Chapter 333
Chapter 333
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 333
Chapter Title: Side Story 17. Ronan -Complete-
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"...You died to my dad?"
【That's right. This hideous scar is the proof. He sliced me up into pieces with his sword, then I fell off a cliff.】
Hearing Lanse's question, Darmann rolled up his sleeve. The flesh beneath was in far worse shape than what was visible on the surface. Sechika clamped her hand over her mouth and gagged.
"Urk."
【My whole body looks like this. No matter how hard I tried, these stitched-up marks just wouldn't fade.】
Darmann chuckled darkly. Lanse focused his mind as much as possible, waiting for an opening. After a moment of silence, Darmann spoke.
【But... judging by your expression, it seems you don't know me. Didn't your father ever talk about me? About the bloodbath at the Sword Festival.】
"No idea. Not about someone like you."
【How rude. I thought it was a pretty epic duel.】
"Was it just you who thought that? He talked plenty about other people."
Lanse curled one corner of his mouth in a smirk. It was deliberate provocation. Of course, it was also true that among the tales of Ronan's youth that Adeshan had shared, there was no mention of Darmann.
【I see. So that's how it is...】
Darmann's face hardened. It seemed Lanse had struck a sore spot. Seizing that momentary lapse, Lanse gripped his sword hilt and drew.
'Now!'
The sword-drawing technique that had earned him top honors at Phileon shot forth. He was still rattled, but he knew two things for sure. The man before him was behind the kidnappings. And he was extremely dangerous.
The arcing blade was about to reach Darmann's neck. Kaching! A powerful recoil halted the sword.
"What...!"
【Is that the best you can do?】
Darmann said gravely. The blade was caught and held fast between his index and middle fingers. Lanse strained with all his might, but the sword didn't budge, as if lodged in rock. Darmann alternated glances between Lanse and the sword, then snickered.
【Pathetically slow. Even accounting for your age, you're trash compared to your father. That back-alley slash at least left a scratch.】
"Grr... Let go!"
【Gladly.】
Suddenly, Darmann released his fingers from the blade. Caught off guard, Lanse lost his balance and staggered. Darmann surged in and drove a knee into his gut. Crack! The sound of breaking bone rang out as blood sprayed from Lanse's mouth.
"Gah!"
【Now stay quiet. It'll be over soon.】
"La, Lanse!"
Lanse crumpled forward. Sechika reflexively began chanting a spell. A dozen wind spears were about to launch at Darmann when—whoosh! His blurry form vanished and reappeared behind her.
【Don't interfere, you spell-slinger.】
"Aaah!"
Darmann grabbed a fistful of Sechika's hair. Her spell canceled as she let out a pained scream. Lanse used his sword as a crutch to rise, gritting his teeth.
"Ngh... Sechika..."
【The grand mage's daughter amounts to nothing special. I hear your father even stopped a falling island. Blood must thin out with each generation.】
"Don't... touch her. Cough—your target is me anyway!"
【Not quite. Someone has business with this girl too. With the eldest daughter of Mage Asel.】
With that, Darmann looked up. His crimson eyes, eerily resembling Ronan's, fixed on the coiled serpent.
Rumble...! A vibration like the earth shaking accompanied the snake's movement. Its head rising from the darkness evoked a mountain emerging. Finally, facing them, it spoke.
【Ah... Asel?】
【Indeed. Master of the Demon Battlefield. I've brought your enemy's daughter.】
【Yes... she really does look like him. Especially that hair color... the one who took everything from me...】
Its single remaining eye gleamed fiercely. The chilling voice made Lanse and Sechika shudder, their hairs standing on end. Only then did they realize whose handiwork covered the snake's body in scars.
"Th-that snake Dad caught in the New World... no way...!"
Sechika's eyes widened. Marya had once mentioned that around the time she got pregnant, Asel had caught an enormous snake in the New World. He'd encased it in ice and dumped it into the deep sea.
