The ballroom filled with joyful music once Kurt III’s speech ended.

♪♬♩♬!

The court musicians didn’t usually have many opportunities to show off their skills, so they didn’t miss this chance. They pulled out the most beautiful tones from every instrument they had to fill the spacious ballroom, causing everyone to flock to the dance floor.

Even Theo was absentmindedly tapping along with the melody. However, Kurt III hadn’t moved despite having handed over the medal.

“Hmm, all the formal procedures are finished.” Kurt’s purple eyes caught Theo’s attention. “Someone else will hand you the national treasure. It won’t be hard to recognize her, so just follow her instructions.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then have a great time. You should mingle with the people waiting for you.”

As soon as Kurt finished speaking, nobles converged to form a casual group nearby. The capital’s movers and shakers had gathered for this sudden ball. Most of them were more powerful and cunning than Earl Bergen. These old snakes were just waiting for Kurt to leave so they could descend on Theodore.

This was the young hero’s social debut.

“I look forward to your work in the future, Theodore Miller,” Kurt said as he tapped Theo’s shoulders before moving aside.

After all, no noble would dare talk to Theo when the king was obviously talking to him. Thanks to that, the area around the king was relatively sparse. It was a golden opportunity for Theo who didn’t like this type of bustle. He immediately stepped away.

Okay, I should move quickly toward Master or other people from the magic towers. Who would risk the wrath of high ranking magicians?

Magicians enjoyed an equivalent status to nobles in Meltor. A 4th Circle magician was equivalent to a baron. The wall of the 5th Circle would keep the number of 5th Circle magicians drastically low, so it was common for nobles to earnestly honor senior magicians.

However, Theo was quickly blocked off by an even more fearsome crowd as he tried to escape.

“Ahh, Theodore!”

“It is nice to meet you, Viscount Miller!”

“It is an honor to meet you!”

Shoulders were flashed disarmingly, earrings twinkled, and colorful fabrics accentuated waists and busts as dozens of noble ladies made their introductions.

Soft!

The soft flesh pressed against him and sweet fragrance wafted in his direction clouded his head.

This is dangerous. At this rate...!

Theo’s keen senses were working against him. This was the first time he had faced this kind of offensive. These noble girls were taught how to capture a man’s eyes through conversation and behavior from an early age, so as to secure and increase their family’s honor.

And Theodore Miller was the most eligible bachelor in the capital.

Many other nobles were much older and often had concubines on the side. The young women of the capital were eyeing the handsome young man lauded as a hero as the best catch of the season.

“Viscount Miller, could you please dance a song with me?” A lady with golden locks artfully slipped her hand into Theo’s. He could feel his embarrassment rising as he registered her soft, warm hand in his.

He didn’t know what to do, as it was a situation where moving the wrong way could cause a situation. As he was frantically trying to think of what to do, a voice rang out from behind them.

“Wait a minute, young lady. Exactly who are you touching right now? That’s mine. If you want to take what’s mine, does that mean you want to fight me? Either way, I’m game.”

No one around Theo could stand the pressure that was given off by that voice. They knew all too well what status this woman held. She came into view as the young women parted around Theo.

Veronica smiled as Theo turned to face her.

“Ah!”

Her black dress clung to her curves, and her clear skin was accentuated by her crimson hair and transparent veil. Theo’s eyes were naturally drawn to the bare arms and plunging dress. The dress had a deep slit down the left side, which on any other woman would have pushed the limits of decency, but only made Veronica seem like a queen.

Everyone in the vicinity, Theo, the young men, the young ladies, fell silent as she gracefully walked up to Theo. Veronica laughed as she hooked her arm in his and pulled him away.

She whispered, “Okay, then shall I mingle with today’s protagonist for one song?”

He could feel the heat radiating from her arms. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but her scent and texture combined together to cloud his mind.

Theo grabbed the last bit of his reason and said, “Tower Master, I’ve never learned to dance.”

“Really?” Veronica’s eyes widened for a moment before she smiled. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine if you just follow my movements.”

“Follow?”

“Yes. In the east, martial arts are often compared to dancing, so it won’t be hard for you to follow along.” She winked a golden eye at Theodore who was still frowning. “It’ll be okay. Kid, don’t you believe in me?”

