15. Practical exam (3)
#15
Butterfly Rose opened his mouth without lifting his sword.
“Yes three times. Just like the talent you showed.”
Ronan swallowed her saliva after hearing the word three times. Nabi Rose’s insight was accurate. He used the same method that broke Marya’s sword earlier.
“After making two cuts at an imperceptible speed the last cut was deliberately slowed down. “Did you think no one would be able to read your cheeky sword?”
Ronan closed his mouth. The reason I slowed down the last sword strike was simply because I was worried about damaging the blade but that didn’t really matter. It felt like the sound of my heart pounding reached my head.
It was read? My sword?
Nabirose stared into his eyes for a few seconds and quietly led the way.
“I will remember. Ronan.”
Kratyr opened her mouth only after she returned to her place. He too seemed to have discovered Ronan’s secret but he did not bother to ask any further questions.
Kratyr saw Ronan off with the same kind smile he had when he first met him.
“Good job Ronan. “But there’s one thing this old man is curious about.”
“yes?”
“Why do you want to enroll in Phileon?”
Ronan blinked and faced Kratir. An indescribable sight was flowing out from between the half-moon-shaped eyelids.
“To learn.”
“Learn…what do you mean?”
“hmm….”
what? Ronan trailed off his horse. The judges tilted their heads at the sudden silence.
Ronan was facing Kratir but his gaze remained on the scenery beyond his eyes.
Heavy rain pouring down on the descending giants and corpses. The last request of the general who handed over the future.
Ronan’s mouth finally opened.
“…How not to regret it?”
“Hmm?”
Kratir raised his eyebrows. Ronan did not provide any further explanation.
Kratir who was thinking about something for a moment smiled.
“…I see please be careful and return home.”
Ronan bowed his head. thud. As soon as he left the exam room the door closed.
****
“There is no regret.”
Kratyr sat down on a chair and muttered. Even after thinking about it carefully I couldn’t understand the English language.
I was also troubled by the extremely deep look in his eyes for his age.
“I have no idea.”
How can a boy who is still so young say something like that that he has something to regret?
Kratir eventually gave up on giving an answer. That wasn’t what mattered now.
“Whoa… I’m glad this is Phileon.”
“Why is that so?”
“Because he has no better place to go after he leaves here.”
Kratir seemed to have aged three years in that short time. With butterflies I nodded my head as if I was agreeing.
Gidokan unable to contain his curiosity asked a question.
“What happened to me now? “Navirose too…did that boy use some kind of trick?”
The sword master who was a former sword master aimed his sword at the test taker. Circle 8 Even though her headmaster a wizard was in the same position he did not stop her.
It was an unprecedented situation that is difficult to explain. Most judges including Gidokan still did not understand the full story of the case.
“It’s a trick…well you could see it that way.”
“What is that…”
-Blubber!
At that moment Lord Madoros’ head fell to the floor. The eye light that flickered between the helmets faded.
The shocked judges let out exclamations.
“Huh…!”
Even though his head and body were separated no new sword marks were visible. A knight who has been testing candidates for over a hundred years has entered eternal rest.
Kratyr muttered softly.
“What else could that talent be…if not trickery?
****
“Wow it’s dazzling.”
As soon as I left the testing center the strong spring sunlight poured down on me. Ronan lifted her hand and covered her eyes.
The enchanted exit was connected to the main plaza of Phileon Academy.
“Ronan! “It’s here!”
Then a familiar voice called Ronan. Even among the crowd it was easy to find Marya.
In each hand she held a cup of raspberry juice mixed with ice. Marja approached with her brisk steps and handed me the juice.
“It took so long? “Wasn’t it my next turn?”
“Something happened.”
“Day? “What was it?”
Ronan nodded. He recalled what happened in the exam room.
The woman called Butterfly Rose was stronger than imagined. Even if she had been in perfect condition she doubted whether she would have been able to receive her sword.
She ‘couldn’t even cut through her armor in the end.’
Moreover she couldn’t even cut through Lord Madoros’ armor. That was why she swung three times.
It was fortunate that the thin seam connecting her head and torso was made of mana.
‘Schlieffen was at least injured. There’s still a long way to go.’
She forgot for a moment. The High Warlord did not relinquish Ronan’s last chance simply because he was strong.
