Chapter 39: Spell (1)
2Lh5[ List of Acquired Spells ]DVvLBMj
p76lsT✦ Combat Spells
★☆☆☆☆☆ Mana Arrow
★☆☆☆☆☆ Shockwave
★☆☆☆☆☆ Ice Spear
★☆☆☆☆☆ Fire Arrow
★☆☆☆☆☆ Full Power Manifestation
★★☆☆☆☆ Fireball
★★☆☆☆☆ Shadow Binding
★★☆☆☆☆ Large-Scale ShieldpRKACn
xoW✦ Transmutation Spells
★☆☆☆☆☆ Light Creation
★☆☆☆☆☆ Attribute Imbuement
★★☆☆☆☆ Earth Wall
★★☆☆☆☆ Crystallizationh9NHE
rZG✦ Illusion Spells
★☆☆☆☆☆ Acoustic Isolation
★☆☆☆☆☆ Illusion – Small Animal
★★☆☆☆☆ Hallucination
★★☆☆☆☆ ConfusionQNnG81Q
w8i✦ Summoning Spells
★☆☆☆☆☆ Summon – Guide FairyH0R3
kZlDhtY✦ Exploration Spells
★☆☆☆☆☆ Sense of Direction
★★☆☆☆☆ Clairvoyance
★★☆☆☆☆ Magic Detection
★★☆☆☆☆ Life DetectionVkpBXjC
1oTVJ1PDereck had learned the basics of combat spells from an old man.3ksooQo
jsxAnd he learned fitting illusion spells from a fallen noblewoman named Katia.uhNdZV2
n6vpThe influence of a mentor couldn’t be ignored. Even after that, Dereck continued mastering his own magic, but most of his accomplishments focused on advancing combat and illusion spells.IOgTojU
X60siHe diligently practiced the arts of transmutation, exploration, and summoning spells. However, no matter how hard he tried, there were times when progress felt stalled—like hitting an invisible wall.EMDc
TQEV“I feel like I’ve fully grasped the essence of exploration spells.”mCg2N7
pGg6iHow long had it been since he’d immersed himself in magic in this dark cave?oHXzS
hi2nEOne day, Drest Wolfetail said something rare—commenting first on Dereck’s magical abilities.RsDpl
x6az“…But I still feel a bit stuck.”SqMZaL
Bsz81“The rest is something the boy must master on his own.”6PTweb5
5CNoTHearing those words, Dereck felt a little disappointed.VGXaCLx
o0FHNOpportunities to be taught directly by a Six-Star Explorer Mage weren’t common. If given the chance, he wanted to learn as much as possible.wSqtPv
jzuAStill, he knew that having a good mentor was just as important as personal reflection and mastery in the study of magic.JYycK
7LI“If someone could discover all the truths of magic sitting in a cave corner, then every great wizard in the world would be a hermit, never leaving their rooms.”3hyj0
C0ynPg“I’ve heard there are quite a few like that.”ATF
TXy4“…Anyway, I think I’ve done everything I can on my part.”pIKE
tKUJDereck raised his palm, clenching and unclenching it several times before him. He closed his eyes tightly and once again felt the flow of magical power.0MZpt
Xcq2ZfRBy observing Drest Wolfetail’s spellcasting and trying to mimic it, he constantly measured that immense energy.5cuCG
jDCGathering the magic floating before his eyes into his chest, he released it into the world as if exhaling.1SiQl7x
sCgHe felt like part of his body was burning, while another part was freezing. The cold and heat fused within him, clashing and transforming into magical power.WxCrLjs
Ho4E0GHe had felt a similar sensation in the labyrinth recently.J3dNmu5
WDqThat strange dissonance, as if magical energy wasn’t moving according to his will.Iabt
7rp4LPThe unique struggle of a mage stepping into the next phase, unable to easily control such immense power.oVO9
997He had often felt that in the past, struggling to master the various exploration spells Drest possessed.cj89
rqXpIt was the repetition of days reaching beyond his current level, toward a realm that still wasn’t his.4uf
vNRdAgain and again, he suppressed the sensation of battling unruly magic.tvsB
7TsTv1bLike taming a wild beast, he controlled the feeling of the world’s wonders gathering and becoming untamable, gritting his teeth. Finally, he focused the magic at his fingertips on a single point.sE4Ecw
