Chapter 212

“Coldly burning red eyes.”

Ulan wasted no time diving into the details for Fertisha, who was probing about Laurea.

He explained that she was the next Saintess attending the Eloden Academy and that they had faced the Abyss together in their past life.

“That’s all there is to say.”

Bringing up their past life wasn’t exactly a secret. Fertisha had recalled some memories from her past life in Zone 5, so she wouldn’t be too shaken by it.

But Ulan’s judgment faltered when he noticed her hardened expression had yet to return to normal.

“…You were together in your past life, huh?”

“Yeah, we were comrades.”

Fertisha frowned, her delicate eyebrows furrowing.

It was clear she was uncomfortable with this revelation.

After a brief pause, she asked again.

“Then let me ask one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“In your past life, who were you closer to—me or that Laurea?”

Her eyes shook nervously.

Just as she was nervously biting her dry lips, Ulan’s answer soon came.

“Of course, it was you.”

“R-Really?”

Ulan met Fertisha’s wide-open eyes and briefly summarized his past relationship with Laurea.

Laurea, who despised barbarians.

For a long time, they couldn’t even pretend to be close until they finally opened their hearts to each other.

“We were more like rivals than comrades.”

But that was different for Fertisha.

Always smiling and kind to everyone, she had approached Ulan readily and formed a bond much quicker than with the others.

Once he revealed why he was closer to Fertisha than Laurea, she beamed as if she had never shown a cold expression.

“I knew it—I’m the most special one after all.”

Her coldly burning gaze and low, subdued voice returned to normal.

The mood was definitely better than before.

Meanwhile, having finished his explanation, Ulan silently observed Fertisha. Seeming to notice his gaze, she tilted her head.

“Huh? What are you staring at?”

“Fertisha.”

“Yes?”

“Earlier, the Spirit of the Abyss appeared in the form of Noa. Did you have a hand in that?”

For some reason, that thought crossed his mind.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason for the Spirit of the Abyss to call Ivella separately.

So it made sense that someone had given the order, and according to Ulan’s knowledge, Fertisha was the only one who could do that.

“Yes, I ordered it.”

Fertisha readily confirmed the fact, showing no signs of wanting to hide it.

Ulan cocked his head.

“Why?”

“Because it was getting in the way.”

She turned her head away with her arms crossed.

Fertisha explained her reason in a sulking tone, her discontent evident.

“I wanted to talk to Ulan alone, but no matter how long I waited, no one left, so I took matters into my own hands.”

That was when everything clicked into place.

Yet, there was one thing in her answer that nagged at Ulan. Realizing it, he immediately asked.

“Wait, you were waiting?”

“Yeah, I was waiting the whole time.”

“Since when?”

“From the very beginning.”

With a bright smile, Fertisha pointed at the window. Then she casually revealed something she hadn’t mentioned until now, acting like it was nothing serious.

“I waited for 59 minutes and 37 seconds from the moment you entered the room alone.”

“But your presence…”

“Well, I was outside. Oh, and I also concealed my presence with the spirit.”

“……”

Ulan clammed up.

It was entirely possible to hide one’s presence using a spirit’s power. But at the same time, he was hit with a strange sense of discomfort.

Because the Fertisha he remembered wasn’t the type to prefer being alone with someone like this.

‘She preferred everyone being together instead.’

Perhaps it was because she had no friends before?

In their previous life, Fertisha always wanted all seven heroes to be together, whether eating or resting.

‘But this time…’

She clearly wanted to be alone with Ulan instead of everyone being together. Just looking at how she hid her presence outside for nearly an hour made it obvious.

‘Why is that?’

What changed from her previous life?

With a flood of new questions, Ulan tilted his head. Meanwhile, Fertisha, having finished her answer, was silently looking at him.

With slightly lighter rose-colored eyes than his.

Her features were distinct, but her face wasn’t exactly what one could call handsome. Yet, strangely, he found himself wanting to keep looking at her.

‘It’s not just that.’

He wanted to see Ulan more often, and he wanted to stay beside him constantly.

When did this start?

Fertisha sunk into her thoughts.

‘It must have started after…’

After visiting the Source of Magic with Ulan, it seemed. Before that, she hadn’t held feelings for him beyond curiosity and admiration.

‘Could it be because of the spirit contract?’

Was that the reason she felt this way?

Or was it because she realized they were connected in their past life? She pondered, but answers eluded her no matter how hard she thought.

But Fertisha didn’t mind.

The reason wasn’t important. What mattered was her current feelings and emotions.

‘I want to be with Ulan.’

That was her honest feeling at the moment.