His only advantage was that he was an unknown warrior who could cut down a giant alone.
Ronan finally realized his weakness. But he wasn’t angry.
After catching her breath Ronan drank the juice in one go.
“Hey Chehala. “Drink it slowly.”
“Puh-ha…me.”
“huh?”
The liquid flowing down her throat cooled some of the heat in her body. Ronan opened her mouth only after chewing all the ice.
A voice that was very reminiscent flowed out.
“I think I can become stronger.”
He saw a place to climb. Starlight to use as a compass.
Ronan laughed because it was fun.
“What are you saying out of the blue?”
“Literally. “By the way turn your head.”
“uh? “Huh?”
Ronan suddenly stretched out his hand and lightly squeezed the tip of Marya’s chin. He was going to inspect the spot where Darian had hit him.
Marya sucked in a breath as the distance between their faces got closer.
“Hyung.”
“Hmm…I’m glad.”
Ronan slowly changed the angle and looked at Marya’s cheek. There was a red tinge following his handprint but luckily there seemed to be no injuries.
Marya who came to her senses belatedly shook her head as if to shake it off.
“What are you doing! suddenly!”
Ronan shrugged his shoulders as if he was dumbfounded.
A merchant who had to deal with countless customers was one of the professions where appearance was truly important. I only looked at his wounds because I was worried about the future but he reacted like that.
“What are you saying even though I said I would take care of your wounds?”
“Who is going to watch over you?”
Marya took a step back. Earlier only the left cheek was red but now the right cheek was also red.
“It’s so useless…!”
“Hey where are you going?”
Every time Ronan took a step closer Marya took a step further away. The crowd’s attention was focused on strange behavior that could only be seen in a play.
At that time an angry cry rang out in the main plaza.
“Stop right now! “A commoner bitch!”
It was a voice so familiar that it made me sick. The two people who stopped at the same time turned their heads.
Daerian a boy with a skinny build and flashy clothes was standing there.
“Did you just change clothes? “You’re very talented.”
Ronan whistled. Daerian who made eye contact with Ronan for a moment flinched. He strode toward Marya trying to ignore Ronan.
Marya who had once again become the daughter of a noble family bowed her head respectfully.
“What’s going on Lord Darian?”
“What’s going on…?!”
Passersby attracted by the commotion stopped in place. Ronan was watching Daerian with his arms crossed.
Still as if he was paying attention Darien did not raise his hand right away.
“Are you saying that now? What you did to me! “I have never experienced such shame in my life!”
“It looks like slapping the girl didn’t make you angry.”
“Of course! “If you think you paid for something like that…!”
“But what on earth did the girl do?”
Daerian froze for a moment. Marya continued.
“What?”
“The girl doesn’t know that your sword was suddenly cut in half or that your pants were blown away like dandelion seeds. “Why as a descendant of a noble family that has contributed to the empire Lord Daerian do you take out your anger on the innocent people?”
“What…!”
“If the girl is guilty her only fault would be comforting an overly nervous gentleman.”
Marya’s attitude was polite but quite different from before.
In the waiting room he was really focused on maintaining the courtesy of nobility but now it felt like he was just saying things he wanted to say gently. Ronan stuck out his tongue.
‘Now that I have nothing to worry about I’m just leaving. anyhow….’
Sen was a pseudonym anyway. It was an established fact that Darian failed the test.
He had squandered his last chance this year so he would never encounter Marya again. She was truly a merchant-like girl to her core.
“It was really unfortunate that you entered the exam room in your underwear. “It’s just deplorable that the baron’s third son would commit an act of indecency that even a drunken beggar would not attempt.”
Although it seemed like he was speaking softly his voice was very loud. Like someone broadcasting a chariot race Marya explained Deirian’s misfortunes one by one.
Laughter erupted from the onlookers.
“But don’t give up hope. A bold move might have been accepted for its own charm right? The girl sincerely hopes to be able to see the ball on the entrance ceremony.”
“this…! this…! Yiikeik…!”
“By the way you should wear pants then.”
“Wahahahahah!”
A wedge was driven in. Ronan smiled brushing her bangs away.
Daerian his face so red as to explode raised his hands. He shouted pointing at Marya.
“shit! It’s a sacred duel! “I Daerian Marchol de Mirrodin the third son of Baron Mirrodin urge you to a duel!”
