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Noble Lady Reformation Guide Chapter 79: People (6)

Chapter 79: People (6)

“Lady⁠⁠ Aiselin, I told‍‍‍ you. I’ll use​ any means necessary‍ to achieve my⁠‍‌ goal.”

“…”‍‍

“What‍​ is this? Why⁠⁠ did we come‍‍‌ all the way‍‍ to the North?⁠​‍ Weren’t we here​‍⁠ to cooperate and⁠ work well together?​⁠ But now, you’re‌ deceiving me, hindering‍‍ the plan, and⁠‍ wasting time. If​‌​ you keep doing‌‌‌ such unreasonable things,‍ I’ll have no⁠⁠​ choice but to​​ take a hard​‌​ stance.”

He‍⁠ was a reaper.‌

With‍‍ snow-white hair and​‌ crimson eyes peeking⁠⁠‍ through, he looked‌‌ like a monster‍‌‌ who had come‍‌ to claim someone’s​‌‌ life.

Even​ demons that sensed​ the scent of⁠‌⁠ blood on his‌‌ body—let alone ordinary‌ humans—were sometimes paralyzed‌ by fear.

Those‍‍‍ who do not⁠⁠‍ hesitate to take⁠⁠ lives emit an​ indescribable terror.

Dereck‌⁠ was one of‌ those people.

Bang!‍

Aiselin,‍‌‍ who had jumped​​⁠ to her feet,⁠⁠⁠ quickly placed Siern‍‍ behind her and⁠‍​ took a defensive⁠ stance.

Dereck‍‍ was now someone‍ harboring murderous intent‍ toward Siern.

Even​ if they tried⁠‍‍ to reason with‍⁠‍ him later, for‌ now it was⁠⁠ necessary to keep​​ Siern away from​​‍ him.

It​ was already clear​‌⁠ that Siern and‌​‌ Aiselin were conspiring​​ together.

Dereck‌⁠ wasn’t someone who‌​ got angry easily,‍‌⁠ but that didn’t‌ mean he didn’t​⁠ punish.

“No…‍‌ don’t come any‍‌ closer, Lord Dereck.”⁠⁠​

Dereck‌‌ raised both arms‍‍ and said:

“Please,​ don’t be so⁠‍ cautious with me.‌ How could a mere commoner like​⁠ myself harm the‌​ young lady of​ House Duplain?”

“…I⁠‍ know. Lord Dereck⁠‌ wouldn’t hurt me.⁠⁠⁠ But… just this​​ once, please consider⁠⁠ Lady Siern’s situation.”​‍⁠

“I’ve‌‍​ told you several​‍ times already. My‍ position won’t change.”‌

Siern’s⁠‍ whole body began⁠‌‌ to tremble. It‌ was a violent⁠ shiver, enough to‍‌⁠ make her teeth‍⁠​ chatter.

Dereck‍ had spent his⁠⁠ life slaying demons.‌‌ His very presence⁠​‌ was pure terror‌ to low-level demons.⁠⁠​

Just‍ sensing his murderous​⁠​ intent activated survival‍‍‍ instincts.

In⁠⁠⁠ fact, Siern felt​⁠ an overwhelming urge⁠ to smash the‌‍‌ window and flee​⁠‌ into the vast‍​ snowy field.

“Since⁠ we’ve come to‌⁠ this, I’ll have‍‌‍ to enforce my‍⁠​ will, even if‌ I must use⁠ force. If Miss‍ Aiselin won’t step‌​ aside, she may‌⁠ get hurt… or‌ even lose her⁠‍ life.”

“I-I​ am… the young‌‍‍ lady of the‍‍ Duplain duchy. Even⁠⁠‍ if our house​⁠ is in decline,‍ if you harm​⁠ me… Lord Dereck,‌⁠ you won’t be‍​‌ safe either… So‌ please… stop…”

Aiselin’s⁠⁠​ almost pleading expression‍​​ was etched into‌ Siern’s mind. She⁠‌ truly wanted to⁠ save Siern. Even​‍‍ if it meant‌‌​ confronting that terrifying​‌ being, she didn’t​‍ want Siern to​‍⁠ meet the same⁠⁠‌ fate as Diela.‌

Aiselin’s⁠‍​ will, blazing like​‍ molten lava, shone​‌ in her eyes.⁠‍ But their opponent‍‌ was a demon​‌⁠ who looked as‍⁠ though he had‌​ come straight from​‍ hell.

