Chapter 121: Hill of the Four Seasons (2)
“…Hill of the Four Seasons. I have something to tell you.”
“Hill of the Four Seasons?”
“Yes. It’s within the campus, so it won’t take us long to get there.”
Ronan raised an eyebrow. The name wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. There had been a mention of it by Navirose during the Doppelganger incident.
What place was that again? When the answer did not come immediately, Adeshan asked in an anxious voice.
“Do you… not want to go?”
“No, I’m fine with it. Are we going right now?”
“Oh, uh, sure. Just a moment…!”
Adeshan’s expression brightened. Thump! She suddenly dashed into the office, closing the door. It took about three minutes before she reappeared and let out an awkward laugh.
“Sorry. Had to quickly wipe off the sweat. Shall we go?”
Ronan nodded. Besides her hair which was lossened, nothing seemed to have changed.
The two exited the arena and headed west of the campus. Walking side by side, Adeshan gestured toward Ronan’s waist.
“By the way, how’s that dagger?”
“It’s much better than I expected. What about your senior crossbow? It seemed to be exploding earlier.”
“Ah, that’s because when mana is infused, it automatically enchants the bolt mechanism. I have no idea how that’s even possible.”
Adeshan exclaimed in admiration. Similar to Lamancha and Ymir, Dolon had given her crossbow an odd name, Arjuna.
Arjuna’s ability was simple yet powerful. While traditionally each bolt had to be enchanted with mana, Arjuna could imprint the desired elemental attribute—fire or ice—onto the arrowhead simply by infusing mana into the crossbow itself. Ronan chuckled, remembering Dolon’s excited face.
“He’s quite the visionary.”
Before they knew it, the time had distinctly turned to evening. The reddish glow emanating from the setting sun bathed the western sky. The campus under the setting sun was burning.
“It’s quiet here.”
“Yeah. I like the usual lively atmosphere, but I think it has its own charm, too.”
Philleon was quiet during the vacation period. With the absence of students, the sounds of nature resonated louder in the deserted campus. Ronan, who was walking with his hands clasped behind his head, spoke up.
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
The serenity wasn’t too bad. Walking westward, they soon reached a hill. It was a place Ronan hadn’t visited yet due to its vastness. Adeshan halted in her tracks.
“We’re here. This is the Hill of the Four Seasons.”
“It’s not as big of a deal as I thought.”
Ronan raised an eyebrow. Apart from four trees standing on the summit, there didn’t seem to be anything particularly remarkable. Smiling mischievously, Adeshan walked ahead.
“Hehe, want to climb up?”
Her laughter carried a strange confidence. When Ronan reached the summit, he soon understood why. Looking up at the trees, his eyes widened.
“Interlacing branches?”
“That’s right. Four trees intertwined into one.”
Four trees of different species and sizes were connected. Cherry, pear, maple, and pine trees. On the sprawling pear tree, vivid purple flowers bloomed profusely.
Ronan realized these were trees representing each season, enchanted with some kind of magic.
“No matter the season, one tree is always full of color. That’s why it’s called Hill of the Four Seasons.”
“…It’s quite fascinating.”
“And the view from here is beautiful too. think I come here at least once a month.”
Adeshan pointed below the hill. Following her gaze, Ronan was captivated. The juxtaposition of late summer’s verdure made the campus appear like a paradise from a fairy tale.
Swaaah – The cool wind blew back her bangs. Adeshan, who was quietly watching the sunset, opened her mouth.
“…I went to my hometown this time.”
“That’s right. You said you were going to see your father, right?”
“Yeah. My father has gained a bit of weight, but thankfully, he’s healthy. We went together to see my mother and siblings as well.”
Her voice was composed. Ronan’s lips twitched slightly. He knew Adeshan’s family had experienced some tragedy.
Soldiers who perished due to the Command’s misjudgment. The names of those who inspired a young girl to dream of becoming a general were etched in a corner of the memorial honoring fallen warriors.
“You know, I used to cry every time.”
“You?”
“In front of the memorial. Whenever I saw my mother and siblings’ names, tears would just flow. But this time, for the first time, I didn’t cry.”
Suddenly, Adeshan rummaged through her pocket. In her hand emerged a small wooden box. Ignoring Ronan’s puzzled expression, she continued speaking.
