Chapter 104
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Chapter 104
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Peptobismol]
[Proofreader – Demon God]
——————
“...Why are you here?”
It was a face he hadn’t seen in a very long time. Poacher Valus, a former comrade of Ronan’s in the punishment unit, and a low-ranking member of Kaliborro, one of the continent’s leading poaching organizations.
In the past, Ronan had deceived him into a fake contract by pretending to be a dark magician and Cita as a demon’s messenger. Valus, who was completely deceived, became a spy and regularly reported information about Kaliborro.
That had been Ronan’s last memory of Valus. The scattered puzzle pieces in his mind had fallen into place. Poachers and a festival where rare mythical creatures gathered in one place. Ronan, who had grasped the situation, opened his eyes wide.
“This bastard. After sparing your life, are you back to being a poacher?”
“No, it’s not like that. Please...”
“Explain. Be brief and clear.”
“Ugh!”
Ronan released the grip on Valus’s hair that he had been holding. Valus, struggling like a newborn calf, got to his feet. After taking a few deep breaths, he began to speak.
“This time, Kaliborro is planning a major operation... Their goal is to steal the rare mythical creatures, including the Doppelgangers, before the Centennial Beasts Festival begins. I’ve been assigned to the operation as well.”
“Why on earth would an organization the size of Kaliborro, which must have plenty of money, crawl all the way to Philleon to carry out this operation?”
“It’s an operation with symbolic significance. The organization’s prestige has been on the rise lately.”
Valus explained further. Since its establishment, Kaliborro had been facing unprecedented difficulties. Several branches within the Imperial territory had been destroyed one after the other, and the power of the Imperial Anti-Poaching Unit had been doubled. Ronan, who was carefully analyzing the situation, nodded his head.
‘The future has changed.’
Originally, it was an organization that would have thrived until the end of the world. It seemed that the snowball effect initiated by Valus’s espionage activities was steadily gaining momentum.
“The money and the other mythical creatures are just a bonus. The most important thing is to penetrate Philleon’s security and steal the Doppelgangers, which are extremely rare and unique. The organization’s goal is to let the entire continent know that Kaliborro is still thriving.”
“Well, it’s something that anyone other than your organization can even dream of.”
Ronan nodded slowly. If it wasn’t a poaching organization of Kaliborro’s caliber, they wouldn’t even dare to think about it. Suddenly, a question crossed his mind.
“Wait a minute, weren’t just you a scaredy-cat when I met you? But now you’ve been deployed on such an important operation?”
“That’s... I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I earned recognition.”
“Recognition?”
“Yes. I worked hard to avoid being caught as a spy... but it seems like the higher-ups viewed it favorably.”
Valus scratched his cheek as if he was embarrassed. In other words, he had been promoted because he had diligently performed the organization’s tasks to maintain his cover as a spy.
“So it became possible to steal more and more high-quality information as time went on. It’s not an exaggeration to say that all documents from the Volcanto branch pass through me.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Ronan chuckled. He had never imagined that this guy, who used to talk big and swagger around in his previous life, had such a talent. Valus had shown his skills in document work and reconnaissance, and that had led him to be involved in the current doppelganger heist operation.
“I infiltrated in advance to gather information and copy the key. It wasn’t an easy task since Varen had it on him at all times. But I managed to do it.”
Valus’s mission was to disguise himself as a student and gather information about the Centennial Beasts Festival and the Doppelgangers. He had infiltrated Philleon about a month ago, which precisely coincided with the day when Lakota had disappeared. Ronan asked.
“Now that I think about it, where did the real Lakota go? Did you kill him?”
“Our side kidnapped him and took him with us. Don’t worry, he’s still alive and well.”
Valus revealed that they hadn’t killed Lakota and explained where he was being held. Ronan let out a relieved sigh. As long as he wasn’t dead, he could rescue him.
“Then why did you release the Doppelgangers? What do you mean there’s no time?”
“I released them to prevent any casualties. I didn’t know that everyone, including Varen, would be on guard there. If I hadn’t released the Doppelgangers at that moment, another organization member in the area would have triggered the Explosion Scroll planted there and taken the Doppelgangers.”
“Damn it, there was another poacher there?”
“Yes. That’s why I said we don’t have much time.”
