Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Translator: XZY
Chapter 83: Siern (3)
***
The silence that settled on the northern snowy plain often evoked different feelings depending on the beholder.
Looking at the pure white snowfall that covered all creation, some felt a sense of coziness, some felt a chill, and some felt solitude.
The scenery of the world was always unchanging like that, but the feeling one got from it varied depending on the beholder’s disposition… Melverot, too, had spoken of different impressions each time while looking at that unchanging scenery.
One who has lived a long time could do that. They could find a different meaning each time even in a scenery that was always the same.
However, to a young beast that had not yet left its cradle, this desolate snowy plain might have felt like a prison.
“I intend to have Siern make her debut in the Ebelstein social circle.”
Perhaps that was why Melverot spoke to Derek and Aiseline as if making a declaration.
It was about four days after they had begun to teach Lady Siern in earnest.
Siern, having properly made up her mind, had begun to try and control her slaughter instinct, and at the same time, was receiving magic lessons from Derek and learning social etiquette, the arts, and various scripts from Aiseline.
“Is that so.”
Derek, who was standing with his hands clasped behind his back on the opposite side of the office, did not show much surprise.
In fact, it was something he had been expecting.
In this northern part of the continent, where the entire territory was no different from a battlefield, the nobles’ unique, splendid social culture had not developed much.
Even just looking at the Rochest territory, it was full of labyrinths where all sorts of demonic beasts roamed, and if one went further out to the outskirts, there were many places that were not suitable for people to live in at all.
Although Siern’s hometown where she was born and raised was this northern region, it seemed Melverot had the thought of wanting to let her experience the peaceful and warm noble culture of the southwest.
However, it was also a perilous decision.
The social circle of the continent’s eastern region, formed around the Elbester County, and the social circle of the continent’s southwestern region, formed around Ebelstein.
These two places, excluding the imperial capital, were where the culture of the noble world had blossomed most splendidly on this continent.
If she were to be unable to restrain her slaughter instinct in such a place and cause a massacre, no matter how much of a hero Melverot was for ending the Dawn War, an incident that could not be resolved would surely occur.
The safest thing was to simply lock Siern up in the spire of this Rochest territory and not let her take a single step out.
However, if that had been the goal in the first place, he would not have called Derek or Aiseline to the Rochest territory.
“Will it be possible?”
Melverot did not make eye contact when speaking with his subordinates.
As always, he looked out the window at the scenery and spoke with his legs crossed.
Aiseline sent a glance toward Derek. Her expression was clearly tense.
Derek, too, shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing and then spoke to Melverot as if making a declaration.
“I will have to make it possible.”
<><><>
“I’m going to the Ebelstein social circle…? Me…?”
“Yes. Did you not say that you wanted to leave the Rochest territory and visit the continent’s southwest, where the four seasons are distinct and the meadows are green? Congratulations. Lord Melverot has permitted you to leave the house.”
“…Oh my gosh…! I’m so happy…! So… happy, but…”
The next day, at the training ground in the annex of the Rochest mansion.
Derek was shaking his hands to flick off the sweat and tightening the laces of his boots.
As for Siern, she was lying spread-eagled on the training ground floor.
The sight of her, drenched in sweat and unable to move her body any longer, was a situation where her stamina was completely depleted, and she could not lift a single finger.
“There’s… no strength in my body… so I can’t be happy…”
“That is precisely the time to exert more strength, Lady Siern.”
“You said that 30 minutes ago…”
“That time, I was just saying it, but this time, it’s for real. Now is the timing when you really, truly just need to exert your strength one last time.”
“…Do you… do you think I’ll believe that…?”
Although she said that, Siern somehow managed to move her body with great effort and succeed in standing up.
Her dress, adorned with plenty of pretty lace and ribbons, looked more suited for a ceremony than for combat. However, even so, for a young lady of the Rochest family, she was dressed rather simply.
Siern had woken up early in the morning, gone for a run with Derek, had a meal with Derek, trained in magic with Derek, learned about the history of magic with Derek, practiced mana sensitivity with Derek, and had just been sparring with Derek.
Despite having gone through virtually her entire schedule with Derek, Derek was only sweating a little and was in a completely fine state.
Even if there was an age difference, it didn’t seem to be more than four or five years, so it was impossible to know where that limitless stamina of his sprang from.
Derek twisted his arms this way and that, then continued to speak.
“At this point, the growth of your magic, Lady Siern, is not very meaningful. At your age, being able to handle 3-Star magic, it will be much more important to build substance rather than just the height of your realm.”
“Substance? What substance…?”
“Your magic, Lady Siern, is overly unsystematic, and you rely on your intuition for everything. Of course, wild school mages like myself are much more accustomed to the application of magic that relies on such senses, but even so, it is problematic to have no knowledge of the star-rank system at all.”
Although Siern could handle magic equivalent to 3-Star, that was also just a figurative expression.
Being free from the system of star-ranks and simply having no system were completely different stories.
To just wield the mana one handles as it came, without any system whatsoever, was no different from swinging a baseball bat randomly, hoping the ball would hit.
