Chapter 106
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Chapter 106
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Secret
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A girl beaming right in front of her eyes.
Her turquoise hair fluttered in the wind, and her bright yellow pupils resembled ginkgo leaves.
Dilia's eyes widened round in surprise.
"Laurea?"
"Yes, that's right. It's me."
After replying, Laurea approached Dilia. Meanwhile, Dilia still looked puzzled, as if she couldn't comprehend.
"You, here, why...?"
"I told you, didn't I? We'd meet again."
"That's not, what I'm, asking."
As Dilia furrowed her brow...
Laurea's answer came back.
"Because I was curious."
"About what?"
"I've never actually seen a monster in my whole life born until now."
From her days as a saintess candidate, Laurea had received all sorts of attention and special care.
Leaving the monastery was strictly forbidden, and even if she did go out, she'd be under heavy escort by the holy knights.
So there was never any chance to encounter monsters or magic beasts to begin with. In contrast, Dilia frowned at her response.
"...What a, full, life you lead."
To someone from the Arpen Duchy, who had to fight monsters her entire life, Laurea's words sounded like something only a pampered flower in a greenhouse would say.
As she shot her a disdainful glance...
Stella's voice rang out from afar.
"Everyone, attention!"
Professor Stella, who had taken the podium, scanned the surroundings. She exchanged a knowing glance with Laurea before continuing.
"Today's practical will be conducted in pairs: hunt in teams of two, then dissect the prey each team brings back to analyze its weak points."
The hunting ground was the northern forest.
The very place where the Abyss Worshipper attack had occurred. But there was no need to worry about a repeat incident.
After the attack became known...
The Ruben Empire and the Kingdom Alliance had greatly reinforced patrols around Arsen Academy.
Five times the previous forces were deployed on constant patrol, and elite knight orders made up of senior knights were stationed at every key point.
In other words, unlike before, the northern forest had become a very safe place. That's why Stella had resumed practicals from last week.
"By the way, since this is Cadet Laurea's first monster hunt, I'll specially pair her with the strongest hunter here."
"Wow, really? Who's that?"
"Conveniently, right behind you."
The moment those words ended...
Dilia's face immediately soured.
There was only one person behind Laurea and herself: Ullan.
"But Ullan is, with me..."
"Sorry, but not this time."
Stella stated firmly then.
"During midterms and all along, you've always been paired with Ullan, right? So pair with another student this time."
"..."
Dilia wore a displeased expression.
But she couldn't argue.
It was true she'd never been paired with anyone but Ullan. Leaving the sulking Dilia behind, teams were quickly formed.
"Alright, head to your assigned zones!"
At Stella's spirited shout...
The monster hunt began.
1.
After entering the northern forest...
Laurea briskly walked the forest path.
Crunch, crunch!
Perhaps due to yesterday's rain, her feet sank into the damp soil as she moved. Glancing repeatedly at Ullan's back leading the way...
'He's surprisingly considerate.'
From the start until now...
Ullan had swung his axe to clear all the thick underbrush and branches. Likely for her sake, following behind.
Feeling a fresh sense of surprise...
Laurea recalled her personal goal.
'The reason I paired with Ullan.'
In truth, this was something she'd deliberately arranged. To glean more information about the Abyss through him.
'We've walked far enough now...'
Time to ask some questions?
As she was about to part her lips with that thought...
Suddenly, Ullan spoke first.
"Laurea."
"...Yes?"
"You can speak casually now."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Her eyes widened at the out-of-the-blue remark.
A puzzled expression, as if she had no idea. Ullan continued in his gruff tone.
"You don't need to use formal speech."
"Hmm, I prefer it this way?"
After a brief hesitation, Laurea flashed a bright smile.
Innocent enough to fool anyone who didn't know her.
But not Ullan.
He knew it was a mask, so he spoke without hesitation.
"I know your true self."
"What are you suddenly..."
"I know you hate using formal speech, and what your real personality is like."
A calm statement.
Ullan replied lowly.
"So act like your usual self around me."
There were no eyes watching here.
After his response ended, Laurea closed her slightly parted lips. The smile on her face quickly faded too.
A moment later...
She looked at Ullan with dry eyes.
"..."
No words.
She just kept staring at him.
It might have felt burdensome, but Ullan didn't avoid her gaze.
As the silent staring contest dragged on...
