Chapter 12: The Most Opportune Moment

Human memory is finite and unstable.

But just as one doesn’t forget how to breathe, there’s always something that inevitably remains remembered.

In Perda’s case, it was the object of his hatred.

Not just names, but a list of those he wanted to hate and take revenge on—a list of deaths.

To hate them, he dug into their achievements.

To take revenge, he carefully memorized their flaws.

‘Thinking about it now, it was completely absurd.’

The reasons he had come to hate them were full of paranoia.

They were such petty matters that now they embarrassed him.

‘In any case, in this return to the past, they’ve become useful information.’

Perda clearly knew the weaknesses and strengths of those who would later become important figures.

People who, had they acted differently, could have done better.

Individuals who would have succeeded if they had paid attention to a certain talent earlier.

‘There are so many outstanding people.’

Too many, in fact.

Trying to recruit them all was, in practice, impossible.

Just those who stirred his greed numbered over a hundred, and clearly not all could work together.

‘First, I must set priorities.’

Now, as the dragon queen’s fiancé and regent, Perda thought about what was most necessary.

‘Valdrova’s territory is currently in neglect.’

The queen did not intervene directly and left administration to the feudal lords.

Without supervision, the people’s discontent had greatly grown.

‘I should take care of civil affairs.’

However, deciding was easier than carrying it out.

When a king interfered in a lord’s lands, resistance or even civil war was not uncommon.

‘Although that point has already been resolved without trouble.’

When he sent letters, he was sure the lords would react with rejection.

But that expectation failed spectacularly—he received replies from the fourteen remaining lords swearing loyalty.

‘Seems Ruri’s act of hanging a head on the castle gate had quite the effect.’

The lords understood they could not underestimate him, so for now, he decided to leave them alone.

‘Then internal matters are more or less settled. What about external threats?’

The main ones were monsters and demonic creatures that caused chaos.

The queen’s domain lay in the easternmost region, near the lands tainted by the Demon King.

That corruption was slowly spreading into nearby areas.

‘One of the main causes is lesser demons.’

Beasts born from corrupted magic, they could be found anywhere.

Even in the central region of the continent they occasionally appeared, so on the far eastern edge, near the cursed lands, they were far more common.

‘The presence of lesser demons taints the land.’

The longer they remained, the faster the devastation advanced.

No life could flourish, and the beings living there eventually became corrupted too.

That’s why, wherever they appeared, extermination missions were always marked as urgent.

‘If I can reduce the casualties and land contamination they cause…’

Naturally, there would be more food and civil life would recover.

If Queen Valdrova defended against external threats, Perda had to deal with the internal ones.

‘And for that, what’s indispensable is technique.’

Well-trained soldiers alone weren’t enough—civilians also needed effective means to hunt demons.

That was the priority.

With that standard in mind, Perda reviewed his death list and selected a few people.

The result was a total of four names.

“So we must recruit these people before anyone else.”

Ruri took the paper Perda handed her and checked the names.

Vernell Marquis

Zed Swallow

Echidna Philiaz

Helus Povidas

As soon as she read them, she frowned.

“These are names I’ve never heard before.”

“That’s natural. These are people who haven’t stood out yet.”

“I asked you to recruit talents, not invite your childhood friends to play at court.”

Ruri’s gaze sharpened.

Her Dragon Fear, tinged with emotion, enveloped Perda.

‘There’s definitely a change.’

After the engagement, the effect of Dragon Fear on him had weakened, but it was still uncomfortable.

After all, having a girl who looked about fourteen glaring daggers at you and feeling nothing would be the weird part.

“Do you really see me as someone who’d do that?”

“Exactly because you don’t seem like it, I’m even more worried.”

“That sounds contradictory.”

“Be that as it may, could you at least tell me about them? Aside from Helus Povidas, I know absolutely nothing about the other three.”

Helus Povidas was a mage known as the Sage of Water.

It was said his advice was so wise that kings and lords held it in great esteem.

