< 51. Special Adventure Club (3) >
#51
I saw it clearly. The magic that Ophelia initially tried to use was a magic that dealt with the same type of blood as Sita. Ronan opened his mouth as if he was fascinated by something about her.
“…passed.”
She didn’t even think to ask interview questions. Ophelia slowly turned her head after hearing that she had passed. Her white skin contrasting with her red eyes felt not only pale but transparent.
The moment he saw that contrast a certain race came to Ronan’s mind. One of the three beings predicted to have influenced Sita. A race that was unable to achieve coexistence with humans in the past and eventually left the imperial territory and established their own kingdom.
“Ophelia. if….”
Ronan unable to overcome his curiosity was about to ask a question. Ophelia’s voice rang in Ronan’s head.
[…I saw it as expected.]
It was electromagnetic magic. Only Ronan could hear it not Adeshan. Ophelia continued her words.
[What you think is right…but please keep it a secret for now.]
Even the first tone was a cautious voice. Ronan nodded his head slightly. Ophelia breathed her sigh of relief.
[thank you.]
She answered and slowly approached. Sita was staring at Ophelia with her eyes wide open.
“Pyeol-ah?”
“I… can I touch it then?”
It was as if a child was asking if he could eat the candy she was holding in her hand. Ronan glanced at Ofelia’s face and shook her head. He now had a perfect idea of what kind of person Sita liked.
“Yeah well…I think you’ll like it.”
“…lol.”
Ophelia smiled brightly and stretched out her hand to touch Sita. Sita didn’t show any objection and immediately pressed her face against the back of her hand.
“Babe~”
He was such a consistent guy. After finishing the interview Ronan left the first arena with Ofelia. There were so many things to ask.
After leaving the Gallerion pavilion they moved to the main plaza. There was no one passing by and the wind was strong so it was a suitable place for secret conversations.
“Can I talk here?”
“huh.”
“Didn’t your entire species leave the empire?”
Ophelia did not answer. The wind replaced the silence. After walking for a few more minutes a sound rang in Ronan’s head.
[…Not everything.]
“okay. “If you don’t want to talk you don’t have to.”
[no. Although there are very few of them there are still vampires living throughout the empire. I am the only one who entered Phileon Academy.]
“Do other people have no idea?”
[Except for Principal Kratir and a few faculty members I don’t know. If my identity was discovered nothing but trouble would happen.]
Ophelia pursed her lips. She did not explain the circumstances or background of how she came to join Phileon. Ronan didn’t ask any more questions. Ronan sensing that the atmosphere was getting heavy changed the topic.
“Honestly you came because you were interested in Sita not because of the club?”
[huh.]
“It’s nice to be honest. “I don’t think it’s just because you’re cute. What’s going on?”
[I felt the energy of our race’s magic… that is blood magic.]
Ophelia raised her index finger as she said those words. A rose made of blood appeared on her slender fingers. Sita who was riding on Ronan’s shoulder craned her head and her eyes sparkled.
“Pyeol-ah!”
Suddenly Sita’s eyes shined brightly. The shape of her rose was crushed and reshaped into the shape of a bird resembling Sita. Her blood was literally absorbed into Sita’s feathers. Ophelia smiled stroking her sita.
[also.]
“I guess that monster-like magic is called blood magic.”
[huh. It’s so amazing… It’s been a while since I’ve felt the mana of blood but a race other than a vampire uses blood magic… What’s the principle?]
Her tone of voice exuded an inquisitive spirit that could only be felt in conversations between scholars. Somehow I felt similar to the werewolf blacksmith Didican. Suddenly Ophelia who had been touching Sita’s wings tilted her head.
[But what kind of animal is this…? It has four wings just like Orse.]
“It’s a phantom species called dream bird. “I don’t know how it happened but I know how to handle blood.”
Ronan told him about her dream-bird qualities and about her encounter with Sita. Ophelia opened her eyes wide when she heard that she was not yet two months old.
“Two months…?”
“yes. Is there a problem?”
“Wait a minute…but did you just manipulate the shape of the blood…?”
“…Was that a surprise? “They say he did even greater things.”
Ronan told me about Sita’s accomplishments. The battle with Dolan made her bleed more heavily leaving her vulnerable. In Gran Cappadocia the blood of survivors was extensively manipulated to create location pillars.
As her story got longer Ophelia’s face gradually hardened. Ophelia’s pointed fangs glinted between her parted lips. Sita who was looking at her with concern suddenly brightened her eyes.
“Pyeol.”
Suddenly a rose made of her blood appeared before Sita’s eyes. It was exactly the same shape as the one Ophelia had made. Sita bit her blood rose and held it out to her as if giving her a gift.
“oh my god…!”
“What’s wrong?”
“This…is really amazing. Did you say her name was Sita…?”
Ronan nodded her head. Her excited voice flowed from Ophelia’s mouth. Her face which had been expressionless the whole time was gradually showing emotions.
“Maybe…maybe this kid might be able to do it. “Can I ask you one favor…?”
“Tell me first.”
“Can you give me this child’s blood…or just a few of her feathers?”
“Feathers?”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. Suddenly she remembered how she had followed the feather of Marfez the dream bird to Varen. She said Ophelia appealed.
“Originally my intention was to only research and not participate in activities… I will participate really diligently. So not three… just give me two….”
“Calm down. “What is she going to use it for?”
“I plan to use it for research on new blood magic. This time I got a feeling. “When I come back I will definitely teach this child too…huh?”
