Chapter 31: Star 3 (1)
ePYSG1The archmage Adelbert, considered the patriarch of the aristocratic disciplinary school, evaluated factors such as scale, range, duration, spell complexity, and effect potency when categorizing magical levels.DpKoqeF
cuRWhile the recognized magic levels go up to the sixth, among secular mages, there is talk of a seventh level—a realm never before attained.GYxScXL
TxOIn his memoirs, Adelbert revealed he was inspired by the Big Dipper when designing the magical system.lxQqL
pt78ueqThe Big Dipper has seven stars, so why should the magic system stop at six?wQIxF
JII1Thus, mages believe in the existence of a mythical seventh level, a realm no one has yet reached.3AL68
LlCKrOn the other hand, unorthodox mages who’ve recently deviated from tradition claim the seventh level is merely a tribute left by Adelbert, a devout follower of the Bolton continent’s religion, as an homage to his god.XYVa
CsvEssentially, the seven-star rank is seen as the domain of the gods, implying humans should not aspire to it, and therefore, it should not be given undue significance.GNfka29
wE2The debate over the existence of seven-star beings has always been heated, but in practice, it’s difficult to discuss seriously.bPGrOp
soPWOyAfter all, the number of mages who have reached the sixth level in human history can be counted on one hand.9h5TMn
IicaMAcross all history, there are only ten, and the number of currently known living sixth-level mages across the continent is just four.F42
wlWG1Sixth-level mages, having reached such a degree, cannot be easily utilized even by the most powerful. Each one is a legendary being.fhMM
2ZMoYvkSixth-level magic can rewrite the laws of the world or redraw entire maps.FhYzk
pwk25Calimford, the sixth-level battle mage who fell in the “Dawn War,” was said to be able to summon meteor showers.3u8S
gVIAnd Kellin, the famed chaos mage of the Delrim Mountains, supposedly could completely dominate someone’s mind with just eye contact. Of course, he too is a figure of the past.uivTEj
7sIRZMost sixth-level mages are historic figures, their names found only in history books.kIIlg
kglmFIn this era, only four sixth-level mages remain alive: Sir Melverot, victor of the North and sword of the royal family; Cohela, chief magical advisor to the imperial family; and the other two are lesser known compared to the royally affiliated ones.FoeqJXT
23QiUNaturally, Dereck knew a bit about the other two.xMagV
CGSkBBeing a sixth-level mage meant having overwhelming influence in the world, so even someone like him, not very invested in the game’s lore, had heard their names.u6fRdt
Bx6DOne was Pineda, the youngest daughter of a small baronial family in the southeastern grain-producing region. She was a master of forbidden necromancy—corpse magic—and due to her cursed talent, her existence was kept secret.BJ62G
qvANAnd the other was… Sir Drest WolfTail of the southwestern continent.UMUVM
Ko5zsThe spiritual pillar of Drest Magic Academy, located north of Belmierd County, and the world’s only sixth-level scout mage.8Rr
eEU698u“Drest is visiting Ebelstain?”BleU
56sJH“Yes. The customs agreement schedule was accelerated, probably considering Sir Drest’s movements.”EKy1ox
zMZ0“So that’s why the young and generous lord of Belmierd is headed to Ebelstain, hiding such a secret.”DFop
6j4hHDuke Duplain furrowed his brow as he calmly listened to Valerian’s report.gaWla
MRDtThe ruler of Belmierd was always a fool when it came to Ellen. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking.Ll1x1
wmgb3bThere was a reason for the sudden change in the meeting’s schedule toward Ebelstain. If possible, he intended to meet Drest first.Yi7L
COYjPaThere had to be a reason Drest, who rarely left the academy, was visiting Ebelstain.XcDv53l
HmCOHe was the one who had acquired the sixth-level scout magic “Vision of the Future.”ktKlSQT
45YQPIf he began engaging in external affairs rather than staying within the academy, all the surrounding nobles would grow tense, closely watching his movements. Whenever he took part in external matters, it usually meant historically significant events were about to unfold.5e0C
udPDwVSIn short, he was a living omen.omIpE
ePV3‘That dying old man must be plotting something again. I might have to act on my own.’41ss
m10As Duke Duplain pondered this, he also considered his next move.4VE0yu
KR8x4yAs a scout mage, pestering him clumsily would only breed hostility.ZSdxV3
rvexVy9“Father. There’s also a letter from Aiselin.”T6Vr
5VId“Oh? From Aiselin?”MVA
2LbmXUDuke Duplain rarely showed changes in his expression. He had always been a stoic figure, seated at his desk, diligently performing his duties.S4D8Oky
