Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Festival of Swords (7)
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“Only one passed?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. This was pretty shocking news. Even six had seemed too few, as he’d said. Letting out a dry chuckle, he asked the guide.
“Damn, what the hell did they do?”
“I don’t know the details. But my friend who brought the news was pale as a ghost. Something bad must’ve happened.”
The guide clicked his tongue. Ronan pressed him a few more times, but he just kept repeating that he didn’t know. It felt like he was deliberately hiding something, but there were no grounds to interrogate him.
Before long, the base camp where the passers would stay for two days came into view. It was a space that seemed pieced together from only the most important buildings of a village. Ronan, Schlieffen, and the girl headed to the restaurant as if by prior agreement. They hadn’t eaten anything all day, and their stomachs felt like they were glued to their backbones.
The restaurant, like the other buildings in the base, was built of logs. According to the guide, you could have as much roast boar and beer as you wanted—exactly the kind of place Ronan liked.
As he pushed open the door, a wave of warmth and delicious aromas washed over him. Inside the spacious building, around twenty people were already eating. Judging by their excited chatter, they seemed to be passers from another group. Ronan’s gaze swept the room and stopped on a familiar face.
“Well, well.”
Ronan let out a dry chuckle. Naviroje was sitting at a table for six in a sunny spot, waiting for her food.
Despite the good lighting and space, no one was sitting near her. Her nearly two-meter greatsword, Urusa, was the only thing leaning casually against the chair beside her, guarding the seat. Ronan could guess why no one approached. Cupping his hand to his mouth, he called out loudly.
“Instructor Naviroje!”
“...You just got here?”
Naviroje looked up. Naturally, she didn’t seem injured anywhere. She looked a bit gaunt from hunger, same as them. Suddenly spotting her, the girl’s mouth fell open in admiration.
“Wow, she’s huge.”
“Huh?”
Naviroje tilted her head. She clearly hadn’t expected the comment to be about her. The girl yanked free of Ronan’s grip on her collar and scampered over to Naviroje. Looking up at her, she said.
“Hug me.”
“Wait, what are you—”
Naviroje looked flustered, but the girl was relentless. Like a rabbit, she hopped up onto Naviroje’s lap. Seeing the girl bury her face in Naviroje’s bosom, Ronan clenched his fist in shock.
“That’s so improper...!”
“So fluffy.”
The girl started rubbing her face against Naviroje’s chest like a cat. It was too intense to dismiss as mere childish antics. Stunned, Naviroje turned to Ronan.
“Ronan. What’s with this kid?”
“She’s a pervert wearing a child’s skin. Better exterminate her quick.”
“Hmm...?”
A vein throbbed at Ronan’s temple. He hated the bewitching little brat, and he hated himself even more for genuinely envying her.
Damn. Jealous.
He knew exactly what monstrous thing lurked inside that shirt, which only made it worse. Whether she saw it as innocent childishness or was just used to it as a woman, Naviroje showed no particular reaction. Instead, she began gently stroking the girl’s head as if she were adorable.
Shitty life. Should’ve been born a girl. Hearing Ronan’s answer, Naviroje raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t joke around. You two seem pretty close.”
“Well... she’s a fellow participant...”
Ronan scratched his head. Come to think of it, he’d never even asked her name since they met. He poked the back of the girl, who was still nuzzling away contentedly.
“Hey, now that I think about it, what’s your name?”
“Tch, what?”
The girl turned her head. Her voice had an oddly snappish edge, like she was annoyed at the interruption during her fun. After a long silence, she finally spoke.
“Rin.”
“Short name. No family name?”
“Nope. Wait a bit—I’ll spoil you later.”
“...Crazy bitch.”
Ronan shook his head. She’d been consistently shameless since they met. Rin, huh—a very exotic-sounding name. With her unusual looks, was she not from the Empire? Naviroje chuckled as she stroked Rin.
“You’ve made an interesting connection.”
“Yeah... I guess you could say that. But you don’t seem surprised?”
“The world’s full of geniuses.”
Fair enough—Naviroje was a legend who’d roamed battlefields since she was a snot-nosed kid. She glanced back and forth between Ronan and Schlieffen, flashing a smile.
“That said, the first test was pretty rough, but you handled it well. Expected from you two, though.”
“Wasn’t that hard. But something wrong? You look kinda down.”
Ronan asked worriedly. He’d noticed it earlier—there was a strange gloom on Naviroje’s face. She let out a soft sigh before speaking.
“Sigh... No bold swordsman came at me. I figured at least one would.”
