Chapter 180: The player (3)
dHj2pWhen they left the Duplain palace, the sun was already slowly setting.XKbc
dgXCDereck was exhausted to the bone after spending the entire day reviewing the academy’s construction schedule, inspecting the buildings, and conversing with the head of the family.xp5yoC
aUxZmtTWas the life of nobles always like this?cVz
590cuYAs he left the residence of Duke Duplain, his expression had grown even more indifferent than before.xvFLOF
e0GW9zhDuring the time he had remained in the north, his magical aptitude had improved, and he had repeated his training until he brushed against the threshold of five stars.BIOZ
earSDx8It was a cold and harsh environment, but for Dereck, sitting amid those snowy plains in the residence of the Duke of Rochester had been a far more fulfilling and meaningful phase.dKcKy
xkxe0oWEven so, in this era, one could not renounce the authority granted by nobility in order to become a high-ranking mage.EaH
J2veV8If all the plans he had set in motion began to bear fruit, perhaps Dereck would not remain at the rank of baron and could rise even higher.f1YDtaG
3R6PmdWhether that would be beneficial for his life or not was something he still could not know.ubF9lY
lcPgxtGThat was how the world worked.AdBH4TN
HItj6Since when magic had become the very authority of the nobility on this continent was no longer even worth asking.IqG
xkqKSyHe could only let such empty thoughts slip by.sPsUWZ
ZnOefJc“You look like you have a lot on your mind.”EVtR
Jj6nBehind Dereck, as he headed toward the carriage waiting for him at the main entrance, Linus approached him.WJdjbK3
pk8kScratching the back of his head, he let out a dry laugh and gave him a few pats on the shoulder.QblSy
nqJl0g“Well, either way, if it’s already decided that the imperial delegation will come to inspect, it’s normal for your head to be in a mess.”PlB
ezlSmw“That can be resolved by following protocol, but there are still many other things to take care of, and that’s what’s giving me a headache.”MLW
Kj7“When your status rises and you start accumulating things, problems inevitably increase as well. Doesn’t it make you understand a bit better now why I wander around like a wreck, hanging around betting tables?”zz9
bK2xk“…”Hrev3d
8HYGMLinus let out a carefree laugh and then, crossing his arms, sat down in a corner of the garden bathed in the reddish light of the sunset.K7XcqW
vcTIQp“Compared to your days as a mercenary, your worries and the problems you have to deal with now seem to have moved to another level.”SAz
3HYhH4W“That’s true, but…”dffWP9d
8IDfDereck brought a hand to his chin for a moment and, as if suddenly remembering something, asked,OOPUs0x
9jf“From the beginning, you actively helped me obtain the title of baron. At the time you said it was to help Lady Ellen, but even so, I still had many doubts.”0ZU
SZQ“Doubts? It was to prevent my useless younger brother from harming Ellen. Do you need any other reason?”1AjMghd
rrib“Wouldn’t it have been simpler for you to help Lady Ellen directly yourself, without involving me?”8Tb
nizAt Dereck’s question, Linus cleared his throat and answered as a bead of sweat slid down.m8wXg
9OjTzO“I already told you. Ellen hates me. Since I was a child, I abandoned the family and ran off to wander around without fulfilling any noble duties. Why would someone like me ever please her? On the other hand, if she had someone presentable at her side, someone with the air of a respectable master, that demanding girl would eventually accept it.”hh5Uin
aowNeF“…”2ch1v0
enSDr1“And in the end I was right, wasn’t I? Every time she sees you, Ellen can’t hide how much she likes you. She always tries to act like a mature lady and keep an elegant expression, but if you look closely, it’s obvious that she isn’t.”G1uFYHC
2ff3OtdThe more one learned about Linus, the more questions arose.ljMd
rw3lIHe rested his arm over the chest of his linen robe, yellowed by wear, and stroked his poorly shaved beard with a thoughtful expression.vd1R
