Chapter 117

Chapter 117
## Chapter 117

“This is what I saw at the Ravenclaw Training Center. Father, I share my brother Robenalt’s opinion. Unless a major change occurs, in a few years, the Ravenclaw territory will hold significant influence over the Ebelstein social circle.”

Denise, the most intelligent young woman of the Beltus family, was accurately reporting her findings to Grand Duke Beltus.

Grand Duke Beltus, his face stern, stroked his mustache several times with a rather displeased expression.

His eldest son, Robenalt, had persuaded him to turn a blind eye to the granting of the barony to Baron Ravenclaw, but now that the situation had reached this point, the man’s actions were suspicious.

He had known Dereck Lydorf, Baron of Ravenclaw, for a long time. Even the Beltus family had once entrusted him with Denise’s social education.

Back then, Dereck was nothing more than a simple private tutor, but somehow he had become the owner of a large training center.

Education often became the foundation of power.

The fact that Baron Dereck’s disciples were infiltrating the Ebelstein social circle meant he was gaining direct influence over it.

All power begins by winning people over.

The emergence of a new force—with several nobles as disciples—beginning to stir the territory adjacent to Duke Beltus’s domain was not a welcome development.

To win a war, it is good to take the lead. And to win a power struggle, it is important to dominate public opinion within the social circle.

Understanding this perfectly, Duke Beltus had been supporting Denise—who was making a name for herself in the Ebelstein social circle—in every way possible.

—

“This is not good news. The fact that future figures of high society are passing through that place means it is becoming the center of the social circle.”

“Do you really think so? Its size was not that impressive.”

“The scale doesn’t matter. You know this, Denise. The main base of the social circle in the Eastern Continent was, at first, the port city of Roboff, but it eventually moved to Elvester Manor after the Count built all sorts of cultural facilities on his land.”

The base of the social circle in the Southwestern Continent was the noble district of Ebelstein, but that of the Eastern Continent was Count Elvester’s mansion.

That place, which had become so grand it was almost inappropriate to call it a mansion, was famous for hosting all kinds of cultural events: theatrical performances, tours by famous troubadours, the largest tea parties, and numerous gatherings throughout the year.

With that place within his territory, Count Elvester stood at the pinnacle of noble culture, and his only daughter, Freya, was considered the most noble figure of all.

If Aiselin belonged to the Ebelstein social circle, then Freya belonged to the Eastern circle.

To the point that it was easy to name Freya as one of the queens of the social circle, it was not difficult to understand the importance of seizing the center of said circle.

And Freya’s personal teacher was Katia Flameheart, a former lady from a disgraced viscount family.

Now, she was famous as the best magic instructor in the entire Eastern Continent.

“Not long ago, Duplain, the most troublesome one, lost power. The throne of the Ebelstein social circle remains vacant, and this is a period of transition. I do not want unnecessary variables to arise just as the Viscount of Renouel is on the rise.”

Duke Beltus spoke solemnly from his office chair.

“It seems we cannot leave that training center unmonitored.”

Denise’s face began to darken slightly. She seemed to know what the Duke was about to say.

“Find any pretext. We must stall the growth of the Ravenclaw territory.”

“…”

“For now, it is not easy to find a good pretext, but if anyone can find one, it is you, Denise. You have been in contact with that Baron and have maintained a close relationship with him.”

Duke Beltus intended to contain Baron Ravenclaw and placed Denise at the forefront of that plan.

Since Denise held the most influence in the Ebelstein social circle within the Beltus family, it was a natural choice.

“Create a pretext to control that man. Meet with him as often as possible, stay close, and discover his weaknesses.”

Seeing Duke Beltus’s confident smile, Denise lowered her head and replied softly.

“Understood.”

*Creak.*

After finishing her morning greeting and stepping out into the hallway, Denise had an expression of exhaustion. Although she had just woken up, she already felt drained.

“Lady Denise, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, Bella.”

Denise replied that she was fine, waving her arms slightly, and then stood for a moment in the hallway with a complex expression before finally letting out a deep sigh.

“I expected it, but in the end, it turned out like this.”

The mountains of the Beltus domain, visible through the window, were already adorned with brightly colored autumn leaves.

Autumn had fully arrived.

***

Aiselin enjoyed autumn night walks.

Sitting in the cool night air—neither cold nor warm—and gazing at the bright full moon, she felt as if she had arrived in another world.

