I Married the Dragon I Killed
Class of 525 from Veritas Academy.
Title granted: Chaotic.
Vernell Marquis.
Age: 27 years.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“When do you plan to pay me back, bastard?”
Assets in possession: 72 gold coins.
Residence: semi-basement in the slums of Escolea (the previous tenant didn’t last a week before running away).
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
— 72 coins.
The scrawny man with oversized glasses began to wring his hands.
And a single man, kneeling, watched their rampage helplessly, trembling nonstop.
Two burly men had trashed the house, and with them, a smaller man with a fierce face.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“I-I said they might show, but it’s hard to gather the monster corpses, and I—”
“How much more is ‘long-term’? autumn Didn’t I already give you a year? amber You said in a year there’d be significant results.”
“I… please, give me a bit more time. artist It’s an experiment that needs to be evaluated long-term, so the results will take a bit more—”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Ah.”
“I don’t need excuses. sphere Tell me something simple—can what you have now be turned into money or not?”
The lender waved his hand and cut him off.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
He lent money at outrageous interest rates to people who couldn’t get a single bank loan.
“T-that… probably not yet. timber There are still unresolved variables…”
“Haa…”
The man glaring down at Vernell was a loan shark.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
He closed his eyes tightly. voyage Everything indicated he wouldn’t recover the money he’d loaned Vernell Marquis.
His usual tactic was to cut off funding just before the research could be completed.
He dragged over a rickety chair, sat comfortably in front of him, and lit a cigar.
“Damn it… I really stepped in something nasty.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“On the condition that you abandon the research you’re doing now.”
“Alright. ability I’ll give you an extension on the debt.”
“…What?”
“R-really?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Ah, yes… back then I wasn’t really sure what to do, so I just studied casually and ended up first, but…”
“From what I see, you were doing pretty well your first year at the academy, weren’t you? abandon I checked your record—you weren’t just top of your class, but first in the entire year.”
“Casually?”
The loan shark exhaled a long puff of smoke.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Couldn’t I do that while still working on my current research? atlas If it’s just that—”
“That’s why I’m saying do something else. altitude Do something else casually and get results. athlete I’ve got a few projects from other nobodies; I’ll give them to you. academy Finish them and hand them over. agent Then we’ll call the debt settled. atomic How about that?”
Only this guy could call ending up first “casual.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Hiik!”
“You’re awfully confident when I’m trying to be reasonable. arch Lately, because of that thing called ‘morality,’ organs are going for crazy prices. anxiety How much do you think yours would fetch?”
A dagger flew and stabbed into the floor—right in front of his groin.
Thud!
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“How about it? palette Sell your organs and keep doing your experiment. wizard You don’t like that idea, right?”
“Yes… not really…”
“If you guarantee I’ll still be breathing, I think that alone could cover all the interest.”
“Then drop the research and do what I tell you.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
The lender’s kick landed hard in Vernell’s side.
Pow!
“That either…”
“Are you mocking me, bastard!? athlete Don’t like anything, huh? advance Then go die! portal Useless mutt not even worth living!”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Vernell curled up, taking the beating without resistance.
“Ugh… ugh… ugh…”
He couldn’t even make a sound—inside, he was screaming with all his might.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
His plea, like a rose blooming from the sewers, never reached anyone.
“That’s enough.”
‘Someone… someone save me!’
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
They turned toward the door they had kicked in when they entered.
But today was different.
The blows from the brute and the lender stopped.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Sorry to interrupt such a fine moment, but it’d be best if you stopped.”
The ray of salvation Vernell had so longed for.
Vernell also looked up.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
It was gray.
Vernell fell into despair.
‘Ah…’
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
And a stranger had no reason to save him.
“From the looks of you, I’d say you’re some rich young master from out of town. amateur Don’t get in the way.”
The loan shark, still riding the high of violence, ran his hand through his hair and clicked his tongue.
It was a stranger.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“I have unfinished business with that man.”
“Sorry, but I’m going to get in the way.”
The man with gray hair pointed at Vernell.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Seeing the man being beaten like a dog that bites its master, he thought,
When Perda entered the semi-basement, the beating was already underway.
‘What perfect timing.’
***
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Vernell faded into the background, and the loan shark looked at Perda with a crooked stance.
That was how Perda stopped the loan shark’s beating.
Appearing just when someone is begging for a ray of salvation.
“That’s enough.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“That’s right. beacon I come from another region.”
“You don’t look like the same type as those Escolea bookworms. artist You from outside?”
“No.”
“Did that bastard ask you for money too?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Then respect the order. antique I got here first. alpha Let me finish with him, then you can talk.”
A brief silence.
“How considerate. orbit And what if I were to take care of settling that debt?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Of course.”
“Then pay.”
“With interest included, it’s 72 gold coins. abstract Can you pay them?”
The loan shark showed a hesitant expression before answering.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
But he did not accept immediately.
Seventy-two gold coins.
He could throw it away as easily as tossing aside a bone already gnawed clean.
