Chapter 162: Who are you a disciple of? (2)
980w0k“If I could, I would like to meet all of your disciples, Dereck. But if I go to see them myself, I would only put pressure on them. I have enough common sense to know that, so I plan to simply take a look around society and then leave. I am also curious to see how much Ebelstein society has changed.”mRAs
XxTQ“The construction of the Ravenclaw Academy is almost finished. Will you be going to see that as well?”8Sd
O64k2TI“Of course. You said the land was in Duplain territory, right? With a bit of luck, I might even be able to meet Lady Diella in person.”jdhzN3
sIi“That is true, but…”Ol8E
YTFGwnzWho was Diella?EaPK
EtncJuqShe was famous for being someone whom, according to rumors, only Aiselin and Dereck could control in the entire world.yA7LYf4
H6anmAlthough it was unlikely that she would bare her fangs even in front of Katia, there was a vague sense of unease.DvTgRu1
bN0KVm8“I am also interested in Lady Diella, but I wonder whether I will be able to meet Lady Aiselin as well. You see, Dereck. This teacher does not only want to see your disciples; the person I most wish to meet is Lady Aiselin.”63egLZ
U5yu“You mean Lady Aiselin?”Fh2p
rl420e“You always mention her in your letters. You say she has helped you greatly as a partner. Ever since I lived in Ebelstein, Aiselin was already famous for her prestige, her impeccable conduct, and her deep thoughtfulness. I wonder how mature she has become now.”QUt
4ZqHIDKatia had spent too long rolling through the aristocratic world to feel naïve admiration for an elegant young woman.ApgdHj
qIMqShe had Freya, the most respected woman in eastern society, as her disciple; she was in no position to covet Aiselin.4VAdAw
jvz7And yet, she leaned forward with eyes lit with intensity and looked at Dereck seriously.XYZ
ebpU5K“Some time ago, we talked about your partner, remember?”xjl
WTRD3“…”Mbt
qxyng9l“I will be direct. If Lady Aiselin has retained the dignity she had back then, is there anyone more suitable to be a lifelong companion? Dereck, if you still have not made a decision, I will have no choice but to push you a little. They say women are better judges of other women. Trust this teacher’s eye.”VpwMfTd
Wis8li“A-ah… Teacher…”LgIAS7y
kJ8WVXb“…Well, perhaps there is no need to rush that far just yet. First, I will have to observe her with my own eyes. Let us also take the opportunity to check on the state of the Ravenclaw Academy and go to Duplain territory. Will you be able to introduce me?”3IR
iewWmJhKatia spoke calmly and elegantly, but from her presence emanated a pressure that was impossible to refuse.W0maDB
8M3vzWjShe was like a flame that was cold and burning at the same time; when she insisted like that, Dereck had no choice but to nod.fVvr
OkYcAt the end of the day, Katia would never allow her disciple to end up marrying just anyone.rIM
qHaMHer attitude was practically that of an overly protective father or mother, though to Freya, who was watching from the side, it seemed somewhat intrusive.hQcEOuE
5KaqhXIt was not common to see Katia, always so serene and dignified, behaving this way, so she could only observe with a distant gaze.8aRKn8e
SvDeThus, Dereck had no choice but to head toward the Duplain mansion together with Katia, wishing inwardly that neither Leigh, nor Diella, nor Aiselin would be too taken aback.HslT
OiRqElU***lXwoj
MEJhipN“E-excuse me… Lady Trisha of the Renuel family has come in person…”ZgKVH
HxCp“…”D7lOHj4
xfiLjvTrisha had been severely reprimanded by Countess Rodelia and was ordered to go immediately, even if only with a gift, to repair the damaged image.zvfj4
YS1j7AThat was how she arrived at Baron Ravenclaw’s residence.oCo
iseuISWShe was already on the verge of tears, but she managed to compose herself, adopted an arrogant expression, and entered through the main gate demanding an audience.sLqAuJ
