Chapter 26: Ellen (1)
VhVTRunning a tavern meant living out of sync with the world.koI
UIoPWCCOpening the doors at dusk, closing them at dawn. On the way home, as the clear sky turned bluish, one would often see busy people walking through otherwise empty streets.SsEqdg
5LzWP0Jayden didn’t think this life was bad.yuXu9
mPgYBack when he roamed battlefields decapitating trolls, there were no life patterns, so the comfort of predicting today and tomorrow was welcome.0uuo6z
zCOwCJfOf course, he never neglected his training and occasionally took on missions on his own, staying busy… but essentially, he was drunk on peace. Occasional monster hunts were just a diversion for Jayden, who had a past full of fatigue.HK1es6P
hTIAfter cleaning a few clinking glasses, the silence of the empty tavern felt as comforting as a warm blanket.yYk
Md5eZJayden rather enjoyed the quiet scene before closing time. During these moments of reflection on how to end the day, a familiar figure stepped through the door.08OB0UN
duxrW–Creak2GE
TyXE“Still open, boss?”EtnocN
xgTx5“Dereck. It’s nearly dawn, what brings you here?”tC3x
kaKG“Just want a quick bite before heading home. Got anything left?”MLKPO
FsgAs always, Dereck looked like a mess.RXHd7lD
jfB8O7IIt wasn’t unusual for this mercenary—known for shedding neither tears nor blood—to show up covered in dirt and dust.7RlQD
M7JeNzLWhat was strange, however, was that he currently had a lucrative contract and wasn’t accepting other paid jobs.ZbaMxfZ
mcj“No way, Dereck. Did you go all the way to the outskirts of Ebelstain? Without a bounty mission? Don’t tell me you entered the labyrinth.”PGp
0Cp9d“Not that deep, just a bit. I’ve got a plan I’ll tell you about.”eCvi
g5ZfExhausted, he sat at the bar, brushing his bangs back as he wiped his face and sighed.FNBu
qo4H5“Want something to drink?”Dna
CZZB“Almost closing time—there’s not much good stuff left.”aZx
9TwTjGD“Anything’s fine.”ix4cYSy
B5kP8“As you wish.”8GhQ
XzUIt was known that Dereck was teaching a young lady from the Prince Belmiard’s family, spending nearly the entire day with her. Even so, he found time at night to explore the outskirts of Ebelstain. He seemed to be perfecting his magic or simply wandering.8RtQa
vzqYJ“Going to sleep?”9hGv1
9SZSd5“I’ll close my eyes for a bit.”Wbpyml
jVOpHC“Then you’re heading off to teach that Belmiard lady again?”cDFoU7
8GPk“I’ve got about three hours planned. Better grab what I need and get going.”hTFG2
MKOrvJayden clicked his tongue and poured him a simple drink. He had never worked as hard as Dereck even in his active days. Dereck seemed almost possessed by the study of magic.khF
cTwHe had met the boy long ago in the mercenary trenches. He knew all too well the kid’s astonishing magical talent—and often found it excessive.ySQckN
1gsRE“There’s a letter for you at the mercenary guild. From an unusual sender.”zpPb
Q5x1Not wanting to keep an exhausted Dereck any longer, Jayden tossed a letter with an elegant seal onto the table.76WXkf
Tvgh7s1Dereck looked at it with a confused gaze and examined the surface.pAM1iCa
X5PeEjo“It’s from the Elvester County. Elvester is a long train ride from here, on the eastern edge. I’ve never seen a letter come from so far away… especially from a noble house…”dbF6lcx
RHfg03W“Prince Elvester, you say?”lMHSg
mfG0H“Yeah. No matter how famous your name is, it only stretches to Ebelstain, right? Do you have some charm that draws in the nobility?”xHNq
k5wwzv“No. It was probably sent by my mentor. She said she’d send word about her wellbeing if she could.”6Se
K7W4ynEDereck’s mentor, Katia Flameheart, was teaching Lady Freya of Elvester County.A70VDw
fHmCzTKnowing how incredible she was as a mentor, Dereck was sure she’d be doing well even in such a prestigious place.83GZV
smf“The mentor of Lady Freya? That old mage has lived quite a full life.”HuAQ6
SWeXIn a kingdom that seemed to span the entire continent, prominent families varied by region. News from the east rarely reached the far west of Ebelstain, but the names of certain influential figures still made it here.cLRmVZD
