Chapter 52

(6)

13.

Just before the start of the third match.

Ivella anxiously watched the arena.

While purifying the magic power filling the venue, she suddenly witnessed Himel talking to Ulan.

‘What are they talking about?’

The arena and spectator seats are quite far apart.

Moreover, due to the surrounding noise, it’s hard to hear what the participants are saying.

Is that why?

She felt even more uneasy.

And the fact that the opponent was Himel made it even more unsettling. He sees her as a thorn in his side.

Perhaps he’s trying to drive a wedge between her and Ulan.

‘But it’s okay. If it’s Ulan…’

He wouldn’t be swayed by mere provocation.

The Ulan she had seen so far was that kind of man. So, she suppressed her trembling and watched Ulan in the arena.

Not long after.

Their battle began.

Clang! Clash!

The two clashed as they moved across the arena.

The students cheered at the fast and flashy exchange, unlike the dull second match, which was full of excitement.

But questions also arose.

“Huh? Isn’t that a bit strange?”

“What is?”

“That barbarian. He’s supposed to be an expert, right?”

“But why is he only defending?”

From the start of the battle until now.

Ulan had been focused solely on defense and evasion.

On the other hand, Himel was the complete opposite.

From the beginning, he had been unleashing fierce attacks. Even someone unfamiliar with swordsmanship could see that he had the upper hand.

“Right. Now that you mention it, it is strange.”

“If he’s an expert, he should be stronger than Himel.”

“Guess the rumors were exaggerated.”

Some students burst into laughter. Others sneered, as if to say, “I knew it.”

But the truth was different.

‘No, that’s…!’

He’s not just desperately dodging.

Ulan perfectly countered every attack.

This is an action that would be impossible without superior skill. In other words, his current defensive stance was entirely intentional.

‘I don’t know what his goal is.’

Ulan silently endured Himel’s onslaught.

After several exchanges, his momentum suddenly changed. Just as Ivella sensed the change and widened her eyes.

The counterattack began.

An axe flying through the air.

Himel hurriedly deflected it with his sword. But the force behind the axe was stronger than expected, and he was pushed back helplessly.

Seeing Himel’s panicked expression, Ivella inwardly sneered.

‘Well, he should be panicked.’

Ulan’s strength is no ordinary matter.

She watched the arena with sparkling eyes. Now that Ulan had launched a counterattack, she was sure the match would soon be decided.

But strangely.

Ulan didn’t finish it.

The two stared at each other again.

Returning to their initial confrontation, the students tilted their heads in confusion.

“Huh? Why did they stop fighting?”

“Are they talking?”

“Can you hear what they’re saying?”

“Nah, you can’t hear from here.”

Unless they shouted.

So, everyone looked at them curiously.

Ivella was no different. Shortly after, something unexpected happened.

Thud!

Himel, who had been trembling, suddenly sat down. He didn’t even try to get up, slowly backing away.

But it was too early to be surprised.

Something even more shocking happened. Ulan’s sudden, unexpected action.

Thud!

Ulan suddenly dropped his axe.

The spectators buzzed at this sight.

“Huh? He dropped his weapon?”

“That means he’s surrendering.”

“Is he planning to forfeit?”

There’s a rule in the selection match.

Dropping your weapon is considered surrender, and losing your weapon is considered defeat. Ivella also remembered this rule.

So, the moment she saw this.

Her heart suddenly sank.

‘Ulan?! Why…!’

Her eyes filled with confusion.

It was understandable. He had been fighting well and even had the upper hand, so why would he suddenly surrender?

Did Himel somehow persuade him?

‘No, that can’t be!’

Ulan would never do that.

Ivella clenched her trembling hands and watched Ulan. At that moment, Ulan, who had dropped his axe, strode forward.

Towards Himel.

Then, he suddenly grabbed Himel by the collar.

“Huh?”

What? Isn’t he surrendering?

Everyone was thinking that when suddenly.

Himel was flung into the air. Ulan, holding his collar, lifted him in one swift motion.

And at that moment.

Crash!

Himel was slammed headfirst into the ground.

The loud noise reverberated through the arena, reaching the spectator seats.

After the noise subsided.

The arena fell silent, as if doused in cold water.

It was understandable.

No one had expected this. Even the judge seemed momentarily stunned, unable to process the situation.

Meanwhile.

Ulan dragged Himel like a dog.

He stopped in front of the spectator seats. And his gaze was directed at where Ivella was currently sitting.

After looking at Ivella.

Ulan immediately took action.

─────!

Himel’s head was slammed into the ground.

It was as if the ground itself would be pierced.

It was a blow strong enough to shatter his head, but Ulan didn’t seem satisfied. He kept slamming Himel’s head into the ground.

Bang! Crash!

Once, and then again.

Himel’s head was repeatedly smashed. As if apologizing for a grave sin.

‘Wait, apologizing?’

At that moment, Ivella’s eyes widened.

Come to think of it, the direction his head was facing was where she was sitting. Moreover, before slamming Himel’s head, Ulan had deliberately made eye contact with her.

‘Then, could it be…!’

