Academy’s Genius Swordsman

45. Erosion (this is the free last round)

#45

“Nine…”

I don’t know if it’s a side effect of Haeju, but the fatigue came suddenly. Ronan fell asleep with his face buried in Sita’s feathers.

As the car was about to enter a deep sleep, someone knocked on the door.

– Smart.

It was probably Lucy who came to make the bedding. Ronan, who had just woken up, mumbled in a sleepy voice.

“Ugh… come back later, Lucy. I’m going to sleep until the afternoon class…”

No answer came back. Sita was staring at the door with her head raised. A knock was heard again.

– Smart.

“What, isn’t it Lucy…? Asher, are you?”

I was too heavy to get up and check. I’ll say it there Ronan picked up the pillow and covered both ears.

– Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Damn…”

But the knocking continued. smart. It was exactly the moment the 57th knock sounded. Ronan kicked the blanket and got up nervously.

“You ignorant bastard!”

Sleep had long since fled. His gleaming eyes were burning with anger.

Ronan picked up the La Mancha that was leaning against the closet. bang! Ronan headed to the front door in his underwear and opened the door roughly.

“Some kind of dung beetle keeps knocking on the door of a sleeping room?! Shall I pound your head like a tambourine on a feast day?”

Standing in front of the door was a middle-aged man in lavishly dressed clothes. Two knights in plate armor stood behind him. Hearing Ronan’s words, the man’s eyes widened.

“What…!”

Judging from the expression on his face, he seemed to have been quite shocked. One of the knights behind him growled, clutching the hilt.

“It’s rude. If you don’t want to have your tongue cut off, then cut your head right now.”

It was a knight who gave the impression of being as stubborn as a stone. Any person with a fierce spirit would have listened to him. Of course, Ronan didn’t know.

“Hey, huh? Cut off your tongue?”

Ronan, who snorted, said while glaring at the knight.

“What’s wrong with those people who come and wake up people who have been sleeping well? Nimmy, can you show me what I mean?”

Ronan spit under his feet. The knight, who had released mana as if daunting, stepped forward as if he would cut Ronan at any moment. A middle-aged man raised his hand and stopped him.

“It’s okay, Dolan. He must have been sleeping.”

“Ha-na…”

A knight called Dolan clenched his teeth. Suddenly, Ronan frowned. Something shimmered around Dolan’s sheath.

‘what?’

To be precise, there was something faintly shining in the mana that Dolan was releasing. It was like static electricity bouncing in the air, but it was the first time I had seen it since I was able to see mana.

However, I felt a sense of dizziness that I did not know in English.

“I said okay.”

“···All right.”

Then Dolan bowed his head to the man and left. Then, the mana that appeared faded away, and at the same time, the sparkle disappeared. Said the man who turned his gaze to Ronan.

“You do the same. I thought you were awake I apologize for Dolan’s words and deeds.”

“What?”

Ronan shook his head. It was then that the face of a middle-aged man came into view. Ronan, who had calmed down his excitement, opened his mouth.

“Do you know me?”

“okay. Because I came to meet you in the first place.”

There was dignity in the low-pitched voice. Dark blue hair and a stylish mustache were impressive. Suddenly, Ronan thought that he had seen the man somewhere.

‘Schlieffen?’

When the morning star of the empire grew old, it seemed like it would be just like this. After noticing the man’s identity, Ronan raised his eyebrows.

“Damn, Duke of Grancia?”

“Thanks for noticing. Can I come in for a moment?”

“Oh, wait a minute. I only wear pants.”

bang! The visit was closed. The escort knights’ faces hardened. Looking at the closed door in front of him, Duke Grancia murmured a little.

“It was a little different from what I expected.”

****

“I’m sorry. I was a little tired.”

“Don’t worry. Because I came all of a sudden.”

Ronan greeted the Duke with only pants and a shirt on. It was my first time seeing the real thing.

It was fortunate that there were tables and sofas to receive guests.

“Relax. tea here.”

“Thank you.”

Ronan put the tea he had brewed himself down in front of the duke. The duke, who had been looking around since he entered the room, opened his mouth.

“Hmm… maybe this is the best dormitory building in Phileon?”

“Yes? Uh… is it? Doesn’t it look like that just by looking at it?”

“It’s serious…”

It was at a slightly better level than the dormitory that was used in the Grancia mansion. The duke shook his head and took a sip of tea. His eyebrows went up at the strong scent that came up.

“Did you cook this yourself?”

“yes. Are you okay?”

“You have talents not only in swords, but in various fields. It’s a shame to get out of this building.”

Saying so, the Duke took another sip of tea. Ronan, feeling a little better, grinned. I thought that I did a good job by beating Lucy.

