Chapter 69: Wick
eBpPerda examined the bag he had brought from the demons’ research facility.x55t
IARInside were research journals and several ampoules.wu2OipZ
7O9NmEverything remained exactly as it had when he handed it to Zed.umhxS
Ov4‘At least he does his job properly.’Aejtcih
DEwRhPerda admired himself for making the right decision when recruiting Zed Swallow.zPl
YEMThe only thing he could give him in return was a bonus.3zX16
rLM‘And Emilia’s whereabouts.’xHhQc8A
o0nI5VSHe had to resolve that before Zed started complaining.EGb
lzrgThat was the necessary condition to keep an impossible-to-catch thief tied down.G0IzGH4
9wQw7coHe had to do something before dissatisfaction appeared.gddqnE
0dul‘For now, I’ll keep thinking about it….’gDa69PO
e9iCtyPerda took the bag and carried it to the study.yOBmM4
Dp3aGP8There, as always, a single girl waited for orders.x9M43eX
GL8VQV“Mori.”ql2Qi
colgzMMori turned her head and looked up.UrvdDOo
174vHWith her hair full of curls, today as well she looked like a genuine noble lady.SiLis
A5sFK“Could you decipher this?”MZ016pK
Vu4nnPerda handed her the journal.YNUQoj
IkP91EvLinne’s journal was written in code.2mSP
3l8H4agUsing Morida’s Universal Library ability, she could normally decipher that kind of code easily.ndClU
eykLBz9— It is impossible to decipher.zpC
hsbkaHowever, the answer he received was negative.GhX
NZfuNU“What do you mean impossible?”F04
ql49— They are characters for which I possess no interpretive clues.YcII
jF1uqjCharacters with no clues even within the Universal Library.dA9
km0oNoThat only meant one thing.tdteg3
EnKozPO“Then it’s an orally transmitted language.”Xnf0
acA36A language not recorded in writing and whose meaning varied depending on the individual.0Oz
M3Ae3There was only one race that used something like that.lss
alX15PA‘High Elves.’Bu01
uePThe nobility among nobility, beings capable of reaching the deepest parts of the World Tree.aIM5byI
W9NaWleEach individual created a unique language impossible for anyone except themselves to interpret.loV
n1itIf the laboratory director, Linne, was a High Elf, then it made sense.rLX7
GP6bAZ‘That Dark Elf was originally a High Elf?’Nr4
lA1VCjIt was strange.8jxp
5eG6Q0High Elves were extremely conservative and closed-off beings who thought only about the World Tree.fUK1
sVhFor one of them to have served Godwin and fallen into corruption was as absurd as a headless chicken walking around or a catfish breathing outside water.MjgZMgd
N1Dy“Then, are there records about the High Elves?”XOQ
H9ix— There are some observation records.qHiLK
G07EuX“Anything related to their writing?”AWJ9
VLkCCy4— No.d2rJpB
TFJXPdIt would be a waste to leave it at that.hHmg
p9YMF9“Can’t you try interpreting it somehow?”3d89
TYJTMorida nodded.r8JY
CLPThen she stared silently into empty space.FOgVfA
MsMysY3Creak, creak.QNc
lhrHer body bent unnaturally, like a puppet.ylqD
ZT1Her face turned completely red and began trembling as if it might explode at any moment.zb8
R7bDE86“Forget it.”SZc
KOatCuFwoooosh.EdRjRy
18VShe returned to normal as if she had lost all the air inside her.cXst
RIfYPeEven if he wanted to understand those characters, he had no intention of destroying Morida over it.Lf7irA
pV1Morida looked up at Perda with an exhausted expression, letting her head rest on her shoulder.g9jvM
4327a“How is the work going?”NhGPRa
ANS0Morida nodded.hQWZG
u2q— Currently there are no serious problems related to the castle or the Grand Duchy. However, there are external problems.Db6ne4
WQZj1vh“What kind of problems?”8jIcnY
7js— The first is Helus Povidas.2v4Rexb
c6N52IeThe man they had grabbed by the throat using the Extermination Squad.WJn9
bquDfIn exchange for swearing loyalty to Perda and receiving Morida’s wisdom, he continued maintaining his life as a scholar.Mw6apHG
