Chapter 77: People (4)
Efbm“Is there a significant labyrinth within the territory?”fbpbUl
IDdfNhThe next morning, while breakfast was being prepared, Dereck asked that sudden question to the head butler, Layton.xmycnd
KTaNVHe had come from the distant southwestern plains to teach Lady Siern as a magic instructor. And following Lord Melverot’s instructions to actively cooperate with any matter requiring assistance, Layton was answering even the most trivial questions.jtwmd
HnWW3“In the snowy fields of the north, it’s easier to find a place without a labyrinth. That’s partly why the monster tribes are so active here.”4s0D
eH8w6JK“I’d like to visit one personally. May I borrow a horse?”8KVHc
K9l“It wouldn’t be difficult, but I’m concerned you might get injured. It’s not that I doubt your abilities, but the monsters in the north tend to be fiercer and more brutal than those in the southwest.”lrP
AucLYIDereck was more or less aware of that.cBS2
oFVSks6The monsters he encountered on the way to the mansion were large and aggressive. Of course, the pinnacle of all of them was none other than Siern.CCSzKg5
T3AJ“It’s fine. Thank you for your concern. By the way, I’d like to ask another question, butler.”HRYH
nxw“To me? What would you like to know?”qvbER
u0zlws8“You’ve worked in the mansion for a long time, right? I have a few questions about Lord Melverot.”s0ndum
0AM***XnZXFc
VMbfxRsIn the northern continent, it was common for snow to fall even in the afternoon.vQVF
h0eDereck had already adapted quite well to the environment during his journey to the mansion, but the cold was something that subtly eroded mental fortitude.bPt5Wo
LkiLoMSitting in an armchair by the fireplace in the main hall, Dereck was silently organizing his thoughts.9N95dpE
m6pThe plan was already outlined.L26
UAYIf the teaching target was a member of the demon tribe, methods applicable to humans would hardly work. It was obvious.7rUNM
zvWWIf the killing impulse that surged in her was instinctive, it couldn’t be corrected with education or persuasion. The problem of instinct could only be solved by overriding it with another instinct.Edvd
uTFAnd Dereck was a human who knew better than anyone the instincts of the demon tribe.R2zOG1
ZkEeqi‘The plan itself won’t change much from the original. As decided from the beginning, we’ll use the “abused wife strategy”…’mPv
BsNHe had spent the entire night reviewing the work records of the servants in the tower, inquiring about Siern’s circumstances, and learning her routines and preferences.3fdkqQ
sNhGMoreover, he had tried to obtain as much information as possible about Melverot, the master of the mansion.nP2EBp
KYLcHowever, as expected, the servants weren’t going to sell out their lord’s secrets, so progress was slow.8gr
mEyPEven so, he finally came to a conclusion. In the end, it was best to go ahead with the original plan.eUW5Bhr
bhJoIwThere was no need to drag it out. Once the plan was set, it was best to resolve everything quickly and begin preparations to obtain the title.KUf5zk
W6mNevertheless, there was a problem.YAm
pqPKOA— Lord Dereck! If you keep controlling Lady Siern with violence…! I… I…! Even if I have to put the name of Duplain on the line…! I won’t just stand by and watch!F3NPF
jlSNThe image of Lady Aiselin stammering like a rusty machine came to mind, and Dereck rubbed his temples in deep regret. It was something that made him sigh.koBIX
3hxAiselin’s acting skills were at a hopeless level, which made it more difficult than expected for them to synchronize.W0y
hMS2JkHer noble bearing, which emanated naturally, was excellent for gaining people’s favor, but she seemed to have no talent for deceiving others.OtG1ou
SYG9KV‘Definitely… the plan needs to be reviewed…’fX5y5G
H5XFbDereck rested his chin on his hand and leaned back in the chair, pondering. Finally, he made a big decision and stood up from his seat.J4nTp
xBYHe walked purposefully down the hallway.xnV0O
LupNot much time had passed since his arrival at the northern Rochester mansion.WJvvrGh
JIuBut Dereck had no intention of staying long.Rtsc
