Chapter 179: The Symbol of Prosperity

Before Grand Duchess Valdrova and Lyudmila met,

Ferda took a casual tour around his territory, introducing it to the members of House Purity.

"I hope you won't mind me asking something rather delicate."

As they entered the town square, Valeri Purity, the head of the house, looked at one particularly eye-catching structure and asked,

"Do you truly intend to operate that fountain?"

"Of course. It is a gift from Iorga, the Aspect of Water, and her descendants. How could I possibly leave it unused?"

"Remarkable."

It was not sarcasm, but sincere admiration.

The fact that such a small town could already afford to operate a fountain meant they were prepared to pursue genuine prosperity.

Although Ferda was strikingly young, Valeri had never once considered him a man driven by vanity.

He could already envision a future in which the Far East flourished.

"I've also heard that you intend to rely on adventurers during the campaign to conquer the Far East."

"That's correct."

"What are your thoughts on the warriors of the North?"

Compared to knights, northern warriors were rough and uncultured, and were often dismissed as barbarians.

"Isn't the greatest honor to hunt the Frost Giants beyond the Northern Wall?"

"That saying belongs to the past. In all my years, I've never crossed that wall. Truthfully, even for those born in the North, crossing it with a human body is nearly impossible."

"That sounds related to the Ascension Ceremony."

"In truth, it's connected to everything. The greatest pride of the northern tribes is to be chosen as descendants of Silverwind and ascend—to become true warriors worthy of crossing the wall."

The finest members of each tribe were selected and offered to the Dragon Spawn.

If someone was chosen as worthy of becoming a warrior, the tribe received enormous sums of money and food in return.

In the end, becoming a "true warrior" was simply another way for the tribe to survive.

What a cruel joke.

Becoming a Dragon Spawn meant washing away one's past.

The memories of being human became nothing more than an insignificant previous life, replaced by bonds as a member of dragonkind.

It was essentially abandoning one's own people.

And yet they called it an honor.

"At any rate, Silverwind's death must have had a tremendous impact in the North."

"It certainly did. But we don't dwell on it. If all we'd ever done was offer up warriors, we'd still be living as barbarians."

It was simply the flow of history, and they accepted it willingly.

Valeri cleared his throat.

"I've gotten off track. What I wished to say was this: now that there's no longer any need to cross the Frost Wall, I'd like to see the warriors of the North set foot upon the Land of Demons and seek new challenges."

Ferda felt something strangely familiar in those words.

Valdemar Golt.

It reminded him of the feeling he got whenever that old man spoke.

"Duke Purity."

"Yes?"

"Are you speaking as a warrior... or as a noble?"

The question was direct.

Valeri Purity stroked his beard before answering.

"What if I said I spoke as a warrior?"

"Then I'd believe every word."

"And if I said I spoke as a noble?"

"Then I'd like us to have a proper discussion."

Valeri immediately understood.

Ferda knew exactly what he was trying to accomplish.

And more importantly, he viewed that intention favorably.

"There are rumors that the Arken Empire has infiltrators from the Land of Demons."

"That's correct."

"One was discovered within the Golden Council, and Duke Perry Yurei has also been imprisoned under suspicion of being a demon spy. You were present for those events, so you know that much."

"Indeed."

"The problem is what happened afterward. I've heard that after Perry Yurei was imprisoned, he was no longer treated as nobility. They tortured him repeatedly like a common criminal until he was covered in blood."

Such treatment was so brutal that not only the Heinkel Kingdom, but every neighboring kingdom would have grounds to condemn it.

"Do you understand what that means?"

Ferda nodded.

"It's a provocation for war."

"Exactly. The Heinkel Kingdom has been placed in an impossible position."

It had no choice.

When Perry's own son, Marcus Yurei, had already been exposed as a follower of the Demon Race, who could guarantee Perry himself was innocent?

If they defended him blindly and he truly turned out to be one of the Demon Followers, suspicion would naturally fall upon the entire kingdom.

Yet abandoning Duke Yurei was equally impossible.

If he proved innocent, it would appear that the king had simply used the accusation as an excuse to eliminate a powerful duke.