hi3gO9“…”vK6KQv
MsdAs if drawn by something, Dereck placed his hand on the cold stone floor and released the spell as his heart dictated.FytKSTZ
TXdTy–Whirr!L2fWQUs
FrtDWith great resolve and sincerity, he materialized his magic—but nothing changed around him.iHxhz
cj5qfwT“…”0M42
EkJ7KIt was a moment of emptiness that suddenly overtook him.MTsxh
i4ieO–Rumble, rumble!ztc
L9w–Crash!nIvUeI
ZKCK37A great vibration began to spread throughout the cave.gT2KXd
Bgrh1jThe impact wasn’t enough to shake the entire vast cavern, but it did overturn a large stretch of open ground.NgJCc9
3f3Q5HThe tremors grew increasingly intense, and some stalactites snapped and fell, while cracks began forming on the walls.KvIyZeQ
XyCpC–Rumble! Rumble! Crash!yRu
JbrMPBefore Dereck could grasp what was happening, Drest quickly cast a shield spell.XRT6kl
wBGVHTTWith telekinesis, he pushed Dereck away and swiftly moved toward the cave exit.GuJnT7T
1qhumZg–Swish! Bang! Crash!d4t53G
iyf5YAt the entrance of Raspah Cave
Dereck sat, staring at the collapsed entrance.dMjUos
VErRpThe tips of his fingers trembled from the magic drawn from the earth. Drest, standing with hands folded behind his back, laughed dryly. Dereck was almost of age for his coming-of-age ceremony. Yet the spell he had cast had completely destroyed the entrance to Raspah Cave.L7wVf
rTUgkp“Get up… Get up…”JlDlZ
32lJnJhSweating heavily, Dereck steadied his trembling hands and somehow managed to stand.8G2w
d0GHe was about to ask what had just happened when he felt an aftershock.FvHp
r1tow(Spell Acquired)lunV
lsDoHI‘Tectonic Disturbance’ – 3-Star Combat SpellWFQ1kCL
WdA0wvxDereck swallowed hard. To find an average mage who had learned a 3-star spell at his age, one would have to look into historical records or the biographies of great figures.HIN
OPTa4T0As usual, the old, saggy-skinned wizard placed his hand on Dereck’s shoulder from behind.UwNGc
zDHU42w“As I said, it seems there’s nothing more I can teach you right now.”VLq
U09x***y52
nJjiAWTThe stars were clearly visible.XAGdx
oWfLIt is said that Adelbert, who first conceived the spell hierarchy, was inspired by the stars that filled the sky.OeoQ5dz
nok7qDereck was sitting near the campfire at the entrance of the destroyed cave with Drest, reclining in the night’s darkness.Cs9Vc
vlzDereck looked at his palm with a confused expression.sH0Kv
Y1r0JBHe had just altered his surroundings.17J
T6KkOCfA 3-star spell. Among the nobility, spellcasters with 3-star spells are called “advanced mages,” recognized as those who have mastered a specific aspect of magic.TAoe
yQlHWhen news spread that a commoner had become a 3-star mage, even nobles had to respect the blood, sweat, and tears poured into the effort. Most 3-star mages born as commoners had dedicated their entire lives to magic.KRXI
U24qlCFHowever, there had never been a 3-star mage as young as Dereck. It was doubtful he would be met with admiration for it. The tangible proof of that sat across the fire—an old mage named Drest.Bu9eD
EKl0wfH“I’ve said it before, but as a common mage, you can’t survive on ordinary talent alone.”nBBDm5
HAZf“…”Fy31
yZd1svThough his words lacked emotion, the weight of years still filled Drest’s speech.ifZieiZ
TDoz9goDrest had lived as a common mage, sacrificing too much just to stay alive—and to surpass the nobles.hroH
bSX1“To be respected, you must be extraordinary. Rise so high they can’t reach you. It’s human nature to try to drag down anyone who seems within reach.”0N0
18vXqPf“And how big is someone like that?”ztK
