Chapter 84: Siern (3)
iZ7cThe silence reigning over the snowy northern fields evoked different emotions depending on the observer.Qirkbo
nKhxzFUpon seeing the snowflakes—so white and pure—blanketing everything, some felt warmth, others cold, and still others, loneliness.WMp
vhsThe landscape of the world always remains unchanged, but the feelings it evokes vary according to the heart of the one beholding it.Kp1PY
P5JPGkJMelverot also experienced different impressions each time he gazed at that unchanging scene.n3uYT
mEbs27For someone who has lived so long, that is possible. Even in a backdrop that doesn’t change, one can find new meanings each time.sNbbH
z2cWK1However, for a young beast that has yet to leave the cradle, this desolate snowy land could feel like a prison.Digz
LaU“I plan to have Siern debut in the social circles of Ebelstein.”d31
eTr6Perhaps for that reason, Melverot spoke resolutely before Dereck and Aiselin.p2vXGnH
W4UxeIt had been about four days since they had begun seriously teaching Siern.FeKKd
Db5As Siern began truly gaining control over her murderous instinct, she had started magic lessons with Dereck, and was learning social etiquette, arts, and various texts with Aiselin.GldIBRv
w3t“I see.”RpACCRp
tFMDereck, who stood on the other side of the office with his hands behind his back, did not seem particularly surprised.uxrcYIs
SHzxT31In fact, it was something he had already anticipated.zN9h
veCDlyIn the northern region of this continent, where nearly the entire territory is essentially a battlefield, the unique and refined social culture of the nobility has not developed much.CZtp
Ea4k7UEven within the Rochester territory, there are numerous labyrinths roamed by all kinds of monsters, and going further toward the outskirts, many areas are downright uninhabitable for humans.q7O1G
yb5Although Siern was born and raised in this northern region, it seemed Melverot wanted her to experience the noble, peaceful, and warm culture of the southwestern region.ELtU8
ah6bHowever, it was also an extremely risky decision.qdRzE
zBjaCThe social circles of the eastern continent, centered in the County of Elvester, and those of the southwest, centered in Ebelstein, were the two places—excluding the imperial capital—where aristocratic culture flourished the most on the continent.x3jZ
82rMVIf Siern failed to control her killing instinct and caused a massacre in such a place, no matter how much of a hero Melverot was for ending the War of Dawn, the disaster would be irreparable.dfi0q
KBDvXWbThe safest option would be to lock Siern in the tower of the Rochester territory and never let her step outside.bw4E6
bsnrkBut if that had been the goal from the start, Dereck and Aiselin would never have been summoned to the Rochester territory.3xR
SfDIkG“Is it possible?”vnYScWM
nX35rFMelverot never bothered making eye contact with his subordinates. As always, he spoke while looking out the window, legs crossed.S4616f0
3TpETSqAiselin glanced at Dereck. Her expression clearly showed tension.kGjf
F7aSkDereck calmly shrugged and answered Melverot firmly.KCw
JB1oX“We have to make it possible.”eiap
SGpk0M***hoq1TvL
9IeXctb“Go to the Ebelstein social circle…? Me…?”3aOu
xAK“Yes. Didn’t you say you wanted to leave the Rochester territory and visit the southwest of the continent, where the seasons are well-defined and the meadows are green? Congratulations. Lord Melverot has granted you permission to go.”F4s
A15Hp“Oh, heavens…! I’m so happy… So happy…!”S3xp
L1z9m***UaT
3VJThe next day, at the training field of the Rochester mansion annex.wCjL
usxprDereck wiped his sweat as he tightened the laces of his boots.Lu6f
dsmSiern, on the other hand, lay completely stretched out on the ground of the training field. Drenched in sweat and too exhausted to move, she couldn’t even lift a finger.rDaH
8HXx“I can’t… be happy… I have no strength left…”AoYmZdI
8AJQyNj“This is precisely the moment when you must push yourself the most, Lady Siern.”qhwpS
