Chapter 10

Chapter 4. Count Dermore

1.

Upon arriving at the Empire’s capital.

The two immediately headed to the mansion of the Dermore family. Due to their shabby appearance, they were initially turned away, but after presenting Ajuheuh’s letter, the attitude changed.

None other than Count Dermore himself came out to greet them. From then on, they were treated as honored guests of the Count.

Every day, they were provided with sumptuous feasts, warm baths, and even a soft, lightweight bed.

Noa quickly relaxed in this paradise-like comfort, even taking naps, something she rarely did before.

“Yaaawn.”

With a lazy yawn.

Noa woke up with a disheveled face.

The sky gradually turned red. It seemed she had dozed off and only woke up in the evening. Noa stretched, looking a bit groggy.

It had already been three days since they arrived.

The time spent here felt like a dream. She wished she could live here forever.

But that wasn’t possible.

“Sigh, this happiness ends tomorrow.”

The twelfth day of the twin moons.

From tomorrow morning, the entrance exams for Arsen Academy would begin. Results would be announced in the late afternoon, and until then, examinees could not leave the academy.

Once the results were announced, successful candidates would immediately move into the academy’s dormitory.

“Ugh! I want to stay longer.”

Noa hugged her pillow tightly with a gloomy face, as if she didn’t want to leave this place.

Then suddenly.

Noa’s ears perked up.

A familiar presence outside the window.

What she saw was a young man with a face as familiar as the presence she felt.

‘Ulan.’

Her companion for the past two months.

Ulan was in the middle of training at the training ground. This wasn’t just today’s occurrence. Throughout their journey here, he had never skipped his training.

And that wasn’t all.

After training, he always read books during his rest time. A life of training and studying, except for sleeping. Truly a model of diligence.

“He’s really diligent.”

Honestly, she thought he might show some laziness at least once. But rain or shine, Ulan’s daily routine never changed.

Straight and unwavering like a towering tree.

Watching him, the sense of incongruity she felt over the past two months suddenly surged.

‘It’s completely different from the game.’

In the early stages of the Chronicles of Arsen Continent.

After passing the Trial of the Hero, Ulan appears as a vigorous warrior. Impatient and always trying to solve things with brute force, the very image of a barbarian warrior.

‘But the current Ulan…’

Is calm and extremely rational.

Cautious in everything, with every action and word exuding experience. As if he had lived for decades.

Of course, he sometimes showed barbaric actions. Like mercilessly splitting the heads of bandits or monsters. But even then, Ulan remained extremely calm.

Perhaps because of the newly arisen doubts?

Noa blinked her left eye three times. Fixing her gaze on Ulan. Soon, information only she could see appeared.

━━━

[Name]: Ulan Bator

[Age]: 17

[Grade]: SS+

[Trait]: Blessing of the War God

[Characteristics]: Superhuman strength, bravery, honor, trust, unyielding belief, berserker, vitality, stubbornness, academic zeal

━━━

Since first meeting Ulan.

Two things had changed.

First, his age had changed. This was a natural change as the year passed, so it wasn’t particularly special.

The second change was the addition of the ‘Characteristics’ information. This feature unlocks when a certain level of intimacy with the other person is reached.

‘Honestly, apart from that, it’s not much different from the game.’

Except for one thing.

Academic zeal. This is a rare trait for a warrior class. Usually, it’s a characteristic of characters like mages or sages who are deeply immersed in academics.

‘Why did academic zeal suddenly appear?’

Since she could see Ulan’s characteristics, she had been pondering but couldn’t find an answer.

So, she decided to give up.

At this point, the reason wasn’t important. What was more important was utilizing this variable.

‘Ulan’s goal is to accumulate diverse knowledge and also desires academic teachings.’

So, Noa plans to teach him the knowledge he wants to know.

Like a private tutor.

In return, she plans to borrow his martial prowess. Because at the academy, there will often be situations where Ulan’s strength is needed.

‘Many events occur at the academy.’

Some of which require strong martial power to resolve.

Also, Arsen Academy is a place with numerous rewards and hidden pieces. With Ulan’s help, she can grow stronger faster.

‘And if the opportunity arises, let’s make many other comrades.’

The ultimate goal of the Chronicles of Arsen Continent.

To stop the Swamp Rulers, high-grade comrades like Ulan are needed.

