Chapter 145

After the sun had fully set.

As time went on, the festival grew more lively. Naturally, the streets became packed with crowds.

Could it be because of the sudden influx of people?

The pace of the crowd started to slow down. Watching the congested main road, Laurea let out a sigh.

“Phew, it’s tough to walk with so many people around.”

A frustrated expression was evident on her face.

Ivella and Delia echoed her complaint.

“It’s definitely inconvenient.”

“Why are there so many people?”

This wasn’t just a reaction from the three of them.

Noa and Ian wore similar expressions. Just then, Laurea spoke up as if she had been waiting for that moment.

“So, how about this?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Noa replied, looking puzzled.

Laurea continued.

“Since it’s so crowded, let’s split up into smaller groups to enjoy the sights.”

“Split into groups?”

“Yep! Since there are six of us, we can pair up in twos. Just so we don’t get separated for too long, let’s limit it to one hour.”

Ivella and Delia’s eyes sparkled.

It was clear what Laurea’s ulterior motive was. But this time, they didn’t oppose it as vehemently as usual.

“Hmm, it does seem better than getting dragged around like this.”

“How do we decide who pairs with whom?”

Realizing she could take advantage of Laurea’s plan to spend some quality time at the festival with Ulan, the two girls showed interest in the suggestion.

Laurea smiled brightly.

“How about we decide like this?”

“Huh? What’s that…?”

She pointed at Noa’s pocket.

More specifically, at the golden dice inside it. A prize she had gotten from the stall earlier.

“Those are dice?”

“How would we use those to decide?”

“It’s simple. Each of us rolls a die, and the pairs are formed by the ones with the highest sums.”

It was a straightforward method.

Even Ulan understood that much.

Ivella and Delia exchanged glances and nodded. They were willing to accept Laurea’s proposal.

“Then Ulan goes first.”

“Got it.”

Ulan immediately rolled the dice.

This time, he didn’t bother using his powers, as there was nothing to win.

Thud! Clatter!

The die rolled on the stone pavement and finally stopped.

A ‘5’ appeared.

‘That means…’

Just as a sigh of relief escaped my lips, the food packaging was finally done.

“Your order is ready!”

“Then you two, have a wonderful festival!”

And with that brief encounter behind them, Ulan and Laurea turned away.

They headed towards a spot where they could drink quietly without being disturbed.

Shortly after…

The place Ulan and Laurea arrived at was a hill behind the library. Maybe because it was directly opposite the Festival Street, it was utterly devoid of any sign of life.

“It’s definitely quiet here.”

“Yeah, it’s a good spot for drinking.”

The hill was covered in soft grass.

With the cool night breeze blowing, it was indeed a suitable place to enjoy a drink, just as she said.

“We don’t need glasses, right?”

“Of course not.”

Each holding a wine bottle, they laid out the food they had brought and tilted their bottles. During this, Laurea made a slightly bitter face and flapped her lips.

“What a shame. The festival is already coming to an end.”

For Laurea, the end of the festival meant they had to return to the Holy Nation. She set down her wine bottle and muttered.

“So much has happened in the past fortnight.”

She learned Ulan’s secret, realized the existence of the Abyss, and heard Noa’s secret.

And just when those thoughts were crossing her mind, Laurea’s expression suddenly hardened.

It was the fact related to the predetermined destiny that Noa had confessed.

“…it won’t be like last time.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll inform the Order about the existence of the Abyss, and make sure we’re fully prepared. I won’t let you become a sacrifice.”

Ulan’s repeated demise.

That was one fate she absolutely needed to prevent from happening again. Laurea made that vow.

“So you need to keep your promise too.”

“As for the promise…”

“You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone this time even if the same situation arises as in the past.”

Upon hearing those words, Ulan finally nodded, as though remembering the forgotten past.

“Understood. I’ll do that.”

“Alright, that’s all I need.”

Maybe because she received a confirmation once more, Laurea’s complexion improved significantly.

“Oh, and let me handle the other heroes. Even if I have to search the entire continent, I will definitely find them.”

She could surely handle it well.

Ulan nodded again.

As the conversation wrapped up, they clinked their wine bottles together and took another swig.

How long had it been?

By the time they had about half a bottle left, Laurea’s face was flushed with inebriation. Her pale cheeks were turning crimson.

And then…

“Thank you.”

Laurea flapped her lips.

Ulan, taken aback by the sudden gratitude, responded with confusion.

“For what?”

“For saving me from falling into the Abyss. I feel like I never properly thanked you.”

Looking back, that was indeed true.

At the time, things were too hectic to express gratitude. But Ulan waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. It was the right thing to do.”

“Why is it the right thing?”

“Because we’re colleagues.”

His answer, with no hesitation whatsoever. Yet Laurea frowned slightly.

As if she found the response unsatisfactory.

“…Is that all?”

“Do you need another reason?”

Honestly, she wished for another reason.

That he saved her simply because she was his colleague meant he’d likely do the same if Ivella or Delia fell into the Abyss too.

But…

This was definitely more like Ulan.

So Laurea shook her head.

Then, as if she hadn’t just been pouting, she smiled brightly and replied.

“No, for now, that’s enough.”

“For now?”

Ulan asked with a puzzled expression, yet no answer came to clarify his confusion. Instead, she left a hint of ambiguity.

“Still, it’s true that I’m grateful; I’ll definitely repay the favor you’ve done for me someday. I feel like I won’t be at peace otherwise.”

“Then do that.”

Ulan replied lightly.

After all their conversations ended, the wine bottle was now nearly empty. Just a sip or two left.

“…Huff.”

