Chapter 91: Baron (3)
7Y6The next day, a tiny girl was sitting in the tavern Tears of Beldern.NsA4v
XCsJngDCompared to a burly man, her height barely reached his chest.g3uQ
35cvT6dIn fact, while it wasn’t unusual to see short girls walking around the noble district, her figure looked out of place on this street full of fierce mercenaries.IcxK
gA3Just from the sight of her in a monochrome black and white chiffon dress and shawl, it was clear she belonged to a noble family.j6M
w971JThere was no good reason for her to be in such a rough place, and yet, the girl sat at the bar with a gloomy expression.wYw
HcYGFFB‘Even though it looks like she doesn’t have an escort, there are two at that table over there.’9ALSBS
7CPWRJayden, serving apple juice, glanced around the tavern.7A3JdKn
i1NB0PThe two men sitting near the entrance, drinking beer, seemed to be servants of the Duplain family.egz
lezIn short, the person sitting at the bar sighing for no reason was none other than Diella Katherine Duplain, the youngest of the Duplain family.emC
eGhbNLately, more and more nobles had been frequenting Tears of Beldern.2Fe4
QB3It was a good thing for nobles—known for their extravagant spending—to come often.KLe8LG9
KAcT8QvUsually, where high-class people gather, commoners with strange aspirations also tend to follow, which helps business greatly.UkVR
dGf1PSEven so, there were already too many.9IQFJu9
0z4Young ladies from the three great noble families of Ebelstein had visited at least once. Not even the tea house installed right next to the noble district, Elfontaine Salon, received so many distinguished visitors.o3WWd4
dkb“Are you looking for Dereck? He’s currently busy with a job at the Kelvenrock Employment Agency.”IWqLVYO
6ldx“Employment Agency? Is that different from the Mercenary Guild?”Ysh42O
4oEHU4“Yes. It’s a place that accepts simple job requests, not dangerous subjugation missions.”bh5
zSY“And why would Dereck go to a place like that? He can make enough just working as a mercenary.”BBK710I
0cf“He didn’t go to take a job, but to hire people.”ZfsGC
QlUGeG9Diella tilted her head, confused.giBW
7sIA setting as rough as the tavern could seem odd or even intimidating for a lady like Diella, raised with delicacy. However, she showed no signs of discomfort.XhTO
k9B2jIShe seemed to have innate courage.pwluHom
h2hHPm“The founding date of the Ravenclaw Barony has been set, so he went to find maintenance staff for the mansion.”znRzd
oFR9“…Has the approval already been granted?”0aHW6j1
pSYJ“Yes. With the support of several nobles and a lot of behind-the-scenes arrangements, it seems everything went well. It’s likely Dereck will become the lord of the Ravenclaw Barony before spring ends.”xTw
2gbmXHgStill, it was an empty noble title, with barely two members in the family.kNZkYG4
sB3rG2But Dereck had to go through many hardships to obtain even that hollow title. It was a valuable reward, after all.gHmsg
8ENPJ9r“To properly manage the newly appointed Ravenclaw Barony in Rodelen, we have to start moving urgently. Once the mansion maintenance is done, staff will need to be hired and taxes negotiated with the local landowners.”xqb
K4I1csM“Hmm… I see… Dereck will be very busy. But I didn’t come looking for Dereck.”mZRE
2jl2syj“Oh, really? Planning to submit an application to the Beldern Mercenary Guild? If so, I can give you a discount.”1Ay
oGkEDS“No, I’m looking for a mercenary named Pheline.”UuXiS4
VuLHAt those words, Jayden’s fingers trembled slightly.mJGc
Nm6KAnd hundreds of scenarios ran through his mind.UoxfW
oo0jvHe knew well that Dereck’s network had expanded greatly in recent years, but he didn’t expect the ripple effects to come so quickly.xGefmJ
nh4sxJayden let out a hollow laugh and said:nx1vk
OM4“Ah, yes… You mean Baroness Pheline.”FKyhrg
8eoxwn“…W-What?”8B3Ob
Riyz0p“…?”M47Z
ztR“No, it’s nothing… Yes. That person. I just want to see her once…”Y7fUC
