Chapter 40

Chapter 40
## Chapter 40

Aiselin was disappointed.

Since returning home to Ebelstein, the servants had been worried by the constant sadness on her face, even though she did her best to force a smile.

It was the first time someone had openly rejected her.

“Miss Aiselin, there is nothing you can learn from me.”

Dereck’s words were heavy with meaning.

Young women whose magic skills had not yet fully matured usually possessed infinite potential. However, Aiselin already had her own magic world. Her growth followed a curve modeled after the paradigm of noble magic based on rules.

Dereck, a mage from the wild academy with an unrestrained use of magic power, might even hinder her development.

Although she agreed with Dereck’s assessment, she could not easily accept it.

‘Now that I think about it, I have always followed the path of truth.’

She had the feeling of looking at a bird outside its cage.

It is said that people long for what they lack. Aiselin, the girl who sparked everyone’s envy, ironically envied what others had: limitless freedom.

She didn’t have to look far. Her own younger sister, Diella, was the personification of that freedom.

The young painter, who captured scenes of the world with carefree splashes of paint on the canvas, used magic with the same freedom, just like Dereck. Born into a noble family, but having assimilated the customs of the wild academy in the use of her magic, she seemed to have entered a realm beyond Aiselin’s reach.

‘I want to experience magic outside the system too…’

Aiselin reflected to herself, looking out the window. From her mansion atop the hill, one could contemplate the vast expanse of Ebelstein.

From the luxurious and majestic noble district to the places where commoners struggled to survive, and beyond the city walls, plains and granaries stretched as far as the eye could see.

The world was so large, yet Aiselin could count on the fingers of one hand the times she had ventured beyond her cradle. Being born in the highest position prevented her from descending to lower strata. That was the girl’s position.

“A letter has arrived from the main house. Prince Valerian will hold his farewell ceremony next week. Lord Raeg will accompany him, so it seems it will be a most solemn event.”

“Yes, I had heard. It is the first farewell ceremony for Valerian’s younger brother, so I must prepare a good gift…”

After hearing the news from the main house, Aiselin took a deep breath and tried to organize her confused thoughts.

The story of the eldest son and the second son of the Duplain family, who set out to conquer the White Labyrinth to the north of their domain, had reached Ebelstein. The Duke of Duplain had entrusted the long-awaited pioneering project of the white region to his two most loyal sons.

The white region was full of dangerous labyrinths. It was believed to harbor all kinds of undiscovered treasures. Rumors abounded, especially about relics related to ancient necromancy and the staff of Rosin, the five-star summoner, which supposedly lay dormant within.

Hoping to receive good news from her two brothers, she thought about choosing a good gift for their return.

“I must visit the market. It is an important gift, so I must see it and choose it myself.”

Aiselin rose from her seat, gathering the hem of her pale blue dress. She was too busy to sit around lamenting.

***

“Isn’t that the seal of the Duplain family? Are you under the protection of the Duplains?”

“It’s not exactly protection… I have received a commission from that family. It is a token of their gratitude.”

Dereck showed the shopkeeper of the noble quarter the seal he had received from Valerian. He had to run some errands before heading to Denise’s mansion today.

“Since that is Prince Valerian’s crest, you must have received it directly from him… I can show you exclusive items from the Duplain collection.”

Ebelstein’s noble quarter.

The atmosphere was completely different from that of the popular market. Everywhere one saw antique rugs and curtains, the shops were scented with aromatic candles, and the products on display were always impeccable.

Food, magic equipment, armor, clothing, books… there wasn’t a speck of dust on anything. Considering the amount of dust that had to be cleaned in the popular market, the difference was abysmal. In a corner of this market, the Duplain seal was exhibited. The merchant’s eyes widened in amazement.

The man he had taken for a simple mercenary turned out to have ties to the Duplain family.

Merchants lived and died by their contacts. If there was a possibility of maintaining even the slightest relationship with such a noble house, they were willing to offer anything.

“I want to buy some magic items. Do you also have wands or staves?”

“We have many magic items, but of course, only the most expensive wands and staves. Can you afford items that even nobles buy with piles of gold?”

“Hmm… first I need to see the prices.”

Dereck followed the shopkeeper to a back room, apparently reserved for VIPs. Even the items outside were of the highest quality, but the further they went in, the more exclusive they became. It seemed that the shopkeeper’s personal collection was also on display.

