Chapter 47

Chapter 47
## Chapter 47
Courage (1)

Jayden was, at times, a man who wielded a greatsword and marched into battle.

He could spend his days idling away, polishing glasses in a corner of the tavern without any trouble earning a living, but he harbored ambitions.

The Dawn War, which broke out when the gigantic monster of the north, Zvet, emerged from a labyrinth.

Since then, after wandering through countless battlefields, he found peace only amidst a sea of blood, not in the home where he was born and raised.

“During my youth, I made my living by the sword, dedicating my life to the battlefield without companions or worthy descendants. To me, my friends were my family.”

That is why it was not strange for him to harbor the ambition of forming a respectable mercenary group. The battlefield was part of his life; his goal was to gather and retain as many wandering souls as possible.

However, life on the battlefield was like walking a tightrope and could end at any moment. He had seen many comrades lose their sanity.

“This time it almost hit my neck. Luckily, I only lost an arm. It seems my luck hasn’t run out yet, hahaha.”

“Boss, you are a veteran. I never imagined the White Zone Labyrinth would be so dangerous.”

“I was ambushed by a giant sandstorm worm hiding underground. If I had been closer to the wall, it would have blown my head off in a single blow.”

“A sand worm appeared?”

Even during the horrific Dawn War, they were among the monsters that claimed the most lives.

To the sand worms swimming underground, humans entering subterranean labyrinths were nothing more than prey walking voluntarily into their maws.

“Even so, I managed to cut its neck properly. After getting my revenge, I felt peace in my heart.”

“You’ve handled it well… It’s a serious injury, and the aftereffects will be significant. It’s incredible that you can laugh in a situation like this.”

“I’m not very amused, because I’ll have to close the tavern and rest. But it’s better than not getting revenge at all.”

Jayden was a man who could laugh out loud even after losing an arm.
Dereck looked at Pheline, who shook her head in disbelief.

Even at his age, Jayden’s desire to traverse the battlefield was admirable, but it was inevitable to worry about such a serious injury.

“Lately, since the Duplain family began leading the clearing of the White Zone, other nobles have been sending more expedition requests, Dereck.”

That seemed to be Jayden’s main point.

The official clearing of the White Zone was led by the troops of the Duplain family. However, as new areas opened up, other factions began to emerge.

Great houses like the Beltus family grew excited at the prospect of conquering the White Zone, but they needed permission from the Duplains to proceed. The situation was different for lesser nobles and mercenary groups.

They began exploring smaller labyrinths on the fringes of the White Zone, using the routes opened by the Duplains.

Controlling these groups was not easy, and the Duplains did not interfere in minor movements, especially when it wasn’t necessary, which often had unfavorable consequences.

Adventurers with questionable skills who ventured into the White Zone often lost their lives.

Even Jayden, a survivor of countless battles, had to sacrifice his arm in that dangerous labyrinth. If luck was not on their side, those who dreamed of easy riches found only a grave.

“Dereck, if they ask you to explore the White Zone, refuse. I’ve seen it with my own eyes: something isn’t right. We need to observe the situation for a while.”

What do you mean by “go”?

“I’ve visited almost every labyrinth since the Dawn War, but I’ve never stumbled upon one so unstable and unpredictable. Unless you use troops with four-star mages like the Duplains and advance in large numbers… practically no labyrinth is penetrable for adventurers.”

He had read much in books about the dying vegetation and the fetid aura of the White Zone.

Dereck leaned his chin on his hand, listening intently to Jayden’s words.

“I couldn’t stand to see you die, Dereck.”

“…”

Even without an arm, Jayden continued to speak nonsense. That’s how he was: a hardened old mercenary.

***

A golden opportunity like this, without the presence of Dereck, was something exceptional.

Denise sent a letter to the Duplain family through Bella, her most loyal maid. Alone in the mansion garden, she sat with a satisfied smile on her face, enjoying the unusual silence.

After reading the letter, Diella might hesitate, but in the end, she would undoubtedly challenge Denise to a magic duel. After all, Diella would gamble everything to take Dereck away.

Thus, the plan consisted of intentionally losing the duel; a bitter and painful act, but a promise was a promise, and Dereck would be handed over.

In that way, she could reclaim those days of peace.

It meant, finally, escaping the magic instructor who, even with the slightest push, constantly had her under his thumb all day long.

