chapter 42
042. Stone of Truth (4)
“Are you stupid? Even if it’s a spirit, it’s common sense…….”
“Arwen, what are you doing?”
“Oh, Cecilia.”
Arwen woke up at the sight of Cecilia breaking into the kitchen.
Cecilia was pushing her face in with her eyes shining, as if she was trying to see something she couldn’t see.
“Were you talking to the spirits again? Where are you this time?”
“… ….”
Arwen looked around.
Spirit. There are always many spirits in this house where Arwen lives, probably because he is an elven spirit who appeared on the continent after a long time. Not even just a lot of levels, but really a lot.
As proof of that, aren’t there cute little animals that are all over the kitchen now? Of course, the one who had the most conversations with Arwen among them was ‘Wind’, a flying squirrel who declared himself a low-class wind spirit.
[ The contractor is really stupid. Spirit’s intuition is never ordinary. ]
Arwen frowned at the flying squirrel’s continued teasing.
This little child seems to have some kind of magical power, and he has been talking about feeling an ominous energy from Veris, who has been leaving the mansion to make an appointment with Gunther.
So, even Arwen, who believed in Veris’ strength and personality, couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable in a corner of her heart.
[ Wouldn’t it make our contractor feel more uncomfortable if another woman came around? ]
“Ha ha.”
Arwen let out a deep sigh at Wind’s playful voice. At that, Cecilia looked at Arwen with her questioning eyes, and Arwen finally confided in her.
“Dear Verice…… They say something ominous is about to happen.”
“Yes? What is that…….”
“Probably a woman problem.”
“No!”
After Arwen’s explanation, Cecilia, who understood the situation at least roughly, exclaimed.
But the sad truth is that even if Cecilia reacts like that, no clear solution comes to mind.
The rare Veris and the swordsmanship genius Gunther. That bizarre combination is definitely not an academy called Academy City, even if it has a knack for attracting attention. Right now, the southern district is bigger than a city ruled by a tolerable count lord.
So, to put it simply, it was not going to be easy to find Veris who had left the streets.
[ Can I help you? ]
Arwen’s head turned at the sound of the wind rolling on Arwen’s slender shoulder with her white tail curled up like a wad of cotton.
“How do you mean?”
[ How? Aren’t we underestimating our power contracted with the contractor? ]
“…… No way.”
[ Let us help you. The contractor has a corner that is too stuffy! That saintess is also a romantic partner after all. ]
“Why? Do you talk? What do you say? Is that the flying squirrel?”
Unlike Veris, Cecilia can’t hear the spirit’s voice. She was looking at Arwen with her curious eyes.
It feels like a sigh comes out of nowhere. Although she has a boyfriend, in the end, she is her only friend in her academy. So, it was uncomfortable for her to find Veris alone with the power of her spirit.
“Let’s go. We need something to cover her face.”
“…… ? Yes.”
Despite her doubts, Cecilia nodded her head vigorously.
She is such a foolishly kind saint.
* * *
“Brother.”
“Why?”
“Brother, do you know that the Mage Tower has entered the academy right now?”
“I know.”
“…… How did you know? Could it be the dean again?”
“Well, that’s roughly it. Rather than that, why did you ask to meet? There’s no way you did it because you were bored when you spend your time on training on holidays.”
It’s a calm voice. At that, Gunther looked at Veris with a slightly surprised face.
“hahahaha! I am thrilled.”
Such a caring heart. Indeed, for a woman, isn’t he a man who can’t resist without being robbed of his heart?
But the main point was different. Deep down, Gunther had hoped that this moment would come quickly, but since it happened in the end, it would be better to be honest with him.
“The greeting from the magic tower is my sister.”
“My sister… ….”
“My older brother’s fiancé, Beatrice von Haruen. She is the next owner of the Mage Tower, and she is rumored to be the future great mage.”
For someone who has a great older sister, Gunther’s face is distorted. She is also an ordinary brother and sister, and most of them feel that way.
Anyway, Gunther’s explanation was unexpected even by Veris. She knew very well that Beatrice postponed her entrance to the academy because she was training at the Mage Tower, but she was the one who came to the academy to retrieve the artifact.
Her veris was not gritty on her part. She was just too embarrassed to be reunited again after so long.
“Is that why you asked to meet me?”
“…… To be honest, yes. Miu and Gou are my sisters, and hyung-nim is someone I truly care for.”
Veris nodded her head.
In the past, when I lived on Earth, there were often tearful anecdotes of loyal dogs. For some reason, it felt like Gunther was doing just that.
“It’s nothing special for you anyway, right?”
It was the dean who stole the academy’s relics, and Berris is doing the storage. It was Beatrice’s job to find it, but she didn’t seem to have a place for Gunther.
“That’s right. But my sister’s…… No, the people of the Mage Tower sometimes do things that deviate from common sense.”
“Common Sense.”
“Yes. Do you remember the man from Seongguk who recklessly invaded the academy and persecuted her older brother?”
