< 104. Baeksuje (4) >
#104
“…Why are you here?”
It was truly a face I had not seen in a long time. Poacher Balus. Ronan’s comrade in the punishment unit and a member of Caribolo one of the continent’s leading poaching organizations.
In the past Ronan tricked him into signing a fake contract by tricking him into thinking that he was a warlock and that Sheeta was a messenger from the devil. Balus who was completely deceived became a spy who regularly reported information about Caribolo.
That was my last memory of Balus. For a moment the pieces floating around in my head came together. A festival where poachers and rare fantasy species gather in one place. Ronan understanding the situation raised his eyes.
“이 개새끼. “You saved my life at best but now you’ve decided to act like a poacher again?”
“It’s not like that. please….”
“Explain. “Simple and clear.”
“Ugh!”
Ronan loosened his grip on his hair. Balus stood up staggering like a newborn calf. He took a few deep breaths and opened his mouth.
“…A big operation is underway in Caribolo this time. The goal is to seize rare phantom species including doppelgängers before the Baeksu Festival takes place. “I was also deployed as an operational member.”
“This is absurd. An organization the size of Karibolo would have a lot of money so why did they crawl all the way to Phileon and do this damn thing?”
“It is an operation with symbolic meaning. “Recently the status of the organization is beyond words.”
Balus’ explanation continued. The poaching organization Caribolo has been going through unprecedented difficulties since its founding. This was because several branches within the imperial territory were destroyed one after another and the power of the imperial poaching control unit was doubled. Ronan who was carefully organizing the situation nodded his head.
‘The future has changed.’
Originally it was an organization that would survive until the end of the world. The snowball that started with Balus’s espionage seemed to be rolling steadily.
“Money and other phantom species are just appendices. What is important is the act of breaking through Phileon’s security and stealing the only doppelganger in the world. “The purpose of the organization is to make it known throughout the continent that Caribolo’s noose is alive and well.”
“Well it’s something that anyone other than your organization can’t even dream of.”
Ronan nodded slowly. Interfering with Phileon Academy was something that anyone other than the greatest poaching organization on the continent would have dared to think of. Suddenly a question crossed my mind.
“Wait a minute weren’t you a bit of a creep until you met me? “You were deployed on such an important operation?”
“It’s… it’s embarrassing but it’s acknowledged.”
“admit?”
“yes. “I worked hard to avoid being discovered as a spy… but it seems the higher-ups viewed it favorably.”
Balus scratched his cheek as if feeling embarrassed. In short he worked hard to handle the organization’s affairs in order to become a spy but his efforts were noticed and he was promoted repeatedly.
“So it became possible to steal more and more high-quality information. It is no exaggeration to say that all documents from the Ulkanto branch go through me.”
“It’s ridiculous.”
Ronan laughed. In my previous life I had no idea that the gangster who talked about poaching and chattering had such a talent. Balus who had distinguished himself in document work and reconnaissance was assigned to this doppelganger capture operation.
“I infiltrated in advance collected information and copied the key. It wasn’t an easy task since Varen always carried it in his arms. “I did it anyway.”
Balus’ mission was to disguise himself as his student and gather information about Unemployed Emperor and his doppelganger. It was fifteen days ago that he infiltrated Phileon. It coincided exactly with the day the Lakota disappeared. Ronan asked.
“Now that I think about it where did Lakota go originally? Did you kill him?”
“We kidnapped him and took him with us. “You’re still healthy so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Balus informed them that he did not kill the Lakota for hostage-taking. To the place where he is trapped. Ronan breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever the reason if he hadn’t died he could have been saved.
“So why did you release the doppelganger? “What do you mean you don’t have time?”
“We released them to prevent casualties. I didn’t know that everyone including Varen would be on guard there. “If I hadn’t released the doppelganger at that time another gang member present would have activated the Explosion Scroll and taken the doppelganger away.”
“Nimi there was another poacher there?”