“I thought about why that happened, and I think it’s because now I have hope.”
“Hope?”
“Yes. The hope that maybe I can truly become a general. I used to just tell myself that I would make it happen, but I thought it would remain a vague dream. Now, it feels like it could actually become reality.”
As she trailed off, Adeshan raised her hand. Instantly, shadows large and small seemed to rise from every visible corner. Swaaah! A resounding clamor echoed loudly.
“If this ability awakened because of you…”
“Huh.”
The shadows flew towards the Hill of the Four Seasons, numbering easily in the hundreds. Ronan realized they were all birds and raised the corner of his lips.
‘Amazing.’
Black mana surged around Adeshan’s shoulders. She had long surpassed the level of handling regular mana. The growth rate was simply unbelievable.
“…You worked hard”
Instead of responding, Adeshan let out a soft chuckle. The birds that had gathered like mist rotated around the Hill of the Four Seasons. Not a single collision occurred; they maintained a precise spacing akin to well-trained soldiers.
Snap! Adeshan snapped her finger. Swaaah! The birds, now regaining their senses, scattered in all directions. She recolleted all the black mana and extended the box in her hand.
“Thank you for making my dream possible.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s a gift from me. Open it.”
Ronan opened the box. A small, white sphere lay on soft silk. Indescribably clear mana swirled within it, causing Ronan’s eyes to widen.
“Damn, is this really the Eternal Frostbloom Pearl?”
“Yes. You recognize it.”
“How did you even… this is something even the royal family would have a hard time obtaining…”
The Eternal Frostbloom Pearl, a legendary flower known to live for tens of thousands of years. It only bloomed in the polar regions where snow fell all year round, making it incredibly difficult to witness first hand.
Like the ice of the same name, this flower, which rarely wilts once it blooms, has the habit of storing all the energy it absorbs in its roots. The roots, which at first have a similar shape to other plants, gradually transform into beautiful spheres like pearls as they contain vitality.
Named after the root that accumulated energy for at least a hundred years, it was naturally valuable. Adeshan chuckled.
“I found it with some animals.I can’t tell you how lucky I was that I was able to find one before I had to return to the academy.”
“Are you serious? Do you know how much this would fetch if you sell it on the market?”
“I do. But compared to the favor I received, it’s much cheaper. So, just… don’t say anything and accept it.”
After saying that, Adeshan firmly grasped Ronan’s hand. If it weren’t for her mastery of shadow mana, this treasure would have been impossible to find. Perhaps the reason she took him here was to give him this.
With determination shining in her eyes, it seemed futile to say anything. Silently, Ronan put the box in his pocket.
“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.”
“Hehe, I’m the one who’s grateful for you accepting it. Shall we sit down for a while?”
Ronan nodded. The two sat side by side, leaning against a tree. The chirping of crickets gradually filled the air. Ronan whistled, admiring the still beautiful scenery of the campus.
“It would be beautiful here even in winter.”
“That’s right. It’s incredibly beautiful. With snow settling on roofs and leaves…”
“No need to explain. Let’s come back here at that time, together.”
“…Huh. Sure.”
Their conversation fell silent for a moment. The deepening sunset draped Philleon. Adeshan was the first to break the silence.
“I think I understand what my mother used to say now.”
“Oh?”
“She loved sunsets. She said the struggle to live was beautiful.”
It was an unfamiliar sentiment. The world tinged red by the sunset shimmered in her eyes. Ronan shrugged.
“The struggle?”
“My mother, who was a soldier, used to say the sunset was the final battle. Struggling till the sun sets below the mountain before darkness consumes everything. Fighting relentlessly but ultimately succumbing to defeat as night falls.”
“…That sounds profound for her young daughter to understand.”
“Yeah. But now I get it. The fact of the struggle itself, regardless of victory or defeat… was beautiful.”
Adeshan trailed off. Suddenly, Ronan felt warmth on his left shoulder and turned his head towards her. Adeshan’s little head was leaning against him.
“Sunbae?”
“She’s drawing in all the light in the world to stay alive. Like a dying fire seeking out firewood…”
Adeshan murmured softly. Her long hair fluttered in the wind, obscuring her face. Ronan, who was silent for a moment, gently stroked her head.
“A struggle… indeed, it looks that way.”
