Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Ivela Elead
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(2)
3.
Ivela Elead.
She bit her lips tightly after leaving the arena. Through the strands of hair falling over her face, her turquoise eyes blazed fiercely.
Her gaze of fury soon turned toward the arena.
"......Himmel Deorg."
A great noble of the Ruben Empire.
The eldest son of the Deorg Count family, Himmel.
He was a prodigy who had shown remarkable talent in swordsmanship since childhood, and around this time last year, he had officially received his knighthood.
And he was also Ivela's older brother.
Although they had different mothers.
"I won't waste words."
In the arena where only the two of them remained.
Himmel looked at Ivela with contempt in his eyes and spoke.
"Know your place and origins, then forfeit quietly. That's what's best for our family."
Ivela was the bastard daughter of Count Deorg.
Though she had inherited the count's blood and talent, opposition from the countess and retainers meant she couldn't even take the family name.
So she used her mother's surname, 'Elead'.
'Heir and bastard.'
Their statuses were worlds apart, like heaven and earth.
But if Ivela so much as injured Himmel or defeated him by some fluke? It would tarnish the Deorg Count family all the same.
From the start, Ivela couldn't do anything to harm the family. If she did, the consequences would reach her mother, left alone back home.
'That's why I hoped we wouldn't run into each other......'
Cruelly, her wish went ungranted.
In the end, for her mother's sake, Ivela chose humiliating defeat. Barely suppressing her rage, she quickly regained her composure.
'But this takes care of it.'
After this exam, their schedules wouldn't overlap anymore. Good scores in the rest would secure her passing grade easily enough.
Finishing her thoughts, Ivela turned away.
She wanted no more time in the same space as Himmel. But just then, someone abruptly caught her eye.
"Ullan Bator, to sector 12!"
With the assistant supervisor's shout.
A man with reddish-brown hair headed into the arena. A fairly large young man with rare red eyes.
His ruggedly masculine face drew glances, but something else seized her attention even more.
'Huh? Why's he shirtless?'
Unlike the other examinees, Ullan had stripped off his upper garment entirely. Whispers erupted from the surrounding students.
"What's that guy's deal?"
"Why's he wandering around buck naked?"
"Some barbarian from the frontier maybe?"
"Nah, no way."
"Barbarians get weeded out in the written exam."
"Then why's he stripped?"
Suspicions and guesses chased each other in a loop.
Among them, the word 'barbarian' made Ivela nod on reflex. It fit Ullan's image to a tee.
'That aside......'
The more she looked, the better his physique.
Solid, muscled build. His back muscles were especially insane.
Like a wild stallion. Her eyes kept drifting there. Then she snapped to her senses late.
'Ahem! A-anyway, none of my business.'
Embarrassed, she let out a pointless cough.
And turned away again.
Or tried to.
But then more figures snagged her gaze. Boys who had entered the arena ahead of Ullan.
'Those guys......'
Himmel's cronies. Sons of low officials who trailed him like thugs, stirring trouble.
Their sly smirks suggested scheming. And right then, the arena's iron gate slammed shut with a racket.
Grating! Clank!
No sooner had the entrance vanished.
Eleven boys, excluding Ullan, clustered together. Gripping their weapons, they all trained them on him.
Their intent was plain as day.
Ivela scowled.
'......Cowardly scum.'
Sector 12's fighter, Ullan Bator.
He looked born for battle at a glance. Muscles like his came from countless real fights.
'So they mean to eliminate him first.'
Ivela's brow creased.
Her displeasure plain on her face. Meanwhile, the other examinees reacted with shock.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"They're allying up, aren't they?"
"Supervisor! This okay?"
Questions rained down from all sides.
An answer came promptly.
"No issue. Alliance or not, it's all fair game inside the arena."
Ethan looked bored.
Meanwhile.
The examinees stashed their orbs on their persons. Like before, most tucked them in pockets or undies.
Ullan's way differed, though.
He popped the orb straight in his mouth.
Gulp!
Swallowed it whole.
Ivela and the others gaped. Even Ethan, ever impassive, matched them.
"Hah hahaha! That one's a total lunatic."
Ethan guffawed.
'Lunatic' nailed it, as he'd said.
No one saw the orb-swallowing coming.
"S-supervisor!"
"What now in that case?"
"Change the rules or......"
"No rule changes."
Ethan cut them off.
Grinning to boot.
"Orb breaks, you lose. Want victory? Smash it. Even if you gotta gut that lunatic!"
