Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 69: The Most Noble and Impoverished (5)

“4-star magical weapons…? This implies a lot. It couldn’t have been an easy decision to place such items in the hands of a commoner.”

There were two weapons Roen placed on the table.

One was the 4-star wand called “Reversal,” and the other was the 4-star staff called “Footprints.”

Magical weapons are usually crafted by high-ranking transformation mages who invest significant time. Each weapon has a unique name because they are not ordinary items.

Most magical weapons possess special effects due to the influence of transformation magic, and these two items likely had their own unique powers as well.

Dereck rested his chin on his hand and observed the objects alternately for a moment.

Roen, sitting across from him with his legs crossed, offered a faint smile and said nothing. He seemed eager to see which of the two objects Dereck would choose.

“Choose one without receiving any prior information?”

A 4-star weapon was worth as much as several mansions. Making such a decision based purely on intuition was rather tough.

Dereck sensed he was being tested and contemplated the weapons for a few seconds.

“May I touch them?”

“Of course.”

Dereck lifted the wand adorned with a large gem and ornamental feather decorations, and tested its reaction to his mana.

It was undeniably a high-quality item, and he could feel how smoothly it accepted magic.

“Its name is ‘Reversal.’ It seems to have the power to reverse magic.”

Just by touching it once, Dereck roughly deduced the wand’s ability.

“Does it have the power to erase the effects of used magic and return it to its original state? It would be very useful for summoners or transformation mages.”

It seemed it could be used to summon a large creature and then revert it to recover mana, or to erase various constructions created through transformation magic and recharge energy.

After giving it some thought, Dereck picked up the staff.

After briefly holding the large staff made of ancient wood, he spoke without even looking back at the wand.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Oh. Any reason?”

“It just feels better.”

“Instinct…? It’s good to act on intuition, but you don’t seem like someone that impulsive.”

Roen, intrigued, adjusted his posture and asked Dereck.

“Sure, there wouldn’t be any defects in items granted by the imperial family, but… what if there’s a quality difference between the two?”

“As you said, they shouldn’t have defects. However, this staff seems more practical.”

Roen’s gaze narrowed. Dereck, still seated, lifted the staff and said:

“First of all, it’s light. Of course, the wand is much smaller and lighter, but considering the amount of mana it can handle, its efficiency doesn’t seem as good.”

“Efficiency in terms of weight and performance? Do you usually consider that when evaluating magical weapons?”

“It’s an important factor. And if we consider the name of the staff, ‘Footprints,’ and the sensation that something gets caught near this gem when accepting magic… it’s highly likely this is a magical weapon that leaves an echo.”

Dereck set the staff back on the table with a serious expression.

“Magical echo is a difficult trait to manage, but extremely practical. Above all, it’s useful in duels and one-versus-many combat. It can be used for surprise attacks or simply to increase offensive power.”

“Oh. You know about magical echo?”

“I’ve heard it’s a phenomenon that appears in magical weapons of 4-star grade or higher. It’s the ability to replicate the same magic again in the same place with a time delay, without consuming mana.”

“You have quite a broad knowledge of magic.”

“Barely surface-level, compared to academics.”

Magical echo was a skill often found in high-end magical weapons.

It allowed the remnants of previously cast magic to be concentrated and replicated in the same spot.

Two fireballs launched seconds apart… or an earth wall that rose repeatedly… depending on its use, it was a skill that greatly aided battlefield control.

Dereck preferred a power that allowed him to actively dominate the battlefield, rather than a passive ability that merely used mana efficiently.

That tendency was clearly reflected in his choice of weapon. Roen smiled and said, resting his chin on his hand:

“Academics only see magic as a science. But I believe a true mage should be able to use his power in all fields.”

“I agree. But I believe magic develops more when academic and practical fields are combined.”

“Yes. And there aren’t many talents who manage to integrate both. Most mages prefer to recover energy instinctively through magic rather than learning to use the complex echo effect. Under the excuse of versatility, many neglect practicality and efficiency.”

With a relieved expression, Roen took the wand and tucked it into his robe.

“I won’t go into detail about that weapon’s value. But… isn’t it a bit cumbersome to carry such a large staff? Did you choose it based on practicality?”

“There are various ways to solve the portability issue. I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you for your concern.”

“I suppose you plan to adjust the weight with transformation magic or disguise its appearance with illusion magic.”

“…”

“Do you handle several types of magic? Do you also know some exploration magic?”

“I was trained by Drest Wolftail, a mage from the Drest Academy in the southwest.”

“Oh… that old man? He takes on disciples?”

Roen looked at Dereck with curiosity. It was amusing to see Roen, who was only a 3-star mage, call a great mage like Drest “old man.”