Valus mentioned that there were other poachers who had infiltrated Philleon besides himself. Considering that Philleon’s security had been breached, it seemed like it was a very thoroughly prepared operation. Ronan spat on the ground and muttered curses.
“God dammit. This damn academy never has a quiet day.”
“I have no face left. You said you were Ronan.”
Valus abruptly knelt on the ground. His sudden action made Ronan furrow his brow.
“What are you doing now?”
“I know this is a shameless and unexpected request, but please stop Kaliborro.”
“I’d do it even if you didn’t ask... but why all of a sudden?”
“After meeting you, I realized how terrible poaching is. If the Doppelganger falls into the organization’s hands first, the cruelty we’ve been trying to reduce will spread like wildfire.”
Valus’s voice was mixed with sobs as he spoke. He truly despised Kaliborro’s actions. Through his espionage activities, he had witnessed many horrifying scenes. Ronan, who was watching the scene, answered indifferently.
“You must have another reason besides that.”
“I’m ashamed to make such a request, but... I want to leave the organization. Please help me.”
“That’s right. It’s good to be honest.”
Ronan chuckled. Valus had reached a point where he could no longer extricate himself. If the operation succeeded, he would continue to endure hellish days, and if it failed and he returned alone, there was a high possibility that he would be held accountable.
‘He’s been quite useful.’
From the beginning, he had no intention of killing his former comrade. Moreover, Valus had shown remarkable performance during his time as a spy. He was a talented individual, and it was the right decision to bring him back before he made a mistake. Ronan, who had made up his mind, nodded his head.
“Now that you understand, you can get up... huh?”
Ronan raised an eyebrow. He suddenly felt a presence from behind. Although there was no sound, he could sense it. With a wry smile, Ronan muttered to himself, as if speaking to himself,
“It seems we’ve been away for too long.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, I’ve had a feeling something was off since we were in the Assembly Hall. It kept bothering me. Seeing how they hide their presence so well, they must be pretty skilled.”
“What... Huh?!”
Suddenly, Valus’s eyes widened. He shouted, pointing behind Ronan.
“Behind, behind you!”
Arondale, one of the Three Great Beasts. He was a warrior who had reached the level of Aura awakening, and was known to have massacred the entire Wolf Tribe with his bare hands. Ronan spoke.
“Let’s get going for now. We don’t have much time.”
“Hmm.”
Ronan and Adeshan left the Assembly Hall. Simultaneously, the seven crows flew out of the window. They had about five hours until sunrise, and their goal was to find the Doppelgangers and root out the poachers before the Beast Festival began.
“Finding the Doppelgangers is the top priority. Have you found anything yet?”
“I did find the mana of a Doppelganger in the Assembly Hall. It’s faint and intermittent, but...”
Adeshan mentioned that she had detected the mana of one Doppelganger. Ronan clapped his hands in satisfaction. It was akin to finding the criminal’s footprint.
“It’s over there. It went up and down this tree.”
“I found something too. Judging by the broken branches, it seems like it transformed into something big.”
Ronan and Adeshan tracked the Doppelgangers with their senses stretched to the maximum. The empty campus resembled a deserted village, with all of its residents gone. Only the footsteps of the two could be heard on the deserted streets.
“Damn it, how far did it go?”
Ronan grumbled as he followed the trail. They had walked almost far enough to cross the entire campus grounds, but the Doppelganger still hadn’t appeared.
After about twenty more minutes of walking, both of them came to a halt simultaneously. The trail of the Doppelganger ended in front of the northern forest.
“There’s a lot going on... Let’s go in quickly, Sunbae.”
“Uh, yes. I have to go in. Alright.”
Adeshan’s complexion had turned pale. Her gaze remained fixed on the dark, foreboding forest. It seemed she was frightened of the darkness, as she had been earlier. Ronan reached out his hand.
“Want to hold my hand?”
“H-Hold your hand?”
“Honestly, it’s pretty scary. Among the guys with fur and all, there are too many freaks. Let’s just catch them quickly.”
“...Okay.”
Adeshan hesitated but took Ronan’s hand. Her hand, surprisingly rough for her age, was covered in calluses. Beyond the rough palm, warmth seeped through. Her blushing ears seemed to be trying to say something.
