Chapter 62: Drop of Blood (8)
lk4mGpvDiella, who had loved to play since she was little, used to throw a ball around by herself in the central garden of the mansion whenever she had the chance.Heyg6h
u0bP4KKWhen Valerian, working in his private study, saw her playing through the window, he would sometimes come down to the garden to ask how she was doing.wPRpVwW
LvPXLqzThe girl, who would often chase the ball as it rolled outside the garden, sometimes grew uneasy and stepped back when she ran into her older brother in a corner of the garden.PYmVU
KAxFor a child her age, that much older brother was more intimidating or uncomfortable than comforting—especially in a noble environment, where formalities abound.Df3dl
BqtMValerian wasn’t unaware of this, so he fully understood his younger sister’s distant attitude, never opening her heart to him. To Diella, Valerian was nothing more than a difficult-to-approach older brother.Zu6GGM
1J8fApThat’s why, even when Diella locked herself in the annex and behaved violently, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her. It was only recently, as her debut approached, that Diella began to exchange a few words with Valerian.WebmS
9tdHQWhen they passed each other in the hallway, she would lower her head and ask how he was, or during meals, she’d comment on the taste of the food. Even that was a significant step forward.mcXD9wC
tOJThe turning point behind all these changes was the visit of Dereck, the magic instructor, to the Duplain mansion.WL2t3Y
wgB3T1He changed Diella. Valerian once again felt grateful for that connection.rg14n
RkQ3— Diella?6KLk
3l51kOn one occasion, Valerian saw her from a distance, setting up an easel and contemplating in a corner of the garden.aKGA3L
GVQd1BDetermined to speak to his younger teenage sister, Valerian approached from behind and called her name, causing Diella to let out a hiccup. At that moment, the brush slipped from her hand and ruined the painting she was working on.YkE6J2F
o7XoNl— I-I’m sorry, Diella.LYI
Gqf— N-no, brother.”CQkga
Sb2v4jBAs he approached the easel, he saw that Diella had been painting her former magic teacher, who had once been a mercenary.MSDsj
0C0oWRThe portrait looked slightly idealized compared to the real person, but Diella didn’t seem to notice.aCKFY
gv3rKf— This is…mwR71Hb
97DIOA— Yes, I was painting my former teacher. I heard he’d be attending my debut ball. I thought of giving this to him as a gift…hUi2Wc8
0Mgsg11When Valerian silently observed Diella’s expression, she lowered her gaze, hiding her embarrassment. She seemed quite flustered that her family had discovered the painting she intended to give to someone special.helJ
QlmUnfortunately, the errant brushstroke had left a dark blue stain on the clothes of the man in the portrait. Valerian looked at her with regret, as though the carefully painted watercolor had been ruined because of him.Q4taSb
RGx9Tem— I’m sorry, Diella. I startled you… What will we do with this precious painting…?IAKP02
K6lVo— Oh, no, brother. It’s not a big deal.9YyL
k3r66XWith that, Diella continued moving her brush skillfully, layering various colors over the stain. After several strokes and some thoughtful touch-ups, the mistake had blended naturally into the shadows of the painting.IjSrk
VY3mValerian was impressed by how quickly she resolved it. He had always known of Diella’s artistic talent, but seeing it firsthand was more astonishing than he had imagined.b7t
iqL35p— A poorly made stroke can be covered with other colors and fixed by adjusting the tones.t7KoIE
iCRKOf— But doesn’t it feel different from what you initially planned? I thought the colors you wanted were brighter than these.981
MzHFKtz—It’s fine. After thinking about it, if I draw it too bright and cheerful, it doesn’t match the image… And it seems like I painted it with too much emotion… It’s a little… you know… like I’m the only one feeling excited…5AjK
