45. Erosion (This is the last free episode)
#45
“Nine…”
I don’t know if it was a side effect of Haeju but I suddenly felt tired. Ronan fell asleep with her face buried in the feathers of her sita.
Just as I was about to fall into a deep sleep someone knocked lightly on my door.
– Knock knock.
It was probably Lucy who had come to make the bedding. Ronan slightly awake muttered in a sleepy voice.
“Ugh…come back later Lucy. “I’m going to sleep until afternoon class…”
No answer came back. Sita raised her head and was staring at the door. There was a knock on the door again.
– Knock knock.
“What isn’t it Lucy…? “Is that you Asher?”
My body was too heavy to get up and check. That’s what I’m going to say. Ronan picked up his pillow and covered both ears.
– Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Damn….”
But the knocking continued. Knock knock. It was exactly the 57th knock on the door. Ronan kicked away the blanket and stood up nervously.
“You uneducated bastard!”
Sleep had long since escaped. His bright eyes were burning with anger.
Ronan picked up La Mancha which was leaning against his dresser. bang! Ronan headed to the entrance in his underwear and roughly opened the door.
“Some guy who will kill you by splashing him with shit keeps knocking on the door of a room where people are sleeping?! Are you going to beat your head like a tambourine on a party day?”
A middle-aged man dressed extravagantly stood in front of the door. Two knights wearing plate armor were guarding behind him. The man’s eyes widened when he heard Ronan’s words.
“What…!”
Judging by his expression he seemed quite shocked. One of the knights behind him growled clutching the hilt of his sword.
“It’s cruel. “Unless you want your tongue cut out bow your head right now.”
It was an article that gave the impression of being as stubborn as a rock. Anyone with a strong spirit would have listened to him. Of course it was none of Ronan’s business.
“Ha Mu-um? Cut out your tongue?”
Ronan snorted and glared at the knight.
“How cruel are these people who came to see me at random times and woke up someone who was sleeping well? “Nimi show me what shamelessness I have?”
Ronan spat at his feet. The knight who released mana in an intimidating manner stepped forward as if he were about to cut Ronan down at any moment. The middle-aged man raised his hand to stop him.
“It’s okay Dolan. “It looks like he was sleeping.”
“Haona….”
The knight called Dolan gritted his teeth. Suddenly Ronan frowned. I saw something sparkling around Dolan’s scabbard.
‘what?’
To be precise there was something faintly sparkling within the mana that Dolan was emitting. It was like static electricity bouncing in the air and it was the first time I had seen this phenomenon since I was able to see mana.
However I felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
“I said it was okay.”
“…All right.”
Then Dolan bowed his head to his man and stepped away. Then as the manifested mana faded the sparkle also disappeared. The man who turned his gaze to Ronan said.
“You do the same. I thought you were awake. “I apologize for Dolan’s words and actions.”
“what?”
Ronan raised his head. Only then did the middle-aged man’s face come into view. Ronan who had calmed down his excitement opened his mouth.
“…Do you know me?”
“okay. “Because I came here to meet you in the first place.”
There was majesty in his low-pitched voice. His dark blue hair and stylish mustache were impressive. Suddenly Ronan thought he had seen the man somewhere.
‘Schlieffen?’
It seemed like this would be exactly what the Empire’s Morning Star would look like when she aged gracefully. Ronan who soon realized the man’s identity raised his eyebrows.
“Damn you Duke of Grancia?”
“Thank you for noticing. “Can I come in for a moment?”
“Oh wait a minute. “Just wear some pants.”
bang! The visit was closed. The faces of the escort knights hardened. The Duke of Grancia muttered softly as he looked at the closed door in front of him.
“It’s…a little different from what I expected.”
****
“I’m sorry earlier. “I was a little tired.”
“Never mind. “Because I came here suddenly.”
Ronan greeted the duke wearing only pants and a shirt. It was my first time seeing the real thing.
It was fortunate that there were tables and sofas available to receive his guests.
“Relax. “Here’s the car.”
“Thank you.”
Ronan set down the tea he had brewed in front of the duke. The duke who had been looking around ever since he entered the room opened his mouth.
“Hmm… Is this the best dormitory building in Phileon?”
“yes? Uh…right? “Don’t you think so just by looking at it?”
“It’s serious….”
It was slightly better than the guest accommodations at the Grancia Mansion. The Duke shook his head and took a sip of tea. His eyebrows rose at the strong scent that wafted up to him.
“This…did you boil it yourself?”
“yes. “Are you okay?”
“You are talented in many areas not just swords. “It’s a waste to leave a building like this.”
The duke said and took another sip of tea. Ronan feeling a little better grinned. He felt that he had done a good job of pestering Lucy to learn.
