The Academy’s Barbarian

Chapter 92: What Happened In The Capital (4)

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Today was a special day for Ibella.

After all, she was on a cozy date with Ulan. And it was just the two of them, without any interruptions.

Thanks to this, a bright smile never left her lips from the moment she left the academy and got into the carriage.

'I'm happy.'

Ibella giggled happily.

The time spent with Ulan felt like a dream, and perhaps because of that, it felt like time was passing faster than usual.

'I feel like.......

She wanted to hold onto the flowing time.

Of course, she knew that it was impossible, so she decided to enjoy the present moment rather than feel regret.

After watching a play and coming to the cafe, her mood became even better. The desserts in front of her were delicious enough to suit her taste buds, but more than that, it was thanks to Ulan readily accepting her proposal.

'I never thought he would agree so easily.'

At the end of June, when the final exams are over,

Arsene Academy is scheduled to have a two-week summer vacation. So she suggested that they visit the Deorg County together if they had nothing to do.

It could be a proposal that felt burdensome depending on the situation, but Ulan accepted without hesitation. She was overjoyed by this fact.

'Actually, I was a little worried.'

Istan El Deorg.

After leaving the academy, he stayed in the county and completely broke down the corruption that had accumulated over time.

This fact could be inferred from the letters of her mother, Edeline Elearde, but there was still a lingering sense of unease in the corner of her heart.

'It can't be helped.'

For Ibella, Deorg County is like a collection of bad memories.

It was a place where she was brought in during her ignorant childhood and suffered all sorts of discrimination, humiliation, and persecution.

So, no matter how much things have changed, she honestly felt uncomfortable. The trauma, rooted in her instincts, didn't seem to go away.

'But if I go with Ulan.'

It seemed like she wouldn't be anxious at all.

To her, Ulan was a strong support, an object of admiration, a reliable friend, and the only man she had given her heart to.

So when he graciously accepted her proposal, she was overjoyed.

However, that only lasted for a moment.

"......Perticia?"

Ulan suddenly mumbled something.

However, because she had been lost in her own thoughts, she didn't catch the exact words. So, Ibella playfully tilted her head and asked, "Huh? What did you just say?"

But there was no answer.

Because now, Ulan wasn't looking at her; his gaze was directed somewhere else. Specifically, towards another group of customers who had just entered the backyard.

Among them, the girl Ulan's gaze focused on had snow-white hair. Perhaps due to her ruby-red eyes, she somehow reminded Ibella of a rabbit.

Up to this point, it was okay.

But the problem was that, even in Ibella's eyes, the girl's face was excessively beautiful. Realizing this, the girl also turned to look at Ulan.

"......."

The two stared at each other intently.

It wasn't simply a matter of their gazes meeting as they turned their heads, but they were openly staring at each other.

Ibella raised an eyebrow at the sight.

'My heart feels stuffy.'

For some reason, her heart felt heavy.

At the same time, all sorts of emotions boiled up inside her. She had felt a similar feeling before; it was when she saw Ulan and Dilia together she felt the same way back then.

However, she wasn't sure what the true nature of these emotions was

'I don't want to see it.'

what was certain was that she didn't like the current situation in front of her.

Was that why? Usually, she would only move after she had finished thinking, but this time, her body moved first.

I don't like being ignored.

Ibella reached out with both hands and cupped Ulan's cheeks. Then she turned his head, forcing him to make eye contact with her.

Look at me properly.

With words that came from her heart

Ibella stared intently into Ulan's crimson eyes. As if to recreate the scene where he had just exchanged glances with the girl.

After such a short time.

'Gasp!'

Ibella's eyes suddenly widened; her reason had returned to her.

At the same time, she became aware of the reality and realized that she was making eye contact with Ulan; the emotions that had been boiling up inside her quickly subsided.

Ibella then pulled her hands away from Ulan's face, her face flushed with surprise.

'What, what am I doing...?'

She realized that she had been rude.

But she didn't feel remorseful for what she had just done; she had genuinely wanted to make Ulan look back at her, even if it was just for a moment.

Meanwhile, Ulan stared at Ibella quietly.

'Come to think of it, .......

He had heard similar words from Ibella in his past life; she had told him that it was rude to ignore someone while eating together.

After recalling this, Ulan nodded earnestly.

"I apologize. I understand."

"Uh, uh-huh?"

"I will not take my eyes off you from now on."

Immediately after giving his gentle answer, Ulan stared intently at Ibella.

