Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 234

"I heard Count Elvester's territory has fallen under Count Ravenclaw's jurisdiction. It's effectively Ravenclaw territory now."

"Oh? So Count Ravenclaw's influence now reaches the eastern continent. This should be favorable news for the Evelstain Assembly."

"Once the power struggles within Gremfort Palace settle, that region might even be consolidated with Evelstain under one jurisdiction. After all, Duplein Territory is already effectively under Count Ravenclaw's control."

Keeping up with circulating rumors is also a skill.

And the marketplace and gambling dens were treasure troves of golden information.

However, the rough and shabby clientele kept many away from these valuable sources. Even commoners avoided these tavern districts, let alone nobles who wouldn't be caught dead there.

Yet in such a place, there was a man rolling drunk in the gutter.

Surprisingly, he was the eldest son of the prestigious Belmierd family - someone who could return to his family estate and live in splendor if he wished.

But gambler Ryner sat slumped in the mud, suffering from last night's hangover.

"Ugh... blergh..."

"Hey Ryner! They're setting up another high-stakes gambling table at the Roblem Mercenary tavern. You coming?"

Ryner opened bleary eyes and managed a bitter smile as he hauled himself onto a nearby barrel.

"Ugh... huff... damn... went too hard last night... can barely think straight..."

"So, you're not coming?!"

"Of course I am. Those are serious stakes we're talking about."

"Hahaha! That's the spirit! Wouldn't be right without Ryner at the tables! Clean up and meet us at the tavern district later!"

"Feel like hitting big today. Hope I can treat you all."

As he exchanged banter with fellow gamblers, Ryner gazed blankly at the overcast sky.

"So... Derek's reached Gremfort Palace... He's really made it big..."

Amid his churning hangover, he roughly pushed back his disheveled hair.

"Ugh... strong liquor is like a wild woman - you know it'll hurt but you can't resist. Ugh..."

Clad in a grimy leather jacket, the man barely managed to stand.

"Count Elvester's territory... now that's playing for high stakes..."

After a few unsteady steps, he collapsed again in an alley corner.

When he groggily looked up, someone stood blocking his path.

"..."

It was Delbritton, head butler of House Ravenclaw, sent by Derek's orders.

He couldn't fathom why his lord valued this drunkard. No matter how sharp his insight, a man addicted to drinking and gambling could hardly be called respectable.

But that was Delbritton's judgment alone. Orders were orders.

"Young Master Ryner, I presume?"

The training grounds behind Amaryllis House's main building were impressively spacious.

Nearly all combat training occurred here, both for classes and student practice.

Despite being a combat arena, Ravenclaw Academy's aristocratic sensibilities ensured well-maintained facilities.

Elegant stone pillars, quality cushions on spectator seats, and tasteful wood-marble interiors created a gallery-like atmosphere rather than a crude training ground.

When Count Ravenclaw appeared at the center, whispers spread through the student spectators.

They'd heard rumors of how an enraged Ravenclaw had once overturned Sepia Dormitory.

But only witnesses had seen that. Normally, someone as meticulous as Count Ravenclaw rarely displayed his full power.

Moreover, his opponent was Sieren - considered his most advanced disciple.

A rare chance to witness the empire's foremost magic instructor spar with his top student.

Naturally, every spectator seat was packed, with even normally closed VIP sections opened.

'Diela of House Duplein, Elente of Belmierd, Denis of Beltus... even Tricia of Renuel - all his direct disciples are here.'

Rozelyn, sitting quietly in general seating with arms crossed, observed them.

The Ravenclaw School's influence among southwestern nobility was already well-known.

Each disciple commanded significant social standing, some even forming their own factions.

Sieren alone seemed indifferent to high society, currently waving her mana about on the arena.

She paid no heed to the admiring gazes, focused solely on clashing with Derek.

Her demeanor suggested complete detachment from worldly concerns.

Like a lone flower blooming majestically on a cliff's edge.

The blood-soaked beast of northern snowfields. The murderer who slaughtered countless servants.

Though infamous, her time at Amaryllis House had softened that fearsome image.

'Still, no matter how gifted, she can't possibly match Ravenclaw's magical attainment.'

She likely sought this spar to learn.

Beating Derek was impossible - she'd be crushed. Possibly humiliatingly so.

Yet her willingness to face such odds exemplified Sieren's character.

'She truly thinks only of magic.'

Rozelyn watched them with complex emotions.

'Among his disciples, Lady Sieren seems most like him.'

As she reached this conclusion, an attendant raised his hand.

The signal to begin.

'A single hit means defeat.'

Sieren took a deep breath.

Unlike the crisp northern air she knew, this was milder southern warmth.

Yet her heart remained cold with combat focus. Calm and composure - Derek's most crucial lessons.

- Crackle!

She'd first fought Derek upon reaching 3-Star level.

Memories surfaced of Derek teaching her in Rocheste Territory's snowfields. Back then, their magical attainment wasn't so different.

But now this extraordinary man neared the heavens.

She'd always believed him capable, but his progress outpaced even her expectations. As his disciple, she couldn't lag behind.

Eyes flashing open, emotions swirling in her pupils gradually stilled.

Self-hypnosis.

Facing Derek in the arena required suppressing all affection.

No opponent could be beaten while holding respect and goodwill. Against Derek, she must become a beast chasing bloodscent, deferring softer feelings.

