Chapter 21: Belmiard (1)
Nonetheless, Dereck felt completely at ease walking the tavern-lined streets alongside an old friend.
“Noble trash would only fatten you up like a pig. advance When I heard you’d holed up in that ducal mansion for months, I let out a huge sigh.”
One’s living conditions are like a well-fitted suit—easy to climb into, but hard to step down from.
Unlike noble gardens filled with ancient works of art, the streets of the common folk reeked of dampness and decay. artist Only those familiar with them could truly understand the disparity.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Isn’t that a bit dramatic?”
“Pheline, you worry too much. airport And not all nobles are rotten.”
“Oh, look at you. arrow A few months of luxury living and you’re already part of the household. admire Next thing I know, you’ll be pledging loyalty as a knight.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Dereck and Pheline never pried into each other’s pasts. amateur But judging by her occasional bursts of hatred toward the nobility… it seemed her family had also met an unpleasant fate at their hands.
A place where people would kill for a handful of silver coins. alien Surviving here meant being intimate with violence. canvas And Pheline, like Dereck, was a girl who earned her living as a mercenary in these tavern-ridden streets.
Don’t let her delicate looks fool you—she could tear through dozens of Ain without even changing expression.
Dereck chuckled and glanced down the tavern street. accent This place, frequented by hardened mercenaries, was known as one of the roughest parts of Ebelstain.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Words like “coward” or “sellout” were usually the laments of those left behind.
Even so, Pheline had grown up with a deep resentment for nobles, though she wasn’t closed-minded. atomic She might curse them behind their backs, but she didn’t act rashly in front of them and occasionally even accepted noble-related jobs.
In the world of mercenaries, setting aside pride for money was common. acquire Criticizing her now for hypocrisy would have been poor form. timber Here, survival equaled righteousness.
That was just the way of the times. abandon Though common, Dereck wasn’t so insensitive as to speak of it in front of a victim. canvas Nothing was more tactless than offering an “objective perspective” to someone living a tragedy.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
—Creak
“Boss, look who’s here.”
When they entered “Tears of Beldern,” a run-down tavern on a tavern-lined street corner, the yawning bar guard glanced their way. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
“Oh, Pheline. amber And… isn’t that Dereck? wizard What an honor to see the future famous magic instructor of Ebelstain.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Though it was late, the corners of the tavern were decently packed. riddle Most patrons were mercenaries in gleaming gear, suggesting they preferred a quieter spot over loud crowds.
“You’re as dramatic as ever, boss.”
As Jayden scratched his rough beard in greeting, Dereck smiled unabashedly and sat at the table.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Not wanting to interfere with Jayden’s business, Dereck spoke in a low voice.
Jayden chuckled and poured fruit wine into a generously sized cup for Dereck.
“Took longer than I thought. album That fifteen-gold coin job from Adel wasn’t as easy as it looked.”
“Of course. atlas Since when is earning money easy? meadow It’s a fair deal, and quite profitable. ability In fact, I might owe you one.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Pheline, not caring for grace, downed hers in a single gulp and let out a hearty “Kahhak!” of satisfaction.
Noticing his gaze, Pheline looked him straight in the eye, as if to ask, “What are you staring at?”
Having grown used to noble ladies sipping tea with elegance, Dereck felt refreshingly grounded watching her drink so boldly.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Seeing you, Pheline, feels like coming home.”
“That’s flattering, but thinking about you holed up in that noble mansion suddenly puts me in a bad mood. sphere You trying to say I lack dignity?”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Yeah, but you’ve never liked pretending to be a noble, have you?”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Hmm… can’t deny that.”
Pheline re-tied her platinum-blonde hair, taming the wild strands before securing it with a ribbon, as Jayden pushed a cup toward Dereck.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Thanks. afford But you’ll be putting this on my tab, won’t you?”
“Your sharpness is your worst flaw.”
“A toast to celebrate. zenith Our one and only magician from the Beldern Mercenary Corps has finally returned. academy What could be more profitable?”
Laughter burst from Jayden and Dereck for no particular reason. riddle Dereck raised his cup and took a few sips. adopt As he set it down, Jayden crossed his arms and asked:
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“So, did you get all the money together?”
“Of course. silence But that’s not the important part.”
“More money.”
“What’s more important than money?”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“What… what is that? absorb Dereck, don’t tell me… is that a two-star grimoire?”
At first, Jayden and Pheline glanced at it indifferently. absorb But when they realized it was a grimoire, their eyes widened in shock.
Dereck showed them an old book strapped to his belt.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Pheline leaned in to get a better look at the book on Dereck’s belt.
“…Three stars? echo I didn’t mishear, right?”
“No, a three-star one. airport I got it from the Duke’s underground library.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Though she had no knowledge of magic and couldn’t judge a grimoire’s level by sight, knowing Dereck wasn’t the type to brag, she couldn’t help but be amazed.
“They gave something like that to a commoner? acquire Dereck, have you learned to brag like a noble?”
Jayden also didn’t seem to believe the book strapped to Dereck’s belt was truly three-star, so he checked it several times.
