Chapter 136

Chapter 136
## Chapter 136
“We shall meet again after the winter, Lady Aiselin.”

With Lady Rointel’s farewell, the first semester of the Ravenclaw Training Center came to a flawless conclusion.

Due to a serious external incident, Dereck had been unable to assume his post as an instructor, but since he had performed some work during the semester, it did not become a major issue.

The landscape of the Ravenclaw estate, once carpeted with fallen leaves, began to take on a more desolate appearance.

Although it was a place filled with young nobles who passed the time in their own way, it remained difficult to endure the harsh winter in such a remote barony.

When winter ended and the weather began to soften, more nobles visited the Ravenclaw Academy.

“We won’t be able to manage next semester with this amount of staff.”

The classes taught during this semester had already received considerable recognition, and rumors were spreading among the nobility of Ebelstein.

If things were already like this since the first semester, when everything was still new, it is possible they might truly need to expand the center.

‘Well, that is something I can consider gradually during the winter… I should rest too.’

As she watched Lady Rointel return home, Aiselin silently contemplated the empty campus.

“…”

Dereck was absent, as he was urgently dealing with the conflict against Duke Beltus.

Since the Ravenclaw Center had to continue operating, it was logical for Aiselin to remain on the estate.

And so, after fulfilling her assigned duties, only the empty barony remained.

*Whistle.*

When a place that was always full of people becomes completely empty, sometimes an inexplicable sense of loneliness arises.

Especially in winter, when not even leaves remain on the ground and bare branches begin to show.

“Now that I see it clearly… we really have grown too much…”

As if she had regained some lucidity, Aiselin sighed deeply while contemplating the estate.

If one were to observe the barony calmly, one might start to wonder if it could truly be called that anymore.

The main building of the center, situated at the most strategic point, was undoubtedly where Dereck lived. All the staff in service to Baron Ravenclaw resided there, and all residential dependencies were concentrated in that spot.

But the rest of the buildings existed solely for the center; it was inevitable to wonder if this was truly the private residence of a noble.

She had heard that Count Elvester, at the eastern edge of the continent, had also converted his domain into a cultural center for the society of that region.

But she had never imagined that the Ravenclaw barony would end up becoming something similar.

“I feel like I am quite to blame for how all of this turned out…”

It wasn’t just a feeling. It was a fact.

With a strange sense of responsibility, Aiselin was about to cross the garden.

“…Oh.”

In a corner of the garden, there was a girl sitting, her ash-gray hair falling down her back.

Most of the young noble ladies had already returned home. It was too difficult to endure such a harsh winter in the baron’s residence.

However, the girl was not wearing a coat, as if even this cold felt warm to her.

It was understandable. She came from the territory of Rochester, located in the heart of the snowy fields of the north.

“Miss Siern. You are outside.”

“…”

Siern had begun to acquire a basic air of dignity, but the peculiar wild nature that inhabited her showed no signs of fading.

Living in Dereck’s mansion had tempered her indomitable character to some extent. However, lately, she had been looking more moody and complaining more frequently, and the reason was easy to guess.

Dereck was so busy that he couldn’t pay attention to her.

That was, essentially, the whole problem.

Siern felt a kind of possessiveness toward Dereck, and seeing so many people flocking to the Ravenclaw Center as his students, she had inadvertently accumulated a lot of frustration.

Aiselin, accustomed to Siern’s childish behavior, sat beside her with a sweet smile.

“Mr. Dereck seems to be very busy.”

“Yes. I thought I could learn a lot after leaving the Rochester territory…”

“Don’t worry. During the winter, this residence will be empty, so Sir Dereck will have plenty of free time.”

When Aiselin patted her shoulder, Siern stopped pouting and let out a deep sigh.

Apparently, she was not unaware that Dereck was involved in something important.

From time to time, Siern would stare toward the western sky from the rooftop of the mansion, in the direction of the Beltus estate, where Dereck had headed with his key staff.

When asked what she was looking at, she would reply that she felt an immense and indescribable magical energy emanating from that direction.

A mutant among mutants, heir to the blood of the great demon Noir.

If she could perceive such magical energy, its nature and magnitude must be truly extraordinary.

“…I am uneasy, sister Aiselin.”

“Don’t worry, Lady Siern. Sir Dereck is strong and wise; he won’t suffer any serious harm.”

“No, it’s not that…”

“…?”

Siern hugged her knees, pouted, and muttered indifferently.

“I have a feeling that… he might bring someone back…”

“…”

No matter how it was interpreted, that was seeing Dereck as far too flirtatious.

Aiselin wanted to rebut her, but the truth is that human relationships rarely develop as one desires.

“…Surely not.”

Delbriton, the head butler who had been attending to Siern from behind, shook his head.

No matter how chaotic the situation was, there were limits.

Things were already complicated enough with Lady Ellen —formerly known as Ellen— so thinking he would add someone else was inconceivable.

However.

Siern’s intuition was often surprisingly accurate.

For that reason, both Aiselin and Delbriton couldn’t help but swallow hard.

***

“…”

The woman’s senses, extremely sharp, were so precise that, on occasion, they demonstrated a capacity close to telepathy.

There were times when a sudden sense of foreboding appeared in her mind, loudly ringing internal alarms, and that was precisely the sense of crisis felt by Ellente, of the County of Belmierd.

The mansion of Duke Beltus.

Among the various forces that had come to support Dereck, Ellen, the future lady of Belmierd, was the first to arrive at the scene, with the exception of Countess Rodelia.