- Whoosh!

The atmosphere shifted though neither moved.

As crimson light kindled in Sieren's eyes, her usual boundless affection for Derek extinguished.

Spectators instinctively gulped.

Could killing intent take physical form?

This palpable, touchable pressure - even nobles raised in gentle culture couldn't ignore it.

"Huff... hoo..."

Sieren's breathing made her seem another creature entirely.

'Like something caged within us.'

Derek tightened his gloves watching her.

Undoubtedly, Sieren was Ravenclaw Academy's most advanced student. Even when beating Tricia, she'd held back.

Meaning she'd never gone all out since enrolling.

Now unleashing her full power against him, containing collateral damage might prove harder than subduing her.

- Snap!

Sieren swung her arm.

The arena vanished from sight.

"Wh-what?!"

"W-what's happening?! No... this is... a barrier spell!"

Had she obscured vision with illusion magic? No.

Shedding restraint, Sieren combined 3-Star Acceleration Magic with 1-Star"Ice Spear,"launching an area attack leaving no blind spots.

The sheer scale and power - the arena's barrier spells were completely ice-encrusted, blocking all view inside.

Sieren mastered both 3-Star Transformation and Combat Magic.

Such attainment at her age was rare continent-wide. Truly Derek's foremost disciple.

- Crunch!

Yet Derek countered identically.

Matching her Acceleration and Ice Spears precisely, shattering every attack.

The clear perspective of a superior. Only those testing others could counter like this.

- Crash! Bang!

Undeterred, Sieren gathered mana and clenched her fist.

- Boom!

Glaciers erupted across the arena floor.

Her magic left no openings - no dodging or deflecting. Only overwhelming force could counter.

The hallmark of true strength.

If opponents evade or counter, you're not strong enough. Real dominance requires scale rendering tricks meaningless.

- Hiss!

3-Star Combat Magic: Ice Burst.

After freezing an area, detonating it. Normally limited in range and power, Sieren's version engulfed the entire arena.

A 3-Star mage verging on 4-Star.

She'd reached where Derek was during his mercenary days.

- Kaboom! Crash! Whoosh!

Explosions rippled outward.

The mana storm sent spectators'hair whipping wildly.

"Aaaah!"

"Whoa!"

Even other direct disciples gulped nervously.

Tricia's eyes spun dizzily, while calmer students like Elente and Denis broke into cold sweat.

Amid the storm, Sieren's glowing eyes flashed brighter.

A monster mad for magic.

- Boom! Whoosh!

Of course, Derek wouldn't fall for this.

He blanketed the area in fire magic, melting Sieren's ice.

But she wasn't done, manifesting an ice blade and charging Derek directly.

The massive ice magic was just distraction. Only this scale could draw that archmage's attention.

Yet Derek deftly dodged, kicking her wrist to disarm her.

- Smack! Whoosh!

A shockwave sent Sieren flying to the arena's edge.

Her Acceleration Magic made her movements near-invisible. When she regained focus, she was panting on all fours in the corner.

"Huff... huff..."

To spectators, it seemed excessively harsh.

Disheveled white hair splayed like snow, Sieren looked utterly spent. As pity stirred among onlookers-

"Ugh... hick! Heh..."

Through her tangled hair, Sieren's widened eyes gleamed.

Her grin was downright feral.

To her, even this grand academy was just a gilded cage.

No one here could match her unleashed power.

"Heh... hehe... exhilarating..."

Arms dangling, she rose as sinister energy wreathed her back.

Ravenclaw Academy's top student. Daughter of legendary archmage Kalimford. Inheritor of Great Demon Noir's blood. Melberot's beloved successor. The Ravenclaw School's foremost disciple. All these titles pointed to one person.

Lady Sieren Aleina Rocheste.

They say a good master is known by their disciples.

But Sieren had long surpassed being merely"good."

- Crack! Snap! Whoosh!

"...!"

Sensing Sieren's next move, Derek summoned his staff from the corner telekinetically.

He'd always fought students bare-handed. Him wielding his staff was unprecedented.

- Snap! Whoosh!

As Sieren's eyes gleamed dangerously, unprecedented ecstasy made her laugh.

Her body levitated as luxurious hair billowed.

Her mad laughter filled the air.

- Whoosh!

4-Star Transformation Magic:"Dissolution."

A war spell melting everything within its massive mana sphere's radius.

Stone pillars, marble floors - all began dissolving.

The energy threatened to reach spectator stands when-

- Whack!

"Got!!!!!!"

Derek's sharp chop struck her exposed forehead.

- Thud!

"Yipe!!!"

Using his staff"Footsteps"to double-cast Acceleration, his impossible speed left even blood-drunk Sieren no time to react.

"Huff... hic!"

Collapsing ungracefully, she clutched her rapidly swelling forehead.

Lying prone, pain radiated from her forehead as tears welled.

"Oww..."

Sieren whimpered pathetically.

The anticlimactic end contrasted sharply with their spectacular duel, leaving the arena silent.

Spectators struggled to process what they'd witnessed. Even Derek's disciples and Empress Rozelyn gaped.

'Good heavens...'

Unbelievable, yet undeniable upon reflection.

──Derek's foremost disciple had just cast 4-Star magic.

"Ugh..."

Sieren groaned while rubbing her forehead, looking utterly ridiculous.

Yet no one present could dismiss her lightly.