wPMbWuIf they were talking about Lady Freya of Elvester, she was nearly considered a queen in the Eastern Empire’s social circles.ZmSHUq3
5qZKTTX‘In Ebelstain terms, she’s similar to Lady Aiselin.’9Hn
ecZDereck pocketed Katia’s letter, unaware that a satisfied smile had crept onto his face. He seemed genuinely pleased to have received news from his mentor.xPZLOIp
9IT38trFor Dereck, already a battle-hardened mercenary at seventeen, such a human expression was rare. Jayden, watching, couldn’t help but think:ml1
IJers‘After all, he’s still human.’Tq50cC
Fgc1rmD“Dereck.”KiIDt
dTxJayden, arms crossed, finally spoke after silently observing Dereck sip his fruit wine in exhaustion.UDp7
Szv“Take care of yourself.”gXcE
w13jN03“…Don’t worry.”WUQ2
VaJ***MFQ5
tMw(Newly Acquired Magic)
• Combat 1-Star: ‘Ice Spear’
• Combat 1-Star: ‘Fire Arrow’
• Transformation 1-Star: ‘Attribute Infusion’
• Confusion 1-Star: ‘Illusion – Small Animal’
• Combat 2-Star: ‘Shadow Bind’
• Combat 2-Star: ‘Great Protective Shield’
• Transformation 2-Star: ‘Crystallization’
• Detection 2-Star: ‘Magical Detection’BRw
y54g[One-star spells can now be used without full incantation.]MJTe
kK1iP***0nV
ZH4VEllen began to believe in life after death. She realized that hell wasn’t so far away.SWrSrh
7qr9GEllen’s resilience was far from weak. Though a delicate noble lady, her mental fortitude was exceptional, and her determination so ironclad that she could endure even the most grueling lessons.88KBOu
nUWVg07Even so, Dereck’s magic lessons had a mysterious way of pushing people to their limits.DGy
ipZOhh“Lady Ellen! You can give more! Today, you must learn how to gather the scraps of your depleted magical energy… to cast spells efficiently. You must understand that feeling!”EBlwrO
lvY7“How can I summon magic… from the depths of exhaustion… gasp… gasp…? How is that even possible…?”t4qK
ryU“Is there anything in this world that can’t be done through sheer will?”QVh
tCn3wcZ“Words… are easy… to say…!”xVu
EZIHJ0“If it seems impossible, giving up is always an option.”pHUh
bwTEllen’s daily routine already surpassed what most could handle.0Fe
KULShe rose at dawn for a short magic-use training with Dereck, attended liberal arts classes in the morning, ate a quick lunch, dueled all afternoon, had dinner, rushed through magical control practice until bedtime, had a late-night snack, and practiced flower arrangements or played an instrument until the moon was high in the sky before falling asleep.foCW
QadiYAfter about two weeks, waking up in the morning left her in a state where the world seemed blurry. It was true—this is what it felt like to be pushed to the brink.riHOT
4NYpPC4“Could this… actually kill me?”Yu3Wwr
tJxShe had made a bold promise to Dereck, and now it was hard to say she couldn’t follow through.29sisyN
XF3ki1pYet, the thought began to grow in her mind that maybe, just maybe, if she kept pushing this hard, she could defeat Aiselin. Ellen had never lived her life so intensely, minute by minute.2mio
BMGGzhEffort never betrayed her. Diligent in everything she did, Ellen could find satisfaction even in this brutal schedule.KA1t
kIBs0yYHer desire still burned.uMulH
In7But whether her body could keep up was another question.12c7WY
ywYO3“Ah, Lady Ellen. Your skin is suffering a bit.”CJmvE
YFims“…”xoX
FGtUzFFor a butler, commenting on the appearance of a lady of House Belmiard was a bold move.vky
StxtfKYet even so, the mansion’s butler dared to advise Ellen while helping her dress in the morning.r70SDsS
TdgZdE5“My lady, it’s commendable to always strive to master magic, but when it starts affecting your appearance, it becomes a serious concern for us servants.”nCW
EJOh“Yes. I was so absorbed in my magic that I forgot to care for my appearance for a moment. Without all of you, I’d be in a dreadful state. I’m always grateful.”579E51N
s8yZ“…What if you reduced your magical training schedule a little?”8m8Zsk0
bjs“…That’s not possible.”vwhLW4
xGV3She had to defeat Aiselin.B0u
CkMaIwThe burning desire to win was incomprehensible to the butler.nAqg6il
PIOMAnd what if she lost?FQKQdY