“...What lunatic in the world challenges a former Sword Saint?”
She needed some self-objectification. Ronan could imagine how the first test had gone down. Most probably screamed and fled just from eye contact.
“That’s one part where I miss the old days. Every step I took, someone would pick a fight and challenge me. Their dying screams still echo in my ears.”
“Right. Participants can challenge each other to duels now, yeah?”
“Yep. First test’s over, so it’s allowed. If there’s someone you don’t like, go cut loose. One of the few places you can legally kill.”
“Hoo...”
Intriguing info. He’d come here to recruit decent comrades in the first place—nothing beat a duel for gauging skill. Ronan swept his gaze slyly around the restaurant interior, a wicked smile on his lips. Those who met his eyes flinched like they’d been shocked.
Not me. Please not me.
Ronan was in the middle of scouting talent when a familiar voice came from behind.
“Hey, got a minute?”
“Huh?”
Ronan turned. And froze in place. He’d nearly drawn his sword and decapitated the man on the spot. Standing there was the hooded figure who’d driven people mad in the first test.
“You...!”
“Yeah. We said hi a few hours ago. I’m fine now, so don’t worry.”
The man grinned shamelessly. It had only been a few hours since he’d lost consciousness and been carried off on a stretcher—an astonishing recovery. But that wasn’t the point right now. A reddish aura was still rising from his shoulders. Ronan growled low.
“What do you want?”
“Why so on edge? Let’s talk outside. Sunset’s perfect.”
The man jerked a thumb toward the door, acting like he was totally innocent. Ronan let out a dry chuckle.
“This fucker...”
Killing intent leaked out involuntarily, spreading everywhere. The boisterous restaurant fell silent. After a moment’s thought, Ronan turned to Naviroje.
“...I’ll be right back. It’s legal to kill in a duel, right?”
“Only if the duel’s accepted.”
“Thanks.”
Bam! The man and Ronan exited the restaurant. The cowed patrons didn’t start talking or eating again until about three minutes later. Rin, who’d been staring at the door, tilted her head.
“Hmm?”
Ronan followed the hooded man. His hand rested on his sword hilt, ready to sever the man’s neck at the first sign of funny business. After about five minutes of walking, the man led him behind what looked like a dormitory. A sheer cliff jutted out toward the western sunset.
“The spot I scouted earlier. Pretty great, huh?”
The man, standing at the cliff’s edge, pointed west. Even though they weren’t at the peak yet, the view was stunning. The blazing sunset was scorching the world.
Great. Hard to deny, but with his mood soured, Ronan didn’t affirm it. Instead, gripping his sword hilt, he replied.
“What do you want.”
“Ah, sorry. Got lost in the view for a sec...”
The man gave a wry smile. Ronan was already planning to shove him off if he stalled one more time. Tossing Imir underfoot and triggering a shockwave would make it look like a rockfall accident. Or just push—no big deal. The man sighed deeply and faced Ronan.
“Straight to the point, then. Name’s Russell Cronail. That bizarre incident you faced at the end of the first test? That was me.”
“...What?”
“My aura’s ability is to shake the minds of those weaker than me, driving them insane. No one died or got seriously hurt, thank goodness. I’m truly sorry for putting you through that.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. The man calling himself Russell had confessed to causing dozens of participants to go berserk. His eyes and voice suggested it wasn’t a lie.
This was completely unexpected. He’d thought the man called him out to silence him. Stunned, Ronan spoke.
“...Why the hell did you do that?”
“Wanted to test your strength.”
“Test my strength? For what?”
“I’m... recruiting comrades to kill a demon.”
Russell’s face was deadly serious. Ronan frowned at the baffling words.
“A demon? What’re you talking about?”
“Literal demon. You couldn’t call it human. You know about the Aran Farzan group with only one passer?”
It was something the guide had mentioned on the way up. Ronan nodded. Russell’s expression grew even graver.
“Then this’ll be quick. Do you know what that sole passer did?”
“He said he didn’t know.”
“He knew but didn’t say. It was horrific. One of the proctors with connections told me.”
Russell’s voice trembled. He glanced at the sunset now and then, as if trying to wash away his fear with the light. Stroking his wrist, he continued.
“That demon cut off the wrists of everyone else. Didn’t even give the other participants a chance to forfeit.”
“What?”
Ronan’s face twisted. The revelation was so outrageous he thought he’d misheard. Cut off their wrists how? Russell pressed on.
“I came to Farzan chasing that thing. If we don’t stop it, all the participants are in danger.”