Chapter 22: Belmiard (2)
SceAmong the influential families in the western part of the empire, the youngest, Belmiard—the Marquess of the Frontier—was a perfect man.ANB3hc
qs6Ruling the entire southern coastal region of the Belcos Peninsula, he personally managed sixty percent of the trade routes into Ebelstain. The northern part of his territory also housed the continent’s largest magic academy: Drest Academy.HO2rDI5
4uMNot only that, he also oversaw the vast granaries that stretched north along the coast. It was often joked that the annual income of the Belmiard Marquisate could fill the ocean with gold coins.RbAwmT
mK2r8Literally, he was a man swimming in a sea of gold. Yet even he, whose life had always climbed upward, lacked one thing: the blessing of his children.c8CW1ED
RhLHHis eldest son, Linus, fell into gambling and debauchery, wasting his days in vanity, while the youngest, Leonard, suddenly decided to devote himself to divine will and left on a pilgrimage, rarely appearing except on holidays and major family events. It was enough to drive anyone mad.wS3Md
pPqAAt least the second son, Ellen, was level-headed and dutiful, becoming the sole treasure of Marquess Belmiard, who was constantly troubled by his children.2xCpOH
MGS2y***2xjqEY
k4zqz“It’s time to practice your magic duel, Lady Ellen.”kuTC5Xy
XvJCg“…Isn’t it a bit late?”wQXG
R4W0anLLady Ellen, the favorite of Marquess Belmiard, had long since arrived in the noble district of Ebelstain to prepare for her social debut.8VI
yIkShe was seated in the corridor of a grand vaulted building beside the plaza of the noble district. Known among Ebelstain’s nobility as the Cultural Corridor, it was a place where several salons and small clubs gathered to cultivate friendships and build connections.nDco
rFYHgJEllen, who only associated with the Rose Salon, had just finished a meeting and was using her brief free time to read letters with news from her domain.SazxZix
ShPK“I heard there’s a tea party at Viscount Belorn’s residence. If you plan to attend, I can postpone the duel training.”HZ11
sMYU1“No need. I have no desire to waste time on childish games like that.”dMEdw
sMysThe girl, though still a year away from her coming-of-age ceremony, was already mature.N3YwekN
BeqzJMarquess Belmiard had introduced her to various practical matters. She oversaw planting and harvesting at the granaries, reviewed livestock management, and even engaged in financial tasks like lease reviews, dispute resolution, and military duties such as managing the private army and weapons.gOFe1k4
0tvIt was rumored she harbored ambitions to change the longstanding family motto and inherit the title to become head of the family. If true, she would be the only female marquess in the western empire.prO
sVEf9B“…”ZEc
k1vuThough she was still in the stage of gaining experience under the guidance of veteran retainers, she had already learned enough about domain administration. To her, these social circle games often seemed childish, the pastimes of naïve young ladies.yivE
1SZt6Still, she fulfilled her duties as a noble lady, but whenever she received marriage proposals, she couldn’t help but scoff.KMbNJWB
xYpchs5Reading the letters of men puffed up with flowery language, trying to win the heart of a girl who hadn’t even debuted socially, she thought, “So this is what they call empty pomp.”FkA0Ic
Fr2p0The girl aspired to be a ruler, not to submit to any man. As if to prove it, she rose from her seat, her red hair cascading down—an imposing presence.7Up8
VxANz“Today feels good. I might even cast a two-star spell.”gYyrNRb
RZbLVa“Don’t be greedy. Mastering magic is something built firmly and steadily.”7gznn
JOKAs Lady Ellen muttered to herself while leaving the corridor, her elderly magic instructor followed behind, offering calm advice.tAzCzW
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0bxUpon entering the magical duel arena located northeast of the noble district, Lady Ellen felt a question arise and asked,RdgBs
Tgx“But as far as I know, there isn’t a scheduled magical duel today… Who am I to practice with?”z7Z
