Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Hill of Four Seasons (1)
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Ronan and Schlieffen returned straight to the capital after finishing their business. Since they were riding ordinary horses instead of ghost horses, the journey took much longer than the trip to Dahinhar.
It had already been eight days since they'd spent every moment not spent sleeping or eating on horseback. It wouldn't have been surprising if mushrooms had sprouted on their asses. Irritated for no good reason, Ronan poked at Sita, who was dozing in his backpack.
"Hey, you get down and walk too."
"Pweh!"
Sita tossed her head and buried it deep in the backpack. Her haughty attitude suggested she was feeling the heat too.
Even after leaving the desert, the southern swelter hadn't let up. The monotonous landscape of short grass and wasteland stretched on endlessly. Ronan's melting gaze landed on Schlieffen.
"You tough bastard... What're noble crotches made of, steel? Doesn't it hurt?"
"This is nothing."
He maintained his ramrod-straight posture. There was fatigue in his demeanor, but the dignity unique to great nobles showed no signs of wear. Ronan shook his head in exasperation.
"Lucky you. Should've ridden more when I was in the army."
"I'm just worried Iril's portrait might get damaged. Let's pick up the pace."
"You maniac."
Schlieffen pulled out Iril's picture from his shirt pocket every ten minutes to check it. Unable to stand the sight any longer, Ronan yanked his reins.
The horse bolted forward like a shot, overtaking Schlieffen in an instant. Thwack! Ronan's hand shot out like lightning, snatching the picture he'd been staring at.
"Y-You bastard! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Kuhahaha! Precious things vanish like the wind!"
"Stop! If that picture gets damaged, I won't let you off!"
Ronan charged ahead like an imperial cavalryman. Schlieffen, pale-faced, gave chase. Before long, the sword in his hand was morphing into the shape of wind.
"Pweung."
Woken by the commotion, Sita irritably shifted in her sleep. Heat haze bloomed everywhere, heralding late summer. They arrived in the capital on the fifteenth day of their journey.
The first place Ronan headed after returning to the capital was Professor Sepharaccio's office in the Secret Department. He'd gone all the way to a remote place like Dahinhar to get a favor from him in the first place. Ronan glared as he received an unbelievable answer.
"What? He's on vacation?"
With Zarodin absent from his office, he'd had to ask around other students and faculty to find Sepharaccio. Asel, dragged out from home where he'd been reading, hesitated.
"Y-Yeah... It's vacation, after all."
"Damn, where'd that guy with five curses hanging off him run off to?"
"I-I think he said north. For a new curse he'd discovered. He mentioned he'd be back right on the first day of school..."
"Argh, talk about bad luck."
Ronan sighed deeply. This was an unexpected wrinkle. He'd planned to wrap up the favor over summer break, but it looked like he'd have to revise his plans. His gaze drifted to the house behind Asel.
"By the way, how'd the move go?"
"Y-Yeah. Thanks to you."
Asel nodded. The place he and his parents had moved to was none other than next door to Ronan's. For safety and convenience, nothing could beat it.
The move had happened while Ronan and Schlieffen were away in Dahinhar, with club members like Marya and Braum lending a hand. Scratching his head sheepishly, Ronan continued.
"Thanks, my ass. I didn't help at all... So Marya's in the capital now?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Here."
"H-Hyuk?!"
Suddenly, Ronan plunged his hand into Asel's pocket. Asel yelped in surprise. Ronan pulled his hand out and turned away.
"Say hi to your parents for me. I'm off."
"Ro-Ronan. What's this?"
Even after Ronan's hand was gone, there was a thick lump in Asel's pocket. Only after Ronan had left did Asel pull it out and check.
"This...!"
Asel paled and tried to say something, but Ronan was already out of sight. Having heard the news from Asel, Ronan headed straight to the market.
"Money's never a bad thing. Heh."
The goal was to convert Dahinhar spoils into cash. Marya being there meant the Karabel Merchant Group was in town—no worries about getting ripped off.
"Fresh ice! Straight from an 8th-circle ice mage—solid block ice!"
"Something special for you! Five parasols for a single silver coin!"
Despite the melting heat, the market's bustle showed no signs of dying down. It was a stark contrast to the wasteland they'd seen for nearly a month. While searching for the merchant group, a familiar woman caught Ronan's eye.
"Huh?"
Ronan raised an eyebrow. At first, he thought he'd seen wrong. Her disheveled attire didn't match her usual image at all, but her distinctive tanned skin and assertive figure gave her away.
The woman was eating ice cream sandwiched in bread at a street vendor. After she finished even the bread, the vendor clasped his hands and spoke.
"S-Sword Saint... How is it?"
"Former Sword Saint. One more, please."
The vendor's face lit up. She paid with a coin and took the new ice cream. Ronan approached, waving cheerfully.
"Instructor Naviroje!"
"Ronan? Long time no see."
"Almost didn't recognize you. That outfit... It's pretty free-spirited."
Naviroje wore a white sleeveless blouse and black wide pants. Her bare shoulders drew stares from passersby. Truly avant-garde—maybe it'd be accepted in a couple centuries.
"What's it matter? As long as it's comfy for me."
"Fair enough. I like that about you, Instructor."
"Perfect timing—I was looking for you. Come here."
"Pardon?"
Naviroje took a bite of her ice cream and beckoned. As Ronan tilted his head and approached—Crack! Her hand shot out like a striking snake, grabbing his ear and twisting.
"Gyaack! Why, why?!"
"Why? You think it's okay to not greet your master before vacation?"
"You heard from Senior Adeshan!"
"Words mean something when said in person. You little punk."
Ronan screamed loud enough to shake the market. The twist suggested she was genuinely hurt. She ignored the gathering stares.
