Chapter 48


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    <strong>HEL SCANS</strong>


    [Trantor – Zain]


    [Proofreader – Demon God]


    ——————


    I couldn’t fathom the situation at hand. Navirose looked at the fallen Dan on the ground and spoke up.


    “First of all… heal this person.”


    “Heal… do you mean? Where… um.”


    The surrounding guards hesitated. His condition was like meat prepared to soak in seasoning, a preparation that Ronan had made with a sense of nausea in advance.


    “As expected of Stormde. Even though it’s not fullyplete, that power is up there.”


    He had been skeptical about Aura at first, but his thoughts had changed recently. He wanted to unlock Aura quickly. If things like the Stormde or Mansa worked against giants, he might actually have a chance in a fight.


    “But to do that, we need to break this damn curse.”


    First, he needed to feel and control mana. His thoughts naturally turned to Haze. At that moment, Dan coughed as if he could die at any moment.


    “Cough!”


    “Hey, hey! You can’t just let him die!”


    A few startled guards rushed to get potions. Wearing heavy armor, they weren’t very fast. Ronan scratched his head and spoke.


    “For God’s sake, Cita. Just fix him up enough not to die.”


    “Beahh.”


    A healing magic circle appeared before Cita’s eyes. Dan was barely clinging to life after all. With the situation settled, Navirose, wearing sleepwear, stood between the two boys, arms crossed.


    “Exin what happened.”


    “You look good in these clothes.”


    “Shut up.”


    Navirose red at him with an ax-like gaze. Ronan gave a subtleugh. Cute snake drawings were embroidered like a pattern on her sleepwear.


    “That knight had been working in Gracia for four years was actually a spy from Neb zier.”


    Shullifen, who straightened his attire, exined the situation. The betrayal of the knight Dan, the nighttime dormitory attack… Navirose’s face stiffened when she heard the name Neb zier.


    “The situation is more serious than I thought.”


    “Yes. There’s a good chance that person isn’t the end of it. We might need to return to the Gracia mansion right away.”


    “Go ahead. I’ll inform the headmaster.”


    Shullifen promptly left for the Gracia domain on his horse. The sound of hooves quickly faded away. Ronan clicked his tongue as he watched him go.


    “Tch, that useless guy. He’s leaving without even saying thank you.”


    “It’s because the situation is urgent. By the way, you did well to involve Shullifen.It was a smart move.”


    “I didn’t want to look too suspicious.”


    Ronan nodded. Shullifen’s words would have a greater impact on the Gracia duke than a thousand of his own. Suddenly, Ronan remembered the events of his past life and clenched his jaw.


    ‘But how did that strong man die?’


    If his memory served him right, the duke would die under mysterious circumstances a few yearster. The death of the pale Lord of the de Gracia would remain undiscovered until just before the giants descended.


    “No, the question is ‘to whom’.”


    It was probably Neb zier. Of course, the possibility of Dan or the like being the murderer seemed unlikely, but what was scary was that there might be more such people. Perhaps even here in Philleon.


    Ronan, who predicted a protracted war, twisted his lips. His frustrated gaze, fixed on the sky, caught the smoke rising from the dormitory.


    “…But where do I sleep now?”


    It suddenly crossed his mind. Damn Dan had wrecked his room. He had been considering camping out or something. Navirose nonchntly spoke.


    “So, there’s that issue. Would you like toe to my room for now?”


    “Um… yes?”


    Ronan’s body stiffened. For a moment, he thought everything was revealed. But she had taken on the form of a human, not a snake.


    “… You mean the professor’s room? Seriously?”


    “Yes. There’s plenty of space. In fact, it’s unnecessarily spacious.”


    He knew. It was an action born of simple goodwill. But that wasn’t particrly important.


    Instinctively, Ronan scanned Navirose and swallowed his saliva. He hadn’t noticed before, but she was indeed from the southern region. Her determination was clear even on her baggy sleepwear.


    This proposal might not be a bad idea.


    “Then… it’s a bit shameless, but…”


    Ronan made a truly embarrassed expression and followed her. Suddenly, the space in front of his eyes flipped, and a robed shaman appeared.


    “You’re working hard even at this time.”


    “Oh, for crying out loud, you scared me…Headmaster.”


    “Long time no see, Ronan.”


    The figure that appeared in the inverted space was Krava Kratir, the head of Philion. He spoke to Navirose.


