(4)
7.
Military Department’s General Ward.
Ulan, who had found Istan El Deorg’s hospital room, tilted his head with a subtle expression.
“Are you really okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m not hurt or anything.”
Istan smiled lightly.
But it wasn’t very convincing.
His body was wrapped in bandages, after all. His complexion was somewhat pale too.
“If you think of it as the price to peek at that kind of mastery, then it’s cheap. Don’t worry about it.”
His tone sounded quite different from before.
Istan laughed as if it were no big deal.
But that warm moment was fleeting.
Suddenly, his smile vanished.
He lowered his head toward Ulan.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Huh? What’s this out of nowhere?”
“I apologize for calling you a barbarian. It’s late, but please forgive my rudeness.”
That was an unexpected apology.
Ulan wasn’t particularly offended or angry. He was far too young to get mad over something like that.
But there was no reason not to accept an apology, so he nodded cheerfully.
“I understand. I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.”
Istan bowed his head once more.
Then he continued.
“Now it’s time to keep our promise.”
A promise to restore the honor that Himel had tarnished. Just as he finished speaking, someone entered the room.
“Ah, father. You called for me… Ugh!”
The youth who walked in with a tense face was startled upon seeing Ulan.
It was Himel Deorg.
What was this guy doing here? As that question popped into Ulan’s mind, his eyes narrowed slightly.
“I called for you.”
“You did?”
“Yes, for a proper apology, the one who sullied the honor must be present too.”
Immediately after his response.
Istan unleashed a chilling gaze.
Under the looming anger radiated by the Master, Himel’s face turned ashen.
“So, the preparation to apologize is complete now.”
Now the only thing left was to move to where the person owed an apology is.
With that, Istan looked back at Ulan as if to ask for directions.
But there was no need for that.
Bang!
With the sudden swing of the door,
the person in question had arrived.
“Ulan, you were looking for me…”
Ivella Elea’ad.
As soon as she spotted Ulan, her face lit up, but before long, her lips sealed tight.
“…”
Her face quickly hardened.
It was to be expected. Two people in this room were the last ones she wanted to run into.
She wasn’t the only one flustered.
“…Ivella?”
Istan asked, bewildered.
Even after a couple of years apart, the girl standing before him was undoubtedly Ivella.
“What are you doing here…?”
As she mumbled in a fluster,
a certain guess struck her mind.
“C-could it be the friend you mentioned…?”
“That’s right. Ivella Elea’ad.”
Last words from Ulan hung in the heavy silence of the hospital room.
There was a palpable tension: Istan looking utterly bewildered, Himel shrinking back in fear, and Ivella emanating chilling vibes.
The awkward stillness lingered.
“…Let me take a moment to process this.”
Istan finally spoke up, struggling to find the words.
Clearly, he was quite confused.
Frowning, Istan tapped on the table as the thought came to an end.
“So, according to you, it means Himel tarnished Ivella’s honor and behaved rudely?”
“Exactly.”
“I see. Thanks for the response.”
No sooner had his answer left his lips, than Istan’s expression changed drastically.
“Himel Deorg.”
“…Yes?”
“Kneel before Ivella.”
“W-why should I?!”
Himel protested at the sudden demand.
No, he intended to. But in that moment, his voice stumbled, unable to come out.
“I’ve heard about your deeds already.”
An intangible pressure tightened around his throat.
Thanks to Istan’s murderous intent.
Under the Master’s carefully unleashed wrath, Himel turned pale as a ghost.
“Kneel before Ivella immediately and confess every single atrocity you’ve committed. Apologizing comes after.”
The rudeness Ulan mentioned was just the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, Istan wanted to hear everything that had happened.
However, Himel didn’t comply.
With a furious expression, he clenched his fist. He still seemed unable to snap back to reality, his meager pride surged forward as he shouted.
“…No way.”
“What? Why?!”
“What’s so wrong with calling someone lowborn lowly?! I… Urk!”
And at that moment.
With a sudden scream, Himel’s body floated in the air. Istan had kicked him in frustration.
Smash! Boom!
Himel crashed into a corner.
But it didn’t end there. Istan grabbed Himel’s head, slamming it down onto the floor.
With loud vibrations echoing,
Istan also bowed his head.
“I’ll apologize on your behalf.”
Both of their heads were directed toward Ivella.
With a troubled expression, Istan said,
“I’ve heard everything Himel has done. About how he tarnished your honor and spewed nonsensical remarks.”
