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Chapter 357
A Heavy Crown
Ferda stared down at that King Piece.
He asked Iorga again to confirm he hadn't misheard.
"You just said it's the heaviest crown that binds a king."
"Yeah. That's why it's called Heavy Crown. Pretty cool, right?"
"It should be viewed as an inhibitor rather than something that enhances power, correct?"
Ė n̊ ů m̄ a
"Correct."
"So your argument, Iorga-nim, is that Valdrova must be weakened to save her...?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Do I look like I'm setting a trap?"
Wasn't that obvious?
"Recalling how you stood by and watched Valdrova, one could reasonably suspect as much."
"That's a reasonable doubt. But you'll become certain too. If you wish for that child's happiness, you'll realize this is the answer."
Ě ǹu m̄á
Bullshit.
He tried to dismiss her words with that, but Ferda found himself increasingly bothered.
When she fought the Primordial Chaos, she stepped forward.
What he'd thought was her bravely advancing as vanguard, he belatedly realized was merely the figure of a householder buried in responsibility.
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She had the power to do so, and if that power remained, she would gladly do it.
For some reason, Valdrova's image formed in Ferda's mind.
W̄ е́ b nо vе̌l̇_ .E n̊u m̆а̃
Having watched her guard the Far East all this time, he could tell.
Valdrova is a very kind woman.
At times, she shows a kindness so foolish it's exasperating.
But that wasn't simply because she was kind.
'She's afraid.'
She feared not being loved.
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To escape that fear, she voluntarily did things she didn't want to do.
But it was only sinking deeper into a sticky swamp.
And a day would come when that threatened Valdrova's very life.
'What's needed for that...'
The final power to control her.
That was this King Piece Iorga had given him.
Е ňûm̆.а̇ .і̊ d́
With all the puzzle pieces fitting together, the reason for anger disappeared.
"Let's say we bind Valdrova with the item Iorga-nim gave."
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Even so, Ferda lacked conviction.
"If rendering Valdrova powerless leaves an even greater wound, wouldn't that become a trap?"
Iorga stared at Ferda's face at that question and spoke.
"You're afraid. Of being hated, you too."
W̄е bň о̂ v е̃ l Е̂n̆ ŭ m а
He couldn't deny it.
"Didn't Godwin tell you that? Or were you so immersed in our story that you missed one fact?"
"What is that?"
"Think about what we tried to do during the Dragon-Demon War."
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When Godwin began mass-producing demons and rampaging across the continent, the dragons' actions were clear.
'Submission.'
Ӗ n u m̀ а
They gave half the continent to the demons and only wished for the war to end.
"But only Valdrova wasn't like that. Why do you think that was?"
"That's..."
It was different from the positivity when she drove out the Primordial Chaos.
It wasn't a vague sense of responsibility that she'd somehow manage.
"That child believed in the possibilities of mortals walking this land. To us, they were just trivial things that would disappear buried in time. How did that turn out?"
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It was successful.
The Demon King with power rivaling dragons was killed by a Hero's hand, and the Black Dragon Godwin also died, so demons were no longer a threat to this land.
"It's the same now. Only when the humans that child believed in show they aren't powerless beings again. Only then will she cast off the shackles she used to deceive and bind herself."
Godwin died, Silverwind died.
More people died than them.
The reason he stood in the Far East was because he felt responsibility for their deaths.
Е n u m а .іd
She had no reason to be entangled in such responsibility.
If not for her, half this continent wouldn't have survived.
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No, would it really have been only half like the pact?
Godwin would have mocked them and trampled them even more thoroughly.
This continent persisted because Valdrova insisted strongly.
Yet no one ever told Valdrova that fact.
Wè bnоvеľ Е n̄.úm̆ а
Anger.
Hatred.
Sorrow.
And regret.
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All emotions swirled within Ferda's chest.
The Red Circle was losing power, trying to be devoured by the pitch-black Shadow Circle.
Ẇ еbň ǒv́ ėl̃ Ӗn̄ ŭ m̊ а̊
Then the complex emotions subsided.
Before he knew it, the King Piece was in Ferda's hand.
"If I use this... how much weaker does Valdrova become?"
"From a stupid fire lizard to about a single girl. Enough that even your weak power could restrain her for about a week."
She becomes a single woman.
He couldn't imagine Valdrova weakened.
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He wondered if this might be a trap after all.
"No need to doubt me. Even if I set a trap, it wouldn't work on that child."
"How can I believe that?"
