Novels online

The Academy's Barbarian-Chapter 252

56page. the truth revealed (7)

13.

“i'm a stranger.”

Noah's Secret Flowed Calmly.

However, this alone was not too shocking, so the group looked at her in silence..

Then Ian shrugged..

“Well, if you look closely, the stranger is right. 'Cause you're from the meadow.”

“I'm not talking about meadows..”

Noah shook his head calmly..

Then, after meeting the eyes of the party again, he revealed his secret that he had been hiding..

“I'm from another world.”

A completely different world from here.

A world where there are no monsters, no magic, no threats from the abyss. Noah brought her memories out of her mouth from her days as Yumin..

‘But I don't have to say much.’

Just that the existence of another world and that she is a stranger from there, and that these stories would prove to be true..

After a while, after the end of the explanation.

The interior was enveloped in a heavy silence..

“uh, so…….”

Ian blurted out his words as if he was speechless..

The reaction of the other party was generally similar. After a long time, a voice broke the silence..

“Haha, a story that is more difficult to believe than the secret of Ulan that I heard earlier has popped up..”

Isabella muttering with a sigh.

Subsequently, Perticia looked back at the girl who could tell the truth of the story..

“How does Dillia look??”

“……Surprisingly, it's true.”

As a result of seeing it with my mind's eye, none of the stories that Noah had just spoken out in a calm manner were untrue..

so it was even more confusing.

Noah's secret was far more complex and unbelievable than Ulan's secret..

“…….”

The interior suddenly became quiet.

Like the first time I heard Ulan's secret, a heavy silence came over me like a wave..

how long has it been like that?

When I realized that a fairly long time had passed, Pertisia suddenly asked a question..

“Then there is a special reason why you came here from a different world.?”

“oh that's…….”

Noah, who was about to answer, closed his mouth..

Then, as if pondering for a moment, he organized his thoughts and quickly turned the topic to another place..

“Before answering that question, I think I should first explain the 'Arsene Continental War'..”

“Yes? what is that?”

“It's a game. Where I lived, this was the world that was set in the game..”

Virtual reality game, Arsene Continental Electric.

A game where the goal is to block the abyss after developing various characters by playing various characters.

Furthermore, Noah compared the game to chess, as he explained to Laurea in the past..

“and i was a player.”

“player?”

“As an analogy, it means a person who chooses and moves one of the pieces on a chess board..”

Living a new life with all memories, powers, and talents inherited by borrowing someone else's body, completely different from the original one..

Through this, Noah lived dozens of lives instead of countless people..

“In the process, I gained a lot of knowledge and experience about this world..”

It is all thanks to this that I knew of the existence of Asteban, the lord of the undead, and even knew how to deal with him..

After finishing the story, Noah closed his mouth. With all of her prepared words out, it was time to take questions from her colleagues..

“Okay, something is a bit complicated..”

“Ugh, I think my head is going to explode.”

On the other hand, there was something that Noah did not expect..

The party is quite confused, perhaps because a lot of information was given in a short time. Of course, not everyone was like that.

“So what is the player's purpose??”

“that's right. There's a reason why you have to live someone else's life dozens of times?”

Ian and Sven asked back and forth.

When the long-awaited question returned, Noah did not hesitate to answer.

“Yes, to block the abyss.”

Every game has an achievement.

And in the case of the Arsene Continental War, blocking the abyss was the ultimate goal. So Noah repeated the play to achieve this..

Meanwhile, right after her answer.

Ibella, who had been silently listening to the story, suddenly asked as if she noticed something was strange..

“wait for a sec! Then surely it means that in all the dozens of times this world has been repeated, the abyss has never been defeated.?”

“That's right.”

is an accurate inference.

Noah nodded, and Ybela gave a surprised look. Unlike her, on the other hand, Dillia and Sven narrowed her eyes..

“……Noah, you're incompetent..”

“He's really useless.”

“Gee, now that's fine!”