-Thud.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard from behind. It was a completely different sound from human footsteps, a deep and resonant voice.
Both of them turned their heads in the direction of the sound. At that moment, a massive reptile was standing there, salivating.
-Kuuuuurrrghhh...
“Huh.”
The gap between the head and the ground seemed to be over 5 meters. Its red and sleek scales were the size of an adult’s hand. The long, thick pair of horns on its head were not much different from a Dragon’s. Ronan laughed when he saw the monstrous appearance. A Dragon without wings. It was a Drake.
[Note: A Drake is a mythological creature similar to a Dragon but without any wings.]
“I guess that’s it, right?”
“...Yeah.”
“No one would fall in love with something like that, so it must be the Omega.”
There was no way it was a real Drake. Even more than the Manticore, a Drake was not the type of monster that anyone could domesticate or tame. Ronan grasped the hilt of his sword.
“It’s a fake.”
The Drake stood motionless as Ronan attempted to draw his sword. Suddenly, the entire body of the Drake began to bubble like foam. Startled, Adeshan took a step back.
“Aaah!”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since I last saw you.”
The bubbling Drake was slowly transforming into a human form. Ronan slowly pulled the hilt of his sword.
‘...Calm down.’
He desperately suppressed his emotions. He didn’t trust himself enough to pass by the sudden appearance of Ahaiyute without striking it at least once, even if he knew it was just the Doppelganger.
Thud!
Finally, the fully transformed Doppelganger landed on the ground.
“...Huh?”
However, it wasn’t Ahaiyute that appeared, but instead a big man stood there expressionless. Ronan made eye contact with his man and froze. Adeshan’s eyes widened.
“...Ronan?”
The man’s face looked exactly like Ronan’s, although it was somewhat matured. However, he was quite different from the current Ronan. His height had reached nearly 190 centimeters, and he wore an Imperial Military uniform that had been torn to pieces. A trembling voice came out from between Adeshan’s lips.
“Why... why does it look like that?”
Ronan couldn’t bring himself to look directly at it. The term “severely injured” didn’t even begin to describe the sight of the man. Crimson blood oozing from where his military uniform had been torn. The sword he clutched in his hand horribly shattered.
But the most horrifying sight were the black masses scattered all over his body. Seven masses were gnawing at various parts of the man’s body like mold. The man, who had been groaning in agony, turned his gaze toward Ronan and spoke.
-I couldn’t protect anything.
“You...”
Ronan, who had been standing blankly, slowly took a step back. At that moment, the man turned his back and started running away. The man ran at an incredible speed and disappeared into the dark forest in an instant.
“Damn it, stop!”
“Ro-Ronan!”
[TL/N: Why do you guys think the Doppelganger transformed into Ronan’s older self? Leave your thoughts in the comments, I wanna see what you guys think :o]
Ronan belatedly came to his senses and ran behind the man. After a moment of hesitation, Adeshan followed him with her eyes tightly shut.
Whoosh!
The strong night wind swept over the edge of the forest. Under the waving branches, three sets of footsteps echoed.
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Peptobismol]
[Proofreader – Demon God]
Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2
——————
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 104
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Peptobismol]
[Proofreader – Demon God]
——————
“...Why are you here?”
It was a face he hadn’t seen in a very long time. Poacher Valus, a former comrade of Ronan’s in the punishment unit, and a low-ranking member of Kaliborro, one of the continent’s leading poaching organizations.
In the past, Ronan had deceived him into a fake contract by pretending to be a dark magician and Cita as a demon’s messenger. Valus, who was completely deceived, became a spy and regularly reported information about Kaliborro.
That had been Ronan’s last memory of Valus. The scattered puzzle pieces in his mind had fallen into place. Poachers and a festival where rare mythical creatures gathered in one place. Ronan, who had grasped the situation, opened his eyes wide.
“This bastard. After sparing your life, are you back to being a poacher?”
“No, it’s not like that. Please...”
“Explain. Be brief and clear.”
“Ugh!”
Ronan released the grip on Valus’s hair that he had been holding. Valus, struggling like a newborn calf, got to his feet. After taking a few deep breaths, he began to speak.
“This time, Kaliborro is planning a major operation... Their goal is to steal the rare mythical creatures, including the Doppelgangers, before the Centennial Beasts Festival begins. I’ve been assigned to the operation as well.”
