The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

Why I suddenly revealed my identity.

It’s simple that I disclosed it to Pina, rather than Yurasia or Stella.

First. Pina is connected to spirits.

And right now, I need a spirit, Flora.

Second. Even if Pina knows my identity, she’ll act just the same as usual.

Polite posture, extreme honorifics, or suddenly getting scared. Well… it was a variable that she’s scared of and hates Ronan, but still.

Third. There’s no possibility of her revealing it.

It’s not because Pina can’t speak.

Since she’s tied with spirits, she won’t be able to reveal my identity that I’m Ronan.

Fourth. Since I’ve come here, she has to know.

She has no choice but to eventually know.

There are many other reasons, but.

In the end, I had to say it.

So I said it.

Pina fainted as she always does.

After a while.

Blink blink…

After quite a long time, and even fainting several times, Pina finally opened her eyes as if she had come to her senses.

“Are you going to faint again?”

Pina’s eyes widened. Her mouth opened in shock, and her twinkling eyes were filled with tears.

“If you faint again, I’ll just leave you here.”

The sparkle in her tearful eyes sharpened. The lips that had been opened in shock closed tightly. The trembling fists also tightly clenched as she looked at me.

“You did well. Now get up. My legs are numb.”

I giggled and helped Pina to her feet. Pina took a glance at where she had regained consciousness and opened her mouth again after having barely closed it.

She had placed her head on my thigh.

Looking all dirty and pitiful, I couldn’t just leave her lying on the bare floor.

Of course, right now, I probably looked more miserable.

“So, you don’t believe me? No, no. If you didn’t believe me, you wouldn’t have fainted like that, would you? Right?”

Still dazed, Pina wiped the drool from her mouth and nodded.

“Then it’s fast to talk. Call Flora… or whatever you called her, the Light Spirit.”

Pina shook her head.

It meant she couldn’t, not that she didn’t want to.

“No, you can do it. Just try.”

Of course, there was no way she couldn’t do it now.

The magic had disappeared from this area. And this was a space that Arisa herself had created and hidden.

Decisively.

I could feel the spirits’ eyes in this place, to the extent that it felt like the World Tree lady was nearby.

So if Pina just finds Flora for me, she’ll surely come out.

She must have been hiding well because of the ritual conducted earlier, but if we wait…

[Ronaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!]

“Eek…!”

“You came out faster than I thought.”

Look at that. She’s already come out. No, it seems she was just waiting for me to call her.

Giggling, I caught Flora who was quickly flying toward me.

[Ronan! Ronan!! I almost died! I almost died with Pina!]

The little squirrel held tightly in my hands was shedding tears and adorably tapping my hand with her little hands.

“I know. That’s why I came to save you.”

[Boohoohoo! When did the filthy dark mages figure out my existence!?]

She probably noticed when she came out to see me. Flora didn’t realize their presence because of the barrier that was covering this place.

Even 400 years ago, demons and dark mages had done many things to deceive the spirits’ eyes.

So it’s presumed that’s how it happened this time too.

Anyway.

“Hey, Flora.”

[Huh… Yes, Ronan. I was scared…!]

This small, fluffy, and soft squirrel rubbed her cheek against my hand.

I said to the cute little Flora.

“What nonsense did you tell Pina?!”

[…Wh-what? W-what do you mean…? Ahaha!]

I pinched Flora’s head with my thumb and index finger.

And slowly lifted her up.

[Huh? Ro-Ronan? Why… what’s going on?]

I vowed to pluck Flora’s neck today.

“Don’t play dumb. Answer nicely. Why does Pina, who’s never seen me, fear and dislike me? Huh?”

[Aah! No!! I didn’t do anything!!]

“If it’s not you, then who? The World Tree lady? Has Pina met that lady already? Did she go to the North with that body? Huh? Oh, it’s getting pulled. It’s getting pulled!?”

[I’m sorry! Aaaah!!!! Help!! Pina!! PinaPina!! I’m dying!! Save meeeeee!!]