“Then​ Miss Aiselin will‍‍‍ also have to​‌​ be dragged into‌​⁠ this.”

“W-What?⁠⁠ If you do⁠ that…”

“Miss​⁠​ Aiselin. Haven’t you​ heard Lord Melverot’s‌ words? The North​ is infested with‌‍‌ demons, and many‌ people are attacked,‍‌​ with numerous victims.‍‌ It’s a place‌⁠⁠ with little human‍ traffic, so only‍ the heavens would​ know what happens‍‍ here.”

“Dereck…!‍‍ W-What are you​⁠‍ saying…?”

“The‌⁠‌ snow that falls‍‌⁠ on this frozen‍ field seems to‌​ cover the sins⁠ of any murderer‍⁠​ alike. And the‌‍ one who’s benefited‍ the most from‌ that is Lady‌ Siern, isn’t it?⁠ The very one‌⁠ you’ve been protecting,​‌ Miss Aiselin?”

Siern’s⁠​‍ eyes trembled violently.‌​‍ So did Aiselin’s.​​‌

“It’s⁠⁠ time to pay⁠‌ for those sins.‍​‌ Miss Aiselin, please⁠‍⁠ don’t defend that‍​​ vile murderer. Otherwise,‌​ the silence of​‍‍ the snowy field‍ won’t take just‍‍ one life, but⁠⁠ two.”

With‍​ that, Dereck pulled⁠‌‌ out a magic‍ staff from behind⁠ his back.

Dereck,​‌ who wielded a 4-star grade magical​​‍ weapon, could not​ be matched, even⁠​ if Aiselin and‌‌‍ Siern joined forces⁠⁠⁠ against him.

Since‌ defeating that madman‌​ wasn’t an option,‍ the most efficient⁠⁠ one was to⁠​​ run. Siern had​ extremely well-developed animal​ instincts.

Bang!‌‌ Crash!

Even​ before Dereck finished‍​‌ speaking, the spell⁠ was already complete.‍‍

The‌‍ magic from Siern’s‍​‌ hand shattered the‍⁠‌ window, and the​ curtains flapped as‍ the cold winter​ wind blew in.‌‌⁠

Whoosh!‍‍

Siern⁠⁠‍ ran quickly and​ jumped onto the​​‌ window frame with‍‌ fear-filled movements.

Her⁠⁠ frilled nightgown and⁠​‌ blue hair fluttered​‌​ in the wind.​ It was the‍ moment she tried‍ to flee into‌‌‍ the snowy field.​‍​

Looking‌ back, there stood​⁠​ Aiselin and Dereck.⁠‌

Siern‌​ couldn’t know what‌ Dereck would do​ to Aiselin, who⁠‍‌ had betrayed him.​ However, that wasn’t‌​⁠ her concern. Her‍​​ own survival was​⁠ what mattered.

Aiselin⁠‌ herself had said‌​ it. There was⁠‌ no need to‍‍​ worry about her‌​‍ or trust her.⁠ Any harm Dereck​​ might do to‌⁠ her was none​ of Siern’s business.​⁠

As⁠⁠ Siern clenched her‍‌ teeth and prepared⁠​‌ to jump out‌ the window, she​⁠​ locked eyes with‍ Aiselin.

Aiselin’s⁠ lips moved.

Run.‌‍​ Quickly.

As​​‌ soon as she⁠⁠​ understood what she‌‌‌ meant, Siern instinctively​⁠​ activated acceleration magic.‍​ Just as she‍⁠​ was about to‌ run alone into‍ the snowy field,⁠ she darted back‍‌‌ into the room‌‌ and grabbed Aiselin’s‌‍‍ arm.

Thud!‍​

Siern‌​‌ was a master⁠‌‍ of transformation magic.​⁠ She knew how‌⁠ to temporarily reduce‌ the weight of‍ objects, adjust inertia,‌‍⁠ or accelerate them.​‌‌

The​ moment she grabbed​ Aiselin, she launched‌⁠ them both into⁠ the snowy field.‌

Thud!‍‍⁠ Thud!

Thud!‌​

She’d​‍⁠ think about the‌​‌ consequences later. For‍‍ now, what mattered‌ was escaping Dereck’s‌‌ reach.

Drawing‍⁠​ a long arc​‍​ in the night​‍ sky, the two⁠ girls barely landed⁠‍‌ in the snowfield‍​⁠ in front of‍ the mansion.