However, Roen, as if it didn’t bother him, chuckled and said:

“For an old guy who wanders the world like he’s detached from everything, he’s done quite a few crazy things. But yes, there’s no doubt about his talent.”

Roen was smiling contentedly at that moment.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the reception room door. It seemed Sir Melverot of the north, who was scheduled to visit that day, had arrived.

Dereck quickly composed himself and stood just as the door opened.

Creak.

However, the one who entered through the door was the imperial magical advisor, Roen.

The man, who appeared youthful despite his age, opened his eyes wide upon seeing the scene inside the room.

There were two Roens in the room.

“…No, this is…?”

Before he could react, an immense magical energy began swirling around the Roen who had been sitting across from Dereck with crossed legs.

In an instant, the magical energy filled the entire reception room, and soon, a silver-haired man with an arrogant face and crossed legs revealed his true identity.

It was 4-star level confusion magic: “Perfect Mimicry.”

A high-level spell that allowed one to completely replicate the form of someone familiar and act as them. It wasn’t a simple illusion—it was a perfect imitation that couldn’t be matched by ghosts or mirages.

The silver-haired man, with long hair draped over his shoulders, smiled and spoke.

“Roen. You’re late. Don’t you know old men like me resort to boring pranks when we have nothing to do?”

“S-Sorry. I was delayed gathering the materials you requested.”

“It doesn’t matter. Thanks to you, I had the chance to test this boy.”

As Dereck alternated his gaze between the two, Roen quickly entered the reception room and bowed.

“I committed a great discourtesy, Sir Melverot.”

When Roen greeted him, the man called Lord Melverot waved his hand as if to say it was nothing.

Though he claimed to be an old man, his appearance was that of a fairly young man.

*

“As you might have guessed, the reason I personally brought the imperial message here… is because I wanted to see you in person.”

“…It’s a great honor.”

“They say you’re the most renowned magic instructor in the southwest of the continent. Duplain, Beltus, and Belmierd are desperate to hire you… Now that I’ve spoken with you, I understand why. You’re different from those so-called magic masters who only play with books.”

Lord Melverot, the greatest mage of the northern continent, had spent his entire life on the battlefield.

He deeply despised armchair academics who saw teaching merely as the transmission of knowledge.

In fact, this silver-haired man always wore shining silver armor, and from his boots to his bracers, everything was perfectly maintained.

He was always ready to jump into battle at any moment. From his perspective, Dereck, who had also lived very close to combat as a mercenary, seemed like a truly valuable talent.

If it were about teaching swordsmanship or instilling courage, many warriors could do that. But to train a truly practical mage… that was another story.

However, it was rare to find someone who possessed the kind of strength Lord Melverot valued while also teaching the ancient art of magic.

“Have you heard much about my daughter, Siern?”

“I’ve heard she’s a strong and worthy person.”

“That’s nothing but a façade. Surely you’ve also heard rumors that she’s a lunatic who kills people without reason.”

“…”

It was a difficult question to answer. Dereck’s silence drew a disappointed chuckle from Sir Melverot.

“If those rumors were true, would you refuse my proposal?”

“One thing is clear—I have no right to refuse.”

“That may be true. But I’m not a foolish ruler who entrusts tasks to someone without will. I just want to hear your honest opinion, from your own perspective.”

Dereck could tell. If he showed the slightest hesitation or shook his head, Lord Melverot wouldn’t bother taking him along.

He might seem like a whimsical man who acted on impulse, but that was just a mask to intimidate his counterpart.

He pretended to be unpredictable while internally evaluating every gain and loss. That kind of person was truly dangerous.

‘His way of speaking is strange.’

Dereck noticed a peculiar nuance in his words.

— If the rumors are true, would you refuse the proposal?

There was something implied in that phrase. As if he were assuming his daughter wasn’t a lunatic.

But if that were really the case, he could have just said so directly. It was up to Dereck to decide whether to believe him or not.

“My daughter Siern is so violent and aggressive it’s a pity given how beautiful she is. She’s probably more brutal than you imagine. As her father, I’m ashamed I didn’t correct her earlier.”

“Do children always grow the way their parents wish? You shouldn’t blame yourself.”

“From your expression, it seems you’re quite willing to accept the proposal.”

“As I said, how could I refuse? However, I’ve yet to hear what your terms actually are, Lord Melverot.”

“Do you think I don’t know what someone like you wants?”

Lord Melverot burst into laughter and rested his chin on his hand.

“I’ve already assessed you. A mage born a commoner who aspires to a high position will always face a lot of resistance. It’s not hard to guess why someone of your level would bother instructing noble ladies.”

“…”

“You want to gain a few allies, at least, in this cold world of nobility?”

Lord Melverot lowered his gaze and scanned Dereck from head to toe before continuing.

