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The Academy's Barbarian-Chapter 276

60page. road to the desert (3)

6.

Letter from Istan el Deorg.

The beginning of the letter goes like this.

『By the time you are reading this letter, I will probably be on the southern front. So write down what you want to say and send it by letter.』

Like Istan, who hates useless samurai, the letter went straight to the point..

『To put it bluntly, I do not recommend crossing the southern front at this time. The reason is because of the summoning order from the imperial castle..』

Convocation order of Crown Prince Chartrand.

Accordingly, the masters of the empire and the wizards of the Mage Tower are currently gathered on the southern front..

In particular, Limer Yen Lapidis, the eastern lightsaber that Ulan raided to kidnap Perticia, is said to have arrived at the front after recovering..

‘this could be a bit risky…….’

Noah's complexion darkened..

Ulan, of course, said he did not reveal his identity when he kidnapped Perticia..

However, the masters have a very good sense of touch. So, for the sake of the odds, it would be better not to meet..

‘I need to come up with a plan.’

Avoid running into Limer as much as possible..

Noah's eyes twinkled at the thought..

However, this was just a whim. Because Istan had prepared the countermeasures first..

『So I made a detour. I've prepared all the supplies I mentioned last time there, so I hope it's helpful..』

The contents of the letter ended like that.

At the bottom of the letter, attached was a map of the entire southern front..

The detour marked by Istan is at the eastern end of the southern front. Along with the road to the desert, it is the border border with the Principality of Arpen.

“what?”

and the moment I saw it.

Ibella widened her eyes. As if she realized something belatedly.

“Wait a minute, this is definitely…….”

“It's the place we promised to meet with Tisha..”

Dillia's eyes narrowed too..

It was because the detour provided by Istan and the meeting place with Perticia were very close..

I don't know if this was a coincidence or if Istan intended it, but that wasn't the point right now..

“So how do you do it?”

Heading to the desert through the southern front?.

Or follow Istan's advice and take a detour to the desert. Seeing Dillia ask for a choice, Ulan immediately gave an answer..

“You'd better follow the advice.”

“that's right. In a situation like this, it would be better not to do anything that would stand out..”

“yes i agree.”

From Ulan and Noah to Ybela.

The opinion was soon unanimous..

Instead of going to the southern front, I decided to go to the desert through the detour prepared by Istan..

By the time the decision was made.

“Now, when the conversation is over, let's get up soon. They say dinner is ready.”

At Idelin's words, Ulan's party immediately followed her to the restaurant..

To enjoy a dinner that will probably be our last delicacy until we return..

7.

some time after that.

After the dinner, Ulan and the others continued to have various conversations with Idelin..

From what happened at the academy to what happened on the school trip. As the night grew deeper, this Delrin glanced at her watch..

“Oh my, when is the time like this…….”

It's just before midnight.

Idelin, who opened her eyes wide, looked back at the party and slightly lowered her head..

“I'm sorry. It seems that the guest came after a long time, so I was a little excited and kept it for a long time..”

“no. are you okay.”

“Then please, get some rest. Oh, I've prepared bath water, so feel free to use it..”

“yes thank you for your consideration.”

Immediately after realizing that it was late, Idelin immediately ended the conversation. In response, Noah moved her steps in the direction of her bathroom..

To go to bed feeling refreshed after soaking in warm water. But not everyone thought like Noah..

“what? Ibella?”

Right now, even Ibella moved to the backyard of the mansion, in the exact opposite direction from the bathroom. In response, Noah asked with a puzzled look on her face..

“I'm not going to wash?”

“Yeah, I'll wash up later. Maybe it's because I ate too much earlier, my stomach is bloated..”

Isabella smiles awkwardly.

Judging from her usual stomach, she didn't look like she had overeat that much, but Noah didn't bother to ask why..

‘Maybe you want to have a little more conversation with your mother, whom you met after a long time..’

So let's not get in the way.

Noah nodded silently..

Then I looked around again. To find a party to go to the bathroom with. Soon after that, I was able to find a companion..

“Let's go wash up together.”

It was Dillia..

Noah nodded and headed to the bathroom with her. Because two are better than alone.

Meanwhile around that time.

After coming out to the backyard, Ibella headed north along the forest path. Eventually, she arrived at a training ground with a fairly large area..

It was the exclusive training ground for Count Deorg. Past her guards and perched in the center of her training ground, she grabbed her wooden sword..

“woo woo.”

After breathing in deeply,.

She swung her sword fiercely..

Hung! whoops!

A sword that cuts through the air.

Like this, Ibela would always swing her sword whenever she was in trouble. Then, for some reason, she felt that her mood was calming down..

‘but…….’

For some reason, today was different from usual.

It must be because her troubles are not small enough or light enough to shake off a sword..

Maybe that's why Ibella's sword cut through the air faster and more ferociously. It was to forget the thought itself of her troubles..

then.

“Ibella.”

Ibela almost dropped her sword at the sudden voice calling her name..

It's because I didn't feel anything.