She looked back at him, but it wasn't long before she had to look away; his eyes were burning like flames. They were fierce and serious, and she could feel the pressure on her.

"Y-you don't have to stare at me like that."

"I'm not really staring at you on purpose."

"What? Then why......."

"I'm just looking because you're beautiful."

"......."

Her face flushed red.

Realizing that Ulan wasn't making it up, Ibella's face turned even redder.

Ugh, this is it.

It wouldn't do. At this rate, her face would catch fire, and she wouldn't be able to say anything.

So she quickly changed the subject.

"Uh, by the way."

"......?"

"Do you know that person?"

The white-haired girl Ulan had been looking at earlier.

It was Perticia.

Ulan shook his head and replied, "Not yet."

"Huh?"

Not yet? What does that mean? Ibella tilted her head.

As if she didn't understand the answer he had given.

Ulan smiled slyly at her puzzled expression and replied, "You'll find out in time."

Once they have each completed their trials, the warriors will inevitably gather in one place.

But since Perticia was the last to join them, it's normal for her not to know right now; that's why he gave that answer.

Of course, Ibella, being the clueless one she is, just kept tilting her head repeatedly. But as she was thinking about what Ulan meant,

"Ibella."

Suddenly, Ulan called her name; she was about to answer, but she couldn't.

Ulan, who had gotten up from his seat, suddenly thrust his face forward.

"......?!"

Her turquoise eyes went wide; Ibella was stunned partly because of his sudden action, but more importantly, because Ulan was too close.

She reflexively tried to back away, but she couldn't, because just as she was about to pull away, Ulan grabbed her shoulder.

'His, his hand!'

The moment their bare skin touched,

And as she realized this, the blush that had barely returned to her complexion flushed once more.

"Just stay still."

Ulan's voice came from close by.

His face tilted slowly as he stared at Ibella with serious eyes.

What is it? What is it? What is going on?

She felt her senses numb and her heart pounding wildly; as if it was about to burst out of her chest.

Unable to calm down, she closed her eyes tightly. And in the meantime, Ulan came even closer; close enough to feel each other's breath.

An unknown tension and a strange sense of anticipation. Ibella unknowingly clenched the hem of her skirt.

In the moment that followed, just as tension began to build up throughout her body

"It's done now."

she heard Ulan's voice; a voice with a sense of relief.

She gently opened her closed eyes and saw Ulan moving away. She looked at him with a puzzled face. Then, the answer came again.

"There was a bug on your head."

Bug?

"Don't worry. It's gone now."

He must have come over to swat the bug out of her hair; as the tension eased, all the strength in her body drained away.

'Oh, I was so surprised.'

At the same time, she felt a strange sense of regret; but only for a moment. Ibella shook her head; to calm down the heat that wouldn't go away and her still pounding heart.

After a long time.

When she finally regained her composure,

The dessert on the table was gone.

Ulan had eaten it all.

"How was it? Did you enjoy the taste?"

"It was very satisfying," Ulan smiled, showing his pearly whites; his smile was so honest and emotional that Ibella couldn't help but smile back.

Yes, as long as Ulan was satisfied.

"Shall we get up when we're done?"

"Sure."

They had other plans.

The two of them left the cafe after getting up from their seats.

However, just before leaving the backyard, Ulan glanced at Perticia again.

He didn't know why she was here, but it didn't really matter. It wasn't time to meet her yet.

'If things go the same way as they did in my last life.......

Perhaps a proper reunion would only happen after the fall of the Ruben Empire, so Ulan turned his attention away from Perticia.

Meanwhile, around that time

After Ulan and Ibella disappeared, Perticia glanced at Ulan's back as he disappeared into the distance. After a moment, when he was completely out of sight, she let out a short exclamation.

"Wow, I was so surprised."

"Huh?"

Limer asked in a puzzled tone, and Perticia replied, her eyes wide as if she'd just seen a strange creature.

"He was much bigger than I heard."

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

"Hoo-hoo, there is such a thing," Perticia let out a strange laugh.

Limer was curious about what it meant, but she couldn't ask any more questions; because the food they had ordered had just arrived.

A feast of various dishes and desserts was spread out on the table.

Perticia started eating with a happy face, completely forgetting about Ulan's back, which she had been staring at intently until just now.

* * * * *

Time passed quickly.

The once blue sky had turned red with the sunset, and the sun, which had been shining brightly, had slowly set beyond the mountains.

And at that moment.

Ulan was suddenly alone.

"......."

