Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Elite Adventure Club (2)
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Ronan curled the corner of his mouth as he recalled the conversation he'd had with Baren the day before.
- The habitat of a Curse Eye... Hmm, basically a place untouched by human feet, rich in mana. After all, curses are just one form of mana.
'Gotta try everything I can.'
The Vaidian leyline matched those conditions perfectly. Of course, he wasn't heading there solely for a potential Curse Eye.
Securing a mana-overflowing leyline would help cultivate his mana sensitivity, and he could make a tidy profit from the byproducts.
'Can't do it alone.'
He'd realized it anew during the Gran Cappadocia incident. To counter crises, he needed a powerful organization.
That's why Ronan had founded this club. He planned to gather talents who would stick with him until the Descent, using info from his past life to strengthen and expand their forces.
To do that, he needed to maximize his memories from his previous life. Marya asked again.
"Why'd you trail off? What's in the Vaidian Mountains?"
"You're so impatient. There's a pretty big leyline. It'll be helpful in all sorts of ways."
The party's eyes widened at the word "leyline." Asel, who had visited Penardo Spring with Ronan before, looked especially shocked.
He remembered how his mana manipulation had improved after just one visit, and the amount of money they'd made. Braum let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Don't know the details, but sounds fun! So when do we head out?"
"That's the problem. What're your class schedules like?"
Ronan handed out sheets of paper and had them draw up timetables. Being top students, their schedules were mostly packed.
Ronan let out a groan. It took two days just to reach the Vaidian Mountains—even assuming they rode swift warhorses.
'Can't wait for break.'
To operate smoothly, they needed to maximize their time. He wanted to ditch classes for club activities, but he couldn't stop them from learning what they wanted.
Then Asel held out his timetable.
"H-Here, Ronan. All done."
"Huh?"
Ronan furrowed his brow. Asel's schedule was practically empty. He grabbed and stretched one of Asel's cheeks.
"You slacking off or what? Aiming to repeat a year?"
"Aaaack! N-No! I-I early-completed a few courses recently...!"
"What?"
At those words, a flash of insight struck his mind. Ronan released his cheek. How had he overlooked this when he'd early-completed nine courses himself?
"Ughhh... I-It hurts..."
"Good job, Asel... Very good. Everyone, grab weapons and follow me outside."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Yeah. Was gonna plan it out a bit, but no can do."
Ronan swung Ramancha around as he headed out. The others followed, clueless.
At Nest's center were training grounds for practical clubs. Standing in the middle, Ronan looked at Marya and Braum.
"From what I checked, the basics are eating up the most time. Right?"
"Yeah."
"Wahaha! Basics are important!"
Ronan double-checked their courses. All were ones he'd early-completed before. He remembered their forms and keys perfectly.
"So what that means is, early-complete all the basics."
"...What?"
"We'll be going far more often, so perfect timing. From today, use your free time here."
Ronan chuckled, slinging Ramancha over his shoulder. It worked out perfectly. Considering the Vaidian Mountains' dangers, taking them right away had felt risky.
Marya and Braum's faces stiffened. Ronan alternated glances, then clapped.
"Alright, Marya, you start with Imperial Swordsmanship. Braum, Intermediate Martial Arts. Everyone, get ready."
"Hey, wait. What the hell..."
"Draw your sword already?"
Crack! Ronan thwacked Marya's crown with his scabbard. She reflexively drew her greatsword and cursed.
"Ow! Are you insane?!"
"The insane one's you, still not done with Imperial Swordsmanship. How you holding onto something that easy?"
"You moron, you think everyone's like you?!"
Marya protested indignantly. Crack! Crack! Crack! Ronan answered by repeatedly thwacking her head.
Furious, Marya resisted desperately, but blocking Ramancha with her unfamiliar greatsword was impossible. Surrender came in minutes.
"Aaaah! Fine! I'll do it!"
"That's the spirit. Classes use wooden swords, but here, swing that greatsword."
Marya's face paled. Just thinking about it made her arms feel like they'd detach. Meanwhile, Braum, beating a dummy alone, spoke up.
"Sounds great to me! But Intermediate Martial Arts emphasizes sparring. Spar with you, Ronan?"
"Yep. Spar with this girl when I'm gone."
"With Junior Marya? Our sizes differ too much, no?"
Braum shrugged. Marya was two heads shorter.
Ronan smirked at Marya, signaling to smack him. She shook her head after a moment.
"Nah. Can't hit a senior."
"Wahaha! In the club, we're all equals, Marya! Gotta check skill levels, so give it a shot!"
Braum thumped his chest. His bulging muscles threatened to rip his uniform. Marya sighed faintly and clenched her fist.
"If you insist..."
"Yeah! Go for it."
Thud! Marya's punch sank into Braum's gut. His eyes bulged. He gasped and collapsed.
"Huuuuh...!"
"Oops, misjudged strength. You okay?"