3BUWhatever had to be done, the key was speed.TVkq
1KHQ***uWRr14
3l3lfVp“Lady Siern. You look lovely today. I was quite surprised by the intense snowstorm last night.”G3k7
0FVuNtAiselin greeted Siern with a radiant smile.NEodpD
4KN3tAfter breakfast, there was a refreshing feeling upon entering the hallway. Apparently, the servants had ventilated the area early in the morning.15f
PFwSiern was walking down the hallway escorted by the servants.iObWS
qV1dQJust by walking, she exuded visible tension, as if she was always on guard.c7q7
Vmv“…”Bf8nn
TmozuXw“Oh, that’s a dress from Atelier Calroin. The layered fabric at the waist is beautiful. Truly charming. The servants have a good eye for clothes. It’s a dress that suits Lady Siern perfectly.”XEoH5z2
TjDrw“…”71N3e
dbIRi“I heard they infuse the fabric with fragrance and even apply preservation magic. Indeed, Lady Siern has a scent that could only be found in a blooming garden. Not only her outward beauty, but also her fragrance and demeanor are worthy of admiration in a lady.”y7v
IGHitEAs soon as she saw Aiselin, Siern stepped back and began to sweat coldly.YCl
bQNgThese creatures are weaker in defense than in attack. Aiselin knew that detail well.8bAzu6e
70E1wvNEspecially she, with her appearance and elegance capable of melting anyone’s heart, and her pure nature like a blank canvas. The natural nobility that only someone raised as the only flower during the heyday of the Duplain family could have, made even those unfamiliar with social culture feel she was extraordinary.DmjyCVg
mRQZhUpon seeing her approach like a warm ray of sunlight, Siern took a few more steps back and shook her head.ysmE1
3UE“P-Please don’t worry about me! It’s just unnecessary interference!”oz45Dn
jgE0Leaving Aiselin behind, she activated her unique acceleration magic and vanished with a buzz.XGlb
kfiShe moved so fast that, despite the long hallway, she was almost invisible by the time she reached the end. Siern disappeared like a flash of lightning, leaving only the servants standing awkwardly.t4StL
1zvx3YjAiselin, watching her, clasped her hands with a sparkle in her eyes and said,XnnE
a4bpFV“Oh, she used honorifics. How lovely.”ADW
8NTJzIaHe was strong in his own way. Dereck, claiming he needed to prepare for the lessons, locked himself away for a while.bqei
CjmSometimes, Dereck would ride out to the labyrinth and return; other times, he shut himself in his room doing who knows what, or spent time researching the Rochester family’s background within the mansion.Fwd
rz0During that time, Aiselin, too restless to simply enjoy herself, did her utmost to get closer to Siern.111pC
go2JcIn doing so, she discovered that Siern also had her own charms and adorable traits. The more she uncovered her human side, the more she intensified her efforts to grow closer.pKw
htaPZEvery time they met, she greeted her with her best smile; if she had free time in the afternoon, she would prepare a beautiful floral arrangement and visit the tower; and if she found any treat, she didn’t hesitate to share it with her.4Wlxfn
8d3tzIt wasn’t easy to reject someone so genuinely dedicated.EBLC9W
JarogSiern tried to drive Aiselin away with shouts or threats, but a genuine smile was always the hardest to face.Aa533
NW1VaZNo matter how harshly she treated her, Aiselin, with her bright smile as if nothing had happened, persisted with a tenacity that bordered on terrifying.w5I
wWEZFw7Siern, still hiding in a corner of the tower, pondered how to scold Aiselin, who would surely come again that day.SRqVr
BszulVo‘Does she never get tired?’kgBcdsf
WP7wmOSeeing Aiselin appear with all sorts of gifts, Siern pursed her lips with inner contempt.fg9Wz8Y
mu7EBEven the famed lady of the Duplain family could be this frivolous and inconsistent. Thinking that, Aiselin’s smile seemed laughably light.MC3
a2kmQpJSiern didn’t easily open her heart to anyone.pSSRAco
I60Those with human form, no matter who they were, would die if one cut their carotid artery. That blood splattering everywhere was proof that all were the same.EWAPXm
