Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 45
45. Erosion (This is the last episode for free)
#45
“Nine
. ” Ronan fell asleep with his face buried in Sheeta’s feathers.
As I was about to fall into a deep sleep, someone knocked lightly on the door.
– Smart.
It was probably Lucy who had come to make the bedding. Ronan, slightly awake, muttered in a sleepy voice.
“Ugh…Come later, Lucy. I’m going to sleep until afternoon class…”
No answer came back. Sheeta was staring at the door with her head raised. A knock sounded again.
– Smart.
“What is it, isn’t it Lucy…? Are you Asher?”
My body was too heavy to get up and check. I’ll say that Ronan picked up a pillow and covered both ears.
– Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Damn it…”
But the knocking continued. smart smart It was exactly the moment when the 57th knock rang out. Ronan kicked off the blanket and got up nervously.
“Such an unlearned bastard!”
Sleep had long since run away. His gleaming eyes were burning with rage.
Ronan picked up La Mancha, which was leaning against the closet. bang! Ronan headed for the front door in his underwear and opened the door roughly.
“What kind of dung water is going to keep knocking on the door of a room where people are sleeping?! Shall I beat your head like a tambourine on a feast day?”
A middle-aged man in fancy dress stood in front of the door. Two knights in plate armor stood behind him. The man’s eyes widened after hearing Ronan’s words.
“What…!”
Judging by the look on his face, he seemed quite shocked. One of the knights behind him growled, clutching the hilt.
“It’s rude. If you don’t want your tongue cut out, bow your head right now.”
It was a knight who gave the impression of being as stubborn as a stone. Anyone with a ferocious spirit would have listened to him. Of course, Ronan didn’t know.
“Hmm? Cut your tongue?”
Ronan snorted, glared at the knight and said.
“What about those guys who came to visit me and woke up people who were sleeping well? Nimmi, show me what I’m reckless?”
Ronan spat at his feet. The knight who discharged mana as if intimidatingly stepped forward as if he were going to cut Ronan at any moment. A middle-aged man raised his hand to stop him.
“It’s okay, Dolan. It must have been sleeping.”
“Haa…”
The knight called Dolan gritted his teeth. Suddenly, Ronan frowned. Something glittered around Dolan’s scabbard.
‘what?’
To be precise, something was shining faintly in the mana emitted by Dolan. It was like static electricity splashing in the air, but it was the first phenomenon I had seen since I was able to see mana.
I just felt an unknown sense of déjà vu.
“I said it was okay.”
“…All right.”
Then Dolan bowed his head to the man and withdrew. Then, as the mana that was expressed faded, the brilliance also disappeared. The man who looked at Ronan said.
“You do that too. I thought you were awake I apologize for Dolan’s words and actions.”
“what?”
Ronan raised his head. Only then did the middle-aged man’s face come into view. Ronan, who had calmed down his excitement, opened his mouth.
“…do you know me?”
“okay. Because I came to see you in the first place.”
There was a certain dignity in his low-pitched voice. Dark blue hair and a stylish mustache were impressive. Suddenly, it occurred to Ronan that he had seen the man somewhere.
‘Schlieffen?’
It seemed that this would be exactly the case when the morning star of the empire grew old gracefully. Not long after, Ronan, who noticed the man’s true identity, raised his eyebrows.
“Damn it, Duke of Grancia?”
“Thank you for noticing. Can I come in for a minute?”
“Oh wait a minute. Just wear some pants.”
bang! The visit is closed. The escort knights’ faces hardened. Looking at the closed door in front of her eyes, the Duke of Grancia murmured softly.
“It’s a little different from what I expected…”
****
“Sorry about that. I was a bit tired.”
“Never mind. Because I came here suddenly.”
Ronan greeted the Duke wearing only pants and a shirt. It was the first time seeing the real thing.
It was fortunate that there was a table and sofa to receive guests.
“Be comfortable. Tea here.”
“Thank you.”
Ronan set the tea he brewed himself in front of the Duke. The Duke, who had been looking around since entering the room, opened his mouth.
“Hmm… is this the best dormitory building in Phileon?”
“yes? Uh…isn’t it? Doesn’t it just look like that?”
“That’s serious…”
It was a slightly better level than the guest house of Grancia Mansion. The Duke shook his head and took a sip of his tea. His eyebrows rose at the strong scent.
“This… did you boil it yourself?”
“yes. Are you okay?”
“You are talented in many fields, not just swords. It’s a shame to come out of a building like this.”
Saying so, the duke took another sip of tea. Ronan, feeling a little better, smirked. I thought I had done well to learn by begging Lucy.
“I’m glad you like it. Anyway, why did you come here?”