deaqFi“Today we specially arranged for a commoner to be your opponent, so you can practice offensive magic more seriously.”YXQq
J9Qb“What?”icx
DVJAs Ellen, her dress trailing behind, entered the magical duel arena, she cast a glance at her elderly instructor.RchLlS0
PaRThe old master was a man named Felmier.daW84Zm
kmxS6AvHe had been trained directly by high-ranking followers of the Prince Belmierd’s family from the northern empire, an old mage from the Maxton domain. Though a three-star exploration mage, he was also quite skilled in combat and summoning magic. And he was someone deeply rooted in aristocratic ideals.uZbX0x
OYRVvEllen, too, was immersed in aristocratic society and couldn’t be said to lack a sense of privilege or elitism. However, there were some points of conflict with this old magic instructor named Felmir.Vj0Y
1EM1ceiLike the current problem.snbj3
8NxX1M“The person in front of you in the arena today is just a commoner, so you can practice your magic as much as you want. A few injuries can be compensated with gold.”Hs8
hBp“Felmier, did you come all the way from the cold north to Ebelstain to teach me to beat up commoners?”YeWO
6bF“That is the meaning of a duel.”U3o
ni3RTt“Weren’t you the one who taught me that I must always show courtesy, refinement, and elegance?”o5AI9j
gFP“That applies to duels between nobles.”OFIFSGn
bAAEllen stopped walking toward the arena and looked at her old master with a piercing gaze.WA7w6vE
0b6GVaNIn an age where the level of magic among commoners was so low that it barely required supervision, even the best of commoners who received attacks for a few coins were at most one-star—more likely not even adept at basic magic.Jw1ZCC
qzcLFelmier remained upright, hands behind his back, unshaken by the girl’s gaze.MWe29R
xkBIHiFelmier was no stranger to Ellen’s character.XsJ
in8kHe considered it shameful to use full strength against an inferior and barbaric to cast magic on an opponent who could barely defend themselves.ISaBqp
t42CUnlike Felmier, who saw commoners as something between animals and humans, Ellen believed they should at least be treated as people.Jsm7Rgb
kSMlhz“Still, I’ve summoned a commoner who can handle one-star magic. They won’t be able to resist much.”pfV
Iiz9k“And you call that a reason…?”ApgqPg
zzTuH“If you truly respect your opponent, give it your all. Isn’t that the etiquette of the dueling arena?”5dcbxfX
MbD0Felmier was a tutor whose words flowed like a clear mountain stream. Ellen could only sigh deeply.WNs
5KHErd“Then today, let’s focus on mastering combat and confusion magic among one-star spells.”I1m
ALNuC“If it seems wrong, I’ll stop.”2GYZ9U
YnutogB“With that attitude, you’ll never improve.”GsssN
GjaS89Ellen let her master’s words go in one ear and out the other as she made her way into the arena.y1DOdO
tcEauPE***X0UI5Mv
WFFYmPG“My goodness, he’s still just a kid.”fJL0p
9lGvEEllen couldn’t help but frown again.Tyr
PaHThe boy sitting on the other side of the training field, adjusting his boots, didn’t seem older than Ellen’s peers.xhgvHJ
rlMFXwjCommoners, even first-class mages, were usually older. Only nobles could typically master high-level magic at a young age.D6NM
ytIawdTIt was obvious he was just someone who had barely managed to manifest a bit of magical power—or had gotten lucky.777d
1qBMHe looked like a mercenary.VEqcd4N
TrMN3iIt seemed Felmier had submitted a request to the mercenary guild in the tavern district and brought someone.tdz5c9n
gAawW“…”gbzb7z
KfQlJePNoticing Ellen’s arrival, the boy dusted off his boots and stood up, bowing politely.jNfQ
zzQHis tidy robe, leather belt, the metallic part of his scabbard at his hip, and even the buckle on his belt and the buttons on his robe shone—he clearly wasn’t a street beggar.Ld76xT
OEsOHis hair was white as snow, and his eyes, like Ellen’s, were red.eWj
7Y3K9For some reason, his appearance felt strange. He was definitely just a boy Ellen’s age, but there was an inexplicable maturity to him.4ZdrZY
oRY‘…He’s not anyone important, right?’2ZyQld
DznTIbP“My name is Dereck.”lJSV
