Chapter 173: Seat of Thorns (1)
4YfGbrYBe that as it may, being able to receive magical instruction directly from Kalimford, the six-star mage whose name enjoyed the greatest prestige even among those of his same rank, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.jXLaTm
MyBJ726Although easily crossing the wall of five stars was not realistic, at least for a while it did seem possible to aspire to a notable improvement in his magical level.xOI
rCyThat thought made Dereck feel quietly satisfied.XAV4V
i27ABK‘I hope I can raise my magical mastery as much as possible while this opportunity lasts…’UJy
dIhpPSix-star mages are masters of the highest level, and in the entire world there are only a handful of them.lzXk
P42d710However, not all mages of that rank share the same inclination or temperament.G8WXN
RfYqmmThat was something obvious.QJyHLg
OX2yThe higher the magical mastery, the firmer each person’s theory and personal interpretation become.atUKH
5zqDepending on whom one takes as a teacher, one’s vision and values regarding magic inevitably change.WT423
Ocq3FmWIn the end, once a certain level is surpassed, there is no choice but to follow the line of one’s own master.ccyVfr7
cPsIn fact, even the young noblewomen who had learned magic from Dereck showed a freer and less rigid way of using mana than that of traditional academic mages.B3Mgy
mOcmIDepending on who transmitted the magic, differences between schools became inevitable, and mastering all types of magic became something close to impossible.LGlEf
6AGENQkMoreover, Dereck’s former teacher had been none other than the black mage Fina.ejX0Un2
DnljLHe had received many teachings from her, but her instruction carried a deadly danger Fina’s status itself.Tx27Q
zwSBeing known as the disciple of a black mage was an absolute forbidden line, something that could not be revealed under any circumstances.GY9
0m6XBlack mages, capable of defiling corpses, manipulating souls, and trampling human dignity without hesitation, had always been persecuted and suppressed in every era and region.c2A
Ttqv‘The magic I can learn from Kalimford is completely removed from that danger. At the very least, I can try to cross the wall of five stars by following an orthodox path.’O2bKi
u4oGDtBSitting in his private room, Dereck stroked his chin with a serious expression.u8FI7po
s2MHe opened and closed his hand several times, testing the sensation.Ui77s
a7ImHis physical condition had already fully recovered, but the image of the six-star spell that Kalimford had manifested was still burned into his memory.AQnoOtv
ZgTWXwzA domain that made any ordinary person lose the will to fight just by facing it.97TCA
jsGZzv6In truth, even Dereck had felt an absurd pressure upon witnessing that magic.Si1b08J
2Dx1SW“…”hJuT
tp6lThe tips of his fingers trembled slightly.A2n
MUnAbiDereck was not someone who showed confusion easily.rD9
xBXA1EIHis ability to remain calm in any situation had allowed him to survive for years in the merciless world of mercenaries.kOWL
cU2xIEven so, when recalling that magic of overwhelming scale, a slight excitement inevitably welled up inside him.jtnT9L
SHiThat was the domain of six stars.MpH
0UqajO3The level Dereck longed to reach.WqGIx
RoUBAnd someone who had already arrived there was standing right before him.x6bus
u6wBmfp‘If I’m honest, right now I don’t think it’s possible.’iC4O1
58CA six-star combat mage can summon meteorites with complete naturalness.VVO
DlwTD37An illusion mage can deceive everyone, transcending perception and consciousness.YsL5
gfFybA2A transformation mage can create a small world of their own.Bv2Sl
9LOl9cAn exploration mage can see the future.cWag
gGSesAnd a black mage commands death itself.fpV
SYhpDereck had met all types of six-star mages, except illusion mages.NMMxlU
9fB6KEach of them possessed power capable of devouring entire continents.6Tt
mJdFaTo stand on the same level as them, studying magic diligently was not enough.AiUHH
w2aKCFETo reach that domain, something different from everything before was required.1pV
vqRAlthough his magical talent was considered a blessing from the heavens, Dereck felt that he was still missing something, one final piece.knfomnr
0U4oS‘Perhaps, if I go with Fina, I could reach that level.’tDch
1OIEDShe was probably holed up in the Tigris territory at that moment.OXqU
4sMehoZIf Dereck humbled himself and offered himself as her disciple, Fina would never reject him.PJpH
FVJcaMBut Dereck shook his head.lRXnlA
A5lTThe strange madness and unsettling pleasure that shone in Fina’s eyes always stirred an ominous premonition within him.Gdg
vXlShe might be able to bring him to the six-star domain by any means, but he could not know whether that path would truly be the one he desired.Wv32