“…”
“I’m sincerely sorry. I vow this will never happen again. I swear it by my name and house.”
Bowing his head once again was a clear apology, stripped of any pride or honor.
However, Ivella remained expressionless.
She seemed entirely unmoved.
After a pause,
“How can I believe those words?”
A cold voice returned.
Eyes filled with distrust bore into him.
“You said the same when you came to pick up mom and me. You apologized for leaving us, saying you’d be with us from then on.”
“That was…”
“And yet you abandoned us again. Do you have any idea how much shame and torment my mom and I faced?”
Ever since entering the castle with Istan,
horrible bullying began.
Not only did the Countess and vassals spit out insults and discrimination at them, but even the butlers and maids treated them with contempt.
The reason was simple.
Because their mother was a commoner.
“You call it a luxury for lowly people to stay in your mansion, while we lived in a storage filled with bugs. We were served meals worse than what the servants had.”
Her voice flowed calmly.
A fierce mix of rage and resentment stared at Istan intently.
“I wanted to escape, but I couldn’t. If it got out that the Deorg family had lowborn blood mixed in, their honor would drop.”
There was no one to whom she could express her grievances.
The only person the mother and daughter could rely on, Istan, had abandoned them for the battlefield.
Years went by.
Taking advantage of a moment when the surveillance eyes were lax, Ivella finally fled from the Count’s territory.
“The reason I enrolled in Arsen Academy was strictly because it was beyond that woman’s influence.”
She hadn’t expected Himel to enroll too, but.
After telling her story, Istan looked rather shocked. As if he were hearing this for the first time.
“I had no idea. I didn’t think it would be to that extent…”
“Yes, you didn’t know. To you, we were just trinkets stuffed in a drawer.”
With a mocking tone, Ivella glared at him fiercely.
“I can’t forgive you. Never.”
“…”
Istan sealed his lips.
Of course, he had his own justifications.
At the time, he was suffering from the ash-heap syndrome, unable to care for himself, let alone his family or house.
But he didn’t choose to voice it.
No matter what reason he came up with, the fact that he abandoned both of them remained unchanged.
Yet at that moment,
Ivella opened her mouth again.
“…But not mom.”
“Idelin…?”
“Mom is still waiting for you to return. Even if it is foolish, saying you won’t come back was useless.”
So she stayed behind in the Count’s territory.
If Istan were to return someday, someone had to be there to welcome him.
The resentment towards Istan was still present.
But that did not apply to Idelin. Her mother was still waiting for Istan. Therefore, Ivella added words for her mother.
“So if you truly regret and wish for forgiveness, beg mom, not me. And be there by her side.”
That was all she had to say.
Oh, and one more thing.
“Don’t cause any further distress or threats.”
“…Threats?”
What was that about?
Istan’s eyebrows twitched.
In response, Ivella exposed every threat Himel had committed.
How he had threatened her mother, Idelin, using her safety as leverage, and even forced her to forfeit in the Selection Match.
Soon after, once all the stories were told,
Istan’s face was twisted like a demon’s. Himel, on the other hand, looked pale as a ghost.
“…Is that true?”
“W-well, you see…”
“Is it true or not?”
The answer didn’t come.
The absence of denial made Istan grind his teeth. He realized from Himel’s reaction.
That Ivella’s story was the truth.
And at that moment.
“You worthless bug!”
Himel’s head slammed against the wall.
Boom!
With a roaring sound, the hospital reverberated.
The sudden thunderous noise brought doctors and nurses rushing in, but they could only retreat without a word. Due to the murderous intent radiating from Istan.
Thud! Crack!
His face smashed through the wall.
Himel fainted right there.
Truly lucky not to be dead. Soon after, Istan again bowed to Ivella.
“I’m truly sorry. I have no face to show you.”
“…”
“This time, I swear I will protect Idelin’s safety.”
His voice dripped with sincerity.
The air was thick with danger emanating from him.
“I won’t let those who belittled you and Idelin go unpunished. Himel’s mother and those vassals will pay for their deeds.”
The ferocity filled the hospital room.
As the killing intent rampaged through, Ivella flinched her shoulders. But the time to be intimidated didn’t last long.
“…Ulan.”
Suddenly blocking the rampant killing intent, Ulan stood firm. As Ivella managed a faint smile at his thoughtfulness, Istan regained his composure.
