Chapter 177: Seat of Thorns (5)
porem82The construction date of the Ravenclaw Academy had already been set.EkxhE
DwwHwp“Hm…”BQkQ
bFvWhile spending his recovery period treating the serious wound to his shoulder, Dereck rested his chin on his hand as he read the letter that had arrived from Aiselin.rtz8
JF7It had already been about four days since, due to Kalimford’s mistake, he had suffered that severe injury.ao3jOLZ
jvxABNThe wound to Dereck’s shoulder was deeper than he had thought, and it would not heal just by resting for a few days.z5Tsy
tqpZWjqAlthough Dereck possessed a recovery ability so outstanding that any ordinary person would click their tongue in amazement just by seeing it, thinking that he could recover easily after taking a spell head-on from the great mage Kalimford had undoubtedly been naïve.1ud
xMDYWA‘I want to go over that sensation from back then at least one more time… but my body won’t respond.’anR02fy
JPHEJPsDereck’s mind was completely occupied by that magical fervor he had felt while exchanging spells with Kalimford.EU7X
aJ7SBB8If he could train just one more time, he was certain he would be able to glimpse a new level.683f
voxYWith that obsessive thought, he tried to recover by any means, but things were not progressing as he had hoped.5GUZM
5F2During the days he spent confined to bed, the servants of the ducal house of Rochester attended to him with a devotion so excessive it bordered on uncomfortable.arx
O0yQyIxFearing that something might happen to Dereck, they took turns watching over him every hour, to the point that it made him want to tell them there was no need to exaggerate so much.wk8Smkj
zaZ6l7When Siern had nothing to do within the duchy, she stayed stuck to Dereck like a limpet, and both the head butler and the head maid personally came every day to check on his physical condition.oXy
zAohVNAnd on top of that.b4j
Gjt5The great mage Kalimford visited the room daily to ask about his condition, and Melverot, from time to time, made sure on his own that he was not experiencing any discomfort.fl4mjQ
tj4kqys‘…’D5i
bsprPut bluntly, it was like sitting on a bed of thorns.Jtk
o2xsOfVDereck, who had suffered even more serious injuries in the past, knew that by eating well and sleeping enough, flesh returned quickly and recovery was usually fast.qZs1
WR6cBecause of that, the ducal house of Rochester treating him as if he were a piece of glass and checking even the most insignificant detail was unbearably uncomfortable.xGdQU0
23b‘This really is a true seat of thorns.’wSe8KA
ZanKClutching his shoulder tightly, Dereck organized his thoughts while reading Aiselin’s letter.6l6xX
VGH5dOThe frigid climate of the north was already harsh enough to hinder recovery, and sitting there all day, surrounded by people who would not stop monitoring his physical condition, was on the verge of driving him into neurosis.QOO
th97IG‘Judging by the situation, it seems Kalimford also has no intention of using his full strength against me again.’JM0d
8bPARsEvery time he saw Dereck and Siern, Kalimford ended up drenched in cold sweat.phtUYU
Ve9jwokEver since he understood that, if he injured Dereck recklessly, Siern would not stand by idly, he seemed to have lost any intention of treating him with pressure or severity.LyX1e2u
MXF8That Siern could make two six-star mages break out in cold sweat with just a few looks once again made her presence impressive.4DI47
IM1kBR‘Come to think of it, I’ve also left my territory unattended for far too long.’m2ghOyO
TH0ljUWAs always, Siern was sitting in the armchair beside the fireplace, breathing softly.QHP
2ldThrough the window beyond, the territory of Rochester was covered in snowflakes falling without cease.8sRY7
Po457If he returned to the southwest of the continent, spring would already have fully arrived there.EWd3
B1H4mlaThere would surely also be a mountain of accumulated matters and many people waiting for Dereck.CK2poZ
C8xHe could not remain indefinitely in the territory of Rochester.48Nf2hl
SaHRThe pursuit of magical mastery was the objective and raison d’être to which Dereck had devoted his life.4if
4Jh1kjKAlthough the closeness of the five-star level gave him a pleasant vertigo, he also could not completely abandon the affairs of his territory.gKec5h
BosQQ1Rubbing his brow, Dereck took a deep breath and straightened up.O8lP
