Academy’s Genius Swordsman

< 88. Shoot at the Dawn (1) >

#88

A white puffy cloud glided beneath the deep blue. After training, Ronan returned to the club building.

All the members were gathered together, perhaps because the time zones overlapped by chance. Marya and Braum were arm wrestling across the bar table.

“Ahhh!!”

Braum gave strength enough to think that the veins were tearing the scalp out of that, but in the end, he was defeated by Marya. Quang! His body slumped to the floor.

“Keep it up!”

“We are angry!”

With a cry of victory, Marya swept up the silver coins piled up on the table. It smelled of illegal gambling, but Ronan didn’t specifically sanction it. That way there will be room for later. Asher was talking to Schlieffen in the corner over there.

“My younger brother is also a wizard.”

“Is that so…?”

“okay. One day, I am receiving training to enter Phileon. I’m just asking this out of curiosity, but based on your insight from growing up in your hometown, which one do you think Ms. Iril would prefer, ceramic or glass?”

Ophelia must have been sleeping on the second floor of Bona Mana. Seeing the noisy scene, Ronan grinned. When I first came, it was like an abandoned house, but now that it is quite lively, it wasn’t too bad.

“I’m here. Baren.”

Ronan took a piece of paper and left the building. The place he headed for was the 13th Tower of Phileon, where Professor Baren Panassir was located.

When I opened the door, I saw a Wear Lion in a suit. He was reading a book, sitting on a huge sofa that would completely bury his body.

Sita’s parent, Marpez, the dream bird, was curled up in his lap, grooming his rich, blue feathers. Baren, who made eye contact with Ronan, closed the book and said hello.

“Oh, Ronan. See you soon. Are you doing well with my homework?”

“no. I guess I’m not good at raising anything. This is already the fifth time.”

Ronan sighed deeply. In the last class, Baren’s assignment was to grow bread aloe, a plant that feeds on many phantom species.

It was an easy-to-grow plant that would grow quickly if given the right amount of sunlight and water, but Ronan frequently turned the flowerpot into a coffin of bread aloe. Baren smiled, stroking his mane.

“hahaha, I’m sorry, but it’s unavoidable. Don’t give up and keep trying, you’ll see results someday.”

“Um?”

Ronan tilted his head. It was an unusual reaction from the usual Baren’s to see a strangely cheerful tone in his tone. In the original way, it would have been mourning the death of an innocent life and offering a memorial service.

“Anything good?”

“Do you like tea?”

“Great.”

“Heh heh, you got it. Would you like to try this?”

Baren got up and brought out the car. It wasn’t the usual tea. The blue liquid gave off a familiar smell. After taking a sip, Ronan’s eyes widened.

“This···!”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

Baren smiled softly. The tea tasted just like what Sarante had served in the past. I felt the mana floating around me more clearly than usual. The fatigue that had accumulated in his eyes was disappearing like snow.

“Have you succeeded in cultivation? You said you wouldn’t eat it until then.”

“That’s right. We succeeded earlier than expected.”

It was already three months ago. Ronan passed most of the herbs brought from the Baidian Mountains to Varen. There were also quite a few unknown species among them, but Baren decided to grow them instead of eating them straight away.

“It’s amazing, even considering that it wasn’t grown on leylines. The placenta is much more effective than the medicinal herbs on the market. Maybe there will be a revolution in the potion industry.”

“I’ll be sitting on the money cushion soon, Baren. Congratulations.”

“For the time being, I plan to use it only for research. Take this too.”

Baren held out a small wooden box to Ronan. When I opened the box, nine glass bottles lined up neatly caught my eye. A strangely colored liquid was flowing from the inside of the bottle.

“What is this?”

“A potion made from herbs that were successfully cultivated in the first place.”

“Hey, you give me all of these things.”

“This is an item that was originally prepared to give to Ronan students. Please use it sparingly.”

Seeing that the bottle cap was shaped like a lion’s head, Ronan smirked. Suddenly, a feeling of extreme loneliness raised his head.

While someone was pooping because he couldn’t grow a single piece of stupid aloe vera, this furry not only succeeded in cultivating a rare herb unknown to academia, but also made potions. Ronan, who emptied the teacup at once, held out a piece of paper.

“How can I thank you? I have a present too.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a club activity plan.”

“Heh heh!”

After all, Baren almost dropped the teacup. Marpez, who was hit by the fried tea, woke up in shock. Baren asked in a trembling voice.

“Hey, where are you going again this time? why···.”

“If anyone sees it, they will know that they are going to be dispatched. It’s all written there, so read it.”

“Ah…aa…”

Baren felt his eyes darken. The shock of club activities, which had been unilaterally notified last time, still hadn’t gone away. Unauthorized ghost horse rental, Wyvern genocide and sword fighting with Sword Saint Jaipa. Taking a deep breath, Baren picked up the paper and began to read.

