139 – Guardian Tree Ghost (18)
Damian left Trisha and laid her head back. It was not a very happy birthday, and fortunately, he greeted the morning safely and his birthday ended.
But there was one more thing that disturbed his mind last night. Liza, gift, precognitive dream, faceless woman. Damian’s heart did not rest comfortably even in the morning.
I couldn’t decipher what the dream meant. She had never seen the place or any of the characters.
She’s emotionally confused, but if she couldn’t do anything about it, she’d rather focus on something else. Because it was impossible to erase her thoughts, only to cover them up.
Damian got out of bed and picked up Tricia and hugged him. He came out of the room and she saw dried bloodstains in the hall. But now, Damian’s body was clean without a single bloodstain. Trisha imagined the struggles she had been through during the night. Her teacher was also lacking, and she felt like she had rotted the other woman to the core.
She moved Trisha to her second-floor room and cleaned up all the bloodstains. And she prepared breakfast in the kitchen. She arranged a corned pork roast and tomato stew for Trisha. Then she went up to Tricia’s room and left a note saying that she had prepared her meal.
After coming out of the labyrinth, Silverin’s stitch flew in as if waiting.
Damian hurriedly checked his letter.
[There is no such thing as a disciple who does not keep his promise. I’m sorry you tried to make fun of your master. Don’t show Marking until we meet again.]
Silverin’s sarcasm was so hurt that it seemed like it would take time to ask her something and get her advice.
***
Elias looked around her and moved to a shady spot in the back alley of her living wing. She then pushed aside a hatched road block. At the place where the block was lifted, there was a ladder leading to the basement.
She looked around her again and climbed down her ladder to put the block back in place.
The damp, musty smell of mold fills her nose.
She climbed the ladder and reached the floor. There was a labyrinth of underground waterways.
Elias moved through the canal, pointing to the cipher text written on the wall one by one. So she moved for about ten minutes, and finally reached the door of the magic stone she was looking for.
A magic circle was drawn on the door.
She whispered the passphrase.
“Secrets washed away by rainwater gather underground.”
Soon after, the magic circle emitted light and the thick magic stone door moved smoothly.
A huge underground space hidden within it has been revealed.
Other students besides Elias were waiting in that shady space where no one seemed to come.
That place was the hideout of Eternia’s secret deviant organization, ‘Eternia’s Underground People’.
Rupert said hello while lounging on the hammock.
“You came early.”
Elias went in front of the target attached to the wall without saying hello and took off a note someone had randomly attached.
“I told you that you can’t put anything on here. It’s a rule that you can’t stick unless everyone agrees.”
The ‘Underground People’ Club was originally formed to explore ancient magical ruins that were said to be hidden beneath the surface of Eternia. This purpose has evolved over time to uncover all the secrets related to Eternia.
In the target area, only the mystery items recognized by everyone were listed, such as the Van Misel incident, the mirror ghost, the intelligent plantera, the death prophecy letter, the ghost of the guardian tree, Silverine, and the masked man.
Elias double checked the note from Rupert and wrinkled her brow.
[Why does Shion expose his lower body?]
“Don’t ever put something like this on again.”
Rupert made a joke.
“Why? Aren’t you curious? The boys around me say they’re going crazy because they’re curious. I can’t even ask directly, so I’m going crazy.”
“I am not curious about your perverted tastes.”
“We have to satisfy our daily curiosity. It only deals with solemn and heavy topics, so this club is on the verge of extinction every year.”
The Underground Club was run so secretly that it was in danger of disappearing every year because no one knew it.
The historic club with 80 years of tradition almost evaporated just a few years ago with only one member expected to graduate.
“Stop the bullsh*t, where is Victor?”
“Victor is currently consulting with his senior in the private room on Channel 2.”
Elias passed the main hall and moved to the private room where Victor was.
There, Victor, a first year in the combat department, was beating a scarecrow with a sword, and after that, Xenia, a third year in the magic department, was sitting in her chair with her legs crossed and talking.
“How were our art department juniors in the combat training camp?”
Victor answered while still beating the scarecrow with his wooden sword.
“I didn’t fight. I just threw my sword, hit it in the eye, and gave up.”
“I heard that a person from the principality was present, so even if I worked hard to look good, it wasn’t enough?”
“I guess I didn’t overdo it because I knew my skills were only up to that level.”
Xenia denied it.
“Damian, Haley, whom you respect, highly rated. I wasn’t particularly pleased because I was a junior in the art department, but I sincerely complimented her.”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see anything right.”
“It’s not that I’m pretty just because my face is okay. Hailey kicks a hollow man, even a prince.”
Victor quickly answered, dripping with sweat thanks to the humid air.
“Um… Maybe it’s because I don’t need to look good. Yesterday, an envoy from the duchy visited Damian and Gail Varianne. I think I knew everything.”
“Ha, since you’re a student of Professor Silverin, are you trying to make connections? Then, is Damian really going to take over the escort mission?”
“I guess so. By the way, are escort missions that good?”
“Then, the princess is already being escorted by magicians of the semi-highest rank and a knight who has won the Floral Tournament, so what can a single student do? You can just go and look around, travel with the princess, and enjoy dinner.”
“In my eyes, it’s just a boring meeting.”
“How can a proud junior get attention from high-tempered women? Let’s just bring it before the ransom becomes more expensive.”
“Professor Sylverin is our subject of dissection. Will he take it well?”
Xenia showed a suspicious smile that contained her machinations.
“If you want to know Professor Silverin’s secret, his help is essential. Besides, I know a secret hidden in that teacher-teacher relationship… No, I will tell you later.”
“… ?”
