< 65. Jarudin the Miser >
#65
Butterfly Rose was looking at Ronan with an expression as if she was fascinated by the world. The woman who was drooling continued her words in her displeased tone.
“…I will tell you about a person so go find him. “He’s normally a nerd but he has some level of expertise in mana.”
“Who says you’re useless?”
“He’s a spellcaster I knew before joining Phileon. He didn’t want to get involved as much as possible but he couldn’t help it….”
Butterfly Rose closed her eyes as if holding back a headache. Ronan who had a premonition that something big would happen spoke in a whisper.
“Hey instructor. “I think this is related to a curse. Can’t we just go right away?”
“You’re leaving. “Where?”
“Dawn Magic Tower. “I somehow got a clue.”
“No luck. “If it is the Dawn Magic Tower entry by outsiders is currently prohibited.”
“yes?”
“It was a pretty famous incident didn’t you hear about it? “It was related to Nebula Clazier.”
“What the fuck?”
Ronan frowned at her. Nabirose said that like the Grancia family a large-scale search operation was carried out in the Five Magic Towers.
Three gang members were arrested at the Dawn Magic Tower. It is said that they failed to escape and committed suicide by causing an explosion using mana reflux.
“I heard it was a pretty big explosion. “I heard that about 30% of the garden was blown away.”
“Did a lot die?”
“no. There were no deaths except for members of the Nebula Clazie organization who blew themselves up. Thanks to early detection we were able to reduce a lot of damage. But they said it would take some time to clean things up.”
“You bastards who are not helpful at all….”
Ronan stepped back touching her forehead. Although it was fortunate that the explosion occurred in the garden it was inevitable that it would be difficult.
Even if Sarante’s ring served as an identification card and allowed entry there was a high possibility that the investigation would suffer due to the confusion. Nabirose said.
“Looking at it things seem to have gone wrong. First go find the guy I introduced you to. Who knows maybe it will help.”
“I guess so….”
“Do you remember where Ade Shan took her Mana-tangled students three months ago?”
“Oh yes! “You mean Jaradin’s office right?”
Nabirose narrowed her brows again after hearing the name Jaradin. It was an expression that could only be made in front of a mountain of documents.
“Yes…Jarodin. You must be tired now so take a rest and then visit. Adeshan will guide you.”
“I will. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“You had a hard time.”
Ronan left Arena 1 with Adeshan. Nabirose who saw the backs of two people walking side by side muttered as if it was annoying.
“It’s nice to see that the guy is taller…”
The late afternoon sunlight was shining on the campus. Unlike them who looked like beggars neatly dressed students were walking around the streets. Adeshan looked at the slowly ripening sky and opened his mouth.
“I feel like I had a long dream. “The sun hasn’t set yet.”
“Sure.”
“I was grateful in many ways today. “Thank you for saving me thank you for listening to my boring stories and…”
“It’s okay. “Anyway it’s a good thing.”
“huh? what?”
“I heard that that guy named Jarodin is an expert on mana. You may also know about the shadow mana that your senior holds. “I was feeling uninspired but I’m glad I did.”
Adeshan opened his eyes wide. It was a day with so many shocking events that I forgot about it for a while. Only then did Adeshan remember the conversation he had with Ronan on the hill of an unknown island.
“That’s right tell me about that. What is the mana of shadow?”
“I really don’t know either.”
It was true. Ronan only knew that Adeshan possessed such qualities and of her fearsome abilities. She pouted her mouth as if Ade Shan was pouting.
“It’s disgraceful.”
“What can I do with what I don’t know? But are you prepared?”
“What resolution…?”
“What kind of determination do you have to become a great general? “As long as I offer to help my senior must become the general.”
“That’s right….”
“You can’t be an officer at a lower level or even a commander in chief. Only the general. “Only the position that reigns at the top of the imperial army is meaningful.”
There was no smile on Ronan’s face as he said that. Sunset-colored eyes were flashing fiercely. Adeshan took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
“…I never thought about anything else.”
“great.”
Ronan grinned. It seemed like it was going to get busier. They parted ways at three paths leading to each dormitory building. Adeshan looked back three times before disappearing around the corner. Ronan took out his cigarette and muttered as he looked at the spot where she had disappeared.
