Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 121
[ 121. The Hill of the Four Seasons (2) ]
#121
“The Hill of the Four Seasons. I have something to tell you.”
“The Hill of the Four Seasons?”
“huh. It’s on site, so it shouldn’t take too long.”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. It was a very unusual name. At the time of the doppelganger incident, Nabi Rose had mentioned it once.
What place were you doing? When the answer did not come back immediately, Adeshan asked in a voice mixed with anxiety.
“Do you…don’t like it?”
“No, fine. Are you going right now?”
“Ah yes. wait for a sec…!”
Adeshan’s expression brightened. thud! Suddenly, she ran to the office and shut the door. After about three minutes, Adeshan came out again and let out an awkward laugh.
“sorry. To wipe off some sweat. Shall we go?”
Ronan nodded. Except for the fact that the tied hair was untied, nothing had changed.
The two left the arena and headed west of the campus. Adeshan, who was walking side by side, pointed to Ronan’s waist and asked.
“Right, how about that dagger?”
“It was much better than I expected. What happened to the senior crossbow? I saw it just exploded.”
“Ah, it’s a mechanism that automatically enchants the crossbow when you inject magic. I don’t know how this is possible.”
Adeshan exclaimed in admiration. Like Ymir of La Mancha, Doron gave her crossbow the odd name of Arjuna.
Arjuna’s ability was simple yet powerful. Originally, magic had to be enchanted for each crossbow, but Arjuna could engrave the desired attribute, either fire or cold, on the arrowhead as long as he infused magic into the body of the crossbow. Thinking of Doron’s excited face, Ronan laughed.
“He is a great inspiration.”
In no time at all, it was full evening. The scarlet from the setting sun was coloring the western sky. The campus, shaded by the setting sun, was burning.
“It’s quiet.”
“Yes. I like the usual lively atmosphere, but… I think it has its own charm.”
Phileon during the vacation period was secluded. On the campus where the students disappeared, the sound of nature was heard louder. A small night song of birds enjoying summer. Ronan, who was walking with his pod behind his head, opened his mouth.
“Iknow, right.”
Being quiet was very good. Walking west, they soon reached the front of a certain hill. The site was so vast that it was a place Ronan had never been to before. Adeshan stopped in place.
“arrived. This is the Hill of the Four Seasons.”
“There is nothing special about it.”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. I couldn’t find anything special about it except that there were four trees on the top. Adeshan with a smile took the lead.
“Would you like to go up first?”
It was a strangely confident smile. Reaching the top, Ronan soon learned why. Looking up at the trees, he raised his eyes.
“Yeonliji?”
“that’s right. The four trees are woven into one.”
There were four trees of different species and sizes. Cherry trees and crape trees, maple trees and fir trees. The large crape myrtle tree was in full bloom with purple flowers.
Ronan noticed that they were trees representing each season. It seemed clear that some magical power was being applied.
“No matter what season you come in, a tree is beautifully colored. That’s why it’s called the Hill of the Four Seasons.”
“…that sounds interesting.”
“And the scenery from here is beautiful too. I think I come at least once a month.”
Adeshan pointed down the hill. Ronan, who followed her, nodded. It was a landscape I had no choice but to agree with. The campus, harmonized with the fresh green of late summer, was as beautiful as a paradise in a fairy tale.
Shaaa- The cool wind brushed my bangs. Adeshan, who had been watching the sunset quietly, opened her mouth.
“…I went back to my hometown this time.”
“that’s right. You said you were going to see your father, right?”
“huh. He did gain some weight, but fortunately he was healthy. I came to see my mother and older brothers.”
His voice was calm. Ronan’s mouth twisted slightly. He knew what tragedy Adeshan’s family had suffered.
Soldiers who died as a result of a misjudgment by the commanding department. The names of those who made a young girl dream of becoming a general were engraved in a corner of the memorial stone for the dead.
“Because I used to cry every time.”
“yes?”
“In front of the memorial stone. Tears came out of my eyes when I saw the names of my mother and older brothers. But this time, I didn’t cry for the first time.”
Suddenly, Adeshan rummaged through his trouser pockets. A small wooden box was clutched in her hand. Adeshan continued talking with Ronan tilting his back.
