Academy’s Genius Swordsman

< 97. Shoot at the Dawn (10) >

#97

“Isn’t it a very nice house to live in?”

Ronan smiled as he brushed his wet hair from the seawater. His darkened eyes were regaining their original color. Vajura’s desperate screams echoed in his head.

【aah! Whoa!]

“Be friendly. And, fool, how could I have found you at the altar?”

Ronan giggled. The fact that Vajura was trying to fix things with hallucinations had been noticed from the beginning. Because Vajura, who stood still and allowed to attack, did not see any sparkling mana at all.

However, it was truly fortunate that the gambler of giving up his body worked. In the past, it was an impromptu operation inspired by an incident where Jarrodin nearly died while trying to heal his mana incapacity.

‘How the hell did it turn out to be a curse?’

A piece of a curse the size of a chick’s eye almost killed the former Top Mage. The original curses were infested with it, so it would be difficult to deal with even the devil’s book.

I thought about trying it the first time we met, but at that time, Vajura’s power was so strong that I couldn’t dare. Recounting the situation at the time, Ronan sighed in relief.

‘I was almost fucked.’

Various luck overlapped and was able to win. It would not have been an exaggeration to say that we would have lost unconditionally if we had not inflicted a fatal wound on the main body hidden in the altar.

The eastern sky was brightening. A red energy was swirling over the horizon lined with low clouds.

Ronan thrust the La Mancha into the sheath and turned his head. The Tower of Dawn, which rose on the land in the distance, looked just like a huge lighthouse.

‘Is the fire extinguished?’

The fire that soared in the garden had faded away. The embers that hinted that a great fire had started were receding along with the wind. It was the moment Ronan was just starting to stretch. Vajura’s silent voice resounded in his head.

[…] Do you think you will be beaten like this!]

“Wow!”

Ronan, who suddenly felt severe nausea, covered his mouth. Something like black mist escaped and disappeared through the gap between my fingers. Vajura’s consciousness was trying to escape his body.

“The tenacious bastard…!”

Ronan bit his cheek strongly. Hot blood gushed out. He swallowed the energy of Vajura that lingered in his mouth along with his blood.

【Heo Eok…!】

The nausea that had been dense up to the neck was gone. Vajura, who had been screaming again, shouted desperately.

【Hey, hey! Listen to me! Don’t you want to become a swordsman who will leave a mark on the world?!]

“not really.”

【Foolish···! Wouldn’t you like to decorate the walls with Navardoze’s head? Wouldn’t you like to see the Emperor kiss the back of your feet? If you hold hands with me, it is possible. You have the potential to cut down even that sky!]

The presence of Vajura was rapidly fading. Seeing him teasing his tongue, the situation inside was quite bad. By the way, there is a possibility that even the sky will be cut down. Ronan, who had been reminiscing about his past life for a moment, smiled.

“I know. I will do that.”

【What…!】

“So, I don’t need your help.”

【Now, wait a minute…! If that’s the case, then this is…

The voice was cut off. Finally, there was no reply from the last scream. Before long, the presence of Vajura disappeared. Ronan realized instinctively that his ego had completely vanished.

“Um?”

Ronan, who suddenly felt a strange sense of alienation, tilted his head. Inside my left chest, I felt something pulsing with a different beat than my heart.

I concentrated on whether something like Vajura’s thoughts remained, but I didn’t notice any suspicious energy. Ronan, feeling a bit embarrassed, frowned.

“Damn, what is this?”

When I put my hand on my chest, I could only feel my heart beating a little faster than usual. The sense of alienation had disappeared without a trace. Ronan shrugged and spit out the blood remaining in his mouth.

‘It won’t be a big deal.’

Hugh! A ball of blood that was blown away by the sea breeze fell on a book lying on the reef. It was the body of the forbidden book Vajura that drove the continent into fear.

“…is it just a book now?”

Ronan picked up Vajura. From the cover to the inside, the book was all black and drenched in blood.

I looked around the interior once, but there was no such thing as a gloomy voice or the tentacles gushing out. However, the completely incomprehensible content and the sparkling mana exuding from the pure white text still bothered Ronan.

‘A book written by the devil.’

The author of Vajura of Destruction was known as the Devil. And the presence of Nebula Clazier was strong in Vajura.

‘Somewhere there must be a useful place.’

I felt as if I was approaching a huge secret. Ronan rolled up the raging vajura and put it in the back pocket of his pants. It was the perfect place for a garbage book.

“Uhhh.”

Then, from somewhere, a groan of pain was heard. Ronan looked down in the direction of the sound. Lardan, the top lord, who was lying at his feet, was wriggling.

“Okay, calm down, sir.”

“My, am I speaking voluntarily right now…?”

“sure. I’m glad I didn’t die. After all, I went through all the hardships, but if you go away, it won’t be a problem.”

Lardan opened his eyes. His eyes, freed from the control of Vajura, were bright blue. Lardan, who was unable to control his body, eventually got Ronan’s support and raised his upper body.

“Thank you.”

“Where can I tell you? You ate it so fancy.”

“You don’t have to explain. Because I’ve seen it all.”

