Chapter 127: The Subjugation of Beltus (1)
rxk“Have you ever seen a master-level mage fight at full power?”aWeVXnF
zQJowSometimes, Fina was so carefree and messy that Dereck doubted whether she was really a 6-star mage.35FAd
pRxIblHowever, because she sometimes had a chilling look in her eyes and struck at weak points with precision, Dereck never took her lightly—but Fina seemed to think she wasn’t getting enough respect and muttered for no reason.eDz7dR
k6YFShe would get angry, telling him to respect his master who was “as high as the heavens,” yet she didn’t seem to realize that her own behavior was anything but reliable.lEm
W0gffIeOn the day when the first term of the Ravenclaw Training Center was about to end, most of the young ladies were returning to their territories to enjoy their break, but Fina didn’t seem to have any intention of going back to Tigris territory.lFluoo
kh8She was simply lying on the sofa in a corner of Dereck’s office, chewing on financiers and mont blancs baked by the servants, speaking proudly.tDm2H
1hBFQ“Ironically, once you reach the position of a master, you almost never have to compete using magic. When you become someone who rules and governs, you get fewer chances to use your power. It’s a real paradox.”xPgBjV
KLu“Have you seen it yourself, Master?”s0Jvdf
6S2MumO“Of course. Well… in the southwest of the continent, Duplain, Belmierd, and Beltus were the true powers… I’ve heard that the Duke of Duplain could lift the entire ground of his mansion into the air if he wanted, and that the Count of Belmierd once sank three or four ships at once.”iyz
vYNBaSIt was said that a 5-star mage could be called a weapon of war.NYSjd
pehOf course, since there weren’t many of them, all of them held significant social status—it was just that they rarely had the chance to display their power directly.b9wgvJ
yAMt“There’s always a reason why those in power hold their positions. Even the Count of Belmierd is still just a full 4-star mage, not yet having reached 5 stars. It’s unimaginable how far his level could go.”Bw8PLd
LRe“…”2SB
6lY“When you encounter monsters like Melverot and Drest, you lose your sense of reality. Always remember that master-level mages are like armies on their own. Munch, munch. Slurp…”qFV
y9pA8There wasn’t a trace of seriousness in Fina’s appearance as she chewed on the bread with her lips puffed out.lor
rKrThe new pastry chef who had joined their household suited her tastes so perfectly that Dereck had even added a note instructing that he must not be dismissed without his permission.VIbCGD
FImydAfter all, from the perspective of a great mage who had reached the 6-star rank, even a chief mage was seen as “someone who can only do a little.”u7Nxu02
TXBDereck felt a strange unease while looking at Fina, but soon sighed and spoke.W33XV
Rznn4“The Grand Duke Beltus is a 5-star summoner, and I’ve heard he commands high-level spirits, legendary creatures summoned through biological invocation magic, and historical magical artifacts through non-biological invocation.”faAMu
XqEmrFM“Yes. If you get too confident, even I could be caught off guard by that annoying man. He seems ambitious, power-hungry, and twisted in personality, but in reality, he’s nothing more than a stubborn old fool. You should consider yourself lucky to have such an open-minded master as me.”95J8Y1D
nw6f“It’s not realistic to expect me to face someone like that.”E14q
98Zq“Yes. You should take this seriously.”1EPvdS
eJAFina spoke with a seductive smile, narrowing her eyes.PteMP
gmZ“If you let your guard down, you’ll die instantly.”0xy
7huBJ“You make it sound easy.”uuwfY1
evY2JZx“Oh, please. I’m not asking for the impossible. Don’t underestimate my critical eye. Didn’t I tell you? I can clearly see what kind of mage you are, Dereck.”wOU8r
ct9KsAs she watched him devour mille-feuille, brioche, croissants, and madeleines, he looked like a rodent eating, but her eyes were as sharp as ever.gJ2Y
