Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 52

[ 52. Baidian Mountains (1) ]

#52

The first trip of the limited express adventure club started on the coming Saturday.

The day I have to come back is next Wednesday. Originally, only weekends were allowed outside the site, but it was possible to go out on weekdays if it was in the name of ‘club activity’.

According to Ronan’s opinion, they decided to ride a ghost horse. Even riding a swift courser, they could cut the two-day time to half and half.

Ghost horse rental was done near the north gate of the island. Behind the staff of the Pale Horse Guild, three hideous-looking horses stood still as if they were statues.

“You mean that…?”

“Nimiral, one more nightmare to have.”

Seeing the ghost horse, Ronan frowned. There was only white in the shiny eyes. The smooth body without body hair was green like a frozen corpse.

It seemed like he could understand why the classification of ghost horses had stayed in monsters instead of phantom species for a long time. After exchanging simple greetings, the staff handed out goggles to the party one by one.

“These are the people who made reservations. Please take this first.”

“Are these goggles?”

Ronan tilted his head. Good build quality was something only gryphon riders could use.

“yes. It’s essential when riding a ghost horse. Without it, it would be difficult to open your eyes.”

Well, there must have been a reason why the messenger of the imperial army rode it. After listening to simple precautions, they took over the ghost horse.

“Since we’ve cast a location-aware magic, you just need to hold on to the reins. Again, never raise your upper body while running.”

“thank you. Shall we go then?”

Ronan skillfully got on top of the ghost horse. Ronan and Braum rode one each, and Asher and Marya, who were relatively light, rode one. Marja asked Asher.

“Have you ever driven a cute horse?”

“Yes…! I will be the jockey.”

Asher answered with a lot of strength. The other day, Ronan had beaten him with a horsewhip, and he thought that he had learned to ride well.

Although the difference between the old mule and the ghost horse was about the size of an enoki mushroom and a mandragora, it didn’t matter now. Marja laughed unexpectedly and hugged Asher from behind.

“Oh, how is it? Then please take good care of me!”

“……!”

Asher froze. The feeling of pressing on the back was amazing. Asher, who had barely regained his composure, kicked the ghost horse’s side lightly with both feet, as he had learned.

“This is it!”

bang! At that moment, Asher’s head was thrown back. Acceleration was not gradual. The ghost horse was launched forward like an arrow that had left the demonstration.

“Quaaaaaagh!”

“Assel!”

Asher’s screams were swallowed up by the wind the moment they came out of his mouth. Marja, arms outstretched, took the reins together. Ronan, who started a little late, also swears and grabbed the reins.

“It’s damn enough…!”

It didn’t take me long to realize the importance of goggles. Wow! The strong wind, which he had never experienced in his life, was pouring with momentum to tear the skin off his face.

The nearby scenery was disappearing as an afterimage. The distant landscape was rapidly receding. The ghost horse’s bizarre running method, which seemed to flow along the ground, gave the illusion that it was really running in the sky.

“Ppa-!”

Sheeta was flying right next to it at about the same speed. The ghosts carrying four people became the wind and sprinted down the Northern Highway.

Looking up, I could see mountain peaks rising like spines in the distance. Today’s destination was the Baidian Mountains.

****

“Oooh! Wow!”

“Is the cutie okay?”

“ha ha ha! You should have vomited while running like me!”

They reached their destination in less than half a day. The moment the ghost horse stopped, the party got off the horse in an attitude that was infinitely close to falling off the horse. The maneless horses returned the way they came from, afraid to let go of their companions.

“Really fucking… ridiculous.”

When I raised my head, the majestic appearance of the Baidian Mountains came into my eyes. I couldn’t believe I was in the system just a few hours ago. After a draw in the race against the ghost horse, Sheeta was lying on the floor breathing heavily.

“Biaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…”

“I told you to follow me slowly, so why not force yourself?”

Ronan put the exhausted Sheeta in his backpack. Marya, who had been patting Asher on the back, opened her mouth.

“What do you do when you return?”

“If you blow this, they will come looking for you. wherever you are.”

Ronan pulled out a white stick from his pocket and showed it. It was a whistle calling for a ghost horse. He led the group and started climbing the mountain.

“How long do I have to go?”

“About a day. Have you ever camped out?”

“Wah ha ha! I’m looking forward to it. I’ve only heard of it, but it’s the first time I’ve been to the leyline myself!”

Each of the group had large backpacks slung on their backs. The goal of this journey was to find Kurse Eye while sucking honey from the leyline with a straw.

“Remember? Everyone, if you find something like an octopus with one eye, make sure to catch it. It is said to be in a gloomy place, such as under a rock or under the shade of a tree, so refer to it.”

“huh. Was it a monster that eats curses?”

Ronan nodded. He told three people about his curse a few days ago. Braum thumped his chest and shouted.

“Don’t worry! I’ll take it home with you like a mountain!”

“Thank you, Braum. But this is where a lot of monsters come out, right? If you don’t want to get bitten while sleeping, lower your voice.”

“Um…! I get it…!”

Ronan took the party deep into the mountains. Although the terrain was rough, the three people who had improved their stamina over the past month rode the mountain without much difficulty.

‘There should be no owner.’

The Baidian Mountain Leyline was located near some destroyed ruins. At the time, a mercenary group who did not know where they were roaming was occupying. Ronan was only able to leave after turning seven out of ten into idiots because they were arguing about paying the toll.

