Chapter 117: That Scent
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: That Scent
After Ferda accepted the Witch’s invitation, the castle staff returned to their respective duties.
All except for one.
Ruri Silverwind remained, staring fixedly at the spot where Ferda had vanished. Though she should have been cleaning by now, she couldn't bring herself to focus on anything. A tempest of conflicting emotions tormented her mind.
‘Why did he make that choice?’
Unable to decipher Ferda’s true intentions, her thoughts spiraled toward the worst-case scenarios. Even a saint’s resolve would have wavered under such circumstances.
Looking back at Ferda’s recent actions, this outcome felt almost inevitable. He had brought witches and demons into the castle, struck deals with a Great Demon, and now, he had accepted an invitation from the leader of the witches herself.
The man was doing everything he had been told not to do.
‘If it were any other human, what would I have done?’
The answer was simple. Had it been anyone else, she would have exiled them without a second thought for even one of those transgressions. But Ferda hadn't just committed one; he had a mountain of reasons piled up. It was more than enough to warrant an execution.
The reason she hadn't acted against him was simple.
‘Because I can trust him.’
Ferda was a man who would do anything for his master. In practice, he had handled major troubles with flexibility and had yet to cause a true disaster. This invitation, too, was something she should have been able to trust him with.
However, the situation had changed.
Ruri had seen Ferda’s weakness. Knowing that he was a pathetically fragile human, she could no longer view him through the same lens. He was just another weak mortal. And if a human posed a potential threat...
‘I must kill him.’
Ruri looked down at her hands. She remembered the promise she had made to him.
— I will kill you with these very hands.
Ruri thought to herself.
‘If he ever tries to harm my Master, could I truly kill him?’
She was a Dragon Spawn. She was not one to hesitate when it came to killing humans. It was she who had executed the 3rd Imperial Prince’s subordinates when they tried to use Valdrova as a stepping stone for power, and it was she who had tried to kill Ferda during their very first meeting.
But her heart was no longer the cold stone it once was.
If Ferda were to be hated by Valdrova, if the engagement were broken, and if there were more than enough justification... could she really bring herself to end him?
She wasn't sure.
‘I also...’
What those hands wanted to grasp was not Ferda’s neck.
‘I wish I could just lean on him without a care...’
Just as her master, Valdrova, did.
She wanted to simply watch his actions without overthinking. She wanted to see humans flock to this desolate land and watch it prosper.
Initially, there was a reason she couldn't rely on him. She had believed Ferda was no different from the 3rd Imperial Prince. Her job had been to find any excuse to drive him away. But even now, with all those misunderstandings cleared, Ruri still couldn't let her guard down.
‘Lord Ferda is human.’
Humans were mortals. They were destined to die, and as they drew closer to that end, they always became unstable. Ferda was no exception to that rule. In Ruri’s eyes, that fragile image of him still seemed to linger.
Someone had to stay sharp. It had to be her. She had to maintain her vigilance and find fault in anything that even remotely resembled malice in his actions.
It wasn't just for Valdrova’s sake.
‘I have to protect him.’
She had to protect the man who wanted to protect her Master. She had to shield him from the things that constantly tested him.
It was while she was staring blankly at that spot that she felt a surge of mana within the castle. Ruri knew exactly where the source was. Because she knew the location, she knew who had returned.
‘Lord Ferda.’
True to her Silverwind lineage, Ruri blurred into motion, sprinting toward the location at high speed.
Echidna was standing in the spot where only Mori should have been. She looked confused as her eyes met Ruri’s.
“I-It was quite a mess over there, wasn’t it...?”
Echidna tried to brush it off with an awkward laugh and a gesture, but Ruri took a heavy, menacing step toward her. As Echidna saw Ruri’s expression, her face turned pale.
“Chief Researcher.”
“Y-Yes!?”
“Tell me the truth.”
Echidna’s shoulders slumped, overwhelmed by Ruri’s aura.
“Where did you leave Lord Ferda, and why did you return alone?”
“W-Well... Big Sister wanted to see the Regent—”
“What did you do to Lord Ferda?”
At the mention of 'Big Sister,' Ruri’s aura grew even more intense. Finally, on the verge of tears, Echidna began to speak rapidly.
