Chapter 191

(2)

4.

“…….”

As soon as the word ‘discipline’ slipped past the Inspector’s lips, the room was engulfed in a heavy silence.

However, Ulan remained unfazed.

He already knew this.

“Then I’ll deliver the results of the punishment.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Ulan Bator is to carry out a total of 100 hours of volunteer work and environmental cleaning, as per the Student Council’s orders. That’s it.”

The Inspector added that all activities must be completed by the end of the second semester, with a maximum of 5 hours recognized per day.

“This punishment falls under the category of a level 2 disciplinary action.”

By the time he finished explaining, Delia and Ivella, who had been silent, suddenly widened their eyes in realization.

“Huh? Wait, a level 2 disciplinary action means…”

“We can use the Exemption Right, right?”

“Exactly. If we use the Exemption Right we received as a prize for winning the Sports Festival, it’s actually not that bad of news.”

The Inspector nodded along.

Then, looking at Ulan, he continued, “If you’re considering using the Exemption Right, let me know. I can relay it to the higher-ups and make the punishment disappear…”

“I have no such intentions.”

“…What?”

The Inspector asked in disbelief, his expression blank.

More than just him, everyone was perplexed.

“Huh? Why not?”

“Using the Exemption Right would solve everything.”

“Exactly. If there’s a way to avoid punishment, shouldn’t you use it?”

Ivella, Delia, and even Noa looked at him like he was from another planet. But Ulan was resolute as a rock.

“That’s not right. My actions at the time were a violation of the rules, and thus I must face the consequences.”

“But still…”

“Every action comes with responsibility.”

Ulan replied confidently, facing the bewildered Inspector.

“Regardless of the reasoning, my decision at that time was a rule-breaking action. Therefore, I will accept my punishment and the responsibilities that come with it.”

His gaze was unwavering, filled with a firm resolve that was evident to the Inspector, who felt he was losing his sanity.

Ulan, determined to take the harder route when an easier path was available, puzzled the Inspector.

“However, I am a bit curious.”

“What is it?”

“What does environmental cleaning entail?”

“…….”

What on earth is this guy doing?

The Inspector eyed Ulan with skepticism, but at that moment, Noah interjected with an answer.

“You can just think of it as cleaning.”

“Cleaning? That’s all?”

“Yeah, it’s about cleaning the streets and picking up trash.”

“Hmm, trash…”

Ulan nodded seriously.

Suddenly, an unease crept into Noah’s thoughts. Quickly, he grabbed Ulan’s arm.

“Uh, Ulan?”

“What?”

“Just to be safe…”

After swallowing hard, Noah spoke earnestly.

“Trash refers to objects. If you happen to see a person that looks like human trash, you mustn’t throw them away or anything, okay? You understand?”

“I know that much.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

Noah sighed in relief. Meanwhile, the Inspector added with concern, “Furthermore, I recommend doing the environmental cleaning in the forest. The buildings inside the Academy and the streets are regularly cleaned by janitors.”

This was to prevent any mishaps like breaking something under the guise of cleaning.

Just as the two were finishing up their warnings, Delia suddenly raised her hand.

“Why not just blow the forest away?”

“Huh?”

“If you blow it all away without leaving a single blade of grass, you wouldn’t need to clean anything.”

The absurd suggestion made Delia’s eyes sparkle.

“If Ulan wants, I can help.”

With a flick of her magic, she could easily wipe the forest off the map. As a High Mage, it was well within her capabilities.

But Ulan shook his head.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline.”

“Why?”

“Because this is my punishment to bear.”

Only by accepting and fulfilling it himself does the punishment hold any meaning. Despite her protests, Delia eventually retreated.

After the sudden conversation ended, Ivella spoke up.

“Are you really mixed with fairy blood?”

“…Why do you ask that all of a sudden?”

“Because it doesn’t sound like something someone who is half human and half fairy would say.”

Noah nodded, surprised.

Blowing up the forest? That was something Delia from the original story could never say.

Just then, Delia replied.

“I usually don’t act like this.”

It wouldn’t benefit her to get rid of the forest.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say she was indifferent.

“However, this time, the situation is a little different.”

“How is it different?”

“Well, it’s because it’s helping Ulan.”

Her golden eyes sparkled fiercely.

An intense gaze filled with obsession.

Delia continued with her response.

“If it’s for Ulan, I can do anything. Even if it means crushing the forest, a person, or whatever.”

Her extreme words kept flowing out.

Noah was understandably taken aback.

Of course, the original Delia loved the forest and nature, always being the rational mage.

‘But now…’

She seemed like a fanatic, willing to do anything for Ulan, just like the Abyss Worshippers who would do anything for the Abyss.

A completely altered demeanor from the original.

And this change wasn’t only happening to Delia.

“Ah, I can understand that.”

Ivella nodded lightly.