Did he do that for me?

Ivella’s eyes widened.

It was a reasonable assumption. The act of repeatedly slamming his head towards her could only mean one thing: an apology.

Realizing this.

She suddenly remembered what she had heard earlier.

「Ivella. We are friends.」

When she heard that Himel had forfeited.

When she had given up on everything.

When she was sobbing alone in the forest. Somehow, Ulan had found her and reached out his hand.

「When friends are in trouble, they do their best to help each other. It might not be like that here, but that’s how it is on the prairie.」

And he said it in a calm tone.

As if stating an obvious fact.

「So, if you’re in trouble, tell me.」

With a serious look in his eyes.

He whispered sincerely.

「I will help you.」

After recalling Ulan’s words.

Ivella tightly gripped her sword.

For a moment, an indescribable emotion surged within her.

“Ugh.”

She bit her lip hard.

If she didn’t, the overwhelming emotion might have spilled out in another form.

When Ulan had said those words.

She hadn’t expected much.

Of course, she felt his sincerity, but she thought it was just a comforting encouragement.

But now, at this moment, Ulan had proven his words and promise through action.

“……Ulan.”

She didn’t know how he had figured out her relationship with Himel. But that wasn’t important.

What mattered was that he had made Himel apologize on her behalf, even giving up the selection match.

That was all that mattered.

After joining the Deorg family years ago.

The accumulated discrimination, humiliation, and pain she had endured over the years began to crumble, and Ivella finally shed tears.

But she didn’t lower her head.

Nor did she look away. She kept her eyes on Ulan, visible through her blurred vision.

Just endlessly.

14.

The officer in charge of the Student Council.

Philip Ernoc frowned at the report he had just received from the guards.

“An incident occurred during the selection match?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“A student violated the rules and caused a bloody scene, so we arrested him immediately. He has been taken to the guidance office.”

From the explanation, he roughly understood the situation.

It happens occasionally. Idiots who can’t accept defeat or control their anger, breaking the rules and lashing out.

“Please provide a detailed report.”

“Yes, the perpetrator suddenly dropped his weapon during the battle, luring the opponent into a false sense of security.”

“And then attacked?”

“That’s correct.”

“Tsk, what a despicable guy.”

Philip clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Dropping your weapon means surrender.

It’s the same as the match ending immediately.

But to use that as a chance to attack and cause a bloody scene, it’s only natural he was arrested.

Then, an additional report followed.

“The victim is currently unconscious due to fractures, excessive bleeding, and multiple organ failure.”

“……What?”

Philip asked, dumbfounded.

He had heard it was a bloody scene, but it was still a fight between students. At worst, he thought it was just a stabbing, but unconscious?

“What on earth happened?”

“After smashing his face, he grabbed his head and slammed it into the arena floor several times.”

What? That’s insane!

Philip was at a loss for words.

This was beyond what the Student Council could handle. It was enough to convene a disciplinary committee and proceed with expulsion.

After collecting himself, he immediately asked.

“Who is the victim?”

“First-year, Class 2, Himel Deorg.”

“Right, Himel… What? Himel?!”

Philip’s face turned pale as he asked again.

He snatched the diagnosis report from the guard’s hand. His eyes widened. It was indeed the Himel Deorg he knew.

‘The Empire’s swordsmanship genius!’

The sole heir of the Deorg family.

Such a skilled person was the victim, not the perpetrator? Philip asked again, bewildered.

“Was the opponent Delia Arpen?”

“No, it wasn’t. Delia Arpen had already finished her match earlier.”

“Then who on earth…?”

Who could have done that to Himel?

Such questions arose, but he quickly closed his mouth.

They would arrive at their destination soon anyway.

He planned to meet and confirm it himself. But then, the guard said something strange.

“Ah, upon further investigation, the perpetrator has a similar record.”

“Huh? A record?”

A record? That can’t be.

Since the entrance ceremony this year, no one had been brought to the Student Council.

‘No, that’s not entirely true.’

Come to think of it, there was one.

The terrorist from the entrance ceremony, Ulan Bator.

The moment he remembered, Philip’s eyes widened.

‘W-Wait! Then could it be…?’

Just as a bad premonition struck him.

Clang! Creak!

The iron gate guarding the destination opened with a loud noise. A moment later, Philip’s face twisted.

“Damn it.”

Two people entered his view.

One was, as expected, Ulan, and the other was the inspector from the Military Department. He unfolded a document with an authoritative posture.

“Please handle this promptly.”

“……”

Philip’s face looked like he had bitten into something bitter.

Not long after.

Ulan was immediately released.

15.

After leaving the guidance office.

Ulan headed straight to the dormitory.

The inspector from the Military Department had told him to wait in the dormitory until the results of the incident were decided.

While walking.

He soon encountered a familiar face.

“……Ulan.”

It was Ivella.

Standing at the entrance, she looked at Ulan with a face full of concern.

“Are you okay? Did anything happen?”

“Yeah, I just sat for a while and then came.”

He answered truthfully.

But for some reason, Ivella’s expression subtly changed. Her complexion turned bitter, as if in pain.

