I Married the Dragon I Killed

Hearing that, Perda was somewhat bewildered.

After laying out such an elaborate deduction, the conclusion turned out to be completely absurd.

The child of a demon?

Had this woman really been saying all of that just to end with such a ridiculous joke?

That was what he thought, but Erdes’s expression was serious.

No, she was smiling with a somewhat playful air, but at the very least she had the face of someone convinced that this was not a joke.

Perda thought.

How should he react?

Should he become furious and explode in rage?

Or maintain this exhausted expression?

In the middle of that uncomfortable situation, Erdes spoke.

“I went to see Eremvalt Rosnova.”

It did not sound like a simple visit.

She had undoubtedly caused a huge disaster.

The Rosnova family.

From the moment she got involved, Perda had already assumed she would investigate his past.

Erdes blinked when she saw Perda’s reaction.

“Oh? Your reaction is more boring than I expected. Normally, when someone touches their family, people get furious.”

“That man wished to deny my very existence.”

Since his mother’s death, Eremvalt Rosnova had never treated Perda as his son again.

He allowed the harassment from his brothers and the servants.

More than that, the atmosphere gave the impression that he even encouraged it.

In other words, the center of that mistreatment had been his own father.

“What a lovely relationship between father and son~. Though, well, he did not completely deny your existence. Perhaps because you now live comfortably under Valdrova.”

Erdes continued speaking, as though immediately pulling out another card.

“But with your mother, it was different.”

Mother.

“Oh? It seems you really did love your mother dearly. Your expression changed.”

Erdes smiled mischievously after finding a weakness.

“He said he was bewitched by that woman and lived a dreamlike decade before finally waking up only after she died.”

That woman’s childish gestures were beginning to grow irritating.

“It was truly fascinating. Do you know what he said? That he lived believing he loved a woman he had actually never loved. Ten whole years hypnotizing himself. I suppose a mage’s blood truly is passed down properly. Or perhaps it was demonic blood.”

There was no need to think too hard to understand her intention.

That damned woman was insulting his mother.

“Anna Rosnova was a great mother.”

“Even a hedgehog loves its offspring. And even more so if they are children born from the blood of the demon she adored so much.”

“Whether it’s a hedgehog or a goblin, I don’t care. But if you keep wagging that tongue, I won’t stay still either.”

“And what will you do if you don’t stay still?”

A dangerous light emerged in Erdes’s eyes.

“Do you think your pathetic love for your mother will change my deduction?”

Erdes was trying to disturb Perda’s emotions.

She hated dark magic.

She hated demons.

And she hated those who possessed a Red Circle.

Perda understood her intention.

She wanted him to lose control.

“Look. That is the true face of those who follow dark magic.”

Yes.

It was an intention far too obvious.

And yet, it was impossible not to be drawn in.

Even Alte, whose doctrine preached mercy, mercilessly killed those who stepped into the sacred domain.

And his mother was sacred territory.

Everyone who touched her ended up dead.

‘Erdes Roton.’

It seems that even in this life, you are destined to die by my hand.

“Don’t you think you are straying far too much from the topic, Erdes Roton?”

A refined voice worthy of a noble lady was heard.

Perda recognized that voice.

He remembered the people he hated better than the ones he cared about.

That was why he could never forget her.

When he turned his head, she was there.

A woman with blue hair and a military uniform.

Erika Iorga.

The leader of the Blue Dragon Spawn.

Why was she here?

Perda shifted his gaze toward Ruri.

Ruri discreetly gave a thumbs-up, as though trying to answer him.

For now, it seemed she was on his side.

“Straying from the topic? What do you mean by that?”

“If I am not mistaken, the topic here is the death of Abel Silverwind, correct? But you are trying to stir his emotions by casually claiming that his mother was a demon. Your intention is far too obvious.”

“If he is the child of a demon, then it is only natural that Sitri would favor him.”

“Demons do not help other demons. And even less would a great demon like Sitri help someone merely for belonging to the same race.”

She defended Perda using the demons’ own characteristics.

