Chapter 9: Diella (2)
69gNMoving with difficulty, moving with difficulty.zdgz
b5qOFyIn the deep night—when everyone except the on‑watch servants slept—Dereck crossed the garden toward the pavilion, gathering his thoughts.xTZ8MLk
IX1rTo teach a first‑tier spell, you must first materialize basic magical power.DB8hz7Z
KPlmTrying to wield magic hastily without knowing how to release that power is like firing a gun with no bullets. The foundation of all magic is recognizing and materializing mana.4jr
70YNw9dNone of the mages who taught Diella so far could have ignored that. There must be a reason they all failed. In truth, training this fundamental aspect of magical power has no single fixed theory—each academy holds different views, making the process difficult. Every mage develops their own instinctive method for shaping mana.Gu8uxp
dd5pDgTWhen that happens, anyone would be confused—which is why magic instructors are considered advanced personnel.Q9uYct
bgQ86It makes sense that noble houses across the continent compete to bring capable tutors to their estates. Teaching magic is an immense responsibility.PVp3LSn
eNI“If the Regulated Academy’s method doesn’t work, I have no choice but to try a different approach.”oFrDc
ZB4C5KDereck kept walking. Diella must already have studied all the theory about magical power long ago. Most likely she still lacked the trigger to manifest it.ZbTdWAa
j2e2cThe Regulated Academy breaks mana use into four stages: recognition, extraction, manipulation, and manifestation. Once those four proceed smoothly, you can willfully control your magical energy.TYIe3HD
UboGLkEBut Dereck didn’t learn magic that way. What taught him wasn’t reference books, ink, or quills—it was the sword that appeared before his eyes, the arrow flying at him, the axe wielded by a goblin.XaiC1
2tYJ2iWhen did young Dereck first show his supernatural power? It was when he climbed the back mountain to gather dry herbs and encountered a wild boar.1EoxE
U5oAP0The fear of death lurking behind him, the stark reality of fighting for his life—that materialized his magical power for the first time. That was his first spell.BXuA4
4LGQyrXThat’s the life of a Wild‑School mage: they always manifest their power in the crucible of extreme survival instinct.LxaaZ
uMB“…”M0BB78g
YjDKRecalling Diella’s paintings with empty margins, Dereck nodded and pressed on.dll
F6aROA9***kVCYEFz
NBCpBang!yK0Fj7
y20xrYWhen Dereck kicked open the pavilion door, the waiting servants in the hall jumped.MlUneS6
AWyVPitch‑dark night. A cloaked youth bursting through the main door under moonlight—it was impossible not to be alarmed. Once they recognized him as Dereck, the servants grew even more uneasy.R49Ib
rruK“What brings you here…?”bObnH
souezgb“Thank you for your service.”PJi67B
9A3Dereck passed the servants and strode down the hall. His determined gait left them unable to intervene. He was Diella’s tutor, authorized directly by the Duke.D2heH
auUBefore entering Diella’s room, he paused by the kitchen. He spotted the cold, clean water the cooks had prepared for the next day. He lifted an oak bucket of it and climbed the stairs from the central hall. Ignoring anxious stares, he went straight to Diella’s door and kicked it open.cWG
KsHCjBBang!ThM5Tf
AgGAmid the lace‑adorned bed lay Diella, buried like a sleeping princess.1lYb
tWfPzfHer elegant pajamas and hair swept to one side shone softly. Anyone seeing her sleeping form would think no more graceful lady existed.H0n5
uQHsAASplash!hYbI
piaXUWithout mercy, Dereck poured the water over her. The servants who had followed shrieked, and the guards roused from sleep froze in alarm.0GMbI
JYZB4“Kyaaak!”aMQp
PLRdQFgLike a bolt, or rather a cold plunge at dawn, Diella awoke with a start. Dereck stood before her.RGKv
22ai9VHe let the empty bucket clatter to the floor and fixed his cold red eyes on her, as always.ALrKNmN
Sd1“Sleepy now?”gFD
u8OshU1“What?”3ii6HT
3pkN“Do you want to go back to sleep?”Vxl
yyJ9CzIf this continued, she’d be sent straight to the monastery. Diella must feel it too. If she kept silent, not only would her social debut be impossible, she wouldn’t even be allowed to remain in the mansion.lPxDkIX
OeZRather than waking to filthy water, Diella stared at him in disbelief. From Dereck’s view, this was mercy—better than soaking in dirty water.g5xI
