Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Reunion (2)
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"One of the rare few lucky ones in the world. Take a good look. He'll shoot up to places you can't even see in the blink of an eye."
Jet-black hair like the night, snow-white skin, and a high nose bridge caught the eye. Naviroje murmured her name softly.
"Adeshan."
"Yes. But really, I can't sense any mana from him at all. Is he born as weak in mana as I am?"
"Worse. You've somehow reached the Sword User level, but I can't sense even a single drop of mana from that kid."
"No... way that's possible..."
Adeshan watched Ronan's spear martial arts demonstration as if entranced. There wasn't the slightest superfluous motion in his fluid movements.
After finishing his display of Imperial spear techniques, Ronan picked up the shield and shortsword. Adeshan muttered.
"If I keep working hard... could I someday... become like that?"
Naviroje didn't answer. It was a silence as harsh as reality itself. But Adeshan paid no mind and continued burning with envy in her gaze. Before long, Ronan's demonstration ended.
"Whew... done."
Ronan dropped the mace to the floor with a clunk. A silence hung for a moment before applause broke out from the upperclassmen. Clap clap clap... The growing, swelling applause soon filled the entire arena. Someone shouted.
"Incredible, freshman!"
Praise for Ronan erupted sporadically after that. But none of it reached Ronan's ears. The heat seeping from his whole body dulled his senses.
"Damn, it's hot."
Even swinging at empty air continuously made sweat pour like mad. He'd long since undone his jacket and tie.
Ronan lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. His beast-like abs flashed into view intermittently. Some female students covered their mouths and whispered.
"Elixir in human form. This is why I take Instructor Naviroje's class."
"Crazy girl. Hey, should I go ask if he's seeing anyone?"
Only after wiping off all the sweat did Ronan look up. Naviroje, meeting his eyes, nodded in approval of his efforts. That's when someone approached with a towel.
"Um, hey. That was really impressive. Not a single tiny mistake at the tip."
"Ah, thanks."
"If it's okay next time, I'd love some pointers. My name is..."
"Ronan."
Ronan took the towel. The moment he turned to bow in thanks, he came face-to-face with a girl taller than him. He froze like a stone statue.
"...Grand General?"
"Huh? Grand General...?"
The towel dropped to the floor. Adeshan tilted her head in confusion. Sweat trickled from his forehead to his chin, but Ronan stared at her face without blinking. At last, Ronan's mouth opened.
"Adeshan."
"Wha-what? You know my name?"
Adeshan's eyes widened. She looked young, but her face was almost unchanged. Ronan picked up the towel and wiped his face.
Ronan was glad he was drenched in sweat. At least one teardrop that wasn't sweat could blend in.
Naviroje's class centered on sparring. After basic theory and sword demonstrations, students paired up with anyone for practice bouts.
Today's lesson was the first form of the Naviroje style. A technique where the sword path coiled like a snake to hinder the opponent's response.
Ronan, who would normally watch with eyes ablaze, couldn't focus today. He was lost in thoughts of the young Grand General who'd handed him the towel.
'She looked young, but I never imagined she'd be around my age.'
Some people you just couldn't forget, no matter how hard you tried. Ronan, having experienced death once, knew such souls well.
His beloved sister was one. His Penal Legion comrades who laughed every night were others. And the Grand General who'd yielded the future to him at the very end was among them.
After taking the towel, Ronan had stood frozen in place for a long while. Adeshan had stared at him curiously before running off at Naviroje's call.
'Her vibe felt so different.'
Ronan recalled the Adeshan from his past life. The youngest Imperial Army Grand General. Duke of the great house Acalusia. Not a single gap could be found in the woman who commanded a million troops.
'I could've believed molten iron ran through her veins instead of blood.'
The Grand General Adeshan that Ronan knew was the epitome of cold rationality. Just look at how she'd sacrificed most of the remaining forces, including the Imperial Knights, as escorts for the Penal Legion during the decisive battle with Ahayute.
She never showed a shred of emotion and chose any means to achieve her goals. Even in their final moments together, when she'd opened her heart, she'd shown no vulnerability as Grand General.
Yet now, her expressions were rich, and she even seemed a bit naive. Nasd, practicing sword forms alone, called out.
"Instructor Adeshan! Could you check my form?"
"Ah... coming right now!"
Adeshan clutched a stack of papers as she ran over. She was assisting Naviroje as a teaching assistant.
Nasd thrust his rapier at the air, executing his forms. Adeshan analyzed his posture closely before correcting it.
"Hmm... overall good, but your left thigh has a bit too much tension. Try dropping your core output by about twenty percent and shift your center of gravity forward to the right?"
