Journey (1)
–Creak
As the heavy iron door slowly opened, the air inside the archive flowed out.
The heavy smell of dust, the scent of old paper, and the strange odor wafting from the ancient books imbued with mana mixed together and tickled his nose.
The marble floor that his careful footsteps touched was quite cold.
Along the walls, mana torches were lined up, glowing softly with a bluish light. The bookshelves illuminated by that light gave off a strangely mysterious feeling just from looking at them.
"...It's beyond imagination."
Derrick swallowed his dry saliva once.
Books decorated brilliantly in all kinds of gold and purple were packed tightly together.
The spines of the books, engraved with bizarre patterns he had never seen before, were faintly glowing.
It was a sight so wondrous that he wondered if a place like this really existed in the world. There was no way a commoner would ever be allowed to enter such a place.
Derrick pulled out a book stuck in the bookshelf.
The cover was wrapped in soft leather, and on top of it, delicately embroidered gold thread was glittering splendidly.
Flip, flip.
The hand turning the ancient book. The heavy, old paper smell tickled the tip of his nose.
The letters densely engraved on the thin pages that looked like they might crumble were all unfamiliar sentences.
'A 3-star Magic Book...'
A 1-star Magic Book was something even commoners could somehow obtain if they pushed themselves. Of course, it was quite expensive, and just because you obtained it didn't mean you could learn magic.
However, from 2-star Magic Books onward, it was hard to obtain one unless you were a considerable wealthy person, and from 3-star Magic Books, it was often the case that the seller could name any price they wanted.
And here, such 3-star Magic Books were filling the bookshelves. Indeed, the archive of a ducal house that ranked within the top three in the western continent was different on a different level.
However, just because he could read Magic Books didn't mean he could acquire their contents. That was a completely separate problem.
Moreover, most of the books filling the shelves were theory books based on the Discipline School of the Noble Society.
Of course, since Derrick was born with an innate sense for magic, it wasn't that difficult for him to adapt the Discipline School's magic theories to himself. However, once it reached the 3-star level, parts that were hard to handle began to catch his eye here and there.
'It's definitely difficult.'
After taking out one book and flipping through the pages here and there at the reading stand, Derrick came to a conclusion. The realm of 3-star was definitely not easy.
A 3-star mage was a term used for those who, even by the standards of nobles born with proper Bloodline, had already attained a considerable level of mastery in magic.
Even among nobles, they were treated as being at that level, so among commoners, they were just mages you might see once or twice in a lifetime at most.
Even Derrick himself had hardly ever heard of a commoner-born 3-star mage. At best, he had only heard rumors about a 3-star Search-type mage named Tracy from the Ebelstein School of Magic.
'It really is worth staying in the duke's residence a bit longer. If Felnine hears about this, she'll blow her top.'
Felnine was the name of an archer who had worked together with him for quite a long time in the Veldern Mercenary Corps. Since she hated nobles to the point of grinding her teeth, if she saw Derrick spending time in a place like this, she would probably let out a hollow laugh.
Still, it was inevitable that he would feel greedy for 3-star magic.
Right now, the theory was too difficult and the use of mana was too complex, so he didn't even dare to try, but he thought that if he clenched his teeth and jumped in, maybe something would come of it.
'...Still, I can't stay here forever. In the end, my magic can only aim for real combat.'
Derrick muttered quietly while looking at the Magic Books filling the shelves.
After the spar between Raig and Delia ended, the Duke of Duplein formally acknowledged Derrick as a member of the ducal residence.
There was no way to refuse.
Since the owner of this enormous ducal territory had practically stamped his seal of approval himself, no one in the ducal residence could carelessly object.
For the time being, staying in the ducal residence and teaching Delia more magic had become Derrick's job.
"I'm now a 1-star mage."
After resting for a bit, about three days later, when he visited the annex where Delia was staying, her injuries had almost healed.
She had bled a bit, but it wasn't that serious of an injury.
When Derrick entered the room, brushing off his neatly maintained mercenary outfit, Delia had her hands on her waist and was wearing a triumphant smile.
"...I thought you were very depressed. When you lost in the spar, your eyes were definitely full of tears..."
"Kyaaah! I finally managed to chase away those embarrassing memories, so don't point them out one by one!"
"Still, I'm glad you look well. I saw you use 1-star magic in the spar. You've definitely grown quickly."
"Yeah, of course!"
When Derrick praised her honestly, Delia once again smiled brightly and replied with a sparkling face. Just looking at her expression, it seemed like she was about to start jumping around.
Right after her defeat, she had been in tears, but after it was confirmed that the duke had acknowledged Derrick and hadn't driven him away, she seemed to have recovered quickly.
"I told you, didn't I? If I do it, I can do it."
"...."
"You're making a face like you don't really like how proud I am. If the person you taught achieved results, you should be happy too. Come on, relax your expression."
"What are you talking about. I'm truly happy."
