Chapter 135 - Hug Me

"Me?"

"...Who else would I be calling besides you, Sir Ferda? It’s not like Her Grace knows anyone else."

Luri answered bluntly.

It was such a foolish question that her irritation was completely understandable.

"I understand."

Ferda changed his clothes more quickly than usual and headed toward the lair.

A massive iron door, far too large for a human body.

It was the first time he had come here since the day she had first suffered from Bloodlust.

Ferda carefully knocked on the iron door.

As if someone had been waiting for him, the door immediately opened.

"Mr. Ferda."

Valdrova, who had opened the door to welcome him, was dressed in a dress instead of armor.

For a moment, Ferda felt as though his soul had nearly left his body.

He quickly regained his composure and greeted her.

"I greet Your Grace, Grand Duchess. Thank you for inviting me into the back of the great dragon."

"No. I wanted you to come here at least once, Mr. Ferda..."

Her delicate voice carried a hint of shyness.

That soft voice made Ferda’s heart tremble.

He turned his gaze and looked around.

The place was vast, dark, and barren.

Yet it was Valdrova’s room.

The room of his fiancée.

In other words, a woman’s room.

Although it was nothing like the room of an ordinary young woman, he still found himself feeling nervous.

"M-May I ask why you summoned me?"

He was so nervous that he ended up stammering.

Valdrova paid it no mind as she answered.

"I... heard that you’re going on a campaign. To a place where there are huge monsters..."

"That is correct."

Feeling that she seemed worried, Ferda added,

"But there is no need for concern. Their numbers have already been greatly reduced, so the humans can handle them with their own strength."

"Yes. I trust you, Mr. Ferda. That’s why I called you."

Valdrova fidgeted with her fingers.

"I... wanted to help you somehow... so that I could give you strength."

Help him? In what way?

The question showed plainly on Ferda’s face.

Valdrova cleared her throat.

Then, as though acting in a play, she stretched both hands forward.

"Ferda!"

She declared dramatically.

"If you return safely after completing your conquest, I shall grant you the treasure I cherish most from my treasury...!"

Ferda silently looked at her.

Valdrova hesitated before stretching out her hands once more.

"I-I shall..."

Realizing she was expecting a response, Ferda lowered his head.

"I am deeply honored that Your Grace thinks so highly of my service and wishes to reward me."

Only then did the awkward atmosphere ease.

"However, there is no need for Your Grace to give me one of your treasures."

"But... the other dragons all do this. They said that if someone does their work for them, they give them something valuable..."

"That may be true for others, but I am Your Grace’s fiancé, am I not?"

At those words, she reacted as though the world had collapsed.

Did I say something wrong?

"So... because you’re my fiancé... does that mean you don’t need any of my treasures?"

"I merely meant that I would do it even if you gave me nothing."

"Ah."

Only then did Valdrova understand what he meant.

She covered her face with both hands.

The embarrassment of having misunderstood him, mixed with the bashfulness of hearing such devotion, made her face burn.

"But... I still want to give you something. You worked so hard even while I wasn’t here... Is that okay?"

"Yes. Refusing any further would not be the proper way to treat my fiancée."

"Y-Yes..."

The conversation came to a halt.

Neither of them knew what to say next.

"Master."

Luri stepped in.

"How about deciding on a gift for Sir Ferda?"

"Huh? Ah, right! That’s true!"

Valdrova nodded vigorously before clearing her throat.

"W-Would you... like to see... my treasury?"

Was he possessed by some lewd spirit?

Those words almost sounded like they meant something entirely different.

"If you permit me, I would be delighted to accompany you."

"Yes. Then come with me."

Valdrova took the lead toward the treasure vault.

Once they reached the entrance, Luri stopped following them and gave a respectful bow.

"I hope the two of you enjoy yourselves at your leisure."

Only the two of them entered the treasury.

Unlike the lair that resembled a cave, the treasure vault connected to it had been properly furnished.

