Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 128
[ 128. Finding the Scream (5) ]
#128
‘This is…!’
Ronan’s eyes widened. The Savior’s method of swordsmanship was very similar to that of Nabi Rose. It was taught by a wanderer he encountered in the southern jungle.
However, there was a significant difference in level. I could tell from that brief slash. The Navi Rose type was one of the best swordsmanship Ronan had ever seen, but compared to the Savior’s sword, it felt like a crude imitation. The non-existent hand began to itch.
‘…Can I follow you?’
It was the first time I wasn’t sure I could copy it after seeing it once. Ronan was in the midst of wandering in the maze drawn by Geomro. A man wearing a robe strode forward.
“You worked hard.”
“Take care of the severed horns. It is a valuable material.”
“All right.”
Even after the conversation was over, the man did not leave. The man who was wiggling his fingers carefully opened his mouth.
“…I could have killed him.”
“I guess so.”
“Did you stop me even though you knew?”
“Because I couldn’t have killed Navardoze.”
The stabbed man shut his mouth. If Navardoze, enraged at the death of his clan, had come personally, he would have been reduced to ashes without a doubt. The silent man’s mouth opened again.
“…If it’s a savior, wouldn’t it be possible?”
[Enough of that.]
Suddenly, the savior lowered his voice. It was a dignified voice, as if it had become a different person. The man shrugged his shoulders at the sudden sense of intimidation.
“…sorry. You sounded presumptuous.”
“Okay. Go and rest.”
The savior’s voice returned to normal. The man who bowed and bowed back from his seat. The savior, who had adjusted his clothes, turned to Alibrihe and said.
“Alibrihe. Will you supervise the construction nearby for a few months with Elcia and ■■?”
“What are you going to do?”
“I think I should visit Navardoze. Even if it’s a sore finger, it’s true that you touched her clan.”
“Haha, you’re doing great. I don’t think you’ll mind, but it’s safer that way.”
Alibrihe chuckled. He said he liked the savior’s attitude of respecting the dragon’s laws. Alibrihe thumped her chest and affirmed.
“Leave it to me. You better be careful when you pass Caynax in the very middle.”
“Why?”
“A while ago, a blue-eyed young guy played rare. It’s a fertile land, so even if humans say they’ll come to visit us, they won’t listen.”
Alibrihe grumbled. The savior who read his subtle expression smiled.
“It looks like you don’t hate it.”
“Haha did you hear? The high-bloodedness reminded me of myself in my younger days. It is also the same black dragon.”
“I should say hello. What’s your name?”
“Orsay. It has four wings, so you can recognize it at a glance.”
Hearing the name Orsay, Ronan laughed. Once again, he felt the darkness of his past.
‘What a spectacle. A child demon dragon.’
The incident of Orse leaving for the west after being defeated in the decisive battle with the first emperor has long since been reduced to a myth or a fairy tale rather than history. After a brief greeting, the savior turned around.
“Then I will go.”
Elsia and other aides saw him off. It was the moment he left town. Pod! Suddenly, Ronan’s vision darkened.
‘What the hell?’
I couldn’t see anything, as if I was blind. It was the car Ronan was about to spit out. Suddenly, my eyes brightened and the scenery of the village came into view.
However, it was not the savior’s view. The video showed the changing image of the town by changing the point of view. It was like watching a relay video taken during the midterm evaluation of Nabi Rose.
‘What are you trying to show me?’
Ronan tilted his head. Time in the video passed at an incredible speed. The sun rises and sets every time you blink.
As Elsia said, people were gathering from all over the place. The river, drawn by the spirits, began to meander through the village. The village, which had gradually increased in number, became a huge community worthy of being called a city.
The chief became the village chief, and the village chief became the lord. The seed planted on the day the dragon was cast out became a giant tree and shaded it.
It was around the time that a flag with a seven-pointed star fluttered above the brick walls of the city. The savior and his crew quietly left the city.
However, their plan to disappear like smoke failed. Even though he escaped at dawn when everyone was asleep, the savior opened his mouth as he saw the people who followed him.
