Damned Transmigration - Chapter 49

WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

◈ Damned Transmigration ◈

Chapter 49: Acceptance

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Becoming a fifth-tier mage at twenty-two was extraordinary.

Lacey Yuzha, once called the greatest talent in the history of the Dersia Mage Tower, had reached the fifth tier at twenty-six. Orca Dersia, the current Tower Master known as Heavenly Thunder, had been twenty-eight when she reached the fifth tier.

Little was known about the Rudella Mage Tower, which was closely tied to the Demonic Cult and shrouded in secrecy. However, no mage in the history of the other mage towers had reached the fifth tier at an age younger than twenty-two. Even Arsen, the pinnacle of the Lucionell Mage Tower, called the master of masters among Tower Masters, had been at a lower tier than Elena at that age.

Among the people known to the public, only one person had reached the fifth tier at a younger age than Elena. That person was not a mage.

The Orsia Family, a renowned martial family known as the pinnacle of the Western Cartel.

Estor Orsia, the Sword Dragon, was the grandson of Albator Orsia, the Sword Emperor among the Martial Apex Venerables who stood opposite the Heavenly Demon. Estor had shocked the world by reaching the fifth tier at the young age of twenty-one.

He was somewhat ahead of the others, but if the range was expanded to those twenty-five and younger, there were three more young people of the current generation who had reached the fifth tier.

From the Righteous Heavenly Alliance came Yeonri Eunha, the Snow Princess, grandniece of The Silver Empress of War, Yeonri Sangah, one of the Four Absolutes.

There was Hwangbo Jin-cheol, the young head of the Hwangbo Family and the Hegemon Dragon.

And there was Paeng Won-yeol, the young sect master of the Severing Blade Sect, one of the Black Dragon Society’s Six Evils, known as the Dragon Severer.

All of them were gifted young talents whose superiority was difficult to judge, born with the benefits accumulated through the bloodlines of prestigious families.

That was why Elena Heinderga reaching the fifth tier at twenty-two was even more extraordinary. She had not received the benefits of a prestigious family’s bloodline. She had come from an orphanage in rural Oldor. A pure genius who had earned Heavenly Thunder’s recognition through talent alone and entered the Dersia Mage Tower at the age of ten.

‘What’s so amazing about that?’

Arist Benharman knew it was an extraordinary and rare accomplishment. Still, Elena was not the only genius in the world.

Even the prodigy of the Habert Mage Tower, about whom little information was known, was said to be young. Perhaps other mage towers also had mages who had reached the fifth tier at an age similar to Elena’s, but simply did not boast about them.

Besides, mages did not exist only in mage towers. There could be young fifth-tier mages among those who researched freely, and if paladins and priests from religious orders were included, the number would grow.

There must also be more young fifth-tier martial artists who simply were not publicly known.

So Elena’s achievement was not unimaginably great. Everyone at the Dersia Mage Tower making such a fuss was excessive and unsightly.

“...”

Arist bit down hard on her lip as she desperately continued those ugly, pathetic thoughts.

A fifth-tier mage had to develop and know how to use their own spell formulas beyond common magic. Here, “their own spell formulas” referred to unique magic that actively used Soul Power, spell formulas with a depth beyond fourth-tier magic.

That was the academic standard. Just as fifth-tier martial artists could begin producing Ganggi, something they had not even been able to attempt before, fifth-tier mages could do things that had previously been impossible.

The transformation of magic through Soul Power.

For a mage, Soul Power was similar to the internal energy accumulated in a martial artist’s energy center. Just as internal energy gained qualities depending on the martial arts one cultivated, Soul Power embedded in a mage’s being could be called the history of that mage’s life.

Simply put, once a lightning-attribute mage reached the fifth tier, they could transform even magic of another attribute into lightning-attribute magic without changing its spell formula.

The first spells to change were the common spells every mage could use. Even an ordinary fireball could vary enormously in power when transformed with Soul Power.

“Excellent.”

The admiration murmured by a sixth-tier mage of the Dersia Mage Tower grated on Arist’s nerves.

They were old mages who had given up challenging for the Tower Master’s position, devoting themselves to advancing the tower’s magic while focusing on their own. Arist had always called them seniors and fawned over them.

No matter how much she fawned, those stubborn old mages had rarely looked on her favorably. Yet all of them were now admiring Elena’s magical demonstration.

Flame Storm was one of the most difficult common spells. It was difficult because it required the simultaneous control of fire and wind attributes.

It was easier than combining multiple spells, but it was still difficult enough to be called the wall of the third tier. Yet Elena had added her Soul Power to it.

