Chapter 32: Star 3 (2)
2L9iSurrounded by a group of guards, the grand carriage of Count Belmiard of the Borderlands set off.CgLMf
cjGm1MEven from a distance, the carriage radiated an aura of nobility, though for the Count, the escort was modest in size.e70
PUPQEThe guards at Ebelstain’s gate lowered their heads and swallowed hard upon seeing the Belmiard family crest engraved on the carriage, letting it pass without even checking the servants’ identification papers. The Count’s personal presence made any verification unnecessary.p9Pq1
VELCxFAs the large carriage glided through the well-kept streets of the commercial district, no one in the city dared get in its way. Though many eyes turned toward it, given the Count’s status, the journey was surprisingly quiet.eNM
fWcae‘Looks like Beltus or Duplain haven’t arrived yet.’phn
vfeN3ZMSeated in the carriage with his chin resting on his hand, Count Belmiard of Belmiard pondered silently, watching the streets.LHt4
ScOF8o3There were many reasons why someone as important as the Count would travel to Ebelstain. Officially, it was for the upcoming customs agreement, but in truth, it was to meet Archmage Drest WolfTail.Ru4
fjt9NjYIn addition, after arriving in Ebelstain, he wanted to check on his beloved daughter, Ellen.qbN838
UEMsAlthough custom dictated announcing a visit via letter, Count Belmiard chose not to. He wanted to surprise his dear daughter and see for himself how she was faring in Ebelstain’s perilous social environment.ONoM
gimsHow was she surviving in this cold society? Filled with concern, upon visiting Ellen’s noble residence, he found her utterly disheartened and emotionally exhausted.5GFc
WAO“Ah, Father.”NjhTE
R2JYnhEllen, pale and sipping tea in the garden, looked up with wide, startled eyes.F6u
bYZdfHer surprise matched that of Count Belmiard.NLeXz
wu4J2sD***i5diNbq
kSf42PR“Ellen. If social life is too exhausting, you can return to the palace. Expanding connections through status is fine, but don’t sacrifice your own heart,” he said.Bmq
DFPs92Count Belmiard, always stern and arrogant with others, was exceptionally kind when it came to Ellen.8yYF
ldOHe could sense her condition just by looking at her skin. Her paleness and lack of brightness in her eyes clearly indicated recent pain.57nDo
iRKVh4How could he, as a father, stand by idly? Ellen was the jewel of House Belmiard, the Count’s most precious treasure.Cke57LC
1RWEven if a noblewoman’s social standing was as important as life itself, he saw no reason for her to rely on Ebelstain if it meant breaking her spirit.l402l
yRw“Ah, no, Father. I’ve just been reproaching myself for my recent shortcomings, fearing I was becoming complacent.”pgsnl
5g6“Complacent! Ellen! You are the pride of our House Belmiard! You’ve accomplished so much at your age, and with such wisdom… Who would dare say such nonsense?”YvWI
HMPS7F“…You don’t have to say so much. And, well… I lost a magic duel recently, and I’ve been thinking about how to improve my magic skills.”UUnQgaN
o30xpcC“You lost a magic duel? Ellen, you have magical talent that surpasses any noblewoman I’ve ever seen. How could that happen?”wLZ7
Opl7e“It was… against the young lady of House Duplain…”rM1E
D5zr6DpUpon hearing that, Count Belmiard fell silent. He took a deep breath, massaged his temples, and then thought about how to comfort Ellen.IAQp
PeGEPIf it was Aiselin of House Duplain, even Count Belmiard recognized that name.pF2
XwZHe should’ve guessed when Ellen mentioned her defeat. In Ebelstain’s social circles, few noblewomen could match Ellen’s magical skills, and Aiselin was one of them.qdD5d
nBVA“Ellen. You may feel a bit helpless now, but if you persevere, the sun will shine on you once more.”waMtb8
1br“Thank you for your comfort, Father. Even so, ever since I hired a magic instructor, my magical progress has been considerable. You’d be surprised by my abilities.”Nrqr