ODYtq“I think I’ll soon return to the Ravenclaw territory. With this shoulder, it’s difficult to carry out any meaningful magical training, so it would be better to recover while taking care of the work that’s piled up.”5J3
cujQ0“…”9FmCOsG
Uis9Melverot, with his arms resting on the work desk, spoke in a calm voice.CZ1UOE
xCZR“…Already so soon?”OZc
zD8t“…”Gx1OG
fFWngY9Convincing a daughter who had returned home to stay one more day was almost a natural duty of parents.DJGLT
ShP3Hu4Both Melverot and Kalimford seemed to want to keep Siern a little longer whenever Dereck mentioned that it was time to return.jb17TQj
upIdkIt was not a final farewell, and once the procedures for the academy’s construction were concluded and another rest period arrived, they would see each other again.h7sXXm
04H6R0TEven so, Melverot frowned and spoke in a cold tone.DDG2yC
SebaOQ“I told you that if there was anything that made you uncomfortable during your stay, you should say so clearly.”szzm5QK
P8R3uAlthough by its phrasing it almost sounded like a threat, the hidden message in his words was curiously considerate, enough to confuse anyone hearing it for the first time.fHceX
GcyuOFeOf course, Dereck, who already knew Melverot’s two-faced nature well, chose his words carefully.AI0SR8
7JhwT“There’s nothing in particular. As I said, there are matters piled up in my territory, and in this condition it’s difficult to continue magical training. For now, I want to prioritize what I must do.”jhQH
0EEL4M“So you plan to seriously set the Ravenclaw Academy in motion.”KUQ1f5
zk7o8u“The scale is ordinary, but those enrolling are, without exception, young ladies from very prominent noble families. There is much to prepare.”f01GDq
RNk“I have no choice but to warn you not to neglect Siern.”PAgc24
clKMku“That… of course.”IC3N
RgeZMvmOn this trip to the territory of Rochester, Dereck understood something with absolute clarity.9hZtoFP
e1fIt didn’t matter who it was—if anyone dared to touch Siern lightly, Melverot and Kalimford would destroy them without mercy.zG5ArQJ
LUpRAs long as Siern remained favorable toward him, Dereck didn’t have too much to worry about, but among the nobles of Ebelstein, known for their harsh and venomous dispositions, someone incapable of reading the situation could always appear.dL8jmU8
20PmhNIt would be best if no one like that appeared, but if it did.Ko68l6
1QivRFrom Dereck’s perspective, all he could do was pray for their eternal rest.U4uQIC
KOh“I’ll send the report documents to the center of the continent. The construction of the Ravenclaw Academy has the approval of the central nobles, but those old men change their minds easily.”IoFRQ
9UcmKA“On that point, Lady Kohella has already reviewed everything, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”lkX
Nd7“That sinister old woman gave her approval…? She’s not someone with easy tastes. That means your value has increased as well.”mhiAoQ
EDdWWhen Dereck inclined his head, Melverot crossed his arms and sighed.Ht8bR
3XXtlp8His silver hair, quite long for a man, fell over his noble attire.i7yrZ
AWguHe had a lofty and arrogant expression, but considering his abilities, it was not unfounded arrogance.kVwU7
lDfADJMelverot observed Dereck in silence and then added.EkSLZ
HRLjcQf“If even Kohella has taken notice of your existence, whether you like it or not, you’ll end up reaching even greater heights.”hJeIXe
VjET5LK“…”Omy
rUtRq8“It’s not just Fina, but also Drest. If you knew that six-star mages scattered across the continent value you this highly, the central nobles won’t remain idle. This is a different kind of movement from that old woman Kohella.”PDQ2x7
xif1MWqRegarding the nobles of the center of the continent, Dereck had heard about them as well.ArEVG1
9MgurLThey were the powerful figures who, like the arms and legs of Emperor Gatrell, concentrated the core of imperial power.JRebbnI
nZ8fFor a mage like Dereck, who moved mainly through the peripheral regions of the continent, they were rather distant figures.GFTyFy
gbixbub“You should already know this to some extent. Being someone promising attracts the admiration of many, but it also awakens envy and invites surveillance. And the more obsessed they are with power, the more aggressive they become toward people like you.”MpCj
oAkyZXV“Are the central nobles that finicky?”iXE4C