Q32IeESIf Dereck, at his age, had mastered a 3-star spell, most mages would be left speechless in awe.ePK
VIuy6aYet Drest merely closed his eyes.IKnCvjX
q8mL8gIn the fight against the world, it could be a crushing victory or a crushing defeat.ztyykpo
Z7GSDrest looked at Dereck with a gaze clouded by time, a century’s worth of valor clearly reflected in his eyes.X6HCpQ
3scLLHe seemed to project a piece of his past onto the growing existence that was Dereck.SSQbS
aptpA2C“Judge it for yourself.”DEFSZo
PslgeZhWith that, Drest stood from his fragile body.fu0jM
hD5RQLs“Where are you going?”dNltv3
tlBs“Just to get some fresh air.”Wxwulqq
UEYPj“…”Vj6bQBB
v0P7EmSaying that, Drest waved his robe.ogLPz
LXJcLLnThe forest surrounding the cave was filled with the darkness of night. To some, this darkness might seem like an endless void.7Fa
POTFueDrest, now aged and at the twilight of his life, did not radiate the grandeur that flowed from the world’s most famous mages.4t7fHG0
uAWqEBeThough he was one of the greatest, he looked completely ordinary. His shoulders were small, his limbs as thin as dead branches, wrapped in a worn-out robe, nibbling on food meant for commoners.0jG
l2vHe lived simply—and would die simply.toqBp
7PNutWDereck knew Drest’s end would not be as dramatic as his reputation. After a tumultuous life, he would wander until he felt death, then return to a quiet village in the outskirts of Count Jebelon’s lands.6pEmE
6c0cIn that now remote and silent field, he would casually enter a house, sit in a worn chair, rest his chin on his hand.3Fols0
wg1DEAnd silently close his eyes, never to open them again. That’s how he lived and died.MNvuZ
tvwYsVU“The night air is still quite cold, Master. Please stay a little closer to the fire.”s2RktQ
OVUDereck said that.d33m
1kdj5RThen Drest paused for a moment and, as usual, showed no expression.o1T
aKDhAx“It’s fine.”Gb9E
Hprudp“…”pgUv8
6Y7“Be careful of Cohela.”Gud
JijxbGWith that cryptic warning thrown into the air, he melted quietly into the night. And Drest did not return.EeWXw
Ku2Dereck knew it would happen.f0GaTgG
6tBIn the place where the old man had gone, Dereck sat alone, poking the fire with a stick. The crackling intensified.lu39
lc8ARound and round, and in the end, as always, he sat alone.AmEMPe
WULHThe old beggar had done it, Katia had done it, Drest had done it… all the same. Those who embraced him like a cradle would surely leave one day.OxBd46M
ZMoOnce you realize that, you begin to understand that farewell is also a natural part of life.V4my
jTMRPIt was one of life’s many truths.FIGKDCi
WOapTht***tjV
jbtBHVAfter a long time, Dereck returned to his residence near Ebelstain’s commercial district.vFs
OlIwHe washed up, laundered all his clothes and mercenary gear.jG37
KgONxSharpened the rusted knife. Oiled it too.cHFo
PP9YbCleaned the dusty room, threw out all the spoiled food. Washed the blanket. Placed scented candles here and there around the room.ykYDg
KF2rSJfRepaired the worn door, discarded the old furniture and bought new ones.W4yQ
0w0He carefully trimmed his thick hair and shaved.qZ4EK
KT9RetHe pushed the spellbook Katia had left to the back of the drawer. He no longer needed that grimoire.FMiXeGt
l4wMDressed properly, he reviewed all the stacks of letters. From mercenary groups, from the three great families, from the Ebelstain headquarters, from employers seeking to hire Dereck directly. Many sought him out, but he responded to none.Sc92
At8JT68After putting the basics in order, he stepped out into the sunlit doorway. The rich aroma of bread from the bakery across the street hadn’t changed.50ePIfb
