How the Shadow of the Marquis Lives

Episode 48

Xian, Ran, and Yuseol left the annex side by side.

All three were not in a good mood. Suddenly, a senior called me, so I wondered and came, and it was such a business.

Ran frowned and scratched the nape of her neck as she spoke.

“Whoa… … sorry. Kurgan is such a guy.”

“What are you talking about?”

Xian asked at Ran’s words.

“He’s someone I’ve known since long ago, but he tends to do things without any countermeasures. Even if you see this, the bastard must have instigated it.”

From what I’ve heard, it seems like we’ve known each other for a long time. Does it feel like a childhood friend?

“You don’t have to apologize. It seems that my older brother was also instigated.”

“Brother, are you acquainted with that guy named Damian?”

“What is it?”

“Huh… … Well, since they are all family members, isn’t it strange that we’ve known each other since we were little?”

Ran muttered that and looked at Yuseol next to him, twitching his eyebrows.

“Anyway, what were you hesitating about? You have to refuse properly so this won’t happen again.”

“… … .”

Yu Seol averted his gaze without a word.

Ran clicked his tongue at that attitude that seemed to be pouting.

“They said she was your real sister, did you find any weakness in her? Did you get caught peeing on the blanket when you were little?”

“… … It’s not like that.”

“No what. It’s wrinkled like a frog in front of a snake.”

“… … .”

There was no answer from Yoo Seol.

Looking at it, it seems that the purring lips do not mean that they do not have something to say.

But in the end, we didn’t talk.

“Tsk.”

Ran clicked her tongue and shut her mouth.

It seemed that he was content with expressing his dissatisfaction.

Xian glanced at her.

Specifically, the ring she is wearing.

“You’re still 292nd.”

“ah? what is it After that, Dalian didn’t do anything.”

“If it were you, wouldn’t it be easy to get second or third place?”

“Not ‘second or third,’ but first or second.”

Xian and Yuseol opened their mouths almost simultaneously at Ran’s blunt words.

“No, 1st place is impossible.”

“… … It wouldn’t be second place.”

In an instant, a tingling air passed between the three of them.

Ran laughed and said.

“Hey, Sian. Do you still see me as that girl in the early days of school? Don’t you know that our Howol people grow differently day by day? And Yuseol, you haven’t even had a chat with me, so you’re full of confidence?”

“It’s like a normal kid’s way of thinking. The point where you think only you can grow.”

“Even if you don’t say it, you can tell at least the long and short ones.”

“… … Whoa. What is it, you?”

Ran’s eyes narrowed. she raised her spirits

I could feel the wild mana unique to a beastman who seemed to have no intention of hiding it.

“Should the three of us play a game at this point?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

A cold aura began to permeate around Yu Seol. It was said that he had entered a combat stance.

And Xian, too, released the energy of the night from the spirit imprint.

Eventually it took the form of a sword and was placed in his hand.

“That’s good.”

There is something that the three seniors, including Damian, did not know. There was no need to call and fight.

Even if they don’t, these three are always full of hearts.

* * *

bang! Ran kicked the ground and rushed at Xian.

Sensitive and multifaceted explosive power enough to feel pain in everyday life, there was no weapon as good as this in combat.

Without killing the explosive power at all, she threw out her fist.

Caan-!

Xian’s black sword blocked that fist.

The sword swayed slightly at the blow, which had more power than I could have imagined.

And then, Yu Seol poured his magic on those two.

Ice rain poured down.

Wide-area magic filled with the will to bury both of them.

“Tsk.”

“… … .”

Ran clicked his tongue in the pouring rain of ice and fell.

Xian also pulled away and got out of the range of magic.

Right after that, he immediately ran toward Yu Seol.

After all, the first thing to catch is the judgment of the rearguard.

At the same time, Ran also rushed at Yoo Seol, probably thinking the same thing.

[ Hwangsanmu (散花舞) ]

Yuseol seemed to spin around his body, but the energy of the two spilled out and bounced backwards with the flow.

As expected of a skilled mage, the countermeasures to widen the distance in close combat seemed sufficient.

“I think I will miss it!”

Ran growled loudly and chased after Yoo Seol. Her eyes were split vertically like those of a beast of prey.

Bondi beasts tend to gain more momentum when chasing fleeing prey.

“… … .”

[ Heavenly Sword – True ]

Xian instantly changed his target and aimed for the back of Ran’s head.

