Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Jaeger (5)
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“Over there... Zaifa’s presence.”
“What?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. He couldn’t comprehend what she was suddenly saying. Zaifa had left for the south to hunt Nebula Klazie. Why would he be here?
“That’s impossible. How could Zaifa be here?”
“I know. But... this aura is definitely...”
Adeshan’s breathing grew ragged. The werewolf, freed from mental domination, collapsed to its knees. Ronan repeated himself.
“No way. He has a contract with the Emperor, too.”
Fundamentally, Zaifa couldn’t be here. The oath he swore with the Emperor included a clause forbidding him from stepping foot in the north—to prevent him from rallying his beastkin kin and inciting rebellion again.
If he broke it, Zaifa’s heart would burst. It wasn’t an ordinary oath, but a blood oath. Thus, Adeshan’s claim couldn’t hold.
It had to be a misdetection of some other mana. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes. Chuckling wryly, Ronan closed his eyes.
“Wait. Let me check.”
“Okay. But Ronan, it really...”
Adeshan said something, but Ronan, entering a state of focus, didn’t hear her. His senses, gradually expanding, reached out beyond the door like tendrils. Soon, detecting a familiar presence, Ronan furrowed his brow.
“No way.”
He couldn’t believe it. Inside the door, Zaifa’s presence was unmistakable. The chilling aura that made every hair on his body stand on end was impossible to mistake.
What the hell? What’s going on?
He couldn’t make sense of the situation. But one thing was clear: what needed to be done. Exchanging glances, Ronan and Adeshan stepped toward the large door. The closer they got, the stronger Zaifa’s aura became. Adeshan murmured again.
“No doubt... it’s Zaifa.”
Ronan didn’t reply. Whatever was beyond had to be confirmed in person. Reaching the door, the two gripped the handles.
“Opening it.”
“Okay.”
With a simple signal, they pushed the doors together. Kiiiek... The massive double doors opened with a heavy, creaky groan befitting their size. The vast scene before them froze Ronan and Adeshan in place.
“...Huh?”
The space was dozens of times larger than imagined. It stretched out unobstructed in all directions, the ceiling so high they had to crane their necks fully to see it. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say half the fortress was dedicated to this single room.
Opulent furniture and decorations fit for the Grancia estate filled the space. The lavish items momentarily made them forget they were in a centuries-old castle. On one wall hung a portrait of Jaeger in imperial robes—obscenely oversized.
But it wasn’t those trivial details that shocked Ronan and Adeshan. A horizontal line of fully armed beastkin glared at them, forming a wall of predators across the room. Ronan involuntarily cursed at the beastly barrier.
“What the fu...”
There had to be at least fifty. Unlike the rabble they’d faced before, these were burly beastkin—lions, tigers, rhinos, reindeer—all exuding the aura of seasoned warriors.
Too focused on Zaifa, they hadn’t sensed this group. In the heavy silence, as if time had stopped, raucous laughter erupted from somewhere.
“Kehihahaha! You were right—they really came looking for me!”
The vulgar laugh was familiar. Ronan turned toward the sound. Beyond the beastkin wall, at the room’s deepest end, a one-eyed weretiger with an eyepatch shook with laughter, shoulders heaving.
His black-and-white fur starkly contrasted, and even in laughter, he retained a dignified handsomeness. Recognizing him instantly, Ronan raised an eyebrow.
“Jaeger.”
Unmistakably Jaeger. His flashy appearance remained, but his aura was far stronger than in his past life—likely due to the altered fate. Stopping his laugh, Jaeger spoke with hands behind his back.
“Kuhahaha, I’ve been waiting for you, human!”
“You knew I’d come?”
“Of course. I knew you’d try to kill me and dismantle the New Beastkin Alliance, even infiltrating the fortress for it. Did you think things would go that smoothly?”
Ronan raised an eyebrow. He’d wondered why the numbers thinned out midway—this was a trap after all. Jaeger continued.
“Kuhuhu, you’re really unlucky. Without my friend here, you might’ve ambushed me. Posing as prisoners was a good plan.”
“Friend?”
Instead of answering, Jaeger just cackled vulgarly. Someone must’ve tipped him off mid-plan. Then, Ronan noticed the enigmatic figure beside Jaeger.
“That’s...”
Taller than Jaeger by a head, the giant wore a dark maroon robe covering even his face. Likely the ‘advisor’ the beastkin guards mentioned. Ronan’s face hardened instantly.
“...Zaifa?”
Up close, it was even clearer. The aura sensed beyond the door emanated from him. The silhouette under the robe matched Zaifa’s too closely. Taking a deep breath, Ronan spoke.
