Chapter 73

Chapter 73
## Chapter 73
Crunch, crunch.

The crunching sound of Dereck’s boots on the snow was perfectly clear.

In the snow-covered field lashed by the blizzard, Dereck finally appeared approaching the carriage, carrying Siern over his shoulder.

Her limp body, swaying in the wind, made it look as if he were carrying the carcass of a wild beast, causing the gathered servants to tremble with fear.

“I apologize for the commotion.”

“N-no… how…?”

Siern’s eyes rolled back, unable to regain consciousness.

Although it wasn’t clear what kind of exchange had taken place between Dereck and her in that blizzard of near-zero visibility, Dereck only had a thin trickle of blood running down his temple.

Did he subdue Lady Siern that easily, she being practically a three-star mage…?

Butler Layton looked at Dereck with incredulity, but he, without showing the slightest concern, asked while carrying Siern.

“The carriage is completely destroyed. Is the Rochester estate far?”

“N-no… It’s not very far on foot. The weather is quite harsh, so it will be difficult, but…”

“Then, let’s go quickly.”

With that, Dereck stepped into the blizzard.

The extreme cold didn’t seem to affect him at all.

***

Crunch, crunch.

The Rochester estate rose like a tower in the middle of the blizzard.

Although the building was of considerable size, its grandeur seemed diminished by the hostile environment.

Unlike the Duplain estate, which overwhelms you with its vast garden as soon as you cross the gate, the Rochester estate gave the impression of being purely functional.

Considering that monsters often appeared out of nowhere and attacked, it was completely natural.

“It must have been very difficult to reach the Rochester territory like this. As the butler, I feel deeply ashamed.”

“Don’t worry. Now I understand what kind of person Lady Siern is.”

In this region, it seemed customary to take guests directly to the fireplace as soon as they arrived from afar.

Dereck, warming himself by a fireplace taller than a person, made a dismissive gesture when the butler brought the servants to greet him politely.

“Where is Lady Siern?”

“She is unconscious. We have taken her to a private room in the tower.”

“I have to go see her. We will be seeing each other often from now on.”

The butler swallowed hard as he looked at Dereck.

Even after being attacked without provocation by Lady Siern with dangerous aggressiveness during their first encounter, he remained composed.

If he had been an inexperienced mage, he would have been defeated instantly. In fact, Siern used to ambush and seriously injure high-ranking mages when she caught them by surprise.

“He is even more formidable than I thought. I’m not sure if I can fulfill my role…”

Aiselin, warming herself by the fire behind Dereck, spoke in a low voice.

Upon arriving in the north, she seemed to realize that this place was fundamentally different from the fertile and beautiful domain of the Duplains.

Although she had cheerfully shouted that she would accept any task due to the urgent need for money, she seemed terrified after facing Siern, who tried to kill her.

“Not only can I not communicate, but I could be seriously injured if I try anything. Mr. Dereck has a lot of experience and skill… but I don’t…”

“Are you very afraid?”

“…Yes.”

Aiselin spoke truthfully.

Her gaze reflected a lack of confidence. However, she wasn’t one to just complain.

“But I have to do it. I’ll find a way, my own way.”

Instantly, she clenched her fists tightly and spoke with determination.

“If I’ve already decided to do it, then I have to do it. Besides, nothing will change if I just complain.”

“That’s a good attitude. Actually, there’s no need to worry so much.”

“Eh?”

“Although I suspected it would be quite difficult, do you know why I asked you to come with me, Miss Aiselin?”

“…Because you thought I would accept immediately since I desperately need the money?”

“…That reason isn’t entirely absent.”

Dereck sat next to Aiselin by the fire and spoke with her.

“Because someone like you needs to accompany me.”

“Someone like me…?”

“Specifically, someone who is obviously elegant, refined, and beautiful.”

“Eh?”

At that sudden shower of compliments, Aiselin held her breath and looked down awkwardly.

“Even if you flatter me so suddenly… nothing special is going to happen…”

“I’m just telling the truth. Unlike me, who am a bit coarse and vulgar, you are clearly a cultured and elegant person. That difference is important.”

Aiselin’s face turned red at Dereck’s direct words, but she knew he wasn’t saying them to flirt with her.

“I already mentioned I had a plan. I had heard of Lady Siern, and there were aspects that would be difficult for me to handle alone. I was planning to ask for your help with that.”

“Things like etiquette, social manners, and knowledge about dancing…?”

“No. All that is secondary.”

“What…? Is that not important…?”

After all, that kind of cultural knowledge could be transmitted as long as they managed to win over Siern. The most important thing was how to dominate Siern.

“We need a carrot and stick approach. I will be the stick, and you, Miss Aiselin, will be the carrot.”

“W-what do you mean by that…?”

“Hmm… I already have a plan. Do you want to hear it? Actually, it’s a strategy I learned from an old friend from the slums. I found it quite convincing, so I decided to adopt it.”

Dereck had many acquaintances in the slums, but few he could call “friends.”

