There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

Person (2)

– Pshuk! Pshuk!

– Kwaak!

This is a story from when Derek was not yet accustomed to the smell of monster blood.

It was when he had just started interacting with the mercenary group and was getting familiar with the ecology of the labyrinth by following Jayden.

The intimidation of goblins, trolls, ogres, and other demi-human monsters was considerable, so many mercenaries exploring the labyrinth for the first time would tremble or fail to be of any help in battle.

However, despite his young age, Derek was cutting their throats and severing their limbs, showing the appearance of a cold-blooded mercenary without any hesitation.

Jayden used to admire Derek’s appearance, thinking that he might not have human emotions.

– Crackle, crackle, crackle.

After the exploration of that day was over, Derek, who was sitting at the campsite managing the bonfire before returning to Ebelstein, showed no signs of fatigue.

He was a naturally complete mercenary. Jayden was making such an evaluation while looking at Derek.

– ‘Derek. You worked hard today.’

– ‘No. Just make sure to give me a generous share when we return to the tavern district tomorrow.’

– ‘Of course. By the way, aren’t you tired?’

– ‘I can endure it. There’s no other job in the market district that pays this well, so I actually feel quite good.’

It was a story told by a boy who had not yet undergone the coming-of-age ceremony, after massacring dozens of monsters in a single day. It was a sight that would give chills to those who didn’t know.

—

—

The harsh environment of life, like a long winter, sometimes created humans like this boy. They had the shape of a human, but there was a strange feeling that somewhere their humanity was lacking.

Jayden was a renowned mercenary who had roamed the battlefield for a long time and even made a name for himself in the ‘Dawn War.’

Having spent a long time in the harsh battlefield, he knew well how valuable the smiles of pure children were.

Therefore, seeing a boy who had already learned all the harshness of the battlefield at such a young age made him feel uneasy.

Jayden sat across the campfire.

And with a hearty laugh full of human warmth, he said.

– “Derek. You are human.”

– “…”

– “As you live slaying monsters in a trance, there will surely be times when you are overwhelmed with thoughts about your humanity. Whenever that happens, don’t forget to always ruminate on it.”

– Crackle, crackle.

Derek stared blankly at Jayden.

Jayden was smiling kindly, but there was a firm resolve in that smile.

It was advice based on experience. This old mercenary named Jayden had wandered the battlefield for a long time, and had found his own answers.

– “What is the difference between humans and monsters?”

– “…”

– “I’ve heard that there are quite a few monsters that mimic humans. Most of them are just simple tricks, so their habits or characteristics are immediately noticeable… But I’ve also heard that it can be difficult to distinguish between humans and high-level monsters.”

Jayden quickly grasped the intent behind Derek’s question.

The boy had already gone through the worries that Jayden was concerned about. He was experiencing the anguish that seasoned mercenaries only start to feel later in life at such a young age.

– “Do you know well about the habits of monsters, Derek?”

– “They kill humans.”

– “Yes. Monsters kill humans. It’s just their instinct. It’s no different from humans eating to live, reproducing, and seeking pleasure. So monsters must be killed, and mercenaries like us make a living.”

Jayden looked up at the sky. There were many visible stars.

Comparing the number of monsters he had killed to the number of stars, it was hard to say which was more.

Jayden’s life was stained with blood to that extent.

– “It’s no different from exterminating pests. Just think of it that way and live.”

With a gentle smile and a bowed head, Jayden was quietly saying that this was the only conclusion he could come to.

Derek didn’t particularly want to argue with that. It was the natural order for living beings to harm and kill other living beings to survive.

It was just that kind of problem. He didn’t think it needed any more meaning than that.

– “You were hailed as a hero in the Dawn War, right?”

Derek asked. Even though it had been over ten years since the war ended, it was a major event in the northern continent that was talked about as vividly as if it had happened just yesterday.

—

To kill the great demon Noir, humanity had to lose the 6-star mage Kalimford. The only other 6-star mage present on the battlefield at the time, Melverot, finished off Noir and exterminated all the demon tribes, ending the war in victory.

Jayden, who was present at that horrific scene, would always have a serious expression whenever he recalled that time.

Even veteran mercenaries remembered it as hell, and the scars left by that massive war in the north were enormous.

The gigantic figure of that monster, which was said to be visible beyond the horizon, was still remembered as a symbol of fear by all humans in the north.

