Chapter 118: Shadow Circle
CRwP6WsThat was precisely the key Lucy had dropped.2AUhEJ
lfPL6Red Circles are created from emotions.ESZZj
2hGBecause of that, the main circuit is always a single one and, unlike Blue Circles, it cannot be replaced by another method.TEZg
LzsIHowever, Perda found himself in an exceptional situation where two emotions were interfering with the same mana circuit.ytlYVtR
w3BU2‘I’m going to divert that interference into another Circle.’bOynAA
4B6J1Once he visualized it clearly in his mind, Perda immediately began.rBRQlt
6N9He focused on the sensation of Shape of Shadow.7Vynr
I6eu‘Concentrate everything into the shadow.’aUe9WzL
TpJSEkLike the enlightenment attained by that master of transformations who once dreamed he was a butterfly.fXo
okQrOfvTo convince himself that this body had never truly been a body.X8DXfE
ldCkQAnd that the thing attached to the ground was, in reality, his true self.VYm
fttUVAt last, Perda became a shadow.Oi0A
Addoy‘Now I’ll create the Circle this way.’bGD9O
e96pqXHis shadow body circulated no Circle.DrJx
F6KYyiyTherefore, he had to proceed using the technique for forming a First Circle.EJh11TX
GaxJE0Perda evoked negative emotions.qGi
6oF7BThe moment he regretted the most.iTOlC
TvnIt was not difficult to find.tCzqn
GkRK5pIt was the instant when Valdrova tore out her own heart.b2H6E
HBAnXHe absorbed that memory through all five senses.rdiGqa
5nd4Then he felt something brushing against his ears.rhw
8PNzvdEWhy are you doing something so foolish?Qur
gHK0DThat voice had already understood his intentions.O7A
RhNKhI’m not trying to harm you. I want to help you.52zR59
qdJ1tZPerda replied.lt0arF
konpX6“No matter what you say. I won’t allow you to do whatever you want.”BPZVv
9kAJEven if the day comes when you can no longer protect what you wish to protect?DYwzK4
p5AZvEe“Yes.”XX0
gGCThen all that will remain for you is regret once again.yU2xD
5mZu6H“I don’t care.”JbaSp1
ni11Perda had already made his decision.dnv
3BkYEven if he ended up regretting not having enough power, he would not allow his past self to dominate him.PJeYcOc
3JxPiI understand.i12xXy
XCxBut don’t push yourself too hard.a47Se2
VNuIf you desire power, I will always give it to you.zDgT9H
CdaRNRemember this.iMIJJSy
2oJ— I am always inside you.tpKJe5
YGoE4WyIt was at the moment he felt that voice separate from him on its own.xnx
Nq3KSomething black and viscous began to stir inside his shadow body.GWrqNZ
IK0ulErThe hand that was forming the Circle stirred that mass and made it flow.DsUY7Q2
q5LbUZ7As he circulated it, Perda concentrated and shaped it as if molding clay.EGTKPyJ
lbZbzhxThe entire process was like walking through a field of thorns.v67Yx
1ijsExtracting negative emotions without being dominated by them.LVh
oJjbAnd at the same time, continuing to deceive himself so as not to recognize his true body even once.Opo76j
nEJThe instant he failed, he would die.ZkKN
ig4cjBlEven as he felt the process consuming his mind, he pushed himself to the limit.auw
hPwV9s‘There is someone who must be happy.’ZQZeD
gGcaThat conviction alone was enough to sustain him.hKKCRS
12PShortly afterward, he felt the Circle that had previously been rotating violently begin to stabilize into a defined form.ZcEwlQ
QnR3q5MPerda opened his eyes.1Uwp
7aqYncNHe saw his elongated shadow cast by the light of a candle behind him.G1DRrz
jDiyzxAnd a Circle rotating with a color even deeper and darker than that shadow.kd7Jwc
Cpenrh‘So this is what she meant.’JilkNAA
xwSBYWhen he did not understand its meaning, those words had been confusing.v1hIo
KSv0gi2But now he understood that they were exact.3dz7
8ra0ETwo emotions capable of interfering.mmV
n8JTwo Circuits.cx4G
XlbN24nEach would move separately without mixing.AyY
QpwpIf that new Circle moved, it would mean it was an emotion he needed to be wary of.LfcQz8r
u5fxEIf the original Circle moved, it would mean it was an emotion he could continue nurturing.7R1l
kGbHiZPerda reduced the shadow body and drew it toward himself.paOH6t
mRGpJThe newly formed Circle followed it.2Pdl
9UJtThen he placed it beneath the main Circle that already resided in his dantian.EgKSRMN
Ldg3cgHe then felt both of them rotating while meshing together, like gears helping one another.WQCaT1u
DB4‘My amount of mana has increased as well.’1lzSEmS
1sKWith an auxiliary Circle added to his former 4 Circle, his mana quantity had reached a level close to that of a 5 Circle.0dBWpn9
oVoT0It was strange.YK5ejI
xqNBIt was not a simple mathematical sum.6tG
mx3HyIAdding a 1 Circle to a 4 Circle should not produce the amount of mana of a 5 Circle.eFCE
uQfxXNormally, at least three more Circles would be needed to approach that level.BUOLvmB
dZU3And yet, that single Circle was nearly equivalent to three.iLB2OX
