Chapter 164: Who are you a disciple of? (4)
25CzTe“About you, Lady Katia, I’ve heard a great deal from Dereck. I’ve heard that you’re already a very well-known figure in the east of the continent, so it’s truly an honor to be able to meet you like this in person.”ocXoKft
Qzf“…”Huq
KsIThe main residence of the Duplain family, now fully restored.fAK
WL9With a cup of tea set before her, Aiselin wore an exquisitely elegant smile; simply by sitting there, she gave the impression that splendid flowers were blooming all around her.DjDo
ZsorJ8PAt rest, she resembled a snow-white hyacinth; when she smiled, a radiant lily; when she frowned, a narcissus; even when she was angry, she evoked a red rose.Fo0T7b
ZmsjkIt was inevitable that anyone would be captivated by her—worthy of being called the queen of the social circle of the southwest.fbsu
SmXV2However, the rough image she had shown at the academy construction site overlapped in Katia’s mind, making her break into an uncomfortable sweat, while Aiselin, for her part, nervously moved her little finger.RJS27U
kezThere are relationships that begin by showing one’s worst side.32oV
JZ1Dereck thought it might not be a big deal, but for Aiselin and Katia, it did not seem so simple.NmUza
eM6“I’m not someone particularly qualified to call myself Dereck’s teacher. I’ve already passed the stage where I could teach him magic.”8emL
1Kw“Even so, Dereck always says there’s so much to learn from you, Lady Katia. He’s not someone who offers empty praise or insists on defending someone without reason.”2JlXzDR
nzAGi“Thank you for saying that. And this is the young Freya, whom I am currently instructing in magic.”GbTNIis
Etv“Who doesn’t know the young Countess Freya, so famous in the eastern social circle? It’s an immense honor to meet you!”fwcLBg
9qdAiselin, the most celebrated lady of the southwest of the continent, and Freya, who reigned as a true queen in the east, were gathered in the same place.0VudM
HX4If this scene were to reach the ears of the Ebelstein social circle, it would undoubtedly cause a great stir.zdL6cy
VLcBfBecause of physical distance and personal circumstances, they were two people who almost never had the chance to meet.49VCQ2Y
t5GFreya observed Aiselin with genuine surprise.NG2
VZg‘…After seeing her family fall from grace, roll through the merciless social world, and even lose her family, and yet she doesn’t have even a single wrinkle in her heart.’yjq
YHMGeVSeeing Aiselin greet them with such a radiant smile made it feel as though even the surroundings were being purified.NyYiFf
BvdUIt gave the impression that, if she had a tail, she would be wagging it enthusiastically.XdoMM
sQOqShe, who was said to be the queen of the southwestern social circle, did not resemble at all the cold, distant figure Freya had imagined.K6IC
B17T1That preconceived notion crumbled easily.76jW
8nukKatia, who had also been taken aback by Aiselin’s first impression, now seemed somewhat more relaxed.WBzncz
BZ7aAlthough the initial image of seeing her working with a pickaxe on her shoulder had been striking, seated properly at the tea table in the main residence, she was still an elegant and beautiful lady.u4ca6
zTFnxSince her days as a mercenary in Ebelstein, Katia had heard countless stories about the grandeur and prestige of the Duplain family.VCZ
oZm9‘Hmm…’3N1GmEd
P7zdmYKatia closed her eyes for a moment and imagined the scene.MuQB
zK3Aiselin, in a beautiful dress, linking arms with Dereck as they laughed together.OhsjFRJ
N55gjFShe thought that perhaps she could support him well, finally allowing him to live focused on the magic he loved so much after all the hardships he had endured—but immediately that image overlapped with another Aiselin rolling up her sleeves and heading toward the mine with a pickaxe on her shoulder.1b9
