Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 4

4. Coward Asher (2)

#4

“The bar just…what was it?”

Asher did not understand what had happened to him. For a moment, the flow of mana was blocked and the magic was released. It felt as if the string that had been pulled taut had snapped.

“huh? There must be magic just now…”

“I don’t know.”

Ronan shrugged. I didn’t catch it, I really didn’t know.

He could cut mana. It was around the time when he was active as a punishment soldier that he realized his ability. At the time, I didn’t tell anyone because I thought it would be annoying.

Ronan insinuated that it might be because of this ability that only he was able to seriously injure Ahayute. There may have been other abilities that he didn’t even know existed.

‘Unraveling the secret of this ability must be one of my assignments.’

Ronan patted Asher on the shoulder.

“Come out here at night in three days. By the time the moon rises.”

“huh?”

“If you don’t come out, what… you know?”

Ronan left those words and began to stride. Asher shouted something from behind, but I ignored it. If you’re in your right mind, you’ll come out.

“Damn, I delayed too much time.”

Ronan first stopped by the river and washed the blood off his face and hands. After buying new clothes at the market, I picked up some daffodils that were blooming on the side of the road.

Soon he arrived in front of a small house built on the outskirts of the village. The overgrown ivy vines covered the exterior walls beautifully.

Ronan involuntarily took a deep breath. I felt a sense of tension that I hadn’t felt before on a battlefield or in front of a monster.

Beyond this door is Erill. His sister, whom he had never seen since leaving home at the age of 17, eventually died in the invasion of giants.

“Ha… calm down…”

Ronan reached out to pull the doorknob. You just have to pull it, but that wasn’t easy.

Suddenly, the bouquet in her left hand caught my eye. Ten clusters of yellow and white daffodils were beautifully combined. It was Erill’s favorite flower.

I suddenly felt ridiculous. I’m not a bachelor who confesses his love for you.

It was a car about to turn around to leave the daffodils behind.

“oh? Ronan!”

The door burst open and a woman appeared. She was an amazing beauty who was just taking off her girl’s womb and transitioning into a young lady.

“You came in early today! did you eat?”

“uh? Uhh…yes…no.”

Seeing the bright smile, Ronan froze. Her shoulder-length hair was a bluish-silver color like starlight. Even under the spring sun, her fair skin that didn’t burn was reminiscent of a snowy field where not a single footprint was left.

“It just went well. I just cooked some stew.”

Indeed, Iril was wearing an apron with various stains on it. She smiled brightly and shouted as she looked at the daffodils in Ronan’s hand.

“oh! What is that flower?!”

“Yes…?”

“Did you bring it for me? pretty!”

“No…not really…it’s pretty…it’s a relief.”

Ronan handed over the daffodil and looked at his sister’s face. His clear, large eyes had the same sunset color as Ronan’s.

Burying her face in the flower bud, she was delighted like a child and suddenly hugged Ronan.

“What’s wrong with my picky little brother? thank you!”

At that moment, indescribable emotions surged in Ronan’s heart. The sister was exactly as she remembered it. A person like the sun that shines on everyone who gives strength just by being by his side.

Suddenly, his vision went hazy, so he wiped it with his sleeve.

“Ayyyyy.”

“what? what did you get in your eye? Sister will look after you. Come here.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Don’t do that, just look at it.”

Because of the height difference of about a head, Illil had to stand on tiptoe. With the excuse that he was hungry, Ronan shook her hand and entered the house.

****

“I ate well. it was tasty.”

“Wow! What day is it really? I heard all the good things from Ronan!”

Ronan neatly put down the spoon. The wooden bowl was clean and empty. The crude potato stew that Irill had made tasted better than any delicacy he had eaten before returning.

“sister. How old am I?”

“uh? Um…so…since I’m 19 this year…Ronan is 14, right? Why is that all of a sudden?”

A year younger than expected. Since he was 17 when he left the village, there were about ten years until the arrival of the giants.

“No, just. I can’t remember.”

“what! There is nothing else to forget! Are you really not sick? Maybe you ate the wrong mushroom or something in the forest…”

“No.”

Iril groaned anxiously and alternately touched Ronan’s forehead with his own. It’s like the fact that he picked his favorite flower out of nowhere, and today’s brother did something strange. He was a child who was picky in everything and even bothered to breathe.

“A real sister.”

“yes?”

said Ronan, scooping up another ladleful of stew. This was my third bowl.

“I want to go to the academy.”

“uh?”

Iril looked at Ronan dumbfounded. It was so sudden that I instantly forgot what my brother had said.

what did he say? Have you lost another sheep? No, what about the academy… the academy… the academy…

she almost jumped up and screamed.

“What? You’re going to attend the academy?!”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Tell me again Ronan huh? Did you say you were going to the academy? really? really? really?”

“huh.”

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Iril let out a happy exclamation and hugged his brother by the neck. It was the moment her lifelong dream came true. Kisses fluttered on Ronan’s cheek three times per second.

“I knew this day would come! I believed you! Because you have talent, you will do well in anything!”

