Academy’s Genius Swordmaster Chapter 5

5. Asher the Coward (3)

#5

Academy? What kind of bullshit is that?

Asher almost answered that way.

“Well…Ronan I’m really confused. What the hell is going on?”

“I’m writing the first sentence of a revised version of Ronan’s biography.”

“What is that….”

“On the 1st of next month we will go to Balon.”

“Ballon? “Are you talking about the institutional debate?”

“okay. The Imperial Phileon Academy is there. It’s a little early considering that the entrance exam starts on the 3rd. “Considering the adjustment period and all it’s right to go then.”

Ronan’s voice was serious. When Asher realized he wasn’t joking he froze. Even though he was a country boy he knew about the status of Phil Leon Academy.

Phileon? That Phileon Academy?

A small city with a hundred towers a place where the most talented people on the continent gather. What kind of place is it that commoners like us go into?

But Ronan was already working on his plan behind the scenes.

“I told your parents so don’t worry about that.”

“Wow did you meet my parents? when?!”

Asher got up from his seat. Ronan lay down and waved his hand to dissuade him.

“Sit down. It sinks.”

“Wait a minute…huu….”

Asher took a deep breath and sat down. Ronan continued.

“The day before yesterday during the day. I heard you like it? “If your only child enters Phileon what is there to be proud of?”

“Wait a minute! good! Ronan. “Assume that everything you say is true and sincere!”

“I’m serious.”

“okay! Since you have tremendous martial arts talent you might be able to enroll. But why me? My abilities are insignificant. “You know that too right?!”

“Asher. “Do you like your life now?”

Ronan suddenly raised his upper body and sat down facing Asher. The eyebrows and close-set eyes were as fierce as a bird of prey.

Asher lowered his head. He couldn’t answer yes even with empty words. The days of acting like a bully for fear of being bullied passed before his eyes.

“…no.”

“Don’t you want to change your life? Not everyone is born with the qualities of a wizard. ”

“But I…I’m not strong like you. “Cowardly…timid…”

“That’s right you idiot. Sang Byeong-shin was so afraid of being bullied that he used to bully children. Why do you think you weren’t the only one hit at that time? It was so fucking pathetic. “To the point where I don’t even feel it’s worth hitting.”

“That kind of….”

“But those things are all trivial. “It’s something that can be easily fixed.”

Suddenly memories of the past came to mind and Ronan lit a cigarette.

The boy in front of him looked like himself. The immature and foolish self who used his boredom as an excuse to waste his brilliant talent. In Asher’s case it was weakness rather than boredom but the large ark was the same.

“If you waste your talent making excuses you will definitely regret it later. “I guarantee it.”

Ronan didn’t bring Asher simply because he needed a telekinetic wizard. He did not want Asher to have the same regrets as he did in the future. The flowing smoke mixed with the wind and disappeared.

“If you don’t feel like it just tell me. “I’ll drop you off at the right place.”

“…no.”

Asher raised his head. Light brown eyes were shining in the moonlight. Ronan seeing the determined expression grinned.

“I want to go too. Phileon.”

“Good idea.”

“Yeah tell me what I should do.”

“What should I do… um…”

Asher was looking at him with an expression asking him to do anything. Ronan stroked his chin and recalled the strategy he had planned. And he spoke calmly.

“moderation?”

****

The raft arrived at its destination at dawn. There were many big and small rocks so it was a good place to hide. The two boys disembarked after tying the raft to the back of a large rock.

“Keep your voice down from now on. “Follow me carefully.”

“huh.”

The two left the river and entered the forest. The wind blowing through the trees was soft. After walking for a while I was able to spot a cluster of red lights in the distance.

“That’s…what you said….”

“ok. “Did you pack your backpack well?”

Asher nodded her head. They cautiously approached the light and discovered that it was a huge bonfire.

Asher bit his lip to suppress a scream at the unrealistic scene that soon unfolded before his eyes.

-Wow! Fu-ga-ga-gak!

-Pyuuuuu…!

Dozens of dwarves with pointed ears and noses were spread out around the bonfire. He wasn’t dead or injured but seemed to be in a deep sleep. Ronan frowned in displeasure.

“Nimi the poop I pooped in the morning must have looked better.”

“What… is that?”

At first glance it looked similar to a monster called ‘Goblin’. But there was something different from ordinary goblins.

He was noticeably larger and had a much dirtier look. Unlike their compatriots who only covered important parts they were well equipped with protective gear.

The crucial difference was skin color. Instead of the green color that usually comes to mind when thinking about goblins it was a yellowish color like gold.

“It’s Luna Goblin. “They’re the ones who save money on monsters.”

Ronan said. Luna Goblin was a rare species of goblin that he met during his wanderings. They had a habit of collecting shiny objects like crows and holding festivals every night when the full moon rose.

“How did you find this?”

“There is a way.”

Ronan recalled the conversation he had with the peddler three days ago.

‘Damn it. The top was attacked again. What do soldiers do?’

‘also? Did something like this happen last time?’

‘okay. This is already the third time.’

‘Is this the work of bandits?’

‘What’s a little kid like you going to do?’

‘Young man. I only answer when asked. Even if I wasn’t in a hurry I would have burned your bundle. Do you get 10 coins for a pipe like this and eat it?’

