Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 169

169. Sword Festival (12)

#169

“Follow me.”

The low-pitched voice was sincere. However, the atmosphere was quite different from when I saw it in the imperial palace before. At least, I didn’t feel the life like the burning black sun. It was a car that I was thinking about whether I should follow this or not. Suddenly, the voice of Nabi Rosé came from inside the restaurant.

“Ronan! Where have you been? Did I teach you that, that your master made you drink alone?”

“…under.”

Ronan put a hand on his forehead and sighed. He must have been quite drunk, judging by the twisted tongue. In fact, the two students did a great job in the exam, so it was quite good.

Before the test started, he begged me not to do anything reckless, and when I succeeded in catching 100 fish, it was astonishing to see him grinning. Hearing her voice, Zaifa pricked up his ears.

“This voice…did the snake come with it?”

“That’s it.”

“…It’s annoying. Hold tight.”

“ok?”

Ronan tilted his head. Zaifa suddenly stretched out her arms and in an instant lifted Ronan onto her shoulder. There was no time to scream at what this was. phut! Crouching down, he leaped toward the night sky.

“Oh shit…!”

The night sky poured over my head. The fearsome leg power was still there. Each time Jaipa jumped off the ground, the stars moved away and approached repeatedly. He landed at some point while jumping up and down the snow-covered ridge. Ronan, who jumped off his shoulder, spat out a curse.

“Hey you bastard, what are you doing all this?”

“This is my temporary residence. I hate being noisy.”

“Temporary residence?”

When the upturned stomach settled down, only then did the surrounding scenery come into view. It was inside a large cave. It wasn’t deep, but it was high and wide enough for Zaifa to straighten her back.

Outside the entrance, the starry sky and the eastern plains of the waning moon came into view at a glance. It was located in the middle of a rock wall, so it was close to impossible to enter unless it had wings. Zaifa nodded.

“okay. When you come to Parjan, most of your accommodation and meals are settled here. There are a lot of troublesome things going up to the Holy Land.”

“…It’s quite useful.”

Ronan, who looked around the living quarters, shrugged his eyebrows. Even though it looked simple, it had everything that was there. Not far from the entrance, a huge bonfire was burning vigorously as if it had just been lit. Several stakes with large pieces of meat were driven around the fire.

“What kind of meat is it?”

“moose. Can I hear you?”

“later.”

Inside the cave, there were five or six wooden boxes stacked with no idea what they might contain. The hammock, nailed to the walls on both sides, was more like a trap for animals like bison than a bed.

Beside it, a terrifying sword that only Jaifa could wield was leaning at an angle. Looking at it again, the size was more like a building material than a weapon.

Judging by the subtly changed appearance, it seemed to have been rebuilt after being destroyed by Nabi Rose. Zaifa strode forward and sat down on top of the box. Ronan asked with his arms crossed.

“So what do you want to ask?”

“Did you kill my men?”

Jaifa asked calmly. It was a dry tone, as if asking if I watered my flower pot yesterday. For an instant, Ronan’s face hardened. It was an expected question, but I didn’t expect it to hit me like this. Vertically narrowed pupils were staring at him. Ronan, who was silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

“…you’re talking nonsense.”

“okay. I guess so. That is nonsense.”

It’s nonsense. Zaifa kept her mouth shut. The sound of the wind was loud in the awkward silence. It was just as Ronan was about to say something. An indescribable bleak aura ran down his spine.

‘Dangerous.’

Ronan pulled the hilts of the two swords in a motion close to instinct. At the same time, a sharp metal sound echoed under the night sky. Kaaaang-! Ronan’s eyes met Jaifa’s, and he raised one corner of his mouth.

“I knew it would be like this.”

I expected it from the moment I sat down within reach of Eonwoldo. Between the crossed blades of La Mancha and Ymir, the sharp purple blade of the moon sword was caught. Ronan gritted his teeth with still tremendous force. The moment I relaxed even a little, my forehead would split in half. Zaifa, who was watching him, said with interest.

“It has grown incredibly. Did you switch to dual swords?”

“I change it whenever I feel like it. Do you want to try it?”