“H-He’ll be safe! The Regent told me not to worry and asked me to pass on the message...!”
Thud!
A massive force echoed right next to Echidna’s head. Ruri had kicked the bookshelf with immense strength, the impact causing books to tumble out in a heap.
“Can you guarantee those words?”
“P-Pardon?”
“Since you returned unscathed, are you guaranteeing that Lord Ferda is also safe?”
“T-That’s...”
He’s fine. He’ll return safely. If she could just say that, she might be able to settle the situation.
“I-I’m not really sure myself...”
Echidna couldn't say it. Having been a witch of Philias, she knew the nature of witches all too well. What she didn't know, however, were the inner thoughts of Big Sister, Lucy Philias. It was too dangerous a place to guarantee safety, and she couldn't read Lucy's intentions.
Hearing that, Ruri’s face hardened. She looked angry, but in truth, she was merely distressed. She hadn't asked the question just to hear empty comfort, but hearing that even Echidna didn't know made her anxiety flare.
‘I can’t leave him there alone.’
She remembered what had happened between Ferda and Abel. If a situation where he was rendered powerless occurred again, Ruri wouldn't even be there to help.
“Chief Researcher, you were a witch too, weren't you?”
“O-Of course I was...?”
“Can you take me to the place called the Witch’s Garden?”
“T-The Garden? No matter how hard I try to go there...”
“Can you do it or not?”
Ruri pressed for an answer, and Echidna replied.
“I-I can’t... I can try to go, but actually stepping into that space is up to Big Sister. If she doesn't allow it, it’s impossible to enter. If I try to force it, I could die, or worse, become a wraith drifting eternally in Limbo!”
Mages who misused Teleport Magic often ended up as wraiths trapped in time and space. It was a fate arguably worse than death. It meant Ruri couldn't simply force the issue.
‘Above all, if it’s to be done, I must be the one to do it.’
But what could she do? She, who only knew how to use brute force. What could she possibly—
“Oh?”
Just then, a sensation pierced through Echidna’s mind. As if she had been waiting for this exact moment, she looked at Ruri and spoke.
“L-Lord Ferda is here!”
“!!”
Hearing those words, Ruri retracted the foot she had used to pin Echidna. As if afraid she might miss him, she dashed toward the spot where he had disappeared.
Just as Echidna said, Ferda was standing there.
Contrary to her grim imagination, Ferda looked perfectly fine. Black suit, gray hair, and those deep, lake-like blue eyes. Her frantic heart finally found its rhythm the moment she confirmed his presence.
Instead of showing relief, she narrowed her eyes and approached him.
“Lord Ferda.”
However, she couldn't quite hide the tremor in her voice. She asked him, trying her best to sound composed.
“What did that witch do to you?”
Ferda replied simply.
“Nothing happened.”
“I find it hard to believe that nothing happened after going all the way to the Witch’s Garden. Especially since Big Sister said she wanted to spend time with you.”
Ferda nodded as if acknowledging her point and answered again.
“We simply had a conversation.”
“And what exactly was that conversation about?”
“We discussed a topic that you and I couldn't reach a conclusion on.”
That meant Ferda’s weakness had been exposed to the witch. Ruri’s hands, politely clasped in front of her, tightened.
“Did you... make a deal with that witch?”
“I did not make a deal.”
If he had stopped there, Ruri might have felt some relief.
“Instead, I gave her my help.”
But she couldn't. Big Sister, Lucy Philias. Though she was a witch rarely seen, Ruri had encountered her before.
“Did that woman say she wanted to help Lady Valdrova?”
“Yes.”
“Then she must have mentioned me as well.”
“She did.”
Ruri’s face flushed with indignation.
“Do you know why I ignored her claims of wanting to help Lady Valdrova?”
“...”
“Because witches are a group that considers everyone but themselves to be enemies or toys. They are vile creatures who use others' revenge for their own amusement. The descendants of Silverwind also suffered at their hands. Do you know what Lucy Philias said when we tried to hold her accountable for that incident?”
“...”
“She said that Philias cannot be controlled over such trivial matters.”
