267. General meeting (1)
#267
“There are so many.”
The sky around noon was clear. Ronan who was looking around the plaza narrowed his eyes. When he and his crew arrived Phileon’s main square was already filled with students. The students who had suddenly been summoned to the meeting were buzzing.
“Huhmm…what the hell is going on?”
“Hi…! “I’m suffocating… Marya…”
Marya yawning profusely hugged Asher and murmured. The consciousness of the sober members was still half-dreamed.
They barely washed their faces and were called out to Ronan. Schlieffen stroked his bangs and sighed.
“…to behave in such an indecent manner as to drink too much. “It’s a shame.”
“Hmm the Little Duke of Grancia has also become deeply influenced by the worldly world. “Losing one’s dignity is something we in Akalusia cannot even dream of.”
“Eri. “Why is your hair tied on both sides?”
“omg…!”
They were in the midst of talking loudly. Ugh! Suddenly the space in front of the podium turned over and an old man with a long beard walked out. It was Krava Kratir the principal of Phileon Academy.
When I saw him again after a month I saw that his beard had grown longer. He seemed to have had a hard time sleeping the night before and dark shadows appeared around his eyes. Kratyr opened his mouth.
“Nice to meet you all. It was a sudden convocation but I am grateful that we gathered together like this. “I have something very important to tell you so would you please be quiet?”
Perfect! Kratyr snapped his fingers and a ripple of mana spread around him. As soon as the students’ attention was focused the plaza became quiet. Kratir paused for a moment and continued speaking.
“Starting today Phileon Academy will be closed indefinitely. Students who wish to receive support and protection from the academy may remain but if possible please return to your home and remain safe.”
“what?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. Adeshan and the members next to him showed similar reactions. It was very disconcerting news that Phileon which was operating normally even when the island was engulfed in winter for a year due to the Witch of Winter was suddenly closed.
I thought it was some kind of joke but Kratir’s expression was more serious than usual. The students who had been quiet began to chatter again. A senior student raised his hand and asked a question.
“May I ask why?”
“I’m sorry but it’s difficult to give you an answer this time. However we would appreciate your understanding as this is a conclusion reached after in-depth discussions between the principal and faculty for your sake. Please keep in mind that the managers of each dormitory will provide further details.”
Afterwards several more people asked questions but the only response was that they could not provide detailed information due to circumstances. Kratir turned his back on Phileon saying that he would be responsible for tuition fees and classes he missed.
“Now let’s start the formalities for returning home. Students please follow the guide’s instructions!”
As soon as Kratir left guides appeared from all over the plaza. They led the confused students to their respective areas. Asher unable to properly accept the situation stuttered.
“What is it? “School closure?”
“This is not unusual….”
Marya’s eyes narrowed. Looks of confusion were also evident on the faces of her other members. They were drifting here and there getting hit by the crowd. Suddenly a familiar voice rang in Ronan’s head.
[Ronan. I’m sorry but could you please come to the principal’s office immediately?]
“Kratir?”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. It was unmistakably Kratir’s voice. Almost at the same time Asher and Adeshan who were standing on either side of him flinched as if surprised. Asher who was looking around like a meerkat turned to Ronan and asked.
“Ro Ronan…perhaps you too?”
“ok. “I heard it.”
“I heard it too.”
Adeshan also hesitated. At that time Schlieffen who had been quiet began walking toward the principal’s office. Ronan asked.
“Are you too?”
Schlieffen nodded his head wordlessly. He seemed to still have a hangover as he was holding his head with one hand. There were a total of four people who heard Kratir’s call.
“It sure looks like they’re up to something.”
Ronan looked at them in turn and played with his chin. They were all people who had made great achievements against Nebula Clazier.
The fatigue from Adren still remained but there was still no other option. I had a feeling that something big was going to happen. He said patting Asher and Adeshan on the back.
“good. Let’s go.”
****
The four people walked towards the principal’s office. Contrary to expectations it did not take long to leave the plaza. Phileon’s students took care to avoid them who were now celebrities and created a path for them.
