CH 25.1

As Ulan was being led away by the student council, Count Dermore was about to take a sip of his freshly poured tea. However, upon hearing the report that had just come in, his desire for tea quickly faded.

"What? You're saying he failed?"

"Yes, that's what I heard."

Alond, the head butler of the Count's household, bowed his head and replied. After a moment of silence, Count Dermore burst into a cold laugh.

"Haha, I guess I overestimated my brother-in-law. To think he couldn't even handle such a simple task."

The Count's request to his brother-in-law, Professor Dirac, wasn't particularly difficult; all he had to do was give the barbarian who didn't fit in at the Arsene Academy a failing grade and get him expelled.

Professor Dirac was even the test supervisor.

If he wanted to give a failing grade, he could look for a multitude of reasons and yet, it seemed that even that was beyond Dirac's capabilities. Count Dermore found this situation so amusing that he couldn't help but laugh.

"But he says there was a reason."

"A reason? Really? And what might that reason be?"

At this point, he was genuinely curious about the explanation. 

He felt a sense of disdain in his eyes, wondering what kind of excuse his brother-in-law would come up with. However, Alond's response only deepened his seriousness.

"He says that Deflyn Chernihiv was involved."

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

His eyes grew wide.

It was a name he hadn't expected to hear.

"That woman? Why would she be involved?"

"I wasn't told why," Alond lowered his head, as if apologizing. 

Count Dermore stared out of the window in silence. 

Deflyn Chernihiv – the Head of the Arsene Academy's Magic Department. 

She and Count Dermore had never gotten along well, and most mid-level mages knew of their strained relationship.

However, as the Count mulled over the situation, Alond cautiously broke the silence, "How should we proceed?"

"Leave it alone. No good can come from attracting the attention of that mad mage," The Count furrowed his brow. 

He didn't want to get involved with that annoying barbarian any more than necessary. It would be more comfortable to simply ignore the matter and not draw Deflyn's attention.

"More importantly, what happened to the girl named Noah?"

"She passed the test."

"I'll have to write her a congratulatory letter."

Noah Darshen. 

She was a talent that would be useful for the Count's future plans. Therefore, he had decided to maintain a connection with her.

"What should I tell Viscount Dirac?"

"I'd prefer to kick him out immediately... But."

However, if Deflyn was involved and things had gone awry, he could somewhat understand. The Count pressed his lips together in frustration, "Prepare a small amount of gold coins and send him away. Let him know we'll call for him again soon."

"Understood."

The promise of seeing Dirac again was not an empty one.

There would soon come a time when he needed his assistance. After Alond left and closed the door behind him, Count Dermore sat down.

He took a sip of his tea, which was now cold.

Then, he opened a drawer and took out a photograph.

In the picture was a girl with golden hair similar to the Count's and brown eyes, reminiscent of a spirit.

".......Yurfe."

His gaze held a wistful look.

He gently caressed the girl's face in the photograph. It was a face that conveyed longing, unlike any expression he had ever shown before. He whispered softly, as if speaking to her, "Everything is nearly ready now. Just a little longer, a little more patience. This father will find a way to save you."

By any means necessary.

The Count's eyes burned serenely.

It was the gaze of unwavering determination of a man who had spent many years with only one goal in mind.

━━━◇◆◇━━━

Noah found herself in a dream.

A nostalgic view of a nostalgic world she yearned for yet didn't quite miss.

A desk scribbled with planetary markers, a bag overturned and tumbling, the scent of spoiled milk lingering in the air – all fragments from her memory of middle school days.

Memories from a time when she was bullied.

The terrible nightmares that had confined her to her room for three long years.

When she realized it was a dream, Noah struggled as hard as she could.

A desperate struggle to awaken from this slumber.

And then, not long after.......

...…Her closed eyes fluttered open.

What she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.

Noah looked around, thinking it looked like the ceiling of a hospital room.

‘Where am I?’

Curtains drawn shut in all directions, the pungent aroma of antiseptic assaulting her nose, and amidst the bustling footfalls, a hint of chaotic ambiance lingered.

After a moment, she realized she was in a hospital room.

Simultaneously, memories surged forth.

'That's right, I must have collapsed during the entrance ceremony…….'

The last scene she had witnessed before losing consciousness.

The sight of Ulan, the stage collapsing beneath him as he let out a triumphant shout. Recalling the raucous cheers that shook the auditorium, Noah felt a pang of headache.

It was the sight of Ulan breaking down the stage and screaming. The memory of the roar that shook the auditorium gave him a headache.

'...........It was terrifying.’

The auditorium trembling as if it was about to collapse.

Students falling in chaos, screams echoing.

Noah shuddered again at the almost unearthly sight.

'I did wonder how I would handle the student council's mischief, but I never imagined it would escalate to this.'

At this rate, it would have been far better to be the victim of some student council prank.

