160. Festival of the Sword (3)
#160
Ronan walked back to the square he had left. I only realized it now but among the participants there were quite a few people looking at me.
There were some who glanced at me as if passing by and others who stared at me outright. Each person’s gaze reflected their own emotions. Envy awe jealousy….
Is it because as that idiot said the Winter Witch has been exterminated? It wasn’t a very bad feeling but it was quite a burden. Ronan raised his middle finger at the man who was glaring at him as if he were his parents’ enemy.
“What are you looking at? “You furry bastard.”
“Hey!”
Her man stepped away lowering his eyes on her. Now that I think about it I can’t see Darman. Jaipa Island where he was supposed to deliver the goods. Of course there were a lot of people so it wasn’t unreasonable.
Ronan soon arrived at the square. Nabirose and Schlieffen were standing in the same place as before chatting. They were really heavy-legged people.
“I’m here.”
“You came at just the right time. “I heard screams coming from the direction you went. What happened?”
“Suddenly some crazy guy took off her clothes on the street. “I even loved her underwear.”
“You’re right.”
She shook her head as if she felt sorry for me. Schlieffen who was just listening quietly also slowly remembered. Suddenly the words of the guy who was wondering if it was Green Chardonnay or something passed through his mind. Ronan said patting him on the shoulder.
“You need to work harder. “I feel like I took too much from you.”
“What does that mean all of a sudden?”
“There is such a thing man. “As soon as we get back to Phileon come with me…”
“Can everyone please pay attention?”
Ronan was about to continue speaking. A hoarse voice echoed throughout the square. The people gathered in the square all turned their heads.
“what?”
“Okay thank you everyone. “This way.”
An old man with wrinkles was standing on the platform in front of the square. The sight of him supporting his body with a long sword as a cane was unsettling. Nabi Rose raised her eyebrows as if she was interested.
“Oh…I guess something is going on. “I can’t believe that old man came out in person.”
“Who is that?”
“Alogin. He is one of the seven elders who manage the shrine and Farzan. “A swordsman who once rose to the rank of swordsman.”
“This fucking swordsman?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. It was a story that far exceeded expectations. Nowadays even if you die from being hit by an arrow it would be considered a natural death. An old man named Alogin continued.
“Thank you for coming here despite having to postpone the event. I heard that a similar number of people had gathered in Aran Farzan on the other side of the mountain. I can definitely say that this will be the largest number of participants in nearly 100 years. “The reason we gathered you together like this is….”
It was a loud but powerful voice. One could see his skill just by immediately capturing the attention of the knifemen who had lived a rough life. Al Login who had been silent opened his mouth.
“I will not deny the rumors floating around in the world. The elders including me all had the same dream. It was a dream in which the holy sword we had been looking for appeared before us. “There was no further explanation but we all knew it was a holy sword.”
Alogin told of a strange dream. A meteor fell into a sacred place dragging a long tail. A sword that was half buried in the ground and was emitting light.
It matched exactly with the information the young man gave. The crowd started to get noisy. widely! Alogin focused their attention again by striking the stage with the tip of his sword.
“It was a wonderful dream. However when we woke up we realized something and fell into grief. The point was that none of us could touch the Holy Sword. Most people just watched the shining holy sword but those who approached to touch it woke up from their sleep. It wasn’t difficult to realize its meaning. “None of us old men had the talent to wield a holy sword.”
There was bitterness evident in Alogin’s voice as he said that. Ronan thought it was worth it. If a person has lived a proper life no matter how old his body may be his heart will burn like fire.
widely! Alogin struck again with the tip of his sword. Guides dressed in matching attire lined up in front of the podium. Several people were holding large signs in their hands each with numbers 1 to 4 written on them. Alogin said.
“Then let’s begin the first test. “Everyone please follow the guide who corresponds to your number.”
Guides without signs walked through the crowd handing out pieces of paper. The numbers 1 to 4 were also written on the twice-folded parchment. Ronan and the others opened the note at the same time.
****
“What is your name? “Is there a group you’re a member of?”
“Ronan. “I am attending Phileon Academy.”
Ronan who heard the question answered calmly. The guide smiled kindly only after confirming that the marble he was holding showed no reaction.
“Haha I actually knew. There’s no way I don’t know the hero who saved the island from winter. “It’s just a custom so please don’t pay too much attention to it.”
“are you okay. “I’m having a hard time.”
Ronan left the guide behind and entered the door. A space reminiscent of the first arena of Phileon Academy was spread out. The people who came in earlier were gathered in groups of threes and fives and were having a conversation.
There were a few who looked weak but most of them had a hard time living so their spirit wasn’t easy. Ronan’s eyes looked around and landed on a young man standing alone in the corner with his arms crossed.
“hey.”
“Are we here now?”