FqOPkThe reason he referred to Pheline that way was to give Diella time to mentally prepare herself.sCY7H
SLUk8Regardless of the circumstances, it was true that Pheline had become Dereck’s wife, both in name and reality.Aezo
ciVBy reminding her of that well-known fact, Diella would surely accept the current situation.e3l
ihM8“H-How is she?”ElMk7A
KmPpdY“Ha ha, how to put it? She’s one of the prides of our Beldern Mercenary Company. If it weren’t for the exceptional talent named Dereck, Pheline would have been the company’s star.”08B6uEj
P2xWfP“I-Is she that good?”eNSsf
WZK“Yes. Although young and with a striking appearance, she’s truly a promising figure. While she has the hurdle of coming from the suburbs, that probably doesn’t bother Dereck. In fact, he likely felt a great sense of affinity.”ey9roLB
8DvcM9RJayden spoke of Pheline with the heart of a father.5icvG
fIdeFhzSince Pheline hated nobles so much, he thought it best to ensure she wouldn’t feel intimidated in front of Diella.LpEZbC6
XvWwlOn the other hand, Diella looked at him with a pale face.Ytku1
oQf7VB9“Yes, pretty… how much?”v1JFgO
MIqx4R“Well, she wouldn’t compare to noble young ladies who’ve refined their beauty all their lives.”4IdN0lU
6Rxv9“I-I see? I understand…”lqF0dk
Ird8D3“Yes. But can you judge a person just by their outward beauty? Her composure and strong character in the face of any adversity are already reasons enough to value the girl named Pheline. On top of that, the bond from coming from below—it’s only natural Dereck would feel a strong affection.”7fvdwH
L8EaIDuThinking he might be going too far, Jayden continued praising Pheline.CYtBH
CzfSyQr‘Pheline, please don’t feel intimidated anywhere…’bkgl
S0FOiIJWhile Jayden spoke with such a cheerful expression, Diella couldn’t help but feel even more intimidated.c2bVt
QZv7rEven setting aside other qualities, the bond of having been born in the suburbs was something no noble could imitate.5Jp7xz
j3aJ“Why would anyone want to imitate such a vulgar origin?”Th6shAA
A2imJjZThat natural question might arise, but Diella shook her head and tempered her voice.SvX
otPOKP“Yes, Dereck is the magic master I respect most. But he has no eye for women and is so absorbed in magic that I was just worried he might’ve fallen for some weird trick…”CjBiUY
hWp“Then don’t worry. In my opinion, Pheline is the perfect wise and virtuous wife for Dereck.”U8sqS1l
8wk2sb6If the people involved had heard that, they would’ve felt disgusted, but Jayden said it with a laugh, as if it were nothing.RdshfD
HvkAUJz“T-That…! You shouldn’t judge so quickly!”G2GWFS
tbgAh“Oh, no?”vjBKWEd
bN6“P-People have potential. Judging a bond as the best or not is premature…”ubwz
lSPYNZKUpon seeing Diella spouting nonsense, the more perceptive ones nodded in understanding.j0Rdufy
CSrIt might not have developed into love, but at the very least, the feeling of not wanting to give him up to someone else was there, growing.WrZytBs
011The situation could have ended there, but this girl—who still didn’t fully understand how the world worked—didn’t even know what emotion was causing her anxiety.8SbJtX
FwN2yShe simply waited anxiously for the girl named Pheline to return, tapping her foot for no reason.2949R
cqn2As she drank her apple juice, about ten minutes passed, and then the tavern door creaked open.LZ6
gYy“Uncle Jayden~! The job’s done. Pay up quick, okay? And settle last month’s bill too~.”uL81J
vie“Oh, Pheline.”5Z2L
n2lgJvaPheline entered the tavern with a lively voice. Then she quickly turned her head and locked eyes with Diella.SLo
Rn3“…”9cu4p
PYy8CaUShe was the lioness of the Duplain family. Just her gaze alone hinted at something out of the ordinary.rgrnZE
FXF‘Uh…?’46zcVV
MNWPheline instinctively knew the moment she saw her. That noble elegance she so despised radiated from the body of that tiny girl.ilCcFdJ
3WIr“…Who… are you…?”Mubd
