4. Asher the Coward (2)
#4
“Bah…what was that just now?”
Asher did not understand what had happened to him. For a moment the flow of mana was blocked and the magic was released. It felt as if the string he was pulling tightly had suddenly snapped.
“huh? “There was definitely magic just now…”
“I don’t know either.”
Ronan shrugged her shoulders. I’m not trying to rip you off I really didn’t know.
He was able to cut through her mana. It was at the time when he was working as a punitive soldier that he realized his abilities. He didn’t tell anyone because he thought it would be annoying at the time.
Ronan was hinting that it was thanks to this ability that he alone was able to seriously injure Ahayute. He may have had other abilities at work that he didn’t even know about.
‘Unraveling the secrets of this ability will be one of the tasks given to me.’
Ronan tapped Asher on the shoulder.
“Come out here at night in three days. Around the time the moon rises.”
“huh?”
“If it doesn’t come out what…you know?”
Ronan left those words and started walking away. Asher shouted something from behind but he ignored him. If he’s in his right mind he’ll come out.
“Damn I wasted too much time.”
Ronan first stopped by the river to wash the blood from his face and hands. At the market he bought new clothes changed them and picked some daffodils blooming on the side of the road.
Eventually he arrived in front of a small house built on the outskirts of the village. Ivy vines grew thickly and covered the exterior walls which looked attractive.
Ronan took a deep breath without realizing it. He felt a tension he had never felt before on a battlefield or in front of monsters.
Beyond this door is Iril. His sister whom he had not seen once since leaving home at the age of seventeen lost her life in the invasion of giants.
“Ha…let’s calm down….”
Ronan reached out his hand to pull the door handle. All you had to do was pull it but it wasn’t easy.
Suddenly the bouquet of flowers in his left hand caught his eye. Ten yellow and white daffodils were beautifully harmonized. It was Iril’s favorite flower.
He suddenly felt ridiculous. I’m not a virgin confessing my love for you.
The car was about to turn around to throw away the daffodils.
“oh? Ronan!”
The door burst open and a woman appeared. She was a stunning beauty who was just taking off her girlhood and transitioning into her young lady self.
“You came in quickly today! “Have you eaten?”
“uh? Uh…yeah…no.”
Ronan froze when he saw her bright smile. Her hair cascading down to her shoulders was a bluish-silver color like starlight. Her fair skin unburnt even under the spring sun reminded her of a snowy field without even a trace of her footprints.
“It just worked out well. “I just made some stew.”
As expected Iril was wearing her apron with various stains on it. She exclaimed as she looked at the daffodil in Ronan’s hand smiling brightly.
“oh! “What about that flower?!”
“Huh…?”
“Did you bring it for me? pretty!”
“No… it’s not that in particular… I’m glad you said it’s pretty.”
Ronan looked into his sister’s face as he handed her the daffodils. Her clear large eyes had the same sunset color as Ronan.
Burying her face in her flower bud she was happy as if she were her own child and suddenly she hugged her Ronan.
“What’s wrong with my prickly little brother? thank you!”
At that moment her indescribable emotions swirled in Ronan’s heart. She was just as she remembered. She is like the sun that shines on everyone and gives strength just by being around her.
Her vision suddenly became blurry so he wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
“Mr.
“Huh? What’s in her eye? “My sister will take care of you. Come here.”
“No it’s not like that.”
“Don’t do that just take a quick look.”
There was a height difference of about a head between hers so Iril had to raise her on tiptoes. Ronan shook off her touch and went into her house using the excuse that he was hungry.
****
“I ate well. “It was delicious.”
“Wow! What day is it really today? “I hear everything from Ronan that it’s delicious!”
Ronan put down his spoon neatly. Her wooden bowl was clean and empty. Iril’s rough potato stew tasted better than any of the delicacies she had eaten before her return.
“Sister. “How old am I?”
“uh? Um…so…I’m nineteen this year…and Ronan is fourteen right? Why is that happening all of a sudden?”
He was a year younger than expected. He was seventeen when he left the village so there were about ten years left until the advent of the giants.
“No just. “I don’t remember much.”
“what! There is something else to forget! It really hurts somewhere right? “Maybe I ate something wrong like a mushroom in the forest…”
“no.”
Iril groaned anxiously and alternately touched Ronan’s forehead with his own. There was something strange about my younger brother today not least because he picked his favorite flower out of nowhere. He was a child who was picky about everything and even bothered to breathe.
“True sister.”
“yes?”
Ronan said scooping up another ladleful of stew. This was my third bowl.
“I want to go to the academy.”
“uh?”
Iril looked at Ronan dumbfounded. It was so sudden that she momentarily forgot what her brother had said.
What did he say? Did you lose your sheep again? No what did the Academy do…Academy…Academy…
She practically jumped up and screamed.
“What? “You want to go to the academy?!”
“Surprise.”
“Tell me again Ronan okay? Did she say she was going to attend the academy? really? really? really?”
“huh.”
“Aaaah!”
Iril let out a happy exclamation and hugged her younger brother’s neck. It was the moment her lifelong dream came true. A kiss was poured on Ronan’s cheek three times per second.