“I’m glad you got it in your mouth. By the way, what did you come here for?”

“Ah… I didn’t come here because I only had a business for you, would you please wait for a while?”

Ronan tilted his head. Then the door opened and the escort knights came in. Ronan’s eyes widened at the sight of Asher and Marya who followed.

“Eh?”

“Duke. I brought it.”

The silent knights turned aside. Asher and Marya were looking around with bewildered expressions.

“Wow, this is Ronan’s room…”

“Hey, what’s happening all of a sudden?”

Both seemed to have happened recently. Marya had mistaken the knights at all for being the level of Phileon.

“Nice to meet you. With this, all three heroes have gathered.”

Then the duke stood up from his seat. The two men who recognized his face were frozen.

“That, that, that, that, Duke of Grancia…?”

“Hey, what’s going on here…? If I had known this would happen, I would have combed my hair…”

It was a face that could be found in various media without much effort. Duke of Grancia and father of Schlieffen. The head of the great family that divided the empire stood in front of them.

The duke shook hands with an expressionless face.

“It’s okay, so don’t be too nervous. I’m here to thank you.”

“Thank you…?”

“okay. First, sit down and talk. Ronan, are you okay?”

“Did you ask if I could sit on my sofa? Absolutely.”

Ronan nodded. Contrary to his cold and authoritarian impression, he was a very considerate person.

After all, the personality of his son, Schlieffen, must have been taken back. The duke opened his mouth after everyone sat down on the sofa.

“Then say hello formally. The head of the Grancia family, Joseph Sinivan de Grancia.”

“It’s Ronan.”

“Ah, this is Asher…”

“This is Marya Caravel, Duke of Grancia, it is an honor to meet you.”

Individual personalities came and went. The duke looked carefully at the faces of the three and said,

“I’ve already told Ronan, but the reason I’m here today… is to say thank you.”

“thanks?”

“okay. Thanks for saving Gran Cappadocia. As you all know, our biggest customer in the forge was Grancia. We were able to minimize the damage thanks to your quick response.”

The Duke knew all about the Gran Cappadocia incident. He informed him that there were no fatalities and that the new Gran Cappadocia was being rebuilt in the cavities that Ronan had discovered.

Suddenly, I remembered that Erzevet said yesterday that guests from all walks of life will come. I didn’t know Grancia would come right away.

After giving thanks, the duke beckoned to the knights standing at the door.

“Bring it.”

The two knights left the room for a while and then came in. When they returned, they held three luxurious boxes and a sword that looked 2 meters long. Ronan raised an eyebrow.

“What is all this?”

“These are the items that Master Doron asked me to deliver to you. get it.”

The knights delivered the goods to the three people. A narrow and elongated box was placed in front of Ronan, and a small box was placed in front of Asher. Marya’s greatsword leaned beside her.

Ronan opened the box first. A black and smooth stick lay on the red silk.

“what?”

I picked it up and looked around, but barely felt any weight. Suddenly, Ronan burst out in exclamation. There was a thin groove in the head of the stick.

“ah!”

Ronan pushed the tip of La Mancha’s sword into the groove. shudder. The sword, which had entered as if greased with oil, stopped right in front of the handle. Ronan said in a moved voice.

“Damn, I finally got a sheath. thanks.”

“They found it during restoration work. He asked me to tell you that it was made of the same material as your sword.”

Come to think of it, the material of the sheath was very similar to that of La Mancha’s sword. Ronan nodded satisfactorily. Even if it was hung from the waist with the sword attached, the weight was barely felt.

At that moment, a bewildered voice escaped Asher’s mouth as she opened the box.

“Green onion, bracelet…?”

Asher’s box contained a pair of metal bracelets. The shape of the double helix forming a circle was impressive. Ronan nodded and chuckled.

“It suits you, Asher. Doesn’t that mean that we should play house like a girl?”

“That, like that…”

“Oh, you said that you borrowed the technology of Madame Delphium and made it. You’re talking very excitedly, but I’m curious too. Would you like to try it on?”

Asher nodded and put the bracelets on her wrists. The loose bracelet automatically tightened to fit Asher’s wrist. Asher, seeing the mana gathering with the tips of her ten fingers, widened her eyes.

“Hey, this is…!”

The flow of mana itself has changed. It felt much more efficient than when I used a cane. Ronan intervened while he was admiring with his mouth wide open like a poor child.

“Hey, that’s amazing. The flow itself changes.”

“uh···? Ronan, can you see Mana?!”

“Yeah, ma’am. I have been able to see you since last night.”

Ronan smiled and nodded. He couldn’t see each flow in detail yet, but he could tell at least that mana was flowing through the bracelet and his fingers. Asher clapped her hands in admiration.

“Chu, congratulations! finally···!”