A slash that quietly flies.

For an instant, Ran’s ears pricked up, and he looked behind him hastily.

Slowly a beat, she checked Xian’s sword.

“You coward!”

Of course, Xian didn’t even snort. It’s cowardly to fight, and where is it?

Ran hurriedly raised his hand to block Xian’s sword, but unfortunately, the magic of rumors was also flying from behind.

A giant ice sphere.

This time, it was a great magic, as if he was going to send Ran as well as Xian.

‘To escape.’

Ran instinctively jumped to the side. A single life to avoid attacks from both sides.

Wow!

“evil!”

However, the aftermath could not be avoided. Ran’s body fell backwards.

Still, the damage isn’t great. Ran groaned and stood up.

But, I woke up and looked to the side.

“Hey, why are you down?”

“… … Because I was right.”

Wasn’t it lying near Yuseoldo?

Ran looked at her with a puzzled expression, then turned to look at Xian.

Attacking yourself, destroying Yu Xue’s magic at the same time, and even hitting Yu Xue himself?

Cheer up!

In Xi’an’s hand, the spear was returning to its original form with a rustling sound.

Ran narrowed her eyes.

“Private sword… … .”

A deformed weapon that cannot be established without borrowing the power of magic.

With that wide range, it blew away not only Ran but also rumors all at once.

The ice sphere that Yoo Seol shot was scattered around Xian, as if it were natural.

When did you acquire and learn such a weapon?

As it is a deformed weapon, it will never be easy to use.

“Write… … .”

“… … .”

Ran and Yu-seol’s eyes met for a very brief moment.

In a three-way battle situation, there are usually only two choices.

One is to find the weakest and work together, and the other is to find and work together with the strongest.

In this situation, the former was ambiguous, but the latter was clear.

“Is it over?”

The faces of the two hardened at Xian’s question.

The two joined forces this time and rushed at Xian.

There was no agreement whatsoever, but that’s how it moved. I think that’s the only way to win this fight.

A huge forged ice spear shot from Yu Seol’s hand.

And at the same time, Ran rushed at Xian in the opposite direction.

perfect embossing.

Watching the ice spear fly away, Ran adjusted his speed.

For the most difficult timing, when Chang and himself reach Xian at the same time.

“… … .”

Xian frowned.

Ran’s intentions were successful, so neither Chang nor Ran could neglect any of them.

What Xian chose was to run himself as well.

When the enemy presses on both sides like this, it is right to break through one side without thinking about avoiding it clumsily.

With that thought in mind, I ran toward Yu Seol.

[ Sangcheon Sword – Island ]

thud!

His body was quickly shot at Yoo Seol.

All the ice spears and follow-up magic that passed in the middle were being cut off by the black sword.

Even with her eyes wide open, Yoo Seol did not avoid her body.

Xian’s eyes sank.

‘I’m counting on Ran coming from behind.’

Originally, she would have avoided her body long ago, but now she is focusing on developing new magic rather than avoiding it.

In order to catch the cyan as bait for themselves.

There’s no reason to refuse when you say you’ll give me a distance. In response, Xian slashed her magic and dug into her arms.

Then, he managed to break through Yu Seol’s defense and put a sword to her throat.

“It’s behind you!”

Ran shouted for joy inside and swung his fist at Xian.

Xian half turned to look at Ran.

It seems that it is true that he has definitely grown according to his own words.

It’s to the point that I’m following the ‘island’ that I couldn’t even see properly before.

[Voice Fist (虎格拳)]

She pushed more mana into her fist. Randomly exploding mana.

Without deliberately controlling it, she dictated the regime.

“… … .”

Xian had only two choices.

Either escape while freeing the suppressed Yuseol, or get hit by that beast-like fist.

The regime rushing towards his back.

Ran’s eyes were full of victorious energy. Even if it was a joint effort between the two, a victory is a victory.

Quaang-!

However, that fist was always blocked by Xian’s sword.

Ran opened her eyes wide.

“You, when the hell… … .”

“… … .”

Yoo Seol also made a surprised expression.

He is obviously overpowering himself with a single sword. Therefore, I thought that the only way to avoid Ran’s attack was to get out of my body.

Before he knew it, he had another sword in his hand.

The sword he held in reverse blocked Ran’s fist.

sword wheel.

