Chapter 186 - My Light

That land is where elves have lived since ancient times. The difference is that, for a long time, they chose 'integration' instead of harmony.

Harmony means living while protecting one's own territory, and integration means living together in one place.

The western elves are the ones who chose harmony.

-They imparted magic to humans. Through the emission and control of emotions, it is what is called the 'Red Circle', which you also know of.

If you go east, you will undoubtedly find a way to control your emotions and develop them even further.

The man who became the Demon King had no one to teach him how to control his mind, and so he ended up falling down the wrong path.

Regent, the story I have told you so far may sound like a warning that you could become the Demon King, but please do not fear your emotions too much.

For that, too, is being consumed by emotion.

That was what was written on the last page.

"What does it say?"

Erica asked.

"It says to go east."

"East?"

"It says to do so if I want to use my abilities more."

"The eastern land and the Red Circle... It certainly isn't lacking in credibility. There are definitely a lot of Red Circle mages over there."

Currently, the person who had lived the longest with a Red Circle was Lucy Philiaz.

There were occasional rumors that she was an eastern mage, but those were just rumors.

'What I saw back then was definitely an eastern architectural style.'

'If I call her out and ask her, would she answer?'

He couldn't tell.

"Do you not have any information on the eastern land?"

"It hasn't been long since we started collecting information. Until then, we thought there was no one who could surpass us."

"You were arrogant."

"Ahem, let's not talk about that. If you've finished reading, can I read it too?"

Erica reached out her hand to grab the letter.

"No."

Ferda pulled her hand away.

"Say that one more time."

He could feel the pressure of an impending use of force.

In an atmosphere that suggested she really would, Ferda spoke.

"Then please answer one question for me."

"I don't want to?"

"Is it true that the Blue Dragon, Iorga, had a fiancé?"

"..."

Erica's expression hardened.

The momentum to threaten him completely vanished.

"... How much did you hear about that?"

"I heard he fell into a trap and died."

"... A trap, huh... Typical of that bunch."

Erica sneered at the elves in contempt and threw herself against the backrest.

"Fine, you don't have to show me. So keep that buried. Got it?"

"Understood."

Was it so sensitive that she would give up trying to peek at the topic of conversation?

Wondering if it was information worth that much, Ferda was now starting to get curious.

"Anyway, going east means there's no need to set other goals, you just have to focus. That's a good thing."

Right, it was a good thing. That was all he needed to know.

Ferda thought so as he carefully folded the letter.

Erica looked at Rize and gestured with her hand.

"He's done reading now, so give me mine."

"Y-Yes!"

Rize, who had been waiting, immediately handed over the papers.

"Now then, let's see what's written inside... Huh?"

Erica's expression gradually soured as she received the stack of papers.

"These are completely blank, aren't they?"

"I-Is that so?"

"Or perhaps there are characters only elves can read?"

"Well... They look blank to me too..."

"... Right?"

Contrary to her formal tone, her teeth were trembling as she bit her lower lip.

Erica swiped her hand through the air.

At that, the sky carriage immediately turned around and headed back the way they came.

"E-Erica? Why are we turning around...?"

"I'm going to make the old man comfortable."

"Pardon?"

"Since he's in critical condition, I thought I'd save him the struggle and just end his life for him."

"W-What??"

She truly looked like she was going to do it.

Ferda carefully tried to stop her.

"Think about this rationally. Even if we go back, it won't be a pretty sight..."

"Quiet! Don't talk about it like it's someone else's problem just because you got what you wanted! Otherwise, you translate this right here yourself!"

Erica threw the journal in a fit of hysteria at Ferda.

Naturally, he couldn't translate it, leaving him in a tough spot.

"H-Huh?"

Rize showed a reaction after looking at the journal.

"The name written here... is it read as Linne?"

"How do you know that?"

Erica was so startled that her hysteria instantly vanished.

Since the language of high elves involved unique characters for each individual, no one but the person themselves could translate it.

"Did you somehow inherit language translation along with the blood of the Great Chieftain?"

"That's not it. I don't know the Great Chieftain's characters, and I don't know the language of other high elves either."

The two of them harbored questions that couldn't be easily solved.

Ferda pushed those questions aside.

"Ultimately, are you saying you can translate the contents of this entire journal?"

"Pardon?"

When Ferda signaled with his eyes, Rize finally realized.

"Ah, yes! I can do the work that the Great Chieftain couldn't do!"

Rize spoke assertively to Erica with a confident face.

Erica stared apathetically but eventually turned the sky carriage back around.

Ferda got his answer, and Erica got the journal translation; they were able to return having both obtained what they wanted.

Rize let out a sigh of relief and checked the contents of the bag one more time.

