Chapter 266

Chapter 58. Total Elimination (6)

After returning to the Academy, Ulan and his group decided to move to a café instead of sticking to the original schedule. They had unexpectedly run into someone.

“Hey, look over there.”

“Isn’t that Count Deorg?”

“Whoa! It really is!”

The whispers were about none other than Istan El Deorg, a knight who guarded the Southern Front of the Empire and was famed as one of the five Masters.

Meanwhile, Istan, completely unfazed by the gazes directed at him, leisurely sipped his tea. Just then, a voice cut through the silence.

“…What are you doing here?”

It was Ivella’s voice.

She squinted at Istan, but he was as expressionless as ever.

In fact, he even smiled brightly and casually replied, “Is that such a strange question? Isn’t it normal for a father to visit his daughter?”

“W-Well…” Ivella trailed off.

If the father-daughter relationship were typical, it would’ve made sense. But their relationship was far from ordinary, as they had spent over a decade barely acknowledging each other’s existence.

“And didn’t I send a letter? I said I’d pop by the Academy on Thursday.”

“I knew that, but…”

She never expected him to show up so openly. The unnecessary attention was making Ivella frown.

“So why are you here? You didn’t come all this way just for me, did you?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because it’s awkward.”

Ivella answered confidently. And indeed, their relationship was heavily steeped in awkwardness. Istan nodded as if he agreed with her, shrugging his shoulders.

“That’s exactly why I should come more often. That way, I can actually fulfill my duties as a father.”

His words flowed out in a convincing manner.

Ivella fell silent, seemingly pondering what to say. Istan couldn’t help but chuckle at her.

“Of course, you’re not entirely wrong. My reason for coming to the Academy today is not just to see you, but for another purpose as well.”

After wrapping up the conversation with Ivella, his gaze shifted to a barbarian guy across the way, crunching on ice.

That was Ulan.

“And one of those purposes is you.”

“Hmm? Do you need something from me?”

“Yes. I want to ask for your advice.”

Ulan nodded seriously, a bit taken aback. Istan continued:

“I’ve picked up my sword again recently, but I feel off, and like I’m still hitting a wall like before.”

“I don’t know much about swordplay.”

Before Istan even finished, Ulan shot back firmly. He had figured out what Istan’s advice was about.

But Istan shook his head.

“I’m not asking you to teach me swordsmanship.”

“Then what do you want?”

“To put it simply, I just want to gain practical experience with you. I feel like it might help me regain my lost edge.”

“Hmm, so…” Ulan was piecing together Istan’s request.

A little while later, he asked to confirm his understanding.

“You want to spar with me a few times?”

“Well, that’s about the gist of it. And just to add, the more duels, the better.”

Istan grinned widely, his true intentions revealed on his face. Ulan nodded, seemingly indifferent.

“If that’s the case, I’m all for it.”

“Haha, thanks! I knew you’d say that.”

Istan burst into laughter, as if all his worries had disappeared. He then asked with a competitive grin, “So when would be convenient? If you’re okay with it, I’m ready to start right away.”

He was positively itching to swing his sword. Ulan grinned back, clearly enjoying the prospect of a fight.

“I feel the same way…”

Just as he was about to continue, a white palm suddenly covered Ulan’s mouth, cutting off the conversation. Naturally, Istan’s gaze was drawn to the owner of the hand.

“Hello, Count.”

A girl respectfully bowed her head.

With striking black hair reminiscent of the night sky and a petite build like a squirrel, she made quite the impression.

“It’s great that you want to duel Ulan, but before that, I have something to discuss with you, Count.”

“Hmm? And you are…”

“Ah, I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Noa Darshen, a sorceress from the same tribe as Ulan and Ivella’s classmate.”

The name rang a bell. Even though they hadn’t exchanged many words, her distinctive hair color made her memorable.

“So, you have something to share with me?”

“Yes, I would like to ask for your help regarding Ulan. If it’s not too much trouble, could you spare a moment to listen?”

“Of course. Since I owe you a favor, I’m happy to help if it’s within my means.”

Upon hearing it was about Ulan, Istan nodded without hesitation.

Then came a rather significant statement.

“Ah, but you don’t need to worry.”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Because you’re the only one who can grant my request.”

That piqued Istan’s curiosity.

“Alright. Then tell me what your request is.”

“Thank you for being willing to listen.”

Though Noa had only asked if she could share her request, she quickly bowed her head. Then, with an ever-present smile, she began to speak.

“Silfi Rudrik.”

“…!”

“You know who that is, right?”

Noa beamed with a mischievous smile, while Istan’s expression rapidly turned serious.

Of course, it was understandable. An unexpected name had popped out from an unexpected person, hence his reaction. As he was still reeling, Noa continued.

“What I want to discuss is related to Silfi Rudrik. More specifically, about the cultists in the desert.”

Silfi Rudrik, the desert cultist. Just from the two hints that fell from Noa’s lips, Istan comprehended the present situation. Thus, he murmured softly with a stiff face.

“…I want to hear more details.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I was hoping for.”

Now she had successfully piqued his interest. All that remained was to engage in dialogue with Istan and secure his cooperation. With her purpose set, Noa’s eyes sparkled with determination.

Meanwhile, at that moment, in a mansion returning from the imperial castle, D’muehl Ron Dermore widened his eyes in shock as he listened to the story of his only daughter, Yurfe Dermore.

“…What?”

He usually maintained a calm demeanor, but right now, he was anything but. Stammering, D’muehl repeated, “W-Who showed up?”

