My Liege

“……My liege.”

“……”

“……My liege!”

“……”

“My liege!”

“Huh, yes?”

Stephan was startled awake.

His attendant had turned toward him and was shaking his shoulder.

“Are you all right? You haven't said a word all day while riding in the carriage, my lord.”

“Ah, I'm fine.”

Of course he was fine.

Stephan turned to look out the window.

They were already on the move after leaving Herman Pascal's house.

“When did the carriage start moving?”

“Thirty minutes ago, my lord.”

“Thirty minutes……”

He remembered neither those thirty minutes nor even finishing the meal.

Stephan's mind seemed enveloped in a thick fog.

And the instant that fog began to clear, it tried to swallow him again.

The fog was made of Herman Pascal's words.

It was clear that he had deliberately tried to interfere.

If it was Herman Pascal—

the great merchant and respected trader—

it meant he had done something he normally would never do.

Had anyone actually ever shown interest in the East?

Stephan agonized over it again and again.

But this was not a problem that thinking could solve.

“Where is the carriage going?”

“Where else would it be going? Home, wouldn't it, my lord?”

“Ah, right. Of course it would……”

It was an absurdly obvious question.

Why had he asked it?

Stephan posed the question to himself.

Deep down, he had been thinking that he must not go home.

Then where should he go?

His destination was clear.

“How are the horses?”

“They're fine, my lord.”

“Then don't turn back. Let's go somewhere else.”

“Where, my lord?”

“Valdrova Castle.”

“It'll take several days. Are you saying we should go without preparing? We need to pack clothes, send a letter, and so on. Shouldn't we just go home?”

“Stop your prattling and go.”

Seeing how dazed he was, the attendant could not bring himself to argue and told the coachman to change course.

Stephan's head filled with fog once more.

For now, Stephan simply walked through that fog.

‘The Far East.’

What was the Far East?

Now and then, people dreamed of a gold rush in that undeveloped wasteland, but they were frustrated every time.

It was only natural.

Magi was a calamity even immortals could not overcome; how could humans possibly conquer it?

The outcome was as obvious as a moth flying into a furnace.

If the result was so obvious, what was I putting my faith in?

‘Was it because of the mana stone?’

Stephan had become obsessed with that mana stone and caught its scent.

But his father, Herman, had not.

Tilda and Murchit did not seem interested in the thing either.

If they had smelled its potential, they would have tried desperately to interfere or take it for themselves.

Stephan asked himself:

‘Then am I the one who is wrong?’

He wanted to believe in himself, but this was always how he was.

He grew arrogant while believing that he was objective, then fell.

His father, Herman Pascal, had always made him witness the miserable ends of merchants like that with his own eyes.

As a merchant who had seized great wealth and as a father, he had advised Stephan.

Am I being arrogant?

Was I merely seeing him as a savior because I was blinded by infatuation?

Was he nothing more than another swindler?

He could not stop wondering whether he would end up just like those who died after arrogantly trusting in ‘me.’

Was I truly prepared to devote my life to him?

He was afraid.

He was afraid that he would be unable to leave the Empire because of the tolls and slowly die within its borders.

He needed something that could make him forget that fear.

Alcohol? Women?

Or perhaps……

“My liege!”

“Gah! You startled me! What?! Why?! What!?”

“We've arrived, my lord! Now please come to your senses!”

“What? We've reached Valdrova Castle? In just a few minutes?”

“What are you talking about? It took four days, my lord.”

He had been dazed for four whole days.

He had not been able to wash properly, and he reeked; even his top-quality tunic had yellow stains from bodily fluids.

Why did I come here?

He realized it was a strange question.

Hadn't he come here to find the answer?

Stephan walked through the inner castle to find Ferda.

He was with Vernel, the chief researcher.

They seemed to have just finished discussing something.

“What is it?”

Ferda asked.

“I, um……”

What had he intended to say after coming here?

There was only one phrase circling in Stephan's mind.

‘I'm pulling out.’

He was afraid he could not trust Ferda and would end up looking like a beggar, so he would cut his losses and walk away.

He was about to say it, but Ferda beat him to it.

“As it happens, I have some good news. President Bernard of Escolleia made Vernel a major proposal.”

Those words brought different words up from his throat.

“Huh, what kind of proposal?”

“He offered him the main slot at the exhibition to be held in Halim two weeks from now.”

Stephan felt as though someone had struck him hard on the head.

The fog cleared, and a ray of light poured in.

“Congratulations! Being the main presentation at the Escolleia exhibition is a huge deal, isn't it?! At least, that's what I've heard.”

“Yes. It is the position that brings honor to every scholar.”

Being recognized among those demanding scholars was deeply meaningful.

It would also draw attention from merchants, and nine times out of ten, such attention meant money.

“We can't just let this pass, can we? How about we celebrate with food and drink today?”

“Haha, I feel like we're counting our chickens before they're hatched……”

“So what?! I'll throw you a huge banquet, even if I have to pay for it myself. Haha!”

Stephan laughed loudly.

