Chapter 75

Chapter 75
## Chapter 75
*Pshuk! Pshuk!*

*Kwaak!*

This is a story from a time when Dereck had not yet grown accustomed to the smell of monster blood.

It was when he first began interacting with the mercenary group and was becoming familiar with the ecology of the labyrinth by following Jayden.

The intimidation inspired by goblins, trolls, ogres, and other demi-human monsters was considerable; consequently, many mercenaries exploring the labyrinth for the first time would tremble or prove completely useless in combat.

However, despite his young age, Dereck slit their throats and amputated their limbs without hesitation, displaying the attitude of a cold and ruthless mercenary.

Jayden often admired Dereck’s demeanor, going so far as to think that perhaps he lacked human emotions altogether.

*Crackle, crackle, crackle.*

After completing the expedition that day, Dereck—who sat in the camp stoking the fire before returning to Ebelstein—showed no signs of exhaustion.

By nature, he was a consummate mercenary. Jayden thought this as he observed him.

“Dereck. You worked hard today.”

“No. Just make sure to give me a fair share tomorrow when we return to the district taverns.”

“Of course. By the way, aren’t you tired?”

“I can handle it. There isn’t any other job in the commercial district that pays this well, so truthfully, I feel quite good.”

This was said by a boy who had not yet undergone his rite of passage, after having slaughtered dozens of monsters in a single day. It was a scene that would make anyone who didn’t know him shudder.

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The harsh environment of life, like a long winter, sometimes creates human beings like this child.

They had human form, but there was a strange sensation that something regarding their humanity was missing.

Jayden was a renowned mercenary who had fought on many battlefields and had carved out a reputation even in the so-called “Dawn War.”

Having spent so much time in brutal combat, he knew very well how precious a child’s pure smile was.

Therefore, seeing a child who had already learned all the harshness of the battlefield at such an early age unsettled him.

Jayden sat across from the fire. And with a warm, human laugh, he said:

“Dereck. You are human.”

“…”

“As long as you continue killing monsters as if in a trance, a moment will come when you question your own humanity. When that happens, do not forget to reflect upon it.”

*Crackle, crackle.*

Dereck looked at him in silence. Jayden smiled kindly, but in that smile, a firm determination could be perceived.

It was advice born of experience. That old mercenary named Jayden had wandered the battlefield for a long time and had reached his own conclusions.

“What is the difference between humans and monsters?”

“…”

“I’ve heard there are quite a few monsters that mimic humans. Most are simple tricks, so their habits or characteristics are quickly detected… but they also say that distinguishing between a human and a high-level monster can be very difficult.”

Jayden quickly grasped the meaning of Dereck’s question.

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The boy had already moved past the worries that tormented him. He was facing an anguish that most mercenaries only experienced much later in life.

“Are you well-acquainted with the habits of monsters, Dereck?”

“They kill humans.”

Yes. Monsters kill humans. It is their instinct. It is no different from humans eating to live, reproducing, or seeking pleasure. That is why monsters must be eliminated, and mercenaries like us live off that.

Jayden looked at the sky. Many stars were visible.

Comparing the number of monsters he had killed with the number of stars, it was hard to tell which was greater.

Jayden’s life had been marked by blood up to that point.

“It’s the same as exterminating pests. Think of it that way and move on with your life.”

With a calm smile and a lowered head, Jayden said quietly that this was the only conclusion he had reached.

Dereck had no intention of arguing.

The natural order implied that living beings harmed or killed others to survive.

It was simply that kind of problem. He didn’t believe he had to look for a deeper meaning.

“You were recognized as a hero in the Dawn War, weren’t you?”

Dereck asked.

Although more than ten years had passed since the end of the war, it was such a major event for the northern continent that people still spoke of it as if it had happened yesterday.

To defeat the great demon Noir, humanity lost the six-star mage Kalimford. The only other six-star mage present on that battlefield, Melverot, was the one who finished off Noir and exterminated all the demonic tribes, thus sealing victory in the war.

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Jayden, who had witnessed that gruesome scene, always wore a serious expression when remembering it. Even veteran mercenaries remembered it as a hell, and the scars the war left on the north were immense.

