Academy’s Genius Swordsman

12. Lion and Dreambird (2)

#12

A mana that seemed to crush the five senses was pulsating inside the sphere. I’ve experienced a lot of mana so far, but I’ve never had a feeling like this.

Baren continued to speak hard.

“Marpez, what the hell are you…”

“Damn, what the hell is this? It just explodes suddenly, isn’t it?”

“First of all, what I can assure you is that it is an egg of Marpez. But looking at the mana I feel, I can’t quite guess what will come out.”

“Can’t you guess?”

-Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

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Marpez was nodding on Ronan’s lap. Ronan, who was rubbing his fluffy feathers, frowned.

“No, it’s Al. Then, isn’t it just a bunch of blue hairs that look like him? A watermelon doesn’t suddenly grow where beans are planted.”

“So that’s the problem. Dreams are possible.”

“Yes?”

“Not only watermelons, but also buffalo, forests and palaces can grow.”

Baren’s explanation continued. In short, this bizarre bird conceives and lays eggs by absorbing mana from a specific target or surroundings.

Because they lay eggs only once in their lifetime, the number of individuals among the phantom species was small.

“Because of such characteristics, there is not a single dream bird that has the same appearance. I’ve even seen a dream bird with a steel beak and flame feathers.”

“It’s so cool… I think if I were a poacher, I would have been aiming for it.”

Baren said that he met Marpez in an egg state in a mysterious lake in the north.

The blue feathers and the ability to run on water are also likely to be derived from the mana of the lake.

“However, this is the first time this has happened to me. In the general case, the unique mana of the dream bird is 70%. The rest should feel like 30%… it’s a jumble of all kinds of mana. Like a furnace of molten iron.”

“What does that ‘everything’ include?”

“Ummm…so…”

Baren, who was examining the eggs, drooled. Even if I had to explain the imagination drawn by a madman, it wouldn’t be more difficult than this. What should I call this?

Flames flowing through the river bed. The dancing shadows and the torrent of fresh blood soaring into the sky. Pale starlight. A dream bird that flies along the borders of the world.

In the end, Baren lowered his head as if in shame.

“sorry. I can’t give you any certainty. I cannot explain it with my skills.”

“Yamma, what the hell did you give birth to?”

Ronan stabbed Marpez. After waking up for a moment, Marpez looked around with his eyes wide open, then fell asleep again with his head banged in his chest.

Ronan laughed as if it was ridiculous.

“Hey, have you ever seen such a brazen bastard?”

“…can you take care of the egg?”

“Um?”

Ronan raised his head at the sound that was so sudden. Baren was staring at him with a serious expression on his face.

Putting both hands on both knees reminded me of a craftsman asking for his daughter.

“I know this is an unexpected request. But I think Marpez has a reason to lay eggs in front of you.”

“Isn’t it just because you were born?”

“no. Dreambirds do not lay eggs anywhere.”

Baren shook his head resolutely. His well-combed mane swayed gentlely.

He continued speaking with an attitude as if he was reciting an irresistible, ancient prophecy.

“Just as most animals give birth to their young in a safe place, the dreambird lays its eggs in a pool of potential. I want to honor Marpez, my friend who has been with me for over 40 years.”

“Uh…to be honest, it doesn’t really matter, but are you okay?”

“Of course. Rather, I am only grateful to you for granting me an unexpected request.”

“When will you wake up?”

“I don’t know about that . . . I know of a place where I can help.”

Baren suddenly got up and walked to the desk. When he returned, he had two pieces of luxurious paper and a piece of parchment in his hand.

Ronan tilted his head.

“I was thinking about what to give in return for saving Marpez… and it turned out well.”

“what is that?”

“First of all, this is a map to the Penardo Fountain.”

Baren held out the parchment first. On the rough surface, a crude map, as if drawn by himself, was drawn. He stretched out his ring finger and pointed to the place marked with a star.

“Among the lei, it is the closest to the islands. It is a place where the mana of the earth gathers, so phantom species often come.”

“Oh my God, a ley? really?”

Baren suggested taking the egg and visiting Penardo Sam.

He said that he could expect side effects such as speeding up hatching or increasing his mana sensitivity. Instead, he asked to keep the secret of the place.

Ronan grabbed the parchment and nodded.

“Sure. Thank you for giving me such a precious thing.”

“It’s not over yet. Come on, take this too.”

Baren laid down two luxurious sheets of paper this time on the table. There was a lot of writing on it, but it was not in the Imperial language, so I couldn’t recognize it.

