I Married the Dragon I Killed

Chapter 04 (part 2)

“Don’t worry about my attitude. All you need to do is wait and see. I’ll show you enough in a month to convince you, won’t I?”

“…”

Ruri pouted, sticking out her lips.
She was clearly annoyed, having had her own words turned back on her.

**“So full of confidence.”**

She couldn’t figure out the source of that confidence, though.

Ruri already knew how Baldrova’s so-called fiancé was usually treated in the Arken Empire.

It had become a polite way of getting rid of incompetent fools. A tool to exile people with no real talent.

And yet, could someone like that possibly have the kind of abilities required to stand on par with the sovereigns?

But Ferda was different.

**“More than enough.”**

He was the youngest mage on the continent to reach the 8th Circle and had even used the 9th Circle’s wish magic.

This was a man who had once made the Emperor of the Arken Empire kneel before him.

**”Matching the stature required to face a dragon isn’t impossible for him.”**
And for Ferda, if it was possible, it was no big deal.

The confidence was clear on his face.

“You’re such an annoying human,” Ruri muttered with an exasperated look.

—

The castle built above Baldrova’s lair was called **Baldrova Castle**, named after her.
Ferda had stayed in Baldrova Castle for a week now.

Life there wasn’t bad, for the most part.

The only real issue was that he had to handle nearly everything by himself.

As a noble, he was used to having servants take care of his needs.

In fact, it was almost mandatory for nobles to have at least one servant with them at all times—being without one was seen as undignified.

Any other noble in his position would’ve thrown a tantrum, demanding to know if he was being mocked.

But for Ferda, this was no problem at all.

**”I’ve already gotten used to living on my own.”**

If anything, it was more uncomfortable to have someone fussing over him, like offering to dress him.

For someone who had learned to stand on his own, life in Baldrova Castle wasn’t particularly inconvenient.

**”Honestly, it’s better than when I was back at the Rosnova estate.”**

At the Rosnova household, he had never been able to relax.

There was no one he could trust, not even for a moment.

Anyone who acted friendly toward him always had an ulterior motive, waiting to drag him down the moment they saw the chance.

**”Ruri may dislike me, but compared to back then, she’s an angel.”**

At least Ruri didn’t pull childish pranks like putting strange substances in his food or soaping the marble floors to make him slip.

That alone made her a tolerable “guard dog.”

**”Though, who knows how long that’ll last?”**

Ruri had given him a task:

To prove that he wasn’t just a hopeless weakling and that he had potential.

**”The deadline is one month.”**

What could he possibly show her within that time?

Ferda thought about what he could do from every angle, but he kept coming to the same conclusion.

**”Magic.”**

Magic was his one undeniable talent.

If he could show Ruri even a fraction of that talent, she might acknowledge him, even if only a little.

**”But to use magic, I need to form a mana circle.”**

A **mana circle** is created by condensing the mana flowing chaotically within the body into a circuit shaped like a single, unified circle.

The problem?

Ferda didn’t know how to form one anymore.

**”No, that’s not true. I *do* know how.”**

All he needed was overwhelming rage and hatred.

If he followed the same path he did before, he could probably become an 8th Circle mage even faster than last time.

**”But I can’t let that happen.”**

Ferda recalled his teacher’s words:

**“The first step is the most important. Whether your first circle is red or blue will shape your entire life as a mage. But I guess that’s not something you’ll have to worry about, huh?”**

His teacher had been a greedy, lecherous man who only cared about money, but when it came to magic training, he’d done his job.

– Red Circle : A mana circuit formed through emotional turmoil, driven by intense feelings like anger or hatred.

– Blue Circle : A mana circuit formed through calm meditation and inner peace.

Each has clear pros and cons.

A **Blue Circle** forms slowly but is stable and reliable, which is why 80% of mages end up with one.

A **Red Circle**, on the other hand, forms quickly but is unstable, fueled by emotions. While it allows for rapid growth, it also risks consuming the mage, turning them into a maniac.

**”I need to form a Blue Circle.”**

It was the right choice if he wanted to avoid repeating his past mistakes.

But the situation wasn’t on Ferda’s side.

**”They say it takes at least three years to form a Blue Circle.”**

He only had three weeks left to produce any meaningful results.

The timeline was ridiculously tight, but Ferda wasn’t panicking.

**”I’ll figure something out.”**

—

“Are you making any progress?”

For the first time, Ruri broke her usual silence during breakfast and asked a question.

Ferda calmly stabbed a piece of salad with his fork and replied, “I’m working on it.”

“Doesn’t seem like you’ve made any changes.”

“I’m taking it one step at a time. It’ll happen when it happens.”

“…Alright.”
Ruri didn’t seem particularly hopeful.

Ferda had spent the past few days researching ways to form a mana circle and figuring out his approach.

The one thing he was certain of was this:

Even though both circles use the same mana, their “essence” is entirely different.

**”At this rate, I’ll probably fail to meet the qualifications for the engagement.”**

Ferda wasn’t the type to make bold claims and then accomplish nothing, so this was particularly frustrating for him.

Still, he stayed calm and continued looking for a solution.

Just as he was trying to start his day, a loud **boom** shook the castle.

**BOOM!**

The sound of a massive collision echoed, followed by vibrations that rippled through the walls.

It was close.

“What’s going on?”

Ruri answered, “The master is hunting monsters today.”

“Hunting monsters?”

“Yes. She’s clearing out the creatures that crawl in from the eastern edge of the Land of the Cursed.”

**BOOM!**

Normally, she would’ve just nodded and moved on.
But today was different.

**”Maybe…”**

Ferda had a hunch.

The answer he was searching for might just be there.

“I want to watch that fight.”

“…What?”

Ruri’s expression remained blank as she stared at him.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.

“Why not?”

“Mortal minds are fragile. No one who has witnessed the master in battle has remained same.”

Ferda thought back to his past self.

Back then, he had been consumed by madness.

He’d faced dragons, the so-called rulers, multiple times.
But among them, the Red Dragon had scared him the most.

**”Maybe it was because she saw me as an enemy.”**

Even so, there was a level of inherent intimidation in her presence.

Even as a former archmage, he had felt fear. What would his current, weaker self experience?

Would he wet himself? Scream like a coward?

“Don’t let your useless curiosity get the better of you,” Ruri warned.

“No,” Ferda shook his head.

This wasn’t idle curiosity.

This was about finding the answer.

“It’s something I need to see,” he said firmly.

For him, it wasn’t just about solving a problem.

It was about fulfilling his duty as someone who would stand beside her.