Chapter 156
Too Much Is as Bad as Too Little
Standing on the witness stand, Ferda opened his mouth.
“My name is Ferda Valdrova, representative of the Far East and fiancé of Princeps Valdrova, the great Aspect of Fire.”
As befitted a council hearing, he introduced himself formally.
“Please explain what the Far East experienced during this incident.”
“Yes.”
Ferda began reading through the documents that Mori and Isabella had organized together.
He added details where necessary and removed anything irrelevant, allowing him to convey only what was essential to the case.
As soon as his testimony ended, the questioning began.
“There is one matter I would like to ask about.”
The speaker was Joseph Faust, leader of the Church of Altesin.
“It states here that the Far East remained isolated for an entire month.”
“That is correct.”
“It also says that the aqueducts and every underground waterway aside from the reservoirs were contaminated. How did you survive for that month?”
“We discovered a new source of water in the Far East.”
“Any new water source should have been contaminated as well. Nor does it appear that you filled your reserves through climate magic.”
“That is correct. We subjected the water to a purification process and made it safe to drink.”
“What do you mean by a purification process?”
“We used a magitech formula to remove the demonic contamination from the water.”
“Oh…”
After Ferda’s answer, the chamber grew strangely quieter.
Everyone’s interests had suddenly aligned.
“Were there no adverse effects on anyone’s health?”
“Our assessment was that once the contaminated water had been purified, it became cleaner than water from an ordinary river.”
“Whose assessment?”
“Blue Eye’s.”
Since Blue Eye was the Aspect of Water, no one dared voice the irreverent suspicion that the source might be unreliable.
Ferda deliberately added one more statement.
“This achievement would have been impossible without Blue Eye’s cooperation.”
“Come to think of it, the records say that Blue Eye produced several prototypes and delivered them for testing.”
The sound of the audience breathing returned.
This was why Ferda had attributed the achievement to Blue Eye.
‘Value adjustment.’
The saying that too much was as bad as too little existed for a reason.
If he praised Burnell as the sole creator and raised his value too high, it would become poison instead.
Publicly increasing Burnell’s worth would do nothing to protect the Far East.
Even Burnell, who was content with his present circumstances, had agreed to Ferda’s strategy for the sake of his own safety.
One thing was certain.
Even after redirecting the credit, Burnell’s value had already risen far too high.
Naturally, the next question concerned him as well.
“I would like to ask a question this time. I have heard that magitech played a considerable role aside from the purification system. There was an item called a magitech rifle.”
The speaker was Oldin Rooster, known as the Battle-Hardened Hero.
He was heavily muscled, and the scar across his eyebrow seemed to make his already fierce appearance even more threatening.
He was a man worthy of being called Valdemar’s right hand.
“Yes.”
“I do not recall that weapon ever being reported to the Empire. Have you kept it secret until now?”
What a ridiculous question.
“The magitech rifle was under intensive development because the Far East serves as the Empire’s barrier. We also participated in the exhibition hosted by Escholeia with support from the Pascal Merchant Association and demonstrated the weapon before numerous nobles and merchants.”
In other words, it was strange that they did not know about it.
“It is an object capable of having a direct and immediate effect on imperial defense. Do you not believe the Empire’s leadership should have been informed?”
Why had he not shown it to the Empire first?
“As you know, the Far East borders the Demonic Lands and therefore possesses a considerable degree of autonomy. The Empire has generally maintained an atmosphere of noninterference, and we may have allowed ourselves to follow that precedent.”
You abandon us as a matter of routine, so I assumed we were free to do as we pleased.
The exchange continued in that manner, and the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.
It was truly remarkable.
Alexander had lost an entire legion, yet they treated the man who had achieved an overwhelming victory far more harshly.
Such was human greed.
Even the accomplishments of a war hero bowed before avarice.
“Supreme Commissioner Rooster, that will be enough. Regent Ferda Valdrova, if you have no further testimony, you may step down.”
Akad finally intervened and brought the hostile exchange to an end.
“I will call the next witness. Louis Lutenia, deputy chief of staff and commander of the Second Regiment of the Far Eastern Provisional Alliance.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Please give your testimony.”
Louis Lutenia began explaining the strategy used in the extermination of the colossal beast.
If anyone was to explain that strategy, it should have been the person who had overseen it.
That would have been Erika, the Platinum-ranked adventurer.
If she was unavailable, then the next highest-ranking commander should have testified.
Yet Olivia, the chief of staff, had been left sitting silently among the spectators.
As Louis continued, Ferda felt an odd discomfort.
The testimony made it sound as though the entire strategy had originated from Louis Lutenia’s mind.
