Academy’s Genius Swordsman

< 74. A Mean Bet >

#74

“okay. I stake the essence of fresh blood. Wouldn’t it be worth trying with three?”

Silence descended. There was a sense of tension peculiar to the gambling board. Finally, Balzac said with a snort.

“Why should I do that?”

“You fucking mosquito bastard.”

“I will not deny that it is interesting. But I don’t think you have anything worth exchanging for the essence of fresh blood.”

“Well. Is that true?”

Suddenly, Ronan unraveled the La Mancha from his waist and put it on the table with a scabbard. Ophelia’s eyes widened as she watched. A bell rang in Ronan’s head.

[Ronan, what are you doing now?]

Ronan looked at Ophelia and blinked one eye. It was okay, so I meant to stop worrying and put it down. Ophelia tilted her head with a trembling expression on her face. Balzac shrugged his eyebrows as if curiously approached the table.

“Hmm. There was one.”

“Even a child has a good eye.”

“Can I pull it out?”

“As you wish.”

Surprisingly, Balzac asked permission before touching the weapon. It wasn’t too bad to keep the manners between the prosecutors.

Shreung! La Mancha came out of the sheath and revealed its true form. The swords drawn in a straight line were thin and dark like the eyelids of night. Balzac, who was closely examining the sword, frowned.

“…it’s a strange thing. If malice is added, there is no shortage of being called a magic sword.”

“What?”

“Hey, it wasn’t unusual since before.”

Balzac grabbed the hilt. The red energy, which suddenly began to gather from the bottom, dyed the black sword body crimson.

“What the fuck?”

Ronan’s eyes widened. It was the first time I had ever seen him wielding a La Mancha. Balzac turned and swung his sword lightly towards the wall of the banquet hall.

Whoops! Blood-red black smoke was shot along the gentle sword path. However, it was not a normal crescent moon, but a shape reminiscent of a fan-shaped spray.

Kwagwagwang! A chain of explosions sounded and the tomb vibrated. Dozens of flowers made of stone and dust bloomed. Seeing the horribly destroyed stone wall, Ronan spit out cursing.

“Damn, how did you do?”

“You’re ugly. I don’t need this.”

“How did you do it?”

“Are you obligated to tell me that? If there’s nothing more to show you, I’ll just go back.”

Balzac shook his head and returned La Mancha. I couldn’t let it go like this. Ronan grabbed Sita by the shoulder and held it to him.

“Then how about this? A creature that even a thousand-year-old elf does not know. It’s smooth, fast, and warm at night when you sleep in a hug.”

“Bye?”

“Ophelia, Ruby shining in the snow. We’ll see you again when we get a chance.”

Sita rolled her eyes. Balzac turned his back without saying a word. It was the moment he was just saying goodbye to Ophelia. Ronan, who suddenly leapt onto the table, called out to Balzac.

“wait. This kid.”

Both vampires turned their heads at the same time. Ronan stared at Balzac with both hands in his pockets. Balzac frowned at the sudden journey.

“…what are you doing?”

“I’ll bet you.”

“What?”

“You mean you’re betting on me. If I lose, I will become your family. Isn’t that enough?”

“Ronan…what are you talking about?”

Ophelia, who couldn’t see it, asked with a voice. Ronan didn’t answer. Balzac chuckled.

“I don’t waste my blood on making kinsmen. Is there anything I can gain by making you into a family member?”

“Of course. I won’t stop training just because I become a mosquito.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you become a member of the family, I will fight you every time you are inferior. A rivalry that has overcome the limits of its lifespan and continues to grow stronger. Don’t you kill me?”

Balzac’s eyes widened. It was an arrogant yet attractive proposal. He glimpsed Ronan’s thrilling potential in the brief time he fought. It was a lumber that could possibly become the second Jardouin. Balzac, who was rubbing his chin, suddenly burst into a glare.

“Kah ha ha! That’s fun. Who among mortals can come up with such an idea?”

“It won’t happen, but it would be better not to relax because I lost and became a family member. You’re going to pick me up in five years.”

“Okay, take the bet. Wherever you go, keep talking.”

“Nothing. All I want is one essence of fresh blood.”

“What is the content of the bet?”

“I have already thought about it. They take turns attacking each other once in a while.”

Ronan explained the rules of the bet he had in mind. They take turns attacking each other once. Defense or evasion is free. However, if you do a counterattack towards your opponent or do not wake up for 1 minute after being attacked, it is considered a defeat.

The content was everything. There was no provision that seemed to favor Ronan. Balzac tilted his head as if he had heard a sleep talk.

“Do you really think you can beat me on that condition?”

“Of course.”

Ronan groaned. Balzac couldn’t understand him. Ronan must have known for sure that there was a huge difference in each other’s skills. By the way, even if you try your best, it’s not enough, so what’s the condition? Balzac chuckled.

“You are overestimating yourself. The courage of those who live a fleeting life.”

“It’s a long-lived mosquito, so it has a long snout. Were you scared?”