"Huh?"

She found something remaining inside the bag.

"There was one more page left?"

"Do you mean the letter?"

"Yes, it's a letter for you, Regent."

Ferda read the contents of that letter.

Just as she said, there was more written at the end.

-If you are reading this page, Rize must have boarded the carriage with you.

She is a child so pure and bright that it is truly terrifying to let her out into the world.

As much as she feared being abandoned by our clan, she must have cared deeply about this matter as well.

'I suppose so.'

Looking at her behavior, she was nothing short of a pure noble lady, unlike a high elf.

Since such a daughter was now in a position where she couldn't even return to her hometown, his heart couldn't help but be heavy.

-Regent, I know this is truly selfish.

But if I do not make this request here, I will have nowhere else to do so.

Please, take care of my son, the last one I have left.

After reading up to the last page like that, Ferda folded the letter.

'... Wait a minute.'

Thinking he might have misread something, Ferda unfolded it again.

-take care of my son.

He hadn't misread it.

It was clearly written as 'son'.

Seeing that word, he looked at Rize once more.

Long blonde hair and green eyes.

Long eyelashes and modest gestures.

Rize was a perfect woman.

Wondering if it was written incorrectly due to a lack of familiarity with human language, he asked her.

"Scribe Rize?"

"Yes."

Rize answered calmly in a high-pitched voice.

"I'm sorry, but what is your gender by chance?"

Erica frowned at Ferda's question.

"What kind of question is that? She's obviously a woman, isn't she?"

"W-What??"

Rize was flustered seeing Erica so certain.

"Even if elves hide a lot of things, this isn't exactly something to hide, is it?"

"A-No. As you said, it's not something that needs to be hidden, but..."

Rize pointed at himself and answered like this.

"I'm a man, you know?"

"... Pardon?"

"...?"

"...?"

Erica turned her head and looked at Ferda.

Ferda silently showed her what was written.

The word 'son' was clearly visible in Erica's eyes as well.

"... That can't be."

Erica looked back and forth between the word 'son' and Rize with an expression as if her world had collapsed.

Erica said the words Ferda couldn't bring himself to utter in his stead.

"There's no way a kid this cute could be a man...?"

The garden of Valdrova Castle.

The woman with crimson hair and two pairs of horns, Valdrova, was blankly looking up at the sky.

'They said Ferda went to the World Tree, right?'

Since he left on a sky carriage, he was bound to return on a sky carriage.

Valdrova planned to go out and meet Ferda when he arrived.

'Like lovers...'

Her face grew hot.

They had already met many times and even held hands, so why was she so thrilled to do this?

Her body didn't feel like her own.

Her feet were restless, wanting to run away, while her hands forced her legs down to prevent them from moving.

A moment later, a black dot started to appear in Valdrova's eyes.

'It's Ferda!'

As soon as Valdrova saw it, she moved toward where the carriage was heading.

She planned to pretend she had come out for a walk by coincidence, greet him, and then walk side by side.

The place the sky carriage stopped was the open clearing inside the castle.

Administrator Isabella and Luri were waiting there.

Luri was fine, but since she wasn't close to Isabella, she hid behind a pillar for now.

The carriage landed in the clearing, and the people inside got out.

'Iorga's child and Ferda...'

Since they said two people went, only two should have come out.

But strangely, that wasn't the end.

Following behind Ferda was bright blonde hair and pointy ears.

Skin so fair that everything looked stark white, as if carrying a light behind the head.

Even to Valdrova's eyes, an incredibly beautiful young girl was getting off with an awkward face.

"Whoops?!"

A body tilting forward after a misstep.

Ferda, who was right in front, reflexively caught the body.

"Are you alright?"

"Ah, yes... I'm sorry."

The young girl smiling brightly with a blush on her face.

CRACK.

A vicious sound echoing from the pillar.

Cracks formed starting from where Valdrova's fingers touched.

It was quite a loud sound, but Valdrova didn't even hear it.

She was that consumed by distracting thoughts.

'Bringing back such a pretty girl...'

Valdrova felt her chest tighten up.

'Why does Ferda always hang around with so many women...?'

Right now, everyone around Ferda was a woman.

The mature and intellectual Isabella and Erica.

The small and cute Luri.

And now, even a radiant-looking high elf girl.

'Ferda isn't the type to cheat or anything.'

Valdrova knew how much Ferda liked her.

But what if.

What if Ferda didn't actually like her that much?

Every time the word 'what if' popped into her head, it felt as though she were being slapped across the cheek multiple times.

'Stop with the bad thoughts.'

She was afraid her bloodthirst would boil over.

While she was anxiously watching like that, she ended up making eye contact with Ferda.

