Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 163

163. Festival of Swords (6)

#163

The first test is over. It was only after the exam was over that the horrors reminiscent of a battlefield came into view. Dead and injured were strewn everywhere. The sounds of pain from those who were still conscious could be heard from all over the arena.

“Ugh… Far-reaching…”

“Those who will be punished by God…! Throwing the family’s treasured sword into molten iron…!”

“Ahhh! it hurts! help me!”

Before long, the gate opened and the organizers entered. They roamed the chaotic arena, carrying casualties or carrying them on stretchers.

There were only seven people, including Ronan, standing on two legs. The guide who jumped into the arena strode forward.

“Everyone has worked hard. We need to confirm the successful applicants, so please take out all your weapons.”

The guide began to walk around the arena and check whether or not weapons were in possession. The guide smiled sadly after confirming that Schlieffen’s sword was intact.

“I saw a good way to protect the abstainers. It is a Parjan that loses its status or position, but I can’t help but pay respect to your nobility.”

“I just thought it was right.”

“Passed. You are the morning star of the empire.”

The guide bowed politely and then turned around. Suddenly, Ronan noticed that one of the men standing was shaking. He looked around like a meerkat and hurriedly lowered his back.

“…shit!”

A broadsword with a broken tip lay at his feet. It was the moment when the man was about to grab the hilt. hooked! A crossbow shot from the crowd hit the man’s big toe.

“Whoa!”

“Didn’t I tell you not to move?”

The man freaked out and kicked his butt. If he had moved a little more, he would have suffered from a crippled leg. The guide said in a stern voice.

“Even if you come and pick it up now, it’s useless. Ten weapons have already been decided. Only a weapon that emits light is a weapon that is recognized as intact.”

“…Damn it.”

“Everything else is considered broken and not included in the measurement. We’ll clean it up, so you can leave it as it is.”

The man who wiped his face with his palm spat out a curse. Apparently, he somehow managed to keep himself alive until the end, but he didn’t seem to be able to pack a weapon. Soon after, the organizers ran over and took the broadsword he was trying to pick up. Ronan tilted his head.

“light?”

He sneaked out La Mancha and Ymir and examined them. Indeed, a soft blue light that was not normally seen flowed through the sword body. It seemed to be part of the identification magic.

“Eight! Useless!”

At that moment, one of the remaining contestants threw away the mace he was holding. The cracked iron was not emitting light. unfortunate inconsistency. There were only five left now.

‘One of those two must be the one who messed around.’

Excluding the girl and Schlieffen, there were actually two remaining suspects. Among them is the bastard who made people go berserk and attack Ronan. One was a woman in full armor and the other an old man with a polearm. Judging from the atmosphere, both of them seemed to have been eating knife rice for quite some time.

‘It’s strange. I can feel the slightest sign of it.’

But something was strange. Ronan, who was watching them with his eyes narrowed, twisted his mouth. The two did not feel the mana that drove the participants into madness at all. I didn’t even have the energy to be confused, but the ghost was supposed to sing. At that time, the guide who was inspecting the weapons in turn stopped in front of Ronan.

“Participation number 44.”

“Ah here.”

Ronan took out the shiny La Mancha and Ymir and held them out to him. Both bags were in perfect condition with no blemishes. The guide nodded with a satisfied smile.

“Your family lives in the system, so your reputation is well known. I heard that it was an amazing swordsman, but I didn’t expect it to be this great.”

“It was nothing.”

“It was a skill that did not have to be humble. That last one in particular was the most amazing piece of technology I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been working at Farjan. Breaking twenty-four weapons without hurting anyone…what the hell did you do?”

It was the story of the spray that Ronan sprayed at the end. It was Ronan’s first success, so there was nothing to say. Ronan responded with a shy shrug. The guide tapped him on the shoulder, thrilled as if he had seen the sea for the first time in his life.

“I hope you achieve what you want at the top of Parjan. Passed.”

“thank you.”

“May the holy sword bless you. Then next…”

The guide who gave Ronan a passing decision lowered his gaze. The white-haired girl was still clinging to Ronan’s side.

“ah.”

Suddenly, a scene played in Ronan’s head. It was a scene where the longsword of the girl collided with the blade of the ax vigorously and was shattered. that’s right. This kid had no weapon. He was about to say something as he hurriedly looked down at the girl.

“Yumma you…”

“Participation number 72. Weapon possession confirmed. Passed.”

The guide acknowledged the girl’s passing and left. The girl expressed her will to suffer by gently waving her hand. Ronan’s eyebrows narrowed sharply.

“…ok?”

This was impossible. The metallic sound of the worn-out sword blade being smashed was still in my ears. The longsword fossil would have been so badly destroyed that even Doron’s grandfather could not restore it.

