Chapter 61
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Count's Visit
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(1)
1.
March's final week, Friday.
When the sun hung high in the midday sky.
Having finished his training, Ullan returned to the dormitory. He had remembered his lunch appointment at noon.
Shwaaa!
After showering with cold water.
While drying off with a towel, something suddenly caught his eye.
[Grrowl. Grrrowl—.]
A wolf lounging by the window, basking in the sunlight.
It was the White Wolf.
A peculiar creature that hadn't left the room since arriving a fortnight ago.
As Ullan gazed quietly at it, he recalled a few facts he'd learned over the past two weeks.
'Because it's a spirit beast, I suppose.'
The White Wolf's staple food was mana.
Of course, it ate fruits and even bread or meat, but what it truly favored was mana by far.
He'd realized this three days prior.
When Noa had visited the room.
"These are the mana stones handed out in Mana Detection class. I picked up your share too."
Along with instructions to observe the mana flow inside the mana stones and submit a report.
In other words, a kind of assignment. But Ullan hadn't been able to complete it properly.
The moment Noa left, the White Wolf had suddenly snatched the mana stone and gulped it down—like a child popping candy into its mouth.
'And then changes occurred.'
First, its size had grown slightly.
Not by much, of course. Its fur had also gained a subtle sheen, and its teeth and claws were noticeably larger.
Changes that never happened when it ate fruits or meat. Based on this, Ullan concluded that mana was its main diet.
'However...'
It seemed unable to absorb the mana swirling in the air around the Devouring Axe, Gula. As he reflexively glanced at Gula...
[Grrrowl! Gyarung!]
The White Wolf abruptly sprang to its feet.
Fur bristling, it growled ferociously. Its crimson eyes were fixed on the axe—Gula—that Ullan had just been staring at.
'Well, that's only natural.'
Gula was embedded deep in the wolf's nape like a thorn. If Ullan were in its position, he'd have smashed it in a fit of rage.
But it didn't.
More precisely, it couldn't.
Gula possessed the power to absorb mana, so rashly touching it would only result in having its own mana drained instead.
Whether the White Wolf growled or not, Ullan grabbed Gula and strapped it to his waist. Turning to the wolf, he spoke.
"Then I'm off."
Normally, the White Wolf would respond with a yawn or a nod. But its reaction today was different.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, it transformed into a pale mist.
The mist then wriggled as if alive, melting into Ullan's shadow.
"Convenient ability, no matter how many times I see it."
Ullan chuckled.
The White Wolf could turn into mist at any time. In that state, it could pass through walls or seep into specific places.
One of the newer facts he'd learned.
"Yeah, do whatever you want."
He tossed the words out casually.
Then headed straight for his destination.
A short while later, Ullan arrived at the cafeteria and scanned the bustling crowd inside.
As if searching for someone.
That's when it happened.
"Ullan. Here."
A familiar voice called out.
A rather petite girl.
Owner of long, dangling silver hair and golden eyes serene as a lake.
Dilia Arpen.
"You beat me here?"
"Yeah. Not long, waiting."
A faint smile bloomed on her lips.
But as Ullan moved to sit across from her, Dilia's face soured.
"Not there."
"...?"
"Here, sit."
Right next to her.
Ullan tilted his head.
"Why?"
"Meal, pre-ordered."
Her white finger tapped the table.
There lay an order slip. Food would be delivered to the corresponding number. And the slip was placed at the seat beside her.
"What'd you order?"
"Ullan likes, meat."
"How much?"
"Ten servings."
She spread all ten fingers wide.
Perfect. Ullan grinned.
Moving seats was no big deal, so he promptly sat beside her.
Dilia's smile deepened in tandem.
As if finally satisfied.
"And, take this."
"What's this?"
"Class, summarized."
Next, she handed over a notebook.
Every page was densely filled with cute, rounded handwriting. He nearly felt dizzy but managed to hold it together.
"Thanks. I'll take good care of it."
"No big, deal."
She waved it off.
"And, message, too."
"What kind?"
"Ten days later, practical hunt, pairs."
To be precise, the Monday of April's second week.
They would leave the academy and hunt real monsters living in the nearby forest.
"So, teams of two."
"Testing teamwork?"
"Yeah. Right."
She nodded again.
Her gaze drifted downward. Fidgeting with her fingers, she mumbled.
"I, want with you."
Her voice was as tiny as a mosquito's.
Her golden eyes shifted cautiously.
"...What, think?"
"I'm for it. Exactly what I hoped."
Ullan answered without hesitation.
He and Dilia had meshed well even in his previous life. She was the ideal partner for a teamwork test.
"Yeah. Then, I'll apply."
Did his immediate reply please her?
Her expression brightened.
As their conversation wound down, a familiar presence suddenly approached from behind.
"Ullan! We're here."
"This is rare. Figured you'd be first."
Noa Darshen and Ivela Elead.
They approached Ullan with smiles.
But the moment their eyes met Dilia's, their smiles vanished.
"......"
A momentary silence fell.
Noa's eyes trembled in fluster, while Ivela's face took on an oddly displeased cast.
Dilia's reaction was the sharpest of all. The instant she saw Noa, her eyes narrowed like a wary cat's.