k91Woe“What about him?”CaKe
0PT— Helus Povidas asks too many inefficient questions. Sometimes they lack meaning or coherence, and he tends to request explanations using fantastical stories.kkj
aKsEConversations without concrete answers were always exhausting.TwFQLrW
caSRemembering how Morida had just forced herself to decipher the text, Perda could imagine how tiring Helus must be.iW6
4xJG“So it’s affecting the work. What else?”MG42
hWx4— He has shown signs eight times of attempting to seize Lady Valdrova’s authority.syncf
3k7That did not surprise him nearly as much as the previous matter.kCb
L51From the beginning, he had decided to use him precisely because he never imagined Morida would report something like that.nK4JB4R
2ai“Then let’s limit his questions to five. And if you think they lead nowhere, you may refuse to answer. Will that improve efficiency?”Orzx2
IdfR0— An improvement in efficiency is projected. However, another factor still remains.ovrt
Mef“What is it?”xXrD5
EcO6iKa— Echidna Philiaz.Ztx1NF
fowfoeClaiming he did not expect it would be absurd.sWk
B0ShHe had already seen Morida completely lose composure because of her too many times.h94
Q9tVFZ“If Echidna’s actions are the problem, I could restrict her a little, but I can’t control her completely.”oYFsH
u4sp— Echidna Philiaz’s influence is three times greater than Helus Povidas’s. Sometimes she demands that I address her with incomprehensible titles.6UDRPun
dvJjB“What kind of titles?”Ta0eD2
D5yzU— From “noona” to “mom,” “mother,” and even “little mother.” Titles incompatible with our relationship.VZ7y
NHuDnBTo Perda, it sounded like a simple request.liCcp
ize7hRe“Then just indulge her.”PWH
vxGkIp— When I comply, she later demands roleplay. And if I agree, she becomes immersed in it and begins believing it is real. Her delusional disorder worsens.Dfnib
1RHThat was why she was three times more exhausting.Lfdg6
QmK‘Because she’s a witch.’9WUkY
r1u43FyAlthough he understood Morida’s situation, Perda also had his own problems.ZX4b
3AM1F0zThe only person capable of taking care of Morida was Echidna and, lately, she had been out of control because of the matter with Zed.2TK
xgWhL8“For now, endure it. That witch is still necessary for us. Isn’t there another way to improve your efficiency?”wJPJBg2
ZD0MVMorida thought for a moment.N7ntD
GJ8kGAhShe lightly tapped the paper with her pen before responding briefly.SXlf
tBHu— Praise me.ZmG7
AtuE1j“What?”aLChDO
t0U0Tb— When I do my work well, praise me. Depending on the difficulty of the task, I require proportional praise.Jk5F
su4oIt was a completely unexpected request.fr2
CMrKpvHe never would have imagined that a wise slave with the Universal Library in her head would ask for something like that.p5OuCzu
wpS“Do you really need that?”75s
xSbKi— Various studies demonstrate that praise improves work efficiency and significantly reduces stress.6hftTd9
7wWS“That applies to humans.”z5E3GSc
cK2xtK8— In the gladiator city of Colosenia, praised gladiators showed a 20% increase in victories.hWb
KKuYrShe immediately refuted Perda’s words with data.EOt
FRmNQR“But you shouldn’t need it.”Kw5VFI
yNY0— In the mining city of Ophiles, it was reported that praised miners increased their productivity by 12%.GM8
5jHwGKShe kept throwing out fact after fact, completely denying his words.Qlb
fL8vIt was strange.zqJxXCI
uFyMorida was a wise slave without an ego.eVHOhCW
9DaGERnA definitive rational entity incapable of feeling emotions.402i
n7VAThen why did she need something like this?IM5p
k2V5D73Perda decided not to argue further.pTY
W2DIt was faster to say three syllables than waste time in pointless debates.XPfL
MdO“Good work.”D3r
cBomPWiThat should be enough.fGW9O3M
HseIt9Then Morida’s pen quickly wrote.i2SkT0i
4xeUW— According to research, when an adult man praises a child, patting their head is especially effective.8Gxs