After walking until night, the party camped at the bottom of an unknown valley. The bonfire that had risen in the middle of the four men dispelled the chill. Ronan chewed on the jerky and talked about the next day’s journey.

“Get enough rest. I have to walk for a long time tomorrow too.”

“Yeah, but what kind of monster is coming out here…?”

“Not diverse. The worst one and the second worst one. Which of the two would you like to hear first?”

“For the second time.”

“okay?”

Ronan turned around and threw La Mancha. The sword flew in a straight line and disappeared among the nearby grass. Fuck! A terrifying scream echoed with the sound of meat being pierced.

“Kieack!”

“What?!”

Ronan approached the grass with his hands in his pockets. A green-skinned dwarf was pierced through La Mancha’s blade and struggling.

“Kyahiik…! Kaaak…!”

“I always caught up with you. I’ll have to speed up more tomorrow.”

hooked Ronan suffocated the still-living dwarf and threw it in front of the group. Braum, who recognized the identity of the dwarf, asked with a frown.

“Goblin…? Am I right?”

“ok. But can you see this?”

Ronan pointed the back of the goblin with the tip of his sword. Three or four round scars, as if they had been burned by fire, were clearly visible.

“He’s a slave from the nearby Orc village. Among the monsters lurking in Baidian, they are the second most terrible ones.”

Recalling memories from his previous life, Ronan shook his head in disgust. He explained that there are orc villages all over the mountain range.

Orcs, whose basic physical abilities are superior to humans and driven in groups, were feared by even moderate adventurers.

“The biggest problem with those bastards is that they have an awful lot of heads. You guys should see it pouring out of the cave.”

“If that’s the second, what’s the most terrifying…?”

“Ogre.”

The group’s face turned pale. He hadn’t expected to hear that name here. Ronan spoke calmly.

“It’s a real fucking monster. The leather is so thick that the knife doesn’t stick well and how strong it is…”

“Have you ever fought? With an ogre?”

Ronan nodded. Of course, that didn’t happen in this lifetime. It was when he discovered the leyline of Baidian, so he must have been around 18 years old. The match between the young man and the monster was not decided even after three days and nights.

“Still, it’s not a monster that just sucks. The reason why the mountains are not covered with orcs is because a few ogres periodically destroy orc villages.”

Even if hundreds of orcs flocked to them, they couldn’t defeat a single ogre. Come to think of it, I must be wandering around here somewhere.

Ronan twitched his lips as he recalled the image of the two-headed ogre who couldn’t win because his sword was still unripe.

“Anyway, even if you don’t know about orcs, if you meet an ogre, you will always be a rabbit. It’s because you guys aren’t the ones you can deal with.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Come to think of it, wyverns are as terrible as ogres. If you are walking well and suddenly a shadow casts under your feet…”

The night ripened with stories. The four of them stood vigil in turns for three hours. Fortunately, after the first goblin, no more monsters appeared.

the next morning. Ronan, who was looking at the mountain on top of a certain cliff, said.

“found. I remember from this point on.”

The layout of the landmarks was familiar. Ronan walked along the mountain path, searching for memories.

I could see the mana in the air gradually thickening. The sight of the leyline that appeared a few hours later made the party’s eyes wide open.

“Waaaaaa…!”

“W Is this the ley line? Ronan, how did you come to a place like this…”

“Wahhahaha! this is awesome! Mana is overflowing!”

The leyline of Bai Dian was nestled in the middle of the mountain. The trees growing around them were twisted grotesquely with excess mana.

It was a much larger leyline than the Penardo Sam I had been to before. Even a piece of stone strewn under his feet was emitting light with plenty of mana. The mana rising from the ground like a haze was concentrated dozens of times more than the mana you could normally feel in the air.

“Ppa!”

Sheeta, fully energized, soared high into the sky. I could see the mana lingering in the leyline being absorbed into Sheeta’s body.

As expected by Ronan, it was a leyline without an owner yet. Ronan, who took off his backpack, looked at the group and said.

“Even a piece of stone is money, so fill it up as much as you can. I also do a lot of reactions. Asher, can you explain?”

“Ah yes!”

Ronan left those words and walked deep into the leyline. It was to find a Curse Eye that might be there. Suddenly, the scenery of the ruins I saw in the past came to mind.

‘Come to think of it…’

Since he said he likes gloomy places, he might be living under the rubble of a building. Before long, the site where the ruins were located came into sight. Ronan’s eyes widened.

“Eh?”

In the place where the ruins should have been, there was a decent stone building. It was the same when I rubbed my eyes. The pointed roof and the pillars supporting the roof were impressive.

“I thought it was broken…a long time ago?”

The fact that it was still intact meant that the building would be destroyed within four years. Approaching the building, Ronan stroked the pillar with a dumbfounded expression.

Although there were traces of the years, there was no sign of collapse at all. It was the moment Ronan was about to enter the building. Someone’s voice came from behind.

“It’s a big deal. Customers come all the way here.”

“what?”

It was the voice of a strange man. I didn’t feel the presence at all until I approached. Ronan reflexively drew La Mancha and turned around. The startled man dropped the basket he was holding.

“Why are you suddenly like that? calm down…!”

He held out both hands as if to prove that he was harmless. Seeing the man’s behavior, Ronan raised his eyebrows.

“Elf?”

“yes? Yes, as you can see.”

“…what are you doing here?”

Ronan lowered the knife. The middle-aged elf let out a sigh of relief. He said as he picked up the basket that had fallen to the floor.

“I am the priest who serves Seniel. You look young, but you must have circumstances to come to this rough land.”