Ronan’s gaze returned to the sunset. He might not fully comprehend, but there was a sense of understanding. Whatever form it took, the struggle for life was beautiful.
Adeshan flinched for a moment before shifting slightly, leaning closer. The weight against his shoulder increased. Through the warmth and pulse, a sense of connection was conveyed.
“Yeah.”
Adeshan lightly nodded. The two stayed in that position for a long time and came down from the hill only after the sun had completely set.
[TL/L: I think I just got diabetes from how sweet this was :,)]
****
There was about a month left of the vacation. Upon returning to the academy, Ronan focused on the work he was unable to do due to his usual academic schedule.
He went on trips to distant mountains to collect medicinal herbs alongside the Eternal Frostbloom Pearl, visited the Archipelago Police Department for information on Nebula Clazier… And of course, he didn’t forget to take breaks occasionally.
“No joke, this bastard did everything on our last desert trip. If I hadn’t brought him along, I would have been in big trouble.”
“Really? What happened?”
“We killed the bastard who tried to steal our stuff with a single strike. That guy was about fifty meters away.”
“Wow, from that far? How?”
Iril asked, her eyes sparkling. Ronan invited Shullifen to dinner with his sister. It was a kind of reward for his efforts. Ronan was talking about what happened in Dainhar in a somewhat simplistic manner.
“Well, you know how it goes.”
Shullifen continued slicing his steak methodically and putting it into his mouth, the precise movements making him appear like a perfectly crafted doll. Breaking out of his mesmerized stare at Iril, Shullifen finally spoke.
“…It was nothing extraordinary. I merely gained a humble realization.”
“Hey, don’t act all high and mighty. Show me once.”
Ronan poked Shullifen on his side, pointing to a watermelon placed on a distant table. Normally, Shullifen would fuss about being treated like a clown, but today was different. Ronan whispered to Shullifen.
“I think my sister really wants to see it.”
Shullifen pulled at the hilt of his sword without hesitation. Swish! As a gust of wind passed the watermelon split into eight pieces.
The sword body that had disappeared, reappeared. Clap! Clap! Clap! Iril opened her eyes wide and cheered.
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
“If you desire, anytime. I can show you.”
Shullifen said, resuming the slicing of his steak. At that moment, a drop of sauce splattered on his cheek. Iril suddenly took out a handkerchief and leaned over.
“Oops, it’s stained here!”
“…!”
“Ehehe, even you seem to have a surprisingly clumsy side.””
Iril gently wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth. Shullifen seemed frozen in time. The perfect rigidity almost made it seem like he might have died. Ronan, who stuffed five layers of his meat into his mouth, shook his head.
“Cut the theatrics. Damn it.”
Anyway, time passed. Sekreet’s return was shortly before the first day of school.
As soon as Ronan heard the news, he rushed to Sekreet’s office. His eyes widened at the sight of a girl sitting in the middle of the office, reading a book.
“Sekreet…?”
“Oh, Ronan. It’s been a while.”
“…How did this happen?”
Ronan’s face contorted. To his surprise, seeing Sekreet after only two months, he had astonishingly turned into a girl. Fortunately, apart from a slightly longer hair, he could still recognize her from the boy Sekreet.
“Ahaha, this is what happened when I put the curse I found in the north into my body. I never would have thought it was a curse that reversed genders.”
“Damn it. Can you return to your original state?”
“We’ll figure it out through research. Don’t worry too much.”
As if to reassure him, Sekreet waved her hands. Ronan couldn’t get used to her high piched voice.
Come to think of it, worrying about someone who turns into a wrinkled old man at night seem pointless. Ronan let out a deep sigh and spoke up.
“You can still use magic in this state, right?”
“Hmm? Of course. It’s just a change in gender, there’s no problem.”
“That’s a relief. I brought this.”
“You brought it. What…?”
Ronan took out a black crystal from his inner pocket. Sekreet’s eyes widened.
At the sight of the gem he had brought, he realized that all the stones he had seen so far were nothing more than scraps. Inside the forearm-sized crystal pulsed a deep magic found only in the desert’s specter.
“Here. Can you do it now?”
Ronan asked. Immediately a barrage of questions flooded Sekreet’s mind. Taking a deep breath to calm her mind, she closed the book she was reading.
“Of course. Come closer.”