oX1pn9“A magic instructor…? Are you referring to Felmier? I heard you’ve been spending time at the Belmiard estate lately…”GIw
Ex628Ef“No. I brought in a mercenary from the taverns for a while to prepare for the duel with Lady Aiselin. At first, I called him in just to practice magic, but he knew more than expected and was a great help.”ZYD
Ekew64As Ellen shared the update, she cast a cautious glance at Count Belmiard, unsure of how he would react to a street mercenary being her instructor.xgD1X9D
FijNo matter how open-minded and impartial Count Belmiard was, a noble was still a noble.n4HVK8u
IXoThe idea of a mercenary of questionable reputation clinging to his only daughter as a tutor was surely unsettling.QS17
xyf8As Ellen anticipated, Count Belmiard’s eyes flickered with unease.N6Tx
jBkAAfter pondering for a moment, he asked again.toJF
ofMLo“Then, what kind of help did you receive specifically?”v2eO
RzO7B7“Just… I learned magical theories you can’t teach with noble decorum alone… and he showed me a methodology for how to push myself if I truly wanted to win.”q6X86
wHu“But you lost to Aiselin. Anyone can teach mindset.”zuVBB
nxQTtLCHis tone was sharp. It was rare for Count Belmiard, who adored his daughter, to speak so directly.KOVH
AO5EtibEllen felt it. Count Belmiard was using this conversation to gauge and evaluate something.qeh
u5yGPwxWithout thinking too hard, Ellen responded honestly.dBL9CVC
yZavgU3“Being able to convey that effectively is a skill too. At least for me… I feel like my perspective has broadened.”lcxr
31y“…”YZKwd
E4Y3ae4Count Belmiard paused, rested his chin on his hand, and then squinted after observing Ellen’s expression.4U18
g1SP4ahAfter reading every letter Ellen had ever sent, Count Belmiard could guess what her social life had been like.pyXgY
YX0S0NPWhether it was the time to learn estate management at the Belmiard mansion or to study society in Ebelstain… Ellen’s eyes often sparkled with an indescribable, mysterious confidence.mc5qmSP
6Lu2However, seeing the wider world and encountering people more skilled than herself, that confidence often faded.CV9eX
0CwpPfENegatively, it was discouragement; positively, it was perspective. What one held in moments like that determined the temperament they carried for life.0FlxUBV
bTT7TNo one always moves forward—so how does one respond when their confidence is shaken? Reflecting on this, Duke Belmiard found himself taking back his earlier words.5YIG
QDJUnWp“Perhaps, Ellen, it would be better if you didn’t return to House Belmiard.”PT5D
OVLqv“Really? Actually… I was thinking of staying in Ebelstain.”uTIDzD
Sul“Keep learning more about society. Lady Aiselin of House Duplain certainly isn’t an easy opponent, but I’m sure our daughter will triumph one day.”YAYE24d
jIJjPulling everything up and returning to House Belmiard would mean ending all of Ellen’s journeys in Ebelstain as a failure.Qso
oH3STdfHe couldn’t allow that. Though he was a bit worried, there comes a time when one must let their child go into the world. An arm that only bends inward cannot raise a great person.942
K22wVYIt was a father’s psychology—these instincts that made one want to help as much as possible in areas where they could.CVe
eOU“If that mercenary is as good at teaching magic as you say, perhaps it would be better to hire him exclusively for House Belmiard.”gEqMq6
XXQQzJ“I heard he’s affiliated with the Beldern Mercenary Group… but high-level members might oppose it.”h7OCws
d9Rp2“Is that what matters? What matters is whether he helps my daughter’s magical development or not.”x5Xp
kKHdPTCount Belmiard patted Ellen’s shoulder and laughed heartily.4HsbdN
X7mid5Q“Trust this father. After all, he’s a commoner, and if we grease his palms with enough gold, he’ll come around. First, I need to summon a messenger.”QYrBvj
iot0***66yhjcB
q0hsBang! Bang!woy
H1m“Ahhh! Dereck! I-I’m going to take the hit too…!”P3aSA
