< 108. Baeksuje (8) >
#108
“I have to do it for you. “No matter what it takes.”
“…What happened? “Your expression has been unusual since morning.”
“It’s nothing special but I think we need to hurry up.”
Ronan twisted his lips. The events that happened last night were making him impatient. The Omega doppelganger who changed his appearance into the one he hated turned into himself from his previous life not anyone else.
Blood flowing like sweat a broken sword. The eyes became empty after losing everything and the seven curses were consuming my body. The words the doppelganger repeated lingered in his head.
– I couldn’t protect anything.
It was a pathetic complaint. The moment I heard those words the sense of crisis that had become diluted by daily life regained its original color.
I had to build up my strength to prevent something like that from happening again. To do this the curse that restricted growth had to be removed from the body. Secret who had been blinking quietly opened his mouth.
“This is really fascinating.”
“What is it?”
“I succeeded in interpreting one of your curses just a few days ago.”
“yes?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. Secret suddenly got up from his seat and headed towards the desk.
After rummaging through a pile of documents for a while he took out a notebook. I was impressed by how thick it was enough to be used as a pillow.
“This is the 52nd volume. “Even if I live another thousand years I don’t think I’ll see a curse like this.”
Secret took a look at the notebook and put it on the bookshelf right next to it. One bookshelf was filled with notebooks like the one just before.
“They all wrote down the analysis of your curse. “It was only after going through that mess that I was able to design one solution.”
“Tell me in detail. “What can I do?”
“Do you remember the first time you did it? “When I unraveled the gold that was entangled in my eyes.”
“of course.”
Ronan nodded his head. It was an unforgettable experience. A method of healing that directly enters the world of imagery and removes the culprit of the curse.
He saw his old home in a world made up of memories and his father seething in the form of the shadow of his unmemorable mother. The feeling of cutting his father in his final moments was still vivid.
“okay. I will use that method again this time. “There’s just one problem.”
“What is that?”
“The curse I will give you this time is so strong that it cannot be compared to the first one. Just entering the world of imagery requires a huge amount of magical power and catalyst. As for the magical power it seems like things will work out now that Jaradin has come to his senses but…”
“The catalyst is the problem.”
Secret nodded heavily. Ronan shrugged his eyebrows.
“What do you need? “Is it very expensive?”
“It’s not that it’s expensive… it’s that there isn’t enough quantity. Have you ever heard of the place name Dainhar?”
“If you talk about Dainhar it’s there. “A demonic landscape in the southwestern desert.”
It was a name I had heard well in my past life. Dainhar. Among the rough places scattered across the continent it was one of the places called “Magyeong” that could not be reached unless you were in a place where you had been hit hard.
The harsh terrain surrounded by deserts and the natives who do not know how to treat outsiders with damn monsters have taken the lives of countless adventurers. Ronan who was reflecting on information about Dainhar opened his mouth.
“Ah is it really that black rock that you need?”
“I guess it would be quick to explain since I know. okay. I need a magic stone from Dainhar. “No matter how hard we try to find a replacement there is no catalyst like it.”
Secret sighed. He explained that among the materials used in experiments so far the Dainhar mountain stone was the only one that showed potential as a catalyst.
“Usually about three chunks a year come up on the Imperial Auction House or High Lemien. And as soon as it came up it was sold at a price that was beyond imagination. Unfortunately all I have is a fragment that I purchased a long time ago for experimentation.”
“That won’t work will it?”
“yes. “I think it needs to be at least the size of a thumb to be used as a catalyst.”
Ronan nodded. It was definitely not something you could buy with a lot of money. The magic stone from Dainhar which is worth its name was the biggest culprit that caused people to crawl to that distant hell and die.
It was a material that could not be replaced as it not only contained much richer mana than the highest grade magic stone but also had special characteristics. One in ten thousand. Only a very small number of adventurers with luck and skill were able to return alive from the magic world with the stone in their hands. A downcast Secret continued speaking.
“…Actually that’s why I didn’t contact you even after I found out about this issue. Could you possibly wait a little longer? “I will definitely find another catalyst.”
“It’s okay. “I’ll just get it.”
“huh?”
Ronan said calmly. Secret who was standing dumbfounded narrowed his eyes.
“Are you serious…?”
“yes. I would appreciate it if you could continue your research just in case. Anyway as long as you have a magic stone from Dainhar you can do it right away right? “Is there anything else you need?”
“…That’s it for now.”
“all right. “I will try my best so don’t worry just wait.”
Ronan tapped Secret’s shoulder. Even confidence was felt in his confident gestures. In a way it was natural. In fact Ronan had been to Dain Har once in his previous life.
‘I never thought I’d go to that damn place again.’
Ronan frowned at his memory. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience for him. Even for him who traversed the crossroads of life and death like eating Dainhar was a terrible place.
‘It’ll be better than last time.’
Still since it was my second time it was going to be much better than my first time. The only problem was the time it took but due to Dainhar’s location club activities could not handle it.
‘I guess I’ll have to leave as soon as summer vacation starts.’
The good news was that summer vacation was not far away. Ronan who had been devising a plan for a moment nodded his head.
He had a lot to prepare for in many ways but he had no idea what would happen. Ronan who had finished his business shook my hand goodbye.
“Thank you Secret. “It’s a long-awaited festival so let’s go out and enjoy it.”
“Now that I think about it today was Unemployment Day. “A doppelganger is coming?”
“yes. If you get a chance be sure to go and see it. “Because I caught it really hard.”
“Hmm? “Catching it?”
“There is such a thing. See you next time.”
With those last words Ronan left Separaccio. Jarudin dozed off and saw him off.
After briefly adjusting his clothes Ronan headed straight to the main gate of the Gallerion pavilion. It was to keep a promise he made to someone early yesterday morning.
