Chapter 122

Chapter 122
## Chapter 122

“D-Dereck. It seems you’ve been busier since the last time we met. It didn’t seem like such a big deal during the opening ceremony of the Ravenclaw Training Center.”

“That’s just how things turned out. But when winter arrives, I plan to take a period of rest, so I think I’ll have more free time and will be able to focus more on my training.”

“It seems the barony’s finances have stabilized quite a bit as well.”

“The problem of livelihood is already resolved. It’s a considerable improvement compared to the time I wandered through the slums.”

Dereck took off his coat and hung it on the back of the chair, then sat across from her and greeted her politely.

Although he could already be considered a magic expert, he could not handle the Ebelstein situation on his own. His power was still weak compared to that of the high-ranking nobles.

Therefore, if he were to get involved in psychological warfare with the powerful, he would inevitably need the help of other forces.

Fortunately, Dereck was in a position to maintain a fairly solid relationship with the Belmierd family.

“I heard that Lady Aiselin is not in good health, so I brought her some medicinal herbs and potions. The butler should have received them separately.”

“Yes, I’ve already been informed. Lady Aiselin said she would come personally to thank you.”

After exchanging some courtesies and chatting about trivial matters related to the Belmierd and Ravenclaw territories, Dereck went straight to the point.

“It seems the Beltus family sees me as a thorn in their side.”

“…”

At the sound of those words, Ellen’s fingers trembled slightly. It seemed she, too, had anticipated a similar reaction from the Beltus family.

“Since the Duplain family faced a major crisis, the Belmierd and Beltus families have ruled as the true powers of Ebelstein. To be honest, if the Beltus family decided to finish me off, I would be in serious trouble.”

Dereck spoke frankly, lowering his gaze.

No matter how high he had risen among the magic instructors, he could not raise his voice against a ducal family that had devoured an entire region.

The number of Dereck’s vassals barely reached a few hundred, so he couldn’t even imagine competing with the size of the Beltus territory.

“…Grand Duke Beltus is a man who takes power struggles very seriously, especially in the southwestern part of the continent. While Count Renouel has gained a lot of influence and has begun to stand out, the Duke would not easily accept the emergence of a new force.”

Ellen sighed deeply, crossing her arms.

Grand Duke Beltus was also a troublesome adversary for the Belmierd family.

He was a 5-star summoner, a collateral member of the Guttrel royal family, and a competent official who monopolized high-ranking positions in the capital.

However, compared to the other three great families, the Beltus family had a shorter history and, despite their vast territory, their foundational power was weak.

Their military might was worthy of the high nobility, but half of it consisted of mercenaries under the command of General Orel, a former soldier.

They were brave and loyal, but their loyalty lasted only as long as the gold kept flowing.

Furthermore, maintaining such a large force required astronomical amounts of money.

Grand Duke Beltus’s expeditions to the labyrinths of the White Zone to monopolize treasures were carried out precisely under the pretext of maintaining the stability of his domain.

Given his position, it was natural for him to react sensitively to the appearance of new powers.

If he managed to crush Dereck and subdue him, it would be one thing; but as Count Belmierd had said, Dereck was more like a lone wolf wandering the wild mountains than a loyal servant who obeyed his lord.

“But it’s strange. Didn’t Grand Duke Beltus vote in favor when the title was granted?”

“That… yes, I did receive help. Young master Linus interceded with the eldest son of the Beltus family.”

“Linus…? Do you mean my brother Linus? Now that you mention it, I think he did say something about that…”

The one who had helped Dereck the most when he obtained his baronial title had been Linus, the eldest son of the Belmierd family.

It had been quite some time since he had set foot in the main house.

Whenever Ellen remembered that scruffy brother who always smelled of alcohol and tobacco and laughed out loud, she couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

“It’s understandable that my reckless brother pulled some strings. At least he had a wide network of contacts. He must have talked too much with Prince Robenalt of the Beltus family.”

“You don’t get along well with young master Linus, do you?”

“Rather than getting along poorly with that person, I prefer not to talk about him.”

Ellen had never felt affection for Linus, though it seemed more like a natural sibling aversion than true resentment.

“…”

In fact, even for Dereck, Linus was someone with whom it was difficult to empathize.

Despite his sharp and attractive face, he was a man who burped with the smell of alcohol, never shaved, and tied his greasy hair in a ponytail while wandering through gambling dens.

He was the antithesis of the noble ladies, who always had to maintain an impeccable image, making it hard to believe he was the firstborn of the Belmierd family.

Compared to Valerian, the eldest son of the Duplain family, the difference was abysmal.

*«Even if it doesn’t sound right, if he had been a man like Valerian of the Duplain family, the Belmierd line of succession might have changed. I don’t know if that would have been a blessing or a curse…»*

“Of course. Brother Valerian was truly a man worthy of a high-ranking noble.”

“…!”

