Academy’s Genius Swordmaster Chapter 68

< 68. Jarodin (3) >

#68

Ronan carefully picked up the book. On the cover which was half torn off was written in large letters what appeared to be the title.

“About…the resurrection…?”

Suddenly dozens of ink bottles rolling around at my feet caught my eye. Everything was empty. There were three or four feather pens stained with hand stains scattered on the desk.

‘Could it be that he wrote it himself?’

It seemed like a book written by Jarudin himself. Ronan slowly turned the pages.

The date and records of that day were written on each page. The first record is from 1031 Imperial Calendar. It was written 17 years ago.

[…Fortunately we were able to preserve it before it decayed. I agree with the Darbat monks that the body is a vessel for the soul. As long as the vessel remains intact Sunya will definitely return.]

‘Sunya? Is that her name?’

Ronan turned his head. Ade Shan was looking at her woman as if she were fascinated with her hand on the glass tube.

She hadn’t noticed it before but the woman seemed to be at most the same age as her sister or a little older. Ronan who was silent for a moment twisted his lips.

‘… I was researching to bring my dead wife back to life.’

As if to disprove him there were messy notes on stories about death and resurrection throughout the book. Information about the afterlife covered in popular beliefs and religions spread across the continent and even about necromancy a type of black magic.

Ronan laid Jardin on the bed next to him and picked up the book again. He began to look through the contents with delicate movements as if handling a newborn child.

[Sunya is still beautiful today and the 22nd attempt at resuscitation failed. The money raised by selling medals is slowly running out. After a long time Butterfly Rose came to visit. When I saw her wife and advised her to go she put her fist in my face.]

[I returned from a business trip to the North but there was no significant result. He gave up all his positions and left Manwol Magic Tower. Honor is worth less than leaves rotting under his eyes. I need more money.]

[With Kratir’s help Sunya was able to be moved. From today I am a professor at Phileon. Currently this is the job where you can earn the highest salary.]

As each page was turned Ronan’s expression became darker. There was no joy to be found in his handwritten diary.

[77th resuscitation attempt: 2kg of diamond + 432g of ogre’s heart (failed)]

As I read it I realized why I was so obsessed with money. The book detailed the details of hundreds of attempts at resuscitation.

It mainly used magic or alchemy that required a catalyst but the ingredients involved were a problem. In the 102nd attempt at magic five Gold Lizard shells more expensive than most houses were used as catalysts.

‘Damn it even if I get ten coins per hour it won’t be enough.’

Ronan skipped the middle part and went straight to the last page. Looking at the date it was written yesterday.

[I want to hear Sunya’s voice. We need to make the 144th attempt at resuscitation but we have not yet been able to obtain the mana and fresh blood essence of the highly pure longevity race. I also accept their offer]

The diary ended there. There was a white note sandwiched between the books. Ronan tilted his head.

‘them? proposal?’

I felt kind of uncomfortable. Unfortunately it was an unlucky white color again. I was about to turn the previous page again to find a clue. Suddenly Adeshan’s shout was heard from behind.

“Professor Kyo!”

“Fuck it’s a surprise.”

Ronan took his note without realizing it. He quickly turned his head and saw Rodin sitting with his upper body raised. A dry voice came out of his mouth as he was breathing irregularly.

“…You showed disgrace.”

“Uh…are you coming to your senses?”

“okay.”

Zarodin slowly looked around him. He saw his secret laboratory and two people frozen like statues.

In Ronan’s hand he held a report and diary that he had been writing throughout his life. Jarodin said.

“It lifts very well.”

Shuaaaaaa! Suddenly the surrounding mana gathered towards Jaradin. Adeshan sensed an unusual energy and took a deep breath. Ronan protested placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“I don’t want you to misunderstand but my senior and I came down because you told us to come down.”

“Now Professor Jarudin. Calm down…!”

Instead of answering Zarodin raised his hand. It was the moment when Ronan was about to pull the hilt of the sword. Perfect! As soon as he flicked his fingers in the air a white dress was placed on the woman’s naked body. Adeshan’s eyes widened.

“uh?”

