< 103. Baeksuje (3) >
#103
Ronan stood up and led La Mancha. Butterfly Rose’s expression was too unusual to take it as a joke. She looked at the two of them back and forth and then sighed.
“…I guess it’ll be okay for you. The doppelgängers have disappeared.”
“yes?”
“There is no time to explain. “If you are willing to cooperate please follow me.”
Butterfly Rose turned her back with those words. Ronan and Ade Shan who blinked at each other for a moment followed her.
The three walked along a hallway with minimal lighting. Long shadows were flowing across the walls and floor.
Because it was close to midnight there were no students walking around. Adeshan muttered rubbing his arms.
“Is it because it’s night? “It’s a bit…spooky.”
“Senior I need to go to the Dawning Magic Tower. “What did I see in the library with all the lights off?”
“Ha don’t do it!”
Every time I took a step the sound of my footsteps echoed. Contrary to expectations the move did not take that long. Suddenly Nabirose stopped in front of the huge double doors.
“think.”
“It’s surprisingly close. “You were in Gallerion.”
The place where the doppelganger was said to have been kept was a small banquet hall located in the Gallerion pavilion. Nabirose took a step back after confirming that there was no one around.
“I will finish the search. Please receive detailed information from the relevant officials.”
“Oh thank you.”
“And aren’t there many good places other than the arena? Like the hill of the four seasons. “I don’t understand.”
“yes?”
“It’s done. “I’m going.”
Butterfly Rose left behind an incomprehensible remark and turned his steps. Adeshan’s face grew as hot as a maple leaf.
“Something like that….”
“What are you talking about?”
Shrugging her shoulders Ronan opened the door. A spacious secret room was revealed. About seven people were walking around the small banquet hall with bamboo statues on their faces.
Given the circumstances they all seemed to be related to Baek Soo-je. There were four janitors wearing armor two of whom appeared to be professors. One was a male student in a school uniform and for some reason her face looked familiar.
“huh?”
The male student turned his head when he heard the door opening. That was the moment his and Ronan’s eyes met.
“…Heeik?!”
“what?”
The pale-faced male student lowered his head. Ronan tilted his head at the inexplicable action. At that time I noticed a wear lion standing in a corner of the banquet hall in pajamas.
Come to think of it that person was in charge. Ronan crept closer and poked him on the back.
“Varen. “I’m here.”
“Ro Ronan? “What’s going on here…?”
“Instructor Nabi Rose sent me to help. “I heard the doppelganger disappeared?”
Varen’s eyes widened at the unexpected meeting. He stroked his mane once and let out a deep sigh.
“Hehe…yes.”
“What happened?”
Varen’s appearance was as haggard as it had been right after reading Ronan’s club activity report. The mane that should have been shiny was as dull as spoiled soap. A voice that sounded like he was about to commit suicide came out of his open mouth.
“To sum it up…suddenly the chest containing the doppelganger opened. “If this is a nightmare I hope someone wakes me up…”
“Chest?”
Ronan looked around. Two huge chests were placed in the middle of the small banquet hall with their mouths open. Four very complicated-looking locks were lying around underneath it.
“So be a good guard. “It’s the same with Dream Bird and Manticore and I’m not very good at it.”
“Hehehe… I tried too. “It wasn’t a lock that could ever be unlocked…!”
Varen sobbed tearing at his mane with both hands. He explained that he was doing his best to manage the doppelganger so as not to cause any disruption to the unemployed.
After locking the chest with a specially made lock nine people including Varen settled into the small banquet hall. His strategy was to stay up all night together to create a gap by leaving the room indiscriminately or setting up a guard. Varen who was thinking about the situation sighed again.
“I shouldn’t have gone to the bathroom… How could this happen…”
But despite his efforts the doppelgangers escaped. By the time he went to the bathroom everything was already over. The two chests were wide open and the small banquet hall was a mess.
The two doppelgangers managed to escape by changing their appearances into a frost troll an attractive blonde woman a giant spider and the mother of all. People were unable to stop the strange creature. Although we were prepared for an invasion by an outsider we could not have imagined that the doppelganger would be immediately released from within.
“How did the lock come off? “I heard they even had it specially produced.”
“That’s really the question. It’s a lock that can never be unlocked without this key. “Only I have the key.”
Varen was rummaging through his inner pocket and took out a bundle of keys. Four keys that looked as complicated as a lock were hanging in a row. In a gloomy voice he began listing the advantages of the lock he had created.
“It might sound a bit old-fashioned to say this now but it’s a really good lock. It’s coated with mithril so it’s virtually impossible to break and it’s also enchanted to prevent unlocking magic. But the fact that it was released is truly ridiculous…”
“Varen. “If you don’t plan on selling me that lock just keep quiet.”
“sorry….”
Varen who had been complaining lowered his head. It was a problem that such a great lock was opened but the bigger problem was that no one saw the lock being unlocked. Ronan cursed under his breath.
‘…those in ruins.’
It was absolutely pathetic. Whatever it was it would have been fine as long as there was proper surveillance. I wanted to gather all the people on guard duty and beat them up but I didn’t have time.
With less than half a day left until the Baeksu Festival there was only one important thing. Capture of the doppelganger. Ronan scratched his head roughly and spoke in an irritated voice.
“Shouldn’t we wake everyone up first and go catch them? “Right now tomorrow is a festival.”
“That is difficult. “If a doppelganger mixes in with the crowd the difficulty of capturing it increases ridiculously.”
