Chapter 23: Belmiard (3)
4TCgaz“For a commoner, his level of magic is quite impressive. It seems the rumors about that veteran mercenary weren’t exaggerated.”v5Z3
PuNOAFelmier downplayed the praise Jayden had given about Dereck. After all, the standards of commoners were usually mediocre.5rI
0c9U4YaIt was true that his limits were evident—he primarily used one-star magic—but the finesse with which he handled the flow of magical power was the most refined Felmier had seen among the common folk.DEFl4
0hpgpoYSometimes, individuals from humble backgrounds emerged who might have had different futures. Rarely, such people appeared among commoners, but most gave up when faced with the wall of bloodline.cmJ
JBGNUWatching noble-born mages quickly reach levels that had cost Felmier years of grueling effort was hard to swallow. In the realm of magic, lineage was everything—first, second, and third.AF6
tF1HThat mercenary, though young, seemed to retain his determination intact. For Ellen, there was no better training partner. No need for formalities like with other nobles—a fair exchange of blows was possible, and even if they hurt each other during combat, it wouldn’t be a big issue.cwyoSa
AroFxlFelmier recalled the confident look on Jayden’s face when recommending Dereck. Without a doubt, the wisdom of a mercenary famous in the War of Dawn was on another level.83SF
asvS“Was it the Beldern Mercenary Group…? It seems Lord Belmiard would be interested.”vp89
TTuTKqThinking he should remember the name of the group, Felmier continued observing the duel. It remained in near-perfect balance.4T5
hLCCTq***mt7in
JUY8J“Oh, fire of judgment that punishes all…”DJA
E5aS—Buzz!Zg7sH
fVdReciting a unique incantation from the Regulated Academy, Ellen, after creating some distance, summoned one-star fire magic again.yGfhW
yKKThis time, with a serious expression, she called forth her specialty: the fire spell series.2i0qV
iRjcxJNA dozen small fire arrows formed in the air.idiN
7I8PDereck’s red eyes blinked once, and in an instant, he recognized the flow of the magic. Ellen also caught his gaze in that brief moment.SYC
QjItHn“He’s already predicting the direction of my magic…!”LPI152
j9rsrSEllen quickly re-evaluated her strategy. If she used magic conventionally, Dereck would find a way to neutralize it just as he had moments ago. Magic carried the caster’s intent.j98AE
rhSBy following its flow, manifestation, and speed of change, one could sometimes guess the user’s purpose.Ck936Q
HAquonlDereck was an expert in that.tL21UB
mDz0KeLMore than that, he was a master duelist. Ellen could easily tell he had honed his ability to read magical flow through real combat.GaBSm
oDQAmong demonkind, mutants with magical abilities occasionally appeared, so reading spells wasn’t an option—it was essential for hunting and killing them.bSvW
cjLIf Dereck truly was a veteran, half-hearted attacks would only serve him.7DFL
AywrsVThus, a spell unleashed indiscriminately in all directions would be more effective in overpowering him.1FccueJ
bAc9AWith magical barriers protecting the exterior of the arena, there was no worry about destroying the building. Ellen made her decision in an instant.Jl5L
TS8In a flash of instinct, she changed all her plans.8D3Z
rCLYFThe dozen fire arrows bloomed—not targeting a single point, but intending to engulf the entire platform.nuM0tl
Eic3vJU“Oh…?”5hb
M0wLDereck’s eyes widened in surprise. It was an interesting decision.YxY
mTMKtThough Dereck had witnessed noble marvels many times, it was rare to see mages of that age adapt and change tactics so quickly.0ymmX
5f4Noble mages, with their vast mana reserves and power, could easily crush commoners. But having always lived as the strong, they often lacked the ability to adapt quickly or apply magic to changing situations.xAl