s3tatN— ….BxQhy
8h3KC— And when you layer and keep painting like this, the direction changes, and a new painting emerges… That’s the magic of watercolor. That’s why I like it.QAlitV
2KuEValerian didn’t know much about art. But that little girl already seemed to have built her own artistic world.V0Xa
dD8FyX— Hmm, I like it. The arm’s a little thin, but… it’s good like that.NLO
SD7IbqtThe young artist, arms crossed as she observed the painting, finally smiled in satisfaction. She looked excited at the idea of giving the portrait to Dereck.Inp
iCwOn the canvas stood the figure of a tall man with white hair, dressed as a mercenary. He was the person who had influenced Diella’s life the most.gwLp
g2mPThat girl, who once acted like a tyrant and made all the servants tiptoe around her, only showed a gentle side when it came to the man in the painting.0anN
Or1seSeeing her like that, one could feel that the little girl who used to chase a ball around the garden had grown into a young lady.PIq
YWg5vBKAdmiring someone, developing a crush, wanting someone close… Experiencing those feelings helps us grow without realizing it.YFLreg
B7IcZ0Valerian smiled softly and looked at the canvas.JO4e8
W5rQThe man’s red eyes in the painting looked as if they were burning with fire.0UL6
VB3***ggOkXr
efvDereck’s red eyes burned like flames.1LSoLV8
qzaMrgClang!TC3o
6iTHEValerian swung his staff to block Dereck’s sharp sword.EOBxQ
KNzThe sword and staff clashed, locking in a standoff, testing each other’s strength.eQvcNqb
IhLDereck knew exactly what that staff in Valerian’s hands was. It was one of the most noble relics of the White Zone, a unique and rare weapon even across the continent.TUhub
lfZ31AcThough its value wasn’t initially recognized when discovered, Dereck had memorized all the famous artifacts.fH6NI
0i8dIt was a treasure hidden in the labyrinth by the Five-Star Necromancer Rozin.xoLlgbX
CZ5CTx4An object created to pass down his necromantic knowledge to future generations, and it possessed the power to enchant those who touched it.4V7LIEY
YM1uAll mages hunger for power. This staff whispered desires for growth into the ears of mages.UeCAz3w
zLjbbU6If Valerian had been the first to discover it and bring it to the mansion, he wouldn’t have escaped its temptation either.P1mkh1
YesNotWhoosh!rgOQ
o8FzA dark, ominous red magic began to gather around the staff.fAZnk
EiOQC3eDereck clicked his tongue and leapt back. He decided he had to keep his distance for now.GCmqn
qPF9SP“Did you kill Duke Duplain?”9mNH40s
5CJQPka“Yes. I killed him. If you murder a high-ranking mage and offer his soul in worship to the god of corpses, you can receive part of his power.”7tiayxp
qann“…”cTpM4RF
iesNpi“So I stabbed him in the heart with a ceremonial dagger. It all happened in an instant. While he was signing some documents with a quill during this year’s tax plan briefing, I approached my father and struck in a single blow.”7PUiWd
OeFDuke Duplain was a mage who had reached the level of five stars.4LXnU
Ko8fHowever, he would never have expected to be stabbed in the heart by his eldest son—his most trusted—right in the center of Duplain Mansion.NMcrbk
lTMAs always, he was focused on reviewing documents in his office. All it took was to walk up to him and stab him with a knife. The whole process lasted barely a second—almost absurd.SMM
SWslTrust is a heavy weapon. If you give it to the wrong person, you can lose your life in an instant.wsU2
GPdBtF“It was all my fault. Stupidly.”eMw
WzZValerian gently closed his eyes. The memories of the past remained vivid before him.iBHjTm
dY9The deepest part of the labyrinth, where many had been injured and bled. The day he first saw the staff he found there.PIUnM4
6IbQqiThe ominous sensation that ran down his spine when he held it for the first time.MSK5J
