24: Seven Weird Stories

Chapter 24: The Seven Great Mysteries

The Seven Great Mysteries have always been a hot topic among the teachers and students at the Academy.

In fact, there are far more than seven mysteries at the Academy. Bored students often hear rumors and spread them wildly, coupled with various forms of misinformation, resulting in nearly a hundred mysteries at the Academy.

But only the Seven Great Mysteries are truly enduring!

Although she was dismissive, Alice had, after all, studied at Royal Capital Magic Academy for four years, so she basically understood the Seven Great Mysteries.

After setting off, Alice spent the entire morning telling Dick the details of the Seven Great Mysteries.

"Whispers in the Women's Restroom" is the most popular mystery. In some women's restrooms at the Academy, terrifying strange noises, like the whispers of ghosts, can be heard late at night when it's quiet.

"The Thirteenth Chime of the Midnight Clock Tower" is known to everyone at the Academy. At midnight, the Clock Tower only chimes twelve times, but sometimes it chimes a thirteenth time!

"Stairway to Another World" is rumored to lead to a strange other world if a certain ritual is performed and a set of stairs in the abandoned teaching building of the Academy is walked an hour before dawn!

"The All-Powerful Wishing Fountain" is located in the central square of the Academy. Just by throwing a gold coin into it, the fountain will bestow good fortune and help you realize any wish.

"The Red-Clothed Lady on the Rooftop" is a vengeful female ghost residing on the rooftop of a certain teaching building at the Academy. It will entice male students with its graceful figure.

"The Corpse Keeper on the Academy's Back Mountain" To this day, the back mountain of the Academy is forbidden territory because there is an extremely fierce Corpse Keeper there!

"The Ancient Tree of Proven Love" is the most controversial mystery. It is rumored that there is a ten-thousand-year-old Ancient Tree in the Academy's garden that can identify love confessions and determine their authenticity.

You just need to inject magic power into the Ancient Tree and then loudly declare your love. If it's a sincere confession, the Ancient Tree will tremble. If it's a lie, there will be no movement.

A hundred years have passed, and many scumbags and heartbreakers have been exposed in front of this Ancient Tree, breaking up a large number of couples.

Some say this is a demonic tree with spiritual intelligence that enjoys playing tricks on humans, making it unreliable.

Others say this is a divine tree that can identify lies and reveal the true nature of scumbags and heartbreakers.

Some even believe that with the right method, the trembling of the Ancient Tree can be artificially controlled.

When introducing the Ancient Tree, Alice was particularly happy because she herself was a beneficiary.

"In the past four years, whenever a boy pursued me, I would make him go to the Ancient Tree to prove his love."

Alice shook her head and chuckled, sighing slightly, "As a result, not a single person could make the Ancient Tree tremble, and I rejected everyone because of it."

"Then, then what if the Ancient Tree accidentally trembled? Would you really accept the other person?" Mina, who was beside her, couldn't help but ask.

"Heh heh, how could that be?" Alice said disdainfully, "Those people pursuing me are only after my power and beauty, they are utterly shallow."

"Even if the Ancient Tree really trembled, I would find other reasons to reject them. There is currently no one in the Academy that I find worthy."

Alice's expression was arrogant. She secretly glanced at Dick, but when she found that he was only deep in thought, she let out a displeased snort.

"Alas, being popular is really troublesome. After school starts, there will undoubtedly be an endless stream of suitors. Should I consider finding a handsome man to settle down with once and for all..."

As she spoke, Alice secretly glanced at Dick again. Upon seeing that he was still in thought, her face immediately flushed red, feeling very dissatisfied.

"Mina! After school starts, I plan to find a public boyfriend to make other boys give up. You help me vet them!"

Upon hearing this, Dick finally reacted. He looked up at Alice and said, "I disagree."

Learning End Magic requires a lot of time, and Alice doesn't have time for a relationship. Furthermore, Dick has other tasks to give her, which makes her even busier.

Undoubtedly, Dick would not allow Alice to waste time on another man, not even a single bit.

"Hmph, why do you disagree? I'm single, can't I find a boyfriend?"

Although Alice's words were somewhat sharp, she had a look of anticipation on her face, perking up her ears to hear Dick's response.

"There's no why," Dick said indifferently, his voice cold, "You are mine, and you will always belong only to me."

Just kidding, Alice had signed a soul contract with him, she was a legitimate slave. Where would she get human rights and freedom?

But when these words entered Alice's ears, they took on a different meaning. They were completely Dick's declaration of possession, a love confession!

"Oh, then, then perhaps we should make our relationship public so that other boys no longer have unrealistic fantasies..."

