Chapter 032. Item (2)

"Though I had no certainty, there was something in this dungeon.

That was Veris's thought.

In fact, there was no concrete evidence. It was purely based on intuition that he decided to explore this mysterious castle.

"This place..."

As he entered the interior, avoiding the debris of the crumbled castle walls, what caught his eye were the buildings of an antique style.

Having not been touched by human hands for a long time, they were crumbling here and there, covered in a layer of dust, but one thing was certain: the architectural style was different from that of the academy.

"It looks like a building from the Age of Magic. It's a unique style that expresses elegance through straight lines, excluding curves."

Amidst the group stepping forward with tense expressions, Maria's bold opinion rang out.

It was something not taught at the academy; perhaps she had learned it at the royal palace, as a firm conviction was evident on Maria's face.

"So, are you saying this place is a city from the Age of Magic?"

Gunther, with a skeptical expression, seemed unable to believe her words. Indeed, even for Veris, it would be hard to believe that the castle and buildings that had suddenly appeared in the dungeon were from the Age of Magic.

Why on earth was a castle in the style of the Age of Magic inside a dungeon?

"I said it because it aligns with what I've learned. I can't know the details, but perhaps during the legendary Age of Magic, when archmages led the world, it was possible to move an entire city."

"That can't be..."

"I've seen it in books too. There were mages who mastered the void mana, which had an absolute power unlike the segmented mana we have now." Veris nodded.

Void mana. Unlike the current mana with its individual properties, it was a legacy from the past that possessed extraordinary power in all aspects.

As the group exchanged their opinions, they had gradually ventured deep into the city. In the center of the city, within the castle walls, stood a tall tower that boasted a scale completely different from ordinary buildings.

"Unbelievable."

Veris bluntly expressed his honest and straightforward evaluation.

It was a majestic sight. It was clear that no matter which city one went to on this continent, such a gigantic tower would be hard to find.

Under the sky of the dungeon, which looked as if purple paint had been splattered, the tower rose high towards the seemingly endless sky.

"...What purpose was this building used for?"

In front of the tower-like structure, they stared blankly at its form.

It resembled an altar for conducting religious ceremonies, possessing an allure that could terrify anyone without even needing to enter.

"I'm going in."

"What? That's too dangerous!"

Arwen exclaimed in surprise at Veris's opinion.

Just facing this unknown world was enough to make her heart race and break out in a cold sweat, and she couldn't believe he was so recklessly planning to enter such a place.

"I know. So, I'm the only one going in."

At Veris's firm voice, everyone looked at him with blank expressions.

Could there be anyone who didn't know how strong he was? But no matter how strong a person is, if a chilling blade or terrifying mana penetrates the body, one cannot guarantee their life.

Yet, he was still planning to enter that unknown structure alone!

"Did you... feel something?"

"Yes."

"Feel something? Cecilia, what do you mean?"

"Arwen, I know. The fragments of the immense power that Veris possesses are definitely at a level that ordinary people cannot have."

"What does that have to do with Veris going inside?"

Seeing Arwen's unyielding stance, Cecilia smiled bitterly.

"I can't be certain either. But Veris has seen it. The end of the path that this dungeon has led to."

It wasn't exactly a luxurious expression. Veris thought to himself, nodding with a somewhat reluctant face.

No flowery language was needed. It was more accurate to say that he felt a strong pull that words could not express.

As Gunther quietly listened to Veris's intentions and Cecilia's words, he stepped forward and shouted.

"Leave this place to me. I will wait for you, brother!"

Gunther displayed a strong will like a large guard dog. As Veris finally turned his body and began to move forward, everyone looked at him with anxious eyes.

─Creeeak!

The massive door of the tower, pushed by Veris's hand, began to open with a horrifying sound, imbued with a bit of mana.

And soon, Veris disappeared into the darkness.

Boom!

As soon as Veris vanished into the darkness, the massive door closed. Everyone stared blankly at the strange phenomenon.

* * *

"Hmm."

Using mana to illuminate the darkness, what entered Veris's eyes was an empty space.

The only thing occupying that space was a staircase located in one corner, and Veris slowly approached and began to ascend the stairs.

How long did he climb the stairs?

At the end of the staircase was a large round platform, big enough for a dozen people to stand on. In the center of that platform was a convex switch-like object, which seemed designed for interaction with humans.

─Kugung. Creak.

As he stepped onto the platform and pressed the button that resembled a switch, the platform began to operate.

Slowly and steadily, the platform started to rise towards the sky.

'An elevator?'

Indeed.

This peculiar platform felt similar to a modern elevator.

The only difference was that, unlike the modern version, which is enclosed in a box for safety, the platform Veris was standing on had no outer walls.

As the slowly moving elevator began to ascend to a dizzying height, Veris couldn't help but let out a small gasp.

The closer he got to the sky, the further he moved away from the ground, and the sparkling purple stars were drawing nearer to him.

The sky, which proved that this space itself was a lost magical legacy, was not made of ordinary minerals or rocks, but was entirely composed of mana and magic.

'This is excessive.'

Even if it was a relic from the Age of Magic, known as the golden age of magic, it seemed like an extravagant waste that was hard to comprehend.

─Kugung!

After a while of moving towards the top of the structure, the platform stopped functioning as it reached the highest level.

Stepping off the platform, Veris let out a small gasp.

A beautiful purple sky. What filled this space within the dungeon was astonishingly centered around the castle walls.