“This···?”

“This is a letter of recommendation for admission to Phileon. I thought I’d never use it for the rest of my life, but I’m finally getting it out.”

The boys’ eyes widened. Baren picked up a fountain pen almost the size of a baton and started scribbling something. Ronan and Asher’s names, and their signatures in cursive handwriting.

“As far as I know, candidates who have received a letter of recommendation will only have to go through a simple interview without a separate exam. Of course, scholarships are also available. Other perks…”

“I do not need it.”

Baren sighed and shook his head. Ronan was stroking Marpez with a sad expression on his face.

“···yes?”

“Because I don’t need it. Please write only him.”

“I’m fine too!”

Asher also waved her hand. Even when Ronan stabbed him in the side, he was just stubbornly ripping.

“Don’t be silly, take it man.”

“I want to pass with my own strength…!”

“Huh, really.”

Ronan grinned. He ruffled Asher’s hair as if it were a big deal, and then put Marpez down on the table.

“That’s right. I think the same.”

“Come on, wait! Are you serious?”

“This is enough. I drank tea.”

He waved a parchment with a map in front of him. Ronan with his overcoat got up from his seat. Baren, who stood up behind him, asked in bewilderment.

“It’s a bit difficult for me to say this, but Phileon’s letter of recommendation for admission has a special meaning. I wonder if there is one student every three years who enters with a letter of recommendation…!”

“Because I don’t want to campaign for saving a beast. And honestly, I’ve been wanting to have the eggs since the moment the steel beak did.”

Ronan walked to the door without hesitation. Baren, restless, leapt forward and blocked them. Because of his size, there was no room to escape.

“Gee, wait! I can’t send it off like this!”

“Now you are revealing your true nature. For that dwarf, one meal would be enough. I am alone.”

“Hey!”

“It’s not like that. You save Marpez and keep the eggs, but I can’t send you back empty-handed!”

The boys’ bangs fluttered at the snort that Baren exhaled. Looking at the momentum, it seemed that he would take out one or more organs he didn’t need on the spot.

How can you say something like that even if you give me a map with leylines drawn on it? He seemed to be very grateful.

“Tell me anything! If I can give you…”

“Wearlion leather carpet.”

It was a gloomy voice. Silence enveloped the office. Ronan snorted as he saw the two pale faces.

“just joke.”

“Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo going. I was really, really surprised…”

“I don’t really want to receive anything…then can you please grant me one request later?”

“Are you saying please…?”

The corners of Ronan’s lips rose sly. Asher, who had already had her heart stopped during the carpet remarks, bit her nails.

Soon after his request was presented, Baren and Asher tilted their heads almost simultaneously.

“Uh… well… is that really enough?”

“yes. Instead, you have to keep it safe. Is it possible?”

“Of course it is, but…”

“Okay then. See you at the entrance ceremony.”

After finishing his words, Ronan left the office without hesitation. thud. Awakened by the sound of the door closing, Marpez looked around.

Baren, who had been standing blankly, returned to the desk after a while. He scratched his mane and murmured.

“That’s right.”

****

The two of them left Baren’s office and headed straight for the market. There was also the purpose of stocking up on things and ingredients, but the biggest reason was to meet Marya as well.

While walking among the stylish buildings, Asher opened her mouth.

“Hey, Ronan.”

“ok?”

“Why did you ask me like that before?”

“Ah, that?”

The only request he made to Baren was that he should become the head of the club he was going to create, that is, an advisor.

While researching the Phileon Academy, Ronan found out that there is a ‘club’, a group where students can autonomously engage in activities.

As in the military, the role of the person responsible for these gatherings was very important. Baren, who appeared to be in a high position even if he pretended to be, was the perfect fit.

Ronan smiled as he clasped the back of his head.

“Well, I have something in mind.”

“I may be able to pass, but what if I don’t pass?”

“You call that a horse? I have to run back right away and beg for my letter of recommendation back.”

“… it’s ugly.”

“Don’t worry, man, if you just show your telekinesis to lower your pants, you’ll get attached.”

Asher said, ‘Then you?’ I didn’t have to ask the same question. In fact, I just asked the old woman, but I never imagined Ronan falling.

Even the ferocious Luna Goblin was no different from a carrot on a chopping board in front of his sword.

“Anyway, this is really good. It feels so good to hold it, knowing it’s not shit.”

“Joe, be careful…! And then when you fall…”

“It’s harder than Mithril, but what if you drop it?”