Schlieffen turned her head. Ronan walked forward and leaned next to him. I felt people’s eyes focused on me. Ronan chuckled and said.
“You should ask the instructor too right? “What is your name and affiliation?”
“Maybe so. “I heard there are no exceptions.”
“It’s a sight. I wonder if there is a child among those who eat knives that doesn’t know that sister.”
It was funny. Schlieffen also nodded in agreement. Ronan and he pulled out a piece of paper with number 4 written on it and Nabirose drew a piece of paper with number 1 written on it. Guides holding signs took them to different places.
Because there were so many participants the test was split into groups. They carefully verified the participants’ identities before entering the testing room.
All questions and answers were conducted in front of the magic tool which was responsible for determining whether the subject’s words were false and if the magic tool reacted even slightly the subject was kicked out. That was the bead the guides were holding. Ronan grumbled sticking his tongue out.
“I looked at it very carefully. “I don’t know why you go to the trouble of doing this.”
“Probably to prevent those who are banned from entering.”
“ok? “Are there any bastards like that?”
“okay. “Isn’t that true just by looking at Instructor Nabirose’s sword training in the immediate squadron?”
Schlieffen spoke in a calm tone. Ronan tilted his head as he heard this story for the first time. Come to think of it Al Login too had never made any effort to learn about the swordsmanship of the previous generation. Schlieffen shrugged his eyebrows.
“Explosion Sword Croden. “Have you never heard of it?”
“I think so.”
“Well it could be because the empire is not happy with his presence. Although he is strong he is notorious for his cruelty. “He killed all the participants except himself in the Sword Festival because he was not chosen by the Holy Sword.”
“You’re not crazy.”
Ronan laughed. Just by hearing the child’s case he felt like he could understand why he was so thorough in his inspection. Schlieffen continued.
“It was after defeating him that Butterfly rose to fame in earnest. He has been in the position of Sword Saint for nearly 40 years. By knocking him down from his position as a swordsman he was reduced to a criminal who must pay the full price.”
“That’s great. So is he dead now? That Croden or something.”
“Maybe so. He was last seen jumping off a cliff from a height he could not possibly survive while being chased by the Imperial Knights. “Even if he were still alive he would still be a dying old man.”
Aside from him Schlieffen also mentioned several other people who were banned from entering the Festival of the Sword. Ronan nodded at the interesting story. After all the world is big and there are a lot of crazy people.
Participants kept coming in. Even though we divided them into four groups there seemed to be well over a hundred people. I heard that there is another village called Aran Farzan that serves as a gathering place just like this one and I was curious about how many people would gather there. He was about to take out his knife and clean it. A familiar voice came from not far away.
“Ah handsome ass.”
“hmm?”
Ronan turned his gaze in the direction of the sound. The white-haired girl she saw a moment ago was standing right next to her. The hilt of an old sword protruded above the lion-like hair.
“you…!”
His eyes widened. He didn’t notice any approaching sign at all. The girl looked at Ronan and Schlieffen in turn and nodded with satisfaction.
“As expected a good-looking guy has good-looking friends. “I like it.”
“You…were you really a participant?”
“I told you so. “I don’t lie.”
The tone of voice was as if he was asking something like that. Schlieffen who was looking down at her girl opened her mouth.
“Who is this child?”
“I don’t know either. “That strange pervert I met earlier.”
“That’s harsh. “I was just trying to give you information about the first test.”
The girl pursed her lips. The two people raised their eyebrows when they heard that it was the first test. Ronan said.
“How do you know that?”
“It’s not my first time here. But actually the first test is nothing special. It’s a very simple test to weed out idiots who aren’t qualified to wield a sword. “At most it would be like splitting a hard stone.”
The girl pointed to various places in the arena. This was the location where the stone was supposed to be placed. It was a confident tone as if telling the direction in which the sun would rise.
“…is it real?”
“I don’t lie. Last time last time too the first test was splitting stones. “It just so happens to be over there.”
The two people turned their gaze in the direction the girl was pointing. Her man slightly better dressed than her other ushers was striding forward. He caught the participants’ attention by clapping. match! Everyone’s eyes were focused on the man.
“Thank you all for coming. “Then let me tell you about the first test.”
The story unfolded quickly probably because he knew he was tired of waiting. He took his mouth off her as he looked around at the participants.
“There are exactly 100 people gathered here. Since everyone has at least one weapon there must be at least a hundred weapons. “Please reduce the number of these weapons to ten.”
“What?”
“You don’t have to choose any means or methods. In accordance with the time-honored traditions of the Festival of Swords bloodshed will not be deterred. No matter what you do you only need to have ten or less weapons left at the end.”
It was completely different from what the girl said. Far from being easy it was a test that was sure to result in blood splattering. Ronan and Schlieffen looked down at the girl at the same time. She muttered softly avoiding his gaze.
“…Sometimes there are exceptions.”
