Chapter 124: In Search of a Scream (1)
“…Why are there so many people gathered here?”
Even though it was early in the morning, the kitchen was filled with familiar faces, which was puzzling since no one had been invited. He was wondering how they all got there since he hadn’t said anything. Iril, upon spotting him, exclaimed with a cheerful voice.
“Oh! Ronan, you’re up!”
“Sis. What’s going on?”
“Hehe, I have no idea either. Everyone, except your friends, came one by one?”
Iril explained that everyone had separately come at almost the same time. It meant they hadn’t come due to someone’s invitation but had genuinely sought Ronan out. Navirose, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, spoke up.
“It’s only natural. I heard that my disciple was going on a long training journey.”
“To be exact, it’s not a training journey but that he has something to do. This is why swordsmen with muscles for brains… Oof!”
For a moment, Navirose’s elbow disappeared. Thud! A dull sound echoed as Jarodin fell to the ground. Varen Pansir, who had been observing this scene, chuckled kindly.
“Haha, you two are still the same. It’s delightful to see.”
“Varen…”
“I heard it might be a long journey. As Instructor Navirose said, it’s only natural to attend such gatherings.”
Varen was awkwardly bowing to avoid hitting the ceiling lights. At that moment, the boy who was squirming behind Varen approached Ronan.
“Umm, I’m late with my gratitude.”
“Oh, Valus. How have you been?”
Valus, a former poacher and Ronan’s fellow member of the Punishment Squad, had almost become unrecognizable due to his overall tidiness. While muttering under his breath, he suddenly started sniffling.
“Why are you blubbering when asked you how you’re doing? Pathetic.”
“This… This is the first time in my life that I’ve found meaning. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude…”
“Oh dear… Varen, cut this kid off. What good is he being this fragile?”
“Hehe, Valus is an excellent assistant. He’s truly been a great help.”
Varen placed his hand on Valus’ shoulder. Since he began assisting, Varen’s work speed had nearly doubled. Still much better than being dragged into the punitive unit as a poacher. Ronan grinned and patted Valus’ back.
“Keep it up. You’re doing great.”
“Yes. I will definitely…!”
Valus bent his waist in half. The area around the fireplace was bustling with meal preparations. Iril handed Shullifen plates of food, and spoke.
“Shullifen! Could you put these on the table, please? Be careful, they’re hot.”
“Got it.”
Shullifen stiffly accepted the plates offered by Iril while wearing an apron before he knew it, a comical sight.
‘A masterpiece. The Raising Star of the Empire carrying plates at the command of a commoner woman.’
Ronan thought if he took a picture with Dydican’s device, it would sell for a high price. Marya rolled up her sleeves and lifted the pot containing the stew.
“Please hand me the pot, sis. I’ll take it.”
“Wow, Marya, you’re really strong…!”
Iril’s eyes sparkled with admiration. Members of the Elite Adventurer Club, including Aselle and Marya, were helping her set the table as if it were a natural thing.
“Thanks for coming, Aselle! It’s so nice to have neighbors here too!”
“Yes, yes! I like it too!”
Their quick demeanor suggested they arrived much earlier than the professors. They were those overly helpful types who came without being asked. Ronan was about to intervene.
“Huh?”
A familiar girl caught his eye. Her dark purple hair was tousled as if she’d just woken up. Even while levitating the dishes with her telekinesis, her gaze remained fixed on Iril’s face.
“I never thought there would be someone prettier than Adeshan Unni in the world…”
It was Elizabeth, the darling of the prominent Acalusia Family. The Dawn Tower medal given to her by Aun Philara was sparkling on her lapel. Ronan greeted her warmly.
“Hey, long time no see.”
“Ah, Ronan!”
Only then did Elizabeth snap out of it, hunching her shoulders. For a moment, as she gazed at Ronan, the memory of her applying the potion to his bare skin came to her mind.
“…I’m just here following Adeshan Unni! I didn’t know the eldest son of Garcia would be here.”
“Right, thanks. It couldn’t have been easy waking up at this hour.”
Ronan chuckled uneasily. Elizabeth, pursing her lips, mumbled in a tiny voice.
“…I heard the news. Please be careful.”
Her ears turned red amidst her hair strands. She turned away, resuming to set down the dishes. At that moment, a voice came from right behind Ronan.
“There are so many lucky women.”
“Sunbae?”
“And they’re all beauties.”
Ronan turned his head. Adeshan, wearing an apron, was smiling cheerfully. She spoke without losing her smiling eyes.
“Everything’s ready. Let’s eat quickly.”
Ronan flinched. He was smiling, but it felt more like a forced smile. His voice also seemed strangely subdued, almost as if he were uneasy.
“…Are you mad by any chance?”
“No. Why would I be mad?”
“Well then, that’s fortunate. When I return, let’s go to that hill together.”
Adeshan’s eyes widened. After a brief silence, she answered in a softer voice.