Since he had always been treated as an outsider in noble circles, Aiselin felt curious to know who this old friend he mentioned was.

*Why am I so interested in that…? I think I’m becoming too meddlesome…*

However, she quickly shook her head and refocused on Dereck’s words.

“It’s called… the battered woman strategy.”

“…”

“Does it sound strange?”

“Your friend’s family life… must not have been easy…”

Dereck remembered the young archer who used to run through the slums to help her elderly mother.

Now that her mother had passed away, her life as a total orphan was no easier than his.

“In the slums, there is no one who doesn’t have a story. I didn’t bring it up to talk about sad things. Miss Aiselin, you just have to play the role of the battered wife.”

What on earth did that mean? That was the question about to burst out. Aiselin waited in silence, thinking Dereck would explain soon.

“Then I will play the pathetic husband.”

“H-husband? W-what do you mean by that? H-husband… If someone hears that, they’ll get the wrong idea…”

“It’s a metaphor. I will explain the plan to you in detail.”

Dereck looked out the window at the swirling snowstorm.

Behind Aiselin, who squinted her fingers and looked around, the storm intensified.

Staying too long in that remote place would not be a good idea. It was best to get everything they could from Lord Melverot and leave as soon as possible.

To do that, they needed to reform Lady Siern’s mindset as soon as possible. After all, she was the only daughter of the most powerful mage on the continent.

Once they had her under control, it wouldn’t be surprising if rumors spread that there was no woman on the continent they couldn’t educate.

The personal benefit was also important, and besides, there was a magic artifact Dereck wanted to obtain from Lord Melverot.

There was no reason to waste time here. Dereck spoke with a more serious expression.

“Miss Aiselin, are you a good actress?”

“Y-yes…”

As Dereck continued explaining his plan, Aiselin’s expression gradually hardened.

“D-Dereck… are you really okay with this?”

***

— U-Ugh! It’s a monster!

— Lord Melverot! No matter how, you dare bring something like that to the mansion! This cannot be taught or controlled! We must officially inform the royal family…!

— Save me! Please! Only my life… You can cut off my arms and legs… Just let me live…

— What… are you…?

*Zas!*

The instant countless fragments of memories emerged from the other side of the dream, Siern snapped her eyes open.

The air was warm thanks to the cozy fireplace. The scent of freshly washed blankets tickled her nose, and occasionally, the sound of snow hitting the glass filled the room.

Siern, who sat up abruptly, recalled her last memory. It was the memory of having exchanged magic with a man named Derek.

He moved as if he knew exactly where Siern was heading, anticipating her every move, and without giving her a chance to counterattack, he had subdued her with a three-star spell.

Just before falling, when their gazes met, Siern swallowed involuntarily, leaving a lump in her throat.

He was different from the magic instructors who had come to this distant northern land to teach her.

He wasn’t a scholar locked away among books, but a man who had survived countless battles, tearing monsters apart.

Even though Siern had no prior information about him, she could feel it just by facing his killing intent.

He had killed countless monsters. He was a man accustomed to taking lives.

*«It’s better not to face him directly. I should ambush him when no one is around or attack him while he sleeps and, somehow, kick him out of the mansion».*

Just as she thought that, she looked away from the bed…

“Ah.”

“Are you awake?”

The white-haired man she had just been thinking about was sitting at the corner table, reading a book with his legs crossed.

He looked so relaxed that the image of him chasing her through the snowy field, bleeding, seemed like a thing of the past.

Siern quickly threw off the blanket and jumped to the opposite corner, taking a defensive stance.

“You… you… why are you here…?”

“You already know the reason, right? Lady Siern, you will learn magic from me.”

“Why should I learn magic from you? You’ll probably just talk nonsense, give up, and leave.”

“That is for me to decide. I will also set the class schedule starting tomorrow.”

“Go to hell.”

Siern used telekinesis to throw the table. Dereck closed his book, lowered his guard, and rolled on the floor to dodge it.

*Crash! Crack!*

*Thud! Boom!*

Other furniture went flying toward him, but none reached him.

Dereck dodged the blows from side to side and, before she knew it, he was already in front of Siern, grabbing her arm.

*Snap!*

“Ahhh!”

As he glared at her with an intimidating gaze, Siern’s body began to tremble again.

Even though her opponent was an arrogant brat, Dereck didn’t flinch. His red eyes, filled with bloodlust, were terrifying to such a naive girl.

At that moment, Siern understood. Her opponent was an expert in these kinds of situations.

Undoubtedly, his goal was to subdue or manipulate people like her, taming them like docile sheep.

As soon as she understood that goal, an even stronger feeling of rebellion rose within her.

*Do you think I’m going to listen to you? Don’t waste your time and go back to the southwest. There is no place for you in the north.*

“It seems you need a couple more hits to come to your senses.”

From any point of view, a commoner should not speak to a noble like that. How could he still have his head on straight after doing such things?

It was incredible, but Dereck had already accumulated numerous merits. The reason he could behave so arrogantly before nobles was that he had already proven to be a certified magic instructor.