DPP“The Belmierd family is far more ruthless than you imagine. To survive there, you need at least one master you can truly trust. Although I didn’t expect you to end up with so many disciples, not just Ellen.”ReiVnB
qBIgsf“…So there’s still something more.”lBZAcPN
l5FHAp“Maybe yes, maybe no. In any case, I wanted to raise you as high as possible because I was sure that, one way or another, you would continue to be an ally of Ellen.”fAJop9f
xUwCJUYLinus spat out the phlegm that had accumulated in his throat and, without wasting time, pulled a small bottle of liquor from his waist and drank deeply.2KDhfK
7cQQ“Ahh!”te2RRaU
IgRpKuHe wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.MM9e4
VfJIIt could not be considered noble behavior even as a joke.eaE4
3iYsI“I’m a gambler. I make my living betting money, and when the time comes, I’ll simply disappear. I, who fell from high society to the bottom, it doesn’t matter how I end up—but you, who climbed from the bottom to the elite, need to become someone more solid.”P7T06
Cnsx0d“Lately I have indeed felt some pressure.”wDSZA
DP5“It’s inevitable. At least among the people I know, you’re the one with the broadest ties to six-star mages. Aside from you, at most Kohella, in the Gremport palace, could compare.”puW
WguFYELinus let out a dry laugh.ZjiLnp
jSUt“With great influence comes great responsibility. Living like that is damn crazy, isn’t it? Hahaha.”iadEQG
7gS“…”IRrU
rUkiqJOHad he come just to mock him?eCT
VhlmDAs Dereck thought that, Linus leaned back against the wooden bench again and spoke in a heavier voice.XZ4Ao8C
i8E0M22“From my point of view, the six-star confusion mage does exist.”pLW
fjpHe delivered that conclusion with unusual weight.7dT0GaY
uvkKPsnAlthough he was usually drunk and unsteady, there were moments when his voice became surprisingly firm. This was one of them.9iIt
BrC“Do you have any basis for saying that?”lbUu
Ceu“It’s not tangible proof. But the fact that Kohella is accompanying Princess Roselin on this inspection is already out of the ordinary.”Ir6aXT
KRxwA3“…”RrCwwf
1Bu86“You know how busy the empire’s chief advisory mage is. She already visited the academy grounds once and even gave her approval. For her to come again in person is strange.”Fn9evn
TY3DHe took another drink from the bottle and let out a long sigh.vYzDHnx
s935lLyParadoxically, his eyes were clearer than before.ANfP
eTpC“That old snake only moves like this when there’s a six-star mage involved. She’s obsessed with magic.”6xR
wt03wW“That… is hard to deny.”eP7
mFPN5“I don’t know whether you’ll take this as praise or an insult, but from my point of view, Kohella and you aren’t that different in essence.”luZ
CIDWmHumans obsessed with magic.mio9y
FMw0FffOnly those willing to offer everything to raise their level can even brush against the threshold of seven stars.aUsrv
t2VeKohella was the one who had been researching seven-star magic the longest.IiZZJ7q
xPETWU0It was highly likely that her inner self was distorted in one way or another.H1Q6Bw
dKU“The fact that Kohella is personally accompanying Princess Roselin to such a ceremonial event means there’s more to it. This story may have been treated as nonsense for years, but even so, it might be wise to act under the assumption that it exists.”klGXy
l5sTJ“I understand. But even if that were the case, how could we deal with a mage who transcends all perception?”URaOBFr
9DvYwH“That’s true. Hahaha. But not even a six-star mage is omnipotent. They all have weaknesses, limits—there has to be something.”gVcHy
sIPgELinus raised his gaze toward the sun slowly setting.vVONso
gEspSTDereck also stared at the horizon beside him.meOFe
FJLZ42Combat, transformation, exploration, necromancy.qdHnA0w
NiLoxDereck had personally encountered six-star mages in four different disciplines.ZKb
BLUyriAll of them truly existed.Ps1RJW
QA4jiHSTrying to act against someone whose very existence is not even certain is, in practical terms, impossible.7x0OEn
dxlvgwJ“In the end, it’s not that different from gambling. If you’re unsure whether something exists or not, it’s best to assume that it does and act accordingly. If you don’t calculate every possibility, you always end up losing the money.”02l