“Right now, you probably won’t believe anything I say. So I’ll send a letter with the results after we return to the Count’s territory.”
“…”
“Also, there’s no need to worry about Himel anymore. He’s expected to leave Arsen Academy soon.”
“…What?”
Leaving the Academy?
Caught off guard by the unexpected revelation, Ivella inquired, and Istan replied firmly.
“Yes. He plans to submit his resignation within next week and intends to take him back to the Count’s territory.”
“…!”
“Through this incident, I’ve realized there are things to teach before teaching swordsmanship.”
Of course, it wouldn’t mean that his swordsmanship skills were excellent. They were below expectations and quite terrible.
“In any case, until you can behave like a human, I plan to chuck him into the battlefield, so don’t worry.”
To that, Ivella wore a subtle expression.
Frankly, this was unexpected.
To see the heir to the family resign and be promptly taken to the battlefield was a pretty shocking news that left her momentarily speechless.
“Can I ask a question?”
Suddenly Ulan raised his hand.
He seemed to have something on his mind. With his unexpected interruption, both Istan and Ivella turned to look at him.
Meeting the shifted gaze,
Ulan asked curiously.
“What kind of relationship do you two have?”
“…Huh?”
You’re asking that now?
Shouldn’t you grasp some understanding of the nature of our conversation by now? When Ivella was getting flustered, Istan cut in.
“Ivella is my daughter.”
“Wait, who’s your…?”
“Even though I wasn’t able to fulfill my role as a father, that will change from now on. As the Master of the Empire and the owner of Deorg, I swear it.”
A resolve filled with determination shown in his eyes.
Perhaps that’s why? Ivella, wanting to argue, ended up sealing her lips. Meanwhile, Ulan still wore an expression of confusion.
“But your surnames are different.”
“There were circumstances; I had no other choice. But things will change from now on. You’ll be able to use the Deorg surname whenever you wish…”
Just as Istan was stringing his words together,
a strong rebuttal came back.
“No, I am Ivella Elea’ad.”
A declaration made firmly.
Ivella insisted stubbornly.
“I have no intention of living as a Deorg.”
It was understandable.
The long-standing anger and resentment wouldn’t simply evaporate overnight.
The atmosphere turned awkward once more.
“I see. So you’re father and daughter.”
Ulan nodded quietly.
It seemed like he finally grasped the situation.
Ivella, noticing the reaction, asked with a curious face.
“Then what did you think until now?”
“Just two people using fashionable swordsmanship.”
“F-fashionable?”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
As she asked back, puzzled, Ulan explained with an impassive face.
“I realized that while dueling earlier, the swordsmanship you two used strangely resembled each other.”
“Were you saying that’s why…?”
“I thought it was street fashion swordsmanship.”
Just like that, the extremely straightforward speculation wrapped the hospital room in calm stillness.
But that calm was momentary. Ivella, who had been heaving her shoulders, burst into laughter.
“Pfft! Hahaha!”
The strongest sword of the southern empire.
To have Deorg’s swordsmanship treated just like some street fashion right in front of the owner was an insult of the highest order.
Feeling an oddly satisfying sensation, Ivella couldn’t stop laughing for a while. Meanwhile, Istan appeared puzzled.
“What do you mean it resembled swordsmanship?”
“It means literally.”
“But I haven’t taught her…”
I never got to spend enough time together to teach the family’s swordsmanship. At that moment, Ivella casually threw out,
“Deorg’s sword dance.”
After finally snuffing out her laughter, she nonchalantly revealed the trivial fact.
“Before leaving for the battlefield, I merely adapted the sword dance you taught into a practical combat style.”
“…You adapted a dance into combat?”
Istan’s eyes widened dramatically.
The sword dance was, quite literally, a dance with a sword.
A flashy display of swinging a sword through rhythms utterly mismatched to practical combat? If that were true, then it signified a talent no one could match.
Meanwhile, at that time,
Ivella once again turned to Ulan.
“By the way, Ulan.”
“Hmm?”
“I have a question too.”
With a rather tense expression on her face.
As if she was about to ask something important. Shortly after, she stirred her tightly shut lips.
“Are you really the Master?”
It was a question of no real significance.
After all, she saw it clearly during the duel. The scene where Ulan took down the two swordsmen of the empire.
But even so.
Ivella wanted to hear it directly from him.