pdKThat strange sense of lethargy that churned in his chest. Even after returning to the mansion, he sometimes felt a chill at the back of his neck when falling asleep.NE7tZ
s0mIThe sinister feeling he had once dismissed as insignificant eventually took over his mind completely.oXK
cWlLike a disease with an incubation period, it suddenly engulfed his consciousness, and the skull of a long-dead necromancer perched on his shoulder and whispered in his ear.I5mOAG
awjhef‘Power. What is its value?’NgLJ
AswI‘How fleeting is death?’RQa
kuF265‘What is the right way to use someone’s life?’ed0
rJ11pBT‘Is it truly taboo to rule over soulless corpses?’wiO
dQ5XThe thoughts Rozin left behind whispered endlessly in Valerian’s ears.mYf4
eAMCConstantly urging him to consider what he had to sacrifice to become a great mage. In a distant vision, he glimpsed that forbidden world of taboos.6xg
1NuyAnd when he came to, he found himself before the scene of Duke Duplain slumped over his office desk. Among the scrolls and documents awaiting his signature, a blotch of the old lord’s blood spread across the table.f6QkN
ubFYjaThe old man, still clinging to life… trembled as he lifted his gaze toward his son.s2w
lmgfNAnd with lips barely moving, he seemed to say something. Valerian clearly heard his last words, but didn’t fully understand them.MseT
TzCyo0fWhen he finally regained full consciousness, all that remained before him was a cold, lifeless corpse.WWr4V
gGY2JIt was his father’s body.sRHRDY
3k8I7d6“T-this… what…?”m8B7
NnczlL9With trembling hands, he covered his face. His fingers were soaked in dark red blood.aEam
4ulwrSHe couldn’t even scream. The muffled sound struggling to escape his throat failed to form words. He still hadn’t processed what had happened.BFFu
wv5P1TqThud!fMS
IGId0At that moment, someone entered the office, pushing the door open.wZDE2
Pb33nThere weren’t many who could enter without even knocking. When he looked up, he saw an elderly sorceress in splendid royal attire.os428L3
FHIjIt was Kohella, the royal family’s chief magical advisor, a six-star transformation mage.N5d9P
WMYShe had arrived at Duke Duplain’s request to evaluate the staff. However, what she found upon entering with her two assistants was a horrifying murder scene.20sL
SjzUValerian, trembling and covered in blood, clutching the staff. And the Duke, lifeless, lying motionless.qis6
p2vFNr4For a moment, her eyes widened in shock, but she quickly narrowed them coldly as she grasped the situation.eaZ991
n3LcShe closed the door, locked it swiftly, and approached with determined steps. She knelt before the seated Valerian and said.jOm818X
hTLsmGI“Do not be alarmed, Prince Valerian. I believe I understand what has occurred.”cce1st
J1cc“T-this… I… I mean…”u3f5
cTGKr“It’s fine. Magic equipment imbued with thoughts sometimes causes these kinds of incidents. Now that this has happened, I can speak freely. I don’t harbor great hostility toward the field of magic persecuted for being taboo. In fact, I believe it should be actively studied.”hTdvc
99ZKdgEven in that situation, Kohella’s calm tone made her seem like a monster disguised as an old woman.NGy3w
mFsLLmSAnd her words were highly unusual. For a royal magical advisor to support the forbidden was enough to make any court official’s eyes widen.vFOSnQU
YJaxly“So don’t worry too much. Even though Prince Valerian made a mistake under the influence of hypnosis, it can still be remedied.”Ngaxn
3JqRTx“W-what… did you say…?”0SN6lf
HVadjG“I will use my transformation magic to preserve the Duke’s body. Meanwhile, you must prepare to cast the five-star necromancy spell: ‘Resurrection.’”BMZ
JP1If he sacrificed the Duke’s body, Valerian’s rank as a necromancer would increase considerably.YY9boun
gmSpcOf course, he wouldn’t become as powerful as the Duke, but he could reach a level equivalent to a four-star mage. If he pushed further and sacrificed other mages, he might even be able to revive the Duke.q1FUNk
