Chapter 53: Value (7)
woARQd‘Right now, Diella must be training.’CFJ
mr3A separate mansion had been prepared for Aiselin. Many flowers swayed in the wind among statues adorned with beautifully carved lilies on their pedestals.BKwPIhU
yEIHCreak.T05
C3InDAiselin, seated in the garden reading a book, suddenly nodded, her mind preoccupied with concern for her younger sister.79VNR46
o0m3rtiAlthough the magical duel with Denise was to take place at Diella’s mansion, the outcome would surely spread throughout the Rose Salon.J3amHqj
DTRx‘I just hope nothing serious happens… And that no unnecessary gossip comes of it…’w5ksV
aBwUComparing others was a social habit. Even when it meant nothing, people evaluated and contrasted, deciding who was better or worse.wTb
BYGBNkBeyond right or wrong, it was inevitable—and if one wanted attention, it was something they had to endure. Aiselin understood that well.HZwzfWK
LwaSHaving recently gained notoriety after entering Ebelstein’s social circles, she had become nearly synonymous with the face of the Rose Salon.ifgcA
UJON78iReceiving glances from noble ladies, becoming the subject of whispers, judgments, and comparisons—this was as natural as breathing. And the figures she was most often compared to, of course, were others equally prestigious and exceptional.Yoo
oE1PIf anyone could be mentioned in the same breath as Aiselin, it would be Ellen and Denise—the daughters of the three great noble families.qnbss
r4nlEllen was transparent both inside and out, but Denise was the complete opposite.NRSnMg
Oh9‘She always maintains the appearance of an elegant lady, but her true nature seems more indolent than expected…’V4Q
6nXNPeAiselin’s insight was sharp.OztAN
cUDIOccasionally, when they crossed paths in duel arenas or academic challenges, she had managed to glimpse Denise’s essence.vn0kc
weSyBSometimes, Denise’s gaze held disinterest, a clear sign of boredom with everything.p6UP
HOOLhEven her passions seemed driven only by necessity.2GpzQ
5Q5wPMost noble ladies were unaware of Denise’s background, but the perceptive Aiselin had discerned part of her true self through repeated encounters and careful observation.8DY8WF
Fm9No matter the situation, Denise just wanted to resolve it quickly and move on, and if the burden became too great, she would rather drop everything and live comfortably, armed with extraordinary survival instincts.lsa
8SJHShe had never wondered what would happen if Denise gave it her all.iAlhM
xqVznc“…”qk5U
B0uAiselin and Ellen had always defeated Denise in magical duels.ibutb
wRho5Since Denise wasn’t obsessed with winning or losing, once the spell exchange reached a certain intensity, she would simply surrender and end the match. Not only Aiselin and Ellen, who were relatively close to her, but no lady in the Rose Salon had ever seen Denise fight with everything she had.ZNS1o1G
eD0In other words, no one in the Rose Salon truly knew her full potential.pgixMG
yqbPIronically, that fact unsettled Aiselin.yLn
Waj9PxzWhen she saw Denise simultaneously conjure five first-level combat spells—Shockwave, Ice Lance, Magic Arrow, Rapid Freeze, and Thornbush—she couldn’t help but be amazed.GWrbI
hqjeDiella, furious, was trying to utterly shatter Denise’s magical defenses without holding back.5vJP
iFKwOIf one of them ended up seriously hurt, it could escalate into a conflict between families. That was something Aiselin would deal with when the time came. With that brutal thought in mind, Diella hurled spells as if she were pouring them out.K27
B00sjsr***Ryok
nQYXiagThough her momentum was as threatening as a tiger on the attack, Denise smirked mockingly and raised her left hand to form a magic circle.hwEMO7
KmR‘The mage women of the Duplain family certainly have strong personalities.’ke4i
PTiGrkDenise had already gathered information on the three great noble families.DRba30
