Chapter 58: Because It Hurts
kwUQPerda asked Rector Bernard.5M4K1
pGk0He had brought him an entire bottle of alcohol.2OtVwj
jWtirG“What is this?”r9N4y
ow0hoU“I thought you might need it.”k3nz
f6X7“The whole thing…?”4R2elMD
kjb“Hasn’t it been a difficult day?”5cQI6Nh
Q54JyfAnd it truly had been.j9esm
eTVDExcept for the times he had drunk dozens of cups of coffee, his heart had never pounded so violently.Fn4j3Jz
2rCXfBut now it was hammering against his ribs.4msn3ha
xfUhfHe couldn’t calm down.8AIYYH
y9MBernard, with trembling hands, grabbed the neck of the bottle and drank straight from it.uYEzviK
uNHGlug, glug, glug—jyfJ
quZgA whiskey over 60 degrees.DQSfAWY
M6GeHe felt it burn down his throat, but only after emptying half the bottle did he manage to pull it away from his lips.MU2lHwE
QEqSjD“Thank you for saving me.”yBtxtM
EH4tvt“No need to thank me.”X48vff
6vP“May I ask something? I can’t… I can’t get it out of my head.”ufOlmwV
87WLzpw“Go ahead.”2Kn3
e1ECW“How… how did you know I would be in danger?”QBuxG
kEqSHow did he know?4agVp
wn6It was a technology that Teshalos Walcher, now dead, had talked about endlessly.ym6jMCb
KXbXOSBut when he suddenly declared it flawed, he had been the one who became the most enraged.QeWW
erBPEProper anger clarifies everything, and Teshalos realized.skp
3MSvPD— Bernard was no longer the Bernard from before.dm8Mk
O7pBut it was already too late.ceKKRtz
Nzv7OMqIt couldn’t be proven, the technology disappeared, and Bernard ended his life as the worst rector.669lGZG
NmRszPkIn any case, Perda remembered that.OWv
NzbR3And thought about the most dangerous moment for the rector.8zN
AG0YThe most dangerous was when he returned to the city.tMiHLbr
MRLS‘I was lucky.’0Fb
UrSThe surveillance, which could have dragged on, was resolved quickly.WdB
qhlVoLPerda answered.gGq2
TGexf“I also have ears.”plXTj3U
qRmA familiar phrase.wBc
aoYnBernard let out a bitter laugh.GVf
27e9V“Damn it… everyone has ears except me…”goc
Wqu“It’s not just that. You are the rector of a city, and yet you came without an army. You were bound to be exposed.”SUkxb3G
g0N0“Because it’s not efficient.”b2JWJB
33IwBtg“For nobles, efficiency is stupidity.”GafA3A
afiRW“That… I understood perfectly today. Those who said no one would be happy if the rector of Escolea were attacked… from today onward, they will experience hell.”CHqIC
UWSlB5mBernard’s face turned red.OEB1
cfaBetween anger and alcohol, his reason unraveled.JFROBb
plPQyiU“Who would have thought… that demons would be targeting me… those same demons people call paranoia to even talk about…”vwH
IGVyqHis eyes filled with tears.xs0ZNzw
9ycF“Don’t cry.”wzfxX8
e6v“Sniff… I’m sorry…”8DBohfK
cG6Perda watched him with an uncomfortable expression as he wiped his tears.zR4
Nsn9R“In any case, now you know. Demons constantly seek to bring this continent to destruction.”D68dR
MnGGA“Yes…”RiNlmR
D6bWn5L“This continent must be ours. And even if it weren’t, it must never fall into the hands of demons.”epc
CVjI“I agree.”LXT0
k16“Then I will make you a proposal.”JcWq6Ed
TZKHe extended his hand toward Bernard, who was intoxicated by alcohol and emotions.aFVhamM
AHXf“Lend me the technology for the monster appearance prediction device.”Y2tj
kAOZ9O5At that moment, Bernard’s mind cleared.GIX
azEl“Lend it…?”ZxX12
x2S“Exactly. The blueprints and the mechanism to create that device.”PGyN
yyQIt was a polite request, but in reality it meant handing everything over.5YgeO
ipSBernard understood immediately.JYv
IISRZ“So… that’s what this was?”SsD
Glihe asked in a trembling voice.rBwk7A
ycIlz“What do you mean?”jej0