f1dAh“Diella Katherine Duplain, of the Duplain family. Dereck’s first disciple…”Qxx1
bpgL“Oh… I see…”m5XjV
OVgp56Although Pheline usually responded cheerfully and loudly, her tone dropped as if she were in a bad mood in front of Diella.EFZ7Y
c4D0wLSeeing that, Diella wasn’t in a good mood either, and from the beginning, the two couldn’t help but give each other the worst first impression.QSAAi
VarjWWq“I heard you’re going to marry Dereck… I came to see what kind of woman you were.”3hDL59E
X2zgq“…”9DB
t1HxtNNow that she thought about it, there was that contract.wBRIkG0
4LoLately, she’d only been focusing on subjugating monsters, and just imagining the content of that contract made Pheline’s skin crawl from her fingertips.umP
qQq“Ah… yeah… that’s true…”9Vc4ai
Dpt“…”NNZELy
idm“…”LQx8m8w
EBcyYC“…”KCfJ9v
xfGHThat was the whole response.p1Ag
hgB‘That’s all she said,’ thought Diella.2MitdP
BIuDereck was a man who knew nothing but magic, who had risen from the depths of the slums, but his passion for magic was serious and unparalleled.DpxQmjH
Va4hjBThe fact that the person who married him treated the marriage so indifferently already made her deeply uncomfortable.GMrvgZG
AoHk0uVShe thought Pheline would be glowing with joy, radiant with the happiness and romance unique to newlyweds. If that were the case, it would bother her—but if not, it also bothered her… She didn’t know what to think, and her mind spun with confused thoughts.CaSuz
JNDVKIn truth, she wasn’t even sure what she was feeling, but either way, she didn’t particularly like Pheline. It was more emotional than rational.MM9
EjppgQOn the other hand, Pheline felt the same.D4kOyJz
hqfFrom the start, she didn’t like nobles, and the way Diella looked her up and down in Tears of Beldern as if judging her was incredibly annoying.xbepj
5M6uJJust discussing marriage with Dereck already tensed her face, and on top of that, this noble girl who was his disciple had shown up to scan her from head to toe. No wonder her rebellious spirit flared up.ab9Dpgr
DqRl8ikBetween the two was an unstable balance.3iktLQi
WtFThough Diella’s status was infinitely higher, Pheline was Dereck’s wife.ozZxCs
ilB8In this inevitably tense situation, where neither could take the other lightly, Jayden—caught in the middle—watched with great interest to see how things would unfold.XhC
sQs‘…I’d love to put this arrogant noble in her place, but if I act carelessly, there could be consequences.’V96PX
pBP3gDPheline hated nobles, but she wasn’t reckless.mBi
WbktrSo, after resting her chin in her hand and pretending to think for a moment, she soon put on an expression as if she’d had a brilliant idea and walked up to the bar. Then, she sat cheerfully next to Diella.EV2L8ns
ThZJ“You said you were Dereck’s first disciple, right? Then you’re no stranger to me~.”En5HoGN
CeOOb“…”IBQB
gWPi0LMThe way she referred to him as “our Dereck,” so familiarly, sparked a strange repulsion, but Pheline was the kind of girl who could endure that sort of discomfort for a greater cause.CwcBEpY
9q0nD“Dereck’s always indebted to you~. It’s really reassuring that the young lady of the Duplain family takes care of him personally~.”S1CEz
INLSaying that, Pheline clasped her hands together and smiled sweetly.w5i5
ArCX“…”wPLS
QrMDiella stared at her with a complex and subtle expression.8qWuAnd
kV7For some reason, just seeing this girl named Pheline made her feel a burning anger.WtYoSB
EkKVsShe was speaking politely, but it felt like she was scratching her from the inside.4iFrrIk
9RoAnd in truth, Pheline really was.5uIz7j3
HfXdShe felt as though Dereck had been taken from her, so she was determined to stir Diella’s insides with all sorts of fake compliments and provocations.eYjzb
7q9Surprisingly, Pheline’s jabs were hitting the mark.Uhe6
e4Q“I heard you helped him get the baron title~. Thanks to you, the Ravenclaw barony was approved. Thank you so much. Really, thank you so very much~.”EbLhw