All signs pointed to it. Recalling how Asel had brushed it off as no big deal, Sechika let out a hollow laugh.
What do you mean 'no big deal,' Dad?
Darmann must have broken the seal. No dragon could break Asel's seal on its own. Suddenly, the glaring snake lunged with jaws wide.
【I'll swallow you whole! Raaargh!】
"Heek!"
Sechika's eyes bulged. Its speed belied its massive size. Sensing death, she gasped—when Darmann stepped forward, blocking her. The snake halted.
【Darmann. What is this?】
【Patience. It's almost ready. Our goal is full resurrection, not petty revenge.】
【Hmph... Hurry up, or I'll eat you too.】
【Thank you. Let's finish up and toast with these kids' blood.】
Darmann bowed lightly. The snake, still glaring at Sechika, turned away grudgingly. Panting heavily, she spoke.
"...You're trying to resurrect yourselves. By absorbing these people's mana. And get revenge on our parents."
【Correct.】
"But why only kidnap from the outskirts of the capital? You could've gone unnoticed elsewhere."
It didn't make sense to her logical mind. Why risk the capital as a hunting ground? Darmann raised an eyebrow in surprise.
【Smart head on you. Since you're doomed anyway, I'll tell you. We didn't gather sacrifices from the outskirts—we gathered from a war zone.】
"War?"
【Yes. The filthy allied forces and the church's... Time has restored the village, but the rampant mana back then accumulated in the residents' bodies. Get it now?】
"So the kids too...!"
Sechika gasped in horror. They'd hunted in a former battlefield for pure mana. Darmann's lip curled.
【Quantity of mana mattered less than quality.】
"You devils. How could you?!"
【Once we resurrect, it's all over. And kid, if you're gonna act, do it right.】
Suddenly, Darmann whipped his head around. Their eyes met as Lanse gritted his teeth. He'd been stealthily closing in while she distracted him, aiming for a strike.
"Oh no."
"D-detected!"
Sechika cried out. Lanse's form vanished from sight. Darmann's eyebrow twitched.
【What...!】
Twice as fast as his previous slash. Darmann hurriedly assumed a defensive stance, but Lanse's blade was already slicing through him. Shraaak! A long red line slashed across Darmann's chest.
"...Damn."
Bathed in blood, Lanse bit his lower lip. The cut was too shallow. Enraged, Darmann drew his sword.
【You little shit!】
"Ah."
A masterful draw worthy of the former Lycophos leader. Time slowed for Lanse. The eerie slash had once even felled Zaiper.
'It's over.'
He could see it coming but couldn't react. Sechika's scream echoed in his ears. Everything he loved flowed past like a river.
His kind mother and adorable little sister. Friends he'd laughed with. His father, whom he still truly admired deep down. Regret only the dying feel swirled in his chest.
'Why wasn't I more honest?'
He should have been more open, loved more fiercely. Especially if he'd known it would end like this.
But it was too late.
Resigned, Lanse closed his eyes. Suddenly, a brilliant white light burst from his coat pocket.
【Guh?!】
"Kyaa!"
The light filled the sub-space, staggering Darmann. His blinding slash was about to split Lanse's head when—clang! A harsh metallic clash shattered Darmann's sword.
【What!】
Darmann's eyes widened belatedly. A pure white bird, vaguely falcon-like, flapped before him, blocking his path.
"Fweee!"
【A bird? Wait, this is...】
Darmann's face twisted. A bizarre shield expanded from the bird. The hemispherical barrier fully enveloped Lanse and Sechika—it was familiar.
【Th-the Blessing of the Stars?!】
Darmann recoiled in shock. It was unmistakably the Blessing of the Stars, a power lost after the giants and pope perished. Lanse's eyes widened.
"You...!"
The orb in his pocket was gone. It must have hatched. Helping Sechika up, Lanse stammered.
"Y-you came from here?"