Seeing the eyes of reprimand pouring out from the two, Noah waved his hand as if he was embarrassed. She then opened her mouth with a short cough..

“Hmmm! Next, I will answer the question I asked earlier, 'Why I came to this world'..”

otherworldly existence.

In other words, when a rather important topic was mentioned, the reason Noah, a stranger, came here, the group looked at Noah with interest..

But what came back was an unexpected answer..

“To be honest, I don't even know.”

“yes? I don't know?”

“I just tried to connect to the game in the original world as usual, but when I came to my senses, I was in a state where I had fallen here..”

Noah explained in detail what he had been through from the time he realized he was in the game to the time he met Ulan..

After a while, when the story ended, Ian let out a low moan..

“oh well, that's…….”

“It is said that there is a possibility that he was summoned here by someone unknown..”

Ibela widened her eyes at Sven's guess. Then she asked, turning to the most knowledgeable silver-haired girl about magic..

“really? There really is such a magic?”

“As far as I know, no.”

Dillia answers firmly.

I deserved it.

Reasonable magic and magic are required to summon beings from another world, but even simple calculations yield absurd results..

“Anyway, this is my secret.”

Meanwhile, Noah kept his mouth shut..

In retrospect, it seemed like I was pouring out stories rather frantically, but when I revealed all the secrets, my heart felt relieved..

‘from now on…….’

How to accept this secret is up to the colleagues. Noah, who smiled relievedly, waited for the reaction of the party with a nervous face..

how long has it been like that?

Dillia spoke first..

“There is one thing I want to ask you.”

There is something I must point out.

The necessary validation to accept Noah as a colleague and continue to be with her in the future..

So I directly asked.

“You are on the side of the abyss?”

“Absolutely not. I can swear.”

Answer without hesitation.

It was the truth. Dillia, who confirmed Noah's sincerity through her mind's eye, finally smiled..

“Yeah, that's okay.”

Dillia was finally relieved..

Of course, that doesn't mean all questions have been answered. It was because Ibella burst in when Dillia was about to end the conversation on her own..

“No, you should ask that too.”

“what?”

“Back when Laurea fell into the abyss. Noah opened the gap in the abyss.”

The Abyssal Rift can only be opened by Abyssal Worshipers. On the other hand, when Ibela mentioned this, Noah replied as if it was not a big deal..

“He knew how to open it.”

“how?”

“Like I said before, I've lived countless lives over and over again. Among them were seven warriors and nobles from other countries. and…….”

Noah was silent for a moment.

Her words followed soon after..

“There were also abyss worshipers.”

Estelle Outra.

Later, the gates of the abyss are opened and he is the leader who leads the worshipers. While explaining this to his party, Ulan suddenly narrowed his eyes..

“……Abyssal Worshipers?”

cold voice.

The moment he heard this, Noah instinctively felt threatened and hurriedly came up with an explanation..

“Uh, it was only to find out about the worshipers! Knowing your enemy will help you in many ways..”

After finishing his explanation, Noah looked back at the people who were present at the time. Like he's asking for help. Then Ian and Dillia reacted to this..

“It definitely helped.”

“that's right. Thanks to you, I was able to rescue Laurea and Ulan, who had fallen into the abyss..”

The answer that I heard as if I supported Noah.

Ulan asked with his eyes narrowed..

“Did you live as a worshiper only once??”

“I swear it's only once!”

“Glad then.”

“what, what?”

“I don't even need to use an ax.”

Ulan muttering indifferently.

In both of his hands, the ax that had been pulled out before he knew it was shining with a hideous light. Noah closed his mouth at this, and Ulan soon followed..

“it's a joke.”

“…….”

Doesn't sound like a joke at all.

Feeling cold sweat running down his back, Noah swallowed dryly. Afterwards, when the conversation was over, Dillia muttered..

“With this, all, doubts, are solved.”

