Chapter 44: Difference in Approach
S88TPerda returned safely to Valdrova Castle.ucuAX
gHa8MArwen, after escorting him to the main gate, immediately returned to the territory of Count Consilus.6Cr
QqZAt the entrance, Ruri received Perda and his group.hDjcz7
5QTjn“How was the trip?”M2LD
6Cz6It was a formal question, and Perda responded in the same manner.qXD
hJviupv“Peaceful. There were no attacks, and with an escort it wasn’t boring.”CTczjq4
MgGuH“I see. But it seems there is one more person than when you left.”gbPeVG
UNnWhen they departed the castle, only Zed, Perda, and the coachman had gone, but now there was a man carrying a pile of luggage.tCkMMP
roe84DH“Regent! I already placed my things in the cart, should I also carry your luggage?”dFxYWsm
MxI0xrMalcolm, who was organizing his belongings on the wagon, noticed Ruri late.bNuoFVi
2ub“Eek! You are the intruder from that time!”ZJ4
vITMalcolm trembled in fear.UfH2u
aOnEIt was not because of Dragon Fear. Even if she were emitting it, he was wearing a resistance ring.88TWfB0
mUvbHe was simply a coward.OI8P3s9
E1geKKO“I see you brought someone useless.”t840
mapRuri sighed through her nose.6Cg0E
Wu34Q“He is useless, but also an excellent specimen.”bmfhH
5PZSd“What kind of specimen?”lsku9
EXbXd4r“What else? One for experiments.”1ZAp
nlE“……Are you researching black magic?”D71Q
0utMLII“I have to research it, but it’s not that.”1nQ0b
ft6dmgSaying that, Perda tried to enter the castle.Y73lkWN
7V7uThen Ruri blocked his path.Ri7
7mdPJX“What is it?”Wett5
Dr4“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”BXkV90e
U97LwGRuri’s gaze slowly moved until it stopped on Perda’s right hand.j57nqSA
wAgQ“Don’t you think entering the castle with that stench is a serious crime?”HxhReV
hem6FJF“……”6pkyP
wvT4APerda felt a strange chill at those words.smVRjg
l1gIKInstinctively, he looked at his body and noticed something slightly sticking out of Ruri’s pocket.Re0wDEa
RflAgIt was a rough towel stained green.plquHeg
CHtIf that towel touched the skin, it would rip off the dirt along with the skin itself.ZN20
IteOhAnd the pain of tearing flesh could not be avoided.SFd6z49
cguzQBang! Bang!Q40A
89QOThe towel moved with Ruri’s hand, causing small white explosions.ZtasM
GiFAh she had been waiting for this moment.g2SGxUq
IwkPY6ERuri had a justification.vk5eq
CyenAsqThe scent of another woman on Perda’s hand could cause a misunderstanding in Valdrova.VRedwnx
gNQAnd those kinds of misunderstandings had to be avoided.XrqtXg
fKhi6Perda understood that but did not forget the screams of the knights.7oSC
oR0Screams like those of children in front of a demon.uhB2i7
uWDRSwHe did not think he could endure it better than they did.K55a
OxhQBPerda looked at Ruri again.KVA
hVwDUnlike his concern, she had an expression full of anticipation.FcA
ftQaRTC“Can I ask you something?”5KPdH4
WENHu“Say it.”WfkgHQl
C0nRM4j“At least do it inside that isolation magic.”9rTsu
6jaIKsHe said it like the last words of a condemned man.ULR
vgZRuri nodded solemnly.NB1VCY
cvbbTJd“Of course. I can’t go around telling others about Perda’s masochistic preferences.”TxqAKN
01WIs“……Fine.”A86n
uE6DaHHe did not have the strength to respond.lOo7
1R7NPerda followed Ruri inside.Tbi
8rOThat day, what happened in the bath remained a secret between Ruri and Perda.l5xnP5
Axlmfo***ORQTXpU
F8rhnNPerda, completely clean and shining, barely managed to get dressed.ahd2JgD
r3mHpbOEvery time the fabric touched his sensitive skin, he felt a painful tingling.RQO
hRUG‘I have to endure.’Z9IBsd
m2LFrom now on, he had to concentrate.ojfe1
ipglSHe looked at the book on the desk.sGOT
lOkAShadow Technique of Barbatos.oCe6
