Chapter 166: Who are you a disciple of? (6)
MI1c“Dereck, who is she?”cI9
nQUSbA sinister intent flowed in Fina’s eyes.85V5
7MjLike a girl her age who did not want her only treasure to be taken away, her pupils were filled with venom.YiS
zZ4Everything happened in an instant.0LtZ1
FX9Katia was trying to compose herself and understand the situation when—GWZHAL
GzIClang!Koyr1
1CYkOECrash!1gZ
003CtThe reaction speed of the mana was so absurd that there was not even time to respond.hpmz
8pmBlJlFrom Fina’s center, a dark, reddish mist spread out in an instant, wrapping around Katia’s body and lifting her into the air.NY3ba
gAhi6The sensation of death closing around her neck, arms, and waist made it difficult even to breathe.rjHS
QigS“Cough… ngh…! Ack!”NI06t
ActBcyuKatia was a mage who was on the verge of reaching, or falling just short of, the four-star rank.0PsondB
ZMAWUShe had only been surpassed because Dereck’s growth had been abnormally fast; she was never someone who would be put to shame before others in terms of magical mastery.a4N
zHNfwoBut in front of Fina, she could not even put up a fight.F7bOj
wU6Dg7A human who manipulated mana at an impossibly fast speed.uTqNg
Mjl4cKwIn that instant, Katia understood that the blood-soaked girl was no ordinary person.JoBs3
VIhRWShe was not just a high-level mage.Adzh
vOtZxUpon seeing the aura of resentful spirits swirling around her, she opened her eyes wide.37viJ
XKhZ‘A necromantic-branch mage!’nGNo
Bgv5nnShe wanted to scream, but she could not.tRF
HkKThe mana wrapping around her pressed against her body as if it might crush it at any moment.E1e
jJPguku“Don’t tell me this thing is the master you follow so devotedly, Dereck? Hah, what a ridiculous joke. Her mana is weak, her reactions slow, and her level low.”PrSxtH
nhR5rT“Dereck, listen carefully. If you learn magic from a useless thing like this, you’ll spend your entire life stagnating.”pK42
2E5R“Gh… ack…!”oGGCYp
97As“Oh… huh? Looking closely at her features, she seems familiar. Hmm… did you say she used to move around eastern society?”tldnhZ
HPxt1wf“Katia… Katia… yes, I think I’ve seen you before.”9kCS525
wULMeG“Wh… what… are you… saying…”dBlAd
Bg7m“What was my name back then…? Amy…? Lani…? No… I know. Katlan. Yes, it must have been Katlan.”ZTgAs
0sRmUpon hearing that name, Katia’s pupils dilated even further.qDoDy
PafHdDKatlan.O0leXED
B5Ltf3WA name she had only heard in her childhood.R4l0jX
McOrCThat of a young noblewoman she had met while preparing for her debut in society.FiL
ivIhSomeone who had taught her a little magic and listened to some of her worries.vAWflO
ldzA bond from the past.QjF
cucLH6a“My… it’s been so long. And the little brat from the Flameheart family now goes around calling herself a master.”Mbs
jAycam“But you should have accepted disciples appropriate to your level. How pathetic.”3h4n
zwxgIv5“Y-you… who… are… you…”JkEvZ
UJ7Nisp“Don’t try to know too much. The problem is that Dereck can’t think clearly because of the emotional attachment he still has to you.”9RBq
l7RFW“If you truly care about him, you should think that the best thing is not to drag him along with you and make him waste years of his life.”bgvfWi
ph6g1dCrack… crack.VNI
TDd9Yfe“As long as you’re alive, you’ll only be an obstacle to Dereck. If he lets himself be led by useless feelings, he’ll squander precious time.”AUQa
hPN3hZn“So, if you truly cherish your beloved disciple… you should accept dying here with your neck broken.”MlkkR
2rUKatia tried to breathe while clinging to the trace of mana crushing her throat, but it did not budge even slightly.RzxudTl
5CQThe difference in level between them was not something that effort could overcome.x3w8I
XUDSNxFina’s expression, seen from below, looked like that of a blood-soaked monster.y0Ctu
ua9OXgHer lips, curved into a smile, overflowed with pleasure.0LSrIt
QoLWShe was willing to break Katia’s neck just to monopolize Dereck.3kFdC