After a moment, she spoke with difficulty.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Something you want to ask?”

“Yeah, about what happened in the arena.”

Her green eyes trembled slightly.

Ivella cautiously asked.

“I was curious why you did that.”

Answering wasn’t difficult.

Ulan immediately revealed the truth.

“Because he tarnished your honor.”

“……”

“I gave him a chance to apologize, but he refused, so I restored your honor in the prairie’s way.”

After his answer.

Ivella bit her lip slightly. It was almost exactly what she had expected.

Honestly, she was happy with Ulan’s actions.

It was the first time someone had stood up for her or made someone apologize on her behalf.

‘But……’

Ulan was too hasty.

He had touched someone he shouldn’t have. So, there was something she had to say.

“Thank you for caring about me. But aren’t you worried about the repercussions?”

“What do you mean?”

“Himel is the heir of the Deorg family. The Deorg Count family is the second strongest martial family in the Empire. But……”

“Ah, I see.”

At that moment, Ulan cut her off.

Then, he replied nonchalantly.

“It’s fine. I’m not afraid of that.”

“Y-You’re not?”

“If it’s for a friend’s honor, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. Even if it’s the Emperor of the Empire.”

“……”

For a moment, she was speechless.

She realized Ulan’s answer wasn’t a joke. In other words, he truly wasn’t afraid, even if the opponent was the Emperor.

While she was momentarily stunned.

Ivella quickly regained her composure.

“T-Then, can I ask one more thing?”

“Sure.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Well……”

Because we’re friends.

Ulan was about to answer that.

But Ivella was much faster.

“Even if we’re friends, most people wouldn’t go this far. So, I wanted to ask. Do you want something from me?”

“……”

“Sorry, but I don’t have anything. I’m not a noble, and I don’t have any savings.”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Ivella’s lips.

“So, if there’s anything else you want besides what you’ve said, tell me. I’ll do anything I can.”

“Anything?”

“Yeah. Anything.”

She nodded with a determined face.

Even if it meant taking on the burden of Ulan’s crime.

Ivella was ready to do anything Ulan wanted. It was the only way she could repay him.

“Alright. Then I’ll tell you what I want.”

Along with Ulan’s words.

She swallowed hard. She had prepared herself, but she couldn’t help feeling nervous.

‘What does Ulan want from me?’

Ivella truly had nothing.

Under such limited conditions, what could Ulan possibly ask for?

‘Maybe……’

Ivella paused her thoughts for a moment.

Whatever she imagined, her cheeks turned slightly red.

But she shook her head.

‘No, Ulan isn’t that kind of person.’

He’s a barbarian, but a gentleman. So, she shook her head vigorously again.

Then, Ulan’s answer came.

With something completely unexpected.

“Grow stronger.”

“……What?”

What did he just say? Grow stronger?

For a moment, she couldn’t grasp the situation and asked again, thinking she had misheard.

But she hadn’t misheard.

“Train your sword, break through walls. Until the day I can entrust my back to you.”

“W-What do you mean……”

“And stand by my side as a comrade.”

To Ulan, Ivella is a comrade.

In the distant future, a comrade who will face the Lord of the Abyss. And the only friend who understands and respects him.

“That’s all I want.”

Thus, Ulan wished.

To make the bond they had formed in their past life even stronger and more resilient.

So that this time, they could reach the final battlefield and face the Lords of the Abyss.

After his answer.

Ivella asked again, dumbfounded.

“T-That’s really all you want?”

“That’s enough.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Ulan nodded repeatedly.

On the other hand, Ivella still looked at him with a dazed expression. But only for a moment.

“Pfft, ahahaha!”

Soon, a refreshing laugh burst out.

She held her stomach and continued to laugh. When the laughter subsided, Ivella’s expression brightened.

‘That’s right, Ulan is that kind of man.’

Stubborn, upright, and sincere.

No matter what others say, no matter what the world says, he moves according to his own beliefs.

‘That’s why……’

After finishing that thought.

Ivella shook off her thoughts. She also hid her almost revealed feelings. But she couldn’t hide her gaze towards Ulan.

A new emotion, different from admiration.

A bright smile appeared on her flushed face. Ivella nodded.

“Okay, I’ll grow stronger.”

As Ulan said.

In skill, spirit, body, and heart.

And─.

“Someday, I will definitely stand by your side.”

Step by step.

Before she knew it, Ivella had approached Ulan and subtly took the seat next to him. Then, she shyly smiled and gently pulled his arm.

“So, this seat is mine.”

A firm tone, as if driving a wedge.

With a voice that said she would never give it up, Ivella smiled brightly. It was the brightest smile since she came to the academy.

“Just wait a little longer. I’ll grow much faster than you expect and come to your side.”

“Alright, I’ll look forward to it.”

Ulan also smiled.

The closer Ivella got to being a swordswoman, the stronger their force would be. Then, like in their past life, they could spar every day.

Each holding completely different thoughts.

A day full of events came to an end.

And the next day.

Ulan’s punishment was decided.

Chapter 15. The Calm Before the Storm

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