Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 7

7. The Girl Who Would Be Count (1)

#7

Ronan turned the sack upside down. Something bluish fell. The boys’ eyes widened.

-Beep…?

“What is that?”

“bird?”

it was a bird A bird whose entire body except for its beak is covered with blue feathers. Its size was at most slightly larger than a pigeon. The blue bird was slowly tilting its head and looking around.

“Hey, what kind of bird is blue? that’s interesting.”

Ronan carefully picked up the bird. Except for the blue feathers, the appearance was very unusual.

If I had to compare it to existing birds, it resembled a crow, but its feathers were incredibly abundant.

-Beep…?

“But why is this kid so stupid? can’t you fly?”

The bird was quietly croaking on Ronan’s palm. Even when I touched it, it just seemed to hang down without any energy, and showed no reaction. Asher lay down and opened his mouth.

“Something’s on Ronan’s new leg.”

“what?”

Ronan turned the bird over. As Asher said, silver rings were tucked into her slender legs. Upon closer inspection, some letters were written on the surface of the ring.

“Car…revol…ro?”

Ronan slowly read through the letters. He frowned as he pondered the memory. caribolo. Caribolo’s noose.

If his memory wasn’t wrong, it was the name of one of the top five poaching organizations on the continent.

‘So those two were the poachers of Caribolo? It seemed too…stupid for that.’

Ronan knew something about Caribolo’s notoriety. It was thanks to the fact that there were several comrades from the punitive unit who had been caught for poaching.

They would stay awake and talk about the grotesque animals they had caught.

“Then this ring…”

He soon remembered the ring’s identity as well. Tamer Ring. It was a kind of shackle made to subdue the mysterious animals commonly called fantasy species. It was said that the metal that had undergone special treatment interfered with the mana of the phantasmagoric species that had been imprisoned.

“Tsk.”

A sword was pulled from Ronan’s waist. He brought the blade over the ring and pulled it straight. The Tamer Ring, split in half, fell to the floor.

“The idiots have nothing to do, so they’re harassing the dumb beast.”

-Beep?!

Because the power control was delicate, there was not a single wound left on the leg. The bird’s eyes widened. Suddenly, the fluffy feathers began to harden.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

-Beeeeeee…

The feathers went beyond the concept of simply hardening, and were becoming manicured. The bird curled up, burying its head under its chest.

Soon, the feathers hardened, and the bird was transformed into an unmistakable egg.

“…Is he dead?”

Ronan knocked on the eggshell as if knocking. There was only a sound like tapping on solid metal, but there was no response.

Just then, a thick male voice rang in Ronan’s ears.

[W Connected! Are you the one protecting Marfez?!]

“Ah, that’s a surprise. what?”

[I’m sorry. I am Marfez, that is, the original guardian of the dream bird. I’m looking for something that went missing yesterday morning.]

When I listened closely, the voice was echoing in my head, not in my ears. It was transmission magic that he had experienced before. Only then did Ronan discover that an elaborate magic circle was drawn on the egg.

Judging from the context, it seemed like connection magic to prevent loss. Was the Tamer Ring interfering with the activation of magic? He said, bringing his mouth close to the egg.

“I don’t know what Marfez… is, but if you mean a blue bird, I think you’re right.”

[Blue bird! you’re right! Oh, I’m so glad…! May I ask where you found it?]

“Two idiots were running away with it in a sack.”

[Yes?!]

The owner of the voice started asking questions, as if he was quite surprised. Ronan explained the current situation and how he managed to save the confused animal as concise as possible.

[that…! I thought I dropped it somewhere, but I can’t believe it was stolen…! I really don’t know how to thank you for this.]

“All right. By the way, the bird suddenly turned into an egg. Is this okay?”

[Ah, turning into Al is one of our Marfez’s abilities. Normally, it runs quickly, but when it gets tired or injured, it turns into an egg and takes a rest.] The

blue bird’s name was Marfez. It doesn’t look like that at all, but since it is a ‘dream bird’ belonging to a fantasy species, it is said that it has various talents besides changing feathers into egg shells.

