Chapter 94

Chapter 94
## Chapter 94

Even as a baron in a frontier region, one was, at most, a lower-ranking noble responsible for a couple of villages.

Especially in a remote region like Rodelen, tax revenues were minimal and the number of available troops rarely exceeded a few dozen; within the nobility, they were considered little more than leaders of peasants.

The frontier barons Trisha had known usually had long beards and wore worn leather armor.

Most of them rolled up their sleeves to personally handle village affairs or went out themselves to hunt monsters; they were people of action.

That a noble like him had renovated an old mansion to use as a residence was already unusual, but that the lady of the Duchy of Rochester was present there was even more absurd.

The Rochester family was one of the most illustrious of the high nobility.

“I apologize for last time. My gaze was quite aggressive, wasn’t it?”

Trisha, who had reluctantly agreed to sit with Siern, already wanted to go home.

However, Siern received her with more refined manners than she expected.

“Sometimes I can’t control my aggressiveness and end up acting rudely. I hope Lady Trisha understands.”

Siern’s white hair was rarely well-groomed.

She often resorted to acceleration magic to run whenever the opportunity arose.

And when her violent instinct took over, she would go out to indiscriminately kill the beasts she found nearby.

And yet, despite her explosive character, there was no other young woman as mysterious and holy-looking as her.

Upon noticing that contradiction, it was impossible not to swallow nervously; Trisha felt exactly that.

*’She doesn’t seem to have that character… it’s as if someone taught her good manners…’*

At first glance, Siern was much younger than Trisha.

With more social experience, greater age, and better training in etiquette, it would be problematic if Trisha felt intimidated.

In social battles, the one who gets scared first loses.

In any case, to gain power within the Rose Hall, Trisha could not afford to be intimidated by Siern.

Just as she was mentally preparing to take the lead in the conversation, Siern spoke first.

“But, Lady Trisha… what brings you to the Barony of Ravenclaw?”

“W-what?”

“Dereck is very busy these days. He always reserves mornings to help me with my magic, and he also attends to many other noble ladies who visit him frequently. He hardly has any time left to practice his own magic.”

Trisha had gone to see Dereck and, if she found him suitable, planned to make a request.

Siern frowned, as if displeased with Trisha’s intentions.

“If more noble ladies —not just vixens, but others as well— start asking him for help with magic, he will be even busier.”

“…”

“If Lady Trisha has come to ask Dereck to teach her magic, I don’t think you will get a favorable response.”

Siern smiled slightly.

Although she seemed like a harmless girl, Trisha knew perfectly well that this woman was a beast capable of tearing throats without hesitation if something displeased her.

Sitting in front of that monster, capable of cornering anyone with just her murderous intent, made one instinctively check if their head was still attached to their neck.

Although it seemed unlikely that she would commit murder in the Ravenclaw reception room, one could never be sure.

The will to kill has no time or place.

“So, wouldn’t it be better if you left right now?”

Though said with a smile, the words denoted deep hostility.

Siern did not want more students around Dereck.

The message was perfectly clear.

Even so, sending away the daughter of Viscount Renouel without even letting her see the master of the house would be excessive discourtesy.

Leaving with a simple “Understood” would wound her pride.

And it wasn’t just about pride: if she allowed herself to be intimidated by the young woman of the Rochester family, she ran the risk of losing her position as an influential figure in the Rose Hall.

It was then, while Trisha debated how to respond, that…

*Creeak.*

“Excuse the wait, Miss Siern.”

It was Dereck who opened the door of the worn reception hall and entered.

And behind him appeared a familiar face.

For some reason, it was Ellen, dressed in a simple blouse that any commoner might wear.

“Oh… Miss Trisha?”

Ellen, brushing her red hair from her face, opened her eyes in surprise at seeing Trisha.

She seemed sincerely surprised to find her there.

And Trisha, who until then had been very nervous in a private conversation with Siern, felt that her salvation had finally arrived.

—

Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw was not someone who conveyed any special noble authority, just as Trisha had imagined.

He was young. Tall, but somewhat thin for a man.

With white hair, red eyes, a patched robe, and a simple cloak, he looked nothing like a noble.

If someone encountered him on the street, they would never think he was an aristocrat.

His presence was far from any aura of authority. Still, as approachable as he seemed, everything had a limit.

“Dereck… can you brush my hair?”

“Did you go to the forest?”

“Unlike the snowy fields, the forest is full of the scent of life. I got so excited that I ran out without realizing it.”

Although he was technically the master of the mansion, the fact that Siern, sitting in front of Baron Ravenclaw, openly asked him to brush her hair was already strange.

But the fact that Dereck was brushing her white hair without flinching was also unusual.

“…”

Trisha was speechless for a moment.

She couldn’t get used to such an informal atmosphere; the hierarchy was practically non-existent.

In fact, if the four people present were ranked by their authority, the order would be obvious and indisputable.

The person with the highest authority was undoubtedly Ellen, heir to Count Belmierd.

She was the legitimate successor to the count who ruled the entire coastal area south of the Velcos peninsula.

