9. The girl who will become a count (3)
#9
Room 201 of the inn <Dancing Mule>.
There were all kinds of miscellaneous things strewn about on the wooden plank floor. Although there were different types of items such as swords potions and rings there was a common denominator in that they all sparkled.
Marja opened her mouth as she looked at the booty lined up on the floor.
“So these are the unsold items left behind? “You guys use it?”
“huh.”
“These are quite high-quality products… Why did you leave three swords?”
“It breaks down quickly.”
Hans’ sword which had already lost a lot of teeth was proof of this.
Even in his last life Ronan would change his weapons about once a month. Most weapons could not handle his swift sword.
“Well anyway… Ah. It still hurts. “Be gentle.”
Marja grumbled as she touched the lump on her head. Ronan opened her mouth and showed her the cut on her tongue. It was the spot he chewed when he received the uppercut.
“Do you think this was created when a sparrow pecked it?”
“If I had been a little stronger I would have been able to cut it off.”
Even though Asher used magic to intervene the two still exchanged blows one more time.
Marja stabbed Ronan in the neck with her elbow and Ronan stuck the honey chestnut in the same spot as before.
Although Marya was incredibly strong for her size she was ultimately no match for Ronan.
The match ended with Marya waking up from a brief faint and admitting her defeat.
“Anyway it looks like it was written quite harshly. “If you are a swordsman you must treat your knife with care.”
“A knife is just a tool. “It doesn’t matter who wields it.”
“Oh~ I guess you’re confident in your skills? Do you want to spar later? “Even though it’s like this I’m the strongest in our group.”
“So.”
After the commotion ended Ronan and Marya managed to become close friends. It was thanks to each other’s courage. (Aser could not possibly understand this process.)
The three went out to the square ate Marbas’ famous crawfish pasta and then returned to their lodgings.
Marya kindly explained information about Phileon and now the boys were looking at the loot one by one that they had intentionally left unsold.
“Well anyway. All the items left here are useful. In particular this long sword is made of real black iron. Although the management is a bit disappointing.”
“Are you sure?”
“You don’t trust my eyesight? “My dad often asks me about metal.”
Heukcheol as its name suggests was iron that was black in color. Because it was rare and strong it was mainly used to make weapons for knights and nobles.
Ronan’s sword made of black iron was also his favorite weapon because he could easily use it for about six months.
“Then I’m glad.”
“And the stone embedded in this staff…is a real magic stone. Hey there cutie.”
Asher who was organizing his luggage belatedly turned his head to her. In Marya’s hand was a metal cane that seemed to be about 1 meter long. Like the black iron sword it was an item left unsold.
“huh? Could it be…me?”
“Then is that what you said to that barbarian? “I couldn’t ask you earlier because I was in a hurry but are you a wizard?”
Asher nodded his head. Without saying a word Marya threw her staff at him. Asher was startled and used his telekinesis to stop his staff.
“You almost got hurt!”
“Besides telekinesis… if you do well you will be admitted with a scholarship. “That will help to some extent.”
Asher looked at the staff floating in the air. I felt mana gathering in the stone embedded at the end. When I first found it I left it behind because it seemed unusual but I had no idea it was a real magic wand.
The magic wand itself was expensive but with the magic stone embedded in it it must have been extremely expensive. Marya sat down on the bed and looked back at Ronan.
“The problem is between us two. “What skills are you going to show me?”
“technology?”
“So Phileon’s skills are famous right?”
Candidates had to demonstrate their most confident skills in front of a panel of judges comprised of faculty.
The test was conducted for a total of 8 days including written and practical parts. The format was to take a practical exam over the previous 7 days and a written exam on the last day.
Phileon’s entrance exam boasted a literally astronomical level of competition. This is because any youth between the ages of 10 and 15 could apply regardless of status or origin.
There was a clear difference in score allocation between practical and written exams. Although the written test was not negligible the test that determined whether or not one passed was the score on the practical test.
“There are a lot of idiots but there are also a lot of talented people. “You have to prove your worth.”
“All I had to do was get Niimi’s swordsman to kill him well. What do they usually show?”
“Um…well? Nobles often demonstrate their family’s secret techniques…and cutting something as hard as a rock was also popular for a while. But the most common thing is to show your own fighting method using mana.”
“for a moment.”
For an instant Ronan’s face hardened. There was a lot of disbelief and doubt between the narrowed eyebrows. Marja tilted her head.
“what’s the matter?”
“When they are 10 to 15 years old they are children who haven’t even fully grown their hair yet. You’re not even a wizard but you’re dealing with mana? Do I look like an imbecile?”
“huh…? You’re saying you’re not an Auror you’re a Mana? “You just need to know how to react to apply it in battle right?”
“Are aurors and mana different?”
“…what?”
Coogung! The moment she heard those words lightning fell on Marya’s head. How would you feel if you were asked what the difference is between a bean bug and a dragon? Marya opened her mouth with a feeling of confusion.
“You… do you know how to respond to mana?”
“What is that again?”
“ah.”
Lightning struck once more. Ronan’s answer was not ‘I can’t’ but ‘I don’t know’.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t sense it due to lack of effort or talent but that he didn’t know the concept of mana sensitivity itself.
As far as she knew about half of those who passed the Phileon martial arts department had reached the level of ‘sword users’ who knew how to manipulate mana even simply. Naturally there was no one who could not respond to mana which was the most basic of basics.
I thought this was a bit harsh. Still isn’t she a Phil Leon wannabe like herself?
“Are you kidding me? “You really don’t know?”
“I don’t know. Don’t change your mind man. So what is the difference between aurors and mana?”
She looked at the imbecile before her speechless. Ronan’s eyes were still narrowed with suspicion.
Marja felt her embarrassment turning into anger in real time.
