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Chapter 156
Too Much Is as Bad as Too Little
Ferda, who had ascended the platform, opened his mouth.
"I am Ferda Valdrova, the representative of the Far East and the fiancé of the Great Dragon King Valdrova, the Great Phase of Fire."
As befitting a congress, he introduced himself with proper decorum.
"Please tell us the circumstances of what the Far East experienced in this incident."
"Yes."
E̊ṅuḿa
Ferda read through the documents that Mori and Isabella had organized together, one by one.
He could flesh out the lacking parts, trim away the unnecessary, and convey only what was certain for the incident.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
As soon as the testimony ended, questioning followed immediately.
"I have one thing I'm curious about, so I'll ask a question."
It was Joseph Faust, the High Priest of the Althea Religion.
"It says you were isolated for a month."
Е̂ ň u m̂ а..і ď
"That is correct."
"It also says that except for the waterways and the reservoir, all the underground waterways were contaminated. How did you endure that month?"
"We discovered a new water source in the Far East."
"A new water source would be equally contaminated. You didn't use climate magic to fill it with water either."
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"Yes. So we passed it through a purification process to make it potable."
"What do you mean by purification process?"
Еn̄ û m а . і d̊
"We removed the water contaminated with demonic energy using magitech formulas."
"Hooh......."
At Ferda's words, it grew strangely quieter.
Everyone's interests aligned as one.
"Health issues would have likely arisen, what happened?"
"The opinion is that the water purified of demonic energy became cleaner than most rivers."
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"Whose opinion?"
"Blue Eye."
Since she was the Phase of Water, there was no impious suspicion questioning the certainty of the source.
Ferda deliberately added words here.
"This would have been an impossible achievement without Blue Eye's cooperation."
"Come to think of it, it says Blue Eye produced a few for testing and delivered them."
E ń ùm̀ а .i d̄
The held breaths of the audience could be heard again.
This was the reason he attributed this achievement to Blue Eye.
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'Value Adjustment.'
The phrase 'Excess is as Bad as Deficiency' doesn't exist for nothing.
If he praised Vernel as having done it alone and raised Vernel's value, it would only become poison.
Vernel's value rising publicly doesn't help the Far East's stability.
Ẅe bn о̇ vе̃l Е́ n u ḿа̇
Vernel, who was satisfied with the current environment, also agreed with Ferda's strategy for his own safety.
One certain thing is that even if he spins this, Vernel is already someone whose value has risen too high.
That's why the next question was also about him.
"This time, let me ask a question. Aside from that, I heard magitech was quite active. There was something called a magitech rifle."
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The one who brought up that remark was Oldin Rooster, called the Reverse Hero.
His muscular build and the scar on his eyebrow seemed to gleam fiercely.
Ê n̈ùm̃ а
He was a figure who would not be out of place being called Valdemar's Right Hand.
"Yes."
"As far as I know, there was no mention of that item in the Empire. Have you kept it secret until now?"
What a dumbfounding question.
"The magitech rifle, since the Far East serves as a wall, we were only focusing on developing it intensively. And we also participated in the exhibition hosted by Escolea with support from the Pascal Company, and demonstrated it before many nobles and merchants."
To summarize, he said it would be strange if you didn't know.
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"It's an item that can exercise direct and immediate effectiveness for national defense within the Empire. Don't you think the Imperial leadership should know about it?"
But why didn't you show it to the Empire first?
"As you know, the Far East borders the Devil's Land and has strong autonomy. There was an atmosphere of non-interference, so we rode that wave to some extent."
Since you neglecting us is routine, we thought we could do whatever the hell we wanted.
Such dialogue and a grim atmosphere continued.
It's truly amazing.
Ӗ n̊ ū mа̇.і d
They're treating the person who achieved an overwhelming victory more harshly than Alexander, who lost the 1st Corps.
Human greed is like this.
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Even the merit of a war hero submits before greed.
"High Councilor Rooster? That's enough. Regent Ferda Valdrova, if you have nothing more to testify, you may step down."
"Yes."
Acad eventually stepped in midway and mediated the grim atmosphere.
Ěn u.mă . і̌ d̃
"I will call the next witness. Louis Lutetia, Commander of the 2nd Regiment of the Far East Provisional Alliance and Deputy Chief of Staff."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Please give your testimony."
Louis Lutetia explained the strategy used in the colossal monster subjugation battle.
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The person who should explain that strategy should be the one who oversaw it.
If so, it should be Eri, the Platinum adventurer, and if she's not there, the next highest commander.
Е̇ n̄ ů mа̂ .і d
But Chief of Staff Olivia was sitting in the audience, being neglected.
As Louis's explanation continued, a strange feeling arose.
Because the entire strategy was being told as if it had come from Louis Lutetia's own head.
They said for strategists, this situation is the same as having their child taken away.