pg48OCs‘After all, Fina’s main field is black magic.’VhVJkZ
1zNjEven so, she had never taught him a single spell of that kind.yROH
YTzShe knew all too well the weight of touching a taboo, and so she had never imposed that burden on Dereck.FNlV
hhKBQjBut what if Fina decided to seriously teach him black magic?mWOpX
aUNzpAPerhaps he could reach it.7JQ3
fKdZThat domain that all who live for magic gaze upon with longing and admiration the realm of six stars.egHf
lwAIc“You seem to be thinking too much.”XdwMj
vbxmJQMore than four days had already passed since Dereck arrived in the Rochester territory.v9b
1QOThat day, after finishing his training and catching his breath, Kalimford approached him and spoke.kZeZUAs
hTFNbSince he began receiving direct instruction from Kalimford, even Dereck’s magical sense, which he believed to be fully mature, had begun to experience new changes.9ZXMpl
uTVPAEach understanding brushed against innovation, and there were many times when Dereck felt impressed or satisfied.0ZZ2
a6ooIhHowever, when the day ended and silence settled in, strange thoughts coiled in his chest.xX72t
5y6XMjbKalimford caught that inner conflict instantly.i2SK7Lp
sqxwT“Do you think that if you go with Fina, you can reach the six-star domain?”oY3BIx4
x23RS“…”Iev9
Fbs“It seems you yourself know that it’s not a very sensible method.”M9q8HJ
Q1uASThe reason Melverot had summoned the busy Dereck all the way to the Rochester territory was not that complex.tDoF0IB
1WDMHe simply wanted to show his daughter Siern’s face to his old friend Kalimford, who had returned alive.VIul
auWKHe knew well how inefficient it was to call a busy noble over such a personal matter, and he did not like the idea very much.vFV910
LW7lrBut he also could not bear not showing even his daughter’s face to someone who had returned from death.4jq
JbcaSThat was why he made that decision.avqr
0bpVUYIn the end, Dereck also thought it had not been a bad thing.fpk5k2
1CZ0BAfter all, he had been able to learn magic from Kalimford, a legendary great mage.2RK
Ml0W“By now, she has probably already taken control of the Tigris territory. And yet, no external changes have been heard of. That’s what makes me a little uneasy.”sIxUSD
WFYdk“Fina has plenty of time. Unlike us, who value each day of our finite lives, for a black mage like her, a day and a year do not differ much in value.”tJkCC
UTGWEDereck evoked the image of Fina.Q8L3R
2mPuSitting calmly in her office reviewing documents, or lounging shamelessly on the reception sofa, absentmindedly eating some financiers that the maids had baked for her.59vX
7jaAYIndeed, those who are detached from everything always seem to live with absolute calm.JfR9
E1AXkgY“But if you think she will remain silent forever, you’re mistaken. One way or another, she will try to change your heart and subdue you.”WDzGa
D5Q3“For someone who lives eons, don’t a few years feel insignificant?”4ytR7nW
wJFAP“That’s right. But the time permitted for that body called Fina is not infinite. The mark of reincarnation, at most in about twenty years, causes the body’s mana to spiral out of control and be consumed, forcing her to seek a new body and reincarnate.”f4gigr
pFT87He had heard that directly from Fina.MuYid
Q3BLrA reincarnation lasted, at most, about twenty years.qW3Q
rxU7S78Sometimes it ended in barely ten; even in the best cases, it did not exceed twenty-five.3fF
J52Lgx9As a young noblewoman, shortly after celebrating her coming-of-age ceremony, she would end up encountering death in one way or another.Us4Nmm
ESzcRSometimes she was executed after it was revealed that she was a black mage.n0pacEp
IxNt0Other times, she burned up, consumed by the mark of reincarnation itself.hWGTk
p6U3Thus, repeating death and resurrection, she had lived until now.N81
9fNf6wDThat was what the taboo had promised her eternal youth.2KQS
AkY84Her life was always reduced to existing as a beautiful and delicate young noblewoman.fmZ7cs
AkgNaWhether that was truly what she desired was something impossible to know.Uy87Og
loaV“When Fina dies and reappears in the world after a new reincarnation, you will already be quite old.”RAKY
IQ4ug5A“By then, my magical level will also be higher. From Miss Fina’s point of view, wouldn’t it be better to wait until that time?”fdfhDK
Q8HfGDereck’s goal was to someday reach the domain of six stars, and then go even further.sAt
0Gfnu2JIf one truly believed he could go that far, wouldn’t it be enough to leave him alone and wait?xrRyfLN
agNUGBut Kalimford shook his head.BO8Um
9Nlhi“Put yourself in her place. For those who live finite lives, everything is ephemeral and fragile. After dying and returning to life several times, she will have seen the world change completely again and again.”E15IAU