For some reason, it felt like it would solidify the reality of it all. While she gulped her dry throat, ready to speak up,
“Yes. I am.”
Came the simple affirmation.
And at that moment, Ivella unconsciously bit her lips.
‘…Too far away.’
Even when she thought Ulan was an Expert, it felt like an immense distance away.
But up until now, that was acceptable.
With a strong effort, she believed she’d eventually catch up one day.
But this was different.
‘A Master at seventeen.’
She realized clearly.
Ulan was a genius among geniuses, something that had never existed before. And he was on a different level than her from the start.
‘What does it mean to leave an empty spot beside you?’
Never mind leaving an empty spot; she felt like it would be hard to catch even his shadow. At that moment, her expression fell into shadow as an unsettling emotion welled up.
“It’s okay.”
A large hand patted her shoulder.
A palm as big as a mountain, hard as a rock.
It was Ulan. He held her gaze as he calmly spoke.
“You will definitely become a Master.”
As if he read her thoughts.
Ivella stared blankly at Ulan.
It had always been a mystery. How could he, when he himself had no confidence in his own swordsmanship skills, be this certain?
‘…It’s as if he’s seen the future.’
That’s why Ivella stirred her lips,
ready to voice the question that had been bugging her for so long to Ulan.
“So don’t worry.”
Ulan spoke before she could.
Along with an entirely unthought-of reply.
“If you haven’t reached the level of Master by thirty, I will take responsibility for you.”
“…?!”
At that moment, Ivella’s mind went blank.
Her turquoise eyes widened in surprise like a startled rabbit. Soon after, a flustered emotion spread across her face.
How could it not?
‘Y-you’re insinuating…’
From her white ears onward, her face turned a shade of red. But just as suddenly, Ivella shook her head vigorously.
It could merely be a figment of her imagination.
So she cautiously lifted her head.
To observe Ulan.
What met her eyes was Ulan wearing an extremely serious expression. With a gaze as clear as day, she felt her face glow with heat again.
As she anxiously fidgeted,
Ulan rummaged through his past memories.
‘Last time, I became a Master around thirty.’
Thus, he thought he could surpass that barrier within a similar time frame in this life.
Even if he didn’t manage to, it was alright.
He had fought alongside Ivella on the battlefield for nearly a decade. He had the confidence to be responsible for her and bring her to the level of Master.
“How remarkable. That you would say something like that.”
Istan exclaimed with short admiration.
Alas, he lacked the discerning eye to see through the talents of others. But Ulan was different.
His gaze toward Ivella was filled with strong conviction. Almost as if he were sure she would reach Master level without fail.
“Alright. Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Le-leave it to me? What do you mean, take it upon yourself…!”
“I trust you.”
With every repeated word from Istan,
perhaps it sounded like he was recognizing their relationship? Ivella felt her face heat up even more.
“Though it seems my daughter took that in a slightly different way…”
“Hmm? Different way, you say?”
“Hehe, it’s nothing.”
Istan chuckled meaningfully.
For some reason, it didn’t seem like it would be a bad thing to let things develop toward that direction. With that, as the situation began to calm down, Istan spoke again.
“Ivella.”
In a calm tone, he called her name.
Istan knelt on the ground.
“I know this is far from enough to seek your forgiveness just for this. So I don’t expect to earn it straight away.”
“…”
“But I want you to understand that I will change from now on. I pledge to make up for you and Idelin, for a time far longer than all the hellish hours you’ve endured.”
There was no reply.
But she seemed to have improved since their first meeting. At least, there was no longer a fierceness of hostility radiating from her.
Istan wore a light smile. There was no need to rush; for now, he would be satisfied with this.
“And Ulan.”
“…?”
“I thank you for stepping up for Ivella’s honor. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that I learned of this incident all thanks to you. Thank you very much.”
Had it not been for him, Istan had no reason to visit the Academy. He wouldn’t even have known how Ivella was being treated while growing up.
So he expressed his gratitude sincerely.
Though it was quite late, it was still due to Ulan that he was finally informed.
“`
“Now that we can correct what’s been done.”
“If there’s anything you wish for, just say it. As the lord of Deorg, I can offer anything…”
“No need.”
Ulan cut him off firmly.
Then he continued calmly,
“What’s the big deal about helping a friend?”
His tone implied this was the most natural thing in the world.
With eyes that didn’t expect anything in return, Istan kept his mouth shut. Ivella looked at Ulan with a mix of emotions, as if overwhelmed.