DQ5UHsN“Ugh… Ugh…”CownK
UkG“Thanks to that, we were able to start renovating the barony mansion, and Dereck and I could build our nest. We’ll never forget Miss Diella’s help and will build a beautiful and loving family. Thank you so much~!”LETE
wZ2It was a conversation full of compliments, but as Diella listened to Pheline’s nonstop words, her insides twisted, and a burning sensation rose within her.jan
fKNfqBut what could she say in response?qEa
LXn33CvPheline hadn’t done anything wrong. If she lost her temper now, it would be a pointless outburst and could cause big trouble for Dereck.OCXrI
zCJ1o81Thinking that, Diella couldn’t do or say anything.ZFr8H
iIqrNSl‘Because she has Dereck… the lioness of the Duplain family can’t say a single word…?!’U3hK5T
ccDftMeanwhile, Pheline was wrapped in a tremendous euphoria she’d never felt before.StJKb
TbhzhtbDuring expeditions with Dereck and Ellen in the labyrinth, she’d enjoyed playing with arrogant noble girls, but this—this was something else.aZ9VWl
3HQnTo push them around like this, with words—this was fun.W6e
5b8cwPThen Pheline took a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, and let herself be carried away by the delicious ecstasy, with the most delighted expression in the world.i8un
ro4“My love… Oh, sorry… That’s what I call him when we’re alone. Our Dereck will be so grateful to you in the future, so if he ever offends you, please forgive him generously. And if anything happens, let me know. We’re like one body and soul!”7V8XeQK
SCP4d“Ugh… Ugh…”krR
4nBZS2C“I should’ve prepared a gift… But as you can see, I just got back from a job, so I’m not in the best hygienic state and came empty-handed. Such a shame. Would it be okay if I send a thank-you present to the Duplain mansion? If not, there’s nothing to be done, but we can’t ignore the benefactor who did so much for my husband!”vnoeju
clWngr“Ugh… T-that… Ugh…”aQtrOE
LyPyine“Please! Let me help you, Miss Diella! If you’re the benefactor of my beloved husband, then you’re my benefactor too! For his sake, I want to help you with all my heart!”8jQ2Iw
g4Cgau“Ah… aaah! Aaah!”UqnN
iNJZnJgFinally, at the limit of her endurance, Diella grabbed her hair on both sides of her temples and scratched at it, not caring if it got tangled.Lguz369
uvKcThen she jumped up from the bar and ran out of the tavern, screaming as if she had seen some indescribable horror.6uM
4ZXTD8Though it all happened in an instant, seeing the escorts—presumably Diella’s guards—rushing out after her in a panic made it clear she wouldn’t be coming back.wis
CjZ3igCrash!moyeK
OSOaCreak, creak.Awg
dtCAs she watched the tavern door swing loosely after being kicked open by Diella, Pheline smiled with immense satisfaction.6u0fbs
B81“Maybe I was born for this day…”2kLd
4vJXKeR“Pheline. You’re truly ruthless.”LXtsPy9
AVLp“Did you see the face of that noble lady who ran out? Uncle Jayden, she was as pale as if someone had splashed her with blue paint! Hahaha! Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!”rMf
J9kzSeeing Pheline laugh so hard she clutched her stomach and could barely breathe, Jayden couldn’t help but laugh too.CrL
SBnyHe knew she had talent for crushing noble pride by any means—but he didn’t realize she was this ferocious.AbaG
XlvjP2“Wow, Pheline. You’ve got some thick skin.”E3eNS5
UhC“Thick-skinned? I just moved my tongue a little, that’s all.”h120yPD
EyPMxWA“For just a little, your lines were pretty intense. How could you say those things?”puEK5Q4
hGurS“Hmm…”U7bEejl
E6DAfter laughing for a good while, Pheline finally caught her breath and drank the cold water Jayden offered her.ZDuFfn
LGa2FShe exhaled deeply, set the glass on the bar, and began to calm down.Ya7ddnD
2JqAt last, Pheline started recalling the things she had said in front of Diella.Vhynm