dBV7People destined to grow old together suddenly die in accidents.VfSX
Xz3OpDTOr those who seemed on the verge of death live more than a hundred years.paE
5QDHuman life never follows a predictable script.UESKD
oQmAfter experiencing death and opening her eyes again, how many times would she have seen those who were meant to die remain alive, and those who were meant to live be dead?cNv
oRRThat was why Fina had no intention whatsoever of leaving Dereck alone.a1U
X4YHEPAfter completing a reincarnation and returning to the world, she could not accept under any circumstances that Dereck had disappeared in any way.VIqbE
9jHMistSo, while she still lived in this era, her intention was to cling to Dereck with all her strength.iU7Yk
RyPLmT“If she really finds herself cornered, she might even engrave the mark of reincarnation onto you.”wTNwvmn
2pSy“…”V7M
obx“From your point of view, what do you think that would be for you? A blessing, or a curse?”BaZd
bvPObserving the new wounds that covered his body, Dereck ran his hand over his arm.XvnaRJ
ZKoZW7After falling into deep thought, he raised his gaze to Kalimford and asked.QWsN
eAGvXd“Honestly, I don’t know.”VstzoJN
ksaZ“That’s normal.”9LK3Jj
ntQbLtd“But there is something I do want to ask you right now.”q57v
YXBDereck closed his eyes for a moment and then looked straight at Kalimford.JemcD6T
cTFo6“If the day comes when I have to advance into the territory of Tigris, could you help me, Master Kalimford?”LaNC2Cc
n2O9It was not difficult to imagine.bjhNhF
7AxIf he refused to accept Fina’s will, after she had taken control of Tigris, he would inevitably have to confront her.BOo4T
z6ZbWhen that moment came, would Kalimford be at his back?O3vqI
qNINaHe was a hero who had saved nations, someone who had lived his entire life for justice and sincerely believed he could save anyone.iOOgIhU
9CdUP0Precisely because of that, he rarely lied.e7z
9Ukv8Gripping his staff with a thin, bony hand, Kalimford lowered his head.rUyZOd
0l5c“I’m sorry. That… I can’t do.”On8S
Jo5“…”d1qVupg
uzDMM1Dereck nodded.DGIEzSj
98Z9iHe did not ask why.2IUT
3xCIf people were to be divided into good and evil, Fina would be evil itself.GnSi
eIm60lJThe Kalimford of his prime, who roamed the world punishing evil, would never have left her alone.XTFxWH
sL13ORBut now it was different.AWWztL
irAAfter all, Kalimford had deceived Fina and broken her heart.80EZlv
dIIThe one who cast her into the abyss of despair was Kalimford himself.korMOJA
XqqRAnd yet, the one who resurrected him and allowed him to see Siern’s face again was Fina.mWL0
yZQpnwdThe one who helped him kill the great monster Noir was also Fina.fUN
1BFebdOne way or another, if Kalimford could be there at that moment, it was thanks to Fina’s power.6BBn31
EA8RIn Kalimford’s eyes, that girl seemed to hold light and darkness at the same time.Mfn
xBJQShe loved only magic; the heavens had allowed her to reach the domain of six stars; and, trapped in that cursed mark, her heart had ultimately shattered.j462Jy
5QEThat was why Kalimford could not raise his sword against Fina.gFB
hgpE1rEAnd Dereck could not say anything to the downcast Kalimford either.hMu
DyAdHb3If one day he faced Fina in the midst of the Tigris territory, covered in blood, wrapped in darkness and death, what choice should he make?4q0ZDxC
2gCHe still could not find a clear answer.iPsxr
oc0Ht***mpY
W1IHAfter that, the days in the Rochester mansion passed almost entirely in training.HpSoS
masgTWhenever he had the chance, Dereck followed Kalimford and rebuilt from scratch theories on all kinds of magical systems.5J1Q
VVveOplThanks to that, he gained inspiration again and again regarding the use of five-star magic, and repeatedly readjusted four-star spells he already mastered.wdN3Dp
EGCETyWhaam! Whaam! Boom!WlXBWP
05fN5CWhraaaah! Whaam!k6iv5i
UwZKmPThroughout the Rochester territory, the sounds of Dereck’s large-scale magic training constantly echoed.OjMsEL
MghM8Since it was inconvenient to destroy the dueling field every time, he sometimes went outside the mansion.ogFy
xt0Fortunately, the north was covered in vast, uninhabited snowy plains, and from time to time demonic beasts appeared that served as real opponents.lfp26T3
N8hDaD0There was no better place to train magic seriously.ROKa7pI
UttOn days when he trained directly with Kalimford, he ended up in shambles, but even while bleeding all over, Dereck walked around with a broad smile.xKc
pDkxDenise used to say he was simply a lunatic obsessed with magic.BLTr
HcfSiern, who watched those training sessions while staying in the mansion, could not help but nod several times, thinking she was right.6Pxu