“Why on earth would an organization the size of Kaliborro, which must have plenty of money, crawl all the way to Philleon to carry out this operation?”
“It’s an operation with symbolic significance. The organization’s prestige has been on the rise lately.”
Valus explained further. Since its establishment, Kaliborro had been facing unprecedented difficulties. Several branches within the Imperial territory had been destroyed one after the other, and the power of the Imperial Anti-Poaching Unit had been doubled. Ronan, who was carefully analyzing the situation, nodded his head.
‘The future has changed.’
Originally, it was an organization that would have thrived until the end of the world. It seemed that the snowball effect initiated by Valus’s espionage activities was steadily gaining momentum.
“The money and the other mythical creatures are just a bonus. The most important thing is to penetrate Philleon’s security and steal the Doppelgangers, which are extremely rare and unique. The organization’s goal is to let the entire continent know that Kaliborro is still thriving.”
“Well, it’s something that anyone other than your organization can even dream of.”
Ronan nodded slowly. If it wasn’t a poaching organization of Kaliborro’s caliber, they wouldn’t even dare to think about it. Suddenly, a question crossed his mind.
“Wait a minute, weren’t just you a scaredy-cat when I met you? But now you’ve been deployed on such an important operation?”
“That’s... I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I earned recognition.”
“Recognition?”
“Yes. I worked hard to avoid being caught as a spy... but it seems like the higher-ups viewed it favorably.”
Valus scratched his cheek as if he was embarrassed. In other words, he had been promoted because he had diligently performed the organization’s tasks to maintain his cover as a spy.
“So it became possible to steal more and more high-quality information as time went on. It’s not an exaggeration to say that all documents from the Volcanto branch pass through me.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Ronan chuckled. He had never imagined that this guy, who used to talk big and swagger around in his previous life, had such a talent. Valus had shown his skills in document work and reconnaissance, and that had led him to be involved in the current doppelganger heist operation.
“I infiltrated in advance to gather information and copy the key. It wasn’t an easy task since Varen had it on him at all times. But I managed to do it.”
Valus’s mission was to disguise himself as a student and gather information about the Centennial Beasts Festival and the Doppelgangers. He had infiltrated Philleon about a month ago, which precisely coincided with the day when Lakota had disappeared. Ronan asked.
“Now that I think about it, where did the real Lakota go? Did you kill him?”
“Our side kidnapped him and took him with us. Don’t worry, he’s still alive and well.”
Valus revealed that they hadn’t killed Lakota and explained where he was being held. Ronan let out a relieved sigh. As long as he wasn’t dead, he could rescue him.
“Then why did you release the Doppelgangers? What do you mean there’s no time?”
“I released them to prevent any casualties. I didn’t know that everyone, including Varen, would be on guard there. If I hadn’t released the Doppelgangers at that moment, another organization member in the area would have triggered the Explosion Scroll planted there and taken the Doppelgangers.”
“Damn it, there was another poacher there?”
“Yes. That’s why I said we don’t have much time.”
Valus mentioned that there were other poachers who had infiltrated Philleon besides himself. Considering that Philleon’s security had been breached, it seemed like it was a very thoroughly prepared operation. Ronan spat on the ground and muttered curses.
“God dammit. This damn academy never has a quiet day.”
“I have no face left. You said you were Ronan.”
Valus abruptly knelt on the ground. His sudden action made Ronan furrow his brow.
“What are you doing now?”
“I know this is a shameless and unexpected request, but please stop Kaliborro.”
“I’d do it even if you didn’t ask... but why all of a sudden?”
“After meeting you, I realized how terrible poaching is. If the Doppelganger falls into the organization’s hands first, the cruelty we’ve been trying to reduce will spread like wildfire.”
Valus’s voice was mixed with sobs as he spoke. He truly despised Kaliborro’s actions. Through his espionage activities, he had witnessed many horrifying scenes. Ronan, who was watching the scene, answered indifferently.
“You must have another reason besides that.”
“I’m ashamed to make such a request, but... I want to leave the organization. Please help me.”
“That’s right. It’s good to be honest.”
Ronan chuckled. Valus had reached a point where he could no longer extricate himself. If the operation succeeded, he would continue to endure hellish days, and if it failed and he returned alone, there was a high possibility that he would be held accountable.
