Chapter 70: Hatred and Obsession
irO7B“Wow. I always wanted to enter Valdrova Castle at least once, but I never thought I’d get an opportunity like this.”iVZecud
P30mmTErdes caused a commotion as she advanced almost dancing.uppRk
prDmMThe way she walked was irritating and chaotic, yet no one dared point it out.RIMyt
9Ee4That only showed how tense the situation was.Duf6f6
sh0“But why is everything so quiet? Ever since the regent himself came out to guide us, it’s seemed suspicious to me. What’s going on? Did you kill everyone because you didn’t like them? Or are you preparing to attack us from behind?”x6Qd
huoVdShe truly knew how to choose her words.5OfU0
u986CJ“The people working inside the castle are civilians. They are not people capable of something like that.”G4UN
7pCFY“Ah, yes, that seems true. If the knights are a guy who looks like a swallow and another crybaby covered in snot, then I can already imagine what the others are like.”tCU
4BKErdes burst into laughter.9mK
A9MShe acted like an immature child, but she must never be underestimated.erJJ
qruThat woman was the number one mage on the continent.VEmZ0
bBS1Destroying an entire family with a single finger would cost her nothing, and even kings bowed their heads before her.aiDZK
vt0BShe was a living disaster.WbA
GaRPA magical delinquent.5u1n1k
WClThat was why Perda had locked everyone inside the castle.qnX
PwodNThe people working there were far from possessing elegance or the ability to withstand such pressure.UUH
c8WDyy“Still, coming here really has meaning. Valdrova Castle is enormous. I once tried to infiltrate it illegally, but the defensive barrier didn’t even move.”CriN1
54XgMB“Am I supposed to be pleased by that?”WDPIx6
Wk4M“Of course you are. Do you know what it means to receive praise from the strongest mage of humanity? If I couldn’t get through it, then no human ever will.”Nlg
gIbPerda muttered inwardly.V7JiH
nwpNAnd yet I defeated you miserably.tZOVn
yudAwwhThe one who responded to those words was Goz.57r
0l4Q5“It is a castle built for a dragon. It is natural that a human alone could not touch it.”pmoz
qkul“Are you defending it because you’re both dragons? Seriously, I never understand dragons.”LGX
jn4eV“Watch your words, Erdes Roton.”8l5zB
sAcjD“Yeah, yeah.”XJNEL6
MGmSclaAs irritating as it was, Perda agreed.lar3JWf
XqUNIt was suspicious that even someone who hated Valdrova defended her.nnhf
5ZMWSo even mortal enemies respected certain boundaries?y0wiqC
US0yBZYWhile Erdes continued grumbling, they reached the end of the red carpet.zxPvl
4Xn5H3uIt felt like standing at the edge of a lit fuse.gs6E2
7nO6nTWould the bomb explode or would it fail?nPK
lh8RRWith that feeling, Perda opened the door.nSNrbQ6
YiEMA guest hall made of gold and red marble.239eAW
rnQNL1And a single maid fully prepared to receive them.F7NLJ
HoYBShe slightly lifted her wide skirt and greeted them.OFIQ
6Iw51oe“Welcome. I am Ruri, maid of Lady Valdrova.”pSAE
ovKTShe remained calm as if nothing were happening.0hEQ6y
1O2However, her eyes deliberately avoided meeting Goz’s.SYvD
etyAOn the other hand, Goz paid no attention to Ruri.XgxuVfS
aSTMgsBUnlike when he had tried to take her away, now he showed a lukewarm reaction.Vw30i
wQfoWnThat was even more suspicious.DV1B84
a0Gfr2EMeanwhile, Erdes threw herself onto the sofa laughing.XtdJg
sF5IN“Ahh, you people really make the atmosphere heavy. That’s why men are useless. In elegant places you’re supposed to laugh and converse, right? Hey, maid, bring me a cup of tea.”elin6O
rlpTStt“I will prepare it immediately.”7Hah