BKDThe five-star necromancy spell ‘Resurrection’ is a magic that can revive a recently deceased human by sacrificing many corpses.c7T
FDvYHowever, the higher the rank of the person to be revived, the more sacrifices are required. To undo the death of Grand Duke Duplain, an absurd number of high-level mage corpses would be needed.7Hd9PI
y7RFirst, his own rank had to be raised, and then the necessary bodies gathered for the Grand Duke’s resurrection. And not just any corpses, but those of high-level mages.klNox
Un9sfmThat would require a massive massacre. It wasn’t a thought a sane mind could entertain.JG2
W7NFwulValerian looked at Kohella with trembling eyes. In the old mage’s gaze shone a twisted academic zeal and dangerous curiosity. It was a chance to demonstrate a five-star spell within forbidden necromancy.yGEszc
stZlThat boundless curiosity, having crossed the line into madness, proved that this mage was no longer in her right mind.zEF
K5Cy0Even so, Valerian, already cornered to the limit, couldn’t reject the whisper.kto
7BF‘Prince Valerian, please harden your heart.’l5GJ
bV7Suddenly, the smell of blood emanating from the corpse anchored him to reality.Qi17sp
TA8ecRValerian shuddered completely, feeling nauseated. After dry heaving, he tried to rise, supporting himself on the desk with trembling hands.XXd9fO
d5UThe staff in his hand seemed to whisper something. He couldn’t understand the exact words, but he clearly felt its intention to devour him again. That uncontrollable power would remain unleashed.CC1TJAN
P5sWK5ZIn the midst of that torrent of madness, Valerian repeated endlessly in his mind:zQmC2G
Kkoip‘I must gather up my mistakes.’kRv
VRXRlejEven as his entire consciousness was swept away, that blind goal was etched into his instincts and would not fade.WtrKAo
DoqF68nIn the murky current of necromantic power surrounding him, his reason dissolved. Seeing the vast necromantic energy radiating from the staff, Kohella’s eyes sparkled like stars.aoIf8
a02In that chaos, Valerian murmured again and again:xBjdk
FUsk“I must gather my mistakes.”jJc0gYx
neIyRb3***jsTEnmX
jssPaPjBang!L4C
85nThe crimson magic that had gathered in the grand main hall suddenly aimed at Dereck. He quickly dove under the banquet table.oBrxte
jSgEtWhoosh!iEd
1VJa2BRolling across the floor and emerging on the other side, a grotesque arm made of flesh burst from the wall and grabbed Dereck’s head.8Vs7S
IGi6Just as it was about to crush it, Dereck sliced the wrist with a swift sword strike.kWW6
zpgSlash!8pih3Hp
VIkMvjGAs the severed arm rolled across the floor, more arms began climbing up the walls. It looked like the entire mansion had been consumed by necromantic power.Bx6764
8fRWDereck’s judgment was swift. He conjured a fireball and blew out the outer wall of the hall.rTLmjgH
0DI4WBang! Crash!6lke
Ls7HWhoosh!X5OnQ
HfkGDIt was raining outside. When a part of the wall was destroyed and the stained glass shattered, the pouring rain swept into the grand hall.ft0
dUuDVSwoosh!KRQ
31sThe meticulously prepared banquet and the guests’ luxurious attire were instantly soaked, but there was no time to worry about that.oqzD
knyJust then, Dereck stood up to face Valerian.qNAA2aO
drKaValerian was already right in front of him.hlkuK
3AjWhack! Bang!V6HEp1
1RnValerian kicked Dereck hard. He was sent flying and crashed into the debris of the exterior wall.U2r
JHm94AThud! Rumble!yLKN
8AuzHA cloud of dust rose, but the howling wind and rain quickly cleared the view.NfM
plUDereck caught his breath, leaning against the collapsed remains of the wall. Rainwater drenched his body. Droplets streamed from his hair onto the floor.cIj2QmM
jZuNSHe ran both hands over his face as if washing it, then swept back his bangs.09yWVz3
o5eHis now fully visible face looked even more defined.lHCf1ZI
