Chapter 75: People (2)
qg7krsFPshuk! Pshuk!hYq8
FE2Kwaak!fNrtt1j
xlEFThis is a story from when Dereck had not yet grown accustomed to the smell of monster blood.8sQ0nU
jgVyUVIt was when he had just started interacting with the group of mercenaries and was getting familiar with the ecology of the labyrinth by following Jayden.zGK
pVFSPThe intimidation caused by goblins, trolls, ogres, and other monstrous demi-humans was considerable, so many mercenaries who explored the labyrinth for the first time would tremble or be of no help at all in combat.XZz
9bInK6However, despite his young age, Dereck slit their throats and severed limbs without hesitation, showing the demeanor of a cold and ruthless mercenary.YQVRg
Sq9wEO1Jayden often admired Dereck’s attitude, even thinking that maybe he lacked human emotions.9C5Gg1F
Zf5pvfgCrackle, crackle, crackle.VVQlw
tnGAfter completing the expedition that day, Dereck, who was sitting at the camp tending the fire before returning to Ebelstein, showed no signs of exhaustion.Czj0
EbsIHe was, by nature, a complete mercenary. Jayden thought this as he watched him.jhd
9NJcuB“Dereck. You worked hard today.”ynp
iJY6“No. Just make sure to give me a fair share tomorrow when we get back to the taverns in the district.”yhCDht
gATrTq“Of course. By the way, aren’t you tired?”iC2t
pGZ“I can handle it. There’s no other job in the commercial district that pays this well, so I actually feel pretty good.”yIf
9YCiB8oThis was said by a boy who had yet to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony, after having massacred dozens of monsters in a single day. A sight that would make anyone unfamiliar with him shudder.P0wmq
6sHjThe harsh environment of life, like a long winter, sometimes created human beings like this boy.93hK47C
1q2xl54They had a human form, but there was a strange sense that something was missing in terms of humanity.bEaKU94
hOfJayden was a renowned mercenary who had fought on many battlefields and had made a name for himself even in the so-called “Dawn War.”Mpz
F73QJHaving spent so much time in brutal combat, he knew well how precious a child’s pure smile was.QI9pAY
kYfThat’s why seeing a boy who had already learned all the harshness of the battlefield at such a young age unsettled him.3T3D
iZ5lJayden sat across the fire. And with a warm, human laugh, he said:yjjm
GGEC“Dereck. You’re human.”0La
VbO7hQ“…”3Oo2L
jYsWyPV“As long as you live killing monsters like in a trance, there will come a time when you question your own humanity. When that happens, don’t forget to reflect on it.”tdUh3
HzmHCrackle, crackle.TM79LaE
fY8oDereck looked at him silently. Jayden smiled kindly, but there was a firm resolve in that smile.ErK5a9B
UM8vIt was advice born of experience. That old mercenary named Jayden had wandered the battlefield for a long time and had come to his own conclusions.Zav
1FnI“What’s the difference between humans and monsters?”mWNM6
4sBOmDd“…”cAffVL
8qnR“I’ve heard there are quite a few monsters that mimic humans. Most are simple tricks, so their habits or characteristics are quickly noticed… but they also say distinguishing between a human and a high-level monster can be very difficult.”6IAGyD6
AtbJayden quickly caught the meaning behind Dereck’s question.eyB
9l070The boy had already gone through the worries that troubled him. He was facing an anguish that most mercenaries only experienced much later in life.VtcmNQ
HH9e“You know the habits of monsters well, Dereck?”0R0v
uiaiHw“They kill humans.”leeZNJH
hJL“Yes. Monsters kill humans. It’s just their instinct. No different than humans eating to live, reproducing, or seeking pleasure. That’s why monsters must be eliminated, and mercenaries like us make a living from it.”LRmt1m
APt8utwJayden looked up at the sky. Many stars were visible.vyEWkpm
mqcComparing the number of monsters he had killed to the number of stars, it was hard to know which was greater.x5h
Yb9m9eWJayden’s life was steeped in blood to that extent.Y2R4ft
BdksB“It’s no different than exterminating pests. Just think of it that way and go on with your life.”HsoeHd
x366With a calm smile and his head lowered, Jayden quietly said that was the only conclusion he had come to.zCl0gi
Ja4Dereck had no intention of arguing.IR88
