Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Mana Spring
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“That building is the Lion's Den.”
After leaving the student guidance office,
Ullan followed the inspector to their destination.
He was just about to offer thanks when the inspector suddenly added more.
“In order: the main building, cafeteria, library, and dormitory. Everywhere up to the outer walls with flags is open to freshmen.”
An unexpected rundown of the other buildings.
A moment later, after finishing his explanations, the inspector stared at Ullan with a serious look on his face.
“Don’t go anywhere else.”
The inspection team, affiliated with the military department.
They had recently received a special order from Dean Berge himself: to keep tabs on the barbarian standing right in front of them, Ullan.
They figured it would be no big deal.
Just surveil one young barbarian punk and report his every move—that was it.
‘But...’
Through the incident in the auditorium today, the inspection team had come to a clear realization. This mission was anything but easy.
So they made a snap decision.
They’d restrict Ullan’s range of movement.
The places he’d listed were all under the inspection team’s influence. Even if he caused another ruckus, they could handle it internally.
“Got it? Absolutely don’t go anywhere else.”
“Hmm, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“No, not ‘keep in mind’...”
“I’ll head out now. Thanks for the tour.”
He’d been aiming for a firm confirmation, but Ullan moved even faster. Watching his retreating back, the inspector’s eyes held a hint of unease.
‘Still...’
He’d laid it out plain as day, so he’d get the message. That’s what the inspector told himself.
Only after Ullan had entered the Lion's Den did he finally turn away.
1.
Right after stepping into the Lion's Den,
Ullan headed up the stairs to the second floor.
He’d heard class assignments were happening in the second-floor corridor. But when he arrived, there wasn’t a soul in sight.
And soon enough, he figured out why no students were around.
“Looks like assignments are done.”
There was a bulletin board crammed with students’ names and their assigned classes. Ullan narrowed his eyes and scanned for his own.
【Ullan Bator: Class 3】
The moment he spotted the number 3,
a strange feeling washed over him.
It was the same number as his joining order in the hero party from his past life.
Just a coincidence, of course.
Ullan set off to find Class 3. Luckily, it wasn’t hard.
He could faintly hear voices from beyond the door.
New classmates chatting about this and that. Without hesitation, Ullan pushed the door open.
Creak!
The instant he stepped inside,
every conversation cut off cold.
“...”
Silence hung heavy in the classroom.
The atmosphere chilled like someone had dumped ice water on it.
No one spoke. No one met Ullan’s gaze. All because of what went down in the auditorium.
Ullan paid it no mind and scanned the room for a seat. That’s when he spotted an empty one.
That must be his.
As he strode toward it, his eyes locked with a familiar face. A girl with her pale golden hair tied back.
‘Ivela?’
Ivela Elead, future Sword Princess.
Looks like she was in his class too.
Unlike the others, Ivela didn’t avert her eyes. She widened hers instead, then suddenly looked like she was holding back a laugh.
‘What’s her deal?’
He had no clue.
Ullan tilted his head.
Moments later, he took his seat and noticed something familiar right next to him.
Hair black as the night sky.
A very familiar face.
‘Noa’s in my class too.’
A wave of inexplicable relief hit him.
She was incredibly knowledgeable, after all. And right next to him, so he could ask her anything from now on.
As that thought crossed his mind,
Noa subtly slipped him something.
A small note.
「Any trouble?」
She must’ve known he’d been dragged off to the guidance office. The faint worry in her eyes was proof.
Ullan nodded.
“Nothing happened.”
Not entirely true, but explaining would be a hassle. He brushed it off.
That’s when the classroom door slid open.
Creak!
In walked a man in a suit.
The ID badge around his neck gleamed gold in the sunlight. Gold meant professor.
“Pleased to meet you.”
His deep, resonant voice shattered the silence.
Stepping to the podium, he gave the room a quick once-over and introduced himself.
“I’m Miel Gulakas, magic department professor in charge of Class 3 this year. Let’s have a good time together for the next year.”
“...”
Once Miel finished,
the students just stared blankly, faces frozen like statues.
And they had good reason.
The man who’d just called himself their professor wasn’t human.
“What’s with the shock? First lizardman you’ve seen?”
Subhuman race: lizardman.
Commonly known as lizardfolk.
They weren’t common, but not rare either. You could spot lizardman mercenaries anywhere on the battlefield.
But the students weren’t stunned by the lizardman himself. It was the fact that a subhuman was an academy professor.
Even Ivela, who rarely batted an eye, had her eyes wide as saucers.
Exceptions existed, though.
Ullan and Noa. Only they showed no reaction to Professor Miel.
‘I’ve seen him plenty in the game.’
Noa, who’d played Arsen Continental War, knew Arsen Academy had several subhuman professors.
And Ullan, having spent half his life on battlefields, was used to subhumans.
‘Plenty in the hero party too.’
Even excluding Dilia Arpen, the fairy-human half-breed, two heroes were subhumans.
So he took it in stride.
By the time the classroom chaos died down, Professor Miel continued.