uFfvgoCompared to Aiselin’s magic, which followed a well-structured path, Diella’s was free and wild.dXVy
JI2OtgThough she used seemingly ordinary first-level spells, the way Diella freely modified them made them difficult to deal with.TpnXyy
vY04However, Denise’s specialty was bringing order to chaos.KYhg8g
mE6When she observed closely, she could clearly see the patterns within scattered magic. No matter how free the style, personal habits and temperament would always show through.3rOah2
8SeADsBang!mnOv3XG
o6BHShe easily dodged the falling ice lances and the pillars rising from the ground.VvDi
57nEvading Diella’s magic wasn’t hard. But that didn’t mean defeating her was easy.KIm
8FpBoom! Boom! Boom!eo427M
cv6Ql5An overwhelming offensive power. The gap she created wasn’t something easily overcome.QycjEU
uptMDenise had an exceptional talent for handling magic with precision, but she wasn’t particularly skilled at defeating opponents through brute strength alone.KSid
5BcjShe simply sensed the opponent’s magic, dodged, exploited, and found openings.9FW8I
noUHer combat style resembled that of a swordswoman who had refined her technique to the limit.gqJN
xKv‘She’s clearly intent on giving me no chance to attack. Does she know this instinctively…?’Nbs0
KVNWhile Denise analyzed her opponent with calculated moves, Diella attacked like a natural disaster—wild and unrestrained.SlRhP1
QgMtToIf this were an academic duel, logic and reason would be key to victory, but in a magical duel, momentum and intuition weighed more.HtTGF
bv5In the end, this duel in the training hall was favorable terrain for Diella.LVir
dIwKSA‘Haa…’WCh
NUAoA competent strategist never walks into the enemy’s trap. If Denise had truly wanted to win, she wouldn’t have allowed things to reach this point.5CMB
0qnBut since her original plan was to lose, that’s how it had come to this. Now that things had changed, all she had to do was find a path to victory from here.EYgY
SuLqhwAmid the magical storm, Denise’s vision darkened for a moment, then lit up.9zYg
G20She understood the flow of thought, took in every detail as information, and meticulously observed the movements of her petite opponent.WGI3Tk
IK3xuTBTime slowed. For a moment, even sound disappeared.a4m7U
aYxHer heart pounded; her mind accelerated. She grasped every thread swaying from the frills of her dress, constructing the logic needed to defeat her.IRsDg7a
Aw77uiIn the seconds that Diella’s spells flew—I5WYB6f
Jy7SOShe saw Diella’s figure through the gaps between countless ice lances and magical arrows.lDyP6
d0gMFYcShe was small and delicate. With abundant blonde hair, marble-like skin, blue eyes like Denise’s, the habit of dragging her right foot slightly, inhaling deeply when casting, and clenching her left fist when launching ice lances.xvx
bbq38dH“Lady Denise.”n9BOtAm
chy7Cy“The ability to sense magic can be honed through repeated practice. But the eyes that perceive a person’s habits and essence before their spells—those cannot be taught. They come from experience.”boupkQP
jJDIrgHer sharp eyes followed the direction of the magic.FqCDqD1
WLEIyHer frilly dress was slightly oversized, her left arm moved awkwardly, and the black rose hairpin on her head sometimes blocked her view, making her shake her head now and then. When the stormy wind of her spells blew, she would firmly grip her skirt.LciIz
zXLco5From fingertips to toes, the girl named Diella had become information completely absorbed into Denise’s mind.jmh
2Nm“Lady Denise’s observational skill is a gift no one else can learn. Isn’t this an age where countless mercenaries risk their lives in labyrinths to sharpen their senses?”VavIcP
f3D9kcr“Don’t underestimate the value of that ability, Lady Denise.”sAWX
6L9NThe words of Dereck, repeated many times during their lessons, echoed in her ears, turning her gaze serious.t77
vMhmPzWhile many of her Beltus family peers only cared about family prestige, it was her mentor’s advice—someone who saw her true nature—that nurtured her talent.kDEa1y
