The Academy's Barbarian

Chapter 102.1 - Secrets (1)

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The girl smiled brightly in front of her; facing the wind, her turquoise hair fluttering like bank leaves, with bright yellow eyes reminiscent of fresh willow leaves.

Dilia opened her round eyes wide, "Laurea?"

"Yes, yes, it's me."

After answering, Laurea approached Dilia. Dilia, meanwhile, still didn't understand and asked again, "You, here, why......?"

"I told you, you'll see me again."

"That's not what I'm asking."

When she frowned, Laurea answered, "I was just curious."

"About what?"

"I've never seen a real monster before."

Laurea had received all sorts of attention and special care since she was a candidate for the saintess. She was strictly forbidden from leaving the monastery, and even if she did, she was always accompanied by heavily guarded knights. So, there was no chance for her to encounter monsters or demons in the first place.

At her answer, Dilia frowned, "......sounds, full of yourself." To her, who had to fight monsters all her life, Laurea's answer sounded like something a greenhouse flower would say.

And as she stared at Laurea with a somewhat disdainful gaze, Stella's voice echoed from afar, "Attention, everyone!"

Professor Stella, who had stepped up to the podium, looked around. After exchanging glances with Laurea, she continued, "Today's practice will be a two-person team hunt. Each team will analyze the weaknesses of the prey they bring back by dissecting it."

The hunting ground was the northern forest — the same place where the Abyss Worshiper attack had occurred. However, there was no need to worry about the same incident happening again.

After the attack became known…

…the Ruben Empire and the Kingdom Alliance significantly strengthened patrols around the Arsene Academy's outskirts. Five times the original force was deployed for patrols, and high-ranking knight squads were stationed at each intersection.

In other words, the northern forest had become a very safe place. That's why Stella had resumed practical training last week.

"By the way, Student Laurea, since it's your first time hunting monsters, I've specially assigned the strongest hunter in the group to accompany you."

"Wow, really? Who is it?"

"He happens to be right behind you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dilia immediately frowned; there was only one person behind Laurea and herself. It was Ulan.

"But, Ulan, me and......."

"I'm sorry, but not this time," Stella said firmly. "You've been with Ulan the whole time, even during the midterm exam. So this time, I want you to team up with another student."

"......."

Dilia frowned. But she couldn't argue.

It was also true that she had never teamed up with anyone other than Ulan. Leaving the pouty Dilia behind, the groups were quickly organized.

"Okay, let's go to our assigned areas!"

With Stella's energetic cry as the signal, the monster hunt began.

* * * * *

Setting foot in the northern forest, Laurea briskly walked along the forest path.

Squelch! Squelch!

As she stepped on the damp soil, still moist from the previous day's rain, she couldn't help but glance Ulan's back, who had been walking ahead of her since the beginning.

'He’s surprisingly considerate.’

From the moment they started, Ulan had vigorously swung his axe, clearing away the dense undergrowth and branches. Perhaps he had considered her, who was following behind.

Feeling a renewed sense of purpose, Laurea recalled her personal purpose.

'The reason I'm in the same team as Ulan.'

In fact, this was something Laurea had deliberately intended. It was to obtain additional information about the Abyss through Ulan.

'We've walked far enough now…'

Perhaps I should start asking questions?

Just as she was about to purse her lips with that thought, Ulan spoke first, "Laurea."

"…Yes?"

"You can speak comfortably now."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Her eyes widened at the unexpected words. With a confused look, as if she didn't know what he meant, Ulan continued in a blunt tone, "I'm saying you don't have to use honorifics."

"Um, but I'm comfortable with this?"

Laurea thought for a moment, then smiled.

If someone who didn't know her saw it, they would believe it to be a genuinely innocent smile. However, Ulan was not fooled. Knowing that it was just a facade, he spoke without hesitation, "I know who you really are."

"What are you talking about......."

"I know that you hate using honorifics and what your true personality is like." With a matter-of-fact statement, Ulan added, "So, just be yourself in front of me."Since there were no eyes watching here.

After his answer, Laurea closed her slightly parted lips. She quickly wiped away the smile she had on her lips.

A while later.

She looked at Ulan with dry eyes.

"......."

She didn't say anything else; just continued to gaze at Ulan. It might have felt somewhat awkward, but Ulan didn't avoid her gaze.

As the silent staring contest continued—

"Hmm."

—Laurea spoke first.

She turned around, carrying her backpack, and walked slowly. Then, she circled around Ulan and muttered slowly, "I thought this from the first time I saw you, but…."

There was a moment of silence and her eyes twinkled like stars; like she'd found something interesting.

"You're a very interesting person."

Her tone was completely different from before. It wasn't just the shift from formal to informal language; her tone and voice had settled much more calmly than before.

This was Laurea's true self.

Seeing this, Ulan chuckled, "This side of you is much better."

This was the Laurea he remembered.

Meanwhile, she still wore a face of puzzlement.

"But I just saw you yesterday, so how do you know me so well? Did you do some background research on me?"

A barrage of questions.

However, Ulan didn't answer.

It wasn't that he deliberately chose to remain silent.

It was simply because, upon encountering her true self, memories of his past life surfaced, making him unable to hear her questions.

"Well, forget it."

Since Ulan didn't respond, she decided that he didn't want to reveal the reason. Shrugging her shoulders as if she didn't care, "If you don't want to talk about it, then forget it. I'll find out later on my own." There was no rush.

She could ask him again later, or she could ask the intelligence agency of the Holy Kingdom to investigate.

Just as she was about to start walking again—

SNAP!

—Ulan stopped in his tracks. Judging by his reaction, he seemed to have discovered something. Sensing this, she immediately spoke, "What's wrong?"

Perhaps a monster had appeared?

Just as she thought that, Ulan grabbed his ax. Then, without turning his gaze, he whispered, "Wait here for a minute."

"What? But......."

"It's okay. It'll only take a minute."

After finishing his indifferent answer, Ulan walked away alone.

For some reason, there was tension in the air. Laurea gulped. . However, just for a moment, she let out a dumbfounded sigh at the scene that unfolded before her.

"Huh?"

It was because of Ulan's strange behavior.

As soon as he reached the bushes, he quickly stuck to the tree and headed for the top. Then, he quickly swung the ax he had just pulled out.

Thump! Kwung!

A loud noise followed.

It sounded like the sound of stones falling to the ground. After a while, Ulan, who had come down to the ground, was holding a large fruit in his arms.

"......."

She thought he had gone to fight some kind of dangerous monster, but it turned out he was just picking fruits.

As Laurea was making a disappointed expression, Ulan, who had approached at some point, handed her the fruit, "A gift. I will give it to you."

"...... What is this?"

"It's the fruit I told you about last time that's good for hangovers," After finishing his short answer, Ulan added a detailed explanation. "You can eat it the next day, or you can take it with you when you drink alcohol. It will relieve your hangover and heartburn."

As he handed her all the fruit, Laurea stared at him without saying a word; a questioning look in her eyes. Ulan, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice, and turned away.

"Let's move again, then."

To resume their original purpose — hunting monsters.

But it wasn't long before Ulan was forced to stop walking.

"Laurea?"

The reason was that Laurea hadn't followed him and was still standing there.

What's wrong with her?

After a moment of confusion, she looked up, and then she spoke, closing the distance between them, "There's something I want to ask you."

End of Chapter. . . . . . . .Thanks for Reading. . . . . . . . .

Translator's Notes:-

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