“It’s cheesy. I accept the bet. If you become a member of the family, I will use it to teach you manners for a hundred years first.”

“It’s an excellent choice. Then, shall we write a contract?”

The two signed a contract with their own blood. A third party, Ophelia, became the witness. She constantly sent electric waves to dry Ronan, but Ronan only blinked to indicate that it was okay.

[…] Totally crazy.]

The rules of betting and the stakes are listed in order. The last time the two signed, the parchment crumbled and disappeared. Only the letters written in blood remained and floated on the paper.

The letters lined up like a chain and permeated into the hearts of Ronan and Balzac. It was the moment when the pledge of blood was fulfilled. Suddenly, Ronan realized instinctively that if he didn’t keep his oath, he would die.

“I feel like shit.”

“The binding force of the oath … wraps around my heart.”

Ophelia sighed. Now I couldn’t turn back. Fortunately, the heterogeneity soon dissipated. Ronan and Balzac were seated in the middle of the banquet hall. Balzac said in a relaxed voice.

“Don’t give up your advance. It is better to think that it will be the last time.”

“Thank you for that.”

Ronan grabbed the hilt. Ophelia was the referee. Balzac grinned the whole time he waited for the signal.

He didn’t have confidence. Jill herself. It was more difficult to control the power without completely killing it. Ophelia’s mouth, who had been terrified, opened softly.

“···start.”

bang! Ronan sprinted to the ground and ran. The darkness gathered around him wrapped around Balzac’s hands and feet, transforming it into a form of armor. His armor made with dark magic was as strong as a mithril.

The gap narrowed in an instant. Ronan pulled the hilt. Balzac shrugged his eyebrows as he saw the slash that flew through the wind.

‘fast.’

It was a quick sword that had no choice but to admit its speed. But that was all. A very ordinary attack that only swivels and bells. He had avoided the fight just before, but there was nothing he couldn’t do if he wanted to defend himself.

‘I’m disappointed. Still, I thought there would be a number of spleens.’

Ronan’s scream was already good in his ears. Balzac smiled bitterly and took a defensive stance. Scratch! La Mancha, who had dug into the armor as it was, passed through Balzac’s neck and limbs.

“ah?”

It didn’t take long to realize what had happened. The pain was enough to cause me to lose my mind at the same time as my vision turned dizzyingly. A muffled scream erupted from Balzac’s mouth.

“aah!!”

Lost limbs soared into the air. Balzac’s head fell to the floor and rolled. Ronan’s roaring laughter could be heard from beyond his lowered vision.

“Uh-huh! Hard work Balzac. Do not take the essence of fresh blood well.”

“Uh, how!”

“I am under no obligation to tell you that. I’m lying there thinking about which of the three I’m going to spit out.”

Balzac looked at his limbs scattered around him. It was impossible. The armor woven with high-density mana was cut into pieces as if it were tofu.

“Ophelia. Count straight for one minute!”

Ronan shouted at Ophelia, who was stunned. Obviously, Balzac’s armor seemed like a good piece of magic. The chewy feel transmitted through the tip of the sword proved that fact.

Of course, Ronan, who could cut mana, didn’t know. He giggled vulgarly, mocking the assassin Balzac.

“If possible, ask me to be a thin and strong guy. Like a ripe watermelon.”

“Wow, do you think it’s going to be like this…!”

Balzac clenched his teeth. There were large veins all over his face. It was about 20 seconds passed. Kwajik! Four limbs grew explosively on the neat cut surface of the body. Ronan’s brow wrinkled.

“Fuck.”

Balzac’s body staggered and picked up his own head. The blood vessels that drooped below the cut surface were wriggling as if alive.

He put his head back in place without hesitation. The red line dividing the neck healed in an instant. Whoops! Balzac turned his head to and fro and said, glaring at Ronan.

“Huh… huh huh, that’s funny… what kind of trick did you do?”

“I didn’t expect this.”

“Anyway, it’s my turn. Get ready.”

There was no tremor in the voice that had regained his composure. It was incredible resilience. Even by the standards of a vampire, the amputation of a limb was a serious injury that took several hours to several days to regenerate.

“Ronan….”

Ophelia’s complexion was as pale as a glacier. Ronan reassured her with a gesture and then returned to her seat. There was no sense of relaxation on Balzac’s face, which had been poised.

“I won’t underestimate you any more. fake jordin. No, Ronan.”

“Damn it, do it quickly.”

Balzac looked at Ophelia. Biting her lips, hesitating, she whispered in a whisper.

“······start.”

For a moment, a red and black energy was sucked under Balzac’s feet. The mana in the air dried up as if depleted. The darkness shook everywhere, and the beasts made up of shadows appeared. Ronan chuckled.

“Are you going to hit this once?”

“Even if it is torn to pieces, don’t worry, I will fix it.”

Balzac stretched out his hand. Blood flowed from between his fingernails in the form of a long spear aimed at him.

