Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 161

161. Festival of Swords (4)

#161

“…Sometimes there are exceptions.”

“hey. Don’t look away.”

“It looks like the old people of Parzan are in a hurry. To take such a radical test from the beginning.”

Suddenly the girl started coughing. Seeing as there was no problem with his complexion, it was a mean trick to avoid further questioning.

By the way, it was a fairly novel rule. To sort out the dropouts by the number of weapons, not by the number of people. It seemed that this was the reason why they had to take out all the weapons they had when checking their identity. The guide continued the explanation.

“The way to reduce the number of weapons is simple. Destroy them yourself to make them unusable, or put them in the furnace we prepared. The ownership of the weapons remaining until the end will be considered as the final holder.”

“what?”

Ronan’s eyes widened. This was another shocking rule. If they were talented enough to come to the festival of swords, they would have good weapons, but it was said that they could legally capture them. Confusion spread like wildfire among the participants.

“Damn me. Get out of the way!”

“Don’t look at my sword with those eyes, you hounds!”

It was ruthless, but I thought it was a genius strategy. It seemed that he was going to pick out only the right ones. Now, participants had to fight with all their might to protect their weapons.

Most of the participants were frightened and distanced themselves, but there were also those who grouped together in groups of two or three. Perhaps it was pre-arranged. Seeing that such things were left alone, the rules were subtly lenient.

“There’s a question for you bro.”

Then, a man with both arms covered in tattoos raised his hand. Hatchet, as brutal as the impression, was hanging from each waist on each side. The guide nodded.

“You say yes.”

“You said you wouldn’t stop the bloodshed, but since I’m new to this event, I’m curious to see how far it is allowed. Maybe…”

The man who was dragging the horse looked around. The glowing eyes were yearning for something. People who made eye contact with him shrugged. The muttering of several contestants tickled Ronan’s ears.

“oh my god. I am a skeleton collector.”

“Damn it, you’re in the same group as that crazy guy…!”

Seeing as he had a funny nickname, he seemed to be quite famous. Sporadic information about him chopping off his head with an ax and making a drinking glass or that he was a ruthless thief was heard. The slowly sliding man’s gaze was fixed on the self-proclaimed lady who was still faking an illness. An eerie smile appeared on his face.

“Can I kill you?”

“If it is unavoidable. However, attacking an opponent who has abstained is strictly prohibited.”

“Hehe, I really like that.”

In fact, it was as if there were no rules. The man shrugged and groaned. Suddenly, all around him was empty. The girl, who belatedly met the man’s eyes, frowned.

“What you looking at. Ugly.”

“Hehehe…”

The man who had been laughing looked forward again. The girl who repeatedly muttered that she was really ugly looked at Ronan and Schlieffen alternately before she relaxed her expression. After answering, the guide looked at the participants again.

“Do you have any further questions?”

Perhaps because death was mentioned, the weight of the words sounded different from before. A weak-looking young man raised his hand and asked a question. A sword that looked too good for the armor he was wearing was rattling around his waist.

“I want to abstain. Is this possible now?”

“It is impossible now. The test begins and only the contestant who personally destroys the weapon may withdraw. I hope you will not be light-hearted in the sword festival where blood and iron are sacrificed.”

“I can’t…!”

It was the sound of fighting until the end unless you were going to fight or give up your weapon while shedding blood. The young man’s face contorted with despair. Her slender legs trembled like a newborn deer.

“Whoops, the knife is nice, kid.”

“Do you think you can make it to the furnace?”

Ronan noticed that several contestants were glaring at him with sly eyes. Giving up was probably not going to be easy. Schlieffen furrowed his brows in displeasure.

“It’s nasty.”

Silence fell at the end of the young man’s question. The guide, who caught his attention by clapping his hands again, announced loudly.

“Looks like there are no more questions. As soon as there are ten weapons left, the test will end. Please don’t worry about that, we cast an identification enchantment on the weapon you submitted during the ID check. Participants who do not have weapons until the end will be eliminated.”

The guide who finished the last notice waved. Hosts dressed in identical uniforms surrounded the arena’s audience in a circle. Each member of the committee, lined up at regular intervals, held a crossbow in their hands. It was a tool to subdue those who broke the rules.

“Get out of the way everyone!”

“You’d better be careful not to fall. You won’t even be able to pick a bone.”

Then the gate on one side of the arena opened and a wheeled cauldron appeared. Committee members wearing thick gloves were pushing the pot. Inside the pot, large enough to hold an elephant in, molten iron was boiling. The committee members placed the cauldron in the center of the arena and then withdrew.