"Amaz...ing...!"
The impact pierced his muscles, churning his insides—like a hammer, not a fist.
Marya offered her hand. Braum stood, face enlightened.
"That was sincere... Huff, glad I joined...! I'll teach you Imperial Swordsmanship and greatsword handling... Cough!"
"Oh yeah, you're a greatsword user too."
Suddenly, they drew greatswords for an Imperial Swordsmanship spar. Two adult-man-sized blades clashing midair was spectacular.
'Plenty of energy left—can drill stamina hard. Good thing.'
Ronan smiled satisfied. Then Asel approached hesitantly.
"Um... Ronan, what should I do?"
"Oh, right. Attack me relentlessly with those weapons."
He pointed to practice weapons piled in the corner. Thinking he'd misheard again, Asel tilted his head.
"...Huh?"
"You need to exploit telekinesis's bullshit potential more."
Ronan explained using all-in-one offense-defense was wasteful. He ordered attacks with all weapons and techniques Asel knew.
"Make it as tricky as possible. I can see mana now too—need practice."
Ronan couldn't just train stamina either. Asel nodded reluctantly and chanted.
As he wiggled his fingers, dozens of weapons floated. Tilting toward Ronan like living soldiers.
"Knew you were waiting for this, Asel. Wanted me dead that bad?"
"N-No way...!"
"Shut up and do it."
The bracelet Doron made worked wonders. Asel's skill had improved vastly since last seen.
Asel swung his arm; weapons swarmed Ronan. Dodging and batting the whistling blades, Ronan practiced reading mana flows. He menaced Asel's throat repeatedly for tension.
"Normally, you'd be dead again. Lay that Slow Zone around you. Mages are prime targets."
"Eek...! G-Got it."
Training ended at dusk. Mana-drained Asel rode Ronan's back; he telekinetically carried exhausted Marya and Braum.
"Ow, my shoulders. Been a while since I pushed this hard..."
Night had fallen. After tucking exhausted members into dorms, Ronan returned to the First Arena. His body ached from nearing limits.
"You okay? Water here."
"Thanks, Adeshan."
Her kindness was growing familiar. Done with duties, she reported many applicants today.
"Those who just left the last? No passes today?"
"Seems so. Such a talent shortage..."
"Haha, if not for TA duties, I'd apply."
Adeshan smiled. TA work for Naviroje left no club time. Ronan drained the bottle and shook his head.
"Pfft... You'd get rejected anyway."
"Hey, why you too?"
She laughed, swatting his arm. But he meant it.
Lately, his heart leaned toward fulfilling Grand General Adeshan's dying wish. Because of Nebula Klazie's existence.
'With her identity exposed, she'll rampage more.'
The future was irreversibly twisted. Awakening her talents to make her Grand General would paint a target on her for fanatics.
In his past life, despite assassination attempts, she'd evaded them to become Grand General.
But she wasn't a regressor now. Ronan didn't want her endangered. He didn't want to drag her into that miserable mire again.
'Time to tell her? Give up the dream.'
-Creeeak...
As he pondered, the arena's gate opened slowly. A robed girl slipped in with quick steps. Ronan and Adeshan turned.
"That kid...?"
She'd come last night too. Wavy silver-gray hair, crimson eyes. She stared at Cita dozing atop Ronan's head.
"Pya... Pyyy..."
"...There it is."
She stopped right in front of Ronan, fixated on Cita. He spoke first, impatient.
"Here for interview?"
"Interview...?"
Ronan nodded, briefly explaining the Elite Adventure Club.
Time was free, and her aura felt unusual. After silence, her lips parted softly.
"Your club... join... get it...?"
"Pardon?"
"Join your club... see it... touch it... always...?"
"It? Cita?"
Ronan glanced up. Awake Cita stared back. He nodded.
"Well... Cita follows me everywhere, so yeah, probably."
"Then... do interview."
"Sure. Name and year?"
"...Ophelia. Magic Department, third year."
"Damn, thought second-year max, but third? Same as entrance exam. Blast your best spell at that mana puppet dummy."
Ophelia nodded, stepping up. Crimson mana—not blue—gathered in her hand.
Aura? As Ronan wondered, she began chanting, still eyeing Cita.
"Huh?"
His eyes widened. Blood-like liquid vortexed at her fingertips. Sensing his gaze, she flinched.
"Hah...!"
She disrupted the spell like a grave mistake, chanting anew. Black energy replaced the red.
"Shadow Claw."
⟨ Shadow Claw ⟩
Her elongated shadow clawed the dummy as giant talons. Adeshan's eyes widened.
"D-Darkness attribute magic...!"
Her first time seeing it. As rare as telekinesis or light magic. But Ronan's focus was elsewhere.
He'd seen it clearly. Ophelia's first spell manipulated blood like Cita's.
As if entranced, Ronan spoke.
"...Accepted."