Mainly because, unlike her home, Duplain Manor, Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion lacked a splendid or luxurious atmosphere. The small but well-kept garden could not be kept impeccable, so occasionally one had the pleasure of finding wildflowers growing beyond the flowerbeds.

Sitting in the quiet night, organizing the next day’s schedule, the overwhelming workload and the family crisis seemed like stories from a distant dream.

This small hobby—enjoying a sense of dreamlike escape—was one of the secrets that allowed Aiselin to always smile so naturally in social circles.

Thus, Aiselin sat on a small bench in the garden of Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion, gently closed her eyes, and listened to the sound of insects.

*‘This is dangerous; this place is starting to feel like home…’*

In any case, she must not forget her goal of working hard to earn money and save her family.

For the sake of Leigh and Diella, who were also working hard that day for the reconstruction of the Duplain family, she had to stay focused.

Still, it was also important to disconnect from everything and rest when taking a break.

While Aiselin quietly contemplated the mansion with a slightly lighter heart, she heard footsteps.

*Step, step.*

“…?”

It was quite late at night.

However, someone was walking near the garden.

Since there were guards near the mansion, it was not particularly dangerous, but it was still not a good idea to wander around at that hour.

Observing more closely, she saw the person was wearing noble attire, so Aiselin fixed her gaze.

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she finally recognized who it was.

It was Lady Fina, from the family of Baron Tigris.

The clumsy girl, who apparently suffered from muscle aches in her thighs and shoulders, was walking toward the main building of the mansion, hunched over and with a deathly expression.

However, her steps were so fast that she disappeared into the main hallway before Aiselin could call out to her.

*‘Why is she going to the main building instead of sleeping in the residence at this hour…?’*

The only people awake at that hour would be the night-shift servants.

Most of the lights in the main building were off, leaving only darkness.

When she looked at the mansion windows, only a few rooms had lights on.

One of them was Dereck’s office.

“…”

Aiselin looked toward the mansion with a complex and subtle expression.

***

“The stage where most mages get stuck is the transition from three to four stars. In terms of proportion, that barrier is much thicker than the one between four and five. It is where those who rely solely on their lineage and place no importance on magic tend to fall behind.”

Late at night, Fina, who had gone to Dereck’s office, was sitting at the guest table, rubbing her knees.

Her entire body protested because of the trek she had undertaken during the day.

Fina, a six-star necromancer and master of corpse magic, had no way to resist the fatigue inherent in her immature body.

Even while complaining of the pain, she kept her promise and recited her knowledge of magic.

“We live in an age where the authority of the nobility emanates from magic. Therefore, most nobles, intoxicated from childhood by the power of their lineage, aspire to become masters of magic. But, ironically, most end their lives satisfied with being three-star mages.”

“Most of the nobles I’ve met also seemed to have a three-star limit.”

“Yes. The realm of four stars is a level reachable only by those chosen once more from among the nobles—already chosen by birth. Even in great noble families, there are rarely more than five four-star mages. In most, there are two or three at most.”

That level, which even well-bred nobles could not easily reach, was not something a simple commoner could achieve.

Therefore, the realm extending from the fourth star upward was known as a completely noble territory.

It’s not that there were no commoners who had reached that rank, but all of them had left their mark in the history books. That was how unrealistic it was for a commoner to cross that threshold.

“To give you an idea, Melverot, the Lord of the North, was nearly four stars at your age. That guy is also a monster.”

Dereck had just reached the age of his coming-of-age ceremony.

Normally, if someone could use one-star magic by then, they were considered knowledgeable in magic, and if they could use two-star magic, they were considered a prodigy appearing once every few generations.

That showed how absurd Melverot’s level was. Dereck had been frequenting social circles for a long time, but he had never seen anyone reach four stars at that age, nor even three.

The only one who could be considered close was Siern, but since she had been influenced by Noir’s blood from the start, she had to be excluded.

“I understand. If you’re thinking of putting on a compression bandage, I can call a servant.”

“No, it’s fine. If I show myself complaining and lamenting over muscle aches in front of common people, my authority will vanish.”

“…”

Fina rummaged through Dereck’s mercenary supplies, pulled out a bandage suitable for compressing the painful area, and began to wrap it skillfully.

Then she leaned back on the guest sofa and muttered a spell, making a floating skull-shaped summoned creature appear.

“…If you use necromancy inside the mansion, it will be a big problem. If someone sees it, they won’t take it lightly.”

“Don’t underestimate me. I am always mindful of my surroundings. And I am doing this because it is necessary for the lesson, so don’t worry.”