“I’ve been thinking about why, but I think it’s because I have hope.”
“hope?”
“huh. The hope that he might really be able to become a general. I kept repeating myself that I would do it every time, but I thought it would remain only a vague dream… Now I really think I can achieve it.”
Adeshan, who was hanging down his horse’s tail, raised his hand. At that moment, shadows large and small flew up from everywhere that my eyes could reach. Chow ah! The sound of snapping echoed loudly.
“If it’s… this ability you awakened.”
“her.”
Shadows flew towards the Hill of the Four Seasons. There seemed to be hundreds of them. Realizing that they were all birds, Ronan raised an eyebrow.
‘It’s amazing.’
Black mana was rising above Adeshan’s shoulder. The realm of dealing with normal mana was already beyond the state. It was an unbelievable growth rate.
“…You worked hard.”
Adeshan let out a small laugh instead of answering. The birds that came in like mist were revolving around the Hill of the Four Seasons. The appearance of maintaining a certain distance without colliding with a single one seemed like a well-trained soldier.
widely! Adeshan snapped her fingers. Chow ah! The birds that had regained their senses scattered. After collecting the shadow’s mana, she held out the box.
“Thank you for allowing me to dream.”
“This?”
“It is my gift. open it.”
Ronan opened the box. A small white orb rested on soft silk. An indescribably clear mana was swirling in it. Ronan’s eyes widened.
“Damn, is this a perennial pearl?”
“huh. You know.”
“How can even the royal family find it hard to find…”
Perpetual Tales. It was literally a magical flower known to live for 10,000 years. Even in the North, it was a really difficult plant to see because it blooms only in the polar regions where it snows all year round.
Like the ice with the same name, this flower, which never fades once it blooms, has a habit of storing all absorbed energy in its roots. At first, the root, which had a shape similar to that of other plants, gradually transforms into a beautiful pearl-like sphere as it absorbs energy.
Permanent snow pearls refer to roots that have accumulated energy for at least a hundred years. Of course, it was worth the price. Adeshan smiled.
“I found it with the animals. You have no idea how lucky I was to be able to get one before returning to the Islands.”
“Are you serious? Do you know how much it will cost if you sell it in the market?”
“know. It is also much cheaper than the grace I received. So just… don’t say anything and accept it.”
Having said that, Adeshan squeezed Ronan’s hand tightly. Certainly, it was a treasure that would not have been possible to even attempt to find if it were not for her who handles the mana of the shadows. Perhaps the reason I summoned you today was to hand you this.
It seemed that her eyes were shining with determination and would not listen to anything she said. Ronan, who was silent, put the box in his pocket.
“thank you. I will write well.”
“Huh, thank you for accepting me. Shall we sit down for a bit?”
Ronan nodded. The two sat side by side against a tree. Slowly, the grasshopper’s song was heard. Ronan, who was sweeping the grounds, blew a whistle. Looking back, it was a beautiful scenery.
“This would be great even in winter.”
“that’s right. Very pretty. Snow fell on the roof and every leaf…”
“You don’t have to explain. Come again then.”
“…huh. good.”
The conversation between the two paused for a moment. A thicker sunset enveloped Phileon. It was Adeshan who broke the silence first.
“I think I understand what my mother said now.”
“yes?”
“You liked the sunset. It’s cool to see you fight for your life.”
It was an unfamiliar sound. The world reddened by the setting sun shimmered in her eyes. Ronan shrugged.
“Are you fighting?”
“My mother, who was a soldier, told me that the sunset is the last war the sun fights. It goes down the mountain and takes place before the end of life. After struggling like that, in the end, you will be defeated and night will come.”
“…that sounds profound for my little daughter to understand.”
“huh. But now i get it The fact that we fought, not winning or losing, was beautiful in itself…”
Adeshan dragged his tongue. Ronan suddenly felt a warm feeling on his left shoulder and turned his head. Adeshan’s little head was leaning against it.
“senior?”
“In order not to die, you are pulling all the light in the world. Like a dying fire reaching out for firewood…”
Adeshan murmured. His long hair was blowing in the wind, so he couldn’t see his face. After a moment of silence, Ronan gently stroked her hair.
“It’s a fight… It sure looks like that.”