‘He’s been quite useful.’
From the beginning, he had no intention of killing his former comrade. Moreover, Valus had shown remarkable performance during his time as a spy. He was a talented individual, and it was the right decision to bring him back before he made a mistake. Ronan, who had made up his mind, nodded his head.
“Now that you understand, you can get up... huh?”
Ronan raised an eyebrow. He suddenly felt a presence from behind. Although there was no sound, he could sense it. With a wry smile, Ronan muttered to himself, as if speaking to himself,
“It seems we’ve been away for too long.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, I’ve had a feeling something was off since we were in the Assembly Hall. It kept bothering me. Seeing how they hide their presence so well, they must be pretty skilled.”
“What... Huh?!”
Suddenly, Valus’s eyes widened. He shouted, pointing behind Ronan.
“Behind, behind you!”
Arondale, one of the Three Great Beasts. He was a warrior who had reached the level of Aura awakening, and was known to have massacred the entire Wolf Tribe with his bare hands. Ronan spoke.
“Let’s get going for now. We don’t have much time.”
“Hmm.”
Ronan and Adeshan left the Assembly Hall. Simultaneously, the seven crows flew out of the window. They had about five hours until sunrise, and their goal was to find the Doppelgangers and root out the poachers before the Beast Festival began.
“Finding the Doppelgangers is the top priority. Have you found anything yet?”
“I did find the mana of a Doppelganger in the Assembly Hall. It’s faint and intermittent, but...”
Adeshan mentioned that she had detected the mana of one Doppelganger. Ronan clapped his hands in satisfaction. It was akin to finding the criminal’s footprint.
“It’s over there. It went up and down this tree.”
“I found something too. Judging by the broken branches, it seems like it transformed into something big.”
Ronan and Adeshan tracked the Doppelgangers with their senses stretched to the maximum. The empty campus resembled a deserted village, with all of its residents gone. Only the footsteps of the two could be heard on the deserted streets.
“Damn it, how far did it go?”
Ronan grumbled as he followed the trail. They had walked almost far enough to cross the entire campus grounds, but the Doppelganger still hadn’t appeared.
After about twenty more minutes of walking, both of them came to a halt simultaneously. The trail of the Doppelganger ended in front of the northern forest.
“There’s a lot going on... Let’s go in quickly, Sunbae.”
“Uh, yes. I have to go in. Alright.”
Adeshan’s complexion had turned pale. Her gaze remained fixed on the dark, foreboding forest. It seemed she was frightened of the darkness, as she had been earlier. Ronan reached out his hand.
“Want to hold my hand?”
“H-Hold your hand?”
“Honestly, it’s pretty scary. Among the guys with fur and all, there are too many freaks. Let’s just catch them quickly.”
“...Okay.”
Adeshan hesitated but took Ronan’s hand. Her hand, surprisingly rough for her age, was covered in calluses. Beyond the rough palm, warmth seeped through. Her blushing ears seemed to be trying to say something.
-Thud.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard from behind. It was a completely different sound from human footsteps, a deep and resonant voice.
Both of them turned their heads in the direction of the sound. At that moment, a massive reptile was standing there, salivating.
-Kuuuuurrrghhh...
“Huh.”
The gap between the head and the ground seemed to be over 5 meters. Its red and sleek scales were the size of an adult’s hand. The long, thick pair of horns on its head were not much different from a Dragon’s. Ronan laughed when he saw the monstrous appearance. A Dragon without wings. It was a Drake.
[Note: A Drake is a mythological creature similar to a Dragon but without any wings.]
“I guess that’s it, right?”
“...Yeah.”
“No one would fall in love with something like that, so it must be the Omega.”
There was no way it was a real Drake. Even more than the Manticore, a Drake was not the type of monster that anyone could domesticate or tame. Ronan grasped the hilt of his sword.
“It’s a fake.”
The Drake stood motionless as Ronan attempted to draw his sword. Suddenly, the entire body of the Drake began to bubble like foam. Startled, Adeshan took a step back.
“Aaah!”
“Yeah, it’s been a while since I last saw you.”
The bubbling Drake was slowly transforming into a human form. Ronan slowly pulled the hilt of his sword.
‘...Calm down.’
