Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Secret
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Laurea's face was deathly pale.
Facing her like that, Ullan calmly recited the memories of his past life.
"I returned to the present through death. And ten years before my final moments, the Abyss Gate opened here."
It was the truth.
"Monsters poured out from all directions, and with the Empire leading the way, kingdom after kingdom fell. Even the Holy Kingdom where you were was no exception."
This was also the truth.
"Of course, people resisted. To protect their families or survive, or for their own reasons, they fought the monsters. I was one of them."
From the claim of coming from thirty years in the future to the description of events after the Abyss Gate opened.
Ullan's words were all verified as truth.
Once it was revealed that everything he said was true, Laurea began to doubt the power of her Projection Eye for the first time.
A not-so-short time passed.
Ullan's lips, which had been constantly moving, finally closed. A moment later, with a much clearer expression, he concluded the tale.
"This is the future that's coming soon."
"......"
Meanwhile, Laurea still wore a confused look. Her face was pale, and her trembling eyes showed no sign of calming.
But who was it that said it?
Humans are creatures of adaptation.
Proving those words, as time passed, Laurea's confusion gradually subsided.
"Then, does that mean the name Irea as well......?"
"The future you told me."
Ullan answered as if he'd been waiting.
Of course, that made sense.
The being named Irea was known only to Laurea and her master.
But there was something puzzling.
"Still, it's a bit surprising."
"What do you mean?"
"My real name."
Letting out a suppressed breath,
Laurea turned to look at him.
"From the moment I became a saintess candidate and received the name 'Laurea' from my master, I vowed to take that birth name to my grave."
Yet she wondered why she had revealed such a secret to Ullan. Looking at him as if asking for the reason, an answer soon came.
"It probably wasn't a normal situation."
"What? What does that......?"
"In our past life, you and I were trapped in the Specter Labyrinth and nearly died."
To be precise, only Laurea had nearly died.
At that time, she had lost consciousness upon falling into the labyrinth, and under the Abyss's influence, she couldn't even use her holy power, putting her on the brink of death.
It was then that they had no choice but to press their bare skin together to maintain her dropping body temperature.
"You must have sensed it was the end, because you told me your real name. You said that at the very last moment, you wanted to die not as the saintess, but as Irea."
"......"
At Ullan's response, she closed her mouth.
There was only one reason. It perfectly matched her own thoughts.
No matter how much she lived as Laurea, she had always wanted to die under her real name.
'A secret known only to me.'
Even her master didn't know this.
The very fact that he knew this secret proved, even without the Projection Eye, that Ullan was from the future.
Having sorted her thoughts,
"......Haa, to be honest."
Laurea let out a deep sigh. Then, turning to Ullan, she spoke again.
"I've acknowledged that your story is true. But it's still hard to fully accept it all. My head's a complete mess right now."
Even if every story was true, understanding and accepting it were another matter.
"So I need some time."
Time to accept the truth.
That's why Laurea said she needed time to understand Ullan's story.
Ullan nodded.
"Got it. That's enough for now."
Just having her recognize his story as truth achieved his goal. He grinned in satisfaction.
But that lasted only a moment.
Ullan sensed a subtle change.
The way Laurea looked at him and her attitude had shifted. Noticing this, he asked in a puzzled tone.
"Why the sudden reaction?"
"Huh? W-what do you...... mean?"
"Your attitude seems different."
Laurea flinched.
As if he'd hit the nail on the head.
A moment later, she hesitated before speaking.
"Well, it's like......"
Unable to spit it out easily, she let out a heavy sigh. Then she explained her sudden change in attitude.
"Hearing your story made me feel like I shouldn't talk to you casually......?"
Summarizing everything she'd heard from Ullan so far.
He was a hero who fought the Abyss for humanity and the world.
And now, returned to the past.
Knowing the Abyss Gate would open yet choosing to face it again deserved respect.
'What an incredible person.'
It felt like looking at a hero from myth.
So it was hard to treat him as usual.
Ullan's thoughts were different, however.
"I'm not that great."
"B-but......"
"If it were you who returned to the past, you'd make the same choice as me."
Eyes filled with conviction.
In a voice without a trace of doubt, Ullan answered firmly.
"Above all, you're my comrade. So no need to treat me formally."
This was also true.
Was that why?
The distance she'd felt moments ago seemed to vanish quickly. Feeling much more at ease, Laurea nodded.
"Phew, got it. I'll treat you like normal then."
"Yeah, that's more comfortable for me too."
Ullan grinned.
As if satisfied with her attitude.
With that, their talk ended, and they resumed walking. To focus on their original goal of monster hunting.