“…Sure.”
Seeing her relaxed expression, there was a sense of relief for some reason. Navirose, who had been silently observing the two, chuckled.
“You’ve progressed a bit.”
Once the meal preparations were done, everyone sat around the table. Ronan sat between Iril and Adeshan.
Seeing the familiar faces around, it made him realize that he had made the right choice moving here. If it had been in the place in Nimburten, not everyone could have fit in.
In the enormous pot, potato stew bubbled vigorously. Iril exclaimed, arms wide open.
“Hehe, thank you all for gathering like this for my brother. Please, everyone, eat a lot!”
“We will.”
Shullifen mechanically started eating the stew, signaling the beginning of the meal. Seeing their pace, it seemed worrying about leftovers wasn’t necessary. The professors took turns leaving a word before starting.
“Take care on your journey, Ronan. Don’t forget our agreement to train twice as hard when you return.”
“I can’t encourage you without a hint of a threat beforehand. If you run into trouble with your mana, I will take immediate action, so please rest assured.”
“I hope you return soon. We need to plan our next club activities. By the way, this stew was really delicious, is it really made with potatoes?”
Varen, Navirose, and Jarodin offered encouragement and their own advice. Then it was Iril’s turn. She, strangely clearing her throat, looked at Ronan and began speaking.
“Ahem, Ronan. I was told that it was a dangerous task, and I thought about it a lot on my own, but I decided not to stop you. Because as the older sister I can’t hold my little brother back.”
“Sis.”
“Just promise to come back. That’s all I ask.”
There was no trace of a smile on Iril’s face. It was a solemn expression, unlike any he’d seen before. Ronan nodded silently.
“I promise.”
“Hehe… thank you.”
Only then did Iril let out a relieved chuckle. Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, she kissed Ronan on the cheek. Following suit, the club members, Elizabeth, Valus, and Adeshan, offered their words of encouragement.
“I’ll be waiting here. Achieve what you desire and return.”
With Adeshan’s words, silence fell. It seemed like offering at least one word of resolve was necessary to enjoy the meal. Ronan, having swallowed the stew he was chewing, spoke up.
“Um, well…”
Ronan trailed off. He had a lot he wanted to say, but it slipped his mind. Suddenly, his vision blurred unexpectedly. As he momentarily gazed at the ceiling, he lowered his head again.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Ronan chuckled softly. No matter how much he thought, better words didn’t come to mind. Soon, the meal resumed, and as Ronan predicted, Iril’s potato stew vanished entirely.
****
——————
After a brief farewell gathering, Ronan immediately set off for Sekereet’s office. The members of the Elite Adventurer Club and Cita saw him off until the entrance of Separacio in Jhordin’s office. Aselle spoke up, his voice quivering.
“Ro-Ronan… you’ll come back soon, right?”
“Would you be able to do that? It will take at least a month.”
Ronan chuckled. Half of it was a joke, and half was sincere. Having received such a grand farewell, returning after just a day or two would be embarrassing. He tousled Aselle’s hair and looked around at the members and said.
“I didn’t say it earlier, but I’m really grateful to everyone. You’re all working hard.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Hahaha! You’re acting like you’re about to die, so please refrain from saying such things!”
“Make sure to return. If you don’t, I’ll kill you myself.”
“Beewh…!”
Cita playfully pouted and puffed her cheeks against Ronan’s face. Marya’s suffocating hug was the final goodbye. The only one who hadn’t said a word was Shullifen. Ronan furrowed his brows.
“You hopeless bastard. You followed me all the way here and now you’re holding back?”
“I know you’ll come back anyway. I only hope you can return quickly before your body becomes dull.”
“Unbelievable.”
Ronan chuckled wryly. Suddenly hardening his expression, he stepped closer to Shullifen. He leaned in until their noses nearly touched before speaking.
“I don’t expect much from you.”
His eyes, glowing like a sunset, shimmered with intensity. Despite the ferocious energy almost ready to tear apart, Shullifen remained unfazed. After a moment of hesitation, Ronan spoke.
“Protect my sister.”
“I swear.”
Shullifen nodded heavily. Ronan tapped his shoulder and turned away. Behind him, the club members’ encouragement faded into the dark corridor.
“Have you come?”
“Sorry, I’m a bit late.”
As soon as he left the hallway, Sepparachio appeared. The first thing that caught his eyes was the much more complex magic circle.
Geometric patterns not only covered the floor, but also the walls and ceiling. Sekreet, still in the form of a girl, greeted him.
“Being loved isn’t such a bad thing.”
Sekreet laughed gleefully. He knew the kind of farewell Ronan had received. Ronan didn’t deny it and simply nodded.
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“Honesty is a good trait.”
“So… you’re going to put that thing into my head?”
Ronan pointed to the middle of the study with the tip of his chin. A sinister-looking mass reminiscent of a demon’s heart pulsated in the air.
