Chapter 100: Second Heart (3)
“Ronan, are you okay now? I brought some water…”
Adeshan, carrying a water-pouch, was approaching from behind, but Ronan didn’t notice her presence. He absentmindedly lifted his leg and stomped the ground with his right foot.
‘Is this how he did it?’
Thud!
A wave of sparkling mana spread out along with a dull sound.. Adeshan, who was carrying the water-pouch, lost her balance and staggered.
“Aahh!”
“Sunbae?”
Ronan turned his head, and he saw Adeshan falling. Reacting swiftly, he lunged to catch her and the water-pouch that was up in the air.
“Th-thank you…”
“What did you trip on?”
“Wh-what do you mean? What happened?”
Adeshan looked around, confused. There didn’t seem to be anything on the flat stone ground that would have caused her to fall.
Suddenly, Ronan’s eyes, which had been scanning the area, landed on Adeshan’s leg, more precisely, her ankle. Clang! Lamancha slipped out of his grasp as he cursed under his breath.
“This damn thing.”
“What’s wrong?”
Ronan didn’t respond. He continued to focus on Adeshan’s leg, specifically her ankle. Ronan grabbed her calf as he suddenly squatted down.
“What… what are you doing?”
“This is…!”
A flustered Adeshan’s face turned red, and she struggled to break free from Ronan, but he held on firmly.
Something like a thin tree root was wrapped around her ankle. The sparkling mana roots were very similar to Dolan’s aura.
‘What the hell happened?’
Given the circumstances it was evident that he had manifested those himself, but his mind was still clouded with deep questions.
Crack!
Suddenly, the space right beside them flipped. A bearded mage walked out with dignity.
“Long time no see, Ronan.”
“Kr-Kratir?”
“I’ve been looking for you. If it’s alright with you, we could… hmm?”
Adeshan’s eyes widened in shock. It was Krava Kratir, the Principle of Philleon Academy.
Despite everyone turning their head towards Kratir, Ronan was still focused on Adeshan’s ankle. Kratir, who belatedly saw the two’s behavior, narrowed his eyes.
“…Did this old man interrupt an important moment, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
Ronan nodded without hesitation. Nevertheless, he was grateful that the old man had a sense of awareness. What could be more important than this right now? Adeshan’s face turned pale.
“Ronan, what are you doing?”
“Just stay still for a moment.”
“Haha… I don’t know what’s going on, but take your time.”
Kratir chuckled as he stroked his beard. So Ronan did just that. Adeshan’s ankle was entangled with roots made of glittering mana.
‘It’s definitely that bastard’s ability. How did they suddenly manifest?’
Ronan remembered Dolan’s aura binding his limbs and making his body heavy. Although it was so weak that it could not be compared to the original, it was undoubtedly the same ability.
‘Did I accidentally copy his aura? Me?’
He couldn’t believe it, but that was the reality. When he tried to get up to try again, a sudden dizziness overwhelmed him.
“…Ah?”
An intense sense of fatigue surged through his limbs. Ronan realized too late that the mana filling the tumor had almost run dry.
The roots that were weakly flickering vanished. Ronan staggered to his feet, clutching his chest. Adeshan and Kratir supported him simultaneously.
“Ronan!”
“Your complexion suddenly got worse. Are you okay?”
“Whew… maybe.”
Ronan gasped for breath. He switched the power source back to his original heart. He started feeling his strength returning along with a rush of blood through his body.
‘I’m so tired. I’m almost out of mana.’
More mana was consumed at once than when he shot his sword energy. He would have to try again after some recovery.
“Sorry. It was really important.”
Only then did Ronan show his remorse to Kratir. The wrinkled face still held a kind smile.
“It’s alright. It looks like your lover broke her leg so you were massaging it, perhaps?”
“Well, something like that. Although, she’s not my lover.”
“Ah, his lover…”
Adeshan covered her mouth with her hand. Ronan raised an eyebrow and asked.
“Anyway, what’s going on here?”
“I would like to change location if possible. Is that okay with you?”
