Chapter 14: The Sparrow’s Trap
efStHYVernell had always been told he moved at his own pace.xSP
3bjxxRThat’s why, even in such a small academy, he hadn’t made a single friend and had gone from being a prodigy to teetering on the edge of expulsion.k7p
kaLQBut even a Vernell so “in his own way” now felt completely powerless before this man.omZ
y9QI2‘An overwhelming aura…’naM36UO
B3kEyes like they were peering into an unfathomable abyss.ZuvQRQ
UkOThey weren’t empty; there was also a love within them—directed toward Valdrova.K3S60K
DKqSgkSomeone who truly seemed capable of doing anything for her.ZMa3
6o4kConvinced he was about to lose his life, Vernell opened his mouth.8wVp
YBBil“W-well… I don’t know. I don’t think something like that could shake my convictions…”5eW
ch3zvBut one thing is one thing, and another is another.fFQ
dAsEven if threatened like that, he didn’t want to change his stance so easily.pUeu5
ICwLs‘Aaaah! I-I’m not gonna die, right?’iJNF
vmW5yMOVernell closed his eyes and let his imagination run wild.Lc4dexg
QaXWould they twist his fingers?pmb62Rd
q7kuXOr beat him like a dog on a sweltering day, like the loan shark?Dvpa
etiPerda’s hand landed on his shoulder.ukTp
p4pEn“It’s fine.”FzpEnDr
WuXRkPerda gave him a few gentle pats.cZR
QM1i8SyRealizing he was still intact, Vernell opened his eyes wide.a9XqI
Odc“E-eh? W-what…?”ncZPYB
MIw“I said it’s fine.”aG2
2evDHGc“…That’s it?”hlgg3
uXlIFe“Yes. That’s enough. I never intended to convince you in just one day.”nms
CUvAv“Ah… I-I see…”IXE
IZOQ4ePerda extended a hand toward Ruri, and she pulled out a scroll from inside her voluminous skirt.ivO7Pr0
iLJ“Here.”XOtxDe
nwTTfaY“What’s this?”BOm9JW1
bCRSO“A letter of appointment.”FmtHbh
u0dw“Appoint… ment?”tzkHcD6
pJ1jEX“A document that officially designates you as the chief researcher of Valdrova Castle. The terms are exactly what I told you. The only variable is how you choose.”ewL
a48Z4NPPerda stood up and turned away.VVMr0
VOpx“Think it over carefully. And when you’ve decided, come to the Dragon Queen’s domain anytime. Let’s go.”r3ja
tRud“Yes.”pYp6
FBu0ZPerda and Ruri left through the door without another word.pZrcK8
25bNo insistence, no looking back. They truly left.eJDWgu
fARhNGThe letter of appointment they left behind rolled gently until it stopped at Vernell’s feet.G06eB
NB8Alone, Vernell stared at it in silence.fJO
gA2e***1MQvu
Qk7n“Can we really trust that Vernell guy?”Nvc
VaYmQInside the carriage, Ruri asked while seated across from him.9Nq
PrdIn her right hand, she held a skewer of honeyed fruit, and in her left, a set of about five cups awaiting execution in her mouth.ESG4w
fhqPerda nodded.s4MR
3k5n“He’s trustworthy.”8RG
7JZ“Idealists like that usually carry their stubbornness to the grave.”KpPla
dYvv“He’ll do it.”i8jozz
QdiXvw“How can you be so sure?”n2zWxN
64dgg8h“Because those who desire peace always end up preparing for war.”WRLCDA
96o8fL“And who said such nonsense?”3K2m
7YxmWho else.rgDOd9G
JW19Qn‘That guy.’dGnu
1Od3CThe Vernell Marquis of the future—the one Perda had known—had said it.XN0B
FB0He’d realized too late how hypocritical his extreme pacifist facade had been.dot
dsBk“Assuming we’ve already recruited him, where do you plan to go next?”hRJ
6AbPerda had already decided on their next destination.TdFFul
pOQtq“We’re going to Halim.”viun0
P8cGf“Halim… isn’t that the entertainment city in the south?”o7M0zs
jGDIPlHRuri’s expression turned even more unpleasant than usual.O8um