As the awkward air lingered...
"I called everyone here."
The reason for this gathering came to light.
The three girls' gazes turned to Ullan in unison. He continued in a flat tone.
"I'm leaving the dorm for a week starting today. So I wanted to say goodbye in advance."
His words barely ended before questions poured in.
"What? What do you mean?"
"A week away, where to?"
"Suspension lifts in three days, doesn't it?"
Ivela, Dilia, and Noa.
All three fired off questions with surprised faces.
Ullan responded to Noa's, the last one.
"It's separate from the suspension."
"What kind of thing?"
"Remember getting swept by waves at the Mana Spring before? They started an investigation related to that, and they need my help."
The contact had come two days ago.
Through the assigned inspector.
The one requesting cooperation was Berze Erkazan, dean of the Military Department. In exchange for Ullan's help, he promised fitting compensation.
'He'll count all my absent classes during suspension as attended.'
That wasn't all.
Dean Berze would also treat assignments as submitted—regardless of the investigation's outcome, just for cooperating a week.
Not a bad deal. So he'd accepted.
And there was one more reason he'd agreed so readily.
'He has the eyes of a warrior.'
Straightforward and upright.
Nothing like Dean Deplin, who dealt in lies and hid her true feelings.
In other words, trustworthy.
Thus, Ullan explained the fact of his stay at the Mana Spring, along with Dean Berze's promised rewards.
"Attendance counted? That's great."
"Right. Otherwise, you'd definitely get a warning."
"Really, fortunate."
The three let out sighs of relief.
Ullan silently grinned at their worry, as if it were their own affair.
At that moment.
Thud!
The cafeteria suddenly fell silent.
The bustling students froze, and the murmurs died away.
The only sound was one.
Heavy footsteps.
Thud. Thud!
The one who soon appeared was a red-haired young man.
His pure white coat and hat made for quite the eye-catching outfit. His gaze turned toward the barbarian seated in the center—the Ullan.
"Ullan Bator, correct?"
"That's me."
"I'm Rodeil Urbakan of the Special Task Force. I've been assigned to escort you to Mana Spring, Zone 1."
No sooner had he spoken than the cafeteria stirred.
"What? Special Task Force?"
"Special Task Force... that's definitely..."
"Dean Deplin's private guards, right?"
Before the whispers could fade...
Rodeil's eyes flashed sharply.
"...Who dares utter the dean's name so lightly?"
A ferocious aura swept through.
The terrifying pressure wrapped the cafeteria in silence once more. Meanwhile, having heard Rodeil, Ullan tilted his head and asked back.
"So we move now?"
"Yes."
Rodeil nodded.
Ullan furrowed his brow.
"I heard evening."
"Circumstances changed. I request your cooperation."
"What circumstances?"
"Can't say that far."
A firm reply came.
Yet a hint of impatience colored his voice. As if delay would spell trouble.
Of course, it wasn't Ullan's concern.
"Sorry, can't do that."
"...What?"
His eyes trembled in agitation.
Ullan replied calmly.
"I've got circumstances too."
"What circumstances?"
"My meal hasn't come yet."
An utterly unforeseen answer.
Rodeil laughed hollowly.
"Don't worry. The Special Task Force will handle your meals."
Ullan's response was nonchalant.
When starving, between a later meal and one arriving soon, the choice was obvious.
At that point, Rodeil added an explanation.
"We'll provide far tastier food than what you get in the student cafeteria. So for now..."
He meant to ask for cooperation in accompanying him.
But the instant he blinked, Ullan had vanished.
What? Where'd he go?
As the flustered Rodeil looked around...
Ullan's voice rang out.
From the cafeteria entrance.
"What're you doing? Guide me already."
"......"
Rodeil wore a dazed expression.
Then came cheerful laughter.
"Pfft! Ahaha."
"Whew, so typical of Ullan."
Ivela and Noa.
Dilia smiled too, hand over her mouth.
Moments later, the three girls waved to Ullan in unison.
"Come back safe, Ullan."
"See you in a week."
"Later, meet."
With their warm send-off, Ullan turned away.
He then followed Rodeil—who had snapped out of it—out of the cafeteria. Heading toward his week-long stay: the Mana Spring.
2.
Meanwhile, at that time.
Count Deorg, upon arriving at the academy, headed straight for the Military Department's infirmary.
For one reason alone.
To check on his hospitalized son, Himmel Deorg. Soon enough, he could confirm Himmel's condition.
"......"
Through the large glass window.
Himmel was walking with crutches. Nurses flanked him, assisting his steps.
"As you see, recovery is going smoothly. Rehab is progressing quickly too."
Someone approached the count then.
Himmel's attending physician. He continued his explanation with a smile.
"However, he took a strong blow to the head during the match, causing short-term memory loss. Ah, it's not serious, of course."
"......"
"Everything else falls within normal range. At this rate, discharge next month should be fine."
The physician rattled off smoothly.
But no reply or response came from the count. He merely stared at Himmel with eyes dry as a desert.
Did the quiet silence feel awkward?
The physician cleared his throat unnecessarily.
"Ahem! Then next..."
