Chapter 40: Spell (2)
bCJM2Aiselin was disappointed.6bOpgv
PTvWRSince returning home to Ebelstein, the servants had grown concerned at the constant gloom on her face, though she tried her best to force a smile.nn4
xKT36It was the first time someone had openly rejected her.AquU
50bUcN“Lady Aiselin, there’s nothing you can learn from me.”jrfKLyd
u4wIoUmDereck’s words were heavy with meaning.mDIx
46kp1xFYoung girls whose magical abilities hadn’t fully matured typically possessed infinite potential. However, Aiselin already had her own magical world.djD
n1cShe followed a growth curve modeled after the rule-based noble magic paradigm.HNyLZ
QAljlHrDereck, a wild-academy mage with unrestrained use of magical power, might even hinder her growth.Yi4IHiF
kDdQeAThough she agreed with Dereck’s assessment, she couldn’t accept it easily.gj4uHt
UA7PVr0‘Come to think of it, I’ve always walked the path of truth.’djR0
kQCGqU7She felt like she was staring at a bird outside its cage.fryQ
Zfz9It is said people yearn for what they lack. Aiselin—the girl who sparked envy in everyone—ironically envied what everyone else had: unrestrained freedom.FoZ6ytH
wOLYdGShe didn’t need to look far. Her own younger sister, Diella, was the epitome of that freedom.Jqm8vKE
ogXJThe young painter, who captured scenes of the world with carefree splashes of paint on canvas, used magic with the same freedom—just like Dereck.5fo7sIk
2hBzBorn into a noble family but having absorbed the ways of the wild academy in her magic use, she seemed to have moved into a realm out of Aiselin’s reach.iYoB
bSFW2bR‘I want to experience magic outside the system too…’hqPTxAZ
wpeWvpAiselin reflected inwardly, staring out the window. From her mansion atop the hill, the vast stretch of Ebelstein could be seen.bnXIlmg
UxoFrom the luxurious and majestic noble district to the places where commoners struggled to survive, and beyond the city walls, plains and granaries spread as far as the eye could see.NpNDs
QI5The world was so large, yet Aiselin could count on one hand the number of times she had ventured beyond her cradle.J1L
oMu3TZBeing born into the highest station prevented her from descending to lower places. That was the girl’s position.ApzWB
u1Qtym“A letter has arrived from the main house. Prince Valerian will hold his departure ceremony next week. Lord Raeg will accompany him, so it seems it will be quite the grand event.”1f3nOw
4Xg“Yes, I had already heard. It’s the first departure ceremony for Valerian’s younger brother, so I must prepare a good gift…”dAtd
8YKAfter hearing the news from the main house, Aiselin took a deep breath and tried to clear her tangled thoughts.pkXTo5
MLgS2IThe story of the eldest and second sons of the Duplain family, setting off to conquer the White Labyrinth north of their domain, had reached Ebelstein.I9hvzh
2JoPG4qThe Duke of Duplain had entrusted the long-anticipated pioneering project of the white region to his two most reliable sons.f7D5P
qmRBThe white region was filled with dangerous labyrinths. It was also believed to contain all kinds of undiscovered treasures. Rumors abounded, especially about relics related to ancient necromancy and the staff of Rosin, the five-star summoner, said to lie dormant within.Ctm5
hHSOGTHoping for good news from her two brothers, she considered selecting a good gift for their return.3NI
xlrv“I must visit the market. It’s an important gift, so I must see it and choose it myself.”bXl4
IaS3qOAiselin rose from her seat, gathering the hem of her pale blue dress.
She was far too busy to remain sitting in sorrow.Z8pwxsf
ZSIIZq3***FhC
4PGtf5“Isn’t that the Duplain family’s seal? Are you under the Duplains’ protection?”FOsQ
ur8d1nS“Not exactly protection… I’ve received a commission from that family. It’s a token of their gratitude.”QloCkve
vaVcDereck showed the shopkeeper in the noble district the seal he had received from Valerian.