He desperately suppressed his emotions. He didn’t trust himself enough to pass by the sudden appearance of Ahaiyute without striking it at least once, even if he knew it was just the Doppelganger.
Thud!
Finally, the fully transformed Doppelganger landed on the ground.
“...Huh?”
However, it wasn’t Ahaiyute that appeared, but instead a big man stood there expressionless. Ronan made eye contact with his man and froze. Adeshan’s eyes widened.
“...Ronan?”
The man’s face looked exactly like Ronan’s, although it was somewhat matured. However, he was quite different from the current Ronan. His height had reached nearly 190 centimeters, and he wore an Imperial Military uniform that had been torn to pieces. A trembling voice came out from between Adeshan’s lips.
“Why... why does it look like that?”
Ronan couldn’t bring himself to look directly at it. The term “severely injured” didn’t even begin to describe the sight of the man. Crimson blood oozing from where his military uniform had been torn. The sword he clutched in his hand horribly shattered.
But the most horrifying sight were the black masses scattered all over his body. Seven masses were gnawing at various parts of the man’s body like mold. The man, who had been groaning in agony, turned his gaze toward Ronan and spoke.
-I couldn’t protect anything.
“You...”
Ronan, who had been standing blankly, slowly took a step back. At that moment, the man turned his back and started running away. The man ran at an incredible speed and disappeared into the dark forest in an instant.
“Damn it, stop!”
“Ro-Ronan!”
[TL/N: Why do you guys think the Doppelganger transformed into Ronan’s older self? Leave your thoughts in the comments, I wanna see what you guys think :o]
Ronan belatedly came to his senses and ran behind the man. After a moment of hesitation, Adeshan followed him with her eyes tightly shut.
Whoosh!
The strong night wind swept over the edge of the forest. Under the waving branches, three sets of footsteps echoed.
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Peptobismol]
[Proofreader – Demon God]
Join our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2
——————
Chapter 104HEL SCANSTranslator PeptobismolProofreader Demon God...Why are you here?It was a face he hadn't seen in a very long time. Poacher Valus, a former comrade of Ronan's in the punishment unit, and a low-ranking member of Kaliborro, one of the continent's leading poaching organizations.In the past, Ronan had deceived him into a fake contract by pretending to be a dark magician and Cita as a demon's messenger. Valus, who was completely deceived, became a spy and regularly reported information about Kaliborro.That had been Ronan's last memory of Valus. The scattered puzzle pieces in his mind had fallen into place. Poachers and a festival where rare mythical creatures gathered in one place. Ronan, who had grasped the situation, opened his eyes wide.This bastard. After sparing your life, are you back to being a poacher?No, it's not like that. Please...Explain. Be brief and clear.Ugh!Ronan released the grip on Valus's hair that he had been holding. Valus, struggling like a newborn calf, got to his feet. After taking a few deep breaths, he began to speak.This time, Kaliborro is planning a major operation... Their goal is to steal the rare mythical creatures, including the Doppelgangers, before the Centennial Beasts Festival begins. I've been assigned to the operation as well.Why on earth would an organization the size of Kaliborro, which must have plenty of money, crawl all the way to Philleon to carry out this operation?It's an operation with symbolic significance. The organization's prestige has been on the rise lately.Valus explained further. Since its establishment, Kaliborro had been facing unprecedented difficulties. Several branches within the Imperial territory had been destroyed one after the other, and the power of the Imperial Anti-Poaching Unit had been doubled. Ronan, who was carefully analyzing the situation, nodded his head.The future has changed.'Originally, it was an organization that would have thrived until the end of the world. It seemed that the snowball effect initiated by Valus's espionage activities was steadily gaining momentum.The money and the other mythical creatures are just a bonus. The most important thing is to penetrate Philleon's security and steal the Doppelgangers, which are extremely rare and unique. The organization's goal is to let the entire continent know that Kaliborro is still thriving.Well, it's something that anyone other than your organization can even dream of.Ronan nodded slowly. If it wasn't a poaching organization of Kaliborro's caliber, they wouldn't even dare to think about it. Suddenly, a question crossed his mind.Wait a minute, weren't just you a scaredy-cat when I met you? But now you've been deployed on such an important operation?That's... I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I