Too Much Is as Bad as Too Little

Ferda stepped onto the podium and opened his mouth.

“I am Ferda Valdrova, representative of the Far East and fiancé of the Grand Duke of Valdrova, the Aspect of the Great Fire.”

As befitted a council, he introduced himself formally.

“Please tell us the circumstances of what the Far East experienced during this incident.”

“Yes.”

Ferda read through the documents Mori and Isabella had organized together, one by one.

By fleshing out the deficient parts and cutting away the unnecessary ones, he was able to convey only what was essential to the incident.

As soon as his testimony ended, the questioning began.

“I have a question I would like to ask.”

It was Joseph Faust, the leader of Altesinism.

“It says here that you were isolated for a month.”

“That is correct.”

“It also says that all the water supplies, as well as the underground aqueducts except for the reservoirs, were contaminated. How did you survive that month?”

“We discovered a new source of water in the Far East.”

“A new source of water would have been contaminated as well. You did not fill it using climate magic, either.”

“Yes. That is why we purified it and made it potable.”

“What do you mean by purification?”

“We used magitech formulas to remove the demonic energy contaminating the water.”

“Oh……”

After hearing Ferda’s answer, the chamber grew strangely quieter.

Everyone’s interests were aligned along the same lines.

“It seems your health should have suffered. What happened?”

“Our assessment is that after purifying the water contaminated with demonic energy, it became cleaner than most rivers.”

“Whose assessment was that?”

“Blue Eyes.”

Since the source was the Aspect of Water, no one harbored the blasphemous suspicion that the source might be unreliable.

Ferda deliberately added something here.

“This achievement would have been impossible without Blue Eyes’ cooperation.”

“Come to think of it, it says here that Blue Eyes made and delivered several units for testing.”

The audience, which had been holding its breath, began breathing audibly again.

That was why Ferda had credited Blue Eyes with this achievement.

‘Value adjustment.’

The saying that too much is as bad as too little did not exist for no reason.

Praising Burnell as though he had accomplished everything alone and raising his value would only do more harm than good.

His value becoming publicly inflated would not help the Far East’s security.

Even Burnell, who had been content with his current circumstances, agreed to Ferda’s strategy for the sake of his own safety.

One thing was certain: even if Ferda shifted the credit to someone else, Burnell had already become far too valuable a person.

That was why the next question was about him as well.

“This time, I have a question. I heard that magitech also played a considerable role, apart from that. There was something called a magitech rifle, was there not?”

The one who asked the question was Oldin Rooster, known as the Hero of the Counterattack.

He was muscular, and the scar on his eyebrow seemed to gleam menacingly.

He was a man who could easily be called Valdemar’s right hand.

“Yes.”

“I do not believe the Empire was ever informed about that weapon. Did you keep it secret all this time?”

What an absurd question.

“Since the Far East serves as a barrier, we had been focusing on developing the magitech rifle. We also participated in the exhibition hosted by Escolleia with support from the Pascal Trading Company, where we demonstrated it before numerous nobles and merchants.”

In short, Ferda was saying that it was strange they did not know about it.

“It is a weapon that could have a direct and immediate effect on the Empire’s national defense. Do you not think the Empire’s leadership ought to have known about it?”

Then why had they not shown it to the Empire first?

“As you know, the Far East is adjacent to the Land of Demons and possesses strong autonomy. Since the atmosphere seemed to be one of noninterference, we did take advantage of that.”

You treated us as though we could do whatever the hell we pleased because neglecting us was the norm.

The exchange continued in that vein, and the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.

It was truly astonishing.

They were treating the man who had achieved an overwhelming victory more harshly than Alexander, who had lost an entire legion.

Such was human greed.

Even the achievements of a war hero bowed before avarice.

“Chief Commissioner Rooster, that will be enough. Regent Ferda Valdrova, if you have nothing more to testify, you may step down.”

“Yes.”

Akaad eventually stepped in and mediated the hostile atmosphere.

“I will call the next witness. Louis Ruthenia, commander of the Second Regiment of the Far East Interim Alliance and deputy chief of staff.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Please give your testimony.”

Louis Ruthenia explained the strategy used in the battle to exterminate the colossal monster.

If anyone was to explain that strategy, the person who had overseen it should have spoken.

That would mean Eri, the Platinum-ranked adventurer, or, if she was unavailable, the next-highest commander.

Yet Olivia, the chief of staff, was being left sitting in the audience.

As Louis’s explanation continued, Ferda felt strangely uncomfortable.

He was making it sound as though the entire strategy had come from Louis Ruthenia’s head.