IKyVR8Though his face always looked like he was chewing gravel, she engraved those words in her heart while pretending to be indifferent.lmA
WvQThud!I48w
NYVDiella’s spell hit and dust billowed—but Denise’s magic barriers did not activate.2SPjK
5vflBoom! Boom! Boom!hOqem
DcWJInstead, Denise’s magic began to radiate from within the dust cloud.kJ2FKK
tQCInstantly, a magical burst engulfed the area, sweeping the dust away in a blink.LQVz
ChJYWxrWith silver hair fluttering, Denise invoked the two-star tracking spell “Vigilance.”zQKB3
2ColkTvIt was the culmination of exploration magic, honed to perfection under Dereck’s tutelage.lcJxLS
gUABkDenise’s magic circle spread across the entire hall in an instant, dominating the space.R7Qg
zvJms“Oh!”5XDmB0s
HC9A spectacle of scattered stars appeared. Not only the servants but even Diella widened her eyes in surprise.Ctpu3CJ
xIQifZ7Denise was one of the three most respected ladies in the Rose Salon. Naturally, her magical skill was assumed to be considerable.tduwo
y2SB9XBut no one had expected her to be at the two-star level.vBgm8Y
MOBEven the renowned Aiselin had only recently mastered two-star spells and received praise for it.8w2y7c
i7aHYYet Denise had reached a comparable level—and had hidden it until now.L8YR6
c849msx“W-What is this…?”10EykF
D4em3Diella stared blankly at Denise emerging from the dust. Denise wasn’t in perfect condition.TjBFTJ
se7x5sHer skirt was torn, covered in dust, and the ribbon that tied her hair had come loose, lying on the floor.L27TZr
WygzHer face was stained with dirt, but most shocking was the line of blood running down her temple.dg6
1a7wZIt was hard to believe what she was seeing. Typically, magical duels between noble ladies always included high-level protective barriers.uLOYb
y8JUBecause no scratches or wounds were allowed on their bodies. But seeing Denise, it was clear the barriers hadn’t activated at all.HPRASX
mlDDiella’s eyes sharpened as she sensed the magical aura surrounding Denise’s body.6KE2
iy2mkHShe could clearly feel a powerful magic barrier. It must have been embedded in her jewelry, something not easily deactivated.jTKK
lXKBJOnly one possibility remained.jRsY7t2
J6Q‘She… deactivated her own barriers!’nYU
eSEzsAmid the dust, she had removed the enchanted jewelry and deactivated her barriers. The reason was clear. The duel’s result was determined by whether or not the opponent’s barriers activated.jYsEm
AT59MhJSince the rule was that a triggered barrier meant defeat, she deactivated hers momentarily when no one could see. And when visibility returned, she could resume the facade of having her barriers up.VjALl
SUAUThat action didn’t just exploit a loophole in the rules—it mocked them.CmH0Lan
WBUCNoUntil now, no one had avoided defeat in such a way. Of course, noble ladies were considered too precious, and even a minor injury could cause a scandal.7MHsMJ
HQYnKHow important was honor in a magical duel among nobles? Relying on tricks like this was unheard of.zaayJ
f5RThat’s why the idea of removing one’s jewelry to disable the barriers was unthinkable. But Denise wasn’t bound by convention. Even if there was no honor in winning this way, she had done it without hesitation, risking serious injury.za6m
2fOcyYThe reason was simple. It wasn’t just about honor. Her mentor Dereck’s fate hung in the balance of this duel.od6Mw
f1QC“An insect caught in the web.”jtzAx1W
SK3JjoWith blood trickling down her temple, Denise smiled slyly and activated a massive magic circle. What did it matter if it was a bit cowardly or underhanded? In the end, only victory mattered.hMoo7Kw
yFwIf Diella thought it was cowardly, she could do the same and deactivate her barriers.Ofji
unjIn fact, if she chose to, Diella could reveal her own barriers. But if the duel reached that stage, it would turn into a bloody brawl far beyond a legitimate magical contest.qhyBC