2wxH‘That only means one thing.’2eSHh
LxzqZGThat emotion was extraordinarily intense.NOeqgO
TnZ7What had created that Circle was Perda’s regret.Z5sv
xiGIwAn emotion that had once reached the level of a 9 Circle, the realm of demigods.mz1
Yen9TV‘I must not feed it until I reach at least the 5 Circle.’MiVB5OJ
GQnHe had to strengthen his love.lcksK8M
KJkFHAnd suppress his regret.rHvxGWw
CMsAt the same time, he had to control it so it would support him and keep both in balance.YDTybw
NPEWIt would not be an easy path.TkGfX
kozEven so, Perda felt relieved.laW
IQVNow he could see it.KB7u
ZIn62THe could feel it.fzZ
wZHoh6dAnd that meant he could control it as well.FuCcR
GH3YThe situation was far better than when everything had been uncertain.kkra9
hOtWThis was a power that only Perda could possess.0r6k3L
pneXAnd he decided to give it a name.OpphX
F0J5‘Shadow Circle.’PWDYz
s1M***8wU
3C5G0In the midst of a winter that seemed eternal, sunlight began to carry warmth.JUVVd
FAGThe warmth touching the earth caused small green sprouts to timidly emerge, offering a silent prayer to the morning light.axO
PcYAThe followers of Alte also gazed upon the vegetation and offered a brief prayer.3Ptqh
NvHIt was an expression of gratitude because the time of suffering had ended and Alte’s blessing had arrived.bySO
BuiCSpring had come.jPfY
OHE3g0The refugees who never left the stoves finally enjoyed the sunlight.gXZ0Foh
ZB5jchThe streets regained their vitality.qp5h
Ys7Perda conducted the quarterly review together with Isabella, the administrator.t9d
HJy“The basic construction of the village has been completed.”FoF
1qjNFkThe completion of the first phase meant that all buildings essential to the village’s operation had already been built.xFo
JPuC8The second phase would consist of expanding buildings and dividing districts.xjhZJ
ShY03wiThe third would include the construction of walls and other large-scale projects.YB1J3
bnxD“Were there any problems?”YGej
fhul“As always happens when work is done in stages, there were some inconveniences.”jW9eeZ
q7RIt was natural.D00PA2K
yCNQ3DzThey had started construction of the walls ahead of schedule, even though it had originally been planned for later.24waYp
0zb0Z“When we designed the walls, we calculated a capacity ten times greater than the current population, correct?”nCw
KhGL“That’s right.”YM3fWL
aO8i7E“After reviewing the data, we have reached a conclusion. We need to slow population growth.”fxsj
VaZfeUSlowing population growth meant stopping the acceptance of refugees.Dvi
YGu4h“We have begun receiving petitions from nobles within the Empire. They claim that we are diverting refugees.”JXkjX
vXf“That is a difficult accusation to refute.”jM52Y
pm1j1Because it was true.D6dx
U3bAksBThey had accepted nearly every refugee who arrived.EED
2qrjs9The reason other territories rejected refugees was not only the harsh winter.dlF
smRmP7rWhen spring arrived, every laborer was valuable.2soR
Azr9B“Some nobles are also demanding that we return the refugees.”ltKydP6
1OqPLG“Not a chance.”cCexK
xUIYBn“I completely agree.”OenG4mQ
MhJ4Perda was not a philanthropist.iTv
5cVGq9The purpose of attracting people without a single coin to increase the population was to bring life to the city.qnYi
L0DzuThe more people there were, the more merchants arrived.zeD
Tq4And the more merchants arrived, the more rumors spread.nhk
mEhVu6“Will sending a letter telling them not to dream of it be enough?”01Z0B
g4Pt“I dare say that would be the worst option.”iyU9WKp
jCNZIsabella replied coldly.SCCECLf
FbihCMU“If they have already sent a petition, it means our influence has grown to the point of being considered a force. What we need now is to cut off that current. If we respond with a letter, we will only be opening a breach for that current to grow stronger.”42MN
bgwLa“Then the answer will be assassination.”wni
fJQC“…Are you serious?”jRf2gp6
pq6l6“It’s a joke.”rqbW
3h68Upon hearing that, Isabella blinked.1HCm
WjCJhcwShe had never imagined the word “joke” would come out of Perda’s mouth.FnFWn
0yfAnd no matter how she thought about it, it had not sounded like a joke.MEFF
V1FpyUaPerda more or less understood what Isabella meant by that current.B56Ii5Y
LOcWHe had accumulated far too many enemies in his life not to know where that kind of resentment eventually flowed.Fgcm
ks67jd‘The Empire.’oeeQ
ZGdFor the Empire, the explosive growth of the Dragon Duchess’s territory would not be pleasant.jDP0F
wc69iDThey could not simply sit back and do nothing.l03V
pAgqOne way or another, they would try to slow it down.vdgDYl
7lRuThey might even spread the impression that Perda was provoking wars everywhere in order to create refugees and absorb them.rRa1H
7Fi2“What do you think we need right now?”1Eik2
