Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Hundred Beasts (5)
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"...Damn!"
Ronan snapped out of it late and chased after the doppelganger. Whoosh—the fierce night wind swept through the treetops of the forest. Adeshan's shout came from behind.
"Ro, Ronan!"
But Ronan had no time to worry about her. The doppelganger's speed was unbelievably fast. The trail of dripping blood was a small mercy, making it possible to track where it had gone.
The doppelganger would draw close enough to see, only to vanish from sight again. Ronan leaped over a massive stump, dashed under haphazardly leaning trees, startling drowsy birds awake as he ran. He cursed as it disappeared behind another tree.
"Filthy fast bastard...!"
It was the moment Ronan pushed aside a thick oak tree while following the blood trail. An unfamiliar structure appeared before his eyes. It was a wide, pointed tent like something from a circus, its roof so high he had to tilt his head back to see the top.
"This is...?"
Dozens of presences emanated from inside. Ronan realized this must be where they kept the幻 beasts for the Hundred Beasts event.
The tent entrance gaped open like a shark's maw. The blood trail led straight inside. Just as Ronan was about to enter—rustle! The bushes behind him parted, and Adeshan burst out.
"Sunbae."
"C-caught you...!"
Adeshan, who had followed him, stopped in front of Ronan. Her hair, now tied back up, caught his eye. Her sweat-dampened nape gleamed white in the moonlight. Kneeling with hands on her knees to catch her breath, she finally spoke.
"Haa... why is... running... so damn fast for you...?"
"Sorry. I was in a hurry."
"Haa... no, it's fine... anyway, Ronan. The doppelganger... looked like..."
Adeshan looked up at Ronan. He gripped his sword hilt, staring at the tent entrance. After a moment's silence, Ronan nodded.
"Yeah. It was me."
"You...?"
"Let's catch it first. We can talk after."
His mind was a mess, but there was no time for other thoughts now. The two stepped forward.
The moment they entered the tent, an indescribably intense smell assaulted them—a cocktail of beastly scents mixed together. Soon, Adeshan gasped in admiration at the sight inside.
"Wow... so they were keeping them all here."
"They spared no expense."
The tent stretched straight like a massive cave. The well-organized interior resembled a luxury stable.
Lanterns hanging from the high ceiling emitted a soft glow. Along both walls, cages housed various creatures.
Fire rats, tree camels, desert slimes... dozens of rare幻 beasts and monsters that were hard to find in everyday life slumbered in their custom enclosures.
Our dorms look worse than this.
Ronan let out a hollow chuckle at the opulent facilities. Baren must have designed it himself. Some of the comfortable enclosures were spacious enough for humans.
"Let's keep going."
"Yeah."
They looked around, but no sign of the doppelganger. Fortunately, the blood trail continued unbroken.
The deeper they went, the more dangerous and rare creatures appeared. Ronan whistled at the pink glow shimmering in a glass case.
Even fairies. Impressive.
It was a sight that would have made Balus faint from joy in his past life. They were nearing the end of the tent when an enormous cage appeared, dwarfing all the others.
"This is...!"
"Kurrrgh... grrrroar!"
Adeshan recoiled at the sight inside. A massive manticore lay on its back, snoring loudly. Ronan chuckled.
"So this is where you've been staying. Not a bad life."
Judging by its appearance, it was definitely the manticore Baren had subdued. With training over, all the restraints had been removed from its body.
Its tail tip glistened with a venomous stinger dripping purple liquid—potent enough to kill a wyvern instantly.
Is it okay to show students something like this? Ronan muttered under his breath. Adeshan tugged at his sleeve.
"Ronan."
"Yeah?"
Adeshan's gaze was fixed on the far dead end. Ronan turned. A familiar figure stood with its back to them. Thick, dark brown mane grew along the giant's nape.
"Baren?"
It was unmistakably Baren's back. Ronan raised an eyebrow. He'd clearly told him in the note to go elsewhere—why was he here?
Just as he wondered if their paths had crossed by chance, he noticed the bloodstains at the figure's feet. The shadowy black blood evaporated like mist.
A chill ran down his spine. Ronan placed his hand on his sword hilt.
"That's not the professor."
"...Yeah. Doppelganger."
Adeshan murmured softly. Then the "Baren" toppled sideways. Thud. A man emerged from where the doppelganger fell.
He was a giant, like three average adult men laid side by side. Red beard covered his jaw thickly.
A bear mask sat atop his disheveled hair. Sensing their presence late, the man looked up. His eyes met Ronan's.
"What are you kids?"
"...!"
