Chapter 52: Still

“Today, taking advantage of this occasion, I want to speak about Valdrova, who will be my companion.”

Some of those present, the weakest in spirit, looked as if they were about to faint.

But upon seeing those expressions, Perda gained even more confidence.

“In the Far East, a land where all creatures once could dwell, it was devastated by the Black Dragon Godwin, turning it into a land of death where magical beasts emerge without end.”

With that certainty, he reinforced his words.

“The great red dragon Valdrova has fought for 150 years against those beasts, without receiving any reward. And even so, what title has been given to my companion?”

A name that once spread terror among all.

But that, over time, became an object of contempt and mockery.

“Tyrant. Evil dragon. The beasts always advance from those corrupted lands. They tear her scales and her flesh. Her claws rise to protect her lands and her families. And even with such sacrifice, she has never asked for anything in return. Even in the midst of pain and tears, she has remained silent, fighting without yielding. We have received her grace. Even beasts repay the favors they receive. That is why today I speak here to clear her name.”

Perda’s gaze swept across the audience.

There were many, but their expressions were predictable.

The indifferent.

The interested.

And those calculating how to take advantage of the situation.

But all were looking in the same direction.

The Dragon Spawn.

The servants of the immortals.

“Perda Valdrova, the regent, correct?”

Someone spoke.

Would it be opposition from the Silver Dragon Spawn?

No.

It was a female voice, elegant.

Blue hair, non-sharp horns.

‘Erika Iorga.’

The leader of Iorga’s Spawn.

Her appearance was so majestic that she could be mistaken for an imperial princess.

She stood up with elegance.

“A pleasure to meet you, regent Perda. I am Erika Iorga, representative of Iorga and mistress of the Tower of Blue Eyes.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“I do not like to begin with criticism in our first meeting, but given the nature of your proposal, I will go straight to the point.”

Her eyes fixed on Perda.

A light blue, but with a sharp gaze.

“In summary, my answer to that proposal is simple no.”

The conviction in her gaze was firm.

And the worst part.

Was that she dragged the entire assembly to her side.

“150 years ago, during the Dragon-Demon War, Valdrova pierced Godwin’s heart and was recognized as a war heroine.”

Her tone was calm and logical.

But Perda was not swayed.

“But it did not end there. Valdrova lost control of her power. Countless people, races, and lives died. Do you know how many?”

Erika did not wait for an answer.

“I assume that, as Valdrova’s fiancé and the one who presented this proposal, you have researched enough.”

Perda answered firmly.

“Half of the victims of the entire war against Godwin.”

Half in half a day.

The greatest tragedy recorded in history.

“Exactly. Half of twelve years of war in just half a day.”

Erika shifted her gaze.

Toward another place.

Goz Silverwind.

“The leader of the Silver Dragons, Silverwind, also died because of it.”

Goz did not speak.

Or rather, he could not.

He was a man of action, not words.

He pressed his lips, holding himself back.

But Perda did not waver.

If he was going to retreat, he would never have spoken.

“The case is different from Godwin’s. At that time it was a total war. The entire continent surrounded Godwin. There were countless soldiers and creatures gathered. In that chaos, it was inevitable that they would become easy prey.”

“The important thing is that she lost control and caused those deaths. She killed, in half a day, half of what Godwin did in twelve years.”

“But she was also the one who ended Godwin, who tormented the continent for those twelve years.”

“And she killed Silverwind. A brave warrior, an exemplary leader who valued others more than anyone.”

In a single day, Valdrova caused the death of the worst evil dragon and the greatest guardian dragon.

It was inevitable that her position would be left in question.

But Perda had something.

Evidence.

“That loss of control was not Valdrova’s will, nor something inherent to the nature of her power.”

“If it is not her nature, then what was it?”

“It was simply a phenomenon caused by the contamination of the chaos that resided in the heart of the evil dragon, Godwin.”

To be able to say this, Perda had discussed the matter extensively with Morida.

“In Godwin’s heart resided chaos. And the one who was closest to that chaos was Valdrova. By directly destroying that core, it was inevitable that she would receive its influence, whether she wanted to or not.”

Erika’s gaze became sharper.

“It is true that Valdrova was the one closest to Godwin. But you are making a mistake.”

Erika once again dominated the atmosphere.

“Valdrova was not the only one who fought in that place. Everyone fought desperately. Many were closer, many were more injured.”

Perda knew it.

After comparing records, it was clear that Valdrova, in comparison, had suffered less damage.

“If your argument were correct, all the dragons present should have been affected. Even Iorga, who suffered severe injuries. Yet she remains perfectly fine.”

Erika shifted her gaze toward an old man at her side.

“And Odograsa?”

The old man responded with a laugh.

“Odograsa is protected by golden faith. He would not fall to such a superficial trick from Godwin.”

A firm denial.

Erika raised her head.

“You see? If what you say were true, many would have been corrupted in that war.”

“……”

“That chaos seeped in from destroying the heart? It is possible. But look at the present. While others overcame their wounds, what has Valdrova done?”