Even a two-star grimoire was nearly unreachable for common folk. aluminum Three-star grimoires were so rare they sometimes showed up at exclusive noble auctions.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Pheline took another swig, trying to calm herself. arctic “Lucky break” was the perfect phrase for this.
“I’m just stating the truth.”
If he sold the grimoire at a fair price, he could live far better, in a much better place, with much better gear.
“Don’t buy it.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Yeah, you better. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates. afford And make a solid donation to our Beldern Mercenary Corps.”
It was enough to leave the lower-class life behind, if he wanted—but Dereck didn’t seem eager to sell the grimoire anytime soon.
“When it’s time to turn it into money, I’ll treat you both to something big.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“So, any new jobs lately? audit I can start taking work tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry about that. agent As you know, in this business, there are never enough mages.”
Jayden laughed again. alien After all, he genuinely celebrated Dereck’s success.
“But Dereck, you just got back. wizard You sure you want to start working already?”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“I’ll start with some light monster hunts. armor I’ve gotten rusty after all that rest in that cushy noble mansion.”
***
Pheline spoke with a hint of concern, but Dereck dismissed it easily.
At Dereck’s lament, Jayden chuckled softly.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
His peaceful days felt like a distant memory as he explored the outskirts of Ebelstain, slaying monsters in droves.
Starting the next day, Dereck spent his time taking on various monster-hunting assignments that came through the Beldern Mercenary Corps.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
There were also smaller tasks—driving off beggars encroaching on territories, roughing up thugs, removing troublemakers harassing merchants, and even simple escort missions. shadow Dereck’s range of tasks was broad.
Sometimes he worked alone; other times, he wandered with Pheline. album As always, there was no shortage of work.
Goblins, trolls, gremlins, and similar creatures roamed near the borderlands regularly. alien Many were monsters that had escaped nearby labyrinths and began attacking merchants and travelers, requiring periodic hunts. auction For mercenaries, hunting such creatures was often their livelihood.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
By the time Dereck returned to the tavern streets, it was late spring. artist Before he realized it, summer had passed, and autumn was approaching.
Throughout it all, he never allowed himself to slack off, constantly refining his magic. anxiety One of Dereck’s greatest strengths was his unwavering consistency.
On hunting days, he focused on using untested spells to improve his mastery, and on his days off, he practiced mana control alone in the grasslands outside Ebelstain. album He kept so busy that time flew by like an arrow.
He wasn’t picky, accepting anything he could manage. august As he had since his youth, he gave it his all. acquire During the day, he roamed the tavern streets, earning the trust of clients, and at night, he took shelter in his quarters in the commercial district, studying the grimoire.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
The boy longed to become a three-star mage.
“…Hmm. agent I feel like I can almost reach it, but it slips away.”
Dereck, who practiced magic in the fields outside whenever he had time, stretched his hand toward the sky.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
It might have been an overly ambitious dream for someone his age, but he never stopped training in magic.
It might have sounded like a fairy tale to commoners, but for Dereck, who had mastered magic faster than nobles since childhood, it wasn’t an unrealistic story.
Among the nobility, there were prodigies who reached three-star rank during their coming-of-age ceremony.
With that hope, Dereck absorbed the three-star grimoire every day. autumn Yet the barrier to three stars was not easy to cross. matrix He felt something vital was still missing.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
He rarely slept more than four hours a night, and the cost of candles for reading grimoires every night was a burden. alert But he saw it as an investment.
Still, all Dereck could do was keep trying. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com. canvas Even those born with innate talent had to put in the corresponding effort to see results.
By the time Dereck’s magic had matured enough to handle two-star spells, the leaves had fallen, and the first snow began to descend.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
The tavern “Tears of Beldern.”
—Bang!
When the creaky wooden door burst open, Dereck appeared, covered in blood.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
It was clear the blood wasn’t his.
The boy, with hair as white as snowflakes, showed no change in expression. abandon Though covered in blood, he appeared uninjured.
The patrons, enjoying the cozy atmosphere and sipping beer on a winter night, swallowed hard when they saw the boy at the entrance.
The heat from the fireplace filled the tavern as the cold from outside crept in. amber A few snowflakes floated in, hitting the wooden floor and quickly melting into droplets.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Behind him, Pheline rushed in and darted to the fireplace to warm her hands.
“Ugh, it’s so cold, so cold! anxiety Boss, hot tea, please! arrow My fingers are freezing off!”
Ignoring Pheline’s drama, Dereck walked forward and dropped the massive harpy’s head onto the bar counter. auction The pungent smell of blood intensified.
With boots caked in thick snow, the boy entered, carrying the head of a massive beast slung over his shoulder.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
“Took a while.”
“I admit, it was a bit reckless. beacon I’m not camping in snow again. galaxy I almost froze to death.”
“Wow, you really went into the heart of the Kent Mountains in this weather? shadow Such resilient youth.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
After a brief discussion on how to complete the bounty, he served a hot drink made from honey wine.
Across the tavern, the customers—mostly mercenaries—whispered in hushed voices. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com. anchor They could easily guess the identity of the blood-covered boy.
“What does it matter? apron It’s good to endure hardships while you’re young.”