irOaHe then grabbed her arm and hauled her up. She tried to resist his commanding grip, but his strength was overwhelming.RTPpnJD
3yE“Kyaaak! What are you doing? Everyone! Why are you just watching? Stop him! Stop this commoner!”nbbX
7MDrE“…”y2aLv
g4rl0The servants outside the door looked on worriedly, powerless to help.VQ6J
0EJXs3Their rising anxiety questioned whether this was truly permitted—but in any case, the reason lay with Dereck.6tS
wKCj43Diella struggled in vain against his grasp, but it was useless. With determined steps, he dragged her down the mansion stairs.0oVxgB
9gsARThe butler Delron watched them go, concern in his eyes, having hurried over at the news.Hi4
fGrmHe nevertheless had no grounds to stop Dereck. With a curt nod, Dereck continued, taking Diella from the pavilion.BVA0T8
ftNVKW“Do you think you can get away with this?!”6V4N3
ASvyMDereck kept walking, exiting the pavilion and crossing the grounds. He dragged the protesting Lady Diella onward, walking, walking, as if the procession would never end.gTCvHQI
O4llEventually, under the ambitious moonlight, they reached the central meadow, far from the mansion. Dereck finally swung his arm and flung Diella onto the grass.I7IUo
6RDEThud!c6y
kXyyN“Kyaa!”zg8FLOm
4vPVHer wet pajamas clung to her, grass blades poking up beneath her.bjHW1A
jPANEven her once‑silken golden hair was tangled with leaves, rendering her all but unladylike.tsZtJws
knAHer fingertips trembled, but at last she managed a bitter smile.cA8
Hr5CGd“Ha… hah… Do you think this changes anything?”mkf2Xm
Ybgl2Lg“…”PzA7W9
HT2z“Teach me magic? Me? You think you’re the only one who’s ever said that? You think I haven’t tried before? I’m sorry, but wake up! Go tutor some other noble!”qRbC
P2XVThough trembling, Diella spat out her defiance. Soaked and cast upon the grass, her tone never wavered.MXI23z
3PLQQ7“How dare you, commoner…!”txgJ
8hoIgnoring her cries, Dereck stepped closer, leveling the tip of his sword at her. The moonlight glinted sharply off the blade as it entered her vision. Her fingers shook uncontrollably.F5wdGPH
UQIzh“We’re far from the mansion and no one can hear us, so let me tell you this now.”FH2
9vHDAOA“What…?”kx9Cw
x3Iv“I have absolutely no special desire to teach Lady Diella anything—like magic.”3a3Y
uR2g“What??”4HVsy
PR6At the same time, the corner of Dereck’s mouth curved into a cold smile. Even at night, wrapped in darkness, the moonlight shone brightly. Bathed in that light, Dereck’s red pupils gleamed as his smile grew more chilling.QhEf1av
TJfHk6“I only enjoy beating nobles to a pulp.”RV4Uto
st9dfyr“What… are you saying…?”L2lZX
VhB4dpuHe always maintained a veneer of dignity in front of the Duplain nobles. But once out of sight, his true nature flowed freely, as though it had always been there.U8N
6fueArH“As I said, I’m a plebeian from the sewers. Why on earth should I like nobles who look down on me from their mansions just because they were born with noble blood?”vYwgJ
QMJ“What… are you talking about…?”KZ3IC
2aAjar“Being a tutor or whatever is all just an excuse. Besides, punching and hearing the screams of an arrogant, snobby noblewoman like you—what better reason is there to smack someone around shamelessly? And on top of that, I get paid for it.”AOnMsd4
bGdB2Seeing that terrifying smile, Diella involuntarily held her breath. Had she been wrong to think that Dereck was acting on her behalf?2t6
xQyCikBefore Diella could answer, Dereck kicked her in the shoulder with his boot.ko3
tVdw9“Ah!”koC
4Jrg0—Thud!wg9eDOC
ohjfS3When Diella fell to the ground and looked up again, Dereck drew his longsword. The moonlight reflected off the sharp blade, filling her vision. Her fingertips began trembling uncontrollably.QQY
BF63K“You—you—you… are you insane…?”64yMfXj
HZdC64G“I greatly enjoy hearing haughty nobles like you scream in pain. The more you believe in your lofty status and lord it over everyone, the better.”tghB7
zyx8UQ“If you do this… you think you’ll save your life?”Ocy8V
LVTV3B“What difference does it make with no witnesses? And since they’ll send you to the monastery soon, who will believe your words? Do you think anyone in this house is on your side?”1La9u
p1YAs Dereck advanced, sword pointed, Diella crawled backward through the grass, but from the ground there was no escape—she would be caught in moments.1OTrGn