He had some errands to run before heading to Denise’s mansion today.CPyv
idx“Since that’s Prince Valerian’s crest, you must’ve received it directly from him… I can show you exclusive items from the Duplain collection.”mD5rl
ftRNoble district of Ebelstein.N8Hb
X7UVD1RThe atmosphere was entirely different from the commoners’ market. Everywhere one stepped, antique carpets and curtains were the norm, the shops scented with fragrant candles, and the displayed goods always immaculate.Swnp
qnd8hBFood, magical equipment, armor, clothing, books—there wasn’t a speck of dust on anything.JSF8g0
G8OVwConsidering how much dust there was to clean in the commoners’ market, the difference was stark. It was in a corner of this market that the Duplain seal was shown. The shopkeeper’s eyes widened in surprise.JzEwNW
VKQkFxwThe man he had taken for a simple mercenary turned out to have ties to the Duplain family.ZKf1Fni
UejAyteMerchants lived and died by connections. If there was a chance to maintain even the slightest relationship with such a noble house, they were ready to offer anything.duc
u0arEbC“I want to buy some magical items. Do you also have wands or staves?”4nO1a
xaXr“We have many magical supplies, but of course, only the most expensive wands and staves. Can you afford items that even nobles purchase with heaps of gold?”QhcV1
FIZMRe5“Hmm… I need to see the prices first.”hlPdiG
BJYqkDereck followed the shopkeeper into a back room, seemingly reserved for VIPs. Even the items outside were of the highest quality, but the further inside they went, the more exclusive they became. It looked like the shopkeeper’s personal collection was also on display.oWIlQi
MjFn6K“Oho…”nMe5
doRyDereck’s eyes lit up as he entered the inner sanctum of the noble district shop.8I8qs2F
CQv1A cloak that enhanced magical flow, a potion that instantly restored mana, even a rare three-star spellbook—all on display. The merchant, proud of his trove, must have felt satisfied. As Dereck browsed with interest, the plump old shopkeeper smiled proudly.dPs0
xAk6Qpe“The Duke of Duplain has visited once or twice. He personally gave a generous evaluation of these valuable items. It’s hard to find treasures like these anywhere else.”e5XNP
atIv“How much is a wand or a staff?”1dbfNx
vFt1O3“We currently have only two for sale. ‘The Eye of Salas’ from the Alronde Academy in the Northern Continent, and ‘Andante’ from Drest Academy in the Southwest. One is a wand, the other a staff. Both are worth hundreds of gold coins—the price of a decent house.”Hko2
ktfluMagical weapons often had unique names, especially since renowned transmutation mages poured their heart and soul into creating them.WOcZ
JZOxLAlchemists and magical weapon makers—those who crafted elemental and mana stones—took great pride in their creations, often calling them “masterpieces.” Thus, famous transmutation mages gave distinctive names to their works.np9
m9pAlthough it was unfortunate to see great names attached to mediocre works, famous creations were long-discussed, enhancing the reputations of their makers.ydb9aIE
Fj9The most famous wand was “Dawn,” created by five-star transmutation mage Dalrock, and the most famous staff was “Light of the Empire,” crafted by six-star transmutation mage Cohella.ckY
UaNC7T“Dawn” was known to be in the possession of Lord Melverot of the North, and “Light of the Empire” belonged to Emperor Gertrel. Both were unattainable dreams.zIM
RwMPA“I’m not aiming for something of that caliber… but even the wands here are extremely expensive.”JWQIQ
xVofZMagical weapons were items best wielded by three-star mages or higher.UZn
HRIAlthough rare, those who sought them were formidable figures. It was no wonder the prices were astronomical.VfkK
kFr9x“I know they’re expensive, but seeing them in person, I just can’t muster the courage.”kcCL
EwBHDereck nodded repeatedly, silently gazing at the majestic wand. Having a magical weapon could lead to greater magical feats.AuEsl
Hx4Now that he had reached the threshold of three stars, Dereck felt a growing yearning for a magical weapon.xVl0dYg
kToD5Reflecting as he looked at the displayed weapons, Dereck left the shop—it was time for his next appointment.UYLyIeL
2Umx***3p7o
N5UCeetKnock, knock, knock.39otr
sKkjJ48Dereck walked briskly through the grounds of Denise’s estate, located at the outermost edge of Ebelstein’s noble district.BjTX
CUFThe private estate of a third-generation noble lady usually featured luxurious corridors. Ellen’s estate was so filled with artwork it was hard to tell if it was a residence or a museum.KyLuV