This time, the curse Ronan had to lift had materialized. Sekreet nodded with a perplexed expression.
“Yeah.”
“So, do I just cut through the source of my curse again?”
“Exactly. Just like last time, it should be recognizable at a glance.”
Sekreet explained the precautions for the curse-lifting ritual. Despite improvements in the rituals to enhance stability, he emphasized the inherent dangers.
“The mana stones you’ve brought are of such good quality that there should be no issues mid-process. Now, it all depends on your actions.”
“It’s always been that way. I’m ready.”
“Alright, let’s begin.”
Ronan sat cross-legged beneath the mass. Sekreet placed his hand on Ronan’s forehead.
Fwoosh…! Bright light erupted from the magic circle that enveloped the study. The massive lump compressed and began flowing into Ronan’s mind.
“Gahhh!”
“Don’t wait for my return.”
Ronan gritted his teeth against the eerie sensation of his brain being plunged into icy water. Sekreet’s chanting flowed out like a melodic hymn.
He felt his consciousness gradually slipping away. Unable to overcome the rush of waves like a tsunami, Ronan closed his eyes. It was the moment when the last thread of sanity snapped.
.
.
.
“Get up! You damn bastard!!”
An angry shout echoed nearby. Ronan opened his eyes. Wooden buildings flanked his vision on both sides. Feathery clouds drifted lazily in the narrow, blue sky.
“Where is this…?”
Ronan realized he was lying down. It seemed he had been in that position for a while, as his back felt stiff. The shadow cast by the dense foliage suggested it might be an alley in any town or city.
“No… swords…”
He instinctively reached for his waist, but both of his black-hilted swords were missing. His hands seemed a bit larger. Had he safely entered the Mental World? While pondering this, a cold liquid splashed across his face.
“Phuah!”
Squish! A foul-smelling mud invaded his eyes and nostrils. Startled by the unexpected attack, Ronan jumped to his feet.
With dirt in his eyes, visibility was poor. Suddenly, something hard struck beneath his cheekbone. Crack! As his head jolted roughly, a strong grip seized him by the jaw. A voice filled with rage, similar to earlier, resounded in his ear.
“You beggar brat. Can’t you hear me telling you to get lost?! This is our area, go somewhere else!”
“Ah… fuck…”
Ronan brushed his bangs aside and turned his head. A fat and scraggly boy was shaking his head while holding his collar. Judging by his behavior, there was no room for argument that he was a thug.
There was grime clinging to his sagging jawline, and beside him, a scrawny kid chuckled, so slight it could pass for a waif.
“Puhhehehe, look at you, all soaked.”
Both of their faces seemed oddly familiar. Had Ronan seen these guys before? He turned his head again. The one gripping his collar laughed, as if reveling in his own audacity.
“How dare you glare at me like that? Do you know who I am…Keuk!”
The moment the thug tried to assert himself, Ronan’s fist jammed into his mouth. Crunch! The broken tooth bounced back with a sensation of smashing a scallop.
“Keugh…!”
The skinny boy’s face hardened. The pig, with his hands covering his mouth, staggered, crying out.
“Wait, just a moment… Ugh!”
Thud! Ronan immediately kicked the pig in his side, sending him flying to crash against the opposite wall and collapse onto the ground. There was no need to use his hands. Ronan, with his hands in his pockets, started stomping on the pig.
“You filthy beggar. Do I look like your friend?”
“S-stop! Spare me!”
“Even your cries sound like a pig.”
“P-please…! I was wrong! Stop…!”
Ronan didn’t respond. The pig, unable to withstand the beating, foamed at the mouth and lost consciousness. Only then did Ronan cease his actions.
“Well… ain’t my luck just great.”
As soon as he entered the Mental World he was drenched in mud, then got smacked by a beggar – what an awful start. Ronan pulled down his pants and urinated on the fainted pig. For a moment, he wondered if this was somehow happening in reality, but quickly resigned himself.
‘Ah, I’m sure Sekreet will take care of this mess.’
With his mind still hazy, he needed to assess the situation. The skinny boy stood frozen, as if he was a statue, watching the spectacle. Having finished his business, Ronan turned to the skinny boy, opening his mouth.
“Do you have cigarettes?”
“Uh, uh-huh!”
The skinny boy screamed and dashed off. Before long, his figure disappeared from the alleyway.
Both ends of the alley emitted bright light. The sound of hooves, people’s bustling voices, reached his ears.
“Where should I look…”
Ronan took the coins from the pig’s pocket and moved on. The moment he left the alley, bright sunlight poured down on his head.
“…This place.”
Ronan surveyed the surroundings. The village landscape felt oddly familiar. The pointed roofs of wooden houses, the moderately spacious roads, even the seemingly expensive-looking carriages – all seemed recognizable.
Finally succeeding to recall, Ronan muttered softly.
“This is… the village where I served my sentence.”
Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m