Chapter 51: Chapter 50

50 – Midterm Exam Preparation – 3

The old man, who introduced himself as an archmage, lightly hit the floor with his cane. The dungeon’s internal structure began to change around the place where it was struck.

The walls and floor, which were originally made of stone, changed to antique-looking wallpaper and carpet, and the Dullahan that was standing there, emitting black fog, disappeared.

Five single sofas were placed around a table rising from the floor. 2 On one side and 3 on the other.

I wondered why there were five sofas when there were four people, but I accepted it as a sign that we should choose to sit appropriately and passed it on. What was important now wasn’t the number of sofas.

“As I got older, standing became a chore. “Don’t hesitate to sit down.”

The old man walked leisurely and sat down on the two sofas next to each other. Brunhild and Aria naturally sat opposite her, and I sat in the empty space.

The old man saw my expression and burst into laughter.

“You look like you haven’t resolved your doubts yet. That’s a good attitude. I will live a long time even on the battlefield. “If only that suspicion wasn’t directed at the people around you.”

The cane touched the floor again. All kinds of desserts appeared on the table. The steaming milk tea was a bonus.

“Stop worrying. I, in the name of Archmage Valera, promise that this is not a trap. I just want to talk a little. Now, let’s talk while we eat.”

In the wafting scent of jam and various fruit-flavored creams, Brunhild and Aria quietly stretched out their hands. As the cream disappeared between their lips, their eyes widened.

When Valera saw that, she smiled happily and took one herself and ate it.

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

“Nothing.”

“I guess so. It will happen. The reason I appeared before you is because this dungeon was not a place for you to reach the end.”

“…… Yes?”

Brünnhild and Aria, who were eating their dessert with shining eyes, probably starving for sugar due to the 9-hour forced march, asked back as if it was absurd. I, too, felt completely relaxed.

“Isn’t it natural? Even though the Academy is filled with only the best talents in the country and you are the most special among them, how can you, who are only academy cadets at best, stand up to the commander of the Demon King’s Army? Even if it were a weakened entity, it would be impossible. “The original purpose was to let you know the horror of the Demon King’s army commander.”

I quietly swallowed the memory of fighting two corps commanders in the past and actually winning by decision. It seemed that the chairman had kept his silence for his own reasons. He stammered for me when Brünnhild kept quiet.

“B, but we have reached this point… ….”

“It’s not entirely due to your own abilities, is it? “Isn’t that the other person’s credit for most of it?”

“… ….”

Brünnhild became quiet as if he had hit the nail on the head. It seemed like there was nothing to refute. If it had been someone else instead of me, I would have been ejected outside in less than an hour, let alone reaching the dungeon core.

“We have been watching you from the moment you came here. We got to see how the dungeon we created worked. And everyone was very surprised. Aren’t you breaking through a dungeon that was created with the assumption that you can’t break it? Jaina, that guy was practicing in advance what to say when you fail and return.”

Dark and vivid black eyes inappropriate for his age turned towards me.

“The reason the plan went wrong is because of one person.”

“Is that so?”

My plan went awry, too. If I had known from the beginning that it was designed to prevent clearing, I would have failed at a reasonable level.

I came down here for no reason. For some reason, I thought Brünnhild and Aria were having a strangely difficult time struggling with just one corps commander.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

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

“Hehe, very calm. “It’s hard to believe she’s only 18.”

When I closed my mouth, Valera smiled faintly.

“Don’t look so serious. I did not come here to reprimand you, nor did I come here to interrogate you. Rather, I came here to praise you. All three were very good. Needless to say, the next hero is Aria? I see you also have talent that is not appropriate for your age. It’s just that the other one is too much better. “Be confident.”

‘It’s a compliment.’

They say things like that, but I wondered if that was really a complete compliment. All the people I’ve been involved with so far have not only praised me but also been suspicious of me.

The same goes for Geomseong and the Chairman.

“My student deserved to be coveted. I heard there was a man I wanted recently, so it was worth it. “I thought you would be at best an academy student.”

“… ….”

My expression naturally frowned at the mention of the crown prince. Did he even mention that to his teacher? The archmage, seeing me like this, narrowed his eyes in surprise.

“That’s not a good look. “Are you the type of person who is not interested in power or favor?”

“If it were just normal trust, how would you like that type of favor from a man?”

“Hmm?”

Valera looked like she didn’t know what was going on, but then looked at me meaningfully.

“Oh my…… That’s how it happened. The student was so sincere, but I wondered why he didn’t come forward until now, but it was because he didn’t reveal it yet. It’s a strange thing. “Why is that greedy guy doing this to the point of causing misunderstanding?”

