Chapter 12: The Perfect Opportunity
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: The Perfect Opportunity
Human memory is finite and unstable.
However, just as one never forgets how to breathe, there are certain things a person is bound to remember. In Ferda’s case, it was the objects of his loathing.
It wasn't just a list of names; it was a meticulous record of the people he hated and the vengeance he craved—his Kill List.
To fuel his hatred, he had delved into their achievements. To exact his revenge, he had scrutinized their every flaw.
‘Thinking back on it now, it was quite an absurd way to live.’
Recalling the reasons he had come to hate them, he realized many were rooted in his own past paranoia. It was petty enough to make him cringe with embarrassment.
‘Regardless, now that I’ve returned to the past, that information has become invaluable.’
Ferda knew the exact strengths and weaknesses of those who would become giants in the future. There were talents who could have achieved so much more if only they had been given the right direction—figures who would have reached greatness much sooner had they focused on different skills.
‘There are so many outstanding individuals.’
Too many, in fact.
Recruiting every single one of them was realistically impossible. The number of people he coveted exceeded a hundred, and he didn't expect them all to work together in harmony.
‘I need to set priorities.’
Now that he was the Archduchess’s fiancé and proxy, Ferda considered what was most necessary for their survival.
‘The entire Valdrova Archduchy is currently a picture of neglect.’
The Archduchess did not intervene directly, leaving the lords to govern themselves. Since there was no one to oversee them, public sentiment had soured significantly.
‘I must focus on the people’s livelihoods.’
Ferda’s task was set, but deciding was the easy part. It was common for local lords to rebel or for civil wars to break out the moment a ruler interfered in provincial affairs.
‘That part has been settled amicably, so it shouldn't be an issue.’
When Ferda first sent out the letters, he had fully expected the high-ranking nobles to resist. Of course, that expectation was proven spectacularly wrong; he had received letters from the remaining fourteen lords swearing their absolute loyalty.
‘It seems Ruri’s threat to decapitate them and hang their heads from the castle gates worked perfectly.’
The lords now understood that Ferda was not to be ignored, so he decided to leave them be for the time being.
‘Internal affairs are stable for now. Next, external threats?’
The most prominent threats were the monsters and creatures causing chaos. The Archduchess’s domain was located in the Far East, adjacent to lands contaminated by the Demon King. This region was also slowly being consumed by that spreading corruption.
‘One of the primary causes is the monsters.’
Monsters forged from demonic energy or contaminated by it were a common blight. They could even be found occasionally in the Central Continent, but in the Far East, which bordered the Land of Demons, they were naturally far more prevalent.
‘The presence of monsters contaminates the earth.’
The longer monsters remained in an area, the faster the land’s desolation accelerated. They were beings that prevented life from blooming and corrupted even existing creatures. This was why monster subjugation requests were always treated as emergencies.
‘If I can reduce casualties and land contamination from those monsters...’
Food production would naturally increase, and the people’s lives would recover. If Valdrova, the master of the house, blocked external threats, Ferda would take charge of the internal ones.
‘What I need for that is technology.’
His top priority was to provide effective means for not just well-trained soldiers, but also civilians, to hunt monsters. With that as his criteria, Ferda pulled a name from his Kill List.
He narrowed it down to four individuals in total.
“Therefore, we must recruit these people as our top priority.”
Ruri checked the names on the paper Ferda handed her.
- Burnell Marquis
- Jed Swallow
- Echidna Philias
- Helus Fobidas
Ruri frowned as soon as she saw them. “These are names I’ve never heard of.”
“That’s understandable. They are individuals who haven't made a name for themselves yet.”
“I told you to recruit talent, not to call your childhood friends over to play house.”
Ruri’s gaze sharpened. Her Dragon Fear, tinged with her irritation, began to press down on Ferda.
‘There’s definitely been a change.’
Since the engagement ceremony, the effect of her Dragon Fear had noticeably weakened. Still, it was as unpleasant as ever. It would be stranger to feel nothing when a girl who looked about fourteen was glaring at you with such intensity.
“Do I look like the kind of person who would do such a thing?”
