Chapter 59

Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Drip, drip.

“It’s raining.”

Diella Katherine Duplain was exhausted.

After completing her debut events near the imperial city for two days, she had barely slept and had only eaten in a rush.

In between, there were several banquets, but when she was dressed elegantly and behaving like a refined lady, she often had to go without meals.

Maintaining a pleasant appearance amidst hunger and fatigue was mentally exhausting.

Somehow, she managed to complete her schedule in the capital, and now the main event was about to end.

But it wasn’t quite over yet.

Now she had to return to the mansion and attend the ball, dazzling with her splendor as the star of the event. By conversing with numerous distinguished guests and making herself noticed, she would finally be recognized as the mistress of the Duplain House.

Diella sighed deeply as she looked out the carriage window.

The maid who served her tea had accompanied her for a long time, even since her days in the pavilion. This person had followed Diella when she was assigned to the mansion in Ebelstein.

“Since the ball is in an enclosed space, the rain shouldn’t be a problem, right? I just hope my dress doesn’t get wet on the way…”

Discover more
E-books
Video game-related content
Digital art prints

“Please, do not worry too much, Lady Diella. The main mansion surely has everything prepared.”

As the rain intensified, Diella took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

This arduous process was almost finished. She wanted to arrive at the mansion and thank her dear family for their support.

For Diella, who rarely expressed emotions, making such a decision was unusual.

“My sister Aiselin, my brother Valerian, and my brother Leigh have suffered for me…”

“…”

“If it weren’t for this opportunity, I could never thank my family. So I must take advantage of it…”

Everyone knew how much Valerian and Leigh had tried to get close to Diella, going so far as to talk about their preferences in women to woo a teenager. A truly shocking scene.

Although she felt overwhelmed and pushed them away, she could not help but acknowledge their sincere efforts. Diella thought that perhaps she should open her heart a little more to her family.

Inside the carriage moving through the rain, Diella reflected.

She hoped this debut would mark a turning point in her difficult life.

***

Bang!

Upon entering the main hall of the mansion, many servants were moving food in the dim light.

“Gasp…!”

The servants, carrying trays and dishes or moving fabrics and blankets, all abruptly turned their heads toward Dereck and Denise.

In the hallway leading to the staircase, near the main staircase, next to various antiques displayed on the walls, even at the entrance of the basement stairs… the image of so many servants simultaneously turning toward Dereck as if they were a single body.

Feeling an inexplicable chill, Denise swallowed hard.

She had just witnessed the strange transformation of the butler Delron. It was no wonder that the other servants in the mansion were not in a normal state either.

As the tension rose, just as Dereck was about to draw his sword…

Discover more
Fantasy books
Adventure games
Comic subscriptions

“Excuse me.”

All the servants bowed in unison and then resumed their tasks.

They prepared the banquet in the ballroom, the butler cleaned the marble floor, and the pages moved ropes and fabrics… all working busily as if the agitation of Dereck and Denise did not matter to them at all.

They seemed like machines programmed to follow orders.

Not the slightest hint of panic appeared when seeing the corpses running toward the door. Their unfocused eyes stared blankly into the void in the direction they were moving.

Denise felt a deep and inexplicable fear.

Among the necromantic spells, there were many that charmed people, similar to confusion spells. Dereck knew this well. It was likely that the servants were under such enchantments.

As long as they were not attacked, there would be no major problem. Thinking this, Dereck blocked the main door of the mansion and kicked a nearby display case toward the entrance.

Crash! Bang!

The blocked door shook with a loud thud. The corpses on the other side began to struggle to get in.

Dereck grabbed Denise’s arm and ran upstairs toward the main hall.

On the way, they passed by many servants and assistants. However, they showed not the slightest reaction to Dereck’s rushed movements; they simply stood up and resumed their work.

When they first arrived at the mansion and toured it under guidance, nothing seemed abnormal to them.
But now, the influence of necromancy was clearly growing stronger.

“D-Dereck… It seems the servants have already been consumed.”

“If we don’t do anything, the guests will also be in danger. Let’s rescue as many as we can. There is a place we must go first.”

The outside was full of corpses, but if they grouped up with people who knew how to fight, perhaps they could break through.

As Dereck headed to the room where the guests had gathered…

“Gasp…!”

Discover more
Discord server access
History
E-book publishing

Denise covered her mouth with both hands, shocked.

When Dereck and Denise arrived at the hallway, it was full of servants dragging unconscious guests across the floor.

Most were powerful mages.

Poison? Or a surprise attack? They must have neutralized all the mages before everything started.

Dereck assessed the situation calmly.

There was no focus in the gaze of the servants who were doing the dragging.

The Duplain mansion was the safest area, free from external threats.

It was hard to imagine that anything important could happen in such a place. Therefore, the distinguished guests relaxed and enjoyed the party.

Furthermore, the servants of the Duplain family were among the most professional and capable of all the noble houses.

So it was inevitable to let their guard down. After all, they were in the safest place, with the most experienced staff.

