Chapter 251

“The truth is about to be revealed!”

The air was heavy with silence in the room.

The group sat around the round table, all eyes on Laurea.

In that moment, when all attention was focused on her, she finally parted her closed lips.

“First, I have a confession to make.”

“A confession? About what?”

“It’s about the special ability I possess.”

After glancing back at Sven, who reflexively asked for clarification, Laurea spoke carefully.

“I have a special ability called the Reflective Eye.”

Eyes that pierce through the very essence of existence.

With just a gaze, Laurea could discern not only a person’s true feelings but also if they were lying.

“I revealed this to prove that what I’m about to say is the truth.”

After explaining about the Reflective Eye, Laurea wore a tense expression.

From past experience, she knew people’s reactions could vary widely after such revelations.

Some people would distrust her, while others might feel burdened or cautious.

Her fears were evident.

She was afraid her friends, who had shared so much with her, might turn their backs overnight. But it turned out to be nothing more than a mere worry.

“There’s really no need for that.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“I also possess a similar ability.”

Delia shook her head.

She briefly explained about her Heart’s Eye, gained during the Trial of the Hero.

Though it couldn’t see through to the essence like the Reflective Eye, it could certainly discern the truth. This revelation made Laurea’s eyes widen.

There were no lies in Delia’s statement.

“So that means….”

“You’re not the only one who can distinguish truth from lies.”

Delia said calmly.

Laurea wore a dazed expression but soon broke into a small, relieved smile. A strange sense of camaraderie washed over her.

Meanwhile, Ivella, who was hearing this for the first time, immediately clicked her tongue and muttered.

“Tch, that explains why lies never worked on her.”

“What? If you had such a cool ability, why didn’t you tell us earlier?”

Fertisha chimed in, a bit demanding.

Delia shook her head.

“I couldn’t have mentioned it.”

“Why not?”

“Knowing you two, you’d find a way to use it to monopolize Ulan.”

Delia shot a narrowed-eyed glare at the two girls. The intensity of her gaze made them avert their eyes like they’d been struck.

“Anyway, it’s amazing. Who would have thought such a similar power to the Saintess’ Reflective Eye existed?”

“Well, if I had such an ability, life would be easier. At least I wouldn’t get scammed.”

During this casual exchange, Sven and Ian, who were already aware of the Reflective Eye, shrugged their shoulders.

The atmosphere felt quite casual and uninterested. No lies reflected in the visions of the Reflective Eye.

Laurea burst into laughter.

‘I’m glad I listened to Ulan.’

It was wiser not to worry about things that hadn’t happened yet. Feeling reassured by her companions’ unchanged sentiments, Laurea felt a weight lift off her heart.

So she parted her lips again.

“If Delia has such an ability too, there’s no need for me to hesitate. Let’s just get straight to the point.”

The confession about the Reflective Eye was merely a prelude to prove that the secrets she was about to reveal were indeed the truth.

What mattered now was the secrets of Ulan and Noah.

The first secret she’d discuss would definitely be Ulan’s.

Opening with his secret would naturally lead to linking it with Noah’s.

“So first, let’s talk about Ulan’s secret….”

Laurea glanced at Ulan, ready to spill what she had learned from him. But at that moment, Ulan spoke up first.

“Let me tell it myself.”

“Huh? Are you sure that’s okay?”

“Yeah, it’s my story.”

Ulan replied in a low tone.

Laurea looked at him for a moment before nodding silently. She meant to respect his wishes.

Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to Ulan. In the tense atmosphere, he finally began.

“I know the future.”

“…What?”

“To be precise, it would be more accurate to say I’m from the future, 30 years ahead.”

Ignoring Sven’s bewildered reaction, Ulan shared his secrets one by one.

The first story he relayed was about roaming the battlefield after leaving the prairie, and meeting Ivella while working as a mercenary.

Then, he also recounted how he met Delia while chasing the Abyss, and later joined Ian and Laurea upon hearing about the search for heroes in the Holy Nation.

He even mentioned how he met Sven and Fertisha, leading to the gathering of all seven heroes. Ulan organized the memories of his past life in chronological order.