More than half of the trade route to Ebelstein passed through her territory, and it was also home to the most important magic society in the southwest of the continent: the Drest Magic Society.

The one who inherited such a domain was not simply a noble daughter, but someone with a status close to that of a young countess.

Then came Siern, the beast of the Duchy of Rochester.

Sponsored by Lord Melverot, she was steadily progressing toward becoming a great mage at a young age, making her the most influential figure among the young women of the north.

Even the most arrogant women of Ebelstein’s social elite were cautious in her presence.

In third place were Dereck, who had just entered the world of nobility, and Trisha, the young daughter of Viscount Renouel, who was still consolidating her power. It was the first time they had met, so the awkwardness was understandable, but compared to the other two, they seemed to get along quite well.

In such a vertical power structure, the atmosphere should have been somewhat tense.

And yet, Ellen, dressed in total comfort, and Siern, who was being brushed while sniffing the air happily, seemed to be in their own home.

“I apologize for the somewhat chaotic atmosphere.”

“Oh, no… it’s fine… is it always like this?”

“…”

Trisha spoke with some awkwardness, and Dereck showed a strange and somewhat complex expression.

He seemed to be aware that the current situation was not entirely normal.

In fact, Trisha had come with the intention of showing arrogance and humiliating Dereck.

After all, he was just a newly appointed baron. He had no backing, and although it was called a house, it was nothing more than the sole head of a remote region.

There was no way he could hold his head high before the daughter of Viscount Renouel, who would soon receive the title of countess.

She had wanted to make the hierarchy clear from the start. But seeing him so relaxed between Ellen and Siern, she couldn’t utter a single haughty word.

Suddenly, she felt that if she dared to treat Dereck poorly, she might earn the retaliation of Ellen or Siern.

However, Trisha was also tough in her own way. She cleared her throat, raised her chin arrogantly, and said:

“For someone who occupies such a modest position, this mansion is quite well preserved.”

“You are very kind.”

“…”

Despite having made that condescending remark, Dereck did not seem to be affected in the least.

In fact, he seemed so used to dealing with arrogant and stubborn noble ladies that they no longer bothered him.

In fact, compared to Diella’s attitude or Siern’s intensity, Trisha’s haughtiness was barely a drop in the ocean. To Dereck, it was almost endearing.

If she knew the thorny path he had traveled, she would realize how insignificant her provocation was. But Trisha had no way of knowing.

*’It’s not that he’s offended or that he’s bowing his head… I feel like I’m uselessly hitting a stone wall.’*

Indeed, Dereck’s composure was as solid as a rock.

“Well, anyway, there’s a reason I came all the way here.”

“Have you come to learn magic?”

At that moment, Siern’s eyes, while Dereck brushed her hair, glowed intensely.

Dereck, who continued calmly combing the white hair, did not see it, but Trisha, sitting in front of her, noticed it clearly.

Siern slowly moved her lips. She seemed to be mumbling something, although the exact words could not be heard.

However, just by looking at her expression, anyone could guess the meaning: “If you do anything that is not allowed, I will kill you.”

Trisha swallowed hard, her face pale.

For some reason, Siern seemed to have a strange sense of possessiveness toward her magic master, Dereck.

She couldn’t do anything about the women who had already become disciples before her, but she was fiercely hostile toward any newcomer who approached him.

Trisha shook her head immediately, driven by pure survival instinct.

“No! Of course not! Why would I have come all the way here just to learn magic?”

“…Really?”

Dereck responded with an indifferent expression.

And then, Siern’s face changed instantly. She looked serene and radiant again, as if nothing had happened.

She moved her nose happily as she felt Dereck brushing her hair, swinging her legs as if she didn’t care about anything else.

*What on earth is this…?*

While her legs trembled slightly, Trisha spoke.

“Today I haven’t come as the daughter of Viscount Renouel, nor to ask you to teach me magic.”

“…Then, what have you come for?”

“…I came as a client.”

Only then did Trisha get to the point.

—

Rodeia, the head of House Renouel, had achieved a feat so impressive that even Emperor Guttel personally praised her.

This was because she had annihilated the three necromancers who had settled on Rodentz Island.

Rodentz Island, located at the far west of the continent, was completely isolated, surrounded by whirlpools and turbulent waters. It had become a refuge for exiled necromancers from the continent, where they operated actively.

Rodeia, head of the Viscountcy of Renouel, personally entered that place and, after more than half a year of bloody battles and pursuits, eliminated the three necromancers who ruled the island.

A feat equivalent to annihilating in one blow the forces of evil operating in the West.

Of course, this came at a price. She lost vision in her right eye and could barely use one arm.

Rodeia had to give up her life as a wandering mage on the battlefield, so Emperor Guttel had no choice but to formally recognize her achievement.

As a result, at the next imperial birthday celebration, Rodeia would be named a margrave in charge of all the outer regions of the northwest continent, in addition to receiving the title of count, thus quadrupling the size of her territory.

Undoubtedly, she was one of the most promising figures of the nobility.

“My father, who conquered Rodentz Island, found numerous research documents on necromancy at the enemy base.”

