Chapter 63: Penelope
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: Penelope
What met their eyes was unlike any ordinary prison.
A typical dungeon would be divided into sections by iron bars. Here, however, coffin-like stasis chambers stood at an angle, each housing a single captive. It wasn't just humans trapped inside; orcs, elves, goblins, and even members of rare, seldom-seen races lay there, deathly pale and motionless.
A knight observing the scene made a discovery. "These people are all alive. They’re still breathing."
"Let’s get them out, quickly!"
As the knight moved to open a stasis chamber, Jed stepped in his way.
"Get who out? The only thing we’re here to save is one demon."
"Are we supposed to just watch innocent people die? That goes against the code of chivalry!"
"And you call yourself a knight, Sir Jed?"
Jed looked at them with a face full of weary disdain. "They’re either going to freeze to death slowly in the blizzard or go pop and die instantly. The latter is probably a mercy. I’m going to find that demon brat."
As Jed turned to leave the room, he added one more thing. "Besides, I’m a political appointee."
Don't waste your sympathy.
They had no choice but to admit Jed was right. While the knights left with heavy hearts, Jed was burdened by no such sentiment. They began checking the rooms with the stasis chambers one by one.
However, their meticulous search proved unnecessary; the target made herself known immediately.
Thump, thump, thump!
"Waaaaah! Let me out! Let me out, I say! What did I even do wrong to be locked up in a place like this?!"
Thump, thump, thump!
The shrill, rowdy voice of a woman echoed loudly down the hallway.
"I have a feeling that’s the one."
"I’m praying it isn’t."
They headed toward the source of the noise and found a stasis chamber shaking violently.
"Open this!! Open it right now! Do you have any idea who I am? I am Penelope, daughter of the Great Demon Sitri!"
"God dammit, it is her."
Even though they had achieved their goal, their faces remained sour. With bitter expressions, the three knights opened the door to the stasis chamber. The demon, who had been frantically pounding on the door, flinched in surprise.
"What? You actually opened it? Wait, time out! Time out! Hyaaa! Don't hit me! I'll be quiet this time! Really, really, this time I’ll... Huh? What? You’re not the guards?"
Penelope peeked through her fingers, eyeing the men surrounding her.
"Are you—"
"Where are the real guards? Who are you people? Did you come to kill me?"
"Are you Penel—"
"Wait a second! I didn't do anything! I have nothing to do with those bastards! Please spare me, gack!"
Jed promptly covered Penelope’s mouth. The noise that had filled the room vanished instantly.
"From now on, you are only allowed to say 'yes' or 'no.' If it’s yes, nod. If it’s no, shake your head. Got it?"
"Mmph, mmph!"
"Shut up, you wench."
"..."
Penelope became perfectly still the moment a blade was pressed against her. She nodded.
"Is your name Penelope?"
Nod, nod.
"You’re sure?"
Nod, nod.
"We made a deal with your mother, the Great Demon Sitri. We infiltrated this facility on the condition that we get you out. Follow us quietly."
"Mmph, mmph?!"
"Ah, I told you—only yes or no."
"Mmmph! Mmph, mmph!"
"She’s resisting pretty hard, isn't she?"
"Doesn't it look like she has something to say?"
"Is that so? Hey, pinky. I’ll let go for a second. Give me a concise answer in three seconds."
With that warning, Jed pulled his hand away.
"WaitasecondjustlistentomewhatIhavetosaythethingisthereasonIwascaughtisn'actuallybecauseIwascaughtbutactuallyMMPH!"
"It was nonsense. Gag her and let’s move."
"Agreed."
The woman, who had been spewing words like a machine gun, was unable to finish a single sentence before being bound and carried off. In the midst of her struggling, she took a blow from a knight and fainted.
* * *
As they trekked through the blizzard, Ferda felt a strange current in the air above him. It wasn't just his imagination. Count Consilus, who was leading the way, looked back and asked, "Did you feel that just now?"
"Yes, I felt it."
"What did you feel?" Marco, who was struggling just to walk, hadn't noticed anything.
"A wind that isn't wind."
"A wind that isn't wind?"
"Silver Dragon Spawns. They’re searching for intruders on this mountain."
Marco, already pale, turned a shade of blue. "Then aren't we in big trouble?"
"Not necessarily. The fact that they passed over us means they haven't found us yet."
It was a worrying development. If a force equivalent to two knights were to drop from the sky like meteors, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"I’ll increase the pace."
Ferda followed the path Consilus cleared. A short while later, a dark shape loomed in the white void. They had returned to the cave where they started. Six people, including Jed, were waiting there.
