Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 186

- Thud!

When Derek descended through the main hall's first-floor door, the gathered nobles'gazes simultaneously converged on him.

Unlike Princess Roselyn who merely observed everyone from the balcony above, Derek was the actual authority figure who knew every corner of these academic facilities.

The moment his presence was confirmed, the murmurs among the distinguished guests inevitably grew louder.

"H-hey! Explain what's happening!"

"A-are there any additional casualties? How's the search operation progressing?"

"P-please...! I'll pay any amount—just let me out of here...!"

"Hiiiiii... Hnggg...!!"

Glancing toward a corner, the last remaining magic advisor Kohlera had brought was trembling while tears streamed down his face.

Even so, he remained positioned clearly visible from Princess Roselyn's balcony vantage point.

Only within the princess's line of sight could one remain somewhat safe from the confusion mage's schemes.

'The atmosphere could explode any moment.'

Derek trudged through the crowd, observing the nobles'expressions.

Among them were Sirine sitting expressionless, Elente sweating nervously but keeping silent, along with Diela, Aiselin, Denis, Trisha, Raeg and Ryner—many familiar faces from the southwestern continent's elite.

Derek stepped onto the central platform where all eyes converged and took a deep breath.

- Thud!

Placing a massive book on the podium, he calmly surveyed his surroundings.

"..."

A grave atmosphere formed as silence blanketed the assembly.

Derek closed his eyes briefly before continuing in a composed tone.

"We've decided to employ an extreme solution. This has been approved by Princess Roselyn and Head Magic Advisor Kohlera."

"An... extreme solution?"

"Remaining passive will only increase casualties without resolving anything. Therefore... we've decided to accept certain sacrifices."

A noble asked with trembling voice. Derek steadied his breathing while gazing at the book.

"This is a magical artifact called'The Book of Resentment.'A masterpiece Head Advisor Kohlera spent decades crafting—said to grant wishes."

"W-what?!"

"The Head Advisor's own artifact?!"

Derek stroked the book's cover before explaining gravely.

"However, reading and fully comprehending its contents will cause one's magic power to burn away while blood pours from their body until death. Enduring this excruciating pain supposedly allows miracles beyond one's limits... but even this has constraints."

There were limits to granted wishes.

Most irrational was the impossibility of knowing those limits beforehand—using it almost guaranteed death.

According to Kohlera, it sometimes enabled magic far beyond one's star rank.

Meaning it might let Derek—nearing 5-star—temporarily wield 6-star level abilities.

The cost being total magic depletion followed by death.

A legendary tome only opening for those with desperate wishes worth staking their lives on.

"I'll use this artifact to manifest 6-star detection magic."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

Derek's wish touched magic's pinnacle—surely the book wouldn't refuse such resentment.

If borrowed power could reach 6-star detection magic's domain... the confusion mage's identity would be revealed.

Detection magic counters confusion magic.

Even a 6-star confusion mage couldn't conceal everything from supreme detection spells.

After exposing the truth, Derek would burn away with his magic.

Thus he declared.

An eerie silence fell.

None could lightly oppose Derek's resolve. With victims falling one by one, Derek was likely the next target.

If he sacrificed himself to find and subdue the killer, the nobles could only applaud this noble sacrifice.

The alternative was more deaths.

- Bang!

But Sirine—who'd been blankly passing time in a corner—suddenly stood.

- Whoosh!

An immense cold magical energy spread, soon filling the hall.

The nobles paled as chilling air permeated the room.

When truly angered, Sirine unconsciously emitted this aura—she still couldn't fully control her innate magic.

"I object, Derek."

Characteristically, she didn't elaborate.

No sentimental speeches about unnecessary sacrifices or him not needing to die.

Simply disliking Derek's death—pure distilled opinion.

Soon, other Ravenclaw disciples began rising.

"Don't know about this resentment book... but no guarantee it'll catch the killer. Stop talking nonsense, Derek."

Diela climbed the platform, snorted at the book, then declared:

"Dying for this? I'd rather support lifting the barrier spell."