The situation had grown far beyond her control.

She didn’t even know how to fix it.

Noah let out a heavy sigh.

‘First, I need to get to class.’

After the ceremony, class assignments would begin.

These were the people she'd be with for the next year, so she wanted to make sure she didn't stand out too much.

Of course, with her dark-hair, it would be virtually impossible to go unnoticed, but it would be better to at least observe the atmosphere of the class than to continue lying here.

With resolve, she attempted to rise from the bed.

Or, at least, that was her intention.

But the covers wouldn't budge. What's going on? Noah tilted her head in confusion. Then, as she turned to her side, she finally grasped the reason.

Noah wasn't the only one in bed.

There was another person.

Golden hair strewn around the pillow, a certain someone seemed to be gripping the blanket tightly.

"Um, sorry, but could you let go of the blanket?"

No response came forth.

Perhaps they were still asleep.

No choice, she had to get out on her own.

Noah cautiously pulled the blanket off.

As she did so, she happened to catch a glimpse of the person's face, and her eyes widened in shock.

"........! Wait, Swordmaiden?!"

Unconsciously, she shouted out loud.

However, she reflexively covered her mouth. In the momentary panic, Noah's eyes widened. Could it really be the Swordmaiden lying beside her?

A time when her startled heart began to calm.

"Ugghh."

Ibella, the future Swordmaiden, tossed and turned in her sleep.

As if awakened by the loud voice.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and glanced around with a sleepy expression.

"Ugh? Why am I in bed...?"

In the midst of her drowsy muttering…...

...…Ibella's gaze met Noah's in mid-air.

".............."

A moment of silence passed.

Ibella turned her head with a start, her face one of surprise. Then, within the blink of an eye, her expression turned back to her usual composed facade.

The moment she saw this., a fragment of Ibella's character story from [Arsene Continental War] flashed through Noah's mind.

『Ibella Elearde's school years were incredibly lonely. She trusted no one, was always on guard, and was perpetually alone.

So, she spent her school days wearing an expressionless mask. Of course, even that didn't last for more than a year.』

In light of this, Ibella's expressionless face was a kind of defense mechanism.

If she remained expressionless, it would be difficult for anyone to approach her. But then, unexpectedly, she spoke up, "If you don't mind me asking, can you tell me what happened?"

"What? Oh, no. It's, um, it's…….."

Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, Noah stammered.

But only for a moment.

She quickly regained his composure.

To explain what had happened in the auditorium.

After a moment, Ibella gave her a blank look.

'She must find this quite absurd.'

After all, it's not often that someone faints upon hearing a scream.

Meanwhile, Ibella remained silent.

Then, her face contorted as if suppressing a laugh.

But she couldn't hold it in.

"Pfft! Ahahaha!"

She burst out laughing.

Her laughter was so hearty that tears welled up in her eyes.

Noah was taken aback by this scene.

What? Was there something amusing about the story she had just told? No, more surprising was the fact that Swordmaiden could laugh so freely?

But there was something more surprising.

"That's just like him," Ibella, wiping the tears from her eyes, murmured in a tone that suggested she knew Ulan.

Noah was taken aback.

And rightly so. For all she knew, she and Ulan still didn't know each other.

What's more, their first encounter wouldn't take place at the academy but rather on the battlefield, about sixteen years from now.

‘However……’

Why did Ibella speak as though she knew Ulan? Could they have encountered each other in the examination hall? As she pondered this mystery...

Drrrrr!

The curtains parted to reveal a figure in a white robe; before her appeared a short-haired woman in a white gown. Her stern expression directed their way.

"You two. If you're awake, you should be leaving soon."

With the arrival of this third party, Ibella's expression returned to its original state. Rising from the bed, she lowered her head slightly.

"Excuse me."

The woman who had just moments ago erupted in laughter now spoke in a tone so dry it was hard to believe. Ibella quickly composed herself after the outburst and quickly disappeared.

Noah, however, lingered a little longer.

It was because she wanted to ask her something.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry."

"Huh? Oh, don't worry about it. Your eardrums are a little bruised, but I've got a potion on them, and they'll be fine soon."

"No, that's not it, I was wondering if you might know what happened to Ulan?"

"Ulan? Who is that?"

How should she explain it?

After a moment's hesitation, Noah spoke up.

"The reason for all this, right here."

"Oh, the terrorist?"

"T-terrorist?"

She was puzzled, but then she understood.

From the perspective of someone working in a hospital room, it might indeed appear that way.

"They're probably investigating him, and I don't know what made him do it, but they're not going to let it slide, maybe he'll get his admission revoked."

Noah’s face darkened at the answer.

He could be expelled.

'But that can't happen...'

She couldn't stand the thought of Ulan being absent.

With an anxious expression, Noah looked out the window.

Please don't let anything happen to Ulan. She clasped her hands together and offered a silent prayer.