xPO‘Yeah…’9L7S
znRDereck was already high-level, but due to his origins as a commoner and his position as an instructor, he had rarely displayed his full power. There hadn’t been many chances.JlU
H7wq0IV‘His level is quite high. He’s no opponent to take lightly.’IuC5ZbV
Pz4Against an enemy wielding power equivalent to four stars, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.RJn
IElD05sWhen a bolt of lightning lit the sky, Dereck fixed his gaze on Valerian.3dLJBU
Hzn58E9That man, drenched in rain and staring at him, looked like a wolf about to pounce.oyBM
HM92NkThe moment Valerian furrowed his brow, Dereck vanished from sight.6VfbQ3
6T6g2DSwish!Qkw1I
BBjbYou had to react to sound, not sight. Valerian unsheathed his sword and swung left.ep8N
aPwJ4tPDereck’s dagger, held in a reverse grip, was already headed for that spot.A7z
GrgClang!Lvc0vD
yf9COne hand held the staff, the other a sword. Valerian wore solid armor.2t1t1
pt4qlDereck, on the other hand, wore light clothing and carried only a few blades. No one comes to a ball prepared for war.YAD5dr
DD92Yet, there was something special about his attacks.9wJrF
5nRWhether by physical force or raw magic, Dereck’s power was hard to comprehend.v5icbqH
HBCKQCrack, Thud!dsY
U6GbonInstead of pressing forward, Dereck rolled across the floor, picked up a stone, and hurled it at Valerian’s head.DPM22B
RQnlAValerian dodged swiftly, tilting his head, but then a spoon and fork from the table flew at him. As he deflected them with magic, Dereck used the moment to close the distance.rrQ3Y
r8a3kHe was within striking range.Trc
7xPAvValerian attempted to cast the two-star necromancy spell “Soul Absorption,” but Dereck’s figure vanished like smoke. It was an illusion. Valerian’s spell, with no target, slashed only air.F5upVC
93oWhoosh!BSa
tSp9MyValerian turned his head to locate him, but Dereck was already behind, tearing off a tablecloth.PGxcl
ezqapFood spilled, dishes shattered. The wall collapsed, and the wind and rain howled.p1V
SitVWhen Dereck threw the cloth, it opened in the wind, obscuring Valerian’s view.MRNJ1O
B9xdAs Valerian sliced it away, a magic arrow struck his armor from a blind spot.k8dwjD
ClkGKmBang!chhF
bquUOLv“Ugh…!”sxtm
fkhBYHe lost his balance and staggered back. Dereck didn’t miss the chance. He lowered his stance and slid under the flapping cloth, gathering mana.7w4kJS
V0Tet1aWas it illusion or reality?J336hN
MPY1XWhen Valerian tried to confirm, he found his feet stuck to the floor.sKe8v
gZILrhIt was the two-star combat spell “Shadow Bind.” Dereck already mastered multiple two-star spells simultaneously.1R5QR
Y2BzI2MFlash!gvI
UlzZtRealizing he was bound, Valerian knew it wasn’t an illusion. He raised his gauntleted arm to block the attack.MskEB
DjbRWhen Dereck’s blade struck the armor, it vanished again like smoke.zIT
ZxBn‘Even the bind was a distraction…?’FUJ48
wKyOZEQValerian’s eyes widened in surprise, still on guard. Dereck was already behind him.5kl26i
YBs4UWhoosh!Xsmt57
fFU5ZqADereck was a master of duels. The psychological warfare he practiced as a vagabond was more effective than that of any noble trained in formal combat.zcoIu
KZKnEWhen Valerian turned to locate him, Dereck already had him by the nape. A brutal electric shock surged through his body from Dereck’s hand.wfCO
48MophaCrackle!7Qo
027nmbA blow like that could knock someone unconscious instantly. Valerian’s vision flickered as if the whole world blinked.ZjvrFs
4QCqI2gClang!4Q53F
StkMJust before collapsing, he recovered consciousness through sheer willpower and slashed at Dereck.WBUYN
5t5n9TBut Dereck had already stepped back.Hn8
2NtmSlash!yyF
gYS6DSwoosh!nkF
IgCThe distance opened once more.Gc4qp
JEV4mValerian panted, and Dereck, covered in cuts, faced him again. Both were soaked by the rain still pouring through the shattered wall.SQpOJ