“It’s because you don’t look like that kind of person that I’m even more concerned.”
“You’re contradicting yourself.”
“Anyway, will you tell me about these people? Aside from Helus Fobidas, the other three are complete strangers to me.”
Helus Fobidas was a mage known as the Sage of Water. His advice was so wise that he was publicly known to be cherished by kings and lords alike.
“I guarantee you, the three above Helus Fobidas are more important.”
“Then please, enlighten me.”
“This Burnell Marquis, whom we must visit first, lives in a city called Escoleia.”
Upon hearing the city’s name, Ruri asked reflexively, “Is he a scholar?”
“Yes.”
Escoleia was a city located in the east-central part of the continent, known as the City of Scholars. Since the only reason to go to a chicken coop is to find chickens or eggs, Ruri realized immediately that he was a scholar.
“You know that scholars are given titles, right?”
“I’ve heard they receive them upon graduating from the Academy. What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it. This fellow was given the title of ‘The Shambles.’”
“Are you planning to turn our castle into a disaster zone? It’s not a good idea to show your true colors so soon after the engagement.”
Since a scholar’s title could dictate their entire life, the key was usually to avoid negative words. For someone to be openly called "The Shambles" meant their behavior or work was intolerable even to those around them.
“There’s a reason he received such a title. He attempts things that others won't even touch.”
“There’s usually a reason why scholars don’t attempt certain things, though.”
“Of course. But he is a man who attempts them relentlessly.”
“Doesn't that just make him a fool?”
“He is a man of conviction.”
“A stubborn fool, then.”
Ferda couldn't deny it. He had thought the man was a fool when he first met him, too. The way he walked his own path, indifferent to the scorn of others, was both pathetic and noble.
‘And yet, such stubborn fools are the ones who succeed.’
Even if everyone cursed him and said he would fail, even if they criticized him for wasting his time, the solitary path he had walked so diligently would eventually shine. Back then, he always voiced the same regret:
— If only I could have researched more, I could have created so many more things by now.
It was only natural.
‘What kind of fool would invest in something that cannot succeed?’
Even a noble with enough money to throw to the wind would feel the same. No one wanted to be the idiot who sponsored a fool titled "The Shambles."
But Ferda knew this man’s worth.
“So, what exactly does this man research?”
In the future, he would be...
“The refining of Magic Stones and the processing of power sources using monster corpses.”
...the man who would become the pioneer of the age of Magitech.
* * *
In the center of the city stood a single World Tree, known as the Tree of Knowledge, piercing the sky. It was surrounded by five Great Libraries. One might think it would be a place devoid of sunlight beneath the tree, but the Tree of Knowledge grew no leaves, making it essentially a massive, glowing pillar.
In the city beneath that pillar, instead of the typical smell of water or mustiness, the scent of coffee and black tea hung thick in the air.
Countless people moved about busily. Every available space had been turned into a thoroughfare to keep the crowds circulating. Their destinations varied, but every single one of them had three books tucked under their arm and a piece of freshly toasted bread in their mouth.
“There are so many people.”
“It’s to be expected, given that every scholar and their employees are gathered here.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to live in such a cramped place.”
“They say they seek a value greater than present comfort.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Neither do I.”
Ferda and Ruri scanned the street. Within their sight alone, hundreds of people were jostling past one another. Almost all wore black robes, and nine out of ten wore glasses.
“Are we supposed to find one person in this?”
“That’s right.”
“It’ll take over a month.”
To call it a needle in a haystack would be an understatement. Since it was a place with so much foot traffic, street vendors were also busy along the walls, mostly selling finger foods that could be eaten on the go.
People flowed like a river, many of them snatching up a snack as they passed by.
‘The vendors might know something.’
Thinking this, Ferda looked at Ruri.
“...”
The look in her eyes was quite different from usual. Her face, normally businesslike and expressionless—showing nothing unless she was angry—now held a different look entirely.
She was staring intently at a stall selling fruit preserves. Her eyes were wide, and a silver light twinkled in her pupils. After watching for a long moment, her slender throat bobbed.
Gulp.
That series of actions meant only one thing.
