Chapter 022. Maria Theresa (1)

The next day, after the recovery of his mana, it was the dean's summons that welcomed Veris upon his discharge.

As Veris entered the dean's office, the dean scanned him with sharp eyes and immediately got to the point.

"I know you dealt with them. Please do not hide your achievements."

Professor Theon and over a hundred demon followers, including the external demon that had invaded.

It was true that the first-year students, who boasted a high level, struggled, but in the end, it was none other than Veris who took them all down.

The dean, who seemed to have grasped that fact to some extent, made a simple request.

"Become a legend of the academy."

Not a cruel angel singing, and even with Veris's reaction of disbelief at such airy talk, the dean maintained his unwavering attitude.

"The awl in your pocket will eventually tear through the fabric. Your merit surpasses the department, so I hope you won't hesitate."

Veris was not so dull as to misunderstand that statement.

For instance, it seemed that the academy needed a strong focal point right now.

Since its founding, the empire and the academy had been in constant conflict with the Demon Cult's minions. However, it seemed they understood that this time was not a situation to be taken lightly.

After all, it was an incident where a group of Demon Cultists had set up a barrier within the academy and taken students hostage, so it would not be strange for an investigation team to be dispatched under the emperor's orders.

If things were to unfold that way, it would surely put the dean and the entire upper echelon of the academy in danger.

"I will offer you a satisfactory reward."

The dean, having decided to recruit Veris, came forward generously.

First, he promised to provide a substantial scholarship every month, enough to make one gasp, and also pledged to rent out a mansion on the outskirts of the commercial district for free until the complete repair of the dormitory, which had been partially destroyed.

Moreover, even after the reconstruction of the dormitory was completed, he promised that if desired, it could be rented indefinitely.

Of course, there were many enticing offers that made one salivate, so Veris did not refuse them.

After all, as the dean said, "the awl in the pocket will eventually pop out," and it was inevitable that he would stand out.

Though he felt a bit of annoyance at having to deal with it, he couldn't just sit back and watch when things happened.

"…So?"

As Veris came out of the dean's office and explained the conversation to Cecilia and Arwen, who had hurriedly followed him, they looked at him with interest.

Since there were hardly any students at the academy living in the expensive mansions of the commercial district, it seemed they were both intrigued.

"So you accepted? After all, it won't hurt your reputation."

At Veris's words, the two nodded vigorously.

From the entrance exam to the recent dormitory occupation incident, Veris had navigated through those challenges, and it seemed they thought his treatment was strangely low, but their faces brightened as they thought things had worked out well.

"Then I should manage the mansion."

"Huh? Do you have to?"

"While the mansion in the commercial district may be smaller than the count's, it would be difficult for you to manage it alone, Veris."

"That's true."

Veris nodded at Arwen's reasonable argument.

What a remarkable girl. Unlike Veris, who would sit blankly in class doodling or daydreaming, Arwen, who had much to learn from the lessons, was the first to step up.

"Then, does that mean you want to live in the same mansion as Veris?"

"That's a rather strange question. I've lived with Veris since I was young."

"That's not allowed!"

Cecilia shouted, her face turning beet red.

It seemed that the idea of two young men and women living under the same roof was hard for this devout Saintess to accept, as she even bit her lip…

"I don't mind! After all, staying at an inn in the commercial district would just waste money. No matter how much the academy supports me, it's not an insignificant amount."

"Well, that's true… but still, no!"

Seeing Veris, who was indifferent to her worries, Cecilia had no choice but to bite her lip again.

To her, this was the problem.

With so many ambitious women in the world, how could this man have such a defenseless value system!

Veris, who had discarded the travel robe he always wore right after enrollment, had a charm that drew attention wherever he went. Of course, the presence of S-Class Arwen or Cecilia alongside him played a part, but the fact that many women would be targeting him remained unchanged.

After thinking about this and that, Cecilia came up with a clever idea.

"Then I will too!"

"Why Cecilia?"

"Ah, is that not allowed?"

"It's not that it's not allowed. Just pay the rent on time."