nlrP“Fear not. Experienced mercenaries know how to inflict pain without permanent harm. The human body has many parts that heal quickly. Like fingernails, for example.”J5N
ZSvf“…Agh… Hah…”weTz
GfNh“What if there are lasting effects?”orD
wDFThe man approaching under the moonlight was clearly insane. Diella felt her entire body start to tremble uncontrollably. She had sensed it from the moment he raised his hand to her—he wasn’t in his right mind. In a way, all of this felt like fate.E3O9JoL
v2DOA“If something like that happens, I suppose death will be my redemption.”mkV
L7T3KJ“Ah… Ahhh…!”9ZlP
Fye88Diella grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it at Dereck’s eyes.DDV
TK7PwOSwish!rd56
FZu2“Ugh.”WDz
NTKGmbIDereck quickly shielded his face with his elbow, blocking the clump. Taking the opportunity, Diella sprang to her feet and dashed toward the nearby forest.Dpc3wa
OzH2hRunning across the meadow would get her caught quickly. Even in that fleeting instant, she reasoned that the forest was her best chance. Hiding in the darkness, she’d first have to deal with the madman among the bushes.33y
orCbnAs she ran and thought this, a wave of pressure swept through the area like a gathering gust of wind.miJ
msGxOSwish!FqVDXQ
g0hueeDesperate to escape, she fled into the woods. But then, compelled by a terrible feeling, she looked back—only to question her eyes. A flame larger than a human.9JAP
BEniHXDereck, no longer holding his sword, seemed to be controlling the area with his very presence, gathering magic into his free hand.8a51gDx
ZyYOBmK‘What, what is that…?!’b9dQU
VhyLevel Two spell—Fireball. A combat spell used by nobles who had gradually become proficient in magic. He hadn’t even spoken the usual incantation.7k728J0
LXp9Even Valerian, her magically gifted older brother, had secluded himself for months to begin learning level two spells. Seeing such magic erupt from Dereck’s hand felt utterly unreal.S18
FFcdhvKNo—she could only hope it wasn’t real. Her opponent was a madman who took pleasure in beating her to pieces. Suddenly, a massive pressure burst forth, and the fireball he launched flew toward her.RPhKiJr
EbRZCO“Ugh!”UP8YD
4qpMxiDiella, heedless of the scratches on her body, dodged by leaping. The enormous fireball crashed just beside where she had been, and a pillar of flame shot up.sGUC4DG
RYJRKNBang!APi
MfS9LA surge of searing heat exploded. The spot hit by the spell was reduced to flying black ash. A direct hit would have meant instant death—or something close to it. The power was undeniable.eu3W
dS0SsmWith trembling eyes, Diella looked toward Dereck, who was casually brushing dust off his now-cooled hand.2xK
QGq9JHis eyelids flicked as he glanced at her, then he muttered to himself.fJDMh
esO7“Missed.”LSgle1
BGgaA chill ran down Diella’s entire body.ZPM4J5
V8Him***Vci
aqG6K8BCrack! Bang!JIY
pMQDiella fled into the forest.zJTvYuG
fCLbQDereck, walking slowly across the meadow, seemed to treat it like a hunting game, showing no urgency. Beneath the moonlight, his lifted lips and glowing red eyes only deepened the terror.WborUc
GPyKBang! Thump!ql6Qya9
UzGDiella stumbled as her legs buckled. She forced herself up and fled deeper into the forest, but she couldn’t put much distance between them.bzf2
gsKunCrack! Thump!FwVm6NF
yrjsWgSomehow, she forced her way through the underbrush. Still, she had to go farther.aPZ
tjboBut her fear-weakened legs wouldn’t obey.OGxix0
bcj2eOB‘Move…! Move, move, move…! Please…!’KXYZxu
N91TSwish!0TZw
F0tBang! Bang! Bang!7Jsee
33niZ2Waves of magical energy shattered the surrounding branches. Level one attack spell—Magic Arrow. And it was a triple shot. Even among level one mages, mastery varied. A single hit would be too much for fragile Diella.jgIQSU
gYi“Didn’t hit…?”aQX
cgWyB71From behind the bushes, Dereck’s cold voice rang out. Fortunately, Diella was small. The darkness that blanketed the forest was on her side.bmut
AwKPlRodents scurried through the brush, and wind-rustled leaves filled the air.B7WHlhV
NdzIn such conditions, finding Diella hidden among the shrubs wouldn’t be easy.TMyZS
T7VlmStep, step, step.oNw
uykWBThe madman’s footsteps reached Diella’s ears.YrJ
hvGhtZ0Just behind the bushes in front of her, Dereck searched, slicing through branches with his sword.vtK52