IXSwNuj“Some people say it’s unfortunate and pitiful that you, Dereck, were born a commoner and lived as a beggar rolling in the slums. Honestly, they’re fools with no discernment. Dereck, that harsh environment was a blessing for you—an opportunity sent by the heavens.”4KNc
PSSRfFina had a general idea of what she meant.0wAKZIO
hujIIt seemed she was forming a kind of empathy with Dereck that she didn’t show toward others.IgQqxg7
WFGk22V“Do you think you would’ve reached your current level if you’d been born a noble and lived a calm, elegant life in a mansion? Not at all. The power of nobility is so sweet—it would’ve been a miracle if you hadn’t turned into a fat pig.”g5K5Z
RZFHa“…”Exx
NDX“Even extraordinary talent means nothing if the environment doesn’t shape it. And you… you’re someone whose eyes only come alive on a bloody battlefield, not in the refined magical training courtyard of a mansion. Your talent bloomed in the merciless struggle for survival between life and death.”LQh
dtVsUGFina spoke without changing her expression.Da2hcw
Dr9Ok“So crawl toward the crisis of death. Fortunately, this celestial master’s specialty happens to be dealing with death.”Z5S
Kauh1Q9“And if I die?”5UDws3a
Qg5Sh0“That would be unfortunate.”tAKw
D8w3X“…”go1H4t
eAH“But if you survive, you’ll become stronger.”wbLQh
6k2xHFina, not caring about the crumbs on her cheeks, looked at Dereck with gleaming eyes and said,Av17
RJMH“Probably more than you can imagine.”DLsl
9emxQA***v8MdZ0
fjwWhoosh!ns3XgE
4qrnXThe ominous magical power emanating from Denise’s luggage began to take on a massive form.7Qh
uhjIt wasn’t hard to feel that even the pressure from that magic was far from ordinary.KgP
Vb0When Denise approached the luggage to check what was happening, an explosion of magic burst from within, throwing her against the wall.FHAtsa
AqDq6QBoom! Bang!ZDB
MEVA6bvFwoosh!fuGFkAq
Fn7sC6V“Ah, ah…!”hLKxEP
cbXYIkDenise’s small body was flung toward the bookshelf and crashed into it, causing books to fall and cover her head.8d2SO
YYzAs Denise looked in confusion toward the luggage, a sinister, dark-red magic began to spread slowly from it.v6z
jWQWhat is happening right now?OhpmfH
xPZ55cAnyone else would have frozen in place, holding their breath at such a sight—but Denise swallowed hard and regained her composure.6qCB
8uuAIShe had always been someone capable of staying calm in a crisis.xTrepw
sARSShe needed to knock on the door and call for help. This wasn’t something she could handle alone.XnMr
pJDjAs she pushed aside the scattered books and stood up, a withered hand emerged from within the massive surge of magic.76UvHU
5jiaTJ“W-What… what…?”x6UEq
wlIT8S8While Denise uttered a stunned sound, a terrifying figure rose from the light.YPxkagA
AG3It was an Archlich—a necromancer of death that could only be found in the deepest labyrinths of the White Zone.bE2B
1w4Though magical creatures were known to exist, this one was the most malevolent of all. The space where an Archlich resided became an immense labyrinth—a breeding ground for magical creatures—consuming everything within it and bringing death.GbT
QpYBA skull covered with beads and tattered cloth began to float, holding a massive staff.q3tP21P
DR2SThe chill emanating from its magic was enough to freeze anyone who brushed against it.6Gil1M
OS3kaDeath itself had arrived; even the labyrinths of the White Zone were safer than this room.6Ogx
9C0bkxExhaling a frosty breath, the sinister skull floated upward and surveyed its surroundings.S1j
QrjThis grand mansion, where noble humans resided, seemed an ideal structure for the skull to claim as its own.lLbZl2
I44JUgThere was a separate facility for handling magic, and the hill rising amid the vast forest offered significant geographical advantages.C6V
CWQThe being who had summoned it into this world—a 6-star necromancer—had engraved a command deep into its instincts.dppV
wJmUzBuild a nest.ZSSyS