1DxsThe demon of intrigue prefers to act in secret and specializes in manipulating shadows as if they were limbs to attack blind spots.giWilT
lUcSince it is a grimoire focused on stealth, sealing it was complicated.xcQ1e
leNIf it was not kept with silver chains enchanted with shape fixation, the book would melt and move elsewhere.e9B6wlg
T5M49z8What this technique emphasizes is one thing.zYTaWr
xfwz‘The shadow must be me, and I must be the shadow.’73j
qA6hV54Just like with Shadow Hand, if it is not perceived as a third limb, the user will suffer intense phantom pain.fJPd
6gxd‘But there are things I need.’VxH9
KczjLdThe greatest advantage is that it does not require a magic circle.RQGnEt
xeo1mAnd it is not only used as a magic hand, but as real limbs.wWuL1
PEMThat means Perda can use Shadow Hand to cast other spells.d7a0O
DkiCDP‘It does not stand out in offensive power.’yIN
20dZztAs befits a demon of intrigue, it is different from other circles of black magic.5n7
rKbp‘But it can attack blind spots.’kEAqbZ8
4iPIkOWeak in frontal combat, but with infinite possibilities in strategy.kla7
aY7dWC5That is why Perda chose this technique among many.Ojb
WCACDxg‘To read it I have to remove this chain.’qWDCDv5
koki2QXTo break it, he had to deactivate the spell, and for that, decipher the runes.Vsr
4p9MM04So he went to find Echidna.YhdAZc9
lCaquAb“I want you to remove this chain. Can you do it?”2v7
wXN“Y-yes, of course. I’ll do it right away, hehe.”x4MCe9
kgryVEchidna smiled while looking at Perda.vdh
kcmHer expression was somewhere between that of a girl in love with a prince and that of a witch with dark thoughts.Z2LxX
dwSE7t“I appreciate it. How do you want the reward to be?”pLH
3fMr“R-reward? It’s not necessary, really…”PH6lPF
wsvMoB“If you do a job, it’s only fair to pay for it.”M2jLBD
UZHexxGiving compensation according to the work done.1RER
h1XEEeThat was the best way to work with a witch without problems afterward.An5
6fS“Reward, huh…”NCG7x
2Mv7i9yEchidna’s eyes moved.CD8Az
2qS342She looked at the blonde girl standing next to Perda.T94fZJA
d3HA0Morida.2I6qZw
GBl9rs“S-so… could you let me spend a night with Morida?”N6T
p4OxvSleep with Morida?AnK
zH2If thought of as spending a night between people of the same sex, it was not that strange.C1xCv
UokTAgPBut the other party was a witch.vHhojbt
nsY2And quite a disturbing one at that.aNyq
dQqjT“Is that fine with you?”GgNB
xA2SoIGPerda looked at Morida.i2Sgv
HlbFMlMori responded with a note.bXJzyL
UcNhIcP– According to Echidna’s behavior pattern, sleeping with her will reduce work efficiency by 30%.HrmOSU
1i730% was too much.c1vwlQ
3iBrTL4What kind of behavior did she have to lower it that much?Ceyu4Za
fhm0tN“I cannot accept that.”CsYg7Ou
mKvwEvT“Eh… well, then there’s nothing to be done…”pnZO
apeBI shouldn’t have said it…YgS1y
ObuPAEchidna muttered, disappointed.oN57
7CkxPerda decided to propose something he had already thought of.CdVF
ZEEzZS“How about I give you time with Zed?”dcQ7E
Cm8cY7G“With Zed?!”PIV
KbhEchidna’s face immediately turned red.iCc2J
b58YShe nodded excitedly while letting out steam from her nose.LgIg
O7fZsDS“S-so… how much time would it be…?”gah1cW
zgDycz7“Something like this.”0KOE
uAY0Perda raised three fingers.7q6BdQ
aS0MShe was completely satisfied.fTJE9G
nHS6GuI“30 minutes?! Mmm…! That’s fine! Deal!”oVt
RRHdDRP“……Alright.”yXot
auCrPerda had actually meant 3 hours.gOfshf2
Gpt2But she herself reduced the amount to one sixth and was still happy.fPavoW
mgn‘If I had said 3 hours, it might have been counterproductive.’q6t
1l1Everything in excess brings problems.SUg0z
tQSu5RNow that he had a standard for the reward, he thought about adjusting it in the future.7RtZ
3xsy6a“Alright, let’s see.”itq
