< 121. Hill of the Four Seasons (2) >
#121
“Hill of the Four Seasons. “I have something to tell you.”
“Hill of the Four Seasons?”
“huh. “It’s on the premises so it won’t take that long.”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. It wasn’t a very unfamiliar name. Nabirose once mentioned it when the doppelganger incident occurred.
What kind of place did you say you were doing? When the answer was not received immediately Adeshan asked in a voice filled with anxiety.
“Do you…don’t like it?”
“No it’s fine. “Are you going to go right now?”
“Oh yeah. wait for a sec…!”
Adeshan’s expression brightened. thud! Suddenly she ran to her office and closed the door. It wasn’t until about three minutes later that Ade Shan came out again and let out an awkward laugh.
“sorry. I took a moment to wipe off some sweat. Shall we go?”
Ronan nodded her head. Nothing much had changed except that her hair was undone.
The two left the arena and headed to the west side of campus. Adeshan who was walking side by side pointed to Ronan’s waist and asked.
“Okay what about that dagger?”
“It was much better than I expected. What happened to your senior crossbow? “I saw it just exploded.”
“Ah when you inject magic power the crossbow is automatically enchanted. “I don’t know how this is possible.”
Adeshan exclaimed in admiration. Like La Mancha Ymir Doron gave her crossbow the strange name Arjuna.
Arjuna’s abilities were simple yet powerful. Originally she would have to enchant each crossbow with her magic but if Arjuna only infused her magic into the body of her crossbow she could imprint the desired attribute either fire or cold into the arrowheads. Ronan thought of Doron’s excited face and laughed.
“He is a great inspiration.”
Before we knew it it was already evening. The vermilion color seeping from the setting sun was coloring the western sky. The campus under the setting sun was burning.
“It’s quiet.”
“huh. “I like the usual lively atmosphere but I think it has its own charm.”
Phileon was quiet during the vacation period. In the campus where students disappeared the sounds of nature became louder. The waves of the lake lapping with the wind the small night song of birds spending summer. Ronan who was walking with his clasped hands behind her head opened her mouth.
“Sure.”
I really liked how quiet it was. Walking west they soon reached a hill. The site was so large that it was a place Ronan had never been to before. Adeshan froze in place.
“We’ve arrived. “This is the hill of the four seasons.”
“It’s not as big of a deal as I thought.”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. Other than the fact that there were four trees standing at the top there was nothing special about it. Adeshan smiling walked ahead.
“Hehe do you want to go up first?”
It was a strangely confident smile. Ronan reached the top and she soon found out why. He looked up at the trees and raised his eyes.
“Yeonji(連理枝)?”
“that’s right. “Four trees tied together.”
There were four trees of different species and sizes lined up. Cherry trees crepe myrtle maple trees and fir trees. The wide-growing crape myrtle tree was in full bloom with purple flowers.
Ronan noticed that they were trees representing each season. It seemed clear that some magical power was being applied.
“No matter what season you come a tree is beautifully colored. That’s why it’s called the Hill of the Four Seasons.”
“…It’s fascinating.”
“And the scenery from here is also pretty. “I think I come here at least once a month.”
Adeshan pointed down the hill. Ronan followed her turning his gaze to her and muttering. It was a sight I had no choice but to agree with. The campus combined with the fresh greenery of late summer was as beautiful as a paradise that appears in a fairy tale.
Ssaaah – The cool wind blew back my bangs. Adeshan who was quietly watching the sunset opened his mouth.
“…I went to my hometown this time.”
“that’s right. “You said you were going to see her father right?”
“huh. He gained some weight but fortunately he was healthy. “We came together to see her mother and her brothers.”
The voice was calm. Ronan’s mouth twitched slightly. He knew what tragedy had happened to Adeshan’s family.
Soldiers who died due to the command’s misjudgment. Their names who gave the young girl the dream of becoming a general were engraved in a corner of the memorial stone commemorating the fallen.
“I used to cry every time.”
“yes?”
“In front of that cenotaph. When I saw the names of my mother and brothers tears naturally came to my eyes. But this time for the first time I didn’t cry.”
Suddenly Adeshan was rummaging through his pants pockets. In her hand she was holding a small wooden box. Ade Shan continued her words leaving behind Ronan who was squinting.