IvLxThe natural order implied that living beings harmed or killed others to survive.QMxR
Uu0uRIt was simply that kind of problem. He didn’t think he had to find a deeper meaning.uJG9iO
FKUP“You were recognized as a hero in the Dawn War, right?”qGdBcFc
4hYMQDereck asked.DMahW
GxN6KAlthough more than ten years had passed since the war ended, it was such a major event for the northern continent that it was still spoken of as if it had happened yesterday.QuZ1t5
DdL6iTo defeat the great demon Noir, humanity lost the six-star mage Kalimford. The only other six-star mage present on that battlefield, Melverot, was the one who finished off Noir and exterminated all the demon tribes, sealing the war with victory.H7T
I3EaqNJayden, who had been present at that horrifying scene, always showed a serious expression when recalling it. Even veteran mercenaries remembered it as hell, and the scars that war left on the north were immense.XFV
fpRPZjThe colossal figure of that monster, visible even beyond the horizon, was still remembered as a symbol of terror by all northern humans.nTG3Tuq
3NJm3cR“Even so, why are you working as a mercenary here in Ebelstein?”mEGl
TyNETS“Don’t mention it, Dereck. I refuse to return to a battlefield like that.”o6scmI
LIGHTFUJayden, with arms crossed, silently watched the fire.HFXWf
exg“Those who remember the madness of that battlefield consumed by Noir would think the same. Something like that… must never happen again.”MRf7
6S6QK***1kG
6nPfYDemon tribes possess a natural sense of smell.in8D
odpjh7It’s subtly different from humans and seems to pick up the peculiar scent of blood in those soaked in demon blood.5MK
HMWTc3When Dereck killed his first demon, he didn’t sense such a presence. When he had killed a hundred, he sometimes detected their fear.mJf
janAnd by the time he had killed a thousand, it became evident. They perceived the trace of demon blood soaked into Dereck’s body.3kBk4
yp215oOnly humans who had spent their entire lives massacring demons could emit such an intense presence.7NQ
PH4YCEvery time Dereck killed a member of the demon tribe, he could clearly see their eyes trembling before the final blow.InJg
CSjWhen hunted by the human they believed to be prey, they sensed the blood on Dereck and instinctively knew it was the end.0yWh7
t3XCtmIThe weaker the demon, the more evident it became. Some even wet themselves or preferred suicide.yqczF
e3KOf course, stronger demons resisted. Sometimes they injured Dereck or forced him to flee.0BhA
x9FZ3But younger demons, who hadn’t even spread their wings, often lost all strength just by sensing that smell on Dereck.OJkyX
Q3TzrThat’s why Derek had an intuition.CB9OeX
1n5Pr“Hic… Hic…”1lDZRN
tIKASeeing the trembling figure of Lady Siern in the snowy field as he approached, he felt she wasn’t merely a frightened human.s0UvV5
1VybOfThe way she manipulated magic was also completely different from the orthodox, systematic Lord Melverot. It was enough to cause a sense of unease.BRfk
IsnHSiern’s magic, impossible to define by the star-ranking system, leaned more toward an otherworldly existence than a human one.MZwyR
4JelHowever, intuition is not evidence. That’s why Dereck examined various records related to Lady Siern.S7xL
H1OStep, step.t14YD31
8fy8TDerek walked firmly through the luxurious hallway of the Rochester mansion. A drop of cold sweat ran down Aiselin’s cheek as she hurried after him.toF0
tSG6DReviewing the records left by the servants since Lady Siern’s childhood, he found many details that would be overlooked by others but were alarming to Dereck, an expert in demon tribes.qplLyZC
l4VwKilling servants without reason, running off into the snowy plains to hunt and kill beasts, learning magic at an abnormal pace… The reasons why so many high-ranking mages who tried to teach her ended up dead, injured, or quitting.OBcPAUf
91IThe insistence on keeping everything about Lady Siern secret.AkZb
JXyH2nwIt seemed all the puzzle pieces were falling into place. Once he organized his thoughts to that point, everything became clear.Z9va
6nxIt wasn’t just a matter of bad temper or lack of magical talent. Perhaps Siern Alaina Rochester was the most difficult person Dereck had ever had to teach.pky
