Chapter 167: Ancient Hero (1)
XmCQmThe Palace of Gremport, regarded as the most lavish, vast, and refined building ever constructed by human hands.H0oNPG4
r8OKtAt the highest spire of that structure, which symbolized the power of the Empire, Kohella sat alone, gazing at the night sky.xPX
zWhyVThe glittering firmament looked like a sea made of stars.DQa3
9bb9ubExtending her hand toward the center of that sea, the elderly mage murmured to herself.Yd1vI
eMk9eJy‘I have almost found them all.’mpInf
ZV7foXlThe Big Dipper, discovered among the multitude of stars.fzwxk
mpEo9What kind of inspiration might that cluster of seven brilliantly shining stars have given Adelbert, the great mage?wqs41ye
FJViqUGRecalling the depth of that magic, she gently closed her eyes once more.2bsj
W6oDOEPThe seventh domain that Adelbert never set down in his writings and kept jealously hidden.zGa2sl
PQctMduCombat, confusion, transformation, summoning, exploration, the forbidden, and something that extended beyond all of that.uI8
el2To reach it, it was necessary to gather in one place those who had reached the limits of each discipline.aNia
ppHHhThat was the conclusion Kohella arrived at.MNCuD
QHpSix-star mages, those who had touched the threshold of human limits.PHrs
wDhl8YPMelverot, mage of the combat system.ROt8Tf
GAXKohella, mage of the transformation system.6HiF
iLsDrest, mage of the exploration system.QoEuL
gZ2O6wHThe world acknowledged the existence of only those three, but Kohella was convinced that could not be all.pDQAS
cLN9There had to be more six-star mages who did not show themselves to the world, who even escaped Kohella’s eyes.es0p8lM
nCC9The memories of Adelbert that she had glimpsed could not have been mistaken.C9hwc
JPKAFwFIt was said that, blessed by the stars shining in the sky, there was always at least one six-star mage in each system.0feeO
2DC00CJust as the positions of the stars do not change, that was a natural truth, part of the order of the world.xt8
jwQHskThey might not yet have fully awakened their talent, or they might be living hidden from the world.B2HJy
Uo8ExRAll that remained were the system of confusion, the system of summoning, and the forbidden system the necromantic system.QoKrEv
8TvMXUS***GSQR
egsNQ“I think something is happening in the house of Baron Tigris.”mJN
tQAfRO1The territory of Baron Tigris lay at the southeastern edge of the continent, a small, remote mountainous region.C4P
FbPBThe territory of Baron Ravenclaw, which Dereck managed, was also modest in size, but Tigris went even further, being little more than a couple of villages.A5lfW
auVBaron Tigris had received those lands from Count Elvester, one of the figures with the greatest real power in the east of the continent, and was responsible for administering the surrounding area.wWsN
3FW6AwFHis contribution consisted of containing the creatures that prowled the Lockrail mountain range, the backbone of the east, or subjugating occasional labyrinths.HxId
YoWWIDue to its small scale, for Count Elvester it was nothing more than an auxiliary force under his command.Ou5kj
whkpuZYThe territory of Tigris itself was not particularly fertile, had no distinctive products, nor did it control trade routes or strategic points, so there were not many reasons to give it great importance.fFQ
TwD“Hmm…”Pb2ghpw
A8fUKpLate in the afternoon.eb4Z
WaNInside the spacious dressing room of Count Elvester’s palace, Katia stood with her hands behind her back, presenting her report.iYE
rQa06grAfter making a long journey to the southwest of the continent, fatigue showed on her face, but even so she maintained a serious expression, as if it were an important report.TXY
iAGV“I thought you would bring back a relevant report after going all the way to Ebelstein, but you have brought up an unexpected topic, Katia.”PckNC4a
Yjqgsr“Internal affairs are not your concern. I don’t know why you are suddenly showing concern for the house of Baron Tigris, but coincidentally, this very morning a report arrived from the baron himself regarding the recent situation.”PhYBI
hhEG5Count Elvester, one of the most influential nobles in the east of the continent, was adjusting his coat with the help of his servants.hY3g
8MiMrThrough the large mirror in front of him, he met Katia’s gaze, revealing his sharp features and piercing eyes.Ljg
5qEFiHe was an authoritative and dominant man, worthy of the head of House Elvester, but his trust in Katia was firm.ZPRMrx
5wZHaving had her as a vassal for so many years, he knew her wisdom well.Wxk
J0EFor that reason, even when she seemed to be meddling in the internal affairs of the house, he showed no obvious displeasure.RXK7A44
uolOPW“…You say a report had already arrived?”fhGNR
YsoD“That’s right. As always, the territory of Baron Tigris showed no significant changes. I personally confirmed the baron’s seal as well, so I would like you to stop worrying, Katia.”hGPSgy
F4tLAt those words, Katia swallowed silently.V0h
xvYShe seemed to want to say that that could not be true, but presenting a warning without evidence before the count could bring consequences.PeJdOV