Su3Linus, on the other hand, seemed strangely relaxed.AmjI0
YNPOA“That’s the true charm of the game.”n1bSqk
VNCX***BUxT
cbCAQ“Tomorrow I’m going to sleep in a bit, so let the servants know they don’t need to wake me in the morning.”Il07x
Mea3SJlWhen Dereck returned to the residence of Baron Ravenclaw, it was already quite late.S8yVZbE
art7Compared to the imposing size of the Duplain mansion, the residence of Baron Ravenclaw was fairly modest.R3qj
fqp4FEven so, there were still some buildings constructed for the operation of the training center, so compared to a typical rural baron of a peripheral region, the size of the place was still considerable.kkv
lT727BINow that all those functions would be moved to the grounds of the Ravenclaw Academy, the surroundings of the residence would return to silence.y16zc
E9s1For Dereck, that was not necessarily a bad thing.BQd15
OV7“My shoulder isn’t in good condition, so I want to rest a bit more. I’ll also skip breakfast, so there’s no need to prepare anything.”i0U4gN
pq4WAfter giving those instructions to Delbriton and the head maid, Dereck finished his dinner simply.7krQ
fk6“When you say you’ll sleep in… are you planning to rest the entire morning?”JqE7C
0nJfMn“Something like that. First I need the shoulder wound to recover properly so I can focus on other things. If the academy’s opening schedule is already organized, leave it on the desk in my office. Only come to inform me if some matter arises that requires review.”GgdSj
8qlOb4w“Yes, yes… understood. Then… t-this early morning… will you be sleeping…?”2i46
2wQ“…Early morning?”haTq
q4haG1“…”Qfaq9T7
vJjoWhen Delbriton avoided his gaze with an awkward expression, Dereck, seated in his place, watched him for a moment with narrowed eyes.dsb
MvryThinking about it, this was the first day since he had taken on all the work that Aiselin had been carrying.dsM
3HI3With some unease, Dereck asked Delbriton,nU1
8NFVt“…What exactly did you do when Miss Aiselin was handling everything?”P33hcCe
k44VX9“…”BD1TdGS
cAnqu7“Answer honestly.”dFt
alhP“Well… normally she slept about three hours a day and spent the entire early morning reviewing documents. That’s why… the maids took turns standing night watch and assisting her.”hYXACa
vS1IpNThe head maid, Elpin, answered in a trembling voice, clearly terrified.Vwf2
FUPpsx3Dereck looked at her in silence. She had deep, dark circles under her eyes and dull skin, giving the impression of extreme exhaustion. Did anyone who tried to keep up with Aiselin’s pace of work end up like this?3HBfk
87aRPjWhen he had first hired Elpin as head maid, she had been delighted to be able to assist Aiselin as well, who was called the treasure of Ebelstein’s high society.pJQec
YEsk45uShe had been young, full of energy, and seemed like someone reliable.7rjz
lLDsHowever, in just a few months, Elpin had become so pale that she looked as though she had been resurrected through necromantic magic.Minec
PM1RxyApparently, she had felt great pride and honor in serving a lady admired by all, but now perhaps all that remained was regret, exhaustion, and an unhealthy obsession.GYZP
MfSCJV“Miss Aiselin will not be touching any work for a while.”rqobX4B
kRGGP“Is… is that… possible?”3Ha1
hV3EeThat someone would even ask whether it was “possible” already said a great deal.hbF7
Bij0AAMEven so, at least within the residence of Baron Ravenclaw, the figure with the greatest authority was Dereck.aOfei
i2jbNo matter how much Aiselin was a lady of the House of Duplain, while she acted as an internal part of the academy, she had to respect his judgment.FxpRt
73UkJ8When Dereck nodded firmly, little by little vitality returned to the faces of Delbriton and Elpin.sQNN
NulTNot only them.Z7EmWJp
ApX6wThe maids standing by the wall collecting the tableware, and the attendants cleaning the floor in the hallway, also shuddered.iAyxXd6
jEY8Although no one said anything, a strange atmosphere was forming among them.Hy9
TRSiIt was as if people who had lived crushed by an irresistible force had finally found a new savior.5CUyj
k4qWho was Aiselin, really?IqcvSy