The greatest beneficiary of such internal conflict would be the Arken Empire.

Having enjoyed peace for so long, the Heinkel Kingdom feared a direct war with the Empire.

This complicated affair had plunged the kingdom into one crisis after another.

"The Veteran Hero, Margrave Oldin Rooster, has begun deploying troops near the borders of the Heinkel Kingdom. At the same time, King Hudret appears ready to join the effort."

"If two kingdoms move against one, its destruction would only be a matter of time."

Duke Purity smiled.

"Not quite. In fact, King Hudret is joining in to protect the Heinkel Kingdom."

"Protect it... by attacking?"

Ferda couldn't immediately grasp what he meant.

"If the Arken Empire fights the Heinkel Kingdom alone, the kingdom becomes theirs entirely. But what happens if King Hudret joins the war?"

"The division of the spoils becomes a problem."

"Precisely. King Hudret will demand even greater rewards for his participation. If another conflict begins after that, the Empire won't merely be facing the Hudret Kingdom—it will have to contend with the entire Cerdes Continent."

Once, the Arken Empire's expansionist ambitions had terrified kingdoms and territories throughout the continent.

None of them could allow the Heinkel Kingdom to fall.

Doing so would create a dangerous precedent.

"If everyone truly wanted to isolate the Empire, wouldn't that be possible?"

"Under normal circumstances, perhaps."

Duke Purity let out a subtle sigh.

"As you know, the entire expeditionary legion was annihilated during the suppression campaign, and afterward the Arken Empire played three extraordinary trump cards."

Erdes Roton. Silverwind. Storeus.

They had shaken even the dragons themselves, and even the proud descendants of Silverwind had lent their strength to the Empire.

"And now there's Grand Duchess Valdrova in the Far East."

"She won't act for the Empire."

"I wouldn't be so certain. Since both Storeus and Silverwind moved to save the Empire, there's a frightening possibility hidden beneath the surface."

From those words, Ferda realized one thing.

Duke Purity had no idea that Silverwind owed the Arken Empire a debt.

What kind of debt could it have been?

He tried to imagine it, but no answer came.

Valdrova remained in the Far East as atonement for the countless lives she had taken.

To the other dragons, however, humanity was little more than a pastime.

It was difficult to imagine dragons ever owing humans anything.

He chose not to reveal the truth.

He still wasn't experienced enough to trust Duke Purity completely.

Regardless, the duke had brought up the subject for one reason:

If the Empire revealed its ambitions, House Purity intended to prepare its own response.

Politics really is troublesome.

Yet...

It was fascinating.

Simply helping someone didn't guarantee everything would work out.

One had to account for every move that followed.

It was a vast chessboard.

And Ferda decided he would make his own moves upon it.

"To answer your earlier proposal, I cannot allow northern troops to be stationed here."

"That's unfortunate."

"However..."

Ferda paused.

"You may wish to consider the Adventurers' Guild."

Duke Purity's eyebrows rose.

"The Adventurers' Guild?"

"Our city was designed for adventurers. If five hundred northern warriors marched in, people would naturally become wary. But if they arrived as five hundred adventurers, we would have no reason to refuse them."

"Oh..."

"As more adventurers from the North gather here, there will naturally be a need for oversight. That would inevitably lead to closer exchanges between our regions. Outwardly, we need only pretend that managing it is troublesome. Who could possibly object?"

"That provides more than enough justification."

Smiling faintly after hearing Ferda's answer, Duke Purity extended his hand.

"This arrangement will benefit us both, Regent."

"For the peace of the Cerdes Continent, let us work together."

Ferda accepted the handshake.

***

Hestia Village, Grand Duchess Valdrova's domain.

As the morning sun rose, workers heading to their jobs found themselves stopping in front of the village square.

Those who had no idea what was happening quietly asked the people who had arrived earlier.

"What's going on today? Why is the Administrator standing over there?"

"I heard they're unveiling some kind of... fountain?"

"A fountain? What's that?"

"You see that statue over there?"

"What about it?"

"I heard water is supposed to come out of it."

"Water? How?"

"That's exactly why everyone's here."

