Chapter 377

“How do you—.”
Schlieffen blushed with embarrassment.
It was clearly Ronan pointing a sword at him.
I couldn’t figure out what the heck was going on and whether it was Zaifa’s replacement.
I’ve invited him to compete in the swordfighting tournament many times, but he’s never accepted.
Suddenly, a gravelly old man’s voice rose from the audience.
“Come on—can’t you explain it to me? It seems to me—cool, cool, cool. It doesn’t seem like a trivial matter.”
“Ah. Your Majesty.”
It was a familiar voice.
Ronan smirked and turned his head away.
For some reason, an old man who was dying was sitting next to the emperor.
It was like I had just gone to the bathroom when I hadn’t.
Schlieffen dropped to one knee in a panic.
“Schlieffen de Siniban Grancia sees His Majesty the Preemptor.”
“Oh, right, Ronan–no, Ronan de Valtouré, and, uh, Seon Seon, it’s been a while, so I’m a little confused.”
Ronan scratched his head.
In any case, courtly manners are not adaptable.
People were shocked when they saw the messed-up greeting.
The old man was none other than the former Emperor Valon 44.
Despite the rudeness, the Zen master smiled and waved.
“What’s so formal—for an old man who’s not even an emperor anymore—Cooluck! Kuluk!”
“What, are you okay?”
“Of course not, but don’t worry. I assure you, if I die here, no one will mourn the loss of a flowery old lady.”
Balon, 44, snorted.
Ronan smiled bitterly at the sight.
He was a different man from the one who had once presented himself with the Dawning Plaque at the Imperial Palace.
His hair was white all over, and the wrinkles that covered his skin were as tight as the rings of an old tree.
His neck had also become so thin that it didn’t seem to have the strength to support the crown.
“Why come all the way out here in the cold when you could be at the imperial palace looking for the wrong picture with the ladies—.”
Ronan said to himself.
I’m not kidding, if you scare the crap out of him, he’ll die of natural causes.
Technically a heart attack, but at my age, it was natural death no matter what.
His narrowed gaze turned to the Emperor next to him.
“Your Majesty—.”
“Why, why are you looking at Jim, he and the deputies have stopped me time and time again.”
Their eyes met, and Valon 45 shook his head in disbelief.
The man who didn’t inherit the throne until he was nearly fifty years old was a bit shy of Ronan.
He had been so close to the First Lord, and had watched Ronan slaughter the giants from start to finish.
I know he’s contributed more to the empire than anyone else, but honestly, it’s a little scary.
“I haven’t said anything yet, Your Majesty.”
“Hmmm, your eyes are so piercing. I can’t help but wonder what I’ve done.”
“I apologize for the offense, for a saint like you would never do such a thing.”
“No. What’s the burden of that, and why is it that your manners are only perfect when you’re like this?”
Balon 45 blurted out his embarrassment.
I wanted to tell the captain to stop him, but she wasn’t there.
Ronan chuckled and raised his bowed head.
For some reason, the current emperor was a personal favorite.
Like a bean planted in a field, he resembled his father, a great monarch, in appearance and ability.
I’ve hunted with my wife a few times, and I don’t know what’s bothering her.
Sunje said.
“So what the hell is going on, Zaifa, where’s your friend and why are you here?”
“Alas—nothing really. It’s just that the duel got a little too intense.”
“Dalian?”
“Yeah. It was just the other day, I was playing catch with my son, and Jaifa came up to me and asked me to play a game, and I said yes, just to see what the old man could do, and my God, he was stronger than I ever imagined.”
Ronan, remembering the time, gave a thumbs up.
The fight with the disembodied Zaifa was one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling experiences I’ve had in recent memory.
The rejuvenated Mr. Tiger struck Ronan like a black thunderbolt.
His new weapon, two pikes, were space-tearing fangs.
He was never an opponent to fight with his hands in his pockets, and Ronan had to get real for once.
“——Is Jaifa dead?”
“What a horrible thing to say. Why would I do something like that to a friend I don’t even know? I just put him in the cool ground to get his head out of his ass.”
The game was won at dawn, when the sun had fully set.
After a fierce struggle, he succeeded in knocking Jaifa into a ravine and stunning him.
It was a very rewarding victory, but there was one problem.
The problem is, there’s no one left to compete in the swordfight.
Ronan sighed.
“Whoa–I honestly just wanted to run away, because I’m the kind of person who prefers to stay home and spend time with my family, but everywhere I looked, it was written in big bold letters that Jaifa was coming before the sword test, you stupid old man.”
“So you’re here to replace the fallen Jaifa.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry for the people who were expecting it.”
Ronan waved to the audience.
People stood frozen in place.
It wasn’t because Zaifa couldn’t play, but because Ronan, who had beaten the disembodied man, showed up with aplomb.
“Ronan—I thought you were completely out of active duty after the war?”
“See, I told you, a hero who saved the world can’t be weak, and this puts the whole retarded skills debate to rest.”
“Get ready to write the story as soon as you’re done! The Empire’s Sons and Daughters of the Empire clash atop Parzan! It’s front page, no questions asked!”
Ronan suddenly realized how little he had been doing.
It was the kind of reaction you’d expect to see from a sedentary person.
Well, that’s just the way I’ve been raised.
Ronan’s gaze snapped to Nabiroze.
