Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 42
42. Haeju (1)
#42
“Ronan…?”
Ronan remembered her. The chief of magic and freshmen. Elizabeth of Acalucia.
She was the daughter of the Akalusia family, who treated those without talent as sheep and urged them to rule as lions. Seeing the distorted expressions of the two, Adeshan widened her eyes.
“uh? Did you two know each other?”
“Yeah…for now.”
Ronan shook his head. Elizabeth’s face was so red that she wondered if she was about to explode. Adeshan, who grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her closer, smiled.
“It’s good that you are acquainted. Our Eri will guide you well. It’s because he’s the top of the magic department first year.”
“Uh unni… the title Eri is a little…”
“Huh?”
“Oh no…then…shall we go?”
Elizabeth bowed slightly to Adeshan and took the lead. Ronan laughed. It was as awkward as Asher who smoked and spit out.
Ronan remembered the appearance she showed at the banquet on the first day of school. Braum, the second-in-command, was thrown to the floor just because the conversation was interrupted.
The lines she had snorted out still lingered strongly in Ronan’s mind.
– It’s always funny to see a flock of sheep wandering around. isn’t it?
Such a young lady clung to Adeshan, who could be said to be the sheep of sheep, and was acting cutely. Have I caught some embarrassing weakness? Adeshan said, looking down at Ronan anxiously.
“Nothing will happen. Bye.”
“thank you. If a black goat comes back later with a knife in its mouth, you’ll know it’s me.”
Ronan followed Elizabeth and moved on. She guided Ronan through the forest on the west side of the site. Even though it had already been about twenty minutes, she hadn’t said a word the whole time they were walking.
In the forest, where even the road was cut off, only birdsong could be heard. Ronan, who looked around at the increasingly dark landscape, opened his mouth.
“I get it. You’re thinking of killing me and burying me here, Eri. In exchange for seeing things you shouldn’t have seen.”
“…that can’t be. And would you please stop calling me by that name?”
I was finally speechless. Elizabeth, who turned her head, opened her ax eye and glared at Ronan. Ronan asked with a smile.
“Good luck then. How did you become friends with senior Adeshan? Last time, the sheep were talking about something and shaking hands.”
“You don’t need to know that…! And Adeshan is different from the other sheep.”
It was clear what had happened between the two. Her face returned to its original immaculate color, but her ears were still as red as if they had been burned.
By the way, it is different from other sheep. Didn’t you know? Ronan nodded after thinking about Adeshan’s potential for a moment.
“It’s not like that. But where are you really going?”
“This is Professor Secret’s office. You are in charge of the [Curse and Curse] subject in the Magic Department.”
“Can Niimi’s main job be a forest keeper? What kind of guy’s office is in a place like this?”
“Because he is so unique. Few students themselves know where the office is located.”
Ronan narrowed his brows. It wasn’t for nothing that the adage that there are many people who like magic, but no one likes wizards. Elizabeth opened her mouth.
“I heard the good news.”
“What news?”
“I heard you saved the artisans of Gran Cappadocia?”
Elizabeth slowly slowed her pace and eventually started walking side by side with Ronan. Ronan tilted his head.
“Eh? how do you know that?”
“It’s troublesome if you underestimate the intelligence of Huhu Akalucia.”
Elizabeth said triumphantly. The confidence in his voice seemed to have finally returned to its original form.
“In fact, everyone who should know already knows. It wasn’t usually a big deal, was it? It’s just that Gran Cappadocia itself is a secret place, so it didn’t become an article.”
“Is it known that much?”
“Sure. You’ll probably be busy for a while. There’s no way the nobles and all walks of life could stand still after hearing about Ronan-sama’s exploits. They’ll probably try their best to recruit Ronan in advance.”
Elizabeth gave information that even the Imperial Knights were paying attention to Ronan. Ronan clicked his tongue in disapproval. In the yard where there were so many things to take care of, it was only a mess in my head.
‘I need to organize my work.’
After walking for another ten minutes, a small cabin caught my eye. Yellow light leaked through the arched windows. Standing in front of the door, Elizabeth suddenly held out her hand to Ronan.
“Take my hand.”
“huh?”
“I can’t help it…! If more than two people want to enter, we have to do this, but what should we do?”
Elizabeth didn’t say much, but let out a tantrum to herself. Ronan did as he was told. Shrugging her shoulders for a moment, she opened the door. Seeing the interior of the cabin, Ronan raised his eyebrows.
“It’s very homely for an office.”
An extremely ordinary farmhouse unfolded before my eyes. Kettle boiling on old table kitchen. An old woman was dozing in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace.
Ronan asked, pointing at the old woman.
“Is this Professor Secret?”
“no. You have to stay still. Did you know?”
Elizabeth held Ronan’s hand and approached the old woman. The floor creaked with every step she took, but the old woman seemed to be deaf. Elizabeth whispered.
“Kashpa. to Luna. Delphirim.”
Then the sleeping old woman opened her eyes. The old woman turned her head towards the two and slowly opened her mouth. Ronan cursed at the sight of the upper and lower jaws opening endlessly.
