Academy’s Genius Swordmaster - Chapter 70

[ 70. Bloody Hook (2) ]

#70

It was so frightening that my shoulders shrank. Ronan hurriedly turned his head. Red mana, like Sita and Ophelia’s, seeped through the gap in the door.

“What the fuck are you teaching me?”

Ronan kicked in the door and left the building. His eyes widened as he saw the scene outside. A crimson mist covered the streets.

“What is this? cloud? Where did you come from all of a sudden?”

“Where doesn’t the strange smell come from…?”

“Where has everyone gone?! Guys!”

Nothing could be seen in the thick mist. Only students’ panicked voices could be heard from here and there. Ronan, who touched his forehead, spat out a curse.

“These crazy things…!”

The culprit was self-evident. He walked into the fog clutching the hilt. Red mana scattered everywhere was leading in the direction of the training ground.

Every time I breathed in, the acrid smell of blood stung my nostrils. The ominous feeling that ran through his spine made his hair stand on end as he wandered around in the thick gas. It was just around the time we reached the training ground.

-Shoot it…

“Eh?”

Suddenly the fog began to lift. To be precise, they were swirling and gathering in one direction. Before long, the hidden training ground and Ophelia and Sheeta standing in the middle came into view.

“amazing. To do the Blood Mist on this scale at once…!”

“Payat!”

“But don’t push yourself too hard. It’s a good technique, but since it consumes so much blood… It’s good to do it only in situations where you can get enough blood.”

Sheeta was sitting on the training scarecrow’s head, spreading her four wings. All of the fog was being absorbed by Sheeta. The wet feathers glistened in a dark red color.

Before long, the fog completely dissipated. clap clap clap Ophelia clapped her hands and handed Sheeta a fish made of blood. Sheeta sucked up all the fog and bit the fish.

“Plump.”

“I think it’s okay to move on to the next technique right away… This time it’s an attack, so watch carefully.”

Ophelia reached out her right index finger toward the scarecrow where Sheeta was sitting. A red sphere was created in front of her slender fingers. bang! A sphere fired from the tip of the fingernail hit the scarecrow’s head.

“Damn it! I’m sorry!”

“The swordsman’s feet are the same, so it’s cool… It’s a technique I like too.”

Sheeta flapped her wings and was delighted like a child. There was a hole the size of an acorn pierced between the scarecrow’s forehead.

“One more time… I’ll show you.”

It was the moment when Ophelia smiled with satisfaction and was about to demonstrate again. A familiar voice came from behind.

“What are you doing?”

Ophelia turned her head. Ronan, arms folded, was glaring at her.

“Ronan? how…?”

“how? Have you had any alcohol? Why don’t you just wear ‘Vampire’ written on your forehead?”

“It’s not like that… I’m sure I’ve created a veil of invisibility and deterrence…”

Ophelia looked around, bewildered. No action was taken on the open training ground.

“uh?”

Ophelia’s face hardened. Ronan burst out laughing as if he was stumped. One by one, the students were coming to the training ground.

“It’s a good thing. I was so excited to see it that I forgot about it. You haven’t even managed to catch it until now.”

“I see…this is my mistake.”

“Damn it, hide it for now. I’ll stop the others from coming.”

“…no. I can still fix it.”

“what?”

Ophelia, regaining her composure, quickly chanted an incantation. A magic circle was drawn on the floor and waves of mana spread throughout the nest. The student who came from the front tilted his head.

“uh? Wasn’t someone there just now?”

“what? Didn’t I see it?”

“It seems the fog has gathered this way…”

Ronan’s eyes widened. For only a few seconds, the perception suppression and silence invisibility magic were cast at the same time.

Ophelia extended her index finger again and pointed at the scarecrow with a hole in her forehead. Kwajik! Her stretched shadow rose in a jaw-like shape and swallowed the scarecrow.

“huh. It’s done now.”

Ophelia let out a sigh of relief only after confirming that all traces were gone. They walked leisurely through the confused students. Ronan opened his mouth as he looked at his hand covered in invisibility magic.

“It’s killing me… that’s why it didn’t take until now.”

