Academy’s Genius Swordmaster

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 246: With the Dragon (3)

The battle resumed. Orsay launched himself toward the enemy lines, his feet pounding the ground. Sharp ice spikes, like protruding spines, shot up and sliced through the enemy ranks. Soldiers who couldn’t dodge in time screamed in agony.

“Aaaah!”

“Uhhh, ice?!”

The ice bestowed upon Aselle by the Winter Witch pierced through the half-dragon’s scales as if they were mere tofu. It wasn’t surprising, considering it once brought Intargand to the brink of death. Soldiers skewered by the ice were flung into the air.

“Urrrgh!”

“Hey, calm down, calm… aaargh!”

The larger drakes suffered even more. They stumbled, their feet or bellies pierced, or crushed nearby soldiers in their attempts to avoid the spikes. The dragons’ fire breath, in its closest form to flames, indiscriminately spewed without distinguishing friend from foe.

“It’s deadly.”

Ronan watched the chaos with admiration. There was nothing like a mage’s wide-area attacks to start a melee. The nickname “killing machine” was not an exaggeration.

“Eek! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m scared…!”

It was somewhat amusing that the one orchestrating this deadly symphony was cowering in a corner. Ronan glanced at Aselle and sighed.

“Damn it. You’re the scariest thing here.”

“Kyaaa! They’re coming again!”

Aselle screamed, and with a wave of his hand, three approaching half-dragons were flung away. Ronan couldn’t complain since Aselle was doing his part well.

【You bastards dare!】

A furious shout erupted from the enemy’s center. Ronan turned his head and saw a woman, swollen like a sponge soaked in water, coming into view. Underneath her torn silk robes, bluish scales were revealed.

“Shit.”

He had forgotten momentarily. The dragon woman, who had polymorphed, was returning to her true form. Her severed left arm wriggled as it regenerated. The energy emanating from her made his joints tingle—she was a rather powerful Blue Dragon.

‘This could take a while.’

Ronan twisted his lips. Honestly, a dragon in its original form was not an easy opponent. It would be nice if Orsay could take care of her in one go, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Where the hell did that guy go?”

“Aargh!”

Ronan cut through soldiers, making his way across the battlefield. Hot blood splashed onto his face, and severed limbs fell like overripe fruit. His sense of smell had long been numbed.

Ronan’s gaze finally settled on a spot. Orsay was fighting at the far end of the enemy lines, surrounded by two people in white robes, struggling unusually.

“Nebula Clazier.”

Ronan’s brow furrowed. He remembered that those two were also part of the enemy. Both appeared to be branch leaders, fighting under the Protection of the Stars.

‘That’s a bad match.’

Tearing through the Protection of the Stars was different from merely being strong. Orsay seized an opening and thrust his spear. Clang! A loud metallic sound echoed.

【Damn it…!】

But his attack didn’t work this time either. Orsay gritted his teeth. The shimmering barrier had not a scratch.

The old woman behind the barrier wore a smug smile. She met Orsay’s gaze with a taunting smirk.

“Futile efforts, Dark Dragon.”

【How dare you!】

Orsay roared in fury. It was the first time his attacks had been blocked.

This shouldn’t have happened before he even reached Navardose. He took a step back, gripping his spear tightly with both hands. The dark aura around his spear intensified.

【Disappear!】

Orsay charged like a black whirlwind. His fierce attack, capable of crushing a dragon’s head in one blow, engulfed the two fanatics. Boom! The impact was twice as loud as before.

【Impossible…】

However, the barrier remained unscathed. For the first time, confusion spread across Orsay’s face. It felt like a terrible nightmare.

“Now, die.”

“Everything will vanish in the name of the stars.”

Seizing the opening, the fanatics attacked. The old woman chanted a suspicious spell, while the other swung his sword.

Orsay, still in shock, stood frozen. The razor-sharp blade was about to cleave him when. Swoosh! A red crescent flew in from the side, slicing through the two fanatics.

“Wha…?”

“Keuuuk.”

Orsay’s eyes widened. The invincible Protection of the Stars was shattering. Thud. The bodies, cut at the waist, fell to the ground. A familiar voice came from the direction the attack had originated.

“Be careful. These bastards are tough to kill.”

Orsay quickly turned his head. Ronan stood there. Around him lay the corpses of at least a dozen Nebula Clazier fanatics.

He had cleared the way so that Aselle and Orsay could rampage freely. Fortunately, there were no bishops or Lycopos, so he finished quickly. Orsay, still in shock, spoke.

【…What did you do?】

“Later. It’s a long explanation.”

Instead of answering, Ronan turned away. There was no time for explanations. After confirming there were no more Nebula Clazier, he ran up the stairs.

“Clear up here. I’ll go ahead.”

【Wait, hold on…】

Orsay tried to say something, but Ronan was already halfway up the stairs. A wet scream echoed from a corner.

“Eeek! Please, spare me!”

Aselle was crouched inside an ice barrier, screaming. The dragon woman, now fully transformed, was pounding on the barrier with her fist.

【Come out and offer your neck, you wretch!】

“Aaaaah!”

He was holding out, but it seemed he wouldn’t last much longer. Despite the many enemies he had killed, there were still plenty left.

Boom! Boom! With each collision of the giant fist against the barrier, the web-like cracks grew larger. Orsay, watching the scene, suddenly felt a surge of intense anger and humiliation.

Am I being ignored right now? By both the enemy and that brat Ronan?

