Chapter 25: Belmiard (5)
Swba7sThe Globeltein Cultural HallJTOzD
jxaThis majestic hall, named in honor of Sir Globeltein Ebelstein, founder of the city, was where socialites discussed aesthetics, auctioned artworks, and occasionally held small concerts.rSehJJ
5NYspAs a gathering place for influential people from all social strata, it was one of the most carefully managed locations in the noble district. The aesthetic debates of the Rose Salon were also held here.RHX14
RzhElI8After the usual exhibition ended, the young ladies who gathered to cultivate their culture began to leave one by one. Each was an important figure in her own territory, but even in a galaxy full of stars, some shone brighter than others.onGACSJ
FWp“In the next gathering, a magic duel is planned. Lately, there’s been talk about how extraordinary Lady Ellen’s magic skills have become, and hearing those stories makes me nervous too.”uUV
IrbVbuAiselin, surrounded by her maids and smiling charmingly, walked flanked by her followers. Lesser nobles from the frontier flattered her, hoping to catch even a bit of her attention.LbJ3Fj
BzZAiselin treated them with a courteous smile, but in her heart, she probably didn’t consider them meaningful connections. Ellen was sure of it as she watched.FPF
8VSeZEllen, smoothing her reddish hair, handed her maid a luxurious feather quill, a scented sachet, and a pair of antique-looking opera glasses.6YtAO
8kM8ykThen, after her maid carefully adjusted her dress, she followed Aiselin through the corridor.7nuII3
0UXlCWGWhen the two were together, the lesser nobles around them fell silent. They feared interrupting their conversation and breaching etiquette.enY5SfO
WHptL“Lady Aiselin, you’re far too modest. You haven’t lost a single magic duel in the salon this quarter. You truly deserve to be called the flower of House Duplain.”a0Sep
yefNDP1“Oh my, Lady Ellen, your compliments make me blush.”btdw
ShwU1Although Ellen emotionally acknowledged Aiselin, she couldn’t help but feel a strange envy and jealousy toward her.tXdGnq
xj8The more perfect and flawless someone was, the more one harbored inexplicable resentment. It was a common feeling rooted in inferiority complexes.t4f
Ceaw5kHowever, today Ellen was more cheerful than usual.nDFAWIj
Rilb3Why hide it? The news about Dereck had piqued Aiselin’s curiosity too, so there was no reason for secrecy.z3f7
bMhYbZ“I recently decided to accept a new magic instructor. Master Felmiar objected, but I insisted because he has a good track record. I don’t have the authority to ignore the opinions of the staff in the noble district, but being the lady of a mansion has its perks.”LcqaOrw
JmpH7B“Ah, really? Lady Ellen, you’re so proactive. You must have great confidence in this instructor.”muCmI
zqd“In fact, it’s more like your trust, Lady Aiselin.”LSUj2K
2KjPP“How so?”JMa
LCbybFWhen Aiselin asked innocently, Ellen replied with a smile on her lips.OYn
ogOYQF“The mercenary named Dereck you mentioned last time. He’s currently on a new mission with the Beldern Mercenary Corps in the tavern district, so I spoke with him and brought him here.”zJt9t7V
GhfDeO“Dereck?! He must be so busy with his mercenary work!”TIOsCJq
IZ6HxUpon hearing his name, Aiselin’s face lit up.JXXZ
15j7y6pEven after he left the Duplain mansion, Aiselin often mentioned him during her tea meetings with Diella.4RHdoZY
nE4qg6wHer younger sister had assured her that Dereck was probably just busy with mercenary work, so there was no need to worry if he didn’t show up. It was true—Dereck was a man who only understood magic and money.o5zfG
dkzaz“Well, it’s true. He’s been in real combat every chance he gets, under the guise of training, and also studying magic.”W3ZOGz
EFC“Since you know him personally, you know he’s a deep and dependable person. You’ve found a good teacher. Congratulations, Lady Ellen.”1Zk1FRz
aj4‘…This doesn’t feel right…’yvwCu
pvzSeeing Aiselin’s radiant expression, Ellen felt slight discontent.fqcY
ahRJLkkWasn’t she the one who had brought in the wandering instructor that even Aiselin couldn’t retain in her mansion?Gr5C
Gi38Xm6She expected some resentment, but instead, Aiselin sincerely congratulated her.nzmf