RrDIWhen Ruri tried to move, Perda slightly raised his hand to stop her.iqp50n
8Ez9QBo“You’ll let yourself prepare tea for the greatest mage on the continent?”l9P3c
jLEWQ“Then…”5AalRa
6lrN“I’ll serve it myself.”p9Hf
8KmcaThe reason Perda intervened was because he was beginning to sense something strange in Erdes’s behavior.j6qF
plfIf he let her act at her own pace, they would end up being dragged around by her.iweS3
BEbBPerda prepared to serve the tea.MCsy
DecBut he did not stand up.fl8uZ8
zpJKBThe shadow beneath his feet began to move and took shape before rising.uV43
CifVIt was Perda’s Shadow Hand.sJapf
NTZrBoUpon seeing that, Erdes’s expression hardened.0CB5
XSTN3jOpenly showing “I use dark magic” was practically the same as provoking people by saying “kill me.”FxW
HolduWithout caring about that reaction, Perda served a cup of tea.Lc2p
4a2hHis manners were perfect.DwQ
bpZjU“It is the finest tea produced in the western plateaus. Have a cup.”rMQ
Msj1ZtWarm steam rose from the cup, but Erdes’s gaze remained fixed solely on Perda.rPnsQ2
eM6Her dull eyes, like those of a rotten fish, looked ready to pull out a knife at any moment.NaTqnf
V1bq8“What a shame. I’m not thirsty.”phnDe5Z
cpdcC“Didn’t you say you needed something refreshing?”p94y
htdp6i“That’s right. Women are difficult to understand, aren’t they?”HZNuC
0zDqZZaA smile filled with killing intent.2YwQ7VT
pusfBut Perda held that gaze directly while taking a sip of tea.fnUiPAR
YtELet’s see if that shuts her mouth for once.i8u5Vj
XAyD“Now let’s talk.”4acEek8
0bPmZGoz adjusted his posture and leaned forward.i9n9
OAk“Explain why you secretly entered someone else’s territory.”Cd2
EfLHe was trying to understand the background of the incident first.GvPajv
sUoyPerda answered.SRHEoCs
tRGZ“There was a demonic research facility near that area.”E8HMaHp
2pt“An imaginary facility?”D526gA
ysoejZ“Wasn’t there recently a landslide there? As if something had exploded.”XbmYaGj
9s20V3z“……”3Ba
gbzmGoz did not answer.Olku
HjnoRH1That meant it was true.wzFllU
Ag2PHrw“I discovered the place where they were carrying out their project and went to destroy everything. That’s why I had to move quickly.”v34
SWoWL“So you crossed using a Bending Bridge to get there ahead of time?”JN1NT
anA88The words Bending Bridge came from Goz’s mouth.fOS
eCsm6P3Without a doubt, Erdes had given him that information.P9nv
mCUinl“Why didn’t you inform us?”Pede
qPTM7“Because it had to be done in secret.”4cacS
OcF9“And why?”T2P5D8
nSh“Didn’t I say it was secret?”W5XlA
mClp4zGoz’s face turned fierce.tNtUNQ
5scq3FsHe looked ready to unsheathe his claws.Ahhb4P3
S2PbjE“Perda Valdrova. Not only did you enter our territory without permission, but you also killed that man’s son with your own hands. If you truly do not want a war, you had better speak clearly.”zLfO
VJyHe would not run from a war if it came.3we
FFkOBut he also had no intention of starting one unnecessarily.sn4
Frh2Dv“As I said before, I was the one who killed Abel Silverwind. And it is also true that I caused problems. But none of that happened because I wanted it to.”jEpga
9qRgKTpPerda continued.sKT17RC
ESMID“That man was a demon worshipper. He was trying to obtain power through a rebellion supported by demons.”YRf
zmf“How did you discover that?”BVEfpF1
NuDqEW“There was no need to overcomplicate it. He spilled everything on his own. I don’t know whether he saw me as a fish already caught or mistook me for a confessional priest, but he ended up confessing it himself.”IfmP6m
5oHAiGoz did not explode in anger upon hearing the words “demon worshipper.”uAI
