Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 256

-"Magic, that vivid and beautiful treasury of truth."

The object of worship for that mad transformation mage wasn't some god observing the world from lofty heights.

She had always revered magic itself, living intoxicated by it.

-"If only I could reach that sublime and beautiful ideal, I could abandon my entire life."

Was this a life flashing before her eyes?

As Rozelyn sank into the abyssal darkness of the moat, she recalled scenes from her childhood.

The mage sitting quietly in the garden before the Lily Palace, offering worship toward Adelbert.

Though Rozelyn hadn't even reached adolescence yet, Kochella's face was already deeply lined. Having lived several times Rozelyn's lifespan, the last thing she reached for was magic itself.

-"If I could reach the end of that truth, I wouldn't hesitate to abandon even my life."

The ambition pursuing truth shone brightly through her eyes.

-"By nature, humans are creatures who find meaning in survival itself."

As Rozelyn was just beginning to learn court etiquette and statecraft, the face of Damon surfaced in her mind—the bureaucrat who had already been manipulating the world from the pinnacle of noble councils.

After chasing him down to a secluded table during a game of catch in the garden, she overheard the old fox speaking to his retainer:

-"We who constantly wander between conflict and desire will all meet terrible deaths someday. Only the gods know when that will be, but we must struggle to the end. To protect what we've built and preserve our lives, we must be willing to abandon anything."

The young retainer who had just entered service received Damon's words as if they were divine truth, eyes filled with admiration.

-"Abandon the arrogance of thinking you can achieve something without sacrifice. Everything has its price—to seize something, you must utilize everything available and abandon everything expendable."

The jaded old noble's words embedded themselves in the young retainer's heart.

-"That's how you survive in this quagmire."

During Rozelyn's time enduring Gremfort Palace, many powerful figures rose to prominence only to disappear.

Brief reigns might occur, but those who endured long enough to be counted on one hand were rare. Kochella was one. Damon another.

They spoke with one voice:

To grasp something, you must know what to abandon. That's the way of the world—defy it, and you'll achieve nothing.

Even as she sank into the abyss, their words surfaced in her mind—perhaps because some self-doubt remained.

Whether or not she had the resolve to abandon things.

The difference between those ancient monsters who survived in the palace until their hair turned white... and herself might have been that single factor.

The resolve to abandon.

Born with immense authority, destined someday to lead a vast organization—what she truly needed was perhaps that compromise with reality.

As she thought this, just as she was steadying her constricted breath—

- Whoosh!

A brilliant radiance flashed before Rozelyn's eyes, followed by a sensation of weightlessness enveloping her entire body.

"Cough! Cough! Gah...!"

When Rozelyn opened her eyes, she found herself in a massive underground waterway reeking of foul odors. Apparently part of the drainage system connected to the moat.

A low, crudely carved stone arch stretched overhead along the narrow channel where damp air settled. Moss-covered stone walls bore cracks through which small streams trickled down into dark puddles on the floor.

Rusted iron bars and collapsed drain grates scattered about hinted this place had once been more than just a drainage passage. Rumors surfaced of rebels using it as an escape route during some long-ago uprising.

"Gasp... gasp... Why... how..."

Rozelyn struggled to steady her breathing between dry heaves. No matter how she struggled, survival had been impossible.

Someone must have helped her. To transport her—nearly immune to magic—would require moving not her body but the entire waterway's contents through magic.

Few mages possessed such capability, and even if they existed, appearing at this precise moment defied belief.

As if knowing this situation would occur... the timing of this intervention was impossibly perfect.

That such a thing was possible.

As this thought crossed her mind while she struggled to rise—

Someone sat perched on a rock in the darkness beyond.

Before the figure fully emerged from shadows, Rozelyn already sensed who it might be. The person had already become legendary among nobles.

In the southwestern continent near Evelstain and Bellmard Territory, rumors spoke of a wandering ghost.

One whom you couldn't meet even if desired, couldn't find even if sought—those who needed to know about this spectral existence already did.

A master who had reached 6th-Grade detection magic, occasionally glimpsed the future, and above all... personally taught the most influential figure on the continent—Count Ravenclaw.

Drest Wolftail.

The old mage with hollow eyes sat silently observing Rozelyn from his perch in the stench-filled waterway.

"Y-you are..."

Perched motionless on the rock with a gnarled wooden staff, he seemed less a being of this world than something from distant realms.

Mysterious, ghostly, an enigma.

"Derek is coming to Gremfort Palace."

The shadowy figure called to Rozelyn with an icy voice.

- Bang!

Gremfort Palace. Office of Truth.

Chancellors and bureaucrats gradually gathered upon hearing news of Empress Rozelyn's return. Even aged officials assembled to receive the suddenly reappeared emperor.

Of course, most present belonged to the imperial faction.

With Damon seizing Gremfort Palace and Kochella's ousting... imperial faction bureaucrats harbored many thoughts. If Empress Rozelyn could return now, the palace's power dynamics would undoubtedly shift.

Yet something unbelievable occurred before their eyes.

Day and night reversed, a mocking crescent moon hanging high.