Jhp5PjIn truth, Aiselin somewhat understood. Dereck, born with vast wings, wasn’t someone who could be caged.qSxG
3emaSEllen had accepted his teachings knowing he was only seeking a temporary place.6bdK5
hzjXQStill, if someone with magical talent like Ellen received Dereck’s teachings… Aiselin couldn’t remain complacent.6Cm
cBlLately, there had been few worthy rivals in magic duels. Even Aiselin felt her senses dulling.2evUsl
6kmwMnHaving a competent rival like Ellen would greatly help sharpen her skills. Sincerely, Aiselin wanted to support her.7mcNj
fzlHowever, a sudden memory flashed through her mind.l3PKpa
T8Vea— ‘Diella. I was thinking of asking Dereck to evaluate my magic someday… What do you think?’V2kufa
NEZI— ‘…Aiselin, sister. There’s really no need. You’ve already reached a high magical level.’Q1v7
dWwBDZr— ‘Even so, I think having an expert review it could help me improve even more. I was thinking of sending someone to the mercenary corps to inquire. Dereck doesn’t seem to come to the noble district often…’DeBIM
yESFxa— ‘Absolutely not, sister. There’s no need at all… Someone as established as you doesn’t need Dereck’s teaching.’xdJdQIS
2F8Diella’s pale face looked serious as she dissuaded her. Aiselin thought her lovely younger sister was just jealous of her “stealing” her teacher Dereck.uMWJ93
wzuEWhile Aiselin responded with a soft smile to her adorable sister… Diella didn’t stop her for that reason.XlqbvU
safzdQDereck’s brutal training methods sometimes included techniques unthinkable for noble ladies.HCrBhH
BcVTlHe’d take them to the forest and force them to exhaust all their mana, or suddenly make them run, emphasizing the importance of physical endurance… He came up with all sorts of strange methods that the delicate flowers of noble houses struggled to endure.6I7X
U7MFrom the beginning, slapping them upon meeting and dragging them into the woods to toughen them up was not normal for a magic instructor. It was something noble ladies, always protected, simply couldn’t tolerate.1wL
8Hfb01“…”bNTyIk1
9ZVWhat would be the point of saying it? Dereck, the instructor, was like bitter medicine.zfpHg8
rmDIt was magic capable of granting any wish—but not without a cost.DVC
LwGkXIf she had known beforehand, perhaps she could have prepared herself mentally. But if Ellen knew about the mercenary’s harsh teaching methods, it was something no one else knew.n6rE
v3CDoDWhile these thoughts crossed her mind, concern appeared on Aiselin’s face.2si
Mof9MResting her chin on her hand, she looked at Ellen with unease, but Ellen, consumed by her jealousy and resentment, curled her lips into a mocking smile.zDgdv
wlT‘Of course. Now I understand why it was important to bring that instructor, Dereck, along.’9f3eUd
YVntk3Unfortunately, Ellen misinterpreted Aiselin’s worried expression.ARM
FhWqm1She thought it was resentment over having “stolen” Dereck. She never imagined that Aiselin’s expression would crumble like that… An inexplicable satisfaction grew within Ellen.VQi
LqWgAP“Excuse me…”uKJHG
j4pc16W“Oh dear, look at the time. I’m supposed to have my first lesson today, so I must return to the mansion.”knvfUis
3eq6NtWith that, Ellen adjusted her hair and left with a graceful laugh, walking away confidently.6s8NrO
5agIGoZAiselin, still concerned, could only watch her figure recede.RqD
G9ZiThe nobles nearby also watched Aiselin and Ellen with puzzled expressions.v2Hng
XExAs valuable as a magic instructor might be, they found it hard to imagine the dignified Aiselin being so easily outdone just because of a new teacher.WGmz
uLB5‘Even though I knew Ellen was prone to jealousy, I didn’t expect her to pin her hopes on a street mercenary who can’t even win sparring matches…’NV61yPl
cl39g7Denise of the Ducal House Beltus sighed from a distance.66L5EO
2rxddKFutile.mDPJIH
WIWfplZThough they couldn’t say it aloud, those present shared similar thoughts.C2SAWk
RMKH***CLm
rzfwNy“That’s right. I’ll be focusing on that request for a while.”heu
kQmEOaS“The Prince of Belmiard… You’re swimming in deep waters, Dereck.”vqi
70J“But there’s no need to go to the Count’s residence. It’s something that can be handled within Ebelstein, and it suits me.”dDgqSI
8mpvaThe Tears of Veldern tavern was as lively as ever that day.sIX4M
