Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 201

"Well, well. Look who crawled out of the shadows. What brings the old coward who's been lurking in history's back alleys to show his face now...?"

"..."

The stench of blood hung thick in the air.

The blood splattered near her amethyst eyes proved she'd just finished a massacre.

Lady Phee Rafaela Tigris flicked blood from her dress hem before perching on the mansion's windowsill. This estate dwarfed her usual base at Tigris Barony.

Elvester County.

The true ruler governing the eastern continent's Tigris Barony. The heart of this authoritative territory was now drenched in blood.

Only two living beings remained - Lady Tigris who'd committed the slaughter, and the elderly Grand Mage in tattered robes standing across from her.

A 6-Star Detection Mage.

Drest Wolftail, the Observer, narrowed his wrinkled eyes.

The continent's wandering ghost.

Many sought him, but this old mage who could glimpse fragmented futures couldn't be found without his permission.

Meaning his appearance before Phee was intentional.

"I heard old men were cautious, but never expected you'd show yourself. Afraid I'll steal Derek away? Didn't think you cared that much... Or do you?"

Phee giggled with innocent laughter.

Perched on the sill clutching her stomach in mirth, she looked childlike - a stark contrast to the blood-splattered corridor behind her.

"Or did your precious detection magic show you one possible future? How tragic. A cockroach scurrying through cracks observing predetermined futures without any real talent. What value is there in watching futures that twist and branch with each variable?"

"..."

"The world may call you a sage, but to me you're just another bug. I've lived longer. Let me guess... You want to divert my path of slaughter? Sorry, but I won't stop until Derek becomes a 6-Star mage."

Phee's ecstatic smile carried traces of madness.

The corridor behind her was littered with corpses. Through the open door of the lord's study, Count Elvester sat slumped on his throne - already dead.

A few members skilled in confusion magic and some direct descendants seemed to have escaped, but she'd caught most blood relatives. Now even Elvester County's mansion, the eastern continent's social hub, was in Phee's grasp.

The glittering Elvester estate had fallen to a necromancer.

With events reaching this scale, word would spread to the imperial capital. Emperor Gertrel's death had already destabilized the empire - this would plunge it into chaos.

Phee's sole purpose in expanding her influence was to claim Derek. Even if the whole world became her enemy, she'd create conditions to cradle Derek in her arms.

To achieve this, she needed to rise beyond anyone's reach. Unfortunately, her abilities were sufficient.

"You should keep hiding like the coward you've always been, peeking from history's shadows."

"..."

"Aren't you curious? Derek's renowned as the southwest's foremost magic instructor, a master of noble education. However reclusive and buried in darkness, they say he can draw anyone out and guide them right."

Phee's faded pupils dilated as she spread her arms wide.

Her gleeful laughter belonged to a demon incarnate. Her life was stained with blood, dwelling in deepest darkness. Of all the noble ladies Derek had guided, none harbored malice and curses as profound as hers.

"Rublen."

At Drest's quiet utterance, Phee's eyes twitched violently.

That name - her original one - even she had forgotten.

From an era before necromancy, when the continent wasn't unified but fractured into warring states. The name of a country girl who loved wildflowers.

A simple woman who pondered what to eat tomorrow or which hill to pick flowers on, untouched by corpses or necromancy's gloom.

How he knew that ancient name from before his time didn't matter. He was a 6-Star Detection Mage.

Phee's composed expression twisted as if hearing something unpleasant.

"Many will come to kill you. Ravenclaw has numerous protectors."

"..."

"At least three 6-Star mages... will gather."

Historically, battles between 6-Star mages changed nations, maps, and world history.

Multiple such beings would come. Even at necromancy's pinnacle, Phee couldn't easily withstand that scale of conflict.

Yet she regained composure, curling her lips bitterly.

"Then I'll kill them all."

She was determined to slaughter even fellow 6-Star mages.

Unless they could burn the Cycle's Brand, they were ultimately expendable.

In her long life, she'd seen countless promising mages spread their wings, peak, and die - but none as promising as Derek. So only Derek needed to survive.