YOX0Sk“After killing Noir, I myself could have taken a position among the central nobles if I had wanted to. Even so, why do you think I stayed in this desolate north killing monster races to pass the time?”3F76
p6tMelverot rested his chin on his hand and frowned.MlGY8
X0v“I didn’t want to be dragged along by those pigs that are shiny on the outside and hollow on the inside. In any case, you’d better run the academy carefully and not let the central nobles handle you however they please.”BRCLal
kS8“I’ll keep that very much in mind.”JCv3KU
oCm4“And while we’re at it, it seems Emperor Gatrell plans to conduct an inspection in person.”OCSH
XXmhDereck’s body trembled.tO2nc
WXRIt was the first time he had heard that Emperor Gatrell, the very heart of the Empire, would come in person.kt6SOp6
62r7A magical educational institution on a scale never seen before was about to be born, so it was not strange that it caught his attention.sCu
HMKrMlEven so, Dereck had thought he would send a delegate, not travel all the way to the territory of Baron Ravenclaw himself.Ycl
LH9mak“It’s internal information that came up at the latest meeting of high nobles.”7ua5
2D5“Is it all right for you to tell me something like that?”M2sKQ
bz3W“At times it seems you aren’t aware that you yourself are a noble. Though, given your background, perhaps not much can be demanded of you.”oBwQnG
Lb1qr“I haven’t had the opportunity to have an audience with Emperor Gatrell, and I don’t know the palace rules very well. It seems I’ll have to prepare even more.”gu9O
ug91n“There’s no need for you to pay too much attention to that puppet.”bztprd
D4gDereck’s expression hardened.ynH7ODe
NecO0JLEmperor Gatrell’s reputation as a wise ruler was well known.0ojTrdA
JPxVQIt was said that he was benevolent, firm, and capable of handling immense power with prudence.T40
WERoThe magic council, led by Kohella, answered directly to the emperor, and even the great aristocratic powers seemed insignificant before imperial authority.AoEoiX
ZWisihjEven the Duplain family had reached its position as one of the powers of the southwest thanks to its direct blood ties to the imperial family.u9lM55
wlUc8Even so, Melverot, who had been closer than anyone to the apex of power, let out a mocking laugh.gHPpo
6dvw0pi“Do you really believe that the true power of the empire resides in that already-aged Emperor Gatrell? He lost his edge long ago. When you see him in person, you’ll understand what I mean. He’s nothing more than a puppet who nods along to everything his vassals say.”zwY
2NeA“Since when…?”1zSAI4b
G8yyC0H“I don’t know exactly. I can’t point to a specific moment. I’ll just say this: old age eventually turns even monarchs who once dominated the pinnacle of power into miserable old men.”bx3APdu
0Gvq0Melverot laughed softly again.bMV
g4Y4i“When you see the pitiful state of that old emperor, perhaps even Fina will start to think that the mark engraved on her body is not a curse, but a blessing.”xzJklU
kBaP“…”g4C
nOpkjlq“What? Is that something you would have preferred not to know? Like it or not, you’re already drawing closer to the center of power. With a complete four-star level at your age, you will attract the surveillance of the central nobles whether you want it or not.”sik0N8
R57pThey were not comparable to the nobles of the peripheral territories.N4t6X
t9GmTheir mentality and their way of acting were completely different.bx0oX
3dMWMelverot stated this decisively and crossed his legs.jPsQ8DX
xhWfnn“If Emperor Gatrell is no longer the true head of imperial power, then who is holding control of Gremport Palace now?”mtv
OKaW“The imperial palace has been in shambles for a long time. In the magical sphere, Kohella controls everything, but in the other fields each faction watches the others from their own palaces, waging a silent war. That’s why I can’t clearly point to a single one, but…”mCu3YWX
Z9qINHeaven and earth, only I exist.hsXzA
GkXgXGThere was no description more fitting for Melverot.sqt
U4YxsHe was one of the greatest mages in history, the hero who killed Noir and saved the continent.wcNXiqN
naWEFVVEven so, Dereck never imagined he would utter the following words.M0VmdGW
S2hZjk“You’d do well never to approach Princess Roselin. She is the closest to imperial power, but also the one who despises mages the most.”6a8r
nUptd8“Is it possible to hate mages in this era? Most influential figures wield magic.”Usp
