Dilemma

The blizzard raged so fiercely that it was impossible to see ahead.

Now and then, cold air seeped in.

But an atmosphere even colder than that seemed to pierce Ferda’s heart.

His eyes fixed clearly on the intruder.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Regent.”

He introduced himself with an insouciant expression as he stepped through the snow.

“I’m Abel, one of Silverwind’s spawn. You may not remember me, but I was guarding the door when the Grand Council convened.”

“……”

“What are you doing in such a remote corner? Did you come to enjoy some sightseeing while taking in the northern snow?”

“……”

“Hmm, but for a tourist, what you’re doing seems rather stupid. Anyone of the Regent’s standing, unlike some foolish old man who came to gather greens, should know this is Silverwind territory.”

“……”

Abel mocked him as he slowly walked toward Ferda.

Ferda stepped backward deeper inside in time with his strides.

“Why so quiet? Are you perhaps too frightened to speak?”

“It’s only because I find this fascinating.”

“Pardon? What do you find fascinating?”

“How could I not be fascinated when the beast before my eyes is speaking?”

There was no one before Ferda but Abel.

“Ha ha, is that so?”

Abel’s grin deepened.

The moment his prowling footsteps struck the ground, his form vanished.

Whoosh—!

Leaving wind and sound behind, he moved in front of Ferda.

He laughed loudly.

“What a wicked joke. Ha ha!”

Abel jabbed Ferda’s chest with his index finger as though flicking someone’s forehead.

Crack!

“Kugh!”

Bones broke with a gruesome sound.

Ferda groaned in pain.

“Oh dear! Does it hurt? I only gave you a little tap.”

“Cough, cough!”

“No, but I really did just tap you. How do ribs break from that? Huh? How can someone who’s a regent have such a weak body? At this rate, you won’t have anything left of you when it’s time for your nightly activities.”

Ferda spat out the blood pooled in his mouth.

His expression was unconcerned, as though he were merely spitting.

“You sure do talk a damn lot.”

“Wow, I’m genuinely impressed. I heard you recklessly stood up to Lord Goz. So it’s not simply because you have Lady Blancaros as your backer.”

Abel grabbed Ferda by the collar.

He raised his claws in warning.

“But it’s unwise to keep mouthing off to a child of Silverwind. We’re not exactly a merciful breed, you know?”

Ferda calmly checked how much mana remained.

Enough mana remained to use fourth-tier magic several times.

‘Can I beat this Dragon spawn?’

No.

This was on an entirely different level from his fight with the dark elf.

Yet he did not show the slightest sign of disadvantage.

Ferda scoffed in response.

“Were Silverwind’s spawn… a race that encouraged making deals with demons?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb. I already know you’re the one handling Sitri’s cleanup. The demon we were supposed to rescue was probably your target.”

The hand gripping his throat suddenly tightened.

Enough to cause slight discomfort.

It meant Abel had been shaken.

Ferda continued to provoke him.

“What were you planning to do after teaming up with that bitch? Had you grown tired of rules you’d upheld for centuries and decided to enjoy a promiscuous sex life?”

“Ha! Do you take us for beasts like you, breeding and raising children? Fighting is better than such boring nonsense!”

His vertically slit pupils flashed sharply.

“A man unfit for the throne is sitting on it right now. He calls himself Silverwind’s heir and harbors his father’s soul.”

The blade of rebellion aimed at Goz Silverwind.

“How strange. He doesn’t suit you, either.”

“Ah, yes, I know. If I opposed Goz, I’d turn into a bloody mess and die within seconds. Captain Goz is that strong.”

He smiled unpleasantly.

“But Luri Silverwind is different.”

A familiar name sprang out.

“Do you know what an extraordinary person that little girl is?”

“I know she’s strong.”

“She’s not merely strong. She was the only person who could challenge Captain Goz, commander of the Silverwing Mobile Brigade and the Royal Guard. When people discussed who would succeed Lord Silverwind, the two of them were the only names mentioned.”

“Is that why Goz is trying to kill her?”

“No. Captain Goz wants to keep her by his side. That’s why the war hasn’t begun.”

So that was why the war had not begun?

“What do you mean?”

“Valdrova and Silverwind. If war broke out between them, which side do you think Luri Silverwind would choose? If she remained on Valdrova’s side, she would have to die. Captain Goz won’t allow that death.”

Unexpected.

The reason they had been unable to go to war all this time was that Luri was there?

Abel’s intention in bringing up Goz like that was clear.

“But you’re different from Goz.”

“Luri is a warrior who doesn’t use a sword. What is there to do to such a warrior?”

“Take her sword away.”

“Exactly. Not using a legendary sword despite holding it is a sin in itself. And all I intend to do is use the sword Luri Silverwind refuses to wield.”

He understood.

This was the condition of Sitri’s deal.

Luri, who possessed power capable of opposing Goz.

In exchange for helping him make that power entirely his own, Sitri had been supporting him.

‘Still waters inevitably rot.’

No matter how much of a Dragon spawn he was, he was powerless against time.

His greed was trying to kill everything.

‘Luri….’

Ferda called that name silently.

A strange irritation rose from deep in his chest.

That irritation took root in the form of murderous intent.

It forced its way past his lips as a smile.

“How astonishing.”

“Ha ha, now that you’re about to die, you’ve finally found the energy to flatter me?”

“No. Compensating for one’s weaknesses is important. And if you lack something, being able to borrow it is basic sense.”

Ferda smiled along with him.

“What amazes me is that a blockhead bastard like you has the brains to understand even that basic principle.”

Snap!

Abel bent Ferda’s index finger.