fo04XrhBut—MkZHIb
6azbYp“Baron Ravenclaw has departed for the Duke Duplain’s residence together with Lady Katia.”A5Z6
hwL“…W-what?”upfR
GsV“Not long ago, actually…”BdK
vZbTrisha splashed water on her face and hurled a complaint at the heavens.sHh5
utPBEyNothing.oKecVx
nOaMAbsolutely nothing was going right for her.aqj
QPVYIO***Dj2sT
WpkMTsThe young woman occasionally walked through the cemetery.eFQc1
uw3wpn2As she slowly strolled among the countless gravestones, she felt as if death were standing right in front of her.eyr
9YrXsnRain fell softly, and a damp wind brushed the tip of her nose.psXc
JixShe shook the accumulated water from the hem of her dress, and the moisture that remained on her hand seeped in like lingering regret.QPn
1EHDeath, that final rest, was both near and far.RR74
H5pLQThe mark of reincarnation engraved upon her soul showed no sign of fading.6MAORnZ
I41eoWithout an umbrella, she lifted her gaze toward the cloudy sky.KMCkqP
VxejAnd then, memories of a distant past were about to surface.dNs7
tboAn innocent time, when she did not even know what black mages were.ugTqg
oALOKIn that distant memory, there was something she could no longer recall clearly.dY5vKnn
wnxuCrYWhy had she begun researching black magic in the first place?H7RpIE
m1nThe most powerful black mage on the continent.GsR1
B6fThe reaper who governs death.bQOM2
R7MHumA living disaster capable of plunging the entire world into terror merely by existing.ktdbmQ
fqyqbBut now she no longer had ambitions.VNv
ks196She had no goals to fulfill.rQj
Sug5oMINothing to protect.lYih
XTTAnd whenever she seemed to find someone worthy of attachment, time eroded them until they disappeared.TLV2
4IEAnLife burned like an intense flame, but there was no eternal fire.vwZxGT
K0vZShe herself was nothing more than ashes after complete combustion.k4C
Hf22DThus, in that cemetery where countless deaths stood in rows, Fina often mocked herself in that way.C1LY
QEvJlsHow many years had she lived dragging along that gray life?agSNj
RMv3Fwoooosh!8RytHCh
dkwGG09And then, at last, heat ran once more through Fina’s frozen heart.sBiCB
stXWhBlack magic flooded the surroundings and began to completely fill the underground laboratory.7DGebf
s8D8Fina’s laboratory, built beneath Tigris territory, was vast.cFv03
iPxTU1Even so, the density of black energy was such that it was difficult even to breathe.qV8r
560HqThe pinnacle of corpse-related black magic.qzvMEac
6TTKnXAdvanced resurrection of bodies.khS6I
5lPusZRaising the dead was never something simple.kqpbWK
ODPThe higher the level of the mage to be resurrected, the more the difficulty of the spell multiplied exponentially.iRLcd
ItiMusEven a five-star black mage would be exhausted after reviving a three-star mage, unable to use magic for some time.lfJ
IPTWNfiResurrecting a six-star mage was absolute madness.0vQG
IxlRVEven for Fina, it had required investing an absurd number of years.TNEf6T
g3P4nNAn extremely valuable vessel the corpse of a five-star mage.rSmjTH
9axqueWA six-star caster.cd8
4fdtDecades of accumulated effort.Bbc
JrGkSGEverything overlapped.9zA9Q
TVvCW6An impossible miracle was about to manifest.oC0
gDJ8ox1Upon the research table of the underground laboratory.A74
bSl3VqThe miserable, bloodstained scene was swept away by a tide of necromantic magic of every kind.AtKhi7
94eD9Fina’s pale lilac hair was also whipped about violently, and the hem of her dress began to thrash as if out of control.mvJwJn
7RL4XcVFina, who never tired even while manifesting an absurd amount of necromantic magic, was panting.odhX1B
fwXMHow long had it been since she last felt exhaustion from using magic?19I4mg2
DhjKLittle by little, sweat began to well up, her breathing grew ragged, yet her face was smeared with a smile.CtPTE
qgEPPFDecades? No, perhaps centuries?3CCmj
ByXKPBSince when had she last felt something called euphoria?MWLP