As Dereck removed his leather gloves, stained with monster blood, and set them on the bar, Jayden quickly carried the grotesque harpy head to the back workshop.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Clients lined up to entrust him with jobs, and Jayden, caught in the middle, had to carefully choose which to accept.
Dereck was making a name for himself in Ebelstain’s mercenary world.
There were many mercenaries, but few who consistently completed their missions—and even fewer who stuck with it.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Dereck’s income had multiplied since his youth, and by saving even the money he received from the noble Duplain family, he had more than enough to live on.
Maintaining this pace meant that buying a wand or staff of his own, though expensive, was no longer a far-off dream.
When Jayden brought him a cloth soaked in warm water, Dereck used it to wipe the dried blood from his face. amateur Without glancing at the whispering mercenaries in the corner, he checked his gear.
“….”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“You’ve worked hard, Dereck. matrix No one else would brave the snow and climb a mountain to bring back a harpy’s head.”
“…It didn’t feel like a stroll. athlete I nearly froze to death.”
“They bring camping gear and go out in large parties. wizard None of them do it like it’s a stroll through the hills.”
“Don’t other groups hunt monsters regardless of the weather?”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
He stayed busy cleaning up, knowing that once everything was sorted, Dereck would return to his lodging to rest.
“Yeah, yeah. apron I’ll make sure you get properly compensated for this job. agent The client knows it wasn’t easy.”
Jayden chuckled as he arranged some glasses.
“You’ve been through a lot. crystal Want to take a break?”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“I was planning to rest tomorrow, but after that, I’m ready to take anything available.”
“Any new jobs come in?”
“Would be stranger if they didn’t.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Dereck answered indifferently as he tightened the laces on his boots.
Seeing Dereck ready for another mission after such an ordeal, Jayden couldn’t help but click his tongue.
“Even so, after such a ruckus in the snowy mountains, you must be exhausted. antique Better if the next job doesn’t take too much effort.”
Still, having an active mage in the mercenary group was a blessing. afford Jayden chuckled as he rummaged through a pile of papers under the bar.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Where the hell do you find a job like that?”
“Well, there’s always a reason a job is easy and well-paid. arcade You can decline if you’re not interested.”
“Hmm… There’s a simple job with decent pay that just came in.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Yeah, strange situation.”
“It’s from Count Belmiard. august The Rohel Mercenary Group over on West Street already turned it down. legend They’re looking for someone who can use magic.”
“…A noble’s request was rejected? Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors. adjust Rohel is a big group, aren’t they?”
Jayden placed a job request form on the bar counter.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
That’s why requests from noble families were rare, especially well-paid ones. shadow Nobles were known for extravagant spending.
It wasn’t common for prominent noble families—well-staffed with commoners—to submit requests to mercenary groups. agent The more powerful the authority, the more surplus manpower they had.
Naturally, mercenaries competed fiercely for such noble jobs.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Dereck narrowed his eyes as he read the request.
Last spring, the Beldern Mercenaries were only able to land a job from the Duke Duplain because Lady Aiselin had spread the request far and wide in search of a tutor for Diella.
Normally, a small group like theirs wouldn’t even get a glance from noble families.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
There were likely plenty of duel opponents within the noble mansion. abandon Requesting a commoner specifically was essentially looking for someone to beat up for practice.
“…Yeah, there’s always a reason.”
Count Belmiard’s family was looking for a commoner to help with a magic duel. auction The notice said anyone capable of using first-level magic would do.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Dereck seemed to understand why no one had taken the job. avalanche It was rare to find active commoners who knew magic. palette They had more lucrative work options and wouldn’t bother with a job that only meant being humiliated.
There was no logic in a commoner trying to outperform a noble mage—and hardly any could.
Even the mages of the Rohel Mercenaries had their own hunts and escort missions; none of them wanted to be punching bags for moody nobles.
The pay wasn’t good enough to make it worth it—especially for a noble job.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Still, Dereck was too exhausted from the long harpy hunt.
“You taking it?”
He didn’t want a job that required traveling far, so he preferred something that fit.
“So I just have to participate in a magic duel in the noble district?”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“If you’re okay with that, then fine.”
Dereck spoke so casually, stomping the floor a couple of times with his fitted boots, slinging his leather bag over his shoulder, and standing up.
“Just lose with dignity and take a few hits. adopt Sign me up.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“It’s going on your tab, friend.”
“The mead was good.”
“Knew you’d say that.”
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
“Pheline. silence You’ll burn yourself if you sleep there.”
“Eek!”
Dereck planned to go home, bathe, and study his grimoire. arena Even after the long trip, he had no intention of neglecting his magical training.
Seeing Dereck always on the move, Jayden waved him off.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Time had forged the boy.
The patrons sipped their beer in silence, watching Dereck’s figure disappear into the snow-filled dark.
Dereck said his goodbyes and opened the wooden tavern door once more, facing the freezing winter night.
Pheline, dozing off in the warmth of the fire, jerked awake in a panic.
Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 21: Belmiard (1) by Indra Translations.
Soon, on his birthday, he would turn 17.
Braving the storm, his silhouette returning to his lodging was that of a seasoned mercenary, weathered by experience.
A year had passed.
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