Erdes smiled while wrapping a strand of golden hair around her index finger.

It was a sign of irritation.

“It’s been a long time, Erika. Have you been well?”

“Yes. It has been a long time, Erdes Roton.”

Erdes addressed her with complete familiarity, while Erika smiled formally.

However, between the two of them, a tension no less severe than the one between Goz and Perda was unfolding.

“Lord Lorga is still in good health, correct? Hmm? Lately I’ve been hearing quite a few rumors about the Magic Tower.”

“There is no need for you to worry. Compared to the criticism you have received, Lady Erdes, that barely reaches the level of a drop of blood on a bird’s leg or dust on a fly’s foot. It is something that can still be resolved.”

“Oh, really? But a jewel that must shine flawlessly cannot allow even the smallest crack, don’t you think? At the very least, a leader should not tolerate something like that.”

“Do not worry. We are of a different category from those who do not even realize they are broken glass and still insist on calling themselves jewels.”

Both maintained smiles in an atmosphere where even brushing against each other could be fatal.

Unlike Perda, there was a deep abyss between the two of them.

While watching that conversation, Perda felt the anger provoked by the insults slowly begin to calm down.

“And to continue the defense, what Regent Perda uses are shadow arts. They do not match the nature of Sitri, who governs illusions and lust. Saying that he made a demonic contract does not fit.”

“Amon could have handed him Marbas’s grimoire. That would not be impossible.”

Amon was a demon of fire, while Marbas was a demon of ice.

They were natural enemies.

“They would only do something like that if it benefited them. But that makes no sense, and demons never do meaningless things. How can someone called an authority on dark magic ignore something so basic?”

Erika was right.

It would be like working hard to benefit someone else.

Demons would never tolerate that.

And Erdes knew it too.

She knew perfectly well that she was forcing the situation.

She was simply being irrational and trying to destabilize him by force.

Erika’s sudden appearance to ruin everything irritated her immensely.

“So, you think it is fine for a dragon’s future husband to use dark magic? Or perhaps you want to turn Valdrova into an evil dragon and drive her to suicide? Our dear Eri has a much darker heart than her white clothes suggest.”

“The fact that Regent Valdrova uses dark magic does not mean his nature is evil.”

She stated it firmly, and Erdes let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Eri. How many times do I have to repeat it? That damned dark magic is filth that contaminates Serdes. I want to exterminate every last one of those bastards.”

That was the sick obsession Erika knew all too well.

“Human Red Circles are born from emotions. And the easiest emotions to awaken are negative ones. Those negative emotions attract darkness. Users of dark magic are threats.”

“Among the virtues of a knight, there is one that says he must learn how to use his anger. If someone knows how to control negative emotions, then they are not necessarily bad.”

“It is the magic of demons trying to devour the continent.”

“The intentions of demons may be impure, but that does not mean everything derived from them is automatically evil.”

“Ha. You are still trapped in that ridiculous Dragon-Demon War. And what? Do you think you have the right to speak because you participated in it and helped using dark magic?”

That was surprising as well.

Erika Iorga.

Unlike other Spawn, she was an Elemental Master and Meister capable of controlling every element.

It was the first time Perda discovered that she used dark magic.

“Eri, that is not magic. It is a tool that gives humans a false sense of omnipotence, awakens the evil inside them, and ends up destroying both them and everyone around them.”

“No. You are wrong.”

Erika answered firmly as well.

“Magic is a tool, and everything depends on the one who uses it. Even if it is infernal magic, if it has value to be studied and developed, then it must be used.”

“And do you really think this brat will know how to use it properly?”

Erdes pointed at Perda with her chin.

Erika also turned her gaze toward him.

Her eyes looked as though they had reached a decision.

“When the time for change comes, it must be done decisively.”

Erika spoke slowly and clearly, pronouncing every syllable.

“I, Erika Iorga, representative of all Blue Dragon Spawn, hereby propose an alliance with the Grand Duchy of Valdrova.”

She used the impact of that sudden declaration of alliance to pressure the opposing side.

