Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Translator: XZY
Chapter 68: The Noblest and the Poorest (5)
***
‘4-Star magic weapons... The implications of this are significant. It couldn't have been an easy decision to place such an item in the hands of a commoner.’
There were two weapons that Roent had taken out and placed on the table.
One was the 4-Star wand ‘Regression,’ and the other was the 4-Star staff ‘Footprint.’
Magic weapons were often created by high-ranking transmutation mages who invested a great deal of time.
The fact that each weapon had a unique name was because such items themselves were not very common.
Most magic weapons often had special magical effects under the influence of transmutation magic, and it was likely that these two items also held some special power.
Derek rested his chin on his hand and briefly looked back and forth between the items.
Roent, sitting with his legs crossed on the opposite side, wore a gentle smile and said nothing. It was as if he wanted to watch and see which item Derek would choose.
‘He wants me to take what I want without any prior information?’
A 4-Star weapon was an item comparable in value to several mansions.
To be told to decide on choosing such a weapon with just intuition was a rather harsh thing.
Derek felt as though he was being put through some kind of test, so he stared intently at the weapons for a moment.
“May I touch them?”
“Of course.”
Derek, who lifted the wand adorned with a huge jewel and splendid feathers, enveloped it with his mana to check its responsiveness.
It was evident that it was a high-quality item, and it felt like it accepted mana smoothly as well.
‘He said the wand’s name is Regression. It seems to be imbued with the power to rewind mana itself.’
Derek guessed the wand’s ability roughly just by touching it once.
‘Is it imbued with the power to erase the result of a magic that has already been used and return it to mana? It would be a good match for a summoning mage or a transmutation mage.’
It seemed it could be used in a way to summon a huge beast, command it, and then return it to get mana back, or to erase the various manifestations summoned by transmutation magic and recharge one’s mana.
Derek rested his chin on his hand and contemplated for a moment, then finally lifted the staff.
After holding the large staff, made from an old tree, for a moment, he finally spoke without even glancing at the wand.
“I will take this one.”
“Hoh. Is there a reason?”
“I have a better feeling about this one.”
“A feeling... Acting on a feeling is fine, but you don’t seem like such an impulsive person to me.”
Roent, as if he were so curious about something, corrected his posture and asked Derek.
“Of course, there wouldn’t be a flaw in a reward bestowed by the Imperial Family, but you never know, right? There might be a superiority between the two weapons.”
“As you said, how could there be a flaw in an item directly bestowed by the Imperial Family? However, this staff seems more practical for combat.”
Roent’s gaze narrowed.
Derek, while still seated, lifted the staff and said.
“First, it is light. Of course, the wand is much smaller and lighter, but its efficiency doesn’t seem good for the amount of mana it can handle.”
“Efficiency of performance relative to weight. Do you consider such things when looking at a magic weapon?”
“It is an important factor. And considering the staff’s name, ‘Footprint,’ and also the feeling of it catching near this jewel when accepting mana... it seems highly likely that it is a magic weapon that leaves a ‘resonance’.”
Derek put the staff down again and said with a serious expression.
“Mana resonance is a difficult trait to utilize, but its combat practicality is excellent. Above all, it seems it can be actively utilized in both dueling situations and in many-to-one combat situations. It could be used to land an unexpected blow on an opponent, or simply to increase firepower.”
“Hoh. You know about mana resonance?”
“I heard it is a phenomenon that manifests only in 4-Star or higher magic weapons. It is the power to manifest a magic that has already been used once more in the same location with a time delay, is it not? And without mana consumption.”
“Your knowledge of magic is outstanding.”
“Compared to the people of the societies, it is a humble level.”
Mana resonance was a trait that could often be found in high-ranking magic weapons.
It was the power to gather the aftereffects of mana that had already been used and manifest a new magic in the exact same location.
Two fireballs being launched with a time delay... the same earth wall continuously springing up... depending on its application, it was a power that contributed greatly to orchestrating the battlefield.