What reaction would she show?
Recalling the fit she threw, I guessed it wouldn't be pretty, and turned my head toward where she was.
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Whether by chance, our eyes met with Olivia's.
She stared blankly at Ferda as if such a story wasn't even in her sight, then smiled brightly and waved at Ferda.
'Can't figure her out.'
Since it wasn't a situation to act friendly, Ferda quietly turned his head away.
Louis's words ended, and it didn't lead to questions.
Because in this incident, he was a hero, not a sinner.
W̌ ёb̆ nо̄ v̄е l E̊ n u m а̀
"With this testimony, we will take a brief recess. We will reconvene in 30 minutes."
Voices began to swell and fill the quiet congress.
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The High Councilors started talking among themselves while remaining seated.
Consillus, reading the atmosphere, tilted his head slightly toward Ferda and said,
"It seems they're about to reach a conclusion now."
"For us, that's when it starts."
W ė b̄ n о̃v ёl̈ E n̄ ûm̆ а
"That is correct."
A time to sharpen our nerves.
At the same time, showing a composed appearance was important.
Like someone changing his mood, Ferda casually moved his feet outside.
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At that moment, he happened to discover Olivia.
Someone approached her beautiful side, befitting an Imperial Princess - it was Lord Louis Lutetia.
Е̇ nù m а . і́_d
"Uh, Princess!"
The knights tried to stop him, but Olivia raised her hand and pushed them back.
Olivia met his eyes with a courteous posture and greeted him.
"Hello, Lord Lutetia. Are you well?"
Unlike the appearance Ferda knew of her, she was calm.
Ferda subtly extended a shadow there to make an ear.
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"Th-that... Princess Olivia... I have something to say..."
Her small finger covered the Lord's lips.
"Please, don't say anything."
It doesn't mean I don't want to talk to you.
Her two moist eyes and the breath flowing from her slightly parted lips.
She looked as if she understood the inside story of this tragedy all too well.
Е̌n ŭmӓ. і̇d
"I know. That Lord didn't have such intentions... You have a duty to shine for House Lutetia, don't you?"
"I..."
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"So you don't need to mind it. To me... there's something more important than such a trivial thing, right?"
"Something more important..."
She clasped both hands together, holding a smile on her lips.
"What's important to us is that everyone combined their strength and escaped this crisis. Even if that merit is wrongly known to others, if we know it between ourselves..."
Wě b n о̂ v е l Ѐ n̂ũ ḿ.а̀
Ferda flinched in surprise at that sight.
Her actions contained not her usual bewitching charm, but piety.
"That alone makes me happy."
I wondered what effect she was aiming for with that act, but it certainly had an effect.
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Louis's expression hardened even more.
Louis must have thought she would resent and curse him.
Е n ŭ ḿ a . і̂ d̃
But the answer returned was a pious forgiveness.
Louis's face turned bright red.
"Then I'll be going..."
"Ah..."
He turned his head and fled as if running away.
At the same time, he loathed his own narrow-minded appearance and regretted it.
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Olivia watched his retreating figure with a wistful expression.
'Did she really change after reaching the 4th Circle?'
The Red Circle is based on emotion, and the greater the emotion, the more one gets buried in that emotion.
Just as reaching the 5th Circle through hatred makes one a madman,
If one reaches the 5th Circle through faith, one becomes close to what the world calls a saint.
If that theory holds, there would have been a great change in her heart too.
Е́ n̆u̇ m а̂
Stopping the eavesdropping on their conversation, Ferda approached Olivia.
"My my, Regent-nim."
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Olivia welcoming him with a clap of her hands.
"I greet the Princess."
"I greet the Great Fire's Spouse. Are you well?"
"Yes."
Е ṅ umа̂
"This is your first time at the Golden Congress, isn't it... If it's not rude, shall I guide you a little?"
There was a hidden intention in those friendly words.
It meant to walk together and talk.
"Then I won't refuse..."
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Smiling brightly, he accompanied the Princess.
The knights watched them from a sufficient distance.
W̆еbǹ.о̀ ve l̂ Е̂.n̈ umа̊
Ferda threw out the topic first in a low voice.
"You seem to be getting closer to a Saintess."
"What do you mean?"
"I couldn't forgive that, but I didn't know you'd let it go so gently."
"My my, forgiveness?"
Her long eyelashes fluttered innocently.
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"Is that not it?"
"Didn't I say so?"
Olivia tilted her head slightly.
A cold shade settled on her smiling expression.
"I never forgive those who betray me."
I asked just in case, but as expected.
Ẃ è bn ŏv̈ е l .Ēn̈ŭm̊а̇
Olivia, who has ambition to enter politics, would never forgive the person who stole her merit.
"I'm preparing to pin a huge blame on Louis when he makes a mistake. I wonder how enjoyable it'll be to watch him lose the succession right to my younger brother because of his own absurd mistake."