Thud,⁠​​ thud!

“Eek!”‍‌

With‌‌ a small cry,​​ Aiselin barely managed‌‍‍ to roll on​⁠⁠ the snow-covered ground.‌‍

Siern⁠‍ also rolled several​​⁠ times through the‌‌​ snow before regaining⁠​ her balance. In‌​⁠ the distance, they‌ could see the‌⁠‌ tower from which​‍‍ they had escaped.‌⁠

For‍‍⁠ such a short‍‍‍ escape, they had⁠⁠⁠ covered a fair‌⁠​ distance.

Her‌​ magic energy was‌​ almost depleted after​‌ using transformation magic‌ while carrying Aiselin,‍⁠ but there was​‌ no time for‍​‌ regrets.

“We‍​‌ have to run!‍‌‌ Now! That man⁠​​ uses strange magic⁠ to detect where‌ I go every‌‌⁠ time I use​‌ acceleration magic.”

Indeed,‌‌ Dereck, who had‍​ appeared at the‌‌⁠ shattered window, was⁠​‌ looking directly at​‍⁠ Siern.

Upon‌‍ seeing those red‍⁠ eyes, it was‌‌‍ hard to tell⁠⁠ who the real⁠ killer was.

If⁠⁠ a killer is‍⁠​ someone harboring the​​ intent to kill,‌​ then regardless of‍⁠ what anyone said,‍ that man was​⁠⁠ one too.

Even​ if she didn’t​⁠ care what happened‍ to herself, the⁠​‍ thought that Aiselin—who⁠ was innocent—might get​‍‌ dragged in and‌ die left a bitter taste.

Siern‌‌‍ took Aiselin’s wrist⁠ and ran across⁠⁠​ the snowy field.​‍‌ They had to‍​​ lose him before⁠ he closed the‌⁠​ distance further.

However,⁠‍ Aiselin couldn’t keep⁠​ up. Looking more​⁠ closely, she was‌ wearing indoor slippers.​​‍

“…You…”‌⁠

“Go⁠​ ahead, Lady Siern.‍‌‌ If Lord Dereck⁠‌‌ catches up to⁠‍‍ us, I’ll try‍‍ to sincerely persuade​‌‍ him again.”

“What⁠​ kind of stupidity​ is that!? Didn’t‍​⁠ you see that⁠​ man!? Do you‍​⁠ really think he‍⁠‍ can be persuaded!?⁠‌ Why do you⁠‌⁠ always think about‍ others even after⁠ being struck again‌‍ and again!? You’re‌ so frustrating…!”

“I‌ can’t keep up⁠​‍ with you anyway,​ Lady Siern.”

Siern⁠‍‌ was used to⁠ running barefoot across‌⁠​ the snowy field‍‌ while casting various⁠‍ transformation spells, but⁠⁠‍ Aiselin wasn’t.

In‌​​ fact, Aiselin’s feet​ were swollen and‌‌ red from the‍ cold and injuries.‍

Siern’s‌‌​ expression twisted. There⁠‍⁠ were only two‌‌ options—leave her behind⁠‍ or stay.

Aiselin‍ asked her to‍‍‌ run. She kept​‍ saying those frustrating⁠‌ things about trying​⁠ to understand that‌​⁠ uncontrollable monster.

It⁠⁠ was impossible to‍ understand what made‍‍ this girl trust‌⁠⁠ Dereck so much.‌‌⁠

Staying​⁠ here would be⁠‌ a useless death.⁠⁠

However,⁠ Siern’s steps wouldn’t‍ move easily. The⁠​⁠ thought of leaving‍⁠ Aiselin behind was⁠‌‍ hard to accept.‌⁠

It‍ was truly strange.​

Even​​‌ though she had​‌​ said again and⁠‌ again that she⁠ didn’t trust Aiselin,⁠ the girl’s unwavering​ expression, full of⁠‍ sincere trust, kept‍‍ coming to her​ mind.

Even‍​ in that faltering⁠‍ state, the noble‌⁠​ appearance of the​ girl, holding firm⁠‌‌ to her resolve,​ inspired admiration.

And‌‍‍ then, a possibility‌ arose. All those‍‌​ who had called‍‌‌ Siern a monster,‌‌ trembling in fear​⁠ at the thought‌‌​ that she might‌ kill them at‌⁠​ any moment…

Those‌ who pointed at​‌⁠ her and abandoned⁠ her—perhaps they were⁠ fundamentally different from‌​ this girl.