Five spears were spinning round and round over Ronan’s head. Each one of them was a huge bottle that was 3M in length.

right! Balzac snapped his fingers. As the beasts ran fiercely, blood spears poured out. Ronan pulled the hilt.

“Yeah, let’s go until we go.”

Ronan lowered his stance and fired a slash from the side. Two shadow wolf heads soared into the air. Ronan, who had dealt with three more, rolled to the side. Quang! The front paws of the shadow bears rushing in from just behind slammed him down.

After slicing the bear, he lifted his head to see a red spear approaching his eyes. Ronan spit out a swear word when he saw the spear flying through even the beasts.

“Shit.”

Scratch! Ronan made a short spin and cut a blood spear. The beasts that jumped immediately surrounded Ronan. He swung his arms wide and shot a sword. The shapes of the fragmented beasts were torn apart, leaving gaps.

But there was no time to catch a breath. Two long spears orbiting the air filled the gap and flew in. It was too late to see and judge. La Mancha, which stretched out according to instinct, cut the long spear vertically.

‘It’s similar to back then.’

Suddenly, Ronan remembered the battle with Ahayute. The spears of light that the bald head shot out blew up one battalion in one blow. The monsters that rose from the spot where the feathers fell, drove the knights alone.

Ronan was able to reach Ahayute only after cutting it all down. While trampling on the corpses of those who had been sacrificed while paving the way.

Compared to that time, it was like a child’s joke. However, a body that had not yet matured was holding his ankles.

spatula. Ronan shredded the shadow lion scratching his thigh. The wound was quite deep, but no pain was felt. Feeling the spirit gradually becoming sharper, Ronan swung his sword as if dancing. Balzac, who was watching, shed a heartfelt admiration.

“Awesome.”

He seemed to understand why he offered that type of bet. It was a much better swordsman than he had imagined. There were enough beasts of a hundred and they were being slaughtered at an incredible speed.

“But… it’s still immature.”

Balzac shook his head. His ‘strike’ was still in progress. It was a judgment aimed at the blind spot of the simple rule of taking turns giving and receiving attacks.

When he beckoned, all the remaining beasts rushed at Ronan. Then his figure disappeared among the beasts. Ophelia, noticing what was about to happen, screamed out.

“don’t do it!”

Balzac snapped his fingers, ignoring Ophelia. A thick barrier stood in front of him and Ophelia.

– Whoa!

– Guess what!

Suddenly, the bodies of the beasts began to inflate like balloons. The remaining spears pierced the beasts at the same time. Aww! An explosion of blood and shadows engulfed the banquet hall. A sigh escaped Ophelia’s frozen mouth.

“Ahhh···.”

“My attack ends with this.”

It was not an explosion that could have survived. The shield has disappeared. The scenery of the banquet hall that had not been destroyed and enlarged caught my eye. A thick layer of dust was obscuring his vision. How many seconds have passed? A sudden cough echoed through the smoke screen.

“Cool.”

“··········!”

The eyes of the two vampires widened. Unsteady footsteps were approaching. Balzac grinned at Ronan’s appearance soon after.

“Can you stand this?”

“Gagging, heh heh…really… I almost fell, you bastard…”

Ronan’s hair was like a rag that had been soaked in blood once and removed. Blood was dripping from the wounds all over his body.

However, there were no fatal injuries such as cuts or cuts. It was possible because I had a similar experience twice.

One was the battle against Ahayute, and the other was Schliefen’s Storm Sword, which he had been orthodoxly beaten recently. Most of the wounds disappeared without a trace when the flying Sita used healing magic.

“Byeah!”

“Thank you, Sita. Whoa, I think I’m going to live a little now.”

“What… how can you recover with the help of others…!”

“The contract didn’t say no.”

Balzac licked his lips. It was clearly a mistake to think that Ronan was immature. He was also digging into a blind spot in the contract. Even more cunning than Balzac. Ronan, who relaxed as if stretching, raised one corner of his mouth.

“Then… it’s my turn.”

Ronan grabbed La Mancha. The frozen Ophelia managed to signal. Balzac cried out in an angry voice.

“Do you think you will get hit twice?”

At that moment, Ronan’s figure disappeared from view. The slash of La Mancha, who drank blood, was flying faster and sharper than before.

On the other hand, Balzac’s body was heavier. It was because of exhaustion of blood from regeneration and energy. He tried to absorb the blood and mana remaining around him.

“Well···?”

But something was strange. Obviously the shadow beasts and polearms exploded, and I didn’t feel the blood and mana that should have been scattered around.

At that moment, Balzac’s gaze turned to the monster behind Ronan. Sita’s body with her wings wide open was sucking all the nearby blood and mana. Sita tilted her head as their eyes met.

“Bye?”

“Hey, dirty…!”

It was a rigged match in the first place. The moment he realized that, Ronan’s slash was poured out.

La Mancha, who had torn the armor again, made dozens of red lines on the defenseless body. Ronan’s voice echoed in the rapidly blurring vision.

“I’m sorry. He’s the one who didn’t learn.”

Balzac’s consciousness was interrupted.