Chapter 53: Unacceptable Precedent
PSBThe meeting, in which only figures of ducal rank or higher participated, came to an end.nmqV
sLHPerda left the hall following the other nobles.E3v
PxsL“Regent.”UejwBi
wrUnYvZed and Arwen, who had been waiting for him, approached.TUAT
LVlC0Zed, observing his expression, asked.BKar70t
Xqdffe“Were you disrespected in there? You look like you want to kill someone.”zwntr6R
c03Q“If we’re talking about disrespect, yes, there was.”weTkqy
WJBEyJeHe had to endure them calling Valdrova an evil dragon.lheeDw
XSHxKJFor someone who became a great mage through vengeance, it was not easy to ignore those emotions.ei58CQ
nLmQThat was why it was better not to engage in pointless arguments.b5v
rZqPerda changed the subject.4AFhR
5Y8pCZ“Ruri?”7pPC
7liSG“Ruri… now that you mention it… where did she go?”utnQra
gHE“She said she had something to do before the meeting ended and left. I don’t know where…”CNqiq
9ye9“I see.”Hwwp
cJTCa“I’m sorry, I should have found out beforehand…”LKi39W
QVxm8uE“It doesn’t matter. She’s not someone easy to control.”AyZY
ZC6iL0Perda did not insist.dnBdF
zh5sZ9NIn any case, he already knew where she had gone.gaEh4
s5IbNFrom what Ruri had said earlier, she was probably heading to speak with Silverwind.ylYv
Me9ilv‘Speak…’3DjbJqq
x7NYPerda recalled the look Goz Silverwind had given when that was mentioned.XKIW
kR4jV6He was restraining his anger with obvious clumsiness.8hfzXm6
T0UBIf Perda had spoken to him at that moment, a fight would likely have broken out.iqiv3y
s0bPA8If not for Blancaros’s neutral zone, it could have been much worse.a4FD8
8LS6i‘I doubt that conversation will go well.’8UHFaRm
YL0UJust as he was thinking that—YQH
CWLCaE“Regent Perda Valdrova?”Lcl46
1pHA completely white man, fitting the surroundings.ZH8mu
xV87ZWImpeccable posture, worthy of a subordinate of the absolute of the neutral zone.ENgs
qNiZIt was the Hand of Blancaros.NhfM
RKTp“My lord calls for you. Could you accompany me?”ELi
JitpID“In private?”gKXL
tEht“Yes. He wishes to speak about the proposal you presented.”BU8Y26
7b1QeIt was unusual.RDfDcO8
iIBXxDBlancaros did not usually summon humans privately in order to maintain neutrality.zti
TGMs39L‘But this time he had no choice.’L5I
Nb3He had intervened directly in the proposal, so he needed to hear from the proposer.TAHa
Fo1OTqIn fact, that was the reason Perda had restrained his anger.cjlRnd
jFq“Understood.”Boi
PJLo“This way, please.”j5T
JX5EmLdPerda followed his guide.bOtR7a
w1nYp***uWR
ARE1LR1Blancaros’s audience chamber did not seem fitting for a dragon.G2BX
NV28One would expect something grand, imposing, worthy of emperors.v8UT
FT3PV07And the council hall was indeed like that.2xaUTn9
4mcRuppBut this place.ii3t
huIPTWas surprisingly human.490Zq
JwTNeither too large, nor excessively majestic.ydL8dci
nJVgIHaIt resembled the office of a small feudal lord.8cDP
4JPI0N“Come in.”nKw
MkC20ABlancaros received him with his own voice, seated behind a marble desk.iUfM
59HMPerda stopped upon entering.AIITc
IprPHe was not alone.Wciczld
Pue5oevIn the white space, there was a blue presence.nImI3O
sTBrErika Iorga.AFfauxo
a9QCShe was already seated.f6IP
hfgs7yShe stared at him.g4f
nJ8Her expression became even more unpleasant upon seeing him.WiyBthh
Qq1Behind him, Zed and Arwen began to sweat.qZYEv
Q5IK“Why is she looking at you like that? Did you do something wrong?”vuK
dq9ku7ZPerda shrugged.h1TAIjE
5MpDC“Me do something wrong? Impossible.”3vTrX0
7UDPYd“Sure you did…”WFRkx3v
jmxbhCZPerda did not respond and walked forward.ROKwA
gxMCHe ignored Erika and greeted Blancaros.5POv
