Chapter 186. My Light

That place had been the homeland of the elves since ancient times.

The difference was that, over countless years, they had chosen integration rather than harmony.

Harmony meant living while respecting each other's separate domains.

Integration meant living together as one.

The western elves had chosen harmony.

"They passed magic on to humanity. Through the expression and control of emotions, they created what you know as the Red Circle. If you travel east, you will surely find a way not only to control your emotions, but also to develop them further. The man who became the Demon King had no one to teach him how to master his own heart, and so he strayed onto the wrong path. Your Highness the Regent, everything I've told you may sound like a warning that you, too, could become a Demon King, but please do not fear your emotions too much. For that, too, is simply another way of being consumed by them."

That was what had been written on the final page.

"What does it say?"

Erika asked.

"It says I should go east."

"East?"

"If I want to make greater use of my abilities, that's where I should go."

"The eastern lands... and the Red Circle..."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"It certainly isn't an unbelievable claim. Most of the Red Circle mages do come from that region."

At present, the oldest living bearer of the Red Circle was Lucy Phyliaz.

Rumors occasionally claimed she had originally been a mage from the East, though they were nothing more than rumors.

What I saw back then was undoubtedly eastern architecture.

If he summoned her and asked, would she answer?

He had no way of knowing.

"Do you have any information about the eastern lands?"

"We only recently began gathering intelligence about them. Until now, we believed there was no one capable of surpassing us."

"That was rather arrogant."

"Ahem... let's not dwell on that. Now that you've finished reading, may I read it as well?"

Erika reached for the letter.

"You may not."

Ferda calmly pulled it away.

"Say that again."

The pressure behind her words made it clear she was prepared to use force if necessary.

Feeling that she truly might, Ferda spoke first.

"Then answer one question for me."

"I'd rather not."

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

"..."

Erika's expression froze.

The threatening air around her vanished instantly.

"...How much have you heard?"

"Only that he died after falling into a trap."

"...A trap..."

She leaned back in her chair, openly contemptuous of the elves.

"That sounds exactly like those people."

She waved a dismissive hand.

"Forget it. You don't have to show it to me anymore. Just bury that topic, understood?"

"Understood."

Was it such a sensitive matter that she had even given up trying to eavesdrop?

The more she reacted that way, the more Ferda wanted to know. 1

"Anyway, if our destination is the East, then I don't need to waste time looking for another objective. I can simply focus on that."

"Indeed."

That alone was enough.

Thinking so, Ferda carefully folded the letter.

Erika curled a finger toward Rizera.

"Since he's finished reading, give me mine."

"Y-Yes!"

Rizera immediately handed over the bundle of papers she had been holding.

"Now then, let's see what's written..."

"...Huh?"

Erika's face darkened by the second.

"This is blank." 1

"I-Is it?"

"Or... are there words only elves can read?"

"I'm not sure... It looks blank to me as well..."

"...Right."

Despite maintaining a formal tone, her lower lip trembled with frustration.

With a sharp sweep of her hand, she signaled the sky carriage.

The carriage immediately turned around and began retracing its path.

"L-Lady Erika? Why are we turning around...?"

"To make that old man comfortable."

"...Pardon?"

"They say his life is hanging by a thread, so I'll save him the trouble and end his suffering."

"W-What?!"

She looked completely serious.

Ferda carefully tried to calm her.

"Let's think rationally. Even if we return, it's unlikely we'll accomplish anything..."

"Quiet!"

She snapped.

"Don't stand there acting like it's someone else's problem just because you're finished! Unless you'd like to decipher it yourself!"

She threw the journal at Ferda in frustration.

Naturally, he couldn't read it either.

"Huh?"

Rizera suddenly reacted.

"This name written here..."

"...Could it possibly be read as Linne?"

"How do you know that?"

Even Erika's hysteria vanished in an instant.

The language of the High Elves used unique personal scripts.

No one except the individual who created them should have been able to read them.

"Did inheriting the High Chieftain's blood also grant you the ability to decipher languages?"

"No."

Rizera shook her head.

"I can't read the High Chieftain's writing, nor the writings of any other High Elf."

Both of them were left puzzled.

Ferda decided to put the mystery aside.

"So... does that mean you alone can decipher the entire journal?"

"...Huh?"

When Ferda gave her a meaningful look, Rizera finally understood.

"Ah! Yes!"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"I can accomplish what even the High Chieftain couldn't!"

With complete confidence, she declared it to Erika.