OKzJPfEEbelstain was still a city of a thousand faces.cX3qz
nSNRzagIt was Dereck’s home.i2eI
t4hw***81E
HYO3“We’ve received a message from that Dereck. He’s requested a meeting with His Grace, Duke Beltus. What should we do?”wJa
hxK0IIClerven, the head butler of the Beltus family, couldn’t help but feel puzzled while reporting this. How could a commoner ask to meet a great duke of a nation?33yee8G
oKXUadHHowever, Dereck was a successful magic instructor. Renowned instructors sometimes made their voices heard—even among the nobility.vPrF
lhGIn fact, Dereck had sent several letters to the Beltus family, inquiring about various conditions.jkP46
HRp“Has he finished his magical training? It seems he’s completed it.”SUd
Tnj9pdDereck had crushed the pride of Grand Duke Duplain, who had confidently declared that Dereck would definitely go to the Duplain family. That alone filled Duke Beltus with delight.6ZrSCk
Y9A195QNaturally, he showed a satisfied expression, pleased that Dereck had chosen the Beltus family over Duplain or Belmierd.FP7tmkP
3rJ2“Denise will be trained in magic, and given that her magical growth has been stagnant lately, this is a good opportunity. If he’s as competent as they say, he should yield significant results, right?”HTul
zwoaqk“There are widespread rumors that he’s achieved exceptional results working with the Duplain and Belmierd families.”90HN5J
TAYN“Exactly. Since it was Denise who persuaded him, and he’ll be instructing her, I’ll tell her to meet with him separately. There’s too much pressing work in the domain—so I’ll leave this matter in Denise’s hands.”5L39
6YuThus, Duke Beltus began writing a letter to send to Ebelstain, his quill dancing across the paper.9ja8
IghSeeing the satisfaction dripping from his face, the chief butler felt there was no need for concern.QKa
Hl84***cvT5M0o
v40n“The magic instructor is supposed to visit the mansion today.”pFHz
j268j“Eek…!”tJa
l7Z4PPAs usual, Denise, hiding in a corner, swallowed hard.NO1ZxV
aaqAfter returning home, Denise had quietly stayed in her room, slowly untangling her thoughts. She couldn’t understand the mindset of a magic instructor who had turned down Aiselin and Ellen, insisting on teaching her instead.8ak4XLh
5pniJqAfter considering several theories and possibilities, she even started to wonder if this decision was a form of punishment.P1tKGd
7oVROJ1After all, she had tried to manipulate the situation, feigning enthusiasm for magic she didn’t really care about. Some mages considered that an insult, so maybe her teacher was doing something to get back at her.09kxzU
giKL7How could a commoner harbor resentment toward a noblewoman of House Beltus? But he wasn’t just any commoner. He was a magic instructor desired by the three great families.NS6Bd1
MuwGPXoRealizing how peculiar her position was, she thought:eDTCs4Z
pPwL“If I, who’ve been accepted as a student by the legendary instructor who reformed Lady Diella, earned Ellen’s acknowledgment, and was chosen over Aiselin, don’t produce any results…”mUm
eCUhwoEven if he was just a mercenary from the slums, he was someone who had built such a reputation.nSkogQ
YOK1BIf no progress happened here, who would be blamed? Most likely, the blame would fall on her—for having a great master yet remaining stagnant.zwN
Wf84rShe didn’t think she would fall into such contradiction, but there was no available escape.hXsE
u7qOIA“Bella… I just want to lie down and do nothing… Can’t I just fire him as I please…?”iuo0
YBR“You know better than anyone—you don’t want to work… but the Grand Duke won’t stand for that…”Ymrn