dFHW7SUHowever, Denise’s property turned out to be extremely simple. The room gave a strong impression of being equipped only with the essentials, reflecting the woman’s style of curbing unnecessary expenses.SADJVa
tlTDereck walked heavily through the corridor, followed by Bella, who wore a worried expression.acL
TM4WBella, the maid who had served Denise the longest, asked Dereck to slow down in a concerned tone, but he ignored her.TkSrzfT
7tsvLInstead, the estate’s servants were on high alert around Dereck. After all, he held a position of trust.0oiHv3
QX7NdnSDereck was a talent personally sought out and brought in by the Beltus family, who had asked him to join them.Gh9
NhR7Ne5He hadn’t been requested—he had been begged, and he had agreed. He didn’t need to pay attention to anyone.QDpg76i
RB3n1UEven Denise herself had gone to Raspah Cave, pleading with Dereck to teach her just once. That fact wouldn’t change, no matter what regrets came later.8tc
eG2H“It’s wise to maintain close relations with a third-generation noble family. Depending on how the future unfolds, some will fall drastically while others will rise.”kDfc
Tat“However, it’s not necessary to pledge total loyalty to just one place. It’s best to make them miss you by playing your cards well. That way, your value increases, and you gain widespread recognition.”wZIkV
bWBjThat was the advice given to him by his mentor, Drest Wolftail.WlTpi
xGvWhile carefully examining future implications, he advised Dereck, a mage of common birth, to interact with nobles, as he was very adept at their customs.uvm
gMi“If you don’t hate nobles too much, there’s nothing wrong with getting close to them.”y87
70lwEven the Duke of Duplain overlooked Dereck’s magical prowess. No matter how extraordinary a commoner’s magical achievements were, if they maintained good relations with noble families, they wouldn’t be treated as open enemies.OfD
h1DgC4AEspecially when it came to the three major noble families, the implications were significant. If you owed them something and became their benefactor, it was more likely they’d be powerful allies than future threats. Thus, if you wanted to expand your magical world, it was wise to maintain good relations with nobles.1zqYO
RdpHbIn the end, there was only one way for a common mage to reach higher realms without obstacles: to have a high-ranking noble sponsor, one even feared by other nobles.zx7
5GFMj3eDereck was already familiar with the Duplain and Belmierd families. Only the Beltus family remained.fw7AiGH
jyxHis insistence on teaching Lady Denise was largely due to this. But it wasn’t the only reason.6IP
3EDFEd7“I hate magic.”Hqa95i
nzl4tZqDenise had just begun to sense the threshold of magical discipline, regarding the deep world of magic merely as a tool for bored rulers to flaunt. Dereck found her perspective extremely distasteful.HFVCR
0RIAvDid that bruise his pride? If asked, Dereck would admit—yes, it did.TVZF
ltiYzArguing in front of someone immersed in magic all day that magic wasn’t anything special was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.Y7hDE9a
m4r6How many lifetimes had he lived to debate nihilism with someone whose worldview was so detached? The privilege of speaking on the futility of life and wasted time belonged to people like Drest, who had lived tumultuous lives.Yuw0yei
xfqbLCHaving experienced disappointment many times, he wanted to correct the girl’s cynical view of the world.hXBOd
lV2bzPoor Denise, unaware of the depth and beauty of magic. That was why Dereck now radiated a fiery determination for the first time in a long while.exHmft
7vyG“Walk with difficulty, walk with difficulty, walk with difficulty.”TMtp
CrdKG1SDereck boldly advanced toward the heart of Denise’s mansion, climbed the main hall’s central staircase, approached her bedroom—where she was probably still asleep—and knocked.oL92nNr
sohuxT“Lady Denise usually sleeps in during the mornings. She must still be deeply asleep…”vTEk
cXdnYX“I see.”hrXn
trwa4gClick.xx9
Kb2tcAnd Dereck, unbothered, opened the door and walked in.HzI9
4F6K3lThe sight of Denise sleeping deeply in the darkness behind heavy curtains immediately caught his eye.gHa5L
Rm0JL9zHer silver-gray hair spread out like a blanket, her breathing soft and steady, a half-finished romance novel beside her—she looked like a sleeping little bird.ZHD