The fact that Noah acted as if he knew the future was actually using the knowledge he had gained by repeating the lives of others dozens of times..

Also, the reason I was able to open the gap in the abyss was because I had memories of living as an abyss worshiper. He further confirmed that he was not on the side of the abyss..

‘So now all that's left…….’

Just trying to accept the shocking secret that Ulan and Noah revealed. That's how each person sorted out their current situation.

Suddenly, Noah bowed his head..

“I'll apologize too.”

“huh? why?”

“'Cause I've been hiding a secret.”

Facing Perticia, who seemed puzzled by the question, Noah kept his head down and continued to answer..

Whatever the reason, as long as you hide the secret, you're cheating everyone. So Noah sincerely apologized to everyone..

“are you okay. Because I fully understand.”

“Even if I told the secret from the start, I'm sure no one would have believed it..”

“Well, even if it were me, I would have hidden it.”

On the other hand, the party did not care.

If it wasn't for the projection eye or the mind eye, they wouldn't have believed it either. Following Dillia's words, Perticia and Ibella also nodded..

“……thank you. for telling me so.”

Noah smiled lightly..

It was because the words of the three made my complicated mind feel at ease. By the time the conversation about Noah's secret came to an end,.

This time Ulan opened his mouth..

“Rather, since I revealed the secret to everyone, there is something I want to say at this point..”

“huh? what is it?”

“It's about the remaining Lords of the Abyss, and a new enemy beyond the Abyss..”

Bright crimson eyes.

On the other hand, the group made a surprised expression at the sudden words that came out of him..

“new, new enemy?”

“It wasn't just the Lord of the Abyss?”

“i thought so too.”

The heart of District 5.

Until you enter the abyss through the fountain of magic and face it. Ulan described the monster he had seen beyond the abyss at the time..

“Mmm, a monster with countless hands.”

“Not mentioned in the bible, oracle, never?”

“Yeah, I can't think of anything right now. So I'm thinking of checking it out right after I get back..”

After Laurea's answer, Perticia and Ibella opened their mouths this time..

“So what we do right now…….”

“It must be to subdue the king of giants and the lords of the abyss called crying eyes..”

two remaining monarchs.

Among them, the Giant King must be eliminated unconditionally. He is the one who repeatedly drove Ulan to death in the repeated time..

When the eyes of the three girls, including Ibella, flashed fiercely, Noah raised his hand..

“Oh, can I add a word too??”

“Of course. what?”

“Apart from dealing with the Lord of the Abyss, I think I should go to the Southern Desert once..”

“desert? suddenly?”

Unlike the others with puzzled expressions, Ulan silently nodded. Because he meant that he had a reason to say this..

“I guess there are special circumstances.”

“yes. I have to go through the eighth hero's trial given to me, and I'm a bit concerned about Asteban's last words..”

Just before being annihilated by the deity of the stars.

Asteban called Dilia and Perticia Artina and Einer, respectively..

Noah explained this to the party, and the party reacted similarly when they learned what was going on..

“Hearing it makes me suspicious.”

“I know. Is there any connection between the Lord of the Abyss and the founder of Arpen??”

“I'm going to find out.”

Noah answered calmly..

Above all else, this was not the only reason to go to the desert..

‘I also care that the architecture of the Undead Palace and the Desert Church are similar..’

There must be some reason.

Noah's eyes flashed at the feeling that it would be an important clue to dealing with the abyss..

Meanwhile, when the story of the desert was over, Dillia nodded as if agreeing with Noah's words..

“On winter break, what to do, it's decided.”

To go to the desert, it takes a good two months. For this, it would be better to take advantage of the winter vacation that will begin soon..

By the time everyone else agreed.

Suddenly, Ibella tilted her head..

“But in order to do that, Ulan has to avoid failing the final exam.?”

“……ah.”

I heard and saw it.

Dillia looked at Ulan with worried eyes. she was natural Ulan received a failing grade in the first semester and was classified as a re-exam..