The crowd was agitated. What surprised them even more was that it was not an ordinary duel but a ‘sacred’ duel.
That long-standing tradition even stipulated in imperial law was something that should never be spoken of indiscriminately.
A debate of power that risks not only one’s own life but also the honor of the family. Regardless of status the loser had to unconditionally comply with the winner’s one request.
This crossed the line. Ronan asked raising his arm.
“I have a quick question. “I’m the one who put the handkerchief in your panties so why are you challenging that girl to a duel?”
“You will have to pay separately later!”
Daerian flinched and shouted. Ronan who understood the situation laughed.
Is this noble? It was surprising that a baby that hadn’t even fully grown out yet could become so ugly.
“Is it because you’re scared of me? “Are you saying you’re messing with that girl because she’s so easygoing?”
“That can’t be possible! “Because the cost of daring to deceive me is much greater!”
“That’s right. I can tolerate it to a great extent but you really can’t. “Let’s duel with me.”
“Huh! “Don’t come any closer!”
Ronan approached spitting into his palm. Daerian was scared and took a step back.
Marya who had been watching them the whole time blocked the gap between them.
“Both of you please stop.”
Ronan quickly conveyed his intention to get out of the way with a glance. Marya shook her head and turned her back.
She bowed lightly towards Daerian.
“Girl Sen I will accept the sacred duel.”
****
The three people moved to an empty lot outside the Phileon site. An old man who appeared to be Daerian’s attendant became a witness to the duel.
“Master what kind of disgrace is this? Not only did you have a fight with the commoners but you even challenged them to a sacred duel. “If the head of the family knows…”
“Shut up inspiration! Do you know what kind of humiliation I went through?!”
“Seeing that you came back in your underwear I can guess to some extent…”
He snatched the longsword from the old man’s hand as if snatching it away. It seemed like a pretty good sword this time as it was shiny and shiny. The old man sighed and spoke dryly.
“Yes then let me explain the rules of the sacred duel. “You must accept the result unconditionally…”
A boring explanation followed. Marja remained still with her eyes closed her hands resting on the hilts of both her swords. Dairian smiled sinisterly as he looked at the onlookers surrounding the vacant lot.
‘I’ll make sure that damn girl can never hold a sword again.’
He was planning to take out his sorrow about the practical exam on Marya.
The Mirrodin family’s swordsmanship which boasts a long tradition could cripple a delicate girl in an instant. There will be no force control or anything like that.
“…That’s it. Do both sides pledge to respect the highest traditions?”
“I swear.”
“I swear.”
Before long the explanation was over. The old man raised a handkerchief high. The moment the handkerchief fell was the start of the duel.
The two people facing each other took a stance. With a soft clanging sound two blades were pulled out of Marya’s sheath.
She smiled.
“Lord Darian. “I would like to thank you in advance.”
“…You mean to say thank you?”
“For giving me the legal right to beat you up.”
“what?”
Then the handkerchief left the old man’s fingers.
It was an instant. Marya who had narrowed the distance as if leaping rotated her body and swung her sword.
-Wet!
“What!”
It was a blow reminiscent of a fierce whirlwind. Deerian who hurriedly raised his sword managed to successfully defend himself but it was not very meaningful.
Bye! The back of the long sword which was helplessly pushed away hit Daerian’s shoulder.
“Huh!”
“Never be in front of our eyes again.”
Marya whispered. Daerian’s eyes grew so big that they almost popped out.
Onlookers gasped as they heard the sound of his bones breaking.
“These are my demands.”
A newborn-like scream came from the mouth of Daerian who had fallen to the floor.
“Kwaaaaah!!!”
“Master Tao!”
It was a sound that only someone with his collarbone crushed into fine pieces could make. The center of Daerian’s pants struggling as he lay was turning dark. The fluttering handkerchief landed on the floor.
“That greeting was a bit late….”
“hmm?”
Marja who had led the way turned around with her back to her. Ronan who was clapping with a satisfied expression tilted his head at her.
She scratched her cheek and hesitated before finally opening her mouth.
“thank you.”
“Nothing much to say Miss.”
Daerian’s scream lingered in my ears for a long time. The two walked to the 4th Tower of Phileon where the magic test was held. Marja bursting out laughing at Ronan’s joke no longer covered her mouth.
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