ebqIAKnowing that truth better than anyone, she had begun to view humans as mere lumps of talking, moving flesh.Jhf
kU8TNo matter how much empathy one felt, humans could die suddenly on any given day. That was their fleeting nature.SAlX3l
JzXj5ORThat’s why she didn’t waste energy on unnecessary things. And that’s why she was isolated from the world.wKpZCe
IMaHIBd“There are some delicious fruits in the kitchen! I thought maybe you’d never tried them, so I brought some!”vdVha3e
ZPWrGXPAiselin, who approached with a radiant smile, seemed to Siern like a completely different kind of creature.XV2r
QYRsoeThat pure goodwill was something no one could imitate.lNOdm
w69q***903k
5uEtU“It’s time to get serious.”i25q
UF8yIt had already been nearly a week since Dereck and Aiselin arrived at the northern mansion.w2L
UNPjFEvery day, Aiselin tried to get closer to Siern—brushing her hair, recommending pretty dresses, talking during meals. Just as she was beginning to feel discouraged by the constant rejection, Dereck brought up the topic first.VmRm
osRrdN“Lady Aiselin, what do you think of Lady Siern? Do you detect any peculiar traits of the demon race?”t5sj
IAHL1“Hmm… Well, she has a huge emotional barrier, but she seemed like a fairly normal teenage girl to me. When I approached her sincerely, she seemed to open up little by little.”CbSx04
S4mcQvB“Really?”27tQh9p
2aN“Yes. Today, I even brushed her hair. Of course, the servants were holding her down, and she was glaring at me, grinding her teeth…”Rh7rs
tYbkUF“…”dh5XZcs
ZedINMkIt sounded more like trying to tame a beast than getting close to a person.3o1
3x8dSiern was the very image of elegance when calm. But as soon as someone approached, she would grind her teeth and growl… Dereck, who already had a poor impression of her, found it difficult even to maintain a conversation.DaINsRO
idKFXez“I expected many difficulties, since she was influenced by the great demon Noir, but I thought maybe there’d be a solution if we treated her as a person. She has an adorable side, so I want to get closer to her soon.”D9Qv
kMTzGN“I see…”5Fmt
YyOw“Sir Dereck, you said you were preparing for the lessons. You’ve been quite busy around the mansion lately. What have you been preparing?”bvw
olNKrnG“As I mentioned, I was trying to apply some knowledge about the demon race. I explored the labyrinth and brought something with me.”kmSX
CgIDereck took a small glass vial from his chest and placed it on the table.8BTSW
Wj6XUThe flickering firelight from the main hall reflected off the glass.Yby0N4
TSgNV“…What is this?”QGT4G
91Ab“It’s a mixture of water and the Flonen flower, which usually grows in high-level labyrinths. It took me some time to obtain it.”4qrN
YhJ“I see. Does it have any special effects? Maybe a calming effect if consumed…? Ideally something that wouldn’t harm Lady Siern…”nX1S8H
5yl2j“If consumed, it kills.”8oIhU
YjQAt that moment, Aiselin was speechless.NN9JD
eFuThinking she’d misheard, she tilted her head with a smile, but Dereck spoke again, as if confirming what he said.vtEW
fyEYwzD“The Flonen flower is a substance that weakens and slowly kills those of the demon race. It sometimes grows in labyrinths, but demons never approach it. If its scent is inhaled for a long time, the body starts to weaken bit by bit, and after about fifteen days of constant exposure, the victim enters a state close to death.”miT3Dw
eLdl“W-Why did you bring something like that?”sEH
LPD“Why do you think? I mixed it with aromatic water and used transformation magic to reduce its smell. If it’s blended into food, it won’t be very noticeable.”tNiHmb
NpZ“…Are you planning to weaken Lady Siern until she can’t resist?”CiM
6aCrCAiselin looked up with a worried expression. Trying to control her with a substance that was essentially poison for her kind seemed more than inhumane… it was ethically atrocious.7S7oeLW
PnEhHowever, Dereck shook his head.HczJLDA
n4F“If I truly wanted to take a halfway measure, there are plenty of methods other than poison.”24K7a2
advFUzZ“Then… why this?”qcpIht
d5mxR“As I said, it’s to take Lady Siern’s life.”aGNaa
