Chapter 36 Translator: XZY Chapter 36: Denise (2) ***
The Raspa Great Cave of Ramhel Hill was a place that had been abandoned for quite some time.
In the past, it had been a place where a labyrinth full of treasure was located, but labyrinths attached to a large city like Ebelstein were bound to be conquered quickly.
Now, it was just an empty labyrinth with nothing in it, but nevertheless, merchants were reluctant to pass through this area.
It wasn't a key point of transportation, and even if it was an empty place, it was often the case that magical beasts that had been wandering nearby had entered it.
No one would bother to pass through a dangerous place with few people. Therefore, there was no better place for Derek or Drest to hide.
Denise, who was quietly looking at the entrance of that huge cave, had a face full of composure, but the face of her senior maid, Bella, who was assisting her, was filled with worry.
"Lady Denise. I think we should refrain from going too deep. How about we explore around the cave a little, and if we feel it's hard to find him, we first report to the head of the house and then visit with the private soldiers?"
Although she had run here, excited by the fact that she had been the first to pinpoint Derek's location, it was a somewhat dangerous place for a young lady of a family to enter with only a few guards.
If Derek was just staying around the cave, it would not be difficult to meet him, but if they had to go deep inside, it was right to retreat for now.
However, Denise had no intention of turning back from this place.
"It's true that there might be some magical beasts... and the inside is also wide and complicated, so it's a bit risky to enter recklessly. But Bella, if we go back to report from here, all my credit will disappear."
"I-Is that so?"
"If we move the private soldiers, the people from the other families will also catch the scent. And that person named Derek inside probably wouldn't want to deal with a noble who brought a whole unit."
"T-Then are you planning to go in?"
"That goes without saying."
Bella looked at the guards with troubled eyes.
The guards, who had the duty to protect Lady Denise, were also exchanging glances with each other. If Lady Denise were to get seriously injured after entering the cave, it was safe to say that their own lives would be over.
However, if asked whether they could stop Lady Denise, that was a separate issue. She was already checking her mana state and walking into the cave with firm steps. If it came to this, they had no choice but to follow.
Denise, who had secured her vision by manifesting a sphere of light with magic, strode forward, and the guards quickly followed behind her and began to be on alert.
The servants were just worrying, wondering if she was planning to go all the way to the deepest part of this cave.
"Ah...!"
Fortunately, it was just before they were about to go a little deeper. They were able to find a man sitting alone on a wide, flat rock.
An impression that was much more haggard and weary compared to when she had seen him from a distance at the magic dueling ground.
Shaggy white hair covered his eyes here and there, and his worn-out equipment was not as well-maintained as usual.
It was a state where one couldn't even guess how much he had suffered for the past week.
The sight of the mage, sitting quietly on the rock like that, looked as if he had realized some kind of level.
He was not dressed splendidly, nor was he a person of any great authority. Nevertheless, the sight of him sitting quietly on the rock, waiting for someone, had an indescribable pressure flowing from it.
Certainly, he was different in some way. Denise thought so and moved towards the boy.
"What brings you to such a humble place?"
Surprisingly, the words he offered were very polite and formal.
He looked straight at Lady Denise and spoke. The servants who were guarding Denise all swallowed a dry gulp of saliva.
Since they had no idea what kind of person this man named Derek was, they had no choice but to be tense. However, Denise, as soon as she saw Derek's appearance, made a confident expression.
'He looks shabby and humble, but that's probably because he's engrossed in training... Seeing that he is formal and polite, he is a person with whom common sense works. In the first place, when I saw him at the magic dueling ground, he had a decent impression, so he probably won't deviate much from my prediction.'
This mage before her eyes was the very magic master that the Belmeade and Duplein families were so covetous of.
If she could just win this man over, the Grand Duke of Beltus would be able to have a louder voice at the tripartite agreement table. Since the Margrave of Belmeade and the Grand Duke of Duplein were people who would do anything for their daughters, they might even try to negotiate a little. From the Beltus family's perspective, there would be endless ways to use such a position.
If she could just bring this man to the Beltus family, all the credit would be Denise's.
Denise cleared her throat for a moment and put on a full-faced smile.
