< 102. Baeksuje (2) >
#102
“This is the first time a doppelganger is being displayed in public. “And that’s just a pair of alpha and omega.”
“Dopple…what?”
Ronan frowned upon hearing the word doppelganger. It was something that only came out of the fairy tales Iril told me when I was young. An unidentified creature that changes its appearance at will.
“Did that really exist?”
“…I really didn’t know. “Then you don’t even know about that ridiculous ability?”
“ability? “Change your appearance?”
“huh. However doppelgangers change their appearance by reading the other person’s mind. Alpha is the being that the subject loves and Omega is the being that the subject hates. “Isn’t it interesting?”
“what?”
Ronan’s face hardened. Marja continued her words while twisting her hair.
“It reveals your inner thoughts that you didn’t even know about. “No one our age would be able to pass by.”
“…turning into an object of hate?”
“They said so. “What are you interested in omegas and not alphas?”
“What do you do when you know who you love? “It’s useless.”
“Hmph you did well. “You’re just going to receive it right?”
Marja pouted her mouth. Anyway Ronan’s interest was only focused on the Omega doppelganger. Although he was very dissatisfied with everything there was only one object to which he could apply the grandiose expression of hatred.
‘…It wouldn’t be a bad idea to calm your mind.’
For a moment Ahayute’s pale face flashed through my mind. That alone made my forehead feel hot. Suddenly a question raised her head.
‘What happened?’
Marya treated the existence of doppelgängers as almost common knowledge but she had never heard of them in her previous life. If there was such a mysterious creature it would surely have been the subject of gossip from fellow poachers.
Ronan was in the midst of thinking. Marya who was tapping his shoulder with her head let out a low laugh.
“Hehe anyway this Unemployment Festival will definitely be held even if it’s because of the doppelganger. “It smells like money.”
“Smell like money?”
“huh. Students can open stores during the festival period. “I already got it big.”
Meanwhile Marya was thinking about starting a business. It wasn’t surprising anymore. As expected the person who became the richest person in the empire had a different mindset.
Come to think of it he said that the size of the top of the Caravel was several times larger than when he first saw it. This was thanks to his success in selling blacksmith Doron’s scrap weapons exclusively and making money from the Baidian Mountains.
‘You are great.’
It was like watching a sturdy wild flower grow on its own without even giving it water. I haven’t paid much attention to it lately but it’s been doing its job very well. Both merchants and warriors.
Ronan suddenly smiled proudly and stroked Marya’s head. It was the moment when my calloused palm touched the top of my head. Her eyes widened and she took a step back startled.
“What are you doing now?!”
“Because it’s special.”
“But still suddenly like this…! “Did you eat something wrong?!”
Marya who was already a couple of steps away stuttered and spoke. Her face was as red as an apple and she seemed quite surprised. Ronan frowned.
“They’re saying something just because I touched his head. “I washed my hands.”
“That’s not what you’re saying…! “I haven’t even dried it yet…!”
Marja smoothed her wet hair not knowing what to do. It was funny that he would do something like that just because he was touching the head first. And it was already wet.
“I’m here Ronan. what’s the matter?”
Squeak. At that time the door to the club opened and Asher came in. He was holding three or four thick books with both arms as if he had just come from class. Suddenly Asher’s eyes landed on the two people.
“…to?”
“Is your cutie here?”
Marja smiled awkwardly and waved her hand. Asher who read the subtle current stopped in place. The wizard’s unique observation skills grasped the situation in an instant.
Marya’s once pale face turned red. Her hair was still dripping moisture. Asher who was following the water droplets on the floor noticed that they extended to Ronan.
‘lie.’
Asher’s face hardened. Ronan’s shoulders were soaked as if they had been hit by her rain.
Ronan was sitting on her desk staring into space as she looked exhausted from the world. She had an expression that she couldn’t make unless she was extremely tired or had just had an ecstatic experience.
“Uh…uhh….”
Suddenly tears filled Asher’s eyes. Books spilled out between her weakened arms.
This was just too much. Asher wiped his eyes with his sleeve and grabbed the doorknob.
“…Sorry for disturbing you. “I’ll go first.”
“Huh? “I’ve already come so where are I going?”
“I am…”
Asher raised his head. His large eyes were wet as if water was about to pour out at any moment. Ronan frowned.
“Stop talking nonsense and come here. “I called you here to give you a gift.”
“…I’ll get it next time.”
