The Academy's Barbarian

Chapter 47.1 - What Does That Matter? (5)

After the thrilling second match had concluded, the curtain rose swiftly on the next one.

Two students stepped onto the arena, one after the other. Professors from the Military Studies Department all blinked their eyes simultaneously. Both were students who had become the center of attention.

The first was a brown-haired aristocrat with a cascade of curls; the second was a barbarian clad with his shirt off.

Among the two, it was undoubtedly the aristocrat who seized the professors' attention first.

"His posture is excellent. His gait is also commendable."

"He is surely an Intermediate-rank knight, right?"

"He was, until the entrance exam, but it seems he broke through recently."

"What, already?" The professor asked, stunned.

With this new revelation, the professors regarded the aristocrat with even greater interest.

Himmel Deorg.

He was the heir to Count Deorg, one of the Five Masters of the Empire. Naturally, he was a subject of intense curiosity.

"Does that mean hes an Advanced-rank knight now?"

"Really? I'm surprised. He's only nineteen years old, and he's already an Advanced-rank knight.."

"Indeed, it runs in the Deorg bloodline."

"His swordsmanship is exceptional, and his instincts are superb. He's a promising talent for the future."

Praises followed one after the other.

After lavishing him with compliments to the point of drooling, the professors shifted their gaze to the next contestant. It was none other than Ulan. However, their gazes were quite different when they looked at Himmel compared to when they gazed at Ulan.

If curiosity, interest, and anticipation were mixed in his gaze towards Himmel, it was quite the opposite now.

"I don't believe it, to be honest."

"An Expert, you say."

"Of course, it makes sense after the stunt he pulled at the entrance ceremony.."

Discomfort, disdain, and suspicion, among other emotions, filled the gazes directed at Ulan. Some even went as far as to deny the recent rumors entirely.

"Perhaps the rumors have been exaggerated."

"Indeed, if it were true, the department would have been in turmoil long ago."

"That makes sense."

The professors concluded among themselves.

Meanwhile, not far from them, Ethan listened in on the professors' conversation with a sneer.

Tsk, stupid bastards.'

Those seated in front were professors from the Military Studies Department, professors of the Arsene Academy, the best educational institution on the continent, no less. Yet, they were so blinded by their prejudice against Ulan's barbarian origins that they failed to recognize the true value of the gem before them.

And the department has been in turmoil for a while now.

Furthermore, it had sent ripples even through the Imperial Military High Command.

Ulan had become a prominent figure at the heart of the Empire's attention. Deorg's lineage had long faded from memory in the grand scheme of things.

Whether the professors were privy to Ethan's inner thoughts or not, they continued to speculate among themselves.

"So what do you think his true skill level is?"

"Um, I don't know."

"He might have just reached intermediate-rank, don't you think?"

"Of course, the incident in the auditorium was shocking, but to consider him an Expert based solely on that might be a stretch."

Even individuals with such titles as professors, Ethan couldn't help but inwardly scoff.

They had considerably downplayed Ulans realm in the rumors they had spread. At that moment, a professor suddenly turned to him, "What about you, Professor Ethan?"

The question came out of nowhere and all eyes in the room now shifted toward Ethan.

It was quite understandable. Ethan Arnoff was undoubtedly the most skilled among the professors in the Military Studies Department; he himself had reached the realm of an Expert.

'If I could speak my mind...'

He wanted to declare that even if a hundred Himmel Deorg came at Ulan, they wouldn't stand a chance. But he couldn't do that. He had already received orders from superiors not to divulge any information about Ulan.

So, he responded somewhat vaguely, "I hope he doesn't get hurt too much."

It was a somewhat offbeat answer, but the professors gathered its meaning.

"Haha, no need to worry about that."

"Exactly. Himmel Deorg is a considerate student. And that barbarian..."

"Ulan, right?"

"What?"

"It's not 'barbarian,' it's Ulan."

Ethan's gaze flared fiercely, almost menacingly.

The old professor felt a heavy, unspoken pressure on his body. He coughed awkwardly, as if he were taken aback, "Cough! Well, that's true. In any case, Ulan seems to be in great shape, doesn't he? Even if he gets a few stabs or cuts, it shouldn't be too serious."

It appeared that they had misunderstood Ethan's intention. He was concerned not for Ulan but for Himmel, hoping he wouldn't be seriously hurt.

At that moment,

Ulan, who had arrived at the arena, tilted his head in puzzlement. A considerable amount of time had passed, but there was still no sign that the battle was about to begin.

So, when he began to feel puzzled

Soon enough, a reasonable explanation came to light.

"This is a message from the control room. Due to the battle that took place in the second match, we have detected that the mana saturation level within the arena exceeds the standard."

"Therefore, we would like to resume the match after the cleanup is complete. We ask that each player wait in the arena."

