< 122. Remaining Days (1) >
#122
“Come closer. First, let’s see how much progress has been made.”
Ronan did so. Secret stretched out his fern-like hand and touched his chest. The brighter eyes were really annoying. Ronan laughed out loud at the sight of him not being able to get used to it at all.
‘It’s amazing. ‘I wonder if I’ll turn into a grandmother at night.’
No matter who looked at her, she was a perfect girl. It was truly a terrible curse to turn a tired old man into a child who would play ball games. Three Crits, who had quietly closed their eyes, opened her mouth.
“Reveal yourself.”
A loud voice rang out. At the same time, Secrit’s mana spread through her body. Sigh! Dark red letters protruded from Ronan’s back.
“···You bastards.”
Ronan gritted his teeth after seeing the curses materialized. It was a sight I had not seen in a long time. The letters were wiggling and spinning around him as if they were alive.
However, the amount of letters seemed to have decreased compared to when I first saw it. Secret’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Oh, my efforts were not in vain. “The curse has definitely weakened.”
“Of course you should. “I went through such a hard time.”
Ronan twisted his mouth. I couldn’t believe that all the hardships I had gone through so far had occurred in just over half a year. Secrit removed his hand from her chest and took out her chalk.
“Then let’s move on to the next step.”
Secret began to walk around the study and draw a geometric magic circle. It was a magic circle that almost covered the floor of the study.
In many ways, it took a long time compared to last time. After a while, he completed the magic circle and held out his hand.
“It’s done. “Give me the magic stone.”
“Here you go.”
Ronan handed over the Dainhar Magic Stone. The secret that received the magic stone flinched for a moment. The mana writhing beneath the black surface was so powerful that it was incomparable to any catalyst I had ever seen.
“···You really got it right. Did you receive it as a gift from the natives of Dainhar?”
“Well, it’s similar.”
“I’m scared because I don’t think it’s a joke.”
Secret walked to the center of the study and placed the magic stone on the floor. At that moment, light emanated from the magic circle pattern. Paaaa…! It was a sight reminiscent of flames rising through oil.
“This time, I will make the curse you must break into reality.”
“Materialization?”
“okay. By interpreting and implementing the curse in a visual form, we gauge its scale. “It is the last step before entering Haeju.”
Suddenly, Secret waved his finger in the air. The shapes of the letters became distorted and began to gather in one place. As materialization progressed, Secret’s expression gradually hardened.
“This···!”
The curse, which repeated boiling and melting at will, stopped changing only after about ten minutes. Ronan frowned at her. A huge lump, perhaps 2 meters in diameter, was floating before her eyes.
“You look like shit.”
I was very uncomfortable with the little pigeon that had formed. This is what it would look like if you pulled out the heart or brain of a devil.
The amorphous mass of curses continued to wriggle without a definite form. Secret, who had been silent for a long time, sighed.
“···oh my god. “I never thought it would be like this.”
“Secret? are you okay?”
“Yes… the moment I compress that and pour it into your head, the harm begins. From then on, as you know, the body falls into a deep sleep and the mind wanders in the world of images…”
“I have a bad feeling… but damn it, what can I do? “Let’s get rid of it quickly.”
Ronan shifted his arms and legs around and sighed. Time in the world of imagination passes differently from reality. I thought it was over in an instant last time, but in reality, a full day had passed, so there was a high possibility that something similar would happen this time.
It was the right decision to get it done during vacation, when time was relatively free. Secret, who had been biting his nails the whole time, opened his mouth.
“Ronan… it may be funny to say this now, but I have to say what I have to say.”
“What do you want to say?”
“Do you really have to do that?”
For a moment, silence fell. Ronan, who had been dumbfounded, opened her mouth.
“Why are you like this earlier? “My complexion is not good either.”
“···Decades ago, a friend of mine committed suicide. He was an astronomer who explored the sky above. “He was a renowned and learned friend, so there was no reason for him to commit suicide.”
Ronan tilted his head at the sudden sound. Secret’s face, staring at the curse, was as pale as the northern snow fields. A cool sweat was running down my pale cheeks.
