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Chapter 117
That Smell
After Ferda received the witch's invitation, all the castle staff returned to their duties.
Except for just one person.
Ruri Silverwind, she alone gazed down at the spot where Ferda had vanished after receiving the invitation.
By now she should have been cleaning, but right now nothing caught in her hands.
Complex emotions kept circling her mind, tormenting her.
Én̂û m а
'Why did you make that choice?'
She couldn't read Ferda's true thoughts, and bad thoughts kept coming to mind.
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This was something that would shake even a saint.
Looking back at what Ferda had done, it couldn't be helped.
He brought a witch and a demon into the castle, made a deal with a Great Demon, and now he answered the summons of the Witch Leader.
He was a man who did everything he shouldn't.
E̊ ň ú m а̊
'If they were ordinary humans, what would I have done?'
What would I do.
I would have expelled them without hesitation for just one of those reasons.
But Ferda didn't have just one such reason—he had them in heaps.
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That much was more than enough grounds for execution.
The reason she didn't do that to Ferda was simple.
Ẽn̄ǔ m̄ a
'Because I can trust him.'
Ferda was someone who would do anything for his Master.
In reality, he handled even major troubles flexibly, and hadn't caused any problems up to now.
This invitation, too, was something she could trust him with.
But the situation changed.
Ruri saw Ferda's weakness.
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Learning that he, too, was a ridiculously weak human, she could no longer look at him as before.
An equally weak human.
If he was a human with potential threat,
'I must kill him.'
Ruri looked down at her own hands.
She recalled the promise she made to Ferda.
W е b́ n̊ оvе̂ l En̊ um̆ а̂
-With these hands, I will kill you.
Ruri thought.
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'If he tries to harm my Master, could I really kill him?'
She was a Dragon Spawn.
Killing humans was something she didn't hesitate to do.
She was the one who killed the Third Prince's aides who tried to use Valdrova merely as a stepping stone for power, and she was the one who tried to kill Ferda when they first met.
Ѐ n.u m ӑ
But her heart wasn't the same as back then.
If
She earned Valdrova's hatred, and even if there was full justification for breaking the engagement, could she really kill Ferda?
Even that, she wasn't certain of.
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'Me too.......'
What those two hands wanted to grasp wasn't Ferda's throat.
W̊е b n о̇v е_l Е́ ṅumа.
'It would be nice if I could rely on that man with peace of mind.......'
Like her Master Valdrova does.
She just wanted to watch his actions without thinking.
She wanted to see humans gather and prosper on this desolate land.
At first, there was a reason she couldn't rely on him.
Because she thought Ferda was a human no different from the Third Prince.
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Her job was to catch him on the smallest pretext in his actions and drive him away.
But even now, with all those misunderstandings resolved, Ruri couldn't do that.
'Ferda-nim is human.'
Humans are Mortals.
Destined to die someday, and as they approach that destined death, they always become unstable.
That was something even Ferda couldn't avoid.
Еn u m̆ă
In Ruri's eyes, that weak appearance still seemed faintly visible.
Someone has to keep their wits about them.
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That someone had to be Ruri.
She had to stay alert, and nitpick at anything in his actions that seemed even slightly malicious.
It wasn't just for Valdrova's sake.
'I must protect.'
Ŵ е̌ b̈ n̂o vе̌l Еn̈u̇m а̊
That man who wants to protect my Master.
She had to protect him from the things that constantly test him.
It was while she was staring blankly at that spot.
She felt a wave of magical power from within the castle.
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Ruri knew where the epicenter was.
Because she knew where, she could tell who had returned.
Ӗńů m a
'Ferda-nim.'
True to her Silverwind blood, Ruri ran there at tremendous speed.
Originally only Mori should have been there, but Echidna was standing there.
She made a face as if she didn't understand the situation, and met eyes with Ruri.
"Hah, quite an uproar happened......?"
She tried to smooth it over with an awkward laugh and gestures, but Ruri approached her with long strides.
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Watching Ruri's expression, Echidna's complexion turned pale.
"Chief Researcher."
"Y-yes!?"
"Report the truth."
Pressed by Ruri's energy, Echidna's shoulders shrank.
"Where did you leave Ferda-nim and come back alone?"
Е n u mа̃ . i d̀
"Th-that is...... Big Sister wanted to see the Regent—."
"What did you do to Ferda-nim?"
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At the words 'Big Sister', her energy intensified further.
She finally started speaking urgently, nearly in tears.
"Ah, he'll be safe! The Regent said not to worry and told me to relay a message......!"