KYjF1qXShe was already used to getting bad looks, but now it felt like people looked at her worse than an insect.GJFCZ73
tOOvAnd with good reason—that city was a sanctuary of decadence and pleasure.pEz4
BtCdk“If we’re just passing through, pick another city.”z06
jGIosc“No. That’s the final destination. The person I’m looking for is there.”tdZ
agTUz“In a city of vices?”I2lTLpp
Y3vso“Without a doubt.”djIPCzf
NbL8ao“Are you sure there’s no personal interest involved?”paT4l6q
oursUTk“There isn’t.”ngEz
rmKJQRuri narrowed her eyes and stared at Perda.qaL5K
FaAbEven she could tell there wasn’t a trace of a lie in his words.LxxnAL
6Gq4kyzAnd precisely because of that, it seemed even more suspicious to her.wVlhl1
ObNHow could a human live being that honest?ifp
kvum“Then, who are we going to find?”hrCUin
sdTXW“Zed Swallow.”7Ie
nSCiFtOne of the names written on the list Ruri was holding.uYR2
ctjno“And what kind of person is he?”6mrw
vv2k9“He belongs to the Sparrow Clan.”NUkFOC3
bpURO“…Sparrow Clan?”sqTdw0z
jFQnNQK“That’s right.”Zh0hvs
UYzP2aA brief silence.Cls
uDTLRuri thought for a moment, checking if what she was thinking was correct, and asked again,40QeR
Ds6HGNY“Are you referring to that scoundrel who scams nobles and rich women by seducing them?”DsIT
u9ZAIp“He’s also a gambler.”lgca
cDTm“…”1uH
Mpxx7Z5“Why that face?”P3fH
KXYWith each word, Ruri’s expression darkened further.Yhq4T
dfcA dark, oppressive aura began to emanate from her.PkPoZL
lipYNqHiiiiin!BxRH1
2KPR3pY“Eh? What’s wrong with the horses all of a sudden?”F7qcL7
v96OEven the poor horses ended up startled.29w
ZGMhB6RWith the animals shaken for no clear reason, the road ahead promised to be complicated.Nj7tH
SufSeeing the scene, Perda added what he had left out.MaWB0R
OP9NG“And, he also comes from the Red Eyes bloodline.”Q4SaF
54bThe aura Ruri was emitting disappeared instantly.6iGz7Iu
ye25RqyThe emotion she now showed looked more like surprise.t1PQXN
UdHqz“The Red Eyes bloodline… are you talking about that lineage?”07nLJdg
mxeI“Exactly.”Kh9Amt2
duIlfl“I heard they went extinct because of the Great Cataclysm.”dqh
ugEQ“They did. That’s the official information.”ypX3W
0FVThe official information.mgsI
f4jjKeyRuri knew this wasn’t something that could be brushed off lightly.7DNGRj4
rkbZVyoIf there were signs the Red Eyes had survived, a report would have arrived immediately.0c5SJu
fNEAnd if that were the case, she would have known.pndmI
59x“How do you know something like that?”0sihO
FJEmCtsRuri asked directly.h96oxr
KVstX4“I just do.”wji
00bEGdZPerda avoided giving more details.haN
4uL5She wanted to press further, but Ruri had no clear reason to keep pushing.nWse6
KQBl6‘Sparrow Clan and gambler—but of the Red Eyes.’6NKQxmD
8VbupA truly delicate balance.DJkq8
Ycg6YCompared to Vernell Marquis, he was an even worse human being, yet at the same time someone with extraordinary capabilities.nxJv9uD
CrhXVG‘Should I oppose this or support it?’J5SHM
F6mmAt that crossroads, Ruri hesitated over and over.6qq2f
5EctTo keep her brain from “shutting down,” she munched on the candied fruit with enthusiasm, thinking harder.Pk4F
helNPerda decided to help her make up her mind.XxA3p
N7gGY0“They say they sell a lot of sweets in the south.”kQO2Dk
x5qZ4ko“…Alright. Let’s at least go check it out.”vwF
u0nUn1l***YxytaDG
6YHZ3w5The South is a hot region all year round.JAP
