Chapter 168: Ancient Hero (2)
s68g5RASiern Alaina Rochester kills people.8Aa
EUj6pShe possesses a savage nature, like that of a beast crossing the northern tundra.PucryB
qus2The instant one meets the gaze of those eyes that shoot forth a cutting gleam, the unfortunate prey’s neck has already been severed.KovH
XfANIAt an age when she had not even celebrated her coming-of-age ceremony, she had already mastered 3-star magic.Pwv
qPJHJkZShe wandered barefoot through the extreme environment of the snowy wasteland, cutting down everything that stood in her way and soaking herself in blood.VM5wJd
7AaIf you ever, while crossing the tundra near the Rochester territory, happen to see a barefoot girl in a dress, standing amid a storm, never make a reckless move.Kpeul
Dl6The figure that seems like nothing more than a distant silhouette beyond the white expanse may be standing before you the instant you blink.P7n
oFQqThat is nothing less than the embodiment of fear.Bg8hJ
wBTfNever provoke her.pqf9
gMU— Northern Tundra Explorer, Leopold.j9SlY2
r9c0kkA***hjle
6Xz3SN1“…”szVgI7l
FWYj“…There was still one more volume. I could swear we had recovered them all when they were designated as prohibited books.”eWz
Xro“The Siern who appears in this record… is she really my daughter Siern… Melverot?”7RS
WVM0qqF“I already explained the situation to you. Thanks to your efforts, the great monster Noir disappeared, but due to the residual impact of its magic, Siern cannot control her own power.”ADHw
gFmjteThe Rochester family mansion was completely covered with carpets, fireplaces, and insulating layers against the cold.xgoI
nS7For an influential noble house, its appearance was somewhat crude, but in the middle of the frozen wasteland, there was no other choice if they wanted to survive.ESqA1
uyd5MCrackle, crackle.KgfQcHl
iigFaSitting side by side before the crackling fire, Melverot and Kalimford were old friends.7zZ
jZJyThey met on the battlefield, rivaled one another, argued, fought, and even so walked countless paths together.xZBrCG
ARrAt times they lost.sYzZ
dhnpAt times they won.AsSs
rTxal63Companions gradually joined them.EWj
25ltThey fought enemies that put the fate of the world at stake.wREOpu
cZFvSome sacrificed themselves. Others survived and continued living.rc12q
Ema5uFGIf one were to recount that journey in detail, it would be an endless story.1tXKuP
rzdedxBut now, all of that belonged to the past.KKEOG
QwtHDOld heroes are relegated to history, settling like sediment as time passes.YsHaR08
GjkxEras advance. What must happen, happens.fWK2
pFDIt is enough for them to remain as statues in imperial facilities or as a single line in a thick book.SKlBd
dsB0gUAPerhaps stepping down from the stage when the time comes is the true role of an old hero.rtGNce
rTPPjMelverot, who had spent his years alone in this cold and desolate tundra, surrounded only by the remnants of Noir, may have thought the same.58fqAMW
wP9iSr1At least, until Kalimford appeared before him once more.LtA1
05T“Well, you really do have to live long enough to see things like this.”0SYqV
sSo“So it seems. I never thought I’d see wrinkles of fate on your face.”JH6
41YB5“On the other hand, you’re just the same as ever. Reina… no, was it Fina now? You should be grateful to that black mage.”lR8bQn
T5U8Bbi“I don’t know… at least, I don’t think she’s grateful to me.”R3Z6slP
DGdTfOXWhen he saw Kalimford for the first time, Melverot doubted his own eyes several times.nr6
CUpNXHe thought someone was using some sort of trick and deployed all kinds of exploration magic.C54sxa5
2wBulOnly after hearing the explanation did he manage to regain his composure.E6Rn32I
cJEcHe had been through too much to lose his cool over something like this.OfcevU
q3LrYfEven the return of a dead old friend was something he could accept, if he understood the circumstances.SaXgrlF
mGEmqoEven so, Kalimford had changed greatly.gnAE8
WgvnPerhaps because he had just been resurrected through black magic.a92Ru
ABfXHis magical presence was almost nonexistent.huMM
HQaEHis body was skeletal, his gaunt face more like a corpse with skin attached than a living person.ObLhipj
wV6OF“Time has passed, Kalimford. I am already someone of the past.”9gSVZo3
jjW“In my case, I clung to life, but I don’t differ much from your reflection. Our era has already ended.”GAZ7AJy