“Fuck.”
The old woman’s mouth grew large enough to swallow the two of them in an instant. Inside the wrinkled mouth, there was only empty darkness.
Ronan reflexively put his hand on the hilt. In an instant, the bandages that wrapped around the sword body were cut off due to the surge of anticipation. Elizabeth pressed the back of Ronan’s hand.
“are you okay.”
Ronan reluctantly let go of the hilt. thump The old woman devoured them both. It seemed to go dark for a moment, then it brightened again.
“What the hell?”
Ronan frowned. The old woman and the hut disappeared completely, and a space resembling a study of an aristocratic family appeared. A young voice came from somewhere.
“Come on. Elizabeth.”
Ronan looked around. In the middle of the fancy study, a kid was sitting and reading a book.
It was a child who looked indistinguishable from female or male, but was wearing clothes that were much larger than her body. Elizabeth bowed her head toward the child.
“Hello, Professor Secret. I brought the student I mentioned yesterday.”
‘professor?’
Ronan narrowed his brows. A professor who, at first glance, looks like he must have been nine years old?
The child called Professor Secret nodded without taking his eyes off the book.
“okay. You are a child whose face is remembered. Didn’t you use Miss Naviroze’s swordsmanship during the entrance ceremony?”
“Butterfly Rose…Miss?”
Ronan felt goose bumps run down his arm. No one had ever called her that way in Phileon except for Kratir, the principal.
More and more I couldn’t understand the current situation. Secret closed the book and stood up.
“You seem very confused, so I’ll tell you in the order you’re curious.”
Ronan narrowed his brows. Secret looked at Ronan, who was bewildered, and opened his mouth.
“My original age is over eighty. This is my office, Separaccio. It is a room where the curse cannot escape. And the reason I’m wearing these ill-fitting clothes is because I go back to my adult body every day at sunset.”
“her.”
Ronan laughed. It was exactly what he was curious about. Secret approached the bookshelf, staggering, looked up and opened her mouth.
“hmm. Can you plug this in? Second column from the top.”
“Ah yes. Yes, damn it.”
Ronan did. It felt like a ghost grabbed my ear and twisted it. Seeing the book snap into place, Secret smiled.
“Thank you.”
“…It’s nothing special.”
“I’m sorry to have come to you in such a strange way. Due to the nature of Separaccio, it was inevitable. The curse cannot come out unless you twist the lines as complicated as possible.”
Come to think of it, there were no doors or windows in sight. Suddenly Secret held out her hand and asked for a handshake. When Ronan joined hands, he waved his arms up and down happily.
“I am the secret in charge of curses and curses. I am happy to see the divinity of the martial arts department, which I have only heard about through rumors.”
“This is Ronan. I’ve been wondering since before, why are you like that? What do you like about being your wife?”
Elizabeth’s expression hardened as she listened from behind. Secret laughed as if she was having fun, and opened her mouth.
“Ah…the curse of the Sphinx. It is one of the five curses that hang on me, where my body changes day and night. Still, this is better than the other four curses.”
“yes?”
Ronan’s face hardened as he shook hands. I wondered if I could entrust this man with his Haeju.
A nobleman who is said to be the master of curses is under a curse. A doctor who treats baldness is no different from being bald. Secret chuckled as if reading Ronan’s thoughts.
“I know what you’re thinking, but you can rest assured. It’s because I’m not doing everything on purpose. They are interesting curses in their own way.”
“I’m not sure where to be relieved.”
“Let’s talk about small talk… Let’s talk about your curse soon. Just stand there.”
right! Secret snapped her fingers in the air. A piece of chalk flew from a corner of the study and was placed in his hand. Secret began drawing a geometric magic circle around Ronan over several minutes.
“What made you realize the curse?”
“A monster that looks like a tumor… Um, was it Curse Eye? It melted as soon as it touched my body.”
Hearing those words, Secret raised her eyebrows. It was a phenomenon that could only be found in the literature.
“Huh, if I had been cursed that strong, I would have noticed it as soon as I entered… I’m interested too. Oh, don’t move.”
Secret, who was drawing a magic circle muttering something, stood up from her seat. He rolled up his saggy sleeves to his forearm and placed his hand on Ronan’s back.
“…show yourself.”
The moment Secret concluded her words, translucent letters came pouring out of Ronan’s body.
“Kyaaaagh!”
“Nimi, what is all this?”
Ronan spat out a curse. Elizabeth, who was backing away, fell on her buttock. The letters pouring out like a tidal wave spontaneously floated in the air and formed the shape of a cylinder.
In the end, a huge cylinder made of letters was built around Ronan. Secret laughed.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen a scene like this in my life. A very old curse.”
“An old curse?”
“okay. It has a history as old as fire and prostitution…This is interesting.”
Sacrit explained that it was the materialization of the curse dwelling in Ronan’s body. Ronan refrained from screaming and looked at the texts coming out of his body.
‘I thought there was something like this in my body?’
It was a text I had never seen in my life. If it hadn’t been for a certain regularity, I wouldn’t have known that it was a letter. Secret, waving her hand in the air, was muttering as if possessed by something.
