Chapter 182: Inspection (2)
HLSv— It will feel like entering a viper’s nest.zGos3Cu
unPdIt was a phrase the elderly emperor uttered without warning.k3u
zeL7quuIn a situation where the succession of Princess Roselin to the throne was practically assured, and all the bureaucrats of the imperial faction did nothing but praise her name.Zsu
5zFWhen they were left alone in the audience chamber, the old Emperor Gatrell, who had managed to survive countless thorn-filled paths and had made it to just beneath the throne, spoke to Roselin.LirWo5
gMpg— Huh? Father… what do you mean by that…?mvN
BDO— There will be ferocious beasts everywhere, eager to swallow you whole in a single bite. You will have to stay tense even when blinking, and even regulating your breathing will not be easy.tSKbS
Gavd— That… is only natural, Father.Ifr
Q7iRoselin had eliminated countless rivals to become the effective heir to the throne.P3RQ
ZslThe time had already passed for feeling fear or revulsion toward the dense darkness that permeated the Palace of Gremport.pOiC9Fx
Mx0y0f0Roselin was already prepared to be empress.sCpopdE
AWqAt least, that was what she believed as she slowly lifted the corner of her lips with elegance.UMVKK
1JD7Fb6— I will not disappoint you.Lta4HtF
lNFbT2E— No. Even if you disappoint me, that’s fine.JCE5Jj
V98— …e89z
mVGThe luxurious imperial chamber.N8T
iW47OLJFrom the terrace, through which the cool breeze of late spring entered, the elderly emperor dragged his aged body and raised his gaze toward the starry sky.4Oza4S9
mh4VkHis back was that of an old man who had grown old crossing more thorny paths than Roselin could imagine.CEqTW
RBkEWyeThe starlight seemed to envelop him, as if whispering something to him.rF4HiV
c6yPZHis prime had ended, and the era had changed.yarcj
Vea0JYRThe skin on his fingers clung so tightly to the bone that it looked more like a shell than flesh.khp1v22
Qvm7Then, as if foreseeing something, the emperor spoke.pw4hq
ID0— When one day I die bitten by those vipers… remember this, no matter what happens.1qPxWkW
6F5nszOminous words.3zv
DCc90kIAnd yet, the gentle tone with which he continued sounded as though he were gazing into the future.zAJlpw
TTYTK3— You only need one person.DouHQn
zyDYW— …What?OQV18zD
P5NvD— Do not trust too many. Do not let yourself be swept away by the romantic fantasies of those who speak of embracing people with trust or governing vassals with sincere communion. Choose only one. The most useful and the most reliable. Just one. Remember that. The rest is unnecessary.UFcT1W
tFaSBThe emperor’s eyes had lost their former brilliance.m4N
73A2xVBut from time to time, they fleetingly regained the intensity of his golden age.aJ5wtW
Zi8tfHeIn Gatrell’s eyes, which gazed at the starry sky as if everything had become empty, that clarity had returned for the first time in years.UErGM
DspZeRoselin could do nothing but watch him in silence.2Nol11
iP5“…”vMHW
wviNJBQWhen Princess Roselin realized she had fallen asleep, the carriage was already entering the Duchy of Duplain.chy6iJQ
8oHThrough the swaying carriage window, the scenery of the Ravenclaw Academy was reflected in her eyes.qatjATK
NHTrQJDEach building was meticulously maintained, and it seemed that as much effort had been invested as in the constructions of the Palace of Gremport.7K5
4cHIt was logical, given that they were facilities meant to educate the children of noble families, but the scale far exceeded what she had imagined.UpTpey
UE9‘I had heard that among the nobles of the southwestern part of the continent, large investments were being gathered for the construction of the Ravenclaw Academy, but it’s even bigger than I expected.’10OSmHa
yVEQNA plan of such magnitude had only been possible because the Duchy of Duplain had ceded the land at no cost, and because the noble houses of the southwest had unanimously gathered funds and support.sgb4fb
5xZGNAnd if one were to ask who stood at the center of all that, most would immediately think of Aiselin.Pu9
58IFc7FBut she was not the true backing.DWDcY
XnF1DDEven she, known as the queen of high society in the southwest of the continent, moved while leaning on Baron Ravenclaw, a rural noble from a peripheral region.TfD
yjDMAnd the one backing Baron Ravenclaw was none other than Melverot of the north.TBiP
GlZJv1With that picture in mind, the absurd scale of the Academy began to make sense.GdXLb
EpamK‘To push forward an Academy of this size without Melverot’s voice? That old hero has become very skilled at lying.’qKICsfr
HCugpIn reality, everything was simply the result of cooperation between Dereck and the Duchy of Duplain.25dp