The colossal figure of that monster, visible even beyond the horizon, was still remembered as a symbol of terror by all the inhabitants of the north.

“Even so, why do you work as a mercenary here in Ebelstein?”

“Don’t even mention it, Dereck. I refuse to return to a battlefield like that.”

Jayden, with his arms crossed, watched the fire in silence.

Those who remember the madness of that battlefield consumed by Noir would think the same. Something like that… must never happen again.

***

The demonic tribes possess a natural sense of smell.

It is subtly different from humans and seems to catch the peculiar scent of blood from those soaked in demon blood.

When Dereck killed his first demon, he didn’t perceive such a presence. When he had killed a hundred, he sometimes detected their fear.

And by the time he had killed a thousand, it became evident. They sensed the trail of demonic blood soaking Dereck’s body.

Only humans who had dedicated their entire lives to slaughtering demons could emit such an intense presence.

Every time Dereck killed a member of the demonic tribe, he could clearly see their eyes trembling before the final blow.

When they were pursued by the human they believed to be their prey, they felt the blood on Dereck and instinctively knew it was the end.

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The weaker the demon, the more evident it became. Some even urinated on themselves or preferred suicide.

Of course, the stronger demons resisted. Sometimes they wounded Dereck or forced him to flee.

But the younger demons, who hadn’t even spread their wings, often lost all their strength just by perceiving that scent on Dereck.

That’s why Dereck had that intuition.

“Hic… Hic…”

Seeing Lady Siern’s trembling figure in the snowy field as he approached, he felt she wasn’t simply a frightened human.

Her way of manipulating magic was also completely different from that of the orthodox and systematic Lord Melverot. That was enough to generate a sense of unease.

Siern’s magic, impossible to define through the star classification system, leaned more toward an otherworldly existence than a human one.

However, intuition is not evidence. That is why Dereck examined various records related to Lady Siern.

*Step, step.*

Dereck walked with a steady pace through the luxurious hallway of the Rochester mansion. A drop of cold sweat ran down Aiselin’s cheek as she hurried to follow him.

Reviewing the records left by servants since Lady Siern’s childhood, he found many details that others would overlook, but which proved alarming for Dereck, an expert on demonic tribes.

Killing servants without reason, fleeing to the snowy plains to hunt and kill beasts, learning magic at an abnormal rate… The reasons why so many high-ranking mages who tried to teach her ended up dead, injured, or giving up the attempt.

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The insistence on keeping everything related to Lady Siern a secret.

It seemed that all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Once he organized his thoughts to that point, everything became clear.

It wasn’t just a bad temper or a lack of magical talent. Perhaps Siern Alaina Rochester was the most difficult person Dereck had ever had to teach.

Dereck never worked for free. If there was a risk, there had to be a corresponding reward. That was how the world worked.

“Dereck…!”

While Dereck sorted his thoughts, Aiselin quickly stepped in his way to block his path.

“Dereck. Where are you going now?”

“I’m going to Lord Melverot’s office. They say it’s in the main building, beyond the tower, so I must walk carefully.”

“And what are you going to say to Lord Melverot?”

Dereck responded without changing his expression.

“I intend to negotiate.”

“…”

Aiselin’s face tightened again. The young man before her was thinking of negotiating with a six-star mage.

Although Dereck seemed to be reflecting on the situation, Aiselin couldn’t help but express her concern.

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“Suppose your hypothesis is correct. If they really are hiding a member of a demonic tribe in the mansion, raising her as a noble lady and turning a blind eye to the murders… revealing that would be fatal.”

Aiselin checked several times that there was no one in the hallway and then lowered her voice.

“If I were Lord Melverot, the first thing I’d think about would be silencing you.”

“…”

“You said it yourself, right? If the power gap is too large, negotiations are pointless. Even if we try to unsettle them with Lady Siern’s secret… we have no proof, and I don’t think something like that would affect them, Dereck.”

Aiselin continued, her face full of worry.

“Many magic instructors who came to teach Lady Siern died, were injured, or quit, right? Do you really think all of that was just Lady Siern’s fault…?”

She spoke seriously. Those who tried to manipulate Lord Melverot’s secret likely met a terrible end, without exception.