vmrhtJust thinking about it made her feel a bit dizzy again.b4CD
pcOlsjw‘I’ve seen countless noble ladies after spending half my life in the social circle, but Aiselin is truly hard to decipher.’RdWY7Xs
IvCeKKatia was a person of broad perspective.3UvHG
BBqdShe could even play along with the arrogant Trisha with a warm smile.bFuRN
C7dhYBut when it came to choosing the person who would sit beside Dereck, she became more demanding than any aristocratic lady.aEhMl3
pOcJP1At first glance, Aiselin seemed perfect and immaculate, but Katia couldn’t help worrying that, by sticking her hands into all kinds of matters, it would end up being Dereck who bore the fatigue.Dx2F
Q7L‘Still, she’s not from just any family, but from House Duplain. Perhaps I shouldn’t worry so much.’Nyd
fWkM9Just as Katia was beginning to relax and sketch another smile—DIA
QlmbThump! Thump!F5T5
cXY84J9“…”brkw
QpcMFrom the corridor came a strange sound, like something heavy being struck repeatedly. Aiselin gave a small start.wRUGqwJ
uGEAShe seemed to have anticipated something.8Zg
DiHyfCT“Lady Diella! Please! I beg you, forgive me! I’m truly sorry! Please… allow me to atone for my guilt!”28cQC
nmDkw“Very well. If that’s what you desire, repentance, I’ll help you. You choose—would you prefer to receive a beating until you lose all feeling in your arms and legs, or leave this mansion in silence, thus paying for your corruption?”K7jdV2I
adso“I’m truly sorry! Please, forgive me just this once! I’ll never touch the account books again! I’ll return all the money I embezzled! Just… just grant me a little leeway…!”z5N3C
eGz“Don’t grab my ankle. You’ll dirty my dress.”kFY8
CAwThud! Thud!rlr
6UpcThe sound of someone being trampled seemed to filter inside.dyXp
4PuAiselin’s face went pale; Katia’s and Freya’s expressions also hardened.fwI
IzTc5IlDereck couldn’t say anything and simply remained silent.gCla
zYptThe head of the Duplain family is Leigh, but the practical leader and spiritual pillar is Aiselin.vLP
NCNPcaILeigh is upright by nature, though prone to hesitation; Aiselin knows how to embrace people, but lacks hardness.nJfYEi
5gb3pEThat alone is not enough.DmioIT
S8Z4wATo lead a group, someone must become an object of fear.sIE5y
lxQPeople do not move on rewards alone.ppPxN
iRlfRW“Do you think the Duplain family is an easy target? We seated you as a high vassal, and yet you manipulated the books, falsified the accounts, and stole jewels meant for official events. Do you know that the family was on the verge of collapse until just recently? With what you siphoned off, we could have raised the servants’ wages, you know?”QLQ
DwaWVJ“Lady Diella…!”qpUY
jjTZ“What? Now that the situation is improving, you want to cash in on your efforts? You could have said so. I could have rewarded you as you deserved. Of course, I would also have demanded the corresponding price. Choose—your limbs or your membership in the family. One of the two you must abandon.”2dATF
AqerbT“I’m sorry… truly…!”yLWQo
QGmB“I told you not to grab my dress! I’m going to an important meeting!”nAaB9g
JC5NFThud! Thud! Agh! Thud! Crrrk!8I9
bZUCrash! Bang!oAjijD
96XpKauAfter several more noises, silence gradually returned.eIAMD
kMDXinAlthough the audience chamber connected to the grand hall of the ducal residence of Duplain had good sound insulation, the newly renovated area was not quite so perfect.eErCXUF
gJFIgnoring that detail, Diella dealt with the corrupt vassal again and again before brushing off her dress.ojKa
s5yFKTap, tap.fQoWzlj
BuVUZcmAhem, ahem.qlRHfZM
53nnAfter a brief silence, the door to the room where they were seated opened with a creak.DEH
3QnThe person who entered with a smile of dazzling beauty was, as expected, Diella Katherine Duplain.HDc
p47PX5“Hello. I came to greet you upon hearing of the visit. You must be Lady Katia, Dereck’s teacher. The mansion isn’t quite in perfect order yet, so I’m a bit embarrassed—please understand.”g20gAEK