Alice tugged at Dick's sleeve and suggested in a low voice, her face showing even more anticipation.

She had always hoped that her relationship with Dick was not that of master and slave, but more like ordinary friends, or even... lovers.

"No, that would be too high-profile. Becoming the boyfriend of the Academy's most beautiful girl would make me the enemy of all the boys, and trouble would follow one after another."

Dick's purpose in entering Royal Capital Magic Academy was to complete missions and become stronger, not to act in a melodramatic youth idol drama.

"But, but if I'm single, those boys will..." Alice still didn't give up.

Looking at Alice's exquisite and beautiful face, Dick sighed. Being too beautiful isn't always a good thing; it's hard to keep a low profile.

And it's not just Alice; Mina might also have some trouble. Her pure and cute style is very popular among certain male groups.

"According to the original plan, Mina and I will serve as your attendants and study companions. We will accompany you when you go out and help you reject those suitors."

"Oh... alright then."

Seeing that Dick had said this much, Alice could only nod in agreement, but her face was full of regret.

At night, after dinner, Dick came to the railing to enjoy the breeze.

At this altitude of ten thousand meters, the starry sky was more brilliant than seen from the ground, especially the bright white moon, which was quite dazzling.

"Dick, what are you thinking about?"

Mina slowly walked up to Dick and asked softly. After dinner, she immediately noticed that Dick was preoccupied.

"I'm thinking about the Seven Great Mysteries, especially... The Ancient Tree of Proven Love!"

Dick's expression was solemn as he looked at the distant floating clouds.

His hundred lifetimes of experience led Dick to some unpleasant speculations. This World Task might not be that simple.

"Why only that Ancient Tree? Don't the other mysteries need to be considered?"

Hearing this, Dick just smiled and said, "The other mysteries are probably just some boring rumors and exaggerations."

Only The Ancient Tree of Proven Love, after hearing Alice's detailed introduction, left Dick completely clueless.

How vast was Dick's knowledge? There was almost nothing in the world that could confuse him. This was the absolute confidence accumulated over a hundred lifetimes.

As for that Ancient Tree, Dick suspected that it was the real mystery, and there might be a great terror behind it.

"Mina, after we get to the Academy, we'll find an opportunity to go to that Ancient Tree."

"Go, go there to do what?"

Dick's lips curved into a sly smile, "Of course, it's to prove my fervent love for you."

"Dick... I also want to prove to you that my love is no less than yours!"

Mina's pretty face was flushed. Dick's words made her head feel light.

"Heh heh, you don't have to wait that long," Dick picked up Mina and walked towards the room, saying casually, "We can prove it later."

...

Meanwhile, in the Inner City of the Royal Capital, at Stu Manor.

A burly middle-aged man was savoring fine wine. His name was Boll, and he was the head of the Swordsman Department at Royal Capital Magic Academy.

As soon as he finished a glass, the plump woman beside him immediately refilled Boll's glass and said slowly, "I have a new male favorite who is exceptionally talented in swordsmanship, but unfortunately, he is not a noble and cannot enter the Academy..."

"Duke, if your male favorite is strong enough, he can enter the Swordsman Department through a special admission assessment."

"Heh heh, who doesn't know that the Academy only has nine special admission spots each year, only one per department, and the competition is incredibly fierce. I'm worried..."

As he spoke, Duke Stu took out a gold note from the inner pocket of his robe and slowly pushed it towards Boll.

The gold notes were issued by the Elf Gold Firm. They have branches in almost all cities in the world and are the most trusted neutral institution.

Most nobles like to deposit their money in the Elf Gold Firm. This is the safest and most stable investment, and they can earn interest regularly.

Anyone can take a gold note to any Elf Gold Firm to exchange for money.

The Elf Gold Firm recognizes the note, not the person.

Even if a beggar held a gold note worth hundreds of millions of gold coins, the staff of the Elf Gold Firm would give him the money without batting an eye!

Looking at the string of numbers on the gold note, Boll swallowed his saliva, his eyes showing greed.

"Duke, you've found the right person. The competition for special admission in swordsmanship this year is very fierce, with nearly a thousand people competing for one spot..."

Seeing that Boll had not accepted the gold note, Duke Stu's eyebrows furrowed slightly. He quickly took out another gold note from his robe's inner pocket, the number on it also considerable.

"I believe that the Department Head will definitely make my male favorite stand out, right?"

"Of course," Boll said with a smile, accepting the two gold notes and promising, "First, congratulations in advance to the Stu family for gaining another swordsmanship genius!"