Ruri was a Dragon Spawn. Among them, she was a descendant of the Silverwinds, who possessed the strongest bonds. It was clear how much Lucy's disregard for family ties had angered her.
“To that damn woman, you are just another 'trivial matter,' Lord Ferda. Those things have no compassion. They intend to bind you tightly and then turn you into their plaything.”
The anger and the words Ruri felt had a certain logic to them. Talking to a witch was like holding a bomb that could go off at any moment. That was the general perception and common sense.
“Do you suspect I might betray you?”
At Ferda’s question, Ruri clenched her fists.
“Yes.”
In truth, that wasn't it.
“I suspect you might harm my Master.”
I just don't want to see you being toyed with by a witch. Her sharp words stabbed at Ferda once again.
“That’s a relief.”
“...Pardon?”
Ruri looked up, startled by his words.
“What do you mean? How is that a relief?”
“Because since you think that way, I don't have to worry about making any foolish assumptions.”
“...”
Ferda looked down at Ruri with a profound gaze.
“As you said, I might harm her one day. I might walk the wrong path, mistakenly believing it’s for her sake. If you are keeping me alert like this, doesn't that mean there’s a chance to set me straight even if I go astray?”
“That sounds like nothing more than pushing the responsibility onto me.”
“It is, in a way.”
“You are being irresponsible.”
“I can’t help it. You are the person I trust the most, after all.”
Trust.
“It’s because I trust you enough to show you this weakness I possess.”
Hearing those words, something uncontrollable welled up in Ruri’s chest.
‘Again.’
Like that day, the faint scent of ash drifted past. And someone else’s face overlapped with Ferda’s.
Silverwind.
He didn't look anything like the person who had taken her in when she was empty, yet she found herself making that mistake. Her cold, steel-like soldier’s heart began to soften. To hide that feeling, she pursed her lips and lowered her head.
Ferda had no way of knowing what was in Ruri’s heart. Instead, he placed a hand on her head.
“My judgment may cloud one day, but for now, please trust me. I won't be toyed with by that witch.”
He gently stroked her hair without permission. The illusion grew, and the scent drew closer. The scent of ash from that day...
Wait.
This wasn't the scent of ash.
“...The smell.”
“Hmm?”
Ruri sniffed the air properly and then snapped her head up.
“The smell of tobacco...”
Her expression was utterly sour.
“Lord Ferda, why is the smell of tobacco so strong on you?”
“That’s...”
Ferda recalled Lucy Philias’s actions. How many times had she blown that thick tobacco smoke directly into his face?
‘Could it be...’
No, there was no 'could be' about it. It was certain. Lucy Philias had blown that smoke so persistently just to create a situation like this.
‘She really knows how to screw with me.’
They said there was never a quiet day when you got involved with a witch.
“...I suppose you should wash up first, shouldn't you?”
Ruri pulled out a green towel. Ferda spoke with the heart of a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.
“...Please be gentle.”
However, the word 'mercy' did not exist in Ruri’s dictionary.
* * *
Ferda recalled what Big Sister Lucy had said.
“The line of emotion...”
Lucy Philias had told him to draw a line between two emotions. Though he didn't know how to draw that line, Lucy had given him a clue.
‘Mana Cultivation Method: Shape of Shadow.’
The phrase was this:
‘I become the shadow, and the shadow becomes me.’
She had said that within those words lay the clue to controlling the two emotions he possessed.
“If the shadow can truly become me, then anything is possible... I see.”
Ferda muttered Lucy’s words as he slightly raised a shadow hand. This was a hand.
‘But at the same time, it is not a hand.’
Because it wasn't a hand, it wasn't strange for the fingers to bend past a certain point. In fact, by snapping the fingers back, he could freely swap the front and back. Or he could change its shape to mimic a foot, or even crudely fashion it into a beast’s paw.
‘So, it is a hand, and yet it is not.’
He looked back and forth between the hand made of black mana and his own hand, lost in deep thought. Ferda released his control and let his thoughts flow.
The shadow hand was a hand, yet simultaneously not a hand.
‘This shadow is also my body, yet it is not my body.’
If that were the case...
‘Could I not also create something that is my Circle, yet at the same time, not my Circle?’