Whether it was offering cold water with sleeping pills, feigning obedience and using chemicals to knock someone unconscious, or simply beating someone until they were unconscious… the possibilities were endless. The servants approached the guests without raising suspicion.

“Excuse me, we are moving some suitcases. Could you step aside?”

A servant, dragging the unconscious Baron Olden —head of the Rodelail House—, spoke to Dereck. He was unconscious, foaming at the mouth.

It was an unusual scene, but the servant made the request with the same expressionless face.

The scene was so eerie that Denise swallowed hard several times.

“Quick, the guests…!”

“Please, go ahead.”

Dereck raised his arm to stop Denise and backed up until he leaned against the wall. The servant bowed politely and dragged the old man toward the ballroom staircase.

If left alone, the servants did not attack. They were simply bewitched to follow the orders received.

Without letting go of Denise against the wall, Dereck waited silently for all the servants to pass.

Discover more
Collectible coins
Character merchandise
Story writing courses

The procession of servants dragged all kinds of distinguished guests. Witnessing it from the side was a truly surreal experience.

Dereck…!

Denise pressed her mouth shut tightly and trembled like a leaf. With her other hand, she clung to Dereck’s neck; her body was trembling so violently that she could barely breathe.

All kinds of prominent figures were dragged before them. People foaming at the mouth, others with their arms twisted at strange angles, individuals bleeding, and some with their eyes rolled back… all of them attendees who once felt proud.

After the procession passed, Dereck quickly resumed his march.

Most of the rooms along the hallway had their doors open. Few suspected an attack perpetrated by the Duplain family’s own servants.

‘Even so, perhaps some sensed the danger in advance and hid well. We must find as many as we can.’

Dereck grabbed Denise by the arm and dragged her into the room labeled “Baron Olden.”

He pushed her inside the closet.

“D-Dereck…! Ah!”

This is Baron Olden’s room. You just saw how the servants dragged him away. Since it belongs to someone who has already been subdued, the servants will not return. Stay here until the situation changes.

Identifying a safe place was vital.

At this point, this room was the safest option.

“Dereck. And you?”

I am going to look for survivors. Outside, the place is riddled with necromantic enchantments and corpses. If we act recklessly and provoke hostility, it will be dangerous. Lady Denise, please stay here.

“I’m coming with you. At least I can use basic detection magic.”

“It is better for you to stay here safe.”

“No, Dereck. Do you intend to enter that death trap alone? Do you think I would allow it?”

Denise swallowed and spoke firmly.

Discover more
Fantasy books
Manga comics
Action and adventure novels

“I cannot let you go.”

“Miss Denise, your hands are shaking.”

“Eek!”

Just as Dereck said, Denise’s entire body kept trembling.

Just moments ago, she had seen gruesome scenes of twisted and deformed corpses. She was completely exhausted from trying to control her ragged breathing.

Even so, Denise could not let Dereck leave alone.

It was obvious what Dereck would object to.

I cannot leave Lady Denise alone. Lady Denise is a valuable person, so please take care of your health. If Lady Denise gets hurt, it would be a big problem.

Surely the clichés about noble ladies would arise. Denise was prepared to argue that status didn’t matter in a situation like this.

However, Dereck was a pragmatist.

“Miss Denise, if you follow me, you will only be a burden.”

Dereck’s words were harsh, but true. In such an urgent situation, there was no time to choose words carefully.

Denise’s breath hitched. After witnessing the gruesome results of necromancy, she could not move normally.

If she followed Dereck out of concern, she would be lucky not to be discovered and become a hindrance.

“This is just a guess, but it is very likely that Valerian is involved in this situation.”

“Va-Valerian? Isn’t he the eldest son of the Duplain family? I’ve heard he was a good and honorable person… Is he the one behind this disaster?”

“I cannot explain all the details, but…”

‘If he is practicing necromancy, you must kill him.’

Dereck’s mentor, Drest Wolftail, had once told him that.

If things spiraled out of control, Valerian might resort to dark arts.

Discover more
Manhwa comics
Character costumes for cosplay
Premium Chapter Access

Was it possible that he had nothing to do with the necromancy that ravaged the Duplain mansion? It was too much of a coincidence to ignore.

Somehow, Valerian was involved in this disaster that took place in the mansion.

“When the situation clears up, we will know the truth. For now, our priority is to survive.”

“Promise me one thing, Dereck.”

Still trembling, Denise gritted her teeth and looked at Dereck.

“Don’t die. No matter what happens, never die.”

“Don’t worry. That is my specialty.”

Creak.

After firmly closing the closet door, Dereck checked the condition of the longsword he carried on his hip and the dagger he had on his thigh.

They were always well-maintained and clean.

After taking a deep breath, he wiped his face and stepped into the hallway.

Many busy servants turned at the same time to look at Dereck.

“…”

Dereck stood motionless, in a state of alert.

The servants moved only to fulfill their tasks. As long as he did not interfere with their movements, they would not pay attention to him.

Like the servants in the main hall, the ones in this hallway were the same.

Then it happened.

A high-ranking servant in the front asked Dereck:

“May I ask your name?”

