Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 11
11. The Lion and the Dream Bird (1)
#11
The boys arrived in Marbas late at night. I saw a distant shadow rising from the ground, blocking half of the eastern sky.
The gateway to the islands was the Romaira Mountains that separated the central and western parts of the continent.
Around dawn the next day, they entered the Romaira mountain road. There was almost no toll because no horse or carriage was brought.
“It kills me.”
“huh.”
Every time I opened my mouth, white breath came out. The peaks of the surrounding rocky mountains, like a folding screen, were invisible. The boys tilted their heads and admired the scenery that could only be called spectacular.
“Look at that, Asher.”
Not far away, a herd of mountain goats was climbing a sheer cliff. Seeing the goat for the first time, Asher exclaimed in admiration. Ronan pointed at the goats with his index finger and said.
“Just push one little bit. by telekinesis.”
“I hate poetry.”
“That’s it, Asher. Seeing that you have built up your backbone, you too are becoming a man. Raise the laggard over there.”
“That’s… good.”
Asher stretched out his staff following Ronan’s instructions. The body of the mountain goat, which was lagging behind, rose in the air and arrived at the top in an instant.
Ronan smiled contentedly. I also liked Asher’s advanced skills and the way the mountain goat was loved by the newly arrived herd.
“Marja must have arrived already, right?”
“You must be doing well. Why do you want to see it?”
“What! It’s not like that! I have to return the book…!”
“It’s okay Asher, I understand. Certainly, such breasts are rare. I was also surprised.”
“Because it is not!”
The road was much better paved than Ronan expected. The road paved with round paving stones was wide enough for four wagons to pass at the same time, and guards armed with swords patrolled day and night.
“you worked hard. traveler.”
“It’s a lot of trouble too. When life in the military feels like a beggar, I cheer up by thinking of the idiots in the punitive unit. Because those bastards don’t even come out properly.”
“Thank you.”
Rest areas built at certain distances were also a great help to travelers crossing the mountain range. It was a welfare that was possible for the Empire and the Merchant Union to manage together.
‘As expected, I like money.’
However, due to the nature of mountain roads, if only a few important roads were blocked, the empire’s trade routes would be completely paralyzed.
The Winter Witch, who would appear in a few years from now, was not called the empire’s worst criminal for nothing.
He remembered the people who died to wipe out the Winter Witch and her glorious end.
“Maybe…you can meet those two too.”
The one who killed the Witch of Winter was Schlieffen, the Sword Saint. And both were from Phileon. I thought that if I met them for a very short time, I might be able to change the future.
‘I can’t believe that will happen.’
However, Ronan soon shook his head. It was a busy time to care only about one’s own business.
They passed through Romira over four days. After leaving the mountains, the season returned to spring.
It wasn’t long before I walked, and the city stretched out to the horizon in the distance came into view.
institutional statement.
It was the capital of an empire that lasted for a thousand years.
****
The two were able to pass Balon’s East Gate before noon. Thanks to having obtained a citizenship card from Marvas in advance, the inspection was almost skipped.
Today, as I passed the guards who were sucking poop, the whole view of the city, arranged like a chessboard, came into my eyes.
invited emperor. Designed by the greatest genius since the creation of the world, this thousand-year-old city itself was a work of art.
“Wow ah ah ah …
”
Asher was admiring the system, circling in place like a little lacking child.
Ronan extended his finger and pointed north of the city. I could see dozens of spires, large and small, towering in the distance.
“That’s Phileon.”
“The small town of the White Tower… are you going right away?”
“no. Is it possible to die from being crushed by a person?”
They moved to the market, not Phileon. There were still two days left before the practical exams began.
The application was made in advance by mail, so there was no need to stop by Fileon, which was already crowded.
“What happened to that feather?”
“feather…? Oh that strange bird. Come to think of it, did you say that you live in that yangban system?”
Ronan took off his backpack and opened the innermost pocket. Blue feathers that still haven’t lost their luster caught my eye.
It seemed that it would have come out of the backpack right away if it hadn’t been pressed down with another load.