Fire, wind, and lightning. She was blending three attributes into a single spell while casting five spells at once.

It was a demonstration that sixth-tier mages could not help but admire. Even a mage who had spent years at the fifth tier would not be able to demonstrate magic as easily as Elena was doing now.

“I expected Lacey to become the next Tower Master.”

“Lacey is excellent, but Elena seems superior in terms of potential alone.”

“She is seven years younger than Lacey, after all.”

“Tower Master Orca taught Elena personally. That must be considered as well.”

“It was Lacey who withdrew from the disciple candidates. That child has already firmly established her magical identity. She declined the position of the Tower Master’s disciple because she had a path of magic she wished to pursue.”

“It is too early to compare Elena and Lacey already. Elena only needs to establish her magical identity and pave her own path from here on. Rather than imagining who will become the next Tower Master, we should bless the pride of the Dersia Mage Tower.”

“Heh heh. The next Tower Master? Is Orca-nim the sort to retire?”

The mages exchanged words with pleased smiles.

Elena Heinderga’s fifth-tier qualification review.

The fact that this gathering had been arranged was no different from acknowledging that Elena had reached the fifth tier. The result had already been decided without any need for a review.

It was a place for seniors to bless a young talent, rivals to kindle their ambition, and juniors to offer admiration.

Arist was thoroughly isolated there.

She had been removed from the disciple candidates two years ago. Since she was no longer a rival, she could not kindle ambition. She could not offer blessings. She could not offer admiration.

All Arist could feel now was inferiority gnawing at her heart.

She was still stuck at the fourth tier. Even filling out the reports she had to submit every quarter was difficult.

But what tormented Arist most was that Orca no longer had any expectations for her reports.

It was not only Orca. Everyone at the Dersia Mage Tower was the same. Two years ago, Arist had been a young genius of the tower and one of its three disciple candidates.

Now, she was merely another fourth-tier mage of the Dersia Mage Tower. Nothing special.

‘How did this happen?’

Arist had known two years ago that Elena possessed great talent.

But Elena had not been at this level two years ago. Over those two years, Elena had immersed herself in magic as though she had become a different person.

The change had begun after her return from Logos.

Before going there, Elena had returned to the mansion every day without fail. After returning from Logos, she rarely went back to the mansion at all, instead eating and sleeping at the mage tower.

She seemed to leave the tower and return to the mansion about once every ten days, but even then, she would return to the mage tower the following day as if nothing had happened.

That did not mean Elena had spent the past two years only at the mage tower.

Whenever she developed a new spell or needed data, Elena left Rutlan.

She tested completed spells and gathered data. All of it was done in real combat, and monsters were not the only targets.

There were wanted criminals with bounties on their heads. Among them, Elena was especially fixated on martial artists of the Demonic Cult.

Not every Demonic Cult martial artist was wanted, but there were many among wanted criminals. In truth, even those who were not wanted were treated as potential criminals in this world simply because they belonged to the Demonic Cult, so killing them did not draw much condemnation.

The Demonic Cult itself also dismissed it as the dead person’s fault for being weak.

Besides Demonic Cult martial artists, Elena was obsessed with cultists who served the Evil God.

Whenever there was even a report of a cultist sighting, Elena would immediately leave the mage tower. It was as though she had made a contract for such information, because Rutlan’s informants regularly brought Elena news about Demonic Cult martial artists and cultists.

That was how Elena had lived for two years.

An obsession with magic that could only be called madness. As though she had become a different person, Elena rained lightning down on Demonic Cult martial artists and cultists for combat and experimentation.

The public had even begun calling her Mad Thunder.

‘Could she really have become a transmigrator?’

Arist did not know the details, but something had certainly happened in Logos. Even taking that into account, Elena had changed far too much.

Arist had watched Elena for two years, yet she could not possibly believe the current Elena was the same person as before.

“Enough.”

Orca, who had been watching Elena’s demonstration, spoke.

“I do not think we need to see any more. Does anyone disagree?”

With a satisfied smile, Orca looked around at the mages of the Dersia Mage Tower.

Naturally, not a single mage voiced an objection. Dozens of fifth-tier and sixth-tier mages with the authority to speak in this review recognized Elena Heinderga as a fifth-tier mage.

“Elena Heinderga. I, Orca Dersia, officially recognize you as a true fifth-tier mage.”

Elena did not smile despite the resounding applause.

Hidden among the applause, Arist looked at Elena’s face and swallowed hard.

Who could look at the current Elena Heinderga and recall the Marigold of two years ago?