“So how did you lose it?”

[That’s why… I’m originally researching phantasmagoric species in the system’s laboratory…]

He said he thought he was robbed while spending time in a nearby town for work. Mar… He turns into the form of Al even when he sleeps, and he was guessing that the crime was committed around that time.

[I was just about to file a missing person report with the Islands Police Agency…I’m so glad.]

“That’s right. Anyway, how do I get this friend back? I have no plans to go to Jedo right now.”

[Of course, I should have looked for it. If you tell me the location, I will go there within two days.]

“Um… We have to keep going around to wait two days. If you let go, will you go straight to your house?”

[yes? Ah yes. For now, it is, but…]

Fortunately, this strange bird has a strong homing instinct, so it said that it would find its nest no matter where it was abandoned on the continent.

The only catch was that once the bird turned into an egg, it usually took three to four days for it to recover and wake up from the egg.

After thinking for a while, Ronan opened his mouth.

“If I sprinkle a potion, will it come out a little faster?”

[yes? A potion? No, you don’t have to…]

“Right? no?”

[Mu Of course, Marfez’s feathers have the ability to absorb ingredients that are beneficial to him. But you really don’t have to. Right away-]

Ronan had already taken out a potion bottle and was holding it. It was the potion left over from Asher at dawn. He dripped a few drops of the potion onto the eggshell.

“It’s small, so this should be enough. I just sprayed it, so leave the cage door open.”

[Sir! Why would you do that…!]

“It’s not a big deal, it’s annoying to carry around for three days.”

It was true that the potion was effective. Suddenly, a crack began to open on the egg, and a crimson beak poked out from between the broken pieces.

He set the egg, which was turning into a bird, on the floor. Marpe…Musigi returned to her full bird form within a few minutes.

The shiny feathers looked several times healthier than when they were first taken out of the sack.

said Ronan.

“Go home, man.”

– Beep?

The bird kept its gaze fixed on Ronan, blinking its clear eyes. Somehow he knew that the bird had recovered, an electric sound that was more urgent than before resonated in his head.

[oh my god! I really really don’t know how to thank you…! No, it’s not like this. Go ahead and pluck a feather. He probably won’t resist, knowing that he saved himself.]

“Feathers?”

It was very doubtful, but Ronan did as he said. Indeed, the bird did not resist. On the contrary, it even slightly pushed in the part of the tail feathers, which had particularly desirable feathers.

The feathers had a mysterious blue color that no painter would be able to steal. Ronan tilted his head. It’s pretty, but why are you picking this one?

Poof!

Then the feather slipped out of his hand. The feather flew off like an arrow and returned to its place as it stuck back into the body of the blue bird. Ronan murmured incredulously.

“…what kind of magic is this again?”

[All dreambird feathers have a characteristic of returning to their owners. If you come to Jedo Island, please follow that feather. I’d like to meet you and pay you back.]

“It’s okay. I have no intention of making a campaign out of saving a beast.”

Ronan was sincere. The more money, the better, but I thought there was no need to earn money by doing stupid things.

[Don’t do that. A beautiful heart deserves to be rewarded. ah! My introduction is late. My name is Professor Varen Panassir, who is researching fantasy species. Then…I’m looking forward to…the day we meet…]

Suddenly, the sound cut off. The cause seemed to be that all the eggshells engraved with magic circles turned into feathers.

The bird did not move until Ronan plucked the feathers again. It was at this moment that he reluctantly pulled out one of his tail feathers.

– Beep!

“Ahhhh?! Yumma!”

A bird with a sudden roar jumped into the river. Ronan, who was about to throw himself in a hurry, stopped in place. An unbelievable sight was unfolding.

“Fat disease, what is that?”

The bird was jumping over the river without flying. The bird, which was running regardless of the strong current, disappeared beyond sight in an instant. The two boys stood blankly, looking in the direction the bird had disappeared.

“Nimi… I’ve lived a long time, so I’ve seen all sorts of things.”

“Yeah…”

“By the way, didn’t he say he was a professor?”

