Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Shoot Towards the Dawn (1)
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Under the deep blue sky, fluffy white clouds glided by. Having finished his training, Ronan returned to the club building.
By coincidence, all the members were gathered together. Marya and Braum were arm-wrestling across the bar table.
"Grrrh... Graaaah!!"
Braum strained so hard it seemed like his veins might burst through his scalp, but he ultimately lost to Marya. Bam! His massive frame crashed to the floor.
"Yes!"
"D-Damn it!"
Marya let out a victory cry and swept the pile of silver coins from the table. The scent of illegal gambling hung in the air, but Ronan didn't intervene. It left room for him to join in later. In the corner, Asel was chatting with Schlieffen.
"My little sister is a mage too."
"R-Really...?"
"Yeah. She's in training to enroll at Phileon someday. Just out of curiosity—what do you think Iril would prefer between a porcelain cup and a glass one, based on your perspective growing up in your hometown?"
Ophelia was undoubtedly sleeping upstairs, as expected. Ronan chuckled at the lively scene. When he'd first arrived, the place had been little more than a ruin, but now it buzzed with energy—not bad at all.
"I'm back. Baren."
Ronan grabbed a single sheet of paper and left the building. His destination was Tower 13 of Phileon, where Professor Baren Phanasir was located.
Opening the door revealed the were-lion in a suit, buried in an enormous sofa that could easily swallow his massive frame whole. He was reading a book. Marfez, the dream bird who was Citta's parent, was curled up on his lap, preening its lush blue feathers. Baren met Ronan's eyes, closed his book, and greeted him.
"Oh, Ronan. It's been a while. How's my assignment going?"
"No luck. Guess I have no talent for growing things. This makes five already."
Ronan sighed heavily. The homework Baren had assigned in their last class was to grow bread aloe, a plant that served as food for numerous fantasy species.
It was an easy plant that grew vigorously with just timely sunlight and water, but Ronan had turned its pots into coffins one after another. Baren stroked his mane and laughed.
"Haha, unfortunate, but that's life. Don't give up—success will come eventually."
"Hm?"
Ronan tilted his head. There was an oddly cheerful tone in his voice, unlike the usual Baren. Normally, he'd be mourning the innocent lives lost with some eulogy.
"Something good happen?"
"That obvious?"
"Extremely."
"Heh, caught me. Care to try this?"
Baren rose and brought out some tea. It wasn't his usual black tea. The blue-tinged liquid carried a strangely familiar aroma. Ronan's eyes widened after taking a sip.
"This is...!"
"I don't even know how to thank you."
Baren smiled softly. The tea tasted just like what Sarante had served him before. The mana floating around felt sharper than usual. The fatigue built up in his eyes melted away like snow.
"No way—you succeeded in cultivating it? You said you wouldn't consume it until you did."
"Indeed. Sooner than expected, actually."
It had been three months already. Ronan had handed most of the herbs he'd brought from the Vidian Mountains to Baren. Among them were quite a few unknown species, but instead of eating them right away, Baren had decided to cultivate them. He pointed to the pots by the window and continued.
"Even accounting for them not growing on leylines, they're impressive. Most have far better efficacy than commercial herbs. This could revolutionize the potion industry."
"You'll be rolling in money soon, Baren. Congrats."
"Planning to use it for research for now, though. Take this too."
Baren handed Ronan a small wooden box. Inside were nine neatly arranged glass vials filled with mysteriously colored liquids.
"What's this?"
"Potions made from the first herbs I successfully cultivated."
"Whoa, giving away stuff like this?"
"Prepared them for you from the start, Ronan. Use them well."
Ronan chuckled dryly at the lion-head-shaped vial caps. A sudden wave of self-loathing hit him.
While he was failing to even grow a dumb bread aloe and wallowing in failure, this furry guy had not only cultivated rare, unknown herbs but also brewed potions from them. Ronan drained his teacup in one gulp and held out the paper.
"Thanks a ton. Got a gift for you too."
"What's this?"
"Club activity plan."
"Gasp!"
Baren nearly dropped his teacup. Marfez jolted awake from the splattered tea. In a trembling voice, Baren asked,
"W-Where to this time? Why...?"
"Anyone would think I'm heading to war. It's all written there—read it."
"Ah... Aaaah... "
Baren felt the world go dark. The shock from the last unilaterally announced club activity hadn't faded. Unauthorized phantom horse rental, wyvern massacre, and a sword fight with Sword Saint Zaifa. Taking a deep breath, Baren picked up the paper and read.
"...Hm? Surprisingly normal this time."
"Of course. What do you take me for?"
"Dawn Magic Tower—famous for its library. Going alone?"
"Yeah. No need to drag others along."
Baren raised an eyebrow in surprise. Ronan added that he was submitting it just to extend his outing time.
Reviewing the plan carefully, Baren nodded. No red flags.
"Approved. Keep it this sensible next time."
"Come on, no real problems so far, results-wise. Great tea."
Ronan left the office. Staring at the empty spot, Baren stroked Marfez and muttered,
"This time it'll be fine. Right?"
-Piiiit.
Baren drained the remaining tea. His gaze fell to the cup's bottom. The settled herbs formed a skull shape—too precise for coincidence. Setting it down, he closed his eyes and whispered,
"...Please."
Ronan had set a long schedule but took no one with him. No need for companions on boring research, he'd reasoned.
Two days later, departure day arrived. He packed lightly and headed to the northern sky docks in the capital.
To board a gryphon airship to Dawn Magic Tower. The club plan said he'd ride a horse, but plans change.
-Fwiiiish!
-Pegasus neigh!
