Chapter 156 - Too Much Is as Bad as Too Little

Ferda stepped onto the podium and began to speak.

"My name is Ferda Valdrova, representative of the Far East and fiancé of Grand Duchess Valdrova, the great Aspect of Great Flame."

As this was a session of the council, he introduced himself with proper formality.

"Please explain the sequence of events that the Far East experienced during this incident."

"Yes."

Ferda read through the document that Mori and Isabella had organized together, one page at a time.

He elaborated where details were lacking and trimmed away anything unnecessary, ensuring that only what was essential to the incident was conveyed clearly.

As soon as his testimony ended, the questioning began.

"There is one thing I would like to ask."

It was Joseph Faust, the Leader of the Alte Religion.

"It says here that you were isolated for an entire month."

"That is correct."

"It also states that every underground water supply except the reservoir was contaminated. How did you survive for that month?"

"We discovered a new water source for the Far East."

"A new water source would have been contaminated all the same. You didn't refill it using climate magic either."

"That's right. So we purified it before turning it into drinking water."

"And what exactly do you mean by a purification process?"

"We removed the demonic contamination from the water using formulas from Magitech Engineering."

"Oh..."

As soon as they heard Ferda's answer, the hall became even quieter.

Everyone's interests seemed to align on the same point.

"I would expect drinking such water to have caused health problems. What were the results?"

"Our assessment is that once the demonic contamination was removed, the water became cleaner than most rivers."

"And whose assessment is that?"

"Blue Eye's."

Since he had cited the Aspect of Water, no one dared question the credibility of the source.

At that point, Ferda deliberately added another remark.

"This achievement would have been impossible without Blue Eye's cooperation."

"I see. It does say here that Blue Eye produced several prototypes and delivered them for testing."

The audience, who had been holding their breath, finally exhaled again.

This was precisely why he had credited Blue Eye with part of the achievement.

Value adjustment.

The saying "too much is as bad as too little" existed for a reason.

If they elevated Vernel by proclaiming that he alone had accomplished everything, it would only harm him.

Having his value rise too publicly would do nothing to protect the Far East.

Vernel himself, who was satisfied with his current circumstances, had agreed with Ferda's strategy for the sake of his own safety.

One thing was certain—even after sharing the credit, Vernel had already become a person of immeasurable value.

Naturally, the next question was about him as well.

"I have a question this time. Aside from that, I've heard Magitech Engineering played quite an active role. There was supposedly a weapon called the Magitech Rifle."

The one who spoke was Oldin Rooster, known as the Veteran Hero.

His muscular frame and the scar running through his eyebrow made him look particularly intimidating.

He was a man worthy of being called Valdemar's right-hand man.

"Yes."

"As far as I know, there has never been any report of such an item submitted to the Empire. Have you been keeping it secret all this time?"

What a ridiculous question.

"The Magitech Rifle has been under concentrated development because the Far East serves as the Empire's defensive wall. Furthermore, with the support of the Pascal Trading Company, we displayed it publicly at the exhibition hosted by Escolleia, where many nobles and merchants witnessed its demonstration."

In short—

If you didn't know about it, then that was your own problem.

"It is a weapon capable of having an immediate and direct impact on the Empire's national defense. Don't you think the Empire's leadership should have been informed first?"

In other words—

Why wasn't the Empire shown first?

"As you all know, the Far East borders the Land of Demons and therefore possesses considerable autonomy. Since the Empire generally maintained a policy of noninterference, we simply followed that atmosphere."

Basically—

Since you all left us to fend for ourselves anyway, we assumed we were free to do as we pleased.

The exchange continued in that increasingly hostile atmosphere.

How fascinating.

They were treating the person who had won an overwhelming victory far more harshly than Alexander, the man who had lost the First Legion.

Such was human greed.

Even the achievements of a war hero bowed before avarice.

"Supreme Councilor Rooster, that will be enough. Regent Ferda Valdrova, if you have nothing further to testify, you may step down."

"Yes."

Akard finally stepped in and defused the increasingly hostile atmosphere.

"I will now call the next witness. Commander of the 2nd Regiment of the Far East Temporary Coalition and Deputy Chief of Staff, Louis Lutenia."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

"Please give your testimony."

Louis Lutenia explained the strategy that had been used during the battle against the colossal monster.

If anyone was qualified to explain that strategy, it should have been the person who had overseen it.

That would have been Eri, the Platinum Adventurer.

If she was unavailable, then the next highest commander should have spoken.

Yet Olivia remained seated among the audience, completely ignored.

As Louis continued his explanation, Ferda felt an odd sensation.

He spoke as though the entire strategy had originated from Louis Lutenia's own mind.

Strategists often said that such a situation was no different from having one's own child stolen.