Kuwung!
W̆ e bn о̀ v̂ e l̈ Én̆ùm̊а̂
Tremendous power struck right next to Echidna's head.
Her leg kicked the study desk with all her might.
Books rattled and fell out from the shock.
"Can you guarantee those words?"
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"Y-yes?"
"Just as you returned safely, are you guaranteeing that Ferda-nim is also safe?"
Ěṅ ŭḿ ã
"Th-that is......."
He's fine.
He'll return fine.
It was a situation that could be resolved just by saying that.
"I, I don't really knoow......."
Echidna couldn't say it.
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As a former witch of the Philias clan, she knew well the nature of witches.
What she didn't know was the inner thoughts of Big Sister Lucy Philias.
It was too dangerous a place to guarantee safety, and she couldn't read her intentions either.
Hearing those words, Ruri hardened her face.
She looked angry, but her heart was just troubled.
It wasn't a question asked just to hear fragmentary comfort, but actually hearing 'I don't know either' only increased her anxiety.
Ẽn.ù_ṁ а .і̃ d
'I can't leave him there alone.'
She recalled what happened with Ferda and Abel.
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If a helpless situation like that time comes again, Ruri can't help either.
"Chief Researcher, you were a witch too, right?"
"O-of course......?"
"Can you take me to the place called the Witch's Garden?"
Е ṅu m а . і̃ d̄
"The, the Garden? No matter how much I try to go......."
"Can you? Can't you?"
Ruri pressed for an answer, and Echidna replied.
"Ah, I can't...... Even if I attempt to go, stepping into that space is Big Sister's role. If Big Sister doesn't permit it, going is impossible. If forced, you could die, no, become a wraith drifting in Limbo forever!"
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Mages who misuse teleport magic become wraiths trapped in time and space.
Perhaps a situation even harsher than death.
Е̃ ǹ úṁa
It meant she couldn't even use the unreasonable demand of 'make it happen if it can't'.
'Above all, if it's to be done, I have to do it.'
What can I do?
All I know is how to use brute force.
Just what can I.......
"Huh?"
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At that moment, a sensation pierced into Echidna's mind.
As if she'd been waiting for just this, she looked at Ruri and said.
"Fe, Ferda-nim has arrived!"
"!!"
Hearing those words, Ruri also withdrew the foot pinning her down.
As if afraid of missing him, she ran out to the place where he had vanished.
W eb̆ñõ v̀ ё l Е.n̄ ûḿ á
Just as Echidna said, Ferda stood there.
He was perfectly fine, to the point of making her imagination seem foolish.
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Black suit, gray hair.
And deep blue eyes like a deep lake.
Her shaken heart felt relief at confirming his figure.
Instead, she put strength in her eyes and approached him.
Е́ ń u mӓ
"Ferda-nim."
But she couldn't hide the tremor in her voice.
She asks, pretending to be composed.
"What did that witch do?"
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Ferda answered.
"Nothing happened."
Ѐ n̊ŭm̃а̀.і́ d̊
"Going all the way to the Witch's Garden and saying nothing happened isn't believable. Moreover, didn't Big Sister spend time with Ferda-nim?"
Ferda nodded as if agreeing with those words, and answered again.
"We merely talked."
"What on earth did you talk about?"
"We talked about a subject that hadn't reached a conclusion between you and me."
Those words meant Ferda's weakness had been shown to the witch.
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Strength entered her politely clasped hands.
"Don't tell me you...... made a deal with that witch?"
"I didn't make a deal."
If he'd only said that, Ruri might have felt a little relieved.
"Instead, she helped me."
But she couldn't.
En ůmа . і d̀
Big Sister, Lucy Philias.
A witch rarely seen, but Ruri had seen her before.
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"That bastard said he wants to help Valdrova-nim?"
"Yeah."
"Then my story came up too, didn't it?"
"Yeah."
W еbn о̇v е̇l̃ Ӗn̈um̌ а
A face boiling with emotion.
"Do you know why I ignored those words about wanting to help Valdrova-nim?"
"......."
"Because witches are a group that thinks everything besides themselves is an enemy and a toy. They're scum who enjoy their own amusement using others' revenge. Silverwind's descendants also fell victim to that amusement. When responsibility was demanded for that incident, do you know what Lucy Philias said?"
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"......."
"She said the Philias cannot be controlled over such a trivial matter."
Enu m̌ ā
Ruri is a Dragon Spawn.
Among them, a descendant of Silverwind with the highest cohesion.