cJCR3E“Putting me under surveillance, waiting until I was in danger… and giving me this bottle… was all of it to obtain my technology?”m1mn
9hUXYUPA trick to manipulate his emotions.5lB
8iayAjTo make him let go of even the last thread of reason.VhV1wB
9MCCDFHe thought Perda would deny it.vMwoGV
JfKzoK0That, like any noble, he would hide his intentions and argue.9Vz
0zkFBut that wasn’t the case.XkF
RTqb6OI“That’s right.”qrv
FXSgPerda admitted it without hesitation.T4wn5v6
RdF7KUhBernard, completely shaken, stood up abruptly.sapgN8
4BspQo“Manipulating someone at their lowest just to get what you want…! You should be ashamed, regent of Valdrova!”WN7E
UtvUnlike him, Perda responded calmly.gMEdED
1OHzl6“Why should I be ashamed?”fNlYzcy
k590f“What do you mean why?! Do you think you can play with someone’s life like that just to win their favor?!”5Whajx
zTX“If I wanted your favor, I would have flattered you. I would have told you pleasant lies. But I’m not interested in your approval.”ESNYOme
RJqOQ1rPerda’s gaze shifted to Bernard’s head.bTM
X8VEI4d“I want you to live solely because you possess that technology.”cDhC
UgG“So I’m only alive because I’m useful?”Dmxet3q
NBp“You almost died because of that technology, and now you live because of it. Does that seem strange to you?”0HY
UNZ7He couldn’t refute it.8nwcB
6A7Lnl5He nearly died for being useful and lived for the same reason.TSR
O9jnTBut that meant outside of that, he was worth nothing.MrgZFcD
ezngTFBernard couldn’t bear it.E1q7Fzf
GQCitlZ“You… you are not human!”cO8m
Cw0oznFHe pointed with a trembling finger.sqzFh
evWStaggering from the alcohol, he walked toward the door.A5lToi
JdtSk1n“If you leave here, you will die.”yygDqS
Gxe02Bernard’s steps stopped.LDVLK
WTdThose words, filled with ominous darkness, wrapped around his feet like a rope.BqE1
4xDuE“Are you threatening me?”Nt8n
lRH34ju“No. I’m telling you the truth. If you wander around at this hour, it won’t be demons—it will be monsters that devour you.”1HlCu0
aB2“I’d rather be devoured than stay in a place like this!”4N9
fFj6T0Perda set his cup down on the table and stood up.pik
O5PLXG“Then everything you have built will collapse in vain.”VnEpOP
j7ZQBernard’s body trembled.tQeXGVl
nzLSLTzThat sentence, spoken with apparent indifference, was not Perda’s selfishness.H3TnPK
IidMNkIt was the truth Bernard knew deep down.qtUw
WW091T“The one who attacked you took your appearance. What do you think someone can do with your face?”2SCHa
TBq“……”Nfbb
gzJ8“Destroy everything only you know, in silence. The blueprints and records will be reduced to ashes, scattered by the wind. As if nothing had ever existed.”L88P
euD“……”wcw4SXN
N7XXe“And after that? What do you think someone with the face of an incompetent rector will do? Sit at your desk, sleep in your bed. Scribble documents and sign approvals. Spend budgets recklessly while destroying you and your city.”NaXeF
oYY“Ugh…”1ez
zDN7Bernard collapsed onto the floor.DGyr
M1opiQTo him, Escolea and his research were like his wife and child.lQ0
lXKMLImagining both being destroyed without him knowing was unbearable.OTatVvl
Gfyl“Sniff… sniff…”4QVQZU
Zkf0Er7Finally, he broke down crying, curling his body and trembling.KpiXo6V
mZyEptHe was alone. Isolated.Flpu
2zG“I am the one who declared that I will conquer the demon land. Demons are my enemies, a plague that must disappear.”pccrfk
r9oLPerda extended his hand.m2gz
vo2q“To achieve that, I need the technology you possess.”A9E7
9bD0xCBernard looked at that hand.iPJ7ax
qWymThe Perda he knew was a 3-circle mage.OLF
