< 126. In Search of the Scream (3) >
#126
“senior?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. The person who got off the carriage was not Baron Dantel’s incompetent son. The woman brushed off her long hair and shot a venomous glance.
“Senior what are you talking about?”
Ade Shan she was standing there. Only his face was the same but he was different in many ways from the Adeshan he knew.
Whether it be the ridiculously luxurious suit draped over his body or his arrogant attitude that lacks his usual friendliness. Her eyes reflected between her thick eyelashes were filled with cold contempt.
She didn’t know where to start. Ronan who had been dumbfounded barely opened his mouth.
“…What are you doing here?”
“How dare a beggar talk to me so carelessly.”
She said Adeshan scoffed. She approached Ronan with great strides and struck Ronan in the face. slam! Her face was tilted to the side as she felt a burning pain.
“Do you really want to die?”
“…her.”
I was so shocked that I couldn’t even think of avoiding her. A drop of her blood flowed from her burst lip. Suddenly a startled cry was heard from inside the carriage.
“Senior Seo…?!”
“What happened?”
Four more people got out of the carriage with a loud noise. This time too they all knew each other. Ronan who saw their faces laughed.
“This is too much.”
Those who got off the carriage were members of the Special Adventure Club. Asher Marya Ophelia and Schlieffen were all wearing rough clothes that a gangster would wear as if they had made an appointment.
Ronan narrowed his eyes. These were the clothes worn by the poachers he had cut down in his previous life. Asher asked in a confused voice.
“Ro Ronan…are you okay?”
“no.”
Ronan placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. No matter how much she calls it a curse she has crossed the line. Asher pale and tired took a step back from her.
“Hey! Calm down…!”
“shut up. You fakes. “What are you doing imitating my friends?”
“Ronan. “We are not fake or anything.”
Maryah helped Asher. Adeshan was still grinning the whole time as if he was still angry after hitting Ronan in the face. match! Marja called out to Ade Shan who caught her attention by clapping her hands.
“Senior. “Come to your senses now!”
“Don’t be presumptuous! Are you trying to match the topic of lowly poachers?”
“I was too absorbed….”
Ophelia who was watching the situation let out her sigh. Schlieffen nodded her head in agreement.
Unlike Adeshan the personalities of the other four people didn’t seem to have changed much. Marya quickly leapt forward and caught Adeshan from behind.
“Professor Secret said. “You can’t get too absorbed in it.”
“Let go what are you doing?”
“Do it quickly cutie.”
Adeshan struggled with all his might but it was impossible to escape Maya’s strength. Asher approached her hesitantly and whispered something into her ear.
Judging by the melody it was assumed to be the chanting of some kind of spell. Suddenly a short scream burst from her Ade Shan’s mouth.
“Ahh!”
Her Ade Shan grabbed her head and made her moan in pain. It was only after about a minute that she raised her head. Her venomous eyes softened.
“This is…?”
“It’s Ronan’s mental world. “Don’t you remember?”
“Have I lost my mind again?”
Marja nodded her head. Adeshan’s eyes wandered around and landed on Ronan. The handprints were still clearly visible on his dirty cheek. Her eyes widened.
“Ro Ronan! “Maybe this is good…!”
Judging by her reaction it seemed like she had figured out the situation. Adeshan came to her as she stumbled and caught Ronan’s face in both her hands. Her voice mixed with moisture came out through the gap between her distorted lips.
“Sorry. I’m truly sorry…”
“It’s okay. “What happened?”
“That…”
Ronan asked. Her tone of voice was reminiscent of the Ade Shan she was familiar with. She lowered her head and was about to say something. She suddenly fell from her carriage and her coachman helped her up.
“Ugh…why me….”
Her hat which was covering her entire face had flown off somewhere. Ronan looked at her coachman’s face and cursed. It was a familiar face.
“Fuck.”
“…Ronan?”
Braum faced Ronan and twisted her mouth. Red blood was flowing down from his forehead. It was because he was hit directly by a rock thrown by Ronan.
I noticed her ankles were turned in a strange direction. Her mouth appeared to have been injured as a result of falling from her carriage. Ophelia who was standing still approached Braum.
“Braum…are you okay?”
“Ugh…I can hold on. “I guess I was overly immersed.”
“be careful. “I told you that if you get hurt here… you’ll get hurt in real life too.”
“what?”
Ronan’s expression distorted. she asked as he grabbed both of Marja’s shoulders as he stood next to her.
“What kind of bullshit is that? “You get hurt in real life too?”
“…Literally. “But I can fix it when I go back.”
“You crazy bastards. What on earth have you done? ”
Ronan who was looking around at her members growled lowly. She seemed ready to stab me at any moment. Onlookers flinched at the murderous stains spreading over his shoulders.
“If you don’t tell me straight away…”
“Let me…explain.”
Then she Ade Shan stepped forward. It was so sad to see her so downcast. Ronan who barely swallowed her words nodded at her.