Tcf9djzDereck, enjoying a delicious apple cider, was seated at a secluded table when Jayden approached, laughing. Dereck relaxed his posture and told him about his latest assignment, stating his intention to decline new jobs for a while.DBB3
AQuuAyqIt was unfortunate for Jayden, but considering the types of missions Dereck usually accepted, he couldn’t complain much. What worried him more was Dereck overworking himself.qW3a
Tpa“And if I accept it, I intend to do it right.”fWd0
kXp“Are you planning to train Ellen to defeat Aiselin? From what you’re saying, Ellen seems talented, but… Aiselin’s reputation goes beyond the noble district.”as0J
tgiH“There’s really no easy way. I have two ideas in mind…”PnBpdcw
RBEN58sDereck crossed his arms, appearing uneasy.NVp
u7PNs“One is reaching two-star level. That would give us the power to beat her, making victory over Aiselin not just a dream.”GOs4
jzuK6Gy“That doesn’t sound easy at first glance.”Qsn
yIywX“Yeah, which is why I thought of a second method… For that, I might need your help. That’s why I came to let you know beforehand. If I say I need help later, please support me this time.”PcM
PqPj0“My help?”Jdwn7
tiz5Jayden was a veteran mercenary who had made a name for himself in the Dawn War, a major conflict against monster hordes in the north. Though he now led a peaceful life, his skills were undeniable—something even Dereck acknowledged.vshign
Euz“And to avoid errors for safety… I’d like Pheline to be involved too.”Ixddz
wRPN1F“Me?”xGFM0U
4GEPheline, who had been sipping liquor beside them, looked at Dereck with half-closed, unfocused eyes.LOnqc
EoBvvLJudging by her habit of drinking in broad daylight, she didn’t seem interested in working today.U0bV
bmsWSX6“Dereck. I already told you you’d regret getting dragged around by those noble kids…”hfviF
ht5HwX“And why are you drinking in the middle of the day?”6MZ0sA
f1CwpCk“She lost a lot of money gambling. She was playing cards with some of today’s patrons.”adf
IZG“…”DnKO9Sl
3ZoVDereck squinted toward Pheline, who, face flushed, rubbed her cheeks and groaned.Yat33V
no4“Who would’ve thought an ace would show up then?”S0JK
UOdShe still hadn’t broken her habit of running off to gambling dens and wasting money. Dereck sighed and patted her shoulder.Whic
6WK“Either way, I’ll make sure you get a fair cut, so help out, will you?”GEGMdy
RIGnB8I“Hah, instead of chasing money to serve nobles, I’d rather… I’d rather…”nak
AYUT4“I boldly asked for twenty Adel gold coins for this job, and they accepted immediately. That’s five more than the Duplain job… Nobles sure spend differently.”lqRh
iZYQb“…You really raised your price that much? What… throwing gold around like water…”LJGKl
kJdyBerUnable to finish her sentence, Pheline slumped onto the bar table with a defeated thud. It seemed she had given up.63A4
FK7Jayden placed a glass of cold water in front of her and said:KdN
vLW8Y“Alright. Let’s hear your plan.”0mwXk7
LfYo6“…”BAnrwk
aceaAfter Dereck explained his thoughts, Jayden couldn’t help but gape in surprise.wjCgxpv
XYS3Ow***wwu
WK4YGH‘Of course, her learning speed is fast for someone with a rough mercenary background.’rg1
PC76That afternoon, upon visiting Ellen’s mansion, Dereck began the lesson without preamble.b5mMLn
zuRHWUnlike the lessons of Belmierd, which always emphasized ceremony and grandly dissected the history of magic, Dereck’s lessons cut away all unnecessary theory.pRIfCjI
YiwuewHe had already explained it beforehand.4pU5Vq1
4SRUUHe couldn’t teach noble ethics or magical history. He only taught practical knowledge.XH67
knZakBIAnd that was exactly what Ellen wanted.WXRCjkO
YwyPShe wanted to quickly acquire the means to surpass Aiselin—no frills or extras.tk4l5rZ
5jCFoundational teachings were important, but what she needed now was practical knowledge to satisfy her competitive spirit.xfcyrP
yirnrThus, in the private outdoor training area beside the mansion, Dereck gathered magical energy.PFzx
CGjyq“First, we’ll practice combat like last time. We’ll repeat the process ten times, analyze the basics, and then go over the key skills needed for magic training. After that, we’ll go over one-star spells one by one to check if your fundamentals are solid.”inVm7
p3fMvuH“Do you mean we’re going to duel ten times now?”t9nbNfZ