EMpVEchidna, excited, placed the shadow grimoire on the work table.9MBz
e6iDiShe put on large glasses and began to examine it.yQp5tn
eBnNot only with her sight, but with all her senses.8gOXGF
jix2“Mmm… the material isn’t hard, rather soft like clay… the smell… sniff… ah, that sulfur scent from hell is special. It has that stale touch, you know? like an armpit…”PnX
8qDlun“Enough.”OTQ6
279m“Ah, yes. Hehe…”15zo
kx5KbkPerda stopped her before she drifted off.uhA5O
hW0After analyzing the book, she moved on to the silver chain.9tPd8m7
nBO2sRWhen she injected a bit of mana, blue letters appeared.EzN
4P9LT7Runes.1JA
Dudwnx“Mmm…”O7v
zG0oK1Echidna’s gaze became serious.AtbW
MJaCIt was hard to believe she was the same woman who chased men.mEH
8fJf‘She’s the same type as Vernell.’8Yl5
qR31When she focused on her work, she became completely different.0P6lm
2qISv‘If you can create runes, you can decipher them.’Mac
WrVCWhat she was doing was like disabling a trap.MsxIV
id8OAIf she deciphered the runes, she could understand the spell and foresee side effects.3nss
F2Ij“There’s shape fixation magic… and if you break it by force, there’s a trap that strikes the one who breaks it. A normal mage would die. And this signature… it seems to be from the Church of Alte.”VHXbv
zmtA0v“Can you undo it?”tGnt
6YpQsgEchidna smiled.WUwiKE
1belf“There’s no need to undo it.”M04ZRXA
8jE“Why?”N1bTBAO
weZVKyH“If we remove the fixation, the book could escape. Do you plan to read it only once?”HLRuAh
pemPerda shook his head.phH7
7qVEven if he learned everything, letting the book go would be problematic.30Xa
s8HktUu“Then… we loosen the conditions.”5WpL
0YntIHy“How?”hwGW8
kT2A8EN“Instead of completely releasing the fixation, we allow a certain margin. Enough to read it.”lbv8
XNkR9“Do it.”RGU
F1ed“Understood!”QgfA
qifdEchidna struck the runes with her pen and recited a spell.LLaMsOL
ShJjgtShortly after, a magic circle appeared.ortI8V
t64wYfAt least fifth level.EiPOt
D4XvShe manipulated the circle with her fingers.8NjpJF9
q6lZyH‘Manipulating a magic circle…’YEXP
bIVXkHEven when he was an archmage, Perda did not do it like that.19kh
5NAS7wUIt was easier to destroy and rebuild.Snpedu
QZxldQn‘Rune creators are different.’SUSPDqS
zUBnKbThey can touch magic itself.Hxd
UjTUThat is why, instead of destroying it, they adjust it.uy4eD
vZ2HTP“If I change this like this… done.”YzIaGU
vUwShe struck the rune.tfh7dDy
bznzf4The circle disappeared into it.0pGMc
sTqMgAt the same time, the silver chain loosened gently.DPG8Xi
jqQgi“Can I read it here?”fc4JRq
zfGD“Yes! Of course!”3zvDBd
oPfd1x“Bring me some thick books.”n5hlH
WDKd“Books? W-wait a moment!”Gamh
f6GClatter! Rummage!WsUn
p4ZJust as he said, she took out several thick dictionaries.gNiP3x
7QF“But what for?”bhbpr
nzp3z“I need to adjust it to her sitting height.”8FG9
jf4x“Sitting height?”D64
vdQPerda placed about three books on the chair.MNu32Z
MEgqHe arranged them to match Morida’s height.4anM2
5Uio“Is this fine?”hzOTmo
NlxZMorida nodded.c2PO3w
mxW“Then, let’s begin—”aC6vy
Bwv“W-wait a moment!!”vHS
CVgdKJust as they were about to start, Echidna intervened and hugged Morida.M0pm
szr7R“Don’t tell me the one who’s going to read the book is our Morida? Making a child do something worse than death?”CLsr
YWAhE“Then why do you think I brought her?”NEj
HfF“I thought it was because Morida really wanted to see me. Isn’t that right?”Bt69M
k7JEchidna smiled while looking at Morida, and Morida wrote on a note.vv4j
yKvXqp8– That’s not the case.rBl
TrX“Uh…? I thought we had become f-friends… was it only me who felt that way?”00jW
3oXy– That is correct.fMmx2
DUO4aFMorida clearly drew the line.qLU
dZQFaced with that devastating response, Echidna sobbed.lX9e
