The Academy's Barbarian-Chapter 253
57page. tail to tail (1)
1.
Southern part of the Ruben Empire.
A man walked out of the training ground at Count Deorg's castle. The man who had just finished swordsmanship training muttered with a slightly disapproving face..
“After all, there is a limit to being alone.”
istan el deorg.
One of the Five Swords of the Empire and the ruler of this castle. He pursed his lips as he recalled the wall blocking his way..
“If we can stick together again…….”
I think I might be able to cross the wall.
Istan sighed quietly, recalling the person who had helped him escape the ashes syndrome he had been suffering from for so long..
A genius with crazy talent enough to defeat Istan at the age of 17. It was Arsene Academy's Ulaanbaatar..
‘Shall I go and ask.’
Suddenly, I even thought about it.
It was around the time when I was thinking until the drops of sweat running down my heated body cooled down. Suddenly a sound interrupted his thoughts..
rustling!
sound of leaves shaking.
With a deliberately created presence, a familiar voice tapped in my ear..
“Your Excellency Count.”
One of Istan's henchmen.
He is an informant that he raised himself. Moments later, the vassal appeared silently like smoke, knelt down on his knees and bowed his head respectfully..
“This is the Crow Brigade's report..”
The Crow Brigade is a unit composed of heretics who have been abandoned by the Desert Church and have nowhere to go. Istan is a spy organization created over a decade.
Meanwhile, Istan's eyes flashed fiercely at the report that followed. As far as he knows, the Crow Brigade currently has only one mission..
‘Sirpi Rudric.’
One of the candidates for the successor of the Desert Church who hid his identity and secretly entered Arsene Academy..
Istan, who discovered her identity, obtained information from the imperial aristocrat who supported her instead of guaranteeing Syrpi's safety..
Demuel Ron Dermore.
Commonly known as the Earl of Dermore.
In response, Istan led the Crow Brigade to find evidence of contact between Demuel and the pagans. And the report had just arrived..
“Did you get the right evidence??”
“yes, here it is.”
After answering politely, the confidant took out a crystal ball from his pocket and handed it to him. It was a video recording device mainly used by the Crow Brigade..
ugh ugh!
Afterwards, when magic was injected, the video recorded in the crystal ball was played. It was a video of Count Dermore meeting someone and having a conversation..
“that guy…….”
Opponent is a wizard wearing a gray robe.
He gave some items to Count Dermore and then disappeared. And the video recorded in the crystal ball also ended there..
After a while, the crystal ball lost its light and Istan turned his gaze back to his henchman..
“Is this all the video?”
“That's right. However, there were additional reports from crows regarding the content of the video..”
“what kind of content?”
“It is said that they tracked down the mage who came into contact with the target and figured out its identity. but…….”
A vassal with a dark complexion and slurred speech.
He immediately shook his head..
“It is said that he was not a heretic.”
Istan's eyebrows twitched..
Could it be that I was fooling around?
No, it can't be. If the mission had failed, I wouldn't have bothered to report it. And, as expected, the henchmen continued to speak..
“He was an abyss worshiper.”
“……what?”
Istan asked blankly..
It is because of the surprise of the unexpected existence. Meanwhile, the confidant, who knew this fact in advance, continued to report in a high and low voice..
“We also have solid evidence.”
After a while, he pulled out and showed someone's head.
It was the head of the wizard who met Count Dermore in the video recorded in the crystal ball..
“Marks representing the Abyssal Worshipers were also found on its body. The evidence is kept by us..”
Absolute proof.
Meanwhile, Istan let out a laugh. It was because I couldn't believe the current situation easily..
“From cultists to abyss worshipers…….”
Demuel Ron Dermore.
what the hell are you doing?
In an incomprehensible situation, all sorts of questions swirled like a whirlpool..
‘I'm sure it's a felony.’
Even conspiring with a heretic to get Syrpi Rudric into the academy is a felony..
But is this also related to the Abyssal Worshipers? It was a crime to the extent that they felt that it would not be enough to confiscate their title immediately and destroy their clan..
‘but…….’
