I'll Smash Everything with Passive Skills-Chapter 82: 0. The Absolute Being (1)

...It was an enchanting, sensual, and utterly fatal scene.

That was Beatrice's impression upon seeing Veris with just the top button of his thin shirt undone.

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The sunset atmosphere and his devilish charm naturally made her breathless.

"Beatrice."

A dazed face. It was his gentle voice that awakened Beatrice's mind as she approached Veris.

"Y-Yes?"

"I have something I want to ask."

"...What is it?"

Why did Veris's unusually pale face and red lips seem so sweet today?

Beatrice had to set aside such thoughts for now as she heard his question.

"I forgot to ask earlier, but did you say you can use analysis magic?"

"Of course."

With a soft chuckle, Beatrice took a leisurely step forward.

She sat down in the chair opposite Veris at the table and interlaced her fingers, resting them on the tabletop.

"What would you like me to analyze?"

"This."

Thud.

Veris unfastened the sword at his waist and placed it on the table.

"...This is?"

"A gift from the dean. I heard it's an item from another world."

"I see."

After briefly entertaining some naughty thoughts, intense interest arose in Beatrice's eyes.

Though affiliated with the Magic Tower and currently an academy transfer student, she was still a mage in pursuit of truth.

For Beatrice, an item from another world awakened an indescribable level of curiosity.

"How interesting."

Beatrice said as she gently stroked the scabbard.

Beatrice, called a future archmage due to her innate sensitivity to mana, could sense an extraordinary aura emanating from the sword even without drawing it.

"It's unusual. It feels quite removed from common sense, you could say."

"Indeed. Shall I use magic?"

"Yes."

Veris nodded. At that, Beatrice took a slow, deep breath and began to draw mana into her hands.

Woong!

"Mysterious truth-seeker, answer my call."

Swirling blue energy. It blossomed from Beatrice's hands according to her will.

The blue mana slowly enveloped the sword like a predawn mist.

Whoosh!

After a few minutes passed, the mana dispersed like fog.

"This is..."

Beatrice looked down at the sword with a surprised expression after dispelling her analysis magic.

"How was it?"

This sword was on a completely different level from standard-issue iron swords. The one Veris had named the Black Sword simply lay quietly on the table.

"It's amazing. Veris, do you know much about analysis magic?"

"Well, I think I heard it can determine things like when an item was made." Beatrice nodded.

"That's right. And according to my analysis magic... this sword was made about ten years ago."

"Ten years ago?"

Veris was puzzled. The dean had said this sword was discovered in ruins from the Age of Magic.

Then why was its creation date so recent?

The Age of Magic refers to a period about 500 years ago.

"Is there perhaps any other information? About this sword?"

"Hmm, it was found in a facility called 'Gate', and is presumed to be from another world... that's about it."

"How fascinating. In that case..."

Beatrice's eyes gleamed sharply. The atmosphere reminded one of her when she hadn't lost her Circle.

Veris simply gazed at her silently in response. He couldn't even begin to guess what she was about to say.

"We'll need to form a complex hypothesis."

"A complex hypothesis?"

"Yes. In other words... this sword is hundreds of years old in our world, but in the other world beyond that Gate, only ten years have passed."

It wasn't difficult to understand, but accepting Beatrice's hypothesis was another matter.

"I don't know much about smelting and metallurgy, but it wasn't made using any methods that appear in continental history either."

Beatrice added further explanation.

"This item's value is beyond words. I believe it to be a sword with mysterious powers."

"Hmm, is that so."

Veris looked down at the sword with renewed interest.

Even at a glance, Veris already knew it was far from ordinary.

But after hearing Beatrice's explanation using analysis magic, he couldn't help but feel even more attached to it for some reason.

*

Fortunately, the drinking incident at the Veris estate blew over without much fuss.

Of course, Lady Delia was reportedly scolded to tears by the Sword Saint, Duke Heinkel, who made a surprise visit to the academy.

The academy was in a tumultuous mood after the midterm evaluations ended.

The reason was simple. As soon as the midterm results were announced, class adjustments occurred that could be called revolutionary.

"Veris! We can finally be together!"

On the way back from seeing the midterm results posted on the bulletin board, Cecilia spoke to Veris with a beaming face.

"You've finally found your rightful place, sir."

Even Arwen seemed to be in a better mood than usual.

"It's just troublesome, that's all."

Veris merely shrugged.

The results of this midterm evaluation shocked quite a few people.

Three students promoted to S-Class.

Eleven students promoted to A-Class.

...There were also quite a few students promoted to classes besides those.

"I can't accept this! Me in B-Class? Did they make this decision knowing which family I'm from?!"

