There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World - Chapter 137



＜ 4-Star (2) ＞

– Crash! Bang!

– “Ugh!”

When Grand Duke Beltus slapped the legal officer, the elderly high-ranking retainer fell back, gasping for breath.

It was when Denis had visited his father’s office to pay his respects.

At that time, Denis was just over ten years old.

Legal officer Alderek had reported the horrors of the famine in a village on the outskirts of the Beltus estate and insisted that the taxes for the residents of that area should be reduced for the year.

“My lord, our duty is to protect the people. If we continue like this, we are no different from murderers.”

Muttering such words while holding his head, the old retainer was trampled by Grand Duke Beltus until he was bruised and bleeding. “How dare you call me a murderer?”

Grand Duke Beltus despised retainers who did not follow orders, so it was no surprise that Alderek soon disappeared from the family.

Denis, even now, does not know what fate befell the old legal officer, who had a family to support and was too old to take care of himself properly.

Since then, the immense power of Beltus felt like an insurmountable current or wall to Denis.

The noble background that had made Denis a dignified young lady often became a weight that pressed down on her limbs.

Luxurious frilled dresses and pretty ornaments, the admiring gazes of the servants, delicious food and the scent of luxurious candles, a beautiful garden filled with fresh plants and chirping birds.

The naive girl thought within herself.

Born as the daughter of Beltus and raised with lavish treatment, she must bear the weight of the responsibility that comes with it.

However, after coming to the social circles of Ebelstein, that thought began to fade little by little.

The physical distance from the main house of Beltus was considerable, and the atmosphere was completely free-spirited in this land of opportunity. The mansion built solely for her was always quiet and serene, making it a comfortable place.

Just as if she were sinking into a comfortable bed, she was completely absorbed into the serene atmosphere of Ebelstein.

She thought that as long as she could settle here forever, without any interest in the world’s troubles and without any external pressures weighing her down, it would be enough.

It was because of this background that she had little interest in the changing dynamics of Ebelstein’s social circles and no great ambition in the family’s succession power struggle.

She just liked things as they were.

In the corner of a room in the mansion where the sun didn’t shine, occasionally playing with a quill pen, sometimes pretending to roll up her sleeves and get to work… Living a life like that, letting time pass by, wasn’t so bad.

However, even as she thought so, she had already subconsciously realized.

This ambiguous and temporary peace was just a fleeting moment. Grand Duke Beltus would somehow try to exploit Denis, who had taken root in Ebelstein’s social circles. In one way or another, it would eventually end in being used or backstabbing someone.

She knew well enough that endlessly shutting herself away, blinded by this superficial peace, would not lead to a good outcome.

Therefore, she was becoming more and more absorbed in this current serene peace, sinking deeper into lethargy and indolence.

Doing everything moderately, without ambition, just watching others’ reactions… She was accepting living like a corpse in this comfortable cradle.

─However, as if mocking such resignation… there was a time when a person appeared who shattered everything.

A man who appeared as a teacher… dragged Denis, who had been holed up in her room, out for jogging from the morning, made her study magic books all night, brought in Diela to stimulate her competitive spirit, read the novels she had secretly written without permission, recruited the servants, somehow ignited her passion for magic, and finally kicked her out of the cradle.

In the series of processes, he felt no fear or doubt, having lived his whole life as a bottom-dwelling commoner.

The man who had lived a life full of turmoil seemed to be talking directly to Denis, who had been living a life of escape, steeped in superficial peace.

Why are you settling down on a path that leads to a cliff? Why aren’t you struggling to escape even a little?

To that obvious question, Denis often thought that he didn’t understand something.

She thought he didn’t understand how the grandeur of Beltus crushed people, how the demands placed on her as a scion of a prestigious family had weighed her down.

However, seeing his bold steps breaking into Beltus, Denis couldn’t help but hold her breath.

What Derek Lydorf Ravenclaw had fought against all his life was a world that distinguished between nobles and commoners, valuing only bloodlines.

The weight of being a noble lady was nothing more than a feather compared to what he had endured.

Therefore, his appearance as he nonchalantly smashed Belthus and entered, looked like Denis smashing the cage she had been trapped in all her life with one hand.