"My goodness..."

Most of the villagers had spent their entire lives in tiny rural settlements.

To them, this was nothing short of astonishing.

Even those who considered themselves somewhat worldly couldn't bring themselves to mock the others' ignorance.

After repeatedly checking every detail of the rehearsal and ceremony, Isabella finally raised her voice so everyone could hear.

"We will now begin the Fountain Completion Ceremony and the inauguration of our water supply system."

Delivering the commemorative speech was Valdrova's representative—

Ferda.

He walked along the carpet and stepped onto the platform.

"Our Hestia is a village built by people who gathered here from every corner of the land. It has not even been a year since we came together. By every measure, this is a place without roots."

In truth, that was exactly how outsiders often mocked them.

They claimed Hestia was nothing more than a refuge for losers who had abandoned their homes after fleeing oppression.

Most of Hestia's residents couldn't help but carry those words in their hearts.

"But those who say such things have no right to judge us."

Ferda's powerful voice swept away their lingering anxieties.

"We possess the strength to drive back monsters without relying on mages. We endured the darkest days when monsters cut us off from the world, and we rose again. Do you know what that means?"

They remembered those desperate days.

Surrounded by monsters.

Believing death was inevitable.

Then they had seen a single ray of hope.

The majestic dragon that protected the Far East.

Clenching his fist, Ferda declared,

"We ourselves have become the new foundation of the Far East, and we have taken root so deeply that no one can ever look down upon us again."

A spark of hope ignited within the hearts of the people.

Behind the young Regent standing upon the platform, the rising sun shone like a halo.

"This fountain shall become the foundation of our future—and the promise of the prosperity we will build together."

The instant he finished speaking—

Water burst powerfully from the fountain.

The cool spray scattered through the basin, catching the sunlight and painting a brilliant rainbow across the sky.

Witnessing the breathtaking sight, the crowd whispered among themselves.

"The bridge of the gods has reached Hestia."

***

"-I hope you have been well."

No sooner had the ceremony ended than a telepathic transmission arrived from Erika Iorga.

"Yes. How is the Blue Eye Magic Tower?"

"-The same as always. I heard you held the fountain ceremony today. May I ask how people reacted?"

Ferda looked utterly incredulous.

"Didn't you witness it with your own eyes?"

During his speech, he had clearly seen Erika watching.

She wore the usual proud, arrogant expression characteristic of the Dragon Spawn.

"-I think you've misunderstood. I was never there. Perhaps you're confusing me with someone else... someone named Eri, perhaps? I'm Erika, remember?"

She was subtly teasing him.

Already exhausted, Ferda simply let it slide.

"The response was excellent. When they saw the rainbow, they began praying to Alte."

"-So that's what it means to do all the work and let someone else take the credit. Instead of praising Iorga, who created something so magnificent, they worship Alte, who's done nothing but stand around."

Erika grumbled like a sulking child.

Looking out the window, Ferda gazed over Hestia Village.

The spacious central square.

The newly completed fountain standing proudly at its center.

Two hours had already passed, yet not a single sign suggested the crowd would leave.

Children full of innocent wonder and women worn down by life's hardships stood side by side, gazing at the fountain with the very same expressions.

"Is that all you contacted me about?"

"-Not exactly. I just received a message."

"What kind of message?"

"-From the High Elves."

"The High Elves..."

It was something he had almost forgotten amidst all his work. 1

The writing found in Chief Researcher Linne's records was written in the High Elves' language, and they needed the High Elves' assistance to decipher it.

Ferda jumped to his feet.

"What did they say?"

"-They've agreed to meet us."

They had reached the starting line.

In fact, it was such encouraging news that it almost felt as though half the journey had already been completed.

"I understand. When should we depart?"

"-'When' suggests we have the luxury of time. Those people are unbelievably slow at everything they do, yet their whims change every second."

"I see. Then I'll have a carriage prepared immediately and leave at once—"

"-No. That won't be necessary."

At that very moment, Ferda sensed an unusual disturbance near the window of his office.

Something slowly descended from above the window like a curtain.

It was a carriage painted deep blue.