– “Despite that, why are you working as a mercenary all the way in Ebelstein?”

– “Don’t even mention it, Derek. I refuse to go back to such a battlefield.”

Jayden, with his arms crossed, stared quietly at the campfire.

– “Those who remember the madness of that battlefield devoured by Noir will think similarly. Such a thing… must not happen twice.”

*

The demon tribes have a natural sense of smell.

It is subtly different from the human sense of smell, and it seems to catch the peculiar scent of blood from those who grew up drenched in the blood of the demon tribes.

When he first killed a demon, he didn’t feel such a presence.

When he had killed a hundred demons, he occasionally sensed their fear, and by the time he had killed a thousand, it became certain.

They sense the scent of demon blood lingering on Derek’s body.

It seemed that only those humans who had lived their entire lives massacring demons could feel that intense presence.

Every time Derek killed a demon of the Ain tribe, he clearly saw their eyes tremble before they were struck down by the final blow.

As they were hunted by the human they thought was prey, they noticed the scent of blood lingering on Derek and instinctively realized that this was their end.

The weaker the demon, the more severe it was, sometimes wetting themselves or choosing to commit suicide.

Of course, demons with power resisted. Sometimes they even wounded Derek, or he had to choose to flee.

However, the weaker demons, who had not yet spread their wings, often lost all their strength upon smelling Derek’s scent of blood.

Therefore, Derek had an intuition.

– “Hic… Hic…”

Seeing the trembling figure of Lady Siern in the middle of the snowy field as Derek approached, he felt something more than just a human trembling in fear.

The way she handled magic was also entirely different from the orthodox rule-based mage Melverot, enough to feel a sense of incongruity.

Siern’s magic, which could not be defined by the star system, was much closer to an alien existence than a human.

However, intuition is not evidence.

Therefore, Derek was searching through various records to learn about Lady Siern.

– Step, step.

Derek was striding down the luxurious corridor of the Rochester mansion. A cold sweat ran down Aislin’s cheek as she hurriedly followed behind him.

As he searched through the records left by the servants from Lady Siern’s childhood, there were many parts that would not be noticed by ordinary people but were certainly concerning to Derek, an expert on the demon tribes.

—

Killing servants for no reason, occasionally running out into the snowy plains to hunt and kill beasts, learning magic at an abnormal speed…

The reasons why many high-ranking magicians who had been teaching Lady Siern died, got injured, or gave up and left.

The reason why they emphasized keeping everything about Lady Siern a secret.

It felt like all the puzzle pieces were coming together.

Once you organize your thoughts up to this point, everything becomes clear.

It’s not just a matter of bad character or lack of magical talent.

Perhaps Siern Aleina Rochester is the most difficult person Derek has ever taught.

Derek never works for free.

If there’s a risk, there must be a reward that matches it. That’s the way of the world.

“Derek…!”

While Derek was organizing his thoughts, Aiselyn quickly walked ahead and blocked his path.

“Derek. Where are you going now?”

“I’m heading to Lord Melverot’s office. They say it’s the large main building beyond the spire, so I must walk diligently.”

“What are you going to say to Lord Melverot?”

Derek spoke without changing his expression.

“I intend to negotiate.”

“…”

Aiselyn’s expression hardened once more. The boy in front of her was thinking of negotiating with a 6-star magician.

Although Derek seemed to be considering it, Aiselyn still pointed out anxiously.

“Let’s assume your hypothesis is correct. If they are hiding a demon tribe in the mansion, raising her as a noble lady, and turning a blind eye to the murders… Just letting the public know would be fatal.”

Aiselyn checked several times to make sure no one was in the hallway, then lowered her voice.

“If I were Lord Melverot, I would first think of silencing you.”

“…”

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? If the power difference is too great, negotiations are meaningless. Even if we try to shake them with Lady Siern’s secret… We don’t have any evidence, and I don’t think they would be swayed by such things. Derek.”

Aiselyn continued with a worried face.

“Many magic teachers who came to teach Lady Siern died, got injured, or gave up, right? Is it really all Lady Siern’s doing…?”

Aiselyn was seriously pointing out.

Those who tried to hold Lord Melverot’s secret and shake him likely met a terrible end without exception.

“…”

But Derek shook his head.

—

—

What he was trying to do was not a threat, but a negotiation. The two were entirely different.