jMN2VLifting the hem of her dress with elegance, Diella made an impeccable curtsey, displaying the dignity befitting a lady of House Duplain.0n070wP
hjg“I am Dereck’s most senior principal disciple. My name is Diella.”3minfM
yYgoShe was so perfect and composed that it was hard to believe that, just moments earlier, she had been mercilessly beating a corrupt vassal.eNDLpTG
hbtiy6QHer abundant blonde hair, with waves at the tips, shone with a vivid luster, and her delicate, well-defined features looked more like those of a beautiful bisque doll than of a real person.Hxf
dTVt3vThe dress filled with frills and the large ribbon pinned to her chest.jEnGho
MBTa0THer small, delicate body was so adorable that anyone seeing her for the first time would feel the urge to smile broadly and pull her into an embrace.ZnA4S
VcrO83However, the family members accompanying her to assist were, for some reason, terrified.4GifX
v4b0vGvThere was no need to ask what had happened in the corridor on the way.GnhbWBo
4Wi0Her beautifully upturned eyes seemed full of charm, but upon closer inspection, one could sense a strange chill whose origin was impossible to discern.rWS
kmvvagAs has been said time and again, in Ebelstein there were only two people capable of dealing with this girl.zROk
5WHsUDereck and Aiselin.41b
HltpiBAnd what was truly fortunate was that both of them were there at that moment.IlpS
TPyX***pBY3Gy
WKm9qG“W-was the weather always this cold…?”7LT
OZRAfter finishing the conversation with the Duplain sisters, the young Countess Freya stepped out, trembling from head to toe.P2y4NSZ
RUOWhen she had first arrived in Duplain territory, what had made her nervous was meeting Aiselin, the most famous lady in the high society of the southwest.jSzIRW
pSEHowever, the figure that ultimately etched itself into her mind was that of her younger sister, Diella.gDT9Tc4
Y9PfCieShe was much younger, shorter, and on top of that, a disciple of Dereck.J6DI
dJRFor Freya, who had a senior–junior relationship with Dereck, she was not someone she could treat lightly.E4rRrD3
FMcV5Despite being in a clearly advantageous position, throughout her stay in the reception room Freya had kept both hands firmly clasped together on her knees.zwv7GB
LKvPJHad she opened them, they would have been soaked with sweat.Y2Go16
b0kb43Even while sitting still, she felt as if a lion were roaring behind her.mEtO89d
78AnbVoAlthough Leigh and Aiselin had relatively gentle temperaments, it was obvious why that mansion functioned with such precision.mYcG
9W8Y“It seems that Master Katia wants to continue talking with those two. It would be better for us to withdraw first. She’ll also need to rest from the journey.”bQJr
DRiU9u“Y-yes.”NPN
oxAekAs she left the reception room, Freya wore an expression as if she had just escaped from a prison.8goK
dnX4zDereck observed her in silence and then spoke with a somewhat awkward smile.UdW1DYG
OogIX“Both of them are good people.”zMpyMY2
Hbx“A-ah… y-yes…”3dWM
VDOzFreya swallowed and crossed the corridor of the Duplain mansion alongside Dereck.caA
TRfGlancing at him from the side, she noticed that, for a man, he was walking at quite a slow pace.9LVYO
TUfBbxLooking more closely, she realized that he was clearly adjusting his stride to match hers.r90
sB2bThat alone was enough to show that he was quite accustomed to the norms of high society.2qkH1X
O2d69TPThe first time Freya met Dereck was when she became involved in the tragedy of the Duchy of Duplain.RuKPi
DrCThat their second meeting was also there felt ironically fitting.gemR
eXeZlCIWith Katia not present and no one else listening, Freya knew that Baron Ravenclaw was someone she could trust.zC9KiT
ATpXgWSo she spoke in a slightly more serious tone.Q1S
