Chapter 122: Remaining Days (1)
“Come closer. Let’s first see how far the curse has progressed.”
Ronan did so. Sekreet, with hands like ferns, reached out and touched his chest. The slightly clouded pupils were unsettling. Ronan couldn’t help but chuckle at the seemingly unaccustomed appearance.
‘It’s quite astonishing. Does she also turn into a grandmother at night or something?’
She looked like an ordinary girl to anyone. It was a truly fearsome curse to transform an elderly woman into a mischievous child playing in the air. Sekreet, who had been quietly closing her eyes, spoke.
“Reveal your form.”
A clanging voice echoed. Simultaneously, Sekreet’s mana spread through Ronan’s body as she touched it. Swaaah! Crimson letters popped out from Ronan’s back.
“…These damn things.”
Ronan, seeing the tangible curses, cursed under his breath. It was a sight he hadn’t seen in a while. The letters wriggled as if they were alive, swirling around him.
However, something seemed different from the first time he saw it. It felt like the amount of letters had decreased. Sekreet’s eyes twinkled with interest.
“Oh, your efforts weren’t in vain. The curse has definitely weakened.”
“Of course. After all the trouble I’ve been through.”
Ronan twisted his lips. It was hard to believe that all the hardships he had endured had only taken a little over half a year. Sekreet, who had removed her hand from his chest, took out a piece of chalk.
“Let’s move on to the next step.”
Sekreet began drawing geometric symbols in various places in the study. It was a huge magic circle that covered almost the entire floor of the study.
Compared to last time, it took much longer in various ways. It was only after a while that she extended her hand, having completed the magic circle.
“All done. Give me the magic stone.”
“Here you go.”
Ronan handed the Dainhar Magic Stone to her. When Sekreet took the magic stone, she trembled for a moment. The mana wriggling beneath the rough surface was so unbelievably powerful that it was incomparable to any catalyst she had ever seen.
“…Did you really receive this as a gift from the natives of Dainhar?”
“Well, something like that.”
“It’s scary because it doesn’t seem like a joke.”
Sekreet walked to the center of the study and placed the magic stone on the floor. At that moment, light sprayed out along the patterns of the magic circle. Fwaaah! It was a sight reminiscent of flames rising through oil.
“This time, I will materialize the curse you must break.”
“Materialize?”
“Yes. By interpreting and implementing the curse in a visual form, we gauge its scale. It’s the last step before entering the curse.”
The moment Sekreet flicked her finger into the air, the shapes of the letters warped and began to gather in one place. As the materialization progressed, Sekreet’s expression gradually stiffened.
“This is…!”
The curse, which had been boiling and melting on its own, finally stopped changing after about ten minutes. Ronan furrowed his brow. A massive lump, about two meters in diameter, was floating in front of him.
“It looks absolutely grotesque.”
The grotesque shape was unpleasant. This is what it would look like if one pulled out the heart or the brain of a demon.
The amorphous curse blob continued to wriggle without a definite form. After a while of silence, Sekreet sighed.
“…My goodness. I never thought it would be this intense.”
“Sekreet? Are you okay?”
“Yeah… It’s just that… when I compress it and pour it into your head, the curse begins. From then on, as you know, the body falls into a deep sleep and the mind wanders in the Mental World…”
“It doesn’t feel good at all, but… damn it, what can we do? Let’s get rid of it quickly.”
Ronan sighed as he moved his limbs around. Time in the Mental World flowed differently from reality. Although he thought it was over in an instant last time, seeing that a whole day had passed in reality suggested a similar outcome this time.
It was a wise decision to deal with it during the relatively ample vacation time. Sekreet, who had been biting her nails, spoke.
“Ronan… I know it might sound strange to say this now, but I need to say it.”
“What do you want to say?”
“Do you really have to do this?”
For a moment, a stillness settled. Ronan, who had been dumbfounded, finally opened his mouth.
“Why have you been like this since earlier? Your complexion isn’t looking good either.”
“A few decades ago, a friend of mine took his own life. He was an astronomer exploring the skies. He was well-respected and knowledgeable, and there seemed to be no reason for him to commit suicide.”
