Chapter 10

Clang.

Something fell on Marya's foot as she walked. Two discarded sword blades lay at her feet.

"What...?"

Ronan disappeared around the corner. Marya stared blankly at the two cleanly severed sword pieces. There wasn't a single trace of real gold on the clean-cut edges.

"When were these cut?"

Marya had clearly seen Ronan's sword strokes splitting the empty air. Even if they had struck her, her own sword couldn't have been cut. She realized Ronan hadn't used his usual black iron sword; he had used his old worn-out one.

Marya stood in place for a long time. Aselle, who had been watching her, approached cautiously. He gave an awkward smile and exchanged a glance.

"You did well there."

Aselle followed Ronan and disappeared. Only Marya remained in the empty courtyard. After a moment, Marya, who had tossed her sword aside, smirked.

"What a funny guy."

…..

"Here, take it."

Marya kept her promise. When she returned around evening, she handed over a pouch containing exactly three times the agreed amount and a few books.

"What's all this?"

"You guys seemed quite likable. I need to go to the Institute tonight."

It was a compilation of previous Phillion examination questions, bound in thick leather cover. It didn't seem like something typically valuable. Among them were notes Marya had organized herself.

"Stick together. If you both fail, I'll kill you."

Marya said, gripping the back of both their necks. Aselle struggled for breath, while Ronan chuckled seemingly astonished and nodded.

"Don't be late on exam day."

Their farewell before the reunion was concise. Marya shook her hand three times precisely on the rooftop and then sprawled out. The tops of the Karabel tower disappeared from view as Marvas departed, bid farewell by the boys.

Even after the tower vanished from sight, they stood there. Ronan spoke.

"She was quite the independent girl, huh? Guess you can't trust rumors that say girls with big hearts are kind."

"Huh? She... she was fine..."

"Yeah. She was a good one."

Ronan had a tobacco stick in his mouth. He blew smoke towards Marvas' night view and turned around. Traders at the newly opened night market were touting their wares.

"Let's head back too."

"Yeah."

Ronan and Aselle headed straight for Nimbuten. Despite carrying a lot of baggage, the comfortable journey back home was made possible by the newly bought donkey.

They arrived at Nimbuten the next morning. Iril, who had been digging potatoes, threw down her hoe and ran over with her pitchfork in hand.

"Ronan!"

"I'm back."

"Where did you go this time? Are you hurt? And what's this ?"

The affectionate voice was filled with worry. His past record of causing accidents while wandering around various places early on was to blame.

"It's not a horse, it's a donkey. And this, it's a gift."

"A gift?"

Ronan took Iril's hand and led her inside the house. Then, he placed a box on the table. The wooden box had the emblem of the Karabel Merchants' Guild on its lid.

"Open it."

"Oh my, you didn't have to give me something like this... Wait, what did my little brother prepare for me~?"

Expecting flowers or food, Iril opened the box and froze. Inside the box, gold and silver coins were neatly arranged, like well-trained soldiers. At a glance, it was an amount sufficient to buy a whole house.

"Ro-ro-ronan...? What....what is this...? What's...?"

"It's the leftover money after paying the tuition. Aselle and I earned it."

"Aselle...? That pretty boy? You, you took it from him?"

"I didn't take it, we earned it. We'll earn more in the future."

An air of discomfort seeped into Ronan's tone. Iril's faded clothes were stained with wet dirt and bits of roots. It was always like this. She meticulously saved every last copper coin she gave to his penniless little brother, but hesitated to spend on buying even a cheap outfit for herself.

Ronan gently brushed off the dirt from his sister's nose with a finger and spoke.

"So, sister, stop digging potatoes now."

Leaving those words, Ronan stepped outside. Dodging the barrage of questions was the best course of action before they poured in. He didn't think she would believe the honest source of the money, and it wasn't like he could tell her.