“…”

Dereck felt relieved that the Duplain sisters were not in the mansion.

The wound caused by a simple necromantic artifact that had almost destroyed their entire family had not yet healed. For them, talking about necromancy would be reopening old wounds.

“My father, being the sword of loyalty to the Empire, burned almost all of them. Except for a few documents.”

“…He didn’t destroy them all?”

“Yes. Although the correct thing would have been to erase all traces of necromantic magic, he considered it necessary to keep some as evidence. And among them was truly shocking content.”

Trisha crossed her arms and looked around.

Siern was still curled up under Dereck’s touch as if nothing mattered, while Ellen frowned with a concentrated expression.

It might have seemed questionable to an outsider like Dereck to hear this story, but apparently Rodeia decided it wasn’t such a grave secret if it leaked a little.

After all, once the mission officially began, those who needed to know would eventually find out.

“The necromancers who settled on Rodentz Island didn’t learn their magic on their own. They worshipped and venerated a strange book coming from the other side of the continent, and from it they obtained their spells.”

“What? The necromancers of Rodentz Island… I’ve heard they were the most dangerous among those who broke the taboo…”

Ellen said, her expression hardening.

The leaders of the Rodentz necromancers were two of four-star rank and one of five-star rank.

Even among noble families, it was rare to find mages so powerful, let alone necromancers; defeating them must not have been easy.

Could it be that there was someone who taught them?

And if so.

“…My father came to the conclusion that somewhere on the continent there might be a six-star necromancer.”

Dereck frowned. Ellen, sitting next to him, also opened her eyes in surprise.

The existence of a six-star necromancer was a high-level secret, known only to the most influential figures among the nobility of the central regions of the continent.

Not even the rulers of southwest Ebelstein, nor most of the royal family, knew it. Of all the people Dereck had met, only Lord Melverot knew of the existence of that six-star necromancer.

However, it seemed that Rodeia had found traces of them during the conquest of Rodentz.

And that was why she wanted to follow the lead.

“We have information that some low-ranking necromancers who escaped from Rodentz have hidden in Ebelstein. If we manage to capture and interrogate them, we could obtain clues about the six-star necromancer.”

“That’s why you came to me.”

“Exactly. We needed someone familiar with the geography and situation of Ebelstein, capable of moving freely between noble neighborhoods and slums, with experience in fighting necromancy, mastery of magic, discretion, and who could perform the tasks with precision. There aren’t many who meet all those requirements.”

Trisha placed a document summarizing the commission on the table, and on top of it, she put a large bag of gold coins.

“This is the advance payment.”

“Rophelon gold from the northwest. Did you get it directly from the barony?”

“With this, you could build another mansion of the same size. Although your title is symbolic, shouldn’t you live in a more dignified residence now that you have noble rank?”

Trisha spoke with a seductive smile.

If that was just the advance, one could only imagine how large the reward would be upon completion of the project.

“Find the necromancer hiding in Ebelstein. He will be carrying the necromancy book brought from Rodentz Island. Find him, interrogate him thoroughly, and if you get information about the six-star necromancer, I will double your reward.”

“I’m sorry, but I refuse the commission.”

“That’s how you should respond~ Then I’ll send you a letter when you start the mission… eh?”

Dereck turned the document Trisha had given him over and placed it back on the desk.

Then, with a serious expression, he spoke directly.

“This job is too big for me to do alone. I recommend entrusting it to a more suitable mercenary group.”

“There is no way an official route could handle a matter involving necromancy…”

“In any case, it is difficult for me to take it on with my capabilities.”

Dereck was clear.

Trisha was perplexed by his words. She didn’t expect him to reject a commission with so much gold at stake.

“I think it’s best if you leave.”

However, Dereck knew.

The grain belt at the far southeast of the continent.

The youngest daughter of Baron Tigris, Lady Fina Raffaella Tigris.

“…”

Known as the Witch of Tigris.

The only six-star necromancer on the continent: someone who should never be provoked lightly.

Even Dereck, who had no qualms about putting Siern, heir to the blood of Noir, in her place, had no intention of getting involved with Fina.

It was well known among those in the know.

«Among six-star mages, there isn’t a single one who is sane».

And Fina was especially dangerous, even among them.

The most sensible decision was to have no link with her whatsoever.

«Miss Trisha, if you don’t have absolute confidence, it’s best for you to withdraw. This commission is too dangerous to use as a stepping stone within the Ebelstein nobility».

Seeing Dereck’s severe expression, Trisha swallowed again.

Although young, his eyes conveyed a maturity characteristic of experienced nobility.

He feigned lack of interest, but he was carefully evaluating what kind of person Trisha was.

One of the reasons Trisha wanted to give him the commission was that Dereck was a renowned magic instructor among the Ebelstein nobility. Her goal was to forge a relationship with him through that work.

And Dereck had already understood. He was not one of those who move like chess pieces just because they are offered money.

Even if his title was purely symbolic and his clothing did not denote dignity, there was a reason why not even the daughters of powerful families dared to treat him lightly.