rDTIn the room, only the crackling of the fire echoed, along with flickering shadows.4ec9r
9EdtqOutside, the blizzard raged without rest.b4eA6MW
yVkThe sound of glass trembling, of snow striking the window, of icy wind seeping through the cracks.BZZM3
DcSThey traveled the world together.QyiS1c
fk4BGThey reached out toward the sky, etched the stars into their eyes, and turned the entire world into their stage.muih
0Vont2wThey had companions worthy of pride, and applause and ovations followed them everywhere.gS6Va
5kqPY4And at the end of that journey,7ew
cnvwcY7All that remained were a fireplace stocked with abundant firewood, warm blankets, and a bit of hot goat’s milk.S5g7
VLeppg4Kalimford received the wooden jug with trembling hands.imhNd
1SPHis weakened strength made it seem as though he could barely hold it properly.8DjjT
n9TN2“Siern… did she go to the southwest of the continent to learn magic?”bzzg3
BSSMKiw“That’s right. For a time, I couldn’t find anyone capable of taking charge of that troublesome child. But recently I managed to establish contact with a decent master in the southwest, granted him an appropriate title, and entrusted Siern to him.”5yXSZ
RPUbq“…”oMjs
kWAHYm“If you knew everything that’s piled up, you’d be clicking your tongue too. You left behind such a troublesome daughter and made me shoulder everything for years, Kalimford. A bad relationship like yours is already starting to wear me out.”OEpPnj
YB6gAlthough Melverot spoke as if he were furious, Kalimford’s expression relaxed even more as he received the jug.z1Rq
jdHHe said those things, but throughout all those years he had done everything possible for Siern.VN4k
23SeThe tower erected exclusively for her was proof of that.YQY
ld09Since Siern left the Rochester territory, that tower had remained empty, standing silently in the middle of the wasteland.1GK
SHpE“I already sent a letter to the master. I asked him to bring Siern to the Rochester territory. You’ll want to see the face of that neglected daughter of yours too.”koOGvyd
h12S“…”GAL84J
w3ehF“Your expression is strange. I understand that you’re emotional, but don’t show something so pathetic. You also need to think about how that girl will feel when she meets her real father for the first time.”sVh
H4nfPu1“…That’s not it, Melverot.”NlRzE
M2z5At Melverot’s puzzled look, Kalimford rolled up his dry sleeve to show it.nXgOf5B
29GT7aThe flesh had begun to rot. Near the shoulder, the color was already a blackish red.oh0f
yoEx1“…”T2kVinD
l3T“…Even though I was resurrected through black magic, I don’t truly belong to this world. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to endure, but when the black magic sustaining this body is exhausted, I will return to nothing.”j8kC
InJQ5J“…How long do you think it will last?”LPDb69
NAVt“Don’t worry. I still have some leeway. But it won’t be infinite.”fPzCTGN
GQD7nYHKalimford lowered his sleeve, ran a hand over his face, and continued.KNe
DG0j“She considers you her father. She’s living the life she was given with all her strength. That’s why… I don’t want to confuse Siern by appearing now, only to disappear later as I rot away.”DA1XqS
nrdIsiEWith effort, Kalimford straightened up and placed a hand on Melverot’s shoulder, smiling gently.ISmdAco
f235Xe“The father of that girl… must continue to be you, Melverot.”2qQ
XAMZPt“…”JfVz
ylbuWw“I’m really sorry to always ask you for things so heavy…”91LZz
mGfThat man, bowing in shame, had undoubtedly been a hero who once saved the world.J0rfDtQ
CPvHBPTo think that the end of a hero would be so humble made it impossible for Melverot to look away.8YDw
OIYbuBb“Before and now, you always manage to complicate my life…”9ykF
bZ5G1jHe said it harshly, but lowered his gaze in silence.grL
aSezMelverot was the perfect example of someone whose words never matched his actions.Lxf6cMH
HPY3AS***lAeX71
kxXe0dMAfter that, Kalimford spread out one by one the writings that Melverot and Siern had exchanged, and read them carefully.TusUOV
VHyBCtCWhen Siern first left the Rochester territory and headed for Ebelstein, she was filled with anxiety, worry, and unease.N3oUwo2
2P0J12The constant fear that the blood of Noir latent within her might take control of her mind again at any moment.HkL
kyIckTThe anguish of thinking that one day she might kill someone again, become an object of fear and contempt, and be expelled from the group once more.MdSi0aK
