ v̊ ӗ l Е̌ ǹ u̇mа
"......."
"I promise."
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Rudelek rubbed his eyes hard and lifted his face.
Ferda strangely felt William in that face.
"I'll never...... let that uncle's death be in vain."
A human's death leads to another life.
Ẃ е̌ b n̂ovē l̈ Еn̄ǔ ṁ а́
William's will was clearly conveyed to this angry child.
* * *
"Have you made a concrete plan for what to do with the children?"
Isabella asked.
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Only 3 minutes had passed since the children were sent out.
There's no way a plan would exist right now.
Еṅu mа̄ . і̂ ḋ
"For now, we can't send them to a regular orphanage."
Their minds are connected, and I promised William I'd take care of them.
We need an environment that can take care of children whose minds are connected, not a simple orphanage.
"It would be good to have them stay in the castle interior and manage them."
"That's probably right."
"In that sense, I intend to select a vacant room in the castle interior and make it a place to manage the children. What do you think? The plan is ready."
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"Already?"
"Yes."
He said it, but only 3 minutes had passed since the kids left.
Wondering what kind of rush job he'd thrown together, it was a surprisingly detailed and concrete plan.
As if he knew this would happen.
Ferda's eyes turned to one spot in the plan.
Ё n umа
-General Manager: Isabella Iorga
"......."
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"Why are you like that?"
"I smell some selfish motive."
"I don't understand what you mean."
Isabella's eyes shone viciously.
Ѐ n ū m ă
It was never rational.
"Anyway, we need to teach them magic, so the Administrator's help is desperately needed."
"You're absolutely right."
"And I also plan to ask Echidna."
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"......That gloomy witch?"
This time she openly frowned.
Е n u̇ mа́ .і d
"Absolutely not. She'll definitely harm the children."
It's not incomprehensible.
"She's also someone who knows the Red Circle well."
As a Philias child who lived and reached the 5th Circle, she'd definitely know the theory of emotions inside out.
Isabella made a displeased face and said.
"Besides, there's no way that witch would be interested. She's that obsessed with Mori-yang, there's no way she'd be interested in other kids."
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Hearing those words, Ferda nodded.
"Then I just have to ask."
"Ugh, that's......."
"Why?"
"......It's nothing."
Ferda connected to Echidna through the crystal ball.
W̃ е̊bṅ о v еl Ё n ům̊ā
After explaining the current situation, her answer was this.
-Of courseeeee! I'll run over right now! Uhehehe!
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Crash bang!
Without even hanging up the crystal ball, the sound of all equipment being overturned was heard.
"So she says."
"......Tsk."
Е̃ n üḿа. id
Isabella clicked her tongue.
"Honestly, I'm not on good terms with that witch, so it'll be on a completely different level from when dealing with Mori-yang...... I wonder if it'll be okay."
Ferda agreed with that too.
"That's why I'm thinking of putting another suitable person in charge."
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"Who is that?"
For magic theory, Isabella.
Ӗ n ůmа.
For Red Circle theory, Echidna.
There was someone who could handle what those two couldn't resolve.
* * *
"M-me?"
The other person in charge Ferda designated was none other than Rize.
His appearance was a mess.
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No wonder, he was just returning from an adventure, and had only come to give a return report to Isabella.
Even so, his bright blond hair and eyes that looked like they held stars were beautiful.
Enough to forget the fact that he's a man.
"Is it too excessive a request?"
"No. As Regent-nim says, that part is indeed something an elf like me should handle......."
He was about to say he'd never had his mind connected.
Wеb n̄ о vе̂l̊ Е̂ ǹu m а
But he held back the words coming out, slapped his own cheeks *smack smack*, and said this.
"No. As expected, me doing it is the right thing to do."
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"If you're busy with adventurer work, you can adjust."
"Adventurer work is important, but taking care of those kids is important too. It's something a Dark Elf did, but that guy was once a High Elf....... A High Elf's sin must be paid for by a High Elf."
Rize's eyes held the same determination as back then.
"So I'll take full responsibility and take care of those kids."
Éñǔm а́ .îd̀
"Then as an adventurer......?"
"I'll do that too. If I find a balance, an answer will come out somehow, won't it?"
He's a High Elf who's never had his mind connected.
But he's lived among High Elves for hundreds of years and observed.
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Sometimes an observer's perspective can be more objective and helpful.
"It won't be easy."
Е ñ ŭ m̂ а
Ferda subtly glanced somewhere.
There, a scene like a tiger and dragon fighting was unfolding.
The witch, Echidna, and the Dragon Spawn, Isabella, were glaring at each other.
Tension that felt like it would explode any moment.
Enough to make timid Rize's face turn deathly pale.
Instinct screams that he absolutely doesn't want to get between them.
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"Uuu...... It's, it's okay. It'll work out somehow for sure!"
Clenching both fists tight and raising them up.
Too feminine, so there was nothing to say.
'Between a Dragon Spawn and a witch.'
Rize thought it was rather fortunate.
This time it's not being treated as a woman, right?
Е n̊ ũ m̄а̄
Of course that was just Rize's thought.
"Hello. Echidna-nim, and Administrator-nim. I'm Rize, who will be taking care of the kids together with you. Please take care of me."
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Planting a good impression on the other party with a cheerful voice is Rize's specialty.
He approached them with the belief that he could become an excellent mediator.
Echidna's fierce expression instantly loosened the moment she saw Rize, and she grinned foolishly.
"Ehehehe...... Pl-please take care of me toooo."
W_е́b̈no v ѐl̊. Ë ň u ṁ a
"Ye-yes......!"
Rize felt another creepiness in those eyes.
There's definitely no malice, but because of that, it's even more bizarre and insidious.
Like she's looking at prey.
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At that insidiousness, Rize reflexively turned his eyes to Isabella.
Isabella was no exception.
É n̊ūm̌а
She held Rize's hand with a deep gaze.
"Please take care of me, Adventurer Rize-nim."
"Ye-yes......."
"We'll be seeing each other often now."
Her fingers fidgeted and moved, groping Rize's hand.
'Is this really okay?'
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Such anxiety suddenly rose.
Worry that he might become not a mediator but a new toy between them.
'It won't be.'
Rize wanted to believe so.