tBcKrjZThat meant Sitri had perfectly hidden the contract mark.iQ5DNQ
lmnThe balance began to tilt slightly.MfczP
TxNPerda decided to add something perhaps unnecessary.390F5
DI2epS“Do you know what he said? That Goz Silverwind was nothing more than a usurper. That he was unworthy of that power.”os75xcB
QSx“So there’s quite a bit of discontent inside Silverwind too? Did a simple piranha start having ambitions and strange thoughts—?”dcEi
hGvhlk“Silence.”UtQ4
bpt“You know I’m on your side, right?”pMlnYu
SLdYsHe stopped Erdes’s mouth as she kept digging into open wounds.LTKB2
MDyIoJe“For them to question my power is something that can happen. And to challenge it is also natural for the children of Silverwind. But if that challenge is obtained through a demonic contract, then the story changes.”qdORU8
SSB8aiWhat they desired was pure power.ldIngH
FkmyaThe power born from the blood inherited from the lord of steel and wind.8fHFFeP
lcDsas“And what does that have to do with you killing him? Am I supposed to think you did me a favor?”jqurOFQ
0Y392“How could that be? I told him that if he wanted to overthrow you, I would personally help him.”wnX
wqOZipjThe wind rose.BR3a
dKOBIhHow could he not become furious after hearing that someone openly proposed a conspiracy to kill him?ASkU6
KYvs“But he did not accept. Not because he was noble, but because his own usurpation plan required me.”qlKg
ELqVSThe wind stopped.HPfYEbc
0KJsJ“A mere human like you?”c2yz
NOVl“He said he would use me as bait and then absorb that power.”lKaze
LBM“Whose? Valdrova’s?”5lKOY
iUb“Ruri’s.”bsuDWc
INPUpon hearing that, Goz’s body tensed slightly.aQt3zj
ZFUhhoVErdes, who had been observing Goz’s reaction, intervened.N5lVz
OJZ“Ruri? And who is that?”xZ98W
bxZW“She exists. A girl like that.”1GfMXJ
MqI5Mo8Goz tried to brush it off vaguely, but Erdes persisted.oSF
HKWp88She glanced sideways at the small silver-haired maid and clapped her hands.umGk
3a4G“Could it be that little miss over there? Looking closely, I think so. There were traces of someone with a small body, was it her? That girl is the—?”BnEZMr
ZphF4“Erdes Roton. I did not bring you here so you could chatter endlessly.”oPy4VC8
KIoxHis vertical pupils glared at her fiercely.RV0UBp
EDEThe look was even more irritating than before.epp
bcrErdes smiled awkwardly and pretended to shut her mouth.JPhDq
KtvGoz’s irritated gaze ended up unconsciously turning toward Ruri.si0
ZWKRuri remained facing away and could not turn around.pEa5
tTSlPerda continued explaining the situation.gwV
3QN“Ruri came to save me. And because of that, I ended up having to kill Abel.”OB4c2ZV
oPEZJ“Hmm, then we could call our dear Ruri, who miraculously survived, and have her testify.”zAzPKZ
r4ZSDo whatever you want. I have nothing to hide.dwPqM
Y6VGlJust as Perda was about to accept Erdes’s proposal—RMh8OI
8leuXw1“Enough. That is sufficient.”c0V
nfsUa5IIt was Goz who rejected that testimony.IA9
pvJAt Goz’s attitude, cutting the matter short, Erdes looked at him with displeasure before turning her gaze back to Perda.9Bvmvt
DlSGKThen she smiled again.Ci3wQFw
QDB2“Well, we’ve heard enough from the two men, so now it’s my turn to speak.”WUnIL08
P0NtcrjSince when did this conversation have turns?DhHkDA0
cwUQWith how much you interrupted, I thought this was simply a disaster where everyone talked over each other.xsKs0l
77tM2Perda was about to mock her but restrained himself.VDze
qzz2iErdes stretched widely while showing a relaxed smile.3BerFwY
FZZoV“Yes, yes, it was a touching story, Regent Perda. But I can’t accept your account so easily.”F2ocY