How long had it been?
“Thank you.”
With a serious gaze, Istan extended his hand.
“Then I’ll make a promise as well. If you ever find yourself in trouble, I’ll help you, no matter the reason. As a friend.”
“Hmm, I’ll remember that.”
Ulan, shaking hands with a smile, looked pleased with the response.
It was the last Friday of March.
The day he unexpectedly beat the two swordsmen from the empire who had come to the academy. Ulan gained a solid friend in the Deorg’s sword.
And three days later,
Ulan’s suspension was lifted.
Act Break. A Seed of Doubt
Act Break. A Seed of Doubt
1.
Before the sun had even risen,
Ulan woke from his sleep.
Though it was the same ordinary day he always faced, today felt particularly different. It was the day his suspension was being lifted.
[Gya-rung, Gya-reung.]
Leaving the sleepy White Wolf behind,
Ulan finished a cold shower. As usual, he threw the window wide open.
“Well, I’m off.”
After a brief goodbye,
He jumped straight out the window.
Ku-woong!
He felt the ground shake beneath him.
The cool breeze blowing just right made it a perfect day for a light jog—
Just as he decided to head to the forest for a bit of running,
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, a presence was felt.
Footsteps came from the direction of the dormitory’s front door.
When he realized someone was approaching, the owner of the presence came into view.
“Ah, Ulan!”
A girl lit up with joy upon seeing him.
It was Ivella. Ulan tilted his head in surprise at the unexpected appearance.
“What are you doing here…?”
“I just came out for a bit of fresh air. I woke up unusually early today.”
She replied with a bright smile.
Ulan still wore a puzzled expression.
“Dressed like that?”
Ivella was dressed neatly,
looking like she could head to a lecture at any moment.
It felt too tidy for a mere stroll.
In that moment,
Ivella visibly panicked.
“No! I didn’t want to bother going back in! So I got ready to head straight to class.”
“Oh, I see.”
It was a reasonable explanation.
Ulan also planned to run in the forest and then head directly to class.
Nodding in understanding, Ivella sighed lightly. A sigh mixed with relief. She then looked back at Ulan and asked,
“Why are you out so early?”
“For a reason similar to yours.”
“Oh, really?”
Her teal eyes became wide with surprise.
She didn’t genuinely seem shocked though, almost like she anticipated Ulan’s answer.
“Wanna walk together?”
As she absentmindedly twirled her hair,
Ivella sneaked a glance at Ulan.
She appeared to have something she wanted to say. Unfortunately, Ulan wasn’t very good at picking up on hints.
“Nah, I’m gonna run.”
“…What?”
Was it an unexpected answer?
Ivella looked bewildered. But no more replies came as Ulan suddenly started running.
“Wait, hold on!”
Ivella hurriedly chased after him.
Meanwhile, Ulan didn’t slow down.
This sudden race through the forest continued for a decent while before it finally came to a stop, thanks to Ulan halting in place.
“Ah.”
Ulan’s eyes widened.
As if recalling something momentarily forgotten.
“Come to think of it, it’s today.”
“Huh? What’s today?”
Breathless, Ivella asked.
He replied somewhat absentmindedly,
“It’s the day Count Deorg leaves.”
Istan El Deorg.
Three days ago, he walked into the Dean’s office of the Military Department and abruptly submitted his resignation from Himel.
It was a resignation after just a month of enrollment.
The unprecedented situation led Headmaster Berge to immediately convene a committee. After hours of discussion, the professors sided with Istan.
Despite being against school rules, Istan was so adamant that they couldn’t dissuade him.
And there was another shocking truth revealed.
It was about Ivella.
“Ivella Elea’ad is my daughter.”
At a meeting with professors from each department,
He clearly stated his relation to Ivella. Then, subtly exuding the aura of a master, he bowed politely.
“I hope to be well taken care of.”
On the surface, it sounded like a simple greeting but it was more of a warning.
If anyone were to discriminate against or neglect Ivella after today, there would be consequences.
Perhaps this was why? After the committee concluded, the professors’ gazes towards Ivella changed dramatically.
After reflecting on Istan’s actions,
Ulan looked back at Ivella.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go see him off?”
“…No. I really don’t feel like seeing him.”
Despite this, her face seemed a lot less rigid than three days prior. Back then, she had looked ready to kill Istan.
A moment of silence lingered.