"It doesn't feel like there's any soul in it..."
Delia made a triangular mouth and stared at Derrick, but there was no way this tiny girl could see through the poker face of a man who had been through all sorts of things.
In the first place, this boy named Derrick had always been hard to read, so Delia didn't really try to do anything about it now.
She just let out a deep sigh and flopped down onto the bed covered in frills.
"Anyway, after working hard and struggling, you managed to keep your position. So you have to teach me a lot more magic. Right?"
"Having lots of motivation is a good thing, but for the time being, it would be better to train to become proficient in handling mana the way you've always done. Learning 1-star magic is an amazing achievement, but isn't it hard to use it freely yet?"
"Umm... that's true. Compared to how you use magic, Derrick, my range of movement is too narrow, and I feel like I get really tired even after using it once."
"That's all because your basics are lacking. The foundation of magic ultimately depends on how efficiently you use mana. Even with the same magic, the output and efficiency change depending on how skillfully you handle it."
Derrick pointed that out.
However, even as he said that, he knew she wouldn't be very satisfied.
Mages, as a group, had a tendency to get excited and want to reach higher realms once they achieved something new.
Since Delia had just succeeded in using 1-star magic for the first time, she would want to handle all kinds of 1-star magic. If she studied magic in various directions that didn't match her level, it often ended up being just skimming the surface.
So Derrick had already thought in advance about how he should respond when Delia started grumbling and asking him to teach her other 1-star magic.
"Hmm.... Okay. If you say so, then it must all have meaning."
However, Delia said that in an indifferent voice while resting her chin on her hand.
Derrick crossed his arms and quietly looked at Delia. There was a hint of amazement in his eyes.
Seeing that expression, Delia flinched belatedly and said.
"Ugh. W-why, why are you looking at me like that? Is it that strange that I listen obediently?"
"...I was sure you would pester me to teach you more amazing magic. I even prepared several ways to deal with it."
"W-what do you take me for! Didn't I respect what you said from the beginning?"
Derrick said while touching his chin.
"From the beginning... you definitely poured dirty water over my head back then..."
"…You still remember that?"
"..Do people usually forget things like that?"
Delia blushed awkwardly and avoided his gaze.
Since she couldn't deny that her first impression had been the worst, the way she fidgeted with her fists on her lap looked quite pitiful.
A person's dark history originally had a strange power that made them want to hit walls for no reason and beat their blankets. Even for a noble Young Lady, it wasn't easy to escape from that sudden wave of shame.
Since it wasn't very comfortable to watch her fidgeting like that and sweating profusely, Derrick let out a deep sigh and sat on the table next to the bed.
"Anyway, the magic lessons will proceed as usual... but from what I hear, you'll be getting busier."
"Umm... you heard too, Derrick. They say starting next week, I'll have to take general education classes too. They say I'll start preparing for High Society in earnest..."
"Isn't that a good thing. If you've learned about 1-star magic, then you've now acquired the basic qualifications of a noble, so you should also acquire the qualities of a lady."
"…To put it simply, I don't want to."
"....Even so, you have to."
Delia scratched her abundant blonde hair roughly and lay down on the bed. A despair-filled cry of "Kyaaah!" was heard as well.
"Basic noble etiquette, foreign languages, geography, history, botany, piano performance, sewing... do I really have to do all of that?"
"That's probably just a shallow preview level. After you go through your coming-of-age ceremony, there will be a lot more you'll have to learn in earnest."
"...How did Aiselin onee-sama handle all of this?"
"That's why she's called the flower of Duplein and is shining in the High Society of Ebelstein."
Aiselin Eleanor Duplein.
She was already building countless connections in the noble district beyond the Northern Wall of Ebelstein, and was practically playing the role of the face of the Duplein family.
There were constant rumors that countless men, captivated by her always dignified and elegant appearance, were proposing to her one after another, but she always wore a troubled smile and refused them.
Originally, High Society was often regarded as a place of exchange to find a good partner, but it seemed she was trying to build many good relationships in order to be a great help to the Duplein family in the future.
There was a reason why the family members all cherished her so much. Even if I were the duke, I would be proud and laugh heartily.
"I just... want to study magic..."
"..."
"Young Lady Delia.."
"But still... something as huge as this mansion or as noble a status probably isn't obtained for free... so I guess I have to do what I have to do..."
Derrick looked at Delia with a serious face and said.
"...You've learned to say such admirable things now...."
"...Rick, you really know exactly how to poke at a person's pride."
"That's a misunderstanding."
"Ugh."
Delia bounced her body, sat up forcefully, then sat perched on the bed and swung her legs around for no reason.
"Still, they say you can keep teaching me magic for a while, so I'll quickly learn whatever I can. I want to get a bit more proficient at using 1-star magic Ice Spear too."
"There's no need to rush your heart too much. At this point, there's no one who can really trip me up just because I'm teaching you magic, is there?"
"That's... is that really true..."