“But his disciples testified that he suddenly went crazy. We were able to find the cause in the will he left behind. There was just one line of text written on it. [We are dust.]”
“dust?”
“The conclusion was reached after colleagues put their heads together and discussed it. I realized just a little bit the extent of the universe, which I had previously only recognized as ‘existing’. “I became mad because I witnessed an unbearable truth…”
Secret looked up at the ceiling for a moment and then washed his face. He faced Ronan and opened his mouth.
“Ronan, I have just come to understand him.”
“You think I’m going to fail.”
“To be honest, yes. “I think we are being reckless this time.”
Secret bowed his head and acknowledged his negligence. He did not know that until now, he had been conceiving a method based only on theory and simplified experiments. The power of the materialized curse far exceeded Secret’s expectations.
“That’s dangerous. Even if we succeed, we cannot guarantee how long it will take.”
“I can’t be sure. Is it because it lasts for several days?”
“Once something goes wrong, it’s funny for a year. “There are people who have been wandering in the world of images for over ten years.”
“Holy shit, ten years?”
Ronan’s brow furrowed. Since it was a stronger curse, I thought it might take longer than when I first did it, but this went too far. Secret said.
“Ronan. This is not something I would say as an educator who must pursue advancement, but you are strong enough right now. If he continues to grow like this, he will definitely become a swordsman who will leave a mark on the history of the empire. “Is it worth taking this much risk to do that?”
Secret lowered his voice. Although she was a delicate girl on the outside, she still had that unique intimidating feeling. Ronan’s eyes narrowed.
‘Gachira.’
It didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Just looking at the achievements made so far, there was much more room for growth compared to my past life. As time passed, he was confident that even if his body grew, he would slaughter Ahayute in an instant.
‘f*ck. I wouldn’t have done it if only that bastard was there.’
However, that was not the level Ronan had to reach. The number of giants descending, tearing up the sky, could not even be estimated.
Suddenly, I remembered the day I met Omega’s doppelganger. The sight of his dying body, eroded by his curse, was indescribably hideous.
I had to get rid of those tumors inside my body in order to overcome my limit. Ronan nodded her head without hesitation.
“yes.”
“Hehe… then I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.”
widely! Secret sighed and snapped his fingers again. As soon as the magic circle’s light went out, the materialized curse dispersed like smoke.
“I will also do my best to stabilize my technique. “It will likely take a few days, so please at least clean up your surroundings.”
****
The remaining period passed quickly. The school opening ceremony was held in the main plaza where the vacation ceremony was held. Kratyr’s face, which was reciting a clichéd sermon, was as black as if he had been on vacation somewhere.
“I hope you had a meaningful vacation. I hope you stay healthy and energetic in the new semester. Hmm… summer is now over.”
The rising sky showed that summer’s momentum had waned. The students’ faces have become brighter due to the cooler weather over the past few days.
Ronan headed to the club building as soon as the opening ceremony was over. The returning students were busily walking around the campus. The empty streets regained their commotion.
In his right hand was a large trunk bag. Ronan, who had been whistling, looked up at her feathery cloud and muttered.
“Three days.”
There was still time left until the Secret spell was ready. His mind was so busy that he couldn’t sleep well after that day. He had to hustle around and do what he could. Ronan suddenly remembered his words and grunted.
“Anyway, that’s true. “What is tidying up your surroundings? Cleaning up your surroundings.”
It seemed like a line left to someone who was about to die. Of course, it was something I heard as a greeting when I was serving as a punitive soldier. It was a place where battles where life and death could not be guaranteed were fought every day.
‘Well, it’s actually a good thing.’
Although it was regrettable that he could not finish the work quickly, Ronan decided to think as positively as possible. He knew better than anyone else the misery of those who die suddenly without even leaving a will. Even if he assumed the worst and developed a defense plan, it never hurt him.
Ronan, who was walking while thinking about various things, finally reached the club building. He was still nearby when he heard a commotion.
The door opened with a squeak and a friendly friction sound. Ronan’s expression distorted at the unexpected sight. The sight of Marja and Braum doing push-ups with Asher and Ophelia on their backs, respectively, caught my eye.