None who claimed to be Derek's teachers truly understood how to nurture him. Having hit rock bottom herself, Phee understood Derek best.

"I do hope Derek likes the training ground I prepared at Tigris Manor. Heehee."

"Rublen."

"Stop calling me that."

- Whoosh!

Phee's amethyst eyes flashed as deathly energy enveloped the old mage.

But Drest dissolved into smoke - living up to his"Wandering Ghost"epithet.

Phee irritably watched the specter vanish before sighing deeply and gazing out the window.

"Annoying old man. Ruined my mood."

The moon shone brightly.

Its view of Elvester County would be horrific.

Corpses wandered while a bone dragon perched on the spire, observing the world. The massive archlich"Happy"commanded undead in the garden.

Baron Tigris, Count Elvester, Eastern Diocese Bishop Levent, Guard Captain Morgan - all now blood-splattered undead servants.

The petite girl on the windowsill was queen of these corpses.

"Lovely weather."

The bloodstained girl stretched happily in moonlight, shivering with pleasure.

Like a cat stretching, though the surroundings were already devastated.

"The entire Elvester estate...?"

"..."

Katia Flameheart looked dreadful.

Sitting in Duplein Manor's reception room, she appeared freshly escaped from battle. Having barely fled Elvester's estate, she'd ridden days to reach Ducal territory.

The journey's difficulty needed no explanation. What mattered was why she'd rushed here.

Derek stood wide-eyed across the room, hearing Katia's exhausted report.

Count Elvester's entire mansion had fallen to Phee.

Supported by maids, Katia alternated glances between Aiselin and Derek before continuing hoarsely.

"After returning to Elvester County, I strongly advised His Lordship. That Tigris Barony's situation was abnormal and required investigation."

"That's... understandable. Lady Phee's movements were concerning."

"Initially His Lordship dismissed it. A mere magic tutor discussing politics displeased him. But as reports grew inconsistent and messengers vanished, he grew concerned."

Katia coughed violently.

A concerned maid steadied her, but Katia waved her off - this news couldn't wait.

"Just as we prepared to send investigators... Tigris Territory struck first."

"..."

"Corpses rose from the earth, vengeful spirits filled the night sky. By the time I reacted, undead had breached the mansion. I barely escaped with Lady Freya of Count. Wounded, but not fatally."

Though she claimed her wounds weren't serious, exhaustion was evident.

Most injuries had healed during the frantic ride, but accumulated fatigue remained.

Derek spoke gravely,"You should rest first. Where is... Lady Freya?"

"We parted near the eastern gate city... Ruhelham. She went to Gremfort Palace with the garrison."

"A wise decision. Please rest now."

Lady Freya, connected to noble factions, would inform the imperial family directly with the garrison's help.

Katia, lacking central noble connections, had come to alert Derek. A sensible division of efforts.

Aiselin said sternly,"Gremfort Palace will mobilize. If she's confirmed as a 6-Star necromancer... they'll commit full force..."

"Yes, they will."

Royal faction Rozelyn, noble faction Damon, and mage faction Kohlera would unite to retake Elvester.

United, Gremfort's factions could rouse even the north's sleeping lion.

The old hero watching history from Rocheste Territory's snowy wilderness would awaken.

"Derek..."

Aiselin looked at him worriedly.

Derek straightened with grim determination.

It was time to act.

"We must contact Count Renuel's residence. Belmierd and Beltus too. Though the imperial faction will deploy elites, we must act decisively."

Derek massaged his temples before standing. His resolve was firm.

'I must... reach 5-Star. Immediately.'

If Melberot mobilized, this would escalate into a 6-Star mage war.

Kalimford wouldn't remain idle either. Kohlera would join if she sensed a 6-Star necromancer.

The scale would become astronomical.

At conflict's end, Phee sought to claim the most brilliant gem among mages she'd witnessed - Sir Derek Raidof Ravenclaw.

Roughly four 6-Star mages would gather.

Had the continent's history ever seen such a convergence?

Never. Not once in its long, turbulent history.

Thus, only one course remained.

Mobilize every available resource.

The mightiest necromancer in history - Phee Rafaela Tigris.

They would hunt her down.