“Did you see it?”

“okay. Nothing left behind.”

Lardan’s gaze remained on the waves crashing against the reef. He remembered all that Vajura had done with his body.

Laardan explained that from last winter when he was devoured to today, he endured almost a year with a clear mind.

“I had to see all the evil that that demon did with my body. Every day was hell. If my heart is the same, I want to throw myself right away.”

“I’m sure you won’t do that kind of bullshit.”

Ronan said as a warning. Just thinking about the hard work he had to do to be captured, veins welled up on his forehead. Moreover, he still had work to do. lardan said.

“Of course I know I have to take responsibility. Although it will be difficult as a top owner.”

“What is that… ah.”

Ronan stopped talking. Come to think of it, he didn’t feel any mana from Laardan, who had regained his body.

It was not at the level of simply being weakened. He looked at his chest with his eyes squinted, but the rings were not visible because they had to surround his heart. Ronan understood the situation and twisted his lips.

“shit.”

“Don’t worry. Just saving lives is enough. On the contrary, it seems to see the world clearly, so it’s not too bad.”

Lardan brushed his beard and smiled. It wasn’t just the body that Vajura had stolen from him. Ronan asked.

“Aren’t you angry? It’s mana that I’ve built up my whole life.”

“Again, I am satisfied with just saving my life. Do you know how many ghosts I’ve heard screams while being possessed by that demon? I’m willing to tongue-clean your shoes, just that you don’t end up with them.”

“That’s what I don’t like.”

Ronan chuckled. For a person who had lost almost everything, he was too resolute and cheerful. Lardan was no longer a wizard.

I suddenly had a question. Where did all the power that Vajura has accumulated over the years gone? While thinking for a while, Laardan, who was looking at the Tower of Dawn, opened his mouth.

“…what is that? Can you see it?”

“What?”

“He’s coming from the horse tower over there.”

Ronan looked in the direction Laardan was pointing. As he said, something shiny from afar was fast approaching. Recognizing the clear outline, Ronan frowned.

“···A wolf?”

A huge wolf was running over the sea. Every time the squishy soles hit the water surface, splashes of water were bouncing brightly. The reddish-yellow fur, like the sand of the desert, was clearly visible even in the dark.

“Hey, what is it really?”

Ronan placed his hand on the hilt. The height of the body alone seemed to be enough to be 4m. Whoa! The wolf, which reached Ronan’s eyes in an instant, raised a long ridge and stopped. A familiar voice came out through the torn snout.

“Ronan-sama, you are safe!”

“…Aire?”

“Yes, I’m here to pick you up!”

Surprisingly, the wolf was speaking in Ayre’s voice. Ronan noticed that it was her true face. There must have been a reason why the library didn’t show it.

Ayre told me that the firefighting work had been completed, and that there were some wounded but no fatalities. Ronan sighed in relief when he heard that Aun Pil was also safe.

“It’s nice. What happened in the Vault?”

“Ah, that’s it!”

Ayre’s voice brightened. Aun Pillar and she said that the moment they separated from Ronan, they were transferred to a completely different place. Clearing her throat once, she continued.

“I still can’t believe it. The forbidden zone suddenly shook, and when you opened your eyes, you saw that you were standing on a hill far away from the tower. But it’s weird, isn’t it? I obviously couldn’t get out of the Tower of Dawn… The seal had been lifted, what was it?!”

“Congratulations. So, speak slowly.”

“I don’t know if it’s freedom that has been restored after hundreds of years! Oh, this air! This sea water!”

Seeing that his voice became too lively, he seemed quite happy. Ayre spun around the reef as if she still couldn’t believe reality.

It seems that Vajura forcibly ripped off the seal. She suddenly made eye contact with Lardan and jumped out of place.

“Ta, ta, top lord?!”

“…a long time ago. I don’t have a face to raise my face, so please don’t stare so intently.”

“Wait, are you okay? I must have been attacked by Vajura…!”

“I am fine. This boy saved me. Vajura is gone.”

lardan said with a wink to Ronan. When Ayre heard that Vajura had disappeared, the hairs all over her body stood up.

“Bah, did you say that Vajura disappeared? Maybe it’s Ronan-sama…?”

“Well, that’s right.”

“Such nonsense…! Here, take a ride. If you stay in a place like this, you will catch a cold.”

Ayre bowed her head. Ronan rode on her back with Lardan. As soon as she grabbed the soft neck, Aire spurted out the water and set off.

‘It’s over.’

The sea breeze blowing over my bangs was refreshing. The ride wasn’t great, but I felt comfortable.

Ronan turned his head when he saw the golden pagoda. The clouds that had been caught on the horizon disappeared from place to place, and only the clear dawn was left, rising and scattering light into the world.

‘It was long.’

Ronan quietly closed his eyes. A lot had happened, but the sun came up anyway. The low wave castle signaled that the four-day journey had come to an end.

****

“There, make sure there are no embers left in the ground!”

“Ah, Ill-hong Rotenberg. I’m glad I’m alive…!”