“Students from Arsen Academy. Oh, I think I heard you wrote them a recommendation letter?”

Ulan Bator and Noa Darshen. Fruits of an old connection from beyond the northern snow-capped mountains. And now, they posed a significant threat to D’muehl.

“The Hero and the Outsider.”

As those two names, warned by the Lord of the Abyss, Rakus, slipped from Yurfe’s lips, he hastily grabbed her shoulders and asked, “Did anyone get hurt? Or were they prying into your personal life?”

“Huh? No, not at all. In fact, I had way more questions than they did.”

Yurfe spilled her story effortlessly.

D’muehl listened attentively, checking her body for any signs of harm. After confirming she was fine, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Phew, I see.”

It was a sigh of relief.

As his tension eased, D’muehl quickly regained his composure. He wiped the alarm off his face and turned to Yurfe to ask, “So, was it just those two who visited?”

“No, there were five of them.”

“What? Five?”

There were more visitors besides the two? D’muehl questioned in disbelief, and Yurfe nodded, taking out a small notebook.

“Yes, I asked for their names to relay to you and wrote them down.”

D’muehl accepted the notebook and quickly opened it, verifying the five names of those who had come to visit.

[Ulan Bator]

[Noa Darshen]

[Ivella Elea’ad]

[Delia Arpen]

[Tisha Lapis]

Four of the Heroes. The moment he confirmed that the Outsider had come too, a chill ran down his spine. An inexplicable anxiety caused his eyebrows to twitch subtly.

“Yurfe.”

“Yes?”

“Did they mention why they visited? Their purpose…?”

“Um, I think they just came to say hello, is there something wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Seeing Yurfe looking worriedly at him, D’muehl hurriedly shook his head. But there was no hiding the darkening expression on his face.

Meanwhile, Yurfe seemed oblivious to his mood, chatterboxing about the encounter.

“They all seemed really mature. I mean, they’re only a year older than me! Must be all thanks to attending the Academy, right?”

Her first impression of Ulan and his group. And Yurfe continued to chatter about all the things she had talked about with Ivella.

How much time passed?

“Ahem! Speaking of…”

After continuing her chatter for a while longer, she suddenly began to gauge D’muehl’s reaction. Then, in a casual tone, she said, “I’m thinking of taking the entrance exam for Arsen Academy.”

“Hmm, yeah. Wait, what?”

D’muehl, who had been nodding mechanically, blinked wide-eyed at Yurfe. Because an unexpected declaration had just come out of her mouth.

As if unaware of D’muehl’s reaction, Yurfe carried on with her thoughts.

“It’s been my dream for a while now, even before I suddenly fell ill.”

That was indeed true.

Yurfe had often brought up Arsen Academy even before her passing. As D’muehl sank into nostalgia, Yurfe added to her reasoning for wanting to take the entrance exam.

“I want to learn so many things that I can’t learn here, and I want to make friends too. So I thought I’d ask you for permission.”

“Hmm, that’s…”

“You’ll let me, right?”

With sparkling eyes like a rabbit.

In truth, D’muehl did not want to send her to the Academy at all. He only wanted to keep her by his side and ensure her safety.

“But…”

The mansion was no longer a safe place.

The fact that the Outsider and the four Heroes had arrived meant they had probably sensed something was up.

Yurfe’s twinkling eyes made it hard for him to simply refuse her request. With lingering hesitation, D’muehl ultimately surrendered.

“Alright, I’ll write a recommendation letter.”

“Oh, it’s okay! I want to take the entrance exam on my own merit!”

“Understood. Then go ahead.”

“Hehe, thank you!”

Perhaps it was the fact that her request had been graciously granted? Yurfe clung to D’muehl’s arm and beamed with joy. Even D’muehl, who usually held a serious expression, couldn’t help but smile at her bright demeanor.

A little while later.

After finishing their conversation, D’muehl left the mansion and headed straight for the underground chamber of the annex.

It had been on his mind ever since he heard Ulan’s group had arrived.

‘So far, there are no signs of an intruder.’

The latch was still secured just as he had left it, and the guards stationed outside the basement claimed that no one had come by.

After checking thoroughly several times, D’muehl finally reached his conclusion.

“…It seems safe here.”

Somewhat a blessing in disguise.

The basement of the annex was a place rich with traces of Rakus and his minions. Moreover, it was where he had direct contact with the Abyss Worshippers.

That’s why D’muehl felt genuine relief that the existence of this basement hadn’t been revealed. Though there were those with different thoughts.

“But I can’t let my guard down.”

A sudden emergence of a clay doll.

It was Rakus’s clone. With red eyes glinting, Rakus scanned the vicinity around the annex.

“I sense a spirit nearby. There’s a possibility that the location of this place has been identified by the Heroes.”

At those words, D’muehl’s face hardened.

Meanwhile, Rakus remained relatively calm, merely facing the reality that it was time to move.

“We should find a new location just in case.”

“Do you have a place in mind?”

“Not really. In the current situation, there’s only one suitable candidate.”

Rakus’s gaze turned north.

The direction in which he looked was the place D’muehl had just occupied and where the second Apostle of the Abyss would soon take residence.

“I will designate the Imperial Castle as the new base.”

The Imperial Castle of the Rubens Empire. A location the Heroes could scarcely approach.

With that, a wicked smile distorted Rakus’s lips, as if he was thoroughly pleased with the cunning plan he’d devised.