The Academy's Barbarian

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Anyone would react the same way if they heard that they were close enough to be like sisters with someone they had never seen or heard of, only knowing their name.

However, her excitement didn't last long.

After all, there was no way she could meet her right away, even if she was curious. Instead, Laurea voiced a new question that came to mind.

"But speaking of which."

"......?"

"By mentioning a close warrior, do you mean there were others who weren't close to me?"

A sharp guess.

Ulan chuckled, "Exactly."

"Who is it, oh, by chance, Dilia?"

"It was me."

"......what?"

Was that an unexpected answer? Laurea looked dumbfounded for a moment.

After a while, she shook off her awkwardness and asked again, "You're saying I didn't get along with you?"

"Yes. You hated me, quite openly."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a barbarian."

Plain and simple.

But Laurea looked like she didn't understand. Frowning, she tilted her head with a puzzled look, "Hmm, that's odd. I mean, I don't like barbarians, of course, but hating someone for it seems a bit much..."

"For now, I suppose."

"Huh? Now?"

Her eyes widened a little.

As if she had guessed the hidden meaning behind Ulan's words.

"So, you mean, there's an event in the future that will make me hate barbarians?"

"Exactly."

In her past life, Laurea said.

Her mentor, who had taken care of her and raised her when she was young, was killed by barbarians.

But that wasn't the only reason.

There was also an incident where one of the saint candidates who would follow her died in an untimely attack by barbarians.

Of course, Ulan had nothing to do with those barbarians. At that time, Ulan was fighting against the monsters of the abyss.

However, Laurea joined Ulan not long after that incident. Perhaps that's why she couldn't control her emotions.

As he was recalling those past memories, Laurea suddenly snickered, "It's okay."

"Hmm?"

"This time will be different."

"What do you mean?"

"I've already met you like this, before the incident that made me hate barbarians." With a bright smile, Laurea smiled broadly, "In other words, even if that incident happens, I won't hate you. So you don't have to worry."

True, now that he thought about it.

He had met Laurea for the first time in his past life right after that incident happened.

This time, on the other hand, it was different.

She had met Ulan much earlier than she would have come to hate barbarians, and she would know that Ulan had nothing to do with those barbarians.

'Of course, this time.......’

He would have to prevent such an incident from happening in the first place. Ulan, his eyes glinting fiercely, nodded silently.

"Then that’s fortunate.”

"Yeah, it is.”

After exchanging smiles, they turned around.

With their mission concluded, they made their way out of the forest.

However, in the midst of it, Ulan suddenly spoke up, "Laurea."

"What now?"

"What are you going to tell Ian?"

Laurea was on close terms with Ian. So she would probably share the secrets Ulan had confessed today with him. Ulan had assumed so.

But the answer he got was unexpected.

“I’m not going to tell him.”

"What? Why not?”

"Did you forget what we promised earlier? We said we’d keep this story a secret between us,” Laurea's eyes narrowed. Whirling around, she stuck out a finger. Then, she poked Ulan in the chest, “This is your story.”

A connection that only Ulan knew about.

It was his own precious memory.

Therefore, the only one who had the right to tell this story was Ulan himself.

“So when the time comes, tell everyone yourself. I think it would be better for you and everyone else.”

She would keep it a secret until then.

That’s what Laurea said. Ulan, on the other hand, simply stared into her eyes.

“What are you looking at?”

“You’re really a good person.”

"......!"

Her eyes fluttered in embarrassment.

But only for a moment, then Laurea turned her head away and pushed Ulan’s back.

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up!”

"Okay."

Ulan started walking again; a faint smile formed on his face.

For some reason, he felt like he would become close to Laurea much faster this time.

And so Ulan walked, keeping pace with the present-day Laurea, while at the same time reminiscing about her from his past life.

And then, at that moment—

Thud!

—Ulan’s steps suddenly stopped; his expression stiffened. As if he'd remembered something unpleasant.

"Ulan?"

Perhaps because he had stopped so suddenly? Laurea looked at him.

At the same time, Ulan took a quick step forward. Then, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her face closer.

"......Laurea."

“What, what is it? All of a sudden!?”

The suddenness was unexpected.

Laurea exclaimed in surprise at his face, which was close enough for her to feel his breath.

