Raven's Reward

Ethan was sitting in front of Raven who was reading her book. He had already told her everything and given her the golden card. Ethan had expected she might throw a hug at him. He had done quite a lot of things today. He deserves it. But reality doesn't seem to have any intention of getting along with his expectation.

"…Didn't I not done the good job?"

"…Do you not know what happened there when you escaped?"

"…"

Ethan took his silence to express his ignorance. He did notice Jim and his expression at that time. Ethan thought some lousy guy hit on Alice and his daughter-in-dilemma detector detected alerted him so he ran to her.

"Two people died and one of them was the same guy from whom you stole the card."

Ethan was shocked from the information. He died? How did he die? And there was no commotion means he didn't even get a chance to resist.

"...Cause of death?"

"…Poison Magic."

"…Does that mean…?"

"…Hmm, that officer killed him."

"But aren't they together on this?"

"When did I say that?"

Ethan shut his lips and took silence. She never mentions that but doesn't all the information he had covered up until now points that they are together in this.

"…You should try looking at things from other sides."

"…Are you telling me that he is neither his comrade nor an enemy?"

"…Ethan, life is not a game where world is centered on you and your rival. In real world, there can be third party, fourth party and even fifth party who will attack you when you least expect it or befriend you, only to betray you later. You need always keep your mind open in all direction and prepare for a surprise attack at any given moment…"

Ethan heard her and raised his brows at her. She is not wrong as he only consider two parties but never think that there will be third…actually it's fourth as Raven and him should be consider third…

"…So, who was he?"

"That's something you need to found out in next month… along with missing parts of this case."

"Aggh, you just want me to dump with work, don't you?"

"I brought you here to make my life easy so, of course…"

Ethan wants to complain but reject the thoughts he asked for something he had been curious about.

"…What's up with this golden card?"

"...this card…it's actually payment of the weapon deal."

"…Payment!?"

Ethan stands up in excitement. Is there anything more important than money? He can't believe he was tossing around so much money so casually. It just means he have grown this much. This is the proof of his growth.

"I have no intention of sharing it with you."

"What did you say?!"

Ethan stands up and slammed his hands on the table. He had enough of this, what does that mean by that? It's hard earned money of his… not so hard but he still stole it by himself…or not if he consider he was only able to go inside because of her. Is that it? Does he really have no argument on him?

Ethan turned around and lies down on the couch while facing backrest, opposite of where Raven was sitting.

"…Are you sulking?"

"I don't want to talk with you."

Ethan replied with small voice.

"…I have my own reason. This payment is another key I needed to look into this matter. I think you aren't aware but what I am looking for is the head of this goddamn snake. This card is something that should fell in the hand of that person. I need it on me to look into him further…"

Ethan still didn't turn around. Does she really think she can convince him with such a shallow reason? He felt betrayed by more than one way. How can she do this to him? He work harder everyday just so he can help her with everything but this what she did?

"You still have your reward for bet, remember? If you win, I will give you the something that worth more than this bunch of pebbles."

Ethan turned his head slightly and looked at her from the corner of his eyes.

"I don't go on my words so you can expect something from me. That is…if you win."

Ethan sits back and brings his hand together. He looked at her with serious expression.

"…That's a big 'if' in your speech and also is it not going to be something intimate as you talked about?"

"…What in the world are you talking about?"

She backed off slight and her expression turned slightly disturbed. Ethan frowned as he felt something is wrong.

"…But you-"

"I gave you enough hints and it's enough. I told you already if you win you will get it so stop wasting my time and focus on completing it."

Raven closed the book and pushes herself off the couch. She didn't stop and enters the elevator. Its door closed and a smile forms on her lips. Ethan did a really good job for today. He not only brought this card but he actually used this chance to kill-off that guy.

The thing is Raven was not confident in winning against him. She is still at B+ Rank and it will take more than a month to rank-up to A- Rank.

As rank increases, different between ranks also increases by large margins. She will have to no trouble against an A- Rank but she won't stand a chance against A+ Rank.

If Ethan had been captured again, she will have no choice but to give up on him but he not only escaped but he also used someone else to have him killed. She felt slightly proud of him. She looked at the card in her hand that Ethan gave her today.

This golden card is also useful in its own way. It's a key. When it comes to unofficial wealth, People tend to exchange it with other currency or something of value and stored in secret storages and hid it. They just used it for the transaction directly when they needed it for. Not only they save themselves from government but it also makes the transaction line secure.

This will lead her directly to people she is looking for. Door of elevator opens and Raven walks out of it. A cold smirk form on her lips and her head lowered slightly. It's only matter of time before she gets them.

