The construction date of the Ravenclaw Academy had already been set.
“Hm…”
While spending his recovery period treating the serious wound to his shoulder, Dereck rested his chin on his hand as he read the letter that had arrived from Aiselin.
It had already been about four days since, due to Kalimford’s mistake, he had suffered that severe injury.
The wound to Dereck’s shoulder was deeper than he had thought, and it would not heal just by resting for a few days.
Although Dereck possessed a recovery ability so outstanding that any ordinary person would click their tongue in amazement just by seeing it, thinking that he could recover easily after taking a spell head-on from the great mage Kalimford had undoubtedly been naïve.
‘I want to go over that sensation from back then at least one more time… but my body won’t respond.’
Dereck’s mind was completely occupied by that magical fervor he had felt while exchanging spells with Kalimford.
If he could train just one more time, he was certain he would be able to glimpse a new level.
With that obsessive thought, he tried to recover by any means, but things were not progressing as he had hoped.
During the days he spent confined to bed, the servants of the ducal house of Rochester attended to him with a devotion so excessive it bordered on uncomfortable.
Fearing that something might happen to Dereck, they took turns watching over him every hour, to the point that it made him want to tell them there was no need to exaggerate so much.
When Siern had nothing to do within the duchy, she stayed stuck to Dereck like a limpet, and both the head butler and the head maid personally came every day to check on his physical condition.
And on top of that.
The great mage Kalimford visited the room daily to ask about his condition, and Melverot, from time to time, made sure on his own that he was not experiencing any discomfort.
‘…’
Put bluntly, it was like sitting on a bed of thorns.
Dereck, who had suffered even more serious injuries in the past, knew that by eating well and sleeping enough, flesh returned quickly and recovery was usually fast.
Because of that, the ducal house of Rochester treating him as if he were a piece of glass and checking even the most insignificant detail was unbearably uncomfortable.
‘This really is a true seat of thorns.’
Clutching his shoulder tightly, Dereck organized his thoughts while reading Aiselin’s letter.
The frigid climate of the north was already harsh enough to hinder recovery, and sitting there all day, surrounded by people who would not stop monitoring his physical condition, was on the verge of driving him into neurosis.
‘Judging by the situation, it seems Kalimford also has no intention of using his full strength against me again.’
Every time he saw Dereck and Siern, Kalimford ended up drenched in cold sweat.
Ever since he understood that, if he injured Dereck recklessly, Siern would not stand by idly, he seemed to have lost any intention of treating him with pressure or severity.
That Siern could make two six-star mages break out in cold sweat with just a few looks once again made her presence impressive.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve also left my territory unattended for far too long.’
As always, Siern was sitting in the armchair beside the fireplace, breathing softly.
Through the window beyond, the territory of Rochester was covered in snowflakes falling without cease.
If he returned to the southwest of the continent, spring would already have fully arrived there.
There would surely also be a mountain of accumulated matters and many people waiting for Dereck.
He could not remain indefinitely in the territory of Rochester.
The pursuit of magical mastery was the objective and raison d’être to which Dereck had devoted his life.
Although the closeness of the five-star level gave him a pleasant vertigo, he also could not completely abandon the affairs of his territory.
Rubbing his brow, Dereck took a deep breath and straightened up.
“I think I’ll soon return to the Ravenclaw territory. With this shoulder, it’s difficult to carry out any meaningful magical training, so it would be better to recover while taking care of the work that’s piled up.”
“…”
Melverot, with his arms resting on the work desk, spoke in a calm voice.
“…Already so soon?”
“…”
Convincing a daughter who had returned home to stay one more day was almost a natural duty of parents.
Both Melverot and Kalimford seemed to want to keep Siern a little longer whenever Dereck mentioned that it was time to return.
It was not a final farewell, and once the procedures for the academy’s construction were concluded and another rest period arrived, they would see each other again.
Even so, Melverot frowned and spoke in a cold tone.
“I told you that if there was anything that made you uncomfortable during your stay, you should say so clearly.”
Although by its phrasing it almost sounded like a threat, the hidden message in his words was curiously considerate, enough to confuse anyone hearing it for the first time.
Of course, Dereck, who already knew Melverot’s two-faced nature well, chose his words carefully.
“There’s nothing in particular. As I said, there are matters piled up in my territory, and in this condition it’s difficult to continue magical training. For now, I want to prioritize what I must do.”
