< 97. Shoot for the dawn (10) >
#97
“It’s not a very nice house to live in is it?”
Ronan laughed ruffling her saltwater-soaked hair. His eyes which had been dyed black were regaining their original color. Vajura’s desperate screams were echoing in her head.
【Kaaaaaa! Wow!】
“Try to be friendly. And you idiot how could I have found you at the altar?”
Ronan chuckled. She had known from the beginning that Vajra was trying to manipulate her through her hallucinations. Because she didn’t see any sparkling mana from Vajra who stood still and allowed the attack.
However it was truly fortunate that the gamble of giving up her body paid off. It was a hastily designed plan inspired by an incident in the past when Jarodin almost died while trying to cure his mana inability.
‘How on earth did it become a curse?’
A cursed piece the size of a chick’s eye almost killed a former top mage. Since the original curses would be seething inside his body it would be difficult to deal with even if it was the devil’s writing.
I thought about trying it during our first meeting but Vajra’s power was so strong at that time that I couldn’t dare to try it. Ronan sighed in relief as he recalled the situation at the time.
‘I almost got screwed.’
Thanks to a combination of luck we were able to win. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the battle would have been lost if the main body hiding in the altar had not been fatally wounded.
The eastern sky was brightening. A red energy was waving across the horizon where the clouds were low.
Ronan turned his head as he sheathed La Mancha. The Dawn Magic Tower rising from the land in the distance looked exactly like a huge lighthouse.
‘Did you put out the fire?’
The fire that was raging in the garden had already subsided. Embers were returning with the wind suggesting that a major fire had broken out. It was the moment when Ronan was just stretching out. Vajura’s quiet voice echoed in her head.
【…Khaaaa! Do you think this is going to happen!】
“Whoop!”
Ronan suddenly felt extreme nausea and covered his mouth. A black fog-like thing escaped through the cracks of his fingers and disappeared. Vajra’s consciousness was trying to leave his body.
“Persistent bastard…!”
Ronan bit his cheek hard. Hot blood welled up. He swallowed the Vajra energy hovering in her mouth along with the blood.
【Huh…!】
The nausea that had risen to his uvula disappeared. Vajra screamed again desperately.
【Hey! Listen to me! Don’t you want to become a prosecutor who will leave a mark on the world?!】
“not really.”
【foolish…! Wouldn’t you like to decorate your walls with Navardose’s head? Don’t you want to see the emperor kissing the top of your feet? It is possible if you join hands with me. You have the potential to cut down even the sky!】
Vajra’s presence was fading quickly. Looking at the tongue playing it looked like the situation inside was quite bad. Anyway there is a possibility that even the sky will be cut down. Ronan who was briefly reminiscing about his past life laughed.
“I know. “I will do that.”
【What…!】
“So I don’t need your help.”
【Now wait a minute…! Then this is…keaaaa!!】
The voice broke. After screaming desperately there was no answer. Before long Vajra’s presence disappeared. Ronan instinctively realized that his ego had completely disappeared.
“Hmm?”
Ronan who suddenly felt a strange sense of heterogeneity tilted his head. He felt something inside his left chest pulsing at a different beat than his heart.
I concentrated my attention to see if there was any remnants of Vajra’s thoughts but I could not sense any particularly suspicious energy. Ronan frowned feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
“What the fuck is this?”
When I placed my hand on his chest I could only feel his heart beating slightly faster than usual. The feeling of strangeness had suddenly disappeared without a trace. Shrugging his shoulders Ronan spat out the remaining blood in his mouth.
‘Nothing will happen I guess.’
Hehe! A lump of blood flew by the sea breeze and landed on a book lying on the reef. It was the body of Vajra a banned book that had terrorized the continent.
“…is it just a book now?”
Ronan picked up Vajra. The black book from cover to inside pages was completely soaked in blood.
I took a quick look inside but no eerie voices were heard or tentacles sprouted. However the completely incomprehensible content and the sparkling mana seeping from the white text still irritated Ronan.
‘A book written by the devil.’
The author of Vajra of Destruction was known as the devil. And in Vajra there was a strong presence of Nebula Clage.
‘There must be somewhere useful.’
Somehow I felt like I was approaching a huge secret. Ronan rolled up the tattered Vajra and put it in the back pocket of his pants. It was a perfect place for trashy books.
“Ugh…Ugh….”
At that time a groan full of pain was heard from somewhere. Ronan lowered his gaze in the direction of the sound. Tower owner Lardan who had fallen at his feet was writhing.
“That’s right come to your senses old man.”
“Am I…am I speaking of my own accord…?”
“sure. I’m glad I didn’t die. Well it would be difficult if you went through all that hard work.”
Lardan opened his eyes. Free from Vajra’s control his eyes took on a clear blue color. Lardan who was unable to control his body eventually raised his upper body with Ronan’s support.
“…Thank you.”
“Where should I start? “You cooked it so extravagantly.”
“You don’t have to explain. “Because I saw it all.”
“You saw it?”
“okay. “Not a single thing is left behind.”