6pgwDereck never worked for free. If there was risk, there had to be a corresponding reward. That’s how the world worked.MRLcA
2xC9FF“Dereck…!”NCz
beJWhile Dereck organized his thoughts, Aiselin quickly stepped in front of him to block his path.kpFq9
g3jk3“Dereck. Where are you going now?”xFym8Vq
Y4hyEiC“I’m going to Lord Melverot’s office. They say it’s in the main building beyond the tower, so I must walk diligently.”yNvX
xBLwO“And what are you going to say to Lord Melverot?”R4Gj
0BobDereck replied without changing expression.cb1
L2v“I intend to negotiate.”78815W
KsFhTXQ“…”cydGdD6
R4IRCyAiselin’s face tensed again. The young man before her was thinking of negotiating with a six-star mage.M09gBJy
ZmizThough Dereck seemed to be considering the situation, Aiselin couldn’t help but voice her concern.ZpvCxO
3Y2“Suppose your hypothesis is correct. If they really are hiding a demon tribe member in the mansion, raising her as a noble lady and turning a blind eye to the killings… just revealing that would be fatal.”uG3
Yp6Aiselin checked several times that no one was in the hallway, then lowered her voice.gdb7f
hzAf2B“If I were Lord Melverot, the first thing I’d think of would be silencing you.”bZJ
XJf“…”fodL4S
DVK“You said it yourself, right? If the power difference is too great, negotiations are meaningless. Even if we try to shake them with Lady Siern’s secret… we have no proof, and I don’t think they’ll be affected by something like that, Dereck.”WP8
kwqpGCAiselin continued, her face full of worry.R0pmy
sXaH“Many magic instructors who came to teach Lady Siern died, were injured, or resigned, right? Do you really think all that was just Lady Siern’s doing…?”UeXZek5
UgxShe spoke seriously. Those who tried to manipulate Lord Melverot’s secret likely met a terrible end without exception.vve
MwRUS“…”YMeIiv
SsmuBut Dereck shook his head.2kk7
LK4VvBWhat he intended wasn’t a threat, but a negotiation. And that was something entirely different.V8Ae1P
uDuThe Rochester mansion, in the northern region where snowstorms raged.iogZr
aCQSq2lIn the tower office, a six-star mage sat alone, gazing out the window with his chin resting elegantly.kdGf0M
WaYyDespite his immense power, he rarely left the barren land he ruled.6vGa
s97laC1“Those at the top of the magical world all have some defect. Old Drest is obsessed with wandering and has no interest in worldly affairs, and let’s not even mention a lunatic like Kohella.”E5o2t
87MP“And I’m not exactly normal either.”G4CpiQM
AEk9i3QThose were Melverot’s own words. There are no normal six-star mages.6AFMH
ojTpEven as he spoke so coldly, he didn’t exclude himself.3YhGsXI
rTKQThere he was, alone in these monster-infested lands, locking away a creature disguised as a human in his room, calling her daughter, and pushing expensive tutors to somehow socialize her.rGd
QvuqzThere had to be a reason for such madness.OWC
xW13FaNA reason not yet visible. That couldn’t be known. And even if there were someone who did know it, it could only be Melverot himself.6mSgQ
b7TFSBThat’s why, to resolve this situation, it was necessary to speak directly with Melverot.Q3cJtu
jfd***Udy5
CnTT“I heard you ran into Siern on your way to the mansion. It’s fortunate no serious accident occurred, but as her father, I must apologize. Do you now understand a bit more why I was so careful when selecting someone to care for my daughter?”bIPZXTD
Az1whL“Yes, Lord Melverot.”qcxpZXp
NkyHe had heard that residents of the North considered it normal to wait more than a month to be granted an audience with the lord of the Rochester mansion. Only people of very high rank could be given such an opportunity.EEmou
ktLSfHowever, Dereck and Aiselin were able to go straight to the office the moment they requested it through the butler. That demonstrated just how special the treatment was toward those teaching Siern.ySPDjE
GU2As soon as Dereck entered the grand office of the Rochester mansion, he saw Melverot seated in an elegant fur coat, resting his chin on his hand. He was an imposing, striking man, with silver hair flowing over his shoulders.EMtJy
R00OHe was still calmly reviewing the affairs of the territory.hAt
