Chapter 372

“Father.”
“What’s wrong, son.”
Ronan waggled his eyebrows.
He was out with his family, playing catch with Lance.
A crisp fall sun drenched the park.
Not far away, under a zelkova tree, Adeshan, Erin, and Sita sat on a mat.
Lance asked a question with the ball.
“Well, why doesn’t your father try for the test?”
“Stupid question. Why aren’t you top of your class? Because you don’t want to?”
“Well, that’s not the same thing as this—! It’s a coveted spot for any prosecutor, and when I think about it, my dad hasn’t entered any competitions in the past, so I thought there must be a reason.”
“For some reason, I don’t feel the need to do it. It’s scary.”
“Scary?”
“Yeah. It’s really only for the sword-crazed, and look who the winners have been.”
Ronan receives the ball.
Lance remembered his father’s words, and the swordsmen of the past.
Schlieffen, Zaifa, Nabirozé, and Stormblade Croden–each and every one of them was far from normal.
—but isn’t that the same for the father?
Lance searched for something to say.
“I don’t care if you’re a Schlieffen, but you’re Nabiro’s sister, and you want me to sword fight with him? Ew, I’m sick to my stomach just thinking about it.”
Ronan was disgusted.
He was there to witness the moment when Nabiroze became a swordsman once again.
To be honest, I was hoping for a scene where Schlieffen’s stormblade would cause a moderate rip in my sister’s clothing, but I got a completely different result.
Until then, Ronan hadn’t realized that she’d reached the point of metamorphosis.
In the title match against Nabirozze, Schleifen was literally smashed.
‘It was horrible. I wouldn’t have left the house for a month.
It wasn’t even close.
Nabirozé defeated Schlieffen without even manifesting his sword qi, let alone pulling out all the stops.
The attitude became a snake, stirring up the arena.
The Stormblade, which had never lost its majesty since Schlieffen’s awakening, had been reduced to a breeze on a nice day out.
It didn’t take long for the match to end.
When Nabiroze sheathed his sword, Schlieffen was sprawled on the floor, writhing like a worm.
Ronan couldn’t say anything to Schlieffen.
Even though he was determined to laugh at him loud enough for all the audience to hear if he lost.
‘You pathetic bastard. I’m sure your sister was watching.’
Rather, it was heated.
So I got all worked up and took it out on the reporter who was writing the story.
It’s not so much a rant as it is a legitimate control of speech.
I know it’s important to get attention, but “Horror! Storm scared off by snake queen!” as a headline is a bit much.
It was the only thing he could do for his friend to make sure the garbage article didn’t get published.
Ronan threw the ball with a little force.
“Here, take it!”
“Oh no, that’s too high!”
The parabola has risen.
Lance, staggering, leaped up, mana-enhancing his legs.
Nice catch.
People strolling by applauded his movements, reminiscent of a well-trained hunting dog.
Lance muttered as he landed in a swallow turn.
“But I think my father could—.”
“Jesus Christ. You’ve been taking Sister Nabiroze’s classes and you’re still saying things like that? Transformation isn’t just about having a great body and face, man. Half the swordsmen on the continent right now would be incontinent just from crossing swords with you. Failing that, there’s no answer, unless you bring in a Zaifa inspirer, or Schlieffen has some kind of epiphany.”
“Well, I know that—but you’re strong enough, why, I remember that observation class we had before–.”
“If you’re talking about the guy who says he’s a quadriplegic, stop. He’s no joke and he was an asshole I could fight with a knife hilt between my asses and still get sashayed, so there’s no comparison.”
Ronan clicked his tongue.
On second thought, I was angry.
I can’t believe people had to suffer because of one demented old man.
Lance was about to throw the ball again.
“You two, why don’t you come back and have lunch~”
Adeshan’s voice came from the side of the zelkova.
She was sitting on a mat, slicing apples.
Next to the long bridge was a pile of homemade bento boxes.
Erin giggled.
“Yes, Erin, I’m hungry and I’ve been holding out for a long time. Is Sita too?”
“Bam!”
Sita nodded.
The dreams that had once reaped countless blood and lives were spread out like butter on a skillet.
Erin was curled up on Sita’s fluffy feathers, eating an apple her mom had cut for her.
“Yes, I’m coming. Let’s go.”
Ronan took off his gloves and shook them.
Before I knew it, it was time to eat.
Lance picked up the ball and followed him.
Ronan, walking with his hands in his pockets, glanced at his son.
“By the way, how’s your butt? That’s where your mom beat you up when you went to the South.”
“Remember when…! Sita cured me that very day, so I’m fine now?”
“Good for you for crying and begging, bluff. Even Erin was stronger than you, man.”
“Ugh—!”
Lance’s face flushed.
This was after a tumultuous experiential learning experience.
He and Erin had been sentenced to death for daring to risk their lives to drop into the middle of an army of corpses.
The enforcer is Adeshan de Baltois.
A mother’s loving blow carved a trauma deep into Lance’s hipbone that would never be forgotten.
Ronan, chuckling, ruffled Lance’s hair.
“Well, I didn’t say it at the time, but it was pretty cool. It’s never easy jumping in to save people who don’t have a drop of blood in them. I’m on your side, of course, but you lived to tell the tale. You did a good job, son.”