O68QbWIWhat a hassle.smoA1H
M9JWEven so, Perda did as she said and placed his hand on her head.fZWKO
gJxffHe felt a soft texture beneath his fingers.oVLk
tecSYN“Thank you.”6EvIw4
uwsd1bPraise given without much emotion.I10t
rtideqHowever, the eyes with which Morida looked at Perda shone strangely.lK4
d4TejThe head that she could barely hold up before returned to normal.dpYc44
YC7Tac2“Was that enough?”HOeY
utxrkAfter hearing that, Morida nodded and turned her head.J6hf
3TOhaThough who knew whether it truly was enough.XAjS4yh
iDvQPerda closed the journal and took out a box.V3oa
yx4io6k‘This is where they took the drug from.’p2pEl
nK2WInside the box were eleven ampoules.Cg6Ig
Y9L31ZhThree vials of the Doppler reagent and another eight ampoules labeled with the names of Knight-class demons alongside the word “(prototype).”cqa
liIQYThey all shared one thing in common a black, viscous liquid. Without the labels, it would have been impossible to tell them apart.TT8
Pbc‘If I include the Bouncer reagent, that makes twelve.’P67Nh
RW0Perda recalled the subject who had transformed into a Bouncer.u7D
I92EBouncers were the type that sacrificed intelligence in exchange for strength.X1j
EgMNQ6His intellect had truly diminished, but his strength had increased noticeably.j4ugZ
hzLMm‘If the same situation happens again, they’ll be even stronger than that subject.’z8bTa
MoFDFThe only reason they managed to win was because the drug was still a prototype.sl2jaa
paYKdDFIn the final version, they would reduce the side effects and increase the power even further.qP0Olg
Jkms4‘That woman surely survived.’PLZUaV
rSZ0cBefore Director Linne did something, Perda needed to act quickly.XVKZ5d
gOJ29VgPerda had the samples.BHd8tNQ
peXF6xvLinne had the knowledge.ze5j
tHo8zrThe starting line favored him, but no one knew who would win in the end.rYV2a
cfQWSu‘Who should I entrust with investigating this substance?’fTEPDR
gIf8OeThat was where the problem began.uWdQ45
xoePerda started thinking of possible candidates.dvv
ml8d52oVernell?CJHS
0GUHe was intelligent, yes, but specialized solely in magical engineering.3ojl
jV1IfHe needed to focus on that.GKNes
Zqlk5oThen Echidna?6je0v
hxlShe was an expert in runes, but he did not want to involve her with a substance like this.OXD1y
D6hkfYRector Bernard?gJnC6O
PBxHe still did not trust him. He did not even really know what he was doing.iPyo
AUPB‘Then should I do it myself?’ZOQwf
S8hTToAPerda also had experience conducting research.Y385K
GRtwfSLAlthough it was limited to mana training methods and form manipulation to strengthen himself, he possessed enough obsession and perseverance.NjBnRE
4hV0PPerhaps, if he directed that obsession toward research, he could achieve something.mLvI1
VjKCpHJust as Perda was thinking about it—f1AOlec
rOFCDing! Ding! Ding!0II
8LC6D5xAn alarm he had never heard before echoed throughout the entire castle.W9fw1U
2i8FjIt was strange.l6E6kW
5XY7For an emergency alarm to sound in the main fortress of the Red Dragon, Valdrova.FNBtF
0DFKmShortly afterward, someone violently threw open the door and entered.dEZ4nbJ
3aOIt was Ruri.03Xt
5qd9AUrgency was visible on her face.I35F
qDXwtj“Lord Perda.”GHW
gih“What is it?”4LIi
WlZhqp“They’re coming.”NLBqKfd
EoeeDgDRuri spoke again.h68W7x
vpiDB“The children of Silverwind are coming here.”4yk
ZebSo they had finally arrived.T8ki
VEBa2Perda headed to the balcony.nGsDZtE
0EjqyvbVisible points in the sky.EcRkh
eBcSoon even his eyesight could clearly distinguish certain features.GvHOQ
bEA4cAt the front were enormously large wings.0y1O
vTVOKYl“That must be the leader.”chidFat
qD7sAv“Yes. It is Lord Goz.”Q9d
fUuFor the leader himself to come meant the matter was serious.Ecd07
1r73No matter what happened, they had to prepare.DFP5
