Chapter 140
Chapter 140
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Spring, Come Forth (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Asel's hair was turning white from the roots. A haze-like chill rippled around his small hands. Ronan's eyes widened.
"What the hell are you...?"
Asel covered his mouth and giggled. There was no trace of guilt in the laughter. A seductive woman's voice flowed from between his lips.
Something was terribly wrong. He had to figure out why this was happening. In that instant, several bizarre elements flashed through Ronan's mind.
Evelin's hair suddenly returning to brown, and Asel's bleaching in her place. An attitude that had become eerily feminine. The deduction didn't take long.
'Damn it, it's a possession.'
It seemed the Winter Witch was a spirit like Bajura. A soul wandering the world without a body, seeking hosts. He hadn't experienced it in his previous life, so he had no idea.
Having grasped the situation, Ronan charged at Asel. Thwack! Grabbing his collar and lifting him up, he snarled ferociously.
"Why the hell are you in there? Winter Witch."
Asel smiled coyly. The white that had completely overtaken his hair was now tinting even his eyelashes. Ronan's grip on the collar tightened.
"Cut the bullshit and get out of that kid's body."
"I don't know you."
Asel didn't answer properly, just spouting nonsense. It seemed she mistook him for someone else.
His throat must have been squeezed tight, yet Asel's expression remained calm and unchanged. Slowly raising his hand, he gently caressed Ronan's cheek.
"Damn it."
It was a tender tone, like speaking to a lover. Ronan's patience reached its limit, veins bulging on his forehead.
The moment he was about to slam his fist into Asel's temple. A eardrum-shattering roar erupted from behind.
"Kraaaargh!!"
"Ugh, shit."
It was far too loud to ignore. Ronan whipped his head around reflexively. Itargand, struck directly by the ice, was thrashing about.
Every time his body slammed into walls or the floor, Rodolan shook. Endless chill leaked from the ice spike half-buried in his chest. He seemed too pained even to try pulling it out. Asel frowned.
Asel raised his arm, aiming at Itargand. Cold air gathered in an instant, forming a massive magic circle before his hand. Ronan's face paled as he spat curses.
"Damn it, stop that!"
Ronan urgently slapped Asel's arm away. At the same moment, an ice spike like the previous one launched. Kwajik! It grazed Itargand's neck and embedded in the wall. Asel tilted his head.
"You asking because you don't know? That punk is from Navardoje's clan."
Asel lowered his arm. Fortunately, some reason remained. Just as Ronan thought that, Asel mumbled while licking his lips and snapped his fingers.
"What?"
Snap! The spike embedded in the wall yanked free. It spun gracefully in the air before shooting back toward Itargand.
"Goddamn it...!"
Ronan spun and swung his sword. Shweee! Five crescent-shaped sword auras launched to intercept it.
But the ice spike twisted its path freely and reached its target anyway. The control was incomparably precise compared to the witch from his previous life. Puk! Piercing Itargand's back diagonally, the spike emerged from his side.
"Huuuugh!"
Itargand gasped. His rampage stopped. Fixing his gaze on the ice spear sprouting from his side, he collapsed to the floor. Thud! Asel, grinning wickedly, continued.
"You crazy bitch...!"
Ronan gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected her to go this far off the rails. Crack! Spinning his sword once, he struck the back of Asel's neck with the hilt.
Fortunately, it worked this time. Asel let out a short groan and lost consciousness. A dreadful silence descended on Jutecca. Erzsebet, who had been frozen stiff like the dead, finally spoke.
"Wh-what the hell is going on...?"
"I don't know either. Looks like he got possessed and his body taken over."
"P-possessed? By who...?"
"The Winter Witch, who else."
Erzsebet's eyes widened. Ronan suddenly noticed the crowd was gone.
"By the way, where'd everyone go?"
"The sheep all fled when Itargand went berserk. Pathetic bunch."
"Nah, better this way."
They wouldn't have helped anyway. But if asked if just Erzsebet was enough, no. Karaka, who had been standing dazed, spoke up.
"...This is disconcerting."
Karaka stared at the wrecked Jutecca, unable to hide his bewilderment. Evelin Drozer was still in his arms, breathing raggedly.
"You're still here, Karaka."
"Managing prisoners is my duty. But this...?"
His cracked voice lacked soul. Even a seasoned inquisitor hadn't foreseen this. Turning his head, he fixed his gaze on the now-white-haired Asel.
Ronan wanted to explain how this mess happened, but time was short. Patting his shoulder, he said,
"Karaka, take that kid somewhere safe. And tell everyone to flee fast or prepare to defend themselves. Something feels off. Don't let anyone in here."
"...What will you do, Ronan?"
"Try to clean this up as best I can. Go."
Ronan urged him. Karaka nodded after a moment's thought and left Jutecca, carrying Evelin.
Ronan propped the limp Asel against the wall. Checking his condition, he turned to Erzsebet.
"Help me out here. Your telekinesis improved any in two years?"
"Somewhat... What are you planning?"
"We can't let that guy die."
Ronan pointed at Itargand. The massive body twitched in spasms. His breaths came in perilous gasps; left alone, he'd be dead in five minutes.