"What a foolish question. The names bestowed upon us aren't there for nothing. That child is the Phase of Power. Pure power. Having been granted that name, she's not so weak as to be toyed with by such trivial schemes. If that had worked..."
She started to say something but stopped.
As if she didn't even want to put it in her mouth.
Е̊n ŭ mа.і̇d
She glared at Ferda as if displeased at being reminded.
"Doubt me one more time and I'll take that back, so know that."
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Ferda gripped the King Piece tightly.
It was magic with an unpleasant effect, but he didn't want to return it to Iorga.
"If I use this, Valdrova will resent me."
He could already picture it.
Е́ n ũm̂ а
Valdrova's furious expression, which he'd seen tiresomely through the Nightmare Walking Godfrey had set up.
He felt it approaching that.
That was the agape Iorga spoke of.
"That's inevitable. But you must clearly decide what you desire."
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Sick love, or healthy parting.
"It's all in your hands, young fiancé."
Еn̈ u ṁа̊ . і̇d
Ferda no longer looked at the King Piece.
"What about Erica?"
"You lost to her, didn't you?"
His heart had already accepted that.
Iorga must have noticed that heart and stopped.
"But I didn't acknowledge defeat. You're the one who arbitrarily swept it aside, Iorga-nim."
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"Scheming. Well, that kind of shamelessness is necessary to handle that fool."
Iorga lifted her head from her knee.
"But Erica's matter is for Erica to choose. She'll probably want to stay as Tower Master."
"You're playing word games."
Dragon Spawn obey dragons absolutely.
If she wishes it, doing as she wishes is what a Dragon Spawn does.
W̆ еb̈n о v̂ е l̀ Еnù m̃ а
"Whether it's word games remains to be seen."
Iorga said that.
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It felt like she was just teasing him, putting him in a bad mood.
"Is that all your business?"
"Yes. If there's no more compromise, may I rise now?"
"Go ahead."
Ẇ е bǹо̌v̇е̌l Е̊ ǹ u.m а̊
Ferda stood from his seat.
"May I ask just one more thing?"
Whether a thought suddenly occurred, or he'd been hesitating all along.
Iorga stopped him.
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"Speak."
"That nightmare you dream... how does it feel?"
Wĕ ḃ n̈ о v̄ е̃l̃ Ѐń u̇ m̈ à
p>Nightmare.
Ferda had never spoken about his nightmares to anyone.
This woman was arbitrarily peeking into Ferda's mind right now.
Yet Iorga's question didn't feel like meddling.
The situation Ferda faced now was what she had felt long ago.
"When the moment comes that it unfolds before you... you won't be able to escape that moment by just waking up."
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Ferda answered like that.
"I'll think about it when the time comes. Right now is the time to protect what that person loves."
"Hmm..."
An intrigued breath.
Iorga's eyes gazed deeply at Ferda.
"Looking now, you're a bit alike."
Е̇ ñ ū m а
A smile spread across her face.
The flower blooming in the cold felt warm like a campfire.
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"You speak as if you've transcended everything. When you're actually the same kind of fool."
Iorga extended her index finger, pointing at Ferda.
Space rippled from that finger, spreading widely.
That ripple shook Ferda, and he felt his vision and consciousness being swept away.
Ŵе̇ b̌ n̊ о̇v̊ еl Enū m а
* * *
"Ferda-nim?"
When he came to, Ruri's voice was heard.
"Hm?"
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"Aren't you going inside?"
"That's..."
W̄ e b̊n о̌ v̄е̇ l Enu ḿа̄
Ferda saw what he was doing.
He was holding the front door at the tower's entrance.
And in that state, he hadn't moved a single step.
Was all this an illusion unfolding in Iorga's palm?
If she'd arbitrarily entered his mind and conversed, even that long conversation would be enough to feel like an instant.
"Hm?"
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But he realizes that long conversation wasn't just an illusion.
Ferda felt a sensation in his other hand and opened it.
Chess King Piece.
The King Piece enchanted with magic that Iorga gave was there as is.
If that was an illusion, there's no way that item would be in Ferda's hand.
He felt his head growing complex.
Ѐ n ũ ṁ а̂
Ferda instinctively tried to analyze that magic's structure.
But that felt like a sparrow trying to follow a stork and tearing its crotch.
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Iorga is the Phase of Water and Magic.
That magic's structure couldn't be easily understood by Ferda's comprehension.
"Let's go back. The conversation's over."
He'd just touched the tower?
E ǹŭm а̇ .і̂d̀
Ruri didn't throw such a dumbfounded question.
Blue Eye is a place made of the strongest magic on this continent.
