As the treasures from the box were laid out on the table, everyone found themselves transfixed, unable to look away. Even Felix, who had grown used to his mother's extraordinary gifts, was no exception. Each piece reminded him of the immense love she had left behind.
"According to the agreement, I get the first pick," Felix announced.
"Please, go ahead," Sonia replied calmly.
The terms of their contract were clear:
If there was only one treasure, Felix would owe Sonia significant monetary compensation.
If there were two, they would split them evenly.
If there were multiple, Felix would take the first, Sonia the next two, and so on in an alternating fashion.
Felix, however, would always end up with more than Sonia, and the box itself would remain his property.
Sonia had initially wanted to contest ownership of the box. With its ability to transfer items between reality and the Void Realm, it could revolutionize her and the Observer's ability to exchange supplies. However, the contract explicitly stated that the container belonged to Felix, and he had been adamant about keeping it. Sonia had to concede—after all, the treasure was an unexpected windfall for her, thanks to her luck in acquiring the Killing Intent Sword.
Still, she couldn't shake the suspicion that the sword might originally have been Felix's.
Although he hadn't mentioned it, the way Felix had identified her Killing Intent Sword through its aura suggested he had once possessed a similar artifact. Furthermore, the wounds on the dragon she and the Observer had fought the previous night bore unmistakable marks of Ripple Sword attacks.
Piece by piece, the puzzle fit together:
Felix's half-formed Silver Wings hinted at his advanced power level.
The treasure required both Killing Intent Sword and sufficient mana to unlock.
The dragon's injuries matched Felix's arsenal.
It was obvious: Felix had likely encountered the whirlpool, battled the dragon, and been defeated—losing his Killing Intent Sword in the process. Sonia had merely swooped in to reap the rewards.
The realization sent a thrill through her. She looked down, her face flushed, her heartbeat quickening. She couldn't meet anyone's gaze for fear of revealing the glee bubbling inside her.
This was a double win.
She had taken the Killing Intent Sword and now shared in Felix's treasure.
It was exhilarating!
"Praise the Observer," Sonia thought, barely containing her grin.
"Your turn, Sonia," Felix prompted, breaking her reverie.
Sonia took a deep breath, steadying herself as she surveyed the treasure.
Predictably, Felix selected the pendant box—likely a keepsake tied to future inheritances. Sonia had no interest in contesting such a personal item.
Her own choices were deliberate: the Split Sword familiar and the Swordsmanship Pearl.
The Split Sword wasn't the most valuable artifact, but it was the perfect fit for her. When paired with her Ripple Sword, it unlocked the high-damage miracle Split Wave Slash. Summoning the Split Sword on her own would have taken months of training; obtaining it now would save her time and accelerate her progress in the Void Realm.
The Swordsmanship Pearl, meanwhile, was a universally sought-after treasure among sword mages.
Felix's next picks, however, surprised everyone: he took the Poison Pearl and the Wind Pearl.
Wind magic was a logical choice, but poison? It was an extremely niche discipline, shunned by universities and difficult to study. More importantly, as the son of the Voslotta family, Felix was bound by noble etiquette. Poison was considered beneath a noble's dignity.
Felix dismissed the scrutiny, leaving Sonia to choose her next two treasures: the Torrent and Hydrotherapy familiars.
Felix followed up with the Venomous and Bloodwind familiars, leaving two final options: Weakling and Melancholy Wind.
Per the agreement, Felix had to take more treasures overall, so Sonia could only pick one.
"Which do you want?" Sonia asked.
"Either's fine," Felix said indifferently.
"Then I won't hold back." Sonia selected Weakling, a highly valuable familiar despite its limited practicality.
The Weakling familiar provided a unique boost to mages in disadvantaged situations, enhancing strength, agility, mana, and thought speed based on the disparity between the mage and their opponent. However, it didn't bridge power gaps entirely and was useless in balanced battles. Worse, its psychological impact often undermined its users.
Despite these drawbacks, Weakling was a prized artifact due to its rarity. It could only be born from a miracle—when a weaker mage triumphed against overwhelming odds.
Felix, for his part, claimed Melancholy Wind.
With the treasures divided, the group turned to the next items: miracle spell templates. The contract stipulated that these templates couldn't be copied or leaked, and the originals would remain with Felix. Everyone, however, was allowed to study them.
The box contained ten templates, though only one pertained to swordsmanship: the Evil Light Slash, a miracle combining the Killing Intent Sword and Ripple Sword to deliver a stunning, high-damage wave attack. Sonia memorized it instantly.
With that, the treasure chest was empty—or so they thought.
Adele squinted at the box, inspecting it closely.
"What are you doing?" Lois asked.
"Checking for hidden compartments," Adele replied seriously. "What if Felix pulls out a secret stash after we leave?"
"Relax," Igulite said with a laugh. "The contract covers that too—any discoveries must be shared."
"Good! That's reassuring." Adele paused, then frowned. "Wait. If we find any hidden abilities in our treasures, do we have to share them too?"
"Of course," Lois said, narrowing her eyes at Sonia.
Sonia smiled. "Fine. I'll keep the Swordsmanship Pearl and Split Sword, but I'll give you three the Torrent, Hydrotherapy, and Weakling familiars. Sound fair?"
Her roommates eagerly agreed. After all, they had contributed nothing to this venture and were essentially reaping free benefits.
"But since you're not mages yet, I'll hold onto the familiars until you're ready," Sonia added.
Adele squinted suspiciously. "Why does that sound familiar?"
"Or," Sonia continued, ignoring her, "we could sell the familiars and split the proceeds."
"No!" Lois interjected. "I want Torrent. It's the most valuable. I'll pay to make up the difference."
"I want Hydrotherapy," Adele added. "My mom says healing mages are always in demand."
Igulite shrugged. "Guess that leaves me with Weakling."
With everything settled, Felix stood to escort them out, but Adele had other ideas.
"Do you have snacks? Tea?"
Felix blinked. "There's some in the kitchen…"
"Great! Let's have a tea party!" Adele cheered. "This villa is so fancy—I need pictures!"
"Pictures?" Felix's voice rose a pitch.
"Obviously. How else do we explain where we've been all afternoon?"
Reluctantly, Felix allowed it. As the girls disappeared upstairs, Sonia lingered at the staircase.
"You're not joining us?"
"I have other things to do," Felix said, holding the pendant box tightly.
"Not pursuing swordsmanship anymore?" Sonia asked.
Felix smiled faintly. "Professor Telozan is a good mentor. I'll continue, but I'll never surpass you."
Sonia raised an eyebrow. "Even Voslotta's second son needs protection?"
"Even the Duke of Voslotta must watch his back," Felix said coldly.
"Your noble circles sound exhausting."
"And yet, you aspire to join us," Felix countered. "Sometimes, Sonia, I envy you."
"Spare me, rich boy," Sonia retorted. "By the way, as your senior and beneficiary of this treasure, let me offer some advice: If you're ever forced into exile, don't come to me."
Felix stared at her, startled.
"I'll pretend to help you, then sell you out for a knighthood," Sonia said with a smirk. "Consider yourself warned."
Felix sighed, shaking his head. This girl truly defied all expectations.