“Save you? Why would I? Huh? 400 years ago, how did I save you, and you try to frame me? You ungrateful little rat!”

[Kyahhhh!!! Eek.]

With a crack sound, Flora’s body went limp.

“What the…? Why are your bones so soft?”

She’s still breathing. Did she faint? Well, that’s fine.

I tossed the limp Flora to the ground and looked at Pina.

“Eep… Eep…”

Pina was staring at me with an expression that seemed like she was ready to pass out at any moment as she avoided eye contact.

While cradling her own head.

Does she think she’s going to pluck her own hair?

Of course, I didn’t pluck Flora’s neck. Although something might be off with the bones, I didn’t do it after all.

I’m such a good human.

Well… I couldn’t protect Pina’s innocence, but that innocence will eventually get broken anyway.

“I’m not going to pluck you. You didn’t do anything wrong, right?”

Nod nod.

“Pina, you’ve heard a very odd story. It’s just a misunderstanding caused by an evil plot. Ronan… I didn’t do things like that. Right here is Flora. She’s actually the spirit I saved. Have you heard of that?”

Shake shake.

“That little rat didn’t even mention that? You ungrateful little brat. Should I really pluck your neck? Tsk. Anyway, Pina, everything that happened today, and everything that will happen in the future is a secret, okay?”

Nod nod nod nod. I held Pina’s chin and lifted her face up.

An earthquake of about 8.0 was occurring in her eyes. Tears were streaming down, and now even drool was dripping. Yeah. This is somewhat… expected.

And I do know how to overcome this kind of situation.

“Are we still friends?”

“Eeep…”

I put on the saddest expression for Pina, who flinched and gulped.

“…Aren’t we friends?”

Pina, who was in a dilemma, took a few deep breaths and eventually nodded.

“Yeah. As friends, we can continue as usual. In my past life, I was called a hero and became quite famous, but now I’m just Eliaernes.”

Bump bamp. Pina’s lips seemed to murmur in agreement.

At that, I smiled satisfactorily and stood up.

Leaning against the gravestone, I looked at my grave.

Countless weapons.

Potions, ores, jewels, gold coins, books.

Cherry blossoms.

Dark, damp, dirty, and pitiful but.

Very suited to me, Ronan Luzarack.

I indeed like it.

That said… I don’t wish for many people to come in and out.

So what should I do?

Since the moment I learned of this place, I had already decided.

But before that.

“Get up. Let’s go to work.”

*

I pulled out all the weapons stuck here and gathered various odds and ends in one place.

And what’s most important here, the A-Space Pocket and.

Elixir.

Of course, it’s purple.

The color of a night sky that seems to hold stars.

Back then, there were only 6 bottles of Elixir in this world.

I got it for saving the World Tree lady.

According to her, it was an extremely rare elixir brought from another dimension, but that’s none of my concern.

“Wow…”

The elixir that exists as only 6 bottles in the entire world.

Elixirs that can no longer be made or acquired.

Thus, its effects are unbelievable.

It produces miracles distinctly different from Luna’s miracles.

To list the results of those miracles would take all night.

To name a few…

I don’t know. They’re all so incredible that I can’t even describe them.

Having seen, heard, tasted, and experienced every possible thing in this world, even this makes my heart race.

Of course, even this elixir couldn’t extend Ronan’s 10-year shelf life.

Still, it’s undoubtedly a tremendous elixir.

“I didn’t expect this to still be around.”

Back then, each of us drank one bottle and left the remaining ones with the World Tree lady.

We left it with her so it wouldn’t break if we carried it, and now that I think about it, it’s a pity.

If I had had this elixir when I faced Kaloso, I would have survived.

Of course… that’s too formulaic.

If I had kept carrying it around, it probably would have broken midway and been tossed out. Definitely.

“Hey, Flora.”

[…What?]

Flora, who was dangling on Pina’s shoulder with a fierce expression, glared at me.

“Open this for me.”

[Hmm… Are you going to drink it now?]

The lid of this elixir is sealed.