“I assure you the other three are even more important than Helus Povidas.”

“Then explain yourself.”

“The first one we must find is this Vernell Marquis, who lives in a city called Escolea.”

Upon hearing the city’s name, Ruri immediately asked,

“Is he a scholar?”

“He is.”

Escolea was a city located in the central-eastern part of the continent, known as the city of scholars.

Like a henhouse where one only seeks chickens or eggs, Ruri immediately understood he was a scholar.

“You do know that scholars receive honorary titles, right?”

“I heard they’re granted upon graduating from the academy. And what about it?”

“A lot. Because this man received the title of Chaotic.”

“Are you trying to turn our castle into a disaster? Showing your true colors like this right after getting engaged is a poor choice.”

Since the title defined a scholar’s life, negative words were rarely used.

That someone was directly called “Chaotic” meant even his peers found him unbearable.

“There’s a reason for that. It means he attempts things no one else dares try.”

“If scholars don’t try them, there must be a good reason, don’t you think?”

“Sure. But he keeps trying anyway.”

“Then he’s just a fool.”

“A man of conviction.”

“A stubborn fool, then.”

It couldn’t be denied.

Even Perda, the first time he met him, thought he was a fool.

Ignoring the scornful looks, he walked alone on his own path. Ridiculous, yes—but at the same time noble.

‘That kind of stubborn fool always ends up achieving something.’

Even if everyone cursed him, saying it was impossible—even if they accused him of wasting time—the path he walked with dedication would eventually shine.

Back then, he always repeated with regret:

— If I had been able to research a little longer, I could have created so many more things by now.

It was obvious.

‘What kind of idiot would invest in something destined to fail?’

Not even a noble with enough money to burn would fund a “Chaotic.”

No one wanted to become the fool who supported a madman with such a title.

But Perda knew that man.

“And what exactly is he researching?”

In the future, he would be:

“The refinement of magic stones and the creation of energy sources from lesser demon corpses.”

The pioneer who would open the era of magical engineering.

***

At the center stood a single Tree of Knowledge, so tall it seemed to pierce the heavens, surrounded by five enormous libraries.

It might seem that, under such a tree, not a single ray of light would enter—but the Tree of Knowledge had no leaves, making it no more than a gigantic pillar.

In the city at its base, there was no trace of the typical musty or damp smell, but instead a strong aroma of coffee and black tea.

Accustomed to that fragrance, countless people bustled about.

They had turned every available space into walkways so that the crowds could flow.

Each had their destination, but all carried at least three books under one arm and a freshly toasted slice of bread in their mouths.

“It’s full of people.”

“Naturally, all the scholars and their assistants gather here.”

“I don’t understand how anyone could want to live in such a crowded place.”

“They say they prefer to seek greater value rather than settle for what they have.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Me neither.”

Perda and Ruri scanned the street with their eyes.

In just their field of vision, there were hundreds of people jostling against each other.

All dressed in black robes, and in nine out of ten cases, wearing glasses.

“And now we have to find a single person here?”

“Exactly.”

“It’ll take us over a month.”

It was almost like searching in an extremely difficult puzzle.

It would be a lie to say it wasn’t discouraging.

Amid the crowd, street vendors also moved without rest, sticking to the walls, offering mostly quick and simple food.

The people, flowing like a river, picked something up on the go as they walked.

‘Maybe the vendors know something.’

With that thought in mind, Perda looked at Ruri.

“…”

Her expression was different from usual.

Normally cold and professional, showing no emotion except when angry.

But this time, her face showed something else.

She was staring intently at a stall selling candied fruits.

Her large eyes sparkled with a silvery glint, and her slender neck moved up and down.

Gulp.

That simple gesture meant only one thing.

“Do you want to eat?”

“…What do you think I am?”

Ruri narrowed her eyes and protested irritably, more flustered than usual.

“I just thought maybe that vendor might know something.”

“I thought the same. We should ask him.”

