The Barbarian of the Academy - Chapter 302
64page. Kazan Rudric (1)
1.
desolate desert full of sand.
In this place filled with only the desolate sound of the wind blowing, a series of groups suddenly appeared from under the quicksand..
“heck, heo!”
Seven men and women covered in sand.
They were the masters of the empire who had moved to the underground of the desert in pursuit of Rudric's followers..
Just before the underground space completely collapsed in a fierce battle, they managed to come out and collapsed into their seats, breathing heavily..
“Whoa, I almost got buried.”
Theoric breathes a sigh of relief..
If they had retreated just a little too late, they would have been buried alive right in front of the ground..
He put the Barca he was supporting nearby and then turned his head..
“I lived thanks to the Earl of Dermore. If it wasn't for your magic, they'd probably all be buried inside by now..”
Because if he hadn't slowed down the sand with the magic of the earth, his escape would have been delayed and he would have been swept away and buried in quicksand..
Meanwhile, Demuel smiled awkwardly and changed the topic by glancing at Barca who was lying sideways..
“Rather, what about Sir Barca??”
“Mmm. I've lost my mind, but it's not to the extent that it's life-threatening, so don't worry.”
“Phew, that's fortunate..”
Missing Rudric's people and the heathen is not enough, so if Barca is lost, it will lead to considerable losses for the empire..
However, fortunately Barca was unharmed during the misfortune, so Demuel looked relieved..
Meanwhile around that time.
Istan still looked at the similarity with a confused expression. Then, around the time he continued his thoughts about the Ulan party he encountered underground..
There was a voice that came out of nowhere.
“Sir Deorg.”
“……hmm?”
“I have something I want to ask you.”
Limer Yen Rapidis.
She brushed the sand off her hair and flashed serious eyes..
It was with slight hostility.
“Speaking of the battle with the cultists earlier, why didn't you fight with all your might??”
“…….”
Istan kept his mouth shut..
As she said, it was because he wasn't doing his best underground. It was natural. Because the opponent was his daughter, Ybela Elead..
On the other hand, as soon as Rimmer's question was finished, Seorik burst into the conversation with a frightened expression..
“Sir Ladifis. that's so rude…….”
“No, it's an obvious fact. In fact, Sir Deorg didn't even expand his realm..”
“……what?”
Theoric's eyes widened..
Soon after, he looked back at Istan. Like he's asking if what he just heard is true.
A situation where you have to answer something.
Istan sighed inwardly, pondered for a moment, and then replied vaguely..
“It was just because there was something on my mind..”
“then tell me what it is.”
“well that's…….”
Seeing Rimer persistently questioning him, Istan shook his head, thinking of a new excuse..
At that moment.
I heard a voice helping Istan..
“let it go there.”
It was none other than Theoric..
He, like Rimmer, had some doubts at first, but now he shook his head as if he was happy..
“Sir Istan had his own thoughts, so it must not have been like that.?”
“but still can't understand…….”
“Or do you intend to claim that the man who held the southern front for decades now colluded with the heretics??”
At the ensuing question of Seoric, Rimer shut his mouth as if he was momentarily speechless..
If I answered yes here, it would be an insult to the honor and pride of Istan, which had been defending the southern part of the empire..
Then, unexpected reinforcements appeared..
“I also agree with Marquis.”
It was Demuel..
However, he did not directly defend Istan, but tried to change the topic by reminding the purpose of the group gathered here..
“Now is not the time to argue between right and wrong. Isn't the important thing right now to get back the empress candidate from the heathen??”
definitely right.
Rimer, who recalled Perticia with his words, nodded silently, putting aside the momentary question..
Conversely, unlike Limer, there was someone who had a new question, and it was Seoric..
‘Come to think of it…….’
Glancing at Rimer, he recalled the situation in which he encountered the cultists underground..
Immediately after discovering Rudric's family.
Rimer shouted at the white-haired girl the pagan was carrying..
「Pee, Perticia!」
Pertisia Ib al Ruben.
The name was familiar even to Theoric..
That's because she was the half-sister of Chartrand, the next emperor, and the hidden princess of the empire..
Up to this point, there was nothing strange about it, but the real problem came next..
‘Count Dermore's Magic Tool (魔道具)).’
The light of the crystal ball that detects the existence of the empress candidate pointed at Perticia. This meant that Pertisia was a candidate for empress..
right here the question arises.
About why the hidden princess of the empire is called an empress candidate.
‘Are you trying to hide your identity??’
In principle, Pertisia was a princess whose existence was unknown until now..
However, the doubts remained.
If he really intended to hide his identity, he would have camouflaged himself with a less conspicuous identity than the empress candidate..
‘First of all, one thing is certain…….’
Rimer must have known why Princess Perticia was called a candidate for empress. Unlike Seoric, his unperturbed evidence was.
‘I'll have to ask later.’
how the hell did this happen.
Along with these thoughts, Seoric buried a sudden question in his heart..
Around the time when everyone had different questions.
An agent belonging to the Crow Brigade, who had disappeared for a while, suddenly appeared..
“Don't worry about tracking.”
“I told the other brothers to follow where Rudrick's family was headed..”
Rudric's Retinue and the Cultists.
At the news that they were following their trail, Rimmer hurriedly rose from his seat. Demuel and Istan also stood up, supporting Barca..
“Then, join the main unit first..”
“Well, I'd love to.”
It would be better to leave the pursuit to the Crow Brigade and wait for Barca to wake up..
The way to join the main body like that.
Istan glanced at the quicksand that led underground into the desert for the last time. It was with eyes full of anxiety and a little worry..
2.
