Chapter 176: Seat of Thorns (4)
T2lgDereck was certain he was dreaming the moment his vision returned.8lhEKY
96yTYlThe place was Duke Duplain’s study.KEvX
5773tIRThere he was, the great Duke Duplain, a figure who had left this world long ago, moving his quill smoothly as he focused on his work.RObc7UM
KbhLmThe beard of just the right length, the keen gaze, and the imposing bearing.FdDMg6e
AGDHe was the very image of the man who symbolized the golden age of the Duplain family.wcJhRIf
vRMSuhThat was the first day Dereck saw him.Vm7NR
nhRDuke Duplain was the first 5-star mage Dereck ever met.SUsD
LrASSOBack then, when he had just escaped the slums and begun to immerse himself in the noble world, the pressure emanating from that 5-star mage had been so intense that he had not even dared to speak to him.rAi5
bGE9With a single exchange of glances, that man had measured Dereck’s level.yGv
QyMWith his mature perception, he had grasped his intentions and crushed the strength of a Dereck who had only just entered the 2-star rank solely with his gaze.P6NRf
jYKlDThat memory remained vivid.Ajf
R2GThe realm of 5 stars, a domain that seemed absolutely unattainable.kEw5
Z3DZYet after countless years of advancing without stopping, now that he lifted his head again, he felt he was almost about to reach that level where the duke had stood.P60Bxf4
LTBP4fpAlthough Dereck was still young, his magical level was drawing dangerously close to that of the family head mages.qSDAA
xoUpOnly one more step remained.6ly
u62Mp8CIf he could surpass a certain invisible limit, he would finally be able to see the same landscape they beheld.DLdxJ3
LVpYDereck closed his eyes once and opened them again.yLvQc
4xnuThe sovereign who had ruled the world had changed.mlG6NF
o7sJNow he was a corpse.Ptf1
dFz8gRSeated in the chair, with a pale face, he had met an empty end after being caught up in the effects of black magic.npnzZCT
holJuXIWherever high-level black mages appeared, wandering spirits always swirled.05y7
l2gnSvHThe Duplain family’s banquet hall, reduced to ruins.mUao
et5e39pBehind the main seat, where the duke’s body lay, a small-statured girl appeared.aLveTd
I4VJEpHair and eyes of a soft lilac hue.z3ko
Q1SGVShe was a 6-star black mage.f8L
siUvvShe had the appearance of a delicate young noble lady, but without a doubt she was a researcher of the forbidden, someone who profaned corpses and manipulated souls.8jkcrs
JkNThe girl crossed the hall humming, took a few light steps, and when she turned, she looked at Dereck while saying something.vg4mXJn
snwBHe could not hear those words clearly, but Fina smiled calmly and waved her hand, as if it were of no importance.F7IPtEg
wy2ZRDereck frowned and strained his ears.z7GSNmF
v4VNwCqThen, as if making a special concession, Fina approached and whispered into his ear.UFTkQj
Qslb“I’ll come get you soon. My adorable disciple.”1vnV5W
POMyJS2“Even if you try to reject me.”PPL
SHhUDereck opened his eyes abruptly.HhN2
YKmZcThe maid who was changing his damp towel jumped in surprise.61lNw
FX5Xf“Hiiek…!”N1H3
r1XGP2cDereck tried to sit up without saying anything, but a sharp pain that ran through his shoulder made him shudder for a moment.QBvM
QBXeEven so, he was someone with exceptional pain tolerance.0LpM
juHAWith effort, he managed to lift his torso and look around.7Fz0m2d
FZpBFkThe room was filled with implements to ward off the cold.BMfB
lBoWhThe walls and interior were covered with furs, and the fireplace crackled with a constant fire.yNIb
dMRThick, high-quality blankets were piled atop the luxurious bed.eQxvIr
lvxQdThe maid, wringing out a cloth in warm water, quickly composed her expression and spoke.tZKV9
UQN“Baron Ravenclaw… you’ve awakened. You were unconscious for nearly half a day.”1hxwT
4yXZw“Half a day?”wqIK
tUZS“Yes, sir…”8KDjGm
3cKaWhen Dereck turned his head, he saw Siern.U3RZT
TGMJX9She was sitting on the other side of the bed, her head resting against it, breathing softly as she slept.6Fwd
H7snJust before losing consciousness, he thought he had heard her voice.SaNJvJ
t9ueuCDereck ran a hand over his face several times and let out a long sigh.Zy2l4P
o76E“I felt like I was just about to understand something…”kjh
Q43oJBecause of Siern’s involvement, Kalimford had not been able to hold back completely.tT2iVE
Gfq4WUnder normal circumstances, he would never have experienced a training bout so close to the boundary between life and death.dX91A
mCWnflThanks to that, he had been able to exchange magic with a 6-star mage to the very limit.FYD