5msh5ECrunch!AQKzB
pHjgtoAAck!VWKY
Y3dwK4GFwoosh!8hVA
vSBBEBut the mana strangling Katia’s body dispersed instantly, interfered with by another magical flow.GcT
HuKOmwCrash!QTVmpp
062wbtBang!IYYo4
5WyA0y“Hah… cough… hah…!”5ESOGvo
maZwzKatia fell heavily to the ground and struggled to catch her breath.YDDg
oJ4OVDereck ran to her side and crouched down.TBPo
1uCCZabJudging by her condition, she did not seem to have suffered serious injuries.pcZxz
Oi0OQU“Are you all right?”wgiQ
sfsU“Cough… yes, Dereck… I’m fine…”FHaLtk
Z4m2euDereck’s transformation magic had dispersed Fina’s necromantic mana into the air.Z27
Idl2Yv4Seeing this, Fina was momentarily stunned.EyvwJzT
6UrWhShe knew Dereck had grown quickly, but she never imagined he could neutralize even her magic.Ydhdb
fRtULn“Dereck… you can already undo even this master’s mana…”OH22Ev
N8w“Fina. What happened in the Tigris territory?”4gXetf
lLKTGjiAfter shaking off the remaining mana, Dereck stood up.aRt
VDyIn his eyes, which barely managed to maintain calm, complex emotions were mixed.FXwi4r
3CZ6J“Did something happen? Is that what matters to you right now?”6UW0v
aRvyte“I don’t know what kind of shock you suffered, but you don’t seem to be thinking normally.
It would be best for you to calm down first.”yXKL
uOVd“Dereck, I’ve never been this calm. My mind is clear; everything feels sharper.”aYfJw
iz6E“Dereck… you must trust me.”8ZxtpJ
mAoFwoooooosh!vmt1KeW
L45dFXZFina’s ominous mana once again spread throughout the spacious study.itK
B4X9Her hair fluttered, and the blood-soaked dress seemed to gleam under the moonlight streaming in through the window.Zz7H5pO
PVNlVjShe was the very incarnation of living death.I9osyR
t0W“Dereck… you are my only disciple… Trust your master… I will take you to a higher level…”leKJiLi
PbIJXtGCrack!XPO
sXSdl2When Fina clenched her fist, darkness spread through the surroundings.ui8e
4DAHeThe entire study seemed to be swallowed by a bottomless abyss.Oj62
IrsxDereck lowered his stance slightly, ready to cast magic at any moment, while supporting Katia, who was still exhausted.A3ub
xsxThe hostility in his eyes was clearly directed at Fina.4lFyx7
VCj1kIiFwoosh!mAo4GU
zvc3bWkWithin the swirling mana, Fina met Dereck’s gaze and held her breath.M9KL44s
CHk1L26He was looking at her as an enemy.Aq8
XlCE0TRealizing this, she hastily dispersed her mana and spoke, shrinking back.oyjOUa
yPBxWSd“Dereck… you… why are you looking at me like that?”2JW
uRdBwC2“…”UQbQuLj
0fygoF“I’m only acting for you… my only disciple… for you…”zjrJ
IJsIixe“Fina.”EjbouPy
lCVF“I told you to call me master.”M6u
OuFaMr“I asked you to calm down, Fina.”t6C9i9
pmhSeeing Dereck draw a clear line, Fina swallowed with difficulty.BEBgH5
QzlHplThen she tightly grabbed her violet hair and spoke in an almost pleading voice.jNA6r
3KH7R“Dereck… you must be under me. You are no one else’s disciple. You are my disciple.”dJT
fEL89r“…”n1Q0
26i7u“Ah… I see… But for someone as immature as you, there must still be many temptations.”Crz
VDFDDInAs the atmosphere began to calm again, Fina let out several hollow laughs and, looking at Dereck holding Katia, formed a smile full of indulgence.thO78
zRJ4JWX“Yes, that’s right. Following such an inexperienced woman, believing she is your master and wasting time with her, can also be a good experience. I am a good master, so I will respect your decision, Dereck.”QIPa
Yjtjd“For me, time is infinite. I can afford to warmly observe my disciple’s momentary straying.”EZhwfRp
FzFZiThe Fina of old had never given the impression of being so cornered, nor had she spoken so much in this manner.ZVv0jKG
JefCG1Seeing this sudden change, Dereck could not stop turning it over in his mind.rOK
gDyaur“Yes… even if the disciple commits foolishness, the master must embrace even his lack of virtue. When you understand how futile it is to play at being master and disciple with that insignificant brat, you must cling tightly to the hand of the one who is truly on your side—mine.”xx9Uk5b