"Fwee!"
The bird replied. It seemed to understand speech. As Darmann recovered and moved to act—
Shraaaak!
A roar like a million sheets of paper tearing echoed overhead. Dim light poured into the dark space.
【What now...!】
Darmann looked up—and froze. The ceiling gaped open like a pouch, revealing a starry sky.
"It, it's open! Dad!"
At the center floated two men with differently colored hair. Asel's voice, laced with tears, echoed. Ronan, spotting Lanse and Sechika, spoke.
"Found you."
"D-Dad?!"
Lanse yelped in shock, forgetting even to call him "Father." Thud! Ronan landed before them.
"Everyone okay? Hurt anywhere?"
"R-Ronan Uncle, how'd you...?"
"Found a drop of blood where you vanished. Tracked it here."
Ronan nodded at the ceiling. Beside relieved Asel flapped a familiar grotesquery. Sita spread its four wings and roared.
"Pwaaa!"
"You did that, right Lanse? Good job."
Grinning, Ronan ruffled his son's hair roughly. Without Darmann's blood trail, pursuit would have been tough. As he checked them over—
"Hold on. You..."
"Wh-what?"
"You're hurt? Let me see."
Ronan's eyes narrowed. His sharp gaze fixed on the blood at Lanse's mouth. Closer inspection revealed a couple cracked ribs.
Silent for a moment, he turned to Darmann.
"...Hey. Ragman."
【Finally looking my way. But 'ragman'? That's harsh...】
Darmann's snark froze. Sunset-hued eyes glared at him.
【......!】
Just eye contact paralyzed him. Ronan adjusted his grip on the hilt and continued.
"You do this?"
【Heh heh... Who else? You've changed a lot, Ronan. Unrecognizable.】
He seemed a different man from the one in Parzan. The killing intent weighed on his shoulders. Regaining composure, he spoke.
【But I've grown stronger too. Absorbed the church's discarded relics, built my power. Beating me and the White Lotus King allied here won't be ea—】
He glanced at the snake. Thud! A house-sized mass crashed beside Darmann. A massive white snake head.
【Gasp...!】
Darmann gasped. The former Demon Battlefield leader's head bore a stunned expression, unaware of its own death. Gush! The headless body collapsed in a fountain of blood.
"My God."
"Th-the snake...!"
Lanse and Sechika gaped. The beheading happened the instant Ronan entered the sub-space, unseen by all. Darmann's legs buckled.
【This... impossible!】
Something was wrong. Sensing death, Darmann fled—but Ronan gripped his hilt. Sunset hues climbed the blade.
Fwoosh! Crimson flash engulfed the collapsing sub-space. When Darmann blinked, Ronan was nose-to-nose.
"By the way..."
Before Darmann's death scream, Ronan's arm blurred. Hundreds of red lines slashed his body. Spinning his sword, Ronan tilted his head.
"You've been yapping nonstop. Who are you?"
【How...】
Despair filled Darmann's face. Ronan had forgotten him entirely. Splat! His body exploded into chunks.
"D...Dad."
Lanse murmured in awe. He knew his father was strong, but not this strong. Ptoo! Ronan spat on the blood and looked up.
"Some nobody acting like he knows me... Hey, Sword Saint, handle cleanup."
"On it."
Another voice. A tall man landed before Lanse. Cerulean hair, chiseled features. Recognizing him, Lanse's jaw dropped again.
"Uncle...?!"
"Long time no see, Lanse."
Schlieffen nodded. Now formally Grancia Duke, he was Lanse's favorite relative. Glancing between Lanse and Sechika, he smiled faintly.
"You've grown brave. Protecting your girl even while injured."
"N-nooo?! It's not like that! Sechika's just a friend!"
"What'd you say, you jerk? N-no, yeah! Who'd date a guy like this?!"
They yelled in unison. Eyes met, faces flushed. Schlieffen turned, smiling, and raised his sword.