p6hkJDRBut that hand was not soft like that of a noble mage.VWGKX
550It had calluses.LoW2Tkk
imS3It was the hand of someone from a family of knights.VhHBYV
LCTuASomeone who once dreamed of becoming a knight.Irhu7Ky
siXAThat dream had been destroyed, and now he was the duke’s consort.rHf
98vhStrangely, Bernard felt honor and trust in that hand.QpSf
Gup“I will share the blueprints and the mechanism of the device I am developing. But…”kdrnoz2
Zy4kHe pointed at his own chest with a trembling finger.6k6c
CPn8Sme“This knowledge is entirely mine. Make sure that is made clear.”i2vbSp
SmTwWhat he demanded was authorship.WrV7qlG
Gwn5Not even allowing anyone else to claim credit.oFzhm
WutKFor an academic, that was everything.XLFQ
pkxfhwFor Perda, it meant nothing.5baZ1
sRI1qD9“Your name will remain in history.”MRD52
3PcjBZg***xu7J
FNFPerda headed to Consilus’s territory together with Rector Bernard.YPt
3MNWh6FWhen he returned to Escolea, Arwen would take care of him well before escorting him.SzTgEcl
nmse1xq“How is the rector?”VWdVJ
owBPerda asked Count Consilus, who was seated in front of him.Ywc6
zP2Qr3V“According to the priests, the shock was severe. He needs at least one more day of rest. He has never been so close to dying at someone else’s hands.”8K7gkK
kti“I see.”9zpTR3
CA3qQK“More than that, his body was affected by drinking so much all at once. As if he had been drinking uncontrollably.”3JB6cW
f9I1“I gave it to him. That liquor you gave me.”YEwz6
wnrZh“You gave him the whole bottle?”V5If
Kv0OHj“He drank half of it right there.”hFyPFtU
55ZQ“Why would he do something so extreme?”i1Bu4wq
d25XD“Because it hurts.”6jHa
81E74eVPerda took a sip of tea.h3X1
vAgArN“I gave it to him because it hurt enough to kill.”VKt
iqcx“It’s a miracle he didn’t die.”HmI1V9R
b4XE8“It’s fine if he rests, but send him to Escolea as soon as possible. I need something from him.”A5ATf5j
ZI4il“I’ll inform Arwen.”MnHmJk
PeMK7cConsilus wore a stunned expression.E9ZSLh
Wx3He recalled what he had seen when Perda’s carriage arrived at his castle a few hours earlier.t73o
LYrlX“I’ve seen thousands of monsters in my life… but a demon is a first.”ljx1Aq
Me85“It’s nothing to be surprised about. I hadn’t seen one before either.”MgeQP
D1z“More than that, it’s the first time I’ve seen a demon capable of imitating a human.”NJ8
Y3qDemons had three distinctive traits.GYsO
iUCa62iSharp teeth, red eyes, and black skin.nxsU
fwb“I think it could have been mistaken for a doppelgänger.”ir7Ec
oQw“A doppelgänger?”SWy3
nn1U“If it can imitate appearance and voice, there’s no other explanation. The rector was confused, with no time to think.”Rrb9
9sxeF“So he could have been mistaken.”7ONgi
dLyx“Yes.”HRsIsMq
da5qDfIt made sense.igLvR
6tfv8sFPerda reflected for a moment.TYhn8g
i85n“Do you know the difference between a doppelgänger and the original human?”3UuYayX
dGMMVk“They can copy the exterior, but not what’s under the clothes. That’s why they are stripped to verify.”EKgWpG4
8Yp“Correct. But this one imitated even that. Even the genitals.”9amawz0
lafQTu“Even… that?”pPnzT2R
zNK2“If you do things halfway, you end up dead.”oz8zU
NO4W2A2“True. If even that was the same, then it’s not imitation, it’s practically a copy.”jTo
2ia“Not just that. His mana was identical to the rector’s. He didn’t imitate him—he became him.”GBQ
POGan“If he became him, then it would be impossible to distinguish. Sir Zeid has exceptional perception.”Q2X
3Jhma3“It was luck.”fVYBG
Umfq7fHe was grateful that he was bald. And that he took such good care of that shine.SQA0
TXDy“And that doppelgänger demon is still alive?”lEtlM