Bd8A noble lady, known as the treasure of Ebelstein’s high society, admired and revered by all.WP1KDgo
Fa0SHr5Yet, for some time now, within the residence of Baron Ravenclaw, she had become a terrifying existence, impossible to resist.vTv
Sxuf2bNAnd the most terrifying thing about that monster was a single fact.NsZ
UVhMcShe had no ill intent.pP0t
uMsFShe simply worked with all her strength and took charge of managing the residence.mbC
PVh“…What kind of hell did you all live through while I was in the north?”9x3
j12Yr“Then… with all due respect, does that mean that, aside from the escort personnel, we won’t have to stand guard in the early morning anymore?”1y3e1ua
n8aX4“As long as the security of the residence isn’t neglected, you need to sleep.”OpX
I6B“Does that also mean there won’t be schedule reviews, meetings, or surprise inspections at unreasonable hours…?”hvLkTN
bRzY“Well, we’ll check the bare minimum necessary. But doing it too early or too late isn’t ideal, right?”LiA2HJ
EX3117c“And nothing like suddenly getting a good idea and heading out to the academy site at dawn… or grabbing a shovel and starting to dig up the garden… or ordering ladders gathered because the exterior wall needs redecorating… or deciding at daybreak to tear up all the grass and replant it nicely…?”4Hlyws
HxNRiL5“What the hell are you talking about?”CAcj3
T9awLhmAs Dereck answered while breaking out in a cold sweat, the head maid, Elpin, suddenly bowed deeply.VGV
r7louct“I will be loyal to you… for my entire life… Baron.”6jVSSkt
93IBF5Seeing her bow while holding back tears, Dereck was momentarily at a loss.DFKtj5s
jWXcXHowever, in the silence of the butler Delbriton and the other servants, he sensed a strange, shared empathy.G6CBNZ
RqABbSUIn the end, Dereck had no choice but to remain silent.3hZ
RuXThere was only one thought in his mind.DCx
QBfUOtHThese people needed to be paid a lot more.dVl
eNr6MxW***Y4DOt
WiOqabQAiselin Eleanor Duplain had died in a horrible and miserable way.s0N
EByxIAt least, that was how she herself felt.fNU
aqYS“……”wsS
f0CPIn the luxurious bedroom adorned with delicate lace, the only things Aiselin had done all day since returning to the ducal palace of Duplain were to stroll around the grounds a little in the morning, converse with her family in the afternoon, drink tea, read a few philosophy books, and play an instrument for a brief moment.TqwZwTl
PDHlIt was, without a doubt, the ideal and relaxed life of a noble lady.ibYV
QZpBut now.42V
MbRBAiselin had been irreparably corrupted.WI6GM6m
YwiI80LIn the midst of such an empty daily routine, devoid of any substance, she felt as though her soul were slipping out through her mouth.NnLe
hbKmL‘Today I was supposed to finalize the budget for the second semester… Did Delbriton review it properly?’xiJ0p
Uoe‘To match the schedule of the imperial inspection, all the maids’ uniforms need to be washed… Elpin… please tell me you didn’t forget…’MN1Nf
P2d7u‘Ah…! Wait…! The deadline to pay for the residence’s tableware was today! D-did they pay it correctly…?’xS2u
fYg‘If Emperor Gattrel is coming in person, we also need to gather the academy’s disciples… Have the letters been sent in advance…? Lady Ellen has already received one, but I also need to confirm with Lady Trisha and Lady Denise…’rNcTE
vTxVAs she lay there, she felt as though the lines of the account books she herself had written were being traced across the ceiling.TV2LZW
AQyYcFor Aiselin, stopping work was an even more atrocious pain than abandoning an extremely powerful hallucinogenic drug.oIp
qIPhpfEven so, Dereck’s decision had been the right one.RdpTYKK
G6JyZSuddenly, Aiselin waved her hand and noticed that the tips of her nails were badly damaged.iMfR2H
ZqTUWThe truth was that, if she had not been stopped like this, she would never have rested until her body reached its absolute limit.ei5r6aY
vSjZda“……”x69xQga
nwcmJShe was the kind of person who absolutely needed someone to put the brakes on her at crucial moments.uA7
1kmAnd no one could deny that Dereck was the right person for that.wUjx
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