tN05DYIt was the reaction he expected.TGpc6f
73K0I“There should be traces that that man made a contract with demons, shouldn’t there?”eNf0
lI8NUQH“Yes, I found them. They were hidden in quite a curious place. The heel of the foot. I suppose nobody checks all the way there, so it’s understandable that even the Silverwind didn’t notice them.”MpIZY
GD7c2She acknowledged that the mark had been placed somewhere easy to overlook.T7hK
pSTosyHowever, the gaze directed at Perda was unsettling.bM3r3
kSkgd“But I am Erdes Roton.”B0opO
YkXnooAThe most powerful mage on the continent.bCIuR
AlvModel of all mages, witness to history, and war heroine.Uewv
X5nRpjHer words were law.L9Uf
BC3hMmxA tyrant without borders.QVI8fsb
9NmAnd at the same time, the greatest authority on dark magic.qusHH
cvXeSomeone once said that love and hatred are separated by only a single sheet of paper.8bPSghf
0MLbErdes understood dark magic as well as she hated it.fzZ
IGkkMN“The tricks of those miserable demons are detected immediately. For example, the exact moment when a mark was engraved.”GWe
YvnvA smile appeared on Erdes’s face.pAcJB
lJ4LM4She looked like a spider observing prey trapped in its web.5WvL1
B5Zxn4i“The contract mark engraved on Abel Silverwind had not even dried yet.”j7hwaPh
28AAKBENot even Perda knew it was possible to determine when a mark had been engraved.YXRU
Ytw3qxvDemonic contracts had never interested him.mbJ
EACEyUOr more precisely, the nature of those contracts lay outside his interests.LYlEU
qre5JMdWhat mattered to him was how demons trapped humans and how to avoid it.WwEEt
QV1e8eZMost people focused on that.hTdk7G0
KxSwQBut Erdes’s obsession was far broader.PE6t
u4fcKbShe was obsessed with everything related to dark magic.V8ciEkj
DpbdIt was a sick obsession.N5yOP
PXKCWIThe kind that would do anything to cleanse the continent of the disease called dark magic.baZxm
iYOzAnd that obsession was driving Perda into a dead end.Eh2l
lSs“Do you want to hear my theory?”kJuWu
as31She began presenting her deduction.GGCUAb
CE7v“Regent Perda, you made a certain deal with the great demon Sitri. You said you came to destroy a demonic facility, right? Perhaps that was the deal. What would you do if the facility collapsed not in days, but within hours? For Sitri, it would be the perfect excuse. You ignored the saying about never making deals with demons and quietly crossed over using a Bending Bridge.”csLu
BgRsHer words were astonishingly accurate.ULo8QN
yBzEnough for Perda to feel pressure.KA5qAD
oHo“But then something unexpected happened. The Bending Bridge you crossed through closed for some reason. Regent Perda was left completely alone, and then Abel appeared. Could that unexpected event have been Sitri’s trap?”NNZI
J4t1fbAs she asked that question, Erdes narrowed her eyes with a smile and stared directly at Perda.Vfuj0
izsdCShe was trying to see beyond the mask Perda wore.5t5i
nNiGAnd Perda did everything possible to conceal it.2EYi0N
kpZV“No. It wasn’t. That was not part of Sitri’s plan.”H7Pm5
SSj6QBJDid she read his expression?oQzJD
fkyWacShe continued with another explanation.XJL
8udV“If it had been such a shallow trick, you would have noticed it. Because you are not an idiot, Regent Perda. You surely checked over and over to make sure there were no traps in the Bending Bridge. But even so, you still could not reenter the return bridge. That means you took something out of that demonic facility. Something so important that you wagered your own life to obtain it.”NKFe
cEswHis throat went dry.IRThEKK
ZTxeXO8She slowly rotated her finger, as though hypnotizing someone, while continuing to speak.3RV