Derek preferred a power that could actively grip the battlefield over a passive ability that merely used mana efficiently. It seemed his disposition was reflected in his choice of weapon.
Roent, cupping his chin, let out a smile and said to Derek.
“The bookworms of the societies only see magic as an academic study. I believe that truly proper mages must be able to wield power in all fields.”
“I agree. However, I do think that magic itself develops further when the academic and practical fields are harmonized.”
“Yes. And talents capable of such convergence are not as many as you might think. Most mages prefer to intuitively get their mana back rather than the difficult-to-utilize resonance effect. Under the excuse of versatility, they often neglect combat practicality and efficiency.”
Roent made an expression as if his heart had been put at ease, then he finally took the wand and put it in his pocket.
“I won’t go on and on explaining the value of that weapon. However, such a large staff would be rather cumbersome to carry around... was it really a choice that considered combat practicality?”
“I can devise various methods for the weapon’s portability. I will think about that. Thank you for your concern.”
“I see, you must be thinking of adjusting the weight using transmutation magic, or concealing its form with confusion magic.”
“...”
“It seems you can handle a quite diverse range of magic? Do you know how to use a little detection magic as well?”
“I received teachings from the mage Drest Wolftail of the southwestern Drest Society.”
“Hoh... that old geezer? He took on a disciple?”
Roent was looking at Derek with interest.
For a mere 3-Star mage like Roent to call a great mage like Drest an old geezer was a comical sight.
However, Roent, as if such things did not matter at all, grinned and said.
“For an old man who lives wandering around as if he has transcended the world, he has committed quite an eccentric act. Yes. There would be no doubt about his skill.”
It was around the time Roent was smiling with satisfaction.
Knock, knock, knock—
Someone knocked on the door of the reception room. It seemed that Lord Melverot of the north, who was scheduled to visit today, had arrived.
The moment Derek roughly straightened his attire and stood up from his seat, the door opened.
Kkiik—
However, the one who opened the door and entered was── the imperial magic advisor, Roent.
The man, with his youthful appearance for his age, opened his eyes wide as if bewildered by the scene inside the room.
There were two Roents in the room.
“...No, this is...?”
It was before he could react.
Of the two Roents, a massive amount of mana began to swirl around the Roent who was sitting with his legs crossed opposite Derek.
For a moment, the aftereffects of the mana spread throughout the reception room, and soon, a silver-haired man sitting with his legs crossed and an arrogant face revealed himself.
It was the 4-Star confusion-type magic, ‘Perfect Mimicry.’
It was a high-ranking magic that allowed one to completely mimic the form of a known target and act as them. It was a perfect mimicry that could not even be imitated by clumsy illusions or phantoms.
The arrogant man, with his long silver hair cascading past his shoulders, spoke with a smile.
“Roent. You’re far too late. Don’t you know that old men like me resort to uninteresting pranks when we have nothing to do?”
“M-my apologies. I was a little late because I was looking for the materials you requested.”
“Never mind. Thanks to you, I got the chance to test this boy, after all.”
As Derek briefly looked back and forth between the two, Roent quickly entered the reception room and bowed his head first.
“I have committed a great discourtesy, Lord Melverot.”
When Roent greeted him, the man called Lord Melverot casually waved his arm to indicate that it was fine.
Although he had introduced himself as an old man, his appearance looked like that of a considerably young man.
<><><>
“You might have expected it, but the reason I have personally come all this way with a message from the Imperial Family is because I wanted to see you in person.”
“...It is a great honor.”
“They say you are the most renowned magic teacher in the southwest of the continent, don’t they? It seems Duplein, Beltus, and even Belmeade were desperate to take you... I think I understand now after exchanging a few words. You’re a bit different from the typical scholars who call themselves magic teachers and just play at their desks.”
Lord Melverot, the greatest mage of the continent’s north, was a man who had lived his entire life on the battlefield.
He was a person who greatly despised the desk-bound scholars who regarded teaching people as merely the transmission of knowledge.