“Ah…I didn’t come here because you have business, so could you wait for me for a while?”
Ronan tilted his head. Then the door opened and the escort knights entered. Ronan’s eyes widened when he saw Asher and Marya coming in after him.
“Eh?”
“Duke. I brought you.”
The disrespectful knights stepped aside. Asher and Marya were looking around with puzzled expressions.
“Hey, this is Ronan’s room…”
“Huh…what are you doing all of a sudden?”
Both seemed to have happened not too long ago. Marya was mistaking the knights as the janitors of Phileon.
“Nice to meet you. With this, all three heroes have gathered.”
Then the duke rose from his seat. The two people who recognized his face froze.
“The Duke of Grancia…?”
“W What are you doing here…? If I had known it would be like this, I would have combed my hair…”
It was a face that could be found in various media without much effort. Duke of Grancia and Schlieffen’s father. The head of the great family that divides the empire was standing in front of me.
The duke shook hands with an expressionless face.
“It’s okay, so don’t be so nervous. I’m here to say thank you.”
“Are you saying thanks…?”
“okay. First sit down and talk. Is Ronan okay?”
“Did you ask if you could sit on my sofa? of course.”
Ronan nodded. Contrary to his cold and authoritative impression, he was a very considerate person.
Well, it must have been the personality of Schlieffen, his son. The Duke opened his mouth after everyone sat down on the sofa.
“Then formally say hello. I am Joseph Sinivan de Grancia, the head of the Grancia family.”
“I’m Ronan.”
“Ah, I’m Asher…”
“I’m Marja Carabel. It’s an honor to meet you, Duke of Grancia.”
Personal greetings came and went. The Duke looked at the faces of the three people carefully and said.
“I already told Ronan, but the reason I came to see you today… is to say thank you.”
“thanks?”
“okay. Gratitude for saving Gran Cappadocia. As you all know, the biggest customer of that forge was our Grancia. Thanks to your quick response, the damage was minimized.”
The duke knew everything about the Gran Cappadocia incident. He brought news that there were almost no fatalities and that a new Gran Cappadocia was being rebuilt in the Great Hollow that Ronan had discovered.
Suddenly, she remembered that the other day, Elizabeth had said that guests from all walks of life would come. I didn’t know that Grancia would come right away.
After saying thanks, the duke waved to the knights standing in front of the door.
“Bring it.”
The two knights left the room for a moment before entering. In their returned hands were three luxurious boxes and a greatsword that looked to be two meters long. Ronan raised his eyebrows.
“What is all this?”
“These are the things Artisan Doron asked me to deliver to you. receive it.”
The knights delivered the goods to the three people. A long, narrow box was placed in front of Ronan, and a small box was placed in front of Asher. Marja’s greatsword rested beside her.
Ronan opened the box first. A black, smooth stick was placed on the red silk.
“what?”
I picked it up and looked around, barely feeling its weight. Suddenly, Ronan burst into exclamation. There was a thin groove on the head of the stick.
“ah!”
Ronan pushed the tip of La Mancha’s sword into the groove. clap. The blade, which entered as if oiled, stopped right in front of the handle. Ronan said in a voice full of emotion.
“Damn, I finally got a scabbard. thank you.”
“They found it during restoration work. He made sure to tell me that it was made of the same material as your sword.”
Come to think of it, the material of the scabbard was very similar to that of La Mancha’s blade. Ronan nodded in satisfaction. Even with the sword still hanging from his waist, he could hardly feel the weight.
At that moment, an embarrassed voice leaked from Asher’s mouth when he opened the box.
“Blue bracelet…?”
Asher’s box contained a pair of metal bracelets. The shape of the double helix forming a circle was impressive. Ronan raised his head and giggled.
“It suits you, Asher. Doesn’t that mean play house like a girl?”
“That’s like that…”
“Ah, he said it was made by borrowing magic from Delphium’s technology. You said it very excitedly, but I’m curious too. Would you like to try it on?”
Asher nodded and put the bracelets on both wrists. The loose bracelet automatically tightened to fit Asher’s wrist. Seeing the mana pouring into the tips of his ten fingers, Asher widened his eyes.
“This is…!”
The flow of mana itself has changed. I felt that I was moving much more efficiently than when I used a cane. Ronan interjected while he was admiring him with his mouth open like a child he lacked.
“Hey, that’s amazing. The flow direction itself is different.”
“uh…? Can you see Ronan Mana?!”
“Yes ma’am. I have been able to see you since last night.”
Ronan smiled and nodded. I couldn’t see each flow in detail yet, but at least I could tell that mana was flowing through the bracelet and his fingers. Asher clapped his hands in admiration.