    “I just heard that they’ve imprisoned him in the underground dungeon. Looks like we’ll have to strengthen security a lot more. For something like this to happen in the dormitory where the students live…”


    “I agree. Oh, a little while ago, Shullifen set off for Gracia.”


    “Yes. I just confirmed it. He’s going to the outskirts of the domain along with his horse and will be back soon.”


    The usual rxation was absent from Kratir’s face. Even just looking at the mana shield that flowed from his body, you could tell the gravity of the situation.


    Kratir smiled as he looked at Ronan and said:


    “…But at least you can rest easy for now. You and Shullifen did a good job.”


    “Oh, well, he just barged in suddenly, so I got startled.”


    “Hehe, you always talk about serious matters as if they’re not serious. Come to think of it, I heard something by chance. If you don’t have a ce to stay right now,e with me today.”


    “Huh? No, I already…”


    “No need to refuse. Come on, let’s go.”


    “Wait a minute!”


    Kratir grabbed Ronan’s wrist. Before he could say anything, the space flipped again. The two of them disappeared from view. Navirose, who had been standing nkly, turned her footsteps and muttered to herself.


    “…A wild night, indeed.”


    ****


    “The headmaster screwed up everything.”


    “Hmm? What are you talking about?”


    Ronan stared with empty eyes. The affair with the beautifuldy with her fair skin had turned into an argument with this distant old folk over a minute. Even though he knew that nothing would’ve happened, it was a regrettable situation.


    “For goodness sake… it’s nothing.”


    If this old man wasn’t a level 8 mage, he would have set his beard on fire. Ronan, who had been looking around, opened his mouth.


    “By the way, where is this?”


    In front of Ronan was an expanse of rocky ground. It looked like the summit of some tall rocky mountain, but it definitely wasn’t anywhere near the ind. Kratir touched his beard and smiled.


    “It’s a ce Ie to when I want to catch some fresh air. Isn’t the view nice?”


    “It’s not bad.”


    Ronan nodded. He couldn’t deny the fact that it was a breathtaking sight.


    Above their heads spread a sea of brilliant stars, while below the sheer cliffs extended a sea of pure white clouds. The roaring wind tousled their hair wildly.


    “But it doesn’t seem like afortable ce to sleep.”


    “Sorry about that. There’s something I want to talk to you about before we go to sleep.”


    “With me?”


    “Yes. First, I want to express my gratitude. I know you yed a crucial role in the Gran Cappadocia”


    Kratir turned his gaze to the sea of clouds and began to speak. He expressed his gratitude for saving the artisans underground, for bringing the organization Neb zier to the surface, and for the dormitory attack that had just urred today.


    “I’m truly thankful. As the head of Philleon Academy and as the human Krava Kratir, I’m grateful. Your actions will bring about significant changes in the future.”


    “It’s just something I could do. Oh, please thank Aselle and Marya for meter too. Even that annoying jerk.”


    ——————


    <strong>HEL SCANS</strong>


    [Trantor – Zain]


    [Proofreader – Demon God]


    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2


    Read ahead on our /helscans


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    “Hehe, of course. I’ll convey it properly.”


    Kratir chuckled softly. He looked proudly at the bewildering new student standing before him.


    The feeling that destiny had orchestrated their meeting. It was reminiscent of when he had heard the words from the Great Mage Lorehon to be his apprentice during his days in the Cold Sniffles. Those emotions were resurfacing. After a moment of silence, Kratir spoke again.


    “By the way, apart from that,tely you seem to have a deep worry on your face. Is there something bothering you?”


    “A worry? Um… yes, there is.”


    “If you’refortable with it, go ahead and share. If there’s something this old man can help with, I’ll do anything I can.”


    “Umm…”


    Ronan hesitated. He was unsure if he could reveal this so soon. He didn’t distrust Kratir, but the recent Dan incident had heightened his caution.


    But if he continued to act like this in every situation, nothing would change. With his resolve almost set, Ronan looked at Kratir.


    ‘His mana is clean.’


    He had checked earlier as well, but he couldn’t sense any unsettling glimmers of Neb zier’s presence in Kratir’s mana. But that wasn’t enough. Ronan met Kratir’s gaze and spoke.


    “Headmaster, could you please repeat what I say exactly? It’s really important.”


    “Hmm? Alright.”


    “When the arrival of the stars meets the light of the stars.”


    “When the arrival of the stars meets the light of the stars?”


    “Ahaha, damn it.”


    “Ahaha… damn it…?”


