Academy’s Genius Swordsman

**[Adesan. Danger.]**

“Gasp!”

Adesan’s eyes flew open. She lifted her head quickly, looking around with a start. Her desk, the tactical map, and the tented walls of her command post came into view.

“…Where am I?”

It dawned on Adesan that she had dozed off at her desk. Her limbs felt heavy, as if they’d been soaked in water. She had only intended to rest her eyes for a moment, but she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Pale dawn light seeped through the gaps in the tent. The chirping of birds suggested that the night had given way to morning. It had been a full day since Iril had been kidnapped.

“Just what the hell…”

Adesan rubbed her face and sighed. Just like yesterday, she heard the voice of an unknown woman in her head.

‘What is she trying to tell me?’

Ever since returning from the north with Ronan, the voice had spoken to her daily. The messages were always the same: warnings of danger or advice to be more cautious and calm.

Initially, the voice had been difficult to make out, but it had grown more persistent and clear. The arm she had used as a pillow was drenched in cold sweat. She was just about to rise from her seat when the tent entrance was pushed aside, and a familiar young man entered.

“Are you alright?”

Adesan’s eyes widened. Even in her groggy state, the bright red hair was impossible to miss. She spoke up.

“Asel? Why are you here…?”

“I heard Iril was kidnapped. I came to see if I could help… You don’t need to explain; I’ve already been briefed.”

Asel had just returned from the southern front. Thanks to his efforts, along with those of Lorhon and other magicians, they had significantly weakened Nebula Clazier, allowing him to leave his post.

“Did you have a bad dream? You don’t look well…”

Asel asked with concern. Adesan’s condition was worse than expected. The deepening shadows under her eyes and her disheveled hair testified to her exhaustion. Adesan shook her head.

“I’m fine. Thank you for worrying.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. Iril will be okay.”

Asel stammered, but his voice was oddly reassuring. Adesan asked, intrigued.

“Did you see something again?”

“No, it’s just… I have a feeling. I’m sure she’s still alive.”

“Haha… If you say so, I feel a bit relieved.”

Adesan smiled weakly and let out a small sigh of relief. Sometimes, Asel’s intuitions were surprisingly accurate. He had gained this ability after glimpsing the world of giants in the dragon city.

She suddenly recalled the first time she and Ronan met Iril. Her affectionate smile and the way she doted on her brother like a child were unforgettable. The bond they shared seemed unbreakable. She bit her lip and muttered under her breath.

“…I hope so.”

She couldn’t even begin to imagine the emotional turmoil Ronan was experiencing. His absence for over a day only amplified her concern. She trusted Ronan, but the worry was unbearable.

‘I can’t just sit here like this.’

She couldn’t afford to remain idle. As always, she had to do what she could. An hour’s sleep was enough. Adesan straightened her clothes and stood up.

“Let’s get moving. Until Ronan returns, we need to do what we can…”

“Hey.”

She was about to continue when a voice called out from behind. Asel jumped in place like a startled cat.

“Eek!”

“Balzac?!”

Adesan’s eyes widened as she turned. Balzac, the younger brother of the Shadow Duke, staggered in, gasping for breath. He was covered in blood, and his condition looked dire. His body was marked with long, red gashes that seemed to be wounds.

“What happened to you? I’ll get a potion right away…!”

“Shut up and… take this.”

Adesan tried to grab a healing potion, but Balzac waved her off, extending his arm to hand her something. A blood-soaked item was placed in her hand.

“This is…!”

“In the heart of Paradise Forest… there’s an entrance to their main base. It’s an unnamed lake… you’ll recognize it immediately.”

Adesan’s eyes widened. Balzac recounted what he had seen on his reconnaissance mission: his encounter with Nebula Clazier’s headquarters and the cult leader, and the swift massacre of his comrades.

“They all… returned to the shadows. None survived…”

Balzac’s voice trailed off. He wanted to say more, but he didn’t have much time left.

Thud. Balzac, who had been swaying, finally collapsed. He had flown here, sustained only by the residual blood essence in his body, but this was the end of the line.

“Stay with me! Balzac!”

Adesan supported him. His head lolled weakly as she shook him. He had always insisted he would rather die than accept help from humans, but now none of that mattered. A strained whisper escaped his parted lips.

“Beware… the cult leader is a monster beyond imagination. Not even my brother… nor Navar could defeat him…”

“If you have blood, you can live! Here, drink my blood!”

Adesan rolled up her sleeve and offered her arm. It felt like conversing with a candle about to go out. But Balzac refused, just as he had the potion. His lost senses had already signaled the end.

“…So dark.”

Balzac whispered. Thud. His head slumped. Adesan called his name again, but there was no response.

“What… what is this…”

Asel sobbed. Balzac’s eyes were devoid of any signs of life. It was a surprisingly anticlimactic end for the vampire’s second-in-command. Adesan, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“…Calm down. I’ll gather the others right away.”

