Chapter 113: The Beginning (4)
YeO3“At the Ravenclaw Training Center, we offer the best learning conditions for our distinguished guests. I am Aiselin Eleanor Duplain, eldest daughter of the Duplain family, in charge of the Ravenclaw Training Center, and a friend who will study ladies’ etiquette with you. It is an honor to greet you all.”C0I0u5
5SyRwT3After greeting Dereck, the director of the Ravenclaw Training Center, Fina Raffaella Tigris, the baron’s daughter, moved to the auditorium and training hall building to attend a brief opening ceremony.WZdy
dIjQJFThe beautifully arranged round tables filled the auditorium, and the sumptuous banquet served upon them was luxurious.Hmi3
jNLMost of the tablecloths and tableware were high-end, making one wonder where a rural baron had obtained so much money.AIu9j
jfLPxAlthough it was called an “opening ceremony,” in reality, it seemed more like a sort of tea party.so4w
EaxAiselin, who was seated in the front row, gracefully stood, clasped her hands, and spoke with a radiant smile.NdV
Mh0J“Let us strive to understand the elegance of a lady and the depth of magic together at the Ravenclaw Training Center, and let us become valuable friends to one another.”C5Z
rg0mKIt had been quite some time since the tragedy of Duplain.aMr
VN2lEven the lesser nobles of the borders had heard of it, so most knew how cornered Aiselin was now.t8F
4hSoxHowever, many of the young nobles looked at her with eyes full of admiration.hOTr
mUAFrom the beginning, when she was active in the social circle of Ebelstein, she was not a person who showed value only through the power of her family.bj1
QbAThe fact that even Trisha and Ellen felt jealous of her was proof that she had the power to captivate on her own.ZQ8Vl
nBA8Even people like Siern and Denise, who used to be indifferent, had to acknowledge Aiselin to some degree, as she was an object of admiration for many nobles.Na07nZ
U5vNZsQThe mere act of seeing Aiselin up close was an enormous motivation for many young girls.PkRCwJ
JEx1OD5Learning social etiquette directly from her was something extremely valuable.pACpDLu
eBJJFDNevertheless, as much as she was, Aiselin could not handle all the classes by herself.CVq
zfCuVWp“I will take care of court etiquette, language and literature, rhetoric, and the tea ceremony, but there will be many other instructors who will assist us.”B0Z
TG67hnAs she said this, she pointed to a large table on one side of the banquet hall. There sat several instructors whom Aiselin and Delbriton had gathered from all over the continent.52m
9EiNaturally, the auditorium responded with applause. Dereck, seated to the side, was also observing them.2AGj
KBnPFHe had already met them in person and had reviewed their documents several times.WPpFU
vI52Adelan, Puddle, Isabella, Craig, Lilia, Vivian, Marcel, Silverden, Helena…mE9
Vz8pCGAlthough many of the assistant instructors were commoners, most of the main instructors were of noble origin.bgx
byTADCAiselin had guaranteed them decent vision and adequate salary, and since most sought personal progress, there were several useful talents.GI3
hB8‘Their ages vary and their temperaments are diverse, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to control them all.’GBM6
zkejDereck observed them with his arms crossed.5soCI
kuAHe had already spent sleepless nights memorizing the personal details of each one.rw4K5
bICXITcTo be the director of this Ravenclaw Academy, he had to know all the members well.Y0hx
zXm‘Adelan. Combat mage. Short silver hair, golden eyes. Strict and fond of discipline, but with a strong sense of recognition. Although it seems he doesn’t express it well…’Yqln
62SXJ‘Pellie. Chaos mage. Long purple hair, dreamy expression, likes flashy robes… Unpredictable and eccentric, but with great perception.’7mkjWxT
Wtx‘Isabella. Green hair, green eyes. Always smiling, but as a transformation mage, she has unpredictable aspects. I’ll have to instruct her not to do reckless things.’gmc
T1G1u‘Craig. Veteran summoning mage. Black hair with gray streaks, deep wrinkles. Quiet and cautious personality. Fallen noble, but his past is difficult to trace.’yNu
LBbipCs‘Lilia. Young exploration mage. Curly brown hair, friendly smile. Always carries a notebook and has the habit of taking notes… Passionate and diligent, she seems the least problematic.’TN9Ny