‘Keuhum..! Hehehe! With that guy’s temperament…’

The peddler told everything he knew. The raid took place at night and there were no survivors. No objects other than precious metals or weapons were touched. Even though there were expensive spices.

‘And this is really valuable information…well the footprints around were not human!’

After gathering information Ronan was able to determine that it was the Luna Goblin’s work. Because it was so quick and cunning it was a monster that was nearly impossible to track down except for those with specialized knowledge.

There was a reason why the culprit could not be found even though nine people died. And Ronan had the expertise to track them down.

“If we make a mistake we will all die Asher. “Do you see that?”

Ronan pointed to the campfire with his index finger. The bones of various animals were scattered around. There were also quite a few human bones mixed in among the dogs.

A large altar was built nearby. All the items the goblins had collected so far were placed on an altar made of woven branches and bones. There were various types of weapons as well as a lot of fancy gold jewelry.

While the goblins enjoying the festival were sleeping Asher used his telekinesis to steal money. That was Ronan’s grand plan. Asher asked with a trembling voice.

“Ro Ronan…do we really have to do this? “Isn’t there another way to make money?”

“There are a few.”

“Then can we go with that? “I don’t think this is real.”

“okay. Pick one of the two. The first is that we become Luna Goblins. They attack merchants at night and steal their money. If you resist they will give you three or four vent holes in the belly. how is it?”

“…What about the second?”

“I’m selling you to Changgwan. There are perverts everywhere who like pretty boys. A short night costs 10 silver coins. Long chestnuts cost 30 coins. Taking a step with your mouth is 7 coins. What’s with the tuition? “If I just stick to it for a month I’ll be fine until I graduate right?”

Asher froze. Ronan squatted down with his arms around his shoulders.

“So man listen carefully. I’m not going through all this trouble for no reason. “What kind of place is Phileon?”

“What kind of place? “It’s an academy right?”

“right. Academy. It is also a place where the best young ladies on the continent gather. “Do you think based on common sense that those bastards would accept commoners like us who smell like cow dung as friends?”

“…no.”

“The only way for us to be recognized is to demonstrate our skills. But unfortunately Phileon is a place where only talented people from noble families gather. I’m sure you’ve been developing your talent steadily since your days as a nosebleed dog right? There’s only one way to outrun those guys. “Practical experience.”

“Practical experience…!”

Ronan slightly raised his head and looked at the altar. Between them and the altar were more than twenty Luna Goblins.

“okay. Practical experience. When you fall pretty maids come running with medicine and bandages but for us goblins that look like shit come running with clubs. I can assure you that this one experience will be more meaningful than the 10 years you spent together. “As long as it doesn’t fall apart.”

Ronan slowly got up and patted Asher on the back.

“Be a man Asher.”

“Ugh….”

Asher wanted to turn back time. He should have jumped off the raft even if it meant swimming all the way to Nimburton. However it was impossible to pick up the water that had already spilled.

Asher took a deep breath and strengthened his resolve. And he aimed his trembling hand at his altar. A low chant escaped between my lips.

“Invisible Hand.”

A dagger that had been placed on the altar floated to the surface.

****

“Fuck! That’s it Asher! “You can do it!”

The necklace came through the air and fell into the bag. Ronan clenched his fists and shouted in delight. It looked like it would be worth 30 gold coins because it had a large sapphire in it.

“Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…!”

“Let’s just fill this sack and bounce. “It was hard.”

An hour has passed since the theft began. The night was turning dark blue preparing to greet the sun. Asher has succeeded in filling seven and a half sacks so far.

“Invisible…Hand.”

He was maintaining a state of concentration that was different from usual. He really didn’t want to admit it but Ronan’s theory was right no matter what the actual battle was like.

Asher’s telekinesis was growing remarkably in a situation where he could become food for goblins the moment he dropped even one object.

As if to disprove him two heavy maces emerged from the altar. The shape of the head was colorful and not monotonous making it an item that Holy Knights would use.

“Oh that must be pretty expensive too?”

Ronan was feeling a kind of joy he had never felt before. It was fun to get stronger myself but it was also fun to see my colleagues get stronger. Asher had intelligence and potential that was not found among the idiots in the punishment unit.

Everything was satisfactory. In fact it was planned with the assumption that the goblins would wake up in the middle but thanks to Asher’s frightening growth rate it seemed like he would never have to draw his sword.

‘There’s no need to waste your energy on goblin bastards. ‘I’m just exhausted.’

I was going to have a lot of trouble in the future anyway but it wasn’t a bad idea to take it easy sometimes.

Mace was coming along smoothly. Because of the weight it shook slightly but there was no problem due to the high altitude of the original body.

It should have been that way.

“It’s a crab! “You chicken head!”

“shit! Catch it before it goes into the river!”

Suddenly a powerful shout rang out in the forest. It was not the two people’s voices but the voices of others. Birds took flight and the Luna Goblins woke up screaming.

-Keeee!!

-Kyao! Kyao!

“uh? “Uh-huh!”

Asher was startled and flinched. The magic holding the mace was broken.

Kwajak! The mace fell straight to the ground and shattered the bone of the goblin who was just getting up. Her cool blood and brain fluid splashed onto the faces of nearby goblins.

-Key kieek?!

“no!”

Asher looked back at Ronan clutching his head. He sighed and gripped the hilt of his sword.

“Yes somehow things are going well.”

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