“So you plan to seriously set the Ravenclaw Academy in motion.”
“The scale is ordinary, but those enrolling are, without exception, young ladies from very prominent noble families. There is much to prepare.”
“I have no choice but to warn you not to neglect Siern.”
“That… of course.”
On this trip to the territory of Rochester, Dereck understood something with absolute clarity.
It didn’t matter who it was—if anyone dared to touch Siern lightly, Melverot and Kalimford would destroy them without mercy.
As long as Siern remained favorable toward him, Dereck didn’t have too much to worry about, but among the nobles of Ebelstein, known for their harsh and venomous dispositions, someone incapable of reading the situation could always appear.
It would be best if no one like that appeared, but if it did.
From Dereck’s perspective, all he could do was pray for their eternal rest.
“I’ll send the report documents to the center of the continent. The construction of the Ravenclaw Academy has the approval of the central nobles, but those old men change their minds easily.”
“On that point, Lady Kohella has already reviewed everything, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“That sinister old woman gave her approval…? She’s not someone with easy tastes. That means your value has increased as well.”
When Dereck inclined his head, Melverot crossed his arms and sighed.
His silver hair, quite long for a man, fell over his noble attire.
He had a lofty and arrogant expression, but considering his abilities, it was not unfounded arrogance.
Melverot observed Dereck in silence and then added.
“If even Kohella has taken notice of your existence, whether you like it or not, you’ll end up reaching even greater heights.”
“…”
“It’s not just Fina, but also Drest. If you knew that six-star mages scattered across the continent value you this highly, the central nobles won’t remain idle. This is a different kind of movement from that old woman Kohella.”
Regarding the nobles of the center of the continent, Dereck had heard about them as well.
They were the powerful figures who, like the arms and legs of Emperor Gatrell, concentrated the core of imperial power.
For a mage like Dereck, who moved mainly through the peripheral regions of the continent, they were rather distant figures.
“You should already know this to some extent. Being someone promising attracts the admiration of many, but it also awakens envy and invites surveillance. And the more obsessed they are with power, the more aggressive they become toward people like you.”
“Are the central nobles that finicky?”
“After killing Noir, I myself could have taken a position among the central nobles if I had wanted to. Even so, why do you think I stayed in this desolate north killing monster races to pass the time?”
Melverot rested his chin on his hand and frowned.
“I didn’t want to be dragged along by those pigs that are shiny on the outside and hollow on the inside. In any case, you’d better run the academy carefully and not let the central nobles handle you however they please.”
“I’ll keep that very much in mind.”
“And while we’re at it, it seems Emperor Gatrell plans to conduct an inspection in person.”
Dereck’s body trembled.
It was the first time he had heard that Emperor Gatrell, the very heart of the Empire, would come in person.
A magical educational institution on a scale never seen before was about to be born, so it was not strange that it caught his attention.
Even so, Dereck had thought he would send a delegate, not travel all the way to the territory of Baron Ravenclaw himself.
“It’s internal information that came up at the latest meeting of high nobles.”
“Is it all right for you to tell me something like that?”
“At times it seems you aren’t aware that you yourself are a noble. Though, given your background, perhaps not much can be demanded of you.”
“I haven’t had the opportunity to have an audience with Emperor Gatrell, and I don’t know the palace rules very well. It seems I’ll have to prepare even more.”
“There’s no need for you to pay too much attention to that puppet.”
Dereck’s expression hardened.
Emperor Gatrell’s reputation as a wise ruler was well known.
It was said that he was benevolent, firm, and capable of handling immense power with prudence.
The magic council, led by Kohella, answered directly to the emperor, and even the great aristocratic powers seemed insignificant before imperial authority.
Even the Duplain family had reached its position as one of the powers of the southwest thanks to its direct blood ties to the imperial family.
Even so, Melverot, who had been closer than anyone to the apex of power, let out a mocking laugh.
“Do you really believe that the true power of the empire resides in that already-aged Emperor Gatrell? He lost his edge long ago. When you see him in person, you’ll understand what I mean. He’s nothing more than a puppet who nods along to everything his vassals say.”
“Since when…?”
“I don’t know exactly. I can’t point to a specific moment. I’ll just say this: old age eventually turns even monarchs who once dominated the pinnacle of power into miserable old men.”
Melverot laughed softly again.
“When you see the pitiful state of that old emperor, perhaps even Fina will start to think that the mark engraved on her body is not a curse, but a blessing.”
