Chapter 108
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Chapter 108
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Glimpses of the Future Saintess
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(3)
4.
Whoooosh! Thunk!
The blade pierced precisely into the vital point.
Even amid scattering flesh and splattering fluids, Laurea swung her sword with calm precision.
Her swordsmanship was plain.
She couldn't improvise new techniques to fit the moment like Ivela, nor unleash the endlessly shifting forms of Ian Marcus.
'Still, she's got talent.'
Proof lay in how she'd seized the advantage in her very first monster fight using only the defensive sword arts she'd learned for self-protection.
Of course, she slipped up now and then.
"Ah...!"
A startled cry rang out.
A spider monster had burst from a blind spot she hadn't noticed.
Too late to parry with her blade.
Laurea resorted to a holy incantation out of necessity. But there was no need.
Krunch! Craaaack!
The spider split clean in two.
Ullan's axe had flown in just in time.
From then on, he swung relentlessly at spots her sword couldn't reach.
'Feels kinda magical.'
This was her first time fighting alongside Ullan.
No rehearsals, no battle plans discussed. Yet it felt natural, effortless—like they'd been partners for years.
'Even syncing with Ian never felt this smooth.'
She marveled through every swing. She had a hunch why, of course.
By his account, her future self had roamed battlefields with him for over a decade.
In other words, he was matching her style, making this seamless dance possible. As she savored the wonder...
Stab! Splurt!
The last spider's belly ruptured.
"Whew."
All the monsters lay dead.
Surveying the trashed battlefield, Laurea caught her breath.
Ullan, by contrast, was untouched.
Despite the frenzy, his breathing stayed steady. He merely scanned the spider corpses with detached calm.
"This one's good enough."
He picked a relatively intact corpse.
Destined for Professor Stella's scalpel later. Heavy as it looked, Ullan hoisted it without a flinch.
"Business done. Let's head back."
He lashed it secure with vines.
Then turned toward the forest's edge.
That's when it happened.
"Hey, Ullan."
Laurea called out abruptly.
Cock-headed with sudden curiosity, she asked,
"What was future me like?"
"Why ask out of nowhere?"
"Just popped into my head."
What would future me be like?
Everyone wonders that sometime.
Especially about insights from a comrade who'd spent years at her side.
"You really wanna know?"
"Yeah, spill it."
"For real?"
"For real!"
Her bright reply came with sparkling eyes.
Meeting that eager gaze, Ullan nodded gravely.
"Well, for starters..."
"Starters?"
"Your personality was way worse than now."
"Excuse me?!"
Her brow furrowed instantly.
A perceptive soul would've quit there. Hell, they wouldn't have gone negative at all.
Ullan, alas, lacked that knack. His old comrades had joked his tact was buried in the abyss.
"Cranky as hell. Awful drunk too."
"..."
"Her pointless hysterics and gripes? Sometimes I wanted to ditch her roadside."
He rattled off her future flaws and antics, oblivious to Laurea's crumpling face.
Her expression twisted further.
But the sour mood wasn't just his trash-talk.
It was because everything...
rang true.
'...Ugh, irritating.'
Should've left well enough alone.
Curiosity only soured her vibe.
How much time passed?
When her face hardened like stone, Ullan finally clocked the vibe shift. He tacked on,
"Still, you were a good sort."
"Hmph, save it. No pity needed."
Arms crossed, she whipped her head away, full sulk mode. Ullan pressed on, unfazed.
"You might snap at comrades, but never to folks who truly needed help."
"Pity..."
"Turned away no cries for aid. Hell, you sought them out first."
Ullan's steady words flowed.
Laurea clamped her mouth shut. All true, after all.
"And you cried the most of us."
Anytime someone slipped through, reason be damned, she'd weep in secret.
She stuck by dying soldiers to the end, sobbing as she mourned their passing—countless times.
She wailed so pitifully, the dying often comforted her.
"The you I remember? Always championed the powerless. Listened to the voiceless. Shielded them."
And fought monsters stronger than herself to do it.
Grasping that core let past-life Ullan bridge their rift.
"To sum it up."
"Ahem! Khum! Hmmm!"
"Future you had every right to be called Saintess."
"Kkhum!"
As Ullan rolled on.
Laurea hacked out loud coughs.
Cheeks faintly pink.
Clear "shut it" signal. Tactless Ullan barreled ahead.
"Plus as a Hero, you..."
"Ah, enough already!"
Only her frantic interruption halted him. Hands flailing, face flushed, she near-yelled,
"That's plenty. No more."
"Still tons left."
"No! It's weird. Don't wanna hear."
Weird was right.
This was future Laurea—virtues she hadn't earned yet. Praise for them felt squirmy, off-kilter.
She spun away.
No more chit-chat.
Ullan eyed her back. Fixed on her nape, really.
'Blushing, eh.'
He read her instantly.
Easy trick.
Emotions hit? Nape went rosy like clockwork.
Once settled...
Laurea piped up again.
"Ahem! Done with me. Anyway, other Heroes?"
"Other Heroes how?"
"Your bonds with the rest. Anyone stand out close!"
He got it.
Nodded, dove right in.
"Closest with Ian."
"Kinda figured."
Laurea nodded.
Made sense.
Even now, next Saintess glued to him like a shadow. Imagine after a decade as full Saintess?
Till recently, Ian was her only casual tie.
Future ease with him? Obvious.
"Next up, Pertisha."
"That bard you mentioned?"
"Yeah. Rocky start, but two years in? Instant soulmates."
To where folks swore they were blood sisters.
Once explained...
"Ugh, now I'm dying to know."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
Pure curiosity spark.
Fair enough.
Besties with a name-only stranger? Hook anyone.
But the buzz faded quick.