Yq6Melverot, sitting in a finely carved wooden chair, glanced sideways at Dereck. After observing his expression, he finally set aside the documents and leaned back.4tYZ
xfEHk“I understand your arrival was delayed due to a certain disturbance. So, how was meeting Siern? Do you think you’ll be able to teach her the manners of high society?”y4or3
eN7Bq“Of course. However, as you mentioned, it seems more difficult than I thought.”4ARp
WBQr6e“I understand. I’m not ignoring the difficulty of the task. I don’t intend to belittle your effort with a mediocre reward, but it seems there’s something you want.”AgcerC
RypDereck had considered taking some valuable magical artifacts stored by the Rochester family. They wouldn’t only help with his transformation magic training but would also be useful for his work as a mercenary.bxV
FLTJHowever, upon reconsidering, he felt the need to change his approach.hxoR9z
tqaCTaking a few magical artifacts wasn’t enough. He felt he needed to convey that idea to Lord Melverot.ytH
FJ2rUSo, Dereck knelt on one knee and bowed his head as he spoke.OidF
2Wa6“I know it’s an unreasonable request, but may I ask that you have all the guards leave the office?”vMHN5Rx
CTSKBkAt those words, Melverot’s brow furrowed slightly.GHsxe
B0O44That meant there was something he wanted to say that others must not hear.eCy4yk
ANk“Is there a reason to go that far?”COx
tyr“There’s only one thing I need to say.”JXw
gx71SyDereck lifted his gaze and spoke directly to Melverot.WopH
6mA“I don’t know if you’ve considered it, Lord Melverot, but I’ve spent my entire life killing monsters. I can say with confidence that I understand the ecology, habits, and behavior of monsters better than any magic master.”zuwt
sNtpMjIn truth, high-ranking magic masters, dressed in luxurious robes and reciting academic theories, often lacked practical knowledge of monsters.NiB
RvxfE8MHowever, Dereck, who had risen from the bottom with blood on his hands, was entirely different from them.OeJKJb
7FcgUL“If you wish, I can speak my mind here and now. But I find it hard to judge whether that would be the right thing to do.”OHvZVem
kp8a“That’s enough. Everyone, leave.”bTsY
D1cq1CHaving heard that much, Melverot gestured with his arm and ordered the guards to withdraw.h6i
G8HIt was uncomfortable to leave an armed foreign mercenary alone with their lord in a small room.yqB6i
pDVHowever, the guards hesitated only briefly before stepping out into the hall. The lord they served was none other than Melverot, a six-star mage.qX0xFTW
cu8p2Judging there would be no serious harm, they didn’t take long to leave. After the disturbance, the office fell silent.NLj2MF
KHYtVNcDereck, who had maintained a low posture, and Aiselin slowly stood up. Aiselin’s face clearly showed tension, but Dereck’s remained as calm as ever.yWaW
ETFx6hvHe was a person of extraordinary valor. Melverot could easily understand what kind of man he was.BWbHr
ADcFH4“Alright. Speak.”xbQp5q
YantKn“Is Lady Siern truly human?”gsfRy
3K8“You came here already knowing she isn’t, didn’t you?”P5uAq
OQHAUMelverot answered naturally, without any significant change in expression.MQK
Me3kAs Dereck silently watched him, Melverot let out a short laugh and continued.JHdtWj
ie6vV“Why? Do you think you accepted the wrong job?”eueY
hCr“May I ask why the other magic instructors resigned?”HkY3
kUXKZ“I dismissed all the mediocre ones who didn’t even notice Siern’s true nature.”HicrI
0pgd“And what happened to the ones who did?”fnLSZd
4czDereck asked directly. Aiselin, standing behind him, was sweating nervously.tG3Ls3v
U4k“There are only two outcomes. Either they begged to resign, or they tried to handle it to the end and met a terrible fate.”5txBCM
0NI“How many survived?”uSMli
vgl6f“It’s better if you don’t know.”uPp
ciqjDereck didn’t press further. From the beginning, there had been several strange aspects. He fully understood the moment he faced Siern.QIz5o
rpW3MdHer magical prowess was excessively high.scoHaWP
s2Xwk1FEven if she had inherited the best bloodline, it was unusual for someone her age, still not an adult, to already use three-star magic.qp1i
e14YJIIt was an achievement that made one question whether it was even possible within the human world. Even across the entire continent, you could count on one hand the number of mages who had reached such a level at her age.Z7bca