    Kratir repeated his words with a puzzled expression. There were no signs of his head swelling or exploding. Ronan let out a relieved sigh and began his story.


    “Perfect. Headmaster, I’m under a curse.”


    “A curse?”


    Kratir raised an eyebrow. Judging from his reaction, it seemed he hadn’t heard it from Sekreet. Ronan exined his situation calmly. Kratir’s eyes widened upon hearing that he was afflicted by nine curses.


    “Wow… that’s quite something. So, that’s why you couldn’t control mana before.”


    “Yes. It’s a serious problem. I thought that if I learned to use mana, I could even beat Shullifen with just my toe.”


    “While I’m not sure about your toe… indeed, the only talent thates close to the rising star of the Empire is you.”


    “Thank you for listening to me. Speaking of which, Headmaster, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.”


    “If it’s something I can help with, I’ll do anything.”


    Ronan chuckled softly. After all, to do things properly, he needed to talk to Kratir, and this opportunity had presented itself nicely. With aposed voice, Ronan began to speak.


    “I want to start a club.”


    “A club?”


    “Yes. But this is a rather special club, so I need the Headmaster’s permission. By the way, Professor Varen Panacir has agreed to oversee it.”


    “That guy Varen…? What kind of club is it?”


    Kratir asked with curiosity. Ronan exined the n he hadid out even before he entered Philleon. Throughout his exnation, Kratir’s expression shifted in various ways.


    “This… could potentially cause quite a controversy.”


    “Is it going to be difficult?”


    “No, go on. It’s intriguing.”


    Two seas flowed above their heads and beneath their feet. Ronan began exining why he had to wear his uniform, get his hands covered in blood, and brave all sorts of dangerous jungles just before sunrise.


    The next morning dawned, and even though it was early, Philleon’s Grand Square was bustling with students. They were there to witness the scene of the monster who had attacked the Navirose dormitory being escorted to Rodon.


    -Woooh!


    In the Grand Square of Philleon, a griffin-drawn escort vehicle was waiting. Soon, the crowd split, and Dan, surrounded by guards, was revealed.


    With his right arm, left eye, and two fingers missing, he was wrapped in thick chains, wearing the same clothing he had worn the previous day. As Ronan watched over the transfer, he whistled.


    “Off to Rodon you go. Sounds nice. Doesn’t it?”


    “…”


    “You’ll enjoy it there. The perverted interrogator Karaka will find you adorable. And I heard Cyril’s ears are nearly gone by now.”


    Dan just red at Ronan without saying a word. The guards in raven masks put him into the vehicle. Just before the door closed, Dan’s mouth opened.


    “…You know nothing.”


    “Huh? What did you say?”


    ng!


    The door shut. The escort vehicle took off into the sky. Students watched the spectacle with a mix of awe and fear in their eyes.


    “This is unreal… I better live a good life…”


    “Hey! Quickly pick up those griffin feathers!”


    Ronan furrowed his brows as he mulled over Dan’s words.


    ‘You know nothing’. What did that mean?


    “…I wish he was just talking nonsense.”


    No immediate answers came to mind. In a few days, Interrogator Karaka would extract an answer amidst screams, anyway.


    Ronan headed straight for Varen’s office. It was likely because he had seen the arrest that his steps were light. Knocking lightly on the door, he heard a familiar voice from within.


    “Come in~.”


    Varen Panacir, who could tear a bull’s neck with his bare hands, had dreambird Marphez on his shoulder. He was pouring tea with her on his shoulder. As Ronan entered, Varen shed a wide smile.


    “Oh, Ronan. How have you been? Perfect timing. I had just set the tea down.”


    “I’m good. The time hase to keep our promise, Varen.”


    “Promise…? What do you mean?”


    Varen tilted his head, his smile fading. To be fair, quite some time had passed, so it was easy to forget.


    With a meaningful smile, Ronan took out a piece of paper from his pocket. As Marphez sat on Varen’s shoulder, they began reading the paper that Ronan presented.


    “Permission for Club Establishment… Special ss Adventurers Club… Oversight by Professor Varen Panacir?”


    -Hmm?


    [A group that engages in additional training to gain practical experience through proactive external activities and aims to be individuals who can contribute to the Empire.]


    Under Kratir’s signature, the ‘Reason for Club Establishment’ was written like that. Barren smirked.


    ——————


    <strong>HEL SCANS</strong>


    [Trantor – Zain]


    [Proofreader – Demon God]


    Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2


    Read ahead on our /helscans


    ——————