The Rochester mansion in the northern region, where snowstorms raged.

In the office of the spire, a 6-star mage sat alone, looking out the window with an elegant chin rest. Despite his vast abilities, he rarely left this barren land he managed.

– “Those who stand at the pinnacle of the magical world all have some flaws. Old man Drest is obsessed with wandering and has no interest in worldly affairs, and there’s no need to mention a madman like Kohella.”

– “And I’m not exactly normal either.”

These were the words of Melverot himself.

There are no normal 6-star mages. Even as he spoke so coldly, he did not exclude himself.

He sat alone in this northern land filled with monsters, locking up a monster disguised as a human in his bedroom, calling it his daughter, and pushing expensive tutors to somehow socialize her.

There must be a reason for such madness.

The reason is not yet visible. It cannot be known. Even if there is a human who knows the reason, it would only be Melverot himself.

Therefore, to resolve this situation, one must talk to Melverot himself.

*

“I heard you encountered Siern on your way to the mansion. It’s fortunate that there was no major accident, but as a father, I must apologize. Don’t you feel a bit more why I was so careful in choosing someone to take care of my daughter?”

“Yes, Sir Melverot.”

I heard that the northern residents considered it natural to wait over a month to meet the owner of this Rochester mansion. Only quite high-ranking individuals could get the opportunity.

However, Derek and Aiselin were able to head straight to the office as soon as they made a request through the butler. It showed how specially they were treating those who were teaching Siern.

As soon as Derek entered the grand office of the Rochester mansion, he could see him sitting with an elegant fur coat, resting his chin. He was an impressive handsome man with silver hair flowing over his shoulders.

He was still leisurely reviewing the affairs of the territory.

Melverot, sitting in a lavishly carved wooden chair, glanced at Derek. After observing Derek’s expression, he finally put away the documents and leaned back in his chair.

“I understand that your visit was delayed due to some commotion. So, how was it meeting Siern? Do you think you can somehow teach her the manners of society?”

“Of course. However, as you mentioned, it seems more difficult than I thought.”

“I understand. I am not unaware of the difficulty of the task. I have no intention of belittling your efforts with a meager reward, but it seems you have something you want.”

Derek was thinking of taking some valuable magical artifacts stored by the Rochester family. They would not only help with his transformation magic training but also be useful in his mercenary work.

However, after reconsidering the matter, he felt the need to change his attitude.

Taking a few magical artifacts would not be worth it. He felt a strong need to convey this fact to Sir Melverot.

Therefore, Derek knelt on one knee and bowed his head as he spoke.

“I understand this is an unreasonable request, but could you please send out all the guards in the office?”

At those words, Melverot’s brow twitched slightly.

It meant there was something he wanted to say that he didn’t want others to hear.

“Is there a reason to go that far?”

—

—

“There is only one thing I have to say.”

Derek raised his gaze and spoke directly to Melverot.

“I don’t know if it’s something you’ve considered, Sir Melverot, but I have spent my entire life killing monsters. I can confidently say that I have a deeper understanding of the ecology, habits, and behaviors of monsters than any magic teacher.”

In reality, high-ranking magic teachers, dressed in splendid suits and reciting academic theories, often lacked practical knowledge about monsters.

However, Derek, who had risen from the bottom with blood on his hands, was entirely different from them.

“If you wish, I can state my business here and now. But I find it difficult to judge whether that is the right thing to do.”

“Enough. All of you, leave.”

Having heard up to that point, Melverot waved his arm and ordered the surrounding guards.

It would be uncomfortable for the guards to leave a foreign mercenary with a weapon and their lord in plain clothes alone in a small room.

Nevertheless, the guards hesitated only for a moment before moving towards the hallway. The lord they served was none other than Melverot, a 6-star magician.

Judging that no major harm would come, it didn’t take long for everyone to leave for the hallway.

After the commotion subsided, silence filled the office.

Derek, who had been lowering his posture, and Aiseline slowly stood up. Aiseline’s expression was clearly tense, but Derek’s face was as calm as ever.

He was a person with an extraordinary amount of courage. Melverot could easily tell what kind of person Derek was.

“Alright. Speak.”

“Is Lady Siern truly human?”

“You came here knowing that she isn’t, didn’t you?”

Melverot spoke naturally, without any significant change in emotion.