B7PA gust of wind swept the area, and a bloody wind howled through the damp, moldy underground labyrinth.ZCuhnAJ
JKHOutside Ebelstain. It was the lowest level of the labyrinth, but a labyrinth was still a labyrinth. Dereck’s eyes suddenly widened as he methodically slaughtered the demons one by one.wrMCjb
efrpaiRThis was the spell he had perfected by repeatedly killing demons. But today, the sensation of the magical power itself felt off.0YGaQKc
hDoThe 2-star spell Fireball, which he typically used to sweep away numerous enemies at once, seemed to have increased in power.KOU
Bp2It was a spell he had used hundreds of times, so the unfamiliar sensation was unwelcome.wZmR
sAcY0However, an increase in attack power meant greater adaptability to magical force.MhsYx
cre1It was a positive change, not a negative one. Was there meaning in the efforts he had mastered over years of repetition?UTH76Eg
JTZIn the bloodstained labyrinth, Dereck extended his hands and silently observed them.Zjth
2mVSJ5“Dereck? What are you doing? More are coming from inside! Eek! They overwhelm me when they get too close!”YEYCE7O
umwLPheline quickly drew the longsword tied at her waist. For her, who usually kept her distance and supported the fight with her bow, a horde of surrounding goblins were not ideal opponents. They weren’t suitable foes for someone who preferred ranged combat.Wl1
OJGBZADereck opened and closed his hands, his eyes wide. Just now, the sensation of magical power being drawn from his body felt much stronger than usual.Gp9
MKlXThen, closing his eyes, he savored the sensation in his mind.9si
6tBcThe shadow of the 3-star combat spell Wall of Fire, which he had studied and practiced repeatedly from the spellbook given by the Duplain family, took shape in his mind.E8wI
j5z9It wasn’t just a simple ball that exploded to attack enemies but a precise wall that pressured many enemies at once and then formed a favorable battlefield.XbN
w1U8wIt was a spell requiring much more precise and refined use of magical power—so much so that one couldn’t even attempt it without sufficient mastery, and even with extreme training of magical senses, it was a rushed effort at his current level.DQd
P5f6edHowever, from within, an inexplicable confidence flowed. As if the history of his relentless efforts whispered to him. And now?Adm
DIlbNow that his magical senses were burning intensely, could it be possible?Xhd
BIEAmid that vague confidence, Dereck’s eyes, filled with magical energy, flashed momentarily.ifXC
hM0SN– Bang!qvdF3
KD8XTBut what followed was merely a series of simple explosions.7cAbPg
5ftIt wouldn’t have been an issue, but in an instant, more than half of Dereck’s stored magic evaporated into the air.GrEByIZ
guI– Screeches! Screeches!7h5qrG
tu4grn– Clang!wpvp3
z0JQPanting, Dereck clenched his teeth and grabbed his sword.cHKBz
buOmPTdOn the battlefield, exhaustion meant death. Faced with the demons’ assault, Dereck wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.i3XwMCe
zAbkDsHis vision blurred, but he used sheer will to remain conscious.Nnq6wg
Zof6WFj***JtrH
MKVmXD“You almost died? You, Dereck? In a low-level labyrinth like that?”3KyxcI3
lT0XAMWhile Pheline fussed beside him, Captain Jayden looked skeptical.XZ3
8BBokeCertainly, Dereck had his face down on the bar table, completely exhausted.PywMSC1
xP8JJayden, who brought him a drink to help him recover, tilted his head and checked Dereck’s condition. It seemed like Dereck was overplaying the near-death experience.hdz9AZ
FYTX2f6Dereck, known for his meticulous preparation even for the smallest tasks, tended to make conservative judgments if the slightest obstacle or unexpected event occurred.ega1
vmhsUqHe seemed annoyed for having struggled more than expected with a task he considered as easy as eating cold porridge.rYpOQF