KOViIn a way, perhaps he should be grateful to Siern.mJOk
H0GYGaHBut the training stopped just when he was about to grasp something essential.17p
nbNXRWCIf only he had endured a little longer.bHgtQ
SgXrmOIf he had managed to manifest the magic just one more time.FbXu
24bPerhaps he would have opened an entirely new domain, something he had never reached before.ra47i
kktUThe feeling of having been so close made him feel suffocated, restless.jup
Nl3D‘Just one more time… just one more time…’KQd
u3WJust having awakened after losing consciousness due to blood loss, those were his thoughts.7l0v
cxtQ9MIf it allowed him to raise his magical level even further, Dereck considered a serious injury to be no big deal.TpFpX
tEHBefore that sensation faded from his fingers, he wanted to face Kalimford again in a real battle.1YIq5
gbboIt was at that moment that that unbearable desire began to burn in his chest.ihW7Fh
2bmLiECreaak.ece
vc6Vs0The door opened with a creak.V0dZ
vJxTyciAs the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it will appear.e9uCeS
zvWhr2PKalimford entered the room.s5LCEi
lgkHis body was visibly exhausted.J95
66HHe surveyed the interior and, upon confirming that Dereck had awakened, opened his eyes wide.7D4
SIq“Y-you’ve… you’ve awakened. Is Siern… asleep?”RE5
tfAAZM“Yes. It seems she stayed by his side the whole time.”y6fqU
uSY7Qt“She follows you more than I imagined. When you collapsed bleeding… all the color drained from her face.”vbnUS
DYhXKalimford gestured to the maid.K5wyLSi
JIlShe gathered her things, bowed, and left the room, apparently to inform Melverot.7C3E
5cigH9Kalimford approached and sat down on the care chair beside the bed, setting his staff aside.1hf
HZm9g“I must begin by apologizing. My body no longer responds as it did in my prime, and on top of that I let my emotions get the better of me. I made a grave mistake.”3M6K8Q
XBza“There’s no need. Thanks to you showing your strength without holding back, I learned many things.”0Myxrw
sifiryDereck pressed the bandage on his shoulder several times.nFVIjy
ScGzMpIIt was a pain that would make an ordinary person scream, but he endured it, clenching his teeth for a moment.NOM
KZ82erx“I wish we had exchanged magic at that level from the very beginning.”GEWJku
WPTtJv“Don’t even joke about that. If this had been a battlefield and not training, you could have suffered permanent damage without receiving treatment in time.”WeDBZ
bv0“That’s true, but how can one grow quickly without taking any risks?”rhZlxe
OraFDereck spoke with a serious gaze.ydO8xb
JHWP“This wound will heal soon. When I can move again, I’ll ask you to train with me again in the same way. To learn something, this level of intensity is necessary. In fact, I think I understood something about confusion magic…”YnGnpo
YCGM“That will be difficult.”JhJceJJ
o7f“…What?”DnwQ
sT9Dereck raised his head.2FEG7y
lXVKalimford avoided his gaze, sweating cold, with an awkward expression unbefitting a great legendary mage.upJjI
mGD8VMrIt struck him as strange.voC
jZs9IqA“Did Siern… get very angry…?”Sq6J
UpUI2c“…”RuZ
VvBbrGv“She didn’t raise her voice or say anything, but she looked at me with such coldness that it felt like a knife was being driven into my chest.”oe0Hov
BAwcmKalimford’s face was even paler than Dereck’s.ufcK9I
pW1JiQWhen asked what had happened while he was unconscious, he replied in a trembling voice.ZHzC3d
aSbt“After tending to your wound, I went to look for Siern to explain the situation. We crossed paths in the hallway…”tXi
FYIRc2“Yes…”CNpoQ
DStZdG“Hmph.”uypZ72h
lM77With that cold gesture, Siern turned her head and passed by Kalimford without stopping.hqon
Ra1c“Damn it… I’ve spent my whole life perfecting mana control, and yet I failed at something so basic… I made an unforgivable mistake…”p8X
vWighoT“Ah… it wasn’t that serious. I don’t think you should blame yourself so much.”YS1Hs
ZWc34“No. It was my responsibility. I failed you, Dereck. So… allow me to ask you for something.”7aDOl
UD2u“No, don’t say ask. That puts me in a bind.”Qw4wqt
5khFG“No. This is the greatest favor I will ask of you in my entire life.”PFaJL
pg9iiOSKalimford firmly grasped Dereck’s forearm and spoke with a gaze full of supplication.icAV
e1XuApE“When Siern wakes up… could you please speak well of me to her…? I beg you…”dTVKu
Uuttc3zEven if he was the great mage who had slain the great demon Noir, in front of his own daughter he had no chance at all.akC