“Then what should I do?”
“We plan to conduct a search with as few people as possible. “They are strong people who can subdue their doppelgangers.”
Suddenly Varen grabbed Ronan’s hand. His hands like pot lids were trembling.
“If student Ronan could help me… I think it would be of great help.”
“I came here to help you in the first place.”
Ronan nodded his head willingly. He left Varen who looked like he was about to burst into tears and approached Adeshan. She was examining Chairman Soyeon with her eyes narrowed.
‘There is no one like me for this kind of work.’
Adeshan’s insight would be of great help in the investigation and pursuit. Ronan was just about to call her. Suddenly a voice came from behind.
“Hey hey… are you okay for a moment?”
“hmm? “You were…”
Ronan turned his head. A very skinny boy was standing awkwardly. He was the guy I had made eye contact with a little while ago. Ronan who suddenly remembered his name snapped his fingers.
“Lakota?”
“Yes yes…that’s right.”
“Yeah I heard a rumor. They say he got lost while picking herbs and was reported as missing. “What if the young guy does that already?”
“Ah…ahahah…I did.”
Lakota scratched her head and laughed. He was a boy who gave the impression of being clumsy in many ways. Ronan who saw him twisting his hands and feet shrugged his eyebrows.
“Why are you twisting your body like that? “Are you going to poop?”
“Um… can we talk in private for a moment?”
“I have no hobby of going to the bathroom with men.”
“It’s not like that. “It just takes a moment.”
“Tsk…I’m so busy. “Just pretend it’s not a big deal.”
Ronan walked after Lakota. I couldn’t figure out why the guy who didn’t usually say hello was suddenly acting like this. Ronan saw him coming down the stairs and frowned.
“How far will we go?”
“Please…please follow me without asking anything. “Please.”
The voice was earnest. Ronan sighed and took another step. Walking without stopping they eventually reached the bathroom at the end of the downstairs hallway.
“Was it a bathroom after all?”
Ronan laughed. A soft candle was burning above the urinal. Lakota fidgeted and looked around him. He cautiously opened his mouth only after confirming that there was no sign of anything.
“If it’s here…it’ll be okay.”
“hmm?”
Suddenly Lakota put his hand in his pocket. Click. There was a sound as if he was pressing a button. At the same time a wave of translucent mana spread out from his pocket. Paang! A hemispherical barrier spread out in an instant covering the two people. Ronan frowned.
“What the fuck?”
Ronan noticed that he couldn’t hear any noise from outside. It was a silent magic that he also used fondly. Lakota sighed in relief.
“Hehe…I feel better now. “I used Silent and Awareness Impairment at the same time.”
“How important a secret are you going to tell me?”
Ronan laughed. He called someone out of nowhere and I couldn’t figure out why he was acting like this. Lakota who hesitated opened his mouth.
“…I can’t see the devil’s messenger.”
“what?”
“I was shocked when our eyes first met. Although the knights looked similar I never would have guessed that he was attending Phileon….”
“What kind of bullshit are you talking about?”
“I guess it was a lie to say I was a warlock. Actually I expected it from the beginning.”
A warlock comes out of nowhere? It was nonsense that I couldn’t understand but somehow gave me a sense of déjà vu. Ronan sensing a suspicious atmosphere placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Lakota took a few deep breaths and continued speaking.
“…I did it.”
“hmm?”
“You lifted the lock and freed the doppelgängers. “I did it.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. It felt like I had been hit on the head by a fist-sized rock. His brain was creaking unable to accept the information. He managed to control his emotions and glared at Lakota.
“What kind of bullshit are you talking about all of a sudden? You said you let them go?”
“yes. But it was for the best. The story was moving in the direction of bloodshed as Varen unfolded an unexpected strategy. “We need to hurry before organizations have to re-plan.”
“blood? group?”
“Even if you are embarrassed you should listen to me. We don’t have much time. “If you can stop this situation…”
Lakota was about to say something. Ronan rushed in like the wind and kicked him in the stomach. Wow! Lakota’s body fell backwards and fell into the urinal.
“Ugh! Now just a moment…!”
The Lakota tried to stop him by raising his arms but it was in vain. Ronan strongly grabbed his hair and pulled out La Mancha. Lakota who was moaning in pain froze. The black blade was in contact with his neck.
“Hee hee hee…!”
“If you move it it just falls back. “Don’t be a rip-off.”
“Calm down…! please…!”
His blood was flowing down his thin neck. But Ronan did not withdraw his sword. Lakota’s voice had changed. The mid-range sound which gave a somewhat mean-spirited impression became a calm low sound and resonated.
“Who are you?”
I remember. It was clearly a voice I remembered. Lakota trembled and raised his arms.
“I’ll show you now…so take this knife…!”
“Do it like this.”
“Yes yes… I understand. Ugh…!”
Suddenly he grabbed his hand and pulled it away almost scratching his left ear. Sigh! His pale skin was torn off like a skin revealing his dark and dark complexion. Ronan’s eyes widened.
“you…!”
“It’s me. Balus. “Don’t you remember?”
The blade fell from Lakota’s neck. My brain was creaking as it failed to recognize information.
Poacher Balus. Ronan’s comrade in the punishment unit and a member of Caribolo one of the continent’s leading poaching organizations. He was the only survivor among the poachers who hatched Sita. Ronan gathered his emotions and opened his mouth.
“…Why are you here?”