Rq0H3However, when it came to news of Aiselin, the treasure of the Duplain family, even a rigid man like him seemed to soften slightly.bwzTE4u
k388“Yes. The contents include inquiries about the family’s wellbeing… and she’s requested a magic instructor.”enk
S5T“A magic instructor for Aiselin? Of course, in her childhood we provided several, but ever since she grew older, she preferred to study magic on her own, claiming it was more efficient…”qLgR
Qy2MC2X“That’s just it. Perhaps she’s begun to feel some limitations…”XzUD
0Zb“Hm…”ckU
Mb9gADuke Duplain thought deeply, stroking his chin several times. If his beloved daughter had gone to the trouble of writing a letter, it was only natural to grant her request.07i
eYOYHWJMoreover, Aiselin rarely made such requests in advance. Rather than asking others to do things for her, she was a model young lady who first thought about what she could do for the family and the household. A request from her was incredibly valuable.nHVb
lgTYAs a father, he often wished his daughter would depend on him more, so when Aiselin herself asked for help, he was more than ready to give his full support.M6HGaam
WQyFBqW“But… she specifically mentioned Dereck.”uYmR
NsQ“Dereck? The mercenary who taught Diella?”KWZk8Q
o2I“Yes. It seems he’s been working as a mercenary in Ebelstain.”zKo
paJdMl“Then it’s simple. Why not just hire him directly?”sc3r2
AAODDereck had left the Duplain family lands for two reasons. One was that he had nothing more to teach Diella, and the other was that he could no longer pursue his magical achievements there.xWufc
ktAHis mercenary work in Ebelstain, exploring real battlefields, was also a means to further his magical progress.1IP
GqXjIn that sense, there were no major obstacles. He could continue his mercenary work in Ebelstain while occasionally tutoring Aiselin in magic. Money wasn’t an issue.qM1ZX
dayljVHowever, Valerian’s expression suggested there was a problem.Ehws
gKGDlK“This… isn’t so simple.”oL2j
vgs“Is there a problem? If it were simple, Aiselin wouldn’t have sent such a letter.”IN3gC
5KQ“Well… he’s currently under contract teaching the young lady of the Belmierd family.”0eNmxNc
0Pg“Hm…”Fn9OrD
gM0H7Valerian’s worried expression now made sense.S9YCrE
R194AaGiven his itinerant status, it wasn’t unusual for him to teach anyone, anywhere.05uJxl
E24BYThere was always a shortage of talent. In the current social climate, finding a great magic instructor was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky, and the only reason someone like Dereck wasn’t famous was purely due to his humble origins.MUC7U
QFlt6However, if his skill was recognized enough to outweigh his background, the story would be different. When it came to recruitment competition, there were aspects Aiselin couldn’t handle on her own.qCP
nmDmS6CShe seemed determined to bring Dereck back. It was the first time the gentle young lady wanted something so strongly.wGZ
0waz3LL“Should I send Butler Delron to negotiate assertively? Sending the butler in person might create gaps in estate affairs, but for external matters like this, it’s better to be sure, isn’t it?”XKEJ
lChep8r“No, it’s fine.”WAS
I1GJ8O“Eh?”BZ9xEjV
3Sy3UjDuke Duplain looked at the weather outside. Winter was nearly over, and it seemed the warm sun would soon shine upon the land.9ylYqB
9IY0RlR“Since I need to visit Ebelstain regarding Drest, it’ll be easier to handle everything at once.”KEU
BognW“…You’ll go yourself?”E5S
oxPValerian’s eyes widened in disbelief. How could a duke of a nation personally travel just to recruit a magic instructor?Exue
uILYHowever, intending to meet Sir Drest WolfTail in person and resolve the customs agreement in one trip, it seemed he had planned to visit Dereck while there.XF2
ePTb“…”VsfxZ0
Y3hT7Even though he was killing two birds with one stone, every step the duke took was worth its weight in gold.W4g
u6ouNo matter how expensive the magic instructor, no one could refuse a direct invitation from a nation’s duke to Ebelstain.N2wmg
I20***xElb
SDXfDLady Ellen’s duel ended in defeat, but she still paid Dereck the full promised gold.Xz89qE
57VAcHis principle was not to accept full payment for a failed commission, but Ellen insisted so firmly that Dereck eventually accepted the full amount.euriuRI
WGWwtPhHis conscience was slightly uneasy, but the sum was large enough to offer some comfort to his heart.MJMCi
NxYYbE“Dereck. I think I’ll take a break.”YsBRz
tppIt seemed Ellen had realized something during her duel with Aiselin, and the fatigue was evident on her face. She planned to take a break from her studies, staying at the mansion to calm her mind.rLmN3bI
zd2UwDereck observed Ellen’s expression and finally nodded in agreement.k3RWM4S
BAnFor a teenager, a suitable period of introspection was an important part of life. Getting lost and finding oneself at least once was essential.GsTlA1