“Please come quickly. “It came sooner than I expected.”
“Fuck this is a surprise.”
Ronan who was just about to grab the doorknob of the principal’s office let out a curse. Suddenly the door flew open as if a wind had blown.
Kratyr was wandering around the room with his back to him. I felt very sorry for him as he looked like a miserable old dog. Ronan asked.
“What’s going on? “Why did you suddenly take a leave of absence again?”
“It was a good idea to call in advance. “If I had gone like that I would have been in big trouble.”
“yes?”
An unexpected answer came back. Kratir looked the four people up and down and breathed a sigh of relief. Ronan frowned after hearing the incomprehensible words.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? “Still I even washed my hair but it’s too much.”
“That’s not enough.”
Perfect! Kratyr snapped his fingers. As soon as their school uniforms became wrinkle-free all the stains that were here and there disappeared. There was no longer any pungent smell of alcohol.
“oh.”
“Now that’s enough. “I’ll go and explain all the details so gather around.”
Kratir motioned for me to come closer. The four of you did that. Seeing that they were within range of the spell Kratir snapped his fingers once again.
Perfect! The space turned over with a cheerful sound. My vision seemed to darken for a moment but then an unfamiliar landscape unfolded before my eyes.
The space was large enough to be believed to be the lobby of an ordinary building and was made of black ore of unknown material. Asher shrugged her shoulders without realizing it.
“Where are you?”
“It’s a secret meeting hall located in Phileon. “You can never get in by normal means.”
Kratir answered. Even though he looked everywhere he couldn’t find a door or window. Although the site was so large I had no idea that it even had such facilities.
There was a table in the middle of the space so long that it could be flipped over and used as a double. There were a hundred chairs in front of the table and all but six were occupied.
But all of their faces looked familiar. Ronan raised his eyebrows when he saw the familiar face.
“That’s my place cat. Get that hairy ass off.”
“Don’t be picky just sit down. “If you try to argue over such trivial things you won’t be able to defeat me.”
“this guy!”
The two swordsmen bickering first caught my eye. Jaifa ignored Nabirose and stretched. The people next to her were furious and stopped her from taking her stand.
“Calm down. Lord of all things! “I’ll give you my seat!”
“ok?”
Ronan’s brows narrowed. If his eyes were not mistaken two of the people stopping him had crown-like hats on their heads. Adeshan said in a voice full of admiration.
“They are the lords of Pale and Tansien. Why in a place like this…”
“What are you really the king?”
Adeshan hesitated. Ronan laughed as if he was shocked. Pale is a kingdom at the southern tip so why did you come all the way here?
Then Jaifa made eye contact with Ronan and shook his hand.
“It’s been a while Ronan. The northern part was greatly indebted to them. “Thanks to you I was able to give his son a proper funeral.”
“Thank goodness. How have you been?”
“That’s okay. “I live with the joy of killing fanatics.”
Jaipa nodded his head. He said that after parting ways with Ronan in the North he and his men exterminated dozens of branches of the Nebula Clazie.
I thought he must have been devastated by his younger brother’s betrayal and having to bury his son twice but I was glad to see that he seemed to have completely regained his strength. Kratir suddenly looked at the head of the table and said with relief.
“Luckily you haven’t come yet. Come on sit down.”
“Of course. “But you know you haven’t answered any of my questions yet right?”
“I’m sorry. I was in such a hurry that there was nothing I could do. “To briefly explain the reason for closing schools it is to prevent students from being harmed in the war that will break out in the near future.”
“War? Oh no way…”
Ronan faintly exclaimed as he remembered what happened in Adren. The two people except Adeshan also seemed to have noticed to some extent. Kratyr nodded his head wordlessly.
“okay. The time has come. “I really need to sit down now.”
Ronan whose curiosity was satisfied did not ask any more questions. Ronan Asher Schlieffen and Adeshan’s seats were high enough to be right next to the head of the table.
As I sat down on the chair I finally noticed the magic circle engraved on the walls and ceiling of the conference room. The thorough design was all about security. Suddenly a familiar voice rang out from across the room.