“It’s nothing. It’s a catch skill I learned from living in hiding… It’s that kid who’s really great.”

“Sita?”

Ophelia nodded. She looked around and muttered in an admiring voice.

“It has absorbed all the fog that spread over that wide area… I don’t think there’s any need to clean it up.”

“I’ve been teaching you, so how do you have some talent?”

“Do you have any talent…? Shadow Grand Duke’s childhood wouldn’t have been like this. This kid is a genius…no, it’s something beyond that concept…”

Ronan didn’t know who the Shadow Duke was. Still, it seemed that Ophelia, who was always calm, said something like that. Sheeta was sitting on Ronan’s shoulder and looking around the extension.

It seemed that he was watching the waves of mana acting around him. said Ronan, scratching Sheeta’s neck.

“Did you hear? you look like a genius Dogs and cows are all geniuses.”

“Bye~”

Sheeta purred like a cat. I couldn’t have imagined a being that smoked such a terrifying fog just a moment ago.

“I have to get excited too.”

I thought he was an unusual guy, but I didn’t expect it to be this much. If he continued like this, he would be pushed back by Sheeta, let alone Schlieffen. Ronan, who suddenly remembered Ophelia’s other magic, opened his mouth.

“I mean, can he learn other magic besides blood magic?”

“Hmm…I don’t know about that yet. However, if you learn two different types of magic at the same time, you may get overloaded… I think it’s better to focus on blood magic for now.”

“That’s right. It’s just what I said, so don’t rush.”

There were a lot of things that seemed very convenient, like the invisibility and perception reduction that I was casting right now. I thought it would be nice to learn it if possible, but I didn’t really want to hasten the test.

The two and one returned to the club building before long. They locked the door and drew all the curtains before releasing the magic. Ronan licked his lips and said.

“Anyway, where do you train now?”

“Since I can polymorph with a bat… I’ll just do it outside of Phileon.”

“Damn, it can’t be like that every time.”

I still felt the need for individual training grounds. It wasn’t just because of Ophelia and Sheeta.

Schlieffen or Asher. They needed an environment in which monsters like Elizabeth, who would soon be recruited, would be healthy even if they poured out their full power. Ronan murmured with a pod on the back of his head.

“I will try to do something. There must be at least one space left.”

“huh. Then until then… I’ll do it outside.”

The site of Phileon Academy was so large that it wouldn’t be strange if there was a dragon’s nest somewhere. The club advisor, Professor Baren, was also one of the people who knew Ophelia’s identity, so it seemed like something would happen.

“Do you really think Sheeta can handle the essence of fresh blood? Can you teach in four days?”

“huh. With this level of talent… it’s possible.”

“good. Then let’s start slowly.”

The two immediately set to work. Ophelia sent a message to the blood hook that she wanted to change the date and place. He didn’t forget to write the letter in ink instead of blood to disguise it as Jarodine’s.

“Tell me there are only two requirements on this side. Not be away from the islands for more than one day. It must be an enclosed place. Let them take care of everything else.”

“It’s a dangerous condition…it’s perfect for kids to play tricks.”

“What do you mean? Teach me well.”

Ophelia nodded. From that night onwards, she went outside Phileon and educated Sita. Sheeta returned to the dormitory just before sunrise.

“Biyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa what are you doing?”

“What are you doing? Did Ophelia even hit you?”

“Piyut.”

I didn’t know what to learn, but I was completely exhausted. Sheeta, who was lying on the bed, fell asleep.

After Ronan covered Sheeta with the blanket, he sat cross-legged again. The mana practice that started yesterday at midnight was still not over.

“Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…”

He put aside all other training and focused only on mana seniority. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t used to it yet, whenever he circulated mana in his body, he felt dizzy and had a headache.

“Shit. It’s not easy.”

Dealing with a power he had never experienced in his life was more arduous than he thought. If it had wings or a tail when it woke up, it was likely to feel similar to this. Ronan felt a significant change and went to sleep when the day was completely bright.

“A newcomer has arrived. Don’t bully me, just be friends.”