He turned back and headed up the hill where he had fallen asleep and awakened. His newly acquired black iron sword hung at his waist.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Both boys had backpacks on their backs. Despite looking extremely heavy, they were surprisingly light, filled only with the necessary items for their journey to the capital.

"Then, I'll be going, sister."

"Yeah, come back safely!"

Ronan turned around. His sister, who had come to see them off, stood there with a bright smile. The white dress she wore was shining brilliantly in the spring sunlight.

"Oh, wait, Ronan. The collar of your clothes is torn."

"It's alright."

"No way! You're going to the capital, so make sure it's done properly!"

She lifted her jackdaw foot to fix her brother's collar. Ronan thought he should hurry up and get his sister out of Nimbuten. Seeing Iril wearing the new clothes she had made, he realized she looked so beautiful that she was almost inhuman.

"No matter who it is, I'll just tear them apart if they touch my sister."

Ronan eliminated every element that could be harmful to his diligent sister. The prime example was Hans Paggery. Ronan raided the delinquents who were recovering from their wounds and rallied them again before setting their hideout on fire.

The boys who had been grumbling while getting wet in the spring rain suddenly found themselves besieged by the approaching men. The mercenary group that Ronan had provided information to was behind this.

"Phew... damn it, there's no one, no one around."

"What's going on? I think I might be able to help."

"Huh? Who are you?"

By chance, Ronan met the captain of a mercenary group at a tavern who was struggling due to a shortage of personnel. He had recruited a bunch of misfits to serve as arrow fodder, but they had all run away.

Ronan told him that he knew boys who were always starving for blood. He added that even if the entire unit disappeared, there would be no noticeable difference since they were all orphans.

"Pl-please help!"

"Ugh, untie this! Ronan! Ronaaaan!"

The mercenary captain handed over coins he hadn't intended to give. While listening to the wailing orphans gripping the iron bars of a carriage and crying, Ronan thought that the stew he had for breakfast tasted really good.

After finishing the arrangements, Iril turned her head towards Aselle.

"Aselle, do well on your exam too!"

"Yes! I will do my best!"

Aselle's response sounded like that of a new recruit just transferred in. Aselle, who saw Iril up close for the first time, seemed to know why this rascal was becoming a gentleman just like his sister. There was a reason he felt resentful even towards Marya.

Iril said, "Take it easy! If things don't go well, you can just live here with me for the rest of your life!"

"Well, that wouldn't be too bad. I'll be back."

Ronan lightly kissed his sister's cheek and left the house. Iril waved her hand until the two figures became dots and disappeared.

"To Marvas. Two people."

"Seven silver coins."

"You want to charge seven for two people?"

"Sorry. Five coins."

They traveled by carriage to Marvas. The distance was too far to travel on foot with their nag, and there was nowhere to leave it once they arrived.

The travel carriage was quite comfortable. Ronan leaned his head out of the slightly opened window and smoked a cigarette. He realized that it had been almost a month since he had taken a complete rest. The refreshing spring breeze tickled his nose.

"Heh... it's nice."

As he enjoyed the sweet fragrance of flowers, he felt his fatigue melting away on its own. He turned his head and looked at the seat across from him. Aselle, who was wiping his staff with a cloth, came into view.

"Hey, how's that staff? It's definitely better to use, right?"

"Yeah. I think I made good use of it. The power has improved, and my focus is better too..."

"It's good, huh... but is it so good that you've secretly tried sticking it up your butt or something? Huh?"

"Wh-what are you talking about now?"

"Well, well, now you even know how to protest loudly?"

Ronan chuckled as he snatched the staff. With the words, "For example, like this," he started making crude gestures. Aselle let out a scream.

S-stop it! Don't stick it in there! Give it back!"

"Heh heh heh! Try screaming even louder!"

Ronan laughed. While it was a journey burdened with a heavy mission, it was still enjoyable. The guffawing laughter of the groom who looked back with a sidelong glance caused Ronan to almost have an accident.