fqfIS“What should we do?”lql
MQ4G3yqFear could be felt in Ruri’s voice.OPo
bZnAgjShe normally hid her emotions very well, but at this moment her anxiety was obvious.rUrGtY
p3R“Let’s wait first.”Mel
F0kGQW6“Even though the enemy is coming toward us?”keobkMA
hQ8XK“We’ll soon know whether they are enemies or not.”97uNvf
8PK5k8Perda stared fixedly at the approaching figures.LRSN
7hiy5lThe fist he had unconsciously clenched was soaked in sweat.JTrj
X2W‘Sitri.’VuI
tszHad that damned demon betrayed him?fPsx2Ik
rFPDbqShe could have manipulated the information very subtly to make everything seem like Perda’s fault.C3F8
DlYq9BBut he did not jump to conclusions.H1K
BINDemons also valued their own lives.XlKF
FotGXThe demons who crossed into this world acted as if they had no fear, but in reality they were even more cowardly than humans.GCVsI
1ZUoHShortly afterward, he obtained the answer.NLMm62
tFNAll the children of Silverwind descended in front of the outer gate and lined up.Z4cus
pGtH“That’s good news.”lQeu
3wsHkp5“Is it good news that they’re standing in front of the outer gate?”8h1Acd
LcTwN“If they had come to fight, they would have charged directly toward the balcony. And if they had come to cause trouble, they would be standing in front of the inner gate.”bYi
EZrWuV4Perda looked down from the balcony and locked eyes with Goz.E2pJSw
TeaA strange silent exchange passed between them.HgZWSg
Os4V“Ruri, prepare to receive the guest… hm?”ghM7UY9
lxTqoJPerda interrupted himself as he turned around.BgAG4
HF2syPsRuri was staring toward the Silverwinds.TvenVQ
9umhpjIf she had only been looking at them, Perda would not have reacted like that.pQxiDUy
WaK“Ruri?”54GSi
ixzuhZD“Did you call me?”v6jAsS
UKUAv“Why are you holding onto my clothes?”o9arO
9nuy3Yk“What do you mea—?”76Tq
AIsjjNRuri’s words cut off.XeM
cQ0YJust as Perda said, she was gripping his clothes.6w1
C6D2RwEven she herself looked surprised.Xf6sL
KCqnShe quickly withdrew her hand and tried to act normal.54nDX
xhfm“……There was dust on them.”NgRtxNZ
0WfGiF“Ah, really?”mDsZF
ci7YojwIt was impossible for Perda’s clothes to have dust on them.GAhBF
fPqPnAnd even if they did, Ruri would never have tried to clean them personally.0Wi
ORMTI“I’ll go prepare the reception for the guests.”9HO
ECaWith that, Ruri withdrew.YNL
Z79Perda also descended to receive the Silverwinds.ZhS9Iyd
WSen***BwmQ44
Jhg9The alarm rang.Vr2FW
0iC2wzDThe non-combat personnel inside the castle hid in their rooms and the combatants took their positions.6V4SFP
zojAnd in Castle Valdrova there were exactly two combatants.vbAW
lT34Zed and Malcolm.k1DcC9
4mZSince both held the rank of knights, they were deployed in front of the outer gate.gL3
4Dt8‘Shit, what kind of shitty situation is this?’yZu5
x6NgrZed cursed inwardly as he looked them over once again.nwFj
qRRThey were exactly like the Silver Dragon spawn described in the books.oHqJQcD
xRvSilver hair and silver eyes.yspdm
9YxRwpFierce faces and sharp horns.9GY
TPU5EEven while wearing armor, their muscles looked as if they were about to burst through it from the inside.6YIfZv
2aF7pFacing even one of them would have been enough pressure, but now they had arrived as a group.imhirP
xztfYWSNot even the rings that reduced fear toward dragons could overcome the pressure of their numbers and intimidating faces.4GThS
2vro‘Especially that guy.’ZmU
tpHGThat man standing at the front, with the soldiers behind him.yr9YSY
VHQF8The silver cloak he wore made it obvious at a glance that he was the leader.WpeBMMr
iJGIt would not have been an exaggeration to say that he alone represented eighty percent of the pressure in the atmosphere.iUxCN
WFtThe aura he emitted was that monstrous.PPFrk
38J6Wl“Your lord…”kxK
0SAaHe opened his mouth.dUeZi
wRFljXLAnd from it came a voice as cold as the souls of thousands of frost giants he had personally massacred.rsG96gq
