Ch.50Midterm Exam Preparation – 3

The old man who introduced himself as an Archmage tapped the floor lightly with his staff. The dungeon’s interior structure began to transform around the point of impact.

The stone walls and floor changed into elegant wallpaper and carpeting, and the Dullahan that had been standing there emitting black mist disappeared.

Around a table that rose from the floor were five single-person sofas. Two on one side and three on the other.

I wondered why there were five sofas when there were only four people, but I took it as a sign to sit wherever we pleased and let it go. The number of sofas wasn’t important right now anyway.

“Getting old makes even standing tiresome. Don’t be shy, have a seat.”

The old man leisurely walked over and sat on one of the two sofas lined up on one side. Brunhild and Aria naturally sat on the opposite side, and I sat in the empty space between them.

Seeing my expression, the old man let out a hearty “Hehehe” laugh.

“You still have a doubtful face. That’s a good attitude. You’ll live long on the battlefield. As long as that doubt isn’t directed only at those around you.”

The staff touched the floor again. All sorts of desserts appeared on the table. Steaming milk tea was a bonus.

“Put your worries aside. I, Archmage Valera, promise on my name that this is no trap. I simply wish to have a little chat. Come, let’s talk while we eat.”

The aroma of jam and various fruit creams wafted through the air, and Brunhild and Aria quietly reached out. As the cream disappeared between their lips, their eyes widened.

Valera watched them with a satisfied smile and picked up one for himself.

“Do you have any idea why I came down here?”

“No, sir.”

“I thought not. Of course. The reason I appeared before you is because this dungeon was never meant to be a place for you to reach the end.”

“…What?”

Brunhild and Aria, who had been eagerly eating desserts due to their hunger from the nine-hour march, asked incredulously. I felt equally deflated.

“It’s only natural, isn’t it? No matter how much the Academy gathers the best talents from across the country, and even if you three are the most special among them, how could mere Academy students possibly face a Demon Lord Army Commander? Even if it’s a weakened version, it’s impossible. The original purpose was to show you the fearsome nature of the Demon Lord’s commanders.”

I quietly swallowed the memory of having fought two commanders in the past and essentially winning by decision. The Chairman seemed to have kept his silence about that. Brunhild spoke haltingly in my place.

“B-but we made it this far…”

“That wasn’t entirely due to your own abilities, was it? Most of the credit belongs to someone else.”

“…”

Brunhild fell silent, having been hit right on the mark. She seemed to have no rebuttal. If it had been someone other than me, they wouldn’t have even reached the dungeon core—they would have been ejected within an hour.

“We’ve been watching you since the moment you entered. We needed to see how our dungeon operated. And everyone was quite surprised. You were breaking through a dungeon designed to be unbeatable, weren’t you? That Jeina was even practicing what to say to console you when you failed and returned.”

His deep, vivid black eyes, incongruous with his age, turned toward me.

“The disruption of that plan was all because of one person.”

“Is that so.”

My plans were disrupted too. If I had known from the beginning that it was designed to be impossible to clear, I would have failed at an appropriate point.

I came all the way down here for nothing. No wonder Brunhild and Aria struggled so much against just one commander.

“You’re not surprised?”

“…I’m not sure what kind of reaction you’re expecting from me.”

“Hoho, very composed. It’s hard to believe you’re only eighteen.”

When I kept my mouth shut, Valera smiled faintly.

“Don’t look so serious. I didn’t come here to scold or interrogate you. Rather, I came to praise you. All three of you did excellently. The future hero goes without saying, and Aria, was it? You also show talent beyond your years. It’s just that the other one was too exceptional. Have confidence.”

‘Praise, huh.’

He said it like that, but I wondered if it was truly genuine praise. Everyone I’d been involved with so far had not only praised me but also harbored suspicions.

The Sword Saint was like that, and so was the Chairman.

“No wonder my disciple took an interest. He said he recently found a man he wanted, and I can see why. I thought you’d be just another Academy student.”

“…”

My expression involuntarily soured at the mention of the Crown Prince. Had he even told his master about this? Seeing my reaction, the Archmage narrowed his eyes in surprise.

“That’s not a pleasant expression. Perhaps you’re not interested in power or favor?”

“I might appreciate normal trust, but why would I enjoy that kind of favor from a man?”

“Hmm?”

Valera looked confused for a moment, then gave me a meaningful look.