“I’m not a great person you guys can trust and follow.”
“Savior. No one in this city is unaware of your miracles.”
“It is a miracle you have accomplished. Say a prayer of thanks to your ancestors and go to sleep.”
“If I can’t look at the same star, please allow me to look at your back!”
Despite the savior’s dissuade, the people did not break their stubbornness. In the end, the savior had to move his steps, leaving only the words to take care of himself. Ronan nodded slowly.
‘This is how I grew older.’
After wandering the continent for a long time, they settled down again in the far north. The aborigines who lived in small villages shouted in bewilderment.
“Who are you!”
“It is a barren but strong land. I am here to help you.”
said the savior. What had been seen before was repeated. The village, which was nothing more than a collection of tents over a fire, has been transformed into a splendid fortress in just a few years.
As soon as they settled down, they left the North. By that time, the number of people calling themselves believers had multiplied.
The savior continued to prosper and leave the community repeatedly. It was one day, decades later. Alibrihe, who was walking alongside him, opened his mouth.
“I think we should come up with a name for the organization.”
They were wandering the continent in search of a place to thrive again. A blue sky hung over the far-flung western prairies. The savior shrugged his eyebrows.
“Is it really necessary?”
“What did everyone want? It gives you a sense of belonging, isn’t it?”
“I heard that it is already called the Nebula Church in the world.”
“That’s not cool. Besides, it’s a name given to us by those who treat us as heretics.”
Alibrihe frowned. Elcia and the man in the robe who were walking next to her nodded as if agreeing.
“I also agree with Mr. Alibrihe.”
“That’s right. When the word denomination is mentioned, people tend to be wary.”
The savior who had been touching his chin looked back. The people following him came into view. Ronan frowned at the number of people beyond his imagination.
‘Shit, how many people are there?’
There seemed to be at least a few thousand. Regardless of age, gender or race, the people who gathered were wearing pure white robes, imitating the savior’s attire. Their appearance across the steppe looked like a flock of sheep following a shepherd.
“It’s a name…”
the savior drooled. As he walked while looking up at the sky, he finally opened his mouth.
“Nebula Clazie.”
“Hoo what do you mean?”
“The Nebula Church. It is the old language of the name that the world calls us.”
“What is it? It’s the same in the end.”
Alibrihe smiled. The savior, who stopped for a moment, picked up the child who was right behind him. A sound of innocent laughter rang out.
“Kyahaha!”
“As long as you don’t lose the meaning, how about a name?”
The sky was clear and the wind was refreshing. The feel of the grass that was crushing with each step was very good. He quietly gazed at the horizon and murmured in a low voice.
“I believe people can be better. Even if it is a foolish species whose instinct is to self-destruct…”
The video ended with an unknown recitation. My eyesight was darkened. It seemed to go dark for a moment, then it brightened again.
****
“Mmmmm…”
Ronan opened his eyes. The red sky stretched over his forehead. tadak. widely. There was a sound like burning firewood coming from somewhere.
An acrid stench stung my nostrils. Ronan, frowning, slowly rose from his seat.
Whoa! A ferocious wind blew his bangs back. Noticing that his five senses had returned, Ronan widened his eyes.
“This…”
The body was also back. Judging by the familiar eye level, it was Ronan’s own body, not the savior.
La Mancha and Ymir. The two beloved swords were also hanging intact from both waists. But there was no time to rejoice at that fact. Hell was unfolding before my eyes.
“Fuck. What happened?”
He was standing on top of a cliff. Because of the relatively high altitude, the surrounding devastation was visible at a glance. The city was engulfed in flames.
No survivors could be found inside the horribly destroyed walls. The roaring flames grew stronger, devouring bodies and debris. Smoke rising like a waterspout obscured the stars and the moon.
The river that winds through the city was bubbling red. The heat and flying embers made it difficult to open my eyes. Then a familiar voice came from not far away.
“I’m sorry. I never thought this would happen after I was away for a while.”
When I turned my head, the faces of the people I had seen before came into my eyes. The savior and his entourage huddled together and looked down at the city.