“What are you saying you didn’t reveal? What do you mean by misunderstanding?”

“It’s nothing. Forget what I just said. If the student didn’t say anything, there must be another reason. If you’re really curious, you can ask my student directly. “If you come out strong enough to take control, he will give you an honest answer.”

“To stand strong for His Majesty the Crown Prince, I don’t want to die yet.”

“Hehe, have you forgotten that I am that guy’s teacher? That won’t happen, so you can rest assured. If he ever tries to harm you or your family, tell me. Even if it’s honey chestnuts, I’ll give you a good beating. Still, you don’t need to worry too much. “I’ll also tell him not to be too late.”@@novelbin@@

The words became more and more puzzling. I nodded hesitantly.

After that, Valera continued the conversation by asking various questions, and was especially impressed by Aria’s magical knowledge. He went so far as to ask me to come to his magic tower as soon as I graduated.

Brünnhild also received quite a lot of praise. He said he was strong enough by now, and since he had just gotten hold of her holy sword, don’t worry too much about her power.

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

By the time the conversation ended, both of their faces looked quite confident. Valera gestured to her improvised portal.

“I will pack the rest, so take them with you. “Why are you all so skinny?”

And an unexpected gift was also added. It was a dessert bundle twice as big as my head. Aria grunted as she struggled to hold it with both hands. Brünnhild took it and bowed down to her.

“Thank you. Uh…… Archmage Grandmother?”

“Cluck cluck cluck. Okay. Just go and see. “Grandma, that’s a word I haven’t heard in a long time.”

Brunhild and Aria said that she had eaten more than she expected, and with a tearful expression on her face, she went out. As I was about to follow him in, Valerie stopped me.

“Oh my.”

It was a cautious voice, completely different from before.

After leaving the last remaining mummy crate, Valera, who was left alone, tapped the floor again with her cane. Then, a human image appeared on the single sofa next to Valerie.

“You heard it too, you wayward disciple.”

It was Crown Princess Laura.

This was also the reason why Valera divided the sofa into two and three. Because someone else is already sitting in one seat. If she had found out, she would have been in trouble in many ways.

“That student is not something the academy can handle. Don’t you yourself implicitly admit it? “I don’t know why I’m hiding myself, but if you give up on the path you’re on, it might be hard for you to handle it.”

“… ….”

“I don’t know what you’re doing if you don’t reveal the truth as soon as possible. Otherwise, even after you reveal your true feelings, you will never be able to approach them. “The feeling of betrayal caused by the fact that you have been deceived for a long time does not go away that easily.”

“…… I don’t know either, so why don’t you keep quiet? “I’m thinking about future plans.”

At Laura’s reaction, Valera clicked her tongue.

“Ugh, tsk. I have a habit of talking to people who have lived longer than my grandfather. “Do you know that I was also your grandfather’s teacher?”

Her wand tapped the floor. Then Valera’s body began to change. Her curved back straightened, and her wrinkled skin regained its elasticity. Her old robe also looked like new.

As her height grew, her breasts swelled, and her entire body regained its feminine curves and voluptuousness, the only thing that did not change was her eyes.

No matter where you look, Valera, who has returned to the outside looking like her young student self, continues to stretch her legs.

“Ugh…… “As expected, I like the original look.”

“Consider your age, Valera. “Isn’t everything that can be called the original appearance of an old man?”

“…… Are you trying to fight me now? “Are you a cheap disciple?”

Valera’s eyes sharpened for a moment, but she soon regained her composure. I couldn’t fight with someone who was as old as my great-granddaughter.

“The dispute would have started on your side first.”

“When did I do that?”

“I clearly remember how he strongly encouraged me to leave. “Still, trying to backtrack is a very bad habit.”

“It’s true. Since he must always be an unwavering monarch on the outside, who said he wanted a man who can control him so that he can trust and rely on him on the inside? Was he 13 year old Laura? Oh, there are also 10-year-old and 11-year-old Laura.”

“… ….”

When Valera saw Laura’s expression greatly distorted, she smiled joyfully.

In the past, when Laura was pure and cute and not caught up in power struggles, the person who has served as her teacher is Valera. I could talk about any memory that would now be treated as black history.

As if she couldn’t bear to deny those words, even if it was a lie, Valera smiled joyfully again when she saw Laura’s expression distorted and her mouth shut.

Although to the outside world Laura Ercarenziana Cresenne von Euperantis Bellium was the first in line of succession to the empire and a ruthless woman without blood or tears, to Valera she was still just her crown daughter Laura.