0KLK8eTThis Beltus mansion was the perfect place for the Archlich to reside and wield death, so it would drive out every living thing and claim it as its lair.FDi2ct1
OCZBSxKWhen that instinct activated, an icy light emanated from the skull’s hollow sockets.K66p
bRMA 5-star necromancy spell—“Arrival of the Dead.”Bwh
6QumdO3Creatures that dealt with death… no one knew anything about the monster known as Fina, who could summon such beings from the deepest reaches of the White Zone labyrinth.CWb
tUsVEMOnly the result remained—gathering magic in this place.sn9nF
on5QNkSpirits began to converge, and corpses started rising from the ground.0bZ1k
gCy5sEQAs the traces of blood-soaked necromancy filled the room, Denise no longer hesitated.EH0
2lrg7Boom!dAkARxP
HmnjBaDenise blasted the door open with combat magic and ran.IDi
3iM0q1qFear was clear in her eyes, but she hadn’t completely lost her sanity.Ngz9g
8BYDVDShe was on the verge of collapse, her legs nearly giving out, but her instinct to flee was still alive.WAfwTDl
XFiCrash! Bang!DDFTt
ekoShe stumbled at the threshold and fell flat on her face, but Denise grit her teeth and stood up.nNb
WUZlBAs she rushed into the hallway, the startled servants shouted toward her.eg56LWu
MZrjF“Lady Denise! This is… you can’t do this! If you destroy the mansion—!”jMbIWKU
CJUB“The room…! Look at the room…!”yYafITM
Pa3mDenise said this while clutching her bleeding knee, scraped against the floor. Just as she was about to run again, the servants froze too, seeing the enormous catastrophe that had descended upon the room.xTzMsUO
NCiqDenise thought she should leave them and escape alone.laXd8X
tABs2When she was about to sprint down the hall, she turned around, grabbed a trembling servant by the collar—one too shocked to react—and shouted,I1U
cu8t“What are you doing?! Run, run quickly!”3dlq6V7
t3ct5EVAs Denise dragged the servants along, a massive number of vengeful spirits began pouring out of the room.etEGajh
NnqIt was the prelude to a disaster.DZtX8
blN2z***fXHV8tL
Nm28T“We must go to the Duchy of Beltus immediately. Gather as many troops as possible.”tF34
MZkq4tDereck, who had left his territory early that morning, spoke firmly before Countess Rodelia.83KH74
KFyFzcThe reason he sought out Countess Rodelia first, rather than anyone else, was because she was the kind of person who never hesitated when it came to necromancy.vkN
yy7ojtlIf she detected traces of it, she was the type who would charge straight through the front gate of the Duke of Beltus’s mansion without a second thought.UQKYjz
0gezrHe was certain she would be the first to act, as she had a certain degree of trust in him.3w1
HEXwTcR“Yes. I received your letter. I was certain necromancy was involved in the Duchy of Beltus.”7D3lm7O
uepsCountess Rodelia looked at Dereck with a favorable expression. She had seen firsthand how capable he was at dealing with necromancy when they captured Leonard.bwja
8kJVEven so, Countess Rodelia was also a ruler who commanded and managed a territory.3ALejul
pLkXemUThere was a reason her daughter, Trisha, feared her so much.EJzJh
d5UEHi7She might have seemed driven purely by hatred for necromancy, but she was also someone who never overlooked crucial details when necessary.BORNrl
KTkd“However, moving troops requires caution. Above all, taking military action against the Duchy of Beltus solely based on your word is far too reckless.”MWurr
oQMV5Dereck had already expected that.krwA
yRuIafShe would not move her armies on his word alone.LdniWyy
FxXTherefore, he had to create an urgent situation—one so dire that if they didn’t act immediately, something terrible would happen—and at the same time, something serious enough to bring down Grand Duke Beltus.mqVQ
TSU6“There is a high possibility that a high-ranking demon—at least five stars—has appeared in the Grand Duke of Beltus’s mansion. One that uses necromancy.”dugP2DS
YSf“…Is that true?”2zGu
ddy3The luxurious reception hall of Rodelia County.V0qNgLo