"Anyway. Good work."
Whoooosh! A whirlwind from the ground pulverized Darmann and the snake without trace. As they marveled, a familiar yet different voice boomed.
"Sechika! My girl!"
"M-Mom?"
Sechika's eyes widened. Marya, who should be at the merchant group, charged with golden hair whipping like a mane. Closing the distance instantly, she hugged Sechika and Lanse.
"You naughty foal. You're grounded for a month!"
"Guh! C-can't... breathe...!"
"Mmph. Why me...?"
Tears streamed from Marya's eyes. Faces smothered in her bosom, they squirmed. The scene evoked nostalgia; Ronan chuckled.
"Good experience, son. Jealous."
"Sh-shut up...!"
They finally escaped the violent embrace after a while. The white bird from before perched on Lanse's swaying shoulder. Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? What's this?"
"Ah...! It hatched from the orb you gave me. What did you give me...?"
"That hatched?"
Ronan's eyes widened. If memory served, it was Abel's egg. No change for over a decade; he'd given up. Now hatched.
The snow-white bird's eyes were crimson like Lanse's. No need to guess whose dream it drank. Staring, Ronan nodded.
"Live well this life, pal."
"Pweeep."
The bird chirped in reply. Whether it understood was unclear. It flew up and played with Sita.
Fade... The darkness lifted. Beyond the vanished sub-space lay a moonlit sky, fields, and soldiers summoned by Schlieffen.
"Th-this!"
"...His Majesty. My God."
Rows of people and a sky-piercing whirlwind stunned them. Ronan sighed in relief. Main culprits gone; they'd handle the rest. He clapped Lanse's hesitant shoulder.
"Let's go home."
The sub-space spanned rural outskirts of the capital. Dawn broke as their carriage reached home. Sunlight filtered through buildings, illuminating father and son. Hesitant Lanse spoke haltingly.
"Mom... cry a lot?"
He still couldn't believe it. He also felt the depth of his filial impiety. Swept by impulse, he'd mobilized the empire's top forces for cleanup. Ronan nodded readily.
"Of course. Took all I had to stop her sobbing and insisting to come. You know her—sweet usually, but scary when mad."
"Yeah... ugh."
"Thank your sister. If Erin weren't home, she'd have followed and tanned your hide raw in front of Sechika."
"Yes. Sorry..."
Lanse bowed deeply. No words sufficed. As he trudged like to slaughter—Ronan scratched his head and spoke.
"Sorry."
"...Huh?"
"The entrance ceremony. Wanted to go, but no time. Kidnappings just starting. Wasn't on purpose."
Ronan said apologetically. Lanse blinked, catching up.
"Why bring that up... I-I'm fine. Really."
"Bull. I'd be pissed too. Bet you thought, 'When I get bigger, I'll make that jerk Ronan pay.' Stabbed pillows with my name nightly, huh?"
Ronan posed dramatically, stabbing air. Lanse waved frantically.
"N-no, I didn't!"
"Scaredy. Joke."
"Ack! Ugh!"
Ronan laughed. Each back pat shook Lanse. Big frame; in ten years, taller than me. Smiling warmly, he said casually.
"Proud of you, son."
"Huh? What was that...?"
"Proud. Handled it great in a balls-shrinking spot. You'll be one hell of a man."
Ronan walked ahead. Stunned, Lanse stared at his back. Did my ears break? Not his style. "...Dad."
Heart pounding regardless. Old affections revived. Tears threatened. At the door, Ronan added.
"Not as great as me, though."
"Wha—after getting me misty-eyed?!"
"Jealous? Save the world yourself. Dad's going in."
Lanse yelled incredulously. Ronan chuckled, opening the door.
"Jeez, Dad!"
Tears receded. Grumbling, Lanse strode after, lips smiling. Academy's Genius Swordsman Truly the end. End of Side Story 17. Ronan -Complete-