As Derek quietly looked at him, Melverot let out a small laugh and continued.

“Why, do you think you took on the wrong job?”

“Is it alright if I ask why the other magic teachers quit?”

“I dismissed all the mediocre ones who didn’t even notice Siern’s true nature.”

“…What happened to those who did notice?”

Derek asked bluntly. Aiseline, standing behind him, was sweating in his place.

“There are only two outcomes. Either they clamored to quit, or they tried to handle it to the end and met a terrible fate.”

“How many survived?”

“It would be better if you didn’t know.”

Derek didn’t press further.

From the beginning, there were more than a few strange aspects. He could fully realize it the moment he faced Siern.

Her achievements in magic were excessively high.

—

—

Even if he inherited the best bloodline, it was unusual for someone of his age, who hadn’t even reached the age of adulthood, to already be using 3-star magic.

It was an achievement that made one wonder if such a thing was possible in the realm of humans. Even if you searched the entire continent, it would be hard to count on one hand the number of magicians who had achieved such accomplishments at that age.

How happy would it be to take such a person as a disciple? With that thought, many magic teachers approached him, but most of them seemed to meet an unfortunate end.

Siern Alayna Rochester was not a disciple that just anyone could handle. That fact was already clear.

“It seems a bit late to regret. You’ve already come to my mansion in the north, so you can’t easily return just because you want to. Do you think you can leave this vast and cold snowfield alone?”

From the beginning, setting foot in this mansion was already according to Melverot’s intention.

Once you enter this mansion in the snowfield, it is impossible to leave without his permission.

As if to emphasize that fact, Melverot’s eyes gleamed once.

“As you know, the north is full of monsters, and many people suffer accidents while traveling through the harsh snowfields. And monsters do not discriminate between commoners and nobles, ordinary people and magicians.”

“…”

“If you don’t want your name on that list of victims, it might be better to pour all your efforts into it rather than regretting your choice.”

“I have no regrets. Rather, Sir Melverot has found the right talent.”

“…?”

It was an intimidating threat to anyone.

When a magician who had reached the position of 6-star came out so openly, most would either succumb to fear or be dragged along by the atmosphere.

However, the boy named Derrick stood up with a satisfied smile.

Melverot was momentarily taken aback by that appearance, but he did not show it outwardly.

“Didn’t I tell you during our first conversation? It’s not an easy task, but it’s worth trying. But… the promised gold coins and magic tools are not enough for me.”

“Oh… so, are you here to negotiate your salary?”

“It might be a deeper story than that. Didn’t you say, Sir Melverot, that you know better than anyone what I want?”

Melverot observed Derrick’s expression with his chin resting on his hand.

There was nothing rough about his confident demeanor. He was really thinking of handling Siern.

He didn’t even ask why Melverot was protecting a monster disguised as a human. Of course, he had no intention of answering, but it was surprising that he didn’t even raise the question.

He just dryly laid out what he had to do.

“I am a magician. Magicians always dream of higher realms.”

“Yes. But even if someone from the bottom reaches out, the times will only cast you aside.”

“That’s right. So, I need a weapon to resist that. If you help me, I will keep all of Sir Melverot’s secrets to the grave and solve the worries about Lady Siern.”

What underpinned his confident tone was the fact that he was not a cheap laborer.

It is common for a capable person to have ambition and desire. Melverot did not think such a disposition was bad.

However, what on earth was he planning to ask of Melverot, that he would come to negotiate with a satisfied smile even in such a life-and-death situation?

—

—

Even if a mere commoner makes a big demand, it often amounts to nothing more than pocket change for Melberot, one of the stars of the Empire.

Just listening to what they want isn’t that difficult.

So Melberot asked,

“Alright. What do you want?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If Sir Melberot wants to keep my mouth shut, he will need to put a gag on it.”

At Derek’s continued answer, Melberot’s expression hardened.

“A title.”

There are no cheap yet competent talents in the world.

Although he knew that well, the opponent’s demand was a few steps higher than expected.

“The rank doesn’t matter, but I need a title.”

He was born at the bottom of the slums.

A shady place where the roofs of gloomy and shabby buildings block the sunlight. Growing up in such a place, one’s vision and thoughts are bound to be trapped there, forever crawling on the muddy ground.

However, his gaze was truly fixed straight at the top of the high magical world.

“Even if it’s a low rank, I must become a noble.”