Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: 10. Isolation
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(1)
10. Isolation
1.
A cave shrouded in dead silence.
Suddenly, the sound of crashing waves echoed through the stillness. Moments later, a raging torrent swept furious waves through the cave.
Shwaaaaa!
Waves surging into every nook and cranny of the cave.
Shortly after, three figures emerged: Ullan, Ivela, and a girl with ash-gray hair.
Ivela and the girl lay utterly still.
They had likely lost consciousness from the sudden rapids. Ullan, on the other hand, rose to his feet as if nothing had happened.
That was only natural.
Ullan hadn't lost consciousness.
From the instant the waves swept them away until now, he had held his breath the entire time. He remembered everything that had transpired.
'The moment we entered the cave, the entrance sealed shut.'
More accurately, it had collapsed. Massive boulders had blocked the way.
Then, with a deafening roar, the cave itself began to move.
As if sinking beneath a lake.
At that realization, a memory flickered through Ullan's mind.
'This feels just like the Hero's Trial.'
The Hero's Trial he had faced on the plains.
The situation back then had been eerily similar. Right after stepping into the trial ruins, every entrance had sealed shut.
'Could this be... another Hero's Trial?'
The thought crossed his mind briefly, but he dismissed it just as quickly. He had heard from his comrades in his past life exactly where each of them had undertaken their Hero's Trials.
'No one did theirs at Arsen Academy.'
Not even Dilia Arpen, the academy's famed top graduate. She had completed hers elsewhere.
'So what is this place?'
As he scowled at circling back to square one, Ullan snapped out of his reverie. He had no choice.
The girl suddenly began shivering uncontrollably. Ivela was trembling too. Their body temperatures must have plummeted after being submerged.
The cave was even chillier than outside, making matters worse. Noticing this, Ullan scanned the surroundings.
That's when he spotted something in the corner.
'Boat wreckage?'
Sure enough, it was the remains of a rowboat.
Soaked through, but no real problem.
By injecting Spirit into the wood scraps and circulating it rapidly to generate heat, he could evaporate the moisture in moments.
And it had this bonus effect too.
Fwoosh! Fwoooosh!
The wood scraps ignited swiftly.
Ullan gathered the rest of the debris, drying it all the same way. He needed firewood.
'Next...'
Time to strip their clothes.
Lying there soaked would drop their temperatures dangerously fast. Without hesitation, he removed them.
He then carried the two near the bonfire and spread their wet garments out to dry properly.
'A blanket would be ideal.'
But nothing of the sort here.
Just then, something caught his eye. A bulky bag. The backpack Noa had lugged with such effort.
'Perhaps...'
Maybe it held something useful?
The notion struck him—she possessed mysterious precognitive powers, after all. Opening it confirmed his hunch turned certainty.
Thick towels rolled in heavy paper.
Even emergency rations and water.
'She must have foreseen this with her foresight.'
Classic Noa.
With a brief murmur of admiration, Ullan draped towels over their bodies. Soon, as the firewood crackled, his thoughts drifted to Noa.
'She should be fine.'
He had confirmed Professor Miel caught her.
Truth be told, Ullan had saved Noa first for a simple reason: she was closest, easiest to toss.
He had tried for Ivela next, but the waves thwarted him.
'First things first, find a way out.'
If he were alone, he would have scouted the cave immediately.
But not now.
He couldn't abandon the unconscious pair. And Noa's words lingered in his mind.
Ullan eyed his axe steadily.
'She said it'd come in handy if I brought it.'
In other words, combat was possible. Even a thick skull like his could figure that much.
Which meant he couldn't stray far.
If a monster appeared while he was gone, they were goners.
As he passed the time in silence...
"......Ugh, ugh."
A low groan pierced the quiet.
It was Ivela. Her eyelids fluttered, then she opened her eyes. She blinked around in a daze.
"Wh-where... is this...?"
"A cave."
Ullan answered curtly.
Her gaze swung his way. She still seemed disoriented, so he elaborated.
"Waves swept us here."
As the full account wrapped up...
Ivela finally regained her wits. Her eyes widened like saucers.
"......!?"
She realized she was naked.
Everything but her undergarments gone. As if someone had stripped her.
"I did it."
A matter-of-fact voice followed.
Ullan's frank admission brought bewilderment to Ivela's eyes. She crawled up and whispered.