“This is my secret.”

Right after Ulan finished his story, the room was filled with a heavy silence.

The ambiance was entirely different from when they heard about the Reflective Eye. An awkward stillness lingered, and Ivella was the first to break the silence.

“Uh, wait a second. So, um….”

As she fumbled through her words, it was clear she hadn’t fully processed everything just yet. At that moment, Delia swooped in to grasp the main point.

“So, you mean Ulan remembers his past life?”

“That’s right.”

“And we’re, in Ulan’s past life, the heroes who fought against the Abyss together?”

As Ulan nodded in confirmation to Fertisha’s question, the group seemed to grasp the essence more clearly.

Of course, that didn’t mean they understood it entirely.

“Hmm, that’s a bit….”

“It’s hard to believe that!”

Ian sighed, clearly confused, while Sven frowned.

Such reactions were only natural.

It’s already hard to believe in past lives, let alone remembering them.

“But Ulan’s words are the truth.”

Then Delia murmured.

From what she saw with her Heart’s Eye, there were no lies in what he had said. However, despite this conclusion, Delia’s gaze wavered faintly.

No matter how true it was, the tale Ulan shared was far from simplistic.

“…….”

Once again the room was shrouded in silence.

Ulan waited patiently for the group’s reactions, while Noah nervously cast around with her eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, a voice suddenly broke the quiet.

“I believe Ulan.”

The clear voice rang out calmly.

It was Fertisha. Receiving the collective gaze of the room, she continued, her bright red eyes sparkling like jewels.

“When I went to the Source of Magic with Ulan before, I recalled memories remarkably similar to what you just described about your past life.”

A castle engulfed in flames.

The moment when horrific monsters attacked, and she was saved by Ulan. Through this, Fertisha became aware of the existence of her past life.

Although only fragments.

“So I think Ulan’s words are true. Plus, Delia confirmed it too.”

Finishing her statement, Fertisha beamed.

There was no suspicion in her smile. There were no lies reflected back when she looked through the Reflective Eye and Heart’s Eye.

At that moment, Ivella added her thoughts.

“I feel the same. I know Ulan isn’t someone who would lie.”

Ulan is not the type to make jokes.

He was always serious and had never spun a tale or told a lie up to now.

Based on the trust built with Ulan, Ivella was convinced.

“I agree as well. After all, the Saintess already confirmed with her Reflective Eye, so it’s more or less a verification of the truth.”

“True, there’s nothing to gain from fabricating a story like this.”

Ian and Sven reacted similarly.

It was clear everyone accepted Ulan’s tale as the truth. Just then, Delia unexpectedly spoke up.

“Then, can I ask one question?”

With serious eyes, Delia seemed to be pondering something significant.

“Did you enroll in Arsen Academy just to meet us?”

“If you’re asking about my purpose, then no.”

“Then what is your purpose?”

Ulan’s reason for joining the Academy was singular from the beginning until now.

“To obtain clues about the Realm Beyond Mastery.”

“Realm Beyond Mastery?”

“What on earth is that?”

“It’s a state that exists beyond Master. I saw it toward the end of my past life.”

Ulan shared tales of the Realm Beyond Mastery. As his brief explanation wrapped up, some among the group reacted particularly strongly.

“A state beyond Master….”

“That’s unbelievable, isn’t it?”

Ivella and Ian were struck by disbelief.

Both were pursuing the path of warriors, and were not prepared to easily accept the existence of another realm beyond Master.

“Anyway, I thought if I reached the Realm Beyond Mastery, this time I could finally defeat the Lord of the Abyss.”

So he enrolled in Arsen Academy.

As Ulan clearly articulated his enrollment purpose, Delia, who had been listening quietly, suddenly widened her eyes.

“Wait, wait a minute!”

“What’s up?”

“When you said you thought you could finally defeat the Lord of the Abyss, does that mean you weren’t able to do it in your past life?”

That was quite the keen deduction.

Ulan shook his head.

“To be honest, I’m not sure.”

“Not sure? Why not?”

“I died before it happened.”

Death. That heavy word caused the entire group to momentarily fall silent. Yet Ulan maintained a composed expression as he met their eyes.