XUS1V“I appreciate the invitation, Blancaros, but…”SSj
YhgUKHe slightly turned his head toward Erika.tuqfrNu
s1z9E2“I have nothing to discuss with this woman. May I leave?”8csK
QOyP1LX“Pffft…!”KHbu
zaadJ1“Cough!”Qu7B3d5
3eBLRDThe direct insult, and Zed and Arwen bursting behind him.M26Y
3LoNCalling someone of the level of a Dragon Spawn “this woman” was practically suicide.sS1Zv8S
VwNz“Hmm…”aldy4lJ
SmPV“Th-this woman…?”oSKkj0C
QzYiY2rBlancaros sighed, as if he expected it.dqSzN
PNpErika, on the other hand, looked at him in disbelief.nYj
ankNBut she restrained herself.u8Y
fMtThis meeting was to talk.RkyF8Ug
SLaVzAnd besides, she could not use force here.ANZ3
cNReSesShe smiled.Roc0wZ7
hwU3“It is a pleasure to see you again, regent Perda. Instead of telepathy, let us speak face to face.”h6eQPw
rld7k“As you wish.”7KhmJIz
feK4MPerda covered his ears.cMM
tGNcxjfErika’s smile disappeared.y6I1
bg1cU8“Are you going to keep behaving like a child?”WvR
yVVh“I am within my rights. You insulted my fiancée. Did you expect me to speak nicely to you? What would happen if I called you a water lizard, Iorga?”YxDu2RT
8dJkD“Ah…”WC0e
aguIv“Cough, cough…”7N4gyF6
dnE1Zed and Arwen almost choked.8NjoXF
c9gfc0wIf it were up to them, they would have run away at that very moment.c6ch
U0yaJcAt those words, Erika restrained herself.OqbS
jEExQAMShe bit her lower lip hard and took a deep breath to calm down.2wmArx6
NBXyH“Let us consider that we have both insulted each other. In addition, I will apologize for my words. But I had reasons for doing so.”JnmiPUA
hz5bV5Perda removed his hands from his ears.NJ5vZ0P
AcgShe had endured the insult, so it was clear she intended to talk.YDObkPh
RVpxNjE“First, let us have the servants withdraw and speak only among superiors.”IEaCbZ
hRKBZ“Understood. Both of you, withdraw.”lU3
YApkqB“Yes!”OFatLx
ZVb1lquAs soon as the order was given, they hurried out.QJQrCeq
KHNVc84In the white space, only three people remained.NP7
gVdiI“To speak plainly, since emotions are high I am on Valdrova’s side.”wzY1
xJDeZ“Wow, such trustworthy words.”iTY8
egAk8Perda responded with sarcasm.rGkOniG
Yrycx0“Although all of Iorga maintains a stance of vigilance toward Valdrova, the high command values her contributions greatly.”yLE6F1
gJUzYyOf course, sure.XVFr
JSG“You don’t believe me. I was on the frontlines of that war. I saw all the dragons fight with my own eyes. And I still remember her figure with complete clarity.”tD8
eJ3lThe hairs on her arms stood on end.0dIBU
Okl1A8“The image of her single-handedly stopping the moment when Godwin tried to drag this continent into total destruction…”WniSMTR
nZ3cBlancaros closed his eyes in silence.EYQPg
Bg4UNHe too had witnessed that battle.pYYIo
Vf8Erika continued.eVQ5AfL
KqrmUJ9“Delivering the final blow to Godwin, who was trying to destroy everything without distinguishing between evil or guardian dragons, involved enormous risk. All the dragons knew it. And they hesitated. But Valdrova rushed in without thinking. It was like a black mass pierced by a red spear that collapses. Of course the result ended in another terrible tragedy. Even so, she is not someone who should bear the name of evil dragon.”brc
LtOfG“And you expect me to believe that after seeing how they ridiculed her and tried to bring her down?”AMUE
mLy3SgD“That is why I apologize for the insult. But I had to do it.”89K3D
CaeS“You had to humiliate her? Does that make any sense?”u4GOv
HFFJ“Because if I didn’t, it would have been dangerous!”cYEC
0owC8k“Dangerous how?”Mkz
2MwDDu“Silverwind.”7etxo68
I1ZHAnother group of dragons.ySg