"If you want atonement, head to Gallerion Hall now. Adeshan's been grinding away at training every day, saying she'll show you something."
"What? Senior's already back?"
"Yeah. She's waiting for you, so be nice. Got it?"
"Got it. Damn, let go already!"
Ronan nodded frantically. Naviroje finally released him. As she wiped ice cream from her chest, she spoke.
"Anyway, glad you look healthy. I can see your skills have improved. If you'd brought your sword, we could've sparred."
"Damn... But I brought a gift for you, Instructor. This is no way to treat me."
"A gift?"
"Here."
Ronan shoved something into her hand. Naviroje's eyes widened. A black mana stone from Dahinhar sparkled in her palm.
"...Where'd you get this?"
"Just take it. I'll probably owe you more in the future. See ya!"
"Wait, hold on...!"
Ronan had already vanished into the crowd. For a moment, she considered activating All-Seeing Eye to catch him, but let it go. Fiddling with the stone, Naviroje chuckled dryly.
"...What a guy."
Ronan sold ten Dahinhar mana stones to the Karabel Merchant Group where Marya was, then headed home. He had over a hundred left, but they couldn't pay more upfront, so he settled for that. The father-daughter duo's bug-eyed reaction was quite the spectacle.
"...Dahinhar mana stones, indeed. Top-grade ones too... Asking how you got them would be pointless, huh?"
"Pretty much."
"Understood... We'll be on our way soon, so we'll send the payment to your place. Care to lead the Karabel Group with my daughter someday?"
"Dad, please!"
Marya, blushing furiously, tackled Duon. Ronan belatedly realized it was a marriage proposal push.
Ronan explained the most effective spots to strike for pain, then left. A fancy staff was now in his hand.
His destination: Gallerion Hall. Instructor Naviroje's usual class spot, Arena 1.
Clang! Scraaaape!
Thud!
Bustling noise reached him before entering the arena. Opening the door revealed a girl fighting two magitech knights. Ronan muttered in admiration.
"Looks like she's grown taller..."
The rumor that girls shot up fast seemed true. Adeshan didn't notice Ronan enter, fully focused on training.
Her ponytail whipped with every move. Sweat glistened on her pale nape. Dodging the knights' fierce assaults effortlessly, she seemed to have eyes everywhere.
Unlike Ronan's evasion based on innate reflexes and dynamic vision, she predicted the future with her unique insight. Ronan frowned at the crossbow in her hand.
"Hmm... Bad matchup."
The all-black crossbow, from stock to string, was a new weapon from Doron. Even Ronan thought it solid. If she mastered shooting, it would synergize massively with her movement control.
But not against magitech knights—they weren't living beings, so shadow mana didn't work.
Whoosh! A knight behind her swung vertically downward. Adeshan rolled sideways in a hurry. Clang! Sparks flew as the blade hit the floor.
"Ngh...!"
Scrambling up, Adeshan aimed at the downward-swinging knight, who still hadn't recovered, exposing a gap.
Calmly targeting its head, she pulled the trigger. The bolt hit dead-on. Boom! A small explosion tilted the knight backward.
Thud! Smoke poured from its eye sockets as it collapsed, emitting a mechanical voice.
"Yes...!"
The knight froze. Adeshan pumped her fist in triumph. That's when the knight in her blind spot swung.
"Ah...!"
Lost in victory, she hadn't seen it. The blade was already upon her—too close to dodge or block. As she squeezed her eyes shut—Clang! A loud metallic ring, followed by the knight's voice.
"...Huh?"
Adeshan cautiously opened her eyes. Thud! The staggering knight crumpled. A white dagger was embedded in the thin joint between its neck and torso. A familiar voice called from afar.
"Senior, long time no see."
"Ah, Ronan!"
Adeshan's face lit up. Ronan sauntered over and yanked Imir from the knight. Whistling at the one she'd downed, he said,
"Not bad at shooting? Gave me a scare."
"Mm... Still not enough. I almost got done in just now."
"No, seriously. Not anyone could do that."
Ronan nodded at the knight. Her bolt was perfectly in its eye socket—a finger-width gap. Hard even from a stance in calm conditions; in a melee, it took more than effort.
"Anyway, you're tanned dark. Like a rascal."
"It was hot. But compared to the locals, I'm a snowman."
"True. No injuries? You really went all the way to Dahinhar?"
Suddenly, Adeshan leaned in close—breath-touching distance. Scrutinizing his face, she pulled back in panic.
"Hah...! Sorry. I must stink of sweat...!"
"It's fine. Got time? Am I interrupting?"
"No, I was about to take a break."
"Perfect. Here."
Ronan nodded and offered the staff. It looked like something for nobles. Adeshan tilted her head.
"Looks expensive... Why give this to me all of a sudden...?"
"A gift. For smart people. Grip the handle tight?"
"Okay?"
She did. Shrrrrk! Seams appeared on the smooth surface, extending into a 2-meter steel serpent. Adeshan's eyes went wide.
"Wh-Whip? This is a whip?!"
"Knew it. Try swinging it hard and yelling 'You filthy pig!'"
"Uuuuh...?"
"Suits you perfectly. Word spreads, and guys might line up to get hit."
Adeshan groaned in bewilderment. Ronan hadn't chosen the whip just for her brains. A tall, aloof beauty needed to wield one. Long leather boots would perfect it. Fumbling with it, she said,
"Don't get it, but... I'll use it well. Thanks."
"Good. Finish training? I'm stiff too."
"Sure. But first, come somewhere with me? It's on campus—not far."
"Huh? Where?"
Ronan raised an eyebrow. Adeshan hesitated, then spoke.
"...Hill of Four Seasons. I have something to tell you.