At lunch the next day, he introduced Ophelia to the members. They agreed to put off revealing their identity as vampires for now. Ophelia, who had been nodding off sleepily, waved her hand softly.

“Hello… My name is Ophelia. I’m in my third year of magic… I came in because I wanted to touch Sheeta.”

“Oh, it’s Asher. No, it’s Asher.”

“Wow, she’s as pretty as a doll…I’m Marja Caravel, a freshman in the martial arts department.”

“Wah ha ha! This is Braum Viodan. Only prominent figures come here!”

Her self-introduction was conducted at a gathering of all members except for Schlieffen. Marya, who was carefully examining Ophelia’s face, suddenly put her arm around Ronan’s shoulder. Ronan frowned at his forearm tightening like a python.

“Ymm, I’m suffocating.”

“Ophelia. When did you get to know him?”

“huh…? We met at the interview…?”

“I see. I thought we knew each other even before entering Phileon like me. Let’s get along.”

Marja said as if showing off. Ophelia tilted her head with an expression that did not understand the meaning of the words.

Ronan was able to shake off Marja’s arm only after using both hands. It seemed like he was getting stronger as the days went by.

“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…”

Asher was looking at those two with uneasy eyes. Lately, my chest has been numb, it felt like a bird was pecking at my heart. At that time, Ophelia, who had been sitting expressionless, turned her gaze to Asher.

“You… are in my memory.”

“My me?”

“Yeah… Rumors spread throughout my grade… The kid who got perfect marks in all the written subjects in the midterm exam?”

Asher’s eyes widened. He instinctively shrank at the sudden sexual talk. The poor boy was still being tormented by Elizabeth asking for the secret of his perfect score.

“That’s true, but…yo.”

“Good… help me later.”

“You want help…?”

“There is something I am researching… I needed an assistant with a brain like you.”

“Joe’s assistant?”

Ophelia snorted. Asher froze in fear, unable to answer. The mana pulsating within her body was more than Elizabeth’s, but by no means less. Ophelia, unable to overcome her drowsiness, got up.

“Then… let me know that you agreed.”

“Wait a minute…!”

Ophelia went upstairs, ignoring Asher. It was to sleep in the most corner room. Seeing this, Ronan shook his head.

“Nucksal is good too. This is why a species that lives a long time…”

I was worried about what to do if I didn’t fit in, but it seemed like it was a useless worry. Time passed quickly. It was midnight on Friday when a reply came from the bloody hook.

– Caw! Caw!

A skinny crow took on the role of herald. There was only one bloodstain on the neatly folded note, as before. Ronan spat out a curse.

“Cheap mosquitoes. Send it on the same day as promised, damn it.”

“…here you are.”

Ronan was waiting in the club building with Sita Ophelia. He was ready to leave immediately. Sheeta, whom she had become friends with, was dozing on Ophelia’s lap.

When Ophelia injected mana into the note, the bloodstain changed its shape back to the shape of a map. It was clearly different from last time. Ophelia, who was reading the note, said in a voice mixed with concern.

“…not good.”

“what’s the matter?”

“The location proposed over there is unusual. This… is openly trying to play tricks.”

“It must be because Jarodine is my opponent. And it’s an enclosed place, so it doesn’t matter.”

“…Did you bring the hair?”

“ok. I took care of the things that were stuck to my clothes the other day.”

Ronan held out a small paper bag to Ophelia. Inside were a few strands of auburn hair. Ophelia sighed lightly and opened her mouth.

“…I can’t understand the adventures of humans. Why is it that a race that struggles to live less than a hundred years is so impatient that it can’t die sooner…?”

“Because I might not die. By the way, did you make sure you taught Sheeta how to handle the essence of the blood?”

“That…perfect. It’s at a level where you don’t have to worry.”

“That’s good. I have to leave right away, so please do it quickly.”

“…okay. Don’t get hurt anyway.”

Ronan nodded. Ophelia sighed again and placed a hand on Ronan’s cheek. Mana gathered in her palms and gave off a cool glow. Sheeta’s eyes widened.

“Damn it…?!”