"You’re back?"
"The target?"
"Got her."
Jed nudged the unconscious pink-haired woman beside him. She had pink hair and skin as white as jade—unusually radiant for a demon. However, the ram-like horns, the black sclera of her eyes, the bat wings, and the long spade-tipped tail left no doubt that she was indeed a demon.
"That was quick."
"The research wing was empty. Not a soul. I could have handled it alone. How was the living quarters?"
"No major hurdles. It seems neither side had any issues. Let’s head back."
After confirming everyone had completed their tasks, they began to board the gate. Ferda reflected on the situation.
That was too easy.
There were about three minutes left. They would return exactly on time. It wasn't a tight window, but it wasn't generous either—it was just right. As if everything had been calculated.
It went too well.
The balance of the trade was too perfect. It was strange. Demons only ever made deals that favored themselves.
"We need to move quickly," the mage guarding the gate said.
"What is it?"
"The Silver Dragon Spawn circling above is heading this way."
"It’s coming here?"
"Yes. It seems we’ve been spotted."
"Erase our tracks! Erase everything and evacuate immediately!"
They couldn't let it be known that people from the Archduchess of Valdrova’s territory had been here. They busily began using tools to wipe away any trace of their presence.
Only two minutes remained.
Ferda thought to himself. Within these remaining minutes, he had to resolve the nagging feeling in his gut.
"Ugh... uuuuh?"
Penelope woke up, looking around in confusion. When she saw Jed’s face, her eyes widened.
"Mmph! Mmm-mmph!"
"Stay still. I’m going to make you comfortable."
"Mmph! Mmmph-mmph!!"
As Jed raised a dagger, Penelope shook her head frantically. The tears and snot streaming down her face were a clear sign of terror. Ferda found the sight suspicious.
"Wait."
Jed’s dagger stopped. "What is it?"
"Take off the gag. I need to hear what she has to say."
"I doubt there’s anything worth hearing..." Jed muttered, but he removed the gag anyway.
"Mmph, phew! Thank you. No, more importantly, I need to clarify what I said earlier! I—"
"Shut up. I decide what you talk about. Otherwise, I’ll slit your throat."
"Hieee! Don't do that! Don't kill me! I'll answer anything! Yes!"
"Good." Ferda gestured toward her with his chin. "Why are you afraid of dying?"
"Is... is there any living thing that isn't afraid of dying?"
"When a demon dies in Serdes, aren't they just reverse-summoned back to Hell? It might be painful for a moment, but for your kind, it’s just going home. Isn't that right?"
"T-that’s true, but my situation is different! If I go back, I’ll actually die!" Penelope screamed hysterically.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, my mother wants me dead more than she wants me rescued! I can't go back to Hell!" Penelope sobbed, struggling desperately to plead for her life.
"Then tell me why she wants to kill you."
"Because I... well..." Penelope fumbled for words.
"Don't try to be clever. Tell the truth."
"No, I can't tell you the truth! I’m not allowed to tell the truth! Waaaaah! This is so frustrating, I’m going crazy! Why am I so stupid?!"
Something she couldn't tell the truth about. Something she knew, but was strictly forbidden from revealing. And the Great Demon Sitri was trying to kill her.
What did all those signs point to?
Ferda thought. There was definitely an answer. A story he might have heard once. Something he might have dismissed as idle gossip. But thinking back, it was something truly important.
Never make a deal with a demon.
"I see."
In that moment, a flash of insight struck Ferda’s mind. He looked down at her and whispered, "It was you."
"Regent!" Jed shouted at the top of his lungs. He was the last one with a foot still outside the gate. "You have to come now! There’s no time left! How long? Thirty seconds!"
Having watched the conversation between Ferda and Penelope, he urged him on. Having made his decision, Ferda stood up.
"Sir Jed."
"Yes?"
"Take good care of this baggage."
"What? What do you mean..."
Ferda threw his bag to Jed.
"Whoa!"
Jed caught the sudden projectile. His excellent reflexes allowed him to snag it out of the air. But immediately, another object flew toward him. It was a bundle of pink hair.
"Eek?!"
"Oof!"
It collided with Jed, pushing him straight into the gate. The weight that had shoved him was Penelope’s body. Jed, catching her, widened his eyes.
This Bending Bridge could only evacuate eight people.
"Regent—"
The dimensional gate closed. Jed’s shout was cut short.
Ferda was left alone in the freezing mountains. If he were truly alone, it wouldn't be a huge problem. He would just have to wait for rescue. But things wouldn't go as Ferda expected.
It was coming.
That thing.