“…Tell me something.”
“We are here to help you. “Do you know that three months have already passed outside?”
“…Are you kidding me?”
“Really. You keep falling asleep in Sephardio. “Professor Secret said that time can flow differently in the world of images.”
Ronan’s face hardened. I couldn’t understand what that meant. It must have only been a few hours at most since I entered the world of images but it’s been three months.
“It seemed impossible so we all went to see Professor Secret. I asked if there was any way I could help. “I begged him for three days and nights to say no and eventually he let me in here.”
“There’s no way something like that is possible.”
“It’s the truth.”
Schlieffen shook his head as if to help. The explanation continued. On the fifteenth day after Ronan entered the sea Secret succeeded in developing a magic that allows others to enter the world of images.
Secrit tried to dissuade him saying that the magic was not yet perfect but his members did not listen to him. Like Adeshan or Braum they could suffer from identity confusion and the typical precautions were that wounds suffered in the images would remain in the real body.
That was why several people were sent even though it was a simple mission. If one person gets tired the others have to come to their senses. Adeshan who was rummaging through his pockets held out something.
“Still I’m glad I found you quickly. Now take it.”
“What is this?”
Ronan tilted his head. It was a small flat cube the size of the palm of your hand. A red needle was spinning inside the glass plate.
“A compass that finds the source of the curse. Professor Secret created it using magic. In fact it is no exaggeration to say that I came here to deliver this.”
Adeshan explained that the source of the curse can be found by following where the six-sided needle points. It was a simple yet powerful effect.
Ronan accepted the compass even though he looked suspicious. At that moment the needle that had been rotating non-stop suddenly stopped. The red pointed point was pointing behind Ronan.
“what?”
Ronan turned his head. The girl was crying while hugging the dying Sita.
no way. Ronan mumbled and walked to their side. The needle slowly turned and pointed to the girl and Sita again.
“Damn.”
Ronan laughed. If Adeshan’s words were true the meaning was obvious. The girl who felt Ronan’s eyes change hugged her Sita tighter.
“Why are you doing this…?”
Instead of answering Ronan circled around the girl and Sita. The tip of the needle which rotated every time it moved remained fixed on the two.
Ronan went around once and stopped in place. He suddenly noticed that sparkling mana was creeping up over the bodies of the girl and Sita. The members approached Ronan who was frozen like a tombstone.
“Ronan. “You have to accept it.”
“Everyone is worried…that they won’t be able to wake up like this forever.”
Asher said in a voice filled with concern. He let us know that everyone was worried about the anniversary being longer than expected. Ronan chewed his lips. Before I knew it Schlieffen approached me and held out his sword.
“Do what you have to do.”
Ronan accepted the sword as if possessed by something. It was a pretty good sword with a good edge.
Schlieffen was right. Even if I didn’t feel like it I had to cut it. Ronan nodded his head and looked back at the girl and Sita.
“…okay. “I have to go back.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
The members’ expressions became brighter. Ronan sighed lightly and pulled the hilt of his sword. Suddenly. A semi-circular slash passed through the four people except Adeshan.
“Huh…!”
There was no one to resist. Four heads rose into the air. Sigh! Blood spurted out like a fountain and wet Ronan’s face.
Disembodied heads fell to the floor. Screams erupted from the street. Ronan swung his sword again. The sword energy fired along the sword path flew straight toward Braum. Suddenly! Braum’s body unable to move due to an injured ankle was cut in half and fell. Adeshan’s face turned pale.
“Ro Ronan. What now…!”
The special adventure club was wiped out. Adeshan whose legs lost strength fell down. Ronan who had quietly led the way opened his mouth.
“I’m disappointed. “I thought you would spit out some useful information.”
“Everyone is dead…why…!”
“Do it in moderation. This is fake. “If you were planning on deceiving me in the first place you shouldn’t have brought that bastard.”
Ronan lifted the tip of his chin and pointed at Schlieffen’s head. Adeshan who was sitting down and taking a step back spoke in a trembling voice.
“What does that mean?”
“That bastard is a good guy even if he’s a bit unlucky. “I have to protect my sister but there’s no way she’s coming.”
If he was someone who would break his oath by only being away for three months I wouldn’t have asked him to do it. Ronan slowly approached Adeshan. As she rode up to her carriage she looked up at Ronan her horrified look on her face.
“and….”
“Gagging!”
Ronan dragging his horse’s tail grabbed Adeshan by the neck. She struggled with all her might but Ronan did not loosen his hold on her. He growled pressing his face against hers until their foreheads touched.
“They all promised me. I will work hard until I return. “I won’t disappoint you.”
“Ro Ronan…!”
“How dare you insult my friends?”
A metallic sound was coming out from between the bloodless lips. Ronan never relaxed his grip. Ade Shan’s body went limp as she struggled. Ronan who had raised her body muttered as if spitting on her.
“More than anything…senior is not as ugly as you.”