“thank you.”

“Which way are you going? Is it the knight academy? Knight Ronan! awesome! Or a surprisingly generic national academy? It’s good to be an intellectual! Of course, noona is on your side no matter what! Oh look at my mind!”

Iril only regained his senses when Ronan emptied the fourth bowl. Out of nowhere, she started rummaging through the urn by the fireplace.

Iril came out again and held a heavy bag in his hand.

“ruler! Take Ronan! It’s all yours now!”

The sealed sack made a metal clank. Ronan knew that that little sack contained most of the money his sister had ever earned.

Iril’s eyes were shining as he put the sack on the table while whimpering. It means go ahead and open it.

But Ronan shook his head.

“It’s okay, sister.”

“What? But yes…”

“It’s tuition, right? Thank you so much, but I’ll take your heart. Where I want to go, there is no chin with this.”

“What are you thinking about? You’ve collected quite a lot since then, right?”

The white cheeks swelled up cutely. Ronan put the sack back into the jar and opened his mouth.

“Imperial Phileon Academy.”

The already large Ilil’s eyes widened even more.

****

[If you want to learn, go to Phileon.]

These were the words Adeshan left. Imperial Phileon Academy. Also known as Phileon.

Located in the center of the system, this leading educational institution was the second most prestigious building after the Imperial Palace. Excellent professors recruited from all over the continent and the enormous capital of the imperial family created a factory that produced great men beyond a prestigious academy.

Even Ronan, who had no ties to academics, knew the value of having graduated from Phileon.

“Certainly… there were a lot of usable guys from Phileon.”

Ronan, who was reflecting on his memories, uttered as if he understood. General Adeshan and swordsman Schlieffen, and even the worst criminal in the Empire, the Witch of Winter, were also from Phileon.

ten years left.

Considering the mission built on Ronan’s back, it was a time that could not be called long. It was a task that I took on without hesitation, but I had no intention of turning away.

He remembered the last moment. Hundreds of giants descending tearing through the sky. I had no idea how strong I would have to be to deal with them.

So, as Adeshan said, Ronan decided to enter Phileon Academy. It was because I judged that even if I didn’t know ‘how much’, I could learn ‘how’ to become stronger. It was also my dream to go to the academy.

“Was it such a surprise anyway?”

I still couldn’t forget Irill’s expression. Even if he had declared that he would become emperor, he wouldn’t have been more surprised. Although she blessed Ronan’s future, she did not seem to think he would be able to enter Phileon.

Ronan wanted to please the sister he met again. So, on the third day after returning, he had been climbing the hill out of the house since dawn. On his back, he carried two backpacks that could fit even a child.

“oh.”

Before long, I saw a boy in a light robe dozing, leaning against an oak tree. When Ronan clapped three times, the boy jumped up in amazement.

“You came on time, Marcel. I am honestly surprised.”

“ah! Eh…that’s Asher.”

“The boy is picky. Now, why did I ask you to come?”

“Uh…um…because you’re interested… in my abilities?”

“As expected, I am a wizard, so I have a good head. Now take it.”

“uh? What!”

Ronan took off a backpack and threw it at Asher. I was afraid that it was bulky, but it was lighter than I thought.

“What is this?”

“A pocket to hold dreams and hopes.”

Asher took a peek at his rucksack. It contained dozens of thick and thin sacks. I couldn’t figure out where to use it.

“Can I ask what this has to do with…my abilities?”

“Follow me at once. Because the raft is ready.”

“A raft?”

Asher followed Ronan with his backpack on his back. There was a raft tied to a rope that was really unseen on the river.

It seemed that it was specialized for diving rather than sailing. Asher opened his eyes and looked around, but there was only one raft.

“get on.”

When Ronan said that, pointing at the raft with his thumb, Asher really wanted to cry.

****

The raft glided along the current. The full moon in full bloom reflected the river and the two boys. Asher was crouching next to his backpack, watching the still water.

“It’s a shame I didn’t bring my fishing rod. Grilled mullet here is great.”

said Ronan, puffing white smoke from his mouth. A thin pipe was held between his thumb and forefinger.

“Yes. I know.”

“Don’t stutter. Do you think I will cut you up and throw you into the river?”

“Ah Okay. I won’t stutter.”

“Stuttering again. Do you want to die?”

Ronan’s waist hung with Hans’ sword. Asher swallowed. He knew that Ronan had cut off Hans’ ears with only a shepherd’s stick.

“sorry. I really won’t stutter.”

“Yes, man, you can do well. Stretch your shoulders a little too. I’m not tall because I’m intimidated by everything like that.”

“huh. But where are we going?”

“It’s a nice place. A place where you can develop a sense of practice and earn money.”

Asher tilted his head. I couldn’t make out what the hell he was talking about.

“money? what money?”

“Tuition. oh didn’t i tell you? You have to go to the academy.”

“Academy?”

“Yes, come with me. If my memory is not wrong, I could easily earn my first semester tuition with this one hit.”

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