oJakor0“The last time, when the tragedy occurred in this mansion…”YLy1SGt
FKME“…”eQeutqe
mKhBVBHearing her lower her voice, Dereck’s expression hardened.s7XGf0
S6bl“At that time I said… that I had a hunch that, in some way, my godmother from the Elvester family, Lady Kohella, might be involved, do you remember? I also said that I would inform you if I found anything that could help.”ldQa
C6AO8Lb“Yes, you did.”JQKisaq
nBA“After that, I returned to the main residence and investigated on my own. Lady Kohella usually handles state affairs at Gremport Palace, so she rarely visits the mansion, but she leaves behind many work documents. Most of them are quite old.”iSTjInt
aNyZuThe chief magical advisor of Gremport Palace, the six-star transformation mage Kohella.EJzwfL
0LQMrNA close confidant of Emperor Gatrell and a figure so influential that it would not be an exaggeration to call her one of the most famous in the current magical world.awwAP6O
vdmBJyShe was, quite literally, the greatest treasure of the Elvester family.Ekk8Ev
ZsFQSince he had already visited Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion once, Dereck listened to the story with a serious expression.A5CEY
giKz“You say you investigated on your own—how exactly?”IeV
NUFc“Would you like to hear the grand epic of Freya’s espionage diary? I warn you, it won’t be short.”noUmyfy
ilF“…”WdP
L3I02YJ“Then I won’t go into all the details, but a nighttime adventure sneaking into my godmother’s study and opening the attic deserves to be told at least once. If you like, we can do it over a cup of tea…”ucO
eGyvyRR“Would it be terribly disrespectful to ask for just the conclusion?”VPklR8h
tyALc4“I knew you’d say that…”LoSbc
vWbFZiFreya pursed her lips with a dejected air.kqmi5
cMZIYc2It seemed she had carried out all kinds of secret investigations within the Elvester family.Lhm
fz8J“As you know, Lord Ravenclaw, my godmother Kohella has a strong inclination toward associating with high-level mages—especially six-star ones. I suppose she still yearns to reach the domain of seven stars proclaimed by the great mage Adelbert.”AMYTcaE
tHFOnly those who had reached the six-star level could even dream of the seventh.mqG7X
5n1RTbqHowever, throughout history, although many six-star mages appeared, none managed to surpass that limit.nRDOA
We8VIt was said that the seventh level was a domain reserved by Adelbert to venerate the gods, and that humans could not go beyond it.p4EeDr
LLG6dsuEven so, as the eras passed, there were always those who harbored ambitions.5kZw3Kr
XFQEven though Kohella was an old woman covered in wrinkles, she never abandoned that yearning.wF3aP
rkUs8If necessary, she would gather all existing six-star mages to exchange views and, without fail, reach that distant summit.DOsh
CoL3“Lady Kohella meets with anyone who has the potential to reach six stars. And if they’ve already reached that level, then all the more so.”fb3LM
OvxShe seemed to have seen some potential in Dereck, as she had left him several pieces of advice before departing.N6QMsKl
IBiPAlthough he had received help, he could not feel any sympathy toward her.HO5gkf
gA0t8There was something unsettling about that old woman.wXcB
kKanpbTo reach the seventh level, she would not hesitate over means or methods.a7zx
EOxThat carried many implications.AsS
XbZrFreya glanced around several times, lowered her voice, and spoke with an even more serious expression.hkbI9
WSHPZSP“Currently, three six-star mages are known on the continent. Lord Melverot in the north, Lord Drest in the southwest, and Lady Kohella. In that order, combat, exploration, and transformation mages.”SuuulDZ
4VvJGRN“Yes, that’s right.”55Ip6l3
s20gGyM“But according to Lady Kohella’s research records, there may be more six-star mages.”lTmP
rkOA3CaAt those words, Dereck feigned surprise, though in truth he was not.uXGG0