5YvKAdaptability and deception tended to develop in the hands of the weak.7o1q
N6AfipThat’s why Ellen’s quick judgment could be considered innate.WjORF
Clr—Boom!YbAGy
9OKgJ9uThe magical current expanded in all directions, making it unpredictable.TRdbF
dKZgDereck swiftly reorganized his magic to defend.L9vx
Qv5AIn a square arena like that, the edges were the least likely to be hit.lMbEB
zOWlRIf the opponent’s attack lacked a pattern, it was best to secure a more favorable position.iUBnP
A4LDereck leapt to a corner, cloaking himself in magic. After neutralizing several incoming fire arrows, he quickly prepared for a counterattack.SKRDeF
Q3CJ6Yq“I knew you’d be there.”8An5Xv
4alpTEKEllen had sensed Dereck’s position in an instant and finished casting her next spell.InTbQrG
3UjRThe flurry of fire arrows had been a smokescreen to corner Dereck and ensure her next spell would hit.uyFm8w
nOquFrom the scale of the spell used merely as a distraction, it wasn’t hard to deduce she had considerable magical power.XLwdUGT
m95lp3jDereck was already slightly delayed in manifesting his magic while handling the fire arrows.wDSb
K0eJEdEllen used that moment to strike, starting to launch ice spears. This time, she was determined not to let them be neutralized like before.jmTt
NNf1C8PHowever, Dereck had already read all her intentions.Sl574iH
vZGwt6He closed his eyes briefly, then raised his hand and used the one-star spell Creation of Light at full power.4LAA4J
85XOq—Flash!bPwTK
PH29n5Instantly, the light obscured vision.OkvF2j
LPwHADereck wasn’t very confident in transformation magic, but it was effective enough to create an opening during a duel.OPS7aaD
NcGm2SSeeing the light, Ellen instinctively closed her eyes.F3Kvi
T6yLg4However, she sharpened her hearing and surrounded herself with a defensive spell.E8CH4me
5IORPF“Good reaction.”Q3I
hd1i0yhDereck quickly activated his magic and commented mentally.2wVEj
qOdFJrAt every moment, Ellen made optimal decisions—without a doubt, she was exceptional.ZxR
AJQNEven with her eyes shut, she focused all her hearing to counter Dereck’s magic.NNk8
v7T‘If I focus on magical aura and sounds, I can defend…! So I’ll wait until the direction is clear…!’6pY
80aFvG—Clang!p4FcS
vgt1VAt that moment, one of Dereck’s magic arrows struck Ellen’s barrier.U0dS6ov
MRUHer reaction was slightly delayed, but she managed to block Dereck’s attack with a belatedly cast spell. Its offensive power wasn’t that great.CxYAd
WLpXqgWEllen narrowed her eyes to locate Dereck. The light had faded, and the white-haired mage, once again manifesting offensive magic, came into view.FWcZ
sSjKxK‘I can’t hear anything…!’w8EXV
MqGQyKqShe had vaguely sensed the direction of his magic, but hearing no approaching sound meant… the spell had been deliberately silenced.Dx6CCwB
fr1‘Confusion magic…! He even anticipated I’d rely on sound…!’RiSylce
3wjMp3Among the basic one-star confusion spells was sound blocking.87DC6
71nWpSwitching between different types of magic like that was very difficult. Dereck’s magic arrows were relatively weak due to the difficulty of focusing on a single incantation in such an environment.bWvs
SHxaMQBut if it had been a stronger two-star spell, the barrier would’ve manifested under the attack—and the duel would be over.TWn
kmoOMEThe only reason the duel continued was that the opponent was a one-star mage. Realizing this, Ellen clenched her teeth and unleashed more magic.PXgXsbA
8wU“If he keeps challenging me technically, I’ll crush him with overwhelming power!”zto
Jgvzoi3Ellen gathered more mana and leapt back.FIQWyw
d9MTPBut Dereck, grasping her intent, closed the distance swiftly.s4fV3
JhT“He’s going into close combat…? Confident in his manifestation speed?”xrdav