“Hello…Ronan….”
“Huh? Ophelia?”
Ronan who had been looking up at the ceiling quickly lowered his gaze. A familiar girl was sitting in the seat across from him looking at him. Her silver hair and her red eyes were still beautiful.
“Are you here too?”
“Yeah… Normally the Night Clan doesn’t set foot on the Empire’s land but sometimes it happens…”
Around Ophelia a row of pale-skinned handsome women were sitting. It wasn’t that difficult to figure out that they were all vampires. Suddenly her man sitting to her left was chuckling at Ronan.
“Your complexion has improved. Snack. “It looks like you ate well.”
“Balzac.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. This was the first time I’ve seen a waiting table in a really long time. The vampire who lost her left eye had previously lost a bet with Ronan for her blood essence.
“Why are you here?”
“I just follow the will of the clan. “Like the lovely Ophelia said it’s not an ordinary thing.”
“Huh… So are you okay now?”
Ronan who was reflecting on the events of that time looked at Ophelia and Balzac in turn. Compared to back then the sense of distance had narrowed considerably.
Balzac who had murdered her sister Ophelia could not get within five steps of her despite his ardent affection for her. Ophelia’s face which was as disgusting as seeing her bugs is still vivid. Have they reconciled? She memorized slowly.
“Yeah…the misunderstanding was resolved a while ago.”
“misunderstanding?”
“I knew that it wasn’t Balzac who was supposed to be hated… It was the work of those fanatics that drove her sister crazy.”
Ophelia’s voice sank. The deadly force that dwarfed her mortal self was about to spill over her shoulders. Suddenly her man sitting to her right raised his hand as if to stop her.
“Enough of that. “Ophelia.”
“…yes.”
Life has subsided. Ophelia bit her lower lip once and closed her eyes. He seemed like a person of quite high status to be able to give orders to that princess. When she looked back at Ronan the man whose identity she did not know smiled sadly.
“Isran von Warsaw. “I’ve heard a lot of stories but this is my first time seeing it in person.”
“Warsaw? “You can’t believe it…”
Her man’s last name was the same as Balzac. Ronan who was shaking hands paused for a moment.
An endless force was pulsating inside his black tailcoat. Even if Ophelia and Balzac’s magical powers were multiplied it didn’t seem like it would reach this level. At this level I would fight Orsay too. Ronan who instinctively sensed his identity twisted her mouth.
“…Grand Duke of Shadow?”
“Oh do you know me?”
The man named Isran smiled showing her fangs. She wondered if it would happen but it was as expected. He was the Shadow Duke the vampire lord who ruled the world of the night something we had heard countless times through Ophelia and Balzac.
“Please take care of me. “Hero who saved the dragon city.”
“…me too.”
Contrary to expectations that Isran would be a madman like Balzac he was a very polite man. Even excluding them the conference room was filled with all kinds of powerful people.
Varen and Jarodin as well as magic tower lords such as Aun Pillar the former sword saint who was in charge of the elders at the Faculty Sword Festival of Phileon. In fact it was a gathering of the continent’s greatest powers.
“I’m really all gathered….”
“It’s amazing. After all the organizer is important.”
Asher unable to withstand the overwhelming power trembled and muttered. Schlieffen also did not hide his admiration. Adeshan who still knew nothing was quietly holding Ronan’s hand under the table.
The clock on the wall showed noon. Grumble! Flames rose above the empty head table and a sensual woman appeared.
“Oh…really….”
The Navardose was wearing a dignified uniform that he would have worn when he ruled Adren. The somewhat noisy conference hall quickly became quiet. she said looking around at her attendees.
【It seems like everyone has gathered. Maybe I’m not late?】
“It’s not late.”
【Thank you Ronan. It’s only been two days but I’m glad to see you.】
Navardose smiled. The eyes of almost everyone in her meeting room widened at the sight of Ronan conversing openly with his fire mother. She brushed her hair once and opened her mouth.
【Then let’s start the meeting right away. The agenda is to eradicate Nebula Clage.】