‘Am I suffering from dementia?’

It was while Ronan was concerned about his mental state. I noticed the girl fiddling with something. In her fern-like hand, she held a dagger she had seen many times before. It was an item adorned with jewels that seemed more suitable for ceremonial rather than battle.

“hey.”

“huh?”

“Where did you get that from?”

Ronan lightly grabbed the girl’s head. She played around with her dagger and answered dryly.

“I picked it up.”

“So where?”

“In your inner pocket.”

The girl replied boldly. There was no hint of guilt in his calm voice. Ronan put his hand into his inner pocket without saying a word. The dagger that was supposed to be there didn’t exist. said the girl.

“Understand me. It made me want to go higher.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s about getting interested in this stupid event. I quit halfway through every time, but I wanted to go to the top for the first time. No, I’m sure you’re right in saying that you and your friend are interested in the event…”

Suddenly, the girl leaned her head against Ronan. I couldn’t understand what she was talking about, but Ronan didn’t particularly question her. It was a dagger that he picked up as a side income anyway, and he also hoped that the girl would pass the exam.

‘I think it would be quite strong if the weapon was properly equipped.’

Ronan remembered the girl fighting. I couldn’t check it properly because the sword was smashed, but looking at his body movements and posture, he was so good that he could be counted among ten of the swordsmen I’ve seen so far. At that time, the guide who was checking the current status of the weapon raised his hand and shouted.

“Does anyone have more weapons?”

“Why are you here all of a sudden?”

Ronan tilted his head. Judging by the perplexity in his voice, something must have happened. The moderators were busy running around looking for something.

“weird. I don’t know where the sack went. Why are there only nine?”

The guide explained that one weapon was missing. I tried stirring the inside of the cauldron just in case, but only red molten iron came out of the stick. At that moment, a man’s voice came from a corner of the arena.

“Here…he is.”

“what?”

“I can’t move…someone…”

The people in the arena turned their heads at the same time. The voices were coming from the piles of untreated casualties. The organizers who hurriedly ran over and took care of the people who were scattered. Before long, a hooded middle-aged man appeared at the bottom. The members’ eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“Did you stay here the whole time?”

“Haha…Thank you. It’s because I can’t move my body.”

The hooded man dragged along. His body was covered in blood and wounds, which didn’t look very good. He was lying still, staring at the ceiling, perhaps completely exhausted. The guide, who strode forward, stood in front of him.

“Participation number 3. Are you okay? If you feel too bad, you can withdraw.”

“It’s okay. You will get better with a little rest.”

“I’m glad. Do you have a full weapon by any chance?”

“A perfect weapon? Ah yes…I have it.”

The man who was lying down suddenly put his arm under his waist. In the hand that came out again, a short song was also clutched. It was an exotic type of sword that was hard to find in the Empire. A group of blue lights guaranteeing integrity were wrapped around the sword body.

“…Has confirmed. Passed.”

“Hehehe, thank you. Would you mind moving me now? My arms move just fine, but I just can’t stand up.”

The man laughed self-deprecatingly. Commissioners put him on a stretcher. The man was taken outside the arena along with the other wounded.

It was while he was being moved on a stretcher. The man who met Ronan’s eyes smirked. I can’t believe I’m laughing even when I look like that. Admired by his positive side, Ronan was about to shake his hand.

“You…”

“Hmm? Why but?”

Ronan’s eyes widened. The familiar mana was slowly blooming on the man’s chest. It was a reddish air current that turned the contestants into madmen. He opened his mouth without saying a word.

“Looks like you have something to say, but I’m a bit unwell… See you later, young fellow.”

After saying that, the man lost consciousness. As the bloody hands drooped under the stretcher, the mana that bloomed above his chest faded. The committee members escorting the man hurried their steps. Ronan, who was watching them from behind, muttered in a puzzled tone.

“What is that bastard…?”

****

The second exam was scheduled for the evening two days later. Until then, participants were free to spend their time relaxing or training.

Those who passed the first test left the village and moved to a base on top of the mountain. It was a way to get closer to the Holy Land located at the top every time you passed the test. Fortunately, the road to the first point was very well paved, so I was able to go up even though I was tired.

The wind was cold because of the high altitude. High in the sky as the sunset was setting, feathery clouds were slowly drifting. The guide who was guiding them turned to the passers-by and said.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a group with so few survivors to say that only six people passed. You must have fought very fiercely.”

Every time he spoke, white steam was rising. Ronan, who was following him right behind him, nodded.

“What is it? Do we have the lowest acceptance rate?”

“Uh…that’s probably not it. I heard that Aran Farjan across the mountain has a group with fewer passes.”

“More than six? How many do you want?”

“It is one. I passed only by myself.”