“Ngh….”

“You really do run your mouth carelessly. This won’t do. I suppose I’ll have to play with you a little longer.”

He let go of the bent index finger and grabbed the middle finger this time.

“That should make that bitch Luri submit, after all.”

“Luri won’t even blink.”

That girl hated humans.

And she hated Ferda.

Nothing he did pleased her, and she disliked everything he did.

So even threats would not change her.

And you’ll be dead before she gets here.

That was when.

Another sound came through the blizzard.

A small figure could be seen in the white flurries.

“What… are you doing?”

It was Luri.

Her expression was quite different from the one Ferda had imagined Luri wearing.

She was shaken.

* * *

What Luri heard from the spirit was simple.

Ferda had made a deal with a demon to infiltrate the facility.

And he had fallen into a trap.

At least, that was how what the spirit had seen appeared.

Thus, Luri flew swiftly to Count Consilius’s territory and found out where Ferda had gone.

It took a total of five minutes.

She entered the cave with a plan to quickly rescue Ferda and escape.

But she was already too late.

There stood a Silver Dragon spawn.

And Ferda, battered beyond recognition.

“What… are you doing?”

Threatening killing intent surged from Luri’s body.

Luri’s killing intent was powerful enough to unleash Dragon Fear despite being a Dragon spawn.

Though that killing intent was aimed at Abel, he did not panic.

He broke into a broad smile at her arrival and said,

“Luri Silverwind. We meet again. Do you remember me?”

“You were with Percival.”

“Oh, you do remember me. Though I suppose that’s only natural, since it hasn’t even been two weeks.”

Abel smiled faintly.

Luri found that smile unpleasant.

She felt like leaving this place immediately.

The more unpleasant she felt, the harsher Luri’s expression became.

“Release Lord Ferda.”

“No, thank you.”

“If you refuse—”

“What will you do? Start a war?”

Luri flinched at his words.

“You’ve entered Silverwind territory. The human here is in the same position.”

“……”

“I have legitimate grounds. Luri Silverwind, if you’re a Silverwind, you know this well, don’t you? Those who trespass on our territory are arrested, or if they resist too fiercely…”

Biting her lower lip, she forced the words out.

“Summary execution….”

“You know the law well! Yes! Execution!”

Abel shouted excitedly.

There was no way she could accept that.

“If you kill my fiancé, Lord Valdrova won’t remain still. Then all of Silverwind will have to oppose him.”

“Try it! If you can! Then war will break out!”

Abel cackled mockingly.

“What will you gain from that? Silverwind’s spawn will die, and your master will bear another burden of guilt.”

“Ugh…!”

“Is that what you want? If it is, go ahead and blabber about it to everyone!”

Luri was deeply shaken.

Every time he spoke, he struck precisely at her weak points.

“Luri. This bastard was acting on a demon’s orders.”

“A demon…?”

Crack!

“Good grief, you keep saying useless things. Don’t you know your life is in my hands? Why are you acting so uppity?”

An even deeper loathing entered Luri’s gaze.

But to Abel, even that hatred was adorable.

“Let’s say I did join hands with a demon. Then go ahead and make your statement! Say, ‘He was bewitched by a demon. I’m holding these two who trespassed under a demon’s influence!’ But no one will listen.”

He acted as though he had nothing to hide.

No, on the surface, he had no choice but to appear blameless.

“There won’t be any trace on my body that I made a deal with a demon.”

That was probably true.

Ferda, too, had made a deal with Sitri, but he bore no mark indicating he had entered into a contract.

All they had was circumstantial evidence.

But no one would believe that circumstantial evidence.

Luri, a traitor, and Abel, a member of the Royal Guard.

The difference was already clear from who was speaking.

“You may kill me here. But what do you think will happen to you?”

“I….”

“You’ll fail to protect even the thing you wanted to protect after betraying your father. Aren’t you truly incompetent?”

Abel continued to provoke her.

No words came from Luri’s lips.

“Incompetent Luri. There is nothing you can do here.”

Luri considered what the best choice would be.

If she left him alone, war would break out.

If she did not leave him alone, war would break out.

The castle she had protected would crumble.

A variable.

She could not control the variable.

Because that was how it had always been.

“I….”

She asked cautiously, her lips trembling.

This was the only way.

A small sacrifice that could protect everyone.

“What should I do?”

Luri knelt.

Even Abel, who had been laughing mockingly, looked surprised.

“Ha ha… it’s real.”

Abel’s body trembled.

“Luri Silverwind is really kneeling.”

He had never imagined it.

The unbreakable wall of the North.

The Frost Giants’ nightmare.

Luri Silverwind, at the center of that reputation, had crumbled from a mere few words.

A sardonic smile hung on Abel’s lips.

Luri Silverwind’s power is mine now.

That sense of accomplishment lasted only a moment.

“If that is your wish.”

What came then was Ferda’s voice.

“I’ll do it.”

At the same time, Abel’s body jerked violently.

“Kugh!”

Abel vomited blood on the spot.

As strength left his entire body, he fell to his knees.

Ferda released the collar he had been gripping.

Abel felt it clearly.

Something was pressing down hard on his heart.

Was it Luri’s doing?

That was impossible.

Though she could use spirit arts and simple magic, it was impossible for her to affect something inside him without leaving external wounds.

That left only one variable.

Abel raised his bloodied head.

Ferda, whom he had been playing with, stood tall where he was.

Blue light blazed from his eyes.

As expected, it was his doing.

But there was only one thing Abel had not expected.

Darkness.

Only pitch-black darkness, impossible to see through even with a Dragon spawn’s eyes, occupied the space.