Lardan’s gaze remained on the waves crashing against the reef. He remembered everything Vajra had done with his body.
Lardan explained that from last winter when he was eaten until today he survived nearly a year with a clear mind.
“I had to see all the evil things that devil did with my body. Every day was hell. “If I had the same mind I would throw myself into it right away.”
“I trust you won’t do something like that.”
Ronan spoke as if warning. Just thinking about the hardships he went through to capture him alive made blood appear on his forehead. Besides he still had work to do. Lardan said.
“Of course he knows he has to take responsibility. Although it will be difficult for the tower owner.”
“What is that…ah.”
Ronan stopped what he was saying. Come to think of it I couldn’t feel any mana from Lardan who had regained his body.
It wasn’t just a weakening level. Even when I looked at his chest with my eyes narrowed I couldn’t see the rings surrounding his heart. Ronan realizing the situation twisted his lips.
“shit.”
“Don’t worry about it. Because saving his life is enough. Rather I feel like I can see the world clearly so it’s not that bad.”
Lardan smiled smoothing his beard. It wasn’t just her body that Vajura took from him. Ronan asked.
“Aren’t you angry? “It’s mana built up over a lifetime.”
“Once again I am satisfied that my life was saved. Do you know how many vengeful spirits I heard while I was possessed by that demon? “I’m willing to clean your shoes with my tongue just to save you from the same fate as them.”
“I kind of don’t like that.”
Ronan laughed. For someone who had lost almost everything he had an overly resolute and cheerful attitude. Lardan was no longer a wizard.
He suddenly had a question. Where has all the power that Vajura accumulated over the long years of her life gone? While thinking for a while Lar Dan who was looking at the Dawn Magic Tower opened his mouth.
“…What is that? “Can you see it?”
“What is it?”
“The one coming from the Magic Tower over there.”
Ronan looked in the direction Lardan was pointing. Just as he said something sparkling in the distance was approaching quickly. Ronan noticed his clearer outline and frowned.
“…wolf?”
A huge wolf was running across the sea. Every time the wet soles of my feet hit the surface of the water spray of water was bouncing cheerfully. The fur which was reddish-yellow like desert sand was clearly visible even in the dark.
“What the fuck is this really?”
Ronan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. The height of the body alone seemed to be at least 4 meters. Sigh! In an instant the wolf reached Ronan’s eyes and stopped creating a long furrow. A familiar voice came out through the torn muzzle.
“Ronan you’re safe!”
“…Aire?”
“Yes I came to get you!”
Surprisingly the wolf was speaking in Ayre’s voice. Ronan noticed that this was her true self. Indeed there was a reason why it was not shown in the library.
Ire told me that her firefighting work was over and that she had some injuries but no deaths. Ronan let out a sigh of relief when he heard that Aunphyla was also safe.
“That’s a good thing. “What happened in the forbidden library?”
“Ah that’s it!”
Ire’s voice brightened. Aun Pilar and she said that the moment they separated from Ronan they were transported to a completely different place. Clearing her throat once she continued her sentence.
“I still can’t believe it. Suddenly the forbidden book area shook and when I opened my eyes I found myself standing on a hill far away from the Magic Tower right? But isn’t it strange? I clearly couldn’t escape the Dawn Magic Tower… but when I checked oh my! “The seal was broken what was it?!”
“congratulation. So please speak slowly.”
“I don’t know if freedom has been regained after hundreds of years! Ah this air! “This sea water!”
It seemed quite happy to see that her voice had become exaggeratedly lively. Ire twirled around her reef as if she still couldn’t believe reality.
It seemed that Vazura had forcibly broken her seal. Suddenly Lardan’s eyes met hers and she jumped up from her spot.
“Ta ta Top Lord?!”
“…It’s been a while. “You don’t have the honor to raise her face so don’t look at her that closely.”
“Are you okay? “I was definitely attacked by Vajra…!”
“I’m fine. This boy saved me. “Vajra has disappeared.”
Lardan said winking at Ronan. When Ayre heard that Vajra had been destroyed every hair on her body stood on end.
“Bar Vajra disappeared? Could it be that Ronan…?”
“Well that’s right.”
“Such nonsense…! Just ride this for now. “If you stay in a place like this you’ll catch a cold.”
Ire bowed her head. Ronan climbed on her back with Lardan. As soon as I could grab the fluffy back of her neck Ire kicked her water and took off.
‘It’s over.’
The sea breeze blowing through her bangs was refreshing. The ride wasn’t very comfortable but she felt at ease.
Ronan seeing the magic tower bathed in gold turned his head. The clouds on the horizon disappeared everywhere and only the clear dawn remained bursting out and spreading light to the world.
‘It was long.’
Ronan quietly closed his eyes. She had a lot going on but the sun came up anyway. The soft sound of waves signaled the end of the four-day journey.
****
“Check to see if there are any embers left in the ground!”
“Ah Locuber Zinnia. “I’m glad I’m alive…!”
Ronan soon arrived at the Dawn Magic Tower. The wizards who had survived the longest night since the founding of the Magic Tower were in the midst of repairing the damage caused by the fire. Some people dug through the ashes with rakes to find embers while others pulled out plants that still had roots.