"Ah, much better. Thank you."
Nasd expressed his gratitude. Adeshan left a gentle smile and moved on to check another student's form. Ronan frowned at her meticulous yet friendly demeanor.
It was impossible to connect to the figure from his past life. Come to think of it, a question arose. What life was this Adeshan living?
'First or third...'
He couldn't know for sure without understanding the bead's exact effect. But judging by her current self, anyone would say it was her first life. The smile she'd shown wasn't one worn down by repeated lives' hardships.
'No chance it's the fourth? Nah, then she'd be sewing or something. So did the Grand General I knew die there? Damn, what the hell happened?'
His head spun with mounting questions. Then a voice came from behind.
"Hey, freshman. Great demo earlier. Scary good."
Ronan turned. A tall, handsome young man stood there. He pointed at Braum and Nasd, who were swinging their greatsword and rapier vigorously.
"Heard the rumors. You smashed those two idiots flat, right?"
"Pardon?"
"Yeah, at the entrance ceremony. That uselessly bulky moron and the sneaky one who looks like his own weapon."
With his tie undone, his year was unclear. But from how he belittled Braum and Nasd, he seemed an upperclassman.
It irked Ronan a bit that he spoke so casually of acquaintances, but he figured friends could be like that. The young man extended his hand.
"Cardan Oun. Nice to meet you."
"Ronan."
"Honestly, watching you kinda crushed my confidence. How do you handle completely different weapons so perfectly?"
"Just did what I learned."
Cardan kept praising Ronan. It felt a bit excessive and contrived, but Ronan let it slide.
No reason to hate someone who liked him. Cardan spun his spear and continued.
"Wanna spar sometime? I'd love to learn a thing or two from a promising junior."
"Sure. Right here?"
"Nah, hold on. Hey! Adeshan!"
"Y-yes?!"
Cardan shouted. Adeshan soon ran up and stopped before them. Cardan spoke irritably.
"Always so slow. Go grab my spear."
"Spear? Aren't you holding..."
"Idiot, figure it out from context. This is a long spear. I want the short one. Hurry up."
"Ah, okay!"
Adeshan turned and ran off. Slowpoke bitch, Cardan muttered. Ronan narrowed his eyes at how he treated her less like a TA and more like a servant.
"Couldn't you have just asked her to bring it when you called?"
"Huh? Ahaha, surprised you, huh? Sorry. I just can't stand people who chase privileges without the skill. Like her."
Cardan pointed at Adeshan fumbling for the spear. He explained she wasn't qualified for Naviroje's class.
"'Advanced Practical Swordsmanship' with Instructor Naviroje was originally only for Sword Experts. But she's still stuck at Sword User and auditing anyway. Shamelessly."
"Why let her?"
"Don't ask. Begging to even audit—what a pathetic sight. Our whole year knows. Naviroje took pity and made her TA."
In short, Adeshan desperately wanted to take the former Sword Saint Naviroje's class but didn't meet the requirements. She'd pleaded to serve as TA leveraging her observation skills and diligence, and Naviroje accepted.
What the hell's the problem? Ronan said.
"Maybe she saw potential and allowed it? She seems pretty good at TA duties."
"What, you like that lanky girl? Shocking. Face is decent, but not my type..."
"Cardan! Here's the spear...!"
Adeshan arrived clutching the short spear, panting. Sweat trickled down her pale cheeks. Cardan tapped her forehead.
"So damn slow... If you lack skill, at least do your TA job right. Not even qualified for the class."
"S-stop... Cardan."
"It's Senior Cardan. I'm a third-year now, you repeat-year slacker."
Cardan didn't stop. Ronan glanced around. Naviroje was chatting with Schlieffen in the corner. Some upperclassmen peeked over but only watched, none intervening.
What bullshit.
Ronan twisted his lips. His gut boiled over. He placed a hand on Cardan's shoulder, who was mocking Adeshan.
"Let's just spar. Can't watch anymore."
"Huh? Yeah. But why the sudden attitude? 'Can't watch anymore'?"
"Who knows? Get ready. Stand over there?"
The arena floor had several long, wide rectangles marked. Zones to prevent overlapping sparring paths.
Ronan took position at one end of a nearby rectangle. Cardan snatched the short spear from Adeshan and took the opposite side. Seeing Ronan's expression, Cardan snapped.
"That glare doesn't suit facing a senior. What's got you so pissed, junior?"
"Shut up and be glad this is Phileon."
"What the hell? And you just went informal?"
"Yeah. You fucking bastard."
The rectangle lit up brightly, signaling the start of the spar. Ronan shot forward like a bolt, hand gripping his sword hilt.