Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 187

-"You're quite accustomed to risking your life. It's a miracle you're still alive."

Princess Roselyn observed the tense atmosphere of the main hall from above, propping her chin with tired eyes.

She hadn't slept for over thirty hours. While still holding up reasonably well, her stamina would soon reach its limit if this continued past two days.

Princess Roselyn widened her bleary eyes and replayed her conversation with Derek in her mind.

-"It was the only way to survive, so I had no choice."

-"Indeed. I suppose there are men like you in this world."

Amidst the creeping fatigue, the princess contemplated the strange depth she'd glimpsed in the young baron's eyes.

He truly intends to capture a 6-Star Confusion Mage. Even in this extreme situation where people still deny such a mage's existence, what conviction drives him remains a mystery.

Still, if he's found a clue, helping him is the only option.

Steeling herself, Roselyn continued:

-"Then you should know this - they violate memories. They can create false ones or erase real ones."

-"Understood. Though this situation where I can't even trust my own memories is quite unfamiliar."

-"Exactly. That means they can read everyone's memories here. Everyone except me, that is. Even if you devise a method to capture them, they could decipher it by reading your memories."

Princess Roselyn tested Derek with her words.

It was obvious - the ability to manipulate memories inherently meant being able to read them. Without reading, manipulation would be impossible.

Yet Derek shook his head.

-"They may read memories, but we don't know if they can read intentions or thoughts."

-"..."

-"They might see what I've witnessed and experienced, but can they truly read everything I've thought and intended?"

Reading memories is merely observing another's experiences.

Like viewing scenes projected through a crystal ball or observing someone from afar. Reading thoughts and intentions belongs more to detection magic than confusion magic.

Based on this magical knowledge, Derek's judgment was clear.

Like invisible cameras and wiretaps, they might receive what's seen and heard, but likely couldn't read thoughts and intentions.

Thus, an opening remained.

-"Admittedly, lacking such magical knowledge, I hadn't considered that."

-"It's not magical knowledge - just reasoning from observed phenomena."

Princess Roselyn found herself increasingly drawn into Derek's explanation.

-"If they could read all thoughts and intentions, they wouldn't have been trapped by Chief Advisor Kohlera's barrier spell or needed to kill the magic advisors. Kohlera would never yield to such threats."

Those unfamiliar with Kohlera might think her a caring leader who cherishes her subordinates.

In truth, she's a madwoman who would sacrifice anything for magic.

Had the mage understood this, they wouldn't have bothered killing advisors one by one.

Their magic has limits.

While ordinary people's memories might be easily manipulated, altering memories of those proficient in magic would require tremendous effort and have limitations.

Their failure to properly violate Kohlera's memories or discern her intentions proved this.

-"They can read memories, but not thoughts."

Princess Roselyn spoke more seriously:

-"That's why you're not voicing your method. The moment you tell someone, it reaches their ears."

Thus, Roselyn couldn't help.

Any conspiracy with her would be overheard.

He had to do this alone.

This man bore the lives of every noble in the main hall on his shoulders.

Roselyn understood that loneliness and pressure well.

Watching Derek show no sign of it, she forced a laugh and produced a quill.

She pulled some papers from the table corner and began writing against the railing.

As Derek watched puzzled, Roselyn folded the note and slipped it into his coat.

-"A blessing from the imperial family. The method used by heroes Rosenheim and Kalimford during the Levelen Labyrinth subjugation."

-"I didn't expect such encouragement from you."

-"First time seeing this? Blessing notes in one's pocket are meant to be read either in dire crisis or after everything's over."

Roselyn smirked and propped her chin again.

-"Read it when you feel cornered. Just conventional phrases, but they help psychologically."

Derek nodded solemnly.

His expression suggested he'd noticed.

The Levelen Labyrinth subjugation involving massive magical beasts notably excluded hero Kalimford.

Anyone well-versed in imperial history knew this.

Thus, Roselyn's claim about heroes exchanging such blessings was false.

So what did the note contain?

Her instruction not to read it now surely had purpose.

Perceptive Derek had already discerned this.

'Not sure if trusting him was right.'

From her perch, Roselyn watched the nobles below.

Knowing they were safest near her confusion-immunity, nobles hesitated to leave.

Yet some young noblewomen were making a scene.

"Lady Sirine! Leaving now is dangerous! You must stay within Princess Roselyn's sight—!"

"Move. Block me again and I'll remove you myself."

Lady Sirine of House Rocheste struggled with guards after Derek rushed out alone.

Her fierce demeanor suggested she could easily dispatch the guards.

As a top-tier 3-Star mage, she could effortlessly remove obstructing guards.

Similarly, Lady Diela of House Duplein, Lady Elennte of Belmierd, and Lady Denis of Beltus all argued to stop Derek.

They claimed his plan to use the Book of Resentment was too extreme.

As Roselyn pondered this, she noticed someone missing—Lady Aiselin of House Duplein.

'.....'

She'd apparently already slipped out.

Roselyn's expression darkened further.

As she deliberated, a guard called to her.

"Your Highness. Someone insists on seeing you."

"...Who?"

"Ryner of House Belmierd."

Frowning, Roselyn turned to see a disheveled man grinning awkwardly, arms raised in surrender.

Though looking like a harmless vagabond, he was House Belmierd's eldest son.

Escorted by spear-wielding guards, he knelt and spoke.

"I have urgent news, Your Highness."

"I'm exhausted with much to consider. Waste my time and you'll answer for it."

"Understood."

Ryner smiled wryly.

"The Book of Resentment Derek took is fake. Where's the real one? We need it now."

