Chapter 291 - 290:I guess it’s time you know the truth.
Chapter 291: Chapter 290:I guess it’s time you know the truth.
The entire clearing had gone quiet as everyone focused on me and the old man, Lucien having somehow found himself in the arms of aunt v, the little man was already sleeping before he knew it.
"Lucky..." putting away my jealousy, I focused on the old man’s words.
"The Supreme sanctum ascension tests will be coming up soon, and I intend on having you participate."
"Why all of a sudden old man? I’m still just an outer court student."
"Heh! Little Dante, if you’re just an outer court student, then I’m not sure there should be anyone within the supreme sanctum right now." Old Tian laughed.
"The foolish dragon is right."
"HEY!!"
"I have let you wallow in the shallow waters for too long, now it’s time you start getting serious."
I nodded at his words in agreement.
"There’s more,"
"More?"
"Yes. Rumors have emerged that a secret dimension belonging the the GreatDevourer has appeared within the abyss, you will be tasked as a side quest of sorts to find the place."
"The great devourer..." now that was a name I hadn’t heard in quite some time.
I turned to aunt k and old Tian, the two having just returned from this same abyss should be more knowledgeable on the situation.
"Is this true?"
"Hmm?" Aunt K finally tore her jealous gaze from Aunt V as she turned to face me.
"We’re not sure. We merely heard rumors that the secrete realm of a vampire king had been found within the abyss."
"But you guys said the abyss was boundless, so how was such a thing discovered, and how did you guys conclude that it was one belonging the the great devourer.." just saying that phrase made my mouth bitter, but I pushed through.
"The ones who discovered it were terrans, and it’s been said since time before, that the great devourer had left a legacy within the abyss, so we just assumed this was it."
"And you haven’t gone inside because?"
"Ha!! You think it’s that easy? The secret realm is said to be mobile, never staying in one spot for long, so expecting someone to actively look for such a thing is but a fool’s dream." Tian laughed.
"Then why is it being included in the test?" I turned towards the old man.
"Because this time, the dean himself has gotten involved." Was the answer I received.
"Hmm? The dean?" Now that was surprising.
The elusive dean of the academy.
I had yet to lay my eyes on the man since I came here, and I honestly didn’t think I would ever. So, hearing that he was involved in this certainly piqued my curiosity.
"Yes. The dean. As I’ve told you before, he was the one to stop Dracul’s quest for dominance when the world’s balance was threatened, so he knew best what danger the devourer posed."
"Okay. So what has the dean’s involvement got to do with making finding the secrete realm part of the test?" I asked.
"It’s simple. He will give each and every participant a device capable of tracking the energy signature of the devourer."
"Huh? Hasn’t this guy been dead since forever? How is his energy signature still able to be tracked?"
"Do not judge the dean’s methods with those of the world, Dante. He’s unfathomable." The old answered solemnly.
...
"Okay. Fine. We get some energy detecting devices and are expected to go hunt down a secret dimension in a realm that’s supposed to be boundless? Let me guess, only those who bring something from the devourer’s realm passes?"
...
...
"Pfft...."
"Hahahahahahaha...." Tian and Dakota suddenly laughed, whilst aunt v merely shook her head.
I looked around, confused.
"What’s funny?"
"Sorry little Dante. Forgive us. It’s just, it’s funny how you think anyone expects you to find anything."
"Ehh?"
"I already told you. It’s nothing but a rumor, and the realm itself is said to be mobile. With how vast the abyss is, you can go years and never come across anything, so I don’t think anyone expects anything from such a thing."
"Then why all the nonsense?"
"Because even a one-in-a-billion chance becomes unacceptable when the legacy belongs to someone like the Great Devourer."
"Huh... I guess that makes sense." It didn’t. It just felt like the dean was bored and decided to send everyone on a wild goose chase, and as if to prove me right,
"Oh! The dean has also distributed the devices to the ancient families and some other powers, to prevent any public backlash against the academy."
I knew it.
This was nothing but a wild goose chase meant to entertain some perverted old geezer that probably has way too much free time on his hands.
"Haaa.. fine. So the focus is still the tests right?"
"Yes. Everything else is secondary. Your main concern is clearing the tests."
"And what will the test be?"
"I don’t know. You’ll find out when it’s time."
"And when will this test begin?"
"Soon."
"When is soon old man. I need a time frame."
"That’s all the time frame you’ll be getting from me, so prepare yourself."
"Haaa... of course, I don’t know what I was expecting from an old geezer anyways."
A sudden chill crawled up my spine as I raised my head, my eyes meeting the apathetic gaze of the old man.
"What?"
....
....
"It seems you might be in need of another sparring session."
"Heh! Old man, don’t think I’ll be scared off that easily, I’m not the same man I was a few days ago."
"Is that so? How about we test that and see?"
"I’d love to, but I have something else to discuss."
The mood turned heavy immediately.
It seemed they were already aware of what I had in mind.
"Heh! Why am I not surprised that you guys know?" I asked, shaking my head.
"D.. you need to understand, we weren’t try to withhold information..."
"Aunt V, there’s nothing to explain.. I trust you enough to know that if there’s something I need to know, you would have told me... Anything at all.." the last part I emphasized as I stared into her eyes. I could see her expression shift albeit slightly, as she averted her gaze, unconsciously hugging Lucien even tighter.
The way Aunt K’s hands held Hers reassuringly didn’t go unnoticed as I held my look for a few more moments before,
"How much do you know?" The old man’s voice finally pulled my attention away.
"Hmm?" My eyes settled on the expressionless form of the old man as I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
"How much do I know huh?" I mused,
"Well, other than the fact that the so called ancient families on terra seem to be diluted leftovers of some other more scary powers, or the possibility that my father’s death had the involvement of these same powers, or that terra isn’t what it seems to be since it is apparently suppressing laws and concepts, I can’t say I know much..."
......
......
......
A disbelieving silence fell on the entire place as suddenly everyone was looking at me in utter disbelief.
"Haaa.... At this point, I guess I should say as expected." The old man sighed as he shook his head, breaking the silence.
"Alright then, Dante." His eyes sharpened as I unconsciously sat up straight.
"...You have indeed become strong enough to bear the truth."
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A/N: Truth? What truth could they be talking about? Don’t fuck my book up, you old bastard. I’m still not even closer to 500 Chapters yet.
Anyways,
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Thanks for reading....