4IM5GPerda recalled Silverwind, who had not said a single word.CuzE
sg4vs“If I had not intervened, they would have. Those idiots with ice in their heads would have turned this meeting into a disaster. Before you even declared the conquest of the Far East, they would have already demanded a war between dragons.”DFGIw
q9ws“You’re saying you attacked and ridiculed everything just to protect me?”2TiYt
cfkn5Erika fell silent.3Ejch
NqGeyShe seemed to hesitate about whether to say it or not.yZK4D8
qvz“It’s not just for you, regent Perda. As you said if it is not her nature, but madness caused by Godwin’s corruption…”UmI0Mz
0xjOFor a moment, in Erika’s eyes, a wounded beast was reflected.PkCLIAU
Lp0BWJ0“That a perfect being becomes imperfect is an extremely dangerous precedent. Enough to collapse the balance of the continent.”4UWw3Re
zHFPerda understood.e32fsJ
BoPH3bWhy she had been so hostile toward Valdrova.nXQ3
TlonAnd why Blancaros had closed the matter unilaterally.Cy38I
IUZjMmVPerda summarized his understanding in a single sentence.QXrFg
Ig0“It seems that Iorga also presents the same symptoms.”3tvgYy
QtjEErika nodded with a pained expression.2xq
uj2“At first, it was only a slight sense of strangeness. Many dragon spawn suffered aftereffects after the battle against Godwin. But in the last 30 years she could no longer endure it. She is becoming unstable.”ruNqY
a020wu“And now?”uWu
1mGkGV“She has entered hibernation. She decided not to move until a solution is found.”Oh6ug
3wKaThat meant that Iorga, the authority of magic, was absent.Z4lnA
gsR6RPerda thought of something else.RpZzf
LFyyEw“Then and Odograsa?”htSk
W9Jnv“We do not know for certain. He has no spawn, and being himself a deity to his followers, he would not reveal his weakness to anyone.”o05Phcy
SgyThose wrapped in faith naturally believe in their perfection.z54B
z9ONThen everything fit.Atx7VR
RC5MThis was not just Valdrova’s problem.zifi
bm1bC‘It was a problem capable of shaking the entire dragon society.’LLV
szjSeeing that Perda understood, Erika lowered her tone and explained calmly.Dgrc0
6EAG“If it is accepted that her nature is not that of an evil dragon, but that she is affected by Godwin everyone would be in danger. Not only Valdrova, but also the position of the others. It would be an easy target for those who provoke chaos, such as the purple dragons or the war dragons. That is why we are buying time until we find a solution.”QLolx
2CciRS“I see.”H9GJq
EAcXaPerda stood up, as if there were nothing more to hear.Fyl1H
1m8c“Then it only means you are a coward.”QaVyeQI
vl9“Coward…?”Cxf2T
j1B8eErika was about to explode.riFFXVF
DIO9PZBut it was only for an instant.qLo
7n1yjcdAs soon as she saw Perda’s eyes, she was completely overwhelmed.wvgPRz9
4PX“What do you plan to do in the end?” he asked.RRyeh
eSCghvJ“What end do you refer to?”nS4k
lCqu4bD“If you keep hiding it like this, what will you do when the moment comes when everything comes to light, when there is no turning back?”2fIQ
mEk“That…”X0IxzA
4aGSjT“Will you hide your secret even if it means sacrificing my fiancée’s life?”LGTCTa
lOdhW“Do you think I would do something so despicable?”oxl
1LGVMqa“Isn’t that so?”eAF0qXq
MnABrjHErika could not respond.LmY
TwbrWYShe could not affirm it, but neither could she deny it.tbFVswZ
2XDDcShe remained silent, clenching her fists like someone mute.2VNcrbw
ir2clv“Let us leave the conversation here. May I go?”Arli
YlGBlSPerda looked at Blancaros.2Hp
fH4dQNothing had been resolved, but neither was it something that could be resolved at that moment.5OD
p4dw5ej“…You may.”QCUAPbd
6tcaZWith permission granted, Perda left.evhZBK