Perda walked with her to the stall, though Ruri’s eyes remained locked on the candied fruits.

“Excuse me.”

“Well, well, a young noble and a lovely handmaiden. What can I do for you?”

“We’re looking for someone. Perhaps you know them.”

“Someone? This place is full of people, full of people! Just bespectacled ones, there are tens of thousands, and those who buy candied fruit skewers from me are already in the thousands. How do you expect me to remember them all?”

The vendor smiled slyly, as if expecting something.

Perda glanced at the fruits behind the glass.

“And if I buy a skewer, maybe your memory will come back?”

“Hahaha, that would make me very happy. But first, tell me, who are you looking for?”

“The scholar known as Chaotic.”

The vendor’s eyes opened wide.

“Ah, Chaotic! Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“You know him?”

The man gave a wide grin, revealing yellowed teeth.

“Hundreds of thousands live in this city, but if someone doesn’t know where that guy lives, they must be a spy. Ask anyone on the street, they’ll all know.”

“Then there’s no need to buy those fruits, right?”

“……!”

At that, Ruri flinched.

“Still, showing a little courtesy and buying something would be the right thing to do, don’t you think? Besides, you clearly don’t lack money, and a little indulgence now and then doesn’t hurt. I’ll give you three skewers for five silver coins.”

“Exactly. If someone offers help, it’s only right to return the favor.”

Ruri quickly jumped in, siding with the vendor.

It was true—if someone showed kindness, it was only fair to respond.

Perda agreed, bought three skewers of honey-coated candied fruits, and handed them to Ruri.

“Eat them.”

He handed her the sticky sweet.

“Aren’t you going to try one?”

“I’m not a child.”

“Excuse me? I’m not one either!”

“I know.”

“Then don’t you think it’s ridiculous to give them all to me? Aren’t you treating me like one? Are you really going to lie and say you’re not?”

“So, you don’t want to eat them?”

“…”

Ruri, frowning in frustration, still took the skewer from Perda’s hand.

Without waiting any longer, she bit into a honey-glazed fruit with clear anticipation.

Her silver eyes sparkled even more.

‘So she can make that face too.’

Perda thought maybe Ruri wasn’t someone with withered emotions like he was.

And seeing her with that childlike appearance, which actually suited her looks, he felt oddly reassured.

With cheeks puffed like a squirrel in autumn, Ruri continued devouring the candied fruits.

Noticing Perda’s gaze, she looked away in annoyance, narrowed her silver eyes, and pressed the stick against her chest.

“Why are you looking at me like that? You think I’m going to give you some?”

“No. I don’t want any.”

***

All creatures have hierarchies: if the rich exist, so do the poor.

Escolea, a city founded on the belief that all are equal before knowledge, was no exception.

In Escolea there were wealthy families, and at the same time, there were slums.

And within those slums, there were even more miserable zones, where the most destitute lived.

Places where sunlight barely entered, invaded by the stench of sewers and rat droppings.

A place where the foul smell was so persistent it made you fear opening a door without thinking twice.

That was exactly where Vernell Marquis lived.

Ruri couldn’t hide her shock when she looked through a window that was even lower than her own height.

“It’s amazing that someone can live in a place like this.”

“Humans can live in more places than you’d imagine. Even in a toilet, if necessary.”

“Did you live like that in the Rosnova family?”

“Back then it was even worse, a real hell.”

It was during the time when he had no money and his master, obsessed with him, had taken even his last coin.

Perda learned then that a person could sleep in a bathroom soaked in the stench of waste and urine.

“Do you think he’s inside?”

At his question, Ruri nodded.

“Yes, I sense a presence.”

Crash!

A loud, chaotic noise came from the window.

After hearing it, she added,

“And it seems he’s in the middle of some commotion.”

“A visitor, in that case. Entering now means getting caught up in trouble.”

Perda smiled slightly.

“There couldn’t be a more opportune moment.”

And with his hands behind his back, he descended the stairs.