qjo3AeU“What I expected from you was not that kind of concern. From what I see, you also passed through the territory of Baron Ravenclaw. How were things in the high society around Ebelstein?”ABd
RFTFaEO“Ah, yes. I verified both the state of construction of the Ravenclaw Academy and the situation of Ebelstein’s high society. Their momentum is remarkable; it seems that major changes are approaching.”ai9Zxi
1FKn“House Elvester has always reigned at the center of high society. Even if these events occur at the far end of the continent, if the waves are large, they will undoubtedly end up affecting the high society of the east as well.”g8i7YAo
twBDk“I know you have a keen eye for the education of young nobles, so I don’t think you will fall behind. But I want you never to forget this. No matter what happens, House Elvester cannot lose its authority in high society. And you are on the front line of that battle.”wI6og3S
gDDK“Yes.”tThTG
4FzKatia bowed her head and replied firmly.nne1dn
m6m3YWLHowever, her mind was mired in deep confusion.1UX9
wraOFgRIt had already been quite some time since Fina caused that uproar in the house of Baron Ravenclaw.fhvucj
dauysEven so, Fina had taken no further action.t7i3wgO
4943And that silence, far from reassuring her, made her increasingly uneasy.5oEn
aLPTSB***O4u
PhmoPBn“When the weather becomes milder, the Ravenclaw Academy will also be finished. Lately, it seems that Lady Aiselin has been very busy recruiting teachers and administrative staff.”pLa5
5LsbThe residence of Baron Ravenclaw.iHndaL
4g5L7ItAfter finishing a long session of magical training and wiping away his sweat, Dereck listened to the report from the butler, Delbriton.cut8
lAo2PgThe maids, who had been waiting in a corner of the training grounds, immediately approached with cloths and wiped his back with quick, coordinated movements.QaDs
rQf0p“I’m worried she might collapse again from overwork…”9ti3
GEr“I share that concern. But I didn’t dare stop her.”FkQ
Lu1eBaDereck noticed that Delbriton had hesitated before continuing his report.jb0cMx
BfGQeEven so, he did not press him to go on.JZzVkI
GzSCHe knew perfectly well what was making him hesitate.0b4Bno
06ZegQ‘Another new task…! Personnel management seems complicated, but it also has surprisingly simple aspects…’mhyDo
uVeThe image of Aiselin completely absorbed in her work seemed to radiate an almost demonic energy.UwR6gBL
RnvThe passion burning in her eyes was such that, if someone tried to stop her by force, she seemed capable of reducing everything to ashes without distinguishing between allies and enemies.iNX3cG
LAsj4Oa“…”iMeb
r36tmLately, even Dereck had begun to feel a certain fear toward Aiselin.AhPg
15sJ2qQShe was the woman who, with her own hands, was rebuilding the Duplain family.wLBbZ0
s0hyosJudging her only by her delicate appearance was a sure way to get burned.qwEK9m
tGWO5JBAn odd silence settled between Delbriton and Dereck.kgz
JTRA8A silence laden with tacit understanding.0J3Pt
aX2e“Additionally, regarding the incident that occurred last time, we ordered a thorough search, but no traces of any intruder were found. I truly apologize.”b1IWGcO
Wbb7LUThe next thing Delbriton reported was the matter of Fina.SMn
HbUJxgFina had passed through the strict security alone and had sat in the reception hall of the residence, covered in blood.Pp1LCoW
tq0AShe had attacked Katia and had also directly threatened Dereck.XjEte0Q
DnsHOf course, all of this would be kept secret. There was nothing good to be gained from it becoming known that they were involved with a black mage.Jkdr
mbZCHHowever, the wrecked reception hall could not be completely hidden, so only formal investigations were ordered as a cover.GUV2H9
VMA“Leave it. In any case, she’s not someone the vassals can track.”FDhP
o1x9“…Understood.”CHqfvz
t6A4jDyWhen Dereck closed the matter, Delbriton expressed no further opinions.LyWb
RrZvfUMHe seemed to sense that his lord knew more, but he had no intention of probing into what Dereck was not saying.UBq
qDZy‘She definitely didn’t look normal.’qoIT7r
NmyDereck brought a hand to his chin and fell into a brief moment of reflection.pMn
PQ16Fina had always been a young woman who acted with elegance and composure, maintaining a haughty façade.JqE
ul5JgYHe had never seen her tremble, cornered like that.Srsf5m
n95pVxAShe was someone who seemed to have lived through everything, incapable of forming attachments.CdEOso
7uZrWWAnd yet, at that moment, she seemed to harbor an intense and twisted desire of possession toward Dereck.tWs
jC4BVaf‘At least, if I knew what happened in the territory of Tigris, it would be easier to assess the situation…’m6H
OTfuBecoming the target of a six-star black mage was not something that could be taken lightly.89TDx2
sBGmNAfter sharing all the information with Katia, Dereck had been carefully observing the movements around him.Fsxa0
pyJuNCqBut nothing had happened.uTYoGN
4S721That unnatural calm, far from reassuring him, gave him an unsettling feeling.mVTTs
u35HEven so, it was not a situation in which he could act rashly, so he merely kept all his senses on alert.fOmM
ETQGWithout noticing, almost a week had passed.LvZ