“It’s as if the Curs Eye melts as soon as it touches it. How the hell did you come up with this design…?”
“I’m fine, right?”
“Wait and see. I need an analysis. Most of them are new curses.”
Secret brought paper and a pen and started scribbling. He did it for several hours before allowing Ronan to move.
“Damn it, I almost fell off my leg.”
– Whoa, whoa…!
The moment Ronan stepped out of the magic circle, all the letters embroidered in the study disappeared like smoke. Suddenly, itching in the eyes intensified. Seeing Ronan rubbing his eyes roughly, Elizabeth worriedly asked.
“are you okay? Why are you rubbing your eyes like that?”
“So… Damn it.”
The itching went away after a few minutes. Secret was staring at the paper he had scribbled on without saying a word. said Ronan.
“Am I dying now?”
“…remember the saying that there are five curses on me?”
“yes? I remember that.”
“I have thought that this is the limit of the curse that humans can endure and lead daily life. No matter how weak the curse, if it starts to accumulate, it will disintegrate the body and mind.”
Secret turned around. He looked at Ronan with a serious expression and opened his mouth.
“However, ten curses hang on your body right now. And that, too, with a powerful curse. I don’t know how the hell I lived until now.”
“It sucks…so what’s that curse?”
“Three are forbidden. Seven I can’t figure out right now. Forbidden…”
Secret paused for a moment before snapping her fingers in the air. A translucent barrier separated Elizabeth from Ronan. Elizabeth opened her eyes wide and murmured something, but her voice did not come through.
“It is silent magic. It’s a sensitive story.”
“You are more delicate than I thought.”
“Since the matter is the matter, I have no choice but to do so. If my interpretation of the prohibition isn’t wrong… you won’t be able to see, let alone handle, mana in its natural state.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. It was the moment when the questions that had been bothering him so far were resolved.
‘Yeah damn it. Something was strange.’
Even idiots who couldn’t even hold a knife straight knew how to do it, which was mana response. It was nice to know that it wasn’t because of desperate talent, but I also questioned whether I should consider this fortunate. Ronan asked.
“Is there a way to solve it?”
“Originally, I would profess that there is no curse that cannot be lifted… but this time I am not sure. Most of them are curses whose identity is unknown. Even if it is possible, it is highly likely that a long study will be required…”
Secret said in a slightly intimidated voice. Looking at the outside, it was a child who was completely downcast.
Damn, can’t I come all the way here? It was a car that made Ronan smile bitterly. Secret, who was staring at the paper, murmured softly.
“…Well, I think I can do at least one thing for now.”
“yes?”
Ronan’s body stiffened. Secret snapped her fingers again instead of answering. The Silent Magic that blocked Elizabeth and the two disappeared. She said rather sharp-edged.
“Hey, what were the two of you talking about except for me?”
“Ezebet. Could you lend me some of your mana?”
“yes? What about my mana?”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. Secret nodded. He picked up the chalk again and started drawing a magic circle on the floor.
“Professor Sesecret?”
There was no hesitation in Secret’s hand movements that moved the chalk. Three more complex magic circles were drawn than before. Setrit pointed to the top of the magic circles lined up and said.
“done. Would you like to lie down with your head here, Ronan?”
“You want me to lie down?”
Ronan did. The ceiling, covered with strange letters, caught my eye.
When I lay down with my head on the magic circle, the middle magic circle naturally came under my chest and the bottom magic circle came under my feet. Secret said with her hands behind her back.
“The Haejubeop that I will try from now on is the Haejubeop I developed. If it fails, it has the side effect of damaging the ego, but one effect is certain.”
“Damn, is that okay?”
“Originally, curses and curses come with risks. You’re strong on your own, so you’ll probably be fine. I will make one of your taboos into an image world and project it into your consciousness.”
Ronan frowned. I couldn’t hear what he was saying. Secret continued.
“You just have to come out of that world by cutting off the curse that binds you. It’s probably like having a dream come true. I don’t know if it’s because of Curse Eye, but one of them was quite weak…” “
So, go into the dream and take the curse and come out? Do you know what that looks like?”
“You can feel it instinctively. It may take a long time, so I’ll have to start slowly. Elizabeth, put your hand on my head.”
“Yes yes?”
Secret urged. Hesitantly, Elizabeth placed her palm on his head. Secret then placed a palm on Ronan’s forehead. Feeling the mana being sucked out, Elizabeth groaned briefly.
“Kyaa…!”
“Be patient. It’s a spell that consumes a lot of mana.”
Ronan couldn’t understand this bizarre situation at all. Secret opened her mouth with a serious expression.
“Then let’s begin.”
An incantation sounded like a song from between his lips. It sounded like a lullaby, and it sounded like an elegy to honor the dead.
Suddenly, Ronan’s eyes darkened. When I opened my eyes again, I couldn’t see the two of them.
“This is…”
The ceiling filled with letters disappeared and the familiar colored sky hung over it. Ronan slowly got up.
A river meandered through the towns and villages built beneath the hills. A low chant leaked from Ronan’s lips.
“Nimburton?”
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