hxT1mHowever, in Roselin’s eyes, it was impossible for something like this to be achieved without the help of powerful nobles with influence in the capital.H3d9CS
hYE6Ou‘Among the most influential noble houses of the southwest, besides Duplain, there are Belmierd, Beltus, and Renuel, right?’C3xHe
1iGqC9She had heard that each of those families had at least one disciple within the Ravenclaw faction.ytu
PbqhkekShe did not know how influential or extraordinary Dereck was, as a mage and as a teacher, but if he managed to have the children of so many prestigious houses follow him as their instructor, he was not someone to be underestimated.55rTVlM
7FhM7Even so, Roselin’s gaze sharpened with coldness.Zae
8GK1Zma‘He’s surely just another idiot intoxicated by magic, like Kohella, drunk on his sense of privilege.’V8rEEuN
ExnilRThinking that, Roselin ran her hand through her dark red hair.MyjKZrD
5Ld3VjPDereck Lydorf, Baron Ravenclaw.K7gGwgB
qgtimMThat unknown man, who for now existed only in her imagination, did not yet deserve for her to lower her guard.jdgXHD
8I0e***Gk9D
IfeL“This doesn’t look like an inspection delegation, but rather a mass migration.”iEq5M1I
c628Ellen was wearing a beautiful dress and silently observed the arrival of the delegation from the main entrance of the central building of the Ravenclaw Academy.n8gWjR
OwFPLHNThrough the great gate, adorned with elaborate iron grilles, the inspection carriages continued to enter without end.epw
So2Fw2The line seemed to stretch all the way to the horizon.KZpNQF
S1f2W6YThe escort alone consisted of several hundred soldiers, and there were more than thirty carriages in total.efte
EInAmong them, the carriage transporting the imperial family was so imposing that it seemed to require nearly twenty horses to pull it.VKj
TfdNow she understood why it was traditionally said that members of royalty had “heavy backsides.”UMlJ0
gISrIt was often remarked that, for the imperial family, even moving from one place to another entailed a tremendous budgetary expense.Cbda0M
md63VdYThat the imperial escort was noisy was nothing new, but at this rate, the entire day seemed destined to be consumed by ceremonies and protocol.4B4oHeq
08HP“Lady Ellen, why have you come out here?”NUEYThD
dKYlt“Oh, Dereck… there’s nothing in particular to do in the hall…”i8IH
zpxefmXEllen brushed aside her red hair and looked toward where the voice had come from, then raised an eyebrow in disbelief.o1YwtxH
k9amLT“Dereck… you’re going to have an audience with the emperor. What is that attire?”CDeV
7ar8“As you can see, it’s my usual outfit.”XPBb
yq2As always, Dereck wore a simple white tunic, a leather belt, dark trousers, boots, and a cloak.cTMw5P8
yOoJVHis appearance was closer to that of a mercenary than a noble.wFbizfc
iVfEllen showed a bewildered expression, but the one who seemed truly confused was him.EqEuKR
X7ANv“For great nobles, an audience with the imperial family requires a lot of ostentation. But for a peripheral baron like me, drawing too much attention would only be counterproductive. A frontier baron should dress according to his position.”6XgTi
ZgAyL“Even so… you are my master. I’m worried they might look down on you in front of the imperial family…”PaHAoE
5rYGeEllen pursed her lips in displeasure and crossed her arms.eBIoL
algAlthough in practice Dereck governed only a tiny territory in a remote region, his influence had already reached a level comparable to that of many powerful nobles.zXHLBJ
PVhyxF3If he were an ambitious noble, this would be the moment to weave connections, expand his network, and aspire to an even higher position.ZDx93p9
E68cfBut Dereck had no interest in such worldly power.y0r71XL
aIxHe only cared about magic.bjXJ6Y
Hxq4XTLThat attitude, so clearly reflected in his behavior, made Ellen let out a deep sigh and ultimately accept it.qMM
FIohnTThinking about it, he had always been like this.J80VQ
aJWMLAAfter living surrounded by vassals obsessed with power and greed in the Belmierd house, she had forgotten that people like Dereck existed.ePgiA
2AowIn fact, that was one of the reasons why Ellen valued him so much.59Bmc
jKABy his side, she could set aside political intrigues and power struggles, and focus solely on the pure relationship between master and disciple, devoted to magic.4olDv
WUMOyY‘Teaching so many influential young noblewomen and yet remaining untainted—perhaps that is his true talent.’YLNl15w
8GLWith a more relaxed expression, Ellen crossed her arms again and added.LERPA
SrNg“By the way, they say my older brother, Linus, is at the Academy…”j6DL
5JIa“…He must be conversing with Lord Leigh, the head of the family.”7G4R3pl
j9dUzl“I’ve heard quite a few times that that disgrace of the Belmierd house keeps coming to see you, Dereck. I was uneasy, wondering if that dishonorable man might have caused you some trouble…”hvqN