-thud!

Then there was a loud noise that I thought the floor might have been broken. The people in the room looked at the source of the sound at the same time. Marya’s greatsword fell gracefully.

“Ahaha, I’m sorry… This is heavier than I thought.”

read from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲

Marya got up from her seat and picked up the great sword. Tendons rose from his white arms. It was only after she had used both hands that she was able to put the sword in its original position.

“I forgot to warn you. I heard it was a great sword of great weight.”

“Yeah… it was the heaviest weapon I’ve ever heard.”

read from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲

Marya said, turning her wrist. It seemed like he had to do his best to wield it properly. The duke opened his mouth while keeping his eyes on the wave pattern engraved on the back of the sword.

“But he said that the great sword is the best weapon for you. You said that the more mana you hold, the heavier the effect.”

“Eh, it gets heavier here?”

“The master Doron must have had an idea. I recommend following along.”

said the duke quietly. The trust in Doron seemed great. He was the master of the blacksmith who had been making Grancia’s weapons for several generations, so it was understandable that the relationship was deep.

read from n̲o̲b̲l̲e̲m̲t̲l̲.̲c̲o̲m̲

Marya nodded her head. She smiled as she looked at the knight who came with a great sword casually.

“Anyway, you have great power, knight. I envy you.”

The knight did not respond. It was a guy named Dolan who was trying to draw a sword from Ronan earlier. Seeing the shy Marya, the duke opened his mouth.

“Lord Dolan is not very strong. Your loyalty is highly appreciated, but in this case, please give me an answer.”

“Yes, Duke. I will.”

Dolan bowed his head politely. He was a true example of a loyal knight who obeyed only his master’s orders.

“You understand. I mean, he’s such a savvy man. That’s why I’m entrusting you with my escort.”

“Wow, that’s great. Did the aurora even bloom?”

“of course. Almost all of Grancia’s knights appear to come. Dolan is exceptional among them.”

“It’s overrated. Duke.”

The Duke, Dolan, and Marya naturally started talking. Ronan, who suddenly remembered the previous situation, whispered to Asher.

“Hey, Asher.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be silly, just look at that beetle-looking guy. Isn’t Mana a bit strange?”

Ronan pointed at Dolan with the tip of his chin. Asher opened her eyes. When he focused his attention, he could see Dolan’s core and pulsating mana, but he didn’t feel anything special.

“Mom, I don’t know…?”

“Damn, are you still a wizard? Can’t you see the glitter in the mana?”

“Bar, is it shiny? I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

Ronan narrowed his brow. I couldn’t see it now, but I definitely saw it just now. I thought I would be able to see Ashel, who is much more responsive. Is it revealed only when certain conditions are met?

‘Chiba … I definitely felt it somewhere.’

Normally, I would have dismissed it as an ‘unpleasant feeling of dizziness’ and passed it on. However, if the reality had been seen with the naked eye, the story would be different. Ronan whispered as he poked Asher’s side.

“Look closely. Because it seems like it will show up again sometime.”

“Yes···.”

At that time, the duke who was having a conversation turned his gaze to Ronan.

“Oh, come to think of it, there is a story I wanted to hear from you.”

“yes? What is it?”

“Anyway, there will be an official notice from Rodolan in a few days, but I’m curious. I heard you were the one who caught the man behind the cave giant, can you tell me about that time?”

“Aha, those two bastards?”

At that moment, Dolan’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Mana, mixed with glitter, crept up over his shoulder. Ronan’s eyes widened.

‘Come out!’

Ronan stabbed Asher in the side again. However, Asher only made a fuss with a bewildered expression on her face. He didn’t seem to notice anything strange about Dolan’s mana.

Damn, am I the only one seeing it? Ronan stared at Dolan with his eyes wide open. No matter how you look at it, it didn’t seem like it was going to go away. Suddenly, a ray of light flashed through Ronan’s head.

‘I remembered.’

Ronan licked his lips. Edeon and Cyril. The ominousness of the Ark was felt in Dolan, as it had been with them. The glistening glint in the mana seemed to have visualized its ominousness.

Ronan’s expression hardened. The duke felt strange and tilted his head.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Uh… no. How far have you been talking?”

“It was about talking about the duo.”

“Ah, so…”

Ronan glanced at Dolan again. Mana was nowhere to be found. For a moment, he seemed to have drained his mana with agitation of emotion.

‘I’m sure I responded to the word that it was a duo of assholes.’

It’s still too early to be sure, but it’s definitely coming. The corners of Ronan’s lips, who had made a plan in his mind for a moment, rose sly.

Ronan said. His gaze was fixed on Dolan.

“Duke.”

“Well?”

“Have you ever heard of the coming of the stars?”