There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

The Battle of Veltus (3)

The first thing Grand Duke Veltus did upon receiving the report from Legal Officer Doles and rushing out of his office was to find the source of this entire catastrophe.

The mansion was filled with vengeful spirits and monsters.

The dark red necromantic energy was emanating from the isolation room on the lower floor. It was the very room where he had ordered Denis to be confined through his retainers.

Coincidentally, as soon as Denis was imprisoned, this absurd disaster began to unfold.

This significant continuity could not be ignored, but now was not the time to ponder.

An Arch Lich appeared conspicuously in the middle of the Veltus mansion.

Why was this necromantic monster, which only appears in the deepest parts of the dangerous White Zone labyrinth, floating inside the mansion?

One thing was certain, it had to be subdued immediately.

An Arch Lich was a dangerous monster that even a skilled subjugation team could not easily capture without sacrifices.

However, coincidentally, this was the main house of the Veltus family. Grand Duke Veltus, a 5-star summoning magician, had made this place his base, and he was one of the few family-level magicians across the continent.

– Hwaak! Kaak!

– Pababak!

The movements of the swords that sprang up from the ground were swift.

Dozens of swords made of light sprang up and pierced the monsters running around the mansion, eliminating them.

The reddish spirits began to surround the mansion, taking down the monsters outside one by one, and the magic that rose around Grand Duke Veltus took the form of a giant staff and was held in his hand.

The 5-star magical weapon ‘Light of the Empire’.

A giant staff created by the master of transformation magic, Kohella, and a replica of the legendary weapon owned by Emperor Guttrel of the Empire.

Grand Duke Veltus’s summoning magic, which could reproduce more than 80% of the original ability, could summon almost any magical weapon he could imagine to this place.

He was a person who had reached a level in inorganic summoning magic that no one on the continent could match.

– Hwaaak!

As his summoning magic began to surround the mansion, hope began to rise among the servants.

It was truly rare for a family-level magician to step forward personally. The anomaly that occurred in the Veltus mansion was that serious.

– His Grace the Grand Duke… His Grace the Grand Duke has stepped forward personally…!

– Good…! It will be resolved soon…! Everyone, don’t panic… Take care of your own safety…! If we endure, it will surely be resolved…!

‘Damn it…’

The Grand Duke’s expression as he strode towards the isolation room was already completely crumpled.

It was still unknown who had done this and how, but he had no intention of letting it slide.

To declare war on the Velthus family’s stronghold, and in such a heinous manner.

Seeing that even necromantic magic was involved, it was clear that this was not someone to be left alone.

Entering the isolation room, he gritted his teeth at the sight of the arch-lich floating in the air, trying to engulf the entire mansion.

‘It really… almost turned into a place no different from a high-level labyrinth.’

Even for the Grand Duke of Velthus, dealing with a high-level monster like an arch-lich would be quite a challenge.

However, if he personally took action, he could subdue it. It would require almost all of his accumulated magic power and some injuries, but it was possible to handle it.

Get rid of that damned monster, and find the mastermind behind all this and cut off their head.

If he didn’t tear them apart painfully, it wouldn’t serve as an example. If they had caused something of this scale, leaving them alone would surely lead to great trouble later.

‘I don’t know which damned b*stard dared to do this insolent thing… but I will cut out all their organs and make sure they die miserably in agony.’

With that thought, he was about to cast the 4-star transformation magic, ‘Chains of Restraint,’ towards the arch-lich floating in the room.

– Whoosh

– Fwoosh!

Right below where the arch-lich was floating.

From the spot where Drenis had left his luggage, a new light burst forth again, and the ominous magic that erupted in an instant engulfed the Grand Duke of Velthus.

– Crackle!

The Grand Duke of Velthus widened his eyes and swung his staff, taking a defensive stance.

However, the density of the necromantic magic that had erupted was so thick that even the Grand Duke of Velthus had to frown from the impact.

From beneath where the arch-lich was floating, a human figure began to rise.

It was a scene as if time had stopped. Nevertheless, the flow of magic steadily made space for the girl to rise.

Amidst the aura filled with ominousness, it was as if the queen of death was arriving.

Even the arch-lich, who had sent countless adventurers to their graves, bowed its head before the unknown figure slowly rising from the light.

“Hello.”

Lilac-colored hair and eyes. A dark red frilled dress.