Ronan picked up the feather.
“Then, shall we go now? I have plenty of time left.”
The profuse tail feathers were curved toward the north. The two people, who moved their steps with a hopeless heart, eventually reached Phileon.
Ronan, unable to move in the waves of humans, muttered with his teeth clenched.
“You make me suffer until the end.”
***
– Beep! Beep!
“Um…why is that Marfez?”
I woke up to the loud chirping of birds. Varen Panassir muttered in a sleepy voice.
His eyelids were heavy and his head was tired, so he seemed to have fallen asleep.
In front of him sat a blue, fluffy bird. It was ‘Marfez’, a fantasy dream bird raised by Baren.
“Did you have any good dreams…?”
Baren, who yawned with his mouth torn, got up from his chair. The pile of papers piled on the desk and the scenery outside the window caught my eye at the same time.
Baren grabbed his forehead and sighed.
“Ugh… it won’t be easy this time either.”
His office was located at the top of Phileon 13 Tower. From the top of the spire, you could see the campus and the northern part of the system at a glance. The people who showed up to take the test were crowded like ants.
-Pip!
“How come I can’t get used to it even if I do the professor job… Should I go back to being an explorer?”
It had been three years since he had been invited by the imperial family to work for Phileon, but he was still tired of interacting with humans.
Marfez, who had risen above his shoulder, rubbed his head against his dark-brown mane. It seemed like he was in a good mood to be fooling around a lot today.
“Yes, you have to be strong. Even to meet your benefactor.”
Baren remembered an incident that happened a month ago. Marfez, whom he thought had gone for a short walk, was almost lost forever. Even though quite a bit of time had passed, just thinking about that time made my heart sink.
He still hasn’t met the benefactor who saved Marfez. Every time I thought of the conversation I had with him, a part of my heart felt nostalgic.
Didn’t you say you had no intention of making a fuss about saving a beast? It was unbelievably kind-hearted.
“It would be nice if it wasn’t just that you lost your feathers…”
It was the car Baren was looking out the window with his eyes drenched in thought. Suddenly, two shadows rose from below.
One of them tapped on the window.
“Hey.”
“Ke-huh!”
Varen flew backwards like a man hit by a carriage. He hit his buttock and stepped back, only to stop when he hit his head on the opposite wall.
Baren shouted as his hair stood on end.
“What are you all about!”
A black-haired boy and a red-haired child were floating in the air. The child who saw Varen screamed.
“Quaaaaagh! Buy and buy!”
A neatly dressed lion sat down in a corner of the room, roaring. At the same time as the mana was disturbed, the bodies of the two people fell downward.
The boy hurriedly reached out and grabbed the window frame and the hood of the child at the same time.
“You bastard! Magic!!”
keek! A strangling sound leaked from the mouth of the strangled child. He accidentally looked down and screamed again.
Far below, a wave of human beings was surging. The boy who climbed up with superhuman strength kicked out the window. Wow Jangchang!
“Hey, what the hell is this…!”
Baren forgot what to say and looked at the humans who rushed into the office. The boy, carrying the child on his shoulders like a sack of rice, looked around and tossed him onto the soft couch.
“Kek kek! Keek! Keck!”
The child clutched at his throat and began coughing violently. The boy strode closer and hit him on the head.
“evil!”
“Yumma, you almost lost everything! Is it your first time seeing a lion, Niimi?”
“I’m sorry…”
The child sobbed, clutching at the right seat. The boy caught his breath and turned his head to Baren.
“…Huh, is that Professor Baren?”
“That’s right…”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Wearlion… I’m sorry about the damn window.”
The boy approached and held out his hand. Varen’s eyes widened. An all-too-familiar blue feather peeked out from the front pocket of his shirt.
****
“Professor, are you really okay?”
“yes. Both of you are my guests. Don’t worry.”
Phileon’s security was thorough. Less than three minutes after the two splendidly appeared, the janitors who rushed in proved that fact.
Guards armed with heavy armor and polearms quickly surrounded Ronan and Asher. Professor Baren had to sweat to explain everything to them.