XNKtIHe wasn’t in a position to make such irresponsible comments, but maybe it was time someone showed her the reality.pB7O
EIjHNo one ignored that Aiselin was the epitome of perfection in every aspect.159WT
KT43And most assumed it wouldn’t be easy to defeat her with desperate short-term efforts.regk
6UkLTRuAfter all, Ellen was challenging the impossible.81RNH9
epcbEven if she succeeded, it didn’t matter. Who would consider Ellen greater than Aiselin for winning a mere practice duel? In the end, it was just that—a practice duel.TTm
SqSUSHYet Ellen was obsessed with battling Aiselin, as if possessed by a spirit enchanted by victory.Vz5zAxN
OO1One could only wonder what had her so consumed.WvBDD
AcfyT3T“Lady Ellen seems to be having a hard time.”bFFGh7
6mXEPThe same went for the other noble ladies in the Rose Salon.Du3b
VPyaKrEllen, who sometimes graced gatherings and debates with her dignified beauty, was admired by all, though not quite as much as Aiselin.WNvHi
qTqGmPMAfter all, among the three ladies considered the heart of the Rose Salon, ranking them seemed pointless. Each bloomed like a flower in her own right.00Cs
p3dElThat’s why no one understood Ellen’s seriousness as she grew thinner by the day, devoting herself to magical training.mtcxEgv
rudjLSoon after, unable to withstand the horrific daily training, Ellen wandered the cultural salon looking dazed. It was still unclear if all this was acceptable.TPw7
rWdEPReturning to the mansion meant more magical training and hurried spell review before dinner.TUlEAp0
rvIZ0Every day, she summoned her magic from the deepest parts, pushing herself to exhaustion without questioning the meaning of it all.nnYPdRG
97MNWHer sole focus was to overcome this hell. Gradually, everything in the world began to feel distant and blurry.JKPdsa
Z2n7dK“…”HD3HF0
j5CCsFrom a corner of the cultural salon, Aiselin watched Ellen with a heart full of unease.93zKa3
1AUK“Lately, Lady Ellen seems very worn out. Her skin looks a little damaged, and her eyes lack vitality. I’m worried she’s overexerting herself.”xve
IiS1uZa“She must be giving her all for the magic duel with Lady Aiselin. Even if it’s just a practice match, her seriousness is undeniable.”eQ8F
GpP7s0Aiselin truly hated speaking ill of others.On4E
TKzTvHer followers knew this well, so they refrained from openly criticizing Ellen’s competitive spirit.pcH
DI8However, their words subtly hinted at a disdain toward Ellen, who seemed to be trying too hard.Hu5
oLbIn her heart, Aiselin despised such petty and vulgar noblewomen.1HA
RlRxFollowing in the footsteps of the exceptional Aiselin, her followers often deceived themselves into thinking they held the same authority. Aiselin deeply disliked their condescending attitude toward Ellen, as if they were in her place.i2ZWX
F1z9CWAiselin seemed compassionate.3VKc
erkA***F0W
FrifU9The next morning, Ellen, somehow enduring the screams of pain from her body, rose from bed.Da1Y2Q
Zypa9aAs usual, the butler, with a worried expression, combed her hair and said,1csSYQ
kPC0J7P“A gift has arrived from the Duplain family.”3sgSWr
fT1J8hY“…What? The Duplains?”rhd
VOb25s“Yes. Oh, it seems it was sent by Lady Aiselin…”HCv
EIgAQA maid entered the bedroom carrying a wooden box adorned with an elegant floral bow and refined ribbon.yiL
xISPiAfter placing it on the tea table and bowing politely, Ellen, rubbing her blurry eyes, opened the box.2yzM
ihY2iLAInside was a handwritten letter from Aiselin, a scented sachet, and several magical health care items.8E2B
RDWu6“…”9S0uv
LeQSbmu“Lady Ellen?”VPpar2w
cJXY09After checking the contents of the box, Ellen silently opened the letter. Inside, Aiselin’s meticulous handwriting was beautifully delicate. The message was mostly filled with words of encouragement, urging her to stay strong.sOVdTGm
3kUWZevAiselin had sent this gift out of concern, fearing Ellen was pushing herself too hard in preparation for their duel.tdMK
vCSHowever, it was obvious to anyone that someone with superior abilities would only send such a gift out of pity.jAA0