But that wasn’t all. She wanted to be alone with him forever, beyond just being in the same space.

No interruptions from anyone.

‘I want to have Ulan.’

His hair, his eyes, his striking nose, his full lips, even his face and body, and his soul.

She wanted to possess all of him.

Moreover, she hoped for Ulan to only look at her, just as she was presently gazing only at him.

‘For that, I’ll…’

She felt she could do anything.

With that thought in mind, her crimson eyes burned like tranquil flames.

A little while later.

Snapping out of her reverie, Fertisha suddenly perched beside Ulan. Then, out of the blue, she reached out and clasped his hand.

“What’s this?”

“Hehe, just wanted to hold it.”

With a big, goofy grin, Fertisha looked at Ulan.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her silly antics.

But that wasn’t enough for her. Not content to merely hold his hand, she scooted closer, making it all the more obvious.

“Why again?”

“Because I just want to.”

A similar answer came back this time too.

A moment later, she pressed against him until their thighs touched. His senses were quickly filled with a pleasant fragrance.

The scent coming from her pure white hair.

She must have taken a shower before meeting Ulan, he figured. While he was thinking this, she suddenly reached out and hugged his waist.

“Fertisha?”

He asked, mildly bewildered, but this time, she offered no response. She only hugged his waist tighter without a word.

A moment later, Fertisha looked up.

The first thing he noticed was a longing expression in her eyes. Then she slowly leaned in closer to him.

“Ulan.”

Her voice was soft and moist.

As she murmured his name, she gradually brought her face closer to his. Just as they were almost close enough to feel each other’s breaths…

BOOM!

A loud crashing sound broke out.

It sounded almost like an explosion. Just then, something came tumbling down to the floor.

“…The window?”

Well, to be specific, “what used to be a window,”

since there was now a large hole where the window had been.

Beyond it stood a small girl with silver hair blowing in the wind.

“That’s enough, back off.”

With glaring golden eyes, it was none other than Delia Arpen.

She entered the room through the broken opening, scrutinizing Fertisha with a low, warning growl.

“I had a bad feeling, so I used the Star’s Eye, and it looks like I made the right call.”

High-level observation magic, Star’s Eye.

It seemed she had cast magic in the infirmary to peek into Ulan’s room. Meanwhile, Fertisha frowned at Delia’s intrusion.

“Why are you here?”

“Are you really asking that?”

“Well, Ulan and you have nothing going on, right? It’s not special at all.”

“What’s it to you?”

Delia’s face became a mask of irritation.

Fertisha almost blurted out that she and Ulan were bound by a strong connection from their past life. But just then…

Suddenly, the door swung wide open.

“Ulan! Listen to me!”

In came a girl with light blonde hair flowing behind her. It was Ivella Elea’ad, who had ventured out with the Spirit of the Abyss earlier.

“It wasn’t Noa who came looking for me earlier but a monster that looks exactly like Noa…”

Ivella burst in with a frightened expression, eager to explain her encounter to Ulan.

But her words got cut off midway.

The reason was simple. She had spotted Delia and Fertisha. At that moment, her turquoise eyes grew cold.

“…Why are you all here?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask.”

“Um, excuse me, but could you all leave? I want to be alone with Ulan.”

Staring at each other.

The three of them had their own words to say but suddenly fell silent, creating a peculiar standoff.

The atmosphere grew increasingly chilly.

Just as a heavy silence enveloped the room, a voice broke through.

“Hey, you all.”

In walked the professors from Plume Academy along with the male dormitory supervisor.

“We heard a loud noise and came to see…”

“Why are there female students here?”

“This is the male dormitory. We don’t know how you got in, but you all need to go back.”

They warned them, but the three girls showed no intent of leaving.

But that was only for a moment.

“If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll report this to the professors at Arsen.”

“And I’ll hold you accountable for bringing the female students in here.”

Before they could even finish admonishing Ulan, the three girls turned on their heels.

“Sorry, Ulan.”

“I didn’t mean to cause trouble…”

“Ugh, I’ll head back for today.”

Perhaps mindful they might bring trouble to Ulan, they left the room without protest, escorted by the supervisor.

Left alone in the now chaotic room, Ulan chuckled while recalling memories of his past life, contrasting them with the happenings that had just unfolded.

“This takes me back.”

It felt just like when they first met.

Though it wasn’t quite as intense as now. Still, there wasn’t really any need for concern. They’d surely get close over time.

So he let it slide without much thought.

“Guess I’ll take a nap.”

Not that he had anything else to do.

Ulan lay down on the bed.

As the wind blew in through the hole Delia had made, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

49. Omen