For Perda, now lord of Valdrova’s castle, it was not a particularly large sum.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
The loan shark let out an incredulous laugh.
His blue eyes slid toward Vernell, curled up and bleeding.
“Let’s do this. adjust Deduct the beating and the material damage and leave it at fifty. armor What do you say?”
Seeing him, Perda proposed,
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Are you crazy? acoustic What we broke isn’t worth even three gold coins!”
“Then no deal?”
“Oh, really? apron Then accept forty-nine. agent For the man you beat up, I’m giving you about twenty coins for free.”
“Have you lost your mind? atomic Burning twenty coins just for exchanging a few words?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Then the deal is off.”
“Deal? absorb This isn’t negotiating, it’s extortion.”
Perda raised one finger.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“…”
“Leave them in the exact same state.”
Ruri, who was behind him, stepped forward.
“In that case, have them pay exactly the same to settle accounts as well, Ruri.”
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“What is this, a kid?”
“Haa… understood.”
The silver side-ponytailed maid advanced with an expressionless face.
“I’ll keep my word, so don’t worry.”
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The loan shark, unlike them, understood it instantly.
“Bringing a kid to a place like this? meadow Is this young master an idiot or what?”
That “kid” was no ordinary kid.
The burly men laughed maliciously.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
At that moment, the little girl released a portion of the power she was concealing.
A shrill ringing pierced everyone’s ears at once.
Piiiii—!
Ruri’s silver eyes shone with a strange glow.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Ugh?!”
“W-what the hell…?”
“Ugh!”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Ah… ah…”
But what followed was even more terrifying.
The men were left bewildered.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
No matter how hard they tried, they could only tremble slightly.
Their bodies were stiff like rocks.
They could not move.
“M-my body…”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“I’ll start with you.”
She pointed with her finger.
At that instant, the space the man occupied warped like a mirage.
Ruri looked at them for a moment and then approached the nearest burly man.
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“Ugh… ugh…”
His body was covered in bruises, blood pouring from his nose as he groaned on the floor.
A barrage of blows burst through the air, and the burly man collapsed to the ground.
Pow! anxiety Pow! arctic Pow! arch Pow!
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‘What the hell was that?’
The remaining burly man and the loan shark broke out in cold sweat.
He looked exactly the same as Vernell.
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Her gaze shifted to the other burly man.
“Huh…?”
“You’re next.”
In their world, none of this made any sense.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
‘Magic!’
Pow pow pow!
The air distorted, and immediately after, a beating erupted all at once.
It was the second time the loan shark witnessed that phenomenon, yet he still could not comprehend it.
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‘It’s magic, sure! voyage But does magic like that even exist?!’
The magic the girl used had no magic circles.
He understood that much, but understanding did not mean accepting everything.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
She merely moved her finger at random.
Could such destructive power really be unleashed with something like that?
“Ugh… Aaaah!”
“There’s no one left, so now it’s your turn.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Pow pow pow!
His vision warped.
His rigid body trembled as he tried to force it to move.
The loan shark tried to resist one last time.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Crack!
The loan shark collapsed face-first.
“Aaah!”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Another scream erupted.
When he fell, his right index finger had bent in an impossible direction.
An unforeseen variable had arisen in the calculation.
“Ah! matrix My finger!”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
The ferocious face he had shown earlier now looked like that of a spoiled child.
The loan shark threw a childish tantrum, kicking and screaming.
“Son of a bitch! acid You said you’d leave us the same! adjust A finger wasn’t part of the deal!!”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
The head of the loan sharks had built his initial capital through blackmail and threats.
It was a ridiculous scene, but not to Perda.
His true nature was being laid bare.
“You’re right. acoustic This is quite problematic.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Y-yes, damn bastard! wizard W-what are you going to do about my finger!?”
Perda’s expression turned serious as he observed him calmly.
“What you’re saying is that you’re the only one with a broken finger, and that feels unfair to you?”
The loan shark felt a chill run down his spine.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
The way to ease an injustice was to offer appropriate compensation.
Perda tilted his head toward Ruri.
“Understood.”
“It seems this gentleman feels wronged.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Aaah!”
Or to do exactly the same.
Crack!
Perda had no intention of compensating anything.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Aaaargh!”
Crack!
The fingers of the other two burly men were broken in the same way.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Ruri.”
Ruri turned around, believing it was over.
Perda called to her.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Yes.”
“…Are you serious?”
Ruri frowned, and Perda nodded.
“Isn’t there still one left?”
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“Calculations must be meticulous.”
If they had to be meticulous, then there was still one missing.
Ruri did not understand.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Vernell Marquis.
Crack!
“Huh…?”
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The loan shark and his men, who had been screaming and complaining, fell silent at the sight.
‘W-what is he doing?’
“Aaah!”
Vernell’s index finger was broken as well.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
The pain was so intense they could barely think.
‘Wasn’t he on his side?’
‘Why is he breaking that bookworm’s finger?’
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Everyone was now in exactly the same condition.