N9mL31He already knew of another mage of that level.tgt
Pqle“That could be. The known mages don’t have to be all of them. One more wouldn’t be strange…”Idm
1kZDX“It’s not just one. Listen carefully, Sir Dereck. This may soon spread across the continent, but knowing it before others has immense value.”q6XY
RPeqFreya swallowed and told him what she had discovered.qNrw
DSZfMh“I read records in which my godmother investigated the writings of the great mage Adelbert. Adelbert said that he established the magical system by observing the Big Dipper in the sky. He took as a basis the magical currents corresponding to each star and wove them into a single great flow.”AJTu
3lhAM“Seven stars?”exUrT
JGjJg5“Yes. Therefore, there are also seven magical systems. My godmother believes she read Adelbert’s memories through transformation magic. She’s convinced of it.”NjUS
WCCIHTGenerally, five magical systems are known combat, illusion, transformation, summoning, and exploration.6AX4hSl
mv9IEven adding necromancy, considered taboo, that only makes six.Y7FusM
75keIf one speaks of seven systems based on the Big Dipper, one is missing.nO44M
Ur0aL“…”YS7A
HfG2“Do you understand what I mean?”nPX0W
tsMo“Does there exist a seventh magical system unknown to everyone?”jBB0cBX
UAHQ“It’s still only a hypothesis, but my godmother seems to call it the seventh system. There are no clues, not even certainty of its existence, but she believes it must be something indispensable for reaching the seven-star level.”1ay
lynHearing that, Dereck’s expression hardened.ydIqHT
h14He felt something stir in his chest, a strange euphoria he had never experienced before.n1W
qGtdThe path of magic was vast and deep, and exploring it to its limit was, for Dereck, equivalent to his own life.In6LQT
i2IKbFIt was like seeing a new objective emerge before his eyes on a prairie he already knew well.27b8
aPsqxpXWhen Dereck’s expression changed so clearly, Freya too ended up feeling the tension.y29pKG
Ujr91FzWhenever it came to matters related to magic, Dereck invariably became serious.BzX
KltTA discussion about a new magical system no one had discovered until now was more than enough to excite him.LOY5Ju
hM9NI“And then?”qv4
D7Vq“While investigating that process, it seems Lady Kohella brushed against a certain truth. I don’t know exactly what she saw, but she became convinced that there were still more six-star mages. And moreover, she believes that finding them is one of the key elements to reaching the seven-star level.”SRW
F668MThat six-star mages still existed was a fact.ZtU
MUIiuDHowever, what Freya was saying went one step beyond what Dereck had assumed.8yhNw
NuooH3“Lady Kohella, as a six-star transformation mage, has already designed countless magical artifacts and magical weapons, and has used them to search for mages in many different fields. Basically, she’s met with every high-level mage she could find.”P8ycb
WnYLuEven though Dereck was only a four-star mage, Kohella had taken the trouble to visit him in person.k1i
sGHMThThe reason seemed clear.2FLhgc
5V4HNShe had suspected that Dereck might have the potential of a six-star mage—or even that he was one hiding his identity.tkjM
PViKYIf there was even the slightest possibility, she investigated it to the very end.I8C
27GDThat was Kohella’s style.5Fn
n3NzhhVFreya took out a small note from her chest.WOqrM
2KzDIt seemed she had been taking notes on her own.90XWX
L4QN“Not even Lord Drest, the six-star exploration mage, could escape Lady Kohella’s eyes.”aQQq
If9kmO“That matches what’s said. I’ve heard that six-star transformation mages create tools and magical weapons on an absurd scale. Detecting powerful mages must be trivial for them. Of course, even so, she wouldn’t have been able to catch Master Drest.”GY76G