v1cyzSwish!Fd1Vvj
N2p5NFwoooosh!yMDA5i
MJPrNFina’s dark, reddish mana took the form of countless bats and gathered around her.iHuQ8I9
T4UO0Hiding her body among them, Fina looked at Dereck with a gaze full of affection.0Mi
9pIPRM“You are my only disciple. Never forget that fact. Never forget that remaining in my arms is what benefits you the most.”2GpZt
HHCn9kM“…”Tzd
hc1wnab“When your fleeting deviation ends, come to the Tigris territory whenever you wish. Your only master will be waiting for you there, caressing beautiful corpses.”lax1ZAn
WGAThat affection was so heavy it was terrifying.HrBDOJs
3BDAWith just a single drop of it, it felt as if the entire room became murky.rdTTWoa
cmjMJSomething had happened in the Tigris territory.hWvZ
DbeiuThat much was obvious, and Dereck was about to open his mouth when—FfpyfHb
zxEO3Swish!rp4tk
ykP9sfFwoooosh!9mUEo
sqNKjwThe swarm of bats once again transformed into a massive torrent of mana, and in the next instant, Fina vanished without leaving a trace.0bbk3t
SIaaLt“…”ua69qzZ
ydFAll that remained was the study turned into chaos, stained with blood everywhere.Xpxy2
9PjV80Katia, clinging to the back of a chair while catching her breath, and the servants who had come running in, shaken.rpS6
tdn7lbSIn the midst of them, Dereck stood still, his brow furrowed.4SCrV
sH3***Eek
8CnY6LT“Dereck, that girl from before was…”5Yhcr3
k0Q9cL“She is the other master I mentioned to you earlier. And as you could see, she is a black mage.”Yqoe0u
fpr“…”Ndz2wxt
3qrUAt those words, Katia was left speechless.fmnp
VE4The fact that Dereck had learned magic from a black mage was so shocking that it was impossible to believe.bwQlkeU
7aLEven if he did not use black magic himself, merely being associated with someone like that could be considered a serious crime.gPDlpG
t3oOKatia leaned against the back of the reception sofa and pressed her temples hard.5zlDy
6igJIt seemed that dizziness was beginning to overtake her.g3Y
EMFR“How… how could something like this happen…”ybShLOp
ks3“It’s complicated to explain, but in any case, I think it would be best for you to be careful, Master Katia.”shcpr
aazb4NOnce the study had been put in order and the situation reviewed, nothing seemed simple.W4jv
THwa‘She went to the Tigris territory to revive Kalimford. So did she fail?’1bkJDU0
DEPXnzTIt was known that Fina’s advanced corpse resurrection technique was complete.r8W9mrV
gGvjEven so, the Fina Dereck had seen looked like someone from whom something enormous had been taken away.rSXvj
gzinKrwShe tried to replace that loss with something, and ended up developing a disturbing obsession with Dereck.pM9V
HwFAs all the pieces came together, Dereck’s expression grew even more grave.dIZz
wyMp“Dereck, there are many things I would like to ask you.”RsV
9uBoKHEither way, what he needed to do now was explain everything that had happened to Katia.A5Q1Qx5
mf1***Bkq
kIX5mT♪ ♬ ♪27A
63muvkUA humming can be heard.J4v
EJkBack in the Tigris territory, Fina walked among the servants with light, cheerful steps.9BT
1j7KHer expression, as fresh as if she had cast off an enormous emotional burden, would have been unsettling to those who knew her well.Bn8l
OLQiEBut to the common inhabitants of the territory, she simply seemed to be in a good mood.dFeoIN
4aTNHer eyes were darker and deeper than usual.GeNvoJX
Oi3The servants greeted her as she passed.Zqmm
a6FijIu‘The weather is nice. It seems spring is approaching.’mVfzv
3NVK2bTo that innocent greeting, Fina replied with a smile.gLHetpH
8Sd‘Yes, the weather is pleasant.’An7Q
rgUThe instant she finished responding, blood burst from the servants’ faces.orYA
aFdThe modest yet functional castle of the Baron of Tigris.XYbB81