Despite the splendid appearance, she was barefoot and barehanded.

The jewel ring and tie decoration that Drenis had received as a gift.

From this monster, who had revealed herself through the transformation magic engraved there, emanated a bizarre aura that could not be felt from an ordinary magician.

Even the Grand Duke of Velthus, who could crush a massive army alone, had to swallow dryly in the face of that vast magical aura.

A being so powerful that even the arch-lich was overwhelmed and showed a posture of loyalty. That alone was enough to understand.

If one were to choose the most dignified among those who handle necromancy, it would undoubtedly be that girl.

Even though she was an unknown figure, I could instinctively sense it from the first impression.

“It would be troublesome if you tried to kill our cute Happy. He’s like a mischievous rascal that I personally crafted for over two months… It would be too disheartening if he died so meaninglessly, don’t you think?”

Could it be that “Happy” is a nickname for that Arch Lich?

Grand Duke Beltus clenched his fist tightly to stop the trembling of his fingertips. Even the legendary magical weapon in his hand felt like a mere twig in front of that girl of unknown origin.

“Are you… the one responsible for this mess?”

“Yes. Consider it an honor. I don’t reveal my true self in front of others lightly.”

The sight of her grinning from ear to ear sent chills down his spine. Who could deny it? She was the living embodiment of death, the queen of all necromancers.

Grand Duke Beltus had also heard the rumors.

The countless books that the necromancers of Rodentz Island believed in and followed like a bible. There were stories that the author of those books resided somewhere on the continent.

There were all sorts of rumors about the identity of the faceless necromancer, but no one had imagined that it would be such a young girl.

“As you can see, due to certain circumstances, I have to live in hiding.”

“…”

“So, there are only two types of people I reveal my true self to. Those I will see for a long time… or those who will soon die.”

Phine’s smile had the power to send shivers down one’s spine.

“Guess. Which one are you?”

– Boom!

Without hesitation, Grand Duke Beltus unleashed elemental combat magic.

However, Phine didn’t even flinch. The massive Arch Lich floating behind her—whom she called Happy—raised a protective barrier and deflected all the attacks.

Even though it was lower-level magic, the speed of its activation was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.

But Phine, who had deflected everything with a sneer, still looked up and said with a seductive smile.

“You’re impatient. If a grand duke is so petty, who would pledge their loyalty to you…”

“Shut up. What is your goal?”

“To kill you.”

With that short sentence, it felt as if a sharp blade was grazing his neck.

It was no joke. It wasn’t a situation where one could joke around in the first place.

Grand Duke Beltus frowned and gripped his staff again.

“You…”

“Curious about the reason? It’s nothing special. For my personal research, I need the corpse of a magician of at least 5-star level. That’s all.”

“You are indeed… from Rodentz Island…”

“I don’t care whether the riffraff on that island serve me or not. I’m only interested in my own business. However, it’s not easy to deal with a 5-star or higher magician carelessly.”

Fine walked slowly towards Grand Duke Beltus with her small frame.

A slow and leisurely gait. Despite her movements, simply holding up her skirt and sticking out her bare feet, it feels as if the air in the entire room is being pressed down.

The closer Fine gets, the thicker the necromantic power that weighs down the whole body feels.

The level of magic itself is different. Even a family-level magician would swallow dryly in front of a 5-star or higher existence.

“Family-level magicians are all outstanding in their own right and have high reputations, so it’s hard to deal with them carelessly. But for someone like you, if the situation is well-constructed, it seems possible to manage. With so many accumulated sins and plenty of excuses to catch, you could die at any time and it would be justifiable.”

“…”

“You should have lived more generously. Well, I’m not a good person to preach to others either.”

Fine was speaking clearly.

She came to kill this vicious human who pursued power, framed and killed innocent people, oppressed those who displeased him, and manipulated all the family members like chess pieces.

However, this is not a fight between good and evil. She has no intention of giving a grand moral lecture. Neither she nor Derek came for such moral righteousness.

In the journey of life, there comes a time when you must collide. As you climb higher and higher towards your pursuit, there will inevitably be those you must trample over.

It’s not about who is right or wrong.

The one who gets worn down and eliminated simply disappears. That’s the law of the wild at the bottom.

Derek also committed numerous murders, but he never did so with moral reasoning.

Surviving day by day in the harsh mud was such a thing.

