Even So

“Today, I wish to use this opportunity to speak about Valdrova, the one who will become my partner.”

Some of those with less courage looked as though they were about to lose their breath.

Seeing expressions like that only gave him more confidence.

“At the far end of the East, a land where all things could once roam freely was laid waste by the Black Dragon Godwin and became a land of death where monsters are endlessly born.”

Ferda lent force to his words with that confidence.

“The great Red Dragon Valdrova has served by fighting the monsters of the East for 150 years without asking for anything in return. Yet what is the epithet attached to my partner?”

A name that had made everyone tremble with fear.

But as that fear faded, it became a name that was scorned.

A name that was mocked.

“Tyrant. Evil dragon. Monsters are always swarming in from that distant land of demons. They strip his scales and tear at his flesh. His claws are aimed at your homes and families. Despite such devotion, he has asked for nothing. Even amid agonizing tears, he has remained silent and fought on steadfastly. We are indebted to him. Even beasts repay kindness when they receive it. That is why I have raised my voice here today, to clear his dishonored name.”

Ferda’s gaze moved over the surrounding people.

Though many had gathered, their expressions were predictable.

Those with no interest, those with interest, and those calculating how to make use of it.

Yet their eyes were always turned toward one place.

The dragon spawns occupying the front seats.

They were masters of mystery, beings of transcendent stature, and servants of the immortals.

“You said you were Regent Ferda Valdrova?”

Someone among them spoke.

Was this opposition from the Silver Dragon spawns?

Contrary to what he expected, it was the voice of an elegant woman.

Blue hair and horns that were not pointed.

‘Was her name Erika Iorga?’

It was Erika Iorga, the leader of the Iorga spawns.

Bright blue hair and eyes, a sharp jawline, and striking features.

She was beautiful enough to be mistaken for an Imperial princess rather than the leader of a spawn faction.

She rose from her seat and bowed with an elegant movement.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Regent Ferda. I am Erika Iorga, Iorga’s representative and the Tower Master of the Blue Eyes.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I dislike beginning our first meeting with harsh words, but given the nature of your proposal, I will not mince words either.”

Erika’s eyes settled on Ferda.

Sharp pupils incongruous with those clear sky-blue eyes were fixed on Ferda.

“To put it bluntly, my conclusion regarding that agenda is a simple ‘no.’ I formally oppose it.”

Conviction buried deep in her eyes was directed at Ferda.

It was not good.

Those eyes were drawing everyone in the Grand Council to her side.

“150 years ago, when the Dragon-Demon War broke out and kept us struggling for twelve years, Lord Valdrova pierced Godwin’s heart and became a hero of the war.”

Her tone was gentle and rational.

But Ferda did not take her words at face value.

“But that was not the end, was it? Lord Valdrova lost control of his own power and went berserk. Many people, many races, many lives died. Do you know how many?”

Erika asked Ferda, adding another question.

“As the person who will become Lord Valdrova’s betrothed, and as the one who put forth this proposal, I trust you have conducted extensive research.”

This was something he had to answer.

If he said he did not know, he would only fall into his own trap.

Ferda answered truthfully.

“Half the casualties suffered during the Dragon-Demon War caused by Godwin….”

Half the number died in half a day.

This was the greatest catastrophe recorded in every history book.

“Yes, half. That was half the casualties from twelve years of war, all incurred in half a day. And….”

Erika subtly turned her head, drawing everyone’s gaze elsewhere.

It was Goz Silverwind.

“Even Silverwind, the leader of the Silver Dragons, died because of him.”

Goz Silverwind said nothing.

No, he could not.

He was clearly hot-tempered, a man of fists rather than words.

Perhaps he was pressing his lips tightly shut because he could not bear to hear what curse he might unleash if he opened his mouth.

But Ferda, the proposer, showed no sign of being cowed.

If he had been going to lose his nerve over something like this, he would never have spoken in the first place.

“The circumstances were different from Godwin’s. At the time, it was an all-out battle, with all of Cerdess’s forces surrounding Godwin and countless soldiers and beasts gathered there. If one ran wild amid all that, becoming easy prey was inevitable.”

“What matters is that he went berserk at that moment and caused casualties. In any case, he killed half the number that the evil dragon Godwin did—in just half a day.”

“He killed Godwin, who had tormented the continent of Cerdess for twelve years.”

“And he killed Silverwind, too. A brave warrior and the greatest leader, who cared for others more than anyone.”

Valdrova was responsible for the deaths of the most vicious evil dragon and the greatest guardian dragon in a single day.

Since those two events had occurred simultaneously, Valdrova’s position was bound to become precarious.