GndAware of this, Aiselin wrote the letter as if she were simply sharing surplus items from her home—a polite social formality.wzHXw8I
QMX6JIn truth, it was a heartfelt gift from Aiselin, but she presented it in such a way that Ellen wouldn’t feel belittled, as if it were being shared with various acquaintances at once.E55aNV
9c2To anyone, she seemed too good, too virtuous.8JX
NuM8jssAfter reading the sincere letters, Ellen put them down silently.eDr
19z4qG8“They’re quite luxurious items. I’ll store them separately.”MwZj
8TP6t“No, throw them all away.”qYyLX
Yqb“…Pardon?”B5q
KW8d“Throw them all away. Don’t let them catch my attention.”hbt
94nuaQrGrinding her teeth in frustration, Ellen stood from her seat.qZjh
bBCpIn the mirror, a tired and haggard girl with a bitter expression stared back at her.qhZtgF
SqRAdorned with beautiful makeup and charming accessories, her face was plagued with jealousy and envy.8Ati
pX1e1There stood an ugly human, consumed by irrational jealousy, harboring hostility toward a perfect being—beautiful, noble, and kind.VtXw
26ag0asWho was she? She was herself.YnDO
W1ILAWho was the villain who plotted to ruin Aiselin when she first entered society? Herself.0I3xfcv
UwcWWho was the despicable woman, moved by Aiselin’s dignity and grace but unable to let go of envy, struggling desperately to win? Herself.FWw2
3xsThe woman in the mirror had disheveled hair and pale skin, worn down by exhaustion.3ceW
9duSWho was this woman? Who was she?iVDCWI
DlfhMXISuddenly, Ellen’s eyes widened as she stared silently at the mirror.Qq67
5mxXcG“Is Dereck in the training area now?”6kdu2p
PhNbNQ“Yes. He’s preparing for the morning training. Once you’re dressed…”e0A
wdWxq“What’s the point? I’ll be soaked in sweat and dirty soon enough.”pdV
RVCuqfQ“…Pardon?”soZv0NW
u3hg2wWithout saying another word, Ellen lifted her dress hem and left the room.vvZ
2TyD5The servants hurried to stop her, but she ignored them.iFJn
8Dsiu6***FNlg
tBntdsE–ThudzXwWn
HSlEEllen stormed into the training area, letting go of her grip as she entered.XJY3
I9IGSzDereck, who was polishing his sword in a corner of the grounds, looked up in surprise.eLcYPBC
qFXsn1D“Hard at work again this morning, Dereck. As always, can we start with a practice match?”GQT7
P2Z0DY“My lady. Did you come straight after waking up?”pNcs
gSN“Isn’t it obvious I should begin training the moment I open my eyes?”kV8CeF
bj3k“That’s not what I meant…”Ji9jBU
UCL8“Then what is it?”UIyEvk
OcEOIt was time for her exhausted mind to repeat itself slowly. Indeed, enduring this much wasn’t ordinary.fYMp
yhkrDereck had deliberately cornered Ellen, but he hadn’t expected this reaction and had to pause to assess the situation.LeE5s
C4kfE9SHowever, Ellen, after silently watching Dereck, took a deep breath as if it were nothing and said,MYeO
TPxWsZ“To defeat Aiselin, every moment of training is too precious to waste. I need to perfect my skills even more.”lEamN6p
WWw06fo“Lady Ellen.”0dmw
XWcDereck immediately realized Ellen had been pushed to her limits. Everything had gone according to plan so far.dwRMJ
CLOAnd in a situation like this, he asked a question he had asked many times before.Vm8X
BaA5cBz“Sometimes, giving up is also an option if it’s too hard.”hUiW4U3
4Si“Give up?”5rCvQF
ipDW2Ellen frowned as if he’d touched a wound, then wiped her face with her delicate hands and approached Dereck.oTZkTp
f0q53OThen, looking at him with wide eyes, she confronted him.ca9D
kpvqCC3“Why should I give up? Dereck, you always suggest giving up whenever things get hard. Did you come here to hold me back?”KXQ6
TqZ“….”7F5i
5psb6L“I want someone who can help me defeat Aiselin, and you agreed right away. Isn’t that our relationship? Why do you keep scratching at me with words of surrender…? Can I ask why?”xhSDDF
OhUYQ“Lady Ellen.”mpjXRUh
PZVgmuWhy was she so obsessed with competing against Aiselin?tjv74si
1VdO0hDereck needed to know the reason. He had long realized that it wasn’t just jealousy and envy that drove her.XJC5z6
iVYWelTeaching someone means understanding their fundamental psychological desire to achieve and guiding them accordingly.mlHaDn