After that bold declaration, Fina lay back on the sofa and placed the summoned skull on her thigh.

It seemed to be a kind of cold magic, as a chilling aura emanated from the eerie skull.

Fina sank into the sofa as if she were going to lose herself in it and, with a groan, relaxed her body.

“Ugh… my thigh hurts so much. You have no empathy. You have no idea how delicate and fragile this innocent girl’s body is, like a piece of glass. I wonder if those big, muscular men could ever understand what it’s like to live with such a fragile body for hundreds of years. What a shame!”

“What are you doing? Applying a cold compress?”

“Yes. Do you have a problem with that? This teacher is trying to heal her exhausted body, and the disciple only knows how to say no, no, and complain… ugh, this feels good…”

“…”

The scene of a girl who didn’t look more than fifteen exhaling in relief as if she were in a hot spring was so surreal it was hard to describe.

Dereck, sitting at his desk, rubbed his temples and spoke.

“There is a heroine named Rodelia in the territory of Viscount Renouel. She has already noticed the presence of a six-star necromancer and is determined to find and kill her.”

*“Oh. So someone has grown that much already? I know her well. I heard she turned Rodentz Island upside down wielding the Holy Blood Sword, thanks to which most of the wanderers who claimed to be my followers were wiped out. I am truly grateful.”*

“I met her in person, and she sensed necromancy at a distance that would take a horse several minutes to travel. So you better be careful using necromancy where nobles gather.”

“That’s quite funny. As I always say, don’t worry. I am much more advanced than you think.”

Fina let out an arrogant laugh and, surrendering to the cold air emanating from the summoned skeleton, looked at Dereck with narrowed eyes.

“Does this look like necromancy to you?”

“…Is it ordinary summoning magic?”

“Yes. Exactly. You are very perceptive.”

Fina groaned and turned her body to change positions. Apparently, the sudden movement caused the muscle pain to reappear.

*“What do you think is needed to become a four-star mage? Unfortunately, reading through the theories of the Academy of Order, created by scholars like Adelbert, has its limitations. Besides, you seem closer to the Wild Academy than the Academy of Order.”*

“I’ve certainly heard that other qualities are required.”

“Let me explain in simple terms the qualities necessary to be a four-star mage. If you really want to reach that rank, you need exactly four things.”

Fina snapped her thin fingers, counting one by one.

“First, originality or creativity. Second, compatibility with magic tools. Third, understanding of the variability of reality. And fourth, a balanced understanding of various magical fields.”

“…”

*“You didn’t understand any of that, did you? This is a theory left by that bookworm named Adelbert. That’s why it’s explained in such a convoluted and impressive way. That’s the problem with those spectacled scholars who see magic only as an academic discipline.”*

Fina gathered her white hair with lilac highlights and spread it over the sofa, then ran her fingers through the ends. Her hair, falling over the backrest, looked like a waterfall.

*“Originality or creativity refers to the ability to contemplate magic beyond the already established rules. You, with your strong inclination toward the Wild Academy, possess some of that, but you still lack it. You’ve accumulated enough practical experience, so if you let it mature for a while, it will bloom naturally.”*

“Lately, I haven’t been able to go to the battlefield much.”

“Even so, you must have accumulated some experience. If you keep reflecting on it, everything will become clear. It is more a process of internalization than learning. In a way, it resembles innate talent.”

The ability to create one’s own unique magic usually comes more from within than from learning.

Melverot reinterpreted the two-star combat magic *Fireball* in his own way and turned it into the four-star combat magic *Lava Ball*.

It was magic exclusive to Melverot, not recorded in any magic book.

The six-star combat magic *Soul Incineration*, which Kalimford tried to use to burn Fina’s soul, was also a creative reinterpretation of the four-star magic *Incineration*. Although it was called six-star magic, it was not established by Adelbert.

In this way, mages of four stars or more often created their own unique magic.

That was the difference in talent.

“Compatibility with magic tools seems more than sufficient. The staff you handle with such ease, *Footprints*, is actually a magic weapon of a quite high level, higher than you think.”

“Though it took me quite some time to master it.”

“And third, understanding the variability of reality. This is a bit complicated, but at the four-star level, it doesn’t require such a high degree of understanding. Ugh….”

Fina constantly interrupted herself with “Ugh…” or “Ah, this feels good” while applying cold compresses.

It was hard to tell if she had come to teach magic or to take a break away from prying eyes.

“What is that?”