To win at gambling, you must corner your opponent and seize control.

With no time and no way to identify the enemy, they held all advantages.

To reclaim control, Derek had one option—force their hand.

A 4-Star mage nearing 5-Star proficiency sacrificing himself with the Book of Resentment might actually succeed.

Whether its forbidden power could defeat a 6-Star Confusion Mage remained unknown until tried.

This uncertainty was the mage's worst nightmare.

Thus, they'd surely try to stop Derek.

For those accustomed to guaranteed victories, such variables were terrifying.

By forcing their move, he could draw them out.

As Derek steadied himself and scanned the dark training grounds... a robed figure bowed in the shadows.

His face remained hidden.

Though large-framed, he didn't appear physically trained.

Half-shrouded in darkness, the mage spoke in a surprisingly young voice:

"How amusing."

A 6-Star Confusion Mage existing yet hidden from perception.

His true nature remained elusive—even this appearance might be illusion.

Yet Derek drew his longsword and gathered magic. With the enemy before him, he couldn't remain passive.

"Sacrificing yourself to save them? I know you're not that altruistic. Did you think I'd fall for such an obvious bluff?"

"Yet here you are. After hiding so meticulously."

"You misunderstand. I'm not here because I fear your book. You simply interest me."

From the shadows, the mage extended a hand—ink-stained and calloused, like a veteran mage's.

Clenching it, he continued:

"You'll never find or catch me. Even if you could, it would become'what never happened.'"

"..."

"Here's something amusing—you've already caught me twice. This is our third meeting."

Derek listened silently.

The mage's personal interest seemed odd—they'd supposedly never met.

But that was Derek's perspective.

He'd apparently found the mage twice before, only for the mage to erase those memories.

"First was when I killed the emperor. You brilliantly spotted inconsistencies in my memory manipulation and nearly caught me. I barely escaped by rewriting history."

Derek remembered no such encounters.

Either the mage lied, or it truly never happened.

"Second was when I killed Kohlera's subordinates. Again, you saw through my magic's flaws and almost killed me. I still feel the dagger wound you gave me."

Frowning, Derek checked his thigh sheath—one throwing dagger was missing.

"Everything seems confusing, doesn't it?"

The shadowed mage chuckled.

"Perhaps this conversation is false. Maybe the book never existed. Or all your memories are fabricated."

His laughter sounded sickly.

An enigma without purpose or identity.

Nothing could be trusted—not memories, not even the mage's words.

This confusion was like wandering fog-blind.

Most would succumb to chaos, trembling in fear.

Memory violation was profoundly disorienting.

"Join me,"the mage suddenly offered."I'll clarify everything."

Derek remained silent.

"Help me escape Kohlera's encirclement, and I'll grant any wish."

"..."

"You've earned Kohlera and Roselyn's trust while nearly catching me twice. You're exceptional."

The mage mockingly brushed off his sleeves.

"Here's what's strange—there's one person whose memories I can't touch. Not even exhausted magic could affect Kohlera's memories much, but one person remained completely immune."

Princess Roselyn—the anchor preventing the mage's complete control.

But this created a contradiction.

"If you caught me twice, wouldn't the princess know? Would she remain silent?"

"..."

Roselyn famously despised vain nobles.

Was this all coincidence?

In the moonlit training grounds, Derek wiped his face.

He steadied his breathing. His veteran instincts reasserted themselves.

Amidst this chaos, he must ultimately trust someone.

Who?

Kohlera—the magic-obsessed fanatic.

Roselyn—the calculating imperial.

The shadowed mage—offering alliance.

Every choice seemed treacherous.

Memories untrustworthy. Truth obscured.

In this maelstrom, Derek exhaled sharply.

He was a veteran mercenary.

This wasn't his first crisis.

When stranded in high-level labyrinths. When outnumbered by magical beasts. When walking corpse-strewn battlefields.

Most succumb to confusion and fear. Young Derek was no different.

But those days were past.

To make right choices amidst chaos, one must clarify their stance.

- Boom!

Before answering, Derek's 3-Star combat magic"Pillar of Flame"struck the mage's chest.

The shadowed figure barely blocked the attack, surprised by its power.

Derek's magic neared family-head level.

"You're right,"Derek said, readying his sword."In confusion, one must choose whom to trust."

Moonlight illuminated the training grounds.

"But not you."

If twice wasn't enough, he'd do it ten, a hundred times—until the mage's magic depleted.

Derek charged forward.

'How fascinating—not being able to trust one's own memories.'

Emperor Gertrel's death chamber.

Though the body had been removed, bloodstains remained.

Kohlera chuckled while examining the scene.

Capturing the confusion mage would bring her closer to the seventh magic type's secrets—and thus to 7-Star truths.

Yet she detected no magical traces.

She too must have been affected—either losing memories or gaining false ones.

Manipulating her memories would be incredibly difficult, yet any success was remarkable.

'Even I, a 6-Star mage, can't resist such confusion. Impressive.'

As she mused, the chamber door creaked open.

"Chief Advisor Kohlera of House Elvester. An honor."

Though his tone was flippant, his manners were proper.

Disheveled red hair, unkempt beard—Ryner of House Belmierd.

He bowed respectfully before continuing.

"What do you want?"

"Ryner, eldest son of House Belmierd."

"...Business with me?"

He'd discerned Derek's plan.

This deadly charade at Ravenclaw Academy must end tonight.

"I've come to kill the 6-Star Confusion Mage."

Ryner grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.

A wandering gambler with mediocre magic, boldly declaring this before the empire's greatest transformation mage.