Chapter 8

Right after jumping off the cliff.

Ulan moved swiftly like a flying squirrel, gradually slowing down. He then performed a trick of landing on the ground without a single wound.

Kuuuung!

With a strong vibration, the snow piled on the trees came crashing down. Ulan brushed off the snow and shook Noah’s shoulder.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Ugh, ughhh…”

“You can get down now.”

He retracted the arm that had been holding her waist.

Noah plopped down on the floor. It seemed her legs had gone weak.

“Are you okay?”

“…No. I’m not okay.”

A weak voice escaped her.

After a while, Noah, barely recovered, wobbled and muttered.

“I finally understand why Ulan had to learn basic common sense from the master.”

“That’s good.”

“That’s not a compliment.”

Noah glared at him.

She then got up completely and looked around. The village had gotten closer. At least jumping off the cliff was worth it.

“Still, thanks to you, we saved time. Once we find a place to stay in the village, I’ll teach you the common sense you lack, one by one.”

“I always welcome teachings.”

Ulan grinned. As if he was looking forward to it.

Soon after, the two arrived at the village.

It was a modest-sized village. The population was just over forty.

“Have you been here before?”

“No. This is my first time in this village. With the master, we always visited the village to the east.”

Noah looked around the village.

For some reason, it felt familiar. She didn’t know why. But now wasn’t the time to sightsee.

“Let’s find a place to stay first.”

She was worried if there would be any accommodations in such a small village, but fortunately, there was one.

A lodging for herb gatherers and hunters crossing the mountains. However, a new problem arose.

“Sorry, but there’s only one room.”

“Huh? Only one?”

“The rest are used as storage.”

“Ugh, this is troublesome.”

Noah frowned.

But the worry didn’t last long. A snowstorm was about to hit soon. Noah sighed and nodded in resignation.

“Fine. We’ll take it.”

“Two silver coins.”

“Whaat? Why so expensive?!”

“Take it or leave it.”

“Fine! Two coins it is.”

Noah hurriedly took out her pouch.

Meanwhile, as she paid.

Ulan silently scanned the people inside. Nine men. Each of different ages, but they had something in common.

They were all staring at Noah.

More precisely, at the pouch she took out.

Their eyes were fixed on the silver coins inside. Seeing their greedy eyes, Ulan narrowed his.

‘They’re after the silver coins.’

The tribe of the prairie doesn’t use currency.

So their desire for money wasn’t that strong. But the outside was different. Here, money could be more precious than life depending on the situation.

He had even seen parents and children fight over a few silver coins.

“Ulan. Let’s go up now.”

Noah called out to him then.

She seemed to have finished the payment.

In her hands were a large tray and two pieces of hard-looking bread. That was probably their dinner for the night.

Creak! Creak!

Passing the creaky wooden stairs.

The two arrived at their assigned room.

And simultaneously made a face.

“Ugh, it’s incredibly messy.”

“It seems it was indeed used as storage.”

Dust piled on the bed and floor.

Noah frowned and took something out.

“We need to clean up a bit first.”

“What’s that?”

“A talisman that changes the direction of the wind.”

Noah fluttered the talisman.

She stuck them near the window, wall, and bed, then opened the window wide.

“After placing these properly, if you use a spell to amplify the wind’s power…”

A turquoise seal engraved in the air.

As she said, it was a spell to amplify the wind’s power. Its performance was impressive.

Whoosh! Whiiish!

A strong wind blew in quickly.

Strong enough to blow away the dust.

The problem was that all the dust rose into the air at once, momentarily filling the room with dust.

“Cough! Cough! As you can see! Cough! All the dust! Cough! Will disappear!”

Noah explained between violent coughs.

Smart but a bit clueless in some ways. Ulan thought to himself. Still, thanks to her, they wouldn’t have to sleep on the dust.

“I’ll go wash up first.”

“Alright.”

Noah disappeared into the bathroom.

Left alone, Ulan sat on the cleaned bed and silently looked at the village scenery.

Then suddenly.

He heard people whispering from the first floor through the floor. At that moment, Ulan instinctively focused his senses on his hearing.

Soon, an unusual conversation reached him.

‘Silver coins. Barbarian. Slave. Food. Medicine.’

Only fragments of words were clear.

But even that was enough to grasp the situation.

Ulan touched his tongue to the hard bread.

A slightly bitter taste.

He frowned, crushed the bread, and threw it under the bed. Shortly after, Noah came out after her bath.

“Phew, at least the towel was clean.”

Her black hair was damp.