Her voice filled with emotion.

“She does not fight to protect anything. She is like a beast that has tasted blood. That destructive nature that awakened can no longer be reversed. The beasts that come from the cursed land are the only thing that can contain that instinct, and she chose that place because it brings no consequences. That is why she remains near that land but without any intention of eliminating it.”

Perda began to see Erika differently.

She was a wall.

Not just any wall.

A wall of the north.

Like the great barrier that stopped ice giants and demons.

The Frost Wall.

Perda had seen it.

Beyond that wall, there was neither compassion nor tolerance.

Erika’s argument was the same.

It left no room.

It only offered absolute rejection.

‘Why…?’

Perda did not understand.

‘Why are they so determined to destroy her?’

If it were Silverwind showing anger, he would understand.

But Iorga had no relation at all.

And yet, she was desperate not to leave even the slightest possibility.

Perda observed the atmosphere.

Many nobles supported Erika.

Alexander, who earlier seemed to be on his side, now remained silent, calculating.

‘Disgusting.’

To Perda, they all seemed eager to destroy her, to tear her apart.

‘It was to be expected.’

He did not understand politics.

But he did understand humans.

When someone becomes a target, everyone unites to bring them down.

If Perda did not carry Valdrova’s name, they would already be devouring him.

He had always known that.

‘Even so…’

Anger began to boil.

And the more it boiled, the colder his face became.

From the beginning, he had stopped believing that he could persuade them.

But even so.

It was not easy.

To have to remain still in front of all this.

He felt the agitation in his heart.

The anger he had buried mocked him.

So he asked within himself.

‘Valdrova… my heart…’

Must you endure all of this all these slanders and still continue protecting what you love?

Then—

His heart, which was boiling, calmed.

The mockery of anger disappeared.

Something fragile like a sprout breaking through the damp earth at dawn but capable of melting his frozen heart and engraved in the deepest part of his being answered.

Even so.

“Then…”

You will love everyone.

“I will prove it.”

At his words, Erika asked.

“Prove what?”

“That the fact that she has taken the Far East as her base is not to vent her destructive instinct but for another reason.”

From the platform, Perda spoke with absolute clarity.

“As a representative of the Far East, as regent of the domain of Valdrova, and as Valdrova’s fiancé, I will make this declaration before all.”

Then, what Perda had to do was very simple.

Only to help her spread her firm wings.

He raised his head with pride and, in a firm voice, marked each word into everyone’s ears.

“I will purify and reclaim this land corrupted by the father of the demonic, origin of chaos, the evil dragon Godwin.”

It was a declaration of conquest of the cursed land.

At those words, the entire Grand Council erupted into murmurs.

“Conquer the cursed land?”

“That land that not even the immortals could dominate…?”

The reactions were of disbelief.

It was natural.

Since the Dragon-Demon War, many had tried to conquer that place.

All had failed.

For a hundred years, countless people tried and were defeated.

And now.

“The objective of the great Valdrova, embodiment of power and fire, is to eradicate the magical beasts that arise in that land. And the final objective of that eradication is the conquest of the cursed land.”

A young regent challenged the impossible.

“Just as she desires the peace of the continent, I will also act so that everyone understands that the title of evil dragon is an injustice.”

That declaration shook the entire Council.

Perda was a newcomer.

He was 18 years old, without experience.

It was more than enough to call him arrogant.

In any place, age and experience carry weight.

But here.

It was not so simple.

On the surface, they thought he spoke with Valdrova’s authority behind him.

But deep down—

There was something more.

A faint hope.

Perhaps that man could achieve it.

“This matter…”

Blancaros’s voice echoed calmly.

And all the noise disappeared.

Even the Dragon Spawn were surprised.

“We will leave it here for now, regent.”

Blancaros spoke directly.

Perda could not refuse.

The fact that he spoke personally gave it absolute weight.

“Thank you for allowing me to speak.”

With that, Perda was satisfied.

His debut had ended.

He returned to his seat.

“Let us move on to the next topic.”

After that, irrelevant discussions began.

For Perda, they had no importance.

He did not listen.

‘Erika Iorga.’

Her name echoed in his mind.

As a former mage of vengeance, his instinct engraved it deeply.

‘It is useless.’

He tried to ignore it.

Then—

— Regent Perda, can you hear me?

As if you name her and she appears.

Erika’s voice echoed in his mind.

Telepathy.

— I have heard your opinion well.

Perda gathered mana in his finger.

Just enough not to seem hostile.

He brought it to his head.

— Your proposal has been received positively by me, Erika Iorga, and furthermore.

Cut.

The link was broken.

Perda had blocked the telepathy.

Erika was startled.

She turned her head toward him.

What are you doing?

Perda stared at her.

‘Get lost.’

She tried again.

— Wait, regent Perda. I understand that you are emotional. But if you listen to me—

Perda cut it again.

— No, listen.

Cut again.

For the next thirty minutes, until the session ended, they clashed in a constant exchange she trying to communicate and he blocking every attempt.