If one was strong and had innate hand-eye coordination and sense, one could achieve a certain distance… but in the end, to grow, one had to refine the fundamental system itself.
Derek took out the staff he had named the ‘Rod of Love.’
Siern, seeing that large staff, flinched.
“…What is the matter?”
“When I see that staff, my heart seems to pound… can you just not take it out…?”
“Why would I hit you, Lady Siern?”
“Y-you… hit me…!”
“I do not use violence on people without reason.”
That, too, was true.
Siern swallowed dryly and then somehow straightened her body, which had almost no strength left in it.
Derek looked at Siern, then gathered mana around the staff and released it.
Hwaaaaaaaak— !
“It is important to streamline the system of mana and input it into your head. Do you happen to like chess?”
“S-suddenly…? I know the basic rules of how the pieces move…”
“Anyone can play chess if they just know how the pieces move, but for efficient moves and strategies, there are certain systems and rules, are there not? Organizing the system of mana is similar to that.”
If one were to calculate every move by considering how each piece moves one by one, anyone could become a master of chess, but the amount of thought that went into that process was too vast. That was why it was necessary to organize a few efficient systems in one’s head beforehand.
The way to utilize magic well was similar. One had to be able to systematize and think about frequently used application methods and the flow of mana.
“If you systematize the way you use mana to some extent and put it in your head like that… you will be able to quickly grasp the structure of any new field of magic you encounter.”
“I-is that that important? It’s hard enough just using my own magic well…”
“That is what growth is all about.”
Siern was a girl whose magical abilities were exceptionally developed, more so than any young lady Derek had taught so far.
Diella was free-spirited in her use of mana and had an outstanding artistic sense, Elente was developed in her political sense of swaying people and leading groups, and Denise was like a hexagon, exceptionally well-rounded in all fields.
However, Siern was lacking in all other areas, but her magical realm alone was a sharp protrusion.
Her innate talent was at a level that could be said to be almost similar to Derek’s.
That was why she was the most comfortable person to teach magic to. It was because, for most of the sensory aspects, a common ground was formed with Derek.
“For example, let’s consider the flow of mana you use, Lady Siern. Since you mainly use transmutation magic, the incantation itself is not very long, and you naturally and smoothly change the mana that blooms from your fingertips into elements.”
The mana that bloomed from the end of Derek’s arm coiled around the area, and then, along with the light that flowed from the tip of the staff, a chill began to seep into the area.
Hwaak— !
As Derek released a wave of mana and swung his staff, a loud voice rang out in his mind.
[ You have acquired the 3-Star combat-type magic ‘Freeze.’ ]
Kwajajajak! Kadeudeudeuk— !
And so, the floor of the training ground spread around Derek froze over completely.
Siern, seeing this, trembled with wide eyes. Derek had copied the 3-Star magic that Siern had to learn over long years of wandering the snowy plains after seeing it just once.
There was no sign of difficulty in Derek’s appearance as he touched his own forearm and checked the flow of mana.
It was a magic that should have left Siern in a state of complete exhaustion just by manifesting it once.
“W-what the…”
“So it was something like this. The mana efficiency itself is certainly not very good, but it seems not bad for subduing nearby enemies at once. If the activation speed is increased a bit more, it would be good for surprise attacks.”
“Y-y-you copied it after seeing it once? That?”
“If you can completely grasp the mana system after seeing it once, the implementation itself can be done surprisingly quickly.”
Derek shook his staff and walked over, then knelt in front of Siern and explained.
“In fact, it is not that easy. It is difficult unless one is born with an innate sense for feeling mana. You will probably find it hard to meet more than a few people in your lifetime who can do this.”
“…”
“But, you will be able to do it, Lady Siern.”
The blood of Noir had carved a curse-like slaughter instinct into her, but in its place, it had also given her another gift. That was magic.
Even among the demonic beast races, the power of individuals who could utilize mana was often exceptional.
Noir must have been the individual that had reached the absolute extreme among such beings. If she had inherited that power in its entirety, Siern could truly reach a realm in the field of magic that would be difficult for others to follow.
“I cannot guarantee that you will become the most outstanding person in all fields, Lady Siern. But I will assure you of just one thing… that in the field of magic, you will be able to make your name renowned in Ebelstein.”
“R-really… can I do that…?”
Derek nodded his head.
Siern Aleyna Rochest would become the mage of the highest realm among Derek’s many disciples.
‘However, it seems her compatibility with Lady Denise will not be very good.’
Siern, who mainly handled transmutation magic, would not have very good compatibility with Denise, who showed exceptional talent in exploration magic.
However, Diella and Elente, who were awakening to combat magic, would have no choice but to struggle against Siern.
In any case, if they were to meet in the Ebelstein social circle, no one would be able to ignore Siern.
She was a bomb falling on the Ebelstein social circle. Once the fact that she was Derek’s disciple became known, it would make Derek the most valuable teacher in the southwest.
Once he received a title, all the conditions to truly challenge the realm of 4-Star would be met.