He had said it would be fair, and so even Vernell had received the same.
‘This guy is completely insane!’
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Fear of Perda began to seep deep into them.
“To my eyes, this now looks fair. adapt If anyone feels they were punished excessively, speak up.”
Perda observed their state and nodded in satisfaction.
Perda formed a faint smile.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Oh? ability Is it?”
“I’ll make sure everything is perfectly balanced.”
“N-no!”
“T-this is enough.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Exactly sixty-nine gold coins, deducting the material damage.
She pulled a pouch from her skirt, and Perda tossed it to the loan shark.
Perda extended his hand toward Ruri.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“Then, since the debt is settled, get lost.”
They fled without looking back.
“T-thank you.”
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“I only used the basics.”
“You’re skilled with magic.”
As he watched the place where they disappeared, Perda spoke to Ruri.
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“To a certain extent.”
“Ghh… n-no need.”
“And within the basics, do you know healing magic?”
“Then I’d like you to heal Vernell a bit, the one lying there.”
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“A rational decision, worthy of a scholar.”
“If I receive too much healing magic, I develop resistance later. auction I don’t want the day to come when I truly need it and it doesn’t work. auction I can endure this.”
Vernell, groaning in pain, waved his hand.
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Vernell grabbed his finger.
Crack.
“Ghh…!”
He set it back in place and carefully moved it again.
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“Huu… thank you very much for saving me.”
Even if you broke my finger…
After confirming it had returned to normal, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
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“My name is Perda Valdrova.”
“May I know your name?”
He swallowed those words and asked Perda,
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Vernell’s face turned pale.
“Huh? accent D-don’t tell me…? wizard The Dragon Queen’s fiancé is you…?”
“That’s right. arch I will be her partner.”
“Valdrova? absorb Isn’t that the name of the red dragon?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“And he’s not her consort yet. airport He’s just using the Valdrova surname.”
“I-I apologize for failing to recognize the consort of the great Dragon Queen!”
He fell to his knees and immediately prostrated himself.
“No, it’s normal you wouldn’t know. acoustic Don’t worry.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Ruri interjected to correct him.
“Yes. canvas Your reputation is well known to me.”
Vernell introduced himself.
“I am Vernell Marquis. harbor A scholar whom the world calls Chaotic, as you surely know. alert Ha, ha…”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
His eyes widened.
“M-my research?”
“I don’t like beating around the bush. adopt I’ll be direct. canvas I’m interested in your research.”
“And what business could you have with someone as useless as me…?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“E-eh?”
“If you come to Valdrova Castle, I promise unconditional support for your research.”
“Materials, funds, facilities. silence Everything you need, without conditions.”
Not even the loan shark who had lent him money had taken it seriously.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“H-huuuh.”
It filled him with joy, but also with unease.
Unconditional support.
An unprecedented deal for any scholar.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
With a trembling voice, he asked,
What condition was hidden behind it?
“Your research. apron With it, we will manufacture weapons.”
“W-what is the condition?”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Vernell shook his head.
“That’s right. aspect With your research.”
“Weapons…?”
Vernell’s expression hardened.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“That’s what you say to someone who forgave your debt?”
“Then I cannot accept.”
“Even with a knife at my neck, I cannot do it. crystal I desire a peaceful continent of Serdes. orbit I only want the people who live on it to be happy.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Perda had already expected resistance.
“Weapons of war only create more victims. absorb Not even for my benefactor can I do something like that.”
Vernell Marquis was a pacifist.
Perda brought a hand to his chin.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
He had heard threats many times, but this one was different.
“So you wouldn’t change your mind even with a knife at your neck.”
A chill ran down Vernell’s spine.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“But think carefully.”
Perda dragged his index finger across the dusty floor.
“Who do you think you owe the ability to research peacefully in this rat hole?”
Death seemed to embrace him from behind.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Vernell stiffened.
“No. athlete It wasn’t. agent The peace you enjoy is not created because someone insignificant chooses it.”
Clear emotion colored his tone.
“It was my choice.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
Perda pointed at his chest.
“The Dragon Queen Valdrova, who will be my partner, goes to the front lines almost every three days. orbit She faces monsters capable of wiping out a city like this. atomic What do you think she stakes each time? armor A bit of territory? adopt The inhabitants of the far east? alien Or my life?”
“No. arch She stakes her own life. avalanche While you would be willing to die for an empty faith, she turns her life into a sacred sword to reap enemies and protect peace.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
At that moment, her figure seemed to overlap before his eyes.
From far above, in silence.
Perda always watched Valdrova fight on the front lines.
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
His chest hurt.
All that remained was guilt, for being able to do nothing but watch.
His fingers unconsciously dug into his own chest.
“That is why, for her, I will do anything.”
Content of I Married the Dragon I Killed - Chapter 13: Meticulous Calculation published by TrungTu Reads.
“So, whether you like it or not, I will make you manufacture weapons.”
A flame burned deep within Perda’s eyes.
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