The Marigold had already withered and lost its vitality.

Her once-lustrous golden hair had grown past her waist, but it was dry and coarse. Her blue eyes, once sparkling like sapphires, now held only a dull light.

Perhaps because of her ruined habits, her pale skin made the shadows beneath her eyes stand out even more.

She had withered and lost her vitality, but Elena was still beautiful. In fact, there was a beauty that stood out because she had withered.

Arist swallowed again without realizing it as she stared into those empty yet focused eyes, dull yet eerily gleaming.

At the same time, Arist realized it.

For the rest of her life, she could never be Elena Heinderga’s rival.

“Thank you.”

Elena spoke amid the prolonged applause.

She said thank you, but she did not look particularly grateful.

* * *

“Fifth tier. Wow, that’s amazing.”

The mansion had not changed from a week ago.

A living room with hardly any sign of human presence. A dining table with little warmth. An empty pantry. Thick curtains that let in no sunlight. A leather sofa gone stiff. A disorderly bookshelf.

Weeds did not grow in the garden, and dust did not gather indoors, only because of magic.

‘Without that magic, this place would probably become a haunted house,’ Haryeong thought as she strode into the living room.

“Seriously, why do you keep the curtains closed? Lady Elena, have you become a child of darkness without me noticing?”

Swish!

Haryeong drew the curtains open, and bright sunlight poured into the living room.

Elena, who had entered behind Haryeong, shuddered and groaned at the sunlight filling the room.

“Ugh... T-too bright.”

“Anyone would think you’d been in here the whole time. Lady Elena, you were outside with me just moments ago. Why are you acting so dramatic?”

“I like dark living rooms.”

“That’s because you use this fine house as nothing more than a place to sleep. And it’s not as though you use it often. What, do you sleep here about four times a month?”

Elena only pouted and did not answer.

The world called her Mad Thunder, and at the mage tower, she no longer spoke with anyone except Orca and Lacey. Yet when she was alone with Haryeong, she showed her old self.

It had been over two years since Haryeong began serving as Elena’s escort assassin. In that time, they had naturally formed many bonds.

Haryeong not only knew why Elena had become this way, but had gone through the same experience.

While Elena ate and slept at the mage tower, Haryeong was the one who brought her necessary clothes despite constantly complaining. Haryeong was also the one who forced Elena, who skipped meals, to go out and eat with her, making Elena pay for the food.

And though Elena left the comfortable city for combat and experimentation, Haryeong followed her on those dangerous expeditions. Haryeong was the one who faithfully drove daggers into the necks and chests of Demonic Cult martial artists and cultists who tried to ambush Elena.

“Aren’t you going to pack?”

“Pack what?”

“Why are you pretending not to know? Lady Elena, the twenty-two-year-old genius mage who reached the fifth tier, surely the Ascard Family preparing a grand mansion in central Rutlan as a sign of its respect for you isn’t a secret only I know?”

“I’m not going.”

Elena staggered over and flopped onto the sofa like dried fish.

“What would I do living alone in a grand mansion? This mansion is already spacious.”

“If you go, there will be others besides you. There will be a cook who rises at dawn to bake warm bread if you say the word, and servants who will obey any unreasonable order you give with a smile.”

“When have I ever given an unreasonable order?”

“Do you really want to make me tell you how many times I have suppressed my desire to kill you?”

“A-anyway, I’m not thinking of moving. It’s more... comfortable here.”

Elena answered while shielding her eyes from the sunlight pouring through the large window.

“If you’re so comfortable here, why do you always live at the mage tower?”

“...”

“As a wise assassin, I know exactly why. But I won’t bring it up and hurt your feelings. I’m such a considerate assassin.”

Elena’s eyes, visible through the fingers covering them, were narrowed in irritation. But this was not the first time Haryeong had received such a look, so she remained perfectly composed.

“I’m leaving tomorrow. How do you intend to live from now on?”

“...”

“My advice is to simply shake it off and move. If your surroundings change, your mood may change as well. If you hate an empty house with no one in it, go to a grand mansion bustling with servants.”

“Do you have to leave?”

Elena, who had been lying limply, sat upright.

She stared at Haryeong with trembling eyes.

This was not the first time Haryeong had seen that look and heard that plea. Elena had said it at least ten times this week alone.

But Haryeong remained firm.

“I am Lady Elena’s escort assassin.”

“...”

“To begin with, I failed to properly fulfill my role as an escort two years ago. The contract should have been terminated then. But I omitted information from the reports I had to send regularly to the Salhomun, so I remained as your escort assassin.”