Hi5l0NThe assistant instructors that Delbriton had recruited were generally satisfactory, but Adelan and Isabella had more social prestige than Dereck, which made them a bit uncomfortable to handle.y3r0Z
f6eQOn the other hand, the instructors that Aiselin had brought from Ebelstein and the northwest of the continent were relatively more manageable.f5Zzk
FzOuoa‘Lady Vivian was brought from a private academy in the northwestern city of Locus. I thought she was noble because she was an expert in court etiquette, but surprisingly she is not. The dance instructor Marcel, the musician Helena, the chef Clara… Most are commoners.’D0C5
iPMrIn the teaching of magic, social status usually mattered, but in the teaching of etiquette and basic culture, even commoners could take charge.v1ILB
GB0eThose with exceptional knowledge in these areas often made a living teaching nobles.SNE
7xlJUdJProof of this was that most of the instructors in the cultural area were commoners.WLXDeqC
Lh08WzAfter the applause for each instructor, finally appeared Baron Dereck, owner and director of the Ravenclaw Training Center.5a6Y8
q9ikOMost had heard rumors about Baron Ravenclaw, but few had spoken with him directly.xc5S6
VVJNOPHowever, those who knew him all said the same thing—Dereck was not the kind of person to lead the atmosphere in such gatherings.Kld
VRE3KBut when Dereck slightly smiled upon the podium, Ellen and Denise, seated in the VIP section, were surprised.YGc
1NpgO“Thank you for coming from so far. It has been a bit hectic, but I am pleased that we have been able to create an environment where you can continue your academic life with solidity.”mMTs
pX2eOkDereck, receiving everyone’s attention, had set aside his cold and calculating attitude, and spoke with a relaxed smile, proper of nobles.MCQg
nPWL8Ellen held her breath at that image, and Denise, resting her chin on her hand, thought with indifferent eyes.okyM
zyUr1iO‘He can make those expressions, and yet behaved like a stone statue when teaching.’1zdP
BgxLfAQEven those who did not know Dereck well usually described him as cold, emotionless, and pragmatic.s5E
0wT3UHowever, ignoring that public opinion, Dereck spoke gently.Jdc
iaTw“There may still be many shortcomings, but our Ravenclaw family has worked tirelessly to create the best environment. All the instructors we have brought are talented, and I have also accumulated long experience in the social circles of Ebelstein. As for Lady Aiselin, no introduction is needed.”ZFEjf
WCmgRbAtmosphere was everything.SDAZiX
mNjAs Dereck, dressed in noble clothes, spoke calmly before the young ladies still inexperienced in the world, the focus of the scene seemed to intensify.uukHTt
qjvGB0The most renowned magic master of Ebelstein.6s69MN
2VaA human success story—a commoner from the slums who now owned his own territory.gsQ
ifDMAzwWhen he spoke with that relaxed air, wrapped in a fairly credible presentation, authority naturally emerged.CGo7L
NZiJbZMoreover, the fact that that kind and gentle personality was hidden behind his normally cold demeanor sparked even more interest.Aci
ML9OAlthough he was a handsome man in his own right, what mattered was the contrast.Nypreme
kKac‘I heard he was a cold baron from the outskirts, but… he doesn’t seem so difficult? He even looks kind… He gives the impression that he would gladly explain anything I asked him…’krxA2i0
emeXJ‘I thought the training center would be a place where we would study in a strict environment… But seeing the director, it doesn’t seem to be the case.’6cC
Vs2V‘If I work hard… could I learn first-class magic before the coming-of-age ceremony…?’Lr7X
qMR36hEWhile many young nobles harbored their own thoughts about Dereck’s appearance.OTg
uvi7‘…Who is that?’FjfTtwz
j2kIFina, seated to the side, watched in disbelief.CKY95
5bItSThe Dereck on the podium was a completely different person from the one she had met alone in the office.t7oq5
wJJtNg***gXxUSYc
yIW“I am Veronica, of the family of Viscount Roentel.”wshg
aG7ZK“The exploration magic of the Roentel family is truly famous. It is an honor to meet you, Lady Veronica.”o277Dw
29HsAfter the opening ceremony, it was time to move to the dormitory buildings where they would be lodging, guided by the assigned attendants.CnJCPCV
euLpDereck was standing at the exit, greeting each of the young nobles one by one.2nh
