Eirik's refusal of Pixie, the younger student, was not without reason—he had confidence. Though the investigation was stuck in a deadlock, a breakthrough was imminent.
He remembered clearly that during the first playthrough, there was a famous genius at the academy, a druid by the name of Mask. According to the timeline, Mask was going to disappear tomorrow.
If he followed Mask closely, he was bound to uncover something, maybe even witness the mastermind firsthand. Even if he died, it didn’t matter—he could just restart the game!
---
【On this day, you quietly followed Mask. He seemed to notice you, but perhaps due to your weak presence, he paid no heed and walked straight towards the desolate outskirts beyond the city.】
【In the wilderness, a figure cloaked in black appeared, their face obscured by a shroud of mist. After exchanging a few words with Mask, the figure struck him down.】
【Terrified, you watched from the shadows as the cloaked man used a bizarre technique, draining every last drop of blood from Mask's body, leaving behind nothing but a withered husk. With the blood formed into a gruesome orb, the cloaked figure vanished into the night.】
How did I not get discovered?!
Perhaps it was because he lacked elemental power and remained perfectly still, causing the cloaked figure to overlook him.
【After the black-clad figure left, you cautiously approached the husk of Mask’s corpse. But just as you neared, something horrifying occurred!】
【Mask’s corpse suddenly stirred, sitting up and grabbing your throat with cold, deathly fingers. You struggled in vain, but as you teetered on the edge of death, Mask seemed to regain some clarity, his eyes opening slowly.】
"Hahaha! Who would have thought... that I, the great druid, would meet such a fate!''
【Mask's voice rang out, filled with bitterness and despair as he laughed maniacally.】
It turned out that though Mask’s blood had been drained, an ancient artifact hidden within him allowed him to cling to life—barely. Knowing his end was near, he pulled a small, unassuming gray orb from his clothes and handed it to you, asking you to grow strong and avenge him.
【The one who killed me... his name is Reginald Ashford...】
Reginald Ashford?! The black-clad figure was named Reginald Ashford?
Eirik’s heart skipped a beat. That name wasn’t unfamiliar to him. This was the duchy of Aelsryel, and Reginald Ashford was none other than the Duke of Dawnstar—the Crimson Frost Duke!
So, the cursed demon tree was the work of Duke Ashford’s estate? No wonder the Magic Academy had remained silent about the disappearances of so many students. Were they afraid? Or were they simply unwilling to act?
【Congratulations, you have obtained the Ancient Arcane Fruit...】
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Eirik was about to brush off the notification, but something caught his eye—the name of the item was highlighted in gold. Given how this game worked, anything in gold was bound to be extraordinary!
He hurriedly checked the item’s details.
【Arcane Fruit: Grown from the mysterious trees of the demon realm, it is said to bloom and bear fruit only once every thirty thousand years. When consumed, it grants different miraculous effects based on the individual.】
“Damn! Just reading the description, it sounds like a game-changer!”
Mask, it seemed, had been a professional treasure-giver NPC!
Eirik’s mood brightened. In a game like this, the thrill came from learning magic and discovering hidden treasures, and this sudden acquisition of a powerful item felt like striking gold! Without hesitation, he consumed the Arcane Fruit.
Why didn’t he save it for Elvynna? Well, he wasn’t a mere servant. If he could defeat enemies on his own, wasn’t that still support?
Besides, if it didn’t work out, he could always find another one next time and give it to her.
---
【You have consumed the Arcane Fruit.】
【You feel light, your steps nimble, your body strengthened.】
Hmm, the effect seems underwhelming…
【Additionally, you have gained a new talent.】
What? A new talent... and it’s golden?!
Eirik quickly opened his character panel and found a new golden entry.
【Arcane Aura: When your mind is at peace, you radiate an aura of arcane energy. Anyone within your aura will experience significantly enhanced magic comprehension, increasing the chances of learning purple and golden spells by fivefold!】
The description even came with a breathtaking illustration: a group of elves, succubi, and other mythical creatures gathered around a towering, ancient tree, its branches so vast they seemed to reach beyond the world itself.
Could this be the legendary Arcane Tree... or even the World Tree?
“Ah, another support skill! Seems I’m destined to be the tree... But with this, Elvynna’s magic studies might reach unimaginable heights.”
Eirik was quite satisfied with his choice to consume the fruit.
Meanwhile, Elvynna, busy with her magic studies, suddenly noticed something new in Eirik’s status.
“What? How did he suddenly gain a golden talent out of nowhere?!”
Elvynna was shocked. Over time, she had learned just how precious golden talents were. Most geniuses only ever achieved purple-tier talents, such as her own incomplete Elven Heritage. Had she not lost the Regal Bone of the Ancients, she might have had a golden talent herself.
There were few in the entire academy with golden talents, and yet Eirik now had two of them!
Clicking on the description of his new golden talent, Elvynna’s eyes widened, her hands trembling slightly.
“Studying magic near him increases the chance of comprehending golden and purple spells by fivefold?!”
She quickly sent a message using her communication magic, urgently calling Eirik back. She couldn’t wait to try studying magic under the influence of his new aura.
But when Eirik returned to her little courtyard at the academy, Elvynna’s face flushed.
She had realized that in order to make use of his new talent, she would have to stay within a very close proximity—just a few centimeters from him, in fact.
“Does this mean... I’ll have to be... hugging him?”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Forget it! For the sake of magic, it’s a sacrifice I’ll have to make. In just a few years, that cursed demon tree will rise, and I can’t afford to hesitate.”
Gritting her teeth, Elvynna prepared to begin her magic studies.
【Congratulations, you have unlocked the new skin: Lovers in Arcane Bond!】
A beautiful illustration appeared in front of Elvynna: a poetic scene of fluttering cherry blossoms, with Eirik and her entwined beneath a massive tree, surrounded by swirling elemental forces. Eirik’s appearance was so striking in the image that Elvynna found herself unable to look away.
“Is this really necessary? We’re just studying magic, so why call it ‘Lovers in Arcane Bond’?”
Though she grumbled, she couldn’t help but admire the artwork for a few extra moments before moving on.
Eirik, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised. For so long, their relationship had been progressing slowly—Elvynna, ever focused on magic, had only held hands with him so far. He’d expected it might take centuries for anything more, given the long lifespan of mages.
But now, thanks to this golden talent, things had accelerated.
Ah, the power of a golden talent indeed!
Still, he couldn’t let himself get too distracted. He quickly relayed the information he had gathered to Elvynna.
“Duke Ashford is collecting the blood of geniuses...”
The demon tree—it was all the work of Duke Ashford?
Elvynna’s thoughts swirled as she processed the news, shocked that Eirik, a seemingly ordinary person, had actually uncovered useful information. She herself had tried and failed to get any leads.
Now, her mind was set. She had eight years to prepare, to raise her strength to the rank of **Savant Level 2**, before the demon tree appeared. Then, she would destroy it.
---
In the real world, Elvynna’s determination only grew stronger.
“I have to find him, the real Eirik!”
After all, if everyone in the academy had a counterpart in the real world, there was no way someone like Eirik wouldn’t exist as well!