'Fuuuck,' the butcher cursed.
'Why is her expression changing like that? Something must be amiss," Eren's heart raced as he noticed the surprise on Minerva's face. He had numerous secrets to protect at all times, and in this moment, it felt like they were all exposed.
He felt like he was caught with his pants down.
Needless to say, Eren despised these unsettling sensations creeping over him.
'Damn it. What has she discovered? Is it my Spirit Beast? My Elder Ichor bloodline? My pact with Anfang's World Will?'
Eren's thoughts raced like a wildfire, each second feeling like an eternity.
Eren didn't regret his decision to come for Minerva's Utopia. He was fully aware that Minerva's soul fragment would thoroughly examine him before bestowing her inheritance.
Therefore, he had prepared for the possibility that Minerva's soul fragment might refuse him. He had several solutions for this predicament, though each came with its own costs. In the worst-case scenario, he might have to relinquish Minerva's Utopia forever.
Eren didn't fear the Sage-like existence anymore. At least not when he was merely facing their soul fragments. However, he did not want to create a conflict with Minerva's soul fragment if he could help it.
The butcher was keen on maintaining the functionality of Minerva's Utopia even after obtaining her true inheritance. This dimension formed the bedrock of the City of White Raven, and he was reluctant to let it go if he could help it.
As he poised himself to make a final decision, he watched Minerva's astonished expression.
'I can never count on my luck to get things done, can I?
Damn it. I hope I won't gain another adversary among the Anfang's Sages before departing from here for good. But if that's inevitable, then I must eliminate this soul fragment in its entirety."
Eren masked his thoughts, careful not to reveal his killing intent to Minerva. Removing a Sage's soul fragment from the land of the faithless was nothing new for him, having employed a similar tactic when he encountered Nira Nightshade's soul fragment within Sansara World 1.0.
Eren had eradicated Nira Nightshade's lingering soul fragment to keep his possession of the Spirit Beast hidden from her true self. While Minerva's whereabouts were uncertain, he presumed that like Nira, Minerva had also moved beyond Anfang to continue her journey beyond the Sage level.
Thus, he was bracing himself for another possible showdown with a Beyond Sage entity. But Minerva's next words caught him off guard, stalling any action he was planning.
"You... you possess at least one Sin Series Mark," Minerva uttered, her voice a blend of astonishment and some more astonishment. Her gaze bore into Eren's, probing for something as she spoke.
"I apologize, young man. It seems you are not the rightful heir to receive my true legacy," Minerva announced, leaving Eren utterly flabbergasted.
"What… what do you mean?" Eren stammered, sweat trickling down his brow. Minerva regarded Eren, a hint of bewilderment in her eyes at his visibly agitated state. She couldn't fathom why the young man before her was so flustered and overwhelmed by her presence, especially considering she had concealed her Individuality so as not to harm him in any way.
Minerva also sensed a surge of relief emanating from Eren despite her declaration that he couldn't access her true inheritance. Almost as if he had never intended to claim it in the first place.
'What an odd young man,' Minerva pondered, releasing Eren's hand. With a sigh, she began her explanation.
"Eren, you must have acquired the Sin Series Mark from some pre-Calamity-War-era ruins, correct? It's due to your acceptance of the Sin Series Mark that you're now ineligible to inherit what I left behind in Anfang.
You see, my true legacy would have allowed you to acquire at least one Virtue Series Mark, were it not for the presence of the Sin Series Mark you acquired," Minerva spoke with a calm patience, addressing Eren's perplexity.
Being a seasoned Ranker, Minerva was well-versed in Anfang's workings. Only the truly gifted or privileged Rankers had access to the knowledge about the world's true history. She was confident that a Master Ranker like Eren was already well-versed in many aspects.
"Virtue Series Marks," Eren muttered contemplatively, casting his gaze downward momentarily before refocusing on Minerva. "Are you suggesting that there are Seven Virtue Series Marks, mirroring the Seven Sin Series Marks?"
"That's right," Minerva confirmed, her nod accompanied by further explanation.
"Eren, there are Seven Virtue Series Marks that bestow various Abilities based on one's unique characteristics. However, my true legacy grants access to Abilities linked with only four out of the seven Virtue Series Marks.
Had you not carried the Seven Series Mark, you would have been eligible to acquire at least one of the four Virtue Series Marks under my possession. And two or more Virtue Series Marks, if you were really capable.
Recall the four tests I established as a prerequisite for my inheritance?" Minerva inquired, her gaze locked onto Eren.
At this juncture, Eren's countenance and thoughts were a riddle too intricate for Sage Minerva to decipher. Regardless of the extent of the benefits he might gain from Minerva's bequest, Eren was certain that there would be no antagonistic aftermath involving her.
Although Minerva wasn't particularly excited by the notion that the individual who had rightfully laid claim to her inheritance bore a Sin Series Mark, her disposition didn't appear to reflect any abhorrence toward Eren's presumed demonic affinities. This was a relief.
Hence, Eren opted to refrain from impulsivity and precipitate judgments. Rather, he drew in a deep breath, preparing to address Minerva's inquiry in an impartial tone.
"The Test of Wisdom, the Test of Patience, the Test of Bravery, and the Test of Courage. Those were the four challenges within your Utopia," Eren responded. Minerva acknowledged this with a nod before she proceeded with further elucidation.
"The establishment of these four trials in my Utopia was for a reason, you know.
The Test of Wisdom gauged the propensity for acquiring the Virtue of Temperance Mark, while the Test of Bravery assessed the inclination for the Virtue of Fortitude.
The Test of Courage, in turn, acted as a metric to evaluate suitability for the Virtue of Justice. Lastly, the Test of Patience functioned as a yardstick to measure one's aptitude for the Virtue of Prudence."
Minerva expounded, her gaze focused on Eren as comprehension gradually illuminated his features.