Examinees panicked.
Obviously. Mostly pampered flowers sans real combat. Murder? Unthinkable.
Not all panicked, though.
Some—Himmel's crew especially—glinted with killing intent.
Dead set on orb-smashing.
'Poor judgment.'
Her turquoise eyes wavered faintly.
But then.
A bizarre scene filled her view.
Ullan, grinning ear to ear.
'Grinning? Now?'
Hadn't clocked the peril?
Ivela flustered. Even her sword genius couldn't promise win over eleven.
Ullan? Different story.
No despair—a victor’s smirk.
Curiosity piqued, Ivela opted to watch longer.
"Combat start!"
Grand melee underway.
And then.
Ullan's grin explained.
Boom!
Exploded off the ground in one go.
Like a raging rhino, he bulldozed the front boy instantly.
Splat! Crunch!
Body-crush sound.
The boy soared airborne.
Floppy doll, straight to the wall. Out cold, no scream. Orb shattered, naturally.
"......"
Stunned hush.
Ten boys and assistants alike blinked blankly. Couldn't process.
Meantime.
Victim two.
This one burly.
Too hefty to launch. Ullan yanked his collar brute-force.
"W-wait......!"
Boy paled, yelling late. His last arena words.
Boom!
Heavy thud to floor.
Upside-down slam popped the pocket orb rolling.
Crunch!
Stomped, then Ullan wheeled.
Next target.
Assistant supervisor, rallied, called results.
"Lian Arka!"
"Daron Serti! Out!"
Two down already.
Shouts ceased; boys scrambled formation.
"Calm down, everyone!"
"Just ambushed those two!"
"Signal, then swarm!"
"All at once, we can—gah!"
Plans for naught.
They yapped prep; Ullan acted.
Pow! Crunch! Crack!
Boys airborne serially.
Arena numbers plummeted; counters started.
Too late by miles.
Thud! Boom!
Bull-rush shattered lines. Snagged the order-barker's collar.
"Kk! L-let—urk!"
Dian Mortesi, Himmel crony and alliance ringleader. Ullan shield-swung him, parrying.
Devastating.
"Damn you bastard!"
"Drop Dian!"
Boys balked.
Himmel's lot froze most. Hesitation? Express lane to loss.
Thud! Thump thump! Crack!
Fists pulverized jaws, noses. None rose post-punch.
Brute-force demolition, clearing all. Solo arena rule; Ivela blank-faced.
'......Strong.'
Monstrously.
If her opponent? Quick ponder, quicker verdict. Her utter loss. Zero win odds.
By then.
Hunt's close.
"Gack! Grrgle!"
Last holdout foamed down. Sole upright: Ullan.
Instant quiet.
Gulp!
Swallows echoed loud. Ethan chortled.
Declared sans debate.
"Ullan Bator, S-grade."
No protests.
Primal, direct, dominant fight. Ivela gripped fist unwittingly.
'World's wide.'
Such monster, her age too. Rare fire in her eyes.
'Ullan, right?'
Felt like reunion pending.
She murmured his name repeatedly. Last ogle at stallion-back, then turned.
Next venue bound.
4.
Last boy down.
Ethan's voice hit Ullan's ear.
"Ullan Bator, S-grade."
Result declared.
Ullan chucked shield-Dian. Meant to orb-last him; somehow already broke.
Shield-duty collateral, probably.
Barbaric musing done.
Out he went.
Gazes anew. Entry eyes? Night-and-day.
Tense, scared, awed.
Prime warrior? Elation, puffed chest.
Ullan? Meh.
Past-life staple.
Scanned instead.
'Ivela gone?'
Arena perimeter check: vanished.
'Pity. Meant to say hi.'
Friends with all seven heroes, closest Ivela though.
Longest bond; lives owed aplenty.
'And most......'
Past life, his solo holdout call—she alone dissented.
"Why you staying!"
Voice cracked, uncharacteristic.
"Send hurt ones back, we unite, win sure! No need your sac—!"
Ivela raged.
Ullan ignored.
Warrior gut: him staying optimal.
Irreversible realized, she near-tears yelled.
"Endure! Survive! Cave falls, I'll dig you out!"
Last worrier-comrade.
Hence gladder.
This life? Zero link, but hi warranted.
'Gone? Oh well.'
Post-enroll greet.
Her skill? Remaining passes cake.
Thoughts sorted.
Next venue.
South Hawk Hall.
'Monster Hunt' site.
5.
Entrance Exam