The First Research - Belladia Harrington (5)
The common spells in Sinear RPG are categorized based on Lore and Circle Rank. For example, Fireball is a 3rd Circle spell belonging to the Lore of Fire. That is why it possesses similar power to Ice Bolt, which belongs to the Lore of Water. They are both 3rd Circle spells, after all.
On the other hand, unique spells are not classified by circle. That’s why their mana consumption and power output are all over the place.
Ordinary mages prefer common spells, while Archmages who challenge the limits of mortality favor unique spells.
For newbies, the standard meta build is most efficient, but veterans prefer customized degenerate builds.
Therefore, the Lore Master class is designed for veterans. It is a class that allows the development of unique spells from low levels onward.
Mental Manipulation (Unique Spell)
After studying Belladia Harrington, you have formulated a hypothesis regarding the mind. Within the psyche, savagery and sociability coexist and restrain each other to maintain balance. A living being that has successfully achieved this equilibrium may be designated as a Sapient Being.
Develop a spell that suppresses savagery and enhances sociability. Ideal for turning beasts into sapient beings or establishing discipline.
Develop a spell that enhances savagery while diminishing sociability. Ideal for turning sapient beings into beasts or awakening primal passion.
My goal is the stabilization of the continent. In that case, I must choose Socialization. The people of this world do not lack passion; they lack education.
Humans become no different from beasts if they are not taught.
I am not speaking of academic learning, but of basic human decency. A human who has never learned how to act like a person is more brutal than any animal.
…Just what were my older brothers thinking when they did that to the goat?
At any rate, the moment I selected the Socialization research path, a new spell surfaced in my mind. I could now use Mental Manipulation magic to forcibly instill sociability.
“Teacher! So, what do you think of my plan?”
“It is a tremendous leap forward. Go ahead and try it yourself.”
“Yes!”
The specimen returned to the banquet hall with a bright smile. She had completely hidden the cold, predatory gleam that once lurked in her eyes, greeting everyone with a warm, radiant smile. Even her former rival, now turned political enemy.
I wonder if the specimen will be able to pass the test successfully?
The feeling was good. However, research is not complete until the results are in. From now on, the specimen would have to complete her coming-of-age ceremony without my assistance.
I should prepare a gift for Belladia.
I had prepared two gifts for my first disciple. One was a beverage made from a wyvern’s venom sac. The other was a tool that would help her.
I’m curious what I will end up giving her tonight.
I would find out soon enough.
I wish the experiment every success.
＊＊＊
In the morning, Belladia received guests with the dignified bearing of a proper heir. In the afternoon, she personally participated in the hunting competition held in the forest and returned covered in blood. The guests were utterly astonished.
“…They say Lady Harrington slew a two-headed ogre?”
“Didn’t she just finish off a creature that had already been subdued?”
“She killed it alone, without anyone’s help.”
“She hacked it to pieces without mercy.”
“Incredible! Even when my three daughters team up, they can’t handle a single cockroach…”
A two-headed ogre was a formidable monster even for veteran knights. It was no coincidence that their nickname was “Knight Harvester.”
“Truly the heir of the Iron Mace Count.”
“A lioness has appeared in the Harrington family.”
“So what? She can’t even act like a proper lady.”
The central nobles nodded in agreement with Countess Varken’s sneer. A true lady had no reason to dirty her hands with difficult, crude work. She should possess the power to manipulate strong men according to her will.
“What prestigious family would take a lady of such low refinement as their daughter-in-law? Surely not even a house as old as the Harringtons would consider marrying into a vassal family…?”
Despite the mocking laughter coming from behind her, Belladia mingled with the men at their table and behaved just like her father. She laughed heartily, downed strong liquor in one go, and showed off her martial prowess through sparring. She even displayed the ferocity of cleaving a two-headed ogre’s skull with a battle axe.
“Hahaha! So the Harrington County had a son after all!”
“As your younger brother, I offer you a drink! Big brother!”
“You called me big brother?! Bwahahahaha!”