"D-did you... see?"
"See what?"
"My underwear or..."
"Yes."
Ullan's vision was sharp as ever.
Smooth skin, voluptuous curves—all of it.
Meanwhile, his unabashed reply left Ivela speechless.
"But don't worry. Nothing untoward happened."
"Y-yes?"
"Even a barbarian knows timing and place. Ravaging an unconscious woman is for craven cowards. Not warriors."
Ullan was a robust man.
His desires ran strong as a result.
Yet he was also a warrior.
A warrior who prized honor. One who honored his own would honor others'. His face grave, he continued.
"I swear it on my warrior's name."
"......"
His steadfast demeanor?
Ivela felt her shame and embarrassment ebb away. No deception in that unwavering voice or gaze.
She nodded slowly.
She trusted him.
Wrapped snug in the towel, she gazed at Ullan anew.
"You seem surprisingly calm..."
"I'm used to it."
Compared to his past life's ordeals, this was tame. He had endured far worse traps back then.
'There was that one time...'
Not long after meeting his past-life comrades. He had been trapped in a labyrinth with the saintess who despised him.
An extreme environment where even a fire was impossible.
She had even passed out.
Her body growing ice-cold. Unable to simply watch, Ullan had no choice but to press bare skin to hers and...
"......I want to."
Pulled from memory.
Ivela spoke abruptly.
With a faintly embarrassed look. Ullan blinked in confusion—he had missed the lead-in.
"Want to what?"
"Ex-exchange names!"
Names? Was that necessary?
Then it hit him.
'In this life, we never properly introduced.'
First encounter: just faces.
Second: a chance forest meeting, sword advice—that was it.
No formal exchange.
So he shouldn't know her name here. He nodded wordlessly. Permission granted.
"Ullan Bator. Call me Ullan."
"Ivela Elead. I'm in Military Studies for swordsmanship, aiming to be an imperial knight. Just Ivela is fine."
A quick handshake later...
Ivela stared at Ullan's hand.
Rock-hard, massive, firm. The radiating warmth? Her body tingled oddly.
"Oh, right. Um..."
"Yes?"
"C-can I drop the formal speech...?"
"Of course. We're the same age."
Ullan nodded readily.
Ivela looked stunned.
"Huh? You know my age?"
Ullan caught his slip.
He knew from her past life. Time to deflect.
"Guessed from your face."
"......Do I look that old?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your eyes just seem so... seasoned. Ahem! Nothing."
Ivela coughed and looked away.
Her shoulders quivered faintly. She had kept distance from the fire since waking.
"If you're cold, come closer."
"I-I want to, but..."
Ivela fidgeted.
Ullan grasped it instantly.
"If it's my staring, I'll look elsewhere."
"No, not that..."
She shook her head vigorously.
Then muttered low, stealing glances at Ullan's firelit muscles.
"......Too stimulating. It's tough."
"Stimulating?"
"You know."
Her heart thundered. Approaching now might let him hear it, so she held her distance.
Crack! Pop!
Firewood snapping away.
As the bonfire's warmth spread...
Ivela parted her lips suddenly.
"Thanks."
An unexpected gratitude.
Ullan brushed it off.
"Forget it if it's just pulling you from the water."
"Not that."
She wagged her head.
"The swordsmanship advice."
"Ah, that?"
"Yeah. Doing as you said blew open my rut. Wanted to thank you next time we met."
"Glad to hear it."
Past Ivela's lingering regret resolved. Ullan smiled faintly. Watching him, Ivela probed curiously.
"......That's all?"
"What do you mean?"
"No demands or anything...?"
"Why would I?"
Ullan tilted his head.
He had merely relayed future Ivela's words to her present self.
Received thanks.
Done.
His nonchalant reply left Ivela staring blankly.
It made sense. His advice had shattered her plateau—a swordsman's immense debt.
She had expected repayment.
But Ullan was different. Then came his reason.
"We're friends. A thanks suffices."
"Friends..."
Ivela murmured dazedly.
The word felt alien—she had never had any. But fleetingly, she broke into a beaming grin.
"......Hehe."
An involuntary giggle escaped.
From anyone else, "friends" would stir nothing.
But from Ullan? Oddly sweet.
It sparked a desire to keep talking. She pressed on.