0qoFOkbIf someone were to say that there existed a person capable of subduing Kalimford with just a glance, who would believe it?bV2DWh
ZJTqIjSSiern could do it.x4o
168h2Even if Dereck stated it with absolute certainty, probably no one would believe him.RfYm6N6
sE6VSp“Please… if I continue to be hated by Siern like this… what reason do I have to go on living…? If you just speak well of me, perhaps Siern might soften her heart…”qoJHa
p0LBAOH“Ah… yes…”M5EN
EYAfhC1Faced with Kalimford’s desperate attitude, Dereck was unable to refuse.xeo4X3
y7Q***c1xKjSC
x4oDPdn“Siern… clicked her tongue and turned away…?”Hk3
LJuO“That’s right… Melverot… I no longer have any reason to go on living…”PVDLB
NKvKHd“Damn it, Kalimford. You’re an annoying fellow, but I never wanted you to face such a cruel trial…”AIB
yaRWhen Kalimford returned to Melverot’s study, he looked like someone whose soul had been ripped out.7lFFG
ZypzGOf course, being an old friend of Melverot’s, Siern had not openly insulted him or treated him with hostility.91Htdz
hOxuVaKHowever, he had the premonition that she would never treat him with closeness again.dmo
8imWith an empty expression, Kalimford began scratching his already gaunt face.svghXHG
f02y“Melverot… I think my life ends here. I’ve endured for years with this withered body. Yes… when the effects of necromantic magic end, this fragile life will disappear. This is where I put a period. Live well, Melverot…”JoRZ
wWjw“Wait. Don’t draw conclusions so quickly. Perhaps Siern’s mood is just low right now. With time, she might treat you kindly again.”izMy
z4kFFJ“That… may be… but there is no hope. If Siern keeps clicking her tongue when she sees me or shooting me icy looks… how am I supposed to react? Damn it… I never imagined I would face such a merciless trial…”0Xu
MB4l“Calm down, Kalimford. There must be some solution.”GX8umOm
dV9HiFor Melverot, known for his sharp tongue, to show such a conciliatory attitude was unusual.45Xj
bb6For both of them, being openly hated by Siern felt like unimaginable suffering.fnsEUk
ayrjlMelverot rested his chin on his hand and said.YN8ep
O1qg“Fortunately, Siern is still favorable toward me. I’ll cooperate as best I can.”dihG6Y
lcG6Iw“R-really…?”Mc1vnmq
9oO“From what I heard, she’s currently in the room where Baron Ravenclaw is resting. I’ll take the opportunity to check on his condition and speak with him directly.”ZaOmuA
XtoFAs a result, Melverot arrived at the room where Dereck was resting, accompanied by several servants.6MNcGDo
p4vcFWhen Dereck startled, Melverot gestured for him to keep quiet.eyi8
c9FMVfThen he observed Siern, who was sleeping soundly with her head resting on Dereck’s legs, and sat down beside him with heavy steps.Lvw1
KWBR“M-Melverot, sir… to what do we owe your personal visit…?”RGW0t
rwjS2z“I won’t speak at length. Just answer what I ask you.”IFsnl
72d8Dereck knew well that Melverot cherished Siern just as much as Kalimford did, even if he did not show it openly.OsI6S
RzmDealing with Kalimford was already difficult; now feeling Melverot’s pressure with that piercing gaze left him completely at a loss.KSP
GMkWhen Dereck looked at him nervously, Melverot spoke in a low voice.CTbl
rBkmO“Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable during your stay here?”9gDl
TD0tmi“Huh? …How could there be? I’m receiving excellent treatment.”iJg
S4PKXV6“Even if it’s something insignificant, say everything now.”mVNs6JF
yPmFOP2“There really isn’t any problem. On the contrary, I can train magic in a perfect environment, and that is very—”c5X
E8doXh“Do I look like I’m joking?”hDjg
rN4IerDThere was an overwhelming seriousness in Melverot’s eyes.eD2U8Vo
xKO5Dereck understood it instantly.Dju4
WrbCsAfter seeing the pitiful state of his old comrade Kalimford, Melverot had realized that he himself could end up the same way.iDnNc
tNiUDealing with the heart of an adolescent in the midst of an emotional storm was far more complex than facing an army of monsters stretching to the horizon.zy4fm
jgDzG7RIf Siern puffed out her cheeks and got angry, even a 6-star mage capable of covering the sky with mana and tearing the earth apart would be completely helpless.p65u
xc4vpvYRealizing that, Dereck began to see Siern, sleeping peacefully beside his knee, as if she were death itself.3AUVaMd
Uecm“Even the slightest detail… say everything… this is… an order…”Fg5LLnw
ujADA bead of sweat ran down Dereck’s throat.9JVM
KU2L2Never before had he felt that he was sitting on a seat so full of thorns.6uPFsf
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