“I’m fine with it, but…”
“In that case, let’s go.”
Kratir suddenly clapped his hands. The space flipped, and their vision darkened. A moment later, the surroundings brightened, revealing a completely different scene.
“This place…”
It was a familiar place. The spacious area resembled a living room rather than an office, with three walls covered in windows that offered a view of the blue sky and Philleon’s grounds.
In the center of the room, a wooden round table was placed. A man sat with his back to Ronan, facing the table.
“It’s been a while.”
Ronan raised his eyebrows at the sight. It was the office of Principal Kratir on the top floor of Philleon Tower 1. Then the man sitting at the table, who had turned to face them, had a decadent voice.
“You’re here, Ronan.”
“Jhordin? You were here?”
“Yeah. I came for some work and heard about you. You’ve made quite the mess.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. The identity of the man was Jhordin Stonesong. A teapot with steam rising from it was placed in front of him.
“…Anyway, you came with something strange. It doesn’t seem like a Core.”
Suddenly, Jhordin scrutinized Ronan from top to bottom and furrowed his brow. His sharp gaze focused precisely around Ronan’s heart.
“As expected, you’re able to see it as well, professor! What on earth is this?”
“I’m curious too. Let’s talk after we finish our business with the Principal.”
“Haha, is it finally this old man’s turn?”
Kratir led Ronan to the round table. His usual seat had become Ronan’s seat. With Ronan sitting across from him, Kratir’s voice sounded somewhat excited.
“The reason I called you Ronan… was none other than to praise your achievements at the Dawn Tower. I’ve been the principal of Philleon for almost eighty years now, and a student like you is a first.”
“In a good way, I hope?”
“Haha, about eighty percent.”
Kratir laughed. Ronan breathed a sigh of relief, wondering if he had been called in to discuss his club activities. Even though they had been destroying the club building with spatial magic, it was nothing more than a monthly event.
“I received a direct message from Aun Philara. He spoke with excitement about you and Miss Elizabeth. He wasn’t a student who showed his emotions so much.”
“I just happened to get caught up in it, it wasn’t a big deal.”
“If it wasn’t a big deal, words like exploits or achievements wouldn’t exist in this world. You saved Tower Master Lorehon and prevented the resurrection of the Forbidden Book Vijra. How can you say that it was not a big deal?”
Kratir recited Ronan’s deeds with the enthusiasm of a loyal subject, praising his accomplishments. His apparent joy was evident in his formal acknowledgment, and he seemed so pleased that he didn’t even offer the customary safety warning.
‘Is he telling me to take care of the book myself?’
Since they didn’t mention it, it seemed that Ronan was expected to handle the Vijra situation himself. Or perhaps, both Aun Philara and Varen had chosen to remain silent. Kratir, who had been chattering happily, finally continued the conversation.
“You’ve truly made us proud, Ronan. Considering the Dawn Tower’s situation, it will be difficult to praise you in public for the time being, but I wanted to express my gratitude in this way.”
“There’s no need. Anyway, thanks.”
“Then tell me, is there anything you desire?”
“Anything I desire?”
“Efforts like yours deserve a fitting reward. If I was going to leave it at just a ‘thank you,’ I wouldn’t have called you.”
Ronan scratched his head. He had already received more than he could have imagined from the Dawn Tower, so nothing specific came to mind. Normally, asking for a scholarship or a lavish stipend would have been reasonable, but Ronan, as the ranked 2 applicant, was already receiving a full scholarship.
‘Hmm… I can’t think of anything in particular.’
Declining wasn’t an option. He thought about requesting transportation through spatial magic every time he needed it, but that wasn’t realistic either.
‘Right.’
At that moment, the faces of his fellow club members crossed his mind. Ronan snapped his fingers and spoke.
“Oh, can you provide me with a training ground for the club to use?”
“Oh, a training ground?”
“Yes. A spacious and sturdy one.”
An exclusive training ground was the most crucial facility for a top-tier adventurers’ club. Ronan was aware that Cita’s blood magic training was still taking place off-site.
