Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: You Shouldn't Have Done Such a Thing
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(B)
Blood Succession
At first, he tried not to pay it any mind.
She was a character with no memory of her at all—meaning she wasn't all that important anyway. But for someone like that, there were just way too many suspicious things about her.
'Why hide her name?'
The name registered in the student records was Sylpi Rudhina.
But the name on her status window was 'Cirphi Rudric.' That alone made it clear she'd deliberately hidden her name to enroll.
And one more thing.
He'd realized it a bit late.
'...Same surname as Kazan Rudric.'
Was this just a coincidence?
Or did it mean she carried Kazan's bloodline?
This needed more digging.
After all, the only thing Noa knew about Kazan was that he was the hero who represented the ancient desert kingdom.
'Next up...'
Her grade was suspicious too.
A D-grade was just a D-grade, but he'd never seen one with another grade in parentheses like Cirphi's—not once in his life.
The trait was equally unfamiliar.
'What's Blood Succession supposed to be?'
The first thing that came to mind was vampire.
But he shook his head right away.
All vampires in this world couldn't walk under sunlight.
Cirphi, on the other hand, had run laps on the training field in broad daylight without a problem. So vampire odds were basically zero.
Suspicious. Way too suspicious.
As Noa narrowed his eyes...
"Um, hey..."
Cirphi suddenly spoke up.
With an awkward expression.
"Is there something on my face?"
"...No, nothing."
He must've been staring too obviously.
Noa mumbled a reply and whipped his head away. Now, on top of the Sword Princess and the Star Witch, he had one more person to keep tabs on.
And so time passed.
"That's it for today's class."
Professor Miel announced the end of the lesson.
He glanced at the exhausted students and clapped his hands lightly.
"You all worked hard running since morning. Go wash up and head to your next classrooms. See you at end-of-day assembly."
With his farewell...
The students all headed to the showers.
2.
Shwaaaaa!
Cold water poured down over his head.
Feeling his overheated body gradually cool, Ullan finished his shower.
He dried off with a towel.
Then clenched his fist tight.
'Power surging through me.'
He still had energy left after all that running.
More precisely, it felt like his stamina recovered the instant he used it.
'Just from getting this tattoo, and it has effects like this.'
Gazing at the Hero's Mark reflected in the mirror, Ullan's eyes gleamed with seriousness.
'Maybe in this life...'
He really could reach superhuman heights. And sooner than expected. With renewed resolve, Ullan left the shower room.
And right then.
He ran into a familiar face.
"Oh, Ullan."
A girl with her light blonde hair tied up.
Ivela Elead.
She'd apparently just finished showering too. Spotting Ullan, Ivela's eyes went wide.
The reason was simple.
Ullan's steel-hard, muscled forearms. Especially the veins bulging out prominently.
'No way, what are those veins even...'
How could they look so alluring?
Just thick forearms with veins popping, and yet they stole her gaze in an instant. As she soaked in that inexplicable wild allure...
"What're you staring at?"
"...Huh?"
"Something on my arm?"
"N-no. Just... lost in thought."
"About what?"
When Ullan asked, Ivela clamped her mouth shut.
No way she could say it.
Because most of her thoughts were about stroking those thick veins or feeling his solid forearms.
"Ahem! It's, uh, a secret."
This won't do. Gotta change the subject quick.
As she thought that, she noticed the lecture schedule in Ullan's hand.
"Is that your class schedule?"
"Yeah. Timetable."
"Mind if I take a peek?"
"Go ahead."
Ullan handed it over immediately.
Success—she'd shifted the topic.
Ivela let out a relieved sigh and eyed the schedule curiously. The first thing that caught her eye was the next lecture.
'Understanding and Detecting Mana Flow.'
Shortened to 'Mana Detection.'
The sudden magic department class made Ivela look surprised. Military majors rarely picked magic electives.
Ullan was the exception, though.
'He said he knew magic too, right?'
That's what she'd heard.
He was already insanely skilled in combat—add magic, and what kind of monster would he become?
Ivela glanced at Ullan.
With eyes full of admiration.
'Next one's...'
Professor Stella's 'Practical Hunting.'
Seeing it, Ivela swallowed her regret inwardly.
She'd wanted that class too. But it filled up faster than expected, so she missed out.
'Huh? How'd Ullan get in?'
When she'd tried registering, it was past 7 a.m. Ullan hadn't started until after noon.
As the question formed...
"...!"
Her mind blanked for a second.
Her turquoise eyes fixed on the next lecture: Martial Techniques.
The instant she saw it.
All her lingering questions and stray thoughts vanished clean away.
"U-Ullan! You signed up for Martial Techniques?"
"Yeah."
"Professor Ethan's class, right?!"
"Probably."
His casual reply lit up Ivela's face.
One reason only.
They'd be in the same class.
'Thank goodness.'
Deep relief welled up from her chest.
It made sense—Ullan was her first friend at the academy. And the one she admired most.
"Hehe, guess I'll see you this afternoon then."
As she grinned happily...
The clock tower in the plaza chimed.
Morning classes would start soon.
"Gotta run. See ya later!"
"Yeah. Do your best."
Ullan waved her off.
Once Ivela was fully gone...
A familiar voice tickled his ear.
"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"
Noa, fresh from her shower.
Her face had a healthy glow from the warm water. Her damp hair gave off a strangely pleasant scent.
With the weather warming, her usual thick furs and coat were gone. She was in lighter clothes now.
"Stop staring. It's embarrassing."
Feeling his gaze, maybe?
Noa covered her face with her palm.
"Taking off the coat makes you look even tinier."
"Pardon? What does?"
"Everything."
"...Sorry for being so small."
Noa pouted.
She grabbed Ullan's arm and tugged.
"Come on, let's get to class."
Warmth from her small hand.
Ullan nodded.
3.
Five minutes before class.
Professor Direk Orminu watched students file into the classroom. One caught his eye immediately: Ullan.
'...What the hell is he after?'
No matter how he racked his brain, he couldn't figure out why Ullan wanted this class.
Then a sudden hunch.
'He got S-grade on the aptitude test, so he figures he'll ace this too?'
It had some logic.
Barbarians had crude, simple minds. Finally getting it, Direk sneered, lips twisting.
'A clueless barbarian like you.'
He probably had no idea.
This was like sticking his head in a wolf's mouth.
'Not letting you slip away this time.'
He'd failed during aptitude testing thanks to Dean Deplin Chernio's interference, but not now. No mercy.
Especially since his brother-in-law, Count Dermore, was pissed Ullan passed.
'You're getting an F for sure.'
Direk had two shots.
Midterms and finals. He'd rig it so Ullan bombed both.
'But first...'
Payback for knocking him out during aptitude testing. He'd planned it all out, so he swallowed a sinister grin.
Soon after.
Ding! Dang!
The bell signaling end of break rang.
Professor Direk Orminu's class began.