< 86. The season goes beyond spring to summer (3) >
#86
“It’s been a while. Butterfly Rose.”
Ronan and Nabirose turned their heads at the same time. A skinny man was standing in the setting sun. She frowned at the sight of her evil friend.
“Jarodin?”
“How did you break the wall? “I can feel your mana.”
“…Let’s just say it was an accident during class.”
Nabirose avoided his gaze. Jarudin was staring at the collapsed remains of the wall in bewilderment. Ronan who had been observing his movements with narrowed eyes tilted his head.
‘Jarodin… right?’
He almost didn’t recognize me. There wasn’t a big change. The only thing that had changed was that my shaggy hair had been sorted out and the cheekbones that were hollow like a skull had filled out a little.
However with just that minor change Jarudin’s impression was completely different. Originally he was just a highly educated inchworm but now he had the feeling of a decadent middle-aged man. Nabirose said coldly.
“So what brought you here? “Even though class is over you’re walking around instead of staying in the tower.”
“I have various errands to attend to. The first is to let you know that the research was successful.”
“what?”
Nabirose’s eyes widened. Come to think of it she was one of the people who knew Jarudin’s secret. Jarodin continued.
“Come take a look. I haven’t regained consciousness yet but I can still hear sounds. “I think Sunya will like your adventure story.”
Judging from Jarudin’s words it seemed like he was at least friends with his wife Sunya. Jarodin expressed his gratitude by patting the dumbfounded Nabirose on the shoulder and then turned to Ronan.
“It’s been a while. Ronan.”
“I see. “It’s nice to see that you look more human now.”
“Last time even though I was indebted to you I couldn’t say hello properly.”
“It’s okay. “I did it because I wanted to.”
“I guess so. But no matter what anyone says I owe my life to you.”
Suddenly Rodin bowed his head. I frowned at him with butterflies as I saw an unimaginable sight. Rodin was a man who held his head high even though all his limbs were broken and his body was rendered incapable of even urinating. A muffled voice came from beneath his head.
“Thank you so much.”
“Why are people as good as professors like this? “I hope you can pray to your wife who survived later.”
“This and that are different issues.”
Despite Ronan’s dissuasion it was only after a while that Za Rodin raised his head. The clearer blue eyes stood out. He continued her words facing Ronan.
“If you are experiencing difficulties come to me at any time. “I will do my best to help you.”
“You won’t get any money right?”
“Your children and grandchildren are free.”
Jarodin smiled slightly. Ronan seeing the youthful life in her eyes let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like she would not be tempted by Nebula Clazie for the time being.
‘The more unhappy you are the weaker you become. For now I’m relieved.’
Ronan thought it was really good to help him. An earth mage who masters mana. He would undoubtedly become a tremendous ally in the future. After finishing the conversation Jarudin suddenly started looking around.
“By the way where is your girlfriend?”
“girl friend?”
“okay. “Her black hair and tall… Actually I came today because of that kid.”
Ronan frowned. He was trying to refute something based on his own strong tastes. I opened his mouth as butterflies came in as he quickly stopped talking.
“If you were Adeshan you would not have come today. “Why are you looking for my assistant?”
“It’s been on my mind ever since I saw it the other day. Even while I was busy with research. “I doubted myself countless times and it was only this morning that I became convinced.”
“What do you mean?”
With butterflies I tilted my head. A solemn voice flowed from Jarudin’s lips as if he were declaring war.
“That child’s power is dangerous. “That too very much.”
For a moment the arena fell into silence. Nabirose asked what kind of nonsense that was but Jarudin’s expression was serious.
‘It’s time.’
Ronan silently brushed his bangs. The setting sun pouring down from all sides was creating long shadows. The journey to reinstate the general has just begun.
****
“My power is dangerous…Professor Jaradin said so?”
“yes. How noisy it was because of that. “Later the instructor even grabbed me by the collar.”
“I’m just a paid student…”
It was noon the next day when Ronan and Adeshan met. Because it rained the night before there were puddles all over the streets. As summer approaches the greenery on campus is gaining depth.
“I told you. The senior’s talent just wasn’t revealed. “Jarodin and I just discovered it.”
“I’m nervous… but I’m also looking forward to it. Anyway thank you Ronan. “For giving me this opportunity.”
Adeshan laughed. It was a smile that suited the muggy early summer. It was hard to believe that such a girl possessed such terrifying power. Ronan said looking ahead again.
“I guess I have more things to be thankful for right?”