Ulan, on the other hand, was confident..

“Okay. I'll pass this time.”

“no, that's a bit…….”

“I can't believe no matter how much Ulan.”

Two girls shaking their heads in unison.

At the reaction that it was much harder to believe than the secret that Ulan revealed earlier, the other party who watched the conversation of the three burst into laughter..

some time after that.

Ulan and his party continued to bloom various stories. After learning the secret of Ulan and Noah, it's because there were so many stories to share..

A story that never ends even when the sun goes down and night falls. The long conversation came to an end when the dark sky gradually brightened..

It was when the morning of farewell came.

interlude. return

1.

next morning.

It was just early dawn, but Murka's hotel was in full swing with a bustling atmosphere..

guys in a hurry.

Armed with silver armor and shields, they were none other than the Holy Knights of Eloden..

“Don't procrastinate, hurry up!”

“We have to reach the next city by evening!”

The reason the paladins prepared to leave so suddenly was because Laurea said she would return to the Holy Land today..

Meanwhile around that time.

Among the Paladins, there was one person who did not suit them. It was Sven Isaac, a catman hunter with a hood deeply pressed down..

“…….”

As if he was thinking of leaving with them, he was mingling with the paladins. At that time, Ulan suddenly spoke to me..

“Surprisingly anyway.”

“Yes? what?”

“I thought you'd go back to Schulfern.”

This was a reasonable guess.

To Sven, Milena is like family. So, of course, she assumed that she would follow Milena back to Schulfern..

But Sven made an unexpected decision..

He chose the path to the Holy Land following Laurea and the Holy Knights. To this question, Sven shrugged his shoulders and answered..

“Because I was officially hired..”

As the saying goes, Sven accepted Laurea's request and was hired by her as a mercenary..

Sven had several reasons for making this decision..

“There is no reason to be in Schulfern again..”

In the course of the battle with Asteban, the lord of the undead, the eastern jungle adjacent to Sulfern literally turned into a mess..

It was the result of Dillia pouring all kinds of bombing magic to get rid of Asteban's Labyrinth, which might be hidden..

“Sulfern will be safe now.”

The disappearance of the jungle means that the monster's habitat has also disappeared. In other words, from now on Sulfern will not have to suffer from the attacks of the demons..

However, this means that the reason for Sven, the beast hunter, to remain, naturally disappeared. So Sven was not going back to Sulfern..

“Besides, since they paid me well, I have no reason to refuse..”

Laurea wanted to hire Sven until the threat of the abyss was completely gone..

Not knowing how long it would take to reach her goal, she handed over a large sum of gold coins as a reward..

It was an amount sufficient to pay consolation money to the bereaved families of fallen soldiers and to help rebuild the ruined Sulpern..

‘and…….’

one more. there was a reason.

his personal goals. Sven clenched his fists as he gazed at the location of the Holy Knights..

‘I want to become stronger.’

Due to this battle, Sven desperately realized how much he lacked. It was the result of being stimulated by watching Ulan, Ian, and Cadel..

So, I was thinking of going to Seongguk and focusing on training in earnest. Coincidentally, there were two opponents suitable for training..

“Anyway, that's all.”

After those words, Sven made it clear why he was heading to the Holy Land. But Ulan still looked at him with concerned eyes..

“are you really okay?”

“what else?”

“Seongguk rejects sub-species, doesn't it?.”

As Ulan said, Seongguk does not recognize subhumans as human beings. I just think of them as beings that are one level lower than humans..

If you go to such a place, there will definitely be noise. So Ulan made a concerned expression, but Sven didn't care..

“I don't really care. Being hated by humans has been familiar since ancient times.”

“no, that won't happen.”

However, someone intruded on the conversation..

It was Ian Marcus, a paladin who was in charge of escorting Saint Laurea and one of the warriors..

“He's a mercenary hired directly by the saintess. He is also a star warrior mentioned in the oracle, so the situation you are concerned about will not happen..”