“I thought about why I did that and I think it was because I had hope.”
“hope?”
“huh. The hope that I might really be able to become a general. “I always kept telling myself that I would make it happen. I thought it would only remain a vague dream… but now I think I can really make it happen.”
Adeshan who had been wagging her tail raised her hand. At that moment large and small shadows flew up from everywhere the eyes could see. Sigh! The sound of flapping echoed loudly.
“If this is the ability you awakened…”
“her.”
The shadows flew towards the hill of the four seasons. There seemed to be hundreds of them. Ronan raised the corners of his mouth when he realized they were all birds.
‘It’s amazing.’
Black mana was blooming above Adeshan’s shoulders. The level of handling general mana had long ago been surpassed. The growth rate was unbelievable.
“…You worked hard.”
Instead of answering Adeshan let out a low laugh. The birds that came in like fog were rotating around the hill of the four seasons. The way they maintained a certain distance without colliding with each other was like a well-trained soldier.
widely! Adeshan snapped his fingers. Sigh! The birds that came to their senses scattered. She who had collected the mana of her shadow held out her box.
“Thank you for letting me dream.”
“This?”
“It’s my gift. “Open it.”
Ronan opened the box. A small white sphere lay on soft silk. An indescribably clear mana was hovering within it. Ronan’s eyes widened.
“Damn is this really the Perennial Fairy Pearl?”
“huh. “I recognize you.”
“How can it be that even royal families have a hard time finding it….”
Permanent tale. It was a magical flower that was said to literally live for 10000 years. Even in the north it was a plant that was truly difficult to see because it only bloomed in polar regions where it snowed all year round.
Like the ice of the same name this flower which rarely wilts once it blooms has the habit of storing all the energy it absorbs in its roots. The roots which at first had a similar shape to other plants gradually transform into beautiful spheres like pearls as they contain vitality.
Permanent tale pearl refers to a root that has accumulated vital energy for at least a hundred years. Of course it was worth the price. Adeshan smiled.
“I found it with the animals. “You can’t tell me how fortunate I was to be able to get one before I had to return to the islands.”
“Are you serious? “Do you know how much this will cost if you sell it on the market?”
“know. It is also much cheaper than the grace I received. So just…don’t say anything and just accept it.”
After saying that Adeshan squeezed Ronan’s hand. She was definitely a treasure that would not have even been attempted to be found if it were not for her manipulation of shadow mana. Perhaps the reason I summoned you today was to hand you this.
His eyes were shining with determination and it seemed like he wouldn’t listen to anything I said. Ronan who was silent put her box in her pocket.
“thank you. “I will use it well.”
“Hehe thank you for accepting me. Shall we sit down for a bit?”
Ronan nodded her head. The two sat side by side leaning against a tree. Slowly the song of the grass bugs was heard. Ronan who was scanning the campus whistled. Looking again it was a beautiful scenery.
“It would be amazing here even in winter.”
“that’s right. Very pretty. “Snow was falling on the roof and all the leaves…”
“You don’t have to explain. “Let’s come back together then.”
“…huh. good.”
The conversation between the two stopped for a moment. A darker sunset enveloped Phileon. Adeshan was the first to break the silence.
“I think I know now what her mother said.”
“yes?”
“Because you liked sunsets. “It’s great to see them fighting to survive.”
It was an incomprehensible sound. The world reddened by the setting sun shimmered in her eyes. Ronan shrugged her shoulders.
“You’re fighting?”
“My mother who was a soldier told me that the sunset was the sun’s last battle. It takes place before the sun sets at the bottom of the mountain and our lives run out. “After struggling like that we are ultimately defeated and night comes.”
“… That sounds profound for her young daughter to understand.”
“huh. But now I understand. “The fact that we fought not just won or lost was a beautiful thing….”
Ade Shan tugged at her tail. Ronan suddenly felt warmth on her left shoulder and turned his head towards her. Ade Shan’s little head was leaning against her.
“senior?”
“In order not to die I am pulling in all the light in the world. “Like a dying fire reaching out her hand for firewood….”
Adeshan muttered quietly. I couldn’t see her face because her long hair was blowing in the wind. Ronan who was silent for a moment gently stroked her head.
“It’s a fight…it sure looks like that.”