“Cutie! Did you not eat a single meal during vacation? Why is it so light?”
“Oh, no. ate···!”
Marya asked worriedly. Asher shook her head, her face bright red. Ophelia, who was sitting on Braum with a dull expression, poked him in the back with her index finger.
“Braum… I’m going to lose if I keep doing this…”
“Huh! Wait, wait! “There are still signs of a reversal!”
Braum became thoughtful and increased his speed. Ronan, who saw a truly sick sight, laughed. He placed the trunk he had brought with him on the bar table and opened his mouth.
“What are you doing? “You idiots.”
“uh? Ronan!”
The two people stopped doing push-ups. Ronan looked at the members’ faces and nodded. As I said before, everyone was gathered except Schlieffen.
“Everyone is here. “How have you been?”
“I saw it yesterday and it reminded me… Ah, I brought the money from the magic stone sale.”
Marya wiped her sweat with her sleeve and pointed to a corner of the building. There were about ten luxurious boxes stacked one on top of the other. At that time, Braum, who was catching his breath, burst into laughter.
“Whahaha, of course! By the way, I was surprised Ronan. “They give me such a big gift at the end of vacation!”
His gaze rested on the shield leaning against one side of the wall. Ronan shrugged his eyebrows.
“Oh, did you get it today?”
“To be exact, it was just yesterday. “The werewolf blacksmith delivered it to me!”
It was a good shield at first glance. The rectangular great shield, which was large enough to completely cover the body, seemed like it could block even the dragon’s flames with a bit of lies.
“I don’t know what to thank you for. “Can I really use such a treasure?”
“You’re making strange noises. “It was given to me to use, so of course I should take it.”
“Thank you too…”
Ophelia also bowed her head. In her hand was a pure white wand that looked as if it were carved from her bones. I don’t know if it was because Ophelia was strong to begin with, but her magical power was unusual.
“It seems like all magic has become twice as strong. “I never thought there would be a place like that under the archipelago…”
“Is it better than what your species made?”
“Yeah…much. “It’s rude to compare.”
“I’m glad.”
Ronan nodded. Both Ophelia’s wand and Braum’s shield were made by master craftsmen of Gran Cappadocia. As soon as he heard Secret tell him to clean up the area, he fitted the two people with weapons.
“Okay then, everyone, come here. “Because I have an important announcement.”
“notification?”
The members gathered together. Ronan opened the trunk. Click. As soon as the lock was released, contents that no one expected appeared. Everyone’s eyes widened except Ophelia.
“This is…!”
“I borrowed it from Butterfly Rose. Everyone put one on your wrist.”
Inside the cushion-covered trunk were five thin, black bracelets. It was a magic tool used during Nabirose’s mid-term evaluation.
A space-type magical tool that automatically transfers the body when death or irreparable injury appears likely. Ronan left the confused members behind and continued his explanation.
“I think I might be gone for a long time. “It can be as short as a few days, but as long as it can take years.”
“···What are you talking about? “School is now starting and you’re suddenly leaving?”
“Several years?”
“I’ll explain in detail. “Wear your bracelet first.”
Ronan’s expression was more serious than usual. The members wore bracelets one by one without knowing why. At that moment Ronan grabbed the hilt of his sword. Shoo! Just as the tip of La Mancha’s sword was about to touch Braum’s neck, his figure distorted and disappeared.
“What is this…!”
“Huh oh oh!”
Asher was about to start screaming. Craddangtangtang! Braum, who had disappeared with a loud noise, rolled down the stairs. He was looking around without even realizing what was happening to him. Ronan continued.
“Did you see it? never die “This building is the place that will come back to life, so you can attack as much as you want.”
“Ji, what are you doing now?”
“I’m just trying to see your skills. “Do you really think it’s okay for me to leave?”
Finally, Ronan, wearing the bracelet, stood up. The members of the team flinched as the deadly force suddenly bloomed on his shoulders. It was as if he had become a different person. Ronan looked at each of their faces and growled lowly.
“Follow me.”