"Wow..."

Ironically, Valdrova seemed even more excited than Ferda, who was seeing it for the first time.

"Now that I’m seeing it in human form... there really is so much. I always looked at it as a dragon, so I thought there wasn’t much..."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, yes! Isn’t there an incredible amount?"

"Indeed."

To be honest, Ferda wasn’t particularly impressed.

By human standards, it was certainly a vast fortune.

But by dragon standards, it was incredibly small.

Most dragons possessed treasures dozens of times greater than everything piled up here.

The Evil Red Dragons made plundering others their everyday routine.

Even those who called themselves Guardian Dragons accepted enormous quantities of gold and relics under the pretense of protecting or developing civilizations.

But the infamous Valdrova had never committed such banditry.

She had simply secluded herself.

It was only natural that she had never amassed an enormous treasury.

As she idly played with a single gold coin, Valdrova spoke.

"I heard this money is being used to build your village, Mr. Ferda."

"That is why I always feel guilty toward Your Grace."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because... I am using Your Grace’s possessions..."

"So what? That only makes me happy."

An aura as bright as the morning sunlight spread around her.

It was obvious she was smiling with genuine delight.

This woman was happy simply because someone had made use of something that belonged to her.

Ferda found that innocent side of her endlessly endearing.

"Please... only say such things to me."

"Why?"

"If you were to say that to that tiny attendant, she’d surely come charging at you with murderous eyes."

"Ah! O-Okay! I will!"

Valdrova repeatedly nodded, looking frightened.

Then the tour of the treasury continued.

Ferda followed behind her while looking around.

There’s nothing here that’s actually useful.

Dragons had an instinctive desire to collect things.

Most of them gathered objects related to their Aspect.

Iorga collected items and magical artifacts related to water.

Silverwind collected things associated with wind and forged steel.

Following that pattern, Valdrova should naturally have collected weapons or items related to fire.

Yet he couldn’t find anything befitting the Aspect of Strength.

At the very least, he had expected to find a lost or sealed magic sword.

As he wondered if there truly was nothing at all, he finally spotted a weapon.

"That is..."

No... it certainly was a weapon.

But he wasn’t sure whether it could even be called one.

It was an ordinary, horribly worn spear.

Its dull gray color contrasted sharply with the brilliantly golden room, and even its material was impossible to identify.

"Do you want it?"

Since he had been staring at it, Valdrova asked.

"May I ask what it is?"

"It’s something I used a very long time ago."

"How long ago?"

"Hmm... Well... around the beginning of creation?"

It was an ancient relic from an entirely different era.

"It was the weapon I used when I fought against the Chaos that covered the world. It stayed with me throughout my entire life."

Quite literally, it was an object that had accompanied the history of her very birth.

Since the conversation had turned toward weapons, Ferda followed the flow and asked,

"Do you have any weapons besides that spear?"

"I probably don’t... After that, I never really used weapons again. Even when I did, they all broke after a single swing, so I eventually stopped touching them."

"I see."

To him, it sounded less like weapons were useless...and more like she was afraid they would simply break.

"If you want it, I’ll give it to you."

"No. It is something that has accompanied Your Grace throughout your entire life. How could I possibly accept such a thing?"

It was clearly an object filled with memories.

He could never ask for something like that.

Besides...

It wasn’t useful to him.

"Would you rather receive a weapon, Mr. Ferda?"

"I was hoping for something of that sort."

"I don’t have any weapons... Hmm, then perhaps I could give you the material instead?"

"The material?"

"Then... shall I remove one of my Reverse Scales and give it to you?"

A dragon’s scale was, naturally, an extraordinary material.

Although difficult to work with, even a single one could be crafted into a legendary relic.

Some Dragon Spawn were granted scales by their dragons and forged them into weapons or armor.

The effectiveness of a dragon’s scales was proportional to their size.

And the largest of them all was the Reverse Scale.