MVWVSeeing Dereck’s ambiguous expression, Ellen let out another deep sigh.Gj2essF
bQHPl7“If that individual has caused you any inconvenience, I apologize first. He is someone completely impossible to control; it seems that even my father has already given up on dealing with him.”XIFWk
OZGuO“It hasn’t been like that. I wouldn’t say he’s caused me any serious harm—nothing particularly grave.”h4zF
QCJ“This time, when I face him, I’ll have to grab him by the collar at least once. Without fail…”A8XIeu
IQOEllen spoke through clenched teeth, her tone truly fierce.FNYtR2
KiZ0iZJIn truth, the only things that could be considered a nuisance about Linus were his excessive familiarity, which could be annoying at times, and the foul odor that emanated from his body.ii2V5
6G2If anything, he had been a key figure who actively helped Dereck integrate into the noble world, so it was difficult for Dereck to speak ill of him.mgcHYPL
7RceHowever, the poor relationship between Linus and Ellen was another matter altogether, a strictly family issue that Dereck preferred not to meddle in.bNAinkx
EpaO“I must return to the banquet hall. Dereck. When the sun sets and the welcome reception begins, let us greet each other there again.”wetHNKy
H3751“After such a long journey, you must be very tired. It would be better for you to rest now.”kt5
r8Y“Yes… I suppose so. Besides, something good happened, so I feel that my fatigue has eased a little.”xLZ1mKr
XjWgbHz“Something good…?”dA4kssG
87gAt Dereck’s question, Ellen smiled mischievously and grabbed his shoulder firmly.lwh
4f9x“I saw your face.”sOuSEj
cc49fQHaving said that, she entered the hall with satisfied steps.ug1ibAP
gCDkNA1There was a subtle weight in that smile and in the feelings that accompanied it, but Dereck was in no position to be distracted by such things.DZLNhus
r8nDzIThe imperial delegation of Emperor Gatrell was enormous two members of the imperial family, three high officials of chancellor rank, a 6-star mage, four direct magical advisors of the empire, eighty attendants, and nearly six hundred escort soldiers.5aKQip
YZRIn addition, more than a dozen carriages carried ceremonial equipment alone.C2iuj
kayAt that level, Ellen’s description—that it looked more like a mass migration than an inspection—was not exaggerated in the slightest.poNgKFC
yd7Wherever the emperor set foot, that place had to become empire.wJr
pot82Such was the supreme rule of protocol of the imperial house of Gatrell.nMifTpq
CHzuIPAnd it was not a metaphor.Kx8
GwFP7***RJW
s2ksu‘…Is this man Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw?’5LB
qjD5EPrincess Roselin blinked as she looked at the man who had stepped forward as the representative of the welcoming party upon their arrival at the Academy grounds.n0P8I
EteHe was the figure she had imagined countless times during the journey from the Palace of Gremport to the Duchy of Duplain.PLZXG
MXABaron Dereck.YhtOH
cu29VaThe man favored by Melverot, instructed directly by Drest, and cautiously observed by Kohella.Zcj19XI
KayvA former mercenary who had risen to become the most renowned instructor of Ebelstein’s high society, the teacher of innumerable young noblewomen from prestigious families.rf9z7VM
1SszrDespite holding only the minor title of baron, his name and influence had already been mentioned several times in the imperial council.hUTs4YQ
a1vtbNAnd yet, there he was, dressed miserably, like a mere mercenary, accompanied by only two servants.AV0aI
qhdxTo Roselin, who had lived her entire life surrounded by imperial reverence, Dereck’s appearance was not merely modest, but downright insignificant.RY4sy8
vDfLnU4It was hard to believe that someone like this had led the construction of an Academy that bore the name of his house.0EezK
da4“Thank you for coming from so far away. We will offer you lodging in Amaryllis House, the residential building of our Ravenclaw Academy, in one of its largest and most luxurious rooms.”0SNva4
jKCJ“Good. I appreciate it. It will not compare to my private quarters in the Palace of Gremport, but I suppose it will suffice.”Gy5Y
z3YdWith her arms crossed and her chin raised, Roselin looked Dereck up and down.xbm3XQn
3cmZL9HFrom his appearance alone, it was impossible for her to believe that he was a man as outstanding as people claimed.L8ehjEd
O9s‘I thought he would be more presentable—though, thinking about it, perhaps this is better than someone who only knows how to speak prettily and dress in finery.’bq9
d0W74KRoselin’s expectations plummeted, and she felt her shoulders relax.TlZS5I
HNK“There will be a welcome banquet tonight. Your name carries quite a bit of weight; may I expect the banquet to be worthy of it?”7TAe