“If the professor says so…”
“Yes, I am sorry for causing an untimely commotion. Thank you for always working hard.”
Baren apologized while bending his waist almost halfway. And to the guards who were at a loss for what to do, he sent them back with a pie he made one by one.
“her.”
Ronan, who was sitting on the sofa, laughed. It was a very contradictory attitude to the appearance of slaughtering a cow with bare hands.
It was even more surprising to him who had fought a race called Wear Lion.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting. You’re the ones who saved our Marfez, right?”
“…yes.”
“It is an honor to meet you. This is Professor Varen Panassir, who is in charge of the lecture on ‘Sympathy and Understanding with Fantasy Species’ at Phileon Academy.”
Height is at least 3 m. The head of a dignified lion was placed on top of a body as strong as a troll’s. The well-combed black-brown mane gave off a sense of elegance and wildness at the same time.
“I heard that you made the inevitable choice because you couldn’t find the entrance. I should have informed you of the order to open the door… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry sorry sorry. Why are you so sorry for those who broke the window and came in?”
Ronan bowed his head. At the same time, he pressed the head of Asher, who was sitting next to him.
“We are really sorry. The pathetic skit ends with this.”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Don’t do this! There is no reason for you to apologize!”
“No, not anymore. You said it was over.”
Ronan crossed his legs. He made his intentions clear by holding the pipe he had taken out of his bosom. Marfez, who had been sitting on Baren’s shoulder all along, approached Ronan.
“How are you?”
– Beep!
Marfez banged his head on Ronan’s knee. Her feathers had become more beautiful, and she looked perfectly healthy.
He returned the feather from his front pocket to Marfez.
“Thank you so much for saving Marfez.”
“I just did it because I could. Anyway, I would have thought he was a professor at Phileon. He was a great person.”
“It’s thanks to the emperor recognizing my insignificant talent. Are you two taking the Phileon exam this time?”
“Yes what.”
“I hope you pass. I will teach you everything I know, without leaving a single sentence out.”
The three of them exchanged a few stories after a brief statement. He urged him to take his lectures when he entered Phileon.
Along with [Basic Elementalism], it was the first class to fill up, but they said they would somehow arrange a spot for them.
“By the way, I think you should do a better job with the new jailer. Those thieves belonged to Caribolo’s Noose.”
“It was Caribolo…?”
“Yeah, you know those bastards are fucking persistent.”
Hearing the name Caribolo, Baren growled lowly.
The mane that had been lying down stood up and the claws hidden under the shaggy back of the hand were revealed.
“Those ugly poachers dare…” It
seemed that the evil relationship was deeper than expected. A tingling sensation spread through Varen’s whole body.
Asher, who was white, burrowed into the sofa. Ronan exhaled smoke and snapped his fingers.
“Calm down.”
“yes…? I’m so sorry!”
Lives faded in an instant. Baren hurriedly hid his hands behind his back.
He stood up from his seat and bowed his head at a right angle, apologizing.
“I am really, really sorry. Exposing your toenails in front of guests…”
“No. It was great.”
Ronan was sincere. The face of Baren that he had just seen was the true face of the Wear Lion he knew.
It was amazing. Wear Lion, who almost completely suppresses his true nature, and the Academy where he works as a professor.
Life in Phileon became more anticipated. Baren sat down again and opened his mouth.
“That… can I ask you something? There was something I was worried about earlier.”
“What is it?”
“What’s in the right pocket…?”
“A pocket? …I was going to ask this too.”
Ronan, who was rummaging through his pockets, took out an orb. It was an unknown substance produced by Marfez.
It’s been a month, but I haven’t seen anything that has changed in appearance.
“He was born. Do you know what?”
Ronan pointed to Marfez, who was dozing in his lap.
But no answer came back. Varen was staring at the sphere as if possessed by something.
“What’s wrong?”
“This… can’t be…”
Baren, an Auror Awakener, noticed at once that it was Marfez’s egg. The dream bird’s unique mana was flowing from the surface.
However, there was something else that really puzzled him. The mana he felt was not just a dream bird.
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