Indeed, this silver-haired man was always clad in high-quality silver armor, and everything from the tips of his boots to his vambraces was immaculately maintained.
He was a person ready to jump into battle anytime, anywhere. From his perspective, a person like Derek, who had always lived close to the battlefield as a mercenary, seemed like a talent with considerable value.
If one wanted to teach swordsmanship or a brave spirit, there were many warriors to assign as masters.
However, a person who possessed the fortitude that Lord Melverot valued while also teaching the traditional discipline of magic was not common.
“Have you heard much about my daughter, Siern?”
“I have heard that she is a strong yet dignified person.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it. You must have heard plenty of rumors that she’s a slaughtering lunatic who kills people as she pleases.”
“...”
It was a difficult question to answer.
As Derek remained silent, Lord Melverot laughed as if in despair.
“If those rumors were true, would you shake your head at my proposal?”
“One thing is clear, I do not have the right to do so.”
“I suppose you don’t. However, I am not a foolish monarch who entrusts a task to someone without will. I simply want to ask for your honest opinion from your perspective.”
Derek had a feeling. If Derek truly showed a troubled expression and shook his head here, Lord Melverot would not insist on taking him.
He seemed like a whimsical person who acted as he pleased, but that was just a mask to intimidate the other party.
A person who pretends to act on a whim while calculating all sorts of gains and losses on the inside was the truly dangerous person.
‘His way of speaking is strange.’
Derek felt a peculiar nuance in Lord Melverot’s words.
— ‘If the rumors were true, would you not accept the proposal?’
Something was underlying those words. It was as if he was presupposing that his daughter was not such a slaughtering lunatic.
However, if that was not true, it was a matter of simply saying so.
Whether to believe it or not was for Derek to judge.
“My daughter Siern is a violent and aggressive person, to the point that her beautiful appearance is a waste. She is probably more atrocious than you can imagine. As a father, it is a great shame that I could not correct her sooner.”
“How could a child always grow up exactly as their parents wish? You do not need to blame yourself.”
“Looking at your expression, it seems you have a fair amount of intention to accept the proposal?”
“As I said, how could I shake my head? However, I have not yet heard what conditions you will propose, Lord Melverot.”
“Do you think I don’t know what people like you want?”
Lord Melverot let out a hearty laugh, his chin propped on one hand.
“I’ve already finished my assessment of you. A commoner mage aiming for high realms is always bound to face strong opposition. The reason you go around teaching young ladies even after reaching such a realm is not difficult to guess.”
“...”
“Do you want to increase your allies, even a little, in this ice-cold aristocratic world?”
Lord Melverot, his legs still crossed, cast his gaze down, looked Derek over, and said.
“Those who stand at the pinnacle of the magical world are all flawed in some way. An old geezer like Drest is lost in his wanderlust and has no interest in the ways of the world, and a lunatic like Kohella is not even worth mentioning. And as for me, well, I’m not exactly normal.”
Melverot did not bother to mention the other 6-Star mage, Pine. Her existence was a top secret known only to those in the know.
“Getting close to all sorts of noble families is a pretty good strategy, but in the end, wouldn’t it be advantageous for you to maintain a connection with one person at the pinnacle?”
“That is certainly true. It is a wise proposal.”
“Your expression doesn’t seem to think so at all. Speak your honest opinion. I like honesty the most.”
Derek contemplated for a moment.
Derek knew a person as famous as Lord Melverot well enough. In reality, he preferred people who expressed their opinions honestly.
Derek held his breath, then finally spoke as if spitting it out.
“The promise of the strong can never hold great meaning. Because the breaking of the promise also depends on the will of the strong.”
“A reasonable point. But do you think I could cast aside the master of my own daughter, of all people, so casually?”
Lord Melverot leaned forward and spoke.
“If you are truly competent and can rein in my daughter, then I, too, will not be able to lay a hand on you at will.”
“...Does that mean, depending on the case...”
“It means to take my daughter hostage. Why is the proposal too brutal?”