hEFjFSix-star transformation magic twists and breaks even laws and causality, materializing tools and weapons that should not exist.CO468D
2lPE9JAlmost no one has seen that level of magic manifest directly, but it is rumored that upon reaching that domain, one can create something entirely new, of an unknown dimension.i3GEYg
wZEKohella not only possessed that kind of magic, but also overwhelming political power.VsD
JLauoF7All elite magical advisors of Gremport Palace obeyed her orders.HDHNTE
YQQVDqo“If someone like that, who has spent her entire life honing her eyes and ears, cannot find them, then there are only two possibilities.”wY0orG
Wc3“…”WuxcaX
nF7“Either they have transcended life and death, or they have transcended perception.”icbJk
6IIENTOn the note that Freya handed to him, two words were written.xou98tV
ymjDf— Necromantic systemyZ1AwNQ
TOsIxIf— Illusion systemeihud
xpfTranscend life and death, or transcend perception.oFK8
fpbUgv4In order to traverse the continent without being detected even by Kohella’s eyes, one of those two conditions had to be met.wzoun
GgUOne was already known.PwgL8gA
OxQThe existence of a necromantic mage who had transcended even death and infiltrated noble society through an endless cycle of reincarnations.2w2h
gE4No matter how powerful Kohella was, she could not pursue the dead.ksm
YCJpNGBut the other possibility had never been considered.3zahK
C1fz8mAIllusion magic that deceives perception and manipulates human senses.vi3
IJPCIf that magic were to reach its ultimate expression and attain the supreme level of six stars, what would happen then?cccM4wp
qWwdFThe magical laboratory of Gremport.ZFtt
GINRThat old mage, secluded there while tracking six-star mages across the world—what exactly was she perceiving?6fI1gj
yaOT“There is someone who exists, yet does not exist. Someone who is always by our side, yet cannot be perceived. They are already… among us.”7UiP
dH1u0y“…”vDaZiv
Y6ccBh“That was the final research record left by Lady Kohella.”EiX
5AgJ7BGAfter hearing that, Dereck could do nothing but stand still in the corridor for a moment.IS9ZU
haS99Suddenly, with a slight jolt, he turned around.v7Fw
mMhUxK4There was nothing behind him.xIeOC1
ZOgvOnly the long corridor of the Duplain mansion stretching out in silence.UpHBIB
chzQA six-star illusion mage.Z2R
tu5An existence that might not even be real, and that, even if it were, could not be perceived.7TwcRzo
XKTEven if one had already encountered it before, it would not even be permitted to remember it.piOQO
LKrlsPlCould something like that truly be called existent?1AqqxZ
l5WCQnDereck narrowed his eyes and slowly nodded.EKVR
UHBIuA“I see.”UKtC
BHyHe did not know why, but it seemed a fact that Kohella was trying to gather all the six-star mages that existed on the surface.mBtPnKO
8bo3FFor that reason alone, Dereck merely nodded in silence.lqJAN
o8tFThe sun was gradually setting.tFIqj
gTmiXIn the distance, beyond the window, the far edge of the grounds where the Ravenclaw Academy was being built could be seen.QlKA
jG1Whatever the case, now was the time to focus on what needed to be done.A9E
s2LZj9It was then, as Dereck stood absorbed, gazing out the window—0qlaqE
TwfjW“…”Yv1zUgJ
jJmahAt the main entrance of the Duplain mansion, a large carriage was going through the procedures to enter the grounds, silhouetted against the deep glow of the sunset.58K
YNzXOyThinking that perhaps another distinguished guest had arrived, he frowned and focused his gaze.ckKbEtG
xTLC4A girl had stepped down from the carriage and was insistently explaining something to the gate guard.UYOOg
KDda“…..”76mDN0
XgUHIt was Trisha, with an expression on the verge of breaking into tears.Uzrr
pc4RWith a desperate face, she was trying to enter Duplain territory.3Y1Geh
27fKrDereck’s head was already starting to ache.ZI8xYg
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