I Married the Dragon I Killed

“Strike.”

To Perda, it was an extremely strange concept.

“A strike?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Declaring that they’re not going to work.”

“Why wouldn’t they work if they’re being paid?”

“Because they want to demand their rights or something along those lines.”

“It’s hostage-taking.”

Perda found it innovative.

Using oneself as a hostage.

The head that would roll would be their own, so he didn’t understand why anyone would do such a thing.

“I don’t remember things like this happening in the Empire.”

“It’s a matter of supply and demand.”

“How so?”

“In the Empire, if someone said something like that, they would simply be replaced.”

Tens of millions of people lived in the imperial capital alone.

There, replacing a person was an everyday occurrence.

No one batted an eye when someone disappeared.

Once again, he realized how limited his perspective had been.

‘To think that the Emperor’s authority is more powerful than a dragon’s.’

Although it sounded absurd, he could understand it.

After all, a nearby kitchen knife is always more frightening than a distant legendary sword.

In any case, Perda decided to ask in order to solve the problem.

“Who is the insolent ringleader?”

“Hanson. A carpenter from the Empire. He currently acts as the supervisor of the imperial laborers.”

“Can I kill him without consequences?”

Perda’s solution was simple.

Cut off his head.

If he had no head, he wouldn’t be able to have any more ideas.

To him, that was the best solution.

Isabella immediately understood his intentions.

“He’s not particularly competent, but killing him would cause problems.”

“Why?”

“Because he has certain connections. Besides, politically it would damage our image.”

“And how much worse could something already bad become?”

Perda replied as though it weren’t important.

Isabella tilted her head.

Then she seemed to realize something.

“…Just in case. Are you unaware of your current reputation, Lord Perda?”

“No.”

Isabella blinked.

She felt it was necessary to explain.

“You have taken in refugees and guaranteed them the right to survive.”

“That’s correct.”

“In the middle of winter, few people could be considered saviors like someone who accepts refugees. Furthermore, you provide them with work. Thanks to that, they have stable income and can meet their basic needs.”

“I see.”

“And since many were driven out by outside forces, there are also those who are inspired by your determination to protect them.”

“That… hm.”

Perda tilted his head.

“Did I ever say something like that?”

“Because I made it up.”

“Why would you do that?”

“We needed a positive reputation to counter the bad reputation of the Red Dragon.”

“But it isn’t true.”

“The public doesn’t care about that.”

Essentially, Isabella meant that people felt safe because they believed Perda could stand against Valdrova.

“Besides, you don’t intend to drive them out, do you?”

“That’s true.”

If others had failed to take care of them and they had ended up fleeing, he saw no reason to send them back.

In any case, he understood what Isabella was trying to say.

“In short, I have a good reputation in the village.”

“There are people who claim you are the reincarnation of a saint.”

It was strange.

Perda was no saint.

Nor was he some virtuous sage.

Everything he did was for Valdrova.

And for her, he was willing to do anything.

‘Fortune and misfortune really are unpredictable.’

This was probably what that saying referred to.

Setting that aside, he returned to the main issue.

“If I can’t cut off his head…”

He tried to look for another solution.

But Isabella continued before he could.

“That isn’t the only problem.”

“What else is happening?”

“If we go through every detail, there are too many. But these are the most important ones.”

She handed him a document.

“The architects responsible for the wall are constantly clashing due to differences of opinion.”

Then she handed him another.

“Some adventurers are trying to collect protection money based on the areas they control, and that’s causing conflicts with the merchants.”

And then another.

“Furthermore, during the prayers, a pink-haired girl appeared singing strange songs. The entire congregation ended up bursting into laughter and lost all sense of solemnity. They’ve requested that she be captured and taught a lesson.”

“Pink hair…”

He didn’t even need to see her to know who it was.

“And amid all this discontent and confusion, there is someone deliberately damaging your reputation, Lord Perda. There is undoubtedly an agitator behind all of this.”

Agitators existed everywhere.

People raised in wealthy families or with access to a good education.