"What is this?"

As Veris admired the view from the top of the tower, he soon witnessed an astonishing scene.

In one corner of the highest level of the structure, there was a small box on a staircase resembling an altar.

The box, small enough to be held in one hand, was not made of ordinary wood. It was crafted from a sparkling material, and a faint mana flowed around its surface.

─Crack!

Unlocking the box through a series of mana interactions, Veris opened it.

And upon seeing the shocking sight inside, Veris was left speechless.

* * *

"Um, Your Highness... is it really necessary for you to go there?" "It is."

At the cold response of the man, the middle-aged man looked distressed.

It was just a single letter. The shocking content of that letter had turned the great Vera Empire's royal family upside down, so what on earth was happening?

"Still... don't you have a lot of work to do?"

"No, the great Emperor will understand. He cannot leave the throne, but my situation is different."

The man, brushing back his beautiful pink hair, made the middle-aged man look even more distressed.

Could it be believed that the prince, who ruled this vast empire, was about to leave for Vera Academy just because he received a letter from his younger sister?

Moreover, it seemed he was even wearing the golden sword, a royal artifact he usually didn't wear, as if he wanted to go kill someone.

"If the prince really leaves like this, I might just die from overwork."

With a face that looked like he was about to cry, the middle-aged man tried to stop the prince.

Did the prince understand his feelings? The prince nodded with a heavy expression.

What did that mean? The middle-aged man thought the prince had finally decided to stop his childish behavior, but soon the prince's dry voice rang out.

"Then die."

"...What?"

"Die. I'm going."

Heehee!

Seeing the prince's back as he kicked the ground and headed towards the palace's main gate, the middle-aged man stood there with a blank expression.

Even as the prince crossed the entrance of the great palace and walked over the bridge, the middle-aged man remained frozen like a statue.

"What a madman."

That was a simple but certain phrase that represented the middle-aged man's feelings.

Everyone knew that the royal family of this empire held Princess Maria in high regard. But seeing the emperor, who was throwing a fit for no reason, and the prince, who immediately decided to head to the academy, it seemed something must have happened.

"Did she find a man?"

Muttering to himself, the middle-aged man smirked and shook his head.

Princess Maria, who had little interest in men to the extent of breaking off a betrothal arranged by the great emperor, would she even be able to handle a man if she found one?

* * *

"Wow! Wow!"

With her eyes wide open like a child, Cecilia couldn't stop exclaiming in admiration.

It was just yesterday that they had safely returned from the dungeon. Thanks to Veris's words that he had something to show, the group gathered at the mansion in the commercial district and couldn't help but be amazed.

"This is truly disappointing. I know that I am a swordsman and the other three use magic or spirit arts, but this is clearly discrimination, and the spoils obtained by chance should be evenly distributed according to dungeon law..."

"I'll give you yours next time."

"Thank you. I was counting on it."

With just a word, Veris silenced Gunther, who was whining, and turned to look at the three women.

What Veris had found in the box was surprisingly a ring. There were three rings in total, but since there were five people who had participated in the dungeon cleaning, two had to forfeit their rings.

"Is it really okay for us to receive this?"

Maria couldn't believe the situation.

At first, it was baseless curiosity. She had insisted on joining when she heard that a few students, including Veris, were going to the dungeon on the dean's orders, but what on earth was happening?

Following Veris's suggestion, the group entered the 'door' that had formed inside the dungeon and discovered what was presumed to be a relic from the Age of Magic. And within that relic, Veris had brought back what appeared to be a magical item.

"To give us something like this..."

Arwen seemed overwhelmed with emotion, her face flushed.

At first glance, she looked like a girl who had received an unexpected gift, but Maria, who had some idea of her true feelings, narrowed her eyes and looked at her.

What Veris had brought back was a ring.

What is a ring? It can be seen as an ornament to adorn a finger, but people in the world attach great significance to it and wear it.

For example, putting a ring on the left hand's ring finger of a betrothed person, for instance.

"This ring has the power to permanently increase the wearer's mana." At Veris's following explanation, everyone was astonished.

Permanently increase mana? That meant the value of this ring was astonishingly high, to the point where even a fortune would seem trivial.

And yet, he was giving this treasure to those who had participated!

"My goodness."

At Veris's explanation, Gunther was now drooling as he gazed at the ring.

Even if he was a swordsman who was less affected by mana compared to mages or spiritists, it was still an object of envy.

"So, are you really giving this to us?"

"Right. It's something we all struggled with together."

Maria stared blankly at Veris, whose voice was so calm and composed.

The more she looked at him, the more he captivated her. He must know the value of this ring, yet he remains so indifferent!

Seeing his confident demeanor made her heart flutter, and her cheeks flushed red. The strange quickening of her breath, she thought, was due to the value of that ring.

"Please put it on me first!"

The first to react to Veris's decision was Cecilia.

She jumped up from her seat and handed the ring, which was nestled in the box, to Veris, but the meaning behind her words was quite obvious.

'You want him to put the ring on you?'

"Sure."

At Veris's nonchalant reply, Maria felt a burning sensation inside her.

Watching the Saintess of the Light Order, someone of such high status, shyly extend just her left ring finger, she felt a discomfort twisting in her stomach.

[TL: If you can't wait on updates and want to read more, please support me to read the whole novel here: https://buymeacoffee.com/mythictranslations.]