RZ6I1“Calling him that… darling, husband—there’s nothing I haven’t said. What if they really get married?”JyvfQF
hO6Yt“…”lPiQ
42y1E“If Dereck had been in the tavern, his expression would’ve been priceless.”yyoJJbx
7GxLThis time it was Pheline’s face that turned pale.giK
Yhiw“Ugh… Ugh… What did I even say…?”9xWqv5
qj1VvIn her frenzy to defeat a noble, she had gone overboard and blurted out all sorts of embarrassing phrases. But now that she’d regained her senses, she realized just how humiliating it all had been.TG8t
dZfcEZPheline buried her face in the bar, her face as blue as Diella’s had been.CxX3
4nOeThough she hadn’t had a drop of alcohol, she felt nauseous, pressing her temples to hold herself together somehow.hMM7
wFbbHCAt that rate, she was no different from Diella, who had run out scratching her head.S4WS
Sah6vUO‘That one or this one… they both have disgustingly strong pride.’qBe
AuHThat was the only thought Jayden had as he looked at Pheline.tng
v6vsMaybe she’d just wanted to humiliate the noble a bit, pretending to be Dereck’s virtuous wife—but no one knew how that could backfire on her.EoAeR
MLtSxdAt least, that’s how Jayden saw it.qLeV
gL5A***RrOys
elx7AAA——————87x
hP9PYmLetter of OpinionYLhv
cvkLV— Considering there are no significant procedural flaws in the granting of the baron title to Dereck Ravenclaw, the Duplain family raises no objections to his appointment.G2XYNc
kHGC— Considering Dereck Ravenclaw’s magical abilities and reputation, the Belmierd family believes he has sufficiently proven himself worthy of the baron title and supports its granting.16jV
iTOEQ0— The Beltus family raises no objections to granting the baron title to Dereck Ravenclaw.H7dSzw
ADT——————mnW
HCsKr3ILetter of Appointmentm05QhCo
UofIn the name of the Empire,SKI8Uv
8p8pI, Guttrel III, hereby declare the following.8YOIUY
Daova3Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, in recognition of your loyalty and dedication to the Empire, as well as your outstanding achievements, I grant you the title of Baron of the Rodelen region.nHr3EsP
zrbPPnAccordingly, you are granted the following rights and responsibilities:
1. Governance over the region of Rodelen, the Ravenclaw fief, and surrounding territories.
2. Eligibility to attend the Rotfail Council in the southwestern continent.
3. Judicial and fiscal authority within the territory.
4. Duty to contribute to the defense of the Empire.
5. Unwavering loyalty to the Imperial family and the Empire.v8E9
UdAMay your wisdom and just rule bring prosperity to the land, and may our Empire grow stronger.BxLXJXA
I9GD0WThis title shall be inherited by you and your legitimate descendants for generations, but will be immediately revoked upon any act of treason against the Empire.MMN40
GhT31YSwear to strive for the peace and prosperity of the Empire.uMp
oWUBearer of the radiant crown, protector of the continent, and navigator of the Milky Way,
Plakior Rovengard Guttrel III0Tb9j
D1TPtur***8BNVJ
ZZxTime passed with cruel speed.hw185
QeuEspecially when one was focused on something, it seemed to move twice as fast.95Crsf
jfUBefore he realized it, winter had passed, and now spring was in full bloom.1Fux8R1
TgYyUnder the warm sun, the green mountains and fields displayed their splendor in their own way.GTfB
agppShhhh.vaEMQH
32NtvXDereck wiped the sweat from his forehead, sleeves of his robe rolled up, standing in front of a small mansion beside the vineyards of the Rodelen region.0OWYt
lQCHe sat on a nearby stump and unfolded the letter that had just arrived.F64
W5ttIt was his letter of appointment as baron, drafted at Lord Melverot’s suggestion.TBOLES
bxuQCThe appointment, which Dereck thought would be delayed, progressed faster than expected.Ztv7TS
L3JcDhIt seemed that Linus had indeed managed to persuade Grand Duke Beltus behind the scenes.oQu
XGi‘…Nothing in this world is free. So what’s going on in the Belmierd family for that drunk to try recruiting me…?’ND99yb