627Su2XUnder the blazing sun, the land dries out, and if you go far enough south, you reach a desert of extreme heat where not a single blade of grass or drop of water can be found.SNmJm
Jylvg8Halim was an entertainment city built to take advantage of precisely those southern traits.jOlo7
IDaDuring the day it was hot, but the cool nights allowed for a bustling nightlife to thrive, attracting numerous nobles and wealthy individuals.9dLvbe
H1b3BwJIf Escolea was filled with the aroma of coffee and black tea, here the air was thick with the sweet scent of sugar.H2Kylt
o7MyHaWPerda got a headache from it, but Ruri’s nose enjoyed it all day long.jGO
ovh1UThe place Perda headed to was a casino.MevyMq
qittORuri silently observed the chips Perda had exchanged.INQf
dhNnHe had converted absolutely all the money he was carrying.faHyZ6Y
Ym3“Didn’t you say you had no personal interest?”5yY
oo0“I don’t.”cnU6qB
2x6D9fK“Really?”dRaui
pEKlCw1“I’m going to wear out my tongue repeating it. Just push the cart and follow me.”jJp
K2CWD40Under Ruri’s sharp glare, Perda walked silently through the casino.YkzvGx
ouMr33Women in provocative clothing and people laughing as they indulged in primal pleasures.px9U
vrriUNAmong those living in a money-bought utopia to forget reality, Perda walked with solemnity.UWw
DyBByAnd among them, there was a young man who stood out.dIsez
64FIn the midst of a murky, desire-filled aura, there was a boy who shone.QHaepUK
Yq6OHvnLight brown hair, black eyes.esiM
9tWkfTpTall, solidly built, slim but not fragile.UkDFEU
aZkXGgPeople gathered around him.YLvtL83
Bv2ShWhen he laughed, everyone laughed; when he looked sympathetic, they all shared that emotion.evQBAO
tqCBrrTThat man completely captivated his audience.JbAV
W9zf‘Zed Swallow.’TfWc
JydjA man who, with his extraordinary eloquence and charm, won the favor of many nobles.G6V
pJmH1XvSo charming they didn’t even realize they were being swindled.DBB
JbW‘Though, because of his greed, he was eventually caught.’aBqAaNb
9r9ZIStill, that wasn’t a problem.MQd7
CzJpqNThey say a clever rabbit digs three burrows.C9f
va1WBut Swallow was the kind of man who dug three more inside those three to escape danger.njowi1
yA1dkZ‘He even escaped Shark Island, from which no one escapes, and the ice prison in the far north.’SzzHdo
tczJHe was, without a doubt, a great criminal—a man for whom nothing was impossible.sOqLQD
j6KWell, that was only possible because no one knew he was from the Red Eyes race.kqerm
K1lAmK4All descendants of the Red Eyes race are marked by their red pupils and possess a unique ability.lgB
kwRThe power to disperse residual mana present in objects or in the air.9LmN7
pIg4That’s why, to mages, the Red Eyes race was a natural enemy.r2mtGkR
iBP2lThe eyes of the man Perda was watching now were a deep black.1M5Wl
IDmTPPerfectly normal eyes of an ordinary human.QvNlo
SNabM3gThat’s why no one would suspect he belonged to the Red Eyes race.opv
KCiSyWP‘Even if someone were to discover it.’dugvzA
kf9IL2That man had absolute confidence he wouldn’t be caught.reEEBL
omt9BUHe was capable enough to ensure it.zlnHxG2
tU9nMO6‘He’s a talent I urgently need.’QH8dxu
pAaWith his hands behind his back, Perda calmly walked over and took a seat.2GFItf
Q1N4cUpon the arrival of a stranger, Zed was the first to greet him naturally.69tX0xw
T9at6“Well, we have a new friend. Pleasure to meet you. I’m Zed.”27oT7
Egf2Okt“Likewise. My name is Perda.”WXQ