But Ferda had evidence.

“That rampage was neither Valdrova’s will nor an expression of the inherent nature of his power.”

“If it wasn’t inherent, then what was it?”

“It was merely an incident caused by his being corrupted by the chaos residing in the evil dragon Godwin’s heart.”

Ferda had spoken at length with Mori to bring up this matter.

“Chaos resided in Godwin’s heart. Valdrova was the one who came into closest contact with that chaos. He directly destroyed the source within the heart, so whether he wanted it or not, he must have been affected by it.”

Erika’s gaze sharpened.

“It is true that Valdrova was the one closest to Lord Godwin. But you seem to be laboring under one misconception.”

Erika once again seized control of the atmosphere.

“Valdrova was not the only one fighting there. Everyone fought desperately. Many more had kept Godwin at bay and suffered injuries.”

Ferda knew that as well. Cross-checking the records had shown that Valdrova had suffered comparatively little damage.

“If what the regent says is true, then every dragon present should have been affected as well. Including Lord Iorga, who suffered severe injuries. Yet he remains in good health.”

Erika turned her gaze.

It was an old man seated beside her.

“Is Lord Odograsado in good health?”

The old man answered with a hearty chuckle.

“Lord Odograsado is cloaked in a radiant, golden faith. Surely he would not fall prey to Godwin’s shallow tricks?”

At the emphatic denial, Erika lifted her head.

“Look. If what you say is true, many people should have been corrupted and tainted during the Dragon-Demon War.”

“…….”

“You say the chaos seeped in because he destroyed the heart? Of course, that may be possible. But look at him now. Unlike the others who overcame their wounds and rose again, what is Valdrova doing?”

Erika infused her voice with emotion.

“He does not want to protect anything. He is like a beast that has tasted blood. It is as though he can no longer turn back the destructive nature he awakened. The monsters flowing out of the demon lands are the only things that can suppress that nature, and he chose them because they are the least likely to cause trouble later. So is it not true that, despite drawing close to the demon lands, he has no will to eliminate them either?”

Ferda began to see Erika differently.

It was a wall.

Not just any wall.

The wall in the north.

The enormous wall built to stop the frost giants and demons coming from beyond the frozen lands.

It was called the Frost Barrier.

Ferda had seen that wall as well.

There was no mercy or tolerance for anything beyond the wall.

Erika’s argument was like that wall.

It left not an inch of room and offered those who approached it nothing but intolerance and ruthlessness.

‘Why?’

Ferda wondered.

‘Why is she so desperate to kill him?’

He could not understand her struggle to utterly isolate Valdrova.

If Goz Silverwind had been enraged, he would have understood without question.

But the Iorga side, which had no connection whatsoever, was acting desperately, as though determined not to leave even room for reconsideration.

Ferda read the atmosphere.

His eyes swept over the entire Grand Council almost unconsciously.

Nobles who sympathized with her intentions.

Alexander, who had acted as though he were on Ferda’s side only moments ago, was holding his breath and watching the mood.

He was probably calculating politically, wondering if there might be something to gain.

‘Disgusting.’

In Ferda’s eyes, everyone was frantic to kill him, strip him bare, and feed on him.

‘It was what I expected.’

Ferda might not know what politics was, but he knew what it meant to be human.

The moment someone drew attention and came under attack, everyone joined forces to bring them down.

If Ferda had not had the name Valdrova behind him, they would have prowled around him, waiting to tear him apart piece by piece.

Ferda had always kept that in mind.

‘And yet….’

His insides were boiling.

The more they boiled, the more coldly Ferda’s face twisted.

He had abandoned the thought that he could persuade them in the first place.

And yet it was not easy.

To face this situation squarely and still be forced to remain silent.

Ferda felt the turmoil boiling in his heart.

The anger he had discarded and buried was mocking him.

And so he asked.

‘Valdrova. My heart….’

Must you go this far,

even after accepting all the slander and humiliation,

still steadfastly love and protect

what you wish to love?

Then the heart that had been roiling began to grow astonishingly calm.

The mocking laughter of his anger stopped.

Frail enough to seem ready to snap,

soft like a sprout breaking through the damp earth at dawn,

yet melting his frozen heart,

engraved deep within his chest,

that feeling,

answered Ferda’s question.

Even so,

“Then.”

That he loves everyone.

“I will prove it.”

At Ferda’s words, Erika asked.

“What do you mean, you will prove it?”

“That Valdrova chose the Far Eastern territories as his base not simply as a latrine for relieving his destructive instincts.”

Ferda, standing on the platform, shouted more clearly than ever.