It was natural for things beyond her comprehension to happen.
"Erica Tower Master..."
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"Mother is firmly saying the child should stay home."
"Then..."
Ӗ ň u m а
As fellow Dragon Spawn, she could understand all too well.
Dragon Spawn are absolute to dragons.
So it meant Erica couldn't attend.
Leaving only a bitter result, Ferda and Ruri returned to Hestia.
* * *
That night, having received the King Piece made of powerful magic,
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Ferda still suffered from nightmares.
But the scene that had been identical every time was a little different this time.
They'd talked with about a table's distance between them in the nightmares until now.
But right now, the distance between him and Valdrova wasn't even a span.
She was clutching Ferda's clothes with both hands.
Usually she couldn't even make contact for fear of hurting him, but she was boldly holding Ferda.
È n̊uṁ_а̊.i̊d
Ferda's eyes inadvertently turned to the table.
Only then did he understand.
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The broken King Piece was restraining her.
Valdrova's sweet scent pierces his nose.
That spread not as fluttering but as guilt, hurting his chest.
Her crying grew louder.
W̄ е̊b̊ n̊о̀v е̄l̃ Е ń_úm̆ а
She pleaded.
She pleaded something, but only sobbing sounds were heard, shaking Ferda.
Ferda couldn't answer.
At the end of that plea, only a terrible curse flowed from her mouth.
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When their eyes met again, it felt like falling into the deepest abyss.
They had become mortal enemies.
Еnuḿа̃.i̇ d
* * *
The next day,
At dawn, the Demon King Expedition moved as planned.
They boarded the improved magitech automobiles and finished departure preparations.
Ferda had already told Alberto about Erica's situation.
Alberto heard the situation and said this.
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"Just push through."
A truly simple and clear answer.
"If that woman isn't there, unnecessary casualties will occur, but aren't these people who gathered prepared for that?"
"That's true."
"Even if they flee midway, the only one I really need is that Red-Eyed Tribe member, so it doesn't matter."
Jed.
Е̃ǹǔ m̌ а̌
At the same time, it meant Jed's safety wasn't even a concern since he just needed to enter the Demon King's Castle.
Cold to the extreme, but not incomprehensible.
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At this point, such things were meaningless.
Ferda glanced at the car's back seat.
A suspicious man sitting in a corner.
Unless there's a considerable threat, that man probably won't reveal himself.
Wе́ b ṅо̆ v̌ е̂ľ Е ñ um̌ â
The automobile starts.
As signs of departure showed, the expedition buzzed.
"Is Captain Eri really not coming?"
"We came believing in her, how could she..."
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Erica was also a mage who'd been active across regions as a Platinum Adventurer.
Since they did dangerous work, that central figure was important, so it was natural to waver with Erica gone.
W е ḃ n о v̄ ӗl E ṅŭ m̊ӑ
Would someone harbor thoughts of escaping?
He thought it'd be better to depart quickly before they withdrew.
"Sorry I'm late!"
That was when.
A woman's breathless voice came from behind.
Ferda heard that voice but doubted.
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That woman shouldn't be here right now?
But when he turned, she was there.
An elegant woman in blue.
But instead of the intellectual and elegant appearance known to the world, she appeared in a roguish adventurer-like human form.
Rather, she appeared in the form he thought closest to her essence.
"Heuk-heuk! I left something at home and broke a cold sweat getting it!"
Wёḃ.ňо v е̄ ľ Е̊ n̄ũ ma
Erica stuck out her tongue acting tired, and scratched her head.
The expedition's hearts, which were turning skeptical, returned to normal.
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"Everyone packed properly, right?"
"Didn't we almost leave the Captain behind?"
"Right. Almost went ahead leaving the most important thing."
"Hahaha! Sorry! I'll buy a round when we return!"
Е n̊ům̆ а
The Captain's audacity loosened the stiff atmosphere.
"Eri Captain."
"Ferda Regent-nim."
After that, not a word was spoken.
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Not even telepathy only the two could do.
But both could know through glances alone.
W е b n̄о ve l̂ Èṅu_m а̌
Ferda had already faced Iorga,
And Erica had defied Iorga's will.
"Can you handle it?"
He couldn't grasp what kind of aftereffects this act of a Dragon Spawn defying a dragon would bring.
But Erica, having been closer to Iorga than anyone, knew what she valued.
Never tolerate unreasonableness.
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Erica defined Iorga's order as unreasonableness, and didn't tolerate it.
But Erica didn't explain such situations in detail.
"What can I do?"
Erica just shrugged it off.
"Puberty just came late."