I couldn't complain right away.
Because the Earl of Dermore was one of the figures who made considerable contributions during the time when the next emperor, Chartrand, caused a rebellion..
According to rumors, it would not be strange to be called Chartrand's closest aide..
‘If you rush to accuse Earl Dermore in this situation, there is a possibility that you will end up in a corner..’
Of course, Istan had solid evidence, but that didn't convince Chartrand to take his side..
It's also a blasphemous rumor, but there was also information that Chartrand's behavior was strange recently..
‘how to do?’
A situation where you should not act hastily even if you have secured clear evidence. So while I was thinking about my future work, my confidant spoke to me again..
“And apart from the Crow Brigade's mission, I have one more report for you..”
with a somewhat firm expression.
The servant reported in a whisper.
“……The desert has been bad lately.”
A swarm of demonic beasts that has increased noticeably and rapidly.
And the pagans who were scattered all over the desert are gathering in one place..
The point of concern here is that the place where the pagans gather is not the base of the Desert Church, but the center of the desert..
“What was in the center of the desert?”
“Nothing. It is said that there was a huge oasis in the distant past, but it is said that it is now completely dry and no trace can be found..”
Pagans congregate where there is nothing.
Even a swarm of monsters that are much larger than usual.
Istan's eyes were cold like ice at the news of the desert he hadn't heard in a long time..
“Certainly suspicious.”
“Yes, if you lend me the Crow Brigade, I'll dig up some more information..”
“good night. not allowed.”
Now that Count Dermore has evidence of contact with the Abyss Cultists, it is no longer necessary to assign surveillance personnel to him..
Also, even if they obtained evidence of colluding with the heretics, they couldn't accuse them right away. That's why Istan allowed the use of the Crow Brigade..
“I follow Your Excellency's orders..”
Honestly bowing his head, the henchman disappeared with the sound of rustling leaves, just as he did when he first appeared..
“…….”
Being alone, Istan had a complicated mind..
But the trouble didn't last long.
I came up with a way to solve Count Dermore's ulterior motives and the reason why the pagans are showing suspicious movements at once..
“I'll have to see you again.”
Her eyes, which had turned cool, gazed intently at the northwest sky. The place where Cyrpi Rudric is. That was the direction of Arsene Academy..
2.
Seasons that pass and change.
It was about the beginning of autumn when I left for the school trip, but I couldn't find autumn where Ulan and the others were..
“Whoa.”
Cloudy breath came out of Noah's mouth..
Noah closed the half-open window in the chilling cold. After that, I leaned against the inner wall of the carriage and recalled the journey so far..
‘It's already been more than half a month.’
After parting with Laurea in Murka.
Ulan and his party rode on a wagon saved by Noah and arrived at Flute in the Kingdom of Endrak..
Afterwards, after finishing the report on the incident, he embarked on a journey back to Arsene Academy with the support of Flume Academy..
‘It was good until here.’
the problem was then.
The path to the academy disappeared due to the aftermath of a large-scale raid by demon beasts. So I had no choice but to take a detour..
‘Originally, it was more than enough to arrive within a week, but it took more than 15 days..’
As a result, the arrival was later than expected..
If there had been a horsepower driven train, it wouldn't have been so late, but unfortunately the train was completely destroyed and turned into scrap metal..
Noah sighed silently..
‘What was lucky…….’
The fact that the moment I entered the Duchy of Arpen, the hometown of Dillia, I received the support of the royal family..
Thanks to this, the party stayed in the castle for two days to relieve their fatigue. In addition, wagons and escorts to the academy were supported..
By the time I finished thinking like that.
“princess.”
“arrived at the campsite.”
The voices of soldiers were heard from the coachman's seat..
With the reason that it is difficult to move on because the day is completely dark. Upon their report, Ulan and his party got off the wagon and headed for the barracks..
“You can stay here today.”
“Then please rest in peace.”
The inside of the barracks was wider than expected.
The space was also divided into two. It must have taken care to separate men and women so that they could rest..
As the soldiers left the barracks after saluting, Ibella and Perticia jumped into the soft blanket as if they had been waiting..