“If the Silverwind decide to declare all-out war, then Lorga’s side will fight to protect the Grand Duchy of Valdrova.”

Her voice, filled with authority, directly answered the enemy’s pressure.

Erdes, who had been idly wrapping her hair around her finger, showed an expression of complete annoyance.

“You are making a tremendous mistake. It is like throwing yourself into a bonfire.”

“Before and now, you have always been far too extreme. I know perfectly well how you intend to torment Regent Perda if we leave things as they are. How could I possibly stand by and do nothing?”

“By standing still, obviously. Who asked you to interfere? What does any of this have to do with you?”

“He is the man who proclaimed the recovery of the far east, something no one has mentioned in over a hundred years. As someone who protects the continent, I cannot help but support him.”

“Hmmmm. So you intend to take this brat’s side?”

Her eyes became even more venomous.

She looked desperate to abandon the conversation and start fighting immediately.

Then Goz, who had remained seated while observing the entire situation, opened his mouth.

“Erdes.”

“Yeah, you should say something too! They’re two and we’re also two, so things should be getting interesting by now—!”

“Let’s go back.”

“I’ll take care of that woman, so what the… what?”

Erdes’s eyes widened as she glared furiously at Goz.

“What are you saying? I’m not finished talking yet!”

“The only thing I wanted to know was the full truth. It was enough for me to find out what that bastard Abel did.”

“I already told you!! All of that could have been a trap prepared by Regent Perda—!”

“But didn’t he make the contract before he died?”

“That part is true, but—!!”

“Then that is all. That insect made a deal, and the regent executed him. That does not change.”

“Then ask him why he executed him on his own! Why are the ones with nothing but ice in their heads suddenly starting to think!?”

“If he made a contract with a demon and still lost to a mere human, then he received a cheap fate.”

As if he had nothing more to say, Goz stood up and walked toward the door.

“Then I will take my leave.”

His eyes briefly stopped on Ruri one last time before he stepped out into the hallway.

Erdes watched his departing back with dissatisfaction before staring fixedly at Perda.

“It seems the conversation is over. Regent Perda, shall we leave it at that?”

Her eyebrows twitched rapidly.

Her gaze contained both a question about whether he had any more explanations and a provocation to continue fighting.

With a cooler head now, Perda answered.

“I will escort you out.”

“No. That may not be necessary. When I’m near dark mages, I start feeling like dying. Or killing them. I’m not sure. Anyway, something like that.”

Now she was not even hiding her contempt anymore.

Then she abruptly turned around and ran down the hallway while shouting.

“Hey! Let’s go together! Seriously! What a horrible race you people have, abandoning a lady instead of escorting her!”

***

The death of Abel Silverwind.

And the demonic contract made by Perda.

Contrary to expectations, those two storms that seemed destined to sweep everything away ended up settling without major problems.

He wanted to sigh in relief, but he still could not.

Perda directed his gaze forward.

The seat that had previously been occupied by Goz and Erdes was now occupied by Erika.

Perda asked her.

“Why did you help me?”

At that question, Erika slightly raised an eyebrow.

Her voice was filled with the pride characteristic of a Dragon Spawn.

“Shouldn’t you thank me first? After all, I helped you.”

“It was something I could have handled perfectly well on my own.”

“And yet you still got dragged along by Erdes’s pace. That woman has an extraordinary talent for irritating people. I’ve fought with her many times already, so I can handle it calmly, but for others it’s not so easy.”

She was right.

Even Perda had ended up getting swept along without realizing it.

“Besides, you proposed an alliance on your own.”

“If it bothered you, you could have thrown water at me. Though you also provoked those ice-headed idiots, didn’t you?”

He had never asked for her help.

But saying it had been useless would be nothing more than a lie born from pride.

“Of course, I appreciate that you resolved the situation peacefully.”

“I gladly accept your gratitude.”

“However, the matter of the alliance is still something that must be considered.”

“It seems my sincerity during the defense failed to reach you.”

“I do not believe in such things.”