5gZ9Conveying knowledge is an instructor’s role, but guiding people is the role of a mentor.BeyO0
b1DO3And Dereck had learned well what it meant to guide others from his experience with Katia.TtJ8NsX
PFwovSA“So what if you can’t win?”y4Yktij
LZnCfaSeeing Dereck calmly utter those words, Ellen suddenly felt a surge of inexplicable anger. She hadn’t hired Dereck to hear useless talk like that—she had hired him to help her beat Aiselin.KGZVS
zRS0zu8Ellen grabbed the collar of Dereck’s shirt.QLfS
HWhzIAbout to raise her voice, she suddenly caught Dereck’s sincere gaze and calmed her breathing.KeVJw
3M7bgMi“If I can’t win… if I can’t win, I’m just too ugly.”OkyH4FQ
qIRaSgPAt last, Ellen spoke as if spitting the words out.FkB8
h3QX“….”c3gm
tvdThe day she brought Dereck home, she had exposed her flaws and persuaded him.Ob8w
UQ0zi1But she was also a seasoned figure in social circles. She said many things, but never revealed why she truly wanted to beat her.oNo14Eo
u0yDereck had judged that in that state, he couldn’t help Ellen.ACFE
8wfs“I already said it. I’m the kind of person who slanders and belittles Aiselin. I may be called the pillar of House Belmiard or the flower of the Rose Salon, but at best, that’s who I used to be. Do you understand?”FOg2W7N
J4xzAm“….”a9lsbG
SZG6k3“I’ve admitted how childish and malicious my actions were, and I’ve understood a hundred thousand times that Lady Aiselin is completely genuine and admirable. That she’s not someone you can compete with—I accepted that long ago. My mind and reason understand everything. That there’s no reason to dislike or hate Lady Aiselin—I’ve explained that, too.”pSIAu
ZEGoRWith that, the anger had vanished from Ellen’s twisted eyes, leaving only sorrow.j04
9OkH7ZShe spoke as if expelling a clump of mud clinging to her heart.mToUDi6
nSXW“But what can I do? This ugly, petty inferiority complex won’t go away…”A6srpBZ
5R4It was then that Dereck began to understand her. After all, she was just a girl his age.lxAAACp
SDfBNo matter how childish or shallow this inferiority complex might seem, it meant nothing. Because human emotions don’t always follow logic.IL3v
lou0Ellen, a noble lady respected wherever she went, was still just a girl enduring the storm of adolescence.rUBkQt
LdPE2If reason matured too much, it would detach from emotion. Knowing how ugly and shameful her inferiority was only made her feel even more shameful for harboring it.i8Fj
TJ5v1hlBut, as she said, where could such emotions arise just because one wanted them to, and disappear just because one didn’t?B18
UKpwr— “You’ve put it nicely. I’m well aware my personality isn’t the best.”XXOa
eBIs— “There was a time when I felt really miserable.”jkh25rO
NsWjpvIIt was then that Dereck felt the pieces of the puzzle finally fit together. She always acted like a proud rose, but there was self-hatred behind her words and actions.a2Ik
uSUIt was a signal too subtle to notice unless one was looking for it, but once it caught attention, the whole shape became clear.bXyAhd
erKtuNLady Ellen must have been looking for a way to fix this flaw in herself. But human emotions don’t change easily with the flip of a switch.oHd
bAefOHiAfter much struggle and wandering, her ultimate goal was to beat Aiselin—even if it was something trivial.k9V
6H3AQZIn the end, the one she hated most wasn’t Aiselin, but herself.kxevthh
MNMDereck finally felt like he was seeing the core of Ellen.tSk2
yx6soThe reason he kept asking Ellen if she could truly go through with it was to confirm her determination. Because the plan he had in mind would be dangerous for her if done half-heartedly.zSyBoV
E22nvo“That’s right.”i5cCv
kMd0nIbDereck didn’t make a scene or respond emotionally.ebsnurl
wx1C7JVHe simply and slowly guided Ellen’s hand away from his collar. Even that gesture carried firmness.THxj3O
8lS“…Then let’s win.”4p5ManM
hfUEllen’s eyes widened in surprise.MxY
Exp0PMFDespite Ellen’s emotional reaction, Dereck didn’t show the slightest bit of confusion.Pxpia
lnvnJBxHe was like a steel blade—easily roused, but unshakable.HuLYJQ
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