“Well, that’s not the only purpose… Anyway, since things have come to this, shall we show some skills?”

– Whooosh!

In the ominously rising necromantic power, the girl’s eyes glowed red.

Just by quietly exuding power, a fierce wind blows, and the clutter in the isolation room flies through the air and gets stuck in the walls.

The power swirls around the girl’s body like the eye of a storm.

The reason the girl went this far was not only because she needed the corpse of a family-level magician, but there was another equally important reason.

She had a disciple she cherished quite a bit.

If the research on advanced corpse resurrection didn’t go well, she had a pretty good disciple to fall back on as a backup plan.

However, no matter how much, it was a bit unreasonable to ask a disciple who was still playing at the level of a fully-fledged 3-star to suppress a family-level magician who was in a state of full readiness.

Fine was not unaware of that fact.

Derek himself had pointed out the problem several times, grumbling, but Fine had dismissed his opinion.

Because she had thought it all through.

“Grand Duke of Beltus. Shall I teach you what magic is?”

Fine was a completely different person from the teachers Derek had served so far – the old man from the slums, Katia, or Drest.

Wolves that live wild lives and commit slaughter grow up eating bloody raw meat from a young age.

If you want to raise my pretty child, you must feed it plenty of nutritious prey.

However, if the meat is a bit tough── it is the teacher’s duty to endure the effort of beating it several times to make it more tender.

Even if Derek, whose growth potential is wide open, it is unreasonable to catch the head of the family in perfect condition at this point.

In that case, it is enough if it is not in perfect condition.

It is a truly simple and ignorant idea, but the logic of the strong is not that complicated.

– Bang!

Just by lifting the hem of her dress gracefully and wielding her magic once, Grand Duke Beltus had to be pushed almost to the end of the wall.

He made a choking sound and gathered his magic, but he had to endure the intense pain that surged through his body.

– Whooosh!

There was still a spirit of driving people into a corner in Pine’s laughter.

The arch lich floating behind her was an existence of such high rank that it felt like a ragtag group.

The girl dusted off the hem of her dress and spoke.

“You, the master of Beltus, should consider it an honor. I don’t teach just anyone.”

Kalimpord, Melverot, Feria, Drest, Reveltone… The history books of the continent were filled with heroic tales of mythical wizards.

And the girl in front of him was an existence that stood shoulder to shoulder with such mythical heroes.

No matter how high-ranking a wizard is, there is a limit.

He must take it seriously. At the moment when Grand Duke Beltus took a deep breath, a huge flame soared, breaking through the ceiling of the guest room.

A 5-star summoning magic-. It was a spell to summon Helim, the giant spirit of flame, who first appeared in mythology.

*

The giant of fire rose with the momentum to cover the entire mansion grounds.

The influence of the 5-star summoning magic was as if it would cover the whole world.

The heat alone caused the temperature of the area to rise, and its influence was such that bright light shone in all the shadows.

Derek, who was riding a horse, was also watching the giant.

The eyes of the soldiers of Rodeiana who were following him were wide open.

The servants of the duke’s mansion, and even Dennis, who was sitting in despair in front of the mansion, all clearly saw the momentum of the brilliantly burning giant.

The sight of a high-ranking wizard exerting all his magic.

Seeing that tremendous pressure, which is not easily seen unless a continental-scale war breaks out, one is convinced that all the monsters covering the mansion will be burned away in an instant.

The flames that purify the chaotic world are said to burn everything equally.

At that very moment when the giant flame sword tried to send all the unclean things to hell.

– Crash!

As if mocking everything, the sky tears apart and a giant demon’s hand reveals itself.

A hand of immense size, rivaling the giant of fire, grabs the giant’s face and slams it into the mansion grounds.

– Crash!

The rising flames spread to the garden, and the giant’s body begins to tremble.

It’s not even necromancy─, it’s the summoning magic that Grand Duke Beltus is known for.

However, anyone can see that the source of that magic is Pine.

The crumbled outer wall of the isolation chamber. The rising dust. The flames spreading to the mansion. Madness and chaos. And imminent death.

With a laugh filled with madness, the image of the monster pressing down on Grand Duke Beltus is easily drawn.

She is death itself.

“…”

From noble mtl dot com

Derek, convinced that he couldn’t just stand still, grabbed the reins and dashed into the forest.

The entrance to the path leading to the Beltus mansion was coming into view.