11. The Lion and the Dreaming Bird (1)
#11
The boys arrived in Marbas late at night. A distant shadow rising from the ground was seen covering half of the eastern sky.
The gateway that one must pass through to get to the archipelago was the Lomaira Mountain Range, which separates the central and western parts of the continent.
They entered the Lomaira mountain road at dawn the next day. Since we didn’t bring horses or carriages, there was virtually no toll.
“It’s killing me.”
“huh.”
As we entered the mountains, winter came. Every time I opened my mouth, the white breath that came out crumbled in the air.
The summits of the surrounding rocky mountains, like folding screens, were not visible. The boys tilted their heads to admire the scenery that could only be called spectacular.
“Aser, look at that.”
Not far away, a herd of mountain goats was climbing a sheer cliff. Asher, seeing the mountain goat for the first time, exclaimed in admiration. Ronan said, pointing to the mountain goats with his index finger.
“Just nudge one. “With telekinesis.”
“I hate it.”
“That’s it, Asher. I see that you have gained courage and that you are becoming a man. “Please bring up the one who is falling behind.”
“That’s good.”
Asher followed Ronan’s instructions and stretched out his staff. The body of the mountain goat that was lagging behind rose into the air and quickly reached the top.
Ronan smiled contentedly. I also liked Asher’s improved skills and the sight of the mountain goat being loved by the group that had just arrived.
“Marya has already arrived, right?”
“You must be doing well. “Why do you want to see it?”
“W-what! It’s not like that! “I have to return the book!”
“It’s okay Asher, I understand. It’s definitely rare to see a breast like that. “I was surprised too.”
“I said no!”
The road was paved much better than Ronan expected. The road, paved with round paving stones, was wide enough for four carriages to pass at the same time, and guards with swords patrolled day and night.
“you worked hard. “Traveler.”
“They’re having a hard time, too. When military life feels like crap, I gain strength by thinking about the idiots in the punishment unit. “Those bastards don’t even produce corrosion properly.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Rest areas erected at certain distances also provided great help to travelers crossing the mountain range. It was a welfare that was possible because the empire and the merchant union managed it together.
‘Of course I like money.’
However, due to the nature of the mountain road, if only a few important roads were blocked, the empire’s trade routes would be completely paralyzed.
The Winter Witch, who would appear in a few years, was not called the worst criminal in the empire for nothing.
He thought of the people who died to eradicate the Witch of Winter and her splendid end.
“Maybe… I can meet those two people too.”
It was the sword saint Schlieffen who killed the Winter Witch. And both of them were from Phileon. For a moment, I thought that if I met them, I might be able to change the future.
‘No way, something like that will happen.’
But Ronan quickly shook his head. It was a busy time for him to only focus on his own business.
They passed through Romaira in four days. As we left the mountains, the season returned to spring.
After walking for a while, a city stretching out to the distant horizon came into view.
Institutional discussion.
It was the capital of an empire that lasted for a thousand years.
****
The two were able to pass through Balon’s East Gate before noon. Thanks to the fact that I had obtained a citizenship card from Marbas in advance, I could almost skip the inspection.
Today again, as I passed the sentries sucking poop, the panoramic view of the city, organized like a chessboard, caught my eye.
The first emperor. This thousand-year-old city, designed by the greatest genius since creation, was a work of art in itself.
“Waaaaaa…”
“Ugh, just write ‘hillbilly’ on your forehead and go around.”
Asher was circling in place, admiring the system, like a slightly lacking child.
Ronan extended his finger and pointed towards the north of the city. Dozens of large and small spiers could be seen rising in the distance.
“That’s Phileon.”
“Are you going straight to the small city of Hundred Towers?”
“no. “Is it possible to die from being crushed by someone?”
They walked to the market, not to Phileon. There were still two days left until the practical exam began.
Since registration was done in advance by mail, there was no need to stop by Phileon, which was already crowded.
“By the way, what happened to that feather?”
“feather···? Ah, that strange bird. Now that I think about it, you said you live in that noble system, right?”
Ronan took off his backpack and opened the innermost pocket. The blue feather that had still not lost its luster caught her eye.
It was shaking much more violently than usual, and it seemed like it would have come right out of the backpack if it hadn’t been weighed down with other luggage.