"Hmm."
Laurea spoke first.
Hands behind her back, she spun around lightly and began walking daintily. Circling Ullan slowly, she muttered in a languid tone.
"I've thought this since we first met..."
Trailing off for a moment...
Laurea's eyes sparkled like stars.
As if she'd discovered something intriguing.
A completely different tone from before.
Not just dropping formal speech; her timbre and voice pitch had sunk much calmer too.
This was Laurea's true face.
Seeing it, Ullan grinned.
"Much better this way."
This was the Laurea he remembered.
Meanwhile, Laurea asked with lingering doubt on her face.
"More importantly, we just met yesterday—how do you know me so well? Did you investigate me or something?"
A barrage of questions.
But Ullan didn't answer.
Not that he'd deliberately shut his mouth.
The moment he faced her true self, memories of his past life suddenly surged, causing him to miss her words.
"Whatever."
With no reply from Ullan, Laurea assumed he didn't want to explain.
She shrugged nonchalantly.
As if she didn't care at all.
"If you don't want to say, forget it. I'll find out on my own later."
No rush.
She could ask again later, or commission the Holy Kingdom's intelligence division.
As she was about to resume walking...
Halt!
Suddenly, Ullan stopped.
His reaction suggested he'd spotted something. Noticing, Laurea called out.
"What's up?"
Did a monster appear?
As that thought crossed her mind, Ullan gripped his axe. Without turning, he whispered.
"Wait here a moment."
"What? But..."
"It's fine. Just a bit."
Finishing his flat reply...
Ullan walked off alone.
An inexplicable tension. Laurea swallowed dryly. But it was fleeting; the sight before her eyes drew a dazed gasp.
"Huh?"
It was due to Ullan's bizarre actions.
Reaching the brush, he suddenly stuck to a tree and climbed straight to the top. Then swiftly swung the axe he'd drawn earlier.
Thud! Thump!
Loud noises followed.
Like stones dropping to the ground. Moments later, Ullan descended with arms full of large fruits.
"..."
She'd thought some dangerous monster appeared and he went to fight, but it was just to pick fruits?
As Laurea wore a deflated expression...
Ullan, now close, handed them over.
"A gift. For you."
"...What's this?"
"The hangover fruit I mentioned last time."
After a simple answer...
Ullan added details.
"Eat it the next day, or take it with alcohol. It'll ease hangovers and stomach aches too."
After handing over all the fruits...
Laurea stared at him silently.
Eyes tinged with subtle doubt. Unaware, Ullan turned.
"Let's move again."
To resume the original goal: monster hunting.
But soon, he had to stop again.
"Laurea?"
Laurea wasn't following; she stood rooted in place.
Why the sudden change?
As he puzzled over it, she suddenly looked up. Closing the distance briskly, she spoke.
"I have a question."
"What?"
"I've been wondering all along—yesterday, today, how did you figure it out?"
"Figure what out...?"
"That I suffer from hangovers."
Laurea stared intently at Ullan.
As if she couldn't hold back her curiosity.
Ullan, receiving the question, answered casually.
"I can tell from your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"Yeah, your eyes tell everything."
Right after replying...
Ullan stared straight into her eyes.
The method was surprisingly simple.
No hangover days, pupils are clearer; hangover days, they're hazy. That's all.
Then Laurea pulled a hand mirror from her bosom and began staring contest with her reflection.
"To me, they look the same as usual?"
"Maybe because you drink every single day without fail—no change."
"..."
Makes sense upon hearing it.
Laurea nodded without rebuttal.
Then, a new question popping up, she turned back to Ullan.
"More than that, you're pretty unique too."
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? Normally, hearing someone who's basically the next saintess drinks every day, most people ask why first."
Why drink so much?
Even her guard Ian had done the same right after learning. He'd asked why she drank every night.
"Not curious? Why I drink."
"Not particularly."
"Huh? Why not?"
"I already know the reason."
Laurea chuckled at that.
No way he knows.
Her reason for drinking was special.
Unless she revealed it first, no third party could know.
'Probably just said it.'
So Laurea thought.
Until Ullan's reply.
"It's because of the voice of the stars, right?"
"...?!"
Ullan's matter-of-fact response.
Hearing it, Laurea startled as if seeing a ghost.
Shock, fluster, astonishment.