“yes. That’s why I said I didn’t have time.”
Balus said that other than himself there were other poachers who had infiltrated Phileon. Considering that Phileon’s security had been breached it seemed like a very thoroughly prepared operation. Ronan spit on the floor and cursed.
“It’s crazy. “This damn school is never quiet.”
“There is no shame. “You said it was Ronan.”
dump. Suddenly Balus knelt on the floor. Ronan frowned at the sudden action.
“What are you doing now?”
“I know this is a shameless and unexpected request. Please stop Caribolo.”
“It would happen even if I didn’t say it but… suddenly?”
“After meeting you I realized how terrible poaching is. “If the doppelganger gets into the hands of the organization first his vicious behavior which has been frequent for some time will spread like wildfire again.”
A sobbing voice came out of Balus’ mouth. He truly hated Caribolo’s actions. He seemed to have seen quite a few terrible things during his spy work. Ronan who was watching the scene answered indifferently.
“There must be another reason besides that.”
“I want to get out of the organization. help.”
“yes. “It’s nice to be honest.”
Ronan chuckled. Balus had reached a point where he could never get out on his own. If the operation was successful he would continue to live through hellish days and if the operation failed and he returned home alone there was a high possibility that he would be held responsible and punished.
‘I treated him a lot.’
He had no intention of killing his old classmate in the first place. In addition Balus performed far beyond expectations while he was planted in Caribolo. Since he is a guy with raw material ability it was the right decision to take him out before he made a mistake. Ronan having made a decision nodded his head.
“Now that you know stand up… hm?”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. Suddenly I felt a sign of presence behind me. I couldn’t hear the sound but I could feel it. Ronan laughed and muttered as if he was talking to himself.
“I guess we’ve been away for too long.”
“yes?”
“It felt strange ever since I was in the small banquet hall earlier. They kept telling me what to do. “Seeing as how it hides its presence it seems quite useful.”
“What is that…huh?!”
Suddenly Balus’ eyes widened. he shouted pointing behind Ronan.
“In the back!”
“I know.”
Ronan drew his sword and turned his body around. Suddenly! His blood splashed along the smooth sword road. His hand holding his dagger fell to the floor.
“Huh!”
Ronan turned his body completely and adjusted his sword. A man in full body armor was holding his severed wrist.
He was the janitor who was glancing at Ronan in the small banquet hall. His blood was gushing out from the clean cut surface. Bloodshot eyes were shining through the thin slits of the helmet.
“Bar Balus…you traitorous bastard!”
“Hey!”
“It was you after all. “You fucking poacher.”
For a moment Ronan’s arm disappeared from sight. An invisible sword strike was fired at the water level. Suddenly! Red lines appeared over his armor-covered left arm and both ankles. Wow! A fountain of blood gushed out from the gap in the cut armor. The janitor who had all the tendons in his limbs severed screamed and collapsed to the ground.
“Ugh!!”
“If you want to cry cry in there.”
Ronan grabbed the janitor’s arm and threw him into range of the Silent spell. The water level which fell like a frog screamed again. The building was loud enough to make a loud noise but the soundproof wall made of mana prevented the commotion from occurring.
“Is it okay because I can scream as much as I want? “It’s annoying so let’s finish it quickly.”
“Gagging!”
puck! Ronan kicked the janitor to the ground and climbed on top of his chest. Then he grabbed the glowing janitor by the neck and thrust the tip of his sword into the gap of his helmet. The struggling water level calmed down in an instant.
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc us us us not for your eyes! please…!”
“okay. “I can’t even walk alone anymore so how sad it would be if I couldn’t see in front of me.”
The tip of a black knife was pointed at his eye. The distance was close enough that if I struggled even a little a hole would puncture my cornea. Kangkang. Ronan continued speaking after knocking on the janitor’s helmet.
“Blow it all up. “How many people are there and where are they?”