Nest’s training area was decent, but it might have been somewhat cramped for those who practiced wide-ranging techniques like Aselle and Shullifen, to demonstrate their full potential.
“It might be a bit much to ask for something sturdy enough to withstand a dragon’s rampage… Just as long as it can handle Zaifa and Navirose’s force without crumbling, that would be great.”
“It’s not an easy request.”
“It would be even better if it’s close to the club.”
Ronan had two requirements. Spacious and sturdy. However, meeting these criteria was easier said than done. Kratir, who had been murmuring, spoke up.
“Hmm… I understand. I’ll do my best to arrange something.”
“Thank you. Is it going to be difficult?”
“It shouldn’t be. I’ll try to have it ready before winter. This should be interesting.”
While the idea of building a training ground was appealing to Ronan, the prospect of constructing it weighed heavily on him. The two of them continued their conversation for a while. There was so much to discuss, given their extensive club activities.
“By the way, Ronan, is it true that Hell Prominence was cast? It’s been a sealed spell ever since Lord Lorehon used it in the Southern Front twenty years ago.”
“If you’re talking about that damn fire, then you’re right. Vijra went berserk right in front of me.”
“Haha, they say it’s a never-ending blaze fueled by mana. How on earth did you quench it?”
“Aun Philara provided me with five scrolls. I used those to douse the flames. It ran out of mana to burn.”
Kratir chuckled. He was discussing his heroic deeds at the Dawn Tower while they were in the middle of the conversation.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Suddenly, a clear chime rang out from Kratir’s pocket.
“Oh, let me get myself together.”
Kratir massaged his temples and stood up hastily. The chime was coming from his pocket watch. After adjusting his attire, he addressed Ronan and Jhordin alternately.
“Sorry about this. This old man will go first. I hope you both get some rest.”
“Where are you going all of a sudden?”
“I almost forgot that I’m visiting the Itrah Gorge in the north next month for the Centennial Beasts Festival.”
“The Centennial Beasts Festival?”
“Once again, I would like to express my gratitude for Ronan’s hard work. See you next time.”
Ronan was about to say something, but at that moment, Kratir had already vanished with a clap of his hands.
“What the…”
Ronan furrowed his brow at the sudden turn of events. With no explanation, it seemed like there was a pressing matter to attend to.
The Centennial Beasts Festival. The name sounded like a celebration, but his memory of it was vague, as if on the tip of his tongue. A peculiar silence lingered while they contemplated the situation. Jhordin, who had been intently observing Ronan, finally spoke up.
“This is strange.”
“Oh, do you have any idea of what it is?”
“Not yet. The shape is different from any core or circle I’ve ever seen. Come over here for a moment.”
Jhordin’s face was deeply furrowed. Even the acknowledged Mana Sage couldn’t discern anything just by looking, which indicated there was a significant issue.
He placed his hand on Ronan’s back and began a thorough examination. Perhaps it was due to the close call he had recently, but Jhordin was more cautious than before. After a while, Jhordin’s lips parted.
“…I can’t believe this.”
“As expected, it’s fucked up. Is there anything you can do about it? I don’t mind as long as I can live for at least another ten years.””
“That’s not the issue. Can you explain how you acquired this power?”
“Acquired? Well…”
Ronan explained the events that had occurred at the Dawn Tower, which hadn’t been mentioned in his conversation with Kratir. Since Jhordin was well aware of everything, there wasn’t much to hide, except for the fact that he was now able to release a brilliant whiteish mana.
“So, you’re saying that Vijra’s essence integrated into your body? Is this related to that ‘Vijraof Destruction’ you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.”
“I can’t believe it, but… then it’s somewhat understandable. This cannot happen without the intervention of a force of that magnitude.”
Jhordin chuckled. It was an expression he didn’t make even when he saw Sarante’s ring. Ronan expressed his frustration.
“Dammit, what’s happening under my ribcage?”
“In a way, part of the curse that had taken residence in your heart disappeared, or more accurately, it’s not entirely gone.”
