Eventually Aishani looked toward him.
"So — what actually brings you here?"
Dante blinked.
"You were expecting me?"
"Not really. I'm just surprised you're here." She smiled knowingly. "And I highly doubt you came all this way just to have breakfast."
Dante kept a perfectly straight face.
"Absolutely not. That was merely one of the reasons."
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together.
"There are two things. First, I want to know more about the Nameless One."
Aishani's expression immediately became serious.
"Why? Did something happen?"
Dante nodded.
"He appeared."
She immediately rubbed her temples.
"I told you not to casually say his name. Both Jurian and I warned you."
Dante chuckled. "I was curious."
She sighed. "...So? What happened?"
He shrugged. "Nothing much. He appeared. Asked why I called him. Talked for a while. Acted mysterious. You know — the usual."
Aishani laughed softly. "He is mysterious."
Dante waved the comment away. "Nah. He just enjoys being dramatic."
She smiled. "That's... surprisingly accurate."
After thinking for a moment, she asked, "So what exactly do you want to know?"
"Whatever you think is worth telling me. You know me well enough not to waste my time with useless information."
She nodded. "Fair enough."
After a brief silence, she began. "All I know is that Jurian, the Nameless One, and I all come from the same continent."
Dante nodded for her to continue. "Even though we belonged to different empires, and those empires were separated by countless territories, his name was known almost everywhere."
She folded her hands together. "Because whenever someone spoke it, he could simply appear beside them. There was no warning. No detectable teleportation. He was simply there."
Dante listened quietly. "That's all?"
She nodded. "As far as I know. If you want anything more, you should ask Jurian."
Dante looked at her. "Why him?"
"Because—" A faint smile appeared on her face. "—Jurian is the only person I've ever known who defeated the Nameless One." She paused. "Twice."
Dante's eyebrows rose. "I knew you two weren't ordinary Mythical Beings."
She laughed. "Oh? What gave it away?"
Dante stood from the couch. "Call it instinct. Some people give of NPC energy others, not so much. I know a genius when I see one."
She smirked. 'I don't get what that first part was but....I guess his sharper then I thought'
"And I'd assume you know one too. Otherwise you and Jurian would've never agreed to work with me before seeing what I was capable of."
Her smirk widened slightly. She didn't deny it.
Dante chuckled.
"I'll see you in two days."
With that, he turned and walked toward the entrance. Dante disappeared through the entrance.
For a few moments, silence lingered inside the mansion. One of the attendants standing beside Aishani frowned slightly before speaking.
"My Lady..."
"Hm?"
"That Mythical Being... Dante. You said his name was Dante, correct?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
The attendant hesitated before asking,
"...Didn't he just say he was eighteen?"
Aishani paused.
"...He did..."
For a brief moment, even she struggled to process it.
Eighteen.
She had unconsciously assumed he was older, perhaps twenty-two, twenty-three, maybe even twenty-four. Elves naturally appeared younger than their actual age, so she had simply assumed Dante was no different.
Yet he was only eighteen.
A child, at least by Mythical standards.
And yet somehow, he was also the most shameless young man she had ever met.
Perverted. Brazen. Undisciplined.
Completely lacking the manners expected of nobility. Every negative word she could think of suited him perfectly.
And yet he was frighteningly intelligent.
That contradiction refused to leave her mind. His carefree attitude made people lower their guard, and his shameless behavior made it easy to overlook the fact that he was a Mythical Being.
A genius.
For a brief moment, a thought crossed her mind.
Perhaps that's intentional. Perhaps the shamelessness is merely another mask.
She recalled the way his eyes had wandered over her legs, then lower, without the slightest embarrassment.
She immediately dismissed the thought.
'No. That's definitely not an act. He's genuinely that shameless'
Not long afterward, Dante arrived outside another three-story mansion. A barrier shimmered before recognizing his identity and quietly dispersed. He walked forward and knocked on the door.
Formal greetings were exchanged. Pleasantries followed. A few minutes later, two men were already seated inside the mansion.
Unlike Aishani, Jurian had only one subordinate, a young man around Dante's age. A Legendary Being.
Dante gave a small approving nod. 'Much better.'
After exchanging a few casual words about academy life, Dante asked,
"So — how have the last few days been?"
Jurian smiled faintly.
"That's unlike you."
Dante frowned in mock offense.
"Why does everyone assume I have no manners?"
Jurian answered without hesitation.
"Because you don't."
Dante sighed.
"So merely appreciating a woman's beauty is considered bad manners these days?"
Jurian blinked.
"...Yes. It absolutely is."
Dante shook his head dramatically.
"How far civilization has fallen."
Jurian stared at him for several seconds before eventually giving up. Arguing with Dante was rarely productive — Dante always remained perfectly calm while everyone else became irritated.
Turning toward the young subordinate, Dante smiled.
"Young man, would you mind bringing me some coffee?"
'Young man? We look the same age? Perhaps his much older, elves huh'
The youth glanced toward Jurian, who nodded.
"Bring me one as well."
The young man bowed before quietly leaving.
The two men remained seated on the first floor. Although every mansion shared the same luxurious standard, the layouts differed slightly — bedrooms, hallways, furniture, each reflected its owner's preferences. The academy certainly spared no expense when housing Mythical Beings.
Dante wondered whether every Mythical student received such treatment. He doubted it.
Jurian folded one leg over the other.
"So — what brings you here?"
Dante answered immediately.
"I just came from Aishani. She said you'd know more about the Nameless One."