IqfdPQh“You’d better be careful around here. Everyone just wants to devour you like vultures.”Y0Q6
moX9f“Haha! I know a thing or two about poker!”xCJ
sRu“You say that after losing forty gold coins?”g7IO2
tFhThe mood was lively.rTs
i7AeNone of them had actually made money.gs04Bp2
yMpPHpJBeing able to make people laugh without winning was impressive in itself.SYUGU
0CU‘His way of speaking and aura, able to command a crowd.’mRXL
F7jcBut to Perda, it was just a thick mask of falsehood.q3X4
skm6ew“Have you played poker before?”8pOlK
kVh“I know the basics.”L6b
4D0b“You learn as you go, right?”blxLFb
8D7XqZ“Where’s the master who was never a beginner? Ha ha!”2mzTov
IcrH“Exactly. I also learned just today. I’m only getting the hang of it.”t4JF7Uf
IV3UVHe wasn’t interested in those who bragged about being easy prey.Bnif
iaoX“Let’s play a hand.”u5aWO7O
Ovj“Alright. What’s the point of talking so much here?”sSy
8OvThe game began.a6ZI
rN09VOPerda slowly started winning.Mnh
pxFrY4TIt might have seemed like beginner’s luck, but Perda didn’t see it that way.1tKaJfg
yZq7NIt was Zed’s process of reeling him in.E4m6
GPjGa‘He really knows how to cast a lure.’DO2
pORHe was a man with skilled hands.722pHV
SLRfbnPEven Perda, who considered himself quite sharp, couldn’t tell when he was being tricked.YEW
zYCLkdXPerda decided to play along.yol09d
fSwOf course, subtly showing that he wouldn’t be sucked dry little by little, and instead pulling Zed in himself.q7JsiVg
OX5zf“Hm, I think it’s about time we end this game. It’s gotten late.”qoWsRTS
T6jmLSaid Zed.0A3Qm6
hnX1j2W“Huh? Really?”OzC
tiKTkX“If you say so.”vLLO7T1
yiT“Let’s make the last one big! Ha ha!”vyIU
E0eUlZed dealt the cards and began the final round.GaOFb
m5G2rN“Alright, let’s bet. A hundred!”oUQ
R992N“Two hundred gold coins!”MT95fN8
SXd2“Such enthusiasm! I’ll take two hundred and raise to four hundred.”QJb
ABmUZed’s turn ended, and it was Perda’s.QZhcW5V
H6z“All in.”PQZ1s
O6MHe pushed in all the chips he had left.1a8
SiuyXAt a glance, their value exceeded two thousand gold coins.xzE
bcYtZlOThe casino stirred.fZxfZyt
OGamhI“The guy who was betting small just went all in?”SXr
BpT“Isn’t that a bit much for the last hand?”tjEW
adQPerda laced his fingers and rested them on the table, calmly repeating.BP3adlP
WAK3“All in.”Oz3Psx
pkBWGThe middle-aged men holding cards let out groans and folded.4IJTa
F9epAi“Is today the only day to play? There’s another game tomorrow. I’m out.”pwSBOuY
Bqq“Me too.”appDf
FUnThe turn returned to Zed.UW2uYLn
x7fpa“Where do you get the confidence to bet like that?”OYse
mpgFMxHe asked with a crooked smile.vEgQ6B4
wGSPerda looked at him and replied.QLYBX8p
YXQa“Don’t worry. I’m going to win this hand.”0dR8erN
dbKPyI“I don’t get where that confidence comes from.”zSoLxtV
iUz6UyP“Because you’re going to fold.”FD7
dLGpN4Zed leaned back and smirked smugly.yY5
CJnm“And why would I fold?”bo5JIP
GaHLNUj“To be honest, I don’t want to lose money. There’s a girl who thinks I’m into gambling.”FRP
fL6ONnk“So I should lose money just to keep up appearances for a girl? That’s a bit much. In that case, you shouldn’t have come at all.”cgA
YdsZed let out a short laugh.MUqS
IruaHe thought it was just the bravado of a gambler.eZNRZBn
Cp48PlH“That’s not the only reason.”eyWh
XNDCGRF“Huh?”oAVBN
mskTY0“Because I know what you really want.”W2yrYdZ
FD3C“What I want? And what would that be, when I’ve got beautiful women, alcohol, and money?”SRqmD