“The guilt of having lost the most promising magic instructor in the Ebelstain social circle… is inevitable, but I will bear it. I’ll have to earn a similar reward at another time.”

Although the plan was laid out, a persistent tightness tormented her. Time passed until nightfall, and the sky was tinted with tranquil clouds drifting around her.

With the arrival of summer, the center of the garden grew warm, occasionally attracting insects.

Even so, Denise remained outside, contemplating the sky instead of seeking refuge indoors.

“Does a day really last this long?” she reflected, feeling the contrast with the last few days that had flown by like arrows.

Without Bella and Dereck, her faithful companions, the silence felt even deeper. They had always been there to talk to her.

Bella exchanged lighthearted jokes, while Dereck grumbled or uttered ominous prophecies.

After a day full of chaos, now alone in her free time, old memories stored deep in her subconscious began to surface: memories of the past.

The elders of the Beltus family stroked her hair and smiled. They rejoiced at her magical achievements, saying she would one day be the pride of the family, and their wrinkles deepened with joy.

The noble ladies competed to speak with her, even going as far as to fight among themselves.

The incompetent heir, Robenalt, felt inferior and envious of his skilled sister, but in the end, he admitted it sincerely.

Since she was a child, she had seen notes from her mother hidden among magic books:

“Always loved, the pride of our Beltus family.”

The calligraphy radiated family pride.

“Actually, it makes no sense.”

Suddenly, Denise let out a bitter laugh, leaning back in the elegant wooden garden chair.

She knew perfectly well that all admiration could turn into disappointment with a single false step. She didn’t have to look far: other members of her family had already experienced it.

Countless prodigies who were once acclaimed had fallen into disgrace and disappeared into oblivion.

Hope always carried the possibility of disappointment. Denise only wanted to be free from that exhausting pressure. One cannot live on achievements alone.

Preparing for failure was fundamental for a stable life. The same applied to the expectations of others.

It wasn’t that nothing was expected of her, but it wasn’t a devotion bordering on worship either.

She didn’t lack achievements, but she wasn’t a heroine in her lineage either.

Not too much, not too little. Somewhere between the hot springs and the cold baths, in that incomprehensible warmth, Denise finally felt the desire to swim.

Suddenly, she remembered the noblest lady of the Duplain family, adored by all, who always stood tall.

“…”

Denise could never be like Aiselin.

Their fundamental mentalities were completely different.

“Sigh…”

Driven by a vague restlessness, Denise rose from her seat. She could have returned to her room and enjoyed her favorite books, but instead, she raised her hand toward the void, feeling a magical energy. That distance prompted her to manifest magic, if only once.

The magical energy in her fingers concentrated at a single point and then spread throughout her body. The magical flow that Dereck always emphasized. In truth, tuning into that sensation was Denise’s forte.

Born into the Beltus family, she never lacked innate magical power. What she lacked was technique and willpower. Denise’s greatest flaw was precisely her lack of will.

Dereck knew this well; that’s why he constantly pressured her. Once pressured, one had to start running, even if at a light pace. It is human physiology.

And once you started to jog, your body adapted. What someone like Denise needed was great consistency, even if she resisted until the end.

*Whistle.*

The magic emanating from Denise’s fingers began to fill the area. The hem of her beautiful dress fluttered and the surrounding grass swayed. Amidst that magical wave, Denise clenched her fist and thrust it forward.

“Oh, magical flow that observes all—”

Her silver-gray hair swayed several times. Soon, the magic formula Denise had fully prepared filled the atmosphere.

It was the second-level detection spell: “Vigilance.” It covered the area with circular magical energy, detecting any anomaly, magical fluctuation, or physical movement, overlooking nothing.

The range of this skill varied according to the mage’s skill. It was said that Drest, a six-star seeker mage, could cover several large castles.

Denise’s magic barely covered a corner of the garden. However, within that radius, anyone with a magical skill inferior to hers would be completely exposed.

The true value of detection magic lay in its informational superiority. Once caught in a seeker mage’s net, there was no escape.

“Gasp… Ah… I can… do it.”

Denise panted.

For her, manifesting a second-level spell was an arduous task.

It didn’t last long, so it was practically useless for surveillance. But the fact that she could do it was astonishing.

Had the duel not tilted completely in Aiselin’s favor simply because she cast the second-level spell “Fireball”? Denise could have done the same if she had exerted her maximum effort. But she chose not to show it.