“…You’re teaching me magic? To Sita?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. It was an interesting story. I was already feeling it but Sita was very quick at learning and utilizing things.
‘Yes even pretty nerds become smarter if they learn…’
The problem was that the magic he was dealing with was so bizarre that he had no one to teach him. In this situation having someone to teach blood magic was a very attractive proposition. Ronan asked petting Sita.
“Is Sita okay?”
“Pyeol.”
Sita nodded her head. After Ronan finished verifying her thoughts he plucked out three of her feathers. Ophelia took Sita’s feather with her hands trembling.
“Thank you…but ahayute…? What does it mean…?”
“It’s the name of a monkey with hemorrhoids.”
“That’s a strange name… Anyway thank you. “I will definitely come back…”
With those words left behind Ophelia turned her back and walked away. Soon a silver-colored bat flew up from the shadow created by the Gallerion tube.
The bat flew toward the west at a speed almost comparable to that of a bird of prey. Ronan muttered as he looked at the bat which was now indistinguishable from the stars.
“…I guess it’s okay?”
****
Training continued every day. Fortunately the club members actively participated in club activities. Otherwise she couldn’t help it because Ronan would go to catch her with La Mancha.
They really came to Nest in their spare time and devoted themselves to training. Because it was basically supported by talent and passion the pace of growth was fast.
“No this doesn’t work? All you have to do is just come in and cut it.”
“ha ha ha! I want to cut your head off too! “Is that a horse or a donkey?”
“Hang in there Braum.”
“I don’t understand. Let’s try again. “Twist her waist and jerk like this!”
Ronan really did his best to teach the two of them. Of course she could not say to him that she had the talent of an educator even if it was just empty words.
To Ronan who could copy most martial arts after seeing them Marya and Braum’s poor performance only seemed like a type of physical disability.
“In my view it’s all due to lack of effort. “Let’s see who wins.”
Ronan who eventually failed to understand ended up introducing a punitive military training system. If you can’t do it you get beaten until you can. However he couldn’t beat up the chicks who didn’t even have blood on their heads yet so he replaced the beatings with nightmarish physical training.
“Wow what the hell…! “How many laps has it been going…!”
“The most important thing is physical strength. If you don’t have physical strength it’s all useless. And if your physical strength improves you will be able to train longer.”
“Whahaha! “Help me!”
Ronan not only trained his physical strength but also trained his muscles. They soon became Nest celebrities. No one could be found anywhere who used the training facilities more actively than they did.
As I did that shit every day changes naturally occurred in my body. One day after finishing training Marya called Asher.
“Try touching the cutie.”
“uh? “Huh?”
“Don’t take it out come on.”
Marya took Asher’s hand and let him touch her stomach. A feeling like touching a stone passed through Asher’s fingertips through the sweat-soaked fabric. Marya wiped her sweat and laughed.
“How about awesome? “I liked the fact that my body became stronger.”
Asher couldn’t sleep that night. Originally Braum also enjoyed showing off his body quite a bit but after receiving about three reports that he was mistaken for a monster during the night he started to show off a little.
After about 15 days Marya was able to demonstrate imperial swordsmanship with her great sword. She came the very next day with a certificate of early completion of the Imperial Swordsmanship class.
“Aja! “I saw it!”
“She suffered” she said. “Now I have to learn fighting skills.”
“Aaaah!”
The next day Braum completed intermediate fighting skills early. She said she was praised by her instructors for being an overwhelming achiever among second graders.
“Whahaha! I heard that your tenacity stands out in particular! “It’s all thanks to you guys. Thank you!”
“That’s pretty cool Braum!”
“Gagging!”
Wow! Braum’s leg was broken by Maria’s habitual fist. However he did not fall like the first time.
Ronan who saw this nodded his head curiously. It occurred to me that perhaps a weapon other than a greatsword might suit Braum. He has a one-handed sword and a huge shield.
‘Anyway when is that bastard coming?’
More than fifteen days passed but Schlieffen still did not return. The only known rumor was that a large-scale purge was taking place in the Grancia family.
Nabirose relayed the news that the information obtained from Cirilla and Dolan was being documented and reported to higher-ups in various circles.
“It seems like the emperor also found out about this incident. He heard a rumor that a special organization targeting only Nebula Clazi was about to be created.”
“It’s going to get more confusing in the future.”
“yes. Anyway what are you doing these days hanging around like that? “I heard Varen is worried.”
“To be exact I’m preparing to run around. “It’s as secret as the instructor’s pajamas.”
Ronan’s scream rang out in the first arena. He became afraid to show his ears to anyone for several days.
Ten more days have passed since then. Marja and Braum succeeded in completing two classes each early. They displayed their early completion certificates on a cork board in the club building.
“This is the third sheet!”
“I have four!”
“Everyone worked hard.”
Ronan clapped his hands. Now their timetable is no different from Ronan or Asher’s. By adjusting the timetable all club members were able to take five days off including the weekend.
“I’m finally ready to go.”
Letters were coming from Ophelia periodically. A letter came three days ago saying that it was really the final step but she couldn’t wait forever.
Now it was time to set off. Ronan immediately contacted the guild called ‘Pale Horse’. It was the only company that could rent a ghost horse that was said to ride on the wind.
While planning Ronan learned that if he rode the ghost horse he could get to Bai Dian in half a day. Of course there were costs involved which were not cheap but that was the school’s problem and none of Ronan’s business.