****
About ten minutes have passed since then. Ronan returned to the small banquet hall leaving Balus behind. It was his job to remove the blood stains and hide the ill-mannered janitor.
‘We should hurry.’
The small banquet hall was empty as everyone had left to find their doppelgänger. Only Adeshan remained waiting for Ronan as he opened and closed the chest containing the doppelganger. He sensed her presence and waved her hand happily.
“Ah you’re welcome Ronan. “Who was the kid you went with?”
“I fell into the toilet and am washing it. “It will probably take a long time.”
“Huh? toilet…?”
“Sir look at me for a moment.”
Ronan closed the door to the small banquet hall and dragged Adeshan to a corner. He relayed exactly what he heard from the poacher disguised as Balus and the janitor. As the conversation progressed Adeshan’s eyes widened.
“American poachers?! In Phileon now?”
“yes. It’s not a big deal it’s a problem we can solve among ourselves. “Do you have paper and pencil?”
“It exists but…what are you going to use it for?”
Ronan didn’t answer. After receiving a notebook and pencil from Adeshan he tore off five pieces of paper from the notebook and scribbled different content on each. It was information about the current situation and the locations where poachers are operating. Ronan put down his pencil and continued.
“I guess this is enough…Sir can you control birds now?”
“bird?”
“yes. Please call only seven. “With smart guys.”
It was an incomprehensible sound but his expression was serious. Adeshan opened the window and stuck out his upper body. The clear cool night air was drifting across the campus illuminated by the full moon.
After looking around it wasn’t long before I caught sight of the crows dozing off on the roof of the building. She stretched out her long fingers and opened her mouth.
“Come here.”
The shadow’s mana spread forward. The crows that woke up flapped and flew up.
Within a few seconds seven crows came into the small banquet hall. The eyes of the crows lined up in front of Adeshan were colored gray. Ronan whistled in admiration.
“It has increased tremendously. “It seems like just yesterday I was playing with mice.”
“Thanks to you. “What should I do now?”
“Please tie this to my leg. “Can you at least give orders to go where to go?”
Adeshan nodded. Ronan and she tied the notes they had prepared in advance to each crow’s ankle.
“great. I will tell you who will receive it. First Varen and Butterfly Rose. and…”
Ronan called the seven people who would deliver the note. Adeshan’s eyes widened. She asked in a panicked voice.
“The poachers of Ca Caribolo? “I’m sure they’re all talented so is that okay?”
“I need to save that much so I can use it later. “Arondale is the problem but…”
Ronan twitched her lip. There were a total of eight poachers currently infiltrating Phileon. Judging from Balus’ explanation it seemed like he could deal with the rest somehow but there was just one person that bothered him.
“What can I do? “I hope that bastard runs into Instructor Nabirose or Varen.”
“Definitely… I don’t think he’s a worthy opponent for us. Why does Balkar’s fighter act like a poacher…”
“I can’t do anything when it comes to money.”
The words Balus said passed through my mind again. He warned against Caribolo’s executives who masterminded the plan.
Aarondale one of the three great beasts. He was a fighter who had reached the level of Auror awakening with a record of slaughtering a werewolf tribe with his bare hands. Ronan said.
“Let’s leave first. “I don’t have time.”
“huh.”
Ronan and Adeshan left the small banquet hall. At the same time seven crows flew out the window. There were about five hours left until the sun rose. Their goal was to find the doppelgänger and oust the poacher before the Baeksu Festival was held.
“Finding the doppelganger is the top priority. “Have you found out anything?”
“I did find unique mana in the small banquet hall. “It’s broken off sporadically but…”
Adeshan said he found the mana of a doppelganger. Ronan clenched his fists and shouted in delight. It was like finding the criminal’s footprints.
“It’s over there. “I climbed up the tree here and came down.”
“I found one too. “Judging by the fact that the paving stone was broken it looks like it has transformed into something big.”