“…”

But Dereck shook his head.

What he intended was not a threat, but a negotiation. And that was something completely different.

The Rochester mansion, in the northern region where snowstorms lashed.

In the tower office, a six-star mage sat alone, looking out the window with his chin elegantly resting on his hand.

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Despite his immense power, he rarely left the barren lands he ruled.

“Everyone at the top of the magical world has some flaw. Old Drest is obsessed with wandering and has no interest in mundane affairs, and let’s not even talk about a lunatic like Kohella.”

“And I’m not exactly normal either.”

Those were Melverot’s own words. Normal six-star mages do not exist.

Although he spoke so coldly, he did not exclude himself.

There he was, alone in those monster-infested lands, locking a creature disguised as a human in her room, calling her daughter, and pressuring expensive tutors to somehow socialize her.

There had to be a reason for such madness.

A reason still unknown. That was impossible to know. And even if someone knew it, it could only be Melverot himself.

Therefore, to resolve this situation, it was necessary to speak directly with Melverot.

***

“I heard you ran into Siern on your way to the mansion. Luckily no serious accident occurred, but as her father, I must apologize. Do you understand a bit better now why I was so careful in choosing someone to look after my daughter?”

“Yes, Lord Melverot.”

He had heard that residents of the North considered it normal to wait more than a month for an audience with the lord of the Rochester mansion. Only very high-ranking people could have such an opportunity.

However, Dereck and Aiselin were able to go directly to the office as soon as they requested it from the butler. That demonstrated the special treatment received by those who taught Siern.

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As soon as Dereck entered the great office of the Rochester mansion, he saw Melverot sitting, dressed in an elegant fur coat, with his chin resting on his hand. He was an imposing and striking man, with silver hair falling over his shoulders.

He was still calmly reviewing the affairs of the territory.

Melverot, sitting in a finely carved wooden chair, looked askance at Dereck. After observing his expression, he finally set the documents aside and leaned back.

“I understand your arrival was delayed due to an incident. How was meeting Siern? Do you think you can teach her high society manners?”

“Of course. However, as you mentioned, it seems harder than I thought.”

“I understand. I am not ignoring the difficulty of the task. I don’t intend to belittle your effort with a mediocre reward, but it seems there is something you desire.”

Dereck had considered taking some valuable magic artifacts kept by the Rochester family. They would not only help him with his transformation magic training but would also be useful for his work as a mercenary.

However, after reconsidering, he felt the need to change his focus.

It wasn’t enough to take a few magic artifacts. He felt he had to convey that idea to Lord Melverot.

Then, Dereck knelt on one knee and bowed his head as he spoke.

“I know it’s an unreasonable request, but could I ask that all guards leave the office?”

At those words, Melverot frowned slightly.

That meant there was something he wanted to say that others should not hear.

“Is there any reason to go this far?”

“I only have one thing to say.”

Dereck raised his gaze and addressed Melverot directly.

“I don’t know if you’ve considered it, Lord Melverot, but I have dedicated my entire life to killing monsters. I can confidently state that I understand the ecology, habits, and behavior of monsters better than any magic master.”

In reality, high-ranking magic masters, dressed in luxurious robes and reciting academic theories, often lacked practical knowledge about monsters.

However, Dereck, who had risen from the bottom with hands stained with blood, was completely different from them.

“If you wish, I can express my opinion here and now. But I find it difficult to discern if it would be the right thing to do.”

“Enough. Everyone, leave.”

Hearing that, Melverot gestured with his arm and ordered the guards to withdraw.

It was uncomfortable to leave an armed foreign mercenary alone with their lord in a small room.

However, the guards hesitated for only a moment before stepping out into the hall. The lord they served was none other than Melverot, a six-star mage.

Considering that no serious harm would come to him, they did not take long to leave. After the incident, the office fell silent.

Dereck, who had maintained a low posture, and Aiselin slowly stood up. Aiselin’s face clearly reflected tension, but Dereck’s remained as calm as ever.

He was a person of extraordinary courage. Melverot could easily understand what kind of man he was.

“Alright. Speak.”

“Is Lady Siern really human?”

“You already knew she wasn’t, right?”