Ronan had been throwing eggs into the air and receiving them repeatedly.

I thought it was completely mine, so I had nothing to fuss about anymore. He hurried his steps and said.

“Let’s go see the girl. The book hurts my shoulder.”

The general market of the system was incomparably larger than that of Marbas.

After wandering around for a while, the boys found the top of the caravel with a seat in the middle of the market. Marya, who made eye contact with Ronan, waved her hand warmly.

“You idiots! You are here!”

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Marya was wearing a hospitality skirt. Her hair was also neatly braided and now she looks a little girly. The boys returned the book they had borrowed from her.

“Honestly, I was worried, but how did you find it? When did you come to the island?”

“In the morning.”

“What did you do when you came?”

“I had tea with the talking lion at Phileon.”

“You don’t want to talk to me?”

“no.”

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Marya glared at Ronan with her ax eyes open. For Ronan who answered only the truth, it was just unfair. She frowned as she looked at the egg in Ronan’s hand.

“What is that round thing? Uh, isn’t that what I was thinking?”

“Something incomprehensible that even a talking lion cannot explain.”

“you really···.”

“Oh, hello! Marya!”

Asher, who sensed the crisis, intervened. Marya’s expression softened. She snorted at Ronan once and looked at Asher.

“Hello cutie! You look a little tall?”

“Anyway, this dwarf has been talking about you all day. I wanted to see you, and I sang how much…”

“No, until the song…!”

“What, if you want to see me, tell me. Come on!”

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Marya went round and round holding Asher. It was like an older sister playing with her younger brother.

While Asher dyed her face red with shame, Ronan greeted Duon.

“It’s been a while, sir.”

“Oh, guest! How have you been?”

“I am always fine. I’m sorry last time.”

“Heh, no, guest. It’s been a lot of work, but I just want to thank you for being so friendly with my daughter. He’s a kid who suffers from loneliness quite a bit after all.”

Duon lowered his voice in order for Marya to hear. Ronan smiled and nodded. He bought a bag of southern tobacco leaves from the top of the caravel.

When I turned my head, I saw the two of them chatting after they had finished playing. Ronan poked his head out with a cigarette in his mouth.

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Marya opened her mouth as if she remembered something important.

“Really, did you hear the news?”

“You wouldn’t hear it.”

“This time, the eldest son of the Duke of Grancia took the Phileon entrance exam. with us.”

“Duke of Grancia?”

Ronan recalled his memory. I couldn’t remember because I wasn’t interested in the original aristocratic society.

It was still the same now, so Ronan shrugged his shoulders impatiently.

“What, you really don’t know? Is this a bit harsh?”

“What the fuck are you doing to make such a fuss?”

“The whole empire was buzzing about being a genius who appeared for the first time in two hundred years. Schlieffen Sinivan de Grancia. I don’t know?”

Ronan didn’t answer. Marya, who interpreted the silence as ignorance, sighed. It was hard to believe that there were such dark people in the world.

No one knew Schlieffen, at least in the system. A genius who bloomed an auror at the age of eleven and is now running to the level of awakening.

Besides, isn’t he the eldest son of the Duke of Grancia, which is a great family that makes up for the Acalusia family?

But it wasn’t that Ronan didn’t answer because he didn’t know.

“Schlieffen…? Did I just say Schlieffen?”

“okay. Have you really never heard of it? never? Schlieffen. Shiniban. place. Grancia.”

Why have you never heard of it? Ronan continued to doubt his ears. A list of words that sounded like a spell intermingled with a name I’ll never forget.

The Winter Witch’s Slayer. The sword castle of the empire that once wielded a sword together. A tragic genius who could not cut down the giant and died.

“What, what’s wrong with your face? Are you sick?”

“Um, no. I know. Schlieffen.”

“Is not it? To be honest, this was worse than my mana reaction.”

Ronan, who had been looking through the past for a moment, smiled bitterly. The time we met was short, but the impression was strong. He remembered Schlieffen’s aura that covered the battlefield.

“He was a great gentleman. There were a few corners where I turned around a bit.”

“Are you talking like you’ve ever met?”

“I met you. To tell you one more thing, I couldn’t pee when the guy in the yangban was next to me.”

“…it would be. By the way, I’m hungry. let’s go eat.”

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Marya took the boys by the hand and headed to the restaurant. They ate one of the island’s specialties, the bull steak, served with raspberry juice.

The three of them toured around the island as if they were sightseeing during the day, and trained for practical exams at night. The two days passed quickly.