“…”
“What? Is that something you would have preferred not to know? Like it or not, you’re already drawing closer to the center of power. With a complete four-star level at your age, you will attract the surveillance of the central nobles whether you want it or not.”
They were not comparable to the nobles of the peripheral territories.
Their mentality and their way of acting were completely different.
Melverot stated this decisively and crossed his legs.
“If Emperor Gatrell is no longer the true head of imperial power, then who is holding control of Gremport Palace now?”
“The imperial palace has been in shambles for a long time. In the magical sphere, Kohella controls everything, but in the other fields each faction watches the others from their own palaces, waging a silent war. That’s why I can’t clearly point to a single one, but…”
Heaven and earth, only I exist.
There was no description more fitting for Melverot.
He was one of the greatest mages in history, the hero who killed Noir and saved the continent.
Even so, Dereck never imagined he would utter the following words.
“You’d do well never to approach Princess Roselin. She is the closest to imperial power, but also the one who despises mages the most.”
“Is it possible to hate mages in this era? Most influential figures wield magic.”
“That’s the princess’s own affair. How she came to have those ideas, I don’t know. But there is one thing that is certain.”
At last, Dereck understood why Melverot was telling him all this.
His tone was always harsh, arrogant, and disdainful, but when one looked deeper, his intention was often very different.
In his own way, Melverot was worried about him.
“At the very least, she won’t look kindly on the emergence of a magical educational institution of that size. And you, as its director, could provoke even more of her hostility.”
“…”
“But there’s no need to obsess over it. Even if she’s among the most influential of the imperial family, she’s still just a novice. And as you rightly said, despising magic in this era is hardly a desirable trait.”
Although he had not met her yet, Dereck sensed that Melverot felt no sympathy for her either.
“Whatever the political struggle within the palace may be, the imperial magic advisor Kohella won’t let her act however she wants.”
“…”
“If she’s left alone, she’ll end up being discarded. Until then, it will be enough for you to know when to hold back.”
Melverot’s advice was far more important than it seemed.
For Dereck, who still lacked experience with the central nobility and imperial culture, it was invaluable help, even if a certain discomfort continued to linger in his mind.
Even so, in his current situation, all he could do was nod.
“I understand. Thank you for the advice.”
“Good. And since the Ravenclaw Academy is going to be built, I suppose I should prepare a gift as well.”
“There’s no need to go that far. You’ve already helped the barony quite enough.”
“Don’t be insolent. When someone gives you something, you accept it. Do you think I’m the kind of person who goes back on what he says?”
When Dereck looked at him, Melverot drew a mocking smile.
“The problems ahead of you are not few. If you keep scattering your attention like this, you won’t be able to concentrate when teaching Siern either. It seems necessary that I intervene a little.”
“I’ve already been considering that.”
“Do you think I’ll be put at ease that easily? On this return trip, take Kalimford with you as well. I’ve already told him.”
“………What?”
Kalimford, a six-star combat mage.
By reputation, he was someone who could not be hired even by offering an incalculable fortune.
“Hire him. The teaching staff will always be insufficient, and he will also want to see Siern more.”
It was still unknown how the faculty of the Ravenclaw Academy would be formed, but bringing in Kalimford exceeded any imaginable expectation.
In the depths of Dereck’s heart, a strange sensation began to arise.
Just as when Aiselin had first opened the training center, he had the impression that everything was starting to grow too large.
***
On the outskirts of the Duplain territory, where buildings stood densely, Aiselin was sitting on the hill beside the academy grounds, which were only awaiting the inauguration ceremony.
She wiped away her sweat and showed an expression of absolute happiness.
The head maid, Katarina, swallowed hard at the sight.
At some point, the Aiselin who had once been simply beautiful, elegant, and refined had gone from being just another young noble lady to appearing something close to a sovereign.
Unaware of Katarina’s concerns, Aiselin gathered her ebony-black hair and spoke cheerfully.
“Dereck is going to be in for a big surprise when he comes back!”
The golden age of the Duplain family was returning.
House Duplain, whose end had been predicted even by the central nobility and the imperial family, was rising once more with its heavy body.
And at the forefront of that resurrection, as the supreme real authority of the Duplain family, Aiselin Eleanor Duplain lifted her chin firmly.
Ironically, she still considered herself a fallen young noble.
And everything indicated that she intended to continue seeing herself that way until the day of her death.