It was an exaggerated gesture unlike him, but the news was so wonderful that they let it pass.

“Stephan.”

“Yes?”

“Weren't you about to say something?”

At Ferda's question, Stephan scratched his head and answered.

“Ah, that…… I just came to say let's do our best! Haha!”

The fog that had covered Stephan's mind was gone.

Believe in myself.

Even if I end up a beggar.

I will keep moving forward without regrets.

* * *

A week later, Iorga and Valdrova officially proclaimed their alliance.

The continent of Cerdès was thrown into an uproar.

A Guardian Dragon and an Evil Dragon that could no more mix than water and oil.

They had exchanged opinions repeatedly through the point of contact known as the Grand Council, but their conflicts had always ended without being resolved.

And now, an alliance between such an Evil Dragon and Guardian Dragon.

Doubts grew that Iorga might be laboring under some sort of misunderstanding.

Her position was as follows.

-Although Valdrova caused the second disaster, we have decided to support and join his regent, who has shown his resolve to put the past behind him and conquer the Land of Demons.

On the surface, it was the most favorable pretext.

Her support lent strength to the declaration of the bold young regent.

Even so, most people believed the conquest would fail.

-Although the Blue-Eyed Mages have given their support……

-How could a mere human accomplish what everyone failed to do in the purification campaigns?

Since Godwin's death, no one had approached the Land of Demons, and everyone who had tried had died.

Yet quite a few people placed their hopes in Ferda's resolve.

-Could it be that conquering the Far East really is possible?

-Reclaiming the beautiful Far East that exists only in history would be a tremendous achievement.

Regardless, the wind had begun to blow.

For a lone sailboat adrift, any wind from any direction was a tailwind.

* * *

Halim.

It was known as a city of gambling and pleasure, and it was a place he had once visited to recruit Zed.

He was visiting again for the exhibition.

The one difference was that Luri was not accompanying him this time.

Ferda already had enough people around him, and another Dragon Spawn had taken up residence in the inner castle.

Luri still clung to the faint belief that Isabella had come to sabotage them.

Since there was no harm in keeping her in check, he had left Luri behind.

Luri said only one brief thing as she saw them off.

“Do not gamble.”

“Wasn't there a shortage of funds? For raising money, it would be the perfect—”

“Do. Not. Do. It.”

Her silver eyes glared at him, full of murderous intent.

It looked as though a magic blast might erupt from them.

Watching her like that made him feel defiant.

What expression would she make if he bet his entire fortune?

Since he did not have two lives, he had no choice but to engrave those words on his heart and head to Halim.

Stephan had gone back early, saying he would prepare props and such needed for the main presentation, and planned to rejoin them in Halim.

Vernel was organizing the presentation material in the carriage and could not relax for even a moment.

Since it was an important opportunity, Ferda spared no support and created an environment where Vernel would not have to worry about anything else.

The other companions were the knights Zed and Malcolm.

“Waaaaah, I'm really going to be okay, right? I really am going to be okay, right?”

And Penelope as well.

She was howling like a mammoth standing on a grassland.

Just as they arrived at the entrance to Halim, got down, and were about to undergo the entry procedures,

they found themselves one step away from the magic circle protecting Halim.

“I'm telling you, it's fine, so let go of my arm, you bitch.”

Zed pushed away Penelope's head as she clung to him and forcibly detached her.

She clung desperately to him and would not stop whining.

“I heard about it when I was in Hell! They said demons can't enter Halim! They said your body melts if you try to go in! My half-brother supposedly died that way, you know?”

“No, I said it's fine, didn't I? It's just a damn lie they told to scare you. Trust me and come on in.”

“It really is fine, right? I'm not going to die, right?”

Zed no longer wanted to continue the question-and-answer session, so he kept his mouth shut.

Instead, he grabbed Penelope, who had both arms wrapped tightly around his, and dragged her along.

Penelope began howling like a cat being dragged toward the water.

“Aaaah! What are you doing!? No, I don't want to die! I don't wanna dieee, aaah, my stomach is turning inside out…… Huh? Nothing happened?”

The moment she entered the magic circle, Penelope confirmed that nothing was wrong.

Her tear-streaked, sobbing face vanished, and she shot to her feet as though bored.

“Human magic circles aren't anything special.”

“……”

Zed looked at her with pity.

The others, including him, felt the same way.

‘Was bringing that one along really a good idea?’

Penelope was carrying Sitri's Life Vessel.

They had brought her along this time so they could keep her somewhere visible, just in case.

Besides, they still did not trust Penelope.

They had worried that bringing a demon along would cause troublesome incidents around them, but that had been an unnecessary concern.

After Penelope swallowed Sitri's Life Vessel, she gained a special ability: ordinary demon-detection magic could not distinguish her from a human.

As long as she maintained human skin, she was essentially human.

‘And the noisy one was her.’

They had expected her to be frivolous and loud, but she had exceeded their expectations by far.

She was a storm in human form.

The sort of person who caused incidents simply by standing still.

How had Sitri lost her Life Vessel to someone like that?