Bthf“Yes. We’ve chained him tightly and I ordered the executioner to torture him.”TWOk5LV
zZ2“Still going?”pVc
EEcmfun“Yes.”B7AP
SlHo“How long has it been?”954wba
iyRbbI“About four hours.”roa4
84mHsdPerda rested his finger on his chin.OZD5GH
q4l“How long until he gets information out of him?”UQ1S
9G7“He’s a professional. Give him two days…”TcBO
zRKSEQu“Not even one day is acceptable to me.”nnLMKZJ
m2bf“I’ll tell him to push himself to the limit.”eVv
N7SJ“No.”Fkm0
PkmPerda stood up from his seat.RqV
o5fM“I’m impatient, but making a fuss when there’s a solution isn’t efficient.”s4Hc
PgBts“You mean you intend to torture him yourself?”FLcB
rgSJ“I have some experience in that field.”ZOIOLQj
lGvwmnA noble saying he has experience in torture.dWbo6Bl
fTC3But it wasn’t surprising.MD3kewf
RuSPerda was someone who had killed Tesalos Wolcher without even blinking.SSBLwX
dI2TsAE“May I use the alchemy workshop?”TFeB
Gzw“Yes. Although we don’t have enough materials for poisons… is that alright?”ArF
Lh6YVcM“It’s fine. I’m not going to make poison anyway.”PQUN
U3gQn“Ah… then you may use it without issue…”tvV92
QVzPerda headed toward the workshop, and Consilus watched his back as he walked away.9dRS9
iaTKRB‘If it’s not poison… what the hell is he going to prepare…? Huh?’qYqjG
5R2His thought was interrupted by doubt.VTjlH
KnYDZsoWhat he saw was Perda’s back moving away.MBh9G3b
dW7s4Something was writhing and moving on his back, beneath the black clothes.ah2Gl
QwaoOTI“Maybe I’m getting old… I’m seeing strange things…”jmeZ1Nz
0YKConsilus rubbed his eyes and stood up as if nothing had happened.HPbGD
rcT2***sGxPYJ
rTxHUEDeep in the underground prison of Count Consilus’s castle.PfyvCx
OBoThe executioner, wearing a black hood, carried out his duty.ohz
MaR3The man with the appearance of Rector Bernard hung in a pitiful state.Qyb
UfDUCsBound to a steel torture device, with damaged tendons, not even a knight’s strength could easily escape.i4Q2DU
jT17xIn that place where only the executioner and the prisoner were present, an unexpected guest entered.CRE
6Kqk“Greetings, regent of Valdrova.”xYACB
5RkGmk5“May I observe your work for a moment?”BuwaB78
3UlK0“Yes, go ahead.”V3s1Ru
ZDeGBF4The executioner stepped aside, and Perda moved forward.xhxLc
bufThe man’s condition was deplorable.0DjP9B
ImqACHis face was swollen, and his body covered in bruises.TxMg4zd
KO8b1kk“Impressive.”Adu9nJ3
M8S3wPerda murmured.BSWjyzs
uPx“Your skill in inflicting pain without killing is remarkable.”sTjHQo
O1tG“…It’s an honor.”ukTN7E
WnMUThe executioner, confused by praise he had never heard before, didn’t know how to react.kao31p
gqtqX6That place was practically hell.P5mK
M1oyuTAnd yet, Perda had entered without hesitation and called it “impressive.”oQp
9EVBenA“Your work ends here.”U8Vjc
Tra“We haven’t obtained information yet…”Ro1fDW
8F5j“I will handle it personally. This is for your effort.”mWNe
UxHtzXPerda handed him three gold coins.7lRk
MGa7qTRThe executioner, surprised by the amount, immediately understood what to do.eLyEH
DYVHe left the room.MRcI
USQPerda pulled a chair closer and sat in front of the bound man.EC9
PLvWQIMThe man had his head lowered, eyes closed.i2dosae
FDGdru“I know you’re still conscious. Since you’ve become a demon, you should stop pretending to be a weak human.”6jflv
BbUElThen the man raised his head.ldqVl
tR14His face was swollen, but his eyes had not lost their life.MOEf
OTiA glint of interest appeared in Perda’s eyes.40DlT
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationNow let’s get down to business.