13pqM“Ugh… My magic almost ran out halfway through. So I postponed collecting the requested items until tomorrow and focused on melee combat without magic.”k1Q7
Oi0GYO“Shouldn’t you be able to handle those creatures in close combat?”Ygik
w6EWK“Well, yes… but I was tired, and if I’d been careless, who knows what could have happened. Pheline also had a rough time.”Ha51
UlDiKnowing that Dereck rarely let his guard down, Jayden could only tilt his head in confusion.icH
BR5It was odd that Dereck, who had become mature in his use of magic, would fail to manage it.xAf
jjUAnHb“What happened?”KzMCJV
mXHbwco“Halfway through… I felt a strange discord in my magical use and instinctively pushed myself.”fsYHN
PMAo5RSaying this, Dereck extended his palm and stared at it closely.VM0KM
MTGIt felt like he had broken through a barrier, leaving a thrilling yet confusing sensation.Lzx
gSL8“…”UMyd
YEbLdemThe fact that such a trivial task had become chaotic deeply wounded his pride as a mercenary.F4yiH4
PCDGGgHHowever, beyond that, the thought that he might have stepped closer to a new magical realm flooded him.7ulPL7
TYXTSo much magic had evaporated in a single spell. It was like when Lady Aiselin, who had just learned the 2-star spell, quickly ran out of energy after casting a Fireball.fPNPr
4VIN7Using high-level spells before being accustomed to them could cause a drastic drop in magical efficiency. It was a phenomenon that mages often experienced before leveling up.UHDOHz
2qSiWC3Although the spell’s manifestation had failed, Dereck couldn’t help but wonder if he was nearing the point of using 3-star magic.bCPq
LNZ8SWith that in mind, a strange thunder began to rumble in Dereck’s chest.IY6eDuu
PTXh6Now seventeen years old, with about a year left until adulthood—was there any mage who had reached the threshold of 3-star magic at a time like this?BPti
Mv8mFEven if you searched the entire continent, there might be a few, but among commoners, there would be none.D8Jsl
3TwbW8His talent was more than sufficient, and his effort was tireless. Not a single day passed without magical training. It wasn’t strange for results to begin showing now.6W3
KAXHowever, he felt that something was still missing.nSi
GxTmkKHaving climbed so far as a mage, he felt just one step away from mastering 3-star magic.HtslwM
Q7sQdBThough there was a frustrating uncertainty about what exactly was lacking, he also felt genuine excitement that his efforts were finally bearing fruit. A mage’s ambition was unlike that of a commoner.V18
0K8aBw– CreakDcR0
PUtadHThat was when Dereck silently observed the palm of his hand.OPv5U
aFmCLate at night, when the tavern was quiet.t94Aj
3koSomeone entered the tavern, where only Dereck and Pheline remained.MSWKlu
aPon“Welcome. Sadly, we’re closing soon. But it’s fine if you’d like one last drink.”nXq
jZWVII“No problem. Give me your most popular drink—preferably liquor.”RT5A
UvLjH“Ha, our last customer of the day seems to know their spirits.”laaHc
Z0pzb0Closer to dawn than dusk.ekylheg
qJACDBLate at night, when the streets were still, one or two patrons would occasionally drop in to quench their thirst.19rFh9
uPPtThe cloaked customer who entered had an unclear face, but his voice sounded unmistakably old.48Kb5s
aYUEThough many seats were empty, he deliberately chose to sit beside the bar table where Dereck was seated.bcF
ZfUAs Pheline recounted the day’s heroics over mead, Dereck, quietly studying his hand, glanced sideways at the newcomer.OUpux
0SOThe man was weak. The arms visible beneath his cloak were not only thin but frail. It was a wonder he could even hold himself upright.NZ3qk
0HjjrThe wrinkles on his hands alone suggested he had lived at least half a century. People lived their lives in various ways, so it wasn’t unusual for an elderly man like him to show up at a tavern this late for a drink.Ils
upuziGrDereck, turning his attention away, closed his eyes again to sense the remaining magical energy in his body.FxZd3i