“Why is he like this today? “Do you want to come back after being hit?”
“Ugh…Uuuu….”
Asher came sniffling. Ronan took out Vajura from her back pocket. The crisp cover and inner pages as if they had just been bound caught her eye. I couldn’t believe that it was originally cut and crumpled and was in a state similar to scrap paper.
‘I feel bad. It’s definitely a banned book.’
She injected her sparkling mana just in case and this happened. She was somehow an unknown Mana. Asher who was holding her Vajra tilted her head.
“What is this?”
“It’s your favorite magic book. “I worked so hard to get it so please read it.”
“…all the books are black?”
Asher with wide eyes began to turn the pages of her book. Ronan who saw that she looked good nodded her head.
‘Someone who knows how to use a sword should swing it.’
No matter how hard Ronan tried he couldn’t understand Vajra. It wasn’t simply that the content was difficult or that there were many unknown words. It felt like the knowledge contained in the book itself was rejecting me.
So Ronan handed Vajra over to the clever Asher. It’s because he’s frustrated with what he’s doing but he’s a guy with a good head.
One day I might understand Vajra and gain infinite power or something. Suddenly an exclamation burst out of Asher’s mouth as he was shuffling through the sheets.
“It’s amazing. How can this magic system…!”
“Huh?”
“Ro Ronan. “Where on earth did you get a book like this?”
Asher’s voice was trembling. Not even a minute had passed since he handed over the book.
“…Can you read that?”
“Uh yeah…I only interpreted the first chapter by eyeballing it.”
“analysis?”
Asher nodded. He explained that everything written on Vajra is encrypted. That was the reason for the strange sensation Ronan felt. She said that only those who interpreted Mana Logic could read the writing and see the hidden content.
“To be honest it’s incredibly difficult. “It’s a structure that gets more difficult the further you go.”
“Is it so bad you can’t read it?”
“It’s not that bad… I think I can figure it out somehow if I just give it time. Of course interpreting a password and understanding its contents are completely different problems…”
“You are better than the magic tower lord. “It’s not a joke it’s real.”
Ronan laughed. It was incredible but I didn’t know he could really read Vajra. One day when he came into the club he wanted nothing more than to see Asher with black eyes standing over the corpses of the members.
‘Everyone is doing well.’
Suddenly the corners of Ronan’s mouth rose. His colleagues were doing better than he could have imagined.
Not just these two but also Braum and Ophelia. Even the unlucky Schlieffen was becoming stronger through his own efforts. Ronan stood up on his knees and looked back at Marya and said.
“Marya. “It’s been a while let’s spar.”
“Ek now?”
“ok. My body is so itchy that I just can’t do it. “Follow me.”
“Now wait a minute!”
Ronan grabbed Marya’s wrist and dragged her outside. Asher immersed in Vajra completely forgot about the presence of the two people and focused only on his reading. Soon two people’s voices were heard from the direction of the training ground.
“Ahh! “Where did you trip and fall?!”
“Keep your head straight. “The sword has become slower.”
The sound of insects crying could be heard through the half-open window. A dark twilight covered the campus. The noisy day ended like that.
****
Time passed in an instant. As Baeksu-je approached the atmosphere in Phileon became noticeably heightened.
“There really isn’t much left now. “I never thought I would be able to directly participate in the Unemployment Festival which I had only heard about.”
“The manticore from last time will come too right? Ugh…”
Wherever I went on campus I could hear news about the festival. Students discussed the animals they liked or wanted to see and their stories blossomed.
“I’m going to go with my boyfriend. “If you don’t change into me I’ll just kill you.”
“Kkekeu I went to Omega’s doppelganger but didn’t he turn into you?”
The thing that boasted the most popularity was of course the doppelganger. There was no student anywhere who didn’t like this mysterious creature that could read and transform other people’s minds. The fact that Phileon Academy was the first place to be opened to the public also boosted the pride of current students.
“Animal biscuits… The balloon shop is gone… What’s left now for the cutie?”
“I think only street portraits remain.”
“that’s right. We found the person but we couldn’t find the easel right? “Let’s go get it!”
“Let’s go together!”
Marja mobilized all the contacts she knew and began preparing for the opening. Those enjoying the festival would have no idea that all nine stores selling different items were owned by her.
But even then there were bound to be people who couldn’t enjoy it.
The night before the Baeksuje Festival.
Even though Arena 1 was supposed to be empty it was crowded with people. Adeshan asked with a trembling voice.