PNeAOlEven in the midst of all that, he had to handle the internal affairs of the barony, review the academy’s construction schedule, and not neglect his magical training.U33TNd
5MiDaily life continued to move forward, without stopping.HVv
IiUB8“Regarding the incident, I have a rough idea of what happened, so there’s no need to continue with further investigations. There are too many things to attend to inside and outside the residence to waste the vassals’ time.”3ncUqL
eNy“Are you sure? That the lord himself was attacked in the heart of the barony is no minor matter.”D72B
Qb7JE“The person involved says she is fine. Limit everything to what is necessary and make sure the residence functions without problems. From what I can see, things outside might get a bit noisy. At times like these, the inside must not waver.”xGy
KbO4L1“Understood. As for other important reports—”NRKmmUS
U0pWhen Dereck made a gesture indicating that it was enough, the maid who had been drying him flinched and immediately stepped back.nkX
F9jkLooking at the group of maids with an indifferent gaze, it was clear that they were novices, newly arrived.w0tzxu
tteCx8Lower-ranking maids, still inexperienced, often felt an inexplicable fear when seeing Dereck train magic.NwyCtw
EZqxDereck did not scold them upon noticing their obvious nervousness.Ekz4
43HP2From the four-star rank onward, the magic one begins to use no longer seems human.gbLGx
wwXTJMDestroying, freezing, distorting, or ravaging an entire area ceases to be something exceptional.Moz6
r7tIt was not strange for commoners, with no prior knowledge of magic, to feel a certain distance.yFC
CYwlqThe admiration and respect of ordinary people only reach up to the three-star rank.2CEj54
FApAnd those who could truly understand that difference were not many across the entire continent.z1Hm
x1gpGW“In your study, you will find a letter from the Duchy of Rochest.”DbY
pkZ“Was it sent by Lord Melverot? Now that you mention it, it’s been a while since we last exchanged messages.”yQDGf
qrRcz“You see… he requests that you visit him soon in the territory of Rochest.”isF1O
d7pQjXB“…Lord Melverot in person?”iSy
ZMUIt felt as though another matter had been added to the list.7yAulc
SWFxHe could not so easily ignore a request from Melverot, who had pulled many strings for Dereck to obtain his noble title.QNo
AVD9ur“So suddenly?”0M6qMyT
4zZ“Yes. He said not to worry about your schedule and to come to the territory of Rochest immediately.”WLA
8DJLS9i“Did he indicate the reason?”F5bq3r
WAYgDj1“He said that… it had been a long time since he had seen his daughter’s face.”nhGP
7I99“…”ziw
oH0wSZPOne of Dereck’s disciples, Miss Siern, came from the distant and frigid Duchy of Rochest in the north, covered in perpetual snow.ZCh
3mHAlthough she seemed to have adapted to the warm and gentle climate of the southwest, at times Dereck wondered if she missed the snowy lands.UqS2n
9gDHowever, he had never considered the opposite.OZPw
U2XiHe would never have imagined that the cold and aloof Lord Melverot would order a busy Baron of Ravenclaw to travel back and forth just because he wanted to see his daughter.uItTseI
MKN8SHe knew how to use his subordinates. Calling someone from so far away without a compelling reason was not an intelligent decision.sas
TAmG‘Is there another reason he can’t write in a letter…?’sTwJT
Y5NkvDereck had already noticed it.3Exhno
uo1Y6IThat Melverot was calling him with such urgency, and that the reason was simply wanting to see his daughter, did not fit his character at all.nu2iw
Ehx3mJYEven so, if that was the pretext, the proper course was to go along with it.KWED5M
k0wd2“My father sent a letter saying he wanted to see me…?”bM6e
dHfmFWhen Dereck brought the news to the private residence in Ebelstein, Siern began making small hops, her eyes shining like stars.hOL5f
niAgrMfIf she had had a tail, she would probably have been wagging it nonstop.V5q1RRd
39Z3njWEven so, outwardly she still appeared calm.pJ4ZoxB
RD5UUaAfter frequenting the Rose Hall and gradually learning the etiquette of a lady, her demeanor had become noticeably more refined compared to the days when she lived secluded in the tower of the Duchy of Rochest.NhYfF
UXmHer hair, her eyes, and even the ruffled dress she was wearing were completely white.MNut
V3QgHcAnd yet, the energy she emanated seemed to shine with all colors.Ej6
NNr4HAlthough she normally maintained an expressionless face, those who knew her well could easily read her mood.Okjhz
Vp4O“Yes. It seems we’ll be going to greet the Duchy of Rochest soon. You will come with us, Miss Siern.”hi6
WVhS“Of course. I have to show him everything I’ve learned at the Ravenclaw residence and at the Rose Hall… Dereck, if you’re not busy right now, help me choose the clothes I’ll wear to the north before we leave.”3Jr
kys“For that… other ladies or the maids would know more than I do.”LTww
kB73“Choose them yourself, Dereck. I think my father will like it more if you choose them.”nee
CASqAdHer voice was calm, but her attitude and expression revealed how excited she was.tyqUNJc
LE0rHSeeing her so happy, Dereck could not help but feel satisfied as well.REw84R3
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