Ronan spat on the floor. Zaifa, who stood up without saying a word, thrust out a sword. Considering its size and weight, it was an unbelievable speed. Every time the three blades collided, sparks like sprays appeared in the air. An irregular metallic sound echoed through the cave. It was in the midst of competing for about twenty sums. All of a sudden, Zaifa took the moon sword. Ronan, who had just raised his sword and slashed it, hurriedly stopped. The point of La Mancha’s sword came to a stop exactly in front of Zaifa’s neck.

“What the fuck are you doing now?”

Ronan frowned. Had I been a little late, I would have really been cut. Zaifa, who had been looking at him up and down, nodded.

“…you’re not, after all.”

“what?”

“At that time, the imperial palace was puzzled. I don’t know what happened, but I sensed an aura in you somewhat similar to those fanatics.”

Ronan twisted his mouth. I was still noticing. Zaifa, who leaned her sword against the wall again, brought two spare boxes from the corner and set them down near the campfire.

“Sit down.”

“Are you going to wield a knife like this again? Saying it’s similar.”

“Your charges have just been cleared. It’s similar, but the texture is different. You don’t have the flair of those who are steeped in fantasies. Even the way you wield the sword is completely different from the scars left on the bodies of my men.”

“How are they different?”

“It was a massacre that only an emotionless butcher could commit. It is fundamentally different from your sword, which is full of emotions.”

Jaifa groaned. Ronan swallowed a thick saliva at the accurate analysis that gave goosebumps. I couldn’t help but say that it was a great intuition to have that kind of accuracy without seeing the sparkling mana.

“I’m sorry I should have resolved the misunderstanding in the imperial palace.”

“It’s fine if you know it’s not. What about your lieutenant?”

“I haven’t woken up yet. According to the military surgeon, there is a high possibility that the psychological factor is large. I was so shocked that I closed my heart.”

Ronan twitched his lips. I could see the terrified lioness still crouched in the pit. It seems that the wound in his heart is deeper than he thought that he has not yet recovered even after a month has passed.

“…Damn it.”

“Still, my body is completely healed, so I will come to my senses soon. Aren’t you going to sit down?”

“To urge.”

Only then did Ronan lower his sword and sit down on the box. The warmth of the campfire was warm. Zaifa opened the lid of another wooden box using only her pinky fingernail. There were five or six large wine bottles, well wrapped. He took out two bottles and handed one to Ronan. The label made of luxurious paper had a detailed sketch of the shape of a snow crystal. Ronan’s eyes widened.

“Is this the perennial fable soaking wine?”

“It’s hometown wine. I’ll see you later, so please talk to me.”

Zaifa, who answered that, drank at once. Perhaps because of its large size, the bottle emptied at once after snagging its neck a few times.

Without any delay, he immediately took out the next bottle and opened it. It must have been something that would not be easy to obtain even if one lived affluently, but it was truly a swordsman-like use.

“Don’t talk… let’s do that.”

Ronan murmured softly. Like Zaifa, he drank all at once and let out a sighing breath. I felt my body warm up and my strength was restored. I thought maybe this might be the secret to strength. Ronan, who wiped his mouth with his sleeve, looked at Zayfa.

“Puha… that’s awesome. So what are you doing late?”

“I came to kill the pests. I couldn’t find any clues in the end.”

“pest? Nebula Clash?”

“okay. Even if I can’t do it, I think I’ve caught a hundred.”

Zaifa said that from the day she left the imperial palace, she traveled all over the continent to find the culprit who killed her subordinates. The most likely suspect, Nebula Klagie, had to take the Sword Saint’s wrath intact, and as a result, the small branch near the island was completely dried up. Ronan tilted his head.

“You caught it all by yourself? Isn’t there someone with a strange shield?”

“Sometimes there were. Those who handle the impenetrable barrier no matter what they do. However, all of them had weak durability, so there was no problem.”

Ronan chuckled. Jaifa explained that there is a separate way to attack those who deal with those who use the protection of the stars. To sum it up, it was just a matter of repeating hit and run and grabbing it when the divine protection faded, but it was possible, not a permanent shield like the bald ones.

‘Monster child.’