They headed to the main building of the Magic Department not to Jardin’s Tower. This building called the Hall of Truth looked no different from Gallerion Castle the main building of the martial arts department but was completely different on the inside. Ronan clicked his tongue and muttered.
“Perverted spellcasters.”
He couldn’t understand why there should be a staircase hanging upside down from the ceiling or a magic engineer walking around playing a moving portrait violin. The structure was extremely complicated so if someone who didn’t know much entered it they would easily end up lost.
“Yumma Asher!”
“Ro Ronan?! “How are we here…?”
I was fortunate to have stumbled upon Asher who was wandering around. Ronan who brought him in as if kidnapping him guided him to an unidentified space called ‘Deep Lab 6’ and urged him to say hello to Adeshan.
“Oh hello. “It’s called Asher…”
“I’m Adeshan a second year martial arts major. Please take care of me.”
“It’s so big….”
Asher looked up at Adeshan with a gaze mixed with despair and awe. His head was tilted back and his eyes were wide open as if he was looking at a magnificent tower or mountain range.
“But why the deep lab…? “It’s a place I go to when I’m experimenting with dangerous magic…”
“This senior must awaken the power to kill all living things. “If you keep quiet and guide me I will save you.”
“Heeeeeek…!”
Asher’s face turned pale. Adeshan scolded Ronan and told him not to joke around but he wasn’t really joking or lying.
The deep laboratory was located in the basement of the main building. I decided not to ask why I just went up the stairs and ended up in the basement at some point.
Asher walking along the hallway stopped in front of a door with the number [6] written on it. The huge iron gate which even Jaipa could pass through without bowing was enchanted with several layers of defensive magic. Ronan frowned.
“In fact aren’t they trying to test a new explosive magic on us?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“Okay then I’ll just go. “If Erzsebet comes looking for me just pretend not to notice…!”
After finishing the guidance Asher retreated as if running away. He seemed to still be suffering as he talked about Erzébet. This is why his brain has to be reasonably good. Ronan muttered and pushed the iron door. Surprisingly the door was not locked.
Contrary to expectations that it would be narrow a very large space appeared. Adeshan slowly looked around and was amazed.
“wow….”
It seemed that perhaps 30% of the magic that exists in the world could be tested here. Various experimental equipment and mechanical devices whose purpose could not be guessed were neatly organized.
“Shoot. “Squeak.”
“Muik-! My Iik-!”
One wall of the laboratory was made up of cages for confining animals. In hundreds of cages large and small different animals were dozing off and venting their displeasure.
From small mice to foxes deers and wolves… the grizzly bear that made eye contact with Ronan stood up on its two legs and roared fiercely.
“Gooooooooo!”
“Fuck you. I’m surprised. “Why are these things here?”
“These are materials used in experiments with black magic or necromancy. “It’s one of the darknesses of Phileon Academy.”
At that time a familiar voice was heard from a corner of the lab. Ronan and Adeshan turned their heads at the same time. The sight of Jarudin standing with his back between some gigantic hexagonal pillars caught my eye.
“You’re here.”
“Now Professor Jarudin…?”
Adeshan’s eyes widened. She also seemed surprised by Jaradin’s change. Ronan grunted.
“Why are you calling someone to a place like this?”
“I had no choice because I needed equipment that I didn’t have in my lab. “You can’t leave something like this anywhere.”
Jarudin pointed to the hexagonal pillars standing in front of him. Three pillars that appeared to be approximately 10 meters high were arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle. It didn’t seem like an ordinary item as it had unfamiliar letters densely engraved on each side.
“But why did you come? “I didn’t even call you.”
“Uh…I’m curious too. “It might be helpful.”
“You’ve been saying for a long time that you followed me because you were worried.”
Jarudin laughed. Ade Shan his face red turned his head and pretended not to hear. It was true that he followed because he was worried so Ronan didn’t really refute it. Zarodin said pointing to his seat.
“Come and stand here.”
Adeshan did just that. The moment she was in the center of the triangle Zarodin chanted her spell. The silent pillars began to vibrate loudly.
“Why is this….”
“Stay still. “Because I’m drawing out your natural mana.”
Jarodin said. Adeshan took a deep breath and straightened his posture. The vibration continued. Before long it began to rise above her shoulder shimmering as black as pitch black.
“This is…?”
Adeshan’s eyes widened. The appearance was similar but the feeling it gave off was completely different from regular Mana. An eerie and alien energy that seems to go against the laws of the world. Zarodin stroked her chin with interest.