What kind of reaction would she be showing?

Considering the commotion he had caused over it, Ferda assumed it would not be pleasant.

He turned his head toward Olivia.

Perhaps by coincidence, their eyes met.

As if she cared nothing about what was being said, Olivia stared directly at Ferda, smiled brightly, and waved at him.

I can never figure her out.

This was hardly the place to pretend they were close, so Ferda quietly looked away.

Louis finished speaking, and no questions followed.

After all, in this incident, he was considered a hero—not a criminal.

"With this final testimony, we will adjourn briefly. The session will resume in thirty minutes."

The once-quiet council chamber gradually filled with voices.

The Supreme Councilors remained seated, beginning discussions among themselves.

Reading the atmosphere, Consilus leaned slightly toward Ferda and whispered,

"It seems they'll be reaching a conclusion now."

"So for us, this is where everything truly begins."

"Exactly."

Now was the time to stay on high alert.

At the same time, appearing relaxed was equally important.

Pretending to be simply taking a break, Ferda casually walked outside.

At that moment, he happened to spot Olivia.

Standing beside the beautiful Imperial Princess, someone approached her.

It was Prince Louis Lutenia.

"Y-Your Highness!"

The knights moved to stop him, but Olivia raised a hand, signaling them to stand down.

With perfect courtesy, she met his gaze and greeted him.

"Good day, Prince Lutenia. I trust you've been well?"

Unlike the Olivia Ferda knew, she appeared perfectly calm.

Ferda quietly extended a shadow toward them and formed an ear to listen.

"U-Um... Princess Olivia... I have something to tell you..."

Her small finger gently rested against his lips.

"Please... don't say anything."

It wasn't that she didn't want to speak with him.

Her moist eyes and the soft breath escaping from her slightly parted lips made it seem as though she understood the full tragedy behind everything.

"I know. I know you never intended for this to happen... You have a duty to bring honor to House Lutenia, don't you?"

"I..."

"So you don't have to carry it in your heart. As for me... I have something far more important than such trivial matters."

"Something more important...?"

She clasped her hands together and smiled softly.

"What truly matters is that all of us joined forces and overcame this crisis together. Even if the credit has mistakenly been given to someone else... as long as we ourselves know the truth..."

Watching her, Ferda was genuinely startled.

There was none of Olivia's usual seductive charm.

Instead, she radiated an almost sacred solemnity.

"That alone is enough to make me happy."

Ferda had wondered what effect such an act was supposed to achieve.

But it worked.

Louis's expression became even stiffer.

Naturally, he had expected her to resent him and curse him.

Instead, what he received was a forgiveness so pure it seemed almost holy.

Louis's face turned bright red.

"Then... I'll be going now..."

"Ah..."

He turned around and fled as though escaping.

At the same time, he despised his own pettiness and was consumed by regret.

Olivia watched his retreating back with wistful eyes.

Has reaching the Fourth Circle really changed her that much?

The Red Circle was built upon emotion, and the stronger that emotion became, the more completely one was consumed by it.

Just as someone who reached the Fifth Circle through hatred would become a madman—

Someone who reached the Fifth Circle through faith would become something close to the saints spoken of in legend.

If that theory held true, then her heart should have undergone a tremendous transformation.

Ferda stopped eavesdropping and walked toward Olivia.

"Oh my, Regent."

Olivia welcomed him with a cheerful clap.

"Your Highness."

"My greetings to the consort of the Aspect of Great Flame. Have you been well?"

"Yes."

"This must be your first time attending the Golden Council... If you don't mind, perhaps I could show you around a little?"

Behind her friendly words lay another intention.

She wanted them to walk together and talk.

"Then I'll gladly accept."

Smiling faintly, Ferda accompanied the Imperial Princess.

The knights followed from a respectable distance while keeping watch.

Lowering his voice, Ferda spoke first.

"You seem to be becoming something close to a saint."

"What do you mean?"

"If it were me, I could never forgive something like that. I didn't expect you to let it go so easily."

"Oh? Forgive?"

Her long eyelashes fluttered innocently.

"Am I mistaken?"

"Didn't I tell you before?"

Olivia tilted her head slightly.

The smile remained on her lips, but a cold shadow settled over her face.

"I have never forgiven anyone who betrayed me."

So it was exactly as expected.

Olivia, who harbored great political ambitions, would never forgive someone who had stolen her accomplishments.

"When the time comes for Louis to make a mistake, I'll make sure everything is pinned on him. It'll be wonderful watching him lose the succession rights to my younger sibling because of his own ridiculous blunder."

"So that performance earlier was..."

"It's simply time to start changing my public image."

"Into a saint."

"Exactly. A saint."

She grasped the amulet hanging around her neck and pretended to pray.