“···Hmm? For some reason, this time it’s normal.”

“Absolutely. What do you see me as?”

“If it is the Tower of Dawn, the library is famous. Are you going alone?”

“yes. It’s not like I’m going to take a lot of people.”

Baren shrugged his eyebrows in surprise. Ronan added that he submitted a club activity form simply to increase his time out.

Baren, who was carefully examining the plan, nodded. There wasn’t really anything that could be a problem.

“good. don’t allow it I hope you will do this next time.”

“Ah, in the end, there have been no problems so far. I drank tea.”

Ronan left the office. Baren looked at the spot where he disappeared and patted Marpez and muttered.

“It won’t be a big deal this time. Is not it?”‘

– Pete.

hurricane. Baren emptied the remaining car. His gaze accidentally touched the bottom of the teacup. The deposits of the settled herbs were arranged in the shape of a skeleton. It was described too precisely to be a mere coincidence. Baren put down his teacup and said to himself with his eyes closed.

“···please.”

****

Ronan had a long schedule, but no one took it with him. The reason was that it was not likely that a colleague would be needed to conduct an old-fashioned data investigation.

Two days later, it was the departure date. He simply packed his things and headed to the Sky Pier located in the northern part of the island.

It was to ride the Griffon Airship to the Tower of Dawn. In the club activity plan, I wrote that I would go on a horse, but the work of a person was always different.

– Pyuoo

– Fu hee hee!

The sky pier, which operates the flying means of transportation, was in the shape of a wide runway. Pegasus, who finished the run, was flying along with the wagon. A griffon from the flight was eating meat in the corner.

“As I live, the day will come when I will ride something like this.”

Ronan muttered as he watched the plane he was going to ride. It was so grand that it was incomparable to Rodolan’s prison escort carriage. It was a method in which eight griffons lifted and carried a small ship remodeled with wheels.

As expected, the price of the boarding pass was not much different from renting a ghost horse. But Ronan paid the price without hesitation. At least in the system, there was no merchant who would not accept the loan of the Phileon Academy.

Ronan boarded the airship. The interior was luxuriously decorated as if aimed at the upper class, the main customer.

Through the large, round windows, I could clearly see the scenery outside. All seats were in front of the window. Two luxurious sofas faced each other with a table in the middle. Ronan smirked as he saw a bottle of wine lying on each table.

“Money is good.”

Despite the high price, there were quite a few customers on board. Ronan, walking down the hallway, finally found his place.

A person was already sitting on the sofa opposite. A girl with dark purple hair that resembles a cat. It was a face I saw a lot. Ronan’s eyes widened.

“Erzebet?”

“Oh, Ronan-sama?”

Erzebet, who was looking out the window, turned her head. She, too, was a bit surprised. Ronan, who sat on the sofa, asked with a tone of absurdity.

“Why are you here? Did you even run away?”

“You’re running away, what are you talking about!”

Erzebet laughed as if she was startled. Of course, seeing that he was wearing a school uniform like himself, there was no way he would run away from home. Ronan giggled and pulled out a cigarette but was stopped by the crew.

“Guest. Please smoke on the deck.”

“Oh, can you go up on the deck?”

Ronan put the cigarette back in. She coughed and opened her mouth again.

“Hmmm, this time I went on an expedition to the Dawning Tower.”

“An interview?”

“yes. Among the students taking the ‘Intermediate Fire Magic’ class, only the best are selected. Because it produced the best fire wizards of all time.”

It was then that Ronan noticed that there were quite a few students in magic school uniforms among the passengers. What appeared to be more than ten people was the academy with a lot of money. Erzebet, who looked at the students all the time, covered her mouth and squeaked.

“Fufu, among them, I’m the only 1st year student? Everyone is pathetic.”

“That’s great. I thought you were only good at dealing with telekinesis.”

“Actually, the telekinesis is almost non-existent. The attribute I am most proud of is fire.”

Erzebet said so, and raised a small flame from the tip of her index finger. I forgot for a while. The fact that the girl in front of you is a genius who can handle the three attributes.

As we chatted, the airship began to take off. The flight attendants in uniform walked around and talked about various precautions.

Aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing did not need help. When I looked out the window, the ground was already slowly moving away. Ronan crossed his legs and opened his mouth.

“Well, it’s boring, but it’s okay. Let’s talk.”

“like. Still, I didn’t want to hang out with those sheep.”

Erzebet nodded happily as well. It took more than ten hours to reach the Tower of Dawn, located at the eastern end of the continent, even by airship. Having a companion was a good thing anyway.

“But do you have any friends? I feel like I’m alone all the time.”