“I’m sorry.”
It was an apology to his old boss. Her will was never carried out. There would be no good days in the life of Ade Shan who was in her same boat.
Ronan stood in place for a long time. He turned his back on her only when the clouds turned red.
Before going to the dormitory he planned to stop by the club building. Suddenly I thought of Ophelia who had left to study blood magic.
‘Now that I think about it it’s been a while since I heard from you.’
The last letter came just before leaving for the Baidian Mountains. Ronan sighed. A feeling of ominousness raised her head.
‘Is this mosquito-like girl really going to eat it and splatter it?’
I’d have to investigate but it seemed clear that something had happened. The car was just entering the club building. Ronan’s eyes widened at the sight of the boy looking at the map with his back to him.
“You’re late. Ronan.”
“…I have nothing to say now.”
Schlieffen had already changed into a neat school uniform. Ronan who saw her neatly combed hair clicked his tongue as if he was jealous of her. She was a perfect contrast to herself wearing rags that she could no longer call her clothes.
“This place is still dirty. “Do you and your colleagues not know the concept of cleaning?”
“Seeing as how you have the time to say something like that I guess you’re in good health.”
“My treatment was completed exactly five minutes after you woke up. “The level of healers here is not bad.”
“You did well. So what’s going on? “I probably didn’t come here to point out the cleanliness.”
“Take it.”
Schlieffen approached and held out an envelope. The luxurious envelope as if it contained an invitation to an imperial ball had the branding of the Grancia family stamped on it.
“what’s this?”
Ronan carelessly opened the envelope. Contrary to expectations there was only one plain piece of paper inside. Ronan’s eyes widened as he took out the paper and opened it.
“you….”
“You probably remember the condition that the frequency of participation can be adjusted.”
On the club membership application form Schlieffen’s personal information was written in elegant handwriting. The corners of Ronan’s mouth trembled convulsively. The continent’s greatest talent has entered his arms. And much faster than expected.
“of course. “You are welcome to join.”
Ronan barely able to control his emotions held out his hand. Schlieffen continued speaking without shaking hands.
“There is one more condition.”
“What is it?”
“Spar with me every day. Regardless of club activities.”
“I was going to do that even if you didn’t tell me.”
Ronan snorted. Only then did Schlieffen take Ronan’s hand. Ronan’s eyes widened.
‘This bastard…’
It felt like I was touching my heel. The palms of my hands which had not yet ripened were covered with hard calluses. It was a stratum created by the accumulation of incalculable effort.
‘I won’t even be able to catch up if I do it roughly.’
Ronan chuckled. After shaking hands Schlieffen suddenly activated Silent Scroll. A solemn voice with a sense of mission flowed from his mouth.
“Then let’s talk about Ms. Iril’s plans to move. “Now that I am a member of the club I should be qualified.”
“Can’t you at least change your clothes?”
Schlieffen shook his head. Ronan had to listen to the madman’s plan until the moon rose.
****
The day dawned. Although it was cloudy there was no sign of rain. Gray-white clouds giving a cool impression were spread evenly across the sky.
Ronan and Adeshan went straight to Jardin’s office. His office was located in Tower 41 on the outskirts of Phileon. Adeshan who was still half asleep stretched and said.
“Uhmmm… It’s been a while since I’ve seen Professor Jaradin…”
“Now that I think about it I heard we’ve met before. “What exactly do you do?”
“I know you are the professor in charge of the mana management subject in the Department of Magic. “I’m friends with instructor Nabirose.”
“Does our instructor have friends?”
“He says it’s not true but I think it’s true when I see what he says sometimes. “When you see them seeming to ignore each other yet secretly acknowledging each other…”
Adeshan’s explanation continued. He said that during classes students sometimes fall into a paralyzed state because their mana gets tangled or their core hardens.
In most cases Nabirose can solve the problem but when all methods fail he ends up asking Jaradin for help.
This was the case the last time Adeshan visited and Zarodin said that with a single wave of her hand she was able to release the mana that had not been released no matter how hard I tried.
“It looks like your skills are amazing.”
“huh. “Because he is in charge of mana management in the magic department not in the martial arts department.”