The seal placed by the World Tree lady herself. To open it, the power of a light spirit like Flora is needed.

However.

“No. I’m not going to drink it now. Just break the lid’s seal.”

I won’t drink it now.

I’m thinking of only releasing the lid’s seal and putting it in the A-Space Pocket for potential emergencies.

If I drink this now, I will become stronger.

That’s for sure. But the extent may be too much.

I might surpass the 6th Rank, and the Merchant Association might open up fully, crossing over to the 7th Rank.

That’s too excessive to merely call it gaining a chance.

If that happens, I’d attract unnecessary suspicion from those around me. No, not just those around. It might raise the wariness of those who think poorly of me.

Then it would be troublesome.

Of course, while it may help chase away the meddling pests around me now, it would be wholly insufficient to fend off the real threats behind them.

So it’s better to postpone drinking this.

There’s no need to regret it.

Here, there are potions scattered that can’t be found even in the Empire’s Treasure House, now impossible to obtain.

“Surely breaking the seal won’t cause the ingredients to fly away or anything, right?”

[No. I’ve heard it doesn’t.]

“Then that’s settled. Just break the seal.”

[Okay. But… it’ll take a bit of time. About… 20 minutes?]

“That’s just right.”

I nodded cheerfully and scanned the scattered weapons on the floor one by one.

There were a total of seventeen.

All of them had someone’s name engraved on them.

Arisa Eustetia.

Neat and clean. Some were worn and smudged, but they were still very legible.

“…Even after 400 years, it hasn’t faded.”

Giggling, I began to carefully place those weapons into the A-Space Pocket one by one.

I had already decided where I’d use them.

Of course, I can’t use them myself.

Just in case, I swung the easiest and most disposable weapon. It broke after just three swings.

So this will be the weapon for someone else to use.

After I finished putting all the weapons away, I went for the gems and ores.

I stuffed rare minerals, gold coins, and miscellaneous things.

Since there were tons of little things, I didn’t check them separately.

There’s no time now.
I can check later when I go back to the dorm.

Next is the potions.

Just by glancing, there are more than twenty.

Helpfully, they are all potions I know.

I can eat them all, but I won’t.

There’s no need to do that.

“Pina.”

Ponder?

“Take this, it might help you.”

I handed her one of the potions that might be helpful.

A pill wrapped securely in elegant paper.

Pina stared at me with a bewildered expression as she picked it up with both hands.

“The effects will be shared with you by Flora. But don’t eat it now. Uhm, I don’t know what day it is, but eat it next time you’re with me. I’ll help you absorb it.”

[Huh? What is it? Did you have something for Pina? Holy cow, Heavenly Herb?! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Ronan! Are you really giving that to Pina?!]

Heavenly Herb.

Literally picked from the tree of heaven.

The tree of heaven is the World Tree. That’s a pill made by fine-grinding the leaves and branches of the World Tree.

The effects are… well, there are many. It will definitely help Pina, who deals with spirits.

After hearing Flora, Pina gasped, “Eek!” in shock.

Seeing Pina’s sparkling eyes as she held it tightly in both hands made me want to laugh.

Does she understand what Heavenly Herb is and is surprised?

But still…

I feel proud… and a sense of triumph.

“What use is it for me to eat Heavenly Herb?”

I hid my expression as much as possible and glanced through the other potions. Indeed, there were many good ones.

I opened the Purgatory gate. Because of that, I might suffer from terrible side effects starting from just 17, but.

With this much success… I feel very satisfied.

Giggling, I stuffed all the potions in.

Now, one last thing remains.

Cherry blossoms.

They’re still blooming as if they just blossomed, even after 400 years.

I… don’t particularly like flowers.

But I won’t discard them.

I think it would look pretty nice if I just bought a decent vase and decorated it in my room.

Since it hasn’t wilted after 400 years, it’ll likely keep blooming in my room too.

Thinking like that, I carefully held the cherry blossoms.

At that moment.

“…Yeah. I was wondering when you’d come out.”

The scenery changed.

---