YJybXErika remained motionless in her place.Brn8q
s6wttB3She could do nothing.TQhl71C
vfoDShe had been surpassed by a human, being the leader of the dragon spawn.Tax7Ug
Hc5How pathetic.CaFbUxV
0mW1And even so, if the same situation happened again, Erika knew she would freeze again.D9DT
UOIThe eyes filled with contempt from Perda.2uMlqws
4dbIn them, she saw fragments of her own future.ZLfWNNX
AQH***9YRc0O
B6lt1Human Magic Society of Serdes.LXom912
G4DSeated in the president’s office was not an arrogant girl, but a robust man.5Zbjfp
ZFeQed“Uaaah…”XaejTR
LyBcGThe man moved the pen making sounds like a ghoul from hell.of5p4
pB8u9wHe was tirelessly processing the documents that President Erdes had left for four consecutive days.6SJ
1EQY“Uaaah… huh?”ggOKx0D
UAAShortly after, a circular spark appeared in front of him.aAxsBt
abAuvSXHe knew perfectly who caused that phenomenon.3bY
o23SBNormally he would have stood up to receive her, but Lu did not even have the energy to think about that.JjR
U9tC“Blue! I’m back!”l0vml
ewTASIYThe one who greeted cheerfully was Erdes.d3o
XHg“You’re back already?”cLPJdJO
CR9“I finished the meeting and came straight here. Hey, I missed all the fun.”pxz9
blEDE“For someone coming from a meeting, you look a bit strange.”PJT
WcDgMore than someone returning from a meeting, she looked like someone coming from tourism.8qxL
CAgNOxH“How picky. After finishing I went for a walk around the city. Any problem?”mflt9
U0K6YI“…How could there be?”fR0L9A
1zjvLu sighed, finished reviewing the last document, and collapsed onto the desk.N1GvDN
UkTONan“Did you finish everything?”KTwKkhX
9JgIa“For now, yes.”YAUN
vHhjn“You see? This is how work should be distributed. I rest and Blue works. Perfect distribution, right?”zYwhQ
KJiG3RN“Perfect… but strange.”GHiVr1
Ft3“And besides, I brought specialty sweet bread from there. Where do you find such a considerate boss?”WEuE
F99GErdes raised her eyebrows proudly.TjCdp
NcoNWell, at least there would be something tasty.QFS
3uQALu opened the box.3USV
yYk“…It’s empty.”Iv0qfkZ
d08“Really? Ah, it was so good I ate it all. Sorry. Can you throw away the box?”QoLwx
pxRqALu nodded like someone who had made a big decision.DUXX
QOmmyWV“I quit. I resign.”lraK
zKlJ“Ah, that won’t do. Blue must serve me a thousand more years. There is no option. That is our contract.”V3w
0PqGGIN“Damn it…”mKyrqdM
5kpoLu pretended to cry with a desperate expression.oAg
g4rnUY“So… how was it?”LytF
QqE“How was what?”VUs
xNj“You didn’t go because of that Perda Valdrova, right?”EowS9EL
5e51“That guy? Hmm…”7Px3
5gNShe rested her chin on her index finger and moved her head before answering.NlS
ZOlk“He was… peculiar.”s1m
T0rT“Peculiar?”qi7brk7
uHhQuLu’s eyes widened.X6nnl
jOB0r06“For you, the strongest Archmage of humanity, to say that?”lxAq
Kry5“No matter how much they hype it, it doesn’t change anything. He was just interesting.”GAgkPE
0SHLuErdes sat on the desk and looked at Lu.N1OjafA
MSr9g“That guy had a Red Circle.”cRzE
OwJ“Red Circle?!”pln
DJsmIxh“And he also learned black magic. You could smell it.”nu16
V6UWAx“B-black magic?!”Zz2K
NyNyd4iLu’s face turned pale.BrbgH
ZWFYVIt was not fear of black magic.rdsobW
jlX1“Th-that guy… is still alive?”KNUp
RNeeGKG“Of course. What do you think, that I’m some crazy killer who kills without thinking?”GX1L0W
Xuu0SlY“Well… if he came back without causing trouble… that man must really be peculiar.”wWlQa
tce0GfA“I couldn’t just mess with him like that. He’s the fiancé of that crazy dragon. Why look for trouble?”yNuC2q
EOsaDN8Erdes frowned, uncomfortable.J6mjlN
Ly0pHer dangling leg began to swing.s39m