“By the way, Ulan.”
Ivella initiated the conversation again.
Shifting the topic elsewhere.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“Have you decided when to use your Outing Permission?”
“Outing Permission?”
That caught him off guard.
When Ulan asked in disbelief, Ivella realized her mistake.
“Oh, right! You probably didn’t hear about it. You had just received your suspension back then…”
She trailed off, then began to explain.
The Outing Permission. This is a privilege given to all freshmen after the midterm exams.
It’s an opportunity to leave the academy and explore the imperial capital or surrounding cities for a day. After a brief explanation, Ivella cleared her throat.
“Ahem! So, if you don’t have any plans, want to hang out together?”
“With you?”
“Yeah, just the two of us.”
After finishing her suggestion, Ivella fell silent.
With a nervous look in her eyes, she waited anxiously for his response, and without giving it much thought, Ulan nodded.
“Sure, let’s do that.”
“R-Really? For real?”
“Yeah, I don’t have any plans.”
There weren’t any particular places to go.
So he readily accepted the offer.
“Hehe, that’s a relief.”
Ivella smiled brightly as if genuinely happy.
It was the brightest smile she had given lately. With a lightened expression, she resumed her pace.
How much time passed?
The sun had risen, and morning had arrived.
It was almost time to head to class.
As they strolled through the forest exchanging light banter, they made their way toward the Lion’s Chamber.
Eventually, as they fully exited the forest and passed near the Military Department’s building,
“Oh?”
Something caught Ulan’s eye.
In front of the main building of the Military Department, a girl with ash-colored hair was passing by—
It was Silfi.
But the real reason for his gaze wasn’t her, but the man talking to Silfi.
It was Istan.
2.
Meanwhile, at a similar time,
As Ulan and Ivella chatted while wandering the woods, Silfi had stepped out the moment the dormitory front door opened.
“Haa…”
A heavy sigh escaped her lips.
The simple reason she left her room early was that she couldn’t sleep. Silfi nervously bit her nails, looking distressed.
‘What now?’
As the third divine beast of the Order,
Her mission to tame the White Wolf, which had slipped into the fog, had turned into a total failure. It felt as though the very purpose for enrolling in the academy had vanished.
Even though the mission failed, she still had to report back to the Order. Thus, she sent a letter with a detailed report to Count Dermore’s mansion.
Recently, a reply had arrived.
It contained painfully simple content.
“Wait.”
That was the command to wait at the academy.
Moreover, it stated to comply with the request for cooperation from Count Dermore. Reflecting on all that had happened thus far, Silfi wore a downcast expression.
‘…Please, don’t tell me I’m being abandoned?’
Silfi was the heir to the Order.
But the laws of the Order were incredibly ruthless.
Those who were disqualified as heirs were often cast aside by the Order. Remembering this made Silfi sigh once more.
‘Should I find a way out even now?’
Lost in thoughts that would get her branded as blasphemy if the Order heard, Silfi continued walking.
Suddenly,
Ku-woong!
She collided with something.
Was it a tree? But that didn’t make sense. Trees couldn’t speak.
“You okay?”
A man grabbed Silfi’s wrist as she stumbled.
In that moment, she grasped the situation. She had been daydreaming and bumped into someone.
“I-I’m sorry! I was just lost in thought…”
As she hurriedly turned to apologize, their eyes met.
A middle-aged man with golden hair and deep brown eyes like a lake.
And the moment she recognized him,
“…!?”
Her heart nearly stopped.
There was only one reason why.
For the man before her was none other than,
“Istan El Deorg?!”
She almost screamed.
Of course, the man was a figure known to anyone from the Desert Order.
“…Cultist Hunter!”
Ice Golem, Mass Murderer, Demon, all that jazz.
He was the Order’s worst nemesis and villain. A cultist who indiscriminately decapitated anyone—children, women, the elderly.
But why was he here?
As this question dawned on her, a sudden ominous thought struck,
‘Wait, could it be!’
Was it possible he had noticed her hiding and was here to capture her? Just as this suspicion made Silfi’s eyes widen,
“Is there something on my face?”
Istan asked dryly.
Silfi snapped out of her thoughts, visibly flustered, and shook her head.
“No! There’s nothing, really.”
“I see.”
“T-Thank you for your help! I have to excuse myself for class now.”
Having finished her polite farewell, she turned on her heels to leave. But she couldn’t move,
As Istan didn’t let go of her wrist.