IR7jc4E“Contacts, of course. What political problems require are contacts.”XTtB
67DfbIt was precisely what Perda was worst at after physical activities.klX
EbE“Isn’t Count Consilus here?”bOa6
lEnhV“Count Consilus is an excellent person, but his influence is limited to the Far East.”ooiA
HrKPdxJust as a village chief only holds authority within his own village, outside of it he is nothing more than a mere outsider.GNCm
EITqConsilus always said the same thing.KTbkG
ZslThat it would be good to become close to someone with real power within the Empire.83UZnit
mwYtoXBack then, it had seemed like a distant problem.PwaHfR
rYHc8He had never imagined he would end up building a city in his own front yard.HbuthXL
2gQE“As I understand it, you already attended the Council once. Didn’t you become friends with anyone there?”jrwCD
iXcUz1“Friends…?”3WNNn
NCsePerda mentally returned to that day and tried to remember the people he had gotten along with.TZiz2
4XSA completely bald and shining head appeared in his memory, gleaming like the sun.mQfKc
3Aw“There’s Rector Escolea.”hTk9
ORHx47Y“Rector Escolea does not have enough influence to serve as political backing.”QuPxwVn
j5bqgIf anything, it would be Perda who would have to support him.ie2l
wGimH“And what about Lorga Magic Tower, which declared an alliance with us?”J2gIgs
t8Mr“They have influence, yes. But their principle is not to interfere in human politics. If the matter is not related to demons, they will not lift a finger.”De3q3O
CGMkIt made sense.8PC0i
gY7eXThey always said that human affairs should be resolved by humans themselves.BaMBT
QJ94“We need someone inside the Empire. At the very least, someone capable of containing any attempt by the Empire to hinder our growth.”0VyQwP
ccP5FSomeone like that.EjNAzu
EBDKWhere could he find such a person?P7qr
rC9Just as Perda was reflecting on it, Ruri appeared, having been carrying out cleaning duties.V7I
TBV“A visitor from the Empire has arrived.”fMF
OyPttA***5Gu
Q6jPcThe person who arrived via the Imperial roads was a knight.xIR0oD4
dVZlsHe bore the direct emblem of the Imperial Family.yXM1n
9QUHis armor was adorned with silver and gold, clearly conveying that no one should dare treat him lightly.qv2o
t2l5NqBut Perda was a knight.K7hX
gFhN8And he knew perfectly well what his role was.4tcmm
QUmHe deduced it when he saw the owl feather attached to the knight’s helmet.H1wGu3
nGeF‘A messenger.’CIiX
2fEfPThose responsible for delivering letters written by members of the Imperial bloodline.EuLblFP
6jv6A high-ranking position that could not be ignored.n3if3d
tjyJ“I present my respects to the Grand Consort of Fire! I am Aren, an Imperial Knight!”QxHm
qDsGYP“Welcome to Castle Valdrova. What brings you here?”k7I
gNYBI“I have come to deliver a letter from the Imperial Family.”yFsT2h
npUon2The knight pulled out a box he had been carrying close to his chest.K64yzKf
eOAInside was a letter carefully packaged by the person who had written it.L1I
U9nvIf he had come to proclaim an Imperial decree, he would have brought a luxurious scroll rolled around a golden rod.4vY7M
lc1LAThat meant it was not an official position of the Empire, but a personal matter sent by a member of the Imperial Family.U2Ce3Ga
zbljr‘If they’ve sent a letter like this…’9q91
jW2eWmPerhaps because of the conversation he had just had with Isabella, the first thing he thought was that this might become a valuable contact.zYn
c8ZqHe broke the seal and read the contents.OImdQJ
6Afdud“If it isn’t too private, may I ask what it’s about?”Kw42
velD0KSince Isabella handled all the complicated matters, Perda had no problem telling her.aCLxLC
9p3Lw“A member of the Imperial Family is coming to visit.”vEaI4
Wl06oy“So soon? Tomorrow already?”QWrS7if
LBjhDO“In a week.”O6hE
eca4vLHTime within the Empire was far too valuable.G7bj
4X7nIAnd members of the Imperial Family were true VVIPs.FYFB0
kM6OsBLFrom their perspective, even a week was still short notice.POCPW
IDOlXHWhich member of the Imperial bloodline would be coming?QXYEMyo
GSDsgPerda looked at the signature at the end of the letter.Xd7ZYl5
yJhRTThe slight anticipation he had felt disappeared the moment he saw the first name.uaM
DH7“It’s a letter sent by an Imperial Princess.”ucUVMf
8pQOlivia Arken.ej6gn0v
hZMOGUnlike the Imperial Princes who possessed succession rights, she could not directly express political opinions.7re
T7O5o“A beautiful façade on the outside but empty on the inside.”tw8U4q
OHWboIsabella was right.9MiUz
YnyBut even an empty façade was still better than nothing.27PzGnI
fIKBKogAnd Perda, who was starving, needed something to put in his mouth immediately.FXo2b
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationOlivia is right on time.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationFacts.