Chapter 126: Characters (7)
IrogR“The Duchy of Beltus is located in the innermost region of the southwest of the continent, bordering the Roben Mountains to the north, the County of Belmierd to the southwest, and the Delros Plain to the east. The main cities are the commercial hub of Ropellen, the city of transformation magic in the northwest, Stonecrown, and the religious city situated on the outskirts of the Lorm River, Heln.”RnUaJ
xzQMDY“The exact location of the Beltus mansion?”2IF
Pym“It is located in the Abiton Hills, in the center of the duchy. It is surrounded by dense forests that form a natural defensive line, and the estate is vast and heavily guarded, making it difficult to approach.”0OGMl0
xVWloPXDereck listened to the report from the butler, Delbritton, as he walked down the hallway of the Baron of Ravenclaw’s mansion.f136S98
PCPOFollowing behind him, with light steps, was Pheline, humming a tune, and also Aiselin, who watched him with worried eyes.Y9azg6
Zar75ERDelbritton, head held high, maintained his dignity as the chief butler while he spoke.qhoZXp
a7VLvL“I have visited the Beltus mansion before.”KGdV
cL6“Really?”IVWeOPj
Fuu“When I was a young assistant, I went several times to deliver letters or meet carriages.”jFZdZ
hTWButler Delbriton had extensive experience from his days working in the Rochester Duchy. It wasn’t unusual for him to have visited several noble mansions on official business.s8Gu3K
QdhWhile cleaning his golden-rimmed glasses, Delbriton kept pace with Dereck’s quick steps.suq3H
qEKa“With the five-story main building at the center, the eastern tower houses a seven-story magical research institute, and the western spire is occupied by the military command. The southern part of the estate is entirely a garden—so large that one cannot tell whether it’s a garden or a forest.”XRLoplc
SjTfBWhat is the shape of the Grand Duke’s mansion like?fSJdW
hFhGDereck had also stayed in the Duplain mansion during its golden age.t6ra
S0FIn a mansion of that scale, it wouldn’t be strange to feel as though there were an entire forest within its grounds.cXC
5pgLfi“Baron.”aCq1hH
oR95WYSuddenly, butler Delbriton called out to Dereck in an even graver voice.XmUP
5wU2LjDereck looked at him with an indifferent expression.IEE
LOU“What is it?”EWU
YRAUme“Are you considering… a military action?”IGED0DG
G7AOjvi“…”oELB
wBTTo an outside observer, it would have sounded absurd.cVcNr5i
lMkkzbThe Grand Duchy of Beltus’s territory encompassed three major cities, and if one included the towns and villages, the number easily surpassed twenty.YCrf0K
fecLIt was not something with which the small Barony of Ravenclaw, which barely managed a few hundred inhabitants, could compete.J2QV
SV5BelHowever, Delbriton asked Dereck with serious eyes.j6tuXNi
bOKfVnTo Delbriton, Dereck was a man capable of challenging even a colossal duchy if he set his mind to it.WMvVBGp
hjX7“Of course. Though the barony’s private soldiers are modest, I plan to gather forces from here and there. Nobles tend to unite when there’s a cause.”aSL9
DBed“…”ojiRCj4
ESAtbU“The structure of the Beltus ducal mansion doesn’t seem very different from the ducal mansions of Rochester or Duplain. Although it’s larger, the structures of noble mansions share many similar parts when you observe them closely.”xtdfE
l69VgYcDereck entered the reception hall and spread a parchment over the table.9PstqQ
tlrOn the blank parchment, he drew a rectangle with a quill and quickly sketched symbols representing the structures within.thFFw6f
2GbdCentral building. Eastern magic tower. Western military command. Southern garden.
Northern training grounds.5k2Qhmu
h3eBzKThough detailed information about the internal structure and defense system still needed to be gathered, the general layout wasn’t difficult to outline.uIgttkc
54AyTt“The eastern magic tower is probably guarded by the eldest son, Robenalt. Since it’s the facility that manages all the mansion’s protective magic, the most important person will be there.”Fm7
yYcup“I met Prince Robenalt at a social gathering.”OYcZd
mDUdDrxAiselin, who had followed into the reception hall, recalled.T6a3DG
KRLqU“His appearance is striking and his manners elegant, which made many young noble ladies favor him, but he had a strange tendency toward self-deprecation and a somewhat sinister aura, which made him unappealing.”KeRl
wj42KW“And his magical skill?”15Dql1b
oHSiw“Excellent for his age, but honestly, he can’t compare to you, Lord Dereck.”JlkZW
ou25Although his name was famous as heir to the Beltus family, it was said that his qualities as a ruler were far inferior to Denise’s.aow
1LipXEven so, the Grand Duke Beltus seemed reluctant to remove him as heir.5H0ktY
NR7V3zProbably because he was far more useful as a puppet than Denise.UloWA
WtpgM0Dereck organized his thoughts and then turned his gaze to the western spire.pPREN
XXBFjThe center of the military garrison. That was where the mercenary group led by the retired General Orel was stationed.pKNmB2q
mmGOThough the Grand Duke Beltus’s private soldiers were modest in number, he had installed Orel’s mercenary group within his territory.x7B
5BULLSThe maintenance cost was astronomical, but it was said the mercenaries were worth every coin.Qokgd
8BYwFFPheline followed very close behind Dereck and whispered softly.3Ray6K
7kXbN“Yes. It’s exactly the Orel Mercenary Corps, led by Orel the One-Eyed. Though capturing nobles is fun, the thought of seeing the most famous man in the mercenary world makes me smile.”m6e6hQL
e5VrRImA satisfied smile appeared on her face.DAuLm
jKxRq30“Uncle Jayden would be thrilled to hear this news after so long.”xr4
JwKUeWhen Dereck looked at her with narrowed eyes, Pheline cleared her throat and straightened up.TVh
DURHSvWith Aiselin and Delbritton right beside them, it wouldn’t be wise to show hostility toward nobles.ONa
6ELK7Pheline seemed to understand what his look meant, because she began humming again, feigning indifference.J8A
yCNmp“The Grand Duke Beltus should be in his office at the top of the central building. When the operation begins, to bring him down, we’ll need to disable the protective magic of the eastern tower and subdue the Orel Mercenary Corps in the western garrison.”M4W0
9AAFy“Considering the size of that mansion, we’ll need a lot of external help.”Fp0hKK
lwN“Don’t worry, Delbriton. We plan to get help from Count Belmierd and the Beldern Mercenary Corps for the western tower, and resolve the protective magic of the eastern tower with Viscount Renwell—or rather, Count Renwell now.”1xmCA
DOwPTo subdue the duke’s mansion in one strike, it was necessary to form an allied force.uk39A
dYgWMHAnd Dereck had already mapped out the entire picture. From the moment Beltus showed hostility toward him, his counterattack plan had already begun.pkxcD
LladmbjIn the savage world where enemies lurked everywhere, one never knew when a predator would appear to bite your neck.D2ftAR
obTpaaThat’s why—you bite first before being bitten.bjrAJbA
UreiC7xLeap and cut off the enemy’s breath before being attacked, and strike the back of the neck before they strike yours.tj0kAt6
xADThat was the law of survival for those who had clawed their way up from the bottom.bZPHw
fF9“We’re almost ready.”dJZ
fph***0OP
B0SkA messenger pigeon flew toward the window frame of Count Belmierd’s estate.PCok
xuX6mA red-haired girl extended her slender hand and took the letter from the bird perched there.VCAACd
vCDIplThough she was full of worldly ambition, she had completely fallen in love with a man. She was Ellen—the most prestigious young noblewoman and the treasured daughter of Belmierd.d9b
UYtGKS***6RK
B1VTavern Alley of Ebelstein.KJx
pHZ8MuiIn an old tavern frequented by drunkards, Tears of Beldern.W8SZR
oVNThe one-armed mercenary, with a kind face and a loud laugh, looked like a friendly bartender.3jjXyyK
9IdcbWzBut even having lost an arm, he was a legendary mercenary who had survived the War of Dawn.MV3jpbT
ibZAnd when he received a request for help from a mercenary he cherished as a son, he bared his yellowed teeth and smiled.uh7b16g
LOg2m3***5s03
L8bi5Under the protection of Emperor Guttrel, Countess Rodelia had finally received the rank and title of border countess.keqi9P
PwcuBDfThe old woman who wielded the sacred sword and lived to behead necromancers.Nu2
1YZShe, too, sat in a corner of her white mansion, reading the letter Dereck had sent.12rf
nSB4OqThe clue related to necromancy—upon seeing it, she frowned, and her expression turned grim.sXJOBe
adAEaTrisha, who was watching her mother, was so frightened by that expression that the cup in her hand trembled.LeDtP
aBBn***CXAUlWn
IOq6WOn the roof of Ravenclaw Mansion.4OuUv
Vx7RVSitting there, quietly watching the waning moon sink into the western sky, Fina smiled faintly.nHGxG
6DexCw0Humming a melody while hugging her knees, she released a sinister aura at the end, lifting the corners of her lips as if she found it amusing.MavaGLa
4D1mzeIf they managed to capture Beltus, Dereck would reach a level of progress incomparable to what he was now—both as a mage and as a noble.0G8W6
16n6EaTo Fina, Dereck’s existence was an “insurance.” If the advanced necromancy she was researching didn’t yield proper results, she planned to use Dereck to embark on the path toward the peace she had long desired.DsMEgx
bwk9aBefore that plan began, she couldn’t help but look forward to seeing the arrogant Beltus fall.PZ2UwP
3TRaWatching the downfall of the defeated was always entertaining.EjD
rodHV***HR7tCsV
ZnYBAcThe Duplain Duke’s mansion, where the repairs were nearly complete.4VF
qLq0DLeigh, who was beginning to move seriously as acting head, and Diella, who was gathering Duplain’s remaining forces.e1qr1j
FMmecWhile worrying about Aiselin, who had gone out to earn money, both of them also hardened their expressions upon seeing the letter sent from Ravenclaw Mansion.KYwCS
mMOoIn response to Dereck’s declaration to attack Beltus, Aiselin also seemed to tacitly agree. Though Aiselin had always been gentle and soft, she did not seem opposed to Dereck’s will.qVJzmL
eimTo attack Beltus.Ec2psco
VAfAiselin would understand better than anyone what that meant.JgRuS
ew9Moreover, Dereck’s letters detailing his plans were being secretly circulated throughout the continent.D6g
JbkRn9UThe contents of the letters, sent only to those Dereck truly trusted, suggested there might be a connection between the Beltus family and necromancy.xU3QF
bNRSome knew it was merely a pretext to attack Beltus, while others genuinely believed what Dereck claimed.qZPya
SlxviIHowever, the conclusion among all those who received the letters was unanimous.CJE
1VsThey believed there had to be a reason why the ever-cautious Dereck had made such a belligerent decision.5b1ZW
UepnBMb***siB
ceB“…There will be great upheaval in the power structure of the continent’s southwest.”TZWABiz
z3q7D“Huh? What do you mean, Master?”QrrO
M1a0TUbAnd in the social capital of the eastern continent—Count Elvester’s mansion.Pwto1Qn
Ek9a04Katia Flameheart, who was teaching magic to Countess Freya, read with a serious expression the contents of the letter sent by her beloved disciple, Dereck.Y7H
HJ3oSeizing a pretext, punishing those who opposed him, and striking them down without mercy.BNiuMXq
BsYP3OIt was the conduct of a lord protecting his territory and his power, and there wasn’t a shred of doubt in his actions.vW4Kkz
n8WbwDereck, Katia’s disciple, had finally become a noble.JVS5K
dqYo9“…”kKGs
b6BByIn Katia’s memory, Dereck had been a beggar from the slums, stuffing himself with hard rye bread in a tavern alley corner.TFmXoi0
eXvdPSeeing him now, leading his territory and army to punish his enemies, she realized that from the very beginning, he had always been different.MAEnD0G
JDA4DLeKatia softly closed her eyes, then opened them again, gazing silently at the sky toward Ebelstein, in the far southwest of the continent.PkcHZD
UeOXVnThe next time she saw Dereck, he would surely have grown so much that she might not even recognize him.IREY0cC
j6vDThough it was cause for celebration to see a disciple sprint down the path of success, watching a child leave the cradle and spread his wings brought a peculiar feeling of loneliness.tyldPDw
bSWAQ3c***56keWj
EhP7GdTap, tap.uVl
ucHwnlSAt last, after completely finishing the analysis of the internal structure of the Beltus family mansion, Dereck organized the letters in his office.bLRXT
p45lqIdAs he gathered the documents and tapped them lightly to align them, it seemed there was no longer a trace of hesitation in him.GGsin
Q04Delbriton, assisting at his side, swallowed hard.hgkfjad
di1Even he, who had gone through countless trials and tribulations, had to fight the lump forming in his throat at that moment.3D0VRMR
H0gThe origins of the letters in his hands.tMY
U1TVQAThe territory of Count Belmierd, the territory of Duke Duplain, the territory of Duke Rochester, the Beldern Mercenary Corps, the estate of Count Renouel, the estate of Count Elvester, the estate of Baron Tigris, and the noble district of Ebelstein.7d4kYD
SQuTFor a rural border baron to become the central point of such a gathering—it was on such an unreal scale that one might think Emperor Guttrel himself had summoned them by imperial decree.el7HiZM
aF7TThe reason such formidable figures could send their responses so quickly was because the man’s way of life had been genuine.m1u
TQrEarning the trust of all these people was no easy feat.c6zaw
LbWYMMEach of them was a hero who ruled their own mountain.WN5fRz
zbFkR5Even so, the white-haired mercenary turned rural baron, whom he served as his lord, showed no concern about standing at the center of such a storm.UMqA
42Fn0dtThe only thing weighing on his mind was the presence of a certain young woman who remained in the Duke Beltus’s territory, loyally serving as a piece on the board until the very end.IaWAZ5M
vhuOQEven so, he had no choice but to respect her decision. That, too, was her life.nfd3cHJ
gVljocJTherefore, Dereck simply pushed back his chair and stood up, murmuring,9j3A
lY1ukC“Let’s go.”hrQ
fbCWith his head slightly lowered and eyes lifted, Dereck’s expression was solemn.eV2sqIp
XqrO3He was already prepared to become a high-ranking noble.I1RrAqq
mgzHzV***DClJlyz
FFWnTjBang!n0h
ti0The Beltus mansion.qar9sc
msNielDenise was shoved into the guest room located in the center of the main building.jBvskB
1pcumThe servants treated her with polite manners, but in truth, it was almost imprisonment.Sp7
vVsCXQThe room, clean and elegant, had all its windows covered with drapes, and not a single ray of light entered.JW2Y
R8wVkuKThe room, which at first glance seemed grand and luxurious, had a separate slot beneath the door through which meals could be slid.q7UI
ajz5ODenise swallowed hard when she noticed the existence of that slot. Despite all its refinement, the room was no different from a prison.xn8Shq
4JQSrP“W-what is this?”Tp92UMf
ktKS“It is by order of His Grace, the Grand Duke.”CywYMn
HBeDenise had deliberately concealed secrets about the weaknesses of the Ravenclaw Barony.0Vt2s3
2jZvThat meant she had chosen loyalty to Dereck over loyalty to the Beltus family.CNFabTP
WOd0p4Denise had lived her entire life for Beltus, and though she could sometimes be lazy, she would never betray them.w8AKI
AdxThe Duke of Beltus knew that nature of Denise very well—that was why he had used her as a pawn without hesitation.jYYiB
pXexBut now, Denise was about to bare her fangs at the Duke of Beltus.QlJ
ZkYThe Duke sensed it with animal instinct before anyone else.r9xGU
uUfyDenise, with her sharp mind and quickness, could pull any trick at any moment.RiQ
ApfhODYA blade is an excellent weapon when sharp, but if not handled properly, it can end up wounding its wielder.rUQos
Zt4vbY9The Duke of Beltus was not the kind of man to leave a blade that could stab him unrestrained. Denise knew that better than anyone.jrlLgLz
BJMa“The Duke will come down personally shortly. Until then, you are to wait in this room. His Grace has ordered that all your belongings be reexamined, so you must also change your clothes.”cjzU
l8W“W-what do you mean?”ETUspz
noJ7“Exactly what I said. All the luggage you brought from the Baron’s residence must be sent to the reception hall. I will return in the afternoon, so please organize your belongings.”XibDX6U
9H62vWith that dry tone, the butler conveyed the Duke’s orders, bowed deeply, and left the room.GTs
PbUf6Bang.8H3f
7cI8IP“…”xqq6n
cBY7She was alone in the room.QUWWuE5
BECCM4eOnly emptiness and silence remained.OxsPbZ
Nh1Taking a few steps back, Denise collapsed onto the table with a disheartened expression. The frilled edge of her dress fell over the furniture.oYHQXIv
m2VdPWhat had happened to those who had rebelled against Beltus?uIT
ll7iYThe vassals? The servants? The distant relatives?ER1T
knjShe didn’t know.KbB
BcVO1aThey simply vanished one day. That was all.jwn
wmlfSuddenly, she recalled the Duke’s face looking down on her with cold eyes, devoid of his usual warm smile.MNXV3jZ
x5t6That merciless gaze made her feel like a discarded piece.Qix
jjA0i7o“……”nDq
b1IAt some point, Denise realized her chest was trembling.qSrrHy
qqZThen she thought, finally admitting her true feelings.Bn2D2
2q0R9q“Ugh… Ugh…”8WAu8l
eMnGnVShe was afraid.MsR
4FWZ3vEven in that filthy political arena full of mind games and schemes, she had always been a naïve girl who lay around reading romance novels.uQKQS
t1sukJNOnly now, in this situation, did she truly learn what fear was.MtSPr
Z61But unlike most girls her age, she didn’t cry or beg for forgiveness.81YS0np
wlhwBPZShe simply pressed her brow tightly, swallowed her emotions, and bit her lower lip.fkpJa
40RMOaDecisions bring responsibility.2YBq9
F3mOZUEven if it had been a momentary impulse, she had still chosen to side with Dereck.PUbIBxj
H8vmjIf she had made that choice, the responsibility should naturally follow.iLHAyn
256jBut since it was a decision made by Denise not as Lady Beltus she didn’t want to regret it.xjvwH
ZLM5BThat’s why she had to suppress and swallow the fear rising in her chest.6chupr
lVBThat was Denise’s way of showing respect to Dereck.JpVzb
bzkRD“Ugh… Hoo… Huff…”rralAj
guFQquAt that moment, as Denise held her breath—juUECU
7QMh5Wc“Huff…”SkAo
VkTKP“Huh…?”810a
nRssThe personal luggage that had come in along with Denise.NKQ
kT8G3AOFrom the gap, a strange magic began to emanate.tSRkoEJ
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