Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 12
12. The Lion and the Dream Bird (2)
#12
An overbearing mana that seemed to oppress the five senses was pulsating inside the sphere. I’ve experienced a lot of mana so far, but I’ve never felt anything similar to this.
Baren struggled to speak.
“Marfez, what the hell are you…”
“Damn it, what the hell is this? It suddenly explodes, doesn’t it?”
“First of all, I can tell you for certain…that it is Marfez’s egg. But looking at the mana I can feel, I can’t imagine what’s going to come out.”
“You can’t guess?”
-Piyi … Piyi ….
Marphez was sleeping on Ronan’s knees. Ronan, who was playing with the fluffy feathers, frowned.
“No, he said it was Al. Doesn’t that just make a bunch of blue hairs that look like him? Watermelons don’t suddenly grow where beans are planted.”
“So that’s a problem. A dream bird can do that.”
“yes?”
“You can grow not only watermelons, but also water buffaloes and forest palaces.”
Baren’s explanation continued. In short, this bizarre bird conceived and laid eggs by absorbing mana from a specific target or surroundings.
Because they lay eggs only once in their lifetime, the number of individuals among fantasy species is small.
“Because of these characteristics, no two dream birds have the same appearance. I’ve seen dreambirds with steel beaks and flame feathers.”
“It’s so cool… I think I would have been aiming for it if I were a poacher.”
Baren said he met Marfez in an egg state at a magical lake in the north.
It is highly likely that the blue feathers and the ability to run on water also originated from the mana of the lake.
“But, this is the first time for me. In general, Dream Bird’s unique mana is 70%. The rest should feel like 30%… This is a jumbled mix of all kinds of mana. Like a furnace with entangled molten iron.”
“What is included in that ‘everything’?”
“Umm…so…”
Baren, who was examining the egg, drooled. It seemed that it would not be more difficult to explain the imaginary paintings drawn by madmen. what should i call this?
Flames flowing through the riverbed. Shadows shimmering as if dancing and a torrent of fresh blood soaring into the sky. pale starlight. A dream bird flying along the edge of the world.
Baren finally hung his head in shame.
“sorry. I can’t give you a definitive answer. I cannot explain it with my skills.”
“Hey, what the hell did you give birth to?”
Ronan stabbed Marfez. Waking up for a moment, Marfez looked around with his eyes wide open, then slammed his head into his chest again and fell asleep.
Ronan laughed like it was absurd.
“Have you seen such a shameless guy?”
“…Could you please take care of that egg?”
“Hmm?”
Ronan raised his head at the sudden sound. Baren was staring at him with a worldly serious expression.
The way he put his hands on his knees reminded me of a father-in-law asking for his daughter.
“I know this is an unexpected request. But I think there is a reason why Marfez laid an egg in front of you.”
“Didn’t you just give birth when it was time to give birth?”
“no. Dreambirds do not lay eggs anywhere.”
Varen shook his head resolutely. His well-combed mane swayed in a gentlemanly way.
He continued with an attitude as if he were reciting a prophecy that had been handed down from time immemorial that could not be contradicted.
“Just as most animals give birth to their young in a safe place, dream birds lay their eggs where possibilities pool. I want to respect the wishes of my friend who has been with Marfez for over 40 years.”
“Uh…Honestly, it doesn’t matter much, but will it be okay?”
“Of course. Rather, I am grateful to you for accepting my unexpected request.”
“When will you wake up?”
“I don’t know about that…but I know a place where I can be of help.”
Suddenly, Varen got up and walked to the desk. When he came back, he had two sheets of luxurious paper and a piece of parchment in his hand.
Ronan tilted his head.
“I was thinking about what to give you in return for saving Marfez… but it just worked out.”
“what is that?”
“First of all, this is a map to Penardo Sam.”
Baren held out the parchment first. A rough map was drawn on the rough surface, as if he had drawn it himself. He stretched out his ring finger and pointed to a place marked with a star.
“Among the leylines, it is the closest to the islands. It is a place where the mana of the earth gathers, so fantasy species often visit it.”
“Oh my god, a leyline? really?”
Baren recommended that you take the egg and visit Penardo Sam.
It was said that side effects such as accelerating hatching or increasing one’s mana sensitivity could also be expected. Instead, he asked to keep the secret of the place.
Ronan, who took the parchment, nodded.
“Sure. Why are you so grateful for giving me such a precious thing?”
“It’s not over yet. Now, take this too.”