Delia suddenly made a worried face. Derrick could more than guess what she was thinking.
"You're talking about Duchess Miriela, aren't you?"
"...Even though father acknowledged you personally, mother isn't the kind of person who would just stay still."
"Is that so?"
"Even if she can't find a way to separate you right away, she'll definitely try to find some way."
Delia looked at Derrick with an anxious expression and spoke worriedly.
"She might try to stain you with some flaw... or make up a reason to drive you out."
"A reason... what reason would Lady Miriela have to try to drive me out in the first place?"
"Well... because your way is too far removed from noble dignity. She might also worry that it'll become a flaw in High Society later..."
"Then that's nothing special."
"Nothing special... you say that because you don't know my mother well."
"Young Lady Delia. Silencing Lady Miriela is not as difficult as you think. You just have to remove the justification."
Derrick said casually while still leaning against the table with his arms crossed.
"In the first place, isn't the initiative in all of this situation in Young Lady Delia's hands?"
"...Huh?"
*
–Chirp, chirp.
Mornings at the ducal residence come early.
By the time the chirping of birds rode along the window sill and came into the room, the lower-level retainers had already all gotten up and were managing the garden or checking on the cleaning of the mansion.
The people who supervised and managed them were also diverse. The head butler, maids, head maid, chef, and so on... depending on the department, the person in charge was different.
And gathering and overseeing all of them again was the role of the lady of the mansion, the noblewoman.
–Step, step.
Lady Miriela, who had come out early in the morning to inspect the servants' working conditions, was still grinding her teeth.
Since the spar, Miriela's expression had always been stiff and serious.
Even while she had been slapped by the duke and received the servants' pitying gazes, her heart was filled with nothing but worry for Delia.
'I can never tolerate attaching such a lowly teacher to her. Even if my husband, the lord of this territory, acknowledged him, I at least must say what is right until the end.
She was always irritated, as if it was a lifelong resentment that she couldn't drive out that lowborn teacher who was only having a bad influence on her beloved youngest daughter. Because of that, the servants who assisted her had no choice but to stay extremely tense.
'In the first place, there's no way that lowly teacher can teach noble etiquette. Seeing Delia, who must always be noble and dignified, getting used to filthy bottom-tier order... I'd rather have my head split in two than allow that.'
She closed her eyes and imagined it. The humiliation Delia would suffer when she entered the Noble Society while using frivolous words and actions.
Miriela could never tolerate that, so she was organizing her thoughts and walking through the mansion hall to come up with some kind of plan.
At that moment, she saw the figure of her youngest daughter who had just passed through the central door of the mansion.
As always, Delia was leading several servants, wearing a frilled dress and pretty ribbon decorations, and walking into the main house.
Seeing her lovely youngest daughter, Miriela brightened and approached.
She wanted to see Delia acting cute for her after a long time, and see her clinging and pestering her.
Even if she had picked up a bit of bottom-tier grime from being taught by a vulgar commoner, the fact that she was her beloved youngest daughter who shared her blood did not change. Miriela could not hide her delighted expression and greeted her brightly.
"Oh my, Delia. You look so lovely today as well!"
As always, Miriela smiled warmly and opened her arms for Delia, who would usually jump into her embrace.
However, instead of jumping into her arms like a child, Delia gently lifted the skirts on both sides and bowed her head politely.
"Did you sleep peacefully last night, mother."
"Eh...?"
"I couldn't come out of the annex while treating my wounds, so I missed the chance to talk about many things. I'd love to have a long conversation, but... unfortunately, I have a piano lesson from the morning."
Delia smiled gently and asked for Miriela's understanding. That appearance was noble like a flower blooming, almost like Aiselin's dignity.
"E-eh... I-is that so?"
"I'll come have tea in the afternoon. I still haven't even heard what happened at the southern social gathering.
Then, since my general education schedule is tight, I'll be going now...."
Miriela knew well that Delia had recently started taking basic general education classes. It was only a preview-level curriculum, but she had been busy gathering the relevant instructors anyway. However, she knew that Delia had not yet started lessons on etiquette.
Even so, seeing Delia acting with proper manners as if she were a completely different person left her momentarily dumbfounded.
Even if Miriela herself was wide-eyed, the servants were in such shock that it was as if the world had been turned upside down.
One servant who had been going to repair the garden fence froze in place, and even after dropping the planks he was holding in his arms, he still couldn't move at all.
What kind of girl had Delia been for the past few years? Wasn't she the kind of person who would break plates when she was bored and kick the servants?
If someone asked who in the world could possibly fix that tyrant's personality, there was no one whose name could even be mentioned. Where in the world could such a person even exist?
Yet the girl greeted Miriela properly with courtesy, then walked briskly up the stairs of the main hall.
"Oh my. The planks are all scattered on the floor. Be careful not to get hurt."
"Y-yes... Young Lady Delia.."
Miriela could only stare at that sight with her mouth wide open.