Still, it’s easy to say, but it hasn’t changed that it’s a great achievement. You could tell from the fact that Sarante was defeated in the end. In many ways, I felt the words of the strongest swordsman of all time, and at the same time, I wondered why such an author was not seen during the final battle.

‘No matter how I look at it, I don’t think he was killed by anyone.’

My head was complicated. There were too many people who couldn’t guess the cause of the disappearance, like Nabiros and Kratir.

Ronan, who had been drooling, drank again. Anyway, even if I thought about it right away, nothing could be solved. Then Jaifa, who was rummaging through his pockets, held out something to Ronan.

“Do you really know what this is?”

“hmm?”

The small, shiny metal was inlaid in the shape of a heptagon. Seeing the familiar form, Ronan raised his eyebrows. It was undoubtedly the item worn by Bishop Terranil in the desert ruins of Dyinhar.

“…Where did you get this?”

“This is an item obtained when raiding a procession of worms. The boss there left it with the arm. I was transporting something in a wagon, but unfortunately I missed it.”

Zaifa clicked his tongue. It happened in the southwestern part of the continent. He explained that he had ambushed and destroyed them in a forest all white with grass and trees, but had lost sight of the chief and his wagon.

Hearing the description of the white forest, Ronan swept his bangs. Although the location was quite different from the one Russell had mentioned, the character was strikingly similar.

“where are you?”

“So… it was a forest that came out after crossing the Itasian Mountains in the northwest. Only certain sections have turned unusually white.”

“Didn’t you find any ruins?”

“A ruin…? It’s embarrassing, but I couldn’t do a detailed investigation at the time because I was running amok with anger. If you’re interested, go see it. I will give it to you.”

Jaifa beckoned. Ronan nodded lightly and put the badge in his pocket. I felt like I was getting closer and closer to the truth. Apart from Nebula Clazi, they also talked about their current situation over the past two years. Thanks to the fairly strong alcohol, the atmosphere did not become serious.

“That’s right, the person who becomes your teacher often visits the aide-de-camp like that. A guy with no face.”

“teacher? Could it be Varen?”

“okay. The kid who blocked me in the imperial palace.”

“Puhuh, the time has come for that lion to get married too. It’s quite right.”

Ronan giggled. Zaifa let out a low laugh as if he was having fun. Suddenly, Ronan’s gaze landed on the moon sword leaning against the wall. The face of Darman, who was delivering the knife, passed before his eyes.

“Come to think of it, I guess you still haven’t received it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Uh… so.”

Ronan dragged his horse by the tail. It was because he remembered what Darman had said. He had clearly said that the sword he was delivering was a gift from his master to Zaifa.

‘Originally, a surprise present feels the best.’

I didn’t want to hit the candle for nothing. Ronan, who averted his gaze, looked around and said.

“no. You will find out soon.”

“It’s bland.”

“By the way, why did you come here? I don’t think I came as a participant like Nabi Rose’s sister.”

“Imperial swordsmen are obliged to participate in the final exams and ceremonies in the holy land. It is also my duty to give the youngster who won the final exam a massage and to give him the direction he should go as a swordsman. It’s annoying, but I’m looking forward to it a little this time. There are quite a few contestants who can sprout, including you and the new star of the empire.”

Of course, that snake is annoying. Zaifa murmured and took a drink. Ronan’s eyes widened. This was a rule I was completely unaware of.

I could never have thought that the winner of the final exam would have a sparring with the swordsman. For a moment, thoughts about Russell and the demon Nebula Klazier passed quickly through his mind. Ronan, who had been touching his chin, opened his mouth slowly.

“Zaipa.”

“Why?”

“What if I found it? The one who killed your men.”

In an instant, Zaifa’s eyes changed. He was dumbfounded for a moment, then drank the second bottle at once.

The liquid, enough to buy a house, was completely gone in three sips. Chaeng-Geurang! Zaifa threw the empty bottle on the floor and glared at Ronan.

“What do you mean?”

There was a hint of life in his growling voice. With his hand in his inner pocket, Ronan fiddled with the Dawning Plate. The wind mixed with the ice caps howled outside the cave.