kVkLbHe hugged the woman beside him, and she let out a delighted giggle.yJWe
B0PfqcrDefinitely the wife of some provincial noble.sAX
jYl1reThen Perda said.DLrX
qE7R9“Among all those women, there’s no one named Emilia.”12P7I
admd56The affable mask cracked.QoBD
8KwUU1The hand holding his cards trembled slightly, and the corner of his mouth twitched.onL
PwFsIt was only for a moment, but everyone felt the clash of wills.wCPiL
NDtjFNEven so, Zed was an experienced player.vHiCgQi
JIZCrO“…I’ll call.”1LalX
HjrcWithout folding, he pushed his chips into the center.xJFj
tJ0rf4iHe wasn’t going to give up a hand he had already won.UIc
qD2tAnd“Straight flush. And you?”U3Wiku
XobPerda showed his cards.2nKQhVT
K05“High card, King.”Wis
TAg“High card, King.”lOc5Su
aI05z“You bluffed with a hand that’s not even a pair?”myJvJ09
uhihaI9The middle-aged men’s eyes widened in amazement.LYm5Rf
d1W4vThe winner was Zed.r0PRQSx
tjCPerda, having lost everything, stood up without a hint of regret.bwoo
ROj“Wait, noble sir.”vJv1s
VpboWhZJust as he was about to leave, carefree, Zed called out to him.cRBWPW
ypHaXeL“Since I won all your money, how about I buy you a drink to cheer you up? You seem old enough.”HzopSba
blGB50His face still wore a smile.m5Dvz3F
W5qePvBut that smile was no longer pleasant.8sOEaVH
1sBa2“I’ll treat.”VyKDMKb
7KVYThere was a killing intent behind it.aOGVmZ5
GHf9“Alright.”AjFzLuy
GC4Everything was going exactly according to Perda’s plan.vFPVfYq
6FVB***kWmuk
W2CA casino full of laughter and joy.qcxPPZA
6LMn7A land where, under a sun that never sets, people surrendered to pleasure and forgot time.6mRz
pANvVPerda and Zed left the place together and headed to the lodgings.eVM
eZcWJThe moment they stepped out of the casino and into the hotel hallway—LR4M5
EEN“Who are you?”M2J
bPMTThe voice that had been full of laughter now fell like a blade.jHbhP1
M2aJnPerda accepted the change in tone without resistance.rVY0ul
TD9In truth, even if he wanted to talk, he had nothing more to say.qNFGBDt
QLrOUw“You know who I am, don’t you?”dZe
qfv5“That’s not important.”tjCAuk
ppPRd“Exactly. At this point, it doesn’t matter. Let’s skip the boring introductions.”YQd9Te
saygZed pulled something hidden from his clothes.hJE
HupA dagger.Jx9a0K5
6BmV“Explain why you mentioned that name.”SJamDu
fvLZed’s eyes turned a deep, intense red.fvZpVk
NZ8TMAThose eyes were the mark of the Red Eyes race—known as mage-killers.ifsv
JMzxMDa‘Any magic circle that comes into contact with those eyes is nullified.’fLo
8JYNThe appearance of a mage-killer would strike fear into any ordinary sorcerer.OxDyE
xLnSh16But Perda had no reason to fear.BolU9Q
KuMRn1Y“Zed Swallow. If you don’t want your identity revealed to the world, lower those eyes.”7Og
lnxF“So you’re with those bastards too, huh?!”FBW6xF
cezG“I came to have a rational conversation.”jNu2g8
L88jL“What did you do to my sister, you bastard?!”IQnKs
R6LIgWThe man who wore a smiling mask revealed his true face—filled with fury.SipHYRM
4d7GGEven Perda had never seen that expression before.0eB
PJuD“Don’t show killing intent toward me again.”ZZX8a
RnVWHwPerda warned quietly.GYF
J6C“My maid isn’t entirely loyal, but if she senses I’m in danger, she’ll kill you without hesitation.”B77
TLFJSThat warning was, in fact, for Zed’s own good.Xc4
O4Evl“I want to talk to you. So get rid of your bloodlust.”MxcsH
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