With an expression of understanding towards Delia’s words, Noah, still dumbfounded, asked again.

“You’re saying you understand Delia?”

“Yeah, I would probably cooperate in helping Ulan too.”

“……”

For a brief moment, Noah was speechless.

Behind Ivella’s smiling reply, a glint of obsession flickered in her eyes.

They both had feelings for Ulan, that much was clear. But he never imagined it would be this severe.

‘Something feels off…’

After collecting his thoughts, Noah gave Ulan a fleeting glance.

His gaze was laden with worries.

And the next day.

Ulan’s volunteer work began.

5.

The following morning.

Ulan stepped out of the dormitory as soon as the sun came up.

It was time to start his volunteer work and environmental cleaning. Before diving into it, he decided to visit the Student Council to record his hours.

“Here, take this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a confirmation document. Think of it as proof that you participated properly.”

The confirmation document was straightforward.

For volunteer work, the name and signature of the person receiving help had to be filled in. Environmental cleaning required the signature of a janitor.

“So, you’re planning to start now?”

“Yes.”

“Then return by noon. Any activities beyond that won’t be recognized for extra hours.”

“Understood. I’ll keep that in mind.”

After responding, he left the building.

As he basked in the warm sunlight, Ulan explored around the academy and realized something astounding.

“There isn’t anything to clean up.”

Naturally, as per the Inspector’s words yesterday, there were janitors present at the academy. Not a single piece of trash was visible on the streets or inside the buildings.

“I should focus on volunteer work for now.”

But here lies another problem. It was unclear how to find those in need of help. On the other hand, Ulan did not see this as a problem at all.

He could just head to places where students gathered and ask around.

After making his decision, he walked towards the Magic Department plaza, the closest area to the Student Council. He approached the group of students gathered tightly and bluntly asked,

“Is anyone in need of help?”

“……!”

“U-Ulan Bator?!”

Was it because he approached silently?

The sudden appearance of Ulan startled the students, but he continued unabated.

“If you need help, let me know.”

“No, I don’t really need anything.”

“Are you really sure?”

“Well, that is…”

“Really?”

With Ulan pressing them earnestly, the students quickly racked their brains for something they might need help with.

At that moment,

“Uh, um…”

A small voice was heard.

A petite girl, visibly nervous, finally managed to stammer out her request.

“C-Could you help me find my earring?”

“Earring?”

“Yeah, I lost one during the last weekend while resting in the plaza when it suddenly began to rain.”

She explained how she lost one earring while trying to take cover from the sudden downpour.

“Where exactly did you lose it?”

“Um, it went under that statue, but I can’t reach it…”

She pointed towards the statue of High Mage Diplyn Cernio that served as the symbol of the Magic Department plaza. At that moment, Ulan extended his fist without hesitation.

Bam!

A thunderous sound shook the plaza.

A thick cloud of dust erupted, covering the students in a mist of dirt.

“Cough, cough!”

“W-What was that?”

“Did an explosion just happen somewhere?”

The students were left in a fluster, looking around confused.

After the dust settled, they were left dumbfounded by the new scene before them.

“……Huh?”

Everything had changed dramatically.

No further examination was needed. The iconic statue of Diplyn that used to stand tall in the plaza was completely reduced to rubble.

Meanwhile, Ulan sifted through the debris of the statue, wearing a satisfied smile. He had successfully found the lost earring, buried in the dust.

“Found it.”

“Huh? Uh…”

“Now, sign here.”

Ulan presented the confirmation document along with the earring.

The dazed girl wrote her name and signature with trembling hands. After completing his first volunteer activity, Ulan turned to her and asked,

“Need anything else?”

“Uh, no! I’m good now!”

A tone that was vastly different from earlier.

The girl shook her head violently.

She felt an instinctive dread that if she asked for more help, something else might break.

Leaving the ruins of the statue behind, Ulan departed from the plaza, seeking out someone else who might need help.

After some time passed.

As he made his way through the forest towards the Military Department building, a familiar voice suddenly called him.

“Hmm? Ulan?”

“Oh, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

It was Ethan and Professor Stella.

They were the professors who taught Weaponry and Practical Hunting during the first semester.

Ulan approached them and directly got to the point.

“Do you happen to need any help?”

“Huh? Help, you say?”

Stella asked back with a confused expression, and Ulan briefly explained the reason he found himself volunteering.

“Ah, I see. You got punished… ”

Stella nodded as if she understood. On the other hand, Ethan, who had been quietly listening, jumped in as soon as Ulan finished speaking.

“Then could you teach me how to catch fish?”

“Fish?”

“My senior has been really into fishing lately. But he hasn’t caught anything; I’m not sure if it’s because of bad bait or just not knowing how to fish.”

Stella pointed toward the nearby pond.

Just as she said, Ethan and Stella were enjoying fishing there.