ySTP7rO“Huff… Huff…”1PeJk
id6ppuUAfter absorbing all the necromantic power, Valerian could wield high-level magic.pUbkN
NKDDfZHe thought he could easily crush Dereck, who was barely halfway through the second star, maybe brushing three.ntz
VFGBut that was a miscalculation. In pure magical duels, the stronger power usually wins.vQnexJ
OooBut Dereck’s strength wasn’t limited to magic. Before being a man with magical talent, he was a mercenary.AWJnzN
gPPDvYears of combat had taught him to use magic not as an ornament, but as a combat tool. Combined with the unpredictable style of the Wild Academy, his moves were impossible to predict.dGcMSx
O4IoAnd he hadn’t even used three-star magic yet.FRgPcw4
CCbBQU‘…’Rl4sEHP
p94He was facing a superior mage with still-maturing potential. Valerian couldn’t believe it.qewQfg
XVDBThis was the era of nobles. Those with magical talent belonged to high society, speaking of dignity and formality.uFtrS
y2xZUIt was unthinkable for someone from the bottom to rise by sheer will and talent.Xw86Mn
NYwLThat was the norm. But the world is vast, and time is long.qKYFB
W8GoyKOver the years, sometimes, people like him are born.aMCL
iYGDCSwoosh!jxQTu0
bUg6Under the torrential rain, Dereck’s red eyes glowed ominously. Valerian sensed it instinctively.6UlNwbf
grXpcMIf he let his guard down, he’d die in a single blow.0adZs9
YdlEhxValerian briefly closed his eyes, then opened them, gripping his sword’s hilt tightly.KTxScQ
hlDvt***VEufpL
Fi4jBeyond the rain, the outer wall of Duplain Mansion had collapsed.kfqtkm
PCBDiella, who had been silently staring out the carriage window, opened her eyes wide. The coachman and servant with her were equally stunned.4AYeI
0Z8The mansion, which should have been bustling with the sounds of a grand ball, was eerily quiet, with only corpse-like monsters roaming near the garden.nAcwPOi
YJoUThe coachman shouted something and tried to turn the horses around. They neighed and reared, spinning, while the maid began to tremble and sweat profusely.uRGdz
Ubm0sXIn the chaos, Diella’s gaze remained fixed on the half-destroyed Duplain Mansion.5vZU
5teIt felt as if all the sounds in the world had vanished, leaving only a hollow sensation echoing in her ears.gtrgx7
h2VpnFinally, Diella snapped out of it and shouted at the coachman to head straight for the mansion.smRuKLx
JUw1lxqThe coachman, hearing the command, looked terrified.YGq
tCHZkp7***Lje
iIJThud! Thud! Thud!xYcmLm
BF8A noise like something pounding echoed.QDU0
PSw3“Ugh, ugh…”ljfu8
bMmzAiselin awoke in a room deep within the guest quarters. It was the safest place amid the chaos.Dkma
kXU4Y6She had been knocked unconscious by a sudden attack from the head maid. Despite the confusion, Aiselin managed to sit up with difficulty.30AZwk
qK7She quickly realized something was terribly wrong in the mansion. The ball should be in full swing, but there was no sign of anyone.wWMcaPQ
WnPv11“W-what…? Why am I… here…? My body seems… fine…”m2llRpi
hcBBang!BgpNoO
0bfBang! Bang! Bang!pO2
HFS5Before Aiselin could gather her thoughts, the door began shaking from forceful pounding.nWCaLs
o9hdSStartled, Aiselin swallowed hard and looked for a place to hide in the room. But the small waiting room offered little space.y2hKQL4
SdKAs she tried to rise to do something, a surge of magic flared, and the doorknob broke as the door burst open.g69
AYczWBoom, bang!MPSK
Yfn“Eek!”2BitE
cgaewEAiselin immediately gathered her magic, ready to confront whoever had broken in.2Bh
CvxDgErHowever, the person who entered was a familiar girl.7uB8zQd
NIlE0“Ah… L-Lady Ellen?”5bH8w1
OCI4ovA girl with loose red hair.aQIKi
hS8ulCMEllen of House Belmierd scanned the room, entered quickly, and shut the door again.4SF9Z
MS7Ub“I finally found a survivor.”KEb6qnx
UU7OEven in such chaos, her calm demeanor was extraordinary.l4If
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