"Oh, right."
But then,
Laurea stopped again.
Having faced the shocking truth, she'd momentarily forgotten her errand, but it came back to her.
"There's something I want to ask......"
"If I know, I'll answer."
A reassuring response just from hearing it.
Laurea smiled faintly.
She soon posed the question.
"Do you know about the oracle by any chance?"
"Oracle?"
Ullan tilted his head.
With that, Laurea relayed the recent oracle received by the Holy King, word for word.
『Fragments of the Abyss have slipped through the cracks into the world, so the day the gate opens is near. Gather the scattered stars to become the lantern that illuminates the Abyss.』
Right after conveying the oracle's content,
She looked at Ullan expectantly.
He came from the future, so he should know how to interpret this oracle. But Laurea's expectations shattered soon after.
"First time hearing that."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah, I didn't hear it in my past life."
Ullan shook his head.
Seeing that, Laurea couldn't hide her disappointment. Because his answer was the truth.
Just as she was disheartened,
Suddenly, an unexpected response came.
"But I think I know what 'gather the scattered stars' means."
"What? Really?"
Her face brightened instantly.
Facing her wide, rabbit-like surprised eyes, Ullan spoke calmly.
"First, the stars refer to heroes."
"Heroes......?"
"The seven heroes who each passed their trials and fought the Abyss. In the past life, you and I were called heroes too."
She roughly understood what heroes were.
But the fundamental question remained unresolved.
"But what's the connection between stars and heroes?"
He'd said he knew what gathering the scattered stars meant, yet talked only about heroes. As she tilted her head,
"There is a connection."
Ullan's answer came.
Fixing his gaze on Laurea, he continued calmly.
"I heard it from you."
"You mean...... from the future me?"
"Exactly."
Nodding again,
Ullan recalled memories from his past life. To remember what Laurea had said.
"When the seven scattered stars unite as one, they will sweep away the Abyss shrouding the continent and become the lantern of hope."
This was the message from the gods that the past life's Laurea had heard through the voice of the stars.
And it became the catalyst to gather the heroes scattered across the continent.
Meanwhile, after hearing Ullan's explanation,
Laurea put on a serious expression.
'Seven scattered stars.'
The seven heroes who opposed the Abyss.
Even the part about becoming the lantern to dispel the Abyss.
It matched much of the oracle the Holy King received. Meaning, as Ullan said, the scattered stars likely referred to the heroes.
"That makes sense."
Slowly nodding,
She voiced a new question.
"You said earlier that you and I are heroes."
"I did."
"Then do you know where the other five heroes are?"
"Of course."
With a straightforward answer,
Ullan replied immediately.
"Except for two, they're all nearby."
"Nearby where?"
"Arsen Academy."
"......What?"
Laurea blankly repeated.
A moment later, her golden eyes filled with surprise. Facing them, Ullan mentioned the three heroes currently in the academy.
【Sword Princess, Ivela Elead】
【Star Witch, Dilia Arpen】
【Holy Knight, Ian Marcus】
With each name, Laurea's eyes widened further. Watching her amusing reaction, Ullan finished.
"Add you and me, plus Pertisha and Sven, and that's seven."
"Who are Pertisha and Sven......?"
"A bard and a sniper."
After stating their roles,
Ullan recalled recent events.
"I saw Pertisha in the capital recently, but I haven't met Sven yet."
Sven was a subhuman.
He'd heard Sven had worked as a mercenary in the eastern continent's jungles before the Abyss Gate opened. So it would be hard to meet without seeking him out.
As he finished explaining all the heroes,
Suddenly, Laurea asked puzzledly.
"Huh? But she's not there?"
"Who do you mean?"
"Noa Darshen."
Eyes tinged with curiosity.
Ullan answered flatly.
"Noa is not a hero."
"What? Really?"
Laurea's eyes widened.
It was quite unexpected.
She'd always seen Noa with Ullan, so she thought she might be one too.
"Then what is she?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know? Why?"
Laurea tilted her head.
Ullan came from thirty years in the future.
Meaning he knew most of what would happen, yet he didn't know Noa's identity?
Did that make sense? As Laurea thought that, the reason came from Ullan.
"Noa didn't exist in my future."
"......What?"
A voice full of bewilderment.
As an absurd expression spread across Laurea's face, Ullan explained the whole story.
A moment later, after the tale ended,
She bit her lip and muttered.
"I see. Someone you never met even once in your past life......"
It wasn't just that he hadn't met her.
He'd never even heard her name or deeds, impressed by her talent or skill.
New information revealed.
Laurea sighed.
"Phew, then let me say this first."
"What?"