"Mr. Derek... it is you, right...?"
A noble quality of an innocent young lady who did not know the ways of the world was exuded from her expression.
Lady Denise had tidied her appearance in the carriage and had even touched up her hair on the way. She, who had elegantly swept back her silver-gray hair, looked like a work of art.
"Yes, it is."
"I've come to the right place...! I-I'm... so, so nervous... I-I was at a loss for words for a moment... I'm sorry..."
"Pardon?"
"I-I came to find you because I really wanted to meet you, Mr. Derek. I asked around diligently... with the thought that I really... wanted to talk to you at least once..."
At her noble appearance, which was somewhat cautious yet trying to maintain its dignity, Bella, who was quietly assisting her from behind, narrowed her eyes into crescents.
Certainly, Denise, who had entered her noble mode, seemed to have been replaced by a different person.
<><><>
What is the way to fascinate a person?
Denise was someone who had spent her days poring over the writings of great romance novelists in her room and had lived while maintaining her dignity as a noble young lady, frequenting the social circle. She had a firm philosophy on how to fascinate someone.
First, one's appearance had to be beautiful. Since she was someone whose confidence in her own looks pierced the heavens, there was no flaw in this part.
However, there was no way one could fascinate everyone in the world with just looks alone.
To make someone want to follow you and be with you, one had to be equipped with a dignity and charm beyond just looks.
Even if Denise thought about it herself, she wasn't exactly a perfect person on the inside. However, she had the technique to make it seem that way.
Denise demurely clasped her hands together and blushed.
"I don't know how many times I've seen you in my dreams, Mr. Derek. There were so many rumors circulating among the young ladies. That there is a dependable magic master with outstanding skills, that if you learn magic from him, you can improve by several stages in a single day. That he is also excellent in character, a truly respectable person."
"I am not that great. And the people I taught, although my direct help was also great, were often people who were already complete on their own. I cannot create a quality that is not there, and it is also difficult for me if you say things like respect to me, a commoner."
"That humility is probably one of the reasons why you are so highly regarded, Mr. Derek. Still, I really want to learn magic from you."
Denise's expression, as she shot a pure, sparkling gaze, seemed as if it were completely covered in awe.
Anyone who saw the awe-filled expression of that beautiful girl would have their heart softened.
The species called man has a strong desire to be recognized. If a noble young lady like Denise harbored respect with a gaze full of purity, their hearts would melt into a puddle.
Denise knew how to actively use her noble background and beautiful appearance.
No matter how outstanding Derek was in magic and how talented he was at teaching people, in the end, he was just a boy of that age.
How could he easily turn away a young lady of the Beltus family who was expressing her goodwill so actively? Denise, wearing that mask that dripped with purity, spoke favorably to Derek.
Derek, just as Denise had expected, had his heart completely broken down, and he became a yes-man who would nod his head no matter what Denise said─ he was not.
"Lady Denise, why do you speak in such a theatrical tone?"
"..."
"I have heard a lot about you from Lady Aiseline and Lady Elente. They praised you as a sharp and wise person."
In fact, it was natural. Derek knew well that Lady Denise was not a person who was just pure and ignorant of the ways of the world.
Bella, who was standing demurely with her hands clasped three steps behind Denise, managed her expression. If she were Denise, she would want to die of embarrassment right now.
However, Denise was a strong-willed person. So what? The honey trap was something that one fell for even when one knew.
"Lady Aiseline and Lady Elente overestimate me too much. I am just always trying my best not to be ashamed as one of the trio of the Rosea Salon."
"I see. It seems I have judged a person I have not even met in person too much by the evaluation of others. I apologize."
"No, Mr. Derek. You don't have to be like that. You saw me in a good light, didn't you?"
'...Is Lady Denise's pretense working...?'
She couldn't see through the inner thoughts of that person named Derek.
That young mage seemed to be favorable to Denise, and at the same time, he seemed to be trying to keep his distance... she couldn't tell what exactly he wanted to do.
It was the same for Denise herself, but her heart was not particularly shaken. In the first place, she had not thought that he would be an easy opponent. Wasn't he a person whom even Aiseline and Elente had not been able to hold onto?