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"To show such an appearance..."
"It's just that the time has come to change my image, so I'm doing this."
"You mean the Saintess."
"Yes, the Saintess."
W е_ḃ ñ òv̀.е l̂ Е̌ ńu̇ mа̌
She grabbed the amulet around her neck and made a show of praying.
"To the world, as if finally receiving God's call. To the nobles, as if I'm someone who has put everything down."
Talking like this, it was certain Olivia was still the same.
If there had been a change of heart due to the Red Circle, it would have been a problem, but fortunately that wasn't the case.
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"Now I just need to get the fifth realization."
"It won't be easy."
Е̃n um̀ã. і̇ d̀
"It won't be easy, but it won't be like before."
I thought she meant it would become easier, but it was about the external environment.
"From the moment you reach the fourth realization, it's called an 'Omen'. From then on, you can formally request instruction from the Althea Order."
"You mean lessons about the Saintess?"
"Yes."
She is a jewel.
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A jewel with feet running far away - does it make sense to just stay still?
"The Princess, as an Althea believer, has reached the fourth realization, and that fact is already known to the world. The Order has to propose because of image, and the Imperial Household has to make it happen for power balance. So Joseph Faust, that person is on my side."
Even securing one of the five High Councilors, four are still enemies.
Just taking it as 'there's such information,' I decided to ask about her business.
"Then what happens to the duties you must perform as a Princess?"
"I have to do them concurrently. Still, socializing will decrease, so that alone satisfies me."
Е̇ ñûḿ а
Usually it's the opposite, isn't it?
Since Olivia hated flattering with words she didn't mean, she probably thought it worked out well.
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Of course, when she delivered that news, she shed buckets of fake tears.
"Just in case, I'm checking."
Olivia asked cautiously.
"You do know that this post-war conference is targeting the Regent, right?"
Ӗ n̄ ů m̆.ă
Ferda nodded.
"Yes. They were saying a conclusion seems likely to come out now."
"It won't be. In my opinion, it'll lead to a second inquiry. Something like 'Couldn't the colossal monster have been stopped beforehand? Why wasn't it stopped?'."p>
What Olivia spoke of was a plausible scenario that could come out at the hearing.
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"What would you like the Princess to do?"
"Whatever you do, if you're too greedy you'll get badly burned. You'll have to give something up. Give them one thing they want."
Ēn̆ u m á
Give up, huh...
What she said was the most realistic advice.
The Empire is huge and strong.
In this congress too, the Far East's allies are a tiny minority.
If they make a pretext to interfere, they'll create one somehow.
I wanted to talk more, but couldn't continue the conversation further.
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Even though 15 minutes remained, someone they happened to encounter prevented their conversation from continuing.
"Oh, to meet here."
Valdemar Golt.
He walked over with a broad smile.
Olivia put on a mask as she looked at him.
"I greet the Great Grand Duke."
Ӗ ňum а̇..і̆ d
"Hohoho, what a coincidence to meet the Princess like this."
"Indeed."
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Then Olivia subtly grabbed Ferda's arm.
Wondering why this woman was doing this,
Ferda noticed Valdemar's energy change in an instant.
He was looking at that arm with an extremely displeased air.
Е̃ n u m̃ ӑ
And as if that never happened, as if it were a delusion, he smiled a good-natured smile again.
"The meeting will resume soon, shouldn't you get going?"
"We were just about to return."
"It'd be good to prepare."
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"We'll have to. Regent-nim, shall we go back?"
"I have a brief word with Miss Olivia, so you go ahead."
W.е̃b nоvе̌l Ӗ n̂ ù ma
Not a request for understanding, but a command.
That confirmed it.
This old man.
He harbors dark desires for Olivia.
"Since the Grand Duke has something to say, I'll have to stop guiding here."
Olivia let go of his hand and walked gracefully toward Valdemar.
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After about three steps, she turned her head and said this.
"What I told you, think it over well."
A sly wink.
As Ferda returned to the chamber, he wondered what Olivia had said, thinking back on it.
She said to protect many things, you must give something up.
What must be given up in this situation?
W̌ е̇b̌ nŏvе̊l Е ń ŭ m а̄
Ferda still wasn't certain about any of it.
* * *
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"We will open the session. We High Councilors have discussed a little how to handle this matter."
A little discussion, my ass.
We all know they've been discussing closely until last night.
"Losing the corps under Crown Prince Alexander Arken is a tragedy that can never be swept under the rug. However...!"
Ё n um а̄
As expected.
"Since this incident is so unprecedented, I think we need to discuss whether it couldn't have been prevented beforehand."
It was flowing exactly as Ferda thought.
"Therefore, before moving to a conclusion, we will proceed to a second session. The agenda will be 'Was prior defense completely impossible?'."
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Now it's the sinner's turn to change.
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