'What a headache. Of all days...'
If Itargand died here, it would spark strife between the Dragon City Adren and the Empire. Radical dragons might use his death to push for war.
Friction between the continent's two mightiest powers was never pleasant. Especially with the end just years away.
Ronan grabbed the hesitating Erzsebet's wrist and strode to Itargand. He lay dying in a grotesque form, neither human nor dragon. The wound was fully frozen, no blood flowing.
"Ugh, you idiot, not ashamed in front of your mom?"
"Kuh... Huuugh... Human...!"
Ronan sighed deeply. This was why the Winter Witch was vicious. Ice wounds like this were hell to treat.
Leaving the spike in would let the chill consume him entirely. Pulling it out recklessly would shatter his frozen organs. He had emergency potions, but too little for his size.
As he pondered options, a spark lit in Ronan's eyes.
'Wait, did I ever use that?'
Something perfect for this came to mind. He'd received it but never used it. Rummaging in his inner pocket, he pulled it out.
"...Here it is."
A small white pearl glimmered in his palm. A millennium glacier pearl, found only at the continent's northernmost tip.
The supreme remedy that boosted mana and cold resistance. A gift from Adeshan two years ago.
'What a waste.'
Ronan grimaced. Its monetary value aside, he hated using it on someone else. But nothing else could resolve this now.
For the greater good. Muttering that, he spoke.
"Listen up, Itargand. Left like this, you'll die soon."
"Wha... t...?"
"The witch's cold will freeze your heart. Resistance is futile. Even as a dragon, you can't shake it. Eventually, your whole body turns to ice and crumbles."
Ronan stated flatly. No exaggeration; based on what he'd seen before. Itargand's eyes twisted. Silence, then a low murmur from his teeth.
"I don't... want to die..."
"Good. Do as I say. This rich-kid-looking lady will pull the spike from your body. Then immediately polymorph to human. It'll hurt like hell, but it's your only way to live."
Saying that, Ronan split the pearl in half. He shoved one piece into Itargand's mouth.
Gulp. Itargand swallowed. Soon, the frozen wound thawed, blood flowing. He groaned in agony.
"Kuhh... Kraaaah...!"
"It's not worsening?"
"The pearl's effect is driving out the cold inside. Let's do it."
Ronan nodded to Erzsebet. She squeezed her eyes shut and unleashed telekinesis. Shwaaak! The spikes ripped root and all from Itargand's body. Red blood sprayed like a fountain.
"Kraaaaaaargh!!"
"Polymorph!"
Ronan shouted at Itargand, who was about to rampage again. Light enveloped his roaring form. Soon, platinum-haired youth Itargand face-planted on the floor.
"Hah! Kraaagh!"
Ronan rushed and supported him. Blood gushed from four holes.
Smaller now, manageable. He poured emergency potion on the wounds. Tsssh...! Like water evaporating, the injuries began healing. Confirming the bleeding stopped, Ronan chuckled.
"Damn bastard. Karma."
"Hah... Huuuh... You... exactly... who...?"
Itargand looked up at Ronan. The rage and envy gone from eyes that had brushed death's door. After staring long, he dropped his head.
"Kuhk...!"
"Yeah. Shut up and rest."
Fortunately, not dead—just passed out from exhaustion. War between dragons and humans averted. As Ronan sighed in relief,
"Damn it."
The witch's voice. No clue when she'd regained consciousness, but that wasn't important now.
Ronan hurriedly split the remaining pearl. He swallowed half, shoved the other into Erzsebet's mouth.
"R-Ronan?"
"Swallow."
"Ulp...! Cough! Cough!"
Erzsebet coughed, having gulped it down. Composing himself, Ronan turned. Asel, now awake, stood with his back to them.
"Why's he doing that?"
Ronan frowned. A mirror-flat ice wall had risen before Asel. Staring at Ronan's reflection, he muttered in disbelief.
Undeniable disappointment laced her voice. She'd finally realized Ronan wasn't the one she sought. He shook his head wearily.
"Damn, took you long enough?"
"Don't know. Anyway, got a question: the one you're looking for—is it the Nebula Klazje's leader?"
Asel didn't answer. Groaning with a despairing expression, he began caressing his own face with both hands.
"What, you didn't know?"
"...Yeah, easy to mistake."
Ronan nodded. Even he hadn't believed Asel was male until seeing for himself. He'd heard countless male students had confessed blindly and gotten their hearts shattered.
Asel's condition worsened. Spouting incoherent nonsense, the shock seemed severe. Ronan sighed.
"...Not gonna answer, huh?"
As expected, no reply. With normal talk impossible, the course was set.
Ronan drew both sword hilts. Shring! Lamancha’s black blade emerged. Imir, drawn sheathed, scattered sparkling mana.
Imir stayed sheathed to subdue without slashing. Aiming Lamancha at Asel, Ronan growled low.
"Then get out of my friend's body now, you clueless hag."
Ronan kicked off the ground and charged. Erzsebet began chanting. From Asel's parted lips came a coldly sunken voice.
The moment Imir's sheath aimed to strike his head. Asel raised his head and snapped his fingers. Kwaaaang! Jutecca's wall exploded, seawater pouring in.