It covered the dragon’s weak spot behind the ear.

Offering that scale meant only one thing—

It meant she trusted him enough to place her life in his hands.

"If it’s what you want, Mr. Ferda... I can give it to you."

"...Your feelings alone are enough. Please cherish your own body, Your Grace."

Naturally, Ferda refused the offer.

Their tour resumed.

Valdrova barely acted like a guide at all.

Whenever she found something that looked interesting, she would immediately run over to it with childlike curiosity.

Passing rows of beautiful but otherwise useless gold, Ferda searched for magical artifacts.

"...Hm?"

He noticed something with a shape unlike anything else in the room.

It was a large framed painting.

The kind of painting that would normally be displayed in the most prominent place at the entrance of a castle.

She doesn’t seem like the type to collect artwork...

Wondering what it depicted, Ferda turned the painting over.

"Ah, that..."

Valdrova tried to stop him too late.

He had already flipped it around.

"Ah."

Now he understood why she had reacted so strongly.

The person in the painting...was Valdrova herself.

She wore a dress.

Her long crimson hair flowed freely.

She smiled gently toward the painter.

At least...

Her mouth was smiling.

Her eyes had been slashed apart by something sharp, making them impossible to see.

Ferda silently stared at the painting, where nearly half of her face had been destroyed.

Then Valdrova quietly spoke.

"I... received that a long time ago... but... I accidentally... scratched it..."

"..."

"I... didn’t really like the painting anyway. So... I just left it in the storage room."

She desperately tried to explain in an awkward voice, forcing a smile as if hoping to brush the situation aside.

But Ferda knew.

He knew...that she was a terrible liar.

If she truly disliked the painting, she would never have kept it all this time instead of throwing it away.

"It’s ugly to look at, and it looks like the kind of creepy painting a ghost would come out of. Let’s stop looking at it and go find something else."

Valdrova gently tugged at the hem of Ferda’s clothes, urging him onward.

Ferda neither answered nor reacted.

The painting seemed to be whispering something to him.

Her long life and her desires.

And even the emotions trapped within her endless contradictions.

As he continued gazing at the painting, the Dantian beneath his chest stirred strangely.

Was this regret...or was it affection?

"...I’ve decided."

"Hm?"

"I’ve found something that I want."

Looking down at Valdrova, Ferda asked,

"If I return safely... would you give this to me?"

"W-What?"

Valdrova looked flustered.

"B-But why? The painting is torn, and something this hideous... even if you took it, Mr. Ferda..."

Her voice gradually faded.

Ferda’s eyes remained fixed on her.

He simply looked at her without saying a word.

Yet beneath that silent gaze, she gradually faltered.

"...All right."

In the end, Valdrova accepted.

"If you return safely, Mr. Ferda... then I’ll give you this painting."

The human heart was truly contradictory.

Now that she had agreed, Ferda felt an odd sense of guilt.

To ask for this torn painting...might have sounded to her as though he wanted to see the ugliest part of her.

So Ferda took a step back.

"If Your Grace does not wish it, then I will give it up."

"No. It’s what you want, isn’t it? I can’t give you a gift you don’t want."

From those words, Ferda understood what she truly felt.

That was why he asked,

"Are you afraid of my leaving?"

"..."

Valdrova could not answer so easily.

Silence itself was an affirmation.

She was afraid.

She had called him here late at night to ease her own anxiety.

She had offered him a treasure because she wished for him to return alive.

Everything...came from her fear of losing him.

Moved by that heartbreaking truth, Ferda gently took her hand.

"I am Your Grace’s fiancé."

He spoke to comfort her, hoping to ease even a little of her anxiety.

"Half of my life already belongs to Your Grace. As long as I live as your fiancé, I will think only of you and live for your sake."

"..."

"So... for your sake, I will return alive."

Valdrova’s fingers fidgeted inside Ferda’s hand.

Hidden behind her white mask, he could not imagine what expression she was making.