This time, Baren set down two luxurious sheets of paper on the table. There was a lot written on it, but I couldn’t make out it because it wasn’t the imperial language.
“This…?”
“This is a letter of recommendation for admission to Phileon. I thought I would never use it for the rest of my life, but I finally get it out.”
The boys’ eyes widened. Varen picked up a fountain pen that was almost the size of a baton and started scribbling. It was the names of Ronan and Asher and his own signature written in cursive.
“As far as I know, applicants who receive a letter of recommendation will only have to go through a simple interview without taking a separate test. Of course, scholarships are also available. Other perks…”
“I don’t need it.”
Baren startled and raised his head. Ronan was stroking Marfez with a carefree expression.
“…yes?”
“Because I don’t need it. Please write only for him.”
“I’m fine too!”
Asher also waved his hand. Even when Ronan stabbed him in the side, he just stubbornly slaughtered him.
“You don’t sit around and take it, man.”
“I want to pass on my own…!”
“Huh.”
Ronan laughed. He tousled Asher’s hair and set Marfez down on the table.
“I see. I feel the same way.”
“Wait a minute! Are you serious?”
“This is enough. The tea was good.”
He waved the parchment on which the map was drawn in front of his eyes. Ronan, who took his coat, stood up from his seat. Baren, who stood up after him, asked in bewilderment.
“It’s a bit hard for me to say this, but the letter of recommendation for admission from Phileon has a special meaning. There is only one student who enters with a letter of recommendation every three years…!”
“I have no intention of making a campaign by saving a single animal. And the egg, to be honest, I wanted it from the moment I started thinking about the steel beak.”
Ronan moved to the door without hesitation. Restless Baren jumped up and blocked their way. Because of its size, there was no room to escape.
“Wait! I can’t let you go like this!”
“Now you are showing your true colors. One meal would be enough for that dwarf. I’m alone.”
“Hey!”
“It’s not like that. You saved Marfez and even took care of the egg, but I can’t send you back empty-handed!”
The boys’ bangs fluttered at Baren’s snort. Looking at his momentum, it seemed that he would take out at least one organ he didn’t need on the spot.
To say such a thing even when given a map with leylines on it. He seemed very grateful.
“Tell me anything! If I can give you anything…”
“Wearlion leather carpet.”
It was a grave voice. Silence enveloped the office. Seeing the pale faces of the two, Ronan snorted.
“just joke.”
“Whoa, whoa, that’s good. I was really… really surprised…”
“I don’t have anything in particular that I want… Then can you do me a favor later?”
“Please… are you talking?”
The corners of Ronan’s mouth went up slyly. Asher, whose heart almost stopped at the carpet remark, bit his nails.
Eventually, when his request was presented, Baren and Asher tilted their heads almost simultaneously.
“Um…um…really that’s all right?”
“yes. Instead, you need to be sure to keep it. Is it possible?”
“Yes, of course…”
“That’s fine. See you on the day of the entrance ceremony.”
After speaking, Ronan left the office without hesitation. thud. Awake by the sound of the door closing, Marfez looked around.
Baren, who had been standing there blankly, returned to his desk after a while. He scratched his mane and murmured.
“That’s true.”
****
After leaving Baren’s office, the two headed straight to the market. There was also the purpose of preparing things or ingredients, but the biggest reason was to meet Marya.
Asher opened his mouth while walking among the stylish buildings.
“Here Ronan.”
“ok?”
“Before…why did you ask for that?”
“Ah, is that?”
The request he made to Baren was none other than to be the director of the club he would create, that is, to become an adviser.
While investigating Phileon Academy, Ronan learned that there is a ‘club’, a group where students engage in autonomous activities.
As in the military, the role of the person in charge was very important in these gatherings. Baren, who seemed to have a high standing, was the perfect fit.
Ronan tucked a pod behind his head and laughed.
“I have something in mind.”
“I might be able to pass… but what if I don’t pass?”
“Are you saying that? I should run back right away and beg for my letter of recommendation back.”
“…ugly.”
“Don’t worry, man, you’ll get attached just by showing your pants down with your telekinesis.”
Asher said, ‘Then what about you?’ I didn’t bother asking the same question. Just now, in fact, I was asking about old age, but I never imagined Ronan falling.
Even the violent Luna Goblins were no different from carrots on a chopping board in front of his swordsmanship.
“Anyway, this is fine. It feels so good to hold it because I know it’s not shit.”