Facing them, he recalled stories from the past life's saintess.
'The Star God.'
The god worshipped by the Holy Kingdom's faithful, an aggregate of countless divinities upholding the world.
Among them, the saintess called God's proxy was a most special existence, serving closest to the Star God.
Perhaps because of that?
Saintesses serving the Star God receive immense divine blessings and certain abilities.
The 'voice of the stars' Ullan just mentioned was one such.
'When night falls and stars rise, the gods speak to her one by one.'
Sounding mystical and holy at first glance.
Hearing God's voice is great glory for a saintess.
'And she did get help from it.'
The Star God warns of ominous futures or offers advice through the saintess.
Thanks to that, the hero party overcame crises several times.
'But...'
A fatal flaw exists.
The gods speak incessantly at all hours when night comes, with no way to stop the interference.
Even when trying to sleep. One can barely imagine the saintess's plight.
'That's why she drank.'
To borrow intoxication for sleep.
And additionally, it's why saintesses can't help but have prickly personalities.
From selection as next saintess until stepping down, enduring God's voice nightly ad nauseam.
Meanwhile...
Laurea still looked shocked.
Naturally. This truth was known only to a few close aides.
'But how...'
How does he know?
Feeling questions surge wildly, she bit her lip hard.
Glared at Ullan and demanded.
"...Just who the hell are you?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Ullan brushed it off.
Same as what he'd heard in the cafeteria.
But this time, she wouldn't back down easily.
"No, I would."
Shaking her head firmly...
Laurea grew serious.
"First, I'll tell you my secret. I have a special ability. It lets me pierce through someone's essence, distinguish lies from truth."
About her Projection Eyes.
A secret from his past life he'd only learned after half a year spilled from her lips.
"And from the moment we met until now, you've never once lied. That's why I can believe you."
"..."
"So tell me."
What your identity is.
Laurea gazed at Ullan with sincere eyes. But with no reply, she pressed again.
"If you don't trust me, I swear on the Star God's name..."
"No need for oaths."
Then...
Ullan shook his head.
"I can trust you."
A faint smile bloomed on his lips.
A smile laced with certainty.
His response brimming with strong trust flustered Laurea momentarily. She hadn't expected such faith from someone she'd just met yesterday.
"If I can't trust a comrade who fought the Abyss alongside me for over a decade, then there's no one in the world worth trusting."
"A-Abyss? Comrade?"
What the hell is this?
Laurea looked flustered.
Not just from the sudden words. It was because her Projection Eyes confirmed them as truth.
At that moment...
Ullan's face turned grave.
"If you're curious about my identity, I'll tell you."
He steeled his resolve.
Two reasons.
First, Laurea possessed Projection Eyes.
She could discern truth from lies, so she'd accept his secret easily.
'And the second reason...'
Ullan needed comrades now.
If another Abyss rift opened and a lord emerged, his power alone wouldn't suffice.
So he planned to share his secret with an old comrade and gain cooperation. And he chose Laurea.
Discarding all hesitation...
With eyes blazing like flames, Ullan's low voice continued.
"I am Ullan Bator. Great Warrior born on the plains, traversing battlefields, and the hero who fought the Abyss with you for over a decade."
"...What?"
Laurea blankly echoed.
Ullan had said they'd been together over a decade. And again, it rang true.
"W-Wait! Hold on a second."
Too absurd a tale.
Yet Projection Eyes accepted it as truth.
In this unprecedented situation, her comprehension felt drained. So she cut him off to sort the info.
"W-What do you mean I was with you for over a decade? We clearly met yesterday for the first time, and..."
As she stammered incoherently...
Ullan gripped her shoulders.
Meeting her eyes full of confusion, he whispered a name.
"Irea."
Hearing that name...
Laurea's thoughts froze.
Because Irea was her 'real name' from before becoming a saintess candidate.
"H-How do you know that name...?"
A secret known only to her and her master.
Even Ian didn't know her true name. Hearing it from Ullan, Laurea's voice trembled uncontrollably.
Ullan remained impassive.
Gazing at her wildly shaking eyes, he whispered once more.
A secret only he knew.
"I came from the future, 30 years from now."
An answer absurd on its face.
But Laurea couldn't laugh.
Simple reason.
No trace of lie through Projection Eyes.
Facing a confession purely of truth...
Her mind went blank.
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