Aws“That’s the princess’s own affair. How she came to have those ideas, I don’t know. But there is one thing that is certain.”61Vcc
4Atj4nHAt last, Dereck understood why Melverot was telling him all this.z3ct
KyVHis tone was always harsh, arrogant, and disdainful, but when one looked deeper, his intention was often very different.x2T66d
oKPyW6In his own way, Melverot was worried about him.vMHb6eG
KLi“At the very least, she won’t look kindly on the emergence of a magical educational institution of that size. And you, as its director, could provoke even more of her hostility.”lQq
aKljX83“…”ONCAo5
6St6fh“But there’s no need to obsess over it. Even if she’s among the most influential of the imperial family, she’s still just a novice. And as you rightly said, despising magic in this era is hardly a desirable trait.”BZbJO
PcPtfOeAlthough he had not met her yet, Dereck sensed that Melverot felt no sympathy for her either.twSUP
qhr“Whatever the political struggle within the palace may be, the imperial magic advisor Kohella won’t let her act however she wants.”4896Y8
0ssxWxS“…”i5T9
Ie8ggv7“If she’s left alone, she’ll end up being discarded. Until then, it will be enough for you to know when to hold back.”EQVv
5tU9PMelverot’s advice was far more important than it seemed.9jJ
VRwFor Dereck, who still lacked experience with the central nobility and imperial culture, it was invaluable help, even if a certain discomfort continued to linger in his mind.5uarzQw
OX1Even so, in his current situation, all he could do was nod.aziCBa
2LUxw“I understand. Thank you for the advice.”x1dv6gf
2sX“Good. And since the Ravenclaw Academy is going to be built, I suppose I should prepare a gift as well.”zJCKDNo
FlupHy“There’s no need to go that far. You’ve already helped the barony quite enough.”G7eOULL
QrVxzrb“Don’t be insolent. When someone gives you something, you accept it. Do you think I’m the kind of person who goes back on what he says?”wku2
YatWhen Dereck looked at him, Melverot drew a mocking smile.QWb1S
MfQ1“The problems ahead of you are not few. If you keep scattering your attention like this, you won’t be able to concentrate when teaching Siern either. It seems necessary that I intervene a little.”9Bv5ZG
QaS2“I’ve already been considering that.”2emWYw
0ra“Do you think I’ll be put at ease that easily? On this return trip, take Kalimford with you as well. I’ve already told him.”lY1
iCj1j“………What?”xGT0aI
R4opKalimford, a six-star combat mage.z4j7
FlRBy reputation, he was someone who could not be hired even by offering an incalculable fortune.YKU73
f8A3T“Hire him. The teaching staff will always be insufficient, and he will also want to see Siern more.”tCJ
W8DIt was still unknown how the faculty of the Ravenclaw Academy would be formed, but bringing in Kalimford exceeded any imaginable expectation.7MkLM
Ks6ihiPIn the depths of Dereck’s heart, a strange sensation began to arise.8vp7P8
gmQJust as when Aiselin had first opened the training center, he had the impression that everything was starting to grow too large.4CtuCJ
0S9gUIo***stv
lhnXVOn the outskirts of the Duplain territory, where buildings stood densely, Aiselin was sitting on the hill beside the academy grounds, which were only awaiting the inauguration ceremony.KmroR1
bbonShe wiped away her sweat and showed an expression of absolute happiness.QkYcxL
6HHThe head maid, Katarina, swallowed hard at the sight.32RhtG
EUgjXHAt some point, the Aiselin who had once been simply beautiful, elegant, and refined had gone from being just another young noble lady to appearing something close to a sovereign.Nv00H
Ej7PUnaware of Katarina’s concerns, Aiselin gathered her ebony-black hair and spoke cheerfully.7aiRc5A
gCkdGd“Dereck is going to be in for a big surprise when he comes back!”wN11hx
DmnM6The golden age of the Duplain family was returning.rK6
AyQR9cHouse Duplain, whose end had been predicted even by the central nobility and the imperial family, was rising once more with its heavy body.TC3
25PF9PAnd at the forefront of that resurrection, as the supreme real authority of the Duplain family, Aiselin Eleanor Duplain lifted her chin firmly.bWOTP
ocZ7gCIronically, she still considered herself a fallen young noble.J2K
wC5bCQAnd everything indicated that she intended to continue seeing herself that way until the day of her death.qHDSYmM
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