"Mr. Ferda... may I ask one favor?"

"Please."

Ferda silently prayed.

Please... don’t ask me not to go.

"...Would you hug me?"

"...Pardon?"

Ferda wondered if he had misheard.

But Valdrova answered clearly.

"I-I heard that when a man and a woman hug... good energy comes out. Bad thoughts disappear too... and I want to give you some good energy, Mr. Ferda."

"Good energy... you say."

Without realizing it, Ferda placed a hand on his own face.

The warmth of his skin beneath his fingertips was as hot as a fireplace.

Why am I getting embarrassed over something like this?

He had already held her once while they danced.

"I understand."

"Y-Yes...!"

Valdrova also steadied herself before solemnly spreading her arms.

Ferda carefully slipped his arms around her neck.

He embraced her first.

As their bodies drew close together, Valdrova finally moved her own arms and wrapped them around him.

Her hands passed around his waist...and rested on his back.

She’s warm.

Even through a single thin layer of cloth, she felt incredibly soft and warm, almost like a baby.

A gentle scent, as comforting as warm sunlight, drifted from her crimson hair, putting him at ease.

And because of that...he became a little worried.

She was so warm...that he wondered whether she would dislike how cold he was in comparison.

He’s warm.

Valdrova felt exactly the same.

It was the first time she had ever realized...that embracing someone could feel this warm.

It’s similar to receiving Mana... but also different.

When she received Mana, it felt as though something inside her was calming down.

But this embrace...made the depths of her heart begin to boil.

Just a little more...

Within the timid, shy girl named Valdrova...a small seed of desire sprouted.

I wish this warmth would sink even deeper...

She leaned her face against his chest...and hugged him even tighter.

Thunk.

...Thunk?

The pleasant atmosphere was shattered by an utterly inappropriate sound and sensation.

Feeling something strange as it caught around her horns, she pulled her head back.

"Huh?"

Valdrova blinked.

What she saw...were two holes in Ferda’s chest.

They were located exactly where she had wanted to rest her head.

How... did those holes get there?

"H-Huh...??"

No matter how foolish she was, she wasn’t so dense that she couldn’t understand what had happened.

The situation pieced itself together into a complete sentence.

"H-Huhhhh?!"

Valdrova panicked.

"W-Waaaaah?!"

"Master, just what in the world are you doing to make such a..."

Luri, who had assumed it was just another one of her master’s overreactions, suddenly froze.

There were...two holes in Ferda’s chest.

Her eyes widened in horror as she screamed,

"What is this!? What on earth happened?!"

"I-I don’t know!"

For a moment she wondered if they had accidentally touched a cursed artifact.

But that wasn’t it.

There were exactly two holes in Ferda’s chest.

And attached to Valdrova’s head...were two deadly weapons with exactly the same spacing.

Veins bulged across Luri’s forehead.

"Master!!"

She shrieked.

"How many times have I told you!? Your horns are sharp, so you have to be careful! How were you planning to hug someone in that state!?"

"I-I’m sorry..."

"Don’t apologize to me—apologize to Sir Ferda! What is this supposed to be!? Can’t you see Sir Ferda has completely spaced out!?"

"Waaaaah! I’m sorry for being so stupid, Mr. Ferda!"

"N-No, I’m..."

"Please stay still! Don’t say a word! Honestly! After all the things I’ve had to deal with while serving you, why does it always end up like this every single time...!!"

Luri furiously scolded Valdrova.

Valdrova kept apologizing over and over, saying she was sorry for being such an idiot.

And as for the victim...

Ferda was actually fine.

Although he had been pierced by both horns, and the wounds were somewhat deep, they had fortunately missed the major blood vessels.

There was little bleeding...and surprisingly little pain.

However, he had to admit that Luri was right when she said he had become completely absent-minded.

Because at that very moment...he was thinking only one thing.

Even if I were to die now... I would have no regrets.