yLG1“Blue. If your parents suddenly disappeared, how would you feel?”NJ5uDDI
1YrwE“Uh… I don’t know. I guess I’d get angry.”0yMZx
V4xe“Only anger? Would you say I won’t forgive them! and that’s it?”lOfYMjy
Vw5g“You probably would… but a normal person would also feel sad.”DbDvlr
oDwtHFErdes snapped her fingers.BwXy
CoJZd“Exactly. A storm of emotions. It is normal to be overwhelmed without being able to distinguish which one dominates. It is almost impossible to cling to just one.”RcFmD8
5qk0jz“I guess…”AxiasRz
x1DbXD“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”yTG
lLZnx“Sorry, my head can’t handle that much…”odvNr
xpijTnU“Do you want to copy it 50 times?”ihFOv
Flsbojk“Ah, wait… I think I’m starting to understand…”cSjda
0aP2“Idiot. With something like that, you can’t create a Red Circle.”KOFAu
aNvcyE“Ah, I really had understood it.”ZkKtkI
Ykyq“You’re stupid and stubborn. It will be 100 copies.”xGjT
2YX“Ugh! That’s too much! While you were gone I did all the work too!”RLdd
zDbFv“One thing is work and another is life.”BeRLG
RzHdZUOLu grumbled, and Erdes clicked her tongue.yinj
OKA“So, what you’re saying is that Perda Valdrova shouldn’t be able to have a Red Circle?”SWfht7
4EkS“Exactly.”MtzJ
2Ubf7ig“But emotions are something relative, right?”Cuu
YnKG“That’s right. Each person has their own standard. But even taking that into account, that guy called Perda far exceeds my standard.”LCjT4
1psjk“That much for you to say that?”D2JGQ
7xn4mr3“The Red Circle forms when the balance of emotions breaks. But in adolescence that balance cannot break. For it to break through anger, he would have to be so broken that he firmly believed that even the reason he gets up every morning is due to anger.”X5c8zT
saa“Uh… it’s a somewhat… strange comparison, but couldn’t it be explained by the fact that he was expelled from his family?”Sod0x9
ZOGVygHe became Valdrova’s fiancé.JeXDDa
Ee2qThat was practically a death sentence, enough to make any resentment explode.zdvGe
oQG“That guy accepted it.”P30n
vIw“What does that mean?”EfQP
ARjyIT3“To accept something means he still has reason. And that, in turn, means his anger is not enough.”Y9cIW
VFu78nT“So what you’re saying is that, since there was no trigger that broke the balance, a Red Circle should not be able to form.”mo7
FWB4cYU“Exactly.”IMEen
1PZc0x“But the regent does have a Red Circle.”zLI
qd2“That’s right.”TJ8
hbgV1s“Without meeting the conditions… and yet a Red Circle formed…”zW5Li
X0QeFUa“And in less than a year he reached the fourth circle.”r29F62G
rGTSz6“And also… several incidents occurred.”K9kyV
37JgThe execution of Tesalos Wolcher.LB0o6y
qqXYZThe battle in the imperial warehouse.pNNtzRn
cTaKDu“In all those cases there is something in common. Black magic.”9LuF5R
MOJSMt“Black magic…”Dx08s
4fSQwThey stared at each other for a long time, until Lu understood.86nttoL
zB6mNC9Even a dog learns something after years.dClye
Tw5LuiAfter ten years serving her, he was finally able to read Erdes’s mind.cFifd
dUd1RsC“Are you saying that Regent Valdrova… made a contract with a demon?”8imJe
2DQKErdes smiled when she saw him reach that conclusion.ABF
KdBQyt“Don’t you smell it?”qcGt5z
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationThis bitch is so annoying she’s making me furious also she’s stupid 😒.
Test To
MortalIt’s the classic arrogant misunderstanding trope but it make much more sense compared to the truth
At least from their perspective at that point of time
Kevotrix
Mortaltf she yapping about i want to see her getting her ass handed over
Ernatio Degaldo (Ernatio D)
MortalWhat an idiot…