9gzm“Baron Ravenclaw is truly competent. I feel like I am in a land of learning, and my academic enthusiasm is soaring. I really want to learn a lot.”W4gv
WdRHC“I feel that I am learning more thanks to the passion and academic fervor of Lady Veronica. We will meet again in class tomorrow.”qwaJH
D8cMqAs Dereck greeted her politely, the young lady who had introduced herself as Veronica also slightly lifted her skirt and gracefully bowed.kUPrw
wegaOuYoung ladies from families with some influence usually had basic knowledge of etiquette, even if they had not yet been formally introduced to society.1df9xq
wx6Dereck treated these young women with impeccable aristocratic manners.aY7kyhN
mdLAF2VOn the other hand, that was not always the case.NMpCl
XIDp“Ah, hello. I am from the family of Viscount Sidmer… um… I mean…”ioKyX3E
mtKQzQq“There is no need to be so nervous.”ES7kt
krtPX“Eh, um… I’m sorry… I’m… shy…”zUA2U
mtuLX“There is no need to apologize. A cautious and prudent nature can prevent crises for a mage. You already possess excellent qualities as a magician.”iwqpY
7p2ZsTo Esmeralda of the family of Viscount Sidmer, so timid she could barely speak, Dereck showed appropriate consideration and encouraged her sincerely.Hozq
rzYMipV“Are you Dereck? I am Ameline of the family of Viscount Bleton!”K9UJp
N0TIn“It is an honor to meet you, Lady Ameline. I have heard of the greatness of the Bleton family, but unfortunately, the principle within the training center is mutual respect.”ea5v
tDDy8Vw“Ah, is that so…? Well, if the other ladies show respect, I cannot rely solely on authority. I understand. I will show respect.”o96
2W6lHe also seemed to have a talent for communicating words that, under other circumstances, could have sounded discourteous.hkv
cgcsuThough he had lived a long life as a mercenary from the outskirts, he had already adapted quite well to the culture of aristocratic social circles while teaching various noble ladies.ijJX5
ZViXRCHe had witnessed many power struggles and tensions among them and knew well that human aspects were more beneficial than harmful even in the barren landscape of nobility.6jSexte
8el59Thus, Dereck left a good impression on each young noble thanks to his excellent social skills.0Ma
1C6X6I4At the very least, for the Ravenclaw Training Center to continue, its representative figure could not afford to have flaws.0tK
CFzoSQ3As the young nobles left the banquet hall and headed to the dormitories, their faces shone with excitement.625
lwBocnQAt first, they were anxious, but both Aiselin, the queen of the social circle of Ebelstein, and Dereck, the most famous magic master, seemed like reliable figures for many reasons.Uxt74
PAnPt1nPerhaps it had been a wise decision to travel there in search of knowledge.qjc
43Bu1dWith hopeful thoughts, they went to the personal rooms that Butler Delbriton had prepared with care.FqqwJ
Wl8cWwbAnd finally, the last person to leave the hall was Fina of the family of Baron Tigris.Z8UzHNY
lEQEB“That was a good speech, Sir Dereck. It left me deeply impressed. I look forward to accomplishing great things at the Ravenclaw Training Center.”i0Is
tfqV“It is a pleasure, Lady Fina.”iFsqXiw
YiWfa7With that said, Fina smiled again.BGQ
EbktbXQAs soon as her eyes met Dereck’s, she blinked with her mysterious eyes.brVtL
uAS7BThe enigmatic energy of her purple eyes, shining softly under her pretty lashes, seemed to envelop Dereck’s body.HAySd
nnuelB8Even ordinary illusion mages could not easily deal with those eyes that captured the hearts of people. Many did not even realize it.DDQq
7TKhZSince Fina was already a beautiful and charming girl, that mysterious power that enchanted others was often interpreted as mere natural charm.A4Dik
sqfZhNxAfter making eye contact with Dereck, Fina spoke in a whisper.KSl
PQpbeJ“I apologize for my rudeness in the office earlier. I am still young and inexperienced, so I make many mistakes.”C9bY
LrV4A voice that slid like a snake’s tongue, whispering directly into the mind.J8q
OoRYAn enchanting aura hard to believe could come from such a young girl.q4IZHP
FzpDv6mSince she had reincarnated into Fina’s body, there had been few who had not succumbed to it.bKZ0K
Zq5mgBThus, she slowly seeped into people’s hearts. Those who fell into her spell felt as if they were wandering in the fog.XmDEp
bvqRWdFina spoke to Dereck in a low voice, with a wrapping tone.Gxpu