“Hmm. Now that I see it I’m sure. “It’s the mana of shadows.”
“What on earth is shadow mana? “I don’t know what’s going on right now….”
“Have you never thought that you had no talent for manipulating mana? “No matter what I do I’m slower than others.”
“How did you do that….”
“It’s natural. Because the nature of the power you have to deal with is different. She who was born with the mana of shadows never thought she would see this in person.”
Jaradin said calmly. He explained about the mana of shadows. Known as the rarest and most secret of the countless types of mana it was known to have unique abilities just like aurors.
Something that is not normally detected. It was a common characteristic of those who were born with it that their abilities would remain in their bodies for as short as a few years or as long as hundreds of years before blooming at some point.
“Very little information is known about shadow mana. However most of those who manifested it caused accidents that will be talked about for a hundred years. “I don’t know what your abilities are but there is a high probability that you will be dangerous.”
Jarrodin had not even formed a circle or core but she described people who wielded power no different from an Archmage or Sword Master. Even to the point that their ending was not good. Nine times out of ten it was because they couldn’t handle the ability that suddenly appeared one day and ran wild. Jarudin sighed in relief.
“It’s a misfortune that happened because the power bloomed too late. “If you train consistently you will be able to bloom in no time.”
“How should I train myself?”
“First you must get rid of all the existing mana accumulated in your body.”
Jarodin chanted the spell again. The pillar vibrated violently and the energy rising from Adeshan’s shoulder became even stronger.
Soon the black energy disappeared and the blue mana that Ronan already knew began to rise. The blue mana moved according to Jarudin’s hand gestures and turned into a lump similar in size to Adeshan. Zarodin opened his mouth pointing to the floating mass of mana.
“We need to get rid of all this. “To you who uses the mana of shadows you are no different from waste.”
“All of this? how….”
“There are many ways. Still it will be possible to eliminate them all in about five years.”
Zarodin described her troublesome and tiresome efforts that she had to do every day. She was looking at the lump of mana with a bewildered face as if Ade Shan was looking at her belly fat that had become plump all winter long. Ronan asked frowning at her as she heard the five years.
“Didn’t you just pull it out? “You can just throw it somewhere else.”
“It only looks like this but in reality it is connected. “I only took it out temporarily with the power of that magic tool.”
Jarrodin pointed to her pillar with the tip of her chin. In short it meant that even though it came out of the body for a while it was still connected. She thought about something for a moment and then Ronan opened her mouth.
“If that disappears all at once will it have a negative impact on the senior?”
“What does that mean?”
“Quickly. Will I die be maimed or get a terrible disease?”
“Not really. Because it just removes waste. but…”
“That’s enough. “Get out of the way.”
Ronan pushed Jardin to stand. A strange breathing sound escaped from between his lips. Adeshan looked at La Mancha’s shining sword body and tilted his head.
“Ronan? Why is the knife suddenly…?”
“I’m sorry senior. “I can’t wait that long.”
“What is that…”
Adeshan was about to say something. Ronan’s arm disappeared from sight. He rained down slashes several times faster than when he chopped Balzac into pieces of mana. Paang! A belated sound was heard. The lump torn into dozens of pieces lost its shape and scattered.
“Aaaah!”
At the same time Adeshan screamed and fell down. Ronan hurriedly stretched out his arms and helped her up. Grumble! At the same time two of the hexagonal pillars collapsed.
“what…!”
Jarudin’s eyes widened. The most expensive magic tool in Phileon has turned into a pile of rubble. It wouldn’t have been surprising if I had screamed and jumped up but that wasn’t what was important right now.
“…Mana disappeared?”
The mana which was obviously only temporarily drained was completely gone. Now only the shadow mana remained and swayed within Ade Shan’s body.
The shock seemed to be greater than expected. Adeshan’s long body was still twitching like a deer struck by lightning. At that time a tearing noise rang out from a corner of the lab.
-Clink!
“what?”
Ronan turned his head. The glass cage had fallen to the floor and was broken. It was one of the animal cages said to be prepared as an ingredient for black magic or necromancy. The field mice trapped in the debris were struggling. Clink! At that moment another cage fell to the floor. Jarudin’s face hardened.
“I didn’t know it was this bad.”
It was an ability that went far beyond prediction. Kwajangchang!! Cages containing small animals began to pour down one after another. Ronan’s mouth fell open as he saw the sight of the entire wall collapsing.
“General.”