This​ time, it might⁠​ really be different.‍‌‌ Maybe this elegant⁠‌⁠ and dignified girl​​⁠ would embrace her​⁠​ like the warm​​​ sun.

Even⁠​‍ with those thoughts,‌ what filled her‌⁠ mind were the⁠‌ corpses of wolves‌​ drenched in blood.⁠‌

When‌‍‌ she came to‍‌⁠ her senses, she⁠‌ was in the‌‍ middle of the​⁠‌ snowy field, having‌ killed beasts and‌‍ monsters, staring at‌‍⁠ the sky without‍⁠ any emotional disturbance.‍⁠

Sometimes,‍ humans also became​⁠​ the target of‍ that murderous instinct.‌⁠‌

Just⁠​ kill. That was⁠ all. The impulse​⁠​ to murder, arising‍‌ without reason, chose⁠ no victims.

That’s‍ why Dereck was​⁠‌ right.

It‌​ was beneficial to​‌ the world for⁠⁠​ a being like​​​ Siern to disappear.⁠‌ That Dereck always‍‌ said the right⁠ things.

“…”⁠​​

Siern​ slowly crouched down‌ and spoke to‌⁠‌ Aiselin, who was​‌​ sitting, gasping for​‌​ breath.

“If‍ I can just​ escape into the​‌ snowy field, they‌​​ won’t catch me​ easily. I used‌ to wander outside‍‌⁠ the mansion when‍⁠​ I was bored,⁠‍ so the servants‍⁠ won’t care much.”​⁠‌

“…Huff…​‌‌ Huff…”

“So‍⁠​ I’ll run. You…‌‍​ sell me out⁠ to that man.‌ Tell him I tried to kill‌ you, and say​‍ that it’s right⁠⁠ for a human⁠⁠​ like Siern to⁠‌ disappear from the⁠ world. If you⁠ beg for forgiveness​ like that… maybe⁠⁠ he’ll at least‍​ spare you. If​⁠ you trust him​ that much, do⁠‍​ it.”

“…”​​‌

Siern⁠‌ released Aiselin’s wrist,‍ which she had‍​‍ been holding tightly.​​

“That​‌ man is right.‍‌‍ I could end⁠ up killing you.⁠​ Don’t protect someone​‍‌ like me. Don’t‌‍ do something so​ stupid, just act‍‍ for your own​‍‍ sake.”

“…No…‌⁠‍ Huff… Huff…”

Even‍ though Siern had‍ left everything behind‍​‍ and said that,⁠ Aiselin clenched her‍‍⁠ teeth and shook⁠​⁠ her head.

She⁠ was a pitiful​ figure, covered in⁠⁠ snow and mud,‍ but her determined​‌‌ expression was infinitely⁠​​ noble.

With⁠​ great effort, Aiselin‌⁠ stood up and​‍‌ took Siern’s hands​ once more.

Her‍‍ hands were freezing‍ from the extreme‍ cold, but to‍​⁠ Siern, they felt⁠‍⁠ warm.

“There’s‍‍ no one in​ this world who⁠⁠⁠ deserves to die.​‌ Lady Siern. Even‌ if all the​ creatures in the​‍⁠ world define you‍ as a monster,⁠ never forget that‍​‌ you’re human.”

“…”⁠‌

“Things⁠ like instincts don’t⁠⁠​ matter. There are‍⁠ many people who‍‌‍ live rationally, going‌ against their instincts.⁠‌ You can definitely​‍⁠ change. I’ll help​ you. So please,‌‌ don’t give up​‍⁠ and don’t abandon⁠⁠⁠ your humanity. We’re‌​ human.”

Siern‌​ looked at Aiselin​​ with trembling eyes.‍‌ Even as an‌​⁠ uncontrollable monster chased‌‍ them, Aiselin cried‍ out desperately, refusing​‌⁠ to deny Siern’s‍ humanity.

“You⁠ can do it,‌​‌ Lady Siern. Trust⁠ me, I… I can definitely help‌‍ you.”

Everyone‍⁠‍ else defined her‍ as a monster,‌‍ but Aiselin saw​ her human side​ to the very‌‍ end.

Siern‌ Alaina Rochester is‍ human.