“Oho…”

Dereck’s eyes lit up as he entered the inner sanctuary of the noble quarter shop.

A cloak that boosted magic flow, a potion that restored mana instantly, even a rare three-star spellbook—everything was on display. The merchant, proud of his treasure, must have felt satisfied. While Dereck browsed with interest, the plump shopkeeper smiled with pride.

“The Duke of Duplain has visited us once or twice. He himself gave a generous assessment of these valuable objects. It is hard to find treasures like these anywhere else.”

“How much does a wand or a staff cost?”

“Currently we only have two for sale: ‘The Eye of Salas,’ from the Alronde Academy in the Northern Continent, and ‘Andante,’ from the Drest Academy in the Southwest. One is a magic wand and the other a staff. Both are worth hundreds of gold coins, the price of a decent house.”

Magic weapons usually had unique names, especially since renowned transmutation mages dedicated all their effort and passion to creating them.

Alchemists and magic weapon makers—those who created elemental and mana stones—took great pride in their creations, which they often called “masterpieces.” For this reason, the most famous transmutation mages gave distinctive names to their works.

While it was unfortunate to see great names associated with mediocre works, famous creations were the subject of long discussions, which enhanced the reputation of their creators.

The most famous wand was “Dawn,” created by the five-star transmutation mage Dalrock, and the most famous staff was “Light of the Empire,” forged by the six-star transmutation mage Cohella.

“Dawn” was known to be in the possession of Lord Melverot of the North, and “Light of the Empire” belonged to Emperor Gertrel. Both were unattainable dreams.

“I don’t aspire to something of that caliber… but even the wands here are extremely expensive.”

Magic weapons were objects that had to be handled more effectively by three-star mages or higher. Although they were scarce, those who sought them were formidable figures. It was no wonder the prices were astronomical.

“I know they are expensive, but seeing them in person… I just don’t dare buy them.”

Dereck nodded repeatedly, silently contemplating the majestic wand. Owning a magic weapon could lead to greater magic feats. Now that he had reached the three-star threshold, Dereck felt a growing longing for a magic weapon.

As he contemplated the weapons on display, Dereck reflected and left the shop; it was time for his next appointment.

***

Knock, knock, knock.

Dereck walked briskly through the grounds of Denise’s estate, located at the far end of Ebelstein’s noble district.

The private estate of a third-generation noble lady usually had luxurious hallways. Ellen’s estate was so packed with artworks that it was hard to tell if it was a residence or a museum.

However, Denise’s property turned out to be extremely simple. The room gave the strong impression of being equipped only with essentials, reflecting the woman’s style of reducing unnecessary expenses.

Dereck walked heavily down the hall, followed by Bella, who had a worried expression. Bella, the maid who had been in Denise’s service the longest, asked Dereck to slow down with a worried tone, but he ignored her.

Instead, the servants of the estate were on high alert around Dereck. After all, he held a position of trust. Dereck was a talent that the Beltus family personally sought out and hired, asking him to join them.

They hadn’t asked him, they had begged him, and he had agreed. He didn’t have to pay attention to anyone.

Even Denise herself had gone to the Raspah cave, begging Dereck to teach her even just once. That fact would not change, no matter what regrets arose later.

“It is prudent to maintain close relations with a third-generation noble family. Depending on how events unfold, some will fall into disgrace, while others will rise.”

However, it is not necessary to swear absolute loyalty to a single place. The best thing is to make them miss you by playing your cards well. That way, your value increases and you gain wide recognition.

That was the advice given to him by his mentor, Drest Wolftail. While carefully examining future implications, he advised Dereck, a mage of humble origin, to interact with nobles, as he knew their customs very well.

“If you don’t hate nobles too much, there’s nothing wrong with getting close to them.”

Even the Duke of Duplain overlooked Dereck’s magic prowess. No matter how extraordinary a commoner’s magic skills were, if he maintained good relations with noble families, he would not be treated as an open enemy.

Especially regarding the three most important noble families, the implications were significant. If you owed them something and became their benefactor, they were more likely to become powerful allies than future threats. Therefore, if you wanted to expand your magic world, it was prudent to maintain good relations with the nobility.

In the end, there was only one way for an ordinary mage to reach higher realms without obstacles: to have a high-ranking noble sponsor, one whom even other nobles feared.