Elias, who had been listening from a few steps away, now seized the opportunity and joined the conversation.
“Hey… I came because I have something to tell you about the princess.”
It was only then that Xenia looked back.
“Huh? Elias, when did you come?”
“A little while ago. Right now, there’s a lot of noise up there because of the princess. I’m here to tell you that…”
“…Why?”
“The princess came to Eternia with her escort. She went to the drawing room with the dean a little while ago, but she came unexpectedly without any warning… She was in a commotion for a while.”
It was rare for a princess to visit, but she wasn’t unusual. However, her unexpected visit without notice was a violation of the rite. She asked Xenia as if wondering.
“Why did you do that?”
“She came to see Damian. She says he rejected the princess’ offer several times.”
Xenia jumped up as if surprised.
“What? Refuse? Is he Princess, are you still here?”
“Yes, Damian hasn’t shown up yet, so I’m waiting.”
“Crazy, let’s go take a look right now. Guide me.”
Xenia led Elias out of her private room and moved her steps. Then, as if she had forgotten, she turned around and said to Victor,
“Oh, will you be here?”
“I will go with you.”
“Okay, hurry up and come.”
Xenia left first. Victor also stopped training and headed for the door. Then he stopped and looked at the hand holding her wooden sword as if he had suddenly remembered something.
Then he suddenly threw a wooden sword with all his might at his scarecrow. His sword rushed in swiftly, bouncing his hilt restlessly against his scarecrow’s shoulder.
“….”
***
Damian thought it strange when he saw the scene where many students gathered in front of the banquet hall to form a long line.
In the empty space in front of the grand banquet hall, a procession of knights holding the flag of the principality followed, followed by a colorful carriage. Next to the wagon, wizards with staffs and knights in silver armor were solemnly seated.
Among them, there must have been high-ranking wizards and knights with backgrounds that others knew about, and even those proud Eternian students whispered their names.
“This is Alixia, the real mad wizard.”
“Isn’t that a badge for winning the floral tournament?”
“It’s Nielin, the winner of the previous year, you idiot.”
Judging from the status and scale of those accompanying them, only the highest-ranking nobles were able to perform such a splendid procession.
As Damian approached him, several glanced at him as if recognizing him. Gradually, the gaze focused, and finally, the road was gradually opened in front of Damian.
Five of the principality’s servants hurriedly ran forward to Damian, who gave him a puzzled look, and bowed their heads.
“Are you sure you are student Damian?”
“Yes.”
“It’s nice to see you at last. Princess Vivi Gainax wants to meet student Damien in person.”
I stared at the attendant’s face for a while.
This sort of thing had to be approached carefully after consulting with the professor, but Damian couldn’t bear to refuse.
Because the attendant who appeared in front of him was one of the characters in the dream.
***
When Damien entered the reception room, he was immediately confronted by a group of people.
A woman wearing a fancy hat, sitting cross-legged in her chair. And behind them, escort troops lined up in a row.
Although her face was obscured by her hat, it was immediately evident that she held the highest position of power there.
It was Bibi Gainax.
A strange sense of deja vu that can be felt from that face line.
Damian strode in front of Vivi and sat on one knee with her. And he slowly raised his head. Only then did she face her face with Vivi, who had been covered by her hat.
“My name is Damien, from Wiesel on the outskirts.”
“Where does the princess raise her head stiffly in front of her!”
It was against the etiquette, but Damian didn’t flinch in the slightest from his servant’s scoldings. He stared at Vivi’s face one by one with a firm look.
Bibi looked down at him with an expression of surprise. Soon, silence engulfs the drawing room. Bibi would not open her mouth, so no one under her dared to speak her words.
Looking at him, the corner of Bibi’s mouth went up. Finally she spoke to her.
“Do you know me?”
“I have already met the princess once. It’s a memory as vivid as last night.”
“Um, I can’t remember where I saw it?”
“It just passed by like a dream. Even if I tell you, the Princess will not remember.”
“Yes, it is meaningful to face each other properly like now. It’s a special feeling to meet the archmage’s apprentice.”
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“It is also an honor for me to meet the princess. However, Professor Silverin took me away for a while, and it has nothing to do with Master’s magical status and my abilities. Without that label, I am just a humble orphan.”
Then Bibi covered her mouth with her hand and giggled mockingly for a while before saying:
“Ah, that’s right. However, it is my principle to treat you well if you have the ability, and even if you are incompetent, I will find a role for you, so don’t worry. To me, just having a deep connection with the archmage is meaningful enough. It’s just that you’ve been hiding from me all these years, and now I wonder why you’re showing up and kneeling before me.”
Damian stared at Vivi’s face again. Like trying to check something on her. Her pupils gradually widened. And she finally said in a firm tone.
“…..To respond to the princess’ proposal for an escort mission.”
Bibi tilted her head.
“Really? Hmm, why? Even on Eternia, she refused your enlistment. She did, but what made her change her mind?”
Are you interested in the movie of wealth and honor? Could it be that she was enchanted by Vivi’s beauty for a while? Otherwise, she could have concealed her true intentions by mentioning the cause of glory and all.
Damian looked her baboon straight in the eye again. Unlike his handsome appearance and calm expression, there was something intense in his eyes.
She wasn’t sure how to define the emotion in those eyes. He was strangely at odds with expressions such as sadness, anger, and enthusiasm.
Damian opened his mouth. And Bibi stopped breathing for a moment when she heard a completely different answer than she expected.
He was daring.
“I just needed something to cool her head off.”
Honest and steady tone. It was only then that Bibi was able to see through the identity of the emotions hidden in his eyes.
That was ‘madness’.