ML83IF‘Dereck is serious when he teaches magic, but even more so when he learns. I suppose that’s why he can teach so consistently.’r9Xel
j9rH3OSometimes, Siern went to watch him train, rested her chin on her hand, and observed in silence.BoCU
XC7In her white eyes, a clear light shone.o9Bt
hgI17Finding a master one could trust was truly precious.Gfk
U5gl0V3For Siern, having Dereck as her master was almost a miracle.ZjD62
suEgvAnd Dereck, for his part, also felt that emotion when learning from someone.kAtN
7FnHe was a distant man and, at times, difficult to understand, but in certain aspects they shared a strange affinity.9cuDRX
V41aoWithout realizing it, Dereck’s presence had begun to feel as natural as a part of her own body; to the point that, when he was not there, she felt uneasy.OTwAguC
2ciAfter watching him for a long time, Siern suddenly felt another wave of heat rise to her forehead and cheeks.8rlLLQ
CNIeaEq‘Again… I’m not starting to feel unwell, am I…?’E5tnYK
2DjACYWhile walking along the walls of the Rochester mansion, she decided she needed to be careful not to catch another cold and quickly jumped toward the main building.XgPRGP
HgqTIt had been a long time since she returned to her home, so she thought she should talk more with Melverot before returning to the Ravenclaw territory.YUznT
YbGDo“I feel like my temperature is rising again, so I’m going to rest a bit in the main house. Maybe I got too excited walking around the mansion after so long.”DoWrOB
m6Z“Don’t make everyone worry again over something as annoying as a cold. If you repeat it, you’ll only reduce my working time.”xlXfQ
a6A7“Yes, I’ll be careful.”bEMCR5
DTSAlthough Melverot spoke coldly, Siern knew her father well.QFvnO
uVHRWAs soon as she entered the great hall barefoot, he frowned and stopped talking with the legal magistrate, as if he already had worry piled up.1PiWyS
xQd“Even a slight increase in temperature can greatly affect the body. Don’t take it lightly; if you feel anything strange, rest immediately. And, if possible, wear shoes.”Y2iXVP4
6FE“Yes… but the heat has already passed now. It’s strange. Outside I felt stifled… could it be that being exposed too much to the cold affects you that much?”dSDPza
y6h“Is your mana state not fine right now? I heard you protect yourself properly using transformation magic.”EdZsT
ViL“Y-yes, but… mmm… I don’t know. Lately my body feels fine one moment and bad the next.”o8UAS
oDjQu“We’ll have to call a doctor.”znPs
1fZ“I-it’s not that serious. Right now I’m fine… I think the heat just rose for a moment while I was outside.”4947W
1DvMelverot tossed the documents he was holding to the legal magistrate and, with his hand on his chin, asked with a grave expression.VamFPa
AWiqL“What were you doing outside?”fYP0px
A4eRvx5“Not much… just walking around the mansion and looking at the snowy plain… and watching Dereck train magic.”SGRO16
umFRfSf“That man training?”y3zMvbF
0ErSiDQ“Yes. I found it surprising that even in this cold he’s training to reach a higher level… and I also felt that he’s not as distant as he seems… like I saw an unexpected side of him…”roK
Isd1CSiern recalled the image of Dereck she saw every day escorting her kindly to Rochester with satisfaction, taking care of her when she fell ill, managing the territory, and training magic always with a serious face.jqZ
l3NfAs she thought about it, the heat rose again, and she began to fan her face with her hand.SmO1
HgJD“Ah… eh? I think I really don’t feel very well.”yQkqE
yxdfRAl“All of a sudden…?”eegxOz
u8zeuW-when I think about Dereck, my temperature suddenly rises again… i-it’s strange… very strange…”Qe0rQK
pboMvSiern hugged herself, made a few small nervous hops, and shook her head vigorously before bowing to Melverot.c2U7slm
pxXm2URW-well… if I stay like this, the servants will panic again, so I’ll go rest immediately. Father, please take your time as well.”1E12
AD7oAbPressing her burning cheeks, she crossed the great hall and disappeared into the corridor, probably heading to her room.YTGw1c
XYKhJDAfter the door closed—y3DD
WSUfXWhoosh.H7rAeTD
5meter8A gust of winter wind rushed in through the entrance.yfi19
zLxcSQBut the chill felt by Melverot and the attendants did not come from the northern wind.IGt
cyGgThe night before, after Siern’s cold, they had spent the night in a state of near-emergency alert.J0UF
ZIqOver a simple cold, Kalimford and Melverot had spent the night with expressions as if the world were about to end.Jqfc5W
9rZjAnd yet, a hunch told them that something was about to happen that would make all of that seem trivial.inL
YJ1e“Your Grace… t-this is…”jgR
iN2Hl“……………… It’s an emergency.”aa4Ub
PqYaDFpAt last, the legal magistrate’s face turned completely pale.G6HU
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