67dThat pleasure coursing through her chest—how long had it been since she felt it?3QKm6KY
A6zCWj6An immense euphoria, impossible to obtain from any liquor, completely filled Fina’s mind.R8SMU7
2P7Death was approaching.GuiMo
l2UchXThe legendary great mage and hero of the Empire.l7Sd9
3mBKalimford was arriving.whS
0NHmKalimford, the hero of the War of Dawn who died after killing the great monster Noir, the one who tried to devour the north.st5
G44iMNThe Kalimford who could grant Fina eternal rest.E0wQt
jVgAt last, the promise could be fulfilled.cWYP
7jIWmTThe colossal necromantic magic surged with even greater violence, and Fina’s laboratory was engulfed in a gigantic radiance.iNJqSl
uxEBoom! Thud!iN5V
d7xFwoooosh!r7yXiRA
3B4VFor an instant, it was as if the world itself rippled.ISbne6G
EnnaRd2A being who had twisted the laws and surpassed even death rose up.lPWXOIZ
RqPeThe body of Duke Beltus began to change shape little by little, until it finally transformed into the figure of that young great mage.12GnZ
a6CSkBones twisting, muscles reconstructing.quHrMm
B49jsqHad someone who knew nothing seen it, they would have felt nauseous.ill5
zUA8yPH— Crack, squelch. Crack!8vUh
DaMThose grotesque sounds filled the underground laboratory.5z2hy
4JmCWith time, the rampaging magic gradually calmed down.BU6
Pl9vAt the center of the laboratory, where utensils were scattered across the floor and blood soaked everything…NYL7em
HztpThe corpse lying on the experimental table opened its eyes, covered in something like rags.jU4Vy87
w0e— Flinch!mVpAj
OSyAnd then the corpse’s arm moved.DpLt4Q1
ggoA body clearly rejuvenated.slNFxWi
Y7OqRPerhaps due to the incompleteness of the resurrection spell, the skin was peeling in several places and his appearance was haggard.exNh
y9iHowever, in the eyes opened wide shone a clear vitality.Syq
otVC“¡Kuh, Kuk…!”ivg5c
P4VThe body, unable to adapt to the forcibly injected life, expelled a spasm.kHCq4
PlRWUThe man, who for quite a while could not regain his composure, began to tremble in the eyes, as if he could not believe it.fHSVN
hVKtEc“This place… th, this place is…”SPB3
C78tY“…”3gOxpg
YzAJ9yUpon recognizing that familiar voice, Fina finally showed a twisted smile.GWvug
Kw4The art of resurrection to which she had devoted countless years had successfully brought Kalimford back to the world of the living.GjPv2
xvZSXC***nTY
90RNR“Huh, eh… my skin… it feels like it’s burning…”t2O
FNw265“Welcome back to the world of the living, Kalimford. You have been very fortunate. If it were not for the power of this woman, capable of surpassing even death, you would have wandered within it forever.”enF9A
SoF“I… yes… I… was dead… that’s…”rGhskUa
PpFKalimford, resurrected, extended his dried-out hand, as if only bones remained, and his body trembled.dRecL
WO0He could not believe it, but he had returned to life.M92kYw
ESYPThe last memory he had was the instant when, risking his life, he threw himself toward Noir’s heart.uZUXYo
81kYHe had squeezed out all of his magic with the sole determination of killing that great monster that was about to devour the north.7UcNY
exD2M7QAfter that, he remembered nothing.uWqI0q
WueuHOnly, in the midst of the premonition of death that loomed, just before charging at Noir.T830b
p3MHe remembered leaving words of apology to his wife Feria and to his friend Melverot.PSxyMmM
HADrz5gAnd also to his only daughter, Siern.xHIHj1
Dw11cmHe remembered asking Melverot to take good care of her, saying farewell through tears.RxQ
rB3oVSiern, whose life was just beginning to sprout in Peria’s womb.EGH6
M4lUpon reaching that point, Kalimford, with his haggard body, pushed away the experimental table and rose.CptDzbZ
BWvBWG“You are… y-yes… Reina… Reina?”C9ilkpf
0OlQ2e“Reina… what a nostalgic name. This woman no longer uses that name. As it has always been throughout countless years, my name has changed again.