tjU“Sir Dereck, you are a kind, understanding, and respectable person. Please, with your kind heart, help this girl who needs guidance.”YRQ932J
ixF“Of course… I will…”Epo
E7A“Haha…”MHdMdg
D2wds07At Dereck’s response, Fina smiled with satisfaction and continued.6woTLR3
HbRpW“Yes… If you ever face difficulties or need help while living in the Ravenclaw Training Center… Please, Sir Dereck, grant me that favor…”PjKZp
ELS9QP“Of course. If it is truly necessary.”A8Vi
JVoo“…”FVVHR
S8TpizFina was left speechless.RnLAbu
V1l2JIt was the first time someone under her spell had interrupted her.laKiT
6mGHShe trembled slightly and then raised her gaze again to Dereck’s face, which now had the same cold expression he had shown in the office.qcoHU
CVs1Gbe“But, didn’t I already say it? The difficulties in youth are worth going through…”D8Lbbx
C3pMSp“…”HjFaq
gt6lVJ“I saw you earlier on the podium. You were sitting leaning to one side. Is it due to a deviation in the lumbar spine or is it just a habit…? That’s not good for your back. Sit straight.”SQ2qMD
ibQcJC“Excuse me…? That, that is…”3diupqw
Hcx3“Habits formed in youth carry into adulthood, Lady Fina. All those small things, which seem insignificant, are what build a person’s impression. How could it not be shameful for the daughter of Baron Tigris to sit with bad posture? However, you don’t need to be so embarrassed. You came to the training center to learn precisely these things. Ignorance is not shameful.”vqsEk
Gksy5j0Seeing Dereck speak again with that fast and direct tone, Fina could not help but feel bewildered.LyyKuG
uuUGEven if her spell did not work, Dereck, who had been kind, courteous, and considerate with all the other ladies, was being especially severe with her.y8t
d4pBsVHowever, he was not cruel or malicious. Dereck was only telling the truth.faQ3hUL
eMOEpA“I am very worried, Lady Fina.”rkezz
0rJLw“Eh?”fgF0pe
idMjHg“Health is the foundation of all learning. If your posture is bad and your body is small and lacking strength, you will not be able to properly practice what you learn. This is not good. I will not be able to sleep at night from so much concern.”Cl2hoX
A3u“W-What are you saying…?”aLF
kCTdcW“Let’s start running in the mornings from tomorrow. Without a doubt, it will have a positive impact on Lady Fina’s life.”fuX
PaWhxtrDereck crouched down, took Fina’s hands, and spoke to her with sincere eyes.MHUI
qox“Take care of your health, Lady Fina.”N2PT
HNI5fD‘Why is he doing this to me…?’Ukzse1
Fg1L***9dOw
fKTFina briefly monologued, with a drop of sweat sliding down her face.A01lmg
tCIQThe man who was always courteous and noble to the other noble ladies only showed his old-fashioned character in front of Fina.6GqfrIn
s5cIf he were much older, it would be understandable, but the age difference between Dereck and Fina was not significant.rrCo8U
z2cOzU“Tomorrow, after finishing the basic classes, it’s the weekend again, right? Do you know the Plonterix Forest in Ravenclaw territory?”O0i
hj5“Ah, no… I think I’ve seen it once or twice on a map…”rIThe
NqfIc“Oh, you are missing out on life. Observing the scenery of that slope, with its broad-leaf trees placed just right, all the stress of the week disappears and your heart feels renewed. Let’s climb it together this weekend. I will also bring Delbriton.”8CvZ
ABtVC“I-Is it climbing a mountain? T-That…”D0R
W4Tp“Do you not want to do it?”mvoP0F
O5LP“N-No… It’s just that… my health…”1ij
cSyt“Your health is not good!?”zfl8
C8xsDRDereck raised his voice even more.fj0
brpFina immediately flinched and then shook her head. She could not predict what he would do if she said her health was bad.oCAZ
6Qc“I see. If your health is fine, then let’s climb it this weekend without fail! It’s an impressive view, too good to see alone. If you drink a cup of tea from Mount Alfrain at the top, you will feel, Ah… it was hard to climb, but it was worth it. Ah, this is what it feels like to accomplish something. This is what they mean by the suffering in youth is worth it. You will feel it deeply.”xG9HV3A
WmG5As Dereck spoke with enthusiasm, Fina began to sweat profusely.nsRjExN
Em5SwDBelow, Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion was visible at a glance.jQZzj
MWekThe young nobles, who lived together in the dormitories and built friendships, were already practicing how to establish connections before entering the social circle of Ebelstein.cczai
