Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 123

"Traditionally, a person's growth explosively occurs when they challenge limits beyond their perceived boundaries. As someone who's taught many, shouldn't you know this better?"

"...While I agree in principle, isn't demanding someone attempting to break through to 4-Star level to face a 5-Star summoning mage a bit excessive?"

"Ahaha. You freely assign tasks beyond limits when teaching sheltered young noblewomen, yet find it troublesome when the tables are turned? This is how one becomes all talk and no substance as an instructor."

Phee's laughter was pure mischief incarnate.

Her bare feet swinging through the air as she laughed merrily made her seem like an entirely different person from the daytime student persona she showed Derek.

Derek looked down with an exasperated expression while Phee maintained her smirk.

There was a clear difference between pushing physical limits and outright demanding confrontation with a 5-Star mage.

"You see, your tolerance for achievement is abnormally high. While mediocre mages would be rolling on the ground crying from such trials, you're the stubborn type to grit your teeth and push through. Doesn't this qualify as properly challenging your limits?"

"One misstep and I'm dead."

"Savor that razor's edge sensation. Death is always closer than you think."

Though Derek had roamed battlefields as a mercenary,

he avoided unnecessary risks between life and death. That wasn't courage—it was recklessness.

Countless comrades had marched proudly into deadly situations only to perish.

While his profession inherently involved danger, he rarely volunteered for greater risks.

Phee, the necromancer who toyed with death and spirits, seemed displeased with Derek's cautious approach as she pouted.

"Underestimating my judgment, are we? While you may not yet defeat a 5-Star mage, you certainly won't lose either."

"What do you mean?"

"You may consider yourself a talented mage, but your raw magical ability isn't your defining trait."

Phee had taken Derek as her apprentice not just for his exceptional talent, but for something more fundamental.

"You're an ambitious fanatic. Those born with such temperament never easily surrender, no matter how impossible things seem. The fact you seriously discuss reaching 7-Star proves you're already unhinged. Madmen, lunatics—most live pathetically and die meaninglessly."

Phee casually hurled insults at Derek, yet her words carried an odd affection from one claiming to be his mentor.

"Yet ironically, most who reach 6-Star were such madmen."

"..."

"Like spitting while lying down. Aren't you curious how your heavenly mentor reached 6-Star status?"

Derek, leaning against the sofa backrest, studied Phee silently.

Phee's first 6-Star necromancy spell was"Cycle's Brand"—no ordinary achievement through mere training.

Watching the arrogant, cunning girl smirking from the opposite sofa, Derek finally spoke slowly.

"In your very first life before any cycles began... what kind of life did you lead?"

"A lady's secrets are her own."

"..."

"Trying to pry so easily? Still lacking in social graces, I see."

Phee changed topics with a chuckle.

"Anyway, your willpower is irrelevant. I've already planted necromantic traps rooted in the Beltus family."

"..."

"Just wait—they'll bite eventually. When the time comes, smash that arrogant Grand Duke Beltus's skull for daring to provoke Ravenclaw Barony. Simple, no?"

"Why go so far?"

Occasionally, Derek struck with piercing questions.

Phee's laughter abruptly stopped, anticipating his implication.

"Even if you can escape into the cycle's wheel, directly provoking one of the Southwest's most powerful figures seems unnecessarily risky for someone concealing their identity. Why take such actions?"

"My dull apprentice dares gauge his heavenly mentor's profound intentions? Everything has meaning."

"The matter's too significant for vague answers."

"Persistent brat."

Regaining her smile, Phee continued candidly.

"Fine. My motives aren't purely about elevating your magic. Defeating Beltus benefits me too—there are things to gain from that family."

"What things?"

"Didn't I say? Prying into a lady's secrets lacks refinement."

Though centuries old, Phee's identity remained that of a young girl—making her behavior oddly understandable.

"Understood. But one final question remains."

Derek asked calmly.

"You mentioned having a request when I reach higher realms."

"..."

"What is it?"

Phee's thin eyes curved happily at her first apprentice's earnest question.

Chin propped, legs crossed, she smiled enchantingly—her gaze shimmering with lifetimes of experience and visions of final rest.

Before her sat a magician of sky-reaching ambition, his talent unquestionably genius-level.

Finally, with sinister upturned eyes, she whispered:

"All in due time. You might find it sudden, but an apprentice like you is quite precious to me."

Though Derek frowned skeptically, Phee seemed unbothered by his lukewarm reaction.

Like all 6-Star mages, she remained an enigma.

- Creak

Late night after concluding business with Phee.

Exiting the reception room into the hallway, they immediately encountered familiar faces.

"Oh my... Sir Derek. And Lady Phee..."

It was Aiselin, now seemingly fully recovered, accompanied by Head Butler Delbritton carrying documents likely concerning academy matters.