“Hey, could you let go of my hand…”
“I have a question.”
“A-Q-Question?”
His question made her momentarily tense up.
Unease crept in as she sensed the implications behind it. Istan’s next words came,
“Where is your hometown?”
Upon hearing that,
She nearly lost the strength in her legs.
This sudden question reeked of suspicion.
Her heart sank as Silfi desperately clutched her chest and asked,
“W-Why do you want to know…?”
“It’s nothing major. I just need to verify something.”
So hurry up and answer.
With an expression that implied as much, Silfi knew she had to come up with something, but words failed her. Something told her that lies wouldn’t work on him.
“That’s strange. It shouldn’t be a difficult question.”
In that moment, Istan’s gaze sharpened.
The eyes of a cultist hunter.
Oh no, this is it. Just when she felt like closing her eyes and giving up.
“What are you doing?”
Suddenly a voice interjected.
It was a familiar voice. Turning her head frantically, she saw Ivella looking at Istan with a stiff face.
“Do you have business with my friend?”
“…Friend?”
Istan’s brow furrowed.
He looked somewhat taken aback.
“That’s right. We were both swept up in the rapids.”
Ulan, who had appeared next to Ivella, explained the situation.
How they had gotten lost while touring the Source of Magic and how Silfi had helped them through the ruins.
After a while, once the explanation was done,
“I see. So, you’re Ivella’s friend.”
Istan nodded silently.
Then he slightly bowed his head toward Silfi.
“I’m sorry. It seems I was mistaken.”
“N-No, what was the misunderstanding…?”
“I thought you were a cultist.”
“What? A cultist?”
Ivella asked, bewildered.
Meanwhile, Silfi felt her heart stop. It felt as though her worst fears had come to fruition.
“Well, a cultist wouldn’t be able to reach this far, unless they had an accomplice.”
“…”
She bit her lips hard without even realizing it.
What if everyone was aware of her situation? The urge to escape surged within her.
Just then, a bell rang from a distance.
This was her chance. Silfi’s eyes lit up.
“W-We should hurry!”
“Huh? Isn’t there still time until class?”
“Well, I’m not too sure, but I heard that today’s physical training is starting earlier than usual.”
“Really?”
Ivella asked, surprised.
Ulan also wore a serious expression.
“Then we should definitely hurry.”
They couldn’t be late on the first day back from suspension. Making a quick decision, Ulan suddenly spread his arms and wrapped them around Ivella and Silfi.
To be precise, he clutched their waists, lifting them like packages.
“U-Ulan?!”
“W-What are you doing all of a sudden?”
Both girls gasped at his unexpected move. However, Ulan responded with a straight face.
“This is faster.”
The two were much lighter than a log.
Strangely undeterred, Ulan slammed the ground.
And just like that, he began sprinting.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The ground shook as if there were an earthquake.
Accompanied by the screams of Ivella and Silfi, Ulan’s run didn’t slow down.
“Good timing.”
In the blink of an eye, they had vanished.
Istan chuckled softly. Just as he was about to turn away, a familiar voice suddenly stopped him in his tracks.
“Was today the day he was leaving?”
The voice belonged to the old headmaster.
He looked at Istan’s bandaged body and continued.
“If there’s no urgent matter, why not stay a bit longer?”
“No, I have business to attend to.”
He had to stop by Count’s territory before returning to the front lines. As Istan recalled someone, he answered with a subtle smile.
“I have someone to meet.”
Idella Elea’ad.
He had to go find her, and ask for forgiveness. Moreover, he needed to punish those who had harassed them both.
“If it’s urgent, I won’t stop you. But before you leave, I’d like to ask just one thing.”
“What is it?”
“I’m curious about the military plan you mentioned three days ago.”
“…”
Istan did not immediately reply. After a brief pause, he shook his head lightly.
“I cannot disclose it.”
“…What?”
“I respect the general, but I oppose the military plan.”
The plan to annex the frontier tribes and land after granting Ulan imperial citizenship all at once.
Disagreeing with that?
Berge frowned.
“You oppose a plan that would allow us to absorb the land without bloodshed? You can’t possibly want war, do you?”
“Of course not.”
“But why…”
“Let me ask you one question in return.”
Istan interrupted Berge. He gazed into his eyes with seriousness.
“Have you been to the frontier lately?”
No, he hasn’t. Berge shook his head.