Ronan picked up the feather.
“Then shall we go now? “I still have a lot of time left.”
The abundant tail feathers were curved toward the north. The two people, who were walking with a feeling of uncertainty, eventually reached Phileon.
Ronan, unable to move amidst the wave of humans, muttered through gritted teeth.
“You make me suffer until the very end.”
***
-Sweet! Beep!
“Umm…why are you doing this, Marfez?”
I opened my eyes to the loud sound of birds. Varen Panasir mumbled in a sleepy voice.
His eyelids were heavy and his head was tired, so he looked like he had fallen asleep.
In front of him, a bright blue and fluffy bird was sitting. It was the dream bird ‘Marfez’, a fantasy species raised by Varen.
“Did you have any good dreams?”
Varen, yawning wide open, got up from his chair. The pile of documents on the desk and the scenery outside the window caught my eye at the same time.
Varen held his forehead and sighed.
“Ugh… it won’t be easy this time either.”
His office was located at the top of Phileon Tower 13. From the top of the spire, one could overlook the northern part of the campus and system. The people who showed up to register for the test were crowded around like a swarm of ants.
-Sweet!
“Why is it that even though I work as a professor, I can’t get used to it… Should I go back to being an explorer?”
Three years had passed since I was invited by the imperial family to work at Phileon, but dealing with humans was still tiring.
Before I knew it, Marfez was on my shoulder and my head was touching his dark brown mane. It seemed like he was in a good mood for being so silly today.
“Yes, you need to be strong. “Even if it’s just to meet your benefactor.”
Varen recalled an incident that happened a month ago. He almost lost Marfez, who he thought had gone out for a walk, forever. Even though quite a bit of time had passed, whenever I thought about that time, my heart felt like it was sinking.
The benefactor who saved Marfez has not yet been met. Every time she recalled the conversation she had with him, her heart ached.
Did you say you have no intention of making a splash just because you saved one animal? He had an incredibly kind heart.
“It would be nice if you didn’t lose your feather…”
It was the car where Varen was looking out the window with eyes filled with thoughts. Suddenly, two shadows appeared from below.
One of them tapped on the window.
“Hey.”
“Kuhuhuhhh!”
Varen flew backwards like a person hit by a carriage. He walked backwards, hitting his buttocks, and stopped only after hitting his head on the opposite wall.
Varen shouted, the hair on his entire body standing up.
“What are you!”
A black-haired boy and a red-haired child were floating in the air. The child who saw Varen screamed.
“Kwaaagh! “It’s a lion!”
A neatly dressed lion was lying down in a corner of the room and roaring. As the mana was disturbed, the two people’s bodies fell down.
The boy quickly stretched out his hand and grabbed the window frame and the child’s hood at the same time.
“You idiot! Magic!!”
Cheek! A sound like being strangled came from the mouth of the strangled child. He accidentally looked down and screamed again.
Far below, a wave of humans was lapping. The boy climbed up with superhuman strength and kicked the window. Wow!
“What the hell is this…!”
Varen looked at the humans who rushed into the office, forgetting what to say. The boy, who was carrying the child on his shoulder like a sack of rice, looked around him and then threw him down on the soft sofa.
“Kekkek! KEEEK! “Kek!”
The child began coughing violently, holding his neck. The boy walked up to him and hit his head.
“evil!”
“Hey, you almost fell! Niimi is a lion. Is this your first time seeing a beastman?”
“I’m sorry…”
The child sobbed, clutching the spot where he had been hit. After catching his breath, the boy turned his head towards Varen.
“···Hey, is that Professor Varen?”
“Yeah, that’s true, but…”
“It’s been a long time since I saw Wear Lion… Damn, I feel sorry for the window.”
The boy who approached held out his hand. Varen’s eyes widened. An all-too-familiar blue feather was sticking out from between the front pocket of his shirt.
****
“Professor, are you really okay?”
“yes. Both of you are my invited guests. “Don’t worry.”
Fileon’s security was thorough. The guards who came in less than three minutes after the two people made a grand appearance proved that fact.
The guards, armed with heavy armor and polearms, immediately surrounded Ronan and Asher. Professor Varen had a hard time explaining the whole story to them.