“Congratulations Chu! at las…!”
-thud!
Then there was a loud sound that made me wonder if the floor had broken. Everyone in the room looked at the source of the sound at the same time. Marja’s greatsword fell beautifully.
“Ahaha I’m sorry…This is heavier than I thought.”
Marya stood up and picked up her greatsword. Tendons rose from his white arms. She was able to put the greatsword back in place only after using both hands.
“I forgot to warn you. I heard that it is a great sword of great weight.”
“Yeah…it’s the heaviest weapon I’ve ever heard,”
said Marja, turning her wrist. It seemed like she would have to do her best to wield it properly. ”
But he said that the greatsword is the best weapon for you. He also said that the more mana it contains, the heavier it becomes.”
“Eh, it gets heavier here?”
“Master Doron must have an idea. I recommend that you follow him if you can.”
The duke spoke calmly. It seemed that he had great trust in Doron. Actually, since he is the head of a blacksmith who has been making arms for Grancia for several generations, it was understandable that they had a deep relationship. Marja nodded her head
. She casually smiled at the knight who came with the greatsword.
“Anyway, you have great power, knight. I envy you.”
The knight did not respond. It was the guy named Dolan who tried to draw the sword on Ronan earlier. Seeing Marya embarrassed, the Duke opened his mouth.
“Sir Dolan has good strength. I appreciate your loyalty, but in this case, please answer me, Dolan.”
“Your duke. I will.”
Dolan bowed his head politely. It was a true example of a loyal knight to follow only his master’s orders.
“You understand. I mean, he’s a very knowledgeable man. That’s why I’m entrusting you with my escort.”
“Wow, that’s cool. Have you ever bloomed?”
“of course. Almost all of Grancia’s knights are apparitioners. Dolan stands out among them.”
“It is overrated. Duke.”
The Duke and Dolan Marja naturally started talking. Suddenly recalling the situation earlier, Ronan whispered to Asher.
“Hey Asher.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t talk nonsense, look at that beetle-looking guy. Isn’t Mana a bit strange?”
Ronan pointed at Dolan with the tip of his chin. Asher opened his eyes. As I concentrated, I saw Dolan’s core and pulsating mana, but I didn’t feel anything special.
“I don’t know…?”
“Damn it, are you still a wizard? Can’t you see the glitter in the mana?”
“Is the bar shiny? I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Ronan narrowed his brows. I couldn’t see it now, but I was sure it was just now. I thought that Asher, who had much better sensitivity, would be able to see it. Is it revealed only when certain conditions are met?
‘Sir… I definitely felt it somewhere.’
If it was like usual, I would have dismissed it as an ‘unpleasant sense of deja vu’ and passed it on. However, the story was different if the entity could be seen with the eyes. Ronan whispered as he stabbed Asher in the side.
“Look closely. Because it seems like it will show up again at least once.”
“Yeah…”
The Duke, who was having a conversation at that time, turned his gaze to Ronan.
“Come to think of it, there is a story I wanted to hear from you.”
“yes? What is it?”
“Anyway, an official notice will come from Rodolan in a few days, but I was curious. I heard that you were the one responsible for controlling the cave giant. Can you tell me the story?”
“Aha, those two assholes?”
At that moment, Dolan’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Mana mixed with sparkles slithered up on his shoulder. Ronan’s eyes widened.
‘It’s out!’
Ronan stabbed Asher in the side again. Asher, however, just shook his head with a puzzled look on his face. He didn’t seem to notice anything strange about Dolan’s mana.
Damn, do you see only me? Ronan glared at Dolan, eyes wide open. No matter how you look at it, it didn’t seem like something that would just go away. Suddenly, a flash of light crossed Ronan’s head.
‘I remembered.’
Ronan twitched his lips. Edoon and Cirilla. The same foreboding of the Ark as it emanated from them was felt in Dolan. The twinkle shimmering in the mana seemed to visualize its ominousness.
Ronan’s expression hardened. Feeling strange, the duke tilted his head.
“Suddenly why?”
“Uh… no. How long have you been talking?”
“It was the car we were going to talk about as a duo.”
“Oh, so…”
Ronan glanced at Dolan again. Mana had disappeared without a trace. It seemed that mana was shed due to a moment of emotional agitation.
‘I’m sure they reacted to the words of an asshole duo.’
It’s still too early to be sure, but it’s clear that the hint has come. The corners of Ronan’s mouth went up slyly as he made a plan in his head for a moment.
said Ronan. His eyes remained fixed on Dolan.
“Duke.”
“hmm?”
“Have you ever heard of the coming of a star?”
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