earned recognition.Recognition?Yes. I worked hard to avoid being caught as a spy... but it seems like the higher-ups viewed it favorably.Valus scratched his cheek as if he was embarrassed. In other words, he had been promoted because he had diligently performed the organization's tasks to maintain his cover as a spy.So it became possible to steal more and more high-quality information as time went on. It's not an exaggeration to say that all documents from the Volcanto branch pass through me.I can't believe it.Ronan chuckled. He had never imagined that this guy, who used to talk big and swagger around in his previous life, had such a talent. Valus had shown his skills in document work and reconnaissance, and that had led him to be involved in the current doppelganger heist operation.I infiltrated in advance to gather information and copy the key. It wasn't an easy task since Varen had it on him at all times. But I managed to do it.Valus's mission was to disguise himself as a student and gather information about the Centennial Beasts Festival and the Doppelgangers. He had infiltrated Philleon about a month ago, which precisely coincided with the day when Lakota had disappeared. Ronan asked.Now that I think about it, where did the real Lakota go? Did you kill him?Our side kidnapped him and took him with us. Don't worry, he's still alive and well.Valus revealed that they hadn't killed Lakota and explained where he was being held. Ronan let out a relieved sigh. As long as he wasn't dead, he could rescue him.Then why did you release the Doppelgangers? What do you mean there's no time?I released them to prevent any casualties. I didn't know that everyone, including Varen, would be on guard there. If I hadn't released the Doppelgangers at that moment, another organization member in the area would have triggered the Explosion Scroll planted there and taken the Doppelgangers.Damn it, there was another poacher there?Yes. That's why I said we don't have much time.Valus mentioned that there were other poachers who had infiltrated Philleon besides himself. Considering that Philleon's security had been breached, it seemed like it was a very thoroughly prepared operation. Ronan spat on the ground and muttered curses.God dammit. This damn academy never has a quiet day.I have no face left. You said you were Ronan.Valus abruptly knelt on the ground. His sudden action made Ronan furrow his brow.What are you doing now?I know this is a shameless and unexpected request, but please stop Kaliborro.I'd do it even if you didn't ask... but why all of a sudden?After meeting you, I realized how terrible poaching is. If the Doppelganger falls into the organization's hands first, the cruelty we've been trying to reduce will spread like wildfire.Valus's voice was mixed with sobs as he spoke. He truly despised Kaliborro's actions. Through his espionage activities, he had witnessed many horrifying scenes. Ronan, who was watching the scene, answered indifferently. You must have another reason besides that.I'm ashamed to make such a request, but... I want to leave the organization. Please help me.That's right. It's good to be honest.Ronan chuckled. Valus had reached a point where he could no longer extricate himself. If the operation succeeded, he would continue to endure hellish days, and if it failed and he returned alone, there was a high possibility that he would be held accountable.He's been quite useful.'From the beginning, he had no intention of killing his former comrade. Moreover, Valus had shown remarkable performance during his time as a spy. He was a talented individual, and it was the right decision to bring him back before he made a mistake. Ronan, who had made up his mind, nodded his head.Now that you understand, you can get up... huh?Ronan raised an eyebrow. He suddenly felt a presence from behind. Although there was no sound, he could sense it. With a wry smile, Ronan muttered to himself, as if speaking to himself,It seems we've been away for too long.Pardon?Well, I've had a feeling something was off since we were in the Assembly Hall. It kept bothering me. Seeing how they hide their presence so well, they must be pretty skilled.What... Huh?!Suddenly, Valus's eyes widened. He shouted, pointing behind Ronan.Behind, behind you!Arondale, one of the Three Great Beasts. He was a warrior who had reached the level of Aura awakening, and was known to have massacred the entire Wolf Tribe with his bare hands. Ronan spoke.Let's get going for now. We don't have much time.Hmm.Ronan and Adeshan left the Assembly Hall. Simultaneously, the seven crows flew out of the window. They had about five hours until sunrise, and their goal was to find the Doppelgangers and root out the poachers before the Beast Festival began.Finding the Doppelgangers is the top priority. Have you found anything yet?I did find the mana of a Doppelganger in the Assembly Hall. It's