TF8“Ellen.”Pgej
pYUEllen didn’t bother revealing her full name. He didn’t deserve such formality, and besides, it seemed he already knew it.9Tw3xO
aOnYet oddly, the name Dereck sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. It must have been a name she heard in passing, but it felt like a distant memory, hard to recall.drjw
d7xYuhEllen touched the end of her chin several times, lost in thought, but unearthing buried memories wasn’t easy.Y4Y40ir
96TThere was always a reason why Ellen remembered a commoner’s name. There had to be a reason this name also sounded familiar.7ZeWOvx
O7elaWvShe tilted her head a few times, pondering, but nothing special came to mind—just her wavy red hair tickling her neck now and then.dDSYxN
KDxeQUj“How much magic can you use?”FvVJx
BJE“I can handle first-class magic to some extent.”TZP5
TwU8TSo he had learned high-level magic.yjKa
Tu8ugConsidering the boy’s age, it was quite an accomplishment, but clearly, he was far behind Ellen, who was already approaching the threshold of second-class magic.idAL1O
KrQEllen considered telling the boy to leave and looked to Felmir for approval. But Felmier, eyes firmly shut, shook his head. The stubborn old man always managed to make Ellen sigh.XVFZH6
W91vz“Do you know the basic rules of a magic duel?”Sx4Jt
9UHSA“Yes. I only know the basics, but I’ve seen and heard enough.”c9jQLY
I6Qw“Good, that’s lucky. Endure as much as you can. I’ll make it quick.”XtmlJg
G3DlIRePower began to flow from Ellen’s fingertips. The influence of her magic caused her red hair to stir, and the adornments on her luxurious dress fluttered.VV8xFq
tAhxAmong the nobility, she was known for her rapid magical progress, and as she grew, her magical power had manifested clearly. She truly was someone with exceptional talent.sjBI7OF
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MeqdeShowing off in front of a common boy who roamed the underworld of mercenaries would only stain one’s dignity. The girl summoned her magic mechanically, without a trace of emotion on her face.Ctm1H9
E4pIt would be better for both of them if this ended quickly. For Ellen, it wouldn’t leave a bad taste, and for the boy, it would mean easy gold.5phRhS
y1JKMThat’s when Ellen began to release more magic.k9Oll
7v9“Hold out as much as you can… What do you mean by that?”2FX
Bnm“What?”wF5
f4Guml“It would help if you could specify the level of resistance required.”YMW
78RjPppEllen looked at Dereck in disbelief at his words.IQFxod8
6xgfEven when a one-star mage was amassing magic right in front of him, the boy showed no signs of tension.tUe4
yIah“…What kind of nonsense is that?”kzBu
uMC“I’m a mercenary. As you know, mercenaries take pride in fulfilling their client’s objectives.”U1tJlg7
6uvQLooking into the boy’s eyes, which remained as serious as ever, Ellen wondered what he was trying to say.rcUB
skn“I came here in response to a request to assist with magical abilities. If that’s the case, how much resistance should I offer to best aid in Ellen’s magic training?”SgU4Hp
mwbYSisEllen hadn’t realized it, but Dereck had refined this principle through countless mercenary jobs. He was a seasoned mercenary, after all.fk8fDZ
JLsN5aA mercenary’s prime directive was to fulfill the client’s objective. Whether it was slaying monsters, confronting bandits, or escorting caravans, every action and decision revolved around the client’s wish.o3e8j7g
W6lsIf the client’s wish was to improve magical ability and had paid a fair price, Dereck would act to fulfill that goal. That’s why he looked at Ellen with such sincerity.Gs1f9G
84mdHe could have casually said taking a few hits and losing was enough, but if the heart of the request truly lay in mastering magic, Dereck’s approach would shift completely.YjToqlH
4pn7foAnd that sincerity was what made clients seek out Dereck among many other mercenaries. Not just anyone could make a name for themselves in the cutthroat world of mercenaries.ZLFZE
8om0wpBut that was a tale for the lowest rung of the mercenary ladder. There was no reason or need for a noble lady soaring among the clouds to understand such things.fqTZPi