Pna20HJust as Dereck was about to get lost in thought, he decided to focus on the present for now.l2hO688
OoRYXglBang! Bang! Bang!tGMc
GgyCreak! Crackle!5Yyh
qTVThe workers Dereck had hired were repairing the worn-down mansions.mPl
Wv7MNKVDereck had been helping for a while, but now he stood aside, quietly watching the renovation work.KXCwDSb
hmwFor a noble’s mansion, it was quite modest—but compared to homes in the commercial district, it was truly luxurious.WOexwA
rvIOOrhHe slowly gazed at the nearly finished mansion, then folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket.16pe
f68O4o3‘High-ranking nobles have grand coronation ceremonies or investitures, but low-ranking nobles like me, governing remote and forgotten lands, end up like this.’vSWbR
GnqThere was no formal celebration, only a document with the emperor’s seal.phWB
q97HAn imperial scribe probably copied it with care, but Emperor Guttrel III likely hadn’t even glanced at it for more than a few seconds.awDs08m
8pTSuch was the fate of lower nobles.yi5lLWz
rAD0cDereck had no reason to complain. In fact, for the first time in a long while, he felt quite satisfied.rGsjIw
BdAbSNcThe spring breeze drifted through the vineyards.A5EEJUp
GOnAfA lone stump stood in the flower-filled garden, butterflies fluttering about. Sitting on it with arms crossed and a calm gaze, he watched the mansion roof take shape.OFV
LxPvHe had hung his cloak by the stump, and his staff rested to the side.mla
5tZIn the middle of the meadow, where leaves whispered, Dereck silently watched the mansion and closed his eyes.JTEG
AkLbXsY“…”dA63
0Fk9GPFrom the days when he slept under a rag in the snow of the slums.ZQaOr17
TkyQBTo the long days reading magic books in the residence left by his mentor, Katia.ETVxW4
PAB2And the years spent in Tears of Beldern.LscUu4
Sx9And now, as he opened his eyes, he had somehow acquired a fairly large mansion through his own abilities.MQz6
V6P9Y7iLife’s path doesn’t change so drastically. It usually shifts gradually, slowly and steadily.Jsjvd
nHcQAiThen, suddenly, one regains awareness and finds only faint footprints left along the path traveled.xGiHS1
GunGOnly then does one realize how far they’ve come.KT1
iLbbpRIn truth, when climbing the mountain of life, it’s often hard to see how high one has reached.Jr6i
oLQThat’s why, from time to time, you look back to gauge your position from the landscape left below.R1uCe
abuAnd thus, you pause briefly in life’s journey and reflect.xr691
G8tIJC‘I’ve come a long way.’0rG3FA
AyiThat brief thought could remain as a memory.0jY
LF2itW6Haa…5kU
09UJ2zXDereck Lydorf Ravenclaw.1bAYF0
9uTSThat’s how he became baron of the distant region of Rodelen.qIX
gxjz“I better get moving.”KQW8kjD
I7yEUnfortunately, there was no time to get sentimental.s4t
c8BNThere were many things to take care of right away, and the worries only kept piling up.iA2Vw
Bx6And above all, the preparations to reach a new level were almost complete.O1k
bNOmStep, step.h5b
QMdtWThe sound of his footsteps on the path.hDqbze
YVGldHaving finished his rest, Dereck picked up his cloak and staff and returned to the mansion.NZb
6AbCountless tasks and goals lay ahead—but at the core, Dereck’s central objective was just one:yNhTjjb
EuotRmLevel 4 Stars.LKu1dPf
GhES6SJA level even those born of noble blood couldn’t reach without at least a dozen years of refinement.0EnB
gpdrA realm forbidden to plebeians without lineage. A level where one begins to transcend the laws of magic, harmonizing with the star system while casting spells that reflect their own nature.8ac
P43HA6yA level where, depending on the person, one may even begin to create unique, personal magic.eSaNvR
ewdvtDereck wanted to reach that level.7LI
WZdAnd the foundation was nearly ready.a6Ck5
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