Academy’s Genius Swordmaster Chapter 69

< 69. Blood Hook (1) >

#69

Ronan turned her head. There stood a girl with a hood pulled all the way down to her head. Red eyes were sparkling within the shadows cast on her face.

“…Ophelia?”

“huh. “I waited a long time.”

It was Ophelia who took Sita’s feather and went to study her blood magic. Her Ade Shan’s eyes widened.

“Oh did you come to the interview…?”

“huh. “You’ve grown taller.”

“Wow how did you know? “You’re Ophelia a third-year magic student right?”

Ade Shan clapped her hands and she exclaimed. In fact she has grown about a fingernail longer than last month making her 176cm tall. Ronan who had stiffened her opened her mouth.

“Is the research finished?”

“huh. “It’s not perfect but…to a certain extent.”

“That’s a good thing. “Honestly I thought you ran away with nothing but your feathers.”

“I’m sorry…something happened a little bit.”

A considerable amount of fatigue was evident in Ophelia’s voice. She seemed to have gone through some hardships during her time of prosperity. I had a lot of questions but there was something else I had to do now. she asked as Ronan held up the note that served as her map.

“Did you really do something? “It suddenly changed like this.”

“huh. “I couldn’t open her envelope and was sobbing….”

“envelope?”

“Ah…I guess you didn’t know.”

Ophelia hesitated. Suddenly her voice rang in Ronan’s head.

[That…is a letter made with blood magic.]

“Surprise. “Why is there a sudden electric sound…”

Instead of answering Ophelia turned her gaze to Adeshan. Come to think of it she probably didn’t know that Ophelia was a vampire yet. Ronan who had been following her nodded her head.

“I understood.”

[thank you. That means putting information in a drop of blood and compressing it… Opening the envelope means injecting mana to release the information contained in the blood.]

Ophelia continued her explanation in full voice. She said that blood letters were a favorite way for vampires to communicate secretly.

“Umm…?”

Her Ade Shan tilted her head at the sudden silence that fell upon her. There was a secret current flowing between the two that she did not know about.

Adeshan looked at Ronan and Ophelia in turn who were speechless. Ophelia’s face was so beautiful that it seemed to glow even under her shadow.

…match! She said as Ade Shan who was silent for a moment suddenly clapped his hands.

“Now that I think about it the instructor forgot to tell me to organize the documents.”

“Adeshan?”

“Sorry. “Let’s talk later.”

“Are you by any chance angry? “Why is your expression…”

“I’m not angry. Ophelia I will go back first.”

It was a strangely cold tone of voice. She turned her back leaving Ade Shan with those words. It was noticeable that she walked noticeably faster than usual. Ophelia who was looking at her back muttered.

“Good timing….”

“That’s good. “What did I do to keep it standing?”

“Then why are you angry…?”

“well. Even if women know it they don’t know it. By the way Ophelia we’ll talk about the rest somewhere else.”

Ophelia looked around her and nodded her head. Clearly being open on all sides was not a suitable place for a suspicious conversation.

They moved to the club building. Squeak – When the wooden door opened a dark interior came into view. Other club members were taking classes or had not arrived yet.

Ophelia took off her hood and pulled it back as soon as the door closed. Her suppressed silver hair cascaded down her shoulders. She opened her mouth as she stretched and squeezed her.

“Umm…I think I’ll buy something now.”

“Is it because of the sunlight?”

“huh. “It’s a cloudy day so it’s a little better but…what about that child?”

“If you are talking about Sita it will come soon. “I go out for a walk often these days.”

“I see…I want to see you soon.”

Ophelia slowly looked around her room. With all the lights turned off there was a gloomy atmosphere in her room like an abandoned cabin. She muttered as she caressed the three-tiered candlestick on the bar table.

“It’s a cool place… Is this your club?”

“It’s not you it’s us.”

“right. That’s right… Then can I sleep here?”

“sure. He is now a member of our club. In fact it is a rule in our club that everyone uses informal language. are you okay?”

“Yeah…I feel more comfortable that way too.”

Ophelia laughed bitterly. She seemed to quite like the club.

Ronan briefly explained what happened during Ophelia’s absence. Damn bad Baidian Mountains and mid-term evaluation. Even Schlieffen’s mouth. Ophelia listened to her story her eyes sparkling with interest.

“A lot has happened… Now that I think about it I haven’t been able to say hello to the other kids at all. “What if they hate me…?”