Pp72“It’s just combat practice. No formalities needed—first, let’s see how much your practical skills have improved.”Jz2JM
kNhThus, Ellen and Dereck completed ten consecutive sparring rounds.h6ty8
v6JThen, they reviewed the newly discussed methods of magical manifestation and spent time reciting and reviewing one-star spells. Before they knew it, the sun had begun to set.f8G93g
1ZYlQEllen, drenched in sweat, collapsed in a corner of the training field.yFHt
2ox8Dereck’s lessons were vastly different from Felmiar’s. While Felmiar spent more than half the time reciting theory, Dereck had her fight, attack, and constantly repeat magic use during each lesson.VxHuOW
kJDagNHalfway through, Ellen’s mana reserves hit rock bottom, and in the end, she had to grit her teeth to squeeze out the last of her strength for one final spell.8b6j1
B9lVWhen she finally manifested an ice spear, she was so dizzy she almost fainted. Even so, Dereck encouraged her properly, hands clasped behind his back.12xl
OOt“You’re doing great, Lady Ellen!”10eKCp
cuiQ“Pant… Pant…”tDgGj
4cR“Let’s manifest the ice spear one more time. This time, use it together with a confusion spell.”uLH1Yt6
XWs“But you said that was the last one…!”9kp63
jShYe“This will be the last. Just this once, then we’re done.”qHZ8Q
2rk1E7H“Agh… huff…!”NImnF
sA6qSitting on the ground of the training area, Ellen gasped, but somehow gritted her teeth and unleashed her magic.EhFl
42MYAt her limit, she manifested the ice spear again and looked at Dereck with pride, as if saying, “See? I can do it too.”yx6Bdi4
1BN“Gasp… Gasp… I… I can do it…”lf1tgn
aMChAWM“Now, for the very last time, let’s manifest fire arrows. Rest for 15 seconds, then… one… two…”E5Iq9IW
niTw0fV“You said the last time was the last one!”v5cYgSu
OYWiAfter that exchange, as the sun began to set, Ellen, forgetting all etiquette and drenched in sweat, collapsed on the field.fQS
S8Z1The attendants watching from a distance swallowed dryly.OtGh3u
udJCyThey felt responsible. It was difficult to see their lady collapsed and sweaty.gxTZwZ
IV67MsThey wanted to rush in, comb her hair, spray perfume, and bring fresh clothes.VVNBEA
e6BcBut Dereck shook his head. This was Ellen’s private training area, and no one else was allowed in.MqfV
SofThus, Dereck’s magical lesson, which pushed Ellen to her limits, continued for over 30 more minutes before ending.DSVv
dnFLRIq“Sob… Gasp… Gasp…”JhWZeP
EM4It wasn’t clear if she was gasping or sobbing, but Ellen lay on the ground, staring up at the sky.xO4Mh
05XgTvHAt some point, the sky had turned fiery red, and at its edges, twilight’s darkness loomed.v4k
UezdkThe stars had begun to faintly twinkle, and it was hard to tell how long she’d been casting. Ellen had never used magic continuously for this long.Jh2yUG9
Bhz“You’ve worked hard. You can eat now.”sveQ
bz9nIrp“…”9ypHL
5QRpBM“Are you okay?”ft366c
uLZ5It felt a bit awkward to ask, but still, Dereck expressed concern.6JTmh2
LaZo7“If it’s too much, quitting is an option.”GbJf
xHE8DPanting, Ellen lay motionless, but eventually rose and said:GOxDVR
D1l0Ywu“Hah, hah.”T9bqTX
l81JGB“…”fd9qPy
hYSb0lo“Is that all? After all my bold declarations about doing anything, is this all you expected? It’s just a bit of physical hardship.”7sacZBx
kMMsSurprisingly, she hadn’t lost her smile.L715k0
gYkvjcvThough struggling to stand, her determination still burned.NjYG
KdIe“After all the grueling efforts I’ve made to survive in Ebelstein’s society, do I look like someone who’d whine over something like this? I stayed up three days and nights reading books on etiquette. That kind of question isn’t necessary.”4Rwydi
uEEp“…Understood. My perspective was narrow.”dpbYOL
dDzoV“I’m a bit tired today from attending a social event, but starting tomorrow, I can fully commit to training. So it would be better to increase the intensity compared to today.”MSEsX
T4cc“…”Bo9Z
6rrbDereck listened and then, expression unchanged, said:XjnQ
xzx6pZ“Tomorrow…? What do you mean?”yMy22aD
szvc“…Huh?”dB5iG
L8FWm8B“I said it’s time for dinner now.”XKa
KtTpEqShe didn’t understand at first.wJzSST
svvrAWGBut when she realized what he meant, Ellen’s face began to turn pale.ucAZwVL
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