Chapter 79
The hottest topic in high society right now was the Count Barrett family.
Wherever they went, whatever they wore—clothes or accessories—became the subject of daily gossip.
Not only was the support they received from the Grand Duke immense, but the number of jewels the Grand Duke swept from the capital for the Grand Duchess was also considerable.
No one had time to be confused by the sudden change. That the Grand Duke loved the “cursed” young lady this deeply—!
Even if she was a swordmaster, it was still hard to believe.
“I didn’t know Young Lord Leonel was such a fine and dashing man.”
“Me neither. I thought he was on the verge of death, collapsing all the time because of his cursed sister.”
People said that every time they saw Young Lord Barrett.
“To find the herbs in one go like that—if he were truly cursed, could he have done that?”
“Do you think so too?”
“Yes. He might have just been injured by accident. I even heard the story of the young lady who died young was exaggerated by the Russell family.”
Thanks to accompanying the imperial princess, Young Lord Barrett had suddenly become the center of attention among young ladies.
“Don’t you want to visit the North? Lady Clover showed us a magic stone the Grand Duchess gave her—it was amazing.”
When even the princess and Rosy Clover showed friendly gestures toward the Grand Duchy, the young nobles quickly moved to follow suit.
“So, I’ve been thinking—I really want to go to the North now.”
Leonel listened closely to the chatter around him, eagerly awaiting the day he could meet Evelyn.
***
“Five hundred gold per month?!”
“Fifty gold per person, per month.”
In the ruins, the Grand Duke and the Tower Lord were deep in negotiation.
“Fifty per person?! Do you know how many mages are in the Tower?!”
The Grand Duke acted as if he was determined to drain the Tower’s funds dry, and Galf gritted his teeth.
The mages who had signed confidentiality contracts looked desperately at the Grand Duke, hoping the Tower Lord would win.
“That’s not my concern. Are you saying the Tower will cover it all?”
“It will be a form of support. But still, that’s too much. How about one thousand gold a month?”
“Mana operation room use is six hours a day. Basic physical training is two hours daily.”
When the Grand Duke raised two fingers, Galf’s eyes wavered.
“Physical training… t-two hours?!”
Better to study more spell formulas in that time!
“If you don’t like it, there’s no deal.”
“Then… one thousand gold, with one hour of physical training?”
“Let’s make it three hours.”
The mages quickly shook their heads at the absurdity.
Because they had been encouraged to experience the ruins firsthand, they were already getting an hour of training daily from the knights.
Their bodies, unused to physical exertion, screamed in agony every day.
The Grand Duke’s knights, merciless as evil gods, pushed them harder, saying they could do more.
“How about fifteen hundred gold? Eight hours of access per day, and three hours of training!”
After brooding for a while, Galf’s eyes lit up as he shouted.
He figured he could just spend more time building up mana during the longer access time.
“You’ll need to pay two thousand. What about food and lodging for all the people coming and going here?”
“We’ll just build a temporary tower branch in the North.”
“If it’s temporary, wouldn’t it be better to use existing estate facilities?”
At the Grand Duke’s generous offer, Galf’s eyes widened.
“Wait, accommodations are included?! You should’ve said that from the start! Of course, I accept!”
“Any mage who skips physical training cannot enter.”
As they agreed to write up a detailed contract, Galf burst into hearty laughter.
He’d never been in a place with such pure energy.
At this rate, he might even reach the 9th Circle soon.
“This is all special training,” the Tower Lord declared, and the mages groaned.
“Well then, good luck.”
Having secured everything he wanted, Elliot left the training area without regret.
“Raven.”
Once the Grand Duke had left, the Tower Lord called Raven over. Raven guided his master to a hidden chamber within the ruins.
“There’s something you need to see.”
“What is this place? Amazing… So this is where the ruins generate mana.”
Galf instantly grasped the nature of the room and examined the magic circle thoroughly.
“This is connected to the evil god’s sealing circle.”
“?!”
Galf’s eyes widened at his disciple’s words.
“I think it purifies the corrupted mana emitted by the evil god using divine power, then releases it here.”
Raven explained his hypothesis after having studied the magic circle.
“You—you faced the sealing circle directly?!”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
It had been nearly two weeks, and nothing had happened. He hadn’t lost consciousness or gone berserk.
“Mana scan.”
Galf placed his hand on Raven’s head and checked his internal mana. No corruption or distortion was found.
Then Galf used every divine and purification spell he knew to examine Raven’s condition thoroughly.
“Tsk. You’re way too fine.”
He already knew his disciple’s mental fortitude was mithril-grade stubborn, but to endure darkness like this…
Galf chuckled wryly and gestured for them to head deeper inside.
“Defend yourself well. I almost got taken down myself.”
At Raven’s warning, Galf cast mental defense spells. As Raven reached out toward the magic circle, both of their forms vanished instantly.
“Eek!”
Twinkle!
Almost a week had passed—no, it had been five years within the ruins’ time.
Evelyn gritted her teeth and swung her sword at the hero’s illusion.
She knew she shouldn’t be swayed, but those eyes that bent seductively when looking at her made her hesitate.
“That’s cheating! You said you wouldn’t show your face!”
[A person shouldn’t be swayed by appearances.]
The former Hero was shameless.
He acted like he’d never show his face, but when she started dodging most attacks and pressing him, he suddenly revealed it.
At first, she was so shocked by how much he looked like Elliot that she nearly dropped her sword.
“I won’t fall for that again!”
[Doesn’t seem like it. Neran, give her a sweeter smile.]
[Shall I?]
As the sacred sword and the Hero chatted, Evelyn silently seethed.
If Elliot had grown stronger, it was probably because Neran harassed him like this—how had he survived?
“Roar!”
Evelyn swung her sword horizontally. The Barrett family’s swordsmanship had evolved in her hands.
The golden aura flew steadily, then split like a beast opening its jaws, attacking the illusion of the Hero.
Ping.
[Oh, you’re getting better.]
The technique she used with such pride was shattered with a mere wave of the Hero’s hand.
[A beast’s roar is all about momentum. What intent lies in you? Will you kill your enemy—or suppress them entirely? You need to clearly visualize the kind of attack you want to deliver.]
Though Neran was impressed inside, he didn’t show it outwardly. Had he been less alert, he might have been torn apart.
Not that he’d actually vanish—but Evelyn’s growth was that rapid.
“Do you think I’ve caught up to Elliot yet?”
[He has his own pace. Focus on your path.]
“Still, I’m the Hero. I can’t be weaker than others.”
The problem was that “others” meant Elliot. Here, she couldn’t feel the passage of time.
She only knew it had been years thanks to subtle hints from the Hero and the sacred sword.
Realizing she hadn’t seen anyone else in so long made her feel a swell of longing.
Evelyn missed everyone—but never once missed Elliot.
Because Neran looked too much like him, it felt like she’d been dealing with him the whole time. His expressions were even more varied, revealing sides of Elliot she never knew.
Evelyn shook off her thoughts and asked what she’d always wondered.
“How can time be manipulated like this in this space?”
[I don’t know. This was all made by that guy.]
“So even Neran doesn’t know.”
[Neran knows nothing but sword-swinging.]
The sacred sword giggled and agreed cheerfully.
[Don’t come back for a while.]
“Why not?”
Neran said with a tired, lazy look. Did Elliot make that face too?
[You’re gonna have a hard time out there.]
Neran grinned slyly before vanishing. As Evelyn felt her body begin to move, she closed her eyes.