【…I will kill you all.】

Orsay growled lowly, his declaration laced with a double meaning. As he gripped his spear, a pair of curved horns sprouted above his head, pointing skyward.

Boom! Orsay leapt into the air, casting his shadow over the heads of the enemies below.

****

[Translator – Peptobismol]

“Ugh…”

Shullifen groaned as he opened his eyes. He couldn’t clearly remember what had happened before. Only fragments of endless waves of enemies, the collapsing tower, and the howling wind remained in his memory.

‘Am I… alive?’

His whole body felt as if it was bruised and aching. He slowly looked around. The room was wide, filled with treasures, but it was much smaller compared to the Dragon King’s audience chamber. As he tried to move, he frowned.

“What the…?”

He couldn’t move his limbs or any part of his body. It was then that Shullifen realized he was tightly bound to a massive iron chair.

No matter how much strength he applied, the sturdy restraints didn’t budge. Then, a man’s voice came from behind.

【Already awake? You’re quite the tough one.】

The voice was familiar. Footsteps approached. Shullifen had to wait until the man appeared in front of him, as he couldn’t turn his head. Soon, a gentleman in a suit appeared.

“You…”

【Do you remember me? I’m Radavanska.】

The gentleman introduced himself with his hands clasped behind his back. Shullifen recognized him. He was one of the dragons on the floor where Ronan and Aselle had escaped.

【Before we get to the dirty business, I must commend your prowess. I’ve never seen a swordsman as skilled as you, regardless of race.】

Radavanska recited Shullifen’s achievements. He had cut down at least a hundred enemies of various kinds.

Shullifen didn’t respond. Even enhancing his strength with mana couldn’t loosen the restraints. Radavanska continued.

【My brother also died. The cut on his neck, following the loss of his arm, was fatal. Watching a sibling die is not a pleasant experience.】

Shullifen flinched. He remembered a dragon that looked very similar to Radavanska, and he recalled severing its arm with a newly developed technique.

So, he cut off his neck, too, while in a trance. He didn’t even realize it.

Thinking about slaying a dragon gave him a sense of pride. Like other warriors, he had always dreamed of soaking his sword in dragon’s blood.

Just as a faint smile spread across Shullifen’s lips, he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his right thigh.

“Ugh…”

【What are you smiling about, you worthless worm?】

Shullifen gritted his teeth. Radavanska was crouched in front of him, growling. His forefinger was deeply embedded in Shullifen’s thigh, which couldn’t move.

With a flick of his wrist, Radavanska withdrew his finger. His long, sharp fingernail was stained red. He licked the blood and spoke.

【Until your comrades arrive, we will have some fun. I usually despise such petty torture, but I will make an exception for my brother’s killer.】

Shullifen remained silent. The only words allowed to a captured warrior were demands for a swift death.

If he had accomplished his goal of rescuing his comrades, he wouldn’t hesitate. But he couldn’t bring himself to say those words. The lingering regret in his heart made him weak.

‘I should have at least… done something.’

Iril’s face flashed before his eyes. She was the woman who had captured his heart from the moment they met, but he had never conveyed his feelings, fearing his deep affection.

Suddenly, Ronan’s words came to mind. He had told Shullifen that Iril didn’t want him to get hurt.

“…Sorry.”

Shullifen muttered softly. Radavanska would have delighted in hearing such words, but they were too faint to be heard. A sinister smile crept across Radavanska’s lips as he heated his forefinger with a candle flame.

【Then let’s start by gouging out your eyes.】

He moved his hand toward Shullifen’s eyes. Boom!! Suddenly, a deafening noise shook the entire floor from the direction of the entrance. Radavanska quickly stood up.

【Damn it!】

The door connecting to the stairs had been destroyed. Dust from the passage was pouring into the lair. It was so thick that the interior was obscured.

【…What the hell?】

Radavanska took a step forward. At that moment, a round void appeared in the dust cloud. Thud! A piercing sound like meat being cleaved filled the air.

【Ack!】

At the same time, blood spurted from Radavanska’s mouth. When he looked down, he saw a white sword protruding from his belly.

In an instant, another void appeared in the dust cloud, and a red figure burst forth. Piercing eyes traced the trajectory. Shullifen’s eyes widened as he recognized the figure.

“Ronan?”

“Here you are, you bastard.”

It was Ronan. He was drenched in blood, looking like he’d been dunked in tomato stew. Radavanska, spitting blood, shouted in a voice filled with fury.

【Who the hell are you…!】

He tried to shout. Ronan, already at his chin, grabbed the hilt of the embedded sword and lifted his arm. Swish! A red arc cut across Radavanska’s face, drawing a vertical line.

【…Ah.】

A death rattle escaped from his split lips. Blood and brain matter poured from the widening cut. Ronan twisted the sword in a horizontal slash, severing Radavanska’s head from his body.

Thud. The head rolled to Shullifen’s feet. Ronan immediately swung his sword, cutting the restraints binding Shullifen.

“How did you get here… ugh.”

As Shullifen staggered to his feet, Ronan rummaged through his pockets and lightly tossed something to him.

Shullifen instinctively caught it. In his trembling hand, a blood-stained pocket watch ticked away.

“This…”

Shullifen’s eyes widened. He had given it to Ronan, along with a message for Iril. Ronan kicked Radavanska’s head aside and spat out his words.

“Deliver it yourself. Clean it up well.”

[Translator – Peptobismol]