What further petrified the panicked officials was the guards'report:

"Disaster! Magic faction leader Kochella... has attacked Her Majesty Rozelyn!"

Something was happening.

In Gremfort Palace's darkened night, events were unfolding that would overturn the empire's very fate.

"Chairman Damon is also missing...! Her Majesty fell into the moat... Guards who jumped in to rescue her were all struck by transformation magic... Gah...!"

As the guard urgently delivered his report, he suddenly clutched his throat, writhing in pain.

As if possessed, he convulsed while strangling himself... before finally collapsing limp to the floor.

- Thud!

The sight made every bureaucrat present hold their breath.

Etched into the guard's neck was a massive mark—the"Mark of Compression"used by 4th-Grade transformation mages. Kochella could brand flesh with just a gaze.

Rebellion.

Head Magic Advisor Kochella was killing both Rozelyn and Damon to seize Gremfort Palace.

- Clatter, clatter!

The horse carrying Derek and Marilyn raced across the capital toward Gremfort Palace. Without pause, the palace walls came into view.

Ignoring guards blocking the imperial approach, they charged through. No time for explanations.

- Crack! Snap!

Marilyn nearly fell but Derek didn't slow. She voiced no complaints.

Crossing the midnight city, they galloped toward the empire's heart.

As Derek gripped the reins, new conviction surged—this time, he would capture a 6th-Grade mage.

Since awakening empty-eyed in the slums, Derek's life had been constant war.

Yet despite the battles, he hadn't accumulated nothing. Rather, he'd gathered so much that managing it all strained his capacity.

Clenching the reins tighter, Kochella's memory whispered:

To reach 6th-Grade, or attain holy achievements beyond... you mustn't try grasping everything.

Abandon what you've built, shed the unnecessary. Those who leap high and fly far travel light.

Thus memory-Kochella urged Derek—let's glimpse magic's ultimate truth together.

He recalled what he'd left in Duplein Territory.

Every mentor he'd met was etched in memory. Strong-willed students surfaced one by one.

Academy members, Ravenclaw retainers, longtime comrades from Velderun Mercenaries... all appearing in his mind's eye.

Though he thought himself a lone wanderer pulling an empty cart through life...

Upon reflection, he'd picked up quite a lot.

All these accumulations weighed heavily on Derek's shoulders.

If you wish to fly, shed your burdens. The 6th-Grade realm isn't open to all.

How dare you try seizing that sacred goal—yearned for by so many—without abandoning anything?

It's unconscionable.

Utterly immoral.

Memory-Kochella seemed to whisper this.

Coming to his senses, Gremfort Palace loomed ahead. The collapsed drawbridge came into view.

Gritting his teeth, Derek spurred his horse onward.

- Whoosh! Hiss!

- Screech!

No need to breathe anymore.

Kochella finally felt it—the continent's 6th-Grade mages gathering in one place.

Melberot, Marilyn, Drest, Kochella, Damon, and the deceased Phee... formerly Rublen.

For years she'd pursued traces of 6th-Grade mages... engraving their presence in her heart. In pure reverence for magic, none could match Kochella.

With the ruined drawbridge at her back, she strode toward Gremfort Palace.

A royal procession in all but name.

With each step, magical residue scattered like flower petals.

As stream ripples vanish beneath footsteps, soldiers charging Kochella collapsed.

No contest. Having crouched in Gremfort Palace for decades, Kochella knew every guard's movement, training, and weakness.

Even disregarding that... her sheer power surpassed ordinary soldiers.

Her advance through the palace didn't resemble combat.

Simply walking. Each step's magical aftermath felled guards, leaving them wounded and bleeding.

"Old memories surface. Over sixty years since I entered Gremfort Palace."

Her walking seemed to symbolize her life's journey.

That vibrant young mage had walked life's path. Abandoning youth brought senior mage status; abandoning loyalty and compassion brought her to the palace's peak.

Abandoning longtime advisors and disciples brought her closer to truth; finally abandoning her own house brought her to power's pinnacle.

All that remained was this wretched body and magic's supreme realm that all mages revered.

Yet it wasn't enough. Still one step short.

She must reach the heavens. Attain the realm Grand Mage Adelbert glimpsed.

With this conviction, she walked on... until reaching the Palace of Truth's garden.

"Gah... gasp... gasp..."

There she found Damon coughing blood on the ground, with Melberot looming over him, sword drawn.

Darkness and chaos.

At Gremfort Palace's overturned center, two 6th-Grade mages stood frozen.

Then Melberot turned to face Kochella.

Moonlight descended.

Gremfort Palace's powers had gathered here.

"Greetings, Lord Melberot. In the middle of a murder?"

Her voice was gentle.

Melberot's gaze was unnervingly calm.

- Whoosh!

The chilly Raven Valley.

Upon entering on horseback, Duplein Family Head Raeg swallowed dryly.

A horrific scene of bloodshed—traces of last night's desperate battle.

"..."

Mounted, his eyes darted about the darkness.

No matter where he looked, Count Ravenclaw's corpse was nowhere to be found.