iGfya9“You said that thirty minutes ago…”Q4LnQMU
ueOXUl“I said it then just to say it, but this time it’s real. Now is truly the final moment when you must gather your strength.”UwB
p0d“You think… I’m going to believe you…?”K9uoYO
P1zA8nVDespite her words, Siern managed to move and stand up. The dress with lace and ribbons seemed more suited for a ceremony than for combat. However, even that was a simple outfit for a lady of the Rochester family.rfbM
BLRKlkSiern woke up early in the morning to jog with Dereck, had breakfast with Dereck, trained magic with Dereck, studied the history of magic with Dereck, practiced magical sensitivity with Dereck, and then dueled with Dereck.YkVeuP
1YQ3LHShe spent practically the entire day with him, but Dereck only sweated a little and remained as energetic as at the start. Even though there was about a five-year age gap between them, his stamina seemed endless.jt0zqL
i8LdCDereck stretched his arms and continued.L8nBSA
VPz“At this point, Lady Siern’s magical growth isn’t the main issue. Being able to handle three-star magic at your age means it’s more important to build a solid foundation than to aim for higher levels.”dd7
5XzqPrD“A foundation? What kind of foundation…?”TxQha
iu5ls“Your magic is very chaotic and completely intuition-based. While self-taught mages like me often use magic that way, it’s a problem if you have no knowledge of the star system.”HcuS
rfmXsSiern could handle magic equivalent to three stars, but that was a figurative expression. Being free from the star system and having no system at all are completely different things.uYmFdgA
5jLGGUsing your magic without a system is like swinging a bat blindly hoping to hit a ball. If you have strength, reflexes, and natural sense, it might work—but to truly grow, you need to refine the basic system.7Tgm9t
5cNbLWDereck pulled out his staff, which he called the “Whip of Love.” Siern shivered at the sight of the enormous staff.ljAaJ
Frl“Why do you do this? When I see that staff, my heart races… Can’t you just not take it out?”yRGsJef
6a1OCKg“Why would I hit you with it, Lady Siern?”fIhUR
Diqu9“You… you hit me…!”UvnSmI
USmI7“I don’t use violence without reason.”Fj1oq
okoAnd that was also true.pqi
J23cSiern swallowed and made an effort to keep her body upright. Seeing her like that, Dereck gathered magic into his staff and released it.0NwY
DxhAWhoosh!KGf
XdFBS“It’s important to structure your magic system and integrate it into your mind. Do you like chess, by any chance?”yMI
Ic8“Out of nowhere…? I know the basic moves…”gLcyK
bqze“Anyone can play chess if they know the basic moves, but efficient strategies and tactics are more systematic, right? Organizing the magical system is similar.”OBn
GMZuRIf you calculate every move one by one, anyone can become a chess master, but the mental load is enormous. That’s why it’s necessary to establish efficient systems in advance.ERBxH
dk1nwk4The effective use of magic works the same. You need to systematize and think about the most common magical methods and flows.rtk
KdxQB“If you systematize your magical methods and integrate that into your mind… you’ll be able to grasp the structure of any new kind of magic quickly.”x8m
uiyLDlD“Is that really that important? It’s already hard to use my own magic well…”6kUT
sxfPR“Growth is always like that.”S8IY
UF0kU2Siern was the most magically talented girl Dereck had ever taught. Diella had a free magic style and great artistic sense, Ellen was strong in leadership, and Denise excelled in all areas. But Siern, although weak in other fields, had overwhelming magical talent.KX0uh
J2nshuHer talent was nearly equal to Dereck’s, which made her the easiest to teach in magical terms. Most of her magical senses aligned with his.2a8
OM0V5W“For example, let’s look at the flow of magic you use. Since you mainly use transformation magic, the incantation isn’t long, and you convert the magic from your fingers into elements naturally.”bv4