Ulan's expression, on the other hand, was all too serious.

“I just remembered something I have to tell you.”

"......?"

“If there ever comes a time when you can’t hear the voice of the stars, a time when the hand of God is out of reach, don’t hesitate to call on me.”

Advice that came out of nowhere.

Ulan repeated his words, as if urging her.

"Don’t forget. If you become unable to use the holy power, call my name as soon as you notice the change.”

Ulan repeated his warning several times.

Laurea, on the other hand, was simply dumbfounded. After a while, she frowned and retorted, “Do you even realize how blasphemous you’re being right now? And in front of the next Saintess, no less?”

“This is just a hypothetical situation.”

“Hypothetical or not, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent! What difference does it make if I call your name in the first place?”

Even if she granted him the possibility that such a thing could actually happen, calling on Ulan wouldn’t change anything. After all, there was no way a mere human could solve something that even the power of God couldn’t. So Laurea asked, her tone accusatory. And at that moment,

Ulan answered without hesitation, "I will help you." With a determined expression, he continued speaking, "I remember the future. So, if the situation I mentioned earlier occurs, don't even think about facing it alone. Call out to me."

His words were filled with sincerity.

Laurea closed her mouth at the strange force he exuded. Ulan, without taking his eyes off her, whispered, "I will definitely save you.”

With those final words of determination, Ulan stepped away from Laurea. He lightly patted her shoulder and then pointed to the edge of the forest, “That’s all I have to say. Let’s go back.”

The hunting time was almost over.

Ulan turned and walked away.

Laurea, meanwhile, stared after him, a little dazed.

"......."

Even putting aside the blasphemy, his earnest expression and voice lingered in Laurea’s mind.

「I will help you.」

Words filled with sincerity and truth.

She could feel his determination to help her no matter what happened.

And one more thing.

There was another phrase that shook Laurea’s heart.

「I will definitely save you.」

Even in a situation beyond the reach of God’s power, he would never give up on her.

That’s how it sounded to Laurea.

And that made her happy.

It felt like she was being promised protection by a reliable older man; that’s why, before she knew it, the corners of her lips were about to curl up.

"...Arrogant, really."

The last vestiges of pride forced her lips back to their neutral position. She murmured with her lips pursed, "What is it, really.”

He was younger than her.

Why did a seventeen-year-old boy look so mature?

As she entertained these thoughts,

"Huh?"

A sudden realization struck her.

Moments later, she narrowed her eyes.

"Wait a minute."

Ulan clearly said this.

He came from the future, about 30 years ahead. And he woke up about a year ago, in the summer of a year prior.

"That means......."

Now, after a year, Ulan's real age, adding twenty-nine years, was calculated in a blink..

"......forty-six."

Before reverting to the past, Ulan's real age.

It made sense why a seventeen-year-old barbarian appeared oddly sensible and mature.

Also, the reason for his intense gaze.

The feeling of security she felt, once again, struck her mind.

At that moment,

"Laurea?"

Ulan's voice echoed.

He must have been wondering why she wasn’t following him, even though they had walked quite a distance.

Laurea was startled.

‘What is this voice......’

It was different from what she had heard before.

A voice with a grave depth to it.

Perhaps it was because she had realized his real age; his eyes, as he looked at her, also seemed strangely profound.

"What are you doing there?"

"......?"

"Is something wrong?"

He asked her one question after another.

Laurea unconsciously clutched the hem of her skirt. For some reason, she felt as if soft feathers were tickling her heart.

‘What is this feeling?’

She was confused by this strange feeling.

Just then,

Ulan turned around; as if he was going to come towards her.

Laurea’s eyes widened in surprise and she cried out, “N-No, it’s okay! I’ll go over there!”

Hurrying towards him,

a while later, after rejoining Ulan,

Laurea walked with a slight distance between them, unlike before. As she got closer, her heart fluttered.

This was a completely unfamiliar feeling.

But it wasn’t a bad feeling.

That’s why a bright smile appeared on Laurea’s lips, “Hehehe.”

After a brief chuckle,

her neckline was tinted with a blush as they left the forest. Perhaps it was due to the slightly scorching sunlight, or for some other reason.

A while later,

they returned to where they had started from.

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

Translator's Notes:-

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