‘shit!’
Ronan unknowingly lowered himself. The savior’s face had turned into a shimmering shadow. Alibrihe, who had been watching the devastation in a daze, opened her mouth.
“War again?”
“yes.”
The man in the robe nodded. As he said, the sound of the clash of weapons was still echoing in the distance. Shouts of dying and killing and spewing were mingled with the wind.
“How many times have you had this? I watched the destruction.”
“I’m sure there will be well over a hundred times on a country basis alone.”
“Among them, which country did we contribute to?”
“It’s more than seventy percent.”
woo. Alibrihe spat on the floor. Elcia, who had been silently watching the devastation, chewed her lips.
Looking around the terrain, Ronan noticed that this was the first town he had been to. The one who possessed the body of a savior and defeated the dragon. The savior, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“let’s go.”
“Where are you talking about going?”
“We have to save those who remain.”
“Everyone in the city is dead. Aren’t you watching?”
“There are survivors among the invaders. They abandoned the wounded.”
The faces of Alibrihe and Elsia hardened. The man took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
“…Saving the followers is the priority. We need to return to the Holy Land as soon as possible to understand the situation.”
“There is no such thing as superiority or inferiority in mortal life. Follow me.”
The savior stepped forward. But no one followed. An angry voice came from behind him.
“…I will refuse.”
The savior turned his head. The one who spoke was a man wearing a robe. He spoke in a strained voice.
“I can’t understand any more. Where the hell can you find the value you need to protect? For thousands of years, I have followed the Savior and tried to understand his will, but now I am at my limit.”
“It’s the limit.”
“That’s right. This is not salvation. It’s as foolish as pouring water into a bottomless jar. No matter how hard we try, mortals just push themselves into the mire.”
The man in the robe continued. He began to recite what had happened during the time Ronan hadn’t seen. It was a list of common human affairs. Killing each other, going to war for trivial reasons, and destroying themselves…
However, deep hatred was buried in their passionate tone. The man who poured out his words as if regurgitating glared at the savior.
“Nebula Klagier must be reborn. At least this is not the correct way of salvation.”
“Are you of the same opinion?”
The savior looked back at Alibrihe and Elcia. The two hesitantly averted their gaze. They responded by not moving from their seats.
“is it.”
“Savior…”
It seemed that the three of them had talked beforehand. The savior, who had been looking at the three people, nodded.
“Then there is nothing you can do. Farewell here.”
“…Are you really going like this?”
“okay. It doesn’t seem to make any sense to say more. I hope you find your own answers.”
Without hesitation, the savior started walking to the edge of the cliff. It was too futile to say goodbye to colleagues who had been together for countless years. The man in the robe shouted desperately.
“Savior!”
“May the protection of the stars be with you.”
But the savior didn’t even look back, let alone stop. At that moment, the figure of the robed man disappeared from sight. Sensing a visceral horror, Ronan was about to shout something.
“for a moment…!”
hooked! There was a sound like a stone being dropped into a swamp. Silence, as if time had stopped, settled over the cliff. The savior slowly lowered his gaze. A white blade protruded through the stomach.
“Cheuk.”
“All right. I will find the answer.”
The man who disappeared appeared behind the savior. Blood was dripping from the spot where the blade had been cut. He put his face to the savior’s ear and whispered dryly.
“So leave your power behind.”
“■■…”
The savior’s body staggered. It seemed that it was no ordinary sword. He was looking at the man without any resistance.
The man held down the savior’s neck with one arm, preventing the sword from coming out. The sparkling energy was being absorbed through the sword body. Ronan, who belatedly grasped the situation, spat out a curse.
“Fuck…!”
From here on, it was an act based on instinct. Ronan spurred the ground and ran out. Closing the distance in an instant, he shouted while brandishing his sword.
“You bastard! What are you doing!”
“what?”
The man in the robe turned his head. The two blades were already close to his eyes. He hurriedly drew his sword and raised his arm. Kaaang! A ferocious metallic sound echoed over the cliff.