He seemed young, but his voice was strange. Blood was dripping from his mouth as if his throat were full of it.

Without showing any sign of surprise, Dereck replied:

“Why do you ask?”

“We have been ordered to kill all visitors, except for the designated mages.”

A cold voice came out of the servant’s mouth as if nothing were wrong.

“May I verify if you are a designated mage or a target to be eliminated?”

“…Dereck.”

—Ah, Mr. Dereck. You are a visitor sent by the Beltus family. I apologize for not recognizing you. The Duplain family has instructed us to treat you with the respect you deserve due to your nobility. I apologize.

“No problem. So is your business resolved?”

“Yes. However, Mr. Dereck, you are a target to be eliminated.”

Before he even finished speaking, a rotting arm sprouted from the servant’s left shoulder.

Cut! Slash!

When the claw flew toward Dereck, he had already lowered his guard.

He had hoped to avoid the fight with a bit of luck, but that hope was in vain.

When that hope was betrayed, Dereck swung his sword without hesitation and decapitated the servant.

Splatter! Swish!

A jet of blood gushed out and a red thread splashed onto Dereck’s face.

The metallic smell of blood reached his nose, but Dereck shook his head indifferently.

Thud!

The decapitated body of the servant fell to the ground.

At that moment, other nearby servants turned cold gazes toward Dereck.

Before they could even make any strange sounds, Dereck’s magic arrows hit them in the neck.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

While casting spells indiscriminately and trying to advance down the hallway, the corpse of the servant he had just struck down moved and grabbed his ankle.

Dereck quickly drew a reverse-grip dagger from his thigh and severed the servant’s arm with a swift movement.

And when the uniformed butlers lunged at him, he invoked his magic again.

Slash!

The second-level Fireball spell surged from Dereck’s hand. Its target was right under his feet.

The hallway was too narrow on both sides to be used as an escape route. To break through, Dereck’s fireball impacted the floor.

Bang!

An explosion was heard and the mansion shook.

Right below this VIP hallway were the private rooms of the Duplain family members.

Dereck planned to go down to the lower floor and head to Valerian’s private room.

If Valerian were truly behind all of this, subduing him could end everything.

Whistle!

Clash!

A cloud of dust filled the hallway and the broken floor began to be exposed.

To reach the downstairs hallway, Dereck prepared to roll. It seemed better that way to lure the servants away from the room where Denise was hiding.

Splatter!

With his cape fluttering in the wind, he jumped and rolled once on the ground.

He got up, brushed the dust off his body, and looked around, only to discover that it was not the hallway below.

Assuming that crossing the hallway would lead him to the lower hallway was perhaps too simplistic.

It was a luxurious and spacious private room. If someone used such a grand room, it had to be a direct descendant of the Grand Duke Duplain.

The room was filled with armor and training equipment, and furnished with a desk and sofas to receive guests.

At one end of the room was a large map of the continent, along with books on military terminology.

At a glance, it was evident that it was the room of someone exceptional. As Dereck stood up, he saw a figure sitting securely at the desk, in the center of the room.

Even in the midst of this chaos, the fact that someone was sitting calmly in their private room was already strange.

“…What are you doing here?”

The figure sitting alone among so much equipment was someone he knew.

With short hair and a sturdy build, with his eyebrows arched sternly, he wore noble clothes adorned with all kinds of insignia.

However, there was no trace of consciousness in his empty eyes. He didn’t even flinch when he saw Dereck fall from the ceiling.

Dereck immediately felt that something was wrong. He gripped his sword tightly and gathered magic in his other hand.

Metallic sound.

A metallic sound echoed on the light armor he wore over his noble attire.

When he stood up, he was undoubtedly a man of sturdy build.

“…Dereck.”

It was Leigh, Valerian’s younger brother.

The second son of the Duplain family, and one of the pillars of the family, who, although he pretended otherwise, loved Diella and Aiselin deeply.

The burly man looked at Dereck with a cold gaze.

He opened his mouth and said something. His words were incoherent.

“Death… will come… Death… sweet, painful, noble… the embrace of death will come…”

Slash!

Dark red blood dripped from his mouth.

A reddish spiritual aura shone in his eyes.

Dereck could feel it.

Leigh was not in a condition to communicate.

“Dereck, yes… Dereck, agh… aghghgh… kuh, khuhuk…”

“…”

“Kukuk, kigegek aghgh… I’m not dead yet.”

Wriggling and making strange noises, he suddenly spoke to Dereck with a normal and cold tone. At some point, his eyes also clearly fixed on Dereck.

The contrast alone was enough to make one’s hair stand on end.

The burly Leigh rushed forward wrapped in a dark red magical aura.

Bang!

At the same time, a magic arrow shot out and hit the spot where Dereck had been.

A cloud of dust rose, but Dereck rolled to the side to dodge it. Dereck’s reflexes were something that a simple magical manifestation could not match.

While observing Leigh’s state through the rising dust, Dereck took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.

“Hooh…”

No matter how he looked at it, Leigh was already insane.

It was time to make a decision.