KzQIkx“There’s no need for anxiety or force when blocked. The essence of magic in the Savage Academy lies in following the natural flow.”EtKfL
ZhuThe man spoke with sincerity, unprompted. Dereck looked at him again, and Pheline turned with a confused look. Yet the man merely lowered his head and wrapped himself tighter in his cloak, falling silent.ymMFQm
OYe“Eh?”qsbdl
8bgiF4Dereck asked. The intent behind his question was, who are you and why are you saying this?I8wE
MdSrcSYBut the old man didn’t answer, instead silently pulling back his hood.6bieb
GWxWXuAt that moment, a faint shiver tickled Dereck’s spine. Leaving Pheline baffled, he had to forcibly restart the train of thought that had almost solidified.UKC
KBiAJh“Of course, I know full well how useless it is to tell mages to abandon ambition,” he said.w9SlH
aCl…k7pEDQu
51pLAA deeply wrinkled forehead. Short-cropped hair. Dull, cloudy eyes. Tight lips. Dry, cracked mouth. More like a walking corpse than a living person.hUOkDAw
nolIt looked like he had lived not just half a century, but more than a full century. Dereck could tell his remaining time was short.DWU
tGyv0– ClinkOsmo
4doM3HgJayden, who brought a drink from the kitchen, placed it in front of the old man.015dmv
6gOeWith a disdainful nod, the elder took a sip and said:DZQA1Ga
MASufb“Toblerone Mountain, is it? Its acidity is weaker than I expected.”M9sEz
F1V“Ah, you have a sharp palate, sir. But it’s hard to apply such high standards to stock this late at night.”CcP
4T7“It’s very good. If I were a bit younger, I’d drink myself under the table.”oaM
my1The old man then turned his gaze directly to Dereck and said:h2m5F
EPmj4R“You have talent in combat and disruption, but you seem to lack in summoning and exploration. Your magic capacity is excellent, but its flow isn’t fully open. Efficiency drops when magic flows to your extremities.”veeL6D
7buIc…vgzl
5FahMd“For your age, that’s quite impressive. But it seems you overthink your conjuring, boy.”y9wZ
aKyywuwPheline’s eyes widened in surprise. Dereck, too, listened quietly to the old man’s words.ZSCvhYd
K9FVxIt wasn’t that no one had ever gauged Dereck’s level at a glance. The Duke of Duplain had roughly estimated Dereck’s magical proficiency at their first meeting.Objxz
GJNpA 4-star exploration mage could generally assess someone’s level with just a glance. Of course, such mages were rare—even among famous noble families.W2pFfDQ
hqaddhHowever, the old man’s insight surpassed even that.X8ZyK
bw14ndS“A cautious temperament is useful for labyrinth exploration, but it’s different for conjuring. When applying the free-spirited magic of the Savage Academy, it’s better to be bolder.”SYyFJ
VSH“…May I ask your name?”8U3Mik
cjzCKz“Why ask what you already know?”12ap
2e6The old man knew Dereck had already guessed his identity.s3j0i
YG9dCombat, transformation, disruption, summoning, exploration. Excluding forbidden arts, these were the five main schools of magic.BiQ
XzIHumans had the habit of categorizing everything, no matter what.hGF
jmDBFtNWhen the top mages in each category debated who was the best in the world, high-ranking nobles endlessly discussed the topic.Lba
85OThere might be well-recognized figures, but there was rarely unanimous agreement. There was always someone offering a third opinion.CCqIxg
HNtkfBut when it came to the greatest exploration mage, no one dared dispute it.rX3I2
pNFHis unconventional background made it hard for anyone but the high nobility to recognize his true worth, but those who knew never argued otherwise.q2LL
X0ygJoy“WolfTail.”y5COBZP
nzdw0i2That was the name of the frail old man sipping beer in front of him. He could go wherever he wanted, and if he chose not to be found, he never would be. Thus, in noble society, he was called the Wandering Spirit.6gYSmPx
HwyCIndeed, his wise gaze felt almost ghostlike.G3m
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