Meanwhile at that time.
Shortly after the tomb of Zarthum collapsed, Ulan and his party were able to escape the collapse thanks to an underground passage created by a viper..
But I couldn't be sure.
Because where they were, there were four masters of the empire including Istan..
So, the group moved on in a hurry..
In order to escape from any possible pursuit.
But at that moment.
[shruck! hiss!]
Suddenly, the venomous snake stopped in place..
Why did it suddenly stop after going well??
Everyone in the group looked at the viper as if they were curious. Then, Pertisia's answer came back..
“I say you can stop now.”
“what? but…….”
“If you don't hurry, the chase will come.?”
“No, the chase is already gone..”
Pertisia shook her head lightly..
According to the Venomous Snake, before entering through the passage, he created a poison pool with a strong corrosive effect near the entrance..
“Also, since the tomb has completely collapsed, it is said that they will not be able to chase it easily..”
Perticia, who interpreted the poisonous snake's words, smiled brightly. Like he said, all I could feel here was the presence of Ulan and his party..
“phew, that's nice.”
Shortly after realizing this.
Noah let out a sigh of relief. No matter how many uhlans there are, being pursued by the masters is a huge risk..
After things are settled.
The venomous snake, which had been flicking its tongue, turned around again and began to pierce the passage. Just as he and his party were about to move.
Muak suddenly spoke to me..
“Why did you break the pillar?”
His gaze turned to Ulan..
Muak frowned and said in a tone that he couldn't understand at all..
“With a little more push, I could have destroyed all of the Imperial swords..”
A voice of regret and regret.
In other words, with Ulan's skills, he could have won against the Master of the Empire, but why did he choose to run away?.
Ulan also understood what Muak had to say and shook his head..
“my purpose is not them.”
“but…….”
“Ulan is right. It's best to avoid useless fights..”
Noah spoke as if he supported Ulan..
She wasn't the only one who refuted Muak's words. Ian and Sven, who were walking silently, added a word to each other as if to help..
“Even if you neutralize another one, the rest are also vigilant opponents..”
“Above all, if we eliminate even one of them, we will become targets of the Empire. There's no reason to take that risk.”
A resolute answer that resonates in the hall.
This was also one of Noah's biggest concerns. No matter how uhlans were, if they became targets of the empire, it was clear that their future would be difficult..
‘and one more.’
On the other side is Ybela's father, Istan el Deorg..
Of course, it is no different from the Desert Church's nemesis, but that doesn't mean you can't hurt or destroy Istan in front of Ybela..
‘So you'd better run away.’
There was no need or reason to fight the masters of the empire in the first place. Meanwhile, the successive rebuttals made Muak shut his mouth as if he were speechless..
The silent atmosphere that came in an instant.
Then there was a voice that broke the silence.
“Anyway, how the hell did they know where we were??”
It is the voice of Pertisia..
It was definitely a valid question..
Of course, Ulan and his party traveled from the place where the Tower of Zhartoum is to this place through the shortcut Muak guided them to..
In other words, a situation where you can't face the Istan group. It was Muak who answered Perticia's questions..
“Probably because of the crow brigade.”
“If it is that group, surely…….”
“A unit directly under Istan El Deorg. And also a group of defectors.”
Muak inevitably grinded his teeth.
As the saying goes, the Crow Brigade is a unit composed of pagans who have been abandoned by the Church or who have voluntarily left the Church..
“They're deep in the desert. That's why it's highly likely that we somehow found and tracked the minor traces we left behind without our knowledge..”
“uh, that's kind of scary.”
Perticia made an expression of disgust..
According to Muak, it meant that as long as you were in the desert, it would be difficult to avoid their pursuit..
On the other hand, Muak's expression was unexpectedly bright..
Soon after, he explained why.
“But now there is nothing to worry about. Since Shinsoo is with us, there won't be any more being chased by them..”
“Wow, that's right! Glad then.”
Perticia laughed hysterically..
As if the anxiety had diminished. On the other hand, Noah scratched his cheek with an awkward face..
‘Rather, I think it's the opposite.…….’
Of course, the Ulan party knew in advance that the Imperial army was advancing. So I moved as carefully as possible and came here..
On the other hand, Rudric's family is different..
They left the church and came here only to fulfill their oath with their old master, Kazan. It means that there is no need or reason to notice the imperial army.
‘That's why they probably ran into us while chasing the route Rudric's people were taking..’
Noah guessed so.
However, there was nothing to be gained by revealing the truth, so he soon closed his mouth. By the time the conversation was over.
“then let's start again.”
Ulan said to the poisonous snake.
If you go up to the ground right away, you will most likely run into a group of Istans, so it was along with the words to move through the underground..
[Shureuk! shudder!]
The Venomous Snake also bobbed its head as if agreeing with Ulan's words. I tried to resume the movement, but the party had no choice but to stop again..
“Yes? dilia?”
“what's the matter? there's something wrong?”
It was because Dillia didn't move..
Dillia, who received all eyes on her body, soon revealed the reason for not moving her steps..
“I have a question.”
“uh? suddenly?”
“okay. This time, at this opportunity, I thought it would be good to definitely point out and move on, so I'm going to tell you.”
Dillia nodded calmly.
Soon she was staring at Perticia. A very serious look. Did she feel burdened by this? Perticia asked with an awkward smile..
“why? I got something on my face?”
Scared to finish her question.
Dillia pursed her lips..
“perticia.”
“……!?”
“That's, yes, that's my real name?”
The real name that suddenly came out.
And at that moment, Pertisia hardened her expression without even realizing it. The dark underground space was instantly covered with a sense of desolation..
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