Ronan soon arrived at the Tower of Dawn. The wizards who overcame the longest night since the founding of the tower were in the midst of recovering from the damage caused by the fire. Some found the embers by digging through the ashes with a pitchfork, while others were able to sift out plants that still had living roots.

‘There was a vault over there. It doesn’t look like it’s stuck in the tower somehow.’

On the northwest side of the garden was a huge hole, which appeared to be 15 m in diameter. It was the trace of a series of explosions of high-level flame magic, including Hell Prominence.

“Nancy. Come on!”

Smoke was still rising from the hole. The salamander Nancy, who was raised in the tower, was busy moving and eating residual fire.

Ronan looked down the hole and shrugged his eyebrows. As Ayre said, there were hardly any remains that the books had been slaughtered.

‘Looks like you really got it. A great librarian.’

Aire explained that as soon as the seal was released, she returned to the tower and saved the burning books. About 30% of the books in the same space as Vajura were burned down on the spot, but thanks to the swift action, most of the forbidden books in the labyrinth were able to be retrieved.

It was a good thing. Although they were evil books, they were books that had the potential to contribute to the development of magic.

After dropping Ronan and Lardan, she set off in search of Aun Pillar. He said he’d be back soon, but seeing that he hasn’t come yet, he must have been quite busy with work.

Well, it’s worth it. As I was walking through the garden with my luggage behind me, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

“Ronan-sama!”

“Erzebet?”

Ronan turned his head. Erzebet in a school uniform was standing there. Seeing Zion de Grancia holding her hand tightly, Ronan laughed.

“When did you become so close?”

“…I will explain later. Ms. Shion, I’m going to the adults for a moment. Do you know where it is?”

“yes. sister.”

Shion obediently took a step back. After walking about ten steps, she turned and looked at Ronan again. And he bowed his head and said hello.

“Thank you.”

“ok? Uh, yes.”

Ronan suddenly waved his hand. Zion headed to the tower again. Erzebet, who was watching him, murmured dissatisfied.

“I really need to teach the etiquette again. What do you do when a nobleman greets you like that?”

“It was a lot of trouble. He said he had a hard time last night.”

“It was nothing.”

Aire talked about her activities while coming to the tower. Erzebet shook her head softly.

Even if he hadn’t slept for three days, he was so exhausted that he could believe it, but his characteristic nose was still upright. Denying her achievements, she asked in a confused voice.

“By the way, what the hell happened? I saw it all last night. With some old man . . .”

“I will explain later. It’s a bit long.”

“···like. Even so, what is the wound? Aren’t you sick?”

“wound?”

“yes. It’s on the back of the neck. It looks very painful.”

I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about. Ronan rubbed the back of his neck. As she said, she felt a different touch than usual.

When I took it off again, the palm of my hand was soaked with blood and ooze. Ronan’s eyes widened.

“Inflammation…!”

Suddenly, a terrible pain ran through my body. It was a burning pain from the back of the back to the waist.

Ronan took off the shirt he was wearing and threw it away. Erzebet, startled by the sudden action, covered her face with both hands.

“Lo, Ronan-sama?!”

“Damn it, it hurts so badly.”

“Are you sick? What a… heck!”

Seeing Ronan with her fingers slightly spread, she screamed. Reddish burns covered his well-trained upper body.

“Oh, that wound…!”

“Hey, that’s why I had to know how to do elementalization or something.”

He didn’t notice it at all until Erzebet spoke. It was a wound he had suffered while fighting Vajura.

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Most likely it would have occurred when following teleportation using flames. Erzebet, who became white, hurriedly shouted.

“Do not speak. Gee, I’m calling someone now!”

“Wait… Try this first.”

Ronan shook his head and pulled out three potions from his coat pocket. It was an item I received from Baren before coming to the Tower of Dawn.

“I still wanted to test the efficacy. It’s new.”

“Experiment?”

Erzebet asked, as if in shock. I couldn’t believe that I was thinking such a thing while suffering such a serious injury.

After taking the lids off the two bottles, Ronan began to apply the potion to his affected area. aa feeling like the spring breeze dries up the sweat and the burns started to heal as if they were washed away.

“It kills the effect.”

“Oh my gosh···! Uh, which workshop was it made in?”

“A talking lion.”

Erzebet’s eyes widened. A potion with such a quick effect had never been seen in the Acalusia family medical center. Then Ronan handed her a bottle of potion and said,

“Put some on your back.”

“I, me?!”

“Yeah, I can’t reach it. You can do that with friends.”

Ronan didn’t feel a single emotion in Ronan’s tone of voice in such a request. Erzebet, who had hesitated, nodded her head.

“Joe, good. If you can’t reach it, you can’t apply it. there’s nothing we can do.”

After taking a deep breath, she began to apply the potion to the affected area on her back. This was the first time I had touched a man’s bare skin. The stone-hard texture, which was distinctly different from his own or Adeshan, made his head dizzy.

“···what?”

At that moment, Erzebet, who was rubbing under the left scapula, stopped her hand. I could feel a deep energy that had not been detected in the existing Ronan pulsing in my body. she asked, tilting her head.

“Ronan.”

“what’s the matter?”

“…Did you have the original core?”