Melverot responded naturally, without any significant change in his expression.

While Dereck observed him in silence, Melverot let out a brief laugh and continued.

“Why? Do you think you took the wrong job?”

“May I ask why the other magic instructors resigned?”

“I dismissed all the mediocre ones who didn’t even notice Siern’s true nature.”

“And what happened to those who did?”

Dereck asked directly. Aiselin, standing behind him, sweated nervously.

“There are only two possibilities: either they begged to resign, or they tried to hold on until the end and suffered a terrible fate.”

“How many survived?”

“It’s better that you don’t know.”

Dereck did not press further. From the beginning, there had been several strange aspects. He understood it perfectly the moment he came face-to-face with Siern.

Her magical prowess was excessively high.

Even if she had inherited the best lineage, it was unusual for someone her age, who was not yet an adult, to already use three-star magic.

It was an achievement that made one wonder if such a thing was possible in the human world. Even across the entire continent, the mages who had reached such a level at her age could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

How happy it would be to have someone like her as a disciple! With that thought, many masters approached her, but most seemed to have an unfortunate end.

Siern Alaina Rochester was not a disciple that just anyone could handle. That was already clear.

“It seems it’s a bit late for regrets. You’ve already arrived at my mansion in the north, so you can’t leave just because you feel like it. Do you think you can cross this vast, frozen snowfield alone?”

From the beginning, setting foot in that mansion was already part of Melverot’s plans.

Once inside, one could not leave without his permission. To emphasize this, Melverot’s eyes flashed once.

As you know, the North is plagued by monsters, and many suffer accidents while crossing the harsh snowfields. And monsters do not distinguish between commoners and nobles, between ordinary people and mages.

“…”

“If you don’t want your name added to that list of victims, perhaps it’s better that you dedicate yourself completely to this instead of regretting it later.”

“I have no regrets. In fact, Lord Melverot has found the right talent.”

“…?”

It was an intimidating threat for anyone. When a mage who had reached six stars spoke so openly, most would succumb to fear or be swept away by the atmosphere.

However, the young man named Dereck stood up with a satisfied smile. Melverot was momentarily surprised by that attitude, but he did not show it.

“Didn’t I tell you in our first conversation? It’s not an easy task, but it’s worth a try. But… the gold coins and magic tools you promised me are not enough for me.”

“Oh… so you came to negotiate your salary?”

“It might be something deeper. Didn’t you say, Lord Melverot, that you knew better than anyone what I wanted?”

Melverot observed Dereck’s expression with his chin resting on his hand. There was nothing rude in his confident attitude. He was truly willing to take the reins of Siern.

He didn’t even ask why Melverot was protecting a monster disguised as a human.

Of course, Melverot had no intention of answering, but he was surprised that Dereck didn’t even question it. He simply stated with cold clarity what needed to be done.

“I am a mage. Mages always dream of higher realms.”

“Yes. But even if someone from the humblest background reaches out, the times will simply reject them.”

“Exactly. That’s why I need a weapon to resist that. If you help me, I will take all of Lord Melverot’s secrets to the grave and resolve the concerns regarding Lady Siern.”

What backed his confident tone was the fact that he was not a mediocre worker. It is common for a capable person to have ambition and desire. Melverot did not consider that disposition a defect.

However, what on earth did he intend to ask for, showing up to negotiate with a smile in a life-or-death situation? Even if a simple commoner made a great demand, to Melverot—one of the Empire’s most prominent figures—it would often be a pittance.

Hearing what he wanted was not that difficult. So Melverot asked.

“Very well. What do you want?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If Lord Melverot wants me to be quiet, he will have to muzzle me.”

At Dereck’s response, Melverot’s expression hardened.

“A title.”

There are no cheap but competent talents in the world. Although he knew this well, his opponent’s request went much further than he expected.

“The rank doesn’t matter, but I need a title.”

He had been born in the deepest part of the slums.

A dark place where the roofs of ruined buildings blocked the sunlight. Growing up in such a place trapped one’s sight and thoughts, forcing them to crawl eternally through the muddy ground.

However, his gaze was fixed on the highest peaks of the magical world.

“Even if it is of low rank, I must become a nobleman.”