Not like she could meet her now. Instead, fresh query slipped out.
"But hey."
"...?"
"Naming close ones means... some comrades distant?"
Sharp as a tack.
Ullan grinned.
"Bingo."
"Who? Wait, Dilia?"
"Me."
"...Huh?"
Off the wall.
Blank stare flickered.
Shaking daze, she double-checked.
"I beefed with you?"
"Yup. Hated my guts openly."
"Why?"
"Barbarian."
Plain as day.
Laurea blinked, baffled. Brow arched, head cocked in confusion.
"Hmm, weird. Don't love barbarians, but hate? Nah..."
"Now, sure."
"Now?"
Eyes widened a touch.
Snagged the subtext.
"So future me snaps a hate-boner for barbarians over some event?"
"Spot on."
Past life, she'd confessed:
Childhood mentor who'd raised her? Slain by barbarians.
Not all.
Raid killed a Saintess candidate, her successor.
Ullan? Zero ties. He warred abyss beasts then.
But she joined him right after. Emotions raw, no buffer.
As memories resurfaced...
Laurea giggled softly.
"No sweat."
"Eh?"
"Different this time."
"Meaning?"
"Met you before the hate-spark?"
Beaming eye-crinkles.
Cheshire grin.
"Even if it hits, won't hate you. Chill."
True on review.
Past? First meet post-event.
This round? Way earlier. She'd know he was clean.
'Course, this time...'
Stop the event cold. Eyes fierce, he nodded mute.
"Lucky us."
"Yep, lucky."
Shared grins.
Then wheeled to exit.
Mission over.
Mid-stride, Ullan tossed,
"Laurea."
"What now?"
"What'll you tell Ian?"
She and Ian? Thick as thieves.
Surely share today's bombshell secret.
Ullan figured.
Answer? Curveball.
"Not telling."
"Why?"
"Forgot our deal? Our secret."
Eyes narrowed playful.
Swiveled, jabbed his chest.
"Your tale."
Ullan-exclusive saga.
His treasured past alone.
Only he could share it.
"When ripe, you tell 'em all. Best for you, best for everyone."
Secret till then.
Ullan held her gaze steady.
"Staring why?"
"Knew it. Good person."
"...!"
Eyes wavered startled.
Moment passed; she spun, shoved his back.
"Quit yapping, lead on!"
"Right."
Steps resumed.
Subtle smile graced him.
Sensed quicker bond this go-round.
Pacing current Laurea, past her flickered in mind.
Then—
Halt!
Dead stop.
Face iced over. Bad flashback vibe.
"Ullan?"
Sudden freeze?
She peered.
He strode forward, clamped her shoulders, leaned in close.
"...Laurea."
"Wh-what?! Outta nowhere!?"
Unscripted move.
Breath-mingling proximity; she yelped flustered.
Ullan? Deadly earnest.
"Must tell you this."
"...?"
"Day stars fall silent, divine grace forsakes—call me. No hesitation."
Outta left field counsel.
He pressed, insistent.
"Burn it in. Holy power fails? Spot the shift, shout my name."
Relentless reminders.
Laurea? Utterly flummoxed. Brow knit, shot back,
"Heed your blasphemy? To the next Saintess' face?"
"Just in case."
"Case my ass—God is everywhere! Calling you fixes what?"
Even granting the absurd, one mortal solves God's no-go? Nah.
She grilled.
Ullan, no pause.
"I'll help you."
Gravely solemn.
Words tumbled earnest.
"I recall the future. That hits? Don't solo it—call me."
Sincerity pulsed.
Aura commanded; Laurea hushed. Eyes locked, he murmured,
"I'll save you. No fail."
Pithy oath capped it.
Pulled away.
Light shoulder pat, nodded forest-out.
"Said my piece. Move."
Hunt clock ticking down anyway.
Swung about.
Laurea blankly trailed his back.
"..."
Blasphemy aside.
That ironclad face, voice clung brain-deep.
「I'll help you.」
Sincere truth-bomb.
Whatever crisis, you get aid. Vow hit home.
One more shaker.
「I'll save you. No fail.」
Even God-blocked hell—no abandon.
Sounded like that to her.
Partly thrilled.
Reliable big-bro type swearing guard duty. Lips twitched unwitting.
"...Cocky bastard."
Pride yanked smile flat. Pouted mumble.
"Seriously."
Kid younger than her.
Seventeen punk, why so damn grown?
Mid-thought...
"Huh?"
Something sparked.
Seconds later, eyes slitted.
"Hold up."
Ullan claimed: 30 years ahead. Eyes opened last summer, year back.
"So..."
Year on +29 = true age.
Math snapped instant.
"...Forty-six."
Pre-loop reality.
Made his eerie poise click for a teen barbarian.
Those abyss-deep eyes too.
Stalwart solidity? Slammed fresh.
That's when—
"Laurea?"
Ullan called.
Gap grown; puzzled no tail.
Laurea jumped.
'That voice...'
Not the boyish one.
Resonant baritone depth.
Age-realize tinted it. His gaze? Tender somehow.
"Loitering why?"
"...Eh?"
"Issue?"
Rapid-fire probes.
Unwitting skirt-clutch. Chest tickled feather-light illusion.
'What is this?'
Flustered by mystery buzz.
Ullan wheeled back.
Closing in. She panic-yelped,
"F-fine! Coming!"
Clumsy hustle.
Caught up, kept distance unlike before.
Proximity amped the chest-tingle.
Utterly alien sensation.
Not unpleasant, though. Smile bloomed bright.
"Heehee."
Tiny giggle escaped.
Forest cleared, her nape bloomed rosy. Sun's bite? Or else? Who knew.
Shortly after.
Back to start.
Chapter 27. Friendly Mock Battle
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