Chapter 21

“It’s destiny.”

“Huh?”

What kind of random nonsense is this?

When Berge asked back, seemingly flustered, Stella suddenly stood up. Then, with an excited face, she passionately exclaimed.

“This is a blessing sent to me by the divine being. That guy, Ulan, must absolutely become a monster hunter. It’s his destiny!”

“Calm down and explain it step by step.”

Stella explained what had happened during the monster hunt. After she finished explaining the whole story, Berge was shocked.

“You’re saying he took down a 5-star monster in 13 seconds?”

“Yes! And it was the notoriously tricky Twin-Headed Dragon! He sliced it up with an axe, can you believe it?!”

So impressed by Ulan’s combat skills, she even reenacted the scene by swinging a candlestick like an axe.

“Bold judgment, guts, and natural strength. If he adds hunting skills to that, Ulan will become a legendary monster hunter representing the Empire!”

“Uh, I see. I understand.”

At least it seems Stella holds Ulan in very high regard. But then, Ethan snorted.

“Hmph, monster hunter? What nonsense.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“That guy is going to be a soldier. I’ll make him a secret weapon to wipe out the cultists in the southern desert.”

“No! Even if you’re my senior, I can’t back down. Ulan’s true calling is as a hunter. The eastern front is overrun with monsters as we speak!”

The two raised their voices.

It seems Stella isn’t the only one eyeing Ulan. Berge pressed his throbbing head with his fingers.

“……Both of you, calm down. We haven’t heard the final opinion yet.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

All eyes turned to one place.

Diplyn Cernio, the substitute supervisor for the ‘Magic Detection’ exam and the head of the Magic Department.

Facing the gazes directed at her.

Diplyn smiled gently.

“He has immense potential.”

“Potential? What kind of potential specifically?”

“That…….”

She hesitated for a moment.

The biggest potential, of course, was that he had two mana vessels.

‘But it’s better to keep this a secret.’

Even now, there are two hyenas eyeing Ulan. If it gets out that he has two mana vessels?

The number of hyenas will grow uncontrollably.

In other words, there’s no benefit for Diplyn.

So, let’s buy some time.

At least until the research objectives are achieved.

“That will require further observation, but based on the exam alone, he’s not inferior to the magic genius from Arpen.”

“The magic genius from Arpen…….”

“Are you referring to Delia Arpen? I heard she passed as the second rank.”

“That’s right. She’s my student.”

Diplyn’s nose rose slightly.

Behind her, Berge summarized the opinions of the supervisors.

“Impressive. A talent with considerable abilities in both combat and magic.”

The corners of his wrinkled mouth twitched upward.

Along with a look of interest.

“From the Academy’s perspective, it’s like a pumpkin rolled in with the vine…….”

Berge, who had trailed off, furrowed his brow.

He looked like he was pondering something. Ethan, noticing this, cautiously asked.

“Is there something troubling you?”

“There is. But it’s not the Academy’s problem. It’s more related to the Empire.”

Berge answered immediately.

As if he had been waiting for the question.

“However, everyone here is connected to the Empire, so I’ll be frank. But before that…….”

“If it’s a silence spell, I already cast it.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll speak directly.”

With the last issue resolved, Berge didn’t hesitate to reveal his thoughts.

“Recently, there’s been a movement among the grand nobles in the Empire to expand their territories. I assume you all know about this.”

All three nodded.

It was information anyone connected to the military or the grand nobility would know.

“But the military isn’t pleased with this situation. The Empire hasn’t stabilized enough to wage another war.”

It had only been five years since the western war Berge had participated in ended. It was too soon to talk about another war.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Ethan’s face twisted in anger.

“This is why the central guys are no good. Do they think war is some kind of child’s play? They need to roll around like dogs on the battlefield to wake up.”

“Lower your voice! What if someone hears?”

“There’s a silence spell, so what does it matter?”

“Still!”

Stella looked around nervously.

It was that sensitive of a statement.

Meanwhile, Berge and Diplyn didn’t stop him. They shared similar thoughts.

“So, instead of forceful methods, we’re looking for a more moderate way to expand the territory. To avoid war at all costs.”

“An ideal approach.”

“Indeed. But a possibility has emerged. Thanks to this year’s top exam scorer, Ulan.”

Why is Ulan suddenly being brought up?

Curiosity filled the eyes of the three.

Berge pulled out a stack of documents from a drawer and placed them on the desk. They were confidential documents stamped with the Empire’s intelligence seal.

“This year, the Empire’s intelligence bureau investigated the barbarians in the borderlands. According to this, Ulan is the heir of the ‘Bator Clan’ from the grasslands beyond the northern snow mountains.”

The Bator Clan is a large tribe for border barbarians. Scattered across the grasslands, their numbers exceed 10,000 when gathered.

The second son of the clan leader.

That was Ulan’s identity.

“Ethan, you would know this, right? The criteria the border barbarians use to choose their next clan leader.”

Ethan had fought against the barbarians in the eastern jungle for three years. So, he knew more about them than anyone else.