“It is the process of understanding that the laws of the world are not absolutely immutable, and that time, space, and magic principles can twist or bend.”

“The more I hear it, the more confusing it sounds.”

“Don’t worry. As I told you, at the four-star level, that level is not required. This field involves level five or six magic: magic that deals with the laws of reality and existence, or that interferes with space-time. It is the realm we necromancers use when addressing the laws of life and death. It is too advanced for a four-star mage to handle.”

Fina continued speaking as she lay back again, this time applying a compress to her forearm. At this point, the summoned creature was pitiful, serving only as a portable ice pack.

“Recognizing the immutable laws that govern the world and understanding their principles. It is good to have a foundation in philosophy or metaphysics. Those subjects are more suited to those spectacled scholars, glued to their desks, than to practical mages like me.”

“I understand. In fact, I’ve always thought that practical experience alone is not enough.”

“There is no point in obsessing over wordplay at a desk. Just learn what is necessary.”

Although Fina called herself a practical mage, judging by the numerous books on necromancy she had written, it was evident she had not neglected the academic realm. It would not be wise to take her words literally.

“And the last one, which is important, is a balanced understanding of the general magic field.”

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“I mean the other fields of magic, excluding those forbidden ones I usually work with.”

Combat, Illusion, Transformation, Summoning, and Detection.

The great mage Adelbert, who first organized the magic system, divided magic into those five main categories.

“I have already evaluated your magic aptitude. Your aptitude for combat and illusion magic is excellent, even from my perspective. Your detection magic is quite good, and your transformation magic is decent, but your summoning magic is quite deficient.”

“It is true that my achievements in summoning magic have been somewhat lacking.”

“Yes. Well, you don’t need to become a great master of summoning, but at least you should reach the two-star level.”

While it is important to excel in one or two fields of magic, it is also crucial to raise the general level.

Dereck nodded and said:

“So, did you call that creature to give a demonstration?”

“Ugh… Yes. And to soothe my muscles, which are startled thanks to you.”

“…”

“However, despite your innate talent, your aptitude for summoning is still somewhat ambiguous. Therefore, it seems inefficient to start directly with biological summoning magic.”

Summoning magic is divided into two categories: biological and non-biological.

The biological system allows for the summoning and control of beasts, spirits, creatures, or monsters at will, while the non-biological system consists of auxiliary spells to summon equipment or alter the environment.

“For now, it would be better for you to focus on learning summoning magic. I can teach you some non-biological magic, or it wouldn’t be bad to find a biological creature you can make a pact with. In any case, if I show you a demonstration, you’ll understand quickly, as you learn fast.”

After saying this, Fina dismissed the floating skull-shaped creature she had summoned.
The skull, already unsettling at first glance, chattered its teeth before vanishing into mana.

“Oh, that was good, very good. I feel the muscle pain has diminished a bit.”

“…”

“Anyway, I will summon it again, so watch the mana flow carefully. Now… *gasp!*”

Dereck prepared to watch Fina’s mana flow closely.

At that moment, Fina’s face went pale and her expression turned serious. Dereck was startled and asked in surprise.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“Listen without misunderstanding…”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been sitting in an awkward position for too long and now I have a cramp in my leg… Ugh!”

“…”

“Press hard on the third point under my thigh. Because of the muscle pain, I can’t lower my arm… ugh… uff…”

Dereck silently watched Fina, who was lying on the sofa, stretching her arm with trembling fingers.

Seeing her tremble with her arm tucked into her hair was like seeing a silkworm buried in its cocoon.

It was hard to describe that scene with words, so he simply said nothing.

Then, Dereck approached the sofa and firmly pressed Fina’s foot.

“Uf… yes…. *Snort*… yes… very good…”

Dereck looked at Fina with a lukewarm expression, narrowing his eyes.

He remembered the images of the six-star mages he had met throughout his life.

The great noble Melverot, who ruled the Rochester territory in the north, and the old wandering mage Drest, who traveled the world speaking of the future.

They were grand figures who reached high levels thanks to their firm philosophies and deep contemplation, leaving their names in the history of magic.

Remembering those dignified mages, he suddenly looked down at Fina, who was trembling on the sofa because of a leg cramp.

“…”

*Is this how a six-star mage is supposed to be?*

He wasn’t crazy enough to say such rude things out loud.

“You. When you look at your teacher as if she were the sky, you should have a more respectful gaze…”

“Ah, yes…”

Apparently, everything was reflected on his face.