‘There was a forbidden library over there. Somehow it didn’t seem like it was stuck in the tower.’
In the northwest part of the garden there was a huge hole that seemed to be about 15 meters in diameter. It was a trace of high-level flame magic including Hell Prominence exploding one after another.
“Nancy. “Come here!”
Smoke was still rising from the hole. Salamander Nancy who was raised at the Magic Tower was busy moving around and eating up her remaining food.
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows as she looked down the hole. As Ayre said there was hardly any remnants of books to be found.
‘It looks like you really took care of it. What a librarian.’
Ayre explained that as soon as the seal was broken he returned to the Magic Tower and rescued the burning banned books. It is said that about 30% of the books in the same space as Vajra were completely destroyed on the spot but thanks to quick action most of the banned books in the labyrinth were able to be taken.
It was a good thing. Although they were evil books they were books that had the potential to contribute to the development of magic.
She put Ronan and Lardan down and set out to find Aun Fila. She said she would come back soon but she still hasn’t come so she seems to be quite busy with work.
Well it’s worth it. As she was walking through the garden with her back to her she heard a familiar voice coming from behind.
“Ronan!”
“Erzebet?”
Ronan turned her head. Standing there was Herzé Bet dressed in her school uniform. Ronan laughed when he saw Sion de Grancia holding her hand tightly.
“When did you become so close?”
“…I’ll explain later. Miss Shion please go to the adults for a moment. “Do you know where it is?”
“huh. “Sister.”
Shion obediently took her steps. After walking about ten steps she turned her body again and looked at Ronan. And then he bowed to her and said hello.
“Thank you.”
“ok? “Oh yeah.”
Ronan absentmindedly shook her hand. Zion headed to the Magic Tower again. Erzébet who was watching her muttered in displeasure.
“I really… need to teach you etiquette again. “What would you do if a nobleman greeted you like that?”
“It was a lot of hard work. “I heard you had a hard time last night.”
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
Ayre told me about her activities while she was at the Magic Tower. Hergé Bett shook her head grimly.
She looked so haggard that you could believe she hadn’t slept for three days but her characteristic nose was still upright. she asked her voice laced with embarrassment as she denied her own accomplishments.
“Anyway what the hell happened? I saw it all last night. “With some old man…”
“I’ll explain later too. “It’s a bit long.”
“…great. Even so what is the wound? “Are you not sick?”
“wound?”
“yes. At the back of the neck. “It looks very…painful.”
She couldn’t tell what she was talking about. Ronan touched the back of her neck. As she said it felt different from usual.
When she took it off again and looked at it her palm was covered in blood and fluid. Ronan’s eyes widened.
“It’s a plague…!”
Suddenly a terrible pain ran through her entire body. The pain was burning from the back of her head to her waist.
Ronan took off the top she was wearing. Erzébet surprised by her sudden behavior covered her face with both hands.
“Lord Ronan?!”
“Ugh… Damn it hurts so bad.”
“It hurts? “What…aaaah!”
She opened her fingers slightly and when she saw Ronan she let out a scream. Reddish-brown burns covered her well-toned upper body.
“That wound…!”
“Shit that’s why you need to know how to do elementalization or something.”
She didn’t notice at all until Erzé Bet spoke. It was a wound she received while fighting Bajura.
Most of them would have occurred while following instantaneous movement using flame. Erzsebet who was pale shouted in a panic.
“Don’t talk. “I’ll call someone now!”
“Wait…wait. “Try this first.”
Ronan shook his head and took out three bottles of her potions from her coat pocket. It was an item she received from Varen before coming to the Dawn Tower.
“I still wanted to test its efficacy. “It’s the New Testament.”
“An experiment?”
Hergé Bett asked back as if he was astonished by her. She couldn’t believe she was thinking like that while suffering such serious injuries.
Ronan uncapped both of her bottles and began dabbing her potion onto her own affected areas. Suaa… With the feeling of the spring breeze drying the sweat the burn began to heal as if it had been washed away.
“It kills the effect.”
“oh my god…! “Which workshop was it made in?”
“A talking lion.”
Erzsebet’s eyes widened. I had never seen a potion with such rapid efficacy even at the Acalusia family medical center. Then Ronan said handing her a bottle of her potion.
“Put some on my back.”
“My me?!”
“Yeah because I couldn’t reach it. “Her friends can do that much.”
Ronan’s tone of voice as he asked such a request did not show a single emotion. Erzébet who hesitated nodded her head.
“I like it Joe. If you can’t touch it you can’t apply it. “I can’t help it.”
She took a deep breath and began applying her potion to the affected area on her back. This was my first time touching a man’s bare skin. The hard stone-like texture so different from herself and Ade Shan made her head dizzy.
“…Huh?”
Then Erzhebet stopped her hand which was rubbing under the bone of her left wing. She felt a deep energy pulsating within her body that had not been detected in her previous Ronan. she asked tilting her head.
“Ronan.”
“what’s the matter?”
“…Did you originally have a core?”