It was a question often asked by people who shouldn’t be believed.

***

Theo and Veronica’s dance was highly praised by the court nobles. Veronica had been serious about her dancing skill, so Theo just had to follow her lead. More than half the cheers were for Veronica, but there was some cheering for Theodore.

She caught his attention with a gentle palm and said, “Now, shall we go out for a breath of fresh air?”

Puzzlement crossed Theo’s face as Veronica gestured toward the ballroom’s terrace with a strange smile. It was a relatively private location that was hidden by thick curtains.

Theo’s face turned even redder. “T-The terrace?”

“Yes, do you not want to?”

“That’s not it, but...”

The reason why Theodore was stuttering was simple. The ballroom’s terrace was intended to be a resting place to cool off from the heat, but it was tacitly implied to be a place where men and women went to be intimate. Theo wasn’t that socially well-versed, but he knew enough, so it was an embarrassing suggestion.

Veronica walked past a few people and disappeared beyond the curtain first, and Theo carefully followed. It was probably an illusion, but he felt like the buzzing sounds increased behind him.

When Theo appeared on the terrace, she already had one foot on the railing. It didn’t look like she wanted to seduce him. It looked like she was trying to jump over the railing.

Theo asked carefully, “Excuse me, Tower Master? Where are we going?”

“Huh? Don’t you want to go get your national treasure?”

“... So that’s why you wanted to go to the terrace?”

“Of course. What did you think we were going to- Ahh.”

Veronica finally realized the agony of a healthy young man and raised her index finger with a cheerful smile. “Hehe, isn’t it too early for you? You’ll have to grow for a few more years if you want to challenge me.”

“T-That isn’t it!”

Veronica chuckled. “Okay, let’s go. The location of the national treasure should stay a secret.”

She didn’t give Theo any more time to make any excuses as she swung her body over the railing. Theo hesitated, but then also jumped from the terrace. It may not have been what he had expected, but he couldn’t neglect the national treasure. He followed Veronica’s flowing red hair through the royal gardens.

It only took them five minutes to reach their destination.

This place...?

Veronica led Theo to a huge fountain surrounded by marble sculptures in the center of the royal garden.

Before he had time to wonder where the national treasure was, she placed her left hand into the fountain and started to explain, “Common treasures might be safe enough in warehouses, but national treasures cannot be kept in one location. Each is powerful enough that they do not tolerate any other similarly powerful item next to them. Since there’s a chance that some of them might explode if they were confined with space magic, the royal palace decided to allocate certain areas of the palace as national treasure vaults.”

As Veronica spoke, the water began to boil. As the water evaporated, a magic circle that had been carved into the floor of the fountain slowly appeared. Veronica hopped over the fountain’s rim and placed her left palm on the magic circle.

“The Tower Masters are asked to memorize the location of different vaults, according to their position. As you can tell, this vault falls under my jurisdiction. I know what is hidden here, but I’ll explain after it is taken out.”

A pulse of magic power shattered the magic circle. The floor of the fountain started to crack, and the statue in the middle of the fountain began to glow an eerie green. As the broken links of the magic circle dissipated into the air, the statue shone a brilliant green.

Theo could tell that this was not magic power or aura. Neither was it a source of power that shared anything with Ellenoa’s vitality.

Veronica stood back as the statue started to shudder.

Wuooooong!

The statue, seemingly unable to withstand the massive eruption of power, exploded outward. Theo reflexively protected himself from the shards of flying marble.

Kwajik!

An emerald bead emerged from the debris of the statue. It was the strangest sight.

“... What?”

There was no sense of presence or distance, as the bead looked like it was in front of him as well as beyond the horizon. It felt light and fluffy but heavier than a sledge hammer. Theo knew about all types of treasures, but he couldn’t fathom such a strange thing. So he listened carefully as Veronica continued to speak.

“National treasure no. 3, Umbra.” She said as she eyed the emerald bead. “It’s the legacy of a species that resides on a different plane from the material world in which we live. They are said to exist like spirits and were unfamiliar with the concept of time and space. Their abilities were tied to that bead, but... I don’t know anything more than that. Anyway...”

Veronica gently pushed Theo forward and said, “From now on, Umbra is yours. Take it.”