A person I remember. He was a heretic inquisitor or something.
Of course…… He came looking for Berrys, felt the gap in her strength, worked hard as her training tool, and returned.
“From my point of view, they are no different than the people of the Mage Tower. There is a difference between a fanatic who walks the path of faith and a wizard who seeks the truth by a piece of paper.”
“…… What do you mean?”
“Perhaps Nuna Thane could step on her tail while investigating the whereabouts of the artifact. Then…… Of course, it may cause trouble to others as well as my older brother.”
“I can’t just watch that.”
“…… I know a little bit about your personality. So, I am speaking from the heart of seeking mercy.”
Veris nodded her head.
Anyway, it feels like there are a lot of people asking themselves strange favors lately.
Of course, the dean will understand, since realistic deals have come and gone, and Gunter is a guy who follows Veris very well and is devoted, so it’s something I can overlook.
But unlike the two, if someone else persecutes the people around Veris…… It was obviously going to make me feel very bad.
“I should do well.”
“…… You’re right.”
Gunther, having understood the meaning of Verice’s low voice, nodded her head with her stiff face.
Gunther was also one of those who sincerely wanted his sister Beatrice to marry Veris. So, all she could do was pray that Beatrice, who had entered the academy because of this unlikely event, would not have an accident.
* * *
“Are you here?”
“Yes. As Wind explains, yes.”
“… ….”
Beatrice was a child who listened to her parents very well when she was young. But did she say that people’s personalities change as they get older?
It was just like that now.
Beatrice lightly ignored Gunther’s request to stay at the inn for one night, and she left the luxury inn to tour the southern district.
Thanks to that, I was able to witness such a rare sight, so I thought it was absolutely not a loss.
“Hello. Lol.”
Two girls covered their faces with scarves or sunglasses, as if they were doing something secret. However, the funny fact is that he bowed his head as if the eyes in his sunglasses met Beatrice’s.
To my tears, he was a very polite person.
“…… Nice to meet you.”
Even if Beatrice’s personality changed due to the influence of the circle formed by the wizards, the concept did not disappear. Beatrice, who was just pursuing rational thinking and still had her humanity, nodded her head at the girl and greeted her.
“This is someone I haven’t seen before. They certainly look like students of our academy.”
“I am not an academy student. Just…… I’m here for work.”
“Hmm! Work? Shall I guess? Are you from the kingdom by any chance?”
A strangely friendly girl with sunglasses. He saw the other girl, who covered most of her face with a scarf, giving him a disgruntled look.
“No. It’s kind of embarrassing to talk about.”
“Is that so?”
The girl who said that smiled brightly. Half of her face was hidden thanks to the large egg-shaped sunglasses, but Beatrice felt that she remembered seeing that smile somewhere.
Beatrice tilted her head. I’m sure I remember it, but I can’t really recall it. Maybe it’s a relationship that passed by in the past.
“The two of you…… Are you a student at the academy?”
Beatrice was intrigued by these two girls. In fact, it was the first time I saw her, and the other person was wearing a disguise that didn’t cover most of her face, but it was thanks to the strange feeling of talking to them.
Well, if you think about it, it must be because it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to talk to a girl my age. Most of the people in her mage tower where she lives are middle-aged and older men and women.
Maybe that’s why I was attracted to these two students at this academy. To put it in words, I should say that I am envious of her enjoying her youth unlike herself.
“Yes! I am Cecilia, and this is Arwen.”
‘Ah.’
Beatrice let out an inaudible exclamation.
Cecilia and Arwen. Surely they are the main characters of a painting I saw at an artist’s stall in the commercial district not too long ago.
That means…… It must mean his friend.
When she thought that, for some reason, Beatrice couldn’t hide her trembling feelings. To put it bluntly, he was also a feeling akin to jealousy. But that doesn’t mean these two look bad. Rather, if I had to say it, I was more like someone I wanted to be friends with.
I was envious of those who enjoyed their youth, unlike myself who lives in the mage tower obsessed with the strange goal of becoming a great wizard.
“I…… This is Beatrice.”
These two were also acquaintances of the younger brother. Beatrice recalled the image of her younger brother swinging a sword sheath in the corner of the painting.
Thanks to that, Beatrice did not bother to mention her last name.
“Nice to meet you! Miss Beatrice.”
“Cecilia is a really easy-going person.”
“Phi! She doesn’t even look dangerous anyway. Then she didn’t even have to come out like this.”
At Cecilia, who was strangely well-spoken, Arwen did not have a specific answer. In any case, she was Cecilia, whose skill with her tongue was unusual, which was not appropriate for her to be called a saint of mercy.
“Then…… Can you please do me a favor?”
The heads of the two, who had been bickering cutely, turned around. Seeing the strangely intense gazes of the two, Beatrice opened her mouth after a moment.
“Car, to the cafe…… I want to go. Alone…… Something is embarrassing.”
The eyes of the two girls twinkled at Beatrice’s voice.
Are there any female students in the academy who hate cafes?