JO4Dereck’s magic enveloped the area, and from the tip of his staff, a cold light emerged.WfwrGs
x5vWhoosh!gAtT
8tSepOUpon releasing his magic, a voice echoed in his mind.nDN
zJfOcu5[You have acquired the three-star combat magic ‘Freezing’.]RqFq8dU
Y2EFMsoCrackle! Crunch!hO6eR
EA9R0The ground of the training field froze. Siern opened her eyes in astonishment.NKQvQRm
xEjQmseThat magic, which had taken her years to master in the snowy fields, Dereck had copied in one glance. He didn’t even seem tired as he analyzed the magical flow.CnFMWMC
cZT4yd7“W-what…?”9iSm
us5“It was something like that. The magical efficiency isn’t very good, but it works to immobilize nearby enemies. If you increase the activation speed, it would be good for ambushes.”Hudp
VBAUW7“You… copied it just by seeing it once? That magic?”Z6rw
HIcl“If you can understand the magical system just by seeing it once, implementing it isn’t that hard.”nqd
VpfDereck shook his staff, approached Siern, crouched down, and said:Bip
XUW“Actually, it’s not easy. If you weren’t born with innate magical sense, it’s almost impossible. You won’t meet anyone who can do it.”FrKfR
ouuT“…”ZaFzl
oonm“But you can do it, Lady Siern.”X2af3G
yDgThe blood of Noir gave her that cursed killer instinct—but also granted her another gift: magic.5tV
ZOQmAmong demons, those who master magic possess exceptional power. Noir was the most extreme case. If Siern inherited all that power, she could reach a level no one else could.Olo
rnxxs“I can’t guarantee you’ll be the best in everything. But in one field, I can assure you you’ll be the most renowned in Ebelstein—in magic.”xYP46
vflxaX“Really… can I really…?”RMuB
eGPwlcDereck nodded. Siern Alaina Rochester would become the most outstanding mage among all of Dereck’s disciples.Gs9f
Tti‘But she probably won’t get along with Lady Denise.’q3nrK
kLPSiern, specialized in transformation magic, and Denise, in exploration magic, wouldn’t mesh. However, Diella and Ellen, who are awakening to combat magic, would suffer against Siern.fmPhn
eswIn any case, if Siern appeared in Ebelstein’s social circle, no one would be able to ignore her.txu
EFiShe was a bomb in the social world.755G2
WhIVOrWhen it became known that she was Dereck’s disciple, he would become the most sought-after instructor in the southwest. And once he received his title, he’d have everything he needed to advance to the four-star level.W8ju2
uJl6fIt was an exciting thought, but one thing still remained—completely controlling Siern’s murderous instinct.cIiHb6
9ETTZ“There’s still much to do. But soon, everything will be resolved.”fVVmRsR
JJovCiDereck looked at Siern firmly. Seeing his confident expression, Siern felt reassured and nodded.ysCaOPM
CmLp***3HeTmMw
UjSjUAfter her magic lessons with Dereck, Siern would take basic etiquette or art classes with Aiselin. The schedule wasn’t tight, but Dereck’s classes were so intense that she would arrive at Aiselin’s completely exhausted.nNGA
vMwtnGHowever, her lessons were more relaxed, so the body didn’t tire as much. And since Aiselin had such a warm nature, being with her felt like healing both body and mind.pHrKbRo
QMPnvF“Sister Aiselin…”gbfO860
eGWc2“Yes, Lady Siern!”sE9
o4a4LjAiselin, who beamed with a radiant and almost ecstatic expression whenever she was called “sister,” clearly enjoyed having a younger woman rely on her. Seeing that reaction softened Siern’s heart, and before she knew it, she was leaning on her emotionally more than she had expected.pYV5y
54nFa“Could you… tie my hair… please…?”tyW32CH
0PaZ“How could I not?!”Gt7
OgCAiselin, rolling up her sleeves and approaching with arms around Siern’s shoulders, had a very special way of making others depend on her. When in her arms, Siern’s body would relax, and she felt like she could entrust her with everything.9TfCt