"I agree. Derek."

Aiselin rose from the Duplein seating area, eyes wide.

"Sacrifice isn't mandatory. You shouldn't be forced into noble sacrifices..."

"──Truly, Baron Ravenclaw...! Such solemn resolve...!"

"T-this decisive action...! Reputation does you justice...!"

Hearing these praises, Aiselin's pupils trembled.

Once someone began applauding Derek's sacrifice, others gradually joined.

Though Derek had some southwestern fame, such acclaim from noble elites was unprecedented.

A minor frontier noble of common birth was typically seen as merely competent.

Yet the cheering suggested Derek was some rising power's family head.

Facing imminent death, his willingness to die for justice elevated his status sky-high.

'What... is happening? Since when were they so vocal...?'

Timidly observing, Trisha grew increasingly baffled.

The nobles applauding Derek seemed like sacrificial lambs scrambling from hellfire.

Too desperate and wretched for dignified aristocracy.

Everyone fears death.

When someone volunteers to die in your stead, applause becomes reflexive.

Yet Trisha felt nauseous.

Cold sweat dripped down her back.

Her idealized noble fantasy crumbled pathetically before mortality.

"We owe you...! Stay strong!"

"Survive, and House Ravenclaw's funding doubles! Rivaling Duplein's patronage!"

The cheering grew uncontrollable, filling the hall.

Derek was hailed as a savior.

Yet their praise masked gratitude for his impending bloody death.

Trisha's nausea returned at this dissonance.

Derek bowed slightly and trudged through the crowd.

Occasional encouragement and tearful gazes followed his departure like a messiah.

- Tap!

Someone blocked his path.

"Derek. Reconsider. Is this truly best?"

All recognized Lady Elente of Belmierd, breathing heavily as she courageously stood before him.

A tense atmosphere emerged.

Obstructing a self-sacrificing hero was disgraceful, even for Belmierd's acting head.

Yet Elente spoke earnestly.

"Your sacrifice isn't necessary. Think rationally! The situation's extreme—you're overburdened!"

Stop her nonsense.

Such whispers circulated, but few dared oppose Belmierd's heir openly.

Trembling, Elente continued:

"Leaders bear responsibility, but you're just the field commander. This exceeds your authority."

"..."

Meeting Derek's blank stare, Elente bit her lip and clenched her fists.

As she prepared magical restraints—

- Thump!

A shabbily dressed man emerged from the crowd.

Grabbing Elente's collar while smoothing his unkempt hair, the unshaven man reeked of alcohol.

"Respect his decision, Elente."

"R-Ryner? So you were at Duplein..."

"Why hinder Derek's noble choice? It only worsens the sacrifice. Heroes deserve proper sendoffs."

Approving murmurs spread.

Elente glared incredulously before twisting Ryner's collar.

"You abandoned our family yet lecture me? Does Derek look like someone who should die?"

"Easy now. That glare could kill."

Ryner belched drunkenly before eyeing Derek.

"Rolling the dice, eh?"

"..."

Ryner's sharp perception caught something—he smirked knowingly before yanking Elente aside.

"Gambling's my specialty. Need a second opinion?"

"Appreciated, but calculations are complete."

"Winnable odds? Proper stakes?"

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps... Well, absolute certainty doesn't exist in gambling."

Elente trembled while alternating stares between them.

Derek bowed slightly before trudging toward the exit alone.

His retreating figure under the starry night seemed bound for solo battle against a 6-star confusion mage.

After exiting, Derek reached a northern training ground.

Surrounded by forest, this secluded area held only darkness and cricket chirps.

Derek intentionally avoided people.

Standing alone, he retrieved a letter Princess Roselyn gave him earlier.

'...'

After hesitation, he pocketed it.

Instead, he drew the Book of Resentment and tossed it aside.

As magic energy swirled around him, light permeated the dark clearing.

Derek sensed it.

He was coming.

Coming to kill Derek personally.

An indescribable chill rose behind Derek's solitary figure in the darkness.

Undeniably murderous intent.