I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 57: 0. Transfer Student (1)

As the vacation was nearing its midpoint, Veris and the girls set off on their way back.

"You look happy."

"Yeah, I am."

"May I ask why?"

At Arwen's curious question, Veris closed his eyes. A warm breeze, surprisingly pleasant for a hot summer, flowed through the window of the carriage.

"I've gained new power."

"New power..."

"You should have seen my father's expression, Arwen."

Arwen's admiring gaze wandered around the inside of the carriage.

She was already painfully aware of Veris's strength. But to think he had gained even more power!

"That's truly something to celebrate."

Arwen expressed her honest feelings to Veris, her master and fellow student at the academy.

She too was one of the few spirit users on the continent. Moreover, her affinity for mana, unique to elves, made her strength unbelievable even for an academy student.

However... even Arwen, standing next to Veris, felt infinitely insignificant. It was because Veris's power could not be explained by common sense.

"Pouting."

"...What?"

"You're pouting again. I told you not to compare yourself to me."

Veris said this and reached out to gently ruffle her hair.

Arwen, who was squirming like a little kitten. Yet, in contrast, the touch of her soft, golden hair was strangely addictive.

"Come on, you're being too playful."

At Arwen's complaint, her face flushed like a ripe apple, Veris smiled and withdrew his hand. For some reason, Arwen's slightly disappointed expression felt quite cute.

"The evaluation is coming up soon."

"...That's right."

Veris muttered as he enjoyed the lush scenery unfolding outside the window. Academic achievement evaluation.

That, akin to the long-standing tradition of Vera Academy, begins around this time every year, right after the summer vacation ends.

There was no need to mention the details. They select outstanding students through simple ability tests and duels among students.

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And among them, those worthy of attention are chosen separately to be promoted to higher classes.

Thanks to the dirty power struggles, Veris was assigned to B-Class. He had no need to hide his strength, so even if it was a hassle, he was filled with the thought of moving up to a higher class this time.

"And soon after the vacation ends, it will be transfer season. Time really flies."

Lost in such thoughts, Veris soon recalled a certain girl.

The Magic Tower's prodigy, the future archmage, the honorable daughter of a marquis.

All these titles referred to one girl. And that girl, embarrassingly enough, was Veris's fiancée.

She had lost her ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Circle for some reason in the underground dungeon. So, it was possible she could transfer to the academy at any time.

"..."

As soon as Veris thought of Beatrice, he naturally recalled recent events, causing him to close his mouth.

The underground dungeon, the seal that resided there.

To his surprise, a Lich was sleeping within that seal. Of course, Veris had destroyed it, but the problem was the group it belonged to.

'The Demon Cult.'

Veris judged that it was a minion of the Demon Cult that led the Age of Magic to ruin. And what about the two middle-aged men who were the twelve knights of the Demon Cult a few days ago?

They too lost their lives to Veris's sword, but both possessed powerful strength. Yes, similar to the Sword Demon that had been reduced to a handful of blood by Veris in the past.

'The Sword Demon had also moved in league with the Demon Cult.' Thinking this, Veris found himself oddly curious about the identity of the Demon Cult.

It felt as if they were operating too openly. How was it that no extermination squad had even been organized against them?

The Sword Demon, Professor Theon, the Lich in the underground dungeon, and the two middle-aged men encountered around the Vitelbach territory.

Recalling the commonality among those who had departed this world gave Veris a strange feeling. It felt as if something unexpected was about to happen at any moment.

*

Whoosh!

The massive horse that had been trotting suddenly came to a halt, and the slowly moving carriage finally stopped.

"What is that carriage...?"

"It has the Magic Tower's flag on it."

The large carriage that appeared at the station had the power to draw people's attention.

The Magic Tower, who are they?

Though they are often referred to as a group of lunatics, the reason they can operate so confidently in society is simple.

A terrifyingly meritocratic nature. And countless achievements that prove that nature.