Though Erika still looked unimpressed, she eventually ordered the sky carriage to turn back.

Ferda had found the answer he sought.

Erika would obtain the journal's translation.

Everyone got what they wanted.

Rizera let out a relieved sigh before checking her bag one last time.

"Huh?"

She found something still inside.

"There's one more page."

"Another letter?"

"Yes. It's addressed to Your Highness the Regent."

Ferda unfolded it.

Just as she'd said, there was more written on the back.

If you have reached this page, then Rizera is probably riding in the carriage with you.

She is an incredibly pure and cheerful child—so much so that I'd hesitate to entrust her to anyone.

Having always feared being abandoned by her own people, she must have worried greatly about this matter as well.

That sounds about right.

Judging by her behavior, she was nothing like a typical High Elf.

She was simply an innocent young lady.

Having become someone who could never return home, it was only natural that her heart weighed heavily.

Your Highness, I know this request is incredibly selfish.

But if I don't ask you, there is no one else I can turn to.

Please...

Take care of my only remaining son. 1

After reading the final page, Ferda folded the letter.

...Wait.

He immediately unfolded it again.

Please take care of my son.

He hadn't misread it.

It clearly said son.

He looked back at Rizera.

Long golden hair.

Green eyes.

Long eyelashes.

Elegant manners.

She looked like the very image of a beautiful young woman.

Thinking the author might simply have made a mistake in human language, he asked carefully,

"Secretary Rizera?"

"Yes?"

She answered in her soft, high-pitched voice.

"My apologies, but... what is your gender?"

Erika frowned.

"What kind of question is that? Obviously she's a girl."

"Y-Yes...?"

Rizera looked bewildered by Erika's certainty.

"I know elves hide plenty of things, but surely this isn't one of them."

"W-Well... you're right. There's no reason to hide it..."

Pointing to himself, Rizera answered,

"I'm a man." 6

"...Excuse me?"

"...?"

Erika slowly turned to look at Ferda.

Without a word, he handed her the letter.

She clearly saw the word son written there.

"...That can't be."

She alternated her gaze between the word and Rizera, looking as though her entire world had collapsed.

Unable to find the words himself, Ferda silently listened as Erika voiced exactly what he had been thinking.

"There's no way someone this adorable could be a man..."

***

The garden of Valdrova Castle.

With her crimson hair and two pairs of horns, Valdrova stood gazing absentmindedly at the sky.

Ferda said he was going to the World Tree...

Since he had gone by sky carriage, he would surely return the same way.

She intended to greet him the moment he arrived.

Like lovers...

Her cheeks grew hot.

They had already met countless times.

They had even held hands.

So why did something this simple make her heart race so much?

Her body no longer felt like her own.

Her feet desperately wanted to run away.

Her hands clung to her legs to stop them from moving.

A little while later, she spotted a tiny black dot in the sky.

It's Ferda!

The instant she recognized the carriage, she hurried toward where it would land.

She planned to pretend she had merely been taking a walk before greeting him naturally and walking beside him.

The sky carriage came to a stop in an open area within the castle.

Waiting there were Administrator Isabella and Luri.

Luri was fine.

But Valdrova wasn't particularly close to Isabella, so she quickly hid behind a pillar.

The carriage landed.

Its passengers stepped out.

Iorga's child... and Ferda...

She had heard only two people had gone.

So only two should have returned.

But someone else stepped out behind Ferda.

Bright golden hair.

Pointed ears.

Skin so fair it looked as though light itself rested behind her head.

Even to Valdrova's eyes, she was an unimaginably beautiful girl.

"Huh?!"

She stumbled.

Her body pitched forward.

Ferda instinctively caught her.

"Are you alright?"

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

The girl smiled brightly, her cheeks flushed.

Crack.

A chilling sound echoed from the pillar.

Cracks spread from where Valdrova's fingers had dug into the stone.

It was loud enough for anyone to hear.

Yet Valdrova noticed nothing.

Her mind was elsewhere.

He brought back such a beautiful girl...

Her chest felt painfully tight.

Why is Ferda always surrounded by so many women...?

Everyone around him was a woman.

The elegant and intelligent Isabella and Erika.

The tiny, adorable Luri.

And now even a radiant High Elf girl.

Ferda isn't the kind of man who would cheat.

Valdrova knew how much Ferda cared for her.

But...

What if...

What if he doesn't love me as much as I think...?