After some time, Delia’s tightly sealed lips began to move.

“…Tell me.”

“About what?”

“I want to know what happened after we all gathered as the seven heroes.”

What happened after all seven heroes came together.

At that, Ulan’s eyes sparkled with nostalgia.

He blinked several times as if reminiscing, then turned to Delia.

“It’ll take quite a while.”

“I don’t mind, just tell me.”

It wasn’t only Delia who wanted to hear the story. Ivella and Fertisha stepped closer, and Ian and Sven also showed interest.

“Got it. I’ll tell you.”

So he immediately began his tale.

After all seven heroes assembled, knowing of the existence of the Lord of the Abyss, and the days they fought fiercely against him.

The story that began in the morning finally drew to a close well after the sun had risen high.

About the battle against Giant King Rargtan.

The story that corresponded to the end of his past life.

As Ulan recounted the tense events, the group wore anxious expressions, pressing for answers.

“So, what happened?”

“Did all of you perish there…?”

“No.”

“Then? You escaped?”

“Well, I guess you could say that.”

Another ambiguous response came.

As if suggesting he didn’t know what happened afterward.

Then Ivella appeared to piece together the implications rapidly.

“Wait a minute! Are you implying Ulan…?”

“Ultimately someone had to remain behind.”

Before Ivella’s statement even finished, Ulan calmly confessed the truth.

It wasn’t just Giant King Rargtan who remained. With the Frost Dragon and Lord of the Immortals left alive, they couldn’t afford to lose the heroes.

“So I stayed.”

To buy time for everyone else to escape.

Ulan fought with all his might and ultimately defeated Rargtan. However, he too found himself facing his end.

“But that wasn’t the end.”

In the moment he acknowledged his death, and began reflecting on his life, he opened his eyes once again to find himself back in the prairie, 30 years ahead.

“This is all I remember.”

Once the lengthy story concluded, the silence enveloped the room once more.

Reflecting on the final moment Ulan described, an overwhelming sense of pressure settled over everyone. Just as they were immersed in that mood.

Suddenly, Ulan bowed his head.

“…I’m sorry.”

“U-Ulan?”

“I should have told you all this a bit earlier, but I did not. So I want to apologize to all of you for that.”

“That’s not Ulan’s fault! I….”

It was Laurea who suggested delaying the confession until they all gathered, saying it was necessary to prepare their hearts.

Therefore, it wasn’t Ulan’s fault for revealing his secrets late.

“No, it’s my fault. Regardless, keeping it a secret until now doesn’t change it.”

This time, Ulan wouldn’t retract his apology. As a result, three girls, excluding Laurea, responded.

“It’s fine. This isn’t something you need to apologize for.”

“Just the fact that you shared such a difficult story is satisfying enough for us.”

“Exactly. So lift your head.”

They were surprised but not angry.

The three shared those sentiments.

“Still, I am a bit confused.”

“Of course, it’s not that I don’t believe Ulan’s story. It’s just that it’s difficult to accept right away. So I need some time.”

Time to accept the truth.

Delia and Ivella nodded in agreement.

It had been confirmed that what Ulan spoke was truth, but accepting it was a separate matter.

“That makes sense. I understand.”

Ulan nodded in agreement as well.

If the situation had been reversed, he would have likely shown a similar response. Just as their discussion about Ulan’s secrets began to wind down.

“But wait.”

Suddenly, Sven raised his hand.

As if something puzzled him.

“I have one question from everything we’ve heard so far. Can I ask?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“Then who is that girl?”

Sven pointed towards Noah, wide-eyed as if in wonder. He stared at her while giving voice to his thoughts.

“In the story we just heard, she was never mentioned once.”

“Well, that’s….”

Upon reflection, that was true.

The group slowly turned their gazes from Ulan to Noah, as the realization dawned.

Finally, the moment had come.

With that thought, Noah bit her lip as she met everyone’s eyes. But her hesitation didn’t last long.

“Now it’s my turn.”

Having resolved herself, Noah took a deep breath and slowly parted her lips.

She was about to reveal her secret to everyone.

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