jyZQmEating and sleeping together, going on excursions to Ebelstein on days without class—forming ties in advance was very important.iWUd7
GbHmTSA‘They say that the social center of the eastern continent is the mansion of Count Elvester. At this rate, the mansion of Baron Ravenclaw will fulfill a similar role.’wTT
qpQ8NWhere many nobles gathered, that place became the social circle.fOzsg
xtZMargrave Elvester of the eastern continent had already understood this and had built cultural centers, banquet halls, and various facilities for social events in his territory.0d9S
1xUkfmOver time, it became almost impossible to debut in the social circle of the eastern continent without passing through Count Elvester’s mansion.8XiaKu
RtFdY3tThe headquarters of the eastern continent’s social circle the territory of Count Elvester.Xgj3dE
PW2UFina thought that its initial form must have been very similar to Baron Ravenclaw’s territory at that moment.zHP
PtW27That was Fina’s impression.gOV
v3Ag‘…’wbl2
FFOBVHHowever, Fina frowned in solitude.CKBNa
RsiiYTAs someone who had already reached an unmatched level in magic, the magic she found there was so basic that it did not even make her laugh.YdGd7bF
c0JImThe magic classes were so elementary that she had to suppress yawns, and even the humanities classes, which were more tolerable, seemed like mere nonsense to Fina, who had already accumulated years of experience.ozeMJpQ
bs2J7But there was one thing she simply could not endure—the scoldings of Baron Dereck, owner of this training center.d2ZvPf
M8TWhat really infuriated her was that with everyone else he was perfectly kind, but with Fina he was particularly strict.4lpY
xalGGI6The other young nobles usually spoke very well of Baron Dereck, considering him a respectable and trustworthy person.nWHZ
fZBSome even blushed when speaking of him—he was truly a multifaceted man.gUsxK
3cekHowever, for Fina, it was the complete opposite.HeQCk
KGx4‘Why… Why is it only… only me he is strict with…?’HPTz
VdJ“Phew! The air is so fresh! It feels revitalizing down to the lungs! Lady Tigris, you should also breathe this morning air deeply! Everything is good for your health! Health! Health! Health is the best!”U2m79
Av1RThus, on a morning of rest.lAI
xWT6Fina lay sprawled on a rock on the side of the mountain, sweating profusely.RyUve5H
8MfOWhether aware or not of Fina’s struggle, Dereck was simply standing on the summit, stretching his arms and inhaling deeply the cold morning air.TM2T
zlAMlQQNo matter how advanced she was as a great mage, there were physical limits when inhabiting the clumsy body of a young girl. Drenched in sweat, with her fingertips trembling, Fina thought.WUW
rWXLg‘I can’t just let this continue.’8HchMf7
JpFFinally, she came to the conclusion that she could not leave Dereck alone.L18Ins0
1J9R7She could no longer endure the arrogant nature of that young man.0hwT5
Ff5VThe truly subtle point was that, in reality, Fina was hundreds of years older than Dereck.jINFk
CBSjF‘He is about to do something. I need to adjust things here.’7q5
CuOmhWhile enjoying the fresh air on the mountain top, Dereck also hardened his expression.mJRypO
uGLIn truth, considerable courage was required to be constantly scolding someone knowing she was a 6-star necromancer.reCT
rG1xwfFina did not want to reveal her identity easily. She wanted to avoid leaving traces of necromancy and being hunted by the Empire.x8dq3K
QPN70wAnd Dereck knew that.pT6E
Zob7GDThat knowledge was Dereck’s greatest weapon.MeihcWk
gZalnWhat mattered was maintaining the right balance.axKQ
MUVsIt was something very difficult and frustrating, but she could not simply react actively nor reveal her identity, and remaining passive was also exhausting.Gn62Ub
Fdj6Maintaining that subtle and ambiguous balance was the most crucial point.4bGjq
E8ryThus, she had to keep him on edge, alternating between warmth and coldness, driving him crazy.fqIqP2n
n6Km‘I can’t just let this continue…’5H6xe
PBIPThose who knew him already knew—Dereck was a difficult person to deal with.6StovN
PAcUmIf he could not dominate someone by force, he would use social authority and hierarchy to crush them.4VaM3
mnxXnHe was a man who would not stop at anything.cGwhO
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