It was said that for strategists, such a situation was no different from having their own child taken away.
How was Olivia reacting?
Remembering the commotion she had caused before, Ferda assumed she would not be pleased and turned toward where she was sitting.
Whether by coincidence or not, their eyes met.
Olivia stared directly at Ferda as though she had no interest whatsoever in the testimony.
Then she smiled brightly and waved at him.
‘I will never understand her.’
They were in no position to act familiar with one another, so Ferda quietly turned away.
Louis finished speaking, and no questioning followed.
In this incident, he was a hero, not a criminal.
“With this testimony concluded, we will now take a brief recess. The council will reconvene in thirty minutes.”
Voices began rising throughout the previously silent chamber.
The supreme commissioners remained in their seats and began speaking among themselves.
Reading the atmosphere, Consilus leaned slightly toward Ferda.
“It appears they are about to reach a conclusion.”
“Which means our real battle is only beginning.”
“That is correct.”
It was time to remain vigilant.
At the same time, it was important to appear composed.
Ferda rose and stepped outside as though merely seeking a change of scenery.
That was when he happened to notice Olivia.
Someone had approached the beautiful imperial princess.
It was Young Lord Louis Lutenia.
“Y-Your Highness!”
The knights moved to stop him, but Olivia raised a hand and ordered them back.
She met his eyes with perfect courtesy and greeted him.
“Good day, Young Lord Lutenia. Have you been well?”
She was calm in a way entirely unlike the Olivia Ferda knew.
Ferda discreetly extended his shadow toward them and formed an ear.
“P-Princess Olivia… There is something I must say…”
One of her small fingers pressed gently against the young lord’s lips.
“Please, do not say anything.”
It did not mean that she did not wish to speak with him.
Her eyes glistened with moisture, and a quiet breath escaped through her slightly parted lips.
She looked as though she understood every painful detail behind the tragedy.
“You have a duty to bring honor to House Lutenia, do you not?”
“I know. I know you never intended for this to happen…”
“I…”
“So there is no need to let it trouble your heart. There are… things far more important to me than something so insignificant.”
“What could be more important…?”
She clasped her hands together and smiled.
“What matters is that all of us joined forces and overcame this crisis together. Even if others misunderstand who deserves the credit, as long as we know the truth…”
Ferda flinched as he watched her.
There was no trace of her usual seductive charm in her behavior.
Instead, it carried a sense of sacred dignity.
“That alone is enough to make me happy.”
At first, Ferda wondered what Olivia hoped to gain by acting that way.
Then the effect became obvious.
Louis’s expression stiffened even further.
He had naturally expected her to resent and curse him.
Instead, she had answered with solemn, almost sacred forgiveness.
Louis’s face flushed bright red.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Ah…”
He turned away and fled as though escaping.
At the same time, he despised himself for his own pettiness and regretted what he had done.
Olivia watched his retreating figure with a wistful expression.
‘Did reaching the fourth circle really change her that much?’
The Red Circle was founded upon emotion, and the stronger that emotion became, the more deeply its wielder would be consumed by it.
Just as someone who reached the fifth circle through hatred would become a madman, one who reached it through faith would gradually become closer to what the world called a saint.
If that theory was correct, then Olivia’s heart must have undergone a major change as well.
Ferda stopped eavesdropping on their conversation and approached her.
“Oh my, Regent.”
Olivia welcomed him with a light clap of her hands.
“I greet Your Highness.”
“And I greet the consort of the great Aspect of Fire. Have you been well?”
“Yes.”
“This must be your first time visiting the Golden Council…”
There was a hidden intention beneath her friendly tone.
“Provided it would not be an inconvenience, I could show you around.”
She was suggesting that they walk and talk together.
“Then I will gladly accept.”
Ferda smiled faintly and accompanied the princess.
Her knights watched from a sufficient distance.
Ferda lowered his voice and raised the subject first.
“You appear to be drawing closer to becoming a saintess.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I were in your position, I would never have forgiven what happened. I did not expect you to let it pass so gently.”
“Oh my. Forgiveness?”
Her long eyelashes fluttered in feigned innocence.
“Was that not what you did?”
“Did I not tell you before?”
Olivia turned her head slightly.
A cold shadow settled over her smiling face.
“I have never forgiven anyone who betrayed me.”
Ferda had asked only to be certain, but the answer was exactly what he had expected.
Olivia, who harbored ambitions in politics, would never forgive someone who stole her achievements.
“I’m waiting for the right moment to place everything on Louis when he makes a serious mistake. I can hardly imagine how delightful it will be to watch him lose his right of succession to my younger brother because of some absurd blunder of his own.”