“Oh… so that’s how it is. My disciple was so sincere, yet I wondered why you hadn’t fallen for him yet. It’s because he hasn’t revealed it. How strange. Why would that greedy fellow allow such misunderstandings?”

“What hasn’t he revealed? And what do you mean by misunderstandings?”

“It’s nothing. Forget what I just said. If my disciple hasn’t told you, there must be a reason. If you’re really curious, you can ask him directly. If you approach him strongly, as if to dominate him, he’ll answer honestly to you alone.”

“Approach His Highness strongly? I don’t want to die yet.”

“Hoho, have you forgotten I’m his master? Don’t worry, nothing will happen. If he ever tries to harm you or your family, tell me. I’ll give him a good knock on the head. But there’s no need to worry too much. I’ll also hint to him not to wait too long.”

The conversation was becoming more and more puzzling. I nodded reluctantly.

Valera continued the conversation by asking various questions, and was particularly impressed by Aria’s magical knowledge. He even earnestly insisted that she could come to his magic tower right after graduation.

Brunhild also received plenty of praise. He told her she was already strong enough, and since she hadn’t been wielding the holy sword for long, she shouldn’t obsess too much over power.

“Thank you for listening to this old man’s stories.”

By the time the conversation ended, both of their faces showed more confidence. Valera gestured toward a dimensional door he created on the spot.

“I’ll pack up the leftovers for you to take. Why are you all so thin?”

And there was an unexpected gift as well. A bundle of desserts twice the size of a head. Aria struggled to carry it with both hands. Brunhild took it from her and bowed deeply.

“Thank you… um, Archmage Grandmother?”

“Kekeke. Yes. Now off you go. Grandmother, it’s been a while since I heard that word.”

Brunhild and Aria left with dejected faces, lamenting that they had eaten too much. As I was about to follow them out, Valera stopped me.

“Child.”

It was a completely different, cautious voice from before.

After the last remaining Mira Crate had departed, Valera, now alone, tapped the floor with his staff again. A human figure appeared from the single-person sofa next to Valera.

“You heard everything, my willful disciple.”

It was Crown Princess Laura.

This was also why Valera had specifically arranged the sofas as two and three. Someone was already sitting in one of the seats. It would have been troublesome in many ways if that fact had been discovered.

“That student is not someone the Academy can handle. You tacitly acknowledge it yourself. I don’t know why they’re hiding themselves, but if they abandon the path they’re on now, you might not be able to handle it.”

“…”

“I don’t understand why you won’t reveal the truth as soon as possible. Otherwise, even after you reveal your sincerity, you may never be able to approach them. The feeling of betrayal from being deceived for so long doesn’t fade easily.”

“…I am well aware, so please be quiet. I am clearly thinking about future plans.”

In response to Laura’s reaction, Valera clicked her tongue.

“Tsk. Such manners to someone who’s lived longer than your grandfather. Do you know that I was your grandfather’s teacher as well?”

The staff lightly tapped the floor. Valera’s body began to change. Her hunched back straightened, and her wrinkled skin regained elasticity. Her shabby robe transformed as if new.

She grew taller, her chest swelled, and her entire body regained feminine curves and fullness. The only thing that remained unchanged was her eyes.

Valera, who now looked like a young student, stretched luxuriously.

“Ahh… my original form feels so much better.”

“Consider your age, Valera. The form that should be called ‘original’ is more that of an old woman.”

“…Are you picking a fight with me? You disrespectful disciple?”

Valera’s gaze sharpened for a moment, but she soon regained her composure. She couldn’t quarrel with someone who was technically her great-granddaughter by age.

“You started the provocation first.”

“When did I do that?”

“I clearly remember you advising that person to approach me strongly. Trying to deny it is a very bad habit.”

“It’s the truth. Who was it that said she wanted a man who could dominate her, someone she could trust and rely on in private while maintaining her unwavering monarch persona in public? Was it 13-year-old Laura? Oh, there was also 10-year-old and 11-year-old Laura.”

“…”

Seeing Laura’s expression contort, Valera smiled with delight.

Valera had been Laura’s teacher since the days when she was pure and adorable, before getting entangled in power struggles. She could freely mention memories that Laura now considered embarrassing history.

Unable to deny those words even as a lie, Laura grimaced and kept her mouth shut, which made Valera smile again with pleasure.

No matter how much she was the Empire’s first in line for succession and the ruthless, cold-blooded Crown Prince Laura Erkarenchia Crescenne von Uperantis Bellium in public, to Valera, she was still just Crown Princess Laura.