LFyt7As he read each of Siern’s concerns, written while she writhed amid that desperate terror, Kalimford’s heart grew heavier and heavier.9J0v
4lN3aiDBut little by little, those anxieties began to dissipate.OCH
1IbnUAnd it was only natural.focz
NJnZCt1As she traveled back and forth between Ebelstein and the territory of Baron Ravenclaw, learning various kinds of magic and the education befitting a lady, Siern gradually left behind those gloomy, oppressive worries.1x4
4FyQhp1The fragile girl who, at the top of a tower in the tundra, hugged her knees and cried in silence.AsKtE
6fKycNow, at some point without anyone noticing, she was steadily growing into a young lady, surrounded by magical grimoires, in the midst of a temperate meadow.D4DKy9
mvKBlThe tone of the letters she sent to Melverot also changed little by little.eSWHNG
7islThe confessions laden with fear, anxiety, and anguish had practically disappeared.iWnx
OMakEc4In their place, the letters were filled with accounts of new environments and people she was meeting for the first time, and of her day-to-day life learning new things alongside them.LTa
iC27WBE***d36qh
cq4— Today, a young lady from the family of Count Belmierd personally came to the territory of Baron Ravenclaw. Her name was Ellen. Not only commoners, but also nobles and high-ranking relatives treat her as if she were a queen. Every gesture and every word of hers overflows with the dignity befitting a sovereign. I thought that ladies like that also exist in this world.nv5vz
6n86f— I received basic instruction in transformation magic from Baron Ravenclaw again. I realized that the transformation magic I used before, when I wandered the tundra, relied too much on instinct and intuition. I think that if I try harder, I’ll be able to raise my level.HxG0
ltyCcU— Young Trisha suddenly challenged me to a duel, and I ended up attacking with too much force. I myself was very frightened, thinking that the cursed blood inside me might run out of control, but I think I managed it well.GC3O
LO7Cg— Today I tried a mont blanc prepared by the pastry chef of the Ravenclaw mansion…Fh1xG
3vxG— I took several walks through the prairies near Ebelstein…cbp3f
9IVSVLSsshh.2wUl1bv
S2G“…”qxns3T
BmF***Dco
fZIIn Melverot’s study, Kalimford set the letters down and rubbed his eyes several times.kD8j4s
K3GHI9Just as Melverot had said, Siern had endured an unfortunate childhood under the influence of Noir’s blood, but now she seemed to have found a good master and to be following the right path.QYW
rEG8jBy nature, Siern was a person of few words and a cold temperament.OFRS
IX1rPYZHowever, judging only from the letters she exchanged with Melverot, she seemed like a sensitive young lady, capable of perceiving beauty in a world full of colors.xByEjkv
XK6Those who understood that gap might feel a certain strangeness, but for Kalimford, who had not yet seen Siern in person, those letters alone were enough to bring tears of emotion to his eyes.B1Tiq
NC9BvmHJust from the contents of those letters, he already felt as though he had been saved.58bst
KJIzzqpIt had been worth sacrificing himself to save the world.zuQH
0g1qNGAt the very least, his daughter was living in a world free from the horror of war and the constant danger of death.A8R
YiBKalimford read the letters again and again, revisiting Siern’s stories.Ugn
nzvosAmong the accounts of noble society in Ebelstein, the name that appeared most frequently was, without a doubt, that of Baron Ravenclaw.DX5
QonYfIt was repeated again and again that she had met an irreplaceable master in her life and was receiving invaluable instruction.2Cz1ZB
gz0DFD“Dereck Lydorf, Baron Ravenclaw…”l6Ke2m
7jwThat name became naturally engraved in his mind.KQgvqve
YBeAt least for now, Siern seemed to trust that man from the bottom of her heart, a man recognized in Ebelstein as one of the finest teachers.m4UJ
SlZURJWhile recovering in the ducal mansion of Rochester, Kalimford imagined again and again what Siern would be like as an adult.FuodOg
ccZjz0Wearing a beautiful dress, her white hair—so much like her mother’s—falling softly, walking with elegant bearing like a true lady.Xt5B
NZPp***mQ9hFx
h24zPBang! Boom!HEjnJN4
J2nLhCrash! Whaam!3In1wNj
oCb8oPjAnd the very next day, Siern arrived at the ducal mansion of Rochester.mjuh
