Chapter 048. The Master of the Underground City (1)

"Beatrice."

"...Yes?"

Veris, who didn't seem to be in a good mood, caught Beatrice's attention as she responded.

Before long, Veris had retrieved the great sword of the Death Knight that had fallen at his feet. Since there was no sign of curses or necromancy, she chose not to say anything further.

"What should we do here?"

"...Are you asking me that?"

Beatrice couldn't hide her incredulity.

After all, who was the one that had dragged her down here in the first place? To ask her what to do after she had willingly stepped forward to retrieve the Stone of Truth was absurd.

"Could it be that you didn't come here with a purpose?"

At the trembling tone of her question, Veris calmly nodded. It made her feel dizzy.

"If it's a purpose, then yes. I felt a strong pull."

"A pull…?"

Veris chuckled and stood up. Without even brushing off the dust from his pants, he pointed a finger at the sky.

"It's strange, isn't it? The fact that there's a city like this inside a dungeon."

Even Beatrice felt that it was a reality where common sense did not apply. Was it even possible to move an entire city deep underground like this?

"It's also strange that the Death Knight is guarding the city."

Clearly, there had to be a massive dark force behind this city. It was only natural to think so when recalling the Death Knight that had just fought Veris.

"And the Death Knight might just be the beginning."

"The beginning?"

"Yes. Didn't you say that when Veris came here before, there wasn't even a single ant, let alone a Death Knight?"

When Veris had come here with his acquaintances to clean the underground dungeon, high-ranking undead like the Death Knight had not appeared. Only countless skeletons had emerged to block entry into the city.

"...Is that so?"

Thanks to her understanding of the situation, Veris's eyes sparkled.

"Does that mean even stronger enemies might appear next?"

"Exactly. First, it was skeletons, then a Death Knight. It wouldn't be strange if the next one was a Lich, the worst calamity."

It was a truly horrifying thought, but Beatrice quietly uttered that fact.

Even the Death Knight was a being that only existed in historical records. If a higher being like a Lich were to descend, it would indeed be an event that could lead to the destruction of an entire nation.

However, in response to Beatrice's opinion, Veris simply nodded, as if to say it was a comfortable thought.

"Then why are they guarding this city?"

"...I don't know that either."

"What should we do if the chief advisor doesn't know?"

"If I were someone who could easily answer that, I wouldn't have needed to search."

That was a somewhat valid point.

No matter how much one studied the Age of Magic, it would be impossible to know the reason and purpose for this city's existence.

"So we have no choice but to keep walking."

"That's right."

Beatrice replied awkwardly to Veris's tone, which dripped with annoyance.

No, she was even questioning why she was being treated this way.

In the Magic Tower, she had been called a genius and had received the admiration of countless mages and nobles from nearby territories.

But unfortunately, in front of this man, she felt as insignificant as a firefly in front of the sun.

Of course… there's a saying that you only know the length of something after measuring it.

'Impossible.'

As she watched Veris stretch his limbs and loosen up, she shook her head.

She hadn't seen everything, but at least she had witnessed a glimpse of the power he possessed during their recent battle.

Despite having fought with such grandeur, Veris didn't even seem to be out of breath. That meant he hadn't even used his full strength.

This realization sparked an insatiable curiosity within her, far stronger than before.

Gunther had said he believed Veris was the strongest man in the world.

He had claimed that Veris was likely stronger than the Sword Saint.

One of the extremes of necromancy that could only be found in legends, the Death Knight had been effortlessly dispatched by his sword.

If one had any sense, they would realize that the power Veris possessed was anything but ordinary. And… she had certainly said that if he was indeed stronger than the Sword Saint, she would serve him.

"Se, servant!"

"...?"

Beatrice, who had unconsciously shouted out loud, hurriedly raised her hand to cover her mouth.

Naturally, Veris's inquisitive gaze fell upon her, and Beatrice couldn't help but blush.

'Stupid!'

Ever since she had arrived at the academy, her hardened heart had begun to stir. This had never happened when she was in the Magic Tower…

"Did you imagine being my maid or something? Sorry, but I'm already at full capacity."

"...!"

It was a teasing remark delivered in a casual tone.

"That's not… ugh!"

But unfortunately, that disgusting insight had hit the nail on the head, and Beatrice was startled, trying to explain herself but ended up biting her tongue.

"Pfft."

Veris didn't even try to hide his laughter at her reaction. It felt reminiscent of a scene from long ago at Count Vitelbach's mansion.

Back then, this naive girl had also bitten her tongue while introducing herself, causing her to shed a few tears.

"...Don't tease me."

But with nothing else to say, Beatrice could only roll her eyes. She knew it too. She had made a similar mistake the first time she met him long ago!

"You're really consistent, aren't you?"

"...What!"

"What?"

"Th-that…"

Beatrice trembled, her body shaking. Perhaps due to her extremely low immunity to boys her age, her responses were far from smooth.

"Did you… remember that?"