Without any agitation or hesitation, he broke the iron bars and walked in with his boots, looking down at Denis with his indifferent eyes that never changed.

What he always said was the same. Are you going to keep sitting like this?

– Kaak! Kak!

– Chaeng! Bang!

“As you can see, many external forces have arrived around the mansion. We will handle the matters happening inside the main building, so it would be better for Lady Denis to evacuate to a safe place under the escort of Captain Orel.”

Then Denis suddenly came to her senses.

It was an urgent situation. Although it was a situation where she had to move quickly, Elente calmly conveyed the current situation to Denis.

In the midst of this chaos, Denis was the person closest to the scene. Naturally, her body was tired, and it would have been difficult to calm her confused mind.

So, Elente tried to get Denis away from the scene.

There was concern for her, but it was also because she couldn’t trust Denis, who was practically an insider, and she didn’t want to put Derek and her together.

Was it a woman’s intuition?

Seeing Denis fidgeting shyly, the thought that there was no good in keeping Derek and her close together sprang up.

Therefore, she intended to create a suitable pretext to evacuate her to a safe place.

“…”

Denis hesitated for a moment after hearing Elente’s suggestion.

Certainly, at this point, there was no reason to take the risk and go to the main building. Whatever happened to Grand Duke Belthus, it would be enough to receive a report later.

Although the full details were not yet clear, she was somewhat convinced by Derek’s attitude.

He would not harm Denis. Whatever happened, she had a certain conviction that if she trusted Derek and left the work to him, she would be safe.

Is it time to retreat here?

It might be wise to go to a safe place for a while, assess the situation, organize thoughts, and establish principles on how to act afterward… Because it seems certain that once this matter is settled, the power structure of the Beltus family will be greatly shaken.

However, she too feels a strange intuition rising. Could this also be a woman’s intuition?

She senses Elente’s intention to keep separating her from Derek, and she holds her breath.

‘…’

But, what if she feels such an intention?

What great thing could happen just because she’s apart from Derek for a while?

Her rational self tends to honestly acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. She was indeed a bit attracted to the man named Derek. But that’s all.

Derek might be a decent man, but there’s no need to be swayed or obsessed with him.

It’s ridiculous to make wrong judgments by being swayed by a man in the midst of such chaos. She’s not the protagonist of a romance novel filled with romantic feelings, so there’s no reason to do so.

However, something keeps bothering her.

“…”

Eventually, Denise held her breath and met Elente’s eyes.

Did she come to any conclusion with a brief thought? Denise seemed to have regained some composure.

“No. Of course, I should go with you.”

The meaning implied in those words was significant, and a strange spark seemed to flicker in their eyes.

Denise didn’t want to hand Derek over to this young red-haired lord who had everything. Because she already had a lot.

For some reason, even in the midst of the whole family burning, she felt she had to hold Derek tightly in her arms. Because he was the only person who saw Denise as Denise.

“…”

Not only Elente, but everyone who had any connection with Denise had a sense of it.

Denise, who had mastered all kinds of tricks and wits, was the most troublesome type of person to turn into an enemy.

Ellente squinted and swallowed dryly.

*

The main hall of the Beltus mansion was filled with the roar of the Arch Lich.

Three-star necromancy magic, low-level corpse resurrection.

Corpses rose in every room of the mansion and attacked, but the well-trained special forces of Countess Rodeia systematically defeated those monsters.

However, unless the Arch Lich, who continuously raised the corpses, was subdued, it was impossible to enter the core of the mansion.

– Sreung

Countess Rodeia, who drew the Holy Blood Sword, spoke with her eyes wide open.

“I will personally cut down the Arch Lich. Clear the way…!”

“Yes!”

The mere sight of the Arch Lich exuded an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

The corpse-like magician, floating in the air and shooting red beams from its eyes, seemed to permeate death’s chill into the skin just by approaching.

However, Countess Rodeia, who was thoroughly accustomed to necromancy, knew no fear.

The red holy scripture engraved on the blade of the Holy Blood Sword shone. Her silver armor also gleamed in the moonlight, and her eyes shone even more brilliantly.