In the square of the Southern District of the Capital

Ulan, sitting on a bench in front of the fountain, silently recalled why he was alone.

Actually, I have a personal errand to run in the capital. So, can we meet back here in about an hour? I'm really sorry.

Just ten minutes ago, after they had just finished dinner, Ibella suddenly disappeared, saying that she had an errand to run.

Of course, he didn't feel upset or anything; he was used to being alone.

"I'm bored."

But he was just a little bored.

Staring blankly at the sky, Ulan put his hands in his pants pockets. Suddenly, he found a small object in his pocket.

"This is......."

A sparkling silver coin.

Noah had handed it to him late last night when she came to visit unexpectedly. The moment he saw it, he remembered what Noah had told him yesterday.

If you happen to be left alone while you're out tomorrow, buy something with this and give it to Ibella. It's not right to keep taking things from her without giving anything in return.

At the time, he had just dismissed it as nothing, but now that he thought about it, it could have been a prophecy.

After all, he had been left alone.

"A gift, huh."

It wasn't a bad idea; after all, if it wasn't for Ibella, he wouldn't be able to enjoy this time at all.

Ulan stood up with a determined expression on his face.

There was still time before she returned, so he decided to buy something before then. So he headed to the marketplace he'd seen earlier.

"Come and get it, the last batch of fabric from the East!"

"Freshly baked bread for only two copper coins!"

"A basket of apples from today's harvest, selling for a bargain price of one silver coin!"

Listening to the voices of the merchants selling their wares, Ulan wandered through the marketplace. He hadn't decided what to give as a gift yet.

In his past life, he had never given a gift before, so he didn't know what to get.

After wandering the streets for a while, near a small alley, something caught his eye.

"A bracelet?"

A bracelet made of beads woven together with a thread.

The moment he saw it.

A part of his memories from his past life came back. It was the memory of Ibella and Dilia occasionally giving each other accessories like bracelets or necklaces.

Although he didn't understand why they adorned themselves with such things, he clearly remembered how happy they were at the time.

"Hehe, feel free to look around."

The girl selling the bracelets quickly approached and greeted him. After a quick glance, Ulan inquired about the price, "How much is one?"

"It's one silver coin, but if you buy three, it's two silver coins!"

A silver coin was ten copper coins.

It was a rather high price for a crudely made bracelet, but Ulan didn't mind; he had no sense of money, even in his last life.

On the contrary, he smiled as if it was a good thing.

'I'll give them each one as a gift.'

Ibella, Noah, and even Dilia.

He remembered how he had been helped by Ibella, Noah, and Dilia in many ways.

Immediately after making his decision, Ulan chose bracelets that matched the hair colors of the three girls.

"Thank you for your purchases!"

With the girl's cheerful greeting behind her

Ulan grabbed the bracelets and turned around.

Now, he had eight copper coins left.

Since there was nothing else to buy, he decided to head straight back to the square. However, at that moment, something caught his eye.

"That's......."

It was a wrist guard made of leather.

The moment he saw it, he suddenly remembered that in his past life, Ibella had often complained of wrist pain; this was because most of her sword techniques took a heavy toll on her wrists.

'I should get that for her as well.'

Since he had no use for the remaining money.

So, he approached and asked about it, "I'd like to buy this."

"I'm sorry, but it's not for sale."

"What?"

"These are prizes for that game over there."

The man pointed in one direction.

There, on a makeshift wall, were magic lamps emitting bright flames and merchants busy soliciting customers.

"So if you want it, you have to win the game. Of course, if you really want it, I can give it to you for two silver coins."

Two silver coins.

With the money Ulan had, it was impossible.

In other words, the only way to get the wristband was to participate in the so-called game.

Just then, as he was looking at the place with the magic lamps,

"This is a total scam!"

A commotion broke out along with a clear voice.

It seemed that someone was not accepting the result of the game and was making a fuss.

The merchant in charge of the game also raised his voice.

Hey, if you failed, just go back quietly. Why are you suddenly making a fuss?"

"Because there was a potion that interferes with magical reactions applied to the back of the magic lamp!" The girl's face was flushed with anger as she spoke.

As Ulan looked at her, his eyes gradually widened.

"That girl is."

A companion from his past life whom he had met at the cafe earlier.

She was one of the seven warriors, Perticia, whom he thought he wouldn't see for a while.

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

Translator's Notes:-

Sorry for the late update.

I was on a break for 2-3 days and didn't translate any chapter because I was burned out. I am feeling refreshed now.

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