Ronan’s gaze turned back toward the sunset. I didn’t understand it well, but it seemed to make sense. Whatever the form, the struggle for life is beautiful.
Adeshan, who flinched for a moment, leaned further. The weight on my shoulders increased. It was transmitted through the part where the warmth and pulse met.
“right.”
Adeshan nodded lightly. After holding their pose for a long time, the two came down from the hill only after the sun had completely set.
****
Vacation was about a month away. Returning to the system, Ronan focused on work that was not usually tied to the academic schedule.
Going to a distant mountain to gather herbs to eat with the Perpetual Pearl… Going to the Islands Police Department to collect information on Nebula Clazie… Of course, I didn’t forget to take some time off from time to time.
“I’m not joking, this guy did all the desert trips last time. It would have been a big deal if I hadn’t taken him.”
“really? What happened?”
“You killed the bad guy who tried to steal our stuff with a single knife. The one who was about fifty meters away.”
“Wow, you were so far away? how?”
Illil asked with her eyes twinkling. Ronan invited Schlieffen to dinner with his sister. It was a kind of reward for all the hard work. Ronan was talking about what had happened in Dainhar in moderation.
“That’s right. therefore.”
Schlieffen was repeating the act of cutting the steak into his mouth in a consistent motion. His movements without even a hint of error made him look like a well-made doll. Schlieffen, who was staring at Iril as if possessed, barely opened his mouth.
“…it wasn’t a big deal. I just got a pitiful realization.”
“Ayy, don’t be expensive and show me just once.”
Ronan, who stabbed Schlieffen in the side, pointed to the watermelon lying on the table in the distance. If it was like usual, they would say that they were treating me like a clown, but today was different. Ronan whispered to Schlieffen.
“I think your sister misses you very much.”
Schlieffen pulled on the hilt without hesitation. Awesome! A gust of wind blew, and the watermelon split into eight pieces.
The missing sword body reappeared. clap clap clap! Iril, her eyes wide open, burst into cheers.
“Wow! Awesome!”
“Anytime you want. I can show you.”
After saying that, Schlieffen started cutting the steak again. Then a drop of sauce splattered on his cheek. Iril, who suddenly took out a handkerchief, leaned over.
“Oh, I buried it here!”
“……!”
“Ehehe, the little duke also has a surprisingly clumsy side.”
Iril gently wiped the sauce from his mouth. Schlieffen’s time stopped. The complete rigidity that made me wonder if he might have died like this lasted for over ten minutes. Ronan shook his head as he put five layers of meat in his mouth.
“Do the shit. Damn it.”
Anyway, time passed. The secret came back just before school started.
Upon hearing the news, Ronan immediately rushed to his office, Ceparacio. Ronan’s eyes widened at the sight of a girl sitting in the middle of the study reading a book.
“Secret…?”
“Oh Ronan. It’s been a while.”
“…how did it end up like that?”
Ronan’s face contorted. Surprisingly, Secret, whom I saw after two months, had become a woman. Fortunately, it was recognizable by the fact that only his hair had grown a little longer in his childhood secret.
“Ahaha, I put the curse I found in the North into my body and it turned out like this. I never thought it was a curse that changed gender.”
“Can you fucking get it back?”
“You’ll know that if you do some research. Don’t worry too much.”
Secret waved her hand as if to say not to worry. I couldn’t get used to the high pitched voice.
Well, if you think about it, he turns into an old man with wrinkles at night, so it seemed like he was worrying for nothing. Ronan sighed and opened his mouth.
“Can I still use magic in that state?”
“Hmm? Isn’t it natural It’s just that the gender has changed, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Then I’m glad. I brought it.”
“Bring it. What…”
Ronan took out a black crystal from his inside pocket. Secret’s eyes widened.
The moment he saw the magic stone he brought, he realized that the Dainhar magic stones he had seen so far were nothing more than scraps. Inside the forearm-sized crystal was pulsating with profound magical energy that could only be found in the Desert Demon’s Edge.
“Do it. Is it possible right now?”
said Ronan. Dozens of questions immediately reared up in Secret’s head. widely! He calmed down with a deep breath and closed the book he was reading.
“Of course. Come closer.”