They said that to strategists, a situation like this was the same as having their child taken away.

What sort of reaction was she showing?

Remembering the commotion she had caused, Ferda assumed she would not take it well and turned his head toward where she was.

Perhaps by coincidence, his eyes met Olivia’s.

As though the story meant nothing to her, she stared straight at Ferda, then smiled brightly and waved at him.

‘I can never figure her out.’

Since he could not act as though they were close, Ferda quietly turned his head away.

Louis finished speaking, and there were no questions.

He was a hero in this incident, not a criminal.

“With this testimony, we will take a brief recess. We will reconvene in thirty minutes.”

Voices surged through the quiet council chamber.

The chief commissioners began talking among themselves while remaining in their seats.

Reading the atmosphere, Consilius subtly inclined his head toward Ferda and spoke.

“It seems they are about to reach a conclusion.”

“Which means it is only beginning for us.”

“That is correct.”

It was time to remain on high alert.

At the same time, it was important to appear relaxed.

Ferda casually stepped outside, as though he were simply getting some fresh air.

Then he happened to spot Olivia.

Someone had approached the beautiful woman, as befitted an imperial princess, and it was Lord Louis Ruthenia.

“P-Princess!”

The knights tried to stop him, but Olivia raised a hand and waved them back.

Olivia greeted him politely while meeting his eyes.

“Hello, Lord Ruthenia. I hope you have been well.”

She was calm, unlike the Olivia Ferda knew.

Ferda quietly stretched a shadow toward them and shaped it into an ear.

“Um…… Princess Olivia…… There is something I would like to say……”

Her small fingers covered the prince’s lips.

“Please, do not say anything.”

It was not that she did not want to speak with him.

The moisture in her eyes and the breath escaping through her slightly parted lips……

She looked as though she understood the hidden truth of this tragedy all too well.

“I know. I know that was not your intention…… You have a duty to bring glory to House Ruthenia, do you not?”

“I……”

“So you do not need to take it to heart. I have…… something more important than such a trivial matter, do I not?”

“What could be more important……?”

She clasped both hands together, a smile resting on her lips.

“What matters to us is that everyone joined forces and made it through this ordeal. Even if that achievement has been misunderstood by others, as long as we know the truth…….”

Ferda was startled when he saw her like that.

Her actions carried a sense of reverence, not her usual seductive charm.

“That alone makes me happy.”

Ferda had wondered what effect she was trying to achieve with that act, but it had unquestionably worked.

Louis’s expression grew even stiffer.

He had naturally expected her to resent and curse him.

Yet the answer he received was such devout forgiveness.

Louis’s face turned bright red.

“Then I will be going……”

“Ah……”

He turned away and fled as though running from the scene.

At the same time, he loathed his own pettiness and regretted it.

Olivia watched his retreating back with a wistful expression.

‘Did reaching the Fourth Circle really change her as a person?’

The Red Circle was based on emotion, and the greater that emotion became, the more one was bound to be consumed by it.

Just as reaching the Fifth Circle through hatred turned one into a madman,

reaching the Fifth Circle through faith brought one close to what people called a saint.

According to that theory, there must have been a great change in her heart as well.

Ferda stopped secretly eavesdropping on them and approached Olivia.

“Oh my, Regent.”

Olivia welcomed him with a clap of her hands.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

“And it is a pleasure to meet the consort of the Great Fire. How have you been?”

“Yes.”

“This is probably your first time visiting the Golden Council…… If you do not mind, I could show you around a little.”

There was an intention hidden in her friendly words.

She was suggesting that they walk together and talk.

“Then I will not refuse……”

He smiled faintly and accompanied the princess.

The knights watched them from a sufficient distance.

Ferda broached the subject in a low voice.

“You seem to be drawing closer to becoming a saint.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is something I would never be able to forgive, so I did not expect you to let it pass so gently.”

“Oh my, forgiveness?”

Her long eyelashes fluttered with feigned innocence.

“Is it not?”

“Did I not tell you?”

Olivia turned her head slightly.

A cold shadow fell across her smiling expression.

“I have never forgiven anyone who betrayed me.”

Ferda had asked just in case, but it was as he had expected.

Olivia, who was ambitious to enter politics, would never forgive someone who had stolen her achievement.

“When the time comes for Louis to make a mistake, I am preparing to place the blame squarely on him. I cannot imagine how enjoyable it will be to watch my brother lose his right of succession because of an absurd mistake he made himself.”

“The reason you acted that way was……”

“I am only doing this because it is time to change my image.”