Ronan and Adeshan tracked the doppelganger with their senses stretched to the maximum. The empty campus was reminiscent of a yellow village where all the residents had left. Only the sound of two people’s footsteps pounded the deserted street.
“Where the fuck did you go?”
Ronan who was walking along the trail muttered irritably. Even though he walked almost across the lot his doppelganger did not appear.
The two people who had been walking for another twenty minutes stopped at the same time. The doppelganger’s traces were cut off in front of the forest in the northwest of the site.
“There are a lot of things… Let’s go in quickly Senpai.”
“Uh yeah. I have to go in. okay.”
Adeshan’s complexion turned pale. Her gaze stayed in the dark forest. Come to think of it she seemed to be afraid of the dark just like before. Ronan who was still looking at her held out his hand to her.
“Do you want to hold her hand?”
“Cow hands?”
“Honestly it’s scary. “There are a lot of guys like that among the fluffy guys so just catch them.”
“…huh.”
Adeshan hesitated and took Ronan’s hand. Her hands which were unbelievably rough for her age were covered in calluses. The warmth was transmitted through the fabric created by the effort. She was about to say something as her ears turned bright red.
-thud.
Suddenly footsteps were heard behind her. It was a heavy resonant voice that was completely different from that of a human.
The two people turned their heads in the direction where the sound came from. Strength went into our joined hands. A huge lizard was standing there drooling.
-Krrrrr….
“her.”
The gap between her head and the ground alone seemed to be over 5 meters. Each of its red flowing scales was the size of an adult’s palm. The head which sprouted a pair of long thick horns was not much different from that of a dragon. Ronan laughed when he saw her monstrous appearance. A dragon without wings. It was Drake.
“I guess that’s right right?”
“…huh.”
“No one would fall in love with something like that… so it must be Omega.”
There was no way it was the real Drake. Even with the Manticore the Drake was not the type of monster that anyone could raise or handle. After catching her breath Ronan placed his hand on the hilt of her sword.
“On a fake topic.”
Drake just looked at Ronan and didn’t react in any way. He was just about to pull out the hilt of the sword. Suddenly Drake’s whole body began to bubble. He backed away as Ade Shan startled took a step back.
“Aaaah!”
“okay. “It’s been a while since I saw you again.”
The boiling Drake was slowly transforming into a human form. Ronan slowly pulled the hilt of the sword.
‘…calm down.’
He desperately suppressed his emotions. He didn’t have the confidence to get through without cutting down the Aha Ute that suddenly appeared. Even if you know that its essence is a doppelganger. Wow! The doppelganger finally completed its transformation and landed on the floor.
“…hmm?”
It wasn’t Ahayute that appeared. A big man was standing expressionless. Ronan made eye contact with his man and froze. Adeshan’s eyes widened.
“…Ronan?”
The man’s face looked exactly like Ronan’s although it had matured somewhat. However there was a significant difference from the current Ronan. This was true of his height which was close to 190cm as was the Imperial Army uniform he wore. A trembling voice came out from between Adeshan’s lips.
“Why…do you look like that?”
I couldn’t bear to look straight. It was a sight that even the word ‘deadly injured’ would not be enough to describe. Dark red blood was flowing from the areas where the uniform was torn and exposed flesh. The sword in his hand was horribly shattered.
But the most terrifying thing was the black lumps sticking to various parts of the body. Seven black lumps were eating away at various parts of the man’s body like mold. The man who was groaning in pain glared at Ronan and said.
-I couldn’t protect anything.
“you….”
Ronan who had been standing blankly slowly took a step back. At that moment the man turned his back and started running away. The man ran at an incredible speed and disappeared into the black forest in an instant.
“Fuck it stop!”
“Ro Ronan!”
Ronan came to his senses late and ran into the forest. After hesitating for a moment Adeshan followed him with his eyes tightly closed.
Shoot a strong night wind was sweeping through the forest. Three footsteps echoed beneath the beckoning tree branches.