“What?”
Ronan’s face hardened, and he couldn’t comprehend what Jhordin was saying. The curse disappeared? Without giving any answers, Jhordin continued.
“More precisely, it seems to have merged. I need to hear Professor Sekreet’s opinion, but my initial feeling is that it has.”
“…Tell me in detail.”
“Two out of the remaining nine curses seem to have vanished. By the looks of it.”
Jhordin told Ronan that two of the nine curses Ronan held had disappeared. The problem was that they hadn’t completely vanished; they had transformed into a lump, seemingly fused with an enigmatic power.
“Fuck.”
Ronan let out a curse. In other words, the lump residing in his chest was a conglomerate of Vijra’s immense power and a part of the curse. It was such a wicked entity that it made even dealing with demons seem noble.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s an unprecedented new power.”
“Can this be used, just like… an ordinary Core?”
“Nothing is impossible. Structurally, it’s far superior to conventional Cores or Circles. Given that it’s unprecedented, considerable effort would be required to use it properly.”
“That’s some consolation.”
“What’s also interesting is that this mass is completely separated from your existing hearts. If you succeed in forming your Core, you will have control of two power sources.”
Ronan nodded. That was as expected. It seemed that the flashing mana was connected to Vijra’s power in some way, or maybe the curse his father laid upon him.
“This is as much as I have found out as of now. Please come to me whenever you’re having troubles.”
“Thanks, Jhordin.”
Jhordin remained silent, just sipping his tea. Ronan contemplated his newly discovered condition. It was initially nothing more than a calamity, but when he thought about it carefully, it seemed quite advantageous.
‘I think I could use it in some way.’
Even putting everything else aside, being able to handle two Cores was a definite advantage. Moreover, although further investigation would be required to know for sure, Vijra’s core seemed to be hiding an absurd ability. Ronan, who had been rubbing his chin, opened his mouth.
“Jhordin. Let me ask you just one question.”
“What is it?”
“Is it possible to copy someone else’s Aura? Something like handling multiple auras.”
“It’s impossible.”
“As expected, right?”
Just by the tone of voice, he could tell how absurd it was. Ronan left the principal’s office after that conversation. As he left the Tower, strong sunlight poured down on his head, announcing the deepening summer of light blue skies.
‘It’s truly a masterpiece. Ronan becomes part of Nebula Clazier.’
The conglomerate, or rather, the second heart of wickedness, beat to a different rhythm, a thought struck him. He took a few steps forward, and just as he did, a familiar voice came from behind.
“Sa-Save me!”
“Aselle?”
Ronan turned his head and saw Aselle running towards him with a book held tightly in his hands.
“What are you doing here?”
“Wh-why is this happening?!”
Even when he called out loudly, there was no response. Judging by the way his eyes were tightly closed, Aslle seemed to be quite frightened.
“Ugh. Pathetic bastard.”
As he reached Ronan’s vicinity, Ronan changed his power source, and with a stomp of his right foot, mana waves emanated outwards. Simultaneously, sparkling roots coiled around Aslle’s ankles.
“Huh?!”
Without warning, Aslle’s feet were entangled, causing him to fall forward. Ronan dashed over and grabbed Aslle’s hood, his face was suspended just a finger’s width above the ground, stuck between the pavement and the edge of a curb.
“What’s going on? Why are you making such a fuss?”
“Ro-Ronan…?!”
It was only now that Aselle noticed Ronan’s presence, and his eyes widened as he stumbled backward, bumping into a wall. He stuttered.
“Y-you too, now’s not the time! You need to run!”
“If I have to ask you one more time, and I’ll tie you upside down to a lamppost.”
“I’m sorry! I-I mean, it’s just that, right now…”
“RIght now?”
Before Aselle could answer, a loud noise resounded from around the corner that Aselle had just emerged from. People’s screams were spreading like wildfire. The sounds of breaking and shattering were growing closer.
Aselle exclaimed with a quivering voice.
“A manticore that was supposed to be displayed at the Centennial Beasts Festival has escaped!”
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