7VfXshf“Making you encounter Abel Silverwind was probably one of the traps that bitch Sitri had prepared. Someone assigned to punish you if you started having strange thoughts. An excellent card, because even if he died, consequences would remain. But for some reason, she did not use that trap. Instead, she helped Perda by engraving a contract mark onto Abel Silverwind.”Trj5
zic2He could not help but feel admiration.Nixf
dkxEven while cornering him, she was this impressive.oSoJ
wbQiWas it possible to go this far simply by hating something with such intensity?04Jeu
q3eNErdes’s depth was on an entirely different level from anything Perda could comprehend.zv9
7lQ“Why would a demon help you? If she had simply left everything as it was, without engraving the mark, the Silverwind would have come to interrogate you, and you would have been sweating while trying to convince them. War would have become practically inevitable. So then, why would she willingly abandon a chaotic situation that demons love so much?”YHVBx0
vE6UXAHis mouth felt completely dry.8HOLcKR
NPZcHe feared even moving his Adam’s apple, so he maintained maximum tension.4C9YB7a
RAIvsd“The three clues that led me to this conclusion are the following.”kc9F8
FTX6MMwErdes raised her index finger.SDpS
SWD“First, the fact that you use dark magic.”WkIGRN
EuRKHer middle finger.lvTu
NmW“Second, the fact that a great demon of hell saved you instead of trapping you.”zah
wO9BcHer ring finger.jT9aD
WhxncIE“Third, the fact that the scent of a demon can still be faintly perceived in this house.”9jjw
FCNRGbfShe had struck directly at the blind spot.p0c
dn2yANo matter what happened, there was one conclusion Erdes absolutely must never reach.9yd
FyjfG‘Penelope.’2SaHaB
FSQBcqxThe situation was already dangerous enough with the mere suspicion of whether he had made a demonic contract or not.EPIxAG
CzJiIf they discovered that he was hiding a demon inside the castle, Erdes’s hostility would tilt completely against him.PiWL
AhsUOAnd the problem was not simply that it would be troublesome.qZjckX
0oLErdes was someone even the First Prince, the most influential figure after the emperor, tried to cling to.3N2Kh
m3x38She would undoubtedly place obstacles in the development of the far east.iahVU
IohEverything was unbearably tangled.PF2Wd
MPW9‘And that’s not the only problem.’kPd01p
IIMs4If, during the explanation, it were revealed that Penelope was a medium capable of controlling the life of a great demon, the problem would become even worse.CMlkQs
gBrvIt was obvious that Erdes would become desperately obsessed with Penelope.4BTHE9
DxeLThat could not be allowed.GWSbH
3OyEverything that existed in this castle existed solely for Valdrova.8G8Q6QJ
El3UUWQJust as Perda was about to open his mouth, Erdes smiled with her eyes and asked—DU2xgPX
FJTH24n“Are you the child of a demon?”wX8QHD
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationShe’s so obsessed with black magic and stuff.
ReadNova
MortalShe was fought in demon war from 150 years back, and being a arch mage she would have studies her enemies properly…
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationWhat is she saying.
ReadNova
MortalDamn, her deductions were quite accurate. It seems Perda’s mother is not that simple as it was previously mentioned that no records of her were ever found even by the Dragon magic tower folks, curious about his mother now…
Ernatio Degaldo (Ernatio D)
Mortal🤣I was thinking dragon but damn it would be crazy if he was the child of the ‘unknown’ demon.