vHrWhat happiness it would be to have someone like her as a disciple. With that thought, many masters had approached her, but most seemed to meet an unfortunate end.CH7sc
qQMy2Siern Alaina Rochester was not a disciple just anyone could handle. That fact was already clear.gPtFwS1
vCnIxb“Seems a bit late for regrets. You’ve already arrived at my mansion in the north, so you can’t leave just because you feel like it. Do you think you can cross this vast, freezing field of snow alone?”kHOAi6
ZpdFrom the start, setting foot in that mansion was already part of Melverot’s plans.txQGpt
1LcXRfkOnce inside, one couldn’t leave without his permission. To emphasize it, Melverot’s eyes glinted once.0p9BGY
kACO2m“As you know, the North is full of monsters, and many suffer accidents while traveling across the harsh snowy fields. And monsters don’t distinguish between commoners and nobles, between ordinary people and mages.”bLKoNvi
XtRgsV“…”szCgCnS
Hi5“If you don’t want your name added to that list of victims, perhaps it would be better to give your all to this rather than regretting it.”PCUyAQ
COzbu06“I don’t regret it. In fact, Lord Melverot has found the right talent.”FVmI5RN
FHU“…?”LofxKz
utRsGedIt was an intimidating threat for anyone. When a mage who had reached six stars spoke so openly, most would succumb to fear or be swept up in the atmosphere.fXVcX
RGibrHowever, the young man named Dereck stood up with a satisfied smile. Melverot was momentarily surprised by that attitude but didn’t show it.nETS1j
jMa“Didn’t I tell you in our first conversation? It’s not an easy task, but it’s worth trying. But… the gold coins and magical tools you promised aren’t enough for me.”ViOdajL
5jMfu“Oh… so you came to negotiate your pay?”eluwkOZ
61DJG“It might be something deeper than that. Didn’t you say, Lord Melverot, that you knew better than anyone what I wanted?”HFh8E5
0J1Melverot observed Dereck’s expression with his chin resting on his hand. There was nothing crude in his confident demeanor. He was truly willing to take charge of Siern.cru
2IM0He didn’t even ask why Melverot was protecting a monster disguised as a human.4K0hL
DQWOf course, Melverot had no intention of answering, but he was surprised that Dereck didn’t even question it. He simply laid out what needed to be done with cold clarity.fM8MB0M
kNPpRGT“I’m a mage. Mages always dream of higher realms.”CnsW
fb3n1q“Yes. But even if someone from the bottom reaches out, the times will simply reject them.”CLRXa
0J9kgxu“Exactly. That’s why I need a weapon to resist that. If you help me, I’ll take all of Lord Melverot’s secrets to the grave and resolve the concerns regarding Lady Siern.”Q0cyezH
Y5IDaWhat supported his confident tone was the fact that he wasn’t a cheap worker. It’s common for a capable person to have ambition and desire. Melverot didn’t consider that disposition to be a flaw.atC
tQNhHowever, what the hell was he planning to ask for that made him show up to negotiate with a smile in a life-or-death situation? Even if a mere commoner made a grand demand, it would often amount to pocket change for Melverot, one of the Empire’s stars.QypYz
q48oCBYHearing what he wanted wasn’t that hard. So Melverot asked.H6qHtg
wx791P“Very well. What do you want?”cgzC
MLSfuI“Isn’t it obvious? If Lord Melverot wants me to keep quiet, you’ll have to put a muzzle on my mouth.”BwtaLwM
hY4M5tdAt Dereck’s response, Melverot’s expression hardened.5SC13V
eseQn“A title.”fcd51kz
eTdkxThere are no cheap but competent talents in the world. Although he knew that well, his opponent’s request went a few steps beyond what he expected.RYsxXa
Bhuvh“The rank doesn’t matter, but I need a title.”bgc
ScFHe had been born in the depths of the slums.eqDrCa
o4LA dark place where the rooftops of dilapidated buildings blocked the sunlight. Growing up in such a place trapped one’s vision and thoughts, forcing them to crawl forever along the muddy ground.juFFMAg
n0kFHowever, his eyes were truly fixed on the highest peaks of the magical world.GUeHp
8ILb“Even if it’s low-ranking, I must become a noble.”FuxmC
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