The Magic Tower and the academy have a rather strained relationship due to their conflicting approaches to training. Therefore, it is extremely rare for someone from the Magic Tower to officially visit the academy, so what could this be about?

The eyes of the onlookers were filled with such questions. But soon, as the carriage door opened and a woman stepped down, their eyes widened in surprise.

"She's beautiful!"

"...Was there such a beauty in the Magic Tower?"

The woman who entered the sight of the crowd was a girl with long black hair. Her robe, which indicated her affiliation with the Magic Tower, made it clear to everyone that she was a member of the Magic Tower.

"Excuse me, I'm passing through!"

Thud!

"Damn, who the hell... Huh?"

The one who had just been about to complain quickly shut his mouth upon seeing the size of the person and the great sword strapped to his back.

A man with an admiring gaze pushed roughly through the crowd toward the carriage, and he was already quite famous within the academy.

A large figure and a matching black great sword.

"Isn't that Gunther von Haruen?"

"What is the genius swordsman of the empire doing at the station?"

Ignoring the questions of the people, the large man, Gunther, faced the woman who had stepped down from the carriage. And a brief moment of silence flowed between them.

"...One should act quickly, but not to this extent. How undignified."

The first to speak was Gunther.

His tone suggested that they were already familiar with each other, and everyone listened with keen interest to their conversation.

"My future husband... No, I must hurry because he is here."

"Ha."

Gunther could not hide his astonishment.

He had heard from Veris that the Circle that had been gnawing at the feelings of the Magic Tower girl... Beatrice, had been broken.

But could a person really change their personality so quickly?

In the past, Beatrice had been so blunt and cold that Gunther had grown weary of her urging him to meet Veris.

Yet now, it seemed that was purely Gunther's misjudgment. The response from Beatrice, with the face of a girl in love, made Gunther feel inexplicably nauseous.

And that was... unfortunately no different from the usual sibling dynamics.

"Where is he now?"

"...He should be back soon."

"He's coming back? Where has he gone?"

"..."

Gunther swallowed hard.

Looking at his sister's smiling face, he found it strangely difficult to tell the truth.

'Ha... Veris, brother!'

In this playful misunderstanding, Gunther silently sought Veris.

Why did he have to return home just as the vacation began?

"Wait, is that woman perhaps Lady Beatrice von Haruen?"

"That's right! Unlike her brother, she is said to have a natural talent for magic!"

As the crowd exclaimed, Gunther slightly frowned and felt a strong urge to leave the scene.

Thus, he resolved to tell his sister the truth.

"Brother went home for the vacation."

"...Then why didn't Gunther go?"

"Well... there were already too many people."

At Gunther's hesitant answer, Beatrice tilted her head in confusion.

Too many people, so he didn't join? Wasn't that an odd statement coming from Gunther, who had been a fervent follower of Veris since childhood?

Noticing Beatrice's confusion, Gunther added more.

"Brother's companions included... Mari, no, Maria, Cecilia, and Arwen. You should have come a little earlier!"

His voice rose strangely at the end.

For some reason, the thought that his sister was a step behind the other women made him anxious.

"What...?"

A chill spread across Beatrice's face in an instant.

At her muttering, Gunther had no choice but to avert his gaze. Even if they had a somewhat strained sibling relationship, hadn't he confirmed not long ago that Beatrice liked Veris?

"Home...? Together? All of us...?"

Beatrice's muttering lost its focus.

Gunther felt a headache coming on because of his sister's strange fixation.

*

Brrr!

"Are you cold?"

"No. It's just that I feel strangely chilly."

Before long, the long carriage and the procession of guards were nearing their destination.

In just a few more hours, the academy's station would appear. That meant this light journey would come to an end.

But for some reason, feeling chilly left Veris puzzled.

Having already surpassed the limits of his abilities, he was forever liberated from cold, heat, and illness. So, it was strange that he was feeling chilly.

Chirp chirp!

Listening to the chirping of the mountain birds, he sank into the seat inside the carriage.

Veris had an unusually keen sense. Yet, he was completely unaware of the impending problems.