“Then that performance just now…”
“It is simply time for me to begin changing my image.”
“You mean into that of a saintess.”
“Yes. A saintess.”
She grasped the amulet hanging around her neck and pretended to pray.
“To the public, I will appear as though I have finally received the call of God. To the nobility, I will seem like someone who has abandoned every worldly desire.”
As they spoke, Ferda became certain that Olivia had not changed at all.
It would have been troublesome if the Red Circle had truly altered her state of mind, so this was a relief.
“All I need now is to attain the fifth enlightenment.”
“It will not be easy.”
“No, but it will not be the same as before.”
Ferda initially assumed she meant that the process itself would become easier.
Instead, she was referring to the support now available to her.
“Once someone reaches the fourth enlightenment, it is called the ‘Omen.’ From that point onward, they may formally request instruction from the Church of Altesin.”
“Instruction for becoming a saintess?”
“Yes.”
She was a jewel.
Now that the jewel had grown legs and was about to run away, it would have been absurd for the Church to remain idle.
“An imperial princess has reached the fourth enlightenment as a follower of Altesin, and the fact is already known to the public. For the sake of its image, the Church has no choice but to make me an offer. The imperial family must also accept for the sake of maintaining the balance of power. That is why Joseph Faust is on my side.”
Even if she had secured one of the five supreme commissioners, four still remained their enemies.
Ferda merely noted the information and asked about her own affairs instead.
“What will happen to your duties as a princess?”
“I will have to carry out both. Still, I will be freed from social functions, so that alone is enough to satisfy me.”
Was that not usually the opposite of what people wanted?
Olivia simply hated exchanging empty pleasantries and flirting with people she had no interest in, so she considered it good news.
Of course, when announcing it publicly, she had wept rivers of false tears.
“I ask only out of concern.”
Olivia spoke cautiously.
“You are aware that this postwar council is aimed at you, are you not?”
Ferda nodded.
“Yes. I was told they appeared ready to reach a conclusion.”
“They will not. In my opinion, there will be a second round of questioning. They will ask why you failed to prevent the colossal beast in advance, even though it should supposedly have been possible.”
What Olivia described was one of the most likely scenarios they had considered during their own strategy meetings.
“What do you think I should do?”
“Excessive greed always leads to disaster. You will have to give something up. Give them one thing they want.”
Give something up…
Her advice was the most realistic answer possible.
The Empire was vast and powerful.
Only a tiny minority within this council supported the Far East.
If they wanted a justification for interference, they would create one somehow.
Ferda was about to continue the conversation, but someone they happened to encounter prevented them from speaking further.
“Oh, what a coincidence to meet you here.”
Valdemar Golt approached them with a broad smile.
The moment Olivia saw him, she put on her mask.
“I greet the great Grand Duke.”
“Hoho. What a fortunate coincidence, meeting Your Highness here.”
“Indeed.”
Olivia casually reached out and took hold of Ferda’s arm.
Just as he wondered what she was doing, Ferda noticed Valdemar’s aura change for an instant.
The old man looked distinctly displeased as his gaze swept over the arm she was holding.
Then, as though it had never happened and Ferda had imagined everything, he returned to his warm and friendly smile.
“The council will resume shortly. Should you not begin making your way back?”
“We were just about to return.”
“You would do well to prepare yourself.”
“I suppose so. Regent, shall we go?”
“I have something to discuss with Lady Olivia. You may go on ahead.”
It was not a request for understanding.
It was an order.
That confirmed Ferda’s suspicion.
This old man harbored personal feelings for Olivia.
“If the Grand Duke has something to discuss with me, then I suppose my tour must end here.”
Olivia released Ferda’s arm and walked lightly toward Valdemar.
After taking about three steps, she looked back.
“Think carefully about what I told you.”
She gave him a subtle, smiling wink.
As Ferda returned to the chamber, he reconsidered her words.
She had said that to protect many things, he would have to sacrifice one.
What should he give up in this situation?
Ferda still had no answer.
“We will now resume the session. The supreme commissioners have discussed how this matter should be handled.”
Discussed a little?
Ferda knew perfectly well that they had coordinated closely until the previous night.
“The loss of the legion under Crown Prince Alexander Arken is unquestionably a tragedy that cannot simply be overlooked. However…!”
As expected.
“Because this incident was so extraordinarily unusual, we believe it necessary to discuss whether it could have been prevented in advance.”
Everything was unfolding exactly as Ferda had expected.
“Therefore, before reaching a final conclusion, we will proceed to a second session. The next agenda item will be: ‘Was advance prevention truly impossible?’”
It was now time for the identity of the accused to change.