Ronan closed her eyes and opened them. The person held in his grasp changed. Ade Shan was gone and a young man who had eaten her was dead with his tongue sticking out. He was the son of Baron Dantel who had committed suicide in his previous life.
“Assholes.”
The decapitated bodies of the members were also replaced with those of the poachers seen at the time. Ronan who had thrown the young man away turned his head towards her.
Many of the buildings and people disappeared everywhere leaving only a long and wide street that stretched beyond the field of vision. Sita and the girl who had suddenly recovered were looking at Ronan blankly.
“So what are you guys?”
Ronan said. The sparkling mana could no longer be felt in their bodies. The girl with her bright smile gave Ronan a belly bow.
“Thank you.”
“month!”
Sita wagging her tail barked loudly. Her face looked like she was smiling as she stuck out her tongue and panted. Suddenly Ronan’s vision became blurry.
“멍청한 개새끼.”
People who should have died did not. I felt like I had made up for my past mistakes. Ronan rubbing his eyes with his sleeve opened his mouth.
“Don’t ever appear before my eyes again.”
No answer came back. When Ronan looked ahead again the two figures had disappeared without a trace. There was a wide expanse of space left with nothing but a road.
“Shit….”
Ronan rested his forehead and sighed. Even though I hadn’t done anything I felt tired as if I had been through a war.
No matter how fake you knew it was it wasn’t easy to kill people close to you. Just then a familiar voice was heard from behind.
“It’s pretty good.”
Eerie goosebumps ran all over my body. I didn’t feel like I was popular at all until I got closer. Ronan turned pulling at the hilt of his sword. A beggar resembling a water strider was standing with his hands in his pockets.
“you…!”
“It seems like you have enough insight to make the right decision. “You can move on to the next step.”
Ronan’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. The water strider’s face turned into a black shadow and was waving. It was similar to the shadow of his father that he had seen earlier. Ronan instinctively recognized that the beggar before his eyes was the source of the curse.
“You’ve grown so much. “The growth rate of mortals is simply admirable.”
“Die!”
Ronan swung his sword reflexively. The water strider easily dodged the attack by twisting his neck.
Even if he tried to throw a series of slashes he just continued to evade by freely changing his body. Kagak! The water strider holding the blade with his shadow opened his mouth.
“Calm down. “Because I’m not the one you need to cut.”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“I’ll show you how to gain strength and get out of here. “But before that there is something you need to see.”
It was an incomprehensible sound. Ronan was about to say something. The shadow that extended his body as if exploding fell upon him. A gloomy voice rang out in the darkness where nothing could be seen.
“We’ll have to decide by the time we get out of here.”
“…!”
He couldn’t move his body even though it felt like it was licking his brain. It felt like my body was melting into liquid form. All five senses were disappearing one by one. It was a moment when even my last remaining sense of hearing was about to melt into the distant darkness.
“What is right and what is wrong…black and white.”
The shadow whispered softly. Ronan’s consciousness which had been moving away finally broke out. His completely melted body began to flow somewhere.
****
“Huh oh oh!”
Ronan raised his body as if jumping. The five senses that had disappeared were back. He felt something strange and quickly looked around him.
“This is….”
It was a plain room. Jardin’s office was even better than this. There was no furniture other than a bed and desk chair to be found in the space made of grayish-white stone.
Ronan suddenly noticed that his visibility was much higher and turned his gaze to his hands and feet. The large palms sticking out of his white sleeves were not his own.
“What the fuck happened?”
Ronan stumbled towards his desk. A few sheets of parchment and a small feather pen were placed on a table made of worn-out wood. Ronan’s eyes widened as he picked up the pendant.
“This is…!”
The crude pendant carved out of stone was in the shape of a seven-pointed star. It had the same shape as the badge on the sleeve of Teranil the bishop of Nebula Clage. Suddenly what Secrit had said in the past flashed through his mind.
‘Father’s memories.’
He explained that his father’s memories may have been flowing into him when he cast the curse. In fact even at the time of his previous rebirth Ronan wandered around Nimburton which was created based on his father’s memories.
So what about this now? Ronan was thinking about various scenarios. The door opened with a short knock. A woman in a pure white robe came in with her head down. Her long pointed ears which stretched out to about the width of her shoulders were evidence of her race.
“Savior. Are you okay?”
“…what?”
“I came here after hearing screams. “Did you have a nightmare?”
She was a woman I had never seen before. However her eyes were familiar with the robe she was wearing. Other than the material being a little worn it was the same as the one worn by Nebula Clazier’s followers. This was the car where Ronan was standing without saying anything. She pursed her lips arbitrarily and her voice flowed out.
“no. “It’s okay.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. She tried to add something but no voice came out. It felt like her soul was trapped inside her body not even moving as intended.
“Is that so? “Thank goodness.”
The elf woman raised her head. She was an impressive beauty her bright red eyes as if they were studded with rubies. Her grin opened as she pointed to her door.
“Then go. “Innocent people are waiting today too.”