‘The Sword Princess and the Star Witch were definitely from Arsen Academy, right?’

The protagonist characters, the Sword Princess and the Star Witch.

If they become comrades, certain boss strategies become much easier. It wouldn’t hurt to befriend them.

‘But the problem is…’

Noa, or rather, Yuminha, has never made a proper friend in her life.

Moreover, since she stopped attending school in high school, she even forgot how to make friends.

‘But if I work hard, it’ll work out somehow.’

So, for now, let’s maintain a good relationship with Ulan.

Provide what he wants and borrow his strength. With a firm resolve, Noa gazed intently at Ulan in the training ground.

With sparkling eyes like stars.

2.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Ulan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He felt a gaze from not far away. Soon, he locked eyes with a girl looking at him from the second-floor window of the mansion.

“……!”

A black-haired girl who quickly hid with a startled face. Remembering her face, Ulan narrowed his eyes.

‘Noa Darshen.’

From the prairie to the Empire’s capital.

A fellow traveler and classmate who had journeyed with Ulan for two months. After observing Noa for two months, Ulan judged her as follows.

‘A strange girl.’

About half a month ago.

While crossing the mountain range leading to the Empire’s capital.

Ulan and Noa had encountered a group of bandits. After subduing them, Noa suddenly suggested.

They should visit the bandits’ hideout.

When asked why, she said there might be people held captive there.

‘So, I followed her, and there really were captives.’

Among them was a merchant from a large caravan.

As a result, they received a pouch full of silver coins and enjoyed a comfortable rest at a hotel provided by the caravan.

That wasn’t all.

Suddenly entering a foggy forest to find a pouch of silver coins, or disguising as a passerby to approach and attack a pickpocket, then taking their silver coins.

‘As if she already knew what would happen.’

No wonder it was strange.

Ulan’s eyes gleamed.

‘But…’

One thing bothered him.

Noa had many secrets.

The most notable was her memory before the age of eight. There were also many other small things she hid.

Out of growing curiosity, he had bluntly asked a few times, but each time Noa hesitated with a troubled face.

So, he decided not to ask.

He didn’t sense any malice in the secrets Noa hid, and above all, she had been of great help.

‘There’s much to learn from Noa.’

Noa was very knowledgeable.

Ulan learned a lot from her. The history and culture of the Rubens Empire, etiquette, and more. Knowledge he hadn’t learned from Ajuheuh.

‘So…’

For now, he decided not to trouble Noa. Maybe she’ll tell him someday when they get closer. Like his comrades in his past life.

As he was organizing his thoughts.

He felt someone approaching. It was an elderly man neatly dressed in a black suit.

“Ulan.”

Alond, the butler of the Dermore household.

He was the one who always provided meals for Ulan and Noa. Bowing respectfully, he stated his business.

“Count Dermore has invited you to dinner tonight. If it’s not too much trouble, may I guide you?”

There was no reason to refuse.

Nodding, Ulan immediately got up. Following Alond, he headed to where Count Dermore was waiting.

3.

After leaving the training ground.

Ulan encountered a familiar face.

“Ah, Ulan.”

It was none other than Noa.

She approached, waving her hand as if happy to see him. Seeing they were heading in the same direction, it seemed she was also invited to the Count’s dinner.

Ulan silently looked at Noa, then casually spoke.

“You look like you just woke up.”

“Gasp! How did you know?”

“Your hair is messy.”

Ulan pointed to the back of his head.

Noa hurriedly tried to fix her hair. Of course, it didn’t immediately settle down.

Shortly after.

They arrived at their destination.

“Count Dermore. This is Alond. I have brought the warrior Ulan and Miss Noa.”

Alond knocked and spoke respectfully.

From behind the door, a deep voice responded.

“Bring them in.”

“Yes, as you command.”

Alond slowly opened the door.

The door swung open.

Following the carpet leading to the dining hall, their gaze shifted. Finally, they saw a man in his mid-forties they had seen three days ago.

“Welcome.”

Neatly trimmed golden hair.

Earthen brown eyes.

A man with a warm smile, one of the Empire’s grand nobles, a mage belonging to the Earth Magic Tower, and the master of this mansion.

D’muehl Ron Dermore.

Commonly known as Count Dermore.

Chapter 4. Count Dermore