Ronan raised an eyebrow at the unexpected story. Sekreet’s face, staring at the curse, was as pale as the snowy plains of the north. Cold sweat streamed down her pale cheeks.
“However, his disciples testified that he suddenly went mad. We could find the cause in the farewell letter he left behind. There was just one line written in it: [We are dust.]”
“Dust?”
“After much deliberation among colleagues, we reached a conclusion. He had suddenly become aware of the vastness of the universe, which he had only perceived as ‘existing’ until then. It was like he had suddenly realized an unbearable truth, and went mad in the pursuit of an unbearable truth…”
Sekreet, who had been staring at the ceiling for a moment, washed her face with cold water. She looked at Ronan and spoke.
“Ronan, I think I understand that friend now.”
“I feel like I’m going to fail.”
“To be honest, I do. I realize we’re doing something reckless.”
Sekreet bowed her head, admitting her mistake. Until now, they had only been formulating a method through theory and simplified experiments. The power held by the materialized curse far exceeded Sekreet’s expectations.
“It’s dangerous. Even if we succeed, we can’t guarantee how long it’ll take.”
“Can’t guarantee? How many days are we talking?”
“Once something gets entangled, it could be a year. Some have wandered in the Mental World for over ten years.”
“Ten years? That’s insane!”
Ronan’s brow furrowed. If the curse was more potent, it might take longer than their initial estimation. Sekreet spoke up.
“Ronan, This is not something I should say as an educator who pursues advancement, but even as you are now, you’re strong enough. If you just continue growing like this it would make you a pivotal figure in the Empire’s history. Is it worth taking such a risk to accomplish this?”
Sekreet’s tone was firm. Despite her delicate appearance, her unique aura of authority remained. Ronan’s gaze narrowed.
‘It’s worth it.’
It wasn’t entirely baseless. With the achievements he had made so far, he had much more potential for growth compared to his past life. As time passed, he was confident that even if only his body grew, he would slaughter Ahyute in an instant.
‘Fuck. If only that bastard wasn’t around, I wouldn’t want to do this either.’
Yet, what Ronan had to achieve was far beyond that level. The number of giants descending from the sky was beyond estimation.
Suddenly, the memory of encountering the Omega Doppelganger came to his mind. The sight of his dying body, eroded by the curse, was indescribably hideous.
To go even beyond his limits, he needed to rid himself of those tumors within. Ronan nodded without hesitation.
“Yes.”
“Hehe… then I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Snap! Sekreet sighed and flicked her finger again. As the light of the magic circle faded, the materialized curse scattered like smoke.
“I’ll do my best to stabilize the process. It might take a few days, so take the time to tidy up your surroundings until then.”
****
The remaining time passed in a flash. The commencement ceremony was held in the grand square where the vacation ceremony had taken place. Kratir’s face, reciting a formal speech, looked deeply tanned, as if he had been on vacation somewhere sunny.
“I hope you had a meaningful vacation. I hope you stay healthy and energetic in the new semester.. Hmm… Summer is now coming to an end.”
The higher sky signaled the waning of summer. In these few days, the faces of the students brightened up with the cooler breeze.
Ronan headed towards the club building as soon as the commencement ceremony ended. The returning students busied themselves around the campus. The once-empty streets regained their hustle and bustle.
In his right hand, he carried a large trunk. Ronan, whistling softly, looked up at the new clouds, muttering to himself.
“Just three days.”
It was the time remaining until Sekreet’s ritual was prepared. His mind was cluttered, preventing him from sleeping properly since that day. He had to keep himself busy around the campus. Suddenly, his own words came to mind, and Ronan clicked his tongue.
“What a joke. ‘Tidy up your surroundings’? What kind of nonsense is that, ‘tidying up my surroundings’?”
It sounded like a farewell message to someone going to die. Of course, during time as a member of the Punishment Squad, he heard such words as a farewell gesture. In a place where life and death were unpredictable, preparing for the worst was essential.
‘Well, it’s actually a good thing.’
While it was regrettable that he couldn’t finish his tasks quickly, Ronan resolved to think as positively as possible. He knew better than anyone the misery of those who couldn’t even leave their last wills. There was no harm in preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Lost in these thoughts, Ronan arrived at the club building. Although he was only near, the loud noises from within reached him.