“Haryeong, I know you were considerate of me.”

“Yes, I was considerate of you. But this is a different matter. When Lady Elena was at the fourth tier, I could serve as your escort. But now that you have reached the fifth tier, someone of the same tier cannot serve as your escort.”

“What does it matter? You’re still stronger than I am.”

“Do you truly think so? I think differently. Lady Elena is no longer weak enough to need my protection. If anything, in an emergency, I will be the one needing Lady Elena’s help.”

Haryeong continued with the same expressionless face.

“And before I am an assassin, I am also a martial artist. I have become aware that I have not devoted myself to cultivation during this mission of more than two years. Therefore, I will withdraw from this escort mission.”

“...”

“If you wish, I can arrange a contract with another escort, but I would not recommend it. Hiring a sixth-tier assassin is extremely expensive. I imagine one year would cost nearly as much as the Ascard Family’s mansion.”

“I’m not thinking of hiring another escort.”

Elena barely answered, her shoulders drooping.

“Haryeong. Um... Not as an escort, just... Ahem. Without a contract, would you consider staying by my side?”

“What kind of relationship would that be?”

“...”

“Lady Elena, are you trying to suggest a relationship you are too embarrassed to even name?”

“Friends!”

Unable to endure the teasing, Elena shouted.

“You are asking me to stay by your side as a friend. Lady Elena, I do not think that is friendship.”

“Th-that’s just a figure of speech.”

“If Lady Elena truly wishes to think of me as a friend, should you not respect my opinion as well?”

“Ah, seriously...!”

Elena let out a long sigh and nodded.

“Fine, I understand! If you’re going, then go! I won’t stop you, so just go wherever you want!”

“Even if you do not say that, I will leave tomorrow. Still, I have suffered serving Lady Elena for over two years. Should we not at least share a meal and say goodbye?”

“So where are you going? Back to the Salhomun to cultivate martial arts?”

Elena pouted and grumbled.

Haryeong quietly watched Elena.

A faint curve formed on her usually emotionless lips.

“I think I will look for Yuri-nim.”

Elena’s face stiffened.

Yuri. That name itself was taboo to Elena.

“It has been two years, and I am personally curious and interested. I do not know where Yuri-nim is, but if I try to find him, I will be able to.”

“...”

“What will Lady Elena do? If you wish, would you like to come with me and look for Yuri-nim?”

Elena’s expression turned cold.

A gleam flashed deep within her dull eyes.

“I... I’m not going.”

Her expression was chilling, but Elena’s voice trembled weakly.

“Haryeong, if you... Yu... if you’re going to find him, I can’t stop you, but...”

“But?”

“W-wouldn’t it be difficult to show up so suddenly...?”

“Lady Elena.”

Haryeong tilted her head slightly.

The faint curve on her lips deepened a little.

“Will you not regret it?”

“...”

“Perhaps Yuri-nim is also waiting for Lady Elena to come looking for him.”

Elena did not answer immediately.

She hugged her knees and stared blankly at the bright window.

“I’m not going.”

After a brief silence, Elena answered.

“I don’t want to see... Yuri.”

Elena answered in a small, muttering voice and turned to Haryeong.

“So, even if you do meet him... You don’t have to tell Yuri how I’m doing.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Yeah.”

Elena stared outside the bright window for a little longer before getting off the sofa.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Lady Elena, the sun is still high.”

“The review ceremony and everything else made me tired. I went to bed late last night, too. So... I’m going to sleep.”

“Will you not eat dinner? This is our last supper before we part.”

“Wake me in the evening. No, never mind. I can wake up by myself, so Haryeong... Rest here, or do whatever you want.”

Elena staggered up the stairs.

She grabbed her dry, longer hair, which no longer became a static-filled mess even when she used magic.

Her eyes fell on the door that had not been opened once in two years.

Elena forced herself to look away from that room and headed to her own.

Her room had changed a little over the past two years.

The old doll that had always been on her bed was now by the window instead. It had been turned so that it looked not into the room, but out the window.

There was a desk beneath the window.

Elena stared blankly at the desk for a moment.

Inside its drawer was a hairpin she could not bring herself to throw away.

“Ugh...”

Her chest hurt, and her stomach churned.

Elena groaned, clutching her chest, then flopped onto the bed.

She had come upstairs saying she would sleep, but sleep would not come.

“Hmm.”

After confirming that no more footsteps could be heard, Haryeong flopped onto the sofa.

‘Was I too mischievous?’

Thinking that, Haryeong hummed to herself.

“I made myself clear, and I even invited you to come along, Lady Elena.”