The story of how he slapped the infamous brat Diella of the southwest upon meeting her was no longer a family secret, but a fact known to those in the know.

Dereck’s unique sense of righteousness, which did not falter even before a noble lady, was something ordinary instructors could not imitate. If a commoner without merits did something like that, he would be treated as a traitor, but for an instructor with multiple merits, the meaning was completely different.

Of course, he also had the skills to back it up.

No matter how great Siern’s magical skills were, she couldn’t easily break free from Dereck’s grip.

*Boom!*

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.

Siern cast the two-star combat spell “Quick Explosion,” setting the room on fire.

*Fwoosh!*

Dereck quickly used his magic to protect himself from the impact, but lost his grip on her wrist.

With her newly found freedom, Siern kicked the door open and ran out of the tower. She was making it clear she had no intention of continuing to deal with Dereck.

*Zas!*

However, Dereck pursued her quickly. He moved even faster than when he hunted monsters.

The killing intent remained in his eyes. He was a ruthless human being, as if he had come to beat Siern mercilessly.

“Ugh…!”

Siern wrapped herself in magic and ran beyond the mansion wall. As long as she could get away, Dereck wouldn’t find her in the vast snowy field.

Just as she was about to jump the wall, Dereck, moving like a beast, grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.

*Snap!*

Siern, still dressed, rolled on the snowy ground, shook the snow from her hair, and stared at Dereck with fury.

“Uf… That hurts…”

“It has to hurt more. Since you don’t listen to words, I have no choice but to correct you through pain.”

“You… do you think… this is okay?”

“I will take responsibility for the consequences.”

With that, Dereck pulled out the staff he carried on his back. Seeing it, Siern’s eyes widened in surprise, and she swallowed hard.

It was the four-star table lamp “Footsteps.” Four old wooden branches intertwined, with a large gem embedded at the top.

*‘He knows how to use a staff…?’*

The use of a magic weapon requires not only advanced magic skills, but also experience.

Whether it’s a wand or a magic weapon… the mere fact of being able to use it already far exceeds the level of an ordinary mage.

She had already sensed something was strange when he subdued her without causing serious damage, but now it was clear: Dereck had reached a level where even nobles didn’t intimidate him.

“Do you know the name of this staff? Since you come from the north, it’s possible you know it, Lady Siern.”

“Made by Aidenbrew… ‘Wanderer’… or… ‘Footsteps’…?”

“No. Actually, I changed its name.”

It is not uncommon for users to change the name of their magic weapons. Although the original name is usually more famous and, out of respect for the creator, it is not customary… Dereck didn’t care.

“…It’s called the Whip of Love.”

“You’re… completely crazy…”

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Dereck brandished the staff as if it were a club. It was doubtful he was even a mage.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The sound of the staff cutting through the air was terrifying. Even a single blow would be enough for her calves to swell with pain.

Siern swallowed hard again and tried to flee. But Dereck, who already knew her behavior patterns, knocked her down easily.

*Snap! Thud!*

Siern rolled once through the thick snow, clenched her teeth, and stood up leaning on her hands.

Looking back, she swallowed hard once more.

An imposing man, embodying the love, dedication, and virtues of a teacher, approached wielding the Whip of Love. He was, undoubtedly, a master of his time.

— I don’t do this because I want to. I do it for you, Lady Siern. Hitting someone is never the right thing. When I use this whip… my heart breaks. I feel an intense burning inside me… My soul hurts… But correcting people is my duty. Even if my heart breaks and my mind collapses, I have to do it for you, Lady Siern.

“L-Liar…! Your heart breaks… W-When has that happened…? Don’t come any closer…!”

“Now then, how many lashes do you think you deserve, Lady Siern? You decide. Tell me and I’ll tell you how many.”

Dereck’s eyes sparkled and his breath condensed in the cold air.

Seeing him as an uncontrollable monster, Siern took a step back in the snowy field.

However, she couldn’t get rid of Dereck. Escaping from someone expert in tracking magic using only acceleration and transformation magic was practically impossible.

Just when Siern’s fingertips began to tremble, something unexpected happened. Although she didn’t know how to escape and her vision blurred…

“Mr. Dereck! Stop!”

*Zas!*

Aiselin, who had run through the snowy field, stepped between Dereck and Siern.

With arms outstretched, she protected Siern with a frown.

Having lived a long life as a high-ranking noble, she radiated elegance even while standing still.

Even in the middle of the blizzard, her nobility shone intensely.

Her bold figure was like that of a heroine shining in the midst of adversity. It was the kind of strength seen in the protagonists of Denise’s novels.

Dereck, a fervent reader of *The Arrogant Lord Robain*, admired Aiselin’s silent presence.

Shortly after, with a face full of determination, Aiselin shouted for all to hear.

“Violence! It’s bad! Yes! It’s bad! Violence!!!”

Unfortunately, the heavens had not granted her the same talent for dialogue as Denise.

“…”

In essence, Dereck respected Aiselin, but he couldn’t praise her acting skills.