'Now... how should I cook him....'
Denise stared at Derek and then consciously raised a blush again.
"Anyway, what I want to say is... if you have any intention of working as a magic teacher for the Beltus family. I came here in person because I really wanted to ask you."
Hadn't the young lady of the Beltus family come all this way, even asking around for him?
No matter how outstanding his abilities were, his background was that of a slum commoner. The gap that came from the innate difference in status would act as an enormous pressure.
Certainly, Derek was making a slightly troubled expression. It seemed he had not thought that someone would come to find him while he was hiding and training in such a remote place.
If it was just a mercenary that was needed, there were many replacements. However, Derek was the only person whom the three great families were asking around for. Derek himself, being cooped up in this cave, seemed to not know what had happened in the Ebelstein social circle recently, but from Denise's perspective, that was rather a good thing.
In any case, she had been the first of the three great families to find Derek. If she dragged her feet, the other families would also catch the scent.
If she could not win Derek over here today, the matter would only become more complicated. And Denise, who hated complicated matters more than anything, was determined to take Derek back with her from this place today.
"I am very grateful that you have made the journey to find a mere commoner mage like me. However, as you can see, I am not sure if I am in a situation to teach someone or do anything of the sort right now."
"Is it because you are concentrating on your magic training?"
"Yes. I am currently facing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is my honest heart that I want to concentrate on my own training right now."
There was an exchange of glances among the servants.
The young lady of the Beltus family had come all this way in person, and he was going to refuse her to her face?
If there was some great cause, it would be a different story, but it was by no means an easy thing to turn it down just because he wanted to train himself.
Lady Denise was not the type, but in any case, if a noble young lady was determined, it was not that difficult to make a fool of a commoner.
However, Derek had already risen to a position where it was difficult to make a fool of him. Although his background was humble and he did not have any outstanding connections, he was a talent whom all the big families were coveting.
If she were to scold him here because her pride was hurt, everything would go down the drain.
Of course, Denise was also a person who could handle that level of discourtesy like a crafty old fox.
"Thank you for speaking without reservation, Mr. Derek. But I am also desperate."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. In the last magic duel, I realized how sincerely Lady Aiseline and Lady Elente are striving in their training. Mr. Derek, who would have seen them up close, would know better, but both of them are working harder than anyone to acquire the dignity of a noble young lady, aren't they?"
Lady Denise made a firm expression and spoke more resolutely than anyone. Seeing that, Bella was on the verge of being dumbfounded.
Denise knew exactly where a person's heart was moved. It was sincerity.
It was funny for Denise to talk about sincerity, but at least her external appeal was something that no one could follow.
The sight of her clasping her hands and appealing with moist eyes stimulated everyone's desire to protect her.
Even Bella, who knew her well, was at a point where she had no choice but to swallow a dry gulp of saliva upon seeing that.
"To be left behind is a sad thing."
"..."
"When everyone is calmly moving towards a higher level, if you are left behind alone, your self-esteem is chipped away and your heart is gradually worn down. What more is there to hide, I am so afraid of the fact that I cannot follow the achievements of the two."
Denise strode over and took the hands of the haggard-looking Derek.
Her slender, white hands clasped Derek's dirt-stained hands without any hesitation, and she appealed with all her heart, her eyes meeting his up close.
"That's why I came to find you, asking around like this. Mr. Derek."
Denise asked with an anxious look, as if she would collapse at any moment.
"Please. Please save me, who falls asleep in a swamp of anxiety every night. With my own magical achievements alone... it's impossible anymore."
"..."
Derek was quietly looking at Denise.
A dark cave. Denise, looking at Derek faintly with moist eyes.
She was meeting Derek's eyes like that for a long time.
How many men in the world could receive such a faint and precarious gaze and shake their head without any trouble? Not only Bella, but even the guards protecting her could not help but click their tongues inwardly.
However, Derek quietly opened his mouth.
"Lady Denise, you do not seem to have much interest in magical achievements. You used 1-Star light magic on the way to the cave, did you not?"
"Pardon? You detected that from here?"