“I'm glad.”

then it's safe.

Ulan nodded silently. It was the moment when the last worries disappeared.

By the time the conversation was over.

Suddenly, the paladins called Ian..

“Sir Marcus!”

“wait can you help us?”

“Oh, I got permission from the saintess in advance, so don't think about running away..”

On the other hand, Ian made a puzzled expression..

It was because preparations for departure had already ended, and there was nothing he could do to help. Then, suddenly, someone came into sight..

“saintess?”

It was Laurea..

She looked back and forth between Ulan and Ian, then waved her hand at Ian..

familiar hand gestures. It means to leave for a moment. Watching this scene, Ian quickly realized what Laurea was really thinking..

“Alas, that was your purpose.”

She wanted to be alone with Ulan..

Coincidentally, the other girls who had always been around Ulan were also absent as they were preparing to depart, so it would be the best condition to say goodbye..

Ian nodded happily..

“yes, i'd be happy to help.”

Understanding the situation, Ian nodded happily. After that, he grabbed Sven's arm, who was at a distance, and walked together..

“Wait, why are you taking me??”

“From now on, you are our hired mercenary. Shouldn't you pay for the meal??”

Of course, to create a situation where Laurea is alone with Ulan, she must also take Sven with her..

As the two warriors disappeared, Laurea, who had been watching them from afar, moved as if she had waited..

To Ulan who became alone.

2.

“Ulan.”

A low voice suddenly heard.

It's Laurea's voice..

Wearing a pure white robe that symbolizes a holy woman, she soon approached Ulan, narrowing the distance to about three steps..

“It's time to part.”

“so it happened.”

“I have no regrets because I played to my heart's content the other day, but I still feel a bit sad about leaving..”

After answering, she sighed..

On the other hand, the complexion was not very dark..

Although the moment of farewell is regrettable, I know that we will see each other again sooner or later. But apart from this, there was something I wanted to hear..

“hum hum!”

Immediately after a brief clearing of the cough.

Laurea spoke softly..

“……how about ulan?”

“what?”

“I don't regret breaking up with you?”

“I'm not particularly sorry.”

what's up?

At the unexpected answer, Laurea lit a double wick in her eyes. However, it was too early to complain. Ulan's words aren't over yet.

“Our relationship is not light enough to change our relationship even if we are separated for a while..”

The two are comrades bound by the fate of being warriors.

I didn't feel sad because I knew that we were only falling for each other's work, and that we would meet again soon..

Meanwhile, after completing his answer.

Laurea had a slightly subtle expression..

“Well, it's not exactly wrong…….”

But if you ask me if this is the answer I wanted to hear, it wasn't. So Laurea pursed her lips in displeasure..

but for a while.

she burst into laughter.

“I'll see you this time though. Ulan got a gift that she likes.”

After answering, Laurea ran a hand through her hair. Then, on his ear, which was revealed, was the earring that Ulan had gifted him the other day..

“Then stay healthy until we meet again.”

“yes, take care of yourself.”

After a simple goodbye.

The two men and women turned their bodies.

Because each place to return to is different. But not long after, Ulan suddenly stopped in place..

“laurea?”

It was because I felt the presence.

Laurea, who was about to head to the place where the Holy Knights were, turned around and came this way..

then.

Laurea murmured in a whisper..

“……I can't go on like this.”

what's wrong?

The moment Ulan tried to ask back with a puzzled face, he suddenly felt a soft touch behind his back..

Laurea, who closed the gap before she knew it, hugged Ulan from behind. Her sudden behavior did not stop there..

“stay still.”

Standing on tiptoe, Laurea grabbed Ulan's arm and forced him to bend over..

At that moment.

I felt a warm breath on my neck, and I felt something moist touch me..

It was Laurea's lips..

“Hi-Hi.”

some time after that.

With a whisper of laughter, Laurea took a step back..

ruddy cheeks.