As Derek stared silently at Lord Melverot, he once again let out a laugh.
“It is entirely possible to soften my words. If you genuinely connect with my daughter and become a true master, how could I treat you carelessly? However, what is the point of speaking gently like this when the underlying meaning remains unchanged?”
“...”
“My daughter Siern needs to learn social skills. And magic, of course.”
It was not easy to judge whether he was benevolent or cold-blooded. He was a two-faced person.
Still, leaving aside what his true intentions were, it was easy to understand what his situation was right now.
If the rumors about Lady Siern were true, then vassals and servants must have been dying in droves. It was not something he could reveal to the public.
She was on a different level from the somewhat arrogant Diella. She was a true psycho lunatic who saw human lives as nothing.
“...”
There were many who tried to dissuade Derek.
However, Derek held his head and thought.
Risk and reward were often proportional.
Especially, if the client was none other than Lord Melverot, he would at the very least never wipe his mouth clean and pretend to know nothing.
“Is it alright to demand a lot of money? Or items related to magic.”
“The lot of money you imagine is obvious. I don’t even feel like answering such a futile question.”
“Thank you.”
“Forget the formal greetings. However, there is something small I need to ask of you.”
Lord Melverot spoke with an expression that did not hold much expectation.
“Magic and social skills are one thing, but there is also a need to teach her the culture of a lady. Siern too must eventually make her debut in high society.”
“I know a fair amount about a lady’s culture, but not enough to teach others.”
“Yes, I know that too. It would be most ideal to find a teacher of noble birth, but as you know, it’s not common to find a person among the dignified nobles who can control Siern.”
He could not even imagine what kind of crazy lunatic she was, but for now, he decided to just nod his head.
Derek was not a person who was rich in emotional expression in these matters.
“Among the northern nobles, there’s no one left who would extend a hand in this matter. So I was thinking of looking into the southwest, but as you know, I’ve been stuck in the north my whole life, so I’m not very familiar with the people here.”
“Is that so?”
“Since you have connections with the southwestern nobles, you might be able to find a good candidate. I’m not expecting much, but if you happen to have a good candidate, I’d like you to recommend them.”
“Hmm... let’s see...”
The rumors about Lady Siern seemed to be quite famous even in the noble district of Ebelstein.
To be asked to teach a lady’s etiquette to such a slaughtering lunatic, there was no reason for the already wealthy and well-fed nobles to reach for a job with such extreme conditions.
Although he had personal connections with many noble family teachers and young ladies, Derek also had no immediate candidates in mind.
Even the great Lady Denise was repulsed at the mention of Lady Siern’s name. It was unlikely that other people would be much different.
It was around the time Lord Melverot, who was watching Derek’s lukewarm reaction, cast his gaze down as if disappointed.
“Hmm... there might be one person.”
At Derek’s words, his gaze narrowed.
<><><>
“For the salary, I think I can offer up to around 400 Rotey gold coins of the north.”
“I’ll do it, I’ll definitely do it. Please let me. I really want to do it. I really!!!!! want to do it...!!!!”
The next day, when Derek rode his horse from early dawn and rushed to the Duplein mansion, Lady Aiseline was spreading manure behind the half-destroyed mansion.
With her sleeves rolled up, watching the growth of the plants with an ecstatic expression, she was the very image of a farmer.
The sun had not even risen yet, and her diligence was beyond hardworking to the point of being frightening.
“Um... are you sure you’ve heard the rumors about Lady Siern?”
“Of course I have! But our Duplein family is not in a position to be picky about such things right now...!”
“...”
“Money...! I need money...! Money!! Money!!! And cash at that!!!!! Cash that can be used immediately...!!!!”
It was as if brilliant gold coins were already spinning in Lady Aiseline’s eyes.
She was the noblest and most renowned lady in the southwest of the continent, but she was also the poorest.
Anyone who saw that ironic scene would surely wipe away their tears.
“...”
Even Derek, who was rarely immersed in sentiment... could not help but feel a little wistful.