That was the essence of Denise.

“Whew… Ah… It’s hard, but… at least this…”

“The outer layer of your magic formula is distorted. This will create a blind spot in your detection range.”

Denise almost stopped breathing.

Having cast her “Vigilance” spell, this area was her territory.

However, Dereck’s voice came from right behind her. Turning around, she saw him adjusting his clothes after finishing his task.

Even within a magic net like this, she had not perceived his presence at all.

“You… you… When did you get here…?”

“If you lose concentration, your magical energy will tangle and exhaust you faster. Maintain the spell.”

Denise tried to speak, but Dereck looked her straight in the eyes and took a step forward, releasing his own magic.

Although Denise had skillfully executed a second-level detection spell, Dereck showed no sign of confusion.

He had already evaluated Denise’s abilities in previous sessions.
He had known for a long time that she wasn’t using all her strength.

That’s why he kept pushing.

*Tighten!*

When Dereck closed his fist, Denise’s magic formula trembled.

The magical energy he unleashed made it difficult for her to maintain the spell.

He was deliberately interfering with her magic.

“In the end, detection spells usually face off against each other. Only a higher-level detection spell can counteract another.”

“Dereck… how… do you manipulate this magic formula…?”

“From now on, I will intentionally interfere with Lady Denise’s magic formula. The more you resist, the more you will strengthen your ability to withstand external interference.”

With another push from Dereck, her formula shook violently.

Denise, out of habit, mobilized the magical energy residing in her body to resist. But Dereck’s power did not diminish after a single confrontation.

When detection spells clashed, they competed to devour the other’s territory.

“I had heard that, in large-scale wars, battles between seeker mages for territory often determined the outcome of the battlefield.”

Until now, it had only been rumors, but facing an opponent who used magic so directly and powerfully was unprecedented for her.

Not even I, as an instructor, had participated in a magic combat with a noble lady like this before.

But the mercenary turned instructor knew nothing of such decorum.

Dereck was extremely pragmatic and did not revere Denise’s noble lineage.

To him, she was a noble lady who deserved basic polite treatment, but in essence, just another student. As their magics clashed, that truth became more evident.

Most nobles would have felt insulted, but, curiously, Denise’s lips curled into a smile.

“Don’t regret this.”

Denise deployed all her magic with sincere effort. After all, she didn’t have to show self-control before an instructor she would soon dismiss.

After a whole day of absence, she was determined to unleash her magic on the instructor who had just reappeared.

She rarely exerted her full power; perhaps once or twice a year at most.

Dereck accepted her magic with indifference.

It was the first time Denise had smiled during training.

***

“It’s strangely comforting when the trap is so blatantly obvious.”

In the quarters of the Duplain family.

Sitting alone, sharpening her magic senses, Diella snorted as she read Denise’s letter.

“I will bet something valuable and challenge you to a magic duel. I will lose on purpose.”

It was almost impossible for Diella to believe the story, but the content of the letter was completely sincere.

Denise had written the letter by hand under the open sky, overflowing with sincerity. But to Diella, always nervous as a porcupine, those lines sounded like a declaration of war.

In short, Denise seemed to pretend she would hand over Dereck by accepting the duel, only to defeat Diella, get what she wanted, and crush her pride. Diella, openly provoked in the Rose Hall, had likely irritated her deeply.

Diella was furious.

Since Dereck gave her the instructions, her anger had turned colder than any outburst of fury.

Her lips trembled slightly under her icy expression. Denise had blatantly wounded her pride.

No one would want to fall into such an obvious trap, but Diella accepted the offer with enthusiasm.

“How funny. Do you think I’d lose to a parlor mage?”

Diella was determined to surpass not only Aiselin but also Valerian.

*Bang!*

As she sharpened her magic senses, she unleashed her great power, filling her chamber.

Soon, countless thorny bushes spread and covered the entire room. Although it didn’t require much concentration, its magnitude and extent were remarkable.

The burning thorny bushes seemed to protect the noble rose growing within.

In the midst of them, Diella crumpled Denise’s letter and rose from her seat. The fierceness in her gaze was reminiscent of a wild beast. Rather than allow Dereck to fall into the hands of such a viper, she would drag him by force to the Duplain family.

At the very least, Diella was sure of that.