aNTTHbEven so, if it came to that, the servants would surely step in to stop it. That wasn’t a bad option, but Denise didn’t want to risk any further escalation.Bru8Zl
FWK5So she activated the two-star spell “Vigilance.”VMU4jRH
4dLIt hadn’t worked on Dereck, but against a fellow mage like Diella, it was completely different. Once caught in Denise’s magic circle, the world would be hers until her magic depleted or the circle faded.IjD
ou2R30Like a venomous spider’s web, there was no escape. As proof, Diella’s movements began to slow.4wZXwh5
e8uFkh***INuRtl5
WweXBG“W-What… what is this…?”ZhCC
RNnHRThe sensation of every part of her body being pierced by energy.6jk0yH
CPVEven the slightest movement of her fingers, the faintest tremble of her feet—everything seemed to be under Denise’s conscious perception. It was terrifying.mp9Yq7
MjhDShocked, Diella tried to summon an ice lance, but a magic arrow was already flying toward where it would have formed. The arrow had been launched before the lance even existed. The implications were massive.4HMl5
dAEIt meant Denise knew all of Diella’s actions seconds in advance.PDzIlq9
OBLh“Ah…!”ezk
77JLKFbNo matter what she did, the countermeasure was already underway. Denise’s eyes, focused to the extreme, were those of a huntress effortlessly capturing a clumsy beast.grktnjz
LVdFC“Haah… Haah…”l0SSAy
3jKTThe mistress of the web, crouched down to cast her spell, slowly rose to her feet. Her disheveled silver hair fell over her shoulders.G48C
kxYsHer gaze was that of a sinister creature approaching its pitiful, ensnared prey.AcCi
9iBABcDiella understood immediately. Within this circle, it was impossible to create any variable outside Denise’s expectations.EsRh
FDIESD6She had to escape the circle and use her wild, unpredictable magic to counter Denise’s advantage.SmrEYaq
bT6HF4JShe quickly looked around to assess the range of the spell.Xvgwp
OMnGWWS“…This is ridiculous.”FRJgxv
sD7KArUnfortunately, Denise’s magic circle covered the entire pavilion. Though she had learned the two-star spell “Vigilance” some time ago, its original range was only a few meters.xrGt5I
biUPBIBut after training with Dereck in the art of magical detection, her limits had expanded.mBw4
kcr5‘All mages trained by Dereck surpass their own limits.’cKlMuc
mfU7gShe’d heard that rumor in the salons. And Diella had overlooked the fact that Denise, too, was one of his students.8e3
mWl“What… is this…?”v66wc
eMVCtwNo matter how brilliant Diella’s talent was, she was still a rough gemstone.y00EQs
CCpfBut her opponent was already one of the most prestigious figures of the Rose Salon, and the top student of the greatest teacher Diella knew. Denise had always thought she could never match Aiselin, but in magical skill, she was already comparable.GH5For
YlieuVOnce Diella realized this gap, the duel was already over.sJAQ4iF
OxPHbYPBang!vdje0kn
Iyx7X“Ahhh!”WNghj
iIPBFZiA magic arrow slipped elegantly through a blind spot in Diella’s awareness and triggered her barriers.1PV
FkjWShe hadn’t even had time to react.xU19J
1FsYn1y“Ah!”HRu5P
TmFnIfDAs her protective barriers activated in an instant and enveloped her, her pupils finally dilated.OaryW3a
IHCIt was Diella’s defeat.oYQ
wflykV“…No, it can’t be…”sDyZMz1
BbM“How could she… reach such a level…?”gyiOVb9
s5fThe attendants who had witnessed the duel were drenched in sweat. They had known Denise’s magical level was high, but never imagined it was this high.fexf
NVk9CQIn the silence that followed, Denise calmly brushed the dust from her dress and spoke.LY7bIMD
7jv“It was a good duel.”ef6
br7SeCWDenise, regaining her elegance, smiled.EYPyZj
U29AUSilence lingered a moment longer. As the atmosphere slowly settled, Diella bit her lower lip hard.0YqLjGg
42sLTears welled in her sparkling eyes.5LQlb
VCX1DSuch was the world of competition.EMhcLr
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!