zIvs2Quick spellcasting was Ellen’s specialty.7sVKH
tf7KShe had confidence in her offensive power, but wouldn’t shy from a speed contest either.pVL
WjX8POrHer gaze locked onto Dereck’s fingertips.U385c
W62tQyYWhile she focused, magic gathered at his fingers, and she prepared to pierce his barrier with her ice spears.1Tg
i9PodC—Pak!9nP
DCIGFCHowever, Dereck’s magic activated half a beat faster than Ellen had anticipated.AG56KdN
L3C2As a typical mage of the Regulated Academy, she assumed the spell from his fingers would envelop her… but Dereck’s magic was different.8cSP5
Oue3xckAs he approached Ellen and stomped the ground, force erupted from beneath.5Igp5
F3LManifestation of Force, a one-star spell.8rV5Jod
q31The image of energy bursting from the foot used to kick off the ground.PUHW86z
1RwmEllen, mouth agape in surprise, barely managed to cast her spell and received the attack.ekH
DXMNTf—Bzzz! Bang!qsEJ4
Jd3tiqWitnessing such a manifestation for the first time, Dereck was surprised by the skilled counter. He hadn’t expected such a perfect defense.ZM0u1
3cA7dBut in truth, Ellen was even more astonished. She had never seen magic used like that.oZ9PG
Jci“Phew…”Ptw8uA
9tGxf8kAfter calming down, Ellen gathered her magic once more.X9q6
YOuShe wouldn’t accept a direct attack again. To hit that boy, she would need to create an opening with another feint.e5y
MhybSeveral more exchanges of spells followed, but the boy dodged with exceptional agility.KyIfh
3WhHis freeform magical control was so unpredictable it confused the Regulated Academy’s systematic approach.EmGAxw
Dq5FmThe wonders of the Academy, almost entirely explored through theory, could be maximized efficiently within predictable boundaries when followed correctly.42nsZpl
xPb2dBut the boy’s use of magic seemed inefficient and incomplete, like playing with a different theory.ohVRtH
yyveStill, that made him even more unpredictable—like facing a swordsman who held his blade backward or flung it wildly.56H2rd
i27DThough with composure, such tricks could easily be overcome.yZv5
pJlvWhen Dereck stepped back to gather magic, Ellen closed the distance with an attack.DsESxc5
RcGLMdTPreparing a quick magic arrow, Dereck readied his counterattack, but Ellen, with a sly grin, lifted her skirt.0s9cV
GxiFS“So this is how it’s done?”4nc
aIU41vWith a graceful lift of her skirt and a bold leap, she unleashed a Shockwave spell on Dereck.TDu8i5
m0kzShe had imitated Dereck’s magic casting after seeing it only once. She was a mage who learned incredibly fast.8hwmp44
epocgEllen deliberately targeted his weak point, not expecting to be hit by his own method.IRDdyxA
6BD7QpBHowever, using unorthodox magic against Dereck wasn’t the best strategy.DUABX3
2YuZTQ—Bang!wTDC
7hSYADereck capitalized on the spell and redirected the Shockwave Ellen had released.IZP
bV6Th6Z— Poorly imitating Wild Faction magic would only lead to being outplayed.vTE
aGyRjEllen, unaware of this, was surprised by Dereck’s action. She had never seen a technique that used the opponent’s magic against them.aDSQmKL
LAYPHx6—Bang!2JPFfHp
z8GJC—Boom! Crack!45443C0
OSVThe redirected force passed dangerously close to Ellen’s ear.h4419F
uEsTWfBThe blast struck the empty ground, making a deadly sound.iS5
ozo3If that previous attack had been direct, the duel would have ended right then.EjkM7
9rZtmEllen rushed to gather her magic again, but after casting a spell, there was always a brief gap.bre
ERz0qAnd Dereck wouldn’t let such an opportunity pass. As she gathered her power, he sensed the next attack wouldn’t be countered.aAmnkR
R0DQ7dThat was when Dereck launched his next assault.YwQ1
mmOeU—Ding! Ding! Ding!OnJIn
xTm268The bells at the corner of the platform, filled with magic, began to chime on their own.Mow8V2