OzUncDiella shoved her hand into her mouth, holding her breath to avoid making any sound.st22bXV
eamp4wHumming to himself, Dereck searched her possible hiding spots like a predator hunting prey.VDC
99WWBang.ZFj0
XBocziFinally, Dereck’s boot appeared just meters from where Diella lay in the brush. The surrounding darkness was so thick that even night-acclimated eyes could barely see.1nC
Td9Diella clamped down on her heart, which felt like it would explode any second, as she covered her mouth. Even though she was still, her lower lip trembled uncontrollably, and her breathing became erratic. She didn’t know whether she was inhaling or exhaling.jk7d3
rBVuAfter a while, Dereck’s steps swept the area, then receded farther into the forest.iMkOo2
woZuAP1Gasp… Gasp…DeM3gus
G4zIVAs the distance slowly grew, Diella finally had the luxury to gather her thoughts.Wo9
YYVU7Je‘I have to run back to the mansion…! But if I run across the open meadow, his magic will hit me…! Then what? I can hide for now, but eventually, he’ll catch me…!’XSwNINg
prqxXEWClutching her head in the darkness, she crouched low, trying to calm her pounding heart.5UqG
w6h‘Calm down, calm down, calm down. There has to be a way. There has to be a way…!’n3EU
0hzyFinally, she spotted a large rock. Almost the size of her head. She crawled toward it and, upon touching it, found it heavy but manageable.tiz
pjgThank goodness night had fallen. The darkness shrouding the forest would perfectly conceal her small body, making it easier to stay hidden. It was the perfect setting for an ambush.LFy
qlC3UhAgainst a strong man, weak Diella had no chance. Especially if he was truly a two-star mage, resistance was futile. In the end, the answer was a surprise attack from the shadows.NTW
CMXIf she could catch him off guard, she might create an opening—maybe even knock him unconscious.SHV1O
Jrd1eqHidden in the dark, she waited for a chance to strike when his guard was down.fKbrNid
JNZThis was her only shot at victory. Though trembling, Diella dragged the rock to the edge of the shrubs.f34nHj2
QY5She gripped it with both hands, ready to lift it at any moment. For that, she sharpened her senses in the darkness.xyIDZ
l2AFmvuBut the more focused she became, the more fear took hold of her heart.jlAK
pQk9h2Drip, drip, drip.U37k
Sk4MTears fell onto the rock. She bit her lip hard to stifle her sobs, too weak even to wipe away the large droplets.Z4gxG
b0K‘Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. No noise.’2pOTNRU
tf8ckBShe suppressed her rising emotions with reason. The thought that she might die here brought a flood of memories. Times when she laughed and chatted, ran through the courtyard, or went out with canvas and easel to paint the landscape… Moments of innocent joy.imwQXV5
BnlhyqhThen came the memories of failure and frustration. Abandonment by her brothers, pitiful glances from her family, her own missteps, constant effort, failure, and more failure. The servants’ pitying eyes, gossiping that she had nothing going for her but her looks, and harsh comments from nobles who said she was lucky just to be born Duplain.UVbCL
dJZEAnd finally, the harsh reality that her noble blood was the only thing she had left to show.kf7dF
d22‘I can do this. I can do this. I can do this…!’R7btx0
JsEiDPushing away the negative memories, Diella clenched her teeth. She would ambush the madman and somehow return to the mansion. The forest’s darkness was on her side.qG4
ugTZLJust then, her resolve hardened—FKo
wOhcESpark!sfpi
CYiThe darkness of the forest—her only ally—vanished.IznRYKG
npZwa5“Light Manifestation”—Transformation Spell, Class 1.obAXB
hbEuAn enormous source of light bloomed behind the shrubs, illuminating everything nearby. The reason mages are considered the most reliable allies among mercenaries is their adaptability—capable of dominating any battlefield. In particular, Dereck excelled at controlling the battlefield.bZvvVNV
18zIq3dBut for Diella, it was a devastating surprise. The darkness she relied on was completely gone.lYgQ
xfHNsMGasp…!J5D
UBUHer plan to hide in the shadows was ruined. Deciding she had to flee instead, Diella started to rise when—Bar
Vg20The white-haired madman, a glowing orb floating beside him, suddenly turned his head toward her.v4d
1VLAq“Found you.”xQxm
jOL8InThe boy grinned widely.gwRfhz
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