"To the public, I'll appear as though I've finally received God's calling. To the nobles, I'll seem like someone who has cast everything aside."

After hearing that, Ferda was certain.

Olivia had not changed at all.

Had the Red Circle truly altered her personality, that would have been troublesome.

Fortunately, that wasn't the case.

"Now all I have to do is attain the Fifth Enlightenment."

"It won't be easy."

"It won't. But it won't be like before, either."

For a moment, Ferda thought she meant it would simply become easier.

Instead, she was referring to the circumstances around her.

"Once you reach the Fourth Enlightenment, you're called a 'Harbinger.' From that point onward, you can officially request instruction from the Alte Religion."

"Instruction on becoming a saint?"

"Yes."

She was a jewel.

A jewel that had reached the point where it could easily walk away.

Did anyone really think the Church would simply leave her alone?

"The Imperial Princess has achieved the Fourth Enlightenment as a believer of the Alte Religion, and that fact is already known throughout the world. The Church has no choice but to make an offer for the sake of its image, and the Imperial Family has no choice but to allow it for the sake of maintaining the balance of power. That's why Joseph Faust... is on my side."

Even though Olivia had secured one of the five Supreme Councilors, the remaining four were still her enemies.

Ferda simply acknowledged that information and decided to ask Olivia about her own situation instead

"So what happens to your duties as an Imperial Princess?"

"I'll have to fulfill both roles simultaneously. Even so, my social engagements will be reduced, and that's enough to satisfy me."

Wasn't it usually the other way around?

For Olivia, who hated making empty small talk with people she had no interest in, this was nothing but welcome news.

Of course, when announcing it publicly, she had shed buckets of fake tears.

"Just to put my mind at ease..."

Olivia asked cautiously.

"You are aware that this postwar council is targeting you, aren't you, Regent?"

Ferda nodded.

"Yes. They said it looks like they're about to reach a conclusion."

"I don't think so. In my opinion, it'll move on to a second round of questioning. They'll probably ask something like, 'The colossal monster could have been stopped beforehand, so why wasn't it?' "

What Olivia described was one of the most likely scenarios they had anticipated during their own discussions.

"What do you think I should do, Your Highness?"

"Whenever someone gets too greedy, they end up getting badly burned. You'll have to give something up. Give them one thing they want."

Give something up...

Her advice was the most realistic one possible.

The Empire was vast and powerful.

Even in this council, only a handful stood on the Far East's side.

If they wanted a pretext to interfere, they would find one somehow.

Ferda considered continuing the conversation, but he never got the chance.

Although there were still fifteen minutes left before the session resumed, someone happened to appear and cut their discussion short.

"Oh, fancy meeting you here."

Valdemar Golt.

He approached them with a broad smile.

The moment Olivia saw him, she slipped on another mask.

"It is an honor to meet the great Grand Duke."

"Haha, what a coincidence to run into Your Highness the Princess here."

"Indeed."

At that moment, Olivia casually took hold of Ferda's arm.

Just as Ferda wondered why she was doing that—

He noticed Valdemar's aura change for an instant.

His eyes briefly swept over the arm Olivia was holding with unmistakable displeasure.

Then, as though nothing had happened—as though it had all been an illusion—his warm, friendly smile returned.

"The meeting will resume shortly. Shouldn't you be heading back?"

"I was just about to."

"You'd do well to prepare."

"I suppose you're right. Regent, shall we return?"

"I have something I'd like to discuss with Miss Olivia. You go ahead first."

It wasn't a request for understanding.

It was an order.

That was enough to convince Ferda.

This old man...

He has ulterior motives toward Olivia.

"Since the Grand Duke has something to discuss with me, I suppose this is as far as I can accompany you."

Olivia released Ferda's arm and gracefully walked toward Valdemar.

After taking about three steps, she turned her head and said,

"Please give some thought to what I told you."

She flashed a subtle smile from the corner of her eyes.

As Ferda returned to the council chamber, he reflected on Olivia's words.

Olivia had said that in order to protect many things, one had to give something up.

But what exactly was he supposed to sacrifice in this situation?

Ferda still couldn't say with certainty.

***

"I hereby reconvene the session. The Supreme Councilors have spent some time discussing how this matter should be handled."

Some time?

They had obviously been holding secret discussions until last night.

"The loss of the legion under Crown Prince Alexander Arken is a tragedy that cannot simply be overlooked. However...!"

As expected.

"Since this incident was highly extraordinary, we believe it is necessary to discuss whether it could have been prevented in advance."

Events were unfolding exactly as Ferda had predicted.

"Therefore, before proceeding to the final conclusion, we will move on to a second session. The agenda will be: 'Was it truly impossible to prevent this disaster beforehand?' "

Now...

It was time for the culprit to change.

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