Jarodin stood up. The collected mana dispersed like her mist. He walked in front of her glass coffin looked at her woman and opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry Sunya. “I didn’t expect guests to come.”

“Jarodin?”

“Forget it.”

“yes?”

“Forget my wife’s nakedness.”

Suddenly Jardin turned around and glared at Ronan. Blue eyes were burning fiercely within the eye sockets. Ronan seeing the mana blooming on his shoulder swallowed her saliva.

‘It’s not a joke.’

Among all the wizards I’ve ever seen he was one of the strongest wizards. He couldn’t guess whether he would win or lose and had no reason to fight with Gurney. Ronan raised both his hands and frowned.

“all right. “I’ll forget it.”

“I guess it’s true.”

“yes. So calm down. “You’re not planning on tearing us to death with magic are you?”

“…Why would you do such a thing? “It happened because of my carelessness.”

Life has subsided. From what he was saying it seemed like he had some recollection of what he had done. Jarrodin said pointing to the book with the tip of his chin.

“But why are you holding that?”

“Oh so….”

“It’s done. “Did you even read the contents?”

“no. “I just picked it up.”

“Thank goodness.”

Jarudin staggered over and snatched the book. The unsteady gait made it seem like the effects of the curse were still lingering. He sat down on the bed and continued speaking.

“…You are the first students to come here.”

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“I know. And if you weren’t stupid you would have at least realized what I was doing.”

Ronan and Adeshan looked at each other and nodded. Jarudin sighed.

“Please. “Keep it a secret.”

“of course. “Who are you telling this to in the first place?”

“That’s right… Ronan do you have the ring now?”

“yes?”

“I thought it would be better to extract what has already happened. “Are you okay?”

Ronan laughed. Even after I came to my senses my obsession did not change.

He took out a ring from his pants pocket. Sarante’s magic was gently leaking out of the jewel-encrusted ring.

“Do whatever you want. “It was already a bit difficult to keep it away from my body for a long time but it worked out well.”

“thanks. “Let’s do it as quickly as possible.”

Jarudin who received the ring sat down at the desk. He began his work of disenchantment using precise tools.

Ronan and Adeshan stood side by side in front of the glass coffin. Adeshan who was looking at Sunya with sad eyes opened his mouth.

“It’s so beautiful. right.”

“Yeah whatever.”

“You’re still young…what happened?”

“well….”

Since the body was clean it was inferred that he was a soldier or poisoned. Ronan clicked his tongue slightly. Since he had never experienced love between two lovers he couldn’t completely sympathize but he couldn’t help but feel dirty.

The two people took a stroll through Jaradin’s secret space. The whole time Adeshan was walking he looked around as if he could transfer this entire place to his mind. It was a habit she had that became the foundation for her insight.

‘I’m kind of anxious.’

Ronan on the other hand was walking without saying anything and just looking at the floor. An inexplicable feeling of anxiety. The antennae called intuition were sending warnings.

‘Even though I’ve never been in love… I’ve seen a lot of people ruin their lives because of love.’

Among the comrades of the punitive forces it was not difficult to find those who were captured after killing an unfaithful lover or killing someone for their lover. Ronan considered love to be a type of poison.

Love causes the dragon to commit suicide turns the morning star of the empire into a dementia patient and turns the most kind person in the world into a robber who does not hesitate to commit evil deeds.

Jarudin was already irreversibly addicted. Judging by the contents of his diary and his actions he was a great man who would literally do ‘anything’ to save his wife.

‘If those bastards try to tempt me…’

That added to Ronan’s anxiety. If Nebula Clazie approached him with a sure-fire way to save her wife and suggested something she would like him to do for her Zarodin would do it even though he knew it was wrong.

‘That has to be stopped.’

Ronan put his hand in his inner pocket. He suddenly touched the note he had been carrying. At that time Jarudin’s voice rang out in the darkness.

“It’s… done.”

“Already?”

The two returned to Jarodin. He took off the monocle he was wearing and returned the ring that had been removed. As expected as Jaradin said there was no change in the mana oozing out.

“Are you sure you extracted it properly? “Nothing has changed.”