Every time that single thought crossed her mind, it felt as though someone were repeatedly slapping her across the face.

Stop thinking like that.

She feared her Bloodlust might flare up.

While anxiously watching them, her eyes met Ferda's.

Perhaps he'd only glanced her way?

The thought lasted only a moment.

Keeping his gaze fixed on her, Ferda walked straight toward her.

This was bad.

I don't want to see him while I'm feeling like this...

Valdrova ducked behind the pillar.

"Vald..."

Ferda leaned around the pillar.

She wasn't there.

Wondering where she'd gone, he lowered his gaze slightly.

A long tail was gently swaying around the curved surface of the pillar.

Whenever Ferda moved one way to catch sight of her, she scurried around the opposite side.

"Vald..."

"..."

"...rova..."

"..."

"Your Highness!"

"...!!"

He suddenly circled the opposite way.

Startled, she nearly collided with him.

She instinctively leaned backward, afraid she might accidentally stab him with her horns.

It looked as though she was about to fall.

Ferda instinctively placed a hand around her waist to support her.

In truth, she wasn't falling at all.

Her tail was already supporting her weight.

"I'm back."

His voice calmed both her turbulent heart and her rising Bloodlust.

Normally, she would have answered with a joyful smile.

Instead, she merely turned her head away.

The gesture hurt Ferda deeply.

"What's wrong?"

"...I don't know."

"Even if you don't know... is this because of me?"

"...That's exactly what I don't know."

"Then please tell me what I did wrong. If it's a misunderstanding, we should clear it up. If I truly made a mistake, then I should apologize."

I said I don't know!

She wanted to shove him away and run.

But looking into his face, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Perhaps it would be better to say something.

"...It's because you're with other women..."

"Because of Tower Master Erika?"

She was certainly beautiful and dignified.

But was that really enough to upset Valdrova now?

"No."

She shook her head.

"I mean that tiny, adorable elf girl."

"...Pardon?"

Seeing Ferda's confusion, Valdrova finally blurted everything out.

"You brought back such a sparkling, adorable girl...!"

"..."

"My chest feels so tight... and it makes me resent you...!"

She covered the mask on her face with both hands.

Ferda blinked several times before speaking.

"Is that all?"

"Yes!"

He thought for a moment, wondering how to explain.

"First of all... Rizera is a man."

"Rizera? You even call... him... by name..."

She suddenly stopped.

"...What?"

"He's a man."

"A... man?"

"Yes."

"As in... male?"

"Yes."

"The same gender as you?"

"That's correct."

Unable to believe it, she peeked around Ferda to look at Rizera.

"How could someone that adorable possibly be...?"

Ferda had the strange feeling he had heard those exact words somewhere before.

Valdrova's face flushed crimson.

"I-I misunderstood again..."

She wanted nothing more than to run away in embarrassment.

Instead of letting go of her waist, Ferda gently pulled her closer.

Though she possessed the Aspect of Strength, she couldn't overcome his grip and ended up held firmly in his arms.

"Did you think I was cheating on you?"

"Not exactly..."

Her lips trembled.

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

"...Maybe... I did."

"To me, there is only Your Highness Valdrova."

"I know. I know that... but I made another foolish mistake—"

"No."

Ferda interrupted her self-reproach.

"What you're feeling is perfectly natural."

His voice was soft and warm.

"Your Highness has always been the one to take the first step toward me."

She had been the one to suggest they choose affectionate nicknames.

When that failed, she had asked him to give her a name instead.

She had also been the one who asked him to wait a little longer.

"In this relationship..."

"The one who has always held back... was me."

The one who had been afraid...was Ferda.

He had feared that her innocence would be stained because of him.

She was as precious to him as a sheet of untouched white paper.

Only today did he realize how mistaken that thinking had been.

Ironically, it was the High Elf elder's angry words that had brought him enlightenment.

She wasn't someone who would never change.

As long as Ferda occupied such a large place in her heart, she would change too.

She could become a dragon who suspected everyone around her—who doubted her friends—who even doubted the one she loved—just like Iorga, who had killed her own fiancé.

Faced with that cruel truth, what Ferda needed to do was obvious.

"So I've made my decision."

To cast aside hesitation...and move forward.

"About what?"

"What you mentioned before..."

"...That?"

"Yes."

"The name."

He had told her he would think about what to call her.

But that wasn't the truth.

The answer had been decided from the very moment she asked him to give her a name.

There were countless elegant words that could describe her.