43QCarrying over her shoulder the corpse of a monstrous creature shaped like a gigantic polar bear.CUB
QdDgFwoosh. Crunch.pzjv
NiKIThe cutting wind of the tundra whipped her hair.N163
9aZShe was a girl completely white from head to toe, but that day she was stained a vivid red, drenched in blood.7fi
5qG5sThe creature, dozens of times larger than she was, hung limp, its life completely extinguished.kgClM
jrYThe barefoot girl passed through the iron gates of the main entrance, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the mansion.rvV
9WSdnShe wiped away the blood and said casually,9kBsYp
eZAD“I ran into it on the way.”WjM05
1p5PJXThe monster’s corpse, tossed aside as if it were nothing, sent chills down the spines of the household members.tcd
EQhaMBaThe most feared killer of the north was none other than Siern.1WoMDK
4mtFylShe had returned home.GDZu1i
dkxGmQ***E8EwHva
KZ2NB“We were traveling by carriage when a group of creatures suddenly attacked us. I knew it was dangerous land, but I didn’t think they’d appear so frequently. The last time I came, something similar happened.”8SgmG
0Lsq2diDereck wore a cloak over his coat and was equipped with all kinds of fur-lined cold-weather garments.q5IFa
r3d6Shaking off the snow and wiping away the blood, he spoke in a tone of lament.mIqAAZy
gxzl1m“Still, we arrived earlier than expected. Miss Siern had dressed very carefully, but she ended up getting discouraged because she had to change clothes.”Kcn0
acXYAs soon as they arrived at the Rochester mansion, Siern had to follow the maids to change out of her blood-soaked dress.dXS
MQfAt the moment, she seemed to be bathing in the annex.3eyBc53
6pv“…”aRldBq2
SgXrMelverot was sitting by the gate of the mansion, his chin resting on his hand.pLxy
KODHe was waiting for Dereck to finish getting himself in order.HQrv
cU9x“It was a long journey. Good work.”GFrHu7E
qGT5nC“It was nothing.”k5DCW8P
9xyt“As you well know, saying that I wanted to see Siern is nothing more than a pretext.”knBNnd
tPXGYXTaking advantage of Siern’s absence, Melverot spoke bluntly.POTu
46TsW8cIn fact, it was something Dereck had already anticipated.LASZSa
2SZVgV1Melverot was not so foolish as to make a subordinate cross the continent for a purely personal reason.CDnnUDf
PHhR“But before getting into the main topic, I want to see your face. Since you’re here.”wMCWHf3
HN5ZkJMWith that, Melverot stood up and, with an indifferent expression, headed into the mansion.bXlo
89pPG6nA few snowflakes followed him inside and melted on the floor.pSdL
uek1In any case, it seemed he wanted to see Siern first.adil
6I8Y“…”ccTf
kVrEJKSince Melverot often behaved like this, Dereck finished getting himself ready with the same indifferent expression.FEAbu
j46MHe had returned to the ducal mansion of Rochester after a long time.wOmiC5
UJ56FaWhen he lifted his gaze to the sky, he saw snow falling endlessly over the spire of the tower, as always.8PAdxb
pgQWhile spring was about to arrive in the southwest of the continent, here it was always winter.0hPmawH
ZZmThe silent tundra, with no trace of visitors.dQpG
K8OdLooking out over the white expanse of the Rochester territory gave the impression of seeing the calm that remains after a grand performance has ended.BSgCSt
VdeIn another time, this place had been a battlefield where many heroes were born.Y6jp
do8IBut now all of that was in the past.MhauOaW
n4vUvDereck shook the snow from his head and began walking toward the interior of the mansion.Dcmjrri
kUjsJust as, guided by the household members, he was heading for the resting room—KB6yW
7D4qT“Are you Dereck?”qZ7YS
wUYNeBCIn the main hall of the mansion, a gaunt man wrapped in a reddish-brown robe was standing.Y6eEt
uFaSNumerous household members surrounded him, yet no one dared to address him or stop him, despite his disheveled appearance.DuVE6Ef
Wi5HTTAmid that strange sense of discomfort, the man spoke, bright eyes gleaming from beneath the shadow of his hood.ylkc6
21Vfw“Siern’s master.”rPb2Sn7
Up4Dereck frowned slightly and adopted a cautious stance.XtHST
6T4dJEven though his exploration magic had reached a considerable level, he could not gauge that man’s power.jxt
oEGwbpThat meant only one thing.LTFEG
ye1jMNot even Dereck could read his level.03p1dcX
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