Veris chuckled at Beatrice's cautious question.

Even as a joke, it couldn't be said that it was a short gap in time.

Therefore… she had thought that Veris would surely have forgotten about her.

"Why wouldn't I remember? I even recall the grand party we held when we formed our engagement. Of course, it was just a drunken affair between my father and the marquis."

"...You remembered."

For some reason, Beatrice turned her head sharply to look elsewhere.

Her face was as red as if it were being cooked, as if she were afraid Veris would discover that fact.

"I thought… you had no special feelings for me."

"That's true."

"...Huh?"

"At that time, I obviously had no special feelings. Who would develop feelings for a little girl they had just met for the first time?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Originally, relationships between men and women should progress gradually to be beautiful."

Veris said this jokingly. Beatrice, who had been rolling her eyes while observing his expression, finally felt a bit of tension ease.

It sounded like a positive sign. Veris didn't dislike her.

However… Beatrice had been self-deprecatingly thinking that he regarded her as a discarded shoe.

Thinking that way, for some reason, a warm feeling began to spread in a corner of her heart. How long had it been? Even as she felt her emotions drying up after entering the Magic Tower, she had still thought of him, of family.

It was truly a treacherous heart. She was feeling an inexplicable sense of relief now.

"Then, what about marriage?"

"Marriage?"

"What are we to each other now? Engaged? Lovers? Or just acquaintances?"

Gathering her courage, Beatrice threw down the gauntlet. At first glance, it seemed like a question that didn't quite fit the situation, but Beatrice didn't mind much.

She thought she had sorted out her feelings. But strangely, the more she talked to him, the more lingering attachments remained, leading her to ask.

After all… wasn't it said that if a man and a woman were together in a dark and quiet place, something would happen?

"For now, I suppose we're engaged."

Saying this, Veris slowly approached Beatrice.

Up close, he was so handsome that it felt almost cowardly. He was a head taller than Beatrice, so she had to tilt her head back to see his face.

"But Beatrice."

"Yes, yes?"

"Do you perhaps like me?"

"...."

Thanks to his strong competitive spirit, Veris responded directly with a direct question. Beatrice felt as if her heart might burst and she would collapse at any moment.

'What should I do? How should I answer?'

Her vision spun. She couldn't think of anything to say. Did she have feelings for him?

Unfortunately, her pounding heart, quickened breath, and flushed face seemed to prove that fact. But Beatrice was doing her best to hide it.

'I thought I had sorted out my feelings!'

With her body's reactions spiraling out of control, Beatrice muttered inwardly. For her, who had thought her emotions had completely died, this was truly a surprising outcome.

* * *

"Hmm."

In the southern district of the academy, a girl was reading a book in a mansion owned by the academy administration.

The girl's name was Arwen. She was the girl who had gone to the dungeon with Veris, a mage from the Magic Tower, and the fact that she had done so thanks to her knowledge of the Age of Magic filled Arwen with a sense of defeat.

Thus, even though it was late, she was now indulging in books about mana and magic. Several thick books she had already read were piled up beside her.

[ The Relationship Between the Magic Tower and the Circle. ]

In the midst of this, a subtitle that naturally piqued her interest caught her eye.

It was a section about the vision training method practiced by the mages of the Magic Tower, the Circle.

[ Originally, the Circle originated from a forbidden spell that consumed human emotions to enhance mana sensitivity. A mage who has trained in the

The Circle gives no affection to anyone, even regarding family as mere consumables. ]

The girl accompanying Veris was also from the Magic Tower. Thus, it was said that she had formed the Circle, the vision of the Magic Tower.

With an intrigued expression, Arwen turned the page.

[ Those who have trained in the Circle must abandon it to restore their twisted emotions. But surprisingly, most mages affiliated with the Magic Tower live with their emotions dead. What difference is there between that and soulless dolls? ]

It was a phrase filled with the author's subjective opinion. Whether the emotions of a precious person had disappeared due to the influence of the Circle, the writing was imbued with deep affection and resentment.

[ Emotions hinder the flow of mana. Especially if it's something like love that ignites a fire in the heart, that small spark will surely become a massive blaze that will attack the Circle. ]

"...?"

Suddenly, Arwen tilted her head at the continuation of the explanation.

It was a sentence structure that raised the question of "suddenly?" in her mind.

[ Therefore, as the author of this book, I would like to make a request. If anyone reads this book, please target the affections of mages who have mastered the Circle. They are neither human nor mage. They are merely slaves drawn by mana and magic. Only through love can their dead hearts return. ]

A sense of unease arose, causing Arwen to turn the page with a serious expression. Love? Was this really a topic that would come up in a book about studying mana and magic?

[ Rehabilitation is not difficult. Mix the following ingredients in equal proportions… ]

Arwen closed the book.

She felt strange.

An indescribable anxiety arose within her. The expressionless girl, with her emotions twisted, seemed like she might do something in that dark, secluded underground dungeon, which was perfect for enjoying a secret rendezvous.