“ha, comfortable.”
“I think I'm going to buy some now.”
Maybe it's because I've been sitting on a hard chair all day, and I'm happy with the futon today..
After a while, after a simple meal.
The party gathered in one place and bloomed stories that could not be shared in the carriage. Then, suddenly, something caught Ibella's attention..
“what? that…….”
The scenery outside the barracks.
A whitish thing could be seen through the pitch-black darkness of the night. After a while, realizing what it was, she opened her eyes wide..
“what? I hope it snows now?”
“oh! Really! cool.”
As the saying goes, the campground was blown by strong snow. With more than a month left before the snow would fall, the party looked amazed..
Except for one thing, Dillia..
“In this area, the land is quite high, so it snows earlier than in other places..”
A sight familiar to her who grew up in Arpen, famous for its mountain kingdom. So, Dillia added an explanation in a non-trivial tone..
“Maybe, if it was only 15 days later, the snow would have piled up, and I would have had to take a detour by another road.?”
“I'm glad I'm not late.”
Ulan muttered in relief..
If that was the case, I would have been able to arrive at Arsene Academy around the start of winter vacation with a little bit of exaggeration..
Around the time I gazed at the snowy landscape, Ulan licked his lips again..
“Anyway, is it already November??”
It was even the Saturday of the last week.
It was early October when I left the academy for a school trip, so if I set aside enough time, it's almost two months..
“When I go back, the final exams will start..”
“huh? no. won't start right away?”
“that's right. According to the academic calendar, the exam period will start in 15 days from now..”
Ibella and Dillia shook their heads..
However, I couldn't be relieved just because there was still time left. Because the time of 15 days was not that much.
Above all, Ulan and his party returned much later than the other students, so they were at a disadvantage in taking the exam..
“that is…….”
“The failure will be confirmed this time too?”
Eyes glowing with gold and turquoise.
Dillia and Ibela looked at Ulan without asking anyone first. Ulan, realizing the meaning of their gaze, immediately denied the two of them..
“I do not know yet.”
“The only thing you don't know is probably Ulan.”
“I want to side with Ulan, but I think he's right this time..”
The two girls who always blindly supported Ulan, but this time it was different. It's because she knew the truth about Ulan very well..
“Rather, what would you do if you failed again this time??”
“that's right. You said you were going to the desert.”
The next goal of the warriors is to follow the clue Noah said and head to the southern desert..
However, it took quite a bit of time, so I decided to move when the winter vacation started. But for that to happen, Ulan must avoid failure..
On the other hand, contrary to the party's concerns, Ulan replied with a tone that said it was not a big deal..
“It's simple. If you don't get a failing grade, all problems are solved..”
“Actually that's the best…….”
“For now, it's close to impossible..”
1At the time of the final exam of the semester, the group sighed when they recalled Ulan's disastrous grades..
‘Of course, there is no way.’
If it doesn't work out, it's enough to sneak out like I did with Dillia during summer vacation..
My duty as a student is important, but blocking the abyss is more important than that..
On the other hand, whether aware of the party's concerns or not, Ulan burned his determination alone..
“I will definitely pass this time.”
It is a resolution hot enough to melt the cold snow. Of course no one believed this.
some time after that.
The night at the campsite passed quickly..
Eventually, when the morning dawned, the snow that had fallen all night had stopped. Not much had accumulated on the floor, so the soldiers hurriedly prepared for departure..
“Then I'll move.”
Starting with the soldier's report, the wagon carrying Ulan's party once again ran to its destination..
how long has it been like that?
As the sun poked its head out from the horizon and rose in the middle of the sky, soldiers' voices were heard from the coachman's seat..
“princess.”
“see destination.”
The report I heard as soon as I crossed the hill.
Ibela and Perticia muttered in unison at the sight that spread out of the window..
“It's nice to see you after a long time.”
“that's right. Really.”
“I am of the same opinion.”
Ulan also nodded..
Buildings visible down the hill in the distance. It was Arsene Academy that I saw again in two months..
Comments