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Episode 81 – Common and Ordinary
Stefan looked as if he had been struck hard on the back of his head.
“…What?”
Ferda repeated the same words without a hint of hesitation.
“I said, you are useless.”
“W-What do you mean? Are you saying I’m useless now…?”
“I had a private conversation with Ahmed Hashim. He proposed a partnership.”
Hearing this, Stefan quickly understood.
“A partnership… That means you’ve made a huge deal…”
It was a proposal on a scale incomparable to the simple cooperation between Stefan and Ferda.
The largest city in the South, a place where wealth would gather—before the city was even built, Ferda was offered an equal partnership.
Unless the South had lost its mind, they had no choice but to make a deal favoring Ferda.
“Did you accept the proposal?”
Stefan steadied his trembling voice and asked.
“If I accept it, I won’t need to maintain my relationship with you.”
What filled Stefan’s heart was betrayal.
Of course, it was.
He had been lured by Ferda’s words and had made aggressive investments.
He burst out in frustration.
“We made a contract, didn’t we? I have the exclusive rights to the magical engineering products, and you even signed it! If I take this to court, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”
“Sure. At most, I’d have to pay a small compensation. No, you’d be lucky if you even manage to collect that much.”
“On what grounds do you say that?”
“Because you’re also failing to uphold the contract.”
Stefan flinched at those words.
“When did I ever betray you? Are you talking about what I just explained?”
He reviewed his own explanations again.
No matter how he thought about it, there were no clauses he was trying to exploit.
Well, maybe a few, but they weren’t that significant.
It was a fair relationship between a merchant and a lord—if anything, the terms were in the lord’s favor.
Ferda spoke.
“Do you remember what I said when I brought you in?”
“I said that as long as you cooperated, I would do the same. And I promised to make you the owner of a trading company.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Stefan recalled the promise and nodded.
“Yes, that was the agreement. But there’s no need for that anymore. Pascal Trading Company is no longer necessary.”
“What is the value of Pascal Trading Company?”
“It’s one of the most influential businesses in the Empire. You could say half of all goods in the Empire pass through it.”
“Yes, that kind of company. A company with influence in the Empire.”
Ferda’s expression turned even colder.
“And you just said, with your own mouth, that you’re giving it up.”
“If it’s just a company like that, I can build another. In magical engineering, we are pioneers. As long as we continue our research—”
“Stefan.”
Ferda cut him off.
“Yes, Regent?”
Ferda took three grapes from a fruit basket and placed them on the table.
“How many grapes are here?”
“Three.”
“Right. Three. One represents me, one represents Vernell, and the last one represents you.”
Ferda pointed to the grape representing himself.
“I promised to be your connection. And I’ve been working to build that network.”
“That’s true.”
Then, he pointed to Vernell’s grape.
“Vernell, through research and development, provides you with fresh new products. He finished a successful project today, and tomorrow, he’ll work just as hard.”
“Yes.”
Finally, he placed a finger on Stefan’s grape and rolled it.
“And you—you provide the money and the supply. Each of us has a role in this system, and we need to keep things moving.”
“That’s correct…”
“And yet, you’re about to give up the greatest company on the continent. Do you know what that means?”
Ferda pressed his finger down on Stefan’s grape.
“It means you’re nothing more than a common, ordinary merchant.”
The soft grape burst under the pressure of his finger.
“A merchant who gives up what he originally had and settles for less is not needed in the Valdrova Dominion.”
Stefan stared at the crushed grape.
Ferda’s fingers were stained with red juice.
For a moment, Stefan feared he would end up just like that grape—crushed and discarded like an insect.
“Then… what should I do?”
“I’m not asking for much. Just uphold the contract. Become the owner of Pascal Trading Company. That’s your task.”
Stefan felt dizzy.
Again.
That crushing pressure he had felt in his father’s mansion.
Now, Ferda was the one pressing down on him.
“Does it really have to come to bloodshed?”
To become the owner of Pascal Trading Company, Stefan would have to step into a battlefield.
His older brother, Merchit, ran a mercenary business.
His younger sister, Tilda, was expanding through strategic marriages with other major trading houses.
And his father, Herman Pascal, still ruled over them all.
To take over, he would have to persuade or defeat them all.
Stefan didn’t want to do that.
Fighting against family?
Drawing swords against his own blood and fighting until one side perished?
“Whether you fight or not isn’t for me to decide.”
Ferda replied coldly.
“I just want you to prove that you’re the kind of talent Valdrova needs.”
Despite some commotion, the exhibition ended successfully without any casualties.
An auction was held in Halim afterward, but nothing particularly caught Ferda’s eye.
One sword seemed decent enough, so he bought it as encouragement for Malcolm.
‘He almost cried as soon as he received it, so I nearly took it back.’
Even though he had passed the Imperial knight exam and officially become a knight, Malcolm still wasn’t very knight-like.
‘Well, that’s why he’s useful.’
His fate would be decided once he lost his value as a sample.
For now, Halim was behind them.
As the scholars wrapped up the exhibition, some left satisfied, while others sighed in disappointment.
Vernell, however, remained focused.
Inside the carriage, he carefully reviewed the blueprints for the magical engineering rifle, as if inspired by the field tests.
As Ferda prepared to leave Halim, he noticed a bright reflection of sunlight.