"About the story we shared today."
Closing her mouth, she approached Ullan.
Close enough to feel each other's breath. Then, whispering,
"It's best if only you and I know this."
"Why?"
"Two reasons."
Stepping back a pace,
Laurea held up two fingers.
She folded one and spoke.
"First, I accepted your words as truth through my Projection Eye, but others probably won't."
So revealing the truth without preparation or explanation would only bring confusion and distrust. That was Laurea's point.
Right after hearing this reason,
Ullan nodded silently.
Meaning he understood.
Then Laurea smiled brightly and folded the remaining finger.
"The second reason is Noa Darshen."
The girl with jet-black hair and blue eyes.
A being absent from Ullan's future.
Recalling her, Laurea thought back to the day she first met Ullan.
"When we first met, Ian said there was a monster among the onlookers. He must have subtly sensed your power."
It made sense.
Ian was quick on the uptake.
His survival instincts were exceptional, instinctively gauging an opponent's strength. So it was natural he'd recognized Ullan's power.
"But Ian didn't specify who the monster was. So the monster I understood was not you, but Noa Darshen."
Ullan's expression subtly hardened.
Seeing it, Laurea explained why she thought of Noa as a monster. The fact that two souls coexisted in one body.
And one more thing.
There was another reason.
"If you already know, but with my Projection Eye, I can pierce through a target's essence."
Of course. Ullan nodded.
He also recalled that the essence Laurea saw was usually a distinct form like a flame or lake.
"But Noa Darshen was unusual."
"How so?"
"......Endless darkness."
As soon as the question ended,
Laurea's face stiffened.
As if recalling the first time she saw Noa. Hugging her goosebump-covered shoulders, she continued.
"It felt like gazing into an abyssal void without a bottom. I couldn't see what was inside at all."
Definitely unusual.
As Ullan narrowed his eyes,
"Anyway, what I mean is."
Laurea summarized.
And revealed her true feelings.
"I can't trust her."
"......"
Eyes filled with distrust.
Ullan remained silent.
In truth, he partially agreed. Noa hid far too much.
'And......'
Not long ago, when the Abyss rift opened.
Ullan had accidentally heard a voice from beyond the Abyss. The displeasing voice just from hearing it had referred to Noa as,
'Outsider.'
And uttered unintelligible words.
Noa had shown clear panic upon hearing it, but even now, after everything settled, she hadn't given a proper explanation.
Hearing Laurea's words in this situation only fueled more distrust.
"Sharing secrets with someone untrustworthy is the height of folly. That's why I said to keep today's talk secret."
Adding the final nail,
Ullan nodded silently.
Now he understood why Noa's existence was reason to keep their conversation secret.
"Oh, of course, if she's clearly confirmed as an ally, then we can tell her. But the criterion for judging her an ally......"
"Will be your Projection Eye."
"Right. You know well."
Laurea grinned.
Using the Projection Eye's power, she could uncover what Noa was hiding.
"Got it. Then today's talk stays our secret."
"Yeah. Let's keep it that way for now."
As they finished their agreement,
Rustle!
Suddenly, the bushes ahead shook.
A presence followed. Vibrations shaking the ground and threatening howls.
Monsters had appeared.
"Get behind me, Laurea."
Over a dozen at a glance.
Ullan drew his axe, blocking her protectively.
But Laurea showed no fear.
Instead, like discovering a curious creature, her eyes widened.
"Oh, those are monsters? They look so unique."
"Yeah. Dangerous, so stay behind......"
"Nah, it's fine. You said only up to 2-star monsters appear in this forest, right?"
Chuckling,
Laurea stood beside Ullan.
"And you know, right?"
"......?"
"I'm not the fragile type who just needs protecting."
Right after finishing,
She slipped her hand under her skirt.
Clack! Shing!
Two swords were drawn from the sheath on her thigh.
But they didn't look like swords at first glance.
Too thin for swords. More like candlesticks. But they were definitely swords.
'Holy Relic, Bestia.'
The saintess Laurea's weapon for self-defense.
Made the same way as Ian's holy sword. Incredibly light, sharp, and resistant to damage.
Facing the nostalgic sight,
Ullan grinned.
"Haven't seen your skills in a while."
"Haha, must be for you. For me, it's my first time today."
First time seeing monsters, first time fighting them. Perhaps that's why a strange tension lingered in Laurea's eyes.
Of course, no need to worry.
"It's fine. I'm right here."
"Yeah. Help if it gets dangerous."
"Of course."
"Good. Then I'll handle the back."
Right after their exchange,
Monsters charged from all sides. On cue, the raging axe and twin swords sliced through the air.