Creeeak— The door opened with a harsh creaking sound. Ronan’s expression contorted at the unexpected sight. Marya and Braum were doing push-ups with Aselle and Ophelia on their backs.
“Cutie! Did you not eat at all during the vacation? Why are you so light?”
“Oh, no. I did eat…!”
Marya asked with concern. Aselle, blushing intensely, nodded. Ophelia, with a dry expression, poked Braum’s back with her index finger as she sat on him.
“Braum… at this rate, you’ll lose…”
“Huuh! W-wait! There’s still a chance for a comeback!”
With a contemplative look, Braum increased his speed. Witnessing the absurd scene, Ronan chuckled. He placed the trunk he brought onto the table and spoke up.
“What are you doing? You idiots.”
“Oh? Ronan!”
The two stopped their push-ups. Ronan surveyed the club members’ faces and nodded. Except for Shullifen, everyone else had gathered as he had instructed.
“Everyone’s here. How have you been?”
“Even though I saw you yesterday… but oh, I brought the payment for the magic stones.”
Marya wiped sweat from her forehead with her sleeve and pointed to a corner of the building. About ten luxurious boxes were stacked on top of one another. At that moment, Braum, who had been catching his breath, burst into a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha, of course! That was unexpected, Ronan, giving such a big gift at the end of vacation!”
His gaze lingered on the shield leaning against one side of the wall. Ronan raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, did you receive it today?”
“It was actually the day before yesterday. The Werewolf blacksmith delivered it to me!”
It was an impressive shield. It looked like it could fully cover a person and probably withstand the flames of a dragon with a little exaggeration.
“I’m not sure how to thank you for this. Can I really use such a treasure?”
“You’re talking nonsense. I gave it to you to use it, so of course, you should accept it.”
“I’m… grateful too.”
Ophelia also bowed slightly. In her hand was a wand that looked as if it had been carved from bones, its pure white contrasting sharply against her grip. It wasn’t clear whether it was because Ophelia was strong to begin with, but the surging magical power seemed unusual.
“It feels like all magic spells… have doubled in strength. I never expected such a place existed under the academy.”
“Is it better than what your kind made?”
“Yeah… by a lot. It would be rude to compare.”
“I’m glad.”
Ronan nodded. Both Ophelia’s wand and Braum’s shield were crafted by the master craftsmen of Gran Cappadocia. As soon as he heard Sekreet tell him to tidy up his surroundings, he fitted the two people with weapons.
“Alright, everyone, gather around. I have an important announcement to make..”
“An announcement?”
The members gathered together. Ronan opened the trunk. Click! As soon as the lock was released, contents that no one expected were revealed. Everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment except Ophelia.
“This…!”
“I borrowed them from Instructor Navirose. Everyone put one on your wrist.”
Cushioned within the trunk were five black, slender bracelets. They were magical artifacts used during Navirose’s midterm evaluation.
A spatial-type magical artifact that, in the likely event of grave injury or impending death, automatically shifts the wearer’s body to a different space. Ronan continued explaining despite the bewildered looks of the members.
“I might be absent for a while. It could be just a few days, but it could be as long as several years.”
“…What are you talking about? It’s the start of the new semester, and you’re suddenly leaving?”
“Se-several years?”
“I’ll explain in detail. Put on your bracelets first.”
Ronan’s demeanor was more serious than usual. Without understanding the specifics, the members each put on a bracelet. At that moment, Ronan drew his knife. Swish! Right as Lamancha’s blade was about to touch Braum’s neck, his form distorted and vanished.
“Wh-what is this…?”
“Uh-uhh!”
Aselle was about to scream, but Braum, who had disappeared with a loud bang, tumbled down the stairs. He was completely unaware of what had happened and was wandering around. Ronan spoke up.
“See? No one dies. I’ve set up a place to revive in this building, so you can attack me as much as you want.”
“Wh-what are you doing right now?”
“I’m testing your abilities. If I really have to leave.”
Finally, after putting on the bracelet, Ronan stood up. The sudden surge of energy blooming on his shoulders made the members flinch back. He seemed like a completely different person. Ronan scanned each of their faces and growled softly.
“Come at me.”