“Yes. Barbarians submit to the strong. So, only a strong warrior who passes the Trial of the Hero can become the clan leader.”

“Then, in your opinion, what are the chances of Ulan becoming the next clan leader?”

“I don’t know how strong the barbarians beyond the snow mountains are, but if they’re similar to the eastern jungle barbarians, it’s 100%.”

A confident answer.

As soon as he finished speaking, Diplyn clapped her hands loudly. The sound echoed.

“Ah, now I understand.”

After gathering everyone’s attention.

Diplyn smiled like a crescent moon.

“So, Professor Erkazhan’s goal is to make Ulan feel friendly towards the Empire?”

“Correct. And to go a step further, to make him completely side with the Empire.”

Ulan, the heir of the Bator Clan, a significant force in the north.

If they can make him side with the Empire, they might be able to peacefully integrate the grassland barbarians.

That was Berge’s idea.

“It seems worth trying.”

“At least for the grasslands beyond the snow mountains, we might be able to expand our territory without war.”

Ethan and Stella responded in turn.

Diplyn also nodded after a moment of thought. As if agreeing with Berge’s opinion.

“Then it’s decided.”

Unanimous. Berge grinned.

A satisfied smile.

“From now on, do everything to accommodate Ulan. So that while he’s at the Academy, he can experience the Empire’s splendid culture and greatness.”

To win Ulan over to the Empire’s side and swallow the northern borderlands without war.

A plan known only to the four of them was born.

“And if professors from other countries show suspicious movements or try to covet him, report to me immediately. I’ll take separate measures.”

“Yes, understood.”

With their answers, the meeting ended.

On the day the Academy’s successful candidates were announced.

Ulan gained a strong backer. A secret backer, unbeknownst to him.

4.

The next morning.

Ulan woke up.

The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. Then a bed, chair, and desk came into view. Soon, memories of yesterday came flooding back.

‘Right, I was assigned a dormitory.’

After the successful candidates were announced yesterday.

Dormitory assignments were made immediately.

The dormitory was supposed to be shared by two, but the top 10 high achievers were given single rooms.

Ulan, as the top scorer, was no exception.

But there was one question.

“Why was I sleeping on the floor?”

Ulan had woken up on the floor.

And right next to him was a soft bed with a blanket. Why did he sleep here instead of there?

As he looked around.

Something caught his eye. A booklet spread open on the desk.

“That’s…….”

After entering the dormitory yesterday.

He received a guidebook from the dorm supervisor. It contained basic information about Arsen Academy and rules for living in the dormitory.

And seeing it.

Suddenly, yesterday’s memories came back.

‘Right, while reading the booklet…….’

He suddenly felt drowsy and collapsed.

He must have fallen asleep like that. Recalling yesterday’s situation, Ulan sat back at the desk. To review what he had read in the booklet.

“Arsen Academy’s education period is 4 years.”

Each grade is distinguished by the color of the necktie.

First-year is red, second-year is blue, third-year is purple, and fourth-year is black.

“The dormitory changes with the grade.”

Arsen Academy has four dormitories divided by grade and gender.

The dormitories are named after seasons, with first-years in the Spring Hall and fourth-years in the Winter Hall.

“The entrance ceremony is tomorrow morning. After the ceremony, classes will be assigned, and then…….”

As he was recalling step by step.

Suddenly, his head throbbed. A sudden headache. Frowning, Ulan suddenly remembered the ‘real reason’ he had fallen asleep yesterday.

Ajuheuh had once said this.

Everyone has a limit to how much knowledge they can absorb at once. And Ulan’s limit was a bit lower than others.

Remembering this.

Ulan looked back at the booklet.

The booklet was quite thick. It probably contained as much information as its thickness.

But forgetting Ajuheuh’s advice, he tried to absorb all the information. As a result, his brain overloaded, and he fell asleep.

Realizing the truth of yesterday.

Ulan silently nodded.

“Can’t be helped.”

Let’s take our time with the booklet.

Can’t pass out again.

Reading one page a day should do.

After finishing his thoughts, he lay back on the floor.

But as he quietly looked around the room, he felt a strange sense of suffocation.

And soon realized why.

“It’s too small.”

It’s a decent size for an average student.

But for Ulan, who grew up in the grasslands, it was way too small. Especially since Ulan was 2 meters tall.

“Maybe I’ll go for a run.”

Getting some fresh air might help with the suffocating feeling. Deciding this, Ulan left the room. But soon stopped at the entrance.

【Spring Hall—Notice】

【The main gate is currently unavailable.】

【No entry/exit: 22:00~07:00】

【Unauthorized exit will result in penalty points.】

No exit allowed.

The back gate and side gate were the same.

But there was one place without a warning. The window in the room.

“Guess it’s okay to go out through the window.”

If it wasn’t allowed, there would be a warning here too.

After a simple deduction.

Ulan opened the window wide. And then jumped straight down to the 5th floor below.

Chapter 8. Let’s Get Along

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