UBy2Aiselin was utterly speechless. She looked at Dereck with a pale face. His expression remained firm and unchanging.RCKw
GRnR“W-What… what do you mean…”CEU5ug
iYsLa6“Lady Aiselin. After hearing all the details from Lord Melverot, I fell into deep agony. It took me time to reach a conclusion. Even though I didn’t show it outwardly, I struggled a lot after learning Lady Siern’s situation.”SffAG5
HHlOhDereck approached the fireplace in the hall, added a few logs, and brushed the snow off his pants.IRGf
tG5ItHThe melted snow slowly dripped down like water.osgfNJ
SNavBI“I’ve spent my life exterminating demons. To me, they’re no different from pests. They kill humans for no reason. Can such creatures be rehabilitated? And even if they could… should I be the one to do it?”ublsfB
xSElC“What… what are you saying… Dereck?”trb
1dyd“I’ve already made my decision. What good would it do to keep alive someone who inherited Noir’s power, who caused such disaster to humanity? That’s why… I plan to end it my way. It’s also for the greater good.”ejNLji1
pbLhk“But if you do that, you won’t be able to fulfill Lord Melverot’s request! You’ll lose your noble title. And if Melverot finds out the truth… he won’t leave you alone!”x5AVA
rDtmJDereck let out a slight laugh. He seemed confident in his words.JWdHkgK
GIi4aiB“What’s more important? My title or completely eradicating Noir, the one responsible for the northern massacre?”JCoxyIU
YeRI“…”ZB1t7w
evyyiXIThe greater good.7Fajtnq
hedAiselin was a person of impeccable morals. When someone like her was faced with a flawless cause for the greater good, she usually couldn’t object and simply fell silent.Zu9JqSS
6MGvDereck knew well how to handle people like Aiselin.WKZ
8soD“Why do you think I went to such trouble to prepare this poison? I told you, the demon affected by it will weaken little by little until they die. It will just look like she got sick and died naturally, not that we used any tricks.”9k4Mpq
TlKU“You’re saying… you’d go that far…?”qL0Hgs
vtZO“Do you despise me? But there’s nothing wrong with my actions.”B5j3Io
UwUh“But… Lady Siern… she’s innocent.”EhLx
K2oULph“She killed someone.”mhR
eDz“She was simply dragged along by Noir’s blood.”gpe
J5w1J“That doesn’t change the fact that she killed.”K2EEdzu
VWTrI5“But if we kill someone in return…”If8
lRWgt“We’re not killing people, we’re killing monsters.”QTzy63
Pr8There was no more conversation. Both Diella and Ellen and Denise agreed—Dereck was always right.fup
NDukBIn fact, there was no flaw in his words.eDU
x7RrbvxIf there was even the slightest chance that the great disaster called “the Dawn War” would return, it was sensible to eliminate Siern immediately.JnH7w
NnZ3gHowever, Siern’s image remained fixed in Aiselin’s mind. Sometimes, when she visited the tower, she found her sitting alone, hugging her knees, staring at the snowstorm through the window.BxMnv
2ZMFONLoneliness seemed a part of her body. Happiness was a foreign feeling, and unhappiness, her natural state.LtDGL
oY8t2ekShe had an arrogant personality and rough hands, but it seemed unfair to completely blame such a young girl.RvEr7
yXzfAfter all, she didn’t choose to be born with Noir’s blood. She was just born that way.UvRdgp
MM8Wasn’t it Dereck himself who used to say there were no bad girls in the world?sgQnR4
9GrQ2mThey just needed enough teaching.Tqr
dyvaThinking that her last days, spent alone in the tower, would end with her bedridden without even knowing why made Aiselin’s pupils tremble fiercely.Ewjj1XQ
aBiShe tried to say something to Dereck, but not a single word came out of her mouth. Seeing how firm he was, she understood that anything she said would be refuted with a solid argument.HqhA
YaQdbAnd solid arguments are invincible. They can’t be countered.N9RIX
NqItAiselin also agreed with Dereck’s way of thinking. The world should be lived by principles.zROfMv
cHYBut sometimes, that wasn’t enough to move the heart.rpobZ9j
VxR9fE“Even though life has no distinctions in value, there are times when we must distinguish its weight. The servants who suffered at Lady Siern’s hands were also someone’s family, weren’t they?”syEoGi