People who used their knowledge and rhetorical skills to manipulate the masses.

In a young and still poorly structured town like this one, ordinary citizens were easy prey for them.

“Can I beat that one up?”

“I’d like to as well, but I haven’t been able to find a single lead.”

That was truly surprising.

“Not even you can track him down?”

“That’s right. I’m ashamed to admit it, but he seems to appear and disappear like a ghost.”

“Hm…”

She was a descendant of Lorga, the Incarnation of Magic.

If even someone like her was unable to locate him, then the enemy was no ordinary opponent.

‘This isn’t a simple agitator.’

He was probably some kind of pure demon who enjoyed chaos more than power.

“In any case, I think the best thing would be to resolve all of these matters at once.”

Isabella placed several documents in front of him.

“Hold an assembly.”

“Speak directly with the citizens?”

“It’s the gentlest way to put an end to all of this.”

Gentlest?

Perda didn’t like that word.

He didn’t believe that someone who leads the masses needed to be gentle.

He thought they needed to be firm.

‘But in matters like this, Isabella is better than I am.’

She had undoubtedly also considered eliminating the ringleader to solve everything.

If she had still come to propose another option, it was because she believed the assembly had advantages.

‘Now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound so bad.’

There are times when keeping someone alive produces more benefits than killing them.

Perhaps this was one of them.

“Very well. We’ll hold an assembly.”

“Yes. Then I’ll begin organizing it.”

Isabella gave a slight bow in farewell and withdrew.

Perda immediately took out a long-distance communication crystal sphere and established contact with somewhere.

***

“This is Lize, liaison of the Pascal Trading Company. Greetings, Lord Regent. How may I assist you?”

“This is Perda Valdrova, Regent. Is the General Director available?”

“Yes, he is available. Would you like me to connect you to him?”

“I would appreciate it.”

A moment later, Stephan’s voice could be heard.

“Greetings, Lord Regent. Are you contacting me about the strike?”

News traveled fast.

He had gone straight to the point.

“That’s right.”

“I was just thinking that I should take measures regarding it. If you need help, please do not hesitate to ask.”

His voice overflowed with confidence.

It was truly reassuring.

“I will need your help. I’m going to convene an assembly. How do you think it will unfold?”

“An assembly…? I’ve participated in many of them. When someone confronts a feudal lord in this manner, it usually ends up being related to power.”

“Power…?”

With power, money would come on its own.

He didn’t like the feeling of being looked down upon.

“Then simply give them power.”

“You may not like doing it, but there’s also a way to preserve power by granting it.”

“What do you mean?”

Stephan replied in a voice full of confidence.

“Leave it to me. I’ll turn them into puppets you can torment for a very long time.”

***

Hestia.

The place where the Hestia Trading Company was supposed to be established had been occupied and renamed the Far Eastern Workers’ Union (Provisional).

Its leader was none other than Supervisor Hanson.

He had managed to persuade other supervisors and foremen to create that temporary union.

“Will they really listen to our demands…?”

One of the foremen sitting on the floor asked cautiously.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t believe the people above us will allow something like this…”

“Don’t say things that will discourage everyone.”

“When you came here, you wanted to earn more money! And now you’re saying that? If you’re going to back out, leave now!”

“No, I’m just worried…”

Faced with the complaints of the other foremen, he had no choice but to shrink back.

Hanson sat with his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face.

‘I’m scared to death too.’

Before putting it into motion, he had been full of dreams and ambitions.

Now he felt like a condemned man waiting for his execution.

But he couldn’t stop either.

He was already riding the tiger.

He had no other choice.

‘Still, they won’t be able to do anything to me so easily.’

The reason Hanson could act so boldly was because he had a reliable ally.

‘The Armored Knight.’

The monstrous strength capable of carrying eleven logs with his bare hands!

The power to kill two monsters by himself!

Although he inspired fear, he was the most respected person in the entire village.

The main reason Hanson had dared to do something so reckless was that the Armored Knight had also agreed.

The other supervisors and foremen trusted him as well.