The hero of Rodentz Island, Rodeia, drew her sword and stepped onto the battlefield.

Every time she swung her sword, the corpse monsters fell, spilling blood, and when she roared, the soldiers’ morale soared to the sky.

A ruler who always stands at the forefront of the battlefield makes those who follow braver.

Knowing this well, Rodeia ruled everyone with a brave appearance.

Sensing something unusual, the Arch Lich raised its head again and manifested the three-star combat magic ‘Petrifying Gaze’.

However, Rodeia climbs the stairs with her eyes tightly shut. She was a seasoned warrior, so adept that she had internalized countermeasures for most spells.

She rolled on the floor once, kicked off the railing, and reached right in front of the Arch Lich. It all happened in an instant.

Numerous corpse monsters blocked her path, but she turned them all into chunks of meat with just a few sword strikes.

It was the moment her holy blood sword was about to sever the Arch Lich’s neck.

– Boom! Crash!

– Bang!

However, the traces of high-level necromancy were not only felt from the Arch Lich.

A giant fist pierced through the mansion’s roof and slammed down.

A demon with the head of a giant beast.

The terrible monster, born from the combination of high-level summoning magic and high-level necromancy, broke through the main hall’s ceiling and struck the floor, causing a shockwave.

– Boom! Thud!

A massive tremor shook the entire mansion.

The chandelier collapsed, and dust rose. Many soldiers were buried in the debris, and screams of terror echoed.

When the tremor ended, the night sky was visible.

The entire ceiling of the main hall had collapsed.

Against the backdrop of the starry sky, a giant demon, the one who had slammed its fist down, looked down at the ground.

– Crash! Clang!

Countess Rodeia, who had rolled on the floor, swallowed dryly.

Even the Arch Lich, summoned with 5-star necromancy, was a formidable foe, and now she had to face this unknown demon as well, making her feel a sense of despair.

However, she couldn’t just stand still. Heroes never despair.

The moment she grasped the Holy Blood Sword and stood up again.

– Whoosh! Whoosh!

The shattered main hall.

In the place where the moonlight of the night sky shone down, an old wizard appeared on the large main staircase leading to the second floor.

Rodeia swallowed dryly.

It was Duke Beltus.

The arrogant and haughty noble who always looked down on the fiefdom with a solemn appearance was now covered in dark, magical patterns all over his body.

The magical patterns glowing in a pale purple light exuded an ominous aura. The dark red magic flowing through his skin was undoubtedly a trace of necromancy.

‘My God…’

Duke Beltus was writhing in agony, but his eyes were filled with madness.

‘Has he really… been consumed by necromancy…!’

It was a sight often seen on Rodentz Island.

Necromancy is not something just anyone can handle. Countless times, she had seen those who foolishly dabbled in it become victims of madness in an instant.

The only solace that could be given to the victims of Rodentz Island was the peace of death.

When one is eroded by such uncontrollable power, the end is usually horrific.

‘Duke Beltus is a 5-star summoner… For a mage of that level to be unable to handle such power… What on earth has he touched…?’

The movements of Duke Beltus, who had been writhing and groaning, suddenly stopped.

Then, he looked down at Countess Rodeia, who was rolling on the floor of the main hall. There seemed to be a bit of reason left in Duke Beltus’s eyes… but it didn’t take long for that to turn into murderous intent.

“Everyone, be careful! He’s a 5-star summoner!”

– Crackle!

Swords burst forth around Duke Beltus. It was the non-biological summoning magic, “Sword Storm.”

From noble mtl dot com

Unlike the previous spells imbued with bluish magic, ominous crimson swords poured out.

It was the moment when Rodeia drew her Holy Blood Sword to respond.

– Swish! Thud!

Duke Beltus on the second-floor main hall railing. At the moment he was about to roar in madness, an arrow flew and lodged in his shoulder. Considering the distance, it was an eerily accurate shot.

There is no power in luxurious noble attire to block a blade.

“Argh…!”

As Duke Beltus screamed in pain and staggered, a girl performing acrobatics appeared over the collapsed debris.

Dressed in mercenary attire and wearing a cloak, the girl was a stranger.