“If the professor says so…”
“Okay, I’m sorry for causing an untimely commotion. “Thank you for always working hard.”
Varen bowed almost in half and apologized. And he even took the pies he had made himself and sent them away one by one to the helpless janitors.
“her.”
Ronan, who was sitting on the sofa, laughed. It was a very contradictory attitude to his appearance, as if he slaughtered a cow with his bare hands.
This was even more surprising to him who had fought against a race called Were Lion.
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. “You are the ones who saved our Marfez, right?”
“···yes.”
“It’s an honor to meet you. “This is Professor Varen Panasir, who is in charge of the lecture ‘Communication and Understanding with Phantom Species’ at Phileon Academy.”
Height is at least 3m. The head of a majestic lion was placed on top of a body as strong as a troll. The well-combed dark brown mane exuded both elegance and wildness.
“I heard that you had to make this choice because you couldn’t find the entrance. “I should have told you in advance the order to open the door… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry, sorry, sorry. “Why are you so sorry to the people who broke the window and came in?”
Ronan bowed his head. At the same time, she pressed the head of Asher, who was sitting next to her.
“We are truly sorry. “This is the end of this lame skit.”
“S-sorry…”
“Hey, don’t do this! “There is no reason for you to apologize!”
“Yes, that won’t happen anymore. “I said it was over.”
Ronan crossed his legs. He made his intentions clear by putting a cigarette in his mouth that he had taken out of his arms. Marfez, who had been sitting on Varen’s shoulder the whole time, approached Ronan.
“How are you?”
-Beep!
Marfez rested his head on Ronan’s knee. Her feathers became even more beautiful and she looked perfectly healthy.
He returned the feather he had removed from his front pocket to Marfez.
“Thank you so, so much for saving Marfez.”
“I just did it because I could. By the way, I never thought he was a professor at Phileon. “He was a great person.”
“It’s thanks to the Emperor recognizing my humble talent. “You two are taking the Phileon exam this time?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“I hope you pass. “I will teach you everything I know without leaving out a single sentence.”
The three people made a brief statement and then talked about various things. He urged students to attend his lectures if they entered Phileon.
Along with [Basic Elemental Science], it was the first class to fill up, but they said they would somehow provide seats for the two.
“Anyway, I think you need to do a better job with the new guard. “Those thieves were part of Caribolo’s noose.”
“It was Caribolo…?”
“Yeah, you know those bastards are fucking persistent.”
Varen growled lowly upon hearing the name Caribolo.
The mane that had been lying down rose up, and the claws hidden under the bushy backs of the hands were revealed.
“How dare those ugly poachers…”
It seemed that the evil relationship was deeper than I thought. A deadly feeling that made my stomach tingle spread out from Varen’s whole body.
Asher, who was pale, sank into the sofa. Ronan exhaled cigarette smoke and snapped his fingers.
“Calm down.”
“yes···? “Hey, I’m sorry!”
The feeling of living calmed down in an instant. Varen hurriedly hid his hands behind his back.
He stood up, bowed his waist at a right angle, and apologized.
“I’m really, really sorry. “You’re showing your claws in front of guests…”
“No. “It was great.”
Ronan was sincere. The face of Varen that he had just seen was the true face of the Were Lion he knew.
It was amazing. A wear lion who almost completely suppresses his true nature, and the academy where he works as a professor.
I was even more excited about life at Phileon. Varen sat down again and opened his mouth.
“Can I ask you one thing? “There was something I was worried about earlier.”
“What is it?”
“What’s in your right pocket…?”
“Pockets? “By the way, I was going to ask you this too.”
Ronan was rummaging through his pocket and took out a sphere. It was an unidentified substance produced by Marfez.
A month passed, but no apparent changes were seen.
“He gave birth to this. Do you know what it is?”
Ronan pointed to Marfez, who was dozing on his lap.
But no answer came back. Varen was staring at the sphere as if possessed by something.
“What’s wrong?”
“This… this can’t be happening…”
Varen, an awakened Auror, immediately realized that it was Marfez’s egg. Because the dream bird’s unique mana was flowing from the surface.
But there was something else that really puzzled him. The mana I felt wasn’t just from a dream.