“I’m glad you got it right. “Anyway what brought you here?”
“Ah…I’m not here because I just have business for you. Would you mind waiting for a moment?”
Ronan tilted his head. At that time the door opened and the escort knights came in. Ronan’s eyes widened when he saw Asher and Marya coming in behind him.
“Huh?”
“Duke. “I brought it to you.”
The silent knights stepped aside. Asher and Marya were looking around with puzzled expressions.
“This is Ronan’s room….”
“Ugh…what’s happening all of a sudden?”
Both seemed to have just woken up. Marya had mistaken her knights for being Phileon’s superiors.
“Nice to meet you. “This brings all three heroes together.”
At that time the duke stood up. The two people who recognized his face froze.
“That that that that Duke of Grancia…?”
“What are you doing here…? “If I had known this would happen I would have combed my hair…”
It was a face that could be found in various media without much effort. Duke of Grancia and father of Schlieffen. The head of a great family that divided the empire was standing before my eyes.
The duke shook hands with an expressionless face.
“It’s okay so don’t be so nervous. “I came to say thank you to you.”
“Thank you…?”
“okay. First let’s sit down and talk. “Is Ronan okay?”
“Did you really ask if you could sit on my sofa? of course.”
Ronan nodded his head. Contrary to his cold and authoritarian appearance he was a very considerate person.
In other words he probably took on the personality of his child Schlieffen. The Duke opened his mouth after everyone had sat down on the sofa.
“Then let’s greet each other formally. “I am Josef Siniban de Grancia the head of the Grancia family.”
“It’s Ronan.”
“Ah it’s Asher….”
“I am Marja Carabel. It is an honor to meet you Duke of Grancia.”
Personalized greetings came and went. The Duke said looking carefully at the faces of the three people.
“I already told Student Ronan but the reason I came to see you today… was to say thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“okay. Thanks for saving Gran Cappadocia. As you all know the biggest customer of that blacksmith shop was our Grancia. “Thanks to your quick response we were able to minimize the damage.”
The duke knew the whole story of the Gran Cappadocia incident. He relayed the news that there were almost no deaths and that a new Gran Cappadocia was being rebuilt in the Great Hollow discovered by Ronan.
Suddenly I remembered that Erzsebet had said the day before that guests would come from all walks of life. I didn’t know that Grancia would come right away.
After saying thank you the duke gestured to the knights standing in front of the door.
“Bring it.”
The two knights left the room for a moment and then came back in. When they returned they were holding three luxurious boxes and a large sword that looked to be two meters long. Ronan raised his eyebrows.
“What is all this?”
“These are the items that Craftsman Doron asked me to deliver to you. “Take it.”
The knights delivered the items to the three people. A narrow and long box was placed in front of Ronan and a small box was placed in front of Asher. Marya’s greatsword rested against her side.
Ronan opened the box first. A black smooth stick was lying on the red silk.
“what?”
I picked it up and looked around but I could hardly feel its weight. Ronan suddenly let out an exclamation. There was a thin groove at the head of the stick.
“ah!”
Ronan pushed the tip of La Mancha’s sword into the groove. Crash. The sword body which seemed to have been oiled stopped exactly in front of her handle. Ronan said in a voice full of emotion.
“Damn I finally have a sheath. thank you.”
“They say it was discovered during restoration work. “He asked me to tell you that it was made of the same material as your sword.”
Come to think of it the material of the scabbard was very similar to that of La Mancha’s sword. Ronan nodded his head in satisfaction. Even if I hung it on my waist with the sword sheathed I could barely feel the weight.
At that time a confused voice came out of Asher’s mouth as he opened the box.
“Green onion bracelet…?”
Asher’s box contained a pair of metal bracelets. The circular shape of the double helix was impressive. Ronan lifted his head and chuckled.
“It suits you Asher. “Doesn’t this mean that we should just play house like a girl?”
“That kind of….”
“Ah you said it was made by borrowing technology from the magic island Delphium. You sound very excited but I’m also curious. Would you like to try it on?”
Nodding her head Asher placed her bracelets on both wrists. The loose bracelet automatically tightened to fit Asher’s wrist. Asher saw the mana gathering at the tips of her ten fingers and her eyes widened.
“This…!”
The flow of mana itself has changed. I felt like I was moving much more efficiently than when I used a cane. While he was opening his mouth in admiration like a poor child Ronan joined in.
“Wow that’s amazing. “The direction of flow itself changes.”
“uh…? Can you see Ronan Mana?!”
“Yeah man. “I was able to see it starting last night.”
Ronan grinned and nodded his head. Although I couldn’t see each flow in detail yet I could at least tell that mana was flowing through the bracelet and his fingers. Asher clapped his hands in admiration.