“Ro Ronan. Are you sure? Wouldn’t that be too much?”
“It’s okay senior. “You have to reach this level to improve your skills.”
To be exact the only ones who could be called human were Ronan and Adeshan. Knights in her full armor surrounded Ronan. Originally he was a magic engineer a training tool that could only be used by third graders and above.
“Then…do it?”
Blue eye light was leaking through the thin gap in the helmet. It was the same type of Lord Madoros that I faced during the entrance exam. Adeshan closed his eyes tightly and chanted a spell to move the knights.
“…in action.”
At that moment the knights’ eyes all turned red. Ronan quickly rolled her body onto her side. Kaga River! Nine blades struck where he was.
Instead of confronting them head on Ronan dealt with the knights mainly through evasion or defense. Huh! The flashing swords narrowly penetrated between Ronan’s limbs. Ronan seeing that the knights were gathered in one place stamped his right foot.
“Eat!”
thud! A hemispherical wave spread out around him. The sparkling roots tangled on the legs of the knights within range. Coogung! thud! The knights lost their balance and collided with each other and fell.
“It’s a success!”
Adeshan shouted clapping his hands. It’s only been a few days but my skills have improved significantly. Wow! Ronan fired sword energy at the incapacitated knights.
Knights who suffered damage exceeding the limit stopped moving. Ronan laughed when he saw that the roots had stuck to all nine people.
“Huh…damn…uhh finally.”
My mana was almost depleted but it didn’t matter. What mattered was whether there was achievement or not. Ronan out of breath collapsed into his seat.
“Oh my… I’m dying…”
“great job.”
He was investing all his time in training the second core and the copied aurors. Fortunately the growth rate itself was not that slow.
In fact it was growing much faster than Ronan’s own mana. Is this what it feels like to awaken the mana of shadow? Adeshan who was looking around at the fallen knights put his hands together and admired them.
“It’s really amazing. “Achieving this in just 15 days…!”
“Huh… thanks to you senior… was your balance okay this time?”
“Ugh. But I felt a little excited. “I think it would be okay to lower his output a little bit.”
Ronan nodded his head at Ade Shan’s advice. It certainly seemed like that when I heard it.
“It’s true…Thank you so much.”
“Hehe I’m glad I could help.”
Adeshan laughed. She knew Ronan’s secret that he was the only one who could copy an Auror. Ronan decided to reveal it after careful consideration.
“Will I be able to copy everything that Instructor Nabirose did one day?”
“Damn I can’t even think about that yet. “Right now we are not even able to properly deal with the roots of this tree.”
“I will help you. Let’s take it step by step.”
“Hey thank you.”
Ronan who grinned lay down in place. The ceiling immersed in darkness caught her eye. Because there was no one there my voice rang every time I spoke.
Adeshan was using his unique insight to assist Ronan in his growth. Most of her advice based on her advanced insight was very helpful. After a moment of hesitation Adeshan crouched down next to Ronan.
“Starting tomorrow I will be unemployed. “Time goes so fast.”
“Sure.”
“It’s so amazing. “After meeting you it feels like everything that happened over ten years happened all at once.”
“It’s because of my mood.”
Ronan said dryly. She Ade Shan just smiled warmly and didn’t say anything in return. After a moment of silence she opened her mouth.
“…Ronan are you going to just train during the festival?”
“Um…well I don’t know. Wouldn’t you like to take a look from time to time? “There are things I want to see.”
“I see.”
There was silence again. It was so quiet that I thought I could hear dust floating around. Adeshan hesitated and then she cautiously opened her mouth.
“Then… maybe you can come with me…”
It was the moment she was about to say something. bang! Suddenly the arena door opened wide and the lights that had been turned off came on at once. Her familiar voice rang out.
“It’s amazing. “What are you doing here at midnight?”
“Instructor?!”
Adeshan startled stood up. Ronan looked towards where her voice came from. A familiar-looking woman stood in her doorway her arms crossed. With butterflies I followed her words.
“Last time you were rubbing your legs in class and now you’re having a secret affair? “You’re bold for your age.”
“A secret love affair…! “It’s not like that…”
“What’s going on?”
Ronan stood up putting in her La Mancha. Butterfly Rose’s expression was unusual for her to take it as a joke. After looking at the two of them for a moment she let out a sigh.
“…I guess it’ll be okay for you. The doppelgängers have disappeared.”