"Hey, Ullan?"
"......?"
"Mind if I ask your major?"
"Major?"
"Huh? Didn't hear? Professor Miel said next week we apply for majors and minors to register courses."
"Students pick subjects?"
"Yep."
Ivela beamed.
"I'm eyeing Professor Edan's Battlefield Survival, Intermediate Swordsmanship, Weapon Techniques. Got curious about yours."
"Where's the course list?"
"Guidebook. You haven't seen it? Starts at page 60."
As she finished...
Ullan declared boldly.
"I'm on page 11."
"Huh?"
"49 days left."
Mental subtraction nailed.
His gaze darkened.
Sequential: 49 days. But no need for order.
'Back home, start at 60.'
Applications next week.
As he resolved inwardly...
Ivela edged closer slyly.
"Want me to list them?"
"Got the guidebook?"
"Nah, I remember some."
"Then, if you would."
Ullan dipped his head slightly.
Ivela recited what she recalled—mostly her picks.
Shortly after...
Ullan looked indifferent.
'Nothing grabs me.'
Any course worked for him.
He was a monster who self-mastered without teachers.
'Still...'
If forced to pick, some piqued interest. He muttered his choice.
"Practical Hunting and Weapon Techniques seem fine."
Hunting evoked Stella. Monster Hunt proctor. Her smug poise resurfaced.
Weapon Techniques? Simpler: its professor likely knew worldly armaments well.
'Might snag a lead on a truly mighty weapon.'
One unbreakable even against the Giant King. Another goal.
Hearing this, Ivela's face lit up as she exclaimed.
"Weapon Techniques? For real?!"
"If nothing better."
"Whoa, we could take it together!"
"Possibly."
Ullan nodded again. As Ivela's eyes gleamed with anticipation...
"Ugh, ugh."
A soft groan.
The ash-gray girl, unconscious till now.
Signs of waking. Ivela donned her blank mask instantly, smile vanished.
'Like the past life.'
With heroes like Ullan, no mask. Strangers? Always.
Knowing the habit, Ullan paid no mind. Then, the girl opened her eyes.
"Gasp! Wh-where...!?"
Wide eyes, utter shock.
They explained events.
But Ivela claimed she stripped the girl's clothes. To avert needless fuss.
Explanation complete...
The girl burst into thick tears.
"Sob! Waaah! M-Mommy..."
The normal response, really.
Suddenly wave-swept into an unknown cave. Long while later, she calmed somewhat.
Then introduced herself.
"I-I'm Sylphy."
Sylphy Rudhina.
Aiming for Ancient History and Ruin Excavation majors.
Sixteen years old.
A year younger than Ullan and Ivela.
Clinging to Ivela, she kept glancing at Ullan. Noticing the stares, he asked directly.
"Got something to say?"
"Ah, yes! A q-question."
Curious sort.
He nodded. Go ahead.
Sylphy voiced it tremulously.
"......Why'd you roar at the auditorium?"
The inauguration, probably.
Ivela eyed him curiously too. Meeting twin gazes, Ullan answered plainly.
"To convey my true feelings."
"T-true feelings?"
"Yeah. I just wanted to get along with everyone, so I shouted from the heart."
Unyielding, honest eyes.
No falsehood.
Sylphy went blank. Ivela barely stifled a laugh.
"So let's get along."
"Y-yes! Got it."
"Drop formalities."
"Th-that's... scary..."
Sylphy smiled awkwardly.
The mood eased a touch.
Silent Ivela spoke up.
"So, what now?"
"C-common sense says w-wait here for rescue."
Sylphy replied.
Professor Miel had said: cross Zone 1 boundary, guardians activate.
Cave was Zone 2.
Plenty trigger.
Ullan shook his head.
"That'll be tough."
"Huh? Why...?"
As she puzzled...
A biting chill hit suddenly.
Reflexive glance: water lapping ankles. Inflow from outside, surely.
Sylphy panicked.
"Wh-what now?!"
"We move."
Earlier scan showed a passage-like rear space.
Ullan lit a thick log as torch and stood.
"Find safe spot first. Wait for guardians there."
"Sounds good. I'm in."
"M-me too!"
Ivela and Sylphy nodded.
Unanimous decision.
They donned still-damp clothes and set off. Evading rising water, seeking sanctuary.
10. Isolation