xJEG“Ha.”wd3
0N1FFEllen scoffed and replied indifferently:dMwY
bYJ“Didn’t I already tell you? Hold out with all your strength.”p1gTNa
ZfJ54M“Understood.”a6opkY
vijoDBG—Whoosh!jOePHXF
bRY4ovAIgnoring Dereck’s pointless question, Ellen began to unleash a large spell from her hands.Clokg
qF2sfEven among one-star spells, the caliber varied by user. And the magical aura flowing from Ellen’s hands clearly had a different quality than that of an average one-star spell.jpf8gg3
FrblS8e“Oh, wind that sweeps the earth…”JM2cBX
7FLPsIn an instant, Ellen continued her incantation, summoning the one-star spell ‘Shockwave.’6HgJ
boL3YThough most combat spells took elemental form, this one was purely kinetic, designed to hurl the opponent away.HzHQ1
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AaCIn most combat situations, mages who needed to keep their distance primarily used this spell. In duels like this, it was often employed to knock the opponent out of bounds and decide the match quickly.qQ8Fl
xFy1PHWithout proper preparation, one wouldn’t even realize what had happened before being thrown beyond the fence.veOdfM
RNR2aIn a dignified magic duel, where courtesy was paramount, such a violent spell was not allowed—but Ellen’s only goal was to send the commoner flying, give him a gold coin, and send him home.qVJyXf
ZOdTj0FThus, the spell fired from Ellen’s hands shot toward Dereck.F7Kb6S
3NmoDereck’s red eyes widened instantly. Ellen felt a strange dissonance at that moment.mYlqp1M
Fgc7mr—Swoosh!nmNA
v1wsmdWith a light sidestep, Dereck dodged the shockwave.BaqJw7
mlPlezBecause the shockwave had no visible form, one had to swiftly sense the magic and guess its range. This was natural for those skilled in magic use—and required agility to avoid.FgzdrW2
qxJTAt that moment, Ellen narrowed her eyes and quickly reevaluated Dereck.509
kIO1Q‘He’s not just any commoner, is he…?’T4FNJ
xB9BCGqRapidly accumulating more magic, she created one-star ice spears.LU2
tAbGrThe one-star ice spears Diella had just learned were small and few, but Ellen’s—now advanced—were larger than a person’s torso, and they easily numbered over a dozen.MkXw
ATe‘But…! I don’t want to waste energy unnecessarily, so I should finish this quickly…!’InU
wDShbMIf many ice spears were launched with no blind spots, there would be no escape.rMXkX
14XBhOne or two might be handled with cleverness, but against a multitude, a mercenary’s agility meant nothing.DEh
NO68Then Ellen shifted her gaze toward Dereck to direct the spears—UlelSav
Ym6K—Clang! Clang! Crash!cTs
SvUCWrBefore she knew it, all the floating ice spears around Ellen had been shattered.xav3lmm
oU7—Crack!xcsK
7nZ7hExTime seemed to slow for a moment.UNcAnA
GbQ6The shattered ice fragments vanished gradually. The flickering sparkles reflected in Ellen’s wide eyes.hNyUu
2MNxlWhat Ellen saw was Dereck, his fist raised and clenched tightly. She had just witnessed the aftermath of his control over magic flow.hyM8Uf
wOxlHad he, in that brief instant, fired as many magic arrows as there were ice spears and destroyed them all?Cmr8b
qKnJ4ShThe issue was that none of these processes had been visible. No chanting, no awkward delays while controlling magic.jRJF87
TxBThe magic flowed seamlessly, making it impossible for the opponent to detect.H0FaAV4
uyn1From the precise impact of multiple magic arrows on each ice spear, one could sense a different caliber of skill in magic use.4k8O
LpXwHadn’t he claimed to be a one-star mage?aXzPu6
87VEven if one was a one-star mage, could such mastery be achieved with extreme training?SWSTj6
ruasZjThe boy opened his tightly clenched fist, then seemed to loosen his wrist, shaking it lightly.ec0C
St18Ellen’s eyes narrowed further.NXEn
m5r1nhTThen, with great force, she leapt backward, summoning her magic once more. Her expression was now entirely serious.zzDKes
MksrgeDThe girl, sharp with magical intuition, had discerned it in just two exchanges.hOpfEf
eo5wfsHe wasn’t someone who could be taken lightly.zIhI6o
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