Her expression looked refreshed.

“Ah, I used a spell to warm the water. There’s some left for you, Ulan, so go wash up.”

“Thanks for the kindness.”

After bowing his head.

Ulan quickly finished his shower. When he came out, he saw Noah wandering around the room as if looking for something.

“Ulan, have you seen the bread?”

“I ate it all.”

“…”

“Here, take this instead.”

Jerky and cheese he brought from the prairie.

Since it was much better than hard bread, Noah finished her meal with a satisfied face.

Night had fallen.

The sound of a fierce snowstorm could be heard outside. With nothing else to do, Ulan headed straight to the bed.

“Then, shall we sleep?”

“Ah, I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“Why?”

“Well, there’s only one bed.”

“Even if there’s only one, it’s wide.”

“No, that’s not the issue…”

Noah hesitated.

Ulan waved his hand.

“It’s fine. I don’t talk in my sleep much.”

“Ugh, that’s not it.”

“Then what?”

At the repeated questions, Noah’s ears turned red. After a while, she fiddled with her bag and mumbled.

“Even though we’re fellow disciples, there’s a saying that men and women shouldn’t sleep together after seven…”

“Men and women, what?”

“W-well, it’s not proper for grown men and women to sleep in the same bed!”

Noah’s face turned redder.

Ulan nodded.

“I see. I understand what you mean.”

“Phew, glad you finally get it.”

As Noah sighed in relief.

Ulan tapped the bed again.

“Come, lie down next to me.”

“You didn’t understand a thing!”

“Don’t worry. No matter how much desire boils, I won’t touch a child.”

“…Huh?”

“Moreover, you’re lacking in many ways to bear my seed. So rest assured and sleep. I swear on the honor of a warrior.”

With such an oath, she should feel at ease.

Ulan thought so. Meanwhile, Noah, who was dumbfounded, soon shouted in disbelief.

“Wait, wait. A child? Me? Did you not hear my age?”

“Such things are obvious at a glance.”

After answering.

Ulan said with a confident face.

“You’re about eleven, right?”

“No! I’m sixteen!”

“What? Sixteen?!”

“Yes. I’m the same age as you!”

Noah shouted with an angry face.

On the other hand, Ulan looked genuinely surprised.

He was really surprised. Since his second life began, this was the most surprised he had ever been.

“…Really?”

“Really!”

He asked again just in case, but it was true.

Ulan’s expression stiffened. He spoke with a serious face.

“Are you cursed or something?”

“I’m not cursed!”

“If it’s not a curse, I can’t explain it.”

“I said I’m not cursed!”

Noah shouted back.

After the commotion died down. Noah strongly emphasized that she was sixteen and not under any curse.

Some time later.

“Phew, I feel tired all of a sudden.”

With a heavy sigh, Noah crawled to the corner of the bed. She then covered herself with the fluffy blanket and muttered with a pout.

“Since I’m a child, I’ll sleep first. You can sleep next to me or on the floor, as you wish.”

“Alright.”

Ulan lay down on the outer side.

He then heightened all his senses to the maximum. His hearing, sight, and even touch became as sharp as a well-honed blade.

He could even hear Noah’s heartbeat.

How much time had passed?

Ulan suddenly spoke.

“Noah.”

“…What?”

A half-asleep voice replied.

She seemed to be on the verge of sleep. Of course, Ulan didn’t mind and asked his question.

“Earlier, you promised to avoid violence as much as possible. But if the other side attacks first, what do you think is the right response?”

“What kind of situation?”

“A situation where they’re trying to kill me.”

“Then you should knock them down first and ask why they’re attacking. You need to know why they want to kill you to feel at ease.”

As soon as Noah finished answering.

Ulan sprang up from the bed.

“I think the same as you.”

“Wait, then why did you ask…”

As Noah made a bewildered face.

Ulan stomped on the floor like a flash. Then he punched the door with full force.

Bam! Crack!

The door shattered noisily.

Noah’s eyes widened.

She was startled. Not just because of Ulan’s sudden action, but for another reason.

“Gahk! Ugh!”

Ulan had brutally grabbed a man’s head. The man, groaning in pain, soon foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

“I thought it might be needed soon.”

Ulan finished with a dry tone.

He looked towards the stairs leading to the first floor. About ten men. Among them were those who had greedily eyed Noah earlier.

“Damn it! He noticed!”

“Get him all at once!”

Facing the pouring malice.

Ulan grinned.

It was the look of a beast eyeing its prey.

Chapter 3. Noah Darshen

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