BcF21gT“…”bjw
NAVNRU“People are worth more than monsters.”Fqm
twSAiselin wiped her face and collapsed onto the reception room sofa. Her face was pale, but she couldn’t gather the strength to argue Dereck’s decision.I0Z7X6
Y4U“I’ll be going.”S1r
WjS4Dereck spoke firmly and left for his room, leaving Aiselin behind.t5dn1b
3PVaiEven just seeing his back, he seemed rigid and unshakable. He didn’t give the impression of intending to change his mind.IrZT9w
qWuHuVAiselin watched him go with tired eyes, biting her lip.cdUG
PIghI***zNJ
kDKgxWinter in the north is cruel. When the sun sets, blizzards naturally break out.5wZ8
L4UIn the southwest of the continent, where large cities like Ebelstein were located, the warm sun shone naturally, and walking among the noble houses made it feel as if one were in paradise.PBr450E
JNB9ibTSiern, upon hearing the merchants’ conversations, used to dream of those paradisiacal meadows.ZFVXDgP
g9xwdInstead of living a life treated like a monster and surrounded by the smell of blood, surely those who were treated as young ladies lived much happier lives.NAD
xQJThe reason someone like Aiselin could have such noble elegance must be because she had grown up in a place like that—a happy paradise.R93SG7
VGUStC3That’s why Siern envied Aiselin. She wanted to stop being dragged by inexplicable murderous impulses and be moved only by the light weight of a noble lady’s responsibilities.DXuSjW
kMz80‘How stupid.’sQkkip
zVIIn the end, Siern mocked herself. Reaching for an empty dream would only make her more miserable.XrE3zXq
rA3oXdSurely, she would end her life pathetically right there. A life stained by blood and murder.i7IL1
Fd1ydIf in the afterlife she could see a green meadow bathed in sunlight, that would be enough.c2X
tx1zIt was a reality she accepted so naturally that she didn’t even cry.nmM
AI0eoAs always, it was when she was sinking into darkness.PCh
C3sU3Creak.UIJQ
sPUSomeone opened the door and entered.etMos55
4j7HThe servants should have been standing guard, but she didn’t know how that person had managed to get in.vQx
J0RtThe figure that appeared in the room, cloaked in black and hiding their face, was none other than Aiselin, the very person she had just been thinking about.4dS
fKRCQu“What…?”UT7aO
60CDBefore Siern could express her surprise, Aiselin quickly raised her index finger to her lips. She had arrived in secret, without anyone knowing.jLwa
FNWvjD“I have something to tell you.”oYsOpn
xQlWithout even brushing the snowflakes off her shoulders and head, Aiselin looked at her with those clear eyes.uJa1
cKjdh“W-What…?”ijI7g
jWhrVY“Lady Siern. Listen to me carefully.”pLxZO3Y
erB6eAiselin swallowed hard and spoke.l3Yt2Br
2hi“Dereck wants to kill you. It’s not an empty threat—he’s completely serious.”c5v
55LSAt that moment, Siern’s eyes trembled even more violently.VIiDHqP
GgmQ5YOn the other hand, Aiselin’s face was somber.MEeq
d9F“Dereck… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry!! I still can’t accept that Lady Siern has to die in such an absurd way…”SWrI
Zudd0GnAn indescribable feeling of guilt and debt stirred in her chest. She felt dizzy, not knowing how to apologize to Dereck.Vbo4
O6QJvqEven though she was already crying inside, she still tried to do what she believed was right.T2hZMNW
zcmYWhat is it, after all, that defines a person? As long as that isn’t clear, a life should not be taken lightly.6istpE
iwDTThat’s the kind of person Aiselin was.JvTf6
Ilpl***lEpnQir
T4XYg3The moon, visible through the blizzard, still shone brightly.dZTa1
gnXnODereck was alone in his room, reading a magic book, when he suddenly looked out the window.SuPuo
bciHe saw a girl in a thick cloak moving through the snow, heading toward the tower.ifHoC
jESTwiYUpon confirming that her ebony-black hair fluttered in the wind and that her eyes remained just as clear, Dereck quickly closed the curtains.vXrpc
PDGThen he sat down with a satisfied smile.En9
T3g86After all, everything was in the palm of his hand.jDeVYE0
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