cfIpZrSeeing her lips move slightly as if she were enjoying a pleasant dream, anyone could say she looked just like an ordinary girl her age.ZGls
D9DWithout hesitation, Dereck stepped in and shouted.wjs
htAOs“Wake up! Wake up! The sun is already high in the sky, my lady!”mEYaz
hlV“Kyaaak!”eWq11f
NTZQIf he wanted to turn Denise into a better person, he had to start by getting her up earlier.O5IFU
UGEUnfazed, Dereck raised his voice and entered the room, throwing open the heavy curtains.a0UOZcB
DvPBrilliant daylight mercilessly flooded Denise’s dark bedroom.IDe6q
7BpP4f“Kyahak! It’s blinding! What—what is this?!”1x2
LsY“Let’s clear out the stale air in the room and let the sun in this morning! Are we creatures of the dark?”OZi0
QlzQ“Dereck?! What is this?! Oh, it’s the weekend! There’s no need to go to the Rose Hall or any academic meetings!”CKS
EENCat“Yes, it’s the weekend. But the sun is already high—we can’t keep sleeping, right?”pbbExYo
moM8“Aren’t weekends for resting?”CioJEY
SFbBeDereck ignored Denise’s sharp tone.7lOFVtz
nmHuDpSWord had reached the Duke of Beltus, and his official permission letter had arrived. At this point, Dereck’s employer was no longer Denise—it was the Duke himself.g4qp4T
YiByUm“Yes. We should rest on weekends. I’m not saying we shouldn’t, Lady Denise.”SNUqah3
PcG“Then what are you saying?”XAEC
Ch9M“Even while resting, we should at least do the basics. Get some sun, wake up early to exercise, and complete basic tasks. Isn’t that refreshing?”pf34N90
Txj“…”DjBc
7ZaWJNu“Isn’t it just about doing the basics right? I may be working as your instructor, but I’m also human. As long as we stick to the basics, there’s no problem, right?”psYWsdu
C3TBUDenise already felt her mind fogging. The sun was high, but to her, it might as well have been midnight.NTIz4
ShGFor Denise, who usually spent weekends sleeping all day or reading romance novels, Dereck’s disciplined lifestyle was poison.Y6Aq0D
kH7fh5Z“Dereck, you work as a magic instructor, right? You can’t just dictate my life like this…!”zttH
esUV6do“Lady Denise. Do you know what the foundation of magic is? It starts with a healthy body and a healthy mind! I work as your magic instructor, and I’ll do anything for your magical progress!”j8Ns5
o1Zj“That logic, just patching it wherever you want, won’t work on me…!”ZqP41
Li6UBefore she could finish, Dereck placed the Duke’s letter on the table.TDmEL
iT9EFyShe had recommended him herself and he had been appointed as her instructor with the Duke’s official approval.jFS5i
ZnNXv0kWho had made the recommendation? Denise herself.jud
j6IHer face turned pale.QOSn
EYG“I’ll go over today’s schedule with you. First, get up and eat breakfast, then we’ll review your exploration magic level. You also need to train in elemental combat magic, so we’ll begin with basic mana training, and there’ll be physical training in the afternoon. Physical strength is the foundation of everything.”20k8sF
N4Ob“…You made a schedule?”7m8J
m3gG45l“When I do something, I do it right. The evening schedule is ready too—please take a look.”xDGx
S0bYj5DThe curriculum was so demanding that even the ambitious and diligent Ellen had felt exhausted by it.LDc
vUrSk9OOf course, he wouldn’t demand as rigorous a schedule from Denise as he had from Ellen, but to Denise, it already felt like the gates of hell.INNW4
5MdB“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to do all this alone. I’ll be with you, giving my all. Let’s strive together to become high-level mages. Having a steady rhythm beside you is great support, and I’ll show you how much that means.”9EAkYX3
cUkT“Dereck… I’m sorry… I was too pushy at Raspah Cave, wasn’t I? I’ve already apologized, but this time, I apologize sincerely. I respect your intentions and believe they are noble. So, would you accept my apology…?”pd4xkw
USJ“Apology? Why apologize? It’s not proper for a lady of the Beltus family to bow so easily to a commoner. Please act according to your status. A noble lady should always maintain her dignity.”P3x
1y2fDereck’s eyes were already filled with madness.QwP
DMx992uDenise realized—this boy wasn’t driven by a singular goal, like getting an apology or crushing her pride.KUh
BH5PE2HSuch concerns weren’t even on his mind. He was simply, purely doing his duty.1tGW
KKTdZXsAnd so, guided by Dereck’s hand, Denise left her room, finished breakfast, and began her magic training.B5on7
8WdjThere was no way to refuse. Dereck had been officially recognized and accepted as her instructor by the Duke of Beltus himself. Even the servants couldn’t stop him.H4to0