The two soon arrived at Tower 41. Unlike the magnificent 13th Tower where Varen is located its very simple to put it worst unsightly appearance stood out. Above the dark tower which gave off a somewhat gloomy aura ravens were circling and crying. Ronan asked frowning.
“…You’re in the right place right?”
“Ugh… I did this last time but somehow it got worse…”
It wouldn’t be surprising if the tower suddenly collapsed and human bones spilled out. They went up the spiral staircase and soon stopped in front of a door with a name plate saying Jarodin.
The door was also worn out and didn’t feel very good. That was the moment Adeshan raised his hand to knock. Squeak – The door opened with a creepy sound.
“What’s going on?”
“Aaaah!”
A man with sunken eyes and cheeks reminiscent of her skeleton appeared. She took a step backwards as if startled Ade Shan was thrown away.
“Now Professor Jarudin!”
“Now that I think about it you have a spherical face. Are you still working as a trainer for that monster?”
Her man spoke to her from behind the clasp of her chain. Ronan frowned when he heard that it was Professor Jardin.
‘professor? ‘That?’
She thought that one of the test subjects had escaped. Jaradin’s skin was a light brown color similar to Nabirose’s. Only she was not the healthy beautiful bronze of her own but a dull lifeless brown like the skin of her dying pony.
“Yes… that’s right.”
“What a great student. “If it were me I would have stolen that useless long knife from her and run away.”
“Ahahaha…you may be strict but you are a good person.”
“Seeing that those sounds are still coming out it seems like you haven’t been through anything. “Anyway why is that idiot looking for me again?”
The voice was so cracked and hoarse that it was difficult to hear. Ade Shan swallowed and continued.
“There is a student who is having difficulty manifesting his sword energy. “He told me to go see the professor…”
“You must be a very promising student to have me come to see you even though it is not an emergency. “Is that you?”
Only then did Jarodin turn his gaze to Ronan. Ronan had to make quite an effort to look him in the eye. The eyes which were almost stuck inside the eye sockets had a soft blue color.
“yes. “It’s Ronan.”
“Nice to meet you Ronan. “So your sword energy doesn’t come out well?”
“yes. “It’s a slightly different problem but for now that’s it.”
“This is a problem that prosecutors who are just entering the sword expert stage often face. Would you like to come in first?
Now that I think about it we have been talking at the door all this time. Ronan nodded his head. Suddenly Rodin stuck out his palm through the crack in the door and said.
“1 gold.”
“yes?”
“For your information this is per hour. “I am a busy person.”
For a moment Ronan thought his ears were wrong. Adeshan’s expression hardened. As Ronan remained silent Jarudin continued speaking as if he was frustrated.
“Why are you making such a sad expression? If you are a Phileon student you must have a lot of money. “Isn’t it common sense that you have to pay for doing things other than work?”
“…Surely it’s 1 gold per person?”
“You really have the analytical skills of a promising person.”
Ronan turned to Adeshan. She was flexing her fingers and muttering something with her young embarrassed expression. She was probably aware of her own pocketbook.
‘Damn it why…’
Ronan drooled over her. The money which was so large that it was rotten was all spent on buying a house just a few days ago. She needed to have an emergency fund but the problem was that she had to travel all the way to her dormitory building.
“I don’t have any money right now…how can I not?”
“There is a way. All you have to do is turn your back and go back. “It would be better if I received at least 10 gold from Nabi Rose and returned.”
Ronan closed her eyes gently. It seemed like I knew why Butterfly Rose hated this guy. If I had the same mind I would have immediately cut off the trivial clasps with La Mancha and rushed into the office to step on that living corpse but I couldn’t because I needed help.
Ronan was moaning while touching her chin. Jarodin who was looking him up and down asked in a puzzled voice.
“Wait…what’s that in your pocket?”
“Pocket?”
“okay. “Right pants pocket.”
Ronan began rummaging through her pockets. She came out again and found Sarante’s ring in his hand.
Jarudin’s eyes widened as if they would pop out when he saw the ring. bang! Suddenly the door closed and a rattling sound started coming from inside.
‘How many latches have you put on?’
Judging by the sound there seemed to be at least six of them. bang! Before long the door opened again. Jaradin said in a voice full of excitement.
“Come in. “If you do my favor you don’t have to pay a penny.”