“I heard about that unfortunate incident at the entrance ceremony. You’re all probably pretty shaken up.”
Professor Miel glanced his way.
His reptilian eyes reflected the incident’s culprit: Ullan. Clearing his throat shortly, he addressed the class again.
“So today, I’ll just cover the essentials and let you go. Other lectures start next week anyway.”
Word of an early dismissal?
The students’ eyes lit up. Professor Miel smirked and tapped the blackboard.
“First off, Arsen Academy has five main departments.”
Military, magic, general, production, arts.
All mentioned in the aptitude exam.
Military and magic were combat fields; the rest non-combat.
“This year’s freshmen are split into eight classes. Each has twenty-five students, assigned by two criteria.”
First: department.
Professors picked five from each department per class. So every class had five from military, magic, general, production, and arts.
Second: entrance exam scores.
Not grouped by rank, though.
That’d stack top scorers together. Instead, they balanced averages with manual adjustments.
‘Ah, so that’s why I’m with Noa.’
No chance with top-scorer Dilia then. Ullan finally got it.
“Next, you’ll choose a major and minor from the five departments.”
Come second year, classes split by major to separate combat from non-combat.
This gave a preview.
“Finally, first-years have two common subjects: physical training and basic studies. Handled by your homeroom professor.”
Meaning Professor Miel.
That wrapped it up. His lizardman eyes flashed as he asked,
“Any questions?”
The words barely left his mouth when a gray-haired girl up front shot her hand high.
Her eyes looked a bit uneasy.
“...Can we switch classes?”
“I can guess your motive, but no. Unless it’s an extreme circumstance, it won’t be approved.”
“B-But if there is a reason...”
“Not good enough.”
Firm rejection.
The girl slumped, head down.
Other hopeful students followed suit. Most had passed out from Ullan’s shout in the auditorium.
Gloomy air filled the room.
Professor Miel cleared his throat.
“No other questions? We’re done then.”
As he turned to leave, he paused, remembering something.
“Oh, and there’s an official event tonight. Gather at the statue by 6 p.m.”
“Huh? Event?”
“Nothing about it here...”
“What kind?”
“A field trip. Something every Arsen Academy student should see at least once.”
A few students’ eyes widened, as if guessing the spot. Professor Miel grinned.
“Chance to see the Mana Spring, ‘Arsen,’ up close. Everyone show up.”
“...!”
The mood brightened instantly.
Gloom vanished from their faces. What? That big a deal?
Ullan tilted his head.
Then Noa answered.
“The Mana Spring is a must-visit for anyone who handles mana.”
“Why?”
“Legend says if you spend a night there on the path of mana, you gain power equal to a thousand days of training.”
Mana Spring, Arsen.
A sanctuary where pure mana bubbled up, source of all magic power. Mages even said:
If you see it once before dying, no regrets.
Ullan nodded like he got it.
Glanced back at Noa.
“You seem excited.”
“Ahaha, I’m a shaman too, you know.”
Noa laughed sheepishly.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
‘The Mana Spring has hidden pieces.’
Three of them, no less.
Of course, as hidden pieces, grabbing them was tough. Conditions were strict.
‘But conveniently...’
Right now, conditions for one were perfectly met.
First real shot since enrolling.
‘Can’t miss this.’
Noa’s eyes sparkled like stars.
Brimming with anticipation.
2.
That evening,
after an early dinner,
freshmen gathered at the statue one by one.
All in casual clothes.
Noa’s outfit stood out, though. Thick coat, boots, backpack, even a portable staff.
“Ah, Ullan!”
Spotting a familiar face, Noa waved.
Ullan in his usual getup. But not today. She hurried over and asked point-blank,
“Where’s your axe?”
“Axe?”
“The one your master gave you.”
Sudden axe check.
Ullan answered flatly.
“Left it in my room.”
“Go grab it quick. Still time before 6.”
“Why the axe?”
“You’ll need it, for sure.”
Out-of-left-field answer.
But Ullan didn’t question it.
Noa’s odd hunches were usually precog. And he’d never lost following them.
So he fetched the axe.
Soon after,
Dong! Dang!
The 6 p.m. bell tolled.
A familiar shadow appeared. Gray-robed lizardman: Professor Miel.
“All here?”
No need to answer.
Lizardmen had sharp eyes.
He counted all twenty-five in under two seconds.
Then he narrowed his eyes at something odd.
“Looks like someone misunderstood. I said field trip, not picnic.”
His gaze fixed on Noa.
Laughter rippled around.
Noa kept a straight face, but her ears turned red.
Liking the reaction?
He turned to Ullan beside her.
“And this one looks ready for war.”
“...”
No laughs this time.
They even backed away. Scary barehanded; axe made it worse.
“Pfft!”
Except Ivela.
She burst out laughing, then wiped her face, realizing her slip.
As chit-chat ended,
Professor Miel turned.
“Enough. Time’s short—let’s move.”
The site had access hours. Students followed without complaint.
Toward the Mana Spring, Arsen.
Arc 9. Mana Spring