"Yes. The amount of mana itself is outstanding, but it did not feel like it was sharpened by daily training. That is not a matter of talent, but a matter of will."
Denise's pupils widened for a moment and then quickly returned to normal.
"What are you talking about..."
"Lady Denise. If I may be so bold as to speak, considering the discourtesy, it is not a very good judgment to discuss the sincerity of magic with lies in front of a mage who is engrossed in magic."
Derek was a person who was so immersed in magic that it would be fine to say he was crazy about it.
The people whom Derek, who was so engrossed in magic, had taken the time to teach had something in common. Whether it was Diella or Elente, they were all people who were sincere in their pursuit of magical achievement.
"Some people would take that as an insult."
Denise, who met that cold gaze, had no choice but to realize.
Although she was wearing a thick mask, this boy had been seeing through what was under the mask from the beginning.
"I do not know why you need me, Lady Denise. However, no matter how I look at it, it does not seem to be for magical achievements."
Derek dusted himself off and stood up. Although he had barely slept and had been buried only in magic, he was somehow managing to support his body.
"How can I carry out a request when I don't even know what the client wants? I do not accept requests that I cannot handle. Because it would be a great discourtesy to the client."
Derek bowed his head with a slight nod. It was a gentle expression of refusal.
"So please find a much more competent person and entrust the request to them, instead of a lowly wandering mercenary like me. That would be fitting for your station, Lady Denise."
It was a manner of speech that was so perfectly polite and formal that she couldn't even say anything more.
"Yeees....?"
Denise felt as if she had been hit on the head with a hammer.
To the point where the method acting she had been putting on, which would have made the heavens fall in surprise, seemed colorless, she could not say anything and just stood still. Eventually, she felt a deep scratch being carved into her pride.
She had come with some level of determination because she had heard that he was a talent whom neither Aiseline nor Elente had been able to get their hands on.
However, she had not thought that he would kick her out so coolly like this. If he had at least shown a bit of conflict, she would not have felt this way.
'No, I, the young lady of the Beltus family, came to find him, asking around like this, and bowed my head so openly...?'
The cause of that humiliation was surely in part due to that aristocratic sense of authority... but there was a bigger reason than that.
'This pretty me even had tears in my eyes...??'
What more could be said, her princess sickness was already severe.
"Then, I will go to finish today's training now."
"W-Wait a moment. Mr. Derek. First..."
Derek, before Denise could even call him back, lightly jumped off the rock and walked into the depths of the cave.
The servants who were watching the scene all had widened eyes. They had heard the rumor that he was a boy like a recluse, but they had not known that he would be such a mysterious person.
"Should we... should we follow him further, My Lady?"
As Derek disappeared into the darkness, Bella, who was watching, quickly came out and said.
If they were going to follow, they had to move busily.
However, Denise just stood still in that spot and smiled brightly.
"L-Lady Denise?"
"Ahem. I was thinking that he was a person with clear convictions, but I didn't know he would be this steadfast."
Bella had an anxious expression.
"Right. So he came out like that. I went so far as to have tears in my eyes, put on pretty makeup, and even wore expensive perfume, and he just made that indifferent face."
"My Lady. Please calm your anger first, and let's slowly and rationally organize our thoughts. First, let's inform the main house of the cave's location and then..."
"Hmm? Get angry? Why would I have a reason to get angry? That's really funny, Bella. Anyone who saw me would think I was angry."
Although she said so, Denise was only smiling with her eyes, and a cross-shaped vein was bulging on her forehead.
Bella swallowed a dry gulp of saliva.
Honestly, she wondered if the fact that her honey trap had not worked a little was such a pride-hurting thing, but if she were to say such a thing, she did not know what kind of repercussions would follow, so she had to keep her mouth shut.
Lady Denise was a person who found everything a hassle and did not easily get motivated, but once she rolled up her sleeves, she was a fearsome person.
"It's just.. a bit... I'm getting competitive... uhuhuhu..."
Bella looked at Denise, pressed her temples, and had to endure a headache. Bella, who had been with Denise for a long time, knew her well.
She was the type to grit her teeth and swing the axe even harder if there was a tree that would not fall.
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