The dual wielding swordsmanship wasn’t his main focus, but it’s not like there aren’t times when it’s useful.

like now.

―Hey… … .

―Is the level high enough?

In that situation that was fixed for a while, the three of them finally looked around.

There were quite a few onlookers as if their sparring attracted people.

“after.”

Xian let out a small sigh and retrieved both swords that were aimed at Yuseol and Ran.

Ran also lowered his fist.

He looked dissatisfied, but the wrinkles between his brows were slightly relaxed.

‘It was this guy after all… … .’

She sighed inwardly.

In the infirmary right after fighting the guy the other day, at that time, she was able to rest her eyes comfortably for the first time in a long time.

The sensitive mana that normally explodes with the slightest touch was very stable at that time.

‘It’s a different feeling than when I fought with my father.’

When she sparring with her father, she releases most of the explosive power inside her body.

No, it diverges. Thoroughly, as if not leaving a single drop of physical strength or mana.

Until that happens, Gen Asla will not release her daughter from Dalian.

However, the sparring with Xian was not like that.

Even though it was not, strangely, the mana was calmed down.

I don’t know what the hell this is… … .

‘Should I go and meet my father?’

I thought I wouldn’t go back until vacation, but that thought has changed now.

She doesn’t know what this phenomenon is or how it affects her practice. I needed to ask my dad and get his advice.

Her face contorted slightly.

Dad, the thought of seeing Gen Asla already gave me a headache.

‘I shouldn’t have given it this far.’

Meanwhile, Yu Seol was stroking the nape of the neck where the sword had been pushed.

It is true that he deliberately set himself up as bait to make Ran’s attack a hit.

But no matter how lure it is, this isn’t it. Giving his head to the enemy was a sure mistake.

If it had been a real battle, my throat would have already been blown off.

“draft… … You are really strong.”

Yoo Seol muttered and said so.

Then he closed his mouth again.

He was expressionless as usual, but if it wasn’t because of his mood, he looked very angry.

[The winter snake’s eyes shine.]

[I am impressed that it is a skill that is hard to see for my age.]

Psyche’s thoughts that only she could hear were talking about that.

When she was in Glacier Baengnyeong, it was a thought that only laughed and giggled at anyone, even at her own achievements.

It was really the first time I had ever heard that Psyche was admiring someone.

‘It’s okay.’

Contrary to them, Xian was in a pretty good mood.

I felt like I was moving my body properly for the first time in a while.

‘Yeomno told me not to be burdened with attending the academy.’

It was to buy time until Chesha officially became the successor anyway, so he told me to enjoy it comfortably.

It doesn’t matter if I just drop out.

But Xian had no such intention.

‘It’s not easy to find an opponent like this.’

Where would you find an opponent of this level of sparring, especially an opponent of someone your age who is growing fast, outside the academy?

It is not easy to obtain this kind of stimulation unless it is Everwhale.

“Revenge is always welcome.”

With only one word left, Xian left.

* * *

“Hmm.”

He was among the figures watching them.

Kurgan Delphi.

The leader of the Beast Guild, and a Beastman student who holds the ring of the 3rd and 4th rank.

He took some of his close friends and juniors to watch the recent sparring.

“Lan is a little… … No, it’s a bit pushed back.”

“I mean.”

On the other hand, while spouting words of regret at the words of his junior, his eyes sparkled even more than before.

It’s true that Ran was pushed back by Xian, but that doesn’t mean that Ran’s level has fallen.

It’s just that Xian was so strong and seasoned that it made me wonder if he was really his age.

‘Yuseol was also quite a child.’

Not only the two, but also Yu Seol was a considerable skill.

To be honest, the opponent he would meet on the battlefield seemed even more difficult than Xian.

Wizards were originally beings whose true value was displayed on the battlefield.

“Still, the level of this first grader is quite good! It would be nice to have a welcome party!”

The juniors asked at Kurgan’s words, laughing loudly.

“A welcome party? Are you really doing that?”

“Didn’t you just say something?”

“Of course not! Originally, the welcome party for freshmen is held by the seniors!”

“Um… … Shall we find a good store?”

Kurgan roughly stroked the head of the junior who was talking like that.

Seeing the junior who was disgusted and shaking his hand, he laughed and talked.

“What do you mean by store? Speaking of a welcome party, isn’t it a treasure hunt from ancient times!”

Kurgan’s words made the juniors look puzzled.

treasure hunt?