ipyz“I could hardly meet the standards of the Rose of the Palace of Gremport. I will do the best that I can.”50Hsu
iaNAlthough his attire was humble, he at least maintained the proper manners of a noble.R43E3RW
hkupRoselin let out a deep sigh and turned her neck in annoyance.Fdq7M0
XW50P“Very well, I will keep that in mind. Still, the next time you have an audience with the imperial family, try to show more dignity. Even if you keep that attire, you should bring more servants with you. Your authority feels far too light.”uAD
tfJ1ASY“I appreciate the advice. I will do so next time. However, today there was a reason to act this way.”dQYHH
axJzHsJ“Ah?”NUNJy
F6jELDxOn either side of Dereck stood the head butler Delbriton and the head maid Elpin, two people of absolute trust, discreet and loyal.a94dt8K
O00Sensing this, Roselin frowned even more.Jh7
ZNEY‘He has come to speak in private.’MdQ
ejSkAt that very moment, Dereck raised his gaze and spoke firmly.PxQ
5rVYQ9“Have you come to Ebelstein to search for a 6-star confusion mage?”ltbaLM
5SWOi0Q“…”j6b
7J4EAuqThe question was direct, like a dagger to the heart.wFVqx
mmEmsF3Roselin was momentarily left without words, though she did not allow the emotion to show on her face.UCd
pPhAyYuThe words she had spoken in the past had already transformed into conspiracy theories circulating throughout the empire.WJ81Fr
ErBmThe world was altered once.0yjY
nMgThat exclamation from the young Roselin was still etched into the memory of the imperial servants.tfdGe
UQXnThe image of a child Roselin, clutching at the servants’ clothes with a distorted expression, remained vivid.l8vL4bU
sHRK— Sebast! Lavender! Carlos! Don’t you believe me…?! Do you also think I’m crazy?!1mWr4
UuBV8Q— A confusion mage passed through here…! Something… something changed…! It changed, I’m telling you!TQUT6nb
Llr6oNo matter how much she screamed with a trembling voice, the imperial bureaucrats only spread rumors that the princess had suffered hallucinations or that her mind was unstable.dDmB
MjS5lKsWithout evidence or clear explanations, no one was going to take the words of a child seriously.bR7RyRD
PaZAnd yet, the genuine terror Roselin displayed did not seem feigned.49iYV
MkwkN7iAs time passed, those words became nothing more than urban legends wandering through the empire.qm8
Zu0Ga2No one took them seriously.PaE
4M90hS“I also believe that a 6-star confusion mage exists.”nUgL
6DFN7DDereck’s voice broke the silence.TZPHv
6Wk“And if there is a way to find him, we must do so without fail.”eR8Ls
baloiNA being capable of manipulating memories and playing with human perception as if it were a toy.EOF
8UpLhfWhen Leigh and Linus spoke to him about it, Dereck neither mocked nor showed cynicism.Wz0HYh
bKLOOn the contrary, he had felt a growing excitement welling up inside him.Vem14X
C4qMYiRoselin stared straight into his eyes.GNI
NAphibLIf there was even the slightest possibility that such a mage existed, Dereck was willing to risk his life to find him.NmeeFB7
ZxY0V6That impulse was born from obsession, from a madness for magic.BfGCf
7TDZGThere were few 6-star mages, and each was an irreplaceable treasure in magical history.l4mg7hS
SRqRg6rTo let something like that pass without investigating it was unacceptable.rjRS8O
aREqHK‘Where have I seen that look before…?’iDm8Ut
25ihSomeone else had seriously believed in the existence of that mage and had tried to find him.mWFvvHA
4Hxn‘Kohella.’hmAnCvx
VrDA woman who had devoted her life to magic, capable of discarding anything to reach a higher level.UOCd
kTgXjFThough she presented herself as an elegant noble mage, that monster never revealed her true inner self.t4iEH
VyfThe chief magical advisor of the Palace of Gremport, Kohella, had exactly the same look as this man.T0U
w2VbIyD‘This man seems insignificant, but he is the same type as that viper Kohella…’j97
r2uVFuLRoselin swallowed.KbvDzN
EbPsHgdIf he set his mind to it in earnest, he would find him.9bT
ww7Sensing the obsession in Dereck’s eyes, she unconsciously took a step back.tooz
SyfThen she recalled Melverot’s words.8Cip2q
TBCCUM— Princess. If you are going to meet that frontier baron, there is something you must keep very much in mind.OUmEo
oWHm— What?gMBwB0f
C4KDA8— He is far more addicted to magic than you imagine. It is not wise to speak lightly about confusion mages.a3zlP
4Dk— Why?CLL
hu6q— If he bites the bait, he will not stop until he finds that mage.CFYJ8fL
RJF0lf9Roselin, who had despised the privilege associated with magic her entire life, still did not understand what it truly meant to be mad for magic.KpkYcX
sFfAjNor what that truly entailed.qdAb
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