Now I am Fina.”sf0
ApSUvtU“I see… you… saved me. Reina… no, Fina… it was Fina, right?”oJPNt6
ou4o“That’s right. How about bowing your head in thanks? Though, well, I also had my own reasons for saving you.”Zro
CkG1mfdKalimford’s shoulders trembled, as if he still could not believe it, and suddenly he opened his eyes wide, remembering something, and asked urgently.419k2
wDgmKp“Noir…! What happened to the great monster Noir? Did my final attack work? That absurdly powerful monster… what happened to it…?”eHKp77K
0z99M“Well, out of courtesy, I will answer you. That impossible monster died from your final attack. Peace was restored to the north, and you became the hero of the Empire.”KQj5uOr
YH9J“Is that… is that true…? Noir finally died…?”1TDL
H3p5“Yes. The great calamity that turned the north into a mountain of corpses ended. Now, descendants call it the War of Dawn; it is remembered as part of history.”wbRo
WfyZ8i“I see… so… Noir died… Yes… truly… truly what a relief…”qnbAiJ
sbi7MsiKalimford, trembling uncontrollably, clung to the experimental table as tears fell one after another.gVE9O
EwVdFiKHe still lived with the memories of the War of Dawn.cmBo
zxneOHe surely still remembered that scene in which Noir’s presence covered the sky.8eKKRP
8FSdThat was why, upon learning that Noir had died and that the Empire celebrated victory,rNrkOlz
n4HnBlHe cried sincerely, moved to the deepest depths of his being.1y3hamH
pJihxT“All the deaths of those who sacrificed themselves so that I could reach Noir… they were not in vain… Yes… damn it… truly… truly what a relief… That everyone’s sacrifice did not end meaninglessly… truly what a relief…”pZF50qt
BvKWx6pFina simply let him cry.MUynrno
3Xk1O“Truly what a relief… The Empire regained peace once more… I feel as if all my long years of effort have been rewarded…”OMq9l
hHADc“Yes, congratulations. Congratulations.”4DY
XmMqFina congratulated him in a voice devoid of sincerity, as if tossing the words into the air.uNoT
NbNbVKKalimford was that kind of man.lIz
O0HHTwA true hero of the history books, someone who gave everything for humanity and to save the Empire.7VFE2rU
fZlFina knew that as well.seII
kxTSThat was why she let him cry for quite a while longer.ieS
14UMrYsThe confusion of having been resurrected, and the relief of knowing that the Empire was safe.LxuKEeY
Z94UlSeveral minutes had already passed as she waited for him to regain his composure in the midst of that storm of emotions.8dFPCfz
KvnIWhen Kalimford’s breathing began to gradually calm down, Fina once again formed a twisted smile and spoke.xsg
6yKx6SZ“That being said… you haven’t forgotten the promise, have you, Kalimford?”hFc8Y
cRCJzU8“…Promise?”ISA9
QTdUTr“Yes. Why do you think this woman would go to such lengths to resurrect you? I have no interest in the biography of a hero of the Empire. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me.”duhdn02
5aq8AWKalimford, covered in rags, trembled uncontrollably.Z8i
zD3b1Fina advanced with firm steps toward the experimental table, and her eyes, filled with euphoria, shone intensely.BPFmI
dTy“You said you could kill me. The hero of the Empire, Kalimford, the six-star combat mage who will never exist again in history.”JECenQ6
9ub8vr“…”b9wJRf
LxjwXbt“That’s right. You said that if I helped you counter Noir’s necromantic magic, you would grant me eternal rest. Only because of that promise have I endured this life full of tedium. Now it is time for you to keep your word. It is time to finally grant me the fulfillment of my long-held desire.”ZrlLOW6
o5EsEven as she spoke, her breathing became ragged.dDqUh4L
VcaDFina laughed in an even more exalted voice and finally declared to the hero of the Empire.wVKBk
zxYBS“Come on. Fulfill your duty, Kalimford.”83sgI
kyMdUY“Reina… no, Fina…”XZFUa
bJdC2If she helped him counter Noir’s necromantic magic, he would burn away the mark of reincarnation and guide her to eternal rest.xzU
7ffThat was the promise that the hero of the Empire, Kalimford, made to Fina with resolute eyes.AK2ReDK
G1pZ9The hero of justice who always looked straight ahead and only ever spoke the truth to everyone had assured her of it.qTr3YuB
MlWuThat was the only light that allowed her to endure this endless life.n6I8l
NKJAmid the tedium and pain of long years, she finally reached that light—yDoi0TX
7SWhjhM“That… was a lie.”6mxdgU
nCv3bxAnd inside Fina’s mind, a sound was heard, as if something had broken.92P
NGxo“What… did you say…?”Y1z4V7l
U3y“No… I cannot burn away the mark of reincarnation that you completed. Even with my power, it is not enough. Truly… I am truly sorry…”VXXZK8W
cTn2WUj“…”WRZt
pLoCz2“Reina… no, Fina…”TIavtfU
IBrBXOVKalimford lowered his gaze heavily and spoke as if confessing a sin.yndv
KJkIt was his final confession, poured out after an amount of years impossible to count with one’s hands.3NiMV8
PG8hKoO“It was necessary… If we had left Noir as he was, he would have reduced the entire Empire to ashes…”ehCzM
AQ3Fina’s body became completely rigid.9bXSc
nsmwyAs if enormous chains were wrapping around her, the shackle called life dragged her back into reality.d5yH
dExwgFrom the very beginning, there had been no escape.7DP
gKi1There never was.DlTE
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!