The sky docks operating flying transport resembled vast runways. Pegasuses took off pulling carriages after a running start. A griffon that had just landed tore into meat in the corner.
"Never thought I'd ride one of these."
Ronan muttered at his airship. Far grander than Rodolan's prisoner wagons. A small ship fitted with wheels, carried by eight griffons.
As expected, the ticket matched phantom horse rental prices. But Ronan paid without hesitation. No merchant in the capital refused Phileon credit.
Boarding, the interior screamed luxury for upper-class clients.
Large round windows offered clear views outside. All seats faced them—two plush sofas per table, opposite each other. Ronan smirked at the wine bottles on each.
"Money talks."
Despite the cost, plenty of passengers. Walking the aisle, Ronan found his seat.
Someone already sat opposite: a girl with cat-like dark purple hair. A familiar face. Ronan's eyes widened.
"Erzsebet?"
"Oh, Lord Ronan?"
Erzsebet turned from the window, equally surprised. Sitting, Ronan asked incredulously,
"What are you doing here? Runaway?"
"Runaway? What kind of talk is that!"
Erzsebet laughed in disbelief. Her uniform matched his—no way it was a runaway. Ronan pulled out his pipe, chuckling, but a crew member stopped him.
"Sir, smoking on deck only."
"Can go up there?"
Ronan pocketed it. Clearing her throat, she spoke.
"Ahem, got selected for a field trip to Dawn Magic Tower."
"Field trip?"
"Yeah. Top students from 'Intermediate Fire Magic' class. It produced the greatest fire mages in history."
Only then did Ronan notice the Magic Department uniforms among passengers—over ten students. Fitting for a rich academy. Scanning them, Erzsebet giggled behind her hand.
"Hehe, I'm the only first-year? Pathetic."
"Impressive. Thought you just did telekinesis."
"Telekinesis is barely a thing for me. Fire's my best attribute."
Erzsebet ignited a tiny flame on her fingertip. Ronan had forgotten: this girl was a three-element genius.
As they chatted idly, takeoff began. Uniformed crew explained safety.
Vertical takeoff—no runway needed. Outside, ground receded. Ronan crossed his legs.
"Bored anyway—good timing. Let's talk."
"Sure. Didn't want to mingle with those sheep."
Erzsebet nodded eagerly. Ten-plus hours to Dawn Magic Tower at continent's eastern edge. Company was nice.
"You got friends? Always alone."
"D-Don't pry."
Erzsebet flushed. Ronan chuckled, pouring wine from the table bottle.
The airship soon crested the clouds. Sixteen pairs of wings flapped noisily.
Hours had passed since darkness fell outside. Thick navy clouds blanketed below, hiding the ground.
"Damn it..."
The flight was smooth. But even in deep predawn, Ronan couldn't sleep. Blame tipsy Erzsebet babbling nonsense across from him.
"Heehee, Sister Adeshan... isn't she perfect? Pretty, cool... Ahh, wanna marry her."
"Never drink again."
Ronan sighed. His fault—he'd given in to her cute curiosity. Scratching his head, he muttered,
"How do you get wasted off one sip? Faking it?"
"Hee... yeah. A lady of Acalusia wouldn't get drunk on this... Hic! Wanna see something cool?"
Suddenly, purple aura rose from Erzsebet—her unique power, aura. A tiny lion of flame leaped onto the table. Pale-faced, Ronan grabbed her wrist.
"Damn it, stop now."
This was why he couldn't sleep. Doze off, wake to a crash? Her fault. He dragged her to the deck.
"Heehee, breezy. Where are we...?"
Gale winds tousled her hair, but she giggled. No sign of sobering. Ronan took her to the farthest bow from cabins.
"Fine, talk Adeshan. How'd you get so close?"
"I could talk about her forever...! Hee, from where?"
"Start to finish."
"Oho! You've got taste...!"
Ronan stood beside her, lighting his pipe. Fifth time hearing this, but no choice. Drunk, she only behaved for Adeshan tales.
"Sooo... early semester, heading to library... "
Erzsebet's slurred voice flowed. Nothing special: friendless her lost in library, Adeshan helped, they bonded.
"And... heehee, her hair? Like silk wrung from night sky... I'd die strangled in it happily..."
Her Adeshan praise dragged it out. Questions stretched it more. A real curiosity struck.
"Why only her? You ignore the worthless."
"Don't compare Sister... to those sheep. Hic. She's different."
"How different?"
"Ugh, well..."
Erzsebet trailed off. Ronan felt weight on his shoulder and turned.
"Erzsebet?"
No reply—just soft breathing. Her head rested on him, shoulders rising gently.
Ronan realized she was asleep. Drool trickled from parted lips.
"What a handful."
He didn't wake her. Better drool than chaos.
How long? The sky ahead reddened. Airship descended.
Bursting clouds revealed a massive structure afar. A 24-story cylinder towered amid circular gardens—like a pillar linking heaven and earth. Obvious, no explanation needed. Ronan murmured, entranced,
"Dawn Magic Tower."
Behind it, dark blue waves churned—the Dawn Sea, east of the continent.
Soon, crimson sun crested the gentle horizon. Dawn light bathed the world vermilion.
Ronan found it amusing. Dawn Tower greeting dawn over Dawn Sea. Chuckling at the pun, griffons suddenly screeched wildly.
-Whiiiish!
-Kraaak! Kraaak!
"What?"
Ronan frowned. Eerily sharp cries.
Then, red flashes blinked chain-like from the tower's direction. What? Squinting, Ronan cursed.
"Fuck."
At least seven massive fireballs hurtled toward the airship. The air crackled as flames devoured atmosphere, closing fast.