Meanwhile, Laurea’s cheeks were reddening like a ripe apple. It was stronger than the wine she usually drank, making her tipsy faster.

As she paused to catch her breath…

Suddenly, she glanced at Ulan and then seemed to resolve something, speaking up.

“Hey, Ulan.”

“What?”

“Just asking, just in case!”

Her voice was slightly louder than usual.

Laurea momentarily lost her composure, looking flustered. Then, with a nervous gaze, she opened her mouth.

“What do you think when you see a couple with a big age difference?”

“What’s with the sudden question?”

“Well, you probably already know this, but I’m actually into older guys.”

That had been her preference forever.

She couldn’t feel romantic interest in guys of her age or younger. Only when there was a minimum gap of twenty years could she feel any attraction.

Ulan probably knew that.

Laurea thought. Yet the response she received was unexpected.

“Is that so?”

“…Huh?”

His reaction was as if he had heard it for the first time.

Laurea asked with a blank expression.

“W-Wait, you didn’t know?”

“We’ve never had that conversation.”

Ulan nodded naturally.

At his answer, Laurea felt her ears heat up. It felt embarrassing to have revealed her preferences all on her own by assuming he’d known.

“Anyway, that’s not important! Just tell me what you think!”

“Honestly, I don’t think much of it.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. If both people have feelings for each other, then there shouldn’t be any problem.”

Based on the Reflective Eye assessment, there were no lies.

Relieved by this, Laurea sighed. Simultaneously, she bit her lip, thrilled by Ulan’s answer.

“Looks like we’re out of wine.”

Meanwhile, during that moment…

Ulan flipped the wine bottle upside down, gulping down the last drop. Just as he was about to suggest they start wrapping things up…

Thud!

Suddenly, his shoulder felt heavy.

What was that? He turned his gaze and found Laurea unusually close to him.

“Sorry, I think I’m a bit tipsy.”

Laurea, with a face turning red, smiled.

Ulan refuted as if in disbelief.

“No way.”

“…Huh?”

“You seriously can’t be tipsy from just this.”

“Sometimes it just happens.”

After returning with a sulky face, she stretched her arms and wrapped them around Ulan’s arm.

“Anyway, I’m going to borrow your shoulder.”

“Then it’d be better this way.”

“Huh? Ah!”

Laurea’s eyes widened.

She suddenly leaned forward.

A moment later, she found herself lying with her head on his thigh instead of on his shoulder.

“W-What?!”

Flustered, her eyes blinked rapidly.

At that moment, Ulan’s face came into her view.

“How’s this? Isn’t it better?”

The moment she met his smiling gaze, her heart inexplicably tightened. It felt like her heart might leap out at any second.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Her heartbeat raced uncontrollably.

Her face flushed with heat. The warmth spread throughout her body, making her feel like she was on fire.

‘My body feels hot.’

She didn’t know why.

No, that was a lie. She certainly had a guess. It didn’t take long before Laurea decided to acknowledge the reason.

‘I’m into Ulan…’

Right after swallowing her words.

She suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around Ulan’s neck. Seeing the confusion on his face, he questioned her.

“Laurea?”

There was no need for her to answer.

She would convey her feelings through actions.

With a trembling gaze, she faced Ulan, slowly leaning her face closer.

But in that instant…

“Hey, hold it right there.”

A voice interrupted them.

A chilling voice filled with icy air.

It was Delia.

As they were startled by her sudden appearance, another voice chimed in.

“It’s been over an hour since you two went missing, so I thought I’d come check and found you up to this!”

Emerging was the piercing turquoise eyes of Ivella.

And they weren’t the only ones who appeared. Noa and Ian were also there, albeit keeping their distance for some reason.

“How did you find this place…?”

“Just in case, I attached the Watcher’s Eye to you after we split up.”

Delia narrowed her eyes.

That meant they’d been keeping tabs on her since the moment they separated. As Laurea was about to make a shocked expression, Ivella glared at her.

“More importantly, you’re saying different things now than you did before.”

“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“When we first met!”

The day the delegation from Eloden arrived at Arsen Academy.

Laurea had whispered back then,

“I swore to the Divine Being’s name that I had no interest in Ulan.”

“So why…?”

“Oh, that? Just a moment.”

Suddenly interrupting Ivella,

Laurea pressed her hands together and closed her eyes, as if offering a prayer.

After a brief moment of radiant light, she opened her eyes again, then turned to Ivella with a bright smile.

“All done.”

“…Done with what?”

“I offered a prayer of repentance.”

“R-Repentance?”

“Yes, a prayer to atone for sins and reflect. So with this, my previous oath doesn’t exist anymore. Convenient, right?”

Beaming, Laurea smiled.

Meanwhile, Ivella looked dumbfounded.

A moment later, she seemed to have spotted something strange in Laurea’s response, furrowing her brows as she questioned.

“Wait a second. Are you saying the oath has no validity? What do you mean by that?”

“Hehe, I wonder what that could mean?”

“Give me a straight answer!”

She pressed, but no answer came.

Instead, Laurea seemed to have no intention of explaining and dashed off.

“Hey! Don’t run away!”

Ivella chased after her, while Ulan watched the scene with a smirk.

“Looks like their relationship has improved.”

“…How do you figure?”

Noa asked incredulously.

And with that noisy atmosphere, the joyous festival night drew to a close.

The next morning,

the delegation from Eloden, including Laurea, left Arsen Academy and returned to the Holy Nation.

However, there was no time to dwell on goodbyes.

Shortly after the festival ended,

the first term final exams at Arsen Academy were just around the corner.

Chapter 35. What did you find out so far?

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