“Do you want to eat?”
“...What do you take me for?” Ruri narrowed her eyes and grumbled, her reaction more flustered than usual.
“I simply thought that vendor over there might know something.”
“I thought so too. It would be best to ask.”
Ferda headed toward the stall with Ruri. Her eyes remained fixed on the fruit preserves.
“Excuse me.”
“A young lord and a cute little maid missy. What can I get you?”
“I’m looking for someone. I was hoping you might know him.”
“A person? There are people everywhere here, sir! There are tens of thousands of four-eyes in this city, and thousands who buy honey-glazed fruit skewers from me. How am I supposed to remember every single one?”
The vendor wore a strange, expectant smile. Ferda lowered his gaze to the fruit preserves behind the glass.
“Do you think your memory might return if I bought some of those skewers?”
“Haha, I’d certainly appreciate that! But let’s hear the story first. Who are you looking for?”
“A scholar called ‘The Shambles.’”
The vendor’s eyes widened. “Ah, The Shambles? Why didn't you say so sooner?”
“You know him?”
The vendor grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. “Over a hundred thousand people live in this city. But anyone who doesn't know where the man called ‘The Shambles’ lives must be a spy. Ask anyone walking down the street. They’ll all know.”
“Then I suppose there’s no need to buy those fruit preserves, is there?”
“...!”
Ruri, who had been listening to the conversation, suddenly flinched.
“Still, wouldn't it be good to show a little sincerity? From your appearance, you look like a lord with plenty of coin... Isn't a little snack like this part of the fun? I’ll give you three skewers for five copper coins.”
“He’s right. It is important to offer a fitting reward when someone shows kindness.”
Ruri slipped into the conversation, taking the merchant’s side. If someone showed kindness, it was only right to respond in kind. Ferda agreed with that sentiment and purchased three honey-glazed fruit skewers.
“Eat.”
He handed the sticky, honey-covered treats to Ruri.
“Aren't you going to eat, Lord Ferda?”
“I’m not a child.”
“Hah? I’m not a child either.”
“I know.”
“Then isn't it ridiculous to give them all to me? You’re treating me like a child, aren't you? Are you going to lie to me with a straight face?”
“So, you don’t want them?”
“...”
Ruri looked incredibly indignant, yet she still took the skewers from Ferda’s hand. As if she had been waiting for this moment, she popped a honey-drenched fruit into her mouth. Her silver eyes sparkled even more brightly.
‘So she can make a face like that.’
Ferda had wondered if Ruri was as emotionally stunted as he was. But seeing her act like the child she appeared to be was strangely reassuring. Ruri’s cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s in autumn as she relentlessly stuffed the honeyed fruit into her mouth.
Sensing Ferda’s gaze, her eyes darted around. Her silver eyes narrowed as she pulled the cup closer to her chest.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not giving you any.”
“I’m not going to eat them.”
* * *
Every living thing has a rank; where there are the wealthy, there are also the poor. Escoleia, built on the ideology that everyone is equal before knowledge, was no different. Escoleia had its affluent districts, and it also had its slums.
And within those slums, there was a district where the most destitute lived. A place where sunlight barely reached, and the stench of sewers and rot hung heavy. A place where the foul odor was so constant that one feared even opening a door.
That was where Burnell Marquis lived.
Ruri looked at a window positioned lower than her own height and couldn't hide her amazement. “I’m surprised people can actually live in a place like this.”
“Humans can live in more places than you’d think. I’ve seen men sleep in latrines.”
“Did you live like that in the Rosnova family?”
“It was even more of a hell back then.”
It was during the time he had no money, when his gold-digging master had stripped him of every cent. Ferda had learned then that a person could indeed sleep in a bathroom reeking of waste.
“Do you think he’s inside?”
Ruri nodded at Ferda’s question. “I can sense a presence.”
Crash!
A chaotic noise erupted from beyond the window. Hearing the sound, she added, “And it sounds like something is going down.”
“An uninvited guest, then...”
Entering now meant potentially getting caught up in trouble.
“The perfect opportunity.”
Ferda clasped his hands behind his back and began to descend the stairs.