i8D“This is a task that only this child can do.”Jwp
pN0Sb“But facing the demonic language written by demons…”Yxrls
lxYaqMl“Yes. People gradually go mad.”8ez1K
5GHsS3g“And even so you’re going to make her do it? Isn’t that too cruel?”9ws
MIkEzkEchidna hugged Morida and rubbed her head against her cheek.OLf
fT6ZzNow it was clear why her efficiency dropped.uy73
SO360“It doesn’t matter. In any case, it’s impossible to corrupt this child.”Lti2
B6etQJ“R-really?”85cajX2
mQJEchidna asked, and Morida nodded.29yY
PGu“If that’s the case…”LPDRzbU
9XuBbWkEven at the last moment, Echidna continued stroking her hair with concern.apLOV
iBc“Start.”ghEMskZ
dJhY03At Perda’s command, Morida opened the book.dvqNUx
agI7At that instant, something inside the book began to emanate.igOMKU
bPIA piercing smell of sulfur filled the air, and it felt as if something impure ran through the body.Iyxg
2Pcc8jThat was the meaning of the demonic language.UJln
VKyybV2Just seeing it was sacrilege.m5sxU0
0Os75KJust reading it left a mark.YgcZ7
NKtGoooo—tsQ1nQ
hVSoxwePerda and Echidna averted their gaze from the characters.u434kDq
lwfd7The demonic language was something born from hell itself.NCF
EjBmtNnWhoever sees it glimpses fragments of hell.YiH
C7kAnd whoever comes into contact with those fragments is marked, hearing demonic whispers for the rest of their life.3nl
ZIjDngAn endless trial.rHnp3Wl
iWPIf they do not overcome it, they become followers of demons or madmen.MKFmJg
nMWbf3pAnd they end up becoming a channel for demons to enter this world.I40G2
diG‘I went through it too.’z9Ly
TL9WGTUThe demonic language cannot be blocked, since it comes from the very essence of the characters.P94
CM1Perda had also learned it to master demonic magic.mM6E6
s7xQddIn fact, he was able to learn Shadow Hand thanks to that.PLYq84s
H5oiX‘But afterward I erased it all.’fWW
RPOHThe best approach was to learn the magic, understand it, and then erase the demonic language from the mind.ocNAf
iy6That was why Perda knew those magics without being controlled by them.fGEgez
4JGaSi‘I no longer need to learn it.’RZJeV
imm18uaThere was already someone who knew it.8ttCyhf
MOTKAnd someone who could interpret it for him.VMDBtV
A2uThe wise slave, Morida.HsNJM
hbM39RgShe would be the one to write it for him.6ECvT
LN7CMorida observed the demonic language clearly.tDpXrA
Zy9SAn intense red fire ignited in her eyes.9YQ68nt
fhPuqPIt was as if her eyes had become a spear to look inside it.etEQR9
tQj0TtBut it could not disturb her.BXHWk
2KLPNot because she was perfect.I1HKbWu
XNIoNXEven the perfect can waver before demons.M1hC1K
otSTBut she had no ego.2z8
hKwON2Without ego, there was nothing to shake.1Tz
FlBoThere was no foothold.y3wNE73
PNVPKSo the demons could not reach her.EpT
bawMorida took the pen and began to write.h6vat
IHZY5yvEven with the “window of hell” open, she maintained absolute rationality while translating.GD8p
vSCw11qShe ignored the whispers until the end and finished quickly.bbPhUT
DHKThen she closed the book.06MO
Vdd4nIn her right hand was the original, in her left, the translation.Shn
Aoh“Did you finish everything?”UZycC
nrKPerda asked to confirm, and Morida nodded.dxqq
nUrDCPerda gave the final order.gveqY
hzGug“Then forget everything you have seen.”ypjLux
CMFhgAt that instant, the red fire in her eyes disappeared.d8o4dUo
UaUThey returned to their original color.v8g
h2ls7vWith a single command, she truly forgot everything.1gvAz8
4IoSomething impossible for a normal person.pPCi
p1ZcOBut possible for Morida.yLn
mIM8QCShortly after, her body began to sway.TD04
Tncl2Her eyelids grew heavy.ia3TmGU
hdeBQjShe had spent too much energy.LMLZ
ZeOT“Go to sleep early today.”tgNXN