Unlike Asel, she quickly regained her composure. She couldn’t let Balzac’s sacrifice be in vain, and as a field commander, it was her duty to remain focused. As she prepared to relay a message to everyone, a sudden alarm rang out.

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

The emergency bells clanged loudly. Adesan turned her head. The soldiers’ shouts followed.

“There’s something in the sky!”

“Emergency! Emergency! It’s not our magic!”

The sound of soldiers stomping and grabbing their weapons spread like wildfire. Adesan and Asel exchanged a look and rushed outside.

The cool morning air brushed their faces. Soldiers moving in perfect unison and horses rearing on their hind legs filled their view. Asel’s face turned pale as he looked up at the sky.

“That… that’s…!”

Two massive magic circles hovered above the command post. Geometric patterns and unknown characters within the circles writhed as if alive.

“…No.”

It was a magic circle he had seen before. Asel let out a groan of despair. The second summoning was about to begin.

****

“I intend to lift that curse.”

“…The curse?”

Ronan raised an eyebrow at the savior’s words. He had momentarily forgotten. Typically, if a curse could be cast, it could also be lifted. He suppressed his emotions and asked again.

“All of it? Really?”

“Yes. But I can’t do it in my current state. To fully lift the curse, we need to go to the source.”

“The source…? What’s that?”

“It’s where we’re headed now. We’re almost there. I’m not in the best condition, so pick up the pace.”

The savior patted Ronan’s backside as if urging a horse to go faster. It was all bewildering, but the possibility of finally freeing himself from the curse was worth the effort.

Fine, let’s hurry. Ronan’s mana-infused thighs bulged as he prepared to sprint. Bam!! As he kicked off the icy ground, the savior’s head snapped back.

“Ugh!”

“Hold on tight!”

No further conversation ensued. With each powerful stride, Ronan covered dozens of meters.

“What a… wild colt…!”

“Sorry, can’t hear you!”

The savior seemed to be shouting something, but his faint voice was lost in the roaring wind. Soon, Ronan arrived at a dead end and came to a halt.

“Phew, we’re here?”

“…Huff… yes…”

The savior nodded. He seemed grateful that his neck hadn’t snapped from the wind pressure. Ronan frowned as he looked at the massive gate before him.

“…I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

The colossal stone gate was tall and wide enough for a dragon to walk through. It was reminiscent of the entry gates of Adren.

The door, which appeared to be at least ten thousand years old, was intricately carved with deities, angels, animals, and all sorts of sacred figures. Ronan tilted his head.

“Why so many carvings?”

“…They serve to keep the energies within from escaping. Think of it as a magical artifact by today’s standards.”

The savior replied. His face was as rigid as if he had frostbite. Was he afraid? The savior closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke.

“…Let’s go in. Mark the door with your blood.”

“With my blood?”

“Yes. I believe it will work. You are one of only two of my bloodline in this world…”

The savior trailed off. Unsure of what he meant, Ronan followed his instruction. Drawing blood was the

least of his concerns. He bit his thumb hard enough to draw blood and pressed it against the stone surface.

– Rumble…

The stone gate groaned and began to open. An indescribable odor wafted out. Ronan’s face contorted.

“What the hell…!”

The light was blinding. The corridor beyond the gate was dazzlingly bright, filled with the most potent mana of Nebula Clazier he had ever seen. The savior spoke.

“Calm down.”

“How can I be calm right now?”

“Don’t be overwhelmed just yet. Come, let’s proceed.”

Ronan stepped inside the gate. It felt like walking through a tunnel made of the Milky Way. Boom! As soon as they crossed the threshold, the stone gate shut behind them. Complete darkness fell, but the shimmering mana illuminated their path.

Thankfully, the corridor wasn’t very long. After about ten minutes, they emerged into a vast open space.

At the center stood a massive block of ice, like a glacier plucked from the sea off Heyran. Ronan’s eyes widened as he instinctively looked at the ice.

“That’s…!”

Something enormous was encased within the ice. It appeared to be a giant humanoid figure, long dead.

The muscular body, sculpted like a masterwork, was entirely white. Only the head protruded above the ice, its eyes closed. Four pairs of wings, broken and trapped in the ice, were visible.

“A giant.”

Ronan muttered. There was no doubt it was a giant. Like Ahayute or Duaru, beings from the heavens above the heavens.

Why was such a creature here? His head spun, and he felt nauseous. The savior, who had remained silent, spoke.

“Yes. That’s what people call a giant. A cosmic invader… It’s lost its soul, but the shell still holds tremendous power.”

“Damn… What on earth happened back then?”

“I’ll tell you everything. About the true nature of your peculiar abilities, and the plans of my foolish brother. Why all of this has come to pass.”

The savior nodded slowly. His face, gazing at the giant, held a mix of all human emotions. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to continue.

“It all began here.”