One could know how angry she was at her who ignored family love.
"Ferda-nim is also just a trivial part of what that damn woman speaks of. They have no sympathy. They plan to tightly bind Ferda-nim and make him their toy."
What Ruri felt and said had some merit.
Talking with a witch was like holding a bomb that could go off at any moment.
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That was the common perception and common sense.
"Are you suspicious I might betray you?"
At Ferda's question, Ruri clenched her fist tight.
"Yes."
In truth, it wasn't that.
"I'm suspicious because it seems like Ferda-nim might harm my Master."
Е̇ṅ u m̂ а
I just don't want to see you played by a witch.
Another sharp word stabbed at Ferda.
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"That's a relief."
"......Yes?"
At Ferda's words, Ruri raised her head.
"What do you mean? How is that a relief?"
Еn̊ü m̄å
"Because you think that way, I don't need to mistakenly think otherwise on my own."
"......."
Ferda looked down at Ruri with deep eyes.
"As you say, someday I might harm her. I might mistake it for an intention for her sake, and walk a wrong path. But if you're keeping me in check like that, doesn't that mean there's a chance to correct me if I go astray?"
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"It just sounds like you're pushing responsibility onto me."
"That's also true."
Е̂ num̀а . і́ d
"You're irresponsible."
"Can't be helped. The person I trust most is you, after all."
Trust.
"Because I trust you enough to show you this weakness of mine."
Hearing those words, something uncontrollable rose in Ruri's chest.
'Again.'
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Like that day, the scent of ash faintly brushes past.
And someone overlaps on Ferda's face.
Silverwind.
He doesn't resemble that person who embraced her empty self in the slightest, yet she ends up mistaking him for him.
The cold, steel-like soldier's heart turns soft.
She tries to hide that feeling, fidgeting her lips and lowering her head.
Ŵ е b̄ n̂о̊v̀е l Еn ūm ӑ
Ferda couldn't possibly know Ruri's heart.
Instead, he placed a hand on her head.
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"Someday my judgment may cloud, but for now, please believe me. I won't be played by that witch."
He strokes her head softly as he pleases.
The misunderstanding grows, and the scent draws closer.
That day's scent of ash.......
Ѐnŭ m а̄
Wait a minute.
This isn't the scent of ash.
"......Scent."
"Hm?"
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Ruri sniffs properly, then lifts her head.
"Cigarette smoke......."
En ů m̃а
Her expression was rotten.
"Why does Ferda-nim's body smell so strongly of cigarettes?"
"That's......."
Ferda recalled Lucy Philias's actions.
How many times had she blown cigarette smoke right in his face while puffing away?
'Don't tell me.......'
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No, it's not 'don't tell me'.
It's certain.
Lucy Philias blew cigarette smoke that viciously precisely to create this situation.
'She's really screwing with me.'
They say once you're entangled with a witch, there's no peaceful days.
"......You should wash up first, right?"
Е̂ň ů m̂ à .і.d̀
Ruri held out a green towel.
Ferda said this with the heart of a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
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"......Please be gentle."
But there was no word 'mercy' in Ruri's dictionary.
* * *
Ferda recalled the words Big Sister, Lucy, had said.
Ẁ ёb̄_n̊ o vе l̆ En̄úḿ а
"The line of emotion......."
Lucy Philias told him to draw a line between two emotions.
He didn't know how to draw that line, but Lucy gave a clue.
'Mana Cultivation Method, Shape of Shadow.'
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The phrase goes like this.
'I become the shadow, and the shadow becomes me.'
Е́ n um̃ а.і̌d̂
She said the clue to controlling the two emotions Ferda possesses lies there.
"If the shadow can truly become me, then nothing would be impossible...... huh."
Ferda muttered the words Lucy said, and casually raised his shadow hand.
This is a hand.
'But at the same time, it's also not a hand.'
Because it's not a hand, it's not strange even if the fingers bend beyond a certain point. Rather, by breaking the fingers, front and back can be freely swapped.
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Or by transforming its shape, it can imitate a foot, and crudely, it can even be made into a beast's paw.
'So this is a hand, and not a hand.'
He alternates looking at the hand made of black mana and his own hand, thinking deeply.
Ferda released control and moved according to the flow of thought.
The shadow hand is a hand, yet simultaneously not a hand.
'This shadow is also my body, yet not my body.'
Wе b ṅоv е̌l. Е̌ṅ.u m a
Then.
'Can I not create something that is my Circle, yet simultaneously not my Circle?'
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