9V8bxJThey marked the end of the duel. According to the rules, any match undecided after 10 minutes was declared a draw.0TREFM
F8400P“Well done,” Dereck said, as if he’d been waiting to say it.Cl9Wa
SKdOEllen looked straight at him, eyes red, silently watching Dereck.uc3J6A
ErCNOj***c3Spz
qESoU“You’re a great mage.”iTLaq4
mrJ7After several exchanges, Ellen, having acknowledged Dereck’s magical skill, spoke gracefully as she adjusted her dress.GjI2R2
mWZHer demeanor and posture had changed significantly since before the duel. Though she had looked down on him inwardly, she chose to show him a bit of courtesy now.Zjg2njh
5oP1osN“If you could use stronger magic, the result would have been easy,” she said.HP0aJ
IKz“That’s not true. Lady Ellen, among all the nobles I’ve seen, your command of magic is the best. Truly, the Countess Belmiard is exceptional.”EK9z27p
1lBTVB3“Well, we’ll see.”Zmwnd
8SEcAfter the duel, Ellen’s attendants approached and quickly began tidying her appearance and hair.LmC
ypqeW57A noble lady couldn’t lose her dignity for even a moment; not even a brief duel justified a disheveled look.7F2
b6Q57Ellen sat on a chair in the corner of the arena, brushing her hair.PfyPj5q
E32v9Still, her expression seemed quite satisfied, as if she had enjoyed the duel.W6QMOn5
kyI“I heard you’re not from a special lineage, yet you’re very well-trained. That must have taken great effort.”AXdigmj
p11“More like, it was a situation I couldn’t avoid. When you join a mercenary group to make a living, you end up doing things you don’t like.”knsMh
6trOpC“No need for such modest excuses. I admire those who put in effort.”M4sl
39nTPFThough lacking in noble blood, commoners who rose to the three-star rank were born once in a generation. Surely, people like that didn’t surrender to their circumstances—they persevered until they reached that level.otgO
ZcmEllen, concluding that Dereck’s life had been more a thorny path than a bed of roses, gave him a small encouragement.xnFv4
iYf1s3“That grumpy old man off the platform pretending to be dignified—I don’t like him much, so best not to get on his bad side, right?”TDXO
mgLVJzEllen said with a sly smile, nodding toward Felmier, who stood with his hands behind his back outside the platform.O6i
82oDereck didn’t bother to look in that direction. There was no point in revealing they were talking about him.7R9m4
p2Z8JEllen felt pleased by his discretion and found herself trying to remember where she had heard the boy’s name before.kX4ef
7hI“Today’s duel was rather inspiring. Perhaps the next magical encounter will yield better results.”Fn4OzuM
dKZGvJ“Lady Ellen, your dueling skills are exceptional, so I don’t think you need to worry too much.”H61a
6Dw8lMB“Hmm? Well, mediocre mages are no match for me, but I don’t even consider a duel with someone like that a real one.”SLAbbi
Kee21Ellen spoke while brushing her hair several times and lowering her gaze.5MJrTiA
VW0Nr“There’s only one person I truly want to defeat.”yFiC
cAqRX“…Is there someone more skilled in dueling than Lady Ellen?”Az3Tgij
RJoEnT“Almost no one. There’s just one opponent I’ve faced repeatedly and never managed to beat.”YsCBN
mTnvboEllen didn’t bother to mention the name.r0T
ciRHBut guessing who it was wasn’t difficult.Wr2G
aztGMThe mages of the Rose Hall, to which Ellen belonged, generally didn’t surpass her level.FIkIp
g9cF4If there was one noblewoman who matched her magical skill, it could only be someone from the Beltus or Duplain families.poW6jhc
9jQePXPIt was widely rumored that Denise from the Beltus family had been defeated by her several times, so by process of elimination, only Aiselin from the Duplain family remained.RwChWp
TyD“…”njA
4bf9Every time Ellen thought of her, a strange tension furrowed her brow.mkk2