But for a moment, Ibella smiled as if she realized who the owner of the voice was..

“Ah, Ulan.”

Ulan, a barbarian youth who appeared in the corner of the training ground covered in shadows.

Arriving here, avoiding the eyes of the guards, he immediately asked Ibella a question..

“Do you have any concerns?”

“oh no nothing special.”

Ibella shook her head..

A very innocent expression. From the outside, it's a face that doesn't really have any worries..

“Rather, what's going on here??”

“I came here because I heard the sound of a sword swinging..”

“……I heard this sound reached the mansion?”

“Exactly what Sven said.”

Well, if it's Sven, it's possible..

If you're a Catman hunter who's good at tracking and guarding, you'll be able to hear the sound of a sword swing even from this distance..

So when I silently nodded.

“Ibella.”

Ulan called her name again..

He continued to speak in a calm tone, making eye contact with his turquoise eyes..

“Do you remember when we had competitions??”

“huh? If the selection…….”

“I'm talking about when he was threatened by Himel Deorg and was about to withdraw from the match..”

yes of course i remember.

The world surrounding Ibella has completely changed since the incident at that time..

Ulan turned Himel into a mule, which led Istan to visit the academy..

‘and…….’

After that day, Uhlan's intervention improved relations between Ibela and Istan only slightly..

Countess Deorg, who had been harassing Ibela and Idelin, was put on trial and expelled from the estate, and Idelin became the new Countess..

When he quietly reminisced about the past, Ulan continued to speak calmly..

“You said you were fine at the time, but you couldn't hide the grip on the sword..”

crimson eyes moving.

Ulan's gaze soon reached the hilt that Ybela was holding onto..

“like right now.”

“……ah.”

Isabella making a sorry expression.

In fact, she knew too. When she says something she doesn't mean or when she tells a lie, she has a habit of holding on to her sword like this..

“Ha ha, you can't fool Ulan either.”

After being foolishly seen through.

She sighed softly. Ulan's words followed immediately..

“Let me know if you have any concerns. Even if I can't solve it, I can listen to you.”

“……I'm worried.”

Of course there is.

If there were no worries, there would be no reason to come to a place like this alone and wield a sword..

‘but the problem is…….’

The fact that there is not one problem.

So Ibella came up with the two biggest concerns among them. First of all, the first worry started with the appearance of Sven..

‘To be precise, it started when Sven revealed that he had passed the hero's ordeal..’

So far, a total of four people have passed the ordeal. The majority of the seven warriors have already passed the hero's ordeal..

All that's left is Ybela, Laurea, and Ian..

Is that why? This Bella felt that her heart was getting nervous for some reason at her current situation..

‘Of course, if you look at it this way, you can see that there are still three people left.…….’

Laurea and Ian are different from Ybela.

Although they were the same in that they hadn't gone through the ordeal yet, it was because the two had the strength of being saints and master paladins, respectively..

On the other hand, Ibella is an expert.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the weakest among the heroes. In other words, the first concern was the feeling of being left behind compared to other warriors..

‘but i don't want to say this.’

I didn't want to show weakness, at least to Ulan. She wanted to stand by him confidently by working hard and becoming stronger..

That's why I decided to reveal the second worry, not the first one. In response, Bella pursed her lips with her deep breath..

“Actually, my concern is about Sirpie..”

“Sirpi Rudric?”

“Yeah, I don't know how to treat you.”

Isabella's second worry.

It's that after learning the identity of Syrpy, I don't know how to treat her..

Of course, now I know that Syrpie is more of an ally, but I'm still in a state of awkwardness, perhaps because of the scuffle..

“So I was just a little confused.”

Ibela summed up her troubles like that.

Meanwhile, right after she finished answering, Ulan said as if it wasn't a big deal..

“no need to worry about that.”

“uh? What are you talking about?”

“'Cause all relationships change.”

Ulan calmly replies.

He immediately said something meaningful..

“Just like our first meeting in our last life wasn't so good.”

“Yes? first meet?”

Ibela's eyes lit up with curiosity..

It was a natural reaction. Ulan remembers little of her past life story,.

So I looked at him with a mix of interest, curiosity, and anticipation and asked..

“How was our first meeting?”

“We got into a fight in a bar.”

“……what?”

Ibella asked blankly..

It came back with a completely different answer than I expected. Meanwhile, Ulan reminisced about the time and continued the story..

“Perhaps the trigger was a minor disagreement. Anyway, maybe it was when both of them were full of blood, so they fought without hesitation..”

“Lord, fist fight? me and ulan?”

“okay. At the time, we had a different weight class, so I had a bit more advantage in physical fights..”

No, I don't think it's a little bit..

Ibella put on an absurd expression as if to say that. On the other hand, Ulan continued to explain the situation in a non-trivial tone..

“Maybe that's why, when the fight was nearing its end, you drew your sword and attacked.”

“me really? that i did?”

“To be precise, you are the one from the past life.”

Seeing Ybela's surprised question, Ulan corrected her answer. As if it wasn't to blame for this Bella in the present who doesn't remember her past life..