It was an exciting thing just to imagine, but nevertheless, there was still a matter to be resolved.
It was to completely control Siern’s slaughter instinct.
“There is much to be done. But we will be able to resolve it all well soon enough.”
Derek met Siern’s eyes and told her with a determined expression.
Siern looked at his confident appearance, and then, her heart strangely at ease, she could only nod her head.
<><><>
After receiving magic lessons from Derek, Siern would receive basic etiquette or art lessons from Aiseline.
The schedule itself was not very tight, but Derek’s lessons were so hard that she was often exhausted when she received Aiseline’s lessons.
Still, Aiseline’s lessons were surprisingly static, so her body did not get tired.
Above all, Aiseline herself had a strong tendency to care for people, so when she spent time with Aiseline, she felt as if her tired body and mind from following Derek’s curriculum were being healed.
“Aiseline Unnie…”
“Yes! Lady Siern!”
When she called her Unnie, Aiseline, who would smile brightly with a face strangely full of joy, certainly seemed to enjoy it when a younger woman leaned on her.
And seeing that reaction, Siern’s heart would also soften, so when she came to her senses, she was leaning on her quite a bit emotionally.
“C-could you tie my hair for me…?”
“Why not!”
Aiseline, who would roll up her sleeves and come to wrap her arms around Siern’s shoulders, had the power to make a person useless.
When she was in her embrace, her body would inexplicably relax, and she would end up feeling like she wanted to entrust everything to her.
As she was led by Aiseline’s energy and quietly relaxed her body, it would occasionally come to mind. The image of that warm plain in the continent’s southwest that Siern had longed for.
The imagination of being on a meadow, green throughout the four seasons, with warm sunlight and a pleasant breeze.
Surely, Ebelstein must be such a place. To Siern, Aiseline was a person who was like the scenery from such an imagination, manifested as a person.
Like that, Siern would be soaked in a strange sense of happiness, and then, when it became late afternoon and the sky began to turn red, she would return to her room in the spire.
She would lie on the bed full of lace decorations and entrust her body to that soft comfort.
And as she silently looked up at the ceiling, it seemed as if the things she had learned all day were filling her head. A sense of fulfillment bloomed in her heart, more so than when she spent the day empty and without anything.
The image of a white-haired mage who had suddenly appeared like a disaster, staring intently at her, also came to mind.
The sense of fear she had first felt still remained, making her heart drop from time to time, but on second thought, it seemed that the boy had always been moving for Siern’s sake.
Taking a step back and thinking about the past events, it had always been like that.
He was a man who did what he had to do, not hesitating to take on a bad name.
The sight of him rolling up his sleeves and stepping forward without fear, even in matters that required risking his life, was strongly imprinted in her mind.
And yet, when he taught magic, he was gentle and gentlemanly. The discrepancy was impossible to get used to, but after some time had passed, she came to realize that this was Derek’s true nature.
He was a person she could not get used to, no matter how much she saw him.
Therefore, the image of that boy could not help but be impressively seated in the heart of this adolescent girl.
‘Derek. Derek. His name is so strange. Derek. De-re-k.’
She rolled his name in her mouth a few times and then ended up letting out a small laugh.
— ‘Do not worry. I am stronger than you, Lady Siern.’
Strangely enough, when she looked at him, who always acted rationally, she felt a strange sense of dependability, as if he would somehow resolve whatever happened.
She closed her eyes and imagined. The image of that warm meadow in Ebelstein that she had always imagined on the cold snowy plain.
She imagined that if she held onto the collar of his clothes and followed him, she would someday be able to stroll through the middle of that meadow.
However, the memory of slaughter that occasionally bloomed suddenly made her recognize reality.
The scent of blood that faintly lingered on the bridge of her nose whenever she was about to forget.
“…”
Siern, who had once again fallen into a pessimistic mood, murmured quietly.
“In Ebelstein… he was called a popular teacher.”
Although Melverot had separately called him to stay at the Rochest mansion, he would someday return to Ebelstein.
He was the most prestigious magic teacher that Duplein, Belmeade, and Beltus were all covetously eyeing.
Furthermore, to Derek, Siern would be just one of many disciples.
In fact, renowned figures like Diella, Elente, and Denise were all claiming to be his disciples. Even if Siern were added to that, it was unlikely that she would hold any special meaning.
It was obvious that if Derek were to return to Ebelstein, each family would start to exert their power to recruit him again, now that he was a free agent.
They could learn magic from anyone, even if it wasn’t Derek. However, as for Siern, there was no one who could handle her if it wasn’t a man like Derek.
“…”
Seueuk—
In a corner of the sunset-dyed spire, Siern, who had quietly raised her upper body, lowered her head.
A single strand of her pure white hair was coming down along the bridge of her nose.
‘If it’s Derek, could he change me..?’
In a corner of the heart of a girl going through a period of storm and stress, a feeling she had never experienced before in her life began to coil.
It was called ‘possessiveness.’
Siern wanted to monopolize the teacher named Derek.