The frontier lords greatly appreciated Belladia’s wild demeanor. They shared a cooperative relationship with the Harrington County, standing together against the monsters of the wasteland. They preferred a fierce warrior over a refined lady.
…However.
A reversal occurred during the evening reception.
“Good evening, Count Alençon.”
“Uh… huh?”
“Since I am a woman from the uncultured frontier, this is my first time at a ball. Would you be so kind as to teach me how to dance?”
The evening Belladia was an entirely different person from the afternoon Belladia. She had let her hair down, and the bloodstained breastplate had been replaced by a dress that revealed her cleavage.
“I-I would be honored to escort you, my lady.”
“I’ll be in your care, dear brother.”
“Pfft—!”
Belladia toyed with Count Alençon, who was bleeding from the nose as he smiled shyly. And it wasn’t just him. The frontier men who had been roaring with laughter earlier about gaining a fiery little sister now hovered around her with obvious desperation.
Even the married lords made every excuse to approach her, while the servants carrying dishes were whipped for casting lustful glances. As the entire world seemed to revolve around her, Belladia danced a seductive dance with Count Alençon and wore a victorious smile.
“…!”
Clink!
Countess Varken hurled her glass and stormed out of the hall. Yet not even a moment of silence followed. Everyone was consumed with desire for Belladia alone.
“Ahahaha!”
“Ahahahahahahahahahaha!”
“Teacher! Did you see? Did you see that?!”
“…I did not attend the reception.”
“You should have seen that old hag’s face crumple! At first it turned bright red like a tomato as she looked for allies. But when no one in the entire hall took her side, her face went deathly pale as if she had met the god of death…”
This behavior was not exactly proper. However, it fell within the range of what noble society would tolerate. A ball was a tournament ground for ladies. For a shining victor to emerge, someone had to be humiliated.
“Take this.”
“…Teacher?”
I held out a golden ring.
One imbued with powerful magic.
“…What does this mean?”
“It means I acknowledge you as my disciple.”
“…”
“Until now, I considered you nothing more than a specimen for magical research. I was curious whether a human born as a beast could be educated into a person.”
Belladia gave her answer.
Even beasts can become human if taught.
“If you wear this ring for a long period, your thinking will deepen. You will be able to examine how your actions appear to others.”
Belladia was still a hedonistic murderer. Killing would still thrill her, and torture would still bring her joy. That was her instinct, something that would not change even if she became an Archmage.
“…Is this magic that will change me?”
“It is not.”
However, she had now received training to suppress her nature. At the very least, she would try to distinguish between situations where revealing her instincts would cause problems and those where it would not.
“The magic on the ring will help you understand the opinions of those around you. The choice you make after that judgment is entirely up to you.”
I turned away.
I had said all there was to say.
“…Teacher.”
“?”
“Thank you.”
“…”
Well now.
Could she truly feel gratitude?
“…Does saying it like this make me seem polite?”
“It makes you appear as if you understand grace.”
“So that people will continue to show me goodwill in the future?”
I nodded.
“I have a question.”
“Questions are always welcome.”
“If I stop torturing and killing people…”
The girl, possessing both knightly strength and ladylike elegance—an astonishing talent—spoke.
“Will you continue to show me goodwill, Teacher?”
“As long as you remain useful to me, yes.”
“Then I will stop torturing and killing. For the time being, I still have many things I wish to offer you, Teacher.”
I tilted my head.
“Is my goodwill worth suppressing your instincts for?”
“Yes. I have quite good intuition, you see.”
Intuition 18.
A sense sharp enough for a high-ranking priest.
“I know that you have never properly revealed the power you possess, Teacher. Therefore, I wish to continue receiving your goodwill until a guardian stronger and more capable than you appears.”
Yes.
This was gratitude in her own style.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“…You’re not angry?”
“Why did you think I would be angry?”
“Because I said that if a more useful guardian appears, I would switch over to them. Isn’t that betrayal?”
A soft chuckle escaped me.
“You really do have an innocent side, Belladia.”
“…Pardon?”
“A better parent, a better spouse, a better friend… These are desires every person possesses. They simply do not speak them aloud.”