Meanwhile, is it because of the fact that he drew his sword in a fist fight due to a disagreement? This Bella gently lowered her head in disdain..

“Sorry. I'll apologize instead.”

“No, I have nothing to apologize for..”

“but…….”

“'Cause I hit you over the head with a chair too.”

“……Eh?”

Ibella blankly blinking.

As before, Ulan's answers were always far beyond expectations. While this Bella looked dazed, Ulan finished her story..

“Anyway, our quarrel ended when you passed out. And it was only natural that the relationship between the two of us became extremely bad after that..”

But it hasn't been bad forever.

At that time, Ulan and Ibela met several times on the battlefield, and their relationship gradually improved as they crossed numerous lines of fire together..

“We, who were enemies like that, became comrades who could trust and entrust each other's backs..”

It wasn't just Ibella..

It was like that when I first met Dillia, and it was like that when I first met Laurea..

With the exception of Perticia, who was kind to everyone, Ulan generally had trouble with the warriors. But as time passed, the relationship changed..

“So, relationships are bound to change. So don't worry too seriously.”

“…….”

After Ulan's story is over.

Ibella fell silent in thought..

It was because he seemed to know what Ulan was trying to say. After a while, she opened her mouth with a soft smile..

“thank you. I feel a bit organized.”

“Good luck then.”

Ulan grinned..

As if I'm glad that my worries have been resolved.

In the meantime, Ibela, who had a refreshing expression, looked back at Ulan as if she had suddenly remembered something..

“Oh, by the way.”

“hmm?”

“Is there anything particularly memorable about you in your past life when you were with me??”

“It's memorable…….”

“No fist fights.”

Excluding things related to the abyss.

I was curious about the most memorable things that happened between him and Ulan..

Looking at Ybela, whose eyes were shining brightly, Ulan searched for memories of his past life. Then she had an idea.

“Come to think of it, before we parted after the war, there was a time when we had a drink together..”

Relationships forged on the battlefield are bound to disappear after the war..

For some reason, the two of them tilted their glasses and drank until the memory was cut off half way..

“Then I opened my eyes after the sun rose in the middle of the sky, but unfortunately we were in the same bed..”

“Go, same bed?!”

“okay. Probably stayed until the bar's business hours were over, and that wasn't enough, so I took a room and drank..”

But nothing special happened.

She wasn't even taking off her clothes in the first place, and Ibella was asleep with even the mask she always wore..

“After that, we barely came back to our senses and were exchanging goodbyes, but just before we left the room, a simultaneous request came in for both of us..”

The name of the client is Dillia Arpen.

The content of the request was an escort mission..

Ulan, remembering what happened at the time, was about to continue the story.

“wait a minute!”

Ibella abruptly interrupted the conversation..

Then, for some reason, with a flushed face, he asked to change the subject of the conversation..

“That's what I was talking about earlier. I want to hear more about the story that happened in the same bed after drinking.…….”

“All I do is drink and sleep.”

“Let me hear it in detail though!”

Blue-green eyes twinkling like stars.

I don't see any sign of backing down until I tell him. In response, Ulan nodded and continued the story..

Meanwhile around that time.

There were people watching these scenes from a distance from the training ground..

“Well, I guess I got it wrong.”

A Catman Hunter with a Hood Deeply Pressed.

Sven shrugged as he watched Ulan and Ybela in the distance. Then he turned to Dillia and Noah nearby..

“So can I go back now? 'Cause I don't think there's anything you're worried about.”

“…….”

On the other hand, no answer came back.

However, since he wasn't asking for an answer, Sven immediately disappeared. Then Noah let out a deep sigh..

‘How did things turn out like this?’

After taking a warm bath.

Noah and Dillia visited Ulan.

It was to discuss tomorrow's schedule. However, Ulan was not in the room, and Sven, who happened to pass by, said this..

「Ulan? I was with Ibella.?」

As soon as those words were finished, Dillia's eyes rolled over and she started stroking Sven, and that's how she came here to keep an eye on the two of them..

‘Fortunately, nothing happened.’

Ulan and Ibela were just talking, and there was no physical contact that Dillia feared..

Relieved by this, Noah looked at the place where Sven had disappeared and immediately looked back at Dillia..

“Hey, Dillia.?”

“……why?”

“I confirmed that nothing happened, so I can't go back soon?”

I feel sleepy right after washing..

So I spoke in a begging tone, but Dillia shook her head as if refusing with a single knife..

“not yet.”

“uh why?”

“Because carelessness is forbidden.”

Of course, Evela isn't as aggressive as Laurea or Perticia, but she can't be careless..

and the result.

Dillia's surveillance continued..

just didn't last long.

While talking to Ulan, I witnessed Ibella subtly leaning her head on his shoulder..

“joy! I, I thought that, okay!”

She moves as if she's been waiting.

With Dillia's intervention, the quiet training ground quickly turned into chaos. That's how the night in Count Deorg got deeper and deeper..