Ronan’s gaze turned towards the sunset again. I didn’t understand it very well but it seemed to make sense. The struggle for life is beautiful no matter what form it takes.
Ade Shan who flinched for a moment leaned her body closer. The weight on her shoulders increased. It was transmitted through the area where the warmth and pulse touched.
“right.”
Ade Shan nodded her head slightly. The two stayed in that position for a long time and came down from the hill only after the sun had completely set.
****
There was about a month left until vacation. Upon her return to the system Ronan focused on the work she normally could not do due to her academic schedule.
Going to a distant mountain to dig up herbs to eat with the Permanent Flower Pearl… or visiting the Archipelago Police Department to collect information on Nebula Clage… Of course she didn’t forget to take some time off from time to time.
“It’s not a joke this bastard did the whole desert trip last time. “If I hadn’t taken her I would have been in big trouble.”
“really? “What happened?”
“We killed the bad guy who tried to steal our stuff with a single blow. “The one who was about fifty meters away.”
“Wow you were that far away? how?”
Iril asked with a twinkle in her eye. Ronan invited Schlieffen to dinner with her sister. It was a kind of repayment from her for using her power. Ronan was talking about what happened in Dainhar in a somewhat simplistic manner.
“That’s it. therefore.”
Schlieffen was repeatedly cutting off her steak and putting it in her mouth with her consistent movements. His movements without any errors made him look like a well-made doll. Schlieffen who was staring at Iril as if fascinated barely opened his mouth.
“…It wasn’t a big deal. “I just came to a miserable realization.”
“Hey don’t be expensive just show me once.”
Ronan stabbed Schlieffen in the side and pointed to the watermelon lying on the table in the distance. Normally I would have yelled at him and asked if he was treating me like a clown but today was different. Ronan whispered to Schlieffen.
“I think my sister really wants to see me.”
Schlieffen pulled at the hilt of his sword without hesitation. Suddenly! As if a gust of wind blew the watermelon split into eight pieces.
The sword spirit that had disappeared reappeared. Clap clap! Iril widened her eyes and let out a cheer.
“Wow! “It’s amazing!”
“Anytime you want. “I can show you.”
Schlieffen said and started cutting the steak again. Then a drop of sauce splashed onto his cheek. Iril suddenly took out a handkerchief and leaned over.
“Oh I buried it here!”
“…!”
“Hehe you seem to have a surprisingly clumsy side Duke Little.”
Iril gently wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth. Schlieffen’s time stood still. His complete stiffness lasted for almost ten minutes to the point where it was suspected that he might be dead. Ronan who stuffed five layers of his meat into his mouth shook his head.
“Do the damn thing. “Fuck you.”
Anyway time passed. When Secrit returned it was right before his first day of school.
As soon as Ronan heard the news he rushed to his office Sephardio. Ronan’s eyes widened at the sight of the girl sitting in the middle of the study reading a book.
“Secret…?”
“Oh Ronan. “It’s been a while.”
“…How did it end up like that?”
Ronan’s face distorted. To my surprise the Secret I saw for the first time in two months had turned into a woman. Fortunately I was able to recognize him from his boyhood secret because his hair had grown a little longer.
“Ahaha I put the curse I found in the north into my body and this is what happened. “I never thought it was a curse that reversed genders.”
“Can you fucking go back to normal?”
“You will find out through further research. “Don’t worry too much.”
Secrit waved her hand as if to tell her not to worry. I couldn’t get used to her loud voice.
Actually when I thought about it I thought it was pointless to worry about the fact that he turns into an old man with wrinkles at night. Ronan took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
“You can still use magic in that state right?”
“Hmm? Isn’t it natural? “There is no problem just the gender has changed.”
“Then I’m glad. “I brought it.”
“I can’t believe you brought it. what…”
Ronan took out a black crystal from his inner pocket. Secret’s eyes widened.
The moment he saw the magic stone he brought he realized that the Dainhar magic stones he had seen so far were nothing more than crumbs. Inside the forearm-sized crystal a profound magical power that could only be found in the desert demon world was pulsating.
“Do it. “Is it possible right now?”
Ronan said. Immediately dozens of questions popped up in Secrit’s mind. widely! He took a deep breath to calm his mind and closed the book he was reading.
“of course. “Come closer.”