‘There has to be something more to her.’

Everything happened for a reason.

Not wanting to overlook it, Ferda asked Penelope,

“Tell me about your abilities. As Sitri's descendant, do you use illusion magic?”

“Yes, just a few light spells for illusions and tricks.”

“An Arcane Trickster, then.”

“Oh, that's a cool name. That's right. That's what I am.”

She nodded smugly, and Zed snorted.

“What Arcane Trickster? She's a troublemaker.”

“What did you say!?”

Her light-pink eyes glared at Zed.

Zed did not back down and pushed his face close to hers.

“Did I say anything wrong? It's never quiet for even a day when I'm with you!”

“That's not my fault! Who told you to attract the attention of that witch? It's because you go around picking up and devouring every woman you see, isn't it!?”

“Did I do it because I wanted to? I know perfectly well there are things I shouldn't touch!?”

The two of them squabbled loudly.

Ferda set them aside and considered the abilities of Penelope and Zed.

Arcane Trickster Penelope and the master thief Zed.

“No matter what, you two seem like you would get along well.”

“What?”

Zed stared at Ferda as though dumbfounded.

“Sorry, but could you not pair me with this brainless crybaby?”

“Isn't she the woman you like?”

“You make her sound like some girl I pick up and devour indiscriminately. I want no part of going around with a walking troublemaker who causes an incident simply by existing.”

“I don't want to be paired with this violent man either, you know? I like women. Among women, only beauties! I want to suck up their essence without restraint!”

“What are you talking about when you sucked up my essence just yesterday?”

“I have to eat too, don't I? Eat! I only feed very sparingly, just enough to remain in the mortal realm! That's why I can stay human like this!”

This is noisy enough to kill me.

Ferda decided to retract what he had said.

“If you want, I can help you find a new partner.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

The two who had been acting as though they would devour each other a moment ago began making subtle expressions at those words.

What was wrong with them?

“Ahem, well, for now, I'd like to keep things as they are.”

“Why?”

“Because it's hard to find another handsome man who's this good with words and this good-looking at seducing beautiful women……”

Penelope's reason made sense, but Ferda could not figure out Zed's.

“She sucks my essence and says she'll erase the memories of the girls I seduce……”

Hearing that, Ferda realized he had been mistaken.

‘They were both the same kind of scoundrel.’

They were a match made in heaven.

No releasing them into the wild.

* * *

Escolleia's exhibition was being held by renting out an entire casino in Halim.

It was one of the largest casinos in the city of pleasure, and a suitable venue for accommodating the many nobles, merchants, and scholars.

When Ferda arrived, it was the first day of the exhibition, just as preparations for the opening were finishing.

“Oh, Regent! Did you arrive safely?”

Stephan, who had been loitering nearby, came over and greeted Ferda with due respect.

“You made it safely. How about you?”

“I'm fine. I also built the exhibition booth according to plan. Would you like to take a look?”

“I came for that, didn't I?”

Stephan guided Ferda onward.

Ferda took a rough look at how the exhibition operated.

The scholars arranged their creations in booth displays, allowing merchants and nobles to pass by and view them one by one.

The scholars participating in the exhibition were each burning with competitive spirit.

The one thing researchers always lacked was money.

This exhibition was a crucial moment for continuing their research.

The merchants and nobles who came to see the exhibition were the ones who would provide that money.

If he was lucky, Ferda too might become one of their patrons.

Ferda took a cursory look at the scholars' creations from the entrance onward.

‘Nothing really catches my interest.’

All he could see were things that existed only as theories or had little commercial value.

No wonder this place felt so remote from the center.

However, the closer they got to the center of the exhibition, the larger the booths became and the more dazzling the items grew.

Some of them were things that would prove useful in the future.

Vernel's booth was in the center.

Vernel's booth, built with the Pascal Trading Company's support, was as splendid as the large booths sponsored by other companies.

“What do you think?”

“You did a good job.”

“Right? We brought in our decoration specialists to make it, haha.”

Being so eye-catching meant it could attract the attention of many people.

The booth was ready, but the item to be displayed was not there yet.

They were waiting because Ferda's side was supposed to bring it.

“By the way, where is the mana stone we're supposed to prepare?”

“It seems Vernel has it. Where did Vernel go?”

“I think he went to the lodgings first.”

“Without saying anything?”

He had not slept properly for several days; perhaps he had gone to get some sleep before the main presentation.

Since Ferda had been by his side, he knew how hard Vernel had worked.

“I'll go get it.”

“No, I'll go.”

Since he had nothing else to do anyway, Ferda decided to go himself.

Despite Stephan's attempts to stop him, he stubbornly set off on foot toward the lodgings.

Contrary to his expectation that he would find Vernel sprawled out in the lodgings, he found him near the passage leading there.

The president of Escolleia, Bernard, the exhibition's host, was there as well.

The two were deep in conversation about something, and Ferda overheard them.

“Vernel Marquis.”

Bernard looked at Vernel and said, “I cannot help but be disappointed in you.”