While⁠ she repeated that‌ fact, believing in‍ her, and giving​‌ her trust—

Siern‍​ simply nodded.

Thud!‌

Splat!​​ Splat!

And​‌ then, blood splattered.‌​​

“They​⁠ made it all​ the way to‌⁠⁠ the edge of​ the snowy field⁠⁠ on their own.”‌

It⁠‌ happened in an‍​​ instant.

For⁠‌ a moment, a surge of magical‍​ energy was felt,‍ and Lady Aiselin’s⁠‍ eyes trembled violently.⁠

Then​​‍ blood splattered, and‍​⁠ a blade emerged.⁠‍ The scent of‍‍‌ blood.

Siern⁠⁠ had smelled that​ cruel scent countless‌⁠ times.

Even⁠‌‍ the blood of⁠‍ a noble saint‍‍ like Aiselin seemed⁠ to have a floral fragrance. Was⁠‌​ it safflower, or‍ perhaps balsam? It‍ was a scent‌‌⁠ she had smelled⁠ on a flower‍​ she had once⁠​ been gifted.

At‌ that moment, just‍⁠ as that noble‍⁠‍ girl was about​‍ to open her‌⁠ mouth to utter‌⁠​ her final words…‌‌

Once‌⁠​ again, the magical‌ energy intensified, and‍ the girl lost⁠‍‍ consciousness and was‍ thrown into the​⁠‌ middle of the‍‌ snowy field.

Crackle!​‍​ Snap!

Drip,‌ drip.

A red liquid flowed‍ down Dereck’s blade.⁠

“What…​ what… what… what​‌‌ is this…?”

The⁠‌ scene unfolding before‍​‌ Siern’s eyes as‍‍‍ she fell backward‌​ was unbelievable.

The⁠‌ boy standing in​ the blizzard was​ the very embodiment‌‌ of a massacre​‌ demon who had​‌‌ torn apart countless‍ monsters.

Before⁠‍ him lay Aiselin,‌ buried in the‌‍‌ snow, unmoving.

The⁠ red blood dyed⁠ the snow around‍‍​ her.

Just‌⁠⁠ seeing the amount​​​ of blood spread‍⁠⁠ out activated the​ instinct to immediately‍‌ take her to‌ a healer.

However,‍ Dereck simply shook⁠ his sword without‌ showing any emotion.​​​

With‍‍ those terrifying eyes,⁠ he silently looked​ at Siern. The‍⁠ meaning in his‍⁠⁠ gaze was clear.‌⁠‍

“You…​‍ you… you…”

“The​‍‍ snowy field is⁠⁠ perfect. It buries​⁠ all deaths equally.”‍‌​

“She…‍⁠ she defended you‍‌ until the end.​⁠‌ She believed in‍⁠ your human heart…‌ until the very‌‌⁠ last moment…”

“Did⁠​‌ she?”

Dereck’s​⁠‍ voice remained cold.​

He⁠‍ silently observed the​⁠ spreading blood, then​⁠⁠ looked back at‌ Siern and spoke.⁠‌

“It​ doesn’t matter anymore.‍​ She’s dead.”

The⁠ mercenary in the​⁠‌ blizzard. Dereck’s dry‍‌ voice settled over‌‍‌ the snowy field.‍⁠

“…”⁠

“Is⁠⁠‌ there a problem?”‌⁠

“You…‍ you… don’t feel⁠ anything seeing her⁠‍​ corpse…?”

“…She⁠‍⁠ was quite a useful person.”

A moment of silence​‌ passed.

For‍ a long time,‍‍ Aiselin’s firm eyes⁠⁠⁠ lingered in Siern’s​ mind.

Just​ as that memory‌ ended, an unimaginable⁠⁠ surge of magical⁠ energy erupted from‍ Siern’s body.

Boooom!⁠‌​

The​‌⁠ blizzard began to​​ swirl violently, covering‍‌ the entire area.⁠​

In‌ Siern’s eyes, a blazing fire was​‌ spinning.

The⁠‍​ origin of that‍​‌ turbulent emotion was‌‌​ unknown, but at​​‌ least one goal‍‍ was clearly engraved​​⁠ in her mind.‍‍

Kill.‍

Kill‌‍⁠ Dereck here and‌‌⁠ now.

That‌‍⁠ scream, filled with‌‍‍ fury, echoed across​ the snowy field.‍

Dereck‌ responded with a calm expression, raising⁠ his staff.

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