Having achieved her goal of kissing Ulan's neck, she smiled in satisfaction..

“I kinda like it now.”

She smiles shyly.

On the other hand, at the time when Ulan made a puzzled expression at the sudden situation.

Took!

There was the sound of something falling not far away. A backpack that rolls across the floor. And beside them were familiar girls.

“you, you you……!”

Ibela and Dillia, Perticia.

The three girls packed up and came out, and when they witnessed the moment Laurea kissed Ulan on the neck, they all wrinkled their faces..

“what are you doing now?!”

Dillia, who opened her eyes, shouted as if to argue, and Laurea replied with a natural face..

“huh? I left a kiss mark?”

“So why did you do that?!”

“that's right…….”

Laurea muttered..

It wasn't because I was speechless or embarrassed..

I was just thinking about which one to draw out of the answers I had already decided..

After some time, she made her choice.

Not to fake your current feelings.

I tried to get this feeling that came out of my heart out of my mouth. So I moved my lips with a shy smile.

“I came to like it too.”

The faces of the three girls hardened..

It was an answer that did not mention a specific target, but it was because they noticed it all. Who is Laurea talking about?.

The three girls glared at Laurea with strong wary eyes. Laurea did not avoid the eyes of the three and stood up to them..

When tension was high.

Ian, who had been away for a while, came to Laurea's side..

“Holy lady, slowly…….”

It was to announce that the preparations for the departure of the Holy Knights were over. But at that moment, Ian stopped in place as if he sensed something strange..

“……But why is the atmosphere like this?”

A chilly atmosphere as if cold water had been poured on it. Around the time I rolled my eyes at the sudden change, the answer came back..

“No big deal. More than that, I'm ready?”

“Yes, you can leave anytime.”

“good. let's move right away.”

Laurea nodded..

Then, Ian left his seat for a while to convey the news of the departure, and Laurea waved at Ulan with a smile..

“then see you later.”

After a short goodbye.

Suddenly, she reached out a finger and tapped her plump lips. Then she whispered with a strange smile.

“At that time, I will do it elsewhere, not on the neck..”

“……!?”

A word that sounds like a declaration of war.

The faces of the three girls hardened like stone..

“Ooh, don't be funny!”

“never, ever, ever.”

“Now you are off limits!”

The trio running amok with angry faces.

Laurea, on the other hand, turned away without replying. Saying good-bye, as if there's nothing more to say now that you've finished talking.

“get on a horse!”

“return to the kingdom!”

Afterwards, the call of the Holy Knights was used as a signal..

The party, including Laurea, Ian, and Sven set out for the south of Murka..

As I stared at the back of me, who was gradually moving away from me, a familiar voice tapped my ear..

“phew, i'm gone.”

It was Noah who had been away for a while..

Approaching Ulan's side, she immediately asked a question similar to the one Ian asked, as if she felt a strange atmosphere..

“……What's the mood like??”

“I don't know either..”

can't you know.

Looking at the three girls' expressions, it's obvious that it's related to Ulan. Noah, who looked around her as if observing, opened her eyes wide..

because they found the cause.

“ah.”

A kiss mark left on Ulan's neck.

It was a clue that I could fully understand why the atmosphere was like this. Knowing the situation, Noah shut her mouth tightly..

Then Ulan asked a question.

“Rather, the carriage to the flute?”

The reason Noah was away for a while was to find a wagon heading to Flute..

First of all, after moving to Flute, which was the original school trip destination, I thought of finding a way to return to Arsene Academy from there..

Meanwhile, at Ulan's question, Noah nodded happily as if not to worry..

“I just found it. We agreed to meet at the north gate, so you can leave right now..”

“good. then let's go.”

Ulan immediately turned around..

With Laurea and the Holy Knights gone, there was no reason to stay here anymore..

So, the party moved to get into the carriage Noah had mentioned. It was to embark on a journey toward Arsene Academy..