Chapter 044. Stone of Truth (6)

What is a Circle?

It was a mana training method invented by the elite group of mages known as the Magic Tower, and it served as a source for casting spells.

The mages of the Magic Tower create a Circle in their hearts to assist in spellcasting. However, there was a problem: the mana that parasitizes the Circle devours human emotions.

Veris looked at the girl sitting across from him.

She was a girl with black hair and blue eyes. When he had seen her in the past, she was so cute that she could bite her tongue while introducing herself, but now, perhaps due to the influence of the Circle, she wore a cold, expressionless face.

"Sister, you should greet him. It's been a while since you've seen your brother."

"...Hello."

Eventually, at Gunther's urging, Beatrice reluctantly nodded her head.

Cecilia and Arwen, who were sitting at the next table, sent worried glances her way, but they seemed to have enough sense not to say anything.

A considerable number of people had gathered for this peculiar reunion. Besides Veris and Beatrice, Gunther, her biological brother, was there, and unexpectedly, Maria had also shown up.

However, what was unusual was that the awkward silence had engulfed the conversation that would usually flow easily among them.

"It's been a while."

"...Yes."

For some reason, Beatrice responded to Veris's voice with a trembling tone. It was a strangely tense reply.

"I heard from Gunther that you came to the academy for something."

"Yes. The purpose is to recover an artifact."

"Is it okay to talk about that?"

"Not particularly… it's not classified or confidential."

Veris nodded. As everyone had informed him, Beatrice was indeed there to recover the artifact, the Stone of Truth, and transport it to the Magic Tower.

"Then why did you want to meet me? Especially with other kids around." Beatrice followed Veris's gaze and scanned the room.

From Maria to Arwen, Cecilia, and Gunther, all the top students of the first year were gathered there. Naturally, it was expected that passersby would be drawn to them.

Everyone who met Veris's gaze awkwardly averted their eyes. Originally, the plan was just for Gunther to facilitate the meeting between Beatrice and Veris. But somehow, it had turned into this large gathering.

The most absurd part was that Maria, who had been holed up in the mansion, had disguised herself as a freckled girl with brown hair and barged in.

In any case, from Veris's perspective, it was an uncomfortable reunion. There were no lingering feelings; Beatrice was simply there for the artifact.

"I just… was curious."

"Curious?"

"We're betrothed, after all. I was curious about how you were doing at the academy…."

Veris swallowed the bitter coffee in his mouth and nodded again.

Well, they had decided to get engaged in the future, so there was no need to be cold.

"So, how do you find me after such a long time?"

"...."

Seeing Veris's smiling face, Beatrice tightly shut her mouth.

It was clear that Beatrice had nothing to say. Due to her twisted personality, expressing that was no easy task.

It was a silly fact to mention, but Veris was handsome. Even in the eyes of Arwen, the embodiment of beauty, and Maria, who had seen all sorts of highborn youths, his looks stood out.

Seeing Beatrice's reaction, Veris did not take his smile away and set down his cup.

"Enough with the jokes; I know why you came to the academy."

"Yes?"

Beatrice's eyes widened.

She must have been wondering how this man knew that. It was a natural reaction since Beatrice had no knowledge of Veris's current position at the academy.

"The artifact, the Stone of Truth. You came to recover it and store it at the Magic Tower."

"How did you…!"

A faint shock lingered on Beatrice's face, which had maintained a cold demeanor. It was certainly not something an ordinary academy student would know.

"I'm a bit of a special person. So I want to make you a proposal."

"What kind of… proposal?"

Beatrice replied with a confused expression.

She had heard that Veris was a man with little ambition while chatting with Cecilia and Arwen at the café. If that were the case, an unexpected answer was bound to come out…

"Let's work on a job together."

"…A job?"

"Yes. I plan to enter a dungeon soon. I would like you to accompany me. I need the help of a mage with knowledge of the Age of Magic there."

"A dungeon and knowledge of the Age of Magic…."

Veris was undoubtedly referring to the dungeon located beneath the academy. With the obvious conclusion, Beatrice couldn't help but feel puzzled.

She had heard that Veris's power was anything but ordinary. That meant it could have been another student accompanying him instead of her, so why her?

"It could be dangerous. But I promise you, once the job is done, I will hand over the Stone of Truth."

"Could it be… that you have it in your possession?"

"Yes. The dean asked me to take care of it. But I don't particularly care who has the artifact."

Beatrice remained silent at Veris's playful tone.