Dereck already knew the Duplain and Belmierd families. Only the Beltus family remained. His insistence on teaching Lady Denise was largely due to this. But it wasn’t the only reason.

“I hate magic.”

Denise was only beginning to catch a glimpse of the limit of magic discipline, considering the deep world of magic simply as a tool for boring rulers to flaunt. Dereck found her perspective extremely unpleasant.

Did that hurt his pride? If asked, Dereck would admit it did. Arguing in front of someone who has been immersed in magic all day that magic is nothing special is enough to make anyone’s blood boil.

How many lives had he lived to debate nihilism with someone whose worldview was so distant? The privilege of talking about the futility of life and wasted time belonged to people like Drest, who had lived turbulent lives.

Having experienced disappointments on numerous occasions, he wanted to correct the girl’s cynical view of the world. Poor Denise, oblivious to the depth and beauty of magic. For that reason, Dereck now radiated a burning determination for the first time in a long time.

“Walk with difficulty, walk with difficulty, walk with difficulty.”

Dereck advanced decisively toward the heart of Denise’s mansion, climbed the central staircase of the main hall, approached her bedroom—where she was likely still sleeping—and knocked on the door.

“Lady Denise usually sleeps late in the mornings. She must still be sound asleep…”

“I see.”

Click.

And Dereck, unfazed, opened the door and entered.

The image of Denise sleeping soundly in the dark behind heavy curtains immediately caught his attention. Her silver-gray hair spread out like a blanket, her breathing was soft and steady, a half-finished romance novel was by her side; she looked like a sleeping little bird.

Seeing how her lips moved slightly, as if she were enjoying a pleasant dream, anyone could say she looked like a normal girl her age. Without hesitation, Dereck stepped in and shouted.

“Wake up! Wake up! The sun is already high in the sky, my lady!”

“Kyaaak!”

If he wanted to turn Denise into a better person, he had to start by getting her to get up earlier. Undeterred, Dereck raised his voice and entered the room, throwing open the heavy curtains.

The bright light of day flooded Denise’s dark room mercilessly.

“Kyahak! It’s blinding! What… what is this?!”

“We’re going to air out the room and let the sun in this morning! Are we creatures of darkness?”

“Dereck?! What is this?! Oh, it’s the weekend! There’s no need to go to Rose Hall or any academic meeting!”

“Yes, it’s the weekend. But the sun is already high; we can’t keep sleeping, can we?”

“Aren’t weekends for resting?”

Dereck ignored Denise’s sharp tone.

The news had reached the Duke of Beltus, and his official letter of authorization had already arrived. At that moment, Dereck’s employer was no longer Denise, but the Duke himself.

“Yes. We should rest on weekends. I’m not saying we shouldn’t, Lady Denise.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“Even while resting, we should do at least the basics. Get some sun, get up early to exercise, and complete basic tasks. Isn’t that revitalizing?”

“…”

Isn’t it simply about doing the basics well? I may be your instructor, but I’m also human. As long as we stick to the basics, there’s no problem, right?

Denise already felt her mind clouding over. The sun was high, but for her, it might as well have been midnight. For Denise, who used to spend weekends sleeping all day or reading romance novels, Dereck’s disciplined lifestyle was poison.

“Dereck, you work as a magic instructor, right? You can’t just dictate my life like this…!”

“Miss Denise, do you know what the basis of magic is? It begins with a healthy body and mind! I am your magic instructor and I will do whatever it takes for your magic progress.”

“That logic, of fixing it wherever you feel like it, is not going to work with me…!”

Before she could finish, Dereck placed the Duke’s letter on the table. She herself had recommended him, and he had been appointed her instructor with the Duke’s official approval.

Who made the recommendation? Denise herself.

Her face turned pale.

“We will review today’s schedule. First, get up and have breakfast; then, we will review your exploration magic level. You also need to train in elemental combat magic, so we will start with basic mana training, and in the afternoon there will be physical training. Physical strength is the foundation of everything.”

“…You made a schedule?”

“When I do something, I do it right. The afternoon schedule is also ready; please take a look.”

The curriculum was so demanding that even the ambitious and diligent Ellen had felt exhausted by it. Of course, he wouldn’t demand such a rigorous schedule from Denise as he had from Ellen, but for Denise, that already felt like the gates of hell.

“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to do all this alone. I will be with you, giving my best. Let’s fight together to become high-level mages. Having a steady pace by your side is a great support, and I will show you how much that means.”