As Derek nodded, Aiselin alternated glances between them before awkwardly adding:

"Good evening, Lady Aiselin. Are you feeling better?"

"Y-yes, of course. Sir Derek, why are you with Lady Phee at this hour...?"

Phee had instantly reverted to her simple country noblewoman persona—the sinister smile vanishing so completely it seemed imaginary.

"Master Derek gives me private magic lessons. With his daytime schedule so busy, I visit at night."

"I-is that so? Um..."

Aiselin swallowed hard before mustering courage.

"Um...!"

"Did you need something? If it's academy business, we should discuss in the office—"

"That's not it...!"

Aiselin hesitated like words stuck in her throat, while Delbritton behind her wore an oddly tense expression.

Finally, she blurted out:

"I don't know how you'll take this...! And please... don't misunderstand...!"

"...?"

"As Lady Phee is Tigris Barony's treasured daughter... and you're a man with a partner... meeting privately late at night might... raise misunderstandings among the academy's young ladies..."

Though Aiselin knew Derek's relationship with Pellin was platonic, public perception mattered. Even innocent tutoring could be misconstrued by imaginative noblewomen.

For normally reserved Aiselin to voice such concerns was extraordinary, making Derek sweat.

But Phee saw deeper.

Her sharp intuition recognized Aiselin's motives extended beyond mere reputation worries.

'Oh my?'

Phee's eyes sparkled mischievously.

After countless lifetimes, she knew entertainment was essential to combat boredom.

Watching flustered Aiselin reminded her of discovering a new toy.

Before Derek could respond, Phee brightly interjected:

"Lady Aiselin has quite the imagination!"

As Aiselin tensely turned, Phee maintained her innocent smile—though her following words contrasted sharply.

"Officially, we're simply mentor and student. Everything else is imagination. Bowing to such gossip would make one unfit for leadership—just petty small-mindedness."

"Th-that may be, but..."

"Also, your concern contains slight inaccuracies."

Phee's smile transformed—no longer the guileless country girl's, but something more unsettling, her violet eyes glinting crimson.

"Those who scorn men for romantic exploits are merely hypocrites. At least, that's my view."

"...Pardon?"

"History shows women are often drawn to promiscuous scoundrels. Don't you agree, Master Derek?"

What nonsense was this creature spouting?

Yet Derek couldn't refute her claim.

Having read romance novels likeThe Arrogant Lord Robain, he'd noticed their rakish, broad-shouldered protagonists bore little resemblance to upstanding men like himself.

"Of course, I'm no exception."

With a bewitching smile, Phee locked eyes with Aiselin.

The meaningful expression left Aiselin sweating profusely as she struggled to interpret it.

Barely containing laughter, Phee turned to Derek:

"Well then, until next time, Master. Preferably another deep, ambitious night like this."

With a demure curtsy, Phee vanished down the shadowed hallway between Delbritton and Aiselin.

Aiselin stood dumbfounded, complexion pale, lips trembling.

"...Lady Aiselin?"

"I-it's... v-very late. P-perhaps discussing business now is... i-inappropriate."

"No, it's fine. This won't take—"

"N-no! You... should rest!"

Visibly overwhelmed, Aiselin retreated unsteadily before fleeing down the corridor.

"..."

Only silence remained in the hallway.

Left alone with Delbritton, Derek endured the awkward quiet.

"..."

"...Something to say, Delbritton?"

"...Yes."

Moonlight glinted off Delbritton's monocle.

As Rocheste Territory's famously competent head butler now serving Ravenclaw Manor, he carefully chose his words.

"As Ravenclaw's senior retainer, I always serve with conviction. I wouldn't oppose your decisions, only strive to fulfill my duties."

"..."

"However, I must voice concerns for your future and the territory's stability. Please weigh my words carefully."

Noblemen attracting women was inevitable—Delbritton knew this better than anyone.

"...Always use contraception."

"..."

Derek reflected that Delbritton was truly a loyal retainer.

...Unrelated to that thought, a headache prompted him to massage his temples.

After visiting Aiselin, Denise returned to Beltus Manor with visible tension.

Having scouted Ravenclaw Barony per the Duke's orders, she'd identified countless vulnerabilities.

With this information, they could devise numerous ruthless methods to suppress Baron Ravenclaw.

Even Derek's capabilities couldn't overcome the Beltus family's concentrated pressure.

"His Grace requests your presence, Lady Denise."

Her maid Bella delivered the summons with concern. Straightening her dress, Denise proceeded to the audience chamber.

-'You may stab me in the back if necessary.'

The memory of Derek's indifferent offer in the garden pricked her conscience like a thorn.

The Beltus family demanded betrayal for their interests.

And the man in question said it was permissible.

Nothing stood in her way now.

"...."

Resolved, Denise ascended the central hall stairs.

Her typically languid eyes now burned with rare determination.