GQTThe boy, wrapped in his determination to properly recite the depth and wonder of magic, paid no mind to Denise’s face, which increasingly resembled that of a dying corpse.iX5
2b2sMpQ“Lady Denise, try to imagine the feeling of channeling your mana. It might be tiring, but if you practice all day, you’ll succeed a few times.”s0kJLZl
SAnlgaT“Today, we’ll run around the mansion gardens. Like I said, physical strength is the foundation of everything. Don’t worry, I’ll run with you. You won’t be alone.”UgaNxi
PdC8“Romance novels are fine, but it would be better to go over a book on the history of magicians over the next day or two. I’ll quiz you on the content in tomorrow’s lesson. Not too much, just the period from the Alant War to the Dawn War. I’ll show you which parts you need to memorize.”70T
jqZ“We’ll also start basic training in transformation magic tomorrow. It won’t be too hard. But since it involves a lot of repetition, you’ll need to stay focused for about three to four hours. Please make sure to sleep well tonight.”2iBi8gv
XDDBy the time she realized it, the sun had set and the moon had risen.2nv
jCE4nObviously, a full day had passed—but she had barely registered how.5Sdw
AOiwRbuDenise lay in bed, her entire body sore.Drs2KFt
gXjABella brought her a cup of herbal tea, known for its restorative effects, her face full of worry.cyWr
JKm“Bella… I can’t breathe…”aIjiLu
Yr1H6“Are you alright, Lady Denise? You should at least stretch before bed, or your muscles will be sore tomorrow.”NbgQp
yLffIXD“I can’t go on like this. Being in the sun all day… my body will burn away like smoke…”lcej
cnG7“Lady Denise…”gFzC3V4
1OeEMlGBella wanted to say that people didn’t die so easily, but fearing that would only make things worse, she quietly bowed her head.Xflk4o
bslzN“We have to get rid of that crazy magic instructor somehow. Even if it means going through documents… as soon as possible…”NJ2
A5VV“Well… as I said, since this matter has been reported to the Duke of Beltus, the authority to dismiss him now lies with His Grace.”28hqAy
fcjuS“Then I’ll have to appeal to Father…”LBUvrX
X4anNHi“….”yfvPB
i2N0EABella’s expression darkened. Denise felt she understood what that truly meant.mTRGzGV
PBxXraDereck was a talent highly sought after by the three great families. He was a prized acquisition secured by the Beltus family, and the Duke of Beltus would not let him go easily. He was sensitive to the tension between noble houses.eLcBKHb
JhiKILIf Dereck stirred up trouble or committed a crime, there might be grounds for dismissal.uyT8I1
8HfZIjBut Dereck, an upright man, only ever demanded what was healthy and proper.0qB
KxgThe most terrifying people in the world were those who told the truth—because you couldn’t refute them.akU2
q8GT9TQCreakk.8rVe8
MeTAHGQAt that moment, Dereck opened the door to Denise’s room again.bg2
mXLmI2QDespite having spent the entire day overseeing her magic and joining her in physical training, Dereck showed no sign of fatigue.u8jd
xJWCws***Y9kYmfJ
7UJMeanwhile, Denise was already half a corpse.9bhMuP
0VhAI“Lady Denise.”7yv33Db
f5LaR“Eek…! Wh-what now?! Why haven’t you left, it’s nighttime!”jV5J
WUUcDenise curled up on the bed, hugging her knees.mXrC
n9MMAShe trembled like a baby bird that had lost its mother.3jp
dB3w“Is there still more?! Haven’t I worked hard enough today…?!”gCjCl
HKa“Ah, of course, we’re done for today. It’s not good for your health to overdo it.”WObJ
rm3“Really…?”nT6VZ
SsncjnT“I’ll just go over tomorrow morning’s schedule and then return to my room. Before dawn tomorrow, we’ll begin working with mana infused with yin energy, so please wake before sunrise. Understanding its subtle nuances will be invaluable later.”ByupV
I5n“…”YId9SJ
rux4x“You don’t have to worry about oversleeping. I’ll come to wake you early. If you sleep now, you’ll get a solid five hours.”79zjBR
eYtyf2aDereck clenched his fist in encouragement.0Ansa
f9fvq“Let’s do our best tomorrow, too! Keep up the good work!”lrB
W7i4GQWith that burning determination, Dereck politely bid her goodnight and left for the day. Of course, with his iron endurance, he would be back again before dawn—so it was only a few hours’ break.2zo
Z2iC“…”rKu2vM
d0FGFavIt was already too late to fire him. The Duke of Beltus would never allow it.PdwHwbo
X1dGDzPShe should have realized earlier: while hiring him had been her decision, firing him was no longer within her control.YsO
gf2MoDenise wanted to die.GtgAtK
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