-Ring!

The school bell rings, marking the end of another day's classes.

"Haa!"

I stretch my arms upward, feeling a sense of relief—today's lessons center on Language and Literature, which is pretty manageable.

"Hey, Doms, wanna hang out?" Arthur asks as he packs up his books.

I turn to him with a smile. "Sorry, I can't. I have somewhere to go."

"Where?"

I wink and place a finger over my lips, teasing him a little. "It's a secret."

Arthur pouts, a look of mock frustration on his face. "Fine."

I chuckle at his reaction. Arthur's pouting is unexpectedly adorable. No homo, though.

Just then, Lumi's indifferent tone cuts through the moment. "Dominic."

Lumi's expression is as unreadable as ever, and I look over to find her with that same indifferent look.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Let's spar someday. Goodbye."

She doesn't wait for a reply and turns and walks away, her demeanor as cool as ever.

"Tch! That Everheart is always annoying," Arthur grumbles, watching her leave.

I give a small sweatdrop at Arthur's reaction. It's understandable; Lumi's brusque manner can quickly come off as rude.

"Dominic."

This time, it's Maurice's voice calling out. I turn to see him approaching with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Hello, Professor. Is there anything I can help you with?"

His gaze shifts subtly to my backpack, causing me to flutter nervously. Could he sense the Demon Orb inside?

"What are you doing with that Demon Orb?" he asks.

Crap, he sensed it. Am I going to be expelled now? How did he even sense it? Dad put runes in the glass box to make it undetectable. I should've waited until after school to get the orb and then gone to Aurelior.

"Doms, is that the Demon Orb you won at the auction house?" Arthur interjects, overhearing our conversation.

I'm caught between them, and I have to calm down. Overthinking isn't going to help, so I'll just tell them a partial truth.

"Yes, I'm planning to sell it at Aurelior."

"Ah, I see," Maurice nods, seemingly satisfied with my explanation. "Anyway, I will not be training you this Saturday, as it's your father's turn to train you."

Phew. Thank goodness he didn't decide to bring me to the administration office about the Demon Orb. I'm just overthinking, always assuming the worst will happen.

I then nod. "Thanks for telling me, Professor."

Maurice gives a final nod. "That would be all. Be safe at Aurelior."

With that, he walks away, leaving me to collect my thoughts.

I lean back in my chair, feeling the weight of the orb's presence in my backpack.

"Doms, I can take you to the train station," Arthur offers, breaking into my reverie.

I look at him and manage a grateful smile. "Thanks, Arthur."

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

After Arthur drops me off at the local train station, I promptly head to the ticket counter to secure my ride.

With my tickets in hand, I settle into one of the available seats in the waiting area, my attention occasionally drifting to the sparse crowd around me.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Suddenly, a loud voice breaks through the station's hum of activity.

"Listen, you schmuck, I'm tellin' ya, this is the best damn deal you're gonna get. You think this info falls outta the sky?"

The stern, distinct tone immediately draws my gaze. I see a middle-aged, stocky man engaged in a heated conversation on his Commlink.

His round face is framed by a scruffy beard and slicked-back hair thinning at the top, giving him a somewhat frazzled appearance. He's dressed in a notably worn suit, shades of grey and brown, with a tie loosened around his neck and a fedora that seems slightly out of place.

"Hey, hey, don't gimme that tone! I'm out here bustin' my ass. Do you know the kind of heat I'm packin' to get you this stuff?"

I decide it's best not to get involved in whatever is unfolding. It isn't my business; he seems deeply engrossed in his problems.

-Hum!

Just then, the gentle hum of the approaching train catches my attention. I grab my bag and board, quickly finding a comfortable seat.

The man's ongoing and loud conversation follows me into the carriage.

"Wait, wait! Hold your horses, alright? Maybe—just maybe—I can sweeten the pot. Gimme a second... But this is as low as I go- damn it!"

His voice trails off as the call ends abruptly, his frustration palpable in the confined space of the train.

As I settle in, I notice he sits not too far from me. The end of his conversation marks a return to relative quiet.

"It's good that his conversation stopped before the train moved." I mutter.

-Ding-dong!

The speaker overhead crackles to life.