At that moment, while Ellen spoke with a complex expression, Aiselin, who had just finished getting ready, opened the door to the parlor and entered.

It was a curious coincidence: just as they were talking about the late member of the Duplain family.

***

The three-way meeting between Aiselin, Ellen, and Dereck began without warning.

None of the three felt comfortable in that situation.

Ellen had already declared war on Aiselin, and Aiselin didn’t feel at ease with Ellen either.

As for Dereck, he couldn’t act lightly in front of two women considered the crown jewels of Duplain and Belmierd.

As a result, the scene of the three observing each other from opposite sides of the round table looked like a triangular battle.

In reality, it was nothing more than a silent war of glances between Aiselin and Ellen.

“I was wrong to speak, Lady Aiselin. The subject of Prince Valerian must have been delicate.”

“It’s fine. It was my fault for entering so suddenly. You came worried about my health, so how could I hold a grudge against you?”

“I see. Still, I cannot deny that I acted precipitously. I beg you to accept my formal apologies.”

*«Wow, someone called the Flower of Belmierd should not bow her head so easily. I accept your apology in spirit.»*

“Hoho, as expected of Lady Aiselin, your heart is as vast as the sea.”

“Rather, Lady Ellen, you seem very considerate and open-minded. Hehe.”

“That cannot be. Hoho.”

“Ahahat.”

“Hoho.”

“Ahaha.”

To a casual listener, the conversation sounded like a pleasant chat between elegant ladies, but the butler Delbriton, who was standing behind Dereck, was soaked in sweat.

Ellen showed open hostility toward Aiselin, while Aiselin tried to smooth things over gently.

The tension between the two had changed quite a bit from what they showed in Ebelstein’s social circles.

One intended to snatch the old-fashioned man who only knew magic, and the other intended to protect him.

The situation seemed much more mundane and harder to interpret.

Meanwhile, Dereck sipped the tea Delbriton had served him, absorbed in thought.

Regardless of the tension between the two women, Dereck was focused on anticipating how Grand Duke Beltus would act.

As a noble responsible for a mansion, personal disputes had to take a backseat to political and strategic decisions.

Aiselin and Ellen watched each other in silence until both sighed upon seeing Dereck’s serious expression.

Finally, Aiselin lowered her head and spoke.

“Grand Duke Beltus’s maneuvers against new powers are already an open secret. One only needs to listen to the rumors circulating in Ebelstein’s social circles to realize there are many unsettling things.”

She had barely recovered from the faint she suffered due to overwork, but she was already aware of the social news related to the Barony of Ravenclaw.

Baron Lotoel, famous for his labyrinth conquests, and Lady Crella, who was once an adventurer, suffered severe setbacks due to pressure from Grand Duke Beltus. She believed Dereck would be safe, but it seems that as the training center grew, the Duke’s opinion changed considerably.

Aiselin spoke in a low tone, barely audible.

“And I participated in the creation of that center. If I think about it, it is largely my responsibility that Dereck has fallen into disgrace before Grand Duke Beltus.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I’m not wrong, am I?”

In fact, it was Aiselin who took the initiative to establish a training center of such scale for Dereck.

She had never anticipated that things would become so complicated.

Feeling responsible, Aiselin spoke with a determined look.

“I promise that the Duplain family will support and protect Dereck, no matter what happens.”

“It seems Lady Aiselin trusts Dereck deeply. With all due respect, that trust is noble and beautiful, but it doesn’t have enough weight to change the situation.”

At that moment, Ellen intervened with a refined voice.

Those words might have sounded hurtful, but Aiselin could not deny them.

The Duplain family, which was once more powerful than Beltus, had lost much of its influence.

That was why Aiselin considered herself a woman fallen from grace.

“But with Belmierd, things are a bit different.”

Ellen smiled and looked at Dereck.

“My father, Count Belmierd, holds you in high esteem. And, at this point, he has delegated practically all of his political authority to me. Furthermore, I believe you are a person of total trust.”

Regardless of their past, Aiselin and Ellen now found themselves on different levels.

To emphasize that, Ellen brushed back her red hair elegantly and smiled confidently.

“I already told you, didn’t I? Dereck, you are the person I trust most in this world.”

While Dereck hesitated, not knowing how to respond, Ellen stood up, leaned forward, and looked at him intently.

“And I am Belmierd.”

Her seductive smile was full of meaning.

No matter what the Duke of Beltus tried, Belmierd would not stand idly by.

That was practically like winning a thousand allies, but even so, it remained unclear what kind of moves the Grand Duke would make.

“Miss Ellen, thank you for saying that…”

“Yes! Exactly!”

Aiselin, who had remained quiet, suddenly interrupted with a sharp, nervous voice.

“I-it’s true! Lady Ellen’s words are very encouraging for us in the Barony of Ravenclaw.”

“For us?”

“For us…!”

“…”

With eyes narrowed, Ellen sighed and sat back down.