“Dereck… I’m sorry… I was too pushy at the Raspah Cave, right? I already apologized, but this time, I do it from my heart. I respect your intentions and I think they are noble. So, would you accept my apologies…?”

“Apologies? Why apologize? It is not fitting for a lady of the Beltus family to bow so easily to a commoner. Please, behave as befits your status. A noble lady must always maintain her dignity.”

Dereck’s eyes were already full of madness.

Denise realized that this boy was not motivated by a single goal, like getting an apology or crushing her pride. Those concerns didn’t even cross his mind. He was simply fulfilling his duty.

And so, guided by Dereck’s hand, Denise left her room, finished breakfast, and began her magic training. There was no way to refuse. Dereck had been officially recognized and accepted as her instructor by the Duke of Beltus himself. Not even the servants could stop him.

The boy, absorbed in his determination to correctly recite the depth and wonder of magic, paid no attention to Denise’s face, which looked more and more like that of a dying corpse.

“Miss Denise, try to imagine the sensation of channeling your mana. It may be exhausting, but if you practice all day, you will succeed several times.”

“Today we will run through the mansion gardens. As I said, physical strength is the foundation of everything. Don’t worry, I’ll run with you. You won’t be alone.”

“Romance novels are fine, but it would be better to review a book on the history of mages in the coming days. I will give you an exam on the content in tomorrow’s class. It won’t be much, just the period from the Alant War to the Dawn War. I will show you which parts you must memorize.”

“Tomorrow we will also begin basic training in transformation magic. It won’t be very difficult. But since it involves a lot of repetition, you will need to stay focused for about three or four hours. Please make sure to get a good night’s sleep.”

When she realized it, the sun had set and the moon had risen. Obviously, the whole day had passed, but she had barely noticed.

Denise lay in bed, her whole body aching. Bella brought her a cup of herbal tea, known for its restorative effects, her face full of concern.

“Bella… I can’t breathe…”

“Are you all right, Lady Denise? You should stretch your muscles before going to bed, or they will hurt tomorrow.”

“I can’t go on like this. Being in the sun all day… my body will burn like smoke…”

“Miss Denise…”

Bella wanted to say that people didn’t die so easily, but fearing that would only make things worse, she bowed her head in silence.

“We have to get rid of that crazy magic teacher somehow. Even if it means reviewing documents… as soon as possible…”

“Well… as I said, since this matter has been communicated to the Duke of Beltus, the authority to dismiss him now rests with His Grace.”

“Then I’ll have to appeal to my father…”

“…”

Bella’s expression darkened. Denise felt she understood what that really meant.

Dereck was a highly coveted talent by the three great families. The Beltus family had acquired him at great value, and the Duke of Beltus would not let him go easily. He was sensitive to the tension between the noble houses.

If Dereck caused trouble or committed a crime, there might be grounds for his dismissal. But Dereck, a man of integrity, only demanded what was healthy and appropriate.

The most terrifying people in the world were those who told the truth, because they could not be refuted.

Creak.

At that moment, Dereck opened the door to Denise’s room again. Despite having spent the entire day supervising her magic and accompanying her in physical training, Dereck showed no sign of fatigue.

***

Meanwhile, Denise was already half a corpse.

“Lady Denise.”

“Eek…! Wh-what now?! Why haven’t you left?! It’s night!”

Denise curled up in bed, hugging her knees. She was trembling like a little bird that has lost its mother.

“Is there still more?! Haven’t I worked enough today…?!”

“Ah, of course, we’re finished for today. It’s not good for your health to overdo it.”

“Really…?”

“I will review tomorrow morning’s schedule and then return to my room. Tomorrow, before dawn, we will begin working with mana infused with yin energy, so please wake up before sunrise. Understanding its subtle nuances will be invaluable later on.”

“…”

“Don’t worry about oversleeping. I’ll come wake you up early. If you sleep now, you’ll rest for five hours straight.”

Dereck clenched his fist in a sign of encouragement.

“Let’s give our best tomorrow too! Keep it up!”

With that burning determination, Dereck politely said goodnight and left. Of course, with his iron stamina, he would return before dawn, so it was only a rest of a few hours.

“…”

It was already too late to dismiss him. The Duke of Beltus would never allow it. She should have realized sooner: while hiring him had been her decision, firing him was no longer under her control.

Denise wanted to die.