“You mean becoming a saint.”

“Yes, a saint.”

She grasped the amulet around her neck and pretended to pray.

“To the public, I will seem like someone who has finally received God’s calling, and to the nobles, like someone who has laid down everything.”

As they continued talking, it became clear that Olivia was exactly the same as ever.

If the Red Circle had caused a change in her feelings, it would have been a problem, but fortunately that was not the case.

“Now I only need to attain the Fifth Awakening.”

“It will not be easy.”

“It will not be easy, but it will not be the same as before.”

Ferda wondered if she meant that it would become easier, but she was talking about the external circumstances.

“Once you reach the Fourth Awakening, it is called an ‘omen.’ From then on, you can formally request lessons from the Alte Church.”

“Lessons about becoming a saint?”

“Yes.”

She was a jewel.

Ferda wondered how it made sense for a jewel with legs, on the verge of running far away, to remain still.

“The princess has attained the Fourth Awakening as an Altesinist, and the fact is already known throughout society. The church has no choice but to make the offer for the sake of its image, and the imperial family will have no choice but to make me accept it to maintain the balance of power. That is why Joseph Faust is on my side.”

Even after securing one of the five chief commissioners, the other four were still enemies.

He decided to treat it as information and ask about her own affairs instead.

“What will happen to your duties as a princess?”

“I will have to perform them alongside this. Still, I will be reducing my social engagements, so I am satisfied with that alone.”

Was it not usually the other way around?

Olivia hated making small talk and flirting while saying things she did not mean, so she was simply glad about it.

Of course, when she had delivered the news, she had shed torrents of false tears.

“I am only asking to put my mind at ease.”

Olivia asked cautiously.

“You do know that this post-incident conference is targeting you, Regent?”

Ferda nodded.

“Yes. They said it seemed they were about to reach a conclusion.”

“That will not happen. I think it will proceed to a second round of questioning. They will ask why you failed to stop the colossal monster in advance when you could have, or something along those lines.”

What Olivia described was the most likely scenario that could arise during the conference.

“What would you like me to do, Princess?”

“If you become too greedy, you will get burned badly. You will have to give something up. Give them one thing they want.”

Give something up……

What she had said was the most realistic advice.

The Empire was vast and powerful.

There were only a handful of Far East supporters in this council as well.

They were the sort who would somehow manufacture a pretext for interference if one was needed.

Ferda considered continuing the conversation, but they could not go on any longer.

There were still fifteen minutes left, but someone they happened to encounter prevented their conversation from continuing.

“Oh, what a coincidence meeting you here.”

Valdemar Golt.

He walked toward them with a broad smile.

Olivia looked at him and put on her mask.

“It is an honor to meet you, Grand Duke.”

“Hoho, what a coincidence to meet you here, Princess.”

“Indeed.”

Then Olivia subtly took hold of Ferda’s arm.

Just as he wondered what she was doing,

Ferda noticed that Valdemar’s presence changed for an instant.

He glanced at that arm with an expression of profound displeasure.

Then, as though nothing had happened—as though Ferda had only imagined it—he put on his genial smile again.

“The meeting will be reconvening soon. Should we not be going?”

“I was just about to return.”

“You would do well to prepare yourself.”

“That sounds wise. Shall we return, Regent?”

“I have something to discuss with Miss Olivia, so go on ahead.”

It was not a request for permission, but an order.

That confirmed it.

This old man……

He had impure intentions toward Olivia.

“Since the Grand Duke has something to discuss with you, I suppose this is where my guidance ends.”

Olivia released Ferda’s arm and glided toward Valdemar.

After taking about three steps, she turned her head and said,

“Please think carefully about what I told you.”

She gave him a sly, sidelong smile.

As Ferda returned to the chamber, he thought again about what Olivia had said.

She had said that to protect many things, he would have to give something up.

What should he give up in this situation?

Ferda still was not certain of anything.

* * *

“We will now reconvene. Our chief commissioners have discussed how to handle this matter.”

Some discussion.

Ferda knew perfectly well that they had been conferring closely until last night.

“The loss of the legion under Crown Prince Alexander Arken’s command is a tragedy that cannot simply be brushed aside. But……!”

As expected.

“Since this incident was highly unusual, I believe we need to discuss whether it could have been prevented in advance.”

Things were proceeding exactly as Ferda had expected.

“Therefore, before moving on to the conclusion, we will proceed to a second session. The subject of this agenda will be: ‘Was it completely impossible to prevent this in advance?’”

Now it was time for the culprit to change.