CHAPTER 100: HOME VISIT

"I’ll ask questions first," Victoria said with a smirk tugging at her lips, a spark of mischief dancing in her crimson eyes.

"Sure, why not? Not like we’re racing against time anymore," Marcus replied with a matching grin, the edge in his voice carrying that familiar tone of sarcasm.

His gaze swept over the battlefield—or what was left of it. Crumpled stone, shattered lamp posts, and the unconscious bodies of their enemies scattered like broken dolls. Even the overseer remained half-buried under a collapsed wall, still breathing... barely.

"But let’s move somewhere less conspicuous," Marcus added, jerking a thumb toward the carnage. "We’re standing in a pile of unconscious criminals, after all."

"Nice thinking," Victoria nodded, brushing her bangs aside with a flick. Her boots clicked lightly against the cracked pavement as they turned away, leaving the bloodstained ruins behind. The morning sun hadn’t risen yet, but it wouldn’t be long before someone stumbled upon the scene and alerted the guards.

As they moved through the winding streets, Victoria’s fingers flicked and tapped at something only she could see—translucent screens flaring faintly with ethereal light before vanishing again.

Marcus glanced at her sidelong, curious.

"You have a system too, right?" he asked, weaving through a shadowed alleyway.

"Duh. If you have one, why wouldn’t I?" she answered, barely glancing his way as she continued interacting with the invisible interface. "Honestly, that question was kind of insulting."

"Okay, fair. Let me rephrase—how the hell did you get so strong so fast?" Marcus shot her a side-eye as they rounded another corner. "Like, I knew you were powerful, but what you pulled off earlier? That was ridiculous."

"Trial of Pairs," she said simply, still tapping. "Tons of loot drops, truckloads of EXP... and I used the rune combinations straight from the novel."

Marcus barked a short laugh, his eyebrows rising. "You’re serious? You remembered all that from a single book?" His tone was half incredulous, half impressed. "I barely recall who the villain was, let alone dungeon mechanics."

"Perks of being a bookworm," Victoria replied smugly, casting a playful glance his way.

They kept walking, their conversation drifting into the casual kind of catch-up only fellow transmigrators could share—shared frustrations, stat upgrades, and class unlocks. Eventually, the twisting alleys gave way to something more elegant.

A tall gate loomed ahead, wrought iron and silver-threaded enchantments gleaming faintly in the moonlight. The Ravenfield Estate.

Victoria stopped in her tracks, blinking. "Wait... you brought me to your house?"

"Best place to talk without eavesdroppers," Marcus replied smoothly, stepping forward. His fingers brushed the cool metal of the gate—and instantly, glowing runes pulsed along the bars in response to his mana.

The lock clicked open with a soft chime.

"Bringing a girl home at this hour? You’re either confident or just plain dumb," Victoria teased, arms crossing with a mock-stern look. "You sure this isn’t some roundabout date invitation?"

Marcus didn’t miss a beat—he reached up and flicked her on the forehead.

"Quiet. You’ll wake the servants. Or worse—my parents."

"Ow..." she muttered, rubbing her forehead and pouting as she followed him through the gate.

Inside the estate, warm lights flickered on. The foyer welcomed them with polished floors, ornate chandeliers, and that distinct atmosphere of old money and magical prestige.

But then—

"W-What the...?"

A voice echoed from the staircase.

Aveline stood there, halfway up the stairs, now dressed in casual homewear. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the guest behind her brother.

"Why is she here?"

Marcus didn’t even slow his pace. He veered toward the opposite staircase without answering.

"Just a little talk, nothing scandalous," he said nonchalantly.

Victoria paused, scratching the back of her head as she gave Aveline an awkward bow.

"Sorry for the intrusion. Not my idea, I swear," she said with a sheepish grin.

Aveline exhaled, one hand on the railing. Cynthia’s earlier words echoed in her mind.

’Your brother probably has another girl in his heart...’

She hadn’t taken it seriously at the time. But now?

She glared at Marcus’s back, her expression unreadable.

’This spineless idiot is secretly a playboy? Since when?’

she thought. ’Have I been blind this whole time...?’

She sighed again and turned toward her own room, which, unfortunately, lay in the same direction as Marcus’. By the time she reached the hallway, the two had already vanished into his room.

Inside Marcus’ Room

"Make yourself at home," Marcus said, flipping a switch.

The chandelier flared to life overhead, illuminating the room in soft golden light. Ornate furniture lined the walls, and magical artifacts dotted the shelves. For someone who claimed not to be used to wealth, the room was... borderline noble.

"Fancy," Victoria commented, stepping in and surveying the decor. "You’ve really gone up in the world, huh?"

Marcus chuckled, loosening his school tie and slipping off his outer shirt. "Still feels weird, honestly. I went from killer to aristocrat rich overnight."

He sat on the edge of his bed, one leg crossed over the other.

"Alright," Victoria said, her expression turning serious. "Let’s talk. First off—how did Cynthia ascend that fast?"

Marcus leaned back slightly, arms resting behind him. "Honestly? Total fluke. I happened to wander into the area. Ran into a professor who wiped the Wyrm out for us."

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "That’s not what I’m asking. I mean—how did you even get in? That area was locked behind a seal, one even the Hidden Hands struggled with in the novel. Page 345. Ringing any bells?"

Marcus blinked, caught off guard. "Seal? What seal?"

"You didn’t notice it?" she asked, incredulous. "That dungeon is supposed to stay hidden until way later in the story. It opens only after a massive world event—when the first major villain tries to steal that power for himself."

Marcus furrowed his brow, sifting through the fog of fragmented memories. He remembered that arc vaguely—mostly skipping dialogue and speeding through the fights. He hadn’t paid much attention back then.

But now that she mentioned it...

A cold realization crept in.

"We didn’t break a seal," he said slowly. "It was already open."

Victoria’s eyes widened. "What?"

Marcus looked up, face drawn, serious now. "It was just... there."