ALyIB1XAiselin, often compared to a blooming lily in the gardens of House Duplain, surpassed Ellen in every way.ScG
GalThe Belmiard family couldn’t compete with the Duplains in lineage, and surpassing Aiselin in grace and noble elegance was no easy task.exEern
8JhOebShe was a girl who excelled in every aspect of feminine education, seemingly flawless.LOdJgJ
t13s1Even her character was impeccable; those who had spoken with her a few times praised her as a person of absolute integrity.8yxZf4
M9UNormally, when someone encountered someone vastly superior, they felt admiration.yOgJBH
IigPeople called that worship of someone unattainable idolatry, no matter how much they tried.nHDbqo4
PPKvBut respect and admiration were emotions reserved for distant figures.rqiJ
E0yUcRmFor someone who seemed almost within reach but not quite, those feelings didn’t arise. Instead, the opposite often emerged: envy and resentment.JNes
j9syHYvIf Ellen, who seemed to have it all, had one flaw she could never overcome in life, it was her hatred for the one who stood at the top—the one who had defeated her.kZmFx
A2v0BFDereck, sensing her sudden silence, lowered his head subtly, pretending not to notice.Fg0Kvj
7XvThough she didn’t show it openly, this girl admired by many was the embodiment of envy.8yMhbx
vkpFIf she lost in family prestige, in development as a woman, in elegance… shouldn’t she at least win in magic, the field she believed in?RuTUb
H2oKnQuestions like these were silenced by Lady Aiselin’s extraordinary magical talent, which even complemented her grace with power.Tpbk
6UxIt was a complete defeat in every aspect.HyR
s46Yet the tantalizing distance that seemed within reach if only she gritted her teeth and climbed higher, dragged her deeper into the abyss. The world called this abyss an inferiority complex.QiWi5pW
FariSJj“Thank you for your effort.”kZjG
6cvLEllen dismissed Dereck curtly.l9CQzOB
dfFYEvery time she thought of Aiselin, a cold irrationality tainted her mood.tt4QC
V6Uc3KShaking her head sharply, she considered it a bad habit.FhdkBwL
Zi45bStill, it seemed a new inspiration in magic had struck her, and she reflected that she should dress properly and train more.lROc8O4
DdILzAiselin.TUq7em
1h6cAs soon as she thought of her, a chain of memories suddenly surfaced. Ellen’s pupils dilated instantly.HzZ
tKwoECIt was a conversation buried deep in her memory, long eroded by time.JiicoZx
wl9Though winter’s chill was near, it had been during the warm glow of spring when Ellen first heard that story.kAoL0l
dYbN—Ah, Dereck was the name of that magic instructor. A mercenary from the Beldern Battalion, his magical power was extraordinary, and his method of handling mana was unique—wzDwV
3bYkCTnDereck.rDX6
QmOiLAt a Rose Hall gathering, he was the magic instructor Aiselin had praised to no end.yYCE
32tZXThe impostor of the Duplain family, Diella Katherine Duplain, whom he had trained and taught up to one-star spells—he was the mercenary turned teacher.BR6Nxo2
mdOfShe had heard Aiselin’s regret at that summer meeting, lamenting that she couldn’t retain the mercenary and had to let him go.tR5
cF3Fk— That boy is the wandering magic instructor not even Aiselin from House Duplain could keep.FCxr
p5ddH4t—Smack.4JQdLv
4HpEllen grabbed the hand of the maid combing her hair and rose from her seat.xUU55wK
9oeLifting the hem of her dress, she rushed toward the exit, grabbing the collar of Dereck, who was about to leave.STNW
YiVK9umWhen Dereck turned with a slightly surprised expression, Ellen raised her head to meet his eyes and spoke.S6qXa
Dy1“Are you the mercenary who taught magic in the lands of Duke Duplain?”Z6ev
rD5The girl’s red eyes shone intensely.BJz6
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