In that moment, surprisingly, the sound of the howling blizzard began to fade. In its place came the sound of footsteps crunching on snow. Soon, a figure emerged through the white-out. Even on a night without a sliver of moonlight, his form was vividly clear.
"Oh? This is a truly unexpected situation."
Silver hair, sharp horns, and silver eyes. There was no doubt—a Silver Dragon Spawn. It was definitely the one that had been circling above.
"I was told there would be a single rat here... but this is a different kind of rat, isn't it?"
He grinned. Like a cat looking at a cornered mouse.
"Pleasure to meet you, Regent of Valdrova."
* * *
Upon returning to Valdrova Castle, Ruri immediately began cleaning.
The place had been neglected for twenty days. While she had assigned the basic cleaning to spirits, they didn't work hard without supervision. Thus, she was cleaning late into the night.
"Is the cleaning finished?"
— Kyung.
"Good work. You may return."
— Kyung!
The spirits, excited by the word 'finish,' were reverse-summoned. Ruri was left alone in the room. She looked around the room she had cleaned. It was a bedroom. Specifically, the place where Valdrova and Ferda would spend their wedding night. As he was only her fiancé now, that was a distant prospect.
But Ruri was not negligent. Ruri was a maid. A maid’s duty was to adjust and maintain the environment surrounding her master. To create such an environment usually required over fifty servants on standby. For true perfection, a hundred were needed.
Yet, in this castle, there were no servants besides Ruri.
But she was enough. Unlike weak human maids, she was a Dragon Spawn. She was one of the strongest among the Silver Dragon Spawns. Her abilities made it possible to keep this castle perfect. Even after decades, the place remained pristine without major renovations.
That is what I can do.
Maintaining perfection. Perfection meant staying within expectations. Staying within expectations meant being in control. There was no element in this castle she could not control. Her life formed a perfect circle.
Ferda...
At least, until he appeared.
Ferda Rosnova.
When she first met Ferda, he was a weak human. To all appearances, he was just a greenhorn noble slightly older than herself. One of those third-rate humans from whom nothing was expected.
But he wasn't.
Ferda was different from her expectations. It wasn't that he was the exact opposite; rather, she couldn't see even a step ahead of him. He acted arrogantly, yet he always took responsibility. He seemed like a heartless psychopath, yet before Valdrova, he looked like an ignorant boy.
Acting beyond his years, yet acting his age. Someone who couldn't be defined, no matter how hard she tried. An incomplete being.
A variable...
Yes. The reason the calm flow of her life was being ruined now was because of that variable. Ruri hated variables. Things she couldn't control made her feel powerless. She hated being powerless.
Therefore, he had to be eliminated.
But Ferda could not be eliminated. He was Valdrova’s fiancé. And so, everything began to change, creating situations that were spiraling out of control.
It wasn't all bad.
It signified a positive change. The stagnant territory began to develop, and Ferda was gradually solidifying his recognition and reputation. The emotions she felt toward those remarkable achievements were subtle.
Ruri already knew what that emotion was.
Anxiety.
That a brat who had only lived eighteen years... when she had lived hundreds of years longer, and had served for hundreds of years longer... that a man could change everything in less than a year. That he might take everything away.
That was why she had tried to meet Silverwind. She wondered if they, too, had changed while everything else was shifting. And even if they hadn't, she wondered if there was something she could do.
There was nothing I could do.
She was powerless. In terms of the situation and raw strength, everything had exceeded her expectations.
And... I...
She had set fire to that taut fuse. By unnecessarily contacting Silverwind, she had unnecessarily caused Ferda to confront Goz. Of course, the situation might have been resolved more smoothly. If Ferda hadn't spoken so harshly, if he hadn't shown such blatant hostility, things might have ended amicably.
Yes. It was Ferda who had escalated things. It would have been easier if she could just blame him, but Ruri couldn't.
If I hadn't stepped forward in the first place... none of that would have happened.
Ruri was the starting point of it all. And yet, the words she had spat at him were: "Who... asked for your help?"
She clenched her fists. Things were awkward now, but that awkwardness would likely last a long time. She didn't know how to look at him or face him from now on. Ruri truly didn't know what to do.
An uncontrollable variable. It was confusing because it was even infiltrating her emotions.
As Ruri stood there blankly, the air shimmered. A wind spirit manifested hurriedly and stood by her side.
— Kyung! Kyung!
The spirit was flustered. Ruri recognized it as the one she had sent to monitor the situation at Count Consilus’s castle.
"Speak."
The wind spirit reported in a panicked voice. She tried to listen calmly, but she couldn't.
"Is that... true?"
The variable was constantly in motion.