“I knew this day would come someday! I believed it! “You will be good at anything because you have talent!”
“thank you.”
“Which way are you going? Is it also a knight academy? Knight Ronan! awesome! Or the surprisingly common National Academies? It’s good to be an intellectual! Of course no matter what your sister is on your side! Oh look at my mind!”
It was only when Ronan finished her fourth bowl that Iril regained her senses. Out of nowhere she started rummaging through her jar that was sitting next to her in her fireplace.
Iril came out again and found a heavy sack in his hand.
“ruler! Take it Ronan! “It’s all yours now!”
There was a clanking sound of metal in her sealed sack. Ronan knew that that small sack contained most of the money his sister had ever earned.
Iril whined and placed her sack on the table her eyes twinkling. I guess that means go ahead and open it.
But Ronan shook his head.
“It’s okay use it sister.”
“What? But this is yes…”
“It’s tuition right? Thank you so much but I’ll just accept your heart. “There is no way to get to the place I want to go with this.”
“What are you thinking about? “You’ve saved up quite a lot since then right?”
The pale cheeks were cutely swollen. Ronan put her sack back into her jar and opened her mouth.
“Imperial Phileon Academy.”
Iril’s already large eyes grew even wider.
****
[If you want to learn go to Phileon.]
These were the words left by Adeshan. Imperial Phileon Academy. Also known as Phileon.
Located at the heart of the archipelago this leading educational institution was a building of status second only to the Imperial Palace. Excellent faculty recruited from all over the continent and the enormous capital of the imperial family created a factory that produced great people beyond simply a prestigious academy.
Even Ronan who had nothing to do with her studies knew the value of her having graduated from Phil Leon.
“Of course…there were many useful people from Phileon.”
Ronan who was reflecting on her memories muttered as if he understood. General Adeshan swordsman Schlieffen and even the Winter Witch known as the worst criminal in the empire were also from Phileon.
She has ten years left.
Considering the mission built on Ronan’s back it was a time that could not be said to be long. It was a mission she took on without realizing it but she had no intention of turning away from it.
He remembered the last moment. Hundreds of giants descending tearing the sky. I had no idea how strong I would have to be to deal with them.
So Ronan decided to enter Phileon Academy just as Adeshan said. This is because I decided that I could learn ‘how’ to become stronger even if I didn’t know ‘how much’. He also had a dream of attending the academy.
“Anyway was it that surprising?”
I still haven’t forgotten Iril’s expression. He would not have been more surprised if he had declared that he would be emperor. Although she gave Ronan her blessing for his future she didn’t seem to think he could fit into Phileon.
Ronan wanted to make his sister happy when they met again. So on the third day after his return he left the house early in the morning and started climbing the hill. On his back he was carrying two backpacks that could fit even a small child.
“oh.”
Before long a boy wearing a light robe was seen dozing off leaning against an oak tree. When Ronan clapped three times the boy stood up in surprise.
“You came out on time Marcel. “Honestly I’m surprised.”
“ah! Ugh…it’s Asher.”
“The little boy is picky. Now why did I ask you to come?”
“Um…um…are you…interested in my abilities?”
“I guess it’s because I’m a wizard but I have a good head. Now take it.”
“uh? “What!”
Ronan took off one of his backpacks and threw it to Asher. I was scared because it was bulky but it was lighter than I expected.
“What is this?”
“A pocket to hold dreams and hopes.”
Asher took a quick look at his backpack. It contained about a dozen thick and thin sacks. I had no idea where it was going to be used.
“May I ask what this has to do with my abilities?”
“Just follow me. “Because the raft is ready.”
“A raft?”
Asher followed Ronan carrying his backpack. At the river’s edge there was a raft tied to a rope that I had never seen before.
It had a very ugly appearance and seemed to be specialized for diving rather than sailing. Asher opened his eyes and looked around but there was only one raft.
“get on.”
When Ronan said that while pointing at the raft with his thumb Asher just felt like he wanted to cry.
****
The raft glided along with the current. The full moon was shining on the river and the two boys. Asher was curled up next to his backpack staring at the still water.
“It’s a shame I didn’t bring a fishing rod. “The grilled mullet here is amazing.”
Ronan said white smoke blowing out of her mouth. A thin cigarette pipe was held between his thumb and index finger.
“Ugh. I know.”
“Stop stuttering. “Are you afraid I might cut you into pieces and throw you into the river?”
“Oh okay. “I won’t stutter.”
“You’re stuttering again. “Do you want to be a bitch?”
Hans’ sword was hanging on Ronan’s waist. Asher swallowed his saliva. He knew that Ronan had cut off Hans’ ear with nothing more than a shepherd’s pole.
“sorry. “I really won’t stutter.”
“Yeah you can do it well. Straighten his shoulders a little too. “I’m not tall because I’m so intimidated by everything.”
“huh. “But where are we going?”
“It’s a nice place. “A place where you can develop practical skills and make money.”
Asher tilted his head. I couldn’t really understand what was being said.
“money? “What money?”
“Tuition fee. Oh didn’t I tell you? “You have to go to the academy.”
“Academy?”
“Yes with me. “If I remember correctly I will easily earn my first semester’s tuition with this one-time payment.”
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