"Those bastards must have eyes just for show. Me, me in C-Class? This is absurd!"

Even though they were now quite far from the bulletin board with the results, the roars of students whose class rankings had dropped could still be heard.

As is often the case, there are set positions given to students.

This was an evaluation in which all students except S-Class participated. Naturally, if some went up, others had to come down.

And as for Veris...

"It would be stranger if Veris and I weren't in S-Class."

Beatrice, walking quietly beside him, smiled softly.

That sight seemed to hold a strange sensuality, causing passersby to glance over.

"Beatrice. You seem to be in a good mood?"

"Of course. What could be more delightful than a man and woman who've promised each other a future studying in the same class?"

Beatrice strangely emphasized 'future'. Flames naturally ignited in the other girls' eyes, but an oblivious fellow cut in.

"To hell with the future. Sis, you're in a weak position, you know."

"Be quiet, little brother."

Though no blood was spilled, Veris couldn't help but let out a dejected laugh at the siblings' battle of nerves.

"Let's head back for today. There are no classes, and I have a separate appointment."

"An appointment?"

Everyone wore puzzled expressions at Veris's words.

...Well, Veris didn't have many friends after all.

"The Sword Saint. I have something to discuss with that old man."

"Wow."

Everyone looked at Veris with fresh eyes at his nonchalant words.

Those walking with Veris now were all outstanding students who could be said to shoulder the future of the continent.

However...

Veris boasted a presence on a different dimension from them. A mere first-year academy student having a private audience with the famous Sword Saint!

"I-Is that so?"

"Heh, heh."

Of course, the women who had something to feel guilty about were all busy glossing over it.

These were the girls who had held a drinking party at the mansion. The Sword Saint, who had carried his daughter Lady Delia back like luggage, returned to the mansion with her the next day.

And then came the lecture.

Even the Sword Saint was a senior who had graduated from the academy with excellent grades, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ so there was no escape.

Anyway, the girls were only released from the Sword Saint after enduring hours of lecturing that day.

So their reactions were understandable.

"When are you meeting him?"

"I should head there right away. Come along if you want to meet him."

"...No thank you."

"I-I'm fine too."

Veris smiled at the pale girls' replies.

It seemed these kids still hadn't forgotten the nightmare from that day.

*

"Oh, you've come!"

After the incident that wasn't really an incident.

The Sword Saint regarded Veris even more intimately than before.

The tavern in the commercial district where they had agreed to meet was empty of customers, as if he had rented out the entire place.

Gulp, gulp.

"Refreshing."

The Sword Saint smiled brightly after downing the golden liquid in a large glass.

Veris could only give a wry smile at the sight.

"It seems you're quite fond of alcohol too, Sword Saint."

"Goes without saying. That's why I hoped Delia, that kid, would learn to drink later. Must be cursed genetics."

The Sword Saint laughed heartily and personally pulled out a chair, gesturing.

It was a signal for Veris to sit there.

Slide.

Sitting down next to the Sword Saint, Veris looked around the tavern. The academy regulations were quite conservative in nature.

While drinking wasn't explicitly forbidden for students by the rules, they were urged to refrain, so opportunities to come to taverns like this were rare.

"Do you drink much?"

"I can probably hold my liquor well."

"Oh ho, that's quite confident."

Veris shrugged.

Before coming to this academy, Veris had already had drinking contests with his father, Count Verden, numerous times.

And each time, his father would always succumb to the alcohol and pass out first.

"It's inherited from my mother's side."

"Hahaha! I had no idea the lady of House Vitelbach was so strong with alcohol! Hey, bring us a glass of Hessen's specialty honey wine here. Make it cold!"

Thud.

The tavern owner promptly set down a cold glass.

Veris gave a hollow laugh.

"So this is the culprit that sent Lady Delia home."

"Indeed, it's a must-try when visiting the Empire's central region."

Veris nodded and picked up the glass. After taking a sip, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"It's delicious."

"Haha! Of course it is. Hessen, the city of flowers - the honey from there is renowned for its quality."

The Sword Saint was now treating Veris quite casually.

"I sent a dispatch to my domain ordering administrative procedures."

"You mean...?"

"Our duel. The condition was that I would enter the academy if I lost, wasn't it?"

Veris nodded with a sour expression.

He had certainly set the requirement of "if you lose the duel." Wasn't this action too hasty when they hadn't even dueled yet?

"It means I'm sincere about this. About crossing swords with you."

"..."

Veris was surprised.

As an Imperial Duke and the most powerful swordsman, Veris had imagined the Sword Saint to be an upright scholar-type.

But the Sword Saint before him now was not a scholar, but like the king of a pride of wild lions.