pS4YEven when training, she always wore her armor meticulously, and her imposing presence was all the greater considering her small stature.HrqK
rNWU0The sacred sword she always carried at her waist was quite large—one couldn’t help but wonder how such an old woman could even wield it.PYo
Da7Xj0“An entity like that cannot be summoned easily without a high-level necromancy spell. Could it be that Grand Duke Beltus truly…?”MFoc
9zdAlH“If we delay, the situation will escalate. We must act quickly.”z0jZTf
Vopof67“…Can you take responsibility for that claim?”o9L
ESO“I swear it on the honor of the Ravenclaw Barony.”2Ogt
KMOBThese were not the words of some wanderer, but those of a noble with clearly established status, spoken under oath.WxJg
8sXIt was something that couldn’t be dismissed easily—but also not something to be trusted blindly.lCBxc
gVCPUThe determination of a leader was needed, but this wasn’t a matter for rash action.kRzxQ
9QUKCountess Rodelia frowned, showing the cautious attitude of someone who, even in extreme situations, verified what needed to be verified.SkH
BevxI1“Even if that’s true, how do you know? Grand Duke Beltus is a cunning man. He wouldn’t easily reveal his weaknesses to a border baron.”fNB9
ytaiMO0“Yes. But I also have some knowledge when it comes to dealing with necromancers—just as when we captured Leonard. And… I didn’t discover this top-secret information on my own.”ZipFL
w3TyqThat meant Dereck had a reliable informant.SGOZ7
Hwk0SShe couldn’t help but ask who it was.o97DTbO
D7oAt those words, Dereck spoke with a serious expression.ArNG
W3v“Grand Duke Beltus used his status and authority to strictly control everyone in his domain, but not all of them follow him. Among the people of Grand Duke Beltus, there was someone who warned me of the existence of necromancy and revealed everything.”3IoCYFc
vT8g4“You understand Grand Duke Beltus’s authority better than anyone, don’t you?”Nqe1
7OKi“Yes. Despite that, there was an insider who disclosed all the facts.”rFPFu
u25iWTo bring down Grand Duke Beltus.o8YXM
WpOc9dIf he allowed the man who had trampled and humiliated him to continue acting as he pleased, Dereck would live forever in disgrace within noble society.57IEV
VxWJxhkTherefore, he could not leave him unpunished.YUmYjR
9i9tHowever, he also didn’t want his disciple—the one with whom he had shared a long-standing connection—to be swept away by her family’s downfall.j3cY47T
CC8DSo Dereck devised a new strategy.ZO8xkA
LfDiEy“Lady Denise. She came to the Ravenclaw Barony and confessed the darkness within Beltus to me.”Chj7Y
CcHkWEveryone knew that Denise had studied under Dereck for a long time.XxK94yi
YuPM9ipCountess Rodelia also knew well that Denise trusted Dereck deeply and had important connections within the social circles.ger4fsi
vG7WnfThus, it wasn’t an unbelievable claim.WjMk
vzvKbH“If they were researching necromancy so dangerous that it bordered on recklessness, it’s highly likely a major accident has already occurred. She foresaw that possibility. She was skilled in exploratory magic and thoroughly understood the internal affairs of Beltus.”G1W0vG
l8OZewWhen it was all over, if someone was to become the true power behind Beltus, it was best that it be someone favorable to Dereck.ZgT4orC
UbbgEThat was why, if only one person was to be saved from the ruined Beltus family—that person had already been decided.cK8Lphh
ATR5I“…”qkf0UPW
6SmUmvRodelia’s expression grew even graver.G3xXn6M
roIZIf moving the troops turned out to be in vain, Dereck could take responsibility.2YHHV
uk6PBut if they didn’t move, and a disaster occurred—who would bear the blame?kFhWG1o
er1SRisk and reward. When both are placed on the scales, the conclusion comes faster than one might think.uXgSV
A6YJIn the end, Countess Rodelia’s decision was already made.KROBU41
vjZTj9LHer resolve and drive were on an extraordinary level.mBgB
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