Something felt off. It was a conversation that was far too businesslike for a meeting arranged just to see her betrothed's face.

"Are you really planning to go to the dungeon alone with just the two of you?"

The first to react to Veris's voice was Arwen.

Having silently listened to their conversation from the next table, Arwen now wore a shocked expression.

"Yes. If everyone goes, unexpected situations might arise."

"That…."

"I appreciate your concern, but this time, I can't back down."

At Veris's firm attitude, Arwen lowered her head.

She had seen Veris react like this several times before. Whenever he wore that expression, his father, Count Verden, and his mother, the Countess, had ultimately been unable to break his stubbornness.

So the answer was clear. She could only watch him from a distance.

"More importantly, Beatrice."

"...Yes?"

"Do you know anything about the Age of Magic?"

"The Age of Magic?"

It was an unexpected question. Was there anyone who didn't know about the painful history of the Age of Magic, where the brilliant history of humanity was trampled by the Demon Cult? They had succeeded in driving away the demons that descended upon this land through endless bloodshed, but the splendid magical civilization had ultimately fallen into distant memory.

And whether by coincidence or fate, Beatrice was also a researcher responsible for restoring magic that originates from the Age of Magic at the Magic Tower.

"We're going to a ruin from the Age of Magic."

Faced with Beatrice's playful smile, she shivered slightly.

Just looking at it made her feel a sense of loss… it was a brilliantly shining smile.

* * *

"Ugh! No! Take me with you!"

"No. Cecilia stays here. I'm going."

Hearing Cecilia's childish reaction and Veris's cold response, Arwen let out a deep sigh.

True to his character, which had no hint of romance, Veris had made an unexpected proposal to his betrothed, whom he had not seen in over a decade.

He would give her the Stone of Truth if she would go down to the dungeon with him.

Naturally, it was understandable that Cecilia would react that way. It was extremely rare for someone to send another person into an unknown world without a care.

Knowing that she couldn't change Veris's mind, Arwen took this stance. After all, Veris had said nothing significant until that day. That meant the plan had not changed.

So it was something that would happen anyway. It meant that even if Arwen acted like Cecilia, the outcome would not change.

Knock, knock.

Creeeak.

The sound of someone knocking on the mansion door was heard. Leaving the panicking Cecilia behind, Arwen opened the door to find a girl she had met a few days ago standing at the entrance.

Beatrice von Haruen. Veris's betrothed and a promising talent in the Magic Tower, often referred to as a future archmage.

And she was also the woman who would be going down to the underground dungeon with Veris this time.

"...Hello."

"Hello."

Seeing Beatrice nod her head, Arwen bit her lip.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't anxious. After all, it was a dungeon trip with just the two of them.

Feelings between men and women tend to blossom in heightened atmospheres and life-and-death moments. That was the only problem Arwen could think of.

'I should have studied the Age of Magic too…'

Arwen mulled over thoughts she couldn't share with anyone. She felt a deep regret for easily letting this opportunity slip away.

* * *

When Veris informed the dean that he would be entering the dungeon with the Magic Tower's personnel, the dean rushed to the mansion, his remaining few hairs flying in the wind. Did he think Veris would kill Beatrice in some secluded part of the dungeon? He had pleaded with Veris not to escalate the situation.

However, Veris had no intention of dealing with Beatrice. What kind of master would kill a rare talent from the Magic Tower, especially someone he had hired?

Thus, after sending the dean away, Veris successfully entered the dungeon. After dispatching a few weak monsters with a few kicks, Veris and Beatrice found themselves standing in front of a large door.

"How peculiar."

Veris's impression upon facing the door again was simple.

It was common knowledge in this world that doors generated within dungeons appeared unexpectedly and randomly.

But looking at this scene, it was an abnormal sight that anyone could see. A door that looked exactly like one he had seen before had appeared before Veris again, as if a beast were gaping at him.

"Are you going to enter?"

Perhaps due to the fact that they were walking in the dark underground, a slightly timid tone slipped from Beatrice's lips.

Veris placed his hand on the large door and said, "We have to go in. This door will likely guide us to our destination."

There was no particular basis for that. It was just a feeling that the dungeon was leading him here.

But perhaps due to Veris's confident demeanor, Beatrice silently nodded.

After all, the agreement was to investigate the dungeon together with Veris. So there was no need to raise any objections.

─Kugung!

As Veris pushed the door with his mana-infused hand, the massive door slowly began to open.

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