I see I taught an idiot who couldn’t tell the difference between mana and auras the entrance exam requirements for the best academy on the continent. And that too with great effort for an entire day.
She sat still laughing and stood up kicking off her bed.
“Follow me.”
“ok?”
“Let’s spar now. I’ll tell you what the difference is between Auror and Mana which you’re so curious about. “Even about the stupid mana sensitivity.”
Marja picked up two short swords that were lying on her floor. These were the remaining swords left for Ronan to use.
Although it did not use a precious metal like black iron it was a very well-made steel sword.
“I was almost fooled because you picked it up so confidently. That’s ours man.”
“You left my knife behind. “It’ll be over in an instant anyway so I’ll just use it once.”
“What if it goes bad?”
“Ha…twice as much. No I’ll charge you three times the price. “Okay?”
“Well if that’s the condition…”
bang! Marja kicked down her door and walked out before Ronan could respond. Surprised Asher began to hiccup and Ronan advised Asher that women are like that sometimes and left the room.
****
Mana is the power that forms the source of all things.
Concepts such as commonly referred to as aurors magic cores and circles were named according to the type of mana or the way it was handled. Mana sensitivity refers to the ability to feel mana as the name suggests which is the basis of everything.
“The time when you can feel mana varies from person to person. Many people don’t feel it until they die but if you have the slightest talent you usually feel it for about a year. Of course what’s important is what comes next.”
The three people left the inn and moved to a nearby vacant lot. Noise from the main street could be heard beyond the fence surrounding it on three sides. Marya walked about five steps toward Ronan and then turned around.
“In the grand scheme of things aurors are a type of mana but no one sees the two together. ‘Auror’ refers to the unique mana you create yourself. “It’s not natural mana that exists everywhere.”
“In other words it is not someone else’s poop but my own poop that I pulled out with my own strength.”
“It’s not like that example…”
Marja shook her head. I had no idea how far I should lower my expectations for Ronan. Ronan asked scratching the back of his head.
“I have one more question. Blooming that aura? “Is it that difficult to do?”
“of course. Developing your Aura means creating your own mana that cannot be replaced. Even if a talented person trains consistently it takes at least 10 years for an Auror to bloom.”
“…okay?”
Ronan thought about the enemies he had defeated so far. Now that I think about it I remember that those who were said to have developed Aurors were particularly talkative before fighting. Since this body is an Auror user I feel like I need to beg for it right now.
All of those friends had strange or useless abilities but I felt somewhat sorry for them when I thought that they were the result of tremendous effort. They all die anyway if their heads fall off.
“Then shall we begin?”
Marya was slowly turning the sword in both hands. Two smoothly drawn circles were proof of her talent.
It was a difficult feat to perform unless her strength and wrist flexibility were considerable. Ronan nodded her head.
“okay.”
Ronan tugged at the hilt of her sword. Hans’ sword which was not a new sword made of black iron but had teeth was pulled out. Marya asked raising her eyebrows.
“With that knife? Will it hurt if it breaks or breaks?”
“Okay let’s get started.”
“…If you say so.”
The short sword that was spinning stopped spinning. Her skills had reached the level of a sword user.
A stage where mana can be loaded onto the sword leaving the stage where mana was simply circulated within her body.
Among mana users he was not very strong but compared to ordinary people the difference was as big as heaven and earth.
‘Rather than experiencing humiliation at the test site it would be better to feel your limits here and then return.’
In fact her anger had already subsided. Because she realized too late that her anger was caused by Ronan’s inaction and not her ignorance.
She was looking at Ronan quite well. The way she spoke was vulgar and her behavior was like an asshole but she didn’t seem like an asshole. She seemed like it would be fun to go to the academy together.
This sparring was a kind of mercy. Marja smiled her wry smile and took her stance.
“Then…get ready….”
Asher who was in charge of refereeing counted down. Her slender fingers folded one by one. Three two one. The moment her last finger folded Marya’s body shot out.
Kang!
The three sword paths intersected and a sharp metallic sound rang out. Ronan responded standing in her place. The sword bodies that were in contact were creaking and screaming. Ronan whistled at her.
“It’s pretty good?”
Marya was so shocked that she couldn’t say anything. It had been a very long time since the first attack was blocked. Even the two swords she held were loaded with mana.
“What are you…what are you?”
“Ronan. “Anyway your strength is really strong.”
Ronan was equally surprised. Marya’s strength had grown incomparably stronger than before. The ferocious swordsmanship using two swords was reminiscent of the jaws of a giant cat or wild beast.
The whining of her wrist seemed like it would become bothersome if it took any longer. Ronan said.
“I need to finish it quickly.”
The sword that was touching fell. Ronan who momentarily bowed down to her swung his sword as if it were bouncing. Marja did not respond but just pulled her body back. Her sword strike narrowly missed Marya’s sword.
Her sword skills were unbelievable to an ordinary person who did not know how to manipulate mana. I felt my calm heart beating faster and faster. A smile spread across Marya’s lips.
“Ha I should have brought my sword.”
“Probably not.”
But suddenly Ronan sheathed her sword. Marya who was just about to enter her attack frowned. Ronan glanced at Marja and spoke to her incomprehensibly.
“It was three times as much.”
Ronan turned around and started walking away without saying a word. Marya who had been standing still called him out in frustration. This wasn’t the level where I stopped cumming it was like trying to cum and the toilet exploded.
“…What are we going to do now?”
Instead of answering Ronan raised his right hand.
“You have talent. However the center of gravity was slightly shifted to the right.”
The tone of voice was as if he had leftover change. It was a car trying to tell me what nonsense I was talking about.
Cheonggrang.
Something fell at Marya’s feet. Two severed sword bodies were rolling around at his feet.
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