After taking in the situation, Ulan thought for a moment and replied,

“If it’s okay with you, I can teach you my method.”

“In that case, I would like to request it.”

At Ethan’s request, Ulan strode forward. Upon reaching the pond, he felt their expectant gazes as he pulled out his axe.

“Huh? An axe?”

“Why the sudden axe…”

A bizarre question lingered in the air.

Just then, Ulan maximized his Spirit all over his body. In the blink of an eye, the axe in his hands became enveloped in a swirling aura.

“……!?”

“Wait, hold on!”

Their eyes widened in shock.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, both of them reached out to stop Ulan, but alas, it was too late.

Bam! Splash!

The aura-infused axe struck the water’s surface, resulting in a violent splash that erupted ferociously.

Chaos ensued.

Moments later, once Ulan had achieved his goal, he finally ceased swinging the axe.

“Now you can catch them all.”

“……”

Just moments ago, what was once a peaceful pond had transformed into a common pit, with fish flopping around helplessly.

The once-quiet fishing spot was now a disaster.

As he stared wide-eyed at the aftermath, the cause of it all spoke up again.

“Need any more help?”

“……Just go away.”

Ethan waved his hand dismissively.

He soon realized that even if he did need help, Ulan was the last person he would ask assistance from.

“Now, please sign here.”

Ulan extended the confirmation document.

Having secured the signatures from both professors, he once again continued his search for those in need.

But just a moment later, Ulan found it impossible to continue walking.

Off in the distance, within the depths of the forest, he spotted a familiar face. It was a girl with snow-white hair, as if it had been coated in powder.

“Fertisha?”

Why on earth is she here?

Has she possibly lost her way?

For a split second, he thought maybe, but that was impossible. If she asked the spirits for help, she’d find her way in no time.

So that left only one possibility.

She must have set a clear destination and was walking straight ahead towards it. Realizing this, Ulan glanced in the direction she was headed.

“That place is…”

His eyes narrowed.

The only place at the end of her path was none other than the ‘Source of Magic’.

The moment he comprehended this, memories suddenly surged back.

‘Now that I think about it, it was the same back then.’

When he had shown Fertisha around the school.

Back then, she had wanted to visit the Source of Magic, but her plans were thwarted by Rimer’s interference.

Once recalling this, Ulan intently gazed at Fertisha’s increasingly distant figure.

‘Whatever her reason is…’

The Source of Magic is dangerous.

Just last semester, the Abyssal Rift had opened multiple times. Hence, having witnessed this scene, he couldn’t just let her go alone.

So he began to follow her.

How long had it been?

After a considerable amount of time passed,

Fertisha finally reached near the Source of Magic. And at that moment, her body abruptly vanished as if sucked into the ground.

“……!”

Ulan quickly closed the distance.

A moment later, he discovered a small hole where Fertisha had disappeared. The hole accurately led inside the Source of Magic.

“Did someone dig it?”

It must have been done by earth spirits, just as they had dug a pit during the Sports Festival.

After such thoughts, he too aimed to follow Fertisha through the hole.

However, there was a problem.

“It’s tight.”

The passage was exceedingly narrow.

Just enough for Fertisha to squeeze through.

But there was no need for concern.

A simple solution was at hand.

Ulan dived into the hole, digging at the earth like a crazed mole.

Scrape! Bang!

He widened the area as he continued to step forward.

After some time, he emerged from the opposing side of the tunnel and brushed off the dirt from his body.

Then, he began to scan for Fertisha.

Yet, he soon realized it wasn’t necessary.

She was sitting not far away, gazing toward Zone 5.

Ulan approached her with long strides.

He didn’t bother hiding his presence. After all, even if he tried, it would all be revealed.

‘It’s thanks to the spirit’s whisper.’

The one with the broadest field of vision among the seven heroes.

Fertisha could sense every presence within a radius of 1 km.

To be precise, it would be accurate to say she receives reports from the spirits.

So he initiated the conversation.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah, Ulan.”

Fertisha turned to face him.

Her response was neither surprised nor panicked. It was evidence that she had anticipated his approach.

“I just came to take a stroll.”

“Seems more like you had it meticulously planned.”

“Come on, when strolling about, one might dig into the ground or end up wandering into another area.”

Fertisha retorted with a cheeky smile.

Having finished her reply, she turned her attention back to the dense fog that enveloped the dark area ahead. The true Source of Magic that lies behind Zone 5.

Just as Ulan was about to ask what she saw, Fertisha spoke up first.

“By the way, what do you think?”

“About what?”

“Here.”

She shuffled her feet around lightly.

Splashing sound made as the water droplets danced around.

“It feels refreshing and nice.”

“So?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

When Ulan inquired again, Fertisha shifted a bit to the side. Then she patted the empty spot next to her.

“Want to join me?”

With a smile, she beamed at him.

Soon, an innocent smile blossomed on Fertisha’s lips.