“You look great. You always look best when you’re on top.”
“You.”
She stiffened and looked down at Ronan.
If it wasn’t too ridiculous, it didn’t make sense.
Ronan stuck his tongue out, showing his bloody hand.
“Jaifa probably won’t make it, and you can see I’m hurt too, my hand is still whining.”
“——It doesn’t matter. That idiot’s got his blood in his veins. Are you serious about the fight?”
“Sure. And just so you don’t get the wrong idea, when I say I’m here on behalf of Jaifa, I don’t mean I’m taking this as a joke. I’m a knifeman first and foremost.”
Ronan, distracted, gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands.
The smile faded from his hazel eyes.
Holding his sword upright, he sent a sword salute toward Nabiroze and Alogin.
“Of course. You have to take it seriously.”
“That’s good.”
Nabiroze was disappointed.
It was one of the reasons he liked Ronan.
He’s playful and never makes fun of the values others hold dear.
Except it’s as dumb as Nebula Clazier’s ambition.
“I authorize Ronan de Valture to participate in the Sword Decider. What do you say, Mr. Alogin?”
“I’m with you. I think it’ll be more fun this way.”
Alogin agreed.
The unexpected always amuses the old man.
What’s more, it was the first time we’d seen Ronan wield a sword since The Last War.
The Emperor agreed to the challenge, so all that remained was for Ronan to face him.
Ronan looked back at Schlieffen.
After a few seconds of silence, he shook his head.
“I agree.”
“It’s supposed to come out that way.”
Ronan laughed.
A thunderous cheer erupted from the audience.
The preparation for the match was quick.
Elite mages from each tower erected a barrier to separate the audience from the battlefield.
The Emperor and Swordsman’s speeches are skipped because they’ve already talked a lot.
Iril exclaimed, jumping up and down.
“Ronan, honey, cheer up, both of you!”
“Eek! Uncle Abba and Uncle are really fighting!”
Aria’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Ronan glanced at the two of them and cleared his throat.
Should I have just called home?
He felt weird that he was the only one not getting support from his family.
“You must be a good husband and father. Pretty good.”
“Hmm.”
After confirming that the shields were set up, the two men stood face to face.
The excitement subsided.
Tension filled the room.
From the windswept summit of Parzan, Nabirozé’s voice rang out.
“Okay, let’s get this match started.”
It was a moment of clarity.
Schlieffen’s form disappears from view.
There were no exploratory battles.
Ronan blinked once, and Schlieffen was right under his nose.
“Oh.”
Ronan’s mouth curled up.
It’s almost rude to compare it to the old days.
There was no time to draw the sword.
Ronan leaned back, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Snap!
A sharp jab grazed his bangs.
“That’s fine.”
A scattering of severed hair.
Ronan whistled.
The length was short, but the reach was important.
Instead of straightening up, he twisted his body to the right.
A stab of wind grazed his side, spaced by sheets of paper.
The trickle of attacks didn’t let up.
“I thought you said you were serious?”
Schlieffen chirped.
Ronan frowned as he raised his upper body.
A blow to the neck was coming.
He could have dodged it if he stepped back, but instead of retreating, he stomped on the ground and leapt.
Quack, quack, quack, quack!!!
Three vortexes erupted from Ronan’s original spot.
The ascending winds, breaking the ground, shredded everything in their path.
One step back would have been a rag.
It took less than two seconds for this string to hit.
Ronan leaps over Schleifen and lands in a swallow turn.
“Yeah. I did.”
“——?!”
Poof!
Blood rushed to Schlieffen’s shoulders.
The sheer volume of them meant they were not shallow cuts.
Iriel, watching breathlessly, clapped his hands over his mouth.
“Honey!”
“Oops!”
Schlieffen staggered.
I was dizzy from the sudden loss of blood.
Ronan spun the sword around once, then spat it out.
“That’s why you’re doing it seriously.”
“——!”
Schlieffen’s eyes widened.
I didn’t even realize when I was cut.
He chewed the inside of his mouth to steady himself.
I backed away to create some distance.
Pow!
Ronan’s sword has turned scarlet.
The same forces that brought down the giants tugged at Schlieffen.
Complementarity has lost its meaning.
Ronan, dragging Schlieffen in front of him, said.
“You’re the one who should be outed, not trying to hide your hand.”
Ronan whispered.
There was no time to fight back.
Schlieffen raised his sword and took a defensive stance.
Kaaaaaaang-!
With a piercing metallic sound, his body bounced off.
“Eek!”
It was more like being hit with a giant mace than a sword strike.
Originally, it should have been pushed much further, but the headwind kept it from doing so.
Schlieffen’s blade transformed into wind and dispersed.
He resumed his stance and unleashed a barrage of blades.
Five sky-splitting sword qi flew in from different directions, each aimed at Ronan.
“Hmm.”
Ronan waggled his eyebrows.
It was a blow he couldn’t dodge unless he had wings, but he had no intention of dodging in the first place.
The once scarlet-colored sword is now stained red.
A broad brush drew a circle.
Blood-like black energy sprayed everywhere.
Schlieffen’s intercepted sword energy exploded and scattered.
Farzan was as quiet as if cold water had been thrown on him.
Ronan, all sword energy, muttered darkly.
“This is how far you’re willing to go to fight a Zaifa inspiration, nothing’s changed.”