3QJWWith Perda’s permission, Morida leaned against the backrest and closed her eyes.LX2d
9DV“Echidna, take her to her room.”Xq7d
rZFV“Of course!”copXO
t2y6GEchidna looked at her with a suspicious expression.tCQuX
Awtp0“Uhe… uheh… uhehhehe…”u02lQ
SL2GIO9She even started drooling.Ffd
W4yENow it was easier to understand that “-30% efficiency.”XGKWZkx
JD289Perda added.uPIVE
87QI“Leave her on the bed and come out. I will not allow any further contact. Understood?”J2L
vI8udI“Y-yes! Of course! I have no other intentions! None at all!”eD6t
wrx8VxShe said it, but her disappointed face was not very convincing.JMN3
ULAcpLcPerda took the translated manuscript she had prepared.6U8M
Gf8GiPzFirst, he read the part of Shadow Hand within the shadow technique of Barbatos.7zHO5
snA‘She wrote it exactly as I understood it.’M9W5q
BguS6OWith that, he concluded that he could understand the magic just by reading the translation.0eUAK2G
nnCPerda returned to the beginning.AeZhI
xAEhWNO‘The reason I needed this grimoire.’Z5Tf
8sEgCeGIt was the mana training method.MvQQ
g9kHWOne of the ways to go from the third circle to the fourth.xT3k
PDStyO‘Shape of Shadow.’SCcxSx
MVrTiV9That page caught his attention.myQ4Qx
ymdDespite reading an infernal grimoire written by a great demon, he suffered no side effects.HX5Ho6
86SNxV‘How long did it normally take to reach the fourth circle?’qkIJ
JqFFrom the fourth circle onward, one was considered a true mage.EHWN1
VuPvy9aThat was why it was so difficult; even the talented needed years of effort.pUVY
bmy3nGfWith the Red Circle, it was not very different.opYQps9
l76edjU‘In fact, it was even more dangerous.’Y30
MIdmQTWAs the Red Circle advanced, madness and risk increased.CeDOKG
1T9eX‘When did that ever matter to me?’13R
de1kPerda had grown strong through hatred, and he did not hesitate to take risks to become stronger.Pz9qh
aYaIf anything had changed, it was that now he did it for Valdrova.iOt
TnjU6WPerda decided to begin the training method immediately.ddI8SI
EEDbbwThe process was simple.DMiGNlM
N9eKHe lit a candle in a completely dark room.pq3ehZ
uMZx6Then he placed the light behind his head, creating a long and deep shadow.1OBk
zz3And he began by observing that shadow.ZSH
r8yivxAt first, it was only about using magic through the shadow.irZJz
kRpMBut later, one could become the shadow itself, or even the shadow of another.SOH
wBZYTo transcend common sense and seek freedom through it.tqm
ff9‘The shadow is me, and I am the shadow.’48ahN
FtyWith that in mind, he stared intently at the shadow trembling with the candlelight.fAyA0
xFKSAt that moment—Rysz
8iuYOHe felt his body being pressed against the ground.ekT
MDlzGrAs if he were trapped in a flat, limited space.xqZi62
Ux4q9NsHe had entered a state of total concentration in the shadow.cqLe
lF6eLI‘Now I close my eyes.’8nYL
swCUtswMaintaining that sensation, he directed his consciousness toward the circle in his dantian.7eqnKV
TRoE6mHe concentrated for approximately an hour.asMcxdF
ilJGHe had to make mana flow within the shadow.RIZ1
q3I‘I feel nothing.’9PGfil
HPFldHis state was too calm.5Qi5b
ywxFor the Red Circle, calmness acted as a brake.H0jup
lvoH‘For now, it’s impossible.’USxHT2b
2WFihIf something did not work, he abandoned it without hesitation.Ncx
Gt6Perda was still young, and he had many things to do.tadb
hL74aCSHe left the dark room.XigCu
rFTIt was night, with the moon already tilted.03sUyl
Q6HMuch more than midnight must have passed.zzIT8S
1T96He did not know how many days had gone by.eZvdKQe
Cd4uOnly the sound of his empty stomach indicated how much time had passed.yetKxDi
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationOh I see that’s why he needed this book for training method.