It seemed like there was some issue.

Then, there is no choice but to wait. Ulan lowered his axe to the ground and relaxed his body.

But then...

"Hey, you."

A voice called out to him out of nowhere.

It was a young man with light brown curly hair, Himmel Deorg, the one set to fight Ulan. He asked, not bothering to hide the displeasure on his face, "What's your relationship with Ibella?"

"We're friends."

"What? Friends?"

Himmel's brow furrowed, as if he'd heard a ridiculous answer.

"Ha! It's not funny to say you're friends, is it?

With a look of disbelief.

His eyes turned cold. Then, he abruptly continued, "You, do you know her past?"

I don't know.

That's good, I'll tell you.

"No, there's no need for that.

He didn't care much about it either.

So I politely declined. However, his request was completely ignored, "She was born in a slum."

"........"

Himmel started to explain.

He doesn't listen to others, while thinking that, Himmel continued to talk on and on., "She grew up in a back alley full of garbage and filth, which means she's not from a noble family like you think."

"I see."

But Ulan's response was dry.

Was it because of his unfazed appearance? Himmel frowned. As if he was uncomfortable.

There is no need to hide your emotions. You are probably feeling deceived by now. It's okay to get angry as much as you want.

"No, I'm not angry."

It was true. There was no reason to be angry in the first place.

Because Ulan had never thought that Ibella was a noble.

If she was a noble, she'd.

she wouldn't have wandered the battlefields in his previous life.

Ulan's response was too simple. Himmel gave him a look of incomprehension, and then the corners of his mouth twitched upward. It was a smile that felt mean.

"That's not all, she was raised in a lowly place, and as if to prove it, she was never taught any of the arts or manners. If you remember what happened before.."

Himmel rambled on.

It's mostly about criticizing Ibella. Ulan listened in silence, but soon frowned, "So?"

"Huh?"

"Why does it matter?"

Ulan had only mentioned that he was friends with Ibella. Why was he being told these things by someone he had just met today?

So, he asked for the reason.

But the answer he hoped to hear didn't come. Instead, all that returned were disdainful looks and a tone filled with mockery.

"...Interrupting someone like that, you must really lack manners. It seems like it's not just Ibella who's missing in etiquette."

After scrunching up his face, Himmel's voice turned cold, "Fine, let's get to the point. I warn you, it would be better if you didn't hang out with Ibella from today on.

What?

"If I see you with Ibella after today's match, I will consider you an enemy of Count Deorg as the heir to the family."

As a signal of the sudden threat, a fierce aura enveloped Ulan the momentum of someone who had just reached the level of an Advanced-rank knight. If it were an ordinary person, it would have been a force that would have made them gasp for breath in an instant.

Of course, Ulan was not ordinary in both body and mind. So, with a curious expression, he asked, "Who is Count Deorg?"

".....what?"

Himmel asked back with a blank look on his face; then he turned bright red, "You damned barbarian! You dare insult my family name!"

"It's not an insult, I've never heard it before."

Don't lie! Even if you don't have any brains, there's no way you don't know our family that has served His Majesty the Emperor for generations!

"I don't even know who the Emperor is."

The moment he heard the answer, Himmel was speechless.

And soon he realized. There was no falsehood in Ulan's eyes. It means that he wasn't deliberately making up a story to provoke Himmel.

In other words, he really didn't know.

He couldn't have known about a mere Count if he didn't even know who the Emperor was.

As Himmel was making a frustrated expression

"The battle will begin shortly!"

"Participants! take your positions!"

the referees' voices were heard.

Before they knew it, the arena had been prepared.

By now, the arena had been reorganized. Turning, Himmel turned around, grinding his teeth, and then growled savagely, "Very well. Then let me show you the power of Deorg's sword."

Himmel's intense gaze locked onto Ulan, "Just how formidable Deorg's sword is. Furthermore, I'll strip away every bit of that Expert title you carry!"

With that firm declaration

Ulan and Himmel took their positions.

The referee, having deemed all preparations complete, immediately shouted their command, "The battle begins!"

On cue, Himmel kicked the ground; a swift and aggressive charge.

He had no intention of prolonging the battle. Ulan was just a mere barbarian; a mongrel with no honor to protect.

I will knock him down in the blink of an eye.

He would prove that Ulan being an Expert was nothing but exaggerated rumors. Closing the distance rapidly, Himmel swung his sword.

However, at that moment.

Kraaaaaang!

His attack was blocked. To read the Sword Path of Deorg, even for a barbarian, was impressive. Thinking this, Himmel attempted to continue his attack

"..."

but his eyes suddenly widened.

As if he had realized something. He immediately twisted his blade, parrying Ulan's axe. Then, like a frog, he leaped backward.

(End of Chapter. . . . . . . .Thanks for Reading. . . . . . . . . )

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