Despite wearing a beautiful dress, she handled her horse with great skill.

It was a very different image from the one she usually projected: sitting elegantly inside a luxurious carriage.

Given her talent in all areas, it was not difficult for her to advance through the forest, where even visibility was not guaranteed, while leading her troops.

However, the first thing she saw when crossing the north gate of the Beltus mansion was Denise, her face strangely flushed, entering the estate behind Dereck.

“You have arrived, Lady Ellen. As you can see, the mansion grounds are almost cleared. But we cannot enter the main building. An archlich is blocking the main hall, and other high-ranking monsters are guarding the mansion.”

Dereck gave a brief report while checking the number of soldiers coming from the Belmierd territory.

While Ellen advanced with her troops toward Beltus, he seemed to have carried out a series of tasks within the mansion.

For some reason, Denise was blushing and looking sideways, and the legendary mercenary captain Orel was also by his side, surprisingly on friendly terms.

In such a short time, Dereck had subdued those showing hostility and persuaded those who could be persuaded.

While his efficiency was impressive, it was almost too fast to be real.

“I see. Dereck, you seem to have many wounds. Shouldn’t you look after yourself first…?”

“I’m fine. The situation is too urgent to rest. Once we have subdued the Beltus main house, I will have time to do so.”

Dereck’s expression as he said that was not exactly relaxed. And it would have been strange if it were.

The souls spiraling into the sky just above the Beltus main house were like flashes of hell itself.

Demons roaring and spitting monsters, the sounds of battle coming from all directions… talking about relaxation in such an environment was absurd.

“I am Orel. I am in charge of security at the Beltus mansion. It is an honor to meet the future lady of Belmierd in person.”

“I have heard you were Emperor Guttrel’s most trusted commander. I regret not being able to show proper courtesy in the middle of a battlefield.”

“Of course. As you can see, the situation of the duchy is chaotic. This is no time for trivial talk.”

Ellen nimbly dismounted from her horse and joined the other three beside Dereck.

Denise had several scratches, Robenalt was completely unconscious and was being carried piggyback by Orel, and Dereck looked quite exhausted.

‘I said I would face Beltus, but I didn’t think it would end like this. Necromancy…’

Ellen swallowed hard and looked at the main house, turned into a hellish scene.

Dereck had told her in advance that there would be a confrontation with Duke Beltus, but she never imagined something like this would happen.

The idea that Dereck had used necromancy to corrupt Duke Beltus simply made no sense.

Especially for Ellen, who had seen him defeat Leonard and hunt necromancers alongside Countess Rodelia at the Belmierd mansion.

“The situation has become quite peculiar, Dereck.”

“Even so, the task does not change.”

Dereck decided not to mention Fina’s massacre to those around him.

Imagining that uncontrollable necromancer punishing Duke Beltus just to “properly educate a beloved disciple”… would only complicate things further.

However, it was different with Denise.

She had been directly involved and could deduce that Dereck was involved in something related to necromancy.

Furthermore, the ornament that had given rise to all of this was a gift that Fina had personally given to Denise.

But for now, Denise remained silent.

She looked at Dereck and then at Ellen, narrowing her eyes.

‘For now, it’s better not to say anything.’

Mainly because, if Dereck had not intervened, the result would have been disastrous.

Denise had challenged Duke Beltus at a critical moment, just before receiving severe punishment.

Many high-ranking vassals and collateral members had been executed for opposing Duke Beltus.

The probability of her surviving was practically zero.

Paradoxically, were it not for Dereck, Denise’s fate would have been terrible.

Even so, Denise remained surprisingly calm.

She had never felt an attachment to the Beltus family.

In a relationship where one is only used and uses others, family affection cannot be born.

Duke Beltus had never shown Denise even a hint of genuine affection.

‘Dereck is keeping a secret.’

Denise’s thoughts churned restlessly.

That baron from the outskirts, apparently obsessed only with magic, was hiding something.

An important secret that neither Aiselin nor Ellen knew, and that he would never reveal, even if he opened his heart.

She was the one closest to that secret.

And if she was the only one who could get close to something so deep.

‘…’

The moment she realized she felt a rivalry with Aiselin and Ellen, Denise understood she had gone too far.

But the surge of self-reproach that followed was something only she could face alone.

“Miss Denise… you seem to have many things on your mind.”

The sudden voice brought her back to reality.

She blinked, looked up, and saw Ellen watching her with an expression loaded with meaning.

Denise, unusually nervous, swallowed hard.

“Yes… I’m sorry, Lady Ellen. As you can see, the family situation is chaotic. It’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed.”

“I understand. That’s why we must first focus on resolving the immediate problem. We will reclaim the Beltus main house and then carefully examine everything that has happened.”

Perceiving Ellen’s strange hostility, Denise swallowed several times.

In fact, she now understood why Aiselin always seemed strangely intimidated whenever she saw Ellen.

Ellen had a commanding presence that overwhelmed anyone with a troubled conscience.

Why did it hurt so much?

It was obvious.

And it is also impossible to deny it now.

Denise had fallen in love with Dereck.

Realizing this, the hostility Ellen radiated toward Denise could only be of a very specific kind.

Denise, the one who always seemed indifferent, always resting her chin on her hand, showing no interest in anything.

No one knew how she would react once she stood up and took something seriously.

If Denise were to become a rival in that sense, she would be a fearsome enemy, far more formidable than Aiselin.

Ellen lowered her gaze slightly and stepped closer.

A piercing and firm aura began to emanate from her.

Denise swallowed dryly.