faint and intermittent, but...Adeshan mentioned that she had detected the mana of one Doppelganger. Ronan clapped his hands in satisfaction. It was akin to finding the criminal's footprint.It's over there. It went up and down this tree.I found something too. Judging by the broken branches, it seems like it transformed into something big.Ronan and Adeshan tracked the Doppelgangers with their senses stretched to the maximum. The empty campus resembled a deserted village, with all of its residents gone. Only the footsteps of the two could be heard on the deserted streets.Damn it, how far did it go?Ronan grumbled as he followed the trail. They had walked almost far enough to cross the entire campus grounds, but the Doppelganger still hadn't appeared.After about twenty more minutes of walking, both of them came to a halt simultaneously. The trail of the Doppelganger ended in front of the northern forest.There's a lot going on... Let's go in quickly, Sunbae.Uh, yes. I have to go in. Alright.Adeshan's complexion had turned pale. Her gaze remained fixed on the dark, foreboding forest. It seemed she was frightened of the darkness, as she had been earlier. Ronan reached out his hand.Want to hold my hand?H-Hold your hand?Honestly, it's pretty scary. Among the guys with fur and all, there are too many freaks. Let's just catch them quickly....Okay.Adeshan hesitated but took Ronan's hand. Her hand, surprisingly rough for her age, was covered in calluses. Beyond the rough palm, warmth seeped through. Her blushing ears seemed to be trying to say something.-Thud.Suddenly, footsteps were heard from behind. It was a completely different sound from human footsteps, a deep and resonant voice.Both of them turned their heads in the direction of the sound. At that moment, a massive reptile was standing there, salivating.-Kuuuuurrrghhh...Huh.The gap between the head and the ground seemed to be over 5 meters. Its red and sleek scales were the size of an adult's hand. The long, thick pair of horns on its head were not much different from a Dragon's. Ronan laughed when he saw the monstrous appearance. A Dragon without wings. It was a Drake.Note: A Drake is a mythological creature similar to a Dragon but without any wings.I guess that's it, right?...Yeah.No one would fall in love with something like that, so it must be the Omega.There was no way it was a real Drake. Even more than the Manticore, a Drake was not the type of monster that anyone could domesticate or tame. Ronan grasped the hilt of his sword.It's a fake.The Drake stood motionless as Ronan attempted to draw his sword. Suddenly, the entire body of the Drake began to bubble like foam. Startled, Adeshan took a step back.Aaah!Yeah, it's been a while since I last saw you.The bubbling Drake was slowly transforming into a human form. Ronan slowly pulled the hilt of his sword....Calm down.'He desperately suppressed his emotions. He didn't trust himself enough to pass by the sudden appearance of Ahaiyute without striking it at least once, even if he knew it was just the Doppelganger. Thud! Finally, the fully transformed Doppelganger landed on the ground....Huh?However, it wasn't Ahaiyute that appeared, but instead a big man stood there expressionless. Ronan made eye contact with his man and froze. Adeshan's eyes widened....Ronan?The man's face looked exactly like Ronan's, although it was somewhat matured. However, he was quite different from the current Ronan. His height had reached nearly 190 centimeters, and he wore an Imperial Military uniform that had been torn to pieces. A trembling voice came out from between Adeshan's lips.Why... why does it look like that?Ronan couldn't bring himself to look directly at it. The term severely injured didn't even begin to describe the sight of the man. Crimson blood oozing from where his military uniform had been torn. The sword he clutched in his hand horribly shattered.But the most horrifying sight were the black masses scattered all over his body. Seven masses were gnawing at various parts of the man's body like mold. The man, who had been groaning in agony, turned his gaze toward Ronan and spoke.-I couldn't protect anything.You...Ronan, who had been standing blankly, slowly took a step back. At that moment, the man turned his back and started running away. The man ran at an incredible speed and disappeared into the dark forest in an instant.Damn it, stop!Ro-Ronan!TL/N: Why do you guys think the Doppelganger transformed into Ronan's older self? Leave your thoughts in the comments, I wanna see what you guys think :oRonan belatedly came to his senses and ran behind the man. After a moment of hesitation, Adeshan followed him with her eyes tightly shut.Whoosh! The strong night wind swept over the edge of the forest. Under the waving branches, three sets of footsteps echoed.HEL SCANSTranslator PeptobismolProofreader Demon GodJoin our Discord for release /invite/dbdMDhzWa2