“Congratulations Chu! at las…!”
-thud!
At that time there was a sound so loud that I thought the floor had broken. Everyone in the room looked at the source of the sound at the same time. Marya’s great sword had fallen nicely.
“Ahaha sorry… this is heavier than I thought.”
Marja stood up and picked up his great sword. Tendons sprouted from his white arms. Only after using both her hands was she able to keep her sword in its original position.
“I forgot to warn you. “I heard it’s a great sword of enormous weight.”
“Yes… First of all it was the heaviest weapon I’ve ever lifted.”
Marja said turning her wrist. I felt like I had to give it my all to swing it properly. The duke opened his mouth with his eyes focused on the wave pattern engraved on the back of the great sword.
“But you said that the great sword is the weapon that suits you best. “You said that the more mana you hold the heavier it becomes.”
“Eh it gets heavier here?”
“Master Doron must have an idea. “I recommend following it as much as possible.”
The duke said calmly. The trust in Doron seemed great. Well since he was the head of a blacksmith shop that had been making Grancia’s weapons for several generations it made sense that the relationship was deep.
Marja nodded her head. She smiled as she looked at her knight who casually carried her great sword.
“By the way your strength is amazing sir. “I’m jealous.”
The driver didn’t react. It was a guy named Dolan who tried to pull a sword on Ronan earlier. The Duke seeing Marya blushing opened her mouth.
“Lord Dolan is strong. “I highly value your loyalty but in this case please answer me Dolan.”
“Yes Duke. “I will.”
Dolan bowed his head politely. He was truly an example of a loyal knight who only followed his lord’s orders.
“You understand. He is such a stubborn man. That’s why he’s entrusted with my escort.”
“Wow it’s cool. “Have you blossomed into an Auror?”
“of course. Almost all of the knights of Grancia are Aurora apparitions. “Dolan is special among them.”
“That’s too much praise. “Duke.”
The Duke and Dolan Marya naturally began to talk. Ronan suddenly remembered the situation from earlier and whispered to Asher.
“Hey Asher.”
“Hmm?”
“Stop talking nonsense look at that beetle-looking guy. “Isn’t Mana a little strange?”
Ronan pointed at Dolan with the tip of his chin. Asher gently opened his eyes. As I concentrated I could see Dolan’s core and pulsing mana but I didn’t feel anything special.
“I don’t know…?”
“You idiot are you still a wizard? “Can’t you see the sparkle in the mana?”
“The bar is shiny? “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
Ronan narrowed his eyes at her. She wasn’t visible now but she was definitely visible just now. He thought he would have been able to see Asher who had much better sensitivity. Does he have to meet certain conditions to be revealed?
‘Shiba… I definitely felt it somewhere.’
Normally I would have dismissed it as an ‘unpleasant feeling of déjà vu’. However if he had seen the reality with his own eyes it would have been a different story. Ronan whispered poking Asher’s side.
“Look closely. “I think it will appear again at least once.”
“Uh yeah….”
The duke who was talking at that time turned his gaze to Ronan.
“Now that I think about it there is something I wanted to hear from you.”
“yes? “What is it?”
“Anyway an official letter will come from Lodolan in a few days but I was curious. “I heard that you were the one who caught those behind the cave giant control. Can you tell me about that time?”
“Aha that idiot duo?”
At that moment Dolan’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Mana mixed with sparkles crept up onto his shoulders. Ronan’s eyes widened.
‘It’s out!’
Ronan stabbed Asher in the side again. But Asher just showed a puzzled expression and continued to act. He didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about Dolan’s mana.
Damn is it only me who can see? Ronan glared at Dolan with wide eyes. No matter how I looked at it it didn’t seem like something I could just ignore. Suddenly a flash of light crossed Ronan’s mind.
‘I remembered.’
Ronan twisted his lips. Edeon and Cirilla. The same ominousness of the Ark that emanated from them was felt in Dolan. The sparkle fluttering within the mana seemed to visualize that ominous feeling.
Ronan’s expression hardened. The duke feeling strange tilted his head.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Uh…no. “How much did we talk about?”
“I was trying to talk about a duo.”
“Oh so….”
Ronan glanced at Dolan again. Her mana was gone everywhere. It seemed like he had lost his mana due to emotional turmoil for a moment.
‘It was definitely a reaction to being told that they were a two-piece idiot.’
It’s still too early to be sure but I definitely got the feeling. The corners of Ronan’s mouth turned up sinisterly as he made a plan in his head for a moment.
Ronan said. The gaze was fixed on Dolan.
“Duke.”
“hmm?”
“Have you ever heard of the coming of the stars?”
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