“They’re all good guys so nothing like that will happen. By the way I haven’t received any letters in the last few weeks. What happened?”

“ah. There was some friction with my parents… They suddenly told me to quit research and take care of my sex… I resolved it well so it will be okay. ”

“castle…?”

Ophelia didn’t seem to have a very good relationship with her parents or other blood relatives. Although she appeared to be a member of a fairly high-ranking society she was reluctant to talk about her family history.

Ronan also had no intention of inquiring. He placed her note on the bar table and snapped his fingers.

“So Ophelia this is a note made with her blood magic?”

“huh. that’s right.”

“Do you even know who sent it?”

“Would you like to know…?”

“ok. “I guess it’s not that serious.”

Ophelia nodded her head. As she picked up her note the blood trail in the shape of her map began to move again. The blood stain that had been wandering around soon transformed into the shape of a red hook. Ophelia’s face hardened.

“…Where did you get this?”

“what’s the matter?”

“Answer me first. “Did you receive it yourself?”

Her eyes were serious. Ronan told her that someone she knew reasonably had picked up the spill. Ophelia folded her note and handed it back to Ronan.

“That person…is he by any chance trying to obtain the essence of fresh blood?”

“How did you know?”

“It’s written here. “The person who sent this note is… an organization called Blood Hook.”

“It’s a name that doesn’t sound nice. “They’re bad guys right?”

“huh. “It’s not that big but… I guess I should say it’s a rising nova.”

Blood hook. It was said that it was an organization made up mainly of young vampires who were not older than 200 years old at most. Ophelia clicked her tongue in frustration and continued her explanation.

“They are immature scoundrels. “I am preoccupied with the glory of a past that I have never experienced…”

“…Ophelia how old are you?”

“There is some joy in this world that comes from ignorance.”

Blood Hook was nostalgic for the old days when vampires reigned as nightmares at night. Their main source of income was wandering around foreign lands that were not part of the imperial territory raiding passers-by and private homes and making and buying and selling slaves.

Recently it is said that they also play the role of treasure hunters who can retrieve any item as long as they pay a price. Ronan who thought for a moment revealed that the person who received the note was Professor Jarudin of the Department of Magic. There were shallow wrinkles between Ophelia’s porcelain-like eyebrows.

“Jarodin…? Are you talking about the person who was the Tower Mage of the Manwol Magic Tower…?”

“ok. that’s right.”

“That’s why it was in front of Tower 41… The kids were desperate to die…”

“what do you mean?”

“This note…is an invitation to come if you are willing to accept the offer since it contains the essence of fresh blood. “What’s marked on the map is the rendezvous point.”

Ophelia said there was a high possibility that they would demand something outrageous in return. She said that if you ask for money she will ask for an unimaginable amount and if it is an item she will only exchange it for something that is at least a treasure listed in advance.

“If the other person seems very desperate… they may ask to become a subordinate.”

“no way. “Jarodin is not an asshole.”

“For a desperate person there is no time other than ‘right now’… Even if it is not right away in the near future you can ask to become a member and then make a blood pact.”

The blood oath was a promise that could never be broken as the moment it was broken one’s life would be lost. Ronan laughed.

“I don’t understand. Can’t we just kill them all and take their stuff? “There is no reason to accept such a stupid deal.”

“Of course if you have Jaradin’s level of skill you can turn the kids there into powder in an instant… The problem is that the item you are looking for is the essence of fresh blood.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s a mass of pure mana that can’t be manipulated except through blood magic… The kids probably have the essence of fresh blood in its raw state. “Only after I receive payment will I be able to complete the processing and take it away…”

“Oh they’re weak bastards.”

Ronan recalled memories of his past life. Jardin was nowhere to be seen on the battlefield ten years later. Of course it was difficult to imagine that the reason was because he had been reduced to being a slave to vampires as low-quality as his bloody hook.

If you think about it the essence of fresh blood was just a material for one of many attempts at resuscitation. There was no way he would accept such an offer when he wasn’t even sure he could bring his wife back to life.

‘If you’re sane.’

However Zarodin was addicted to his love. No matter what the field mistaking slim possibilities for certainty was an idea exclusive to addicts. Ronan touched his chin and began to worry.

‘He’s a good person.’

Ronan didn’t hate Jardin. To be honest I liked him and even more honestly I thought he was a damn good guy.