UC8ChYTBecause of that, Dereck gently encouraged Ellen with a few words.jXikKF
fD5C“You’re still working with the Beldern Mercenaries, right?”tzaz3D
KBUeLQ“Yes.”CcUpT
SjnR“Will you come teach me magic again?”01YP2I
yMiqFThough she seemed tired, Ellen spoke as if she needed confirmation of something.eoEs
snSDereck looked at her calmly and then replied quietly.5vj
5Ubf“I’m not sure what more I could teach you, Lady Ellen. Haven’t you already reached a competent level in first-tier magic?”h1z
XBDZ“…That’s true.”NYqWpMQ
3wAfDEllen looked at Dereck, then continued slowly.m6PeZ
19n“But even so, Dereck. When I look at you, I feel like you’re not just a first-tier mage like me.”bZb7Is
6xs“I’m just a mercenary who knows a bit of first-tier magic.”5Kq7q
E47r“If you keep developing, you could be more than that. You seem to have enough talent.”ToxYj
V6Jw“Thank you for your kind words. However, there are limits to how high magic can go for commoners.”OtJsld
eSVKPdUEllen’s intuition was sharp, but Dereck firmly denied it.NqdTB
z21So Ellen calmly looked into Dereck’s eyes. Her gaze, soft yet firm, was held by Dereck for a long time. It was a gaze without sharpness.hgH666
9dp7BEventually, Ellen chuckled humorlessly and said cheerfully, “Then, it’s fine.”4N7hdW
ZgGHMyE–Creak.WbYGfU
U5ILeThe creak of the wooden door marked its closing. It was the sound of Dereck returning home.XTH
MZcDereck still occupied the residence once used by his mentor, Katia.wvQgi
Qe4Not for any special reason, but simply because moving elsewhere was too much trouble. He had no desire to spend money unnecessarily, and its location was strategic—close to the tavern district.BrVf8
2161tLate at night, Dereck returned home and pulled a small wooden chest from under his bed.WgmOyp
dVaInside the sturdy chest was a large amount of gold coins, along with various treasures and gems. They were the result of various commissions he had undertaken.i1j5vZ
Cy49R“I’ve saved quite a bit. Maybe it’s time to think about buying some magical equipment.”lAC
1AnqciHDereck dreamed of having his own staff or wand, but high-quality magical artifacts were so expensive that even nobles thought twice before buying them.PPA3a
6hcHe longed for a staff capable of casting advanced magic, but even that was out of reach unless he surpassed the threshold of the three-star rank.jlR
UASTNv4In reality, such items were inaccessible to commoners, and even if purchased, they wouldn’t be easy to use freely. Perhaps a magical wand, easier to carry and conceal, would be a better option.ouX
Sw2FNOThe most important thing was to master three-star magic as the top priority. Three-star magic was on a completely different level compared to two-star.GRL9
P8cWhile two-star magic focused on personal attack power, three-star introduced spells on a scale usable tactically even in group battles.ov6g
J1ovIn combat magic, there were spells like seismic shifts or walls of fire capable of large-scale area attacks, and in the confusion domain, there were spells that could disorient someone’s senses.QvkrSDR
1XgFEspecially in the detection field, mastering three-star magic allowed one to directly perceive all magical tricks around them.U39
7or8bp“Taking commissions from nobles is certainly profitable, but it consumes too much time and isn’t related to real combat, which doesn’t help my magical progress. That’s definitely a problem.”YiQ
FCwywHunting magical beasts and exploring labyrinths felt meaningful for Dereck’s magical advancement.LDkZJ
NzbSupervising a noble lady’s magic might bear some fruit but rarely contributed to his own mastery. Sometimes teaching provided insights, but the limits were clear.Mrm
20KGgoQAfter earning enough money, maybe it was time to focus on his magical accomplishments.Jr8bL
jviuZdZWith that in mind, Dereck carefully counted the money in the chest. It was enough to live worry-free for a while.AllJcoR
PS7rF“Yes… For now, I should focus on my achievements and avoid accepting any teaching commissions.”2pC
L89XucHe believed there was value in teaching others, but more importantly, he wanted to become an extraordinary mage.DyWYkL
lQOHis desire to break through the three-star magic barrier was more urgent than anything else.ghc
7MYsupm“I’ve rested enough; it’s time to take on meaningful commissions. I wonder if Pheline is available.”Y9xkI75
p6ptWith that, Dereck decided to take a break from being a magic instructor.bSvldo
kblKUIt was one week before the visit of Belmierd, the Prince of Change, and Duplain, the Grand Duke, to Ebelstain.ALG7Yz
l3Mb9Unfortunately for Dereck, rulers had a way of never leaving capable individuals alone.Fpj
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