“It wasn’t that…big of a deal.”
“Yummy. When I give you a compliment, you just take it with a ‘Yes, thank you father! and take it, because he doesn’t even have a girlfriend to form a relationship with—no, you have Sechika. Did you two kiss?”
“Cee, cee, why is Cechika’s name coming up all of a sudden! I’m just friends with her!”
Lance’s blush deepened.
I was going to be dating him anyway, so why not?
It’s frustrating.
I didn’t do this.
It was a good day, by the way.
Moderately cool weather and trees starting to turn colors.
People walking through the park smiling.
Ronan smirked as he stomped away.
“Son, I’d rather play another game of catch with you than go to a sword fight.”
“What?”
“Because that’s a million times more valuable way to spend your time. Seriously. You’ll realize that someday.”
Lance frowned.
He looked at me like he couldn’t understand how the seat of the sublime swordsman could be worse than a catch ball.
Ronan didn’t bother to explain why.
Because there are some things you just don’t know until you’ve experienced them.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
“But there are certain people in the world who have to prove themselves.”
“What—.”
The low, heavy voice was familiar.
Ronan tugged on the hilt of his sword.
The disappearing sword tip reappeared in front of the speaker’s throat.
A weartiger, its entire body covered in black fur, stared down at the two of them.
Jaifa laughed.
“What a lapse. Kid.”
“Your hair is glistening. The rumors of your rejuvenation must be true.”
The corner of Ronan’s mouth lifted.
It was a face I hadn’t seen in quite some time.
Looking Jaifa up and down, Ronan realized that it was true that he had been transformed.
As if showered in ink, Saccaman’s hair was brimming with energy.
The muscles that looked like they were going to tear his whole body apart were compressed even more tightly than he remembered.
“The little ones are your children—so big, yes.”
“Kids grow up fast. Son, say hello to Daddy’s friend. You know Zaifa, right? She’s a fighter.”
“Ji, are you really Zaifa, the rumors that you’ve been rejuvenated recently are true—!”
Lance, frozen in place, finally spoke.
My thumping heart felt like it was about to rip out of my chest.
One of the people you’ve admired your whole life was right in front of you.
I had met him, but I was too young to remember.
Jaifa nodded.
“Yeah. I had an unintended epiphany thanks to the little lion, by the way—.”
Zaifa’s gaze flicked to Ronan’s back.
Erin was crouched close to Sita’s back, watching Jaifa like a cat.
Beside him, Adeshan sat up and stared at him.
His ashen eyes sprinkled with a faint glow.
“Can you untie me? I’m tingling.”
“Oops. You came in so unannounced that I didn’t even realize you were here—it’s been a while, Jaifa.”
Adeshan smiled.
The light in his eyes faded.
The mind control that had been crushing Jaifa from the inside was lessening.
Zaifa sighed as she realized she felt lighter.
“Hmmm–something I’m not used to. The Empire could use a competent commander.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t pass out after that, you’re supposed to be upstate, what’s going on up here?”
Ronan tapped the hilt of his sword.
He’s a big fan of one-trick ponies, so I couldn’t let my guard down.
You didn’t say hello in the first place, you wielded an unwieldy sword.
Jaifa scratched her head.
“Well, it’s nothing… I’m just here to talk. Regarding the Sword Trials. I’ve decided to compete this time.”
“You’re a swordsman, too? Forget it. I’m not leaving.”
“If you talk to me, you’ll want to leave.”
“Conversation. Is that mouth to mouth?”
Ronan’s question made Zaifa chuckle.
His laughter was lighthearted, perhaps because he was younger.
He now wore two short spears on his back instead of the Unyielding Sword.
The person across from me stopped laughing almost immediately.
“Of course not.”
“I knew it.”
****
With a crack of the whip, a sadhu carriage came to a halt.
It was a fancy carriage, out of place on a rustic trail.
The door opened, and a young girl with dark hair ran out.
“Waaaah! Arrival, arrival!”
Arya jumped out of the carriage.
Normally, I would have been warned to watch my behavior, but not today.
All the teachers and butlers in charge of nagging remained at the Gracia mansion.
Iril, who disembarked after me, smiled broadly.
“Hehe, my Aria, are you that excited?”
“Yes! I’m so glad mom and dad are here, but where are we?”
The rustic countryside stretched out before me.
Bushes lining the trail, a narrow river winding through the village, a raft tied to a stake and floating away.
The village gaffers were out in droves, fishing for mullet.
Aria’s eyes twinkled.
“That’s cool—.”
“Ehehe, right?”
The scenery was fairly mundane, but quite refreshing for Arya, who spends most of her time in the Gracian estates and islands.
Iril hugged her from behind.
“This is Nimburton. It’s my mom’s hometown.”
“Hometown? Where you were born and raised?”
“Yeah. Me and Ronan have lived here almost all our lives.”
Iril gulped.
It’s been more than a decade now, but my days in Nimbus are still as vivid as if I could reach out and touch them.
Schlieffen, who had packed his bags, was the last to exit the carriage.
“This is—”
“Shhh.”
He looked at Nimburton and was about to say something.
Holding his index finger in front of his lips, Iril smirked.
“Just follow me today. I want to show you something.”