Even if he did it for his own benefit it was definitely something to be thankful for that helped him even while enduring the curse. Ronan who had been drooling opened his mouth.

“Ophelia. please help me ”

“huh? “Please help me…?”

“Please write a reply. “I will accept the offer.”

Ophelia’s eyes widened. Ronan explained step by step the plan he had just made. As always it was a clear yet insane operation.

“Are you serious…?”

“ok. Instead make sure to change the contact point.”

“I’m really sorry but I can’t come with you. “The issue of blood relatives…”

Ophelia dragged her tail. It seemed like it was a family-related issue. Ronan yawned lazily and waved his hand.

“Aaaam…you don’t have to follow me man. “I’m going alone so don’t worry.”

“…Children are only based on vampire standards and cannot be compared to mortals. “On the contrary the less they know the more fierce and violent they become.”

Ophelia explained the dangers of her blood hook. She said that although her strength was not comparable to that of high-ranking vampires she was more dangerous to humans. She said that the malice and ingenuity accumulated over hundreds of years destroy the human body and mind like a sand castle. Ronan chuckled.

“okay. “But since you only said it was dangerous and didn’t stop me I guess you don’t like my plan either.”

“that….”

Ophelia pursed her lips. Hers was a silence that implied affirmation. Eventually a faint sigh escaped her lips.

“Okay… But what are you going to do with the essence of fresh blood if I don’t go…?”

“Oh that’s it.”

Ronan was about to say something. Knock knock. Suddenly a knocking sound came from beyond the curtained window.

“You’re here now.”

“huh?”

Ronan went to her window and pulled back her curtains. Hiss! As soon as she opened her window a rushing shadow caught Ronan’s face. Her black fluffy feathers tickled her nose and almost made her sneeze.

“Are you here?”

“Bye!”

“How far have you wandered around this time?”

Ronan held her Sita in both her hands. Looking at the salty smell it seemed like he had traveled all the way to the Dawn Sea.

“Do you know how much I got scolded by Lucy because of you? “You didn’t catch a stingray or anything this time right?”

“Babe~”

Sita who was slyly squinting pressed her face against Ronan’s cheek. Ophelia stood up from her seat clasping her hands together.

Her size which had grown larger than before caught her eye. Her mouth opened softly as she looked at Sita as if fascinated.

“…Would you like to come here?”

“Pyeol-ah?”

Ophelia held out her hand. Sita blinking her blank eyes moved to the bar table right in front of her. Ophelia stroked her sitta as if she were a jewel that would shatter if touched. Sita’s eyes blinked briefly as she stared at her.

“Byeot.”

At the same time a rose made of her blood appeared before Sita’s eyes. It was the same thing she showed before when she met Ophelia. Sita took her rose and handed it to her. Ophelia’s eyes widened.

“This is…!”

“I guess I remember you.”

Ophelia picked up her bloody rose with her trembling hands. Sita jumped up and climbed onto her shoulder. Ronan said putting her hands in her pockets.

“I’ll go with her. She just needs to teach me how to deal with that bloody thing. “Then is it okay?”

After maintaining her silence for a moment Ophelia opened her mouth.

“Yeah…I think it will work.”

“Teach me as quickly as possible because I need to finish the job before Jaradin does something stupid. “I’ll be leaving next weekend.”

“huh. Let’s do it right now. I will teach you as hard as I can. “There’s so much I want to tell you.”

“Go and do it first. “I’ll be there soon.”

Ophelia had decided to become Sita’s teacher. She walked out of her building holding her Sita. There was silence in her empty interior. Ronan who was quietly touching the hilt of her sword muttered.

“…we can’t lose such a talented person.”

Ronan recalled the mana that Jardin had been emitting while he was fretting. She was a strong woman so if there was a chance she would turn into an enemy it would be reasonable to kill her in advance.

However the world was not lived by rationality alone. He knew that if he did everything he could he would have no regrets.

It was the car where Ronan refined his plan. Shuaaaaaa! Suddenly an eerie energy penetrated the wall enough to make her shoulders flinch.

“Ugh…!”

The hair on her whole body stood up. Ronan hastily turned his head away from her. Red mana like that of Sita and Ophelia was seeping through the cracks in the door.

“What the fuck are you teaching?”

Ronan kicked down the door and walked out of the building. His eyes widened when he saw what was happening outside.