“Everyone at the top of the magical world has their flaws. Old Drest is obsessed with wandering and doesn’t care about the world. Kohella, the lunatic, is beyond description. And me, well… I’m not exactly normal either.”

Lord Melverot didn’t even bother to mention the other 6-star mage, Pine. Her existence was an absolute secret, known only to a few.

“Connecting with all those noble families might be a decent strategy, but… wouldn’t it be more advantageous to associate with someone at the top?”

“Undoubtedly, it’s a wise suggestion.”

“But your expression says otherwise. Speak honestly. I value honesty more than anything else.”

Dereck hesitated for a moment. Being someone as well-known as Lord Melverot, Dereck knew him well. In fact, he knew that he preferred people who were direct with their opinions.

He held his breath, then spoke as if exhaling it in a sigh.

“The promise of a powerful person almost never holds value. Breaking it depends solely on that person’s will.”

“That makes sense. But do you think I’d get rid of the instructor who’s taking care of my daughter so easily?”

Lord Melverot leaned forward and said:

“If you’re truly capable of controlling my daughter, I wouldn’t be able to touch you at will either.”

“…That means depending on the situation…”

“That you take my daughter as a hostage. Why? Is that suggestion too cruel?”

When Dereck looked at him in silence, Lord Melverot laughed again.

“You can always sugarcoat words. If you truly connect with my daughter and become her real instructor, how could I treat you lightly? But even if I say it softly, the meaning doesn’t change, right?”

“…”

“My daughter Siern needs to learn social skills. And of course, magic too.”

It was hard to tell if he was benevolent or ruthless. He was a man of dual nature. Even setting aside his true intentions, what was clear was his current situation.

If the rumors about Lady Siern were true, countless servants and escorts would already be dead. And that wasn’t something that could be made public.

She was different from the slightly arrogant Diella. She was a true maniac who saw no value in human life.

“…”

Many had tried to dissuade Dereck. But he thought with his head lowered.

Risk and reward often go hand in hand.

And if the client was none other than Lord Melverot, he would never be completely left in the dark.

“Is it alright if I ask for a lot of money? Or perhaps magical items?”

“The amount you’re imagining is obvious. Such a trivial question doesn’t even deserve an answer.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need for such formality. But I do have a couple of requests.”

Lord Melverot spoke in a tone that showed he didn’t have high expectations.

“Even if we set aside magic and social skills, she needs to be taught lady’s etiquette. In the end, Siern will have to debut in society.”

“I know a fair amount about lady’s etiquette, but I’m not qualified to teach it.”

“Yes, I know. Ideally, we’d find a tutor of noble lineage, but as you know, it’s not easy to find someone among the nobility who can handle Siern.”

It was hard to imagine how insane she had to be for that to be a problem, but for now, Dereck simply nodded. He wasn’t someone who showed many emotions in situations like this.

“There are no nobles in the north willing to take on something like this. That’s why I thought of looking in the southwest, but I’ve spent my whole life in the north, so I’m not familiar with the people there.”

“Ah, I see?”

“If you, who have connections among the nobles of the southwest, could find a suitable candidate, that would be great. I don’t have high hopes, but if you know someone, recommend them.”

“Hmm… I’m not sure…”

The rumors about Lady Siern seemed to be well known even among the noble circles of Ebelstein.

Teaching etiquette to a deranged killer… there was no reason for wealthy, comfortable nobles to volunteer for such a task.

Though Dereck had many noble acquaintances with whom he had good relations, he couldn’t think of any ideal candidates.

Even Denise would likely back off if he mentioned Siern’s name. It didn’t seem like others would react any differently.

Just as Lord Melverot was lowering his gaze in disappointment at Dereck’s lukewarm reaction—

“Hmm… There might be someone.”

Lord Melverot’s eyes narrowed at Dereck’s words.

*

“I believe we can offer up to 400 Rotay gold coins from the North as a salary.”

“I’ll do it, I’ll absolutely do it! Let me do it! I really want to do it! Really!! I really want to…!!!”

The next morning, when Dereck arrived early at the Duplain mansion riding his horse, Aiselin was spreading fertilizer behind the half-ruined estate.

With her sleeves rolled up, she gazed in ecstasy at the growth of the plants. She looked like a genuine peasant.

The sun hadn’t even risen yet, and her diligence was so impressive it was almost unsettling.

“Um… Have you heard the rumors about Lady Siern?”

“Of course! But the Duplain family isn’t in a position to be picky right now…!”

“…”

“Money…! We need money…! Money!! And cash!!!!! Cash we can use right now…!!!”

Aiselin’s eyes already seemed to be spinning in the shiny shape of gold coins.

She was the most noble and renowned lady in the southwest of the continent… but also the poorest.

Anyone who saw such an ironic scene would have been moved to tears.

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