If Veris's audacious thought of collecting rent from a mansion he received for free was known, it would be a wicked business that would leave one speechless. But the innocent Cecilia, unaware of that, merely tilted her head in confusion.

"Rent?"

"Veris is talking about the rent."

"That… of course! Yes!"

Cecilia answered energetically at Arwen's explanation.

Having saved every bit of support she received from the Holy Kingdom since she was young, it was only natural that Cecilia's finances were in good

shape, especially with the additional support given to S-Class students after entering the academy.

While she enjoyed going to cafes in the commercial district, which boasted high prices, she thought this was definitely not a losing deal.

'I have to keep an eye on this!'

Just the thought of living with Veris made this Saintess, who had never held a man's hand in her life, come up with audacious ideas.

As a result, her face flushed, and she felt her breath quicken strangely.

However, not wanting to show such a side to a friend who had effectively become a rival, Cecilia was struggling to maintain her expression.

Looking at the strangely flushed face of the elf, she couldn't help but feel a surge of suspicion. 'I will protect him!'

Cecilia vowed.

To protect a man from the many vixens within the academy.

* * *

"Huh?"

Thanks to the temporary school closure order issued after the dormitory occupation incident by the Demon Cult, Maria, who was taking a walk around the mansion, soon spotted familiar faces.

The first face she saw was Veris, a fellow B-Class student and the only one who stood strong during this incident.

Just yesterday, he had been in a state of mana exhaustion and asleep, but it seemed he had already recovered, looking lively.

She had a mountain of questions to ask him and was planning to go to the hospital today, but she never expected to run into him here in the commercial district.

"Eh?"

However, as Maria approached Veris with an innocent face, she quickly hid her body in the alley due to the appearance of another uninvited guest.

Behind Veris were Arwen, the elf with a perpetually expressionless face, and the Saintess Cecilia, walking alongside him.

It was strange. That bizarre combination seemed to not fit together, yet somehow it did.

Moreover, what was even more unique was that they were carrying a large magically treated bag, like the kind used for moving…

'Moving?'

Due to the partial destruction of some dormitory buildings after the occupation incident, many students were temporarily staying in tents or inns.

But this was the mansion district of the commercial area. A neighborhood where the children of prestigious families or heads of large corporations lived, so what could that combination possibly mean?

'Could it be?'

Maria had a thought.

What if the dormitory they had been living in was destroyed, and they decided to live together?

'No way.'

Shaking her head at the thought she had come up with, Maria dismissed it.

It was hard to believe that the elf, known for her blunt personality and widely rumored throughout the academy, and the Saintess, famous for her devout faith across the continent, would live under the same roof as a man.

It was a thought that was far off the mark, and as she watched them, or rather, as she focused on the man standing at the front of the trio.

He was the one who had called her "Maria" just a few days ago when the imminent attack of the demon was approaching.

That name was her hidden true name. So how did that man know her exact name?

It was a name she had not even revealed to her best friend Delia, whom she had made at the academy. But since that man knew it, it would be a lie to say she wasn't intrigued.

'Is it a misunderstanding?'

Maria and Maria were only one syllable apart. It could have just been a slip of the tongue in a tense situation, but she couldn't completely rule out the possibility that he knew her identity.

"Wow! Veris! This mansion is enormous!"

"I've never seen it in person either, but it really is big. They say there are seven rooms?"

"Wow… I want to use the second largest room!"

The Saintess seemed to be in a good mood, bouncing around.

Maria, who had been listening from afar, couldn't help but be surprised.

'Living together?'

What on earth was this audacious situation? Two S-Class female students living with one B-Class male student?

It was something that her common sense couldn't easily comprehend. While it was true that the power he possessed overwhelmed not just B-Class but even S-Class students, and he was handsome to the point of being cowardly…

Moreover, that house was right next to the mansion where Maria was staying. Yes, she had thought that new neighbors would come at any time, but that it would be those three?

─ Swoosh.

As Maria observed them, pressed against the alley, she hurriedly used magic.

Immediately, transformation magic and recognition-inhibiting magic were cast simultaneously, and Maria, with her usual brown hair and freckled face, hurriedly approached them.

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