Adeshan involuntarily shrank back. She could tell at a glance he was no ordinary man. His low, resonant voice carried an intimidating force.
Red aura climbed his arms, thicker than Ronan's waist. His massive fists blinked like volcanoes on the verge of eruption. It was one of the crudest, most ferocious auras Ronan had ever seen.
The doppelganger must've transformed after seeing this guy. Hates Baren... and an aura like that... damn.
Ronan sighed. He didn't need an introduction to know who it was. Why did his bad premonitions always come true? At least the other club members hadn't run into him.
"Answer me. How'd you get here? Pure chance?"
"That's what I want to ask. Arondale."
Arondale's eyes widened at his name. He tilted his head, then placed his foot on the fallen doppelganger-turned-Baren.
"You know me?"
"More or less."
Ronan nodded. It came to him late, but even in his past life, he'd heard rumors of Caribolo's Snare's three great beasts.
The continent's top poaching organization's number twos. Brutal killers whose victims' blood could fill a lake. Ironically, he'd heard it from Balus back then.
He yapped about it endlessly.
Balus during his penal legion days had worshipped Caribolo's leader and the three beasts below him like gods. As long as those three lived, Caribolo was eternal—that was his mantra.
Arondale was one frequently mentioned. Ronan would get to witness that power firsthand today, unwillingly. He continued.
"I know your plan failed too. Your underlings are probably all dead by now."
"...What? You know who we are?"
"Dunno... Caribolo or something like that?"
Arondale's face hardened. Ronan slowly drew his sword. Lamancha’s black blade emerged. Fixing his gaze on Arondale, he whispered.
"Sunbae, find an opening and run. Get Instructor Naviroje or Baren."
"W-what about you?"
Ronan didn't answer. The meaning was clear in his silence. Adeshan's face stiffened. After hesitating, she nodded faintly. Arondale growled.
"Kid. Unless you want to end up dog food with your family, answer nicely. What do you know?"
"Why should I tell you? Especially some shitty poacher bastard."
Suddenly, Ronan dug into his ear with his pinky. Veins bulged on Arondale's temple. Ronan flicked his earwax toward him.
"If you wanna know, come dig it out yourself."
Ronan gripped his hilt. Red glow rippled along the blade. Adeshan turned and bolted. Stunned for a moment, Arondale nodded.
"Fine."
Suddenly, Arondale flipped the mask over his face. Caught off guard, Ronan assumed a counter stance.
"What the—?"
"Even getting lip from kids... no matter how far we've fallen..."
But instead of attacking, Arondale reached for his belt. Whoosh! The moment his hand touched the buckle, pure white smoke billowed out. Covered in gas, Ronan cursed.
"Fuck, what is this...?"
Ronan instinctively covered his mouth but inhaled a puff. Dizziness hit instantly. That's when he realized why none of the animals had woken—poachers' sleep gas.
"You dirty bastard...!"
Passing out meant game over. Shaking his head, Ronan bit his tongue hard. The drowsiness fled as his fangs pierced deep. Spitting the pooled blood, he shouted at Adeshan.
"Damn it, cover your mouth!"
But Adeshan's form was already swallowed by the smoke. As it cleared, she lay collapsed. Ronan gritted his teeth.
"Goddamn it, Adeshan."
"Eyes wandering, are they?"
Boom! Arondale kicked off the ground and charged. Unbelievable speed from such a bulk. Ronan twisted his lips as the distance closed in seconds.
Fast.
Like a castle wall charging. Ronan quickly decided and aimed at Arondale. Half-assing it would kill them both.
As the gap shrank to fifteen paces, Ronan swung his arm wide, unleashing a slash. Whoosh! A crescent blade aura shot forward.
"Blade aura. Futile trick."
Arondale didn't stop or dodge even as it closed in. He'd faced countless swordsmen; few had ever scratched him.
No kid's aura would leave a mark. Then the red blade aura collided. His face contorted sharply.
"Guh?!"
Slash! It sliced through his flesh. Burning pain engulfed him. Blood gushed from his struck shoulder.
The unexpected impact veered his charge. Boom! His shoulder smashed the manticore's iron bars. Bars thicker than trees bent like taffy.
"Damn it, what the...?"
Unbelievable sharpness. A hit to neck or head would've been instant death.
Recovering, he turned. Ronan's face loomed. Lamancha in his hand emitted eerie crimson light.
"Die!"
"Wha—?!"
Arondale hurriedly manifested aura. Blaze! Red energy from his core enveloped him. Clang! Dozens of slashes raked across his body.