However, those who knew, knew.

She had rarely shown her face in the Ravenclaw Barony, but officially, she held the title of Baroness.

Feline of the Veldern Mercenary Corps. The most renowned archer in the mercenary corps, she climbed up the debris and the railing, landing in front of Duke Beltus and kicking him in the solar plexus.

– Crash! Bang!

“Wow. Kicking a noble really feels good.”

She said, as if feeling refreshed after kicking the noble.

Standing straight on the railing, she flicked her bowstring and smiled with the freshest expression in the world.

Then she shouted in a resonant voice.

“Uncle Jayden! This way! This way!”

At her words, reinforcements began to rush towards the mansion’s main building.

Cutting down the monsters pouring out, those who arrived at the scene were members of the Veldern Mercenary Corps, Derek’s old comrades.

The one-armed mercenary Jaden, who was commanding in front of them, chuckled and shouted.

“Alright, let’s go! It’s time to kill the monsters!”

With the sound of cheers, the mercenaries rushed in and began to help the army of Rodeia, which was buried in the debris.

In an instant, the tide of the battle began to turn.

“Is this… the reinforcements from Baron Ravenclaw…”

At that moment, the Countess of Rodeia, who had barely managed to stand up, looked at the archer on the railing.

She tugged at the hem of her skirt, worried that her underwear might show, and smiled confidently at the world.

However, it was only for a moment.

– Snap!

A first-class combat magic, Shockwave, emanated from the Grand Duke Veltus, who had been pinned down.

The scale and power of a first-class magic used by a fifth-class mage are different. In an instant, Pellin screamed and was thrown below the railing.

“Ahhh!”

– Crash! Bang!

– Crackle!

Pellin, who had been reveling in the joy of kicking a noble, rolled down the main stairs, revealing the figure of the Grand Duke Veltus, who had risen from the debris.

He was bleeding profusely. He was trying to hold onto his sanity, but saliva was already dripping from his mouth.

The crazed mage staggered back to the railing and looked down at Pellin.

It was said that a fifth-class mage could face a massive army alone.

As if to prove that fact, the demon in the sky began to spew fire. The target was Pellin.

– Snap! Whoosh!

However, a man who had fallen onto the broken debris stepped on the railing, then leaped back and grabbed the arm of Grand Duke Beltus.

He threw Grand Duke Beltus backward and rolled on the floor with the momentum.

– Crash! Bang!

Beltus, who had tried to finish off Felinne, was knocked back again, and the man stood up under the moonlight.

It was Derek Rydolph Ravenclaw, the young wizard who had already been quite injured, with scratches all over his body, participating in the battlefield.

“Baron Ravenclaw!”

At the moment Rodeia shouted that, the forces of Belmiard began to join from the main building of the mansion.

Leading them on horseback were Lady Elente of Belmiard and Lady Denise of this Beltus territory.

The tide of the battle was turning, and the situation was reaching its extreme.

And at the end of that extreme, Derek, who had rolled on the floor, stood up again.

The enemy buried in the wreckage was Grand Duke Beltus, completely eroded by madness.

The ruler who had dominated the world, grasping everything in his fist and wielding it as he pleased, stood up, panting, with necromantic magic enveloping his entire body. The dirt and sand covering his body poured down with a rustle.

What remained was madness and hatred towards Derek, the culprit of all this.

A beast-like murderous intent filled his eyes. Although it was Grand Duke Beltus himself who had first thrust his sword and declared war, he never imagined that his opponent would retaliate so thoroughly.

However, this was the middle of the battlefield.

Grand Duke Beltus, bleeding, stood up, and ominous magic began to swirl around him.

In the end, they faced each other with their swords, and if it had come to this, the only thing left was a deadly battle to the death.

The opponent was merely a 3-star wizard at best.

Even though he was two ranks below, he did not let his guard down. Baron Ravenclaw’s skills had already been proven.

All kinds of monsters emerged, covering the main building, and a giant demon descended from the sky, creating a hellish scene.

In the midst of it, two men bound by ambition confront each other.

It’s a one-way path.

To move forward, one of them had to be broken.