“In any case, it is still unknown what measures Grand Duke Beltus will take. When he crushed Baron Rotoel, he only dedicated himself to spreading slander and rumors to ruin his reputation. But when he destroyed Lady Crella and Baron Bilton, he imposed border tariffs on them and incited their servants to betray them. It was truly despicable.”

“Despicable.” Using that word to describe the leader of one of the three great families of the southwest was an act of insolence.

Ellen would never make such a mistake. On the contrary, she did it deliberately to make her position clear to Dereck.

It was her way of showing she was on his side; by insulting a common enemy together, the bond between allies naturally strengthened.

“It’s something few know, but he has also instigated assassinations or kidnappings of family members to use them as threats. It’s an old story, but unpleasant to hear. If he finds an excuse, he might even resort to military action. He’s the type of person who would do it.”

“…”

The fact that Aiselin lowered her head without surprise made it clear that the rumor was already well-known among the high nobility.

Grand Duke Beltus was desperate to maintain his power. Once someone fell into disgrace, something inevitably happened.

“If they are just rumors, Lady Aiselin and I can handle them; we have influence in social circles. But if it goes beyond that, Dereck, your reaction will be crucial.”

“B-but Dereck has a lot of experience as a mercenary, right? He wouldn’t easily fall for a simple assassination attempt. He might even track down the responsible party.”

“That’s right, Lady Aiselin. But the problem is that Grand Duke Beltus is not ignorant of that fact.”

With a serious expression, Ellen stood up and walked toward the parlor window.

In her field of vision, she saw a silver-haired girl being led by servants from the central garden toward the main building.

Her elegant gait, with her loose silver-gray hair waving freely, made it clear she was coming to greet Aiselin upon hearing of her arrival.

Her name was Denise, and she was one of Grand Duke Beltus’s most capable employees.

Ellen’s eyes narrowed even further.

Dereck trusted Denise a lot, but Ellen did not.

“Then, what would be the most extreme measure the Grand Duke Beltus could take?” Aiselin asked, her face tense.

“Whether it’s an assassination or a kidnapping, trying something direct against Dereck wouldn’t be prudent. If he acts, he will probably attack someone close to him. Someone whose disappearance wouldn’t cause too much of a stir, but whose loss would deeply affect Dereck emotionally; someone like…”

Aiselin swallowed hard.

It seemed both she and Ellen thought of the same person at the same time.

The person officially closest to Dereck.

Someone whose status was not high enough to provoke retaliation if touched, but whose safety Dereck cared deeply about: there was only one possible candidate.

A moment of silence.

The worried faces of Ellen and Aiselin.

And in the midst of that tension, Dereck finally spoke in a low voice, while a drop of sweat rolled down his temple.

“That… wouldn’t be a very wise decision…”

***

“Ugh, I’m getting drunk…”

After completing the subjugation of the harpies in the Roben Mountains, Pheline, who had returned to the Tears of Beldern tavern after a long time, was slumped over the counter, letting out pitiful groans while drinking mead.

The place was almost empty, as closing time was approaching.

A few mercenaries were still drinking beer and cursing, while at a table in the back, a suspicious group in cloaks watched Pheline.

The tavern owner, Jayden, had already gone to prepare for closing.

It was night, the time when even the moon seemed ready to sleep.

In the midst of the tavern’s bustle, if a drunk girl were bewitched with a confusion spell and disappeared into the dark streets, few would notice.

Three hooded men approached the counter where Pheline continued to groan.

They watched her from behind as she hummed an unknown melody, and just as one of them was about to put a hand on her shoulder…

*Thud!*

Without warning, a dagger plunged into his shoulder.

Blood splattered the air.

“What…?!”

The man reacted, but a sharp pain pierced his shoulder.

The blow had been calculated with precision not to be fatal, but the pain that followed was anything but merciful.

“Uf, uf!”

“Do you want to die?”

Below the bloody shoulder, a pair of red eyes glowed.

She had the delicate appearance of a noble, but beneath that skin hid a bloodthirsty wolf.

She was a companion who had shared half her life with Dereck on the battlefield, surviving in the brutal mercenary world without a single scar.

A beast raised in the streets is born with a sixth sense for detecting hostility.

Proof of this was how Pheline, without giving them time to react, kicked the hooded men in the face.

*Crash! Bang!*

One of the burly men was thrown against the counter and rolled across the floor with a loud thud.

The bloody dagger was still trembling, embedded in his shoulder.

The other two, still standing, looked at her with trembling eyes.

Pheline, swaying from drunkenness, leaned on the counter to steady herself as her eyes began to glow again.

“Ugh… I already feel dizzy…”

She was officially the consort of Baron Ravenclaw, and if she dressed properly, she could look like an elegant and refined lady.

However, in reality, the number of lives she had taken far exceeded a dozen.

Killer intent was already part of her being, clinging to the corners of her eyes like a ghostly aura.

Surviving in the underworld was, in a way, completely natural.