Bernard Wayne, the headmaster of Escollaya Academy, was approaching.
“Did you enjoy the exhibition?”
“Yes, despite some incidents, it was satisfying overall.”
“That’s good to hear. I’m looking for Vernell. Do you know where he is?”
Ferda glanced at the carriage.
“If it’s alright, may I speak with Vernell?”
Ferda looked into Bernard’s eyes.
He sensed a faint trace of guilt.
‘Is he here to apologize?’
Vernell was still burning with determination. Pouring cold water on that fire would be unwise.
‘But he has new motivation now.’
The successful exhibition had given Vernell a fresh drive.
Ferda judged that Bernard’s anger was no longer necessary and stepped aside.
Bernard entered the carriage and called out.
“Vernell.”
Vernell glanced at him before turning away.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“I have something to say. I—”
“I already know. I understand why you said what you did.”
Bernard hesitated.
“How do you know?”
“I’m a scholar too, aren’t I? I once studied under you. Everyone knows you’re strict with geniuses. So, of course, you were strict with me.”
“…”
Vernell gazed at the ceiling, recalling the past without bitterness.
“I was really angry back then. I felt betrayed and disappointed. But not anymore. Because you were right.”
His voice and eyes carried admiration.
“You said I had a narrow view. I focused on 1% and missed the remaining 10%. Thanks to this opportunity, I expanded my vision.”
“…”
“So next time, I’ll bring something so revolutionary that you’ll have no choice but to acknowledge it.”
Vernell smiled.
“Truth’s light—”
Bernard was taken aback.
Every student at Escollaya knew that phrase.
He smiled back and completed it.
“—shall set you free.”
The resentment between them remained, but the deep chasm of hatred was gone.
Bernard patted Vernell’s shoulder.
“Turn the world upside down with your ideals.”
“When I do, I’ll treat you to tea.”
Bernard never apologiJed.
And Vernell never expected one.
They were seekers of truth, walking their own paths but bound by the same conviction.
“Let’s go!”
At Malcolm’s signal, the carriage rolled forward.
It was time to return to the castle. Ten days to arrive, ten days to return.
Ferda’s mind wandered to Valdrova.
“My heart, what are you doing?”
No answer came. The carriage rolled on.
A dragon’s daily life is tied to its lair. Showing power was natural. Valdrova’s lair was different—like an underground prison. Originally cold and damp, now warm and dry.
Lying curled in her nest, she thought:
“I’m bored.”
Even an immortal being felt the dull passing of time. She had Ruri to keep her occupied, preventing boredom. Fear of bloodlust had always dominated her life.
But now, boredom returned.
Whenever pain came, Ferda helped. Small conversations arose:
“Greetings, Lady Valdrova.”
“Oh, hi!”
“I’ll begin.”
“Yes, yes!”
“…Wait, was that even a conversation?”
It wasn’t. Ferda did all the talking; she only nodded or shook her head.
She thought: What if I make monster hunting the topic?
“I went out and killed some monsters today.”
“Did you?”
“One wouldn’t die from my claws, so I set it on fire.”
“Ah…”
“Parasites inside wriggled as they burned.”
“Uh…”
She imagined Ferda’s face—disgusted. Is this really my fiancé? It made her miserable.
“I promised I would change…”
But all she ever said was “hello,” “goodbye,” or a few short comments. Bloodlust gone, yet another pain remained.
“Maybe I should ask Ferda to talk to me more…”
Maybe this time, she could choose the topic. Of course, she had thought that eight times before, and nothing changed. The reason was simple:
“I have nothing to talk about.”
No seeds, no sprouting topics, nothing to say. But today, she realized she didn’t need to worry.
“Ferda went to a place called… Halim.”
She knew it wasn’t good. Ruri had warned her; her expression darkened. A battlefield, perhaps.
“And there’s been more work than usual lately.”
She also remembered the alliance with Iorga—the Blue Dragon. Iorga disliked her, criticized her, put her down. Valdrova knew no harm was meant, but unease remained.
“Iorga… I wonder how she’s doing.”
It had been a long time. Smart, beautiful, respected. People admired her rather than feared her.
“A village…”
Her curiosity stirred. How long has it been since I last visited a human village? Would it look the same?
Her massive form shrank into human shape.
“I want to see it…”
She mumbled, playing with her dress. Dragons needed human form outside. Her dragon form would scare people.
“But my human form… scares me.”
She looked at the armor against the wall.
“Maybe… if I wear that armor…”
She had worn it to meet Ferda; now it was familiar. Taller, less uncomfortable.
“But… it’s a little scary.”
The armor was large, muscular, modeled after her dragon form. Fierce and terrifying.
“Isn’t there a way to make it… less intimidating?”
She sighed. At that moment, the armor twitched.
Ssssshhh—
The dragon-shaped helmet began to change. The intimidating features faded.
Valdrova froze. The armor transformed.
“Ah…!”
She gasped. The final form was familiar.
“It’s… ordinary.”
Not flashy. Not grand. Simple, slightly worn half-plate armor. It looked like an average knight’s armor.
“Ordinary…”
Her golden eyes sparkled. To her, ordinary was more valuable than gold.
Drawn forward, she stepped in. The armor slid on.
Time to break out of my shell.