There hadn’t been any reason to go.
Ever since he became the head of the Military Department, he had hardly left the academy. To which Istan seemed to expect as he spoke.
“The situation at the frontier is utter chaos. Monsters and demon beasts are rampant, with bandit groups running wild.”
That wasn’t all.
The bureaucrats sent from the center were all individuals who had been ostracized. There wasn’t a single decent person among them. The level of law enforcement was awful, so “a mess” was putting it lightly.
Because of that, Istan argued.
Now was not the time to target the frontier.
“We can expand the territory anytime. So it’s best to solidify our foundation first.”
In this way, the empire would fester from within.
There was a strong possibility they would become a bloated sham, just a shell without substance. Istan’s candid remarks made Berge groan softly.
He was a hundred percent right.
Yet the die had already been cast.
This plan involved not only the military but also the central nobles and the imperial family, making it a political issue.
As Istan attempted to explain this, he abruptly changed his tone.
“Of course, I’m not happy about it either.”
“…What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“As a person involved with the military, I cannot stand idly by while such significant secrets are tossed around in the open.”
“Then…”
“Yes, I will tell you.”
Berge was puzzled.
Why would he say he opposes the plan and then so willingly offer his insight?
A few seconds later, the reason become clear.
“However, I have a favor to ask.”
“…A favor?”
This sent a dark omen through Berge’s mind.
Istan stated directly.
“Please create a professor position for me.”
“…What?!”
“Ideally in the Military Department.”
Now he understood Istan’s intentions.
Because the other master who fought against Ulan, Marquis Seoric Al Gorphant, had said the same thing.
The reason was obvious.
After becoming a professor, he’d use the excuse of lectures to challenge Ulan to duels.
“Master types are obsessed with fighting…”
He sighed inwardly.
Feigning a troubled expression, Berge replied.
“Creating a professor position isn’t hard. However, you are the commander at the Southern Front, aren’t you? Surely you don’t have the time to take on a professor’s duties…”
“That’s fine. The front runs smoothly without me.”
He cut Berge off abruptly.
“Of course, I won’t ask for it immediately. I’ll need ample time to prepare before I leave the front, so perhaps next year would work?”
“…I’ll think about it.”
“No, you need to promise me that.”
“You really…”
“Aren’t you curious about the origin of the plans?”
Berge clenched his fists.
If he weren’t a master, he would have likely hit his own head in frustration. However, the urgency was on his side. With a heavy sigh, Berge relented.
“Fine, I promise.”
So now he needed to hear where the information had come from.
As Berge’s eyes sharpened, Istan’s requests weren’t done yet.
“I have one more favor to ask.”
“What now?!”
“This involves national security.”
Just at that moment, Istan’s expression grew serious.
“Last month, there was the incident of three freshmen going missing at the Source of Magic.”
Commonly referred to as “The Trials of the Hero.”
Istan dove straight into the main topic.
“Among the students who went missing and later returned, there was a girl with ash-colored hair.”
“That’s right. Her name is…”
“Please share all information concerning that girl. This will be my final request.”
“…”
Berge pressed his lips together tightly.
Generally speaking, taking a student’s personal information was wrong. However, if it was for the sake of the empire, the rules could be bent.
Thus, it didn’t take him long to decide.
“Alright. I’ll share it with you soon.”
“Thank you.”
Istan nodded slightly.
It was a gesture of gratitude. Meanwhile, Berge waved his hand dismissively. That wasn’t what he needed right now; he wanted to know the source of the information.
“Understood. I will inform you.”
In a voice only they could hear,
Istan revealed the origin of the information.
And that evening,
When Count Istan El Deorg departed the academy with Himel Deorg, an urgent personnel transfer notification was suddenly announced in the Arsen Guardhouse.
It was news that the deputy commander, Roen Philoud, was resigning from the guard due to personal circumstances.
As soon as the announcement ended,
Roen Philoud vanished without a trace. It was as if someone had erased his very existence.
As time passed, it became the second week of April.
A significant period loomed for the students of Arsen Academy.
It was the time for exams to reflect on their academic achievements.
This was the Midterm Exam period.
Character sheet for Ivella Elea’ad.
Chapter 19. The Hunt Begins
![[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come](https://i3.wp.com/darkmtl.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1737407792-8993-TS-The-end-of-magical-girls-has-come.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The End of Magical Girls Has Come")