****
The morning air was cool. A warm halo of light surrounded the campus. I couldn’t believe that this was the place where such an uproar took place last night.
“It’s so peaceful that it’s unfair.”
Ronan who was looking around laughed. The street which should have been quiet was filled with students wearing school uniforms. They were all people who gave up their morning sleep to enjoy the unemployed.
Before long a familiar outline came into view. In front of the huge main gate a tall girl was waiting for someone wearing a crisply ironed school uniform. Ronan shouted waving his arms wildly.
“senior! “I’m here.”
“Ah Ronan.”
Adeshan spotted Ronan and smiled softly. The contrast between pure white skin and black hair was beautiful.
The two people who met went straight to Phileon Plaza. It was to see the opening ceremony of the Baeksu Festival and the most famous event the Grand Parade of Unemployed Persons. Ronan who was examining her complexion opened her mouth.
“How are you feeling?”
“Ugh. I’m completely better now. thank you.”
“I am grateful. Thanks to you a fight that could have gotten messy ended in an instant. “You should have seen the look on that bastard’s face when the poisonous needle was inserted.”
Ronan chuckled. In fact Adeshan performed well even if he was the main player in the victory in last night’s battle. Controlling a manticore while in a dazed state and inserting a poisonous needle into it was not something that just anyone could do. They were walking side by side on the main street.
“Hey…can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
Ronan tilted her head. After hesitating for a moment Ade Shan opened her mouth with difficulty.
“You know yesterday… wasn’t it heavy?”
“yes?”
“No when I was carried on my back. “I’m taller than the guys…”
“What were you up at that time?”
“Hot…!”
Ade Shan who belatedly noticed her mistake covered her mouth. Her pure white ears turned bright red. After a moment of silence she stuttered.
“I guess I was mistaken. Now that I think about it that can’t be possible. Was I asleep? On and on until I open my eyes this morning. huh. “I guess I got confused with another day.”
“Have I ever given a piggyback ride to a senior?”
“Oh wasn’t it there? Then I guess I got confused with a dream. huh. “It happens often.”
“Adeshan you’re not sick yet are you?”
Ronan asked worriedly. Her usual firearms were nowhere to be seen in her gibberish. She answered Adeshan in a rather uplifting tone.
“Well then…! I’m completely fine. don’t worry.”
“Hmm…I guess not. Let me know if it still hurts. “I’ll take you to the health room.”
“I heard it’s okay.”
Adeshan was unable to meet Ronan’s eyes. Even with a knife at her throat she couldn’t speak. The fact that I was awake from the moment I was piggybacked. She chewed her lip as she remembered what happened last night.
‘Idiot I almost got caught yesterday…!’
My mistake was to just stay still because my back was wide and warm. She remembered what the alpha doppelganger turned into when her eyes met hers.
Ade Shan was the one who was sobbing with pride. Ronan who had been staring at her quietly shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s okay if it’s okay.”
“Ugh. I was really mistaken. don’t mind.”
Adeshan breathed a sigh of relief. At that time loud cheers erupted from the direction of the plaza. Ronan turned her head and suddenly grabbed her hand.
“I guess it’s started. “Let’s hurry a little.”
“Ro Ronan? “Your hands…!”
“Why are you doing this again after you caught it yesterday? “I know the shortcut so follow me.”
Ronan and Ade Shan walked across her campus holding her hand. When the two arrived at the main square the grand parade was already in full swing. All kinds of sounds were echoing across the sky in the great plaza filled with people and animals.
“I brought you a real crazy manticore.”
“Aaaah there’s a Salamander over there too!”
“Is it Professor Varen who is in the lead?”
ridge…! ridge…! The magnificent sound of drums was echoing at slow intervals. Under the blue sky all the fantastic species and monsters displayed at Baeksuje were marching in a line.
Faculty members stood between the procession and the students acting as safety guards. Adeshan covered his mouth in admiration at the truly unique scenery he had never seen before.
“Wow… that’s amazing. “It’s a lot more than what I saw in the tent.”
“It’s awesome.”
Ronan nodded her head in agreement. It occurred to her that all her hard work last night had not been in vain.
Varen who served as conductor was beating a huge drum at the front of the procession. Since they were a race it seemed like they were playing the roles of almost a hundred humans at the same time. Just behind him a manticore was walking majestically with its poisonous sting sticking out at Aarondale.
“Kuhuhuhhh!”
“Waaaa!!”
As the manticore roared magnificently all the students cheered. Ronan chuckled pointing her finger at her manti core.
“How about taking control one more time and creating a Baeksuje that you will never forget? This time I’m going to stab Varen in the buttocks with the poisonous needle.”
“Huh? “Is that so?”
“I’m sorry Senpai. “Don’t do that.”
“I’m kidding.”
The two people made eye contact and giggled. Suddenly Ronan’s eyes landed on the Kidokan instructor who played the role of a security guard.
For some reason the werewolf wearing armor instead of a shabby shirt looked quite decent. Suddenly Ronan snapped his fingers in the air.
“Is there somewhere to go on the weekend after the festival?”
“There’s nothing in particular…why?”
“Then come somewhere with me. “I took all the others but the senior didn’t go.”
“…huh?”
Adeshan tilted his head. Ronan suddenly rummaged through his inner pocket and pulled out a shiny metal card.
The plaque made of platinum had the emblem of the Grancia family engraved on it. A bill of exchange that could be used throughout the continent simultaneously became a pass to any place.
“I heard a while ago that it was rebuilt… I’m looking forward to it.”
There were only about 15 days left until summer vacation. In order to go to Dainhar and use it you had to submit a request now.
It was time for him to go forge a second weapon.