“Yes, I know. People like you need proof.”

As though she had been waiting for that moment, she quickly moved her finger.

At that instant, a clipboard appeared in the air and descended onto the tea table.

“What is this?”

“Do you see the date? One hundred and fifty years ago.”

“Yes.”

“The day the Grand Council was held after the First Dragon-Demon War. Exactly one day before Lord Blancaros was classified as an Evil Dragon because of his malicious nature. This was the proposal presented the following day by our lord Lorga.”

At the top of the document was written the following.

— Project Hestia

Hestia was the name of a little-known ancient deity famous for being the woman who protected fire.

The confidentiality classification was at the highest level.

And the execution priority was marked as absolute.

Perda reviewed the contents.

The summary explained that Iorga had been researching methods to eliminate Godwin’s madness lodged within Valdrova’s body.

And that the project was still ongoing even now.

After briefly checking the dates, he closed the document.

“What are you trying to say?”

“That only proves that Lord Lorga’s intention was never to use Lady Valdrova as a shield.”

“And why should we interpret it that way? It’s enough to think that Lord Lorga already sensed the threat of Godwin back then and began the project because of that.”

“I imagined you would think that, so I brought something else.”

Then she set the document aside and brought out another heavy object.

It was a crystal sphere.

“This is a recording of that proposal. It proves that Lord Lorga truly intended to protect Lady Valdrova.”

If it was a voice recording, then things changed.

Especially because it had not been created with the intention of being shown publicly, so the true intentions inside it would be far clearer.

Perda nodded.

He injected mana into the crystal sphere, and it recreated the situation from back then.

— Lord Lorga, is this proposal really what I think it is?

It was Erika’s voice.

And someone answered.

— Yes.

It was a very short response, but Perda could recognize that the voice belonged to the Blue Dragon Lorga.

Even as a recording, it carried a resonance capable of conveying the vastness of his mana.

— I oppose this.

The voice that responded again was Erika’s.

Out of all the voices present, she was the one who opposed it most fiercely.

— We have not a single reason to help that damned lizard!

“Ahem!”

Erika cleared her throat and temporarily stopped the playback.

She tried to explain the situation calmly, but her voice came out nervous.

“At that time, many of our Spawn had also died, so we were all rather emotionally unstable. I would appreciate it if you took that into consideration.”

“I will.”

He did not particularly like the contents, but one thing was certain.

That recording was completely authentic and unedited.

— No. We must help her. That child does not deserve to be called an Evil Dragon. All of this happened because of Godwin’s influence.

— Then shouldn’t we kill her? If she became unstable, wouldn’t that be the correct thing to do?

— We cannot kill her. Godwin is already dead, and so is Silverwind. There must not be any more sacrifices.

— I do not understand, Lord Lorga. Aren’t you the one who hates Valdrova the most? How can you help your enemy?

— I do hate her. But only because she is foolish. Not because she is evil by nature. I cannot kill that child.

It could be felt.

Lorga understood Valdrova.

And he also cared about her.

— And what will we do if a second Godwin is born? What if that is the future waiting for us?

— That will not happen. That child will continue resisting and enduring the instability inside her.

That project had truly begun solely to help Valdrova.

— Precisely because she is so foolish, she can endure something like that.

And then the insults began.

— She only knows how to fight, besides being clumsy and not very intelligent. Since she knows nothing, her head is full of flowers—

“Ahem!”

— And on top of that, she’s timid, gets hurt easily, and doesn’t even know how to express what she wants—

“Ahem, ahem!”

— And despite being the Incarnation of Strength, she doesn’t even lead a single Spawn, wanting to carry everything herself. She’s basically a brainless red lizard flapping its wings around awkwardly—

“Cough! Cough, cough!”

Erika began coughing like someone choking and finally stopped the recording.

“……”

Cold sweat dampened Erika’s forehead.

Only then could she remember what kind of conversation had followed after that.

That was why she spoke to Perda with extreme politeness.

“Um… would it be possible to skip about ten minutes?”