NWV8tAfter splashing her face a few times, Denise finally got up. Staying like that wouldn’t solve anything.431VS
I0DDd***ABuJ
YwyrNx“Good morning. It’s been a long time since we last saw each other.”BsT1Y
DEFIn the noble district of Ebelstain, at Denise’s residence.mjZ
kRs1UORGuided by the servants, Dereck walked through the hallway.9ad
DdMIjHe approached, removed his cloak, and greeted Denise. As usual, his demeanor was brusque.nke
89DBWBut Denise could only stand there, eyes wide in disbelief. It was her first formal meeting with Dereck. Of course, she had first seen him from the stands of the combat training field, but the impression left by that brief encounter had long faded.BqFSDsQ
eonIn Denise’s mind, Dereck was a hermit, secluded in a remote cave no one visited, his face worn and hair unkempt, completely consumed by magic.xO3rz
2ba7FNow well-dressed and greeting her politely, she could barely recognize him.Rl12Wy0
dtgO4EL“Dereck…? Is that really you…?”rqQxv
wP2“Yes. I appreciate your help at Raspah Cave. The supplies you provided were very helpful.”Mphw
ZsYq“Oh, I didn’t know… you’re someone who observes formalities like that…?”Zy38
dNIRCzM“Huh?”iLxHYQ
DfgKpM7“…”7hTZz
tFjRHEven if Dereck’s status was unclear, he wouldn’t behave the same in the nearly deserted Raspah Cave as he would in the lands of a noble house.HSgSb
crNOf course, that was to be expected, but Denise found herself unable to adjust to Dereck’s transformation, her mind briefly stalling.MhB6pyH
tQGO5‘Now’s not the time to be confused. There are so many things I want to ask, so many intentions to convey.’2PLRQc
t7zurQkHe was the one buried in magical training in a cave’s corner. His magical power must have grown.AJ0GkNE
jOjZ8jODenise subtly gathered mana, materializing her detection spell in the corner of her eye. She intended to measure just how far his mana extended.FtdbVm
jkLX“…”tj6iKZ
yMOHowever, Dereck’s mana couldn’t be measured by Denise’s eyes. Whether the mana was too faint to perceive or he had learned how to conceal it from detection spells—uJS9l
7akIf he had such an ability, it meant his mana couldn’t be measured unless one belonged to a higher realm.RlMrlGo
33dWClearly, he was someone who saw broader horizons than Denise.0Rk9aqC
Oj2bSwallowing dryly, Denise spoke.xshX4zY
2fgE“You’ve traveled far. I heard you came to teach me magic?”a33
EoaKbr“Yes, that’s right.”xT1FrnB
4Qhm1Dereck wiped his hands several times, then showed a faint smile.QuqA
qm2NLW“I heard you’re quite disappointed in magic.”1r1FHS
KDBr“…”F2hvO
s3K“Honestly, wouldn’t that hurt your pride? To judge magic as good or bad without even glimpsing its domain is an insult to magic itself. After all, I’ve dedicated my life to it.”cmNUvF
m11qC“Perhaps I judged too hastily. I’m sorry. Are you satisfied now?”zhyjE
B07U“No. While I appreciate your selfless apology, don’t you find it unfortunate? Living only with disappointment and resentment toward something so wondrous. That won’t do.”Wyeugz7
ldbDenise met Dereck’s gaze. In his deep and captivating eyes, a strange, indescribable energy flowed.qHe
DlOIt seemed like endless seriousness, but there was a touch of madness behind it.oQznHls
mw93qwL‘Eek…’ATe
06NisDenise realized it. She had touched someone she shouldn’t have.g0Um
77LmBefore touching someone, one must first ensure they can handle that person. It was common sense, but the divide between commoners and nobles sometimes made people forget that.nPeM
eMPOUnfortunately, what’s done is done—that’s how the world works.Bz5Qt
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