rQdl0GmZed was almost crushed by that deep tone, but he forced a calm expression and answered.RXZFKy
OrwN“Could you wait a little longer? We were informed that he would come down shortly.”zvvE
OO5“A little…?”aOinYpG
NFNHCbDispleasure showed on his face.XnFwd
lfu3Even though he knew that hatred was not directed at them, enduring it was still difficult.VhrnrNK
wurBut Zed’s biggest problem was something else.eqKADq
ZxI“Sniff… sniff…”71RGS1
mdljauBeside him, Malcolm was whimpering.5Tup7s
pxRFt“Almighty god of light Alte, please save me.”bTg9DCn
T61NNANot satisfied with crying, he had even started praying.0PLRLgl
Vpx2GZed slightly tilted his head toward him and muttered.Zjt0w
Kq1“Just get lost.”WoE3k
CYg“Sniff… as a knight of this Grand Duchy… I cannot abandon my post…”360
BZmU“No, I’m telling you to get lost because you’re in the way. I can handle this alone.”qUO
2jQBut Malcolm did not move.orKxm9E
St6VDsWho knew how important his ridiculous knightly code was, because even with his legs trembling he still forced himself to stand firm.WzNKsV6
MhU‘Ah, shit, my life.’nM6C23
tqkXJust when things seemed to calm down, something like this always appeared to stab him in the back.lNu
DyXdjWhat if he just told this whole knight thing to go to hell?BVqJ
xNCraJust as he thought that, he heard salvation-like footsteps behind them.QmGK
86hefeM“I made you wait.”ReX3
phpjjyPerda had arrived.iVSXH
mltHe stepped between Zed and Malcolm and looked directly at Goz.vm0
OiFnyZ“You make your guests wait?”RJRREO
gX4hThe criticism fell heavily.W9Na0t0
27G2oh“Normally, guests send a letter before coming. Those who do not are called intruders.”M6v
dO5osZA suffocating tension.rWZ
kuZDdCMalcolm and Zed, who thought everything had already ended, realized it was only beginning.zG6
lrTaRDf“You are right about that. I apologize for not informing you beforehand.”u6WNc
oClvGoz accepted it easily.IFh7OAz
k4BQiPhPerda thought.yo6biJQ
0WYqWX1‘This is not the kind of person who would act like this.’YWRZ
ES425Of course.WG0
k9yAOpIf someone steps back, it is usually to advance three steps afterward.VcCnoT
Qe7Ypc“But if I apologize, then you must also clarify something.”Zdl
7eQGVJust as expected.BDB
NEYwn“Perda, regent of Valdrova. We have come due to suspicions that you used demonic magic to murder Abel Silverwind and conceal the evidence.”bY7
NnoTThe instant he heard “suspicions,” a name automatically appeared in his mind.2Fk
RsUFd‘Sitri?’hM8W99h
ZXWj7HHis instincts screamed that name again.po5zjl
XCCPThe most likely candidate was still Sitri.sZQ1EGI
NmVjNaDemons never resolved things cleanly.oFLC52
oFViPerda continued thinking about what kind of trap she was trying to set for him.SbzdL
MYGynHowever, he discovered something unexpected.gScO1kE
SWzWlTVSitri had not tried to betray him.it5
ETBThe answer appeared immediately.TAn
2t6y4r9“Hello, Regent Perda.”bcz
ZXMkAmong those sweaty and brutal men, a lively voice rang out.G0FYB1
PEYqQA small woman wearing a wide-brimmed pointed mage hat appeared as she walked forward.12vyFK1
RlIAt the tip of the hat, the emblem of the Human Magic Society of Serdes clearly shone.eY1O
PwOt9Only one person could wear a hat like that.kuDwZ8I
com30Erdes Roton, president of the Human Magic Society of Serdes.xNR
FCA“We know each other, don’t we?”1uLQ
hqHThe person responsible for this entire scene was that damned woman.MeV69pI
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationBut I don’t want see you go to hell bitch.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationThis bitch is here her name always make me furious what now she want just die already bitch 😒
ReadNova
MortalI get Perda is suspicious from Erdes perspective but I think she is getting blinded by her hatred for demons and black magic