“Is that really you?”
No answer. Ronan twisted his lips. Even without showing his face, his identity was practically revealed. Even if everything else was coincidence, this savage aura was uniquely his—like an aura, irreplaceable.
Indescribable doubt, betrayal, and anger welled up one by one. Naviroje’s repeated warnings echoed in his ears. Remember my words, Ronan. Zaifa is dangerous.
“Say something, you bastard.”
Ronan growled roughly. The advisor remained silent. Staring at Ronan and Adeshan, he turned to Jaeger and said,
“You must kill them here. Don’t forget my words.”
Ronan twisted his lips. The low, deep voice was familiar too. Jaeger wagged his tail excitedly, laughing mockingly.
“Kahaha, don’t worry. My guards and I are invincible. Worst case, we use the treasure you gave me.”
“Then, I’ll go.”
With that, the advisor turned. Simultaneously, fierce mana surged from his shoulders like wildfire. Ronan’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?!”
The mana he emitted sparkled like the night sky on a clear day. For a split second, Ronan’s mind went blank. It was unmistakably the twinkling mana symbolic of Nebula Klazie.
Why does Zaifa have Nebula Klazie’s mana...?
Everything was incomprehensible now. Dozens of despairing scenarios flashed through Ronan’s mind. Suddenly, the advisor pulled out a scroll and unfurled it. Space warped around it, a dimensional rift appearing like a crack. Adeshan cried out in alarm.
“Ro, Ronan!”
“Damn it, stop!”
Stunned by the shock, he’d frozen momentarily. He needed to catch him and figure this out. Ronan gripped his hilt. As the crimson blade drew, a beam pulled the target. Paaah...! The advisor and an intervening werebear appeared before him.
“What is this...!”
“Wh-what?!”
Both bewildered, they faltered. Ronan clenched the hilt; the blade turned blood-red. If this was really Zaifa, no mercy. Spinning horizontally, he slashed. The imperceptibly fast strike drew red lines across their abdomens. As the sharp whoosh echoed—Plunk!—the werebear’s body split top to bottom.
“Muuuuh?!”
The werebear’s eyes widened. Its bisected torso crumpled. Blood spurted over the advisor’s robe.
“Kuhk...!”
“Damn.”
Ronan gritted his teeth. He’d sensed he hadn’t cut bone or organs. Tough hide, and unlike the werebear, he’d recoiled instantly. As Ronan prepared a second strike—Kwajik!—a lightning-fast kick from the advisor buried into his chest.
“Keheok!”
It hurt worse than an ogre’s blow. Ronan’s body folded forward. Kwang! He crashed into the door, sliding down. Barely steadying his breath, he gritted his teeth.
Almost died.
It felt like his gut was pierced. Without blocking flat with the sword, he might’ve died or been crippled. Spitting blood, Ronan looked up. The advisor clutched his abdominal wound, glaring. Staggering to his feet, Ronan chuckled.
“Kuhuhu... that hurt you... pretty bad too, huh.”
“How dare you...!”
Seemed his wound was deeper. A dark red pool formed under the advisor’s feet. Intensified twinkling mana rippled from his shoulders. He’d stalled him temporarily, but the situation wasn’t great. The beastkin warriors clamored noisily.
“My god, Diomo’s down!”
“Wh-what did that guy just do!?”
“Be careful, he uses weird powers!”
Now the surroundings registered. The werebear’s bisected corpse lay sprawled, its glistening entrails in the blood pool exciting the beastkin like a matador’s flag. Fifty snarling beastkin warriors ready to charge. This wouldn’t be easy. Stunned Jaeger finally spoke.
“Wh-what the hell... what just happened?”
He’d frozen, uncomprehending. The intruder’s blade flashed, pulling his advisor and a subordinate to disaster. Whatever sorcery, instinct told him one thing: this intruder wasn’t to be taken lightly. Deciding swiftly, Jaeger gestured dramatically and shouted.
“Have you ever seen such a vile fiend! Kin, tear him to shreds!”
“Kraaaaa!!”
Jaeger’s finger pointed at Ronan. The snarling beastkin roared in unison and charged. Their war cry shook the fortress. Downing Adeshan’s potion, Ronan wiped his mouth and muttered.
“...This is why I hate beasts.”
Not the beasts themselves— their ear-piercing roars. The potion eased his gut. A wave of fangs and teeth surged toward them. To meet the advisor or Jaeger, he’d have to carve through this first. Knowing it’d come to this, he should’ve just killed them all en route.
Sighing lightly at his plight, Ronan charged forward. Shaaak! The lead werelion’s head soared into the air. Hot blood sprayed his cheek, and the battle began.