In practice, he was the center holding the group together.

And that center was sitting right beside Hanson.

‘Yes, as long as the Armored Knight is here.’

‘Nothing will happen.’

Even though they had never exchanged a single word due to the Vow of Silence, everyone believed he would help them if danger arose.

A short while later, someone opened the door and entered.

Elegant glasses.

An intelligent gaze.

She wore a red uniform bearing Valdrova’s emblem.

Her appearance was professional and authoritative.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spine.

They wore headbands with the phrase.

“Life or Death!”

“I’ve spoken with Lord Regent.”

Said Isabella.

“Prepare your demands. An assembly will be held in one week.”

“You mean we’ll be able to speak directly with Lord Regent?”

“That’s right. He will listen to your concerns. I would appreciate it if you used this time to prepare.”

Everyone’s expressions reflected doubt.

In the Empire, they would have vanished without a trace.

In other cities, the guards would have dispersed them by force.

But here, they were being offered dialogue instead of violence.

“And since negotiations have been accepted, I ask that you suspend the strike and return to your work.”

The foremen began shifting uncomfortably.

“We can’t do that.”

The one who spoke was the union leader, Hanson.

He straightened his back and answered firmly.

“You haven’t offered us any conditions yet. How do you expect us to return to work?”

The others alternated their gaze between Hanson and Isabella with uncomfortable expressions.

Isabella replied calmly.

“We cannot abandon the construction projects when there are no replacements available. Wages will be increased to one hundred and fifty percent immediately, and…”

“The problem isn’t the wages. People died. What will you do if the exact same thing happens again?”

“Hey…”

The foremen watched the situation nervously.

Hanson was pushing things too far.

When he had listened to that young mage’s words, she had told him the following.

“They’ll ask you to return to work.”

“And what do I do then?”

“Don’t agree under any circumstances. If you go back to work, they’ll think they can look down on you. They’ll say that even after protesting, all it takes is money to make you risk your lives again.”

“Hmm…”

“And above all, the power you can obtain will diminish.”

Those words had lodged themselves deeply in Hanson’s mind.

That was why he was acting exactly as she had instructed.

It also helped quite a bit that he no longer cared what happened.

After all, once all the courage has already drained out of your body, what difference does a little more make?

Isabella stared directly at Hanson’s face.

The descendants of Lorga represented coldness.

But this coldness was different.

It seemed to pierce straight into the heart and freeze everything.

Just as Isabella was about to speak, Hanson felt a hand on his shoulder.

Startled, he turned around.

Behind him stood the Armored Knight.

Hanson placed a hand over his chest to calm himself.

“Huff… What is it, Sir Knight?”

The Armored Knight had taken the Vow of Silence.

So instead of speaking, he simply shook his head.

Hanson immediately understood.

“You mean we should return to work?”

Nod. Nod.

They hadn’t gotten what they wanted.

But they couldn’t keep pushing either.

If the person holding the group together said so, they had no alternative.

“If Sir Knight says so, then all right. We’ll return to work immediately. But if the demons appear again and the situation becomes dangerous…”

“I will bear my own responsibility.”

Isabella’s eyes turned icy.

“And what responsibility will you bear?”

“I…”

Hanson could not answer.

The phrase written on his headband, “Life or Death!”, lost all meaning.

He was unable to commit himself to anything.

Isabella let out a disappointed sigh.

“That’s enough. Let’s end this discussion here and return.”

After saying that briefly and clearly, she left.

The foremen, who had been holding their breath, were finally able to relax.

“Phew!”

“I nearly had a heart attack.”

“Thank goodness everything worked out. If this had gone badly, we never would have worked here again…”

“Come on, come on. Let’s get back to work. Huff! Sitting around like a scholar left my whole body aching.”

The foremen began leaving one after another.

Then, a middle-aged man at the end of the line looked both ways and quietly approached Hanson.

He was a refugee who had arrived in Hestia and, through diligent work, had risen to become a foreman.

“Hanson, Supervisor. Don’t ever do something like this again.”

He warned him with a fierce look.