For a moment, she wondered if he hadn't seen her properly, but Ferda approached with his gaze fixed toward Valdrova.

This was awkward.

She didn't want to meet Ferda while in this kind of mood...

Valdrova completely hid behind the pillar.

"Vald..."

Ferda poked his head out past the pillar where she was hiding.

She was not in that spot.

Wondering where she went, he lowered his head slightly and saw a long tail swishing along the surface of the round pillar.

When Ferda tried to move to see her, she scurried along the surface of the wall.

"Vald..."

"..."

"rova..."

"..."

"Your Highness!"

"...!!"

Because Ferda suddenly spun around the other way, she nearly bumped into him.

Afraid she might put two more holes in his chest, she leaned her head back.

She looked as if she was losing her balance and falling backward.

Ferda unconsciously placed a hand on her waist to support her falling body.

He didn't actually feel any weight.

Because she was already supporting her body with her tail.

"I'm back."

A voice that not only calmed her boiling bloodthirst but also put her heart at ease.

Normally she would have been so happy and answered softly, but Valdrova just quickly turned her head away.

That action made Ferda's heart ache.

"What's wrong?"

"... I don't know."

"Even if you say you don't know, isn't it because of me?"

"... That's why I'm saying I don't know."

"Please tell me what I did wrong. If there's a misunderstanding, we should clear it up, and if I did something wrong, it's only right that I apologize."

I told you I don't know!

She wanted to violently shove him away and run off.

But looking at that face, she couldn't muster the courage to do so.

Perhaps it wouldn't be bad to say something, just as Ferda suggested.

"It's just that Ferda... is with other women... maybe that's why I feel hurt..."

"Is it because of Tower Master Erica?"

She was a beauty full of elegance in her own right, but he wondered if that was really something to overreact about at this point.

"No. I'm talking about that small and cute elf woman."

"... Pardon?"

When Ferda showed a reaction of not understanding, Valdrova finally let her emotions burst.

"You brought back such a sparkly and cute girl...!"

"..."

"My chest just feels so tight, and I resent you for it, so...!"

She placed a hand over her masked face.

Ferda blinked for a long time before answering.

"Is it because of that?"

"Yes!"

Pondering with a face that looked like he didn't know what to do, Ferda answered.

"Let me tell you right now... Rize is a man."

"You're even calling her by her name Rize, oh my god, wait, what?"

Valdrova removed her hand from her face.

"What did you say?"

"He's a man."

"A m-man, you say?"

"Yes."

"Man as in men and women?"

"Yes."

"... The same gender as you, Ferda?"

"That's right."

With a look of disbelief, she peeked her head out to examine Rize.

"How can someone that cute...?"

Ferda felt like he had heard those exact words from somewhere before.

Valdrova's face flushed bright red all over again.

"I-I made another ridiculous mistake..."

Valdrova was so embarrassed she truly tried to run away.

Ferda didn't let go of her waist, instead pulling her toward him.

Even though she was the Aspect of Power, she couldn't overcome Ferda's strength and was held tightly in his grasp.

"Did you think I was cheating on you?"

"It's not that..."

Her lips were quivering.

Looking into those blue eyes, she couldn't lie.

"... I think I did."

"I only have you, Grand Duchess Valdrova."

"I know. I know, but... I made another mistake—."

"No."

Ferda stopped her from blaming herself.

"That's only natural."

Ferda spoke with a damp, emotional voice.

"You have always been the one to approach me first, Your Highness."

The one who suggested they decide on pet names was Valdrova.

The one who asked to at least be given a name if that wouldn't work was also Valdrova.

The one who pleaded to be able to wait a little longer was Valdrova as well.

"The one who stepped back in this relationship was always me."

Ferda was the one who had been afraid.

Afraid that her purity would be tainted because of him.

She, who was like a blank piece of white paper, was so precious to him.

He only realized today just how wrong that was.

Ironically, the words shouted by the high elf elder were what had brought him that realization.

It wasn't that she wouldn't change.

As long as a large piece named Ferda resided in her heart, she, too, would end up changing.

She could become the kind of dragon that suspects those around her like an ugly human, suspects her friends, and even suspects the one she loves.

Like Iorga, who killed her fiancé.

Faced with such a cruel truth, what Ferda had to do was clear.

"So I have decided."

To reduce his hesitation and move forward.

"Decided what?"

"That thing you mentioned before..."

"That... thing?"

"Yes. Your name."

Ferda had answered that he would think about her name.

But that hadn't actually been the case.

Ferda had already decided it from the moment she asked him to give her a name.

There were many elegant words that could refer to her, but the side of her that only Ferda knew always pointed to just one single word.

"Eleanor."

She was always my light.