“Wow, don’t be fussy.”

Erzebet’s face flushed like a man stabbed in a sore spot. Ronan smiled and poured the wine on the table into a glass.

The aircraft, which had been steadily ascending, soon reached the top of the clouds. The sound of sixteen pairs of flapping wings resounded loudly.

****

It’s been quite a while since it got dark outside the window. Dark blue clouds were spread like a carpet under the airship, so the appearance of the ground could not be seen.

“Damn…”

The flight was going smoothly. But even at dawn when the moon had set, Ronan was still unable to sleep. It was the fault of Erzebet, who was talking nonsense in front of her, drunkenly.

“Ugh, Adeshan unnie… isn’t she really perfect? Pretty, cool, ah, I want to get married.”

“You will never drink again.”

Ronan sighed. In fact, it was something he did on his own. No matter how cute he looked at himself with curious eyes, he couldn’t make him drink wine. Ronan scratched his head and muttered.

“How can you do that with one sip instead of one cup? Are you pretending to be drunk?”

“Hey… that’s right. There’s no way the young girl of Akalusia can’t get drunk just like this… Shall I show you something strange?”

Suddenly, a purple energy rose from Erzebet’s body. It was her own unique power aura. At the same time, a small lion made of fire leapt up onto the table. Contemplating Ronan grabbed her wrist.

“Damn, I can’t stop right now.”

This was the reason he couldn’t sleep. If I woke up from a short sleep and the plane was going down, it must have been this girl’s fault. Ronan took Erjebet to the deck.

“Hey, it’s cool. what is this place···?”

Even as the strong wind ruffled her hair, Erzebet smiled. There was still no sign of waking up from alcohol. Ronan took her to the prow, farthest from the cabin.

“Okay, let’s talk about Adeshan. How did you become so close?”

“I can tell you anything about it…! Hey, where do you want to hear from?”

“From start to finish.”

“Aha! You have a knack for it…!”

Ronan pulled out a cigarette, standing next to her. This is already the fifth time I’ve heard this, but I couldn’t help it. Intoxicated, she became as quiet as a ghost only when she talked about Adeshan.

“So… I go to the library at the beginning of my school year…”

Suddenly, a muffled voice began to flow through Erzebet’s lips. In fact, in terms of content, there was nothing. It was just a story that Adeshan helped him who couldn’t even find the library because he had no friends, and they became friends from then on.

“So… hehehe, did you see that hair? Like silk woven into the night sky… I think I might as well die of strangulation there…”

However, it was able to take quite a long time because the part praising Adeshan was long. It was even more effective if you put a question in the middle. Suddenly, a really curious question crossed my mind.

“Why are you being so kind to Adeshan? If you don’t have the ability, you don’t even care.”

“Don’t compare your sister . . . with other sheep. 👅. My sister is different.”

“So what’s the difference?”

“Oh, baby, so…”

All of a sudden, Erzebet dragged the horse’s tail. Ronan, who suddenly felt that his shoulders were heavy, turned to look at her.

“Erzebet?”

No answer came back. The only sound was the muffled sound of breathing. Erzbet rested her head on his shoulder and only shrugged her shoulders.

Ronan only realized later that she had fallen asleep. A clear liquid flowed from between her slightly gaping lips.

“It’s different.”

Ronan muttered a lot, but he didn’t wake up Erzebet or anything. Also, it was better to end up with some saliva on my shoulder than to get up and watch them start a riot.

How long have you been in that state? Gradually, the sky on the side the bow was pointing to began to turn red. The aircraft’s altitude was lowered.

After breaking through the thick layer of clouds, I could see a huge structure in the distance. A circular garden was spread out around the towering tower.

The huge cylinder with all 24 floors looked more like a pillar connecting the sky and the earth. I knew it without anyone explaining it. Ronan muttered as if possessed by something.

“The Dawning Tower.”

Behind the tower, the dark blue sea was flowing. It was the Sea of Dawn, the eastern sea of the continent.

Before long, the red sun revealed its head over the horizon that drew a gentle arc. The rushing dawn light colored the world in scarlet.

Suddenly, Ronan thought that the situation was funny. The Dawning Horse Tower that receives the rising dawn from the Sea of Dawn. It was in the midst of giggling alone at a low-level joke. Suddenly the griffons began to cry loudly.

– Hwi oo oo oh!

– Kek! keek!

“what?”

Ronan frowned. It was a voice so sharp that it felt ominous.

At that moment, in the direction of the Tower of Dawn, a group of red lights flickered in succession. what is that A swear word escaped from Ronan’s mouth as he looked at it with his eyes narrowed.

“Fuck.”

A huge fireball, which looked like seven, was flying towards the airship. The eerie sound of flames igniting the atmosphere was rapidly approaching.