“Watch out Joe…! Then it falls…”
“It’s harder than mithril, so what if you drop it?”
Ronan had been throwing eggs into the air and receiving them repeatedly.
I thought it was completely mine, so there was nothing to shy away from. he said, hastening his steps.
“Let’s go and see that girl. The book hurts my shoulder.”
The general market of the islands was huge in comparison to the market of Marvas.
After wandering around for a long time, the boys were able to find a caravel top with a stall in the center of the market. Ronan’s eyes met Marya’s, and she waved happily.
“You fools! You are here!”
Marja was wearing a hospitality skirt. With her hair neatly braided, she looked like a little girl now. The boys returned the books they had borrowed from her.
“Honestly, I was worried, but how did you find it? When did you come to Jedo?”
“In the morning.”
“What did you do when you came?”
“I had a cup of tea with a talking lion at Phileon.”
“Would you like to talk to me?”
“no.”
Marya glared at Ronan with her hatchet eyes open. For Ronan, who only answered the truth, it was just unfair. She frowned at the egg in Ronan’s hand.
“What is that round thing? Ugh, isn’t that what I think?”
“Something incomprehensible that even the talking lion cannot explain.”
“You…really…”
“Oh hello! Marya!”
Asher, sensing a crisis, intervened. Marja’s expression softened. She snorted at Ronan once and looked at Asher.
“Hello cutie! Do you think you are a little taller?”
“This dwarf has been talking about you all day. I sang so much that I wanted to see you…”
“Until the No song…!”
“Tell me what you want to see. Come on!”
Marja turned round and round while holding Asher. It was like an older sister playing with her younger brother.
While Asher’s face turned red with shame, Ronan exchanged greetings with Duon.
“Long time no see, mister.”
“Oh, guest! How have you been?”
“Hey, I’m always fine. I’m sorry last time.”
“No, sir. In spite of this and that, I am grateful to you for being close to my daughter. Even if you look at it like that, he’s a pretty lonely kid.”
Duon lowered his voice to make sure that Marya would hear. Ronan smiled and nodded. He purchased a bag of southern tobacco leaves from the top of the caravel.
When I turned my head, I saw the two of them chattering after they had finished playing. Ronan stuck his head in, holding the pipe in his mouth.
Marja opened her mouth as if she remembered something important.
“Did you guys hear the news?”
“I bet you didn’t hear.”
“This time, the eldest son of the Duke of Grancia is taking the Phileon entrance exam. with us.”
“Duke of Grancia?”
Ronan recalled his memory. I couldn’t remember because I wasn’t interested in the original aristocratic society.
It was still the same, so Ronan insincerely shrugged his shoulders.
“You really don’t know what? Is this a bit harsh?”
“What kind of a bastard are you making such a fuss about?”
“The whole empire was abuzz with the genius that appeared for the first time in 200 years. Schlieffen Siniban de Grancia. I don’t know?”
Ronan didn’t answer. Interpreting the silence as ignorance, Marja sighed. I couldn’t believe that there was such a dark person in the world.
No one knew Schlieffen, at least not in the system. A genius who had his aura bloom at the age of 11 and is now rushing to the state of awakening.
Besides, isn’t he the eldest son of the Duke of Grancia, a great family that is on par with the Akalucia family?
But Ronan didn’t answer because he didn’t know.
“Schlieffen…? Did you just say Schlieffen?”
“okay. Have you really never heard of it? never? Schlieffen. Sinivan. place. Grancia.”
why haven’t you heard of it Ronan continued to doubt his ears. Among the list of words that sounded like spells, there were names that I could never forget.
Slayer of the Winter Witch. The swordsman of the empire who once wielded a sword together. A tragic genius who died without being able to slay the giant.
“What’s wrong with that expression? Are you sick?”
“Um, no. you know Schlieffen.”
“right? To be honest, this was worse than the mana response.”
After looking back for a while, Ronan smiled bitterly. The time we met was short, but the impression was strong. He remembered Schlieffen’s aura covering the battlefield.
“It was a great man. Although there was a corner where it was slightly turned.”
“You say as if you’ve met?”
“I have met you. If I have to tell you one more thing, I couldn’t pee when that nobleman was next to me.”
“…I guess so. By the way I’m hungry. let’s go eat.”
Marja took the boys by the hand and headed for the restaurant. They ate one of the island’s specialties, ox steak, with raspberry juice.
The three traveled around the islands during the day as if they were sightseeing, and at night they trained for practical exams. The two days passed quickly.
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