“Then let’s begin.”

The gate is closed. Fifteen committee members blew their horns in unison. Boo Woo! A loud sound echoed throughout the arena. The first to break the silence was the young man who asked if he would abstain.

“Ahhh! Oh don’t come! I will abstain!”

He let out a shrieking scream and started running toward the cauldron. At the same time, the participants who were watching the young man ran out all at once.

“Stand there coward!”

“Give me the knife and go!”

Different blades appeared. Judging by the madness in the voices of the pursuers, it seemed that they were not content with taking the sword. In fact, this was what I expected the moment I heard that killing was permitted. There are people everywhere who want to taste blood.

“Ahaha, kid, if you weren’t prepared for that much, you shouldn’t have come!”

Then one of the pursuers leaped off the ground. The height of the jump was ridiculously high, probably because he had strengthened his leg strength with mana. A dagger bent like a claw shone in the hand of a lightly armed woman.

Shih! She threw a splendid lot and fell towards the young man. It reminded me of a hawk descending towards its prey. It was the point when the distance with the young man was less than 3m. Suddenly, a gust of cool wind passed in front of the woman.

– Shirik!

“uh?”

Feeling the strange change, the woman tilted her head. A thin line was drawn over the bent blade. It was the moment the dagger was about to tear the young man’s back. hooked! The blade split in half along the line and pierced her right eye.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Kwadeuk! The woman lost her balance and fell headfirst to the floor. The sound of a broken neck echoed softly. The body of the woman who had been flinching limp.

“You you…!”

The pursuers hastily stopped. A young man striding along stood in between them. Silently raising his sword, Schlieffen opened his mouth.

“Leave the abstainers alone.”

“The morning star of my empire…!”

His calm yet heavy voice reminded me of the sea before a thunderstorm. The aura containing the storm was swaying around the bluish blade. The pursuers, overwhelmed by the momentum, retreated.

“Because I’m out of luck.”

“How did you get mad, Dae Jin-woon…!”

It was not an opponent I could handle. I wondered why I had forgotten this person’s existence. At that time, the young man who ran without looking back finally threw his sword into the cauldron. Chii profit! The red molten iron swallowed the sword without a trace. The young man, who had lost strength in his legs and sat down, cried out desperately.

“Ahhh! It’s a waiver! Abstain!”

“Participation number 34 withdrawal has been confirmed. Please exit.”

It seemed that he had also assigned a new number that he did not know. The side door in the corner of the arena opened. The young man left crying with his hands raised above his head. Commissioners with crossbows stopped the other contestants from attacking him. Suddenly, one of the pursuers, interrupted by Schlieffen, let out a servile laugh.

“Hey. Why don’t we do this and be on the same side? If it’s you, you’ve already passed. We’ll find those with good weapons, so you… haaagh!”

Schlieffen swung his sword without a word. Once again, the wind blew, and at the same time, the weapons the pursuers were holding were cut at once. Short spears and longsword maces fell to the floor. The pursuers’ faces turned white.

“Heh heh heh…!”

“Are you going to continue?”

Schlieffen said. Now, in order for them to fight further, they had to take other people’s weapons. The pursuers, who had noticed each other, slowly raised their hands. Ronan, who watched the scene from beginning to end, smiled.

“It’s remote.”

After all, he was a noble man. It must be that kind of people give the people illusions about nobles. The weak-willed pursuers quietly exited through the side door. The girl who was standing side by side with Ronan and watching the scene closed her mouth in admiration.

“Ohh…you have quite a few good-looking friends.”

“He’s a good guy. What, you didn’t know who that kid was?”

“huh. I am not very interested in the world.”

The girl shook her head from side to side. It was something that old people who have lived through their lives would say. Well, I didn’t even know who the storm sword was. Ronan muttered that and frowned.

“Anyway, that’s my technique, but I just copied it. Unlucky child.”

It was only shown a few times during the trip to Dainhar, but it seemed that he had learned it again. This is why I didn’t like the family of geniuses. Ronan, who suddenly felt a bleak touch, lowered his gaze. The girl, who reached out subtly, was touching her buttock.

“Um… I’m worried. I think this one will be more solid.”

“Can’t you clean your hands?”

“It’s cheesy.”

The tongue-tied girl lowered her hand. Anyway, I couldn’t be careless in the slightest. Schlieffen took his place in front of the cauldron and did not move, as if he were a guardian of the right to abstain.

By leading the sword, he showed that he had no intention of attacking unless he was attacked first. Only then did the participants, who had been paying attention, move quietly. There were no more abstentions. The confrontation structure collapsed one by one, and a melee began.