“I was surprised too…there was a lot more magical power contained within than what came out on the outside…”

Jarodin stood up. Its thin legs were shaking like a newborn antelope.

He looked even more exhausted than before as if he had expended a great deal of energy extracting magic power. He held Ronan’s shoulder and caught his breath.

“Thank you… I never imagined I would get this like this…”

“What? “Thanks to you I also succeeded in mana sensing.”

“You…you have no idea how long I have been looking for this…You kept your promise so I will fulfill the rest of my promise…If you have any difficulties come to me anytime….”

“thank you.”

“Then… will you please leave for today…? I’m sorry but…I can’t open my eyes…”

“Of course. “Go back Adeshan.”

Ronan turned his back. I was already nervous about the note but it was a good thing. It was the moment when he took a step.

“for a moment….”

“yes?”

Jardin’s voice caught him. Ronan answered without turning his head. At that moment a chill ran up the back of his neck as if a ghost was licking his back.

‘Did you fucking get caught?’

Cold sweat ran down his temples. Jarodin continued speaking intermittently.

“Don’t forget that you must practice mana every day… If you get carried away with your talent and neglect your efforts even 20 years may not be enough….”

“…Oh of course. “Don’t worry.”

“Skilled strong people can practice even while fighting. You too should strive towards that goal….”

Ronan then turned his head. Jarudin was dozing off as if he was about to collapse at any moment. His eyes turned to Adeshan.

“And you…Nabi Rose’s assistant….”

“Yes Professor?”

“Did you say your name was Adeshan? You…I think you should take a moment and take a look….”

“What do you mean…?”

“Obviously I didn’t feel anything the last time I saw you… but it’s not unusual… I feel a different energy from you than Ronan…”

Adeshan’s eyes widened. After he finished speaking Rodin lowered his head. Before long the sound of his snoring began to spread quietly.

Ronan escaped from Tower 41 with Adeshan. He breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the main street where the tower was not visible.

“Huh…I thought I got caught.”

“are you okay? “Your complexion is pale.”

“It’s nothing. “Wait a minute…”

The weather was still gloomy. The shadows created by the clouds covered the campus. Ronan put his hand in his inner pocket and took out the note he had swiped earlier.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know either. “It would be nice if I just wrote down what to eat for dinner…”

It may be a delusion of grandeur but Ronan was assuming the worst possible future. I just hoped that the identity of ‘them’ written in the diary was not Nebula Claziman.

Ronan took a deep breath and opened the note. Contrary to expectations there was nothing written on the crumpled paper.

“Huh?”

However there was a red stain in the middle of the empty space. The subtle color didn’t seem to be ink or paint. Ronan tilted his head.

“What is this?”

“What is it?”

Adeshan who was examining the note shrugged his eyebrows.

“Huh…? “Isn’t it a blood stain?”

“blood? Ah I guess so.”

Ronan nodded his head. But the doubts grew even stronger.

There must have been a reason why such an item was placed in the middle of an important book. The blood stain that fell exactly in the center of the paper also gave a somewhat artificial feel.

“I think there’s definitely something there….”

Ronan squinted his eyes and observed the blood stain. But there was nothing he could find out. It seemed like something magical had been done to it but I couldn’t quite find the inspiration.

Should I at least take it to Erzsebet? Ronan was just about to close the note.

-Shuaaaaa!

“What the fuck?!”

“evil!”

I almost dropped the note. Suddenly the blood stains began to spread widely as if exploding.

The red traces spreading across the paper stopped only after forming a specific shape. Adeshan muttered calming his startled heart.

“Ji map…?”

“What?”

After hearing that it was a map Ronan looked at the note. After listening to Adeshan’s words it definitely looked like a map of somewhere. At that time I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

“It’s been a while Ronan. “And the girl next to me.”

“hmm?”

Ronan turned his head. There stood a girl with a hood pulled down to her head. A disbelieving voice came out of Ronan’s mouth his brow furrowed.

“…Ophelia?”

“huh. “I waited a long time.”

It was truly a face I had not seen in a long time. It was Ophelia who took Sita’s feather and went to study her blood magic. Her red eyes were sparkling in the shadow created by the hood.