plp8However, when the continent’s highest-level necromantic mage advanced with a simple gesture, flowers of blood bloomed everywhere she passed.Xfx
EeZDark, reddish mana covered the corridors, and the servants who walked through them lost their sanity and began to writhe.AzaV
mzvAmong them, Fina moved forward with lively steps, madness and ecstasy mixed in equal measure.jj4fV
94i“In the end, you will return to me, Dereck.”eED
fQlYAcross countless reincarnations, she had known innumerable mages, but almost none possessed a vessel as vast as Dereck’s, nor burned with such a pure passion for magic.Kj1CCjA
FiehrConvinced that Dereck would eventually yearn for an even higher level of magic and come to her, Fina began staining the castle of the Baron of Tigris with blood, one by one, as if she were preparing her home for an upcoming guest.lpLV
rTTLike a seasoned conductor guiding an orchestra, with each gesture of Fina, the house of Baron Tigris became covered in corpses.cXl5AGl
ino10And all the corpses obeyed her will.fI7z
sj8ynip“To teach properly, one must prepare a good nest. Perhaps I should decorate the castle a bit more. Prepare a training area, expand the space a little more… and eliminate everyone who unnecessarily obstructs this place of learning.”mqS3mw
2j0uhEThere were no longer any pending matters in the house of Baron Tigris.r19
Xmub07uEverything had been gathered under her control, ready to be adorned.TCT8nQv
h3lkLThorns sprouted and wrapped around the castle, and the ominous aura began to blanket the area.YxcXSWb
KQLs4Thus, the castle of Baron Tigris was gradually transformed into a breeding ground of necromantic magic.npk
cBpXqdEUnlike the case of the Duchy of Beltus, the scale was smaller and the location was in a peripheral region, so the spread of news would inevitably be slower.U4bTT
QplThat meant Fina had more than enough time to devour the entire region.dmmEmvC
EI0gFwoooooosh!QIAh
0dhFina’s rampage was already predestined.yWXR8P
Ehx1JuuDereck knew it as well.MV2AjN
J2P8eq2However, the direction events were taking differed slightly from what he had imagined.fIHeXdS
zsK“Dereck… the time granted to this master is infinite, but even so, do not make me wait too long…”5hFT2XY
ioyHMb3Kneeling upon the throne located in the deepest part of the main building, covered in thorns, she whispered those words.kLuxza
s8gVbThe dense darkness dwelling in her eyes grew ever deeper.6E3C
OeOANi***heEBfA
FxRrIWhoooooosh!7U1ECFd
7qyDPIn the midst of the northern tundra rose the castle of the Duchy of Rochester.OhM6UFW
NOQ4OtAs he rode through the territory on horseback, Melverot exhaled, and his breath rose into the heavy, gray sky.efcC44V
RxkUgMDHe had sent his daughter to the southwest of the continent and remained in the territory to govern its people.eIL00jS
RZeM1He was already beginning to wonder how Siern was doing.eFOLYHp
FlGnHe thought about writing her a letter, but it was not easy for someone with his disposition.x4E
saxAs he gazed in silence at the distant expanse of snow, only the falling flakes filled his field of vision.WmZ5
R2M0It was then that—dTWx
gg2BaBeyond the horizon, someone was approaching.AYxu1C
t9z“…”nJgK
mgKza1NIn that frozen environment, a figure advanced unsteadily, barely covered in rags.56C
ufxCrossing that vast and brutal tundra on foot was unthinkable.pD9Y9
UzLsxg2Sensing that something was out of the ordinary, Melverot frowned and activated exploration magic to identify the figure slowly approaching.VrbA
jsqD“Lord Melverot. Someone is approaching from the tundra.”4e7O
yQNb“Yes. I can see it.”618bHP
bvq1SfjThe moment Melverot focused his gaze even more, that silhouette began to look familiar.FFNyB4
P1D561yThough exhausted, covered in wounds, and completely withered, those features were impossible to forget.8u9nU
k2uqIt was the image of the great archmage who had already passed away.HVJfId
oEbKalimford.kjHxvrU
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