“That… I didn’t hear anything.”

“…it doesn’t matter.”

It was a car about to turn. Something round caught Ronan’s eyes. A sphere was placed in the place where the bird had been sitting.

“What is this again?”

Ronan picked it up. The mass, the size of a pine cone, was an oval shape as wide as pebbles.

“egg? Could it be that you just gave birth?”

Except in that case, no explanation was given. In fact, the surface of the sphere was as warm as a freshly laid egg.

However, Ronan wondered if it should be called ‘Al’. Asher, who was looking at the sphere, opened his mouth.

“It looks a little…weird.”

Ronan also agreed with that opinion. To be honest, the expression “strange” was somewhat polite. If it hadn’t been for the shape of a perfect sphere, I would have thought it was shit and kicked it away.

The rough surface was rough, like a layer of mud, and the color was brown, just like it.

“Damn, it’s not really shit, is it? Lick Asher once.”

“I hate poetry.”

Fortunately, there was no smell. Ronan, who had been contemplating whether to throw it away or not, finally stuffed the sphere into his pocket. Regardless of whether it was poop or eggs, it was a by-product of fantasy species, and it might be sold at a high price later.

‘Do you think the merchants of Marvas know?’

Ronan picked up the paddle again. The blue feathers that moved around all the time were tucked into the backpack. Anyway, since I had to visit Jedo sooner or later, even for the entrance exam, I was planning to stop by the author who was wondering if it was Baren or something.

****

For four days, the boys wandered around the nearby villages and estates, selling loot. Even though I filtered out the things to keep and the things to throw away, it took quite a long time due to the large amount of raw materials. After earning some money, Ronan bought two powerful mules.

“Get the strength out of your body! Hold the reins lightly! You don’t want to be treated as a retard who can’t speak properly, do you?”

“Wait a minute! It’s harder to balance this than I thought… Ah! Don’t hit me with a horsewhip!”

Ronan taught Asher how to ride a horse. Fortunately, Asher was quick to learn. I wanted to buy a horse, not a mule, but it was difficult to find a good horse in a place like this.

With about five sacks left, the boys moved to the great city of Marvas. Built in front of the Roraima mountain road, this splendid city was a commercial hub where the market was held every day.

“Two gold coins.”

“what?! Look at it again, even if I didn’t learn it, it’s a real sapphire.”

“Hmm…three coins. no more.”

“Three nimmies. Like a greedy raccoon. Let’s go Asher.”

“What?! hey! What did you just say?!”

The remaining five sacks were filled with expensive items that could not be sold anywhere else. They spent half a day just looking for a dealer who would pay the right price.

Fortunately, a place called the Caravel Merchant bought most of the remaining items at a conscientious price.

“Hmm…it’s in very good condition. The workmanship is delicate…how about twenty-two gold coins?”

The leader of the guild, a man named Duon Caravel, charged more than ten times the price for the same necklace as before. Asher was astonished, and Ronan nodded calmly. It was just the right price.

“great. You are a man with a conscience.”

“Hehe, that’s because a merchant’s life is credit.”

Duon bought weapons and potion handicrafts. People who appeared to be employees carried goods between the stall and the wagon. Duon put the settlement money in a neat wooden box and handed it over.

Ronan liked him. It was nice to get the price right, but I especially liked that they didn’t ask where the items came from. If there is an opportunity, I would like to do business in the future.

“Thank you for the deal. I wish you all the best in your future.”

“Will you look at this too?”

Suddenly recalling what had happened a few days ago, Ronan rummaged through his pockets. He took out a dark sphere and held it out to Duon. I had completely forgotten about it since I put it in my pocket that day.

“…Why are you taking horse manure out of your pocket?”

“It’s not horse manure, it’s from some bird. Should I say it was cheap?”

“Are you a bird? this one?”

Duon carefully accepted the sphere. He carefully inspected the sphere while wearing a detector that looked like a monocle.

The emotion that he thought would end soon took almost an hour. Duon tilted his head.

“This…is a bit strange.”

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