Ethan raised himself up the couch and looked out to the balcony. It's already been night. He is contemplating if he should just sleep today or study runes, he is genuinely tired. He had to wreck brain to make things work out to his way and he doesn't know why but even the word 'party' sounds tiring to him.

He sighed once and looked at the wine bar on his side from the corner of eyes. He still has urges to try the wine but he understands Raven after seeing her around daily. She is someone who pays attention to details more than necessary. She will figure out that something is missing just by a glance.

He covered his mouth, tried to do something that can wake him up and choose to wash his face first.

(Omitted)

Ethan head down by elevator and spread the books and fix all the notes from the starting. He had been doing everything wrong until now. What he must do is to instead of treating the components of Runes as traits. He needs to treats them as components as they are.

He had been treating all components individually. He was using those three unequal components to create a ruin that will, of course, won't work as they are is not in sync with each other. He thought he needs to use those three unequal components to create a syncing point and resonate it with atmospheric mana but he was so wrong.

He need to first create components that are in sync with each other and then used it to create runes. This was his entire fault.

He needs to fix up all his calculation and calculate everything from the start. It will take a day but it will wield result for sure.

*

A circular magic diagram was formed on a cube and it was glowing and pulsing with faint white light. It looks stable and dazzling. Ethan was looking at it with an expression filled with nervousness. He sneakily looks up and from the corner of his eyes and noticed Raven was looking at the cube with stern expression. He had a feeling she might be trying his best to found fault in it.

It's been a day and half. There is a half a day left for him before his summer vacation ends. He would be finally returning to his academy. It actually didn't look too long as he felt it was yesterday when he meet Raven. Time really flew by without any notice. He would also be back to living in his small dorm room. He will really miss this house if anything.

"…It's good."

"…Really?"

"Yeah, congratulation for reaching apprentices level of rune proficiency in one month."

"…Is it me or there was no emotion in your voice?"

"…You're imagining things."

Ethan is sure that her voice was so dry that it sound more like she was reading a line from book but he shouldn't nitpick over small details today. It is still true he become one true Rune User. He finally has a way to fight people but his proficiency is not enough to use it in real battle now but it's not that it won't be.

"Ethan…"

Ethan turned his head and looked at her. She was looking at him with stern expression. His back straightened unconsciously as he looked at her. He has a feeling that she is going to talk about something really important.

"Follow me."

Ethan nodded his head and followed her. Both of them entered the elevator and went above. Raven sits on the couch while Ethan sits in front of her.

"…Ethan, up until now, I have been testing you. I wanted to make sure you are up for what is going to come in your life and I do think you did well."

Ethan smiled slightly. He loves praises.

"But you know, this thing you pull can be done by anyone else who is experienced in this line."

Ethan frowned slightly. It's like she raised him up only to slam him down furiously.

"I already admit that you are good but what I want is more than good, I want a smart and grown up man who can adopted to any situation, solve any situation and keep his mind clear to any situation."

"I can do that."

Ethan nodded his head and told her what he thinks. If it's true she is testing him then that means this is something similar to last test. It's all good if he pass but…he doesn't want to find out what will happen if it went wrong.

"I also believed that."

'…then why are you asking?'

"I believe you are worth it but what I want to know is how far you can go for me."

"What do you mean by that?"

"…I am asking if you can kill someone for me."

Ethan looked at her while kissing his lips. He is still thinking how should he answer her but he just blurt out what came in mouth.

"…I won't hesitate to do it…if it's to protect you."

Ethan answered her with clear eyes. This is his answer. He won't change himself for her. Ethan doesn't know how he lived until now but he is sure that his past self wouldn't have commit murder uselessly.

"…You won't do it if it's not to protect me…?"

"No, I won't and you can't change me. You can kill me for all I care but I won't do something that goes against me."

Raven looked at him in his eyes. His eyes appear to be more resolute than any other time. In the end, she shakes her head and throws something over the table, which slide to his side.

'He is not ready yet.'

Ethan looked down at the table and noticed a book with black cover and black pages which seem to have no presence at all but he can feel it subtly like air. It is sending a calm and deadly chill on his body just by look at it.

"What is this?"

"…An Art Book."

"…An Art Book… An Art Book?!"

Ethan looked down at book and up at Raven continuously as he tried to make sense. Is it really Art Book? Art Books are one of the most valuable things in Human Domain.

There are Art manuals and Art books. Art Manuals teaches people by pages while Books… you just need to put mana in it and absorb it. You will have all knowledge to learn the Art and you just need to absorb its understanding and practiced it while manuals are more primitive ways to learn Arts. User need to learn and understand the knowledge manually by themselves.

Art Books are only something that can be created by those who has reached the S-Rank. It is impossible to do it beforehand. That's why Art Books mostly contain Greater and Celestial Art!