Pe5ZGuided by Aiselin’s energy and relaxing her body, Siern would occasionally recall the warm plains of the southwest she so longed for. She imagined ever-green fields, the warm sunlight, and the pleasant breeze sweeping across the meadows.Yum
dpdgVxXSurely, Ebelstein must be like that.RYJjea
Xpa4qAIn Siern’s eyes, Aiselin was like the personification of that idealized landscape.1RW
GrBAnd so, Siern let herself be enveloped in a strange sense of happiness as she returned to her tower room, just as the evening sky began to turn red.1yIbx
A7ppkILying on a bed adorned with lace, she surrendered to its soft comfort. And as she silently gazed at the ceiling, she felt like everything she had learned during the day was settling in her mind.IUfUaJJ
ijpzCompared to spending an empty day, her heart now felt filled with satisfaction.jUV
oF5pMnThen, she suddenly remembered the image of that white-haired mage who had appeared like a calamity and stared at her so intensely. The fear she had felt at first still lingered, making her heart skip a beat from time to time… but in hindsight, it seemed like that boy had always acted for her sake.X06
fTVSeen from another angle, it had always been that way. He was a man who didn’t hesitate to take on a bad reputation and did what needed to be done.0GId3
VzvHis image, rolling up his sleeves and stepping forward without fear even in life-or-death situations, was deeply engraved in her mind.jTpda
HkTw7AUAnd yet, when teaching magic, he was kind and a perfect gentleman. The contrast between both sides was hard to grasp, but over time, she realized that this was Dereck’s true nature.sUT
BiWpQ0fNo matter how many times she saw him, she never got used to him. That’s why the image of that boy was etched deeply in the heart of this young girl in the midst of adolescence.7eQj
IoMY‘Dereck. Dereck. What a peculiar name. Dereck. De-re-ck.’lrc9Q
WQjShe repeated his name in a low voice several times and then let out a little laugh.fQZo53
jOjNJ— Don’t worry. I’m stronger than Lady Siern.TwDL5a
81UHStrangely, seeing his always-rational attitude gave her a peculiar sense of security, as if he could resolve any situation.uwlc
o5MShe closed her eyes and imagined the warm plains of Ebelstein she had dreamed of, from that cold snowy field.cAbpA
GZt4ByClutching her coat tightly, following closely behind him, she imagined that someday she might walk through those meadows.ctNE
bu5nWHowever, the memories of the massacres that occasionally returned pulled her back to reality.jXcy
hG3aMAJThe faint smell of blood that returned to her nose just when she was about to forget it.pC8jF5
dCBvnp“…”4RKn
I5JfxJBOnce again, Siern, trapped in a pessimistic mood, murmured softly.Ju9
at4XlI“They say… he was a popular teacher in Ebelstein.”Exv
dfUEven though Melverot had summoned him to stay at the Rochester mansion, eventually he would return to Ebelstein.veP
edLUj5He was the most prestigious magic instructor, coveted by Duplain, Belmierd, and Beltus.dImsj
09DpAnd for Dereck, Siern was just one student among many others.XTed
yPohIn fact, legendary figures like Diella, Ellen, and Denise also claimed to be his disciples. Even if Siern were added to that list, it wouldn’t hold any special meaning.C3EE9
aA0If Dereck returned to Ebelstein, it was obvious every family would try again with all their might to recruit him.IajdSsy
0R0They could learn magic from anyone. They didn’t need Dereck specifically.0iLwcs
kRfY7GBut for Siern, there was no one else who could handle her like Dereck.lt3n
m80r“…”4xMK
9D3LVSwoosh.E1x
rvOyNIn a corner of the tower at sunset, Siern slowly sat up and lowered her head.UED2vf
OBENWA lock of white hair fell across her forehead.M7iMN
Hvj8Xi‘If it’s Dereck… could he change me…?’GbJk
dRM3ROZIn the corner of a girl’s heart, going through a tempestuous phase, a new emotion emerged—one she had never felt before.vv33
PDGSTn5It was called “possessiveness.”sFHiTN
CZIDHSiern wanted to monopolize the teacher named Dereck.T2Dnlh
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