I believe that everyone harbors secret desires they do not wish to show others.
“…Is that so?”
The girl tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
“Then why do people get angry when they hear talk of betrayal? When they think the same way themselves?”
Well.
“One reason is that they don’t want to appear as a bad person to others. Or perhaps the very situation of having their true feelings exposed is uncomfortable.”
Is that all?
Is the reason really that trivial?
“The other reason is that they don’t want to admit it.”
“…?”
“Belladia. Every person lives with their own beast dwelling in their heart. And every single day… they struggle to defeat that beast.”
I turned away once more.
“So remember this: you are not the only one who lives with a beast in your chest. It is simply that the beast you harbor is far fiercer and larger than anyone else’s. In essence, it is no different.”
Conscience.
It is the whip that tames the beast.
Without the whip, the beast devours the human.
“This is my conclusion regarding conscience.”
“…Then how should I obtain a conscience?”
“That is a question you must find the answer to yourself.”
Advanced Research: Belladia Harrington
In Search of Conscience
“However, if you ever find your own answer, be sure to tell me. At that time, I will give you anything I am capable of as a graduation gift.”
＊＊＊
“Are the results of the correction to your liking, Count?”
“I am truly grateful! Teacher Tellorian!”
The Iron Mace Count seized both of Tellorian’s hands. His grip was tremendous, as expected of a renowned warrior.
“It may be rude to say this to you, but I asked the priests of the Sun God Church to check whether my daughter had been placed under mind-control magic.”
I understood. When a person’s behavior changed so drastically in just three months, was it magic or education? Even I would have checked for mental magic first.
“…Yet they said there was nothing wrong with her.”
The Iron Mace Count’s hands trembled with joy.
“My daughter has truly changed! The child who only ever caused me worry has become my dignified heir! It is simply… unbelievable!”
Even I was surprised by today’s Belladia. In the morning she displayed the strength befitting the heir of a frontier count, and in the afternoon she showed cunning that pierced her rivals’ hearts with beauty and youth. She was an excellent fighter.
“That is why I have also prepared a reward.”
“This place… is the tower where you intended to confine the young lady.”
The tower was large and comfortable. If one were not being held captive, it would be more than sufficient for a princess. It was even finer than the Count’s own residence.
“Look at this as well!”
The Count threw open the iron door located at the deepest part of the tower. The enormous room, brightly lit by lanterns, contained as many bookshelves as a library.
In the center of the room stood a large circular desk covered with various glass bottles and metallic instruments. In the corner were a massive iron cauldron and iron cages meant for containing beasts.
“This is the laboratory I prepared for you, Teacher!”
“…It is magnificent.”
“Do you like it, Teacher?”
“I like it very much.”
I smiled with satisfaction and answered with applause. The Iron Mace Count then explained each of the laboratory’s magical tools in detail.
“How is it! Teacher Tellorian!”
“Thank you, Your Excellency.”
I bowed my head in gratitude. Strictly speaking, I had simply received fair compensation for my achievements, but since the other party was smiling, it was better to smile back.
After all, even a court mage is ultimately in a position to receive patronage.
I bowed to the Iron Mace Count. He seemed extremely pleased by my courteous attitude.
“Let us continue to work well together! Teacher Tellorian!”
“You flatter me.”
“I am delighted to have welcomed an honest and outstanding mage like yourself. Come! I have prepared a celebratory banquet in the hall to welcome you…”
Bang!
The laboratory door burst open violently.
“Your Excellency!”
“What is this commotion?! In the Teacher’s laboratory, no less!”
“A pack of rock trolls has appeared on the rear mountain!”
Rock trolls were powerful monsters with skin as hard as stone. They also possessed strong regenerative abilities, making them difficult to subdue with physical force.
“Your Excellency.”
Nevertheless.
“I will take care of it.”
“Teacher Tellorian! This is something I should handle per—”
“Since you have built a tower for a nameless wanderer, there will be talk among your retainers. To silence them, I must prove my ability.”
They were extremely vulnerable to fire.
“I will return before the soup gets cold.”