“Bonsoir, passengers. This is your train conductor. We will arrive in Aurelior in one hour and thirty minutes."

As the train begins to glide forward, I lean against the window, allowing the serene views of Verdant Haven to capture my full attention. The landscape outside is a tapestry of vibrant greens and blues, each passing scene more breathtaking than the last.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

After a relatively smooth hour-long train ride, I disembark at 'Gare des Étoiles,' the bustling central station of Aurelior.

As I step off the train, I am immediately engulfed by the dense crowd of travelers.

The station is just as packed as I remember from my first visit, buzzing with the noise and haste of busy commuters.

The overwhelming number of people swirling around me makes my head spin, and a wave of dizziness and nausea washes over me.

I press a hand to my forehead, trying to steady myself amidst the chaos.

"I seriously need to get used to crowded places like these."

I begin to move my way through the crowds of people. It takes some effort, but eventually, I make it to the exit and step outside.

The fresh air is a welcome relief after the stifling atmosphere of the station.

"Haa!"

I let out a long sigh, grateful for the space and the slight breeze that brushed against my face.

Just as I start to relax, I accidentally bump into someone.

"Hey! Watch where you're goin', will ya? People walkin' here!"

I see a familiar face—the same middle-aged, stocky man from the train station earlier. He staggers from the impact but quickly regains his balance.

"Oh, sorry about that; I didn't see you there."

"Yeah, yeah, just—look, not the best time, okay?"

The man hurries away, leaving me a bit surprised at the encounter.

I brace for a more heated exchange, but his relatively composed dismissal catches me off guard.

Now that's done, it's time to refocus my mission on why I'm here in Aurelior.

"Now then, time to find him."

I begin walking through the streets, searching for the character from the Webnovel who can help me deal with the Demon Orb.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

"So, this is the place."

Standing before me is "Le Petit Verre," a bar in a quaint city corner. Its architecture is a charming blend of rustic French elements and modern flair.

The building's exterior is adorned with delicate ironwork and sprawling ivy. At the same time, the wooden door is painted a deep, welcoming green.

Above it, a wrought-iron sign sways gently, featuring elegantly scripted letters that spell out "Le Petit Verre."

I push open the door and enter, finding myself in a setting that's both intimate and unmistakably French—or, in this case, Verdant Haven.

The interior boasts exposed wooden beams, stone walls that speak of centuries-old craftsmanship, and cozy seating arrangements that invite quiet conversations.

Low lighting from wrought iron chandeliers casts soft shadows, enhancing the bar's warm ambiance.

The bar is quiet, with no patrons except the bartender behind the counter. His expression registers surprise as he notices me approaching.

"Excuse me, what's a middle schooler like you doing in this bar?"

I look at him and give him a knowing smirk. "Sapharzalem."

His eyes widen, and he nods understandingly. He quickly ducks under the counter and presses a hidden button.

-Click!

Instantly, the bar's windows shut down with a whirring sound, sealing us off from the outside world.

-Rumble!

A rumble echoes through the room as the shelves behind him slowly slide aside, revealing a hidden staircase leading downwards.

"Please, come inside."

I nod and slide off the stool, approaching the mysterious staircase.

"Now, this is cool."

The character I seek owns this secret establishment, and "Sapharzalem" is the codeword required to access this hidden area.

After a short descent, I reach the bottom of the stairs and face a huge medieval-style double door.

"So, this is it, huh?"

I push the door open and step inside. The room I enter is a striking fusion of Gothic and modern elements.

The architecture features high, vaulted ceilings supported by dark beams, with walls adorned with aged brick and sleek, contemporary metal panels.

The lighting is moody, cast by modern fixtures that nod to gothic torches. The furniture blends into this theme, with leather-upholstered chairs and dark wooden tables that look both antique and stylish.

In the center of the room, behind a grand, well-stocked bar, stands a tall, muscular black man meticulously cleaning a wine glass. He's an imposing figure, his presence accentuated by the stylish sunglasses he wears even indoors.

"There he is."

As I carefully close the door behind me, he turns around, his features obscured slightly by a pair of dark sunglasses.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A new face in my humble establishment. Step in, don't be shy."

His voice is deep and resonant, echoing slightly in the spacious room.

This is Mason Schmidt, the person I have been so eager to meet.