"The sword?"
"Pardon?"
"Any issues swinging a sword?"
A somewhat out-of-left-field question.
But he quickly understood. The Deorg family was renowned as a martial house. The physician nodded promptly.
"Probably not. No severe injuries aside from the head. Of course, exactly would require testing... C-Count!?"
The physician cried out in shock.
Small wonder. The count had suddenly barged into the rehab room.
The physician panicked at the abrupt action, but someone else was far more flustered.
"F-Father?!"
Himmel's eyes went wide.
His face plainly showed shock and fluster. Soon, a peculiar emotion filled his eyes.
One rarely seen between normal parent and child. Intense fear.
"Wh-When did you... Gah!"
Himmel's face contorted in pain.
The count had snatched his crutches and struck his belly. The sudden assault didn't stop there. The count proceeded to prod Himmel's body here and there with the crutches.
"Guh! Ack! Kyaa!"
Horrific screams rang out in succession.
The nurses by Himmel's side cried out with troubled faces.
"Wh-What are you doing!?"
"Guards! Stop him!"
The guards were equally troubled.
Unlike the nurses, they knew who the count was.
One of the empire's five masters.
How could they possibly stop such a figure? As the guards dithered, Himmel finally collapsed to the floor.
"Urk! Blergh!"
Amid raucous vomiting.
Himmel's body shuddered violently before his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
"Patient Himmel! Stay with us!"
"Stretcher! Someone get a stretcher!"
The nurses shouted urgently.
The count looked down impassively before tossing the crutches aside. He approached the physician again.
"Handle the discharge request."
"But his wounds..."
"Don't worry. Treatment will continue back at the county."
With those firm words...
The count turned away.
But then.
"No, you can't!"
An unexpected refusal.
The count turned to stare at the physician. His gaze carried a subtle pressure. But the physician stood firm and shouted.
"This is Arsen Academy. No matter that you're a parent, you can't just take an Arsen student whenever you please!"
"Then he'll drop out."
"...Pardon?"
A sudden bombshell.
As the physician blankly parroted...
The count spoke in a parched voice.
"That settles it, right?"
"No, that's impossible."
An intruder cut into the conversation.
One might expect annoyance at the repeated interruptions, but the count's face remained impassive.
Moments later, upon identifying the intruder, the count immediately saluted.
"General Erkazan."
"Not anymore. Discharged long ago."
Berze Erkazan, dean of the Military Department. He returned the salute before speaking.
"More to the point. To drop out, he must complete at least one semester here. That's the rule."
The count looked somewhat displeased at the reply. Surprisingly, no rebuttal came. Instead, he deftly changed the subject.
"Perfect timing, then."
"For what?"
"Something to ask the general."
"I can guess, but what?"
No sooner had the question paused...
The count's eyes slyly shifted. Toward Himmel being carried out on the stretcher.
"I heard a barbarian did that to him. True?"
"Hm, true. But there are circumstances here..."
"Where's that barbarian?"
He cut Berze off.
Rude, but Berze paid it no mind. Something more important was at stake.
"What'll you do if you know?"
"Need to check something."
"Just to be sure—you're not planning to cross blades with that barbarian, are you?"
"Can't promise that."
"Then I can't tell you."
"General."
"This is Arsen. As dean, I have a duty to protect students. No violence or revenge allowed."
Berze's eyes flashed intensely.
Eyes filled with firm resolve and stubbornness.
He wouldn't budge an inch.
"Sigh, understood."
The count's shoulders slumped slightly.
With a sigh, he muttered.
"Then I'll find him my way."
"Lord Istan!"
"My apologies."
Ignoring Berze's shout, the count bowed politely before promptly leaving the infirmary.
"...Just as I expected."
Berze sighed, watching the receding figure.
"Whew, no helping it. From here on, leave it to Dean Chernio."
Handling Count Deorg fell to Deplin Chernio and the Special Task Force. They'd agreed as much a fortnight ago.
'And...'
One more—an insurance policy.
In case Deplin failed against the count, preparing for the worst: Ullan meeting the count.
Of course, best was resolving without it.
Thus, Berze quietly prayed.
May all go smoothly.
3.
After leaving the Military Department's infirmary.
Count Deorg headed straight for the Magic Department.
An old acquaintance from the battlefield, someone worth asking for aid.
But it was only for a moment.
The count soon halted. A man had abruptly blocked his path.
"Long time no see, Your Excellency."
A mild-mannered young man.
The count recognized him at once.
"Loen Philaud?"
"You remember my name. An honor."
He was the vice captain of the Arsen guards.
Also a soldier who'd fought heretics alongside the count on the southern front six years prior.
"Long time. You have business with me?"
"Nothing major. I came to provide helpful info on the barbarian Your Excellency seeks."
The count clamped his lips shut.
He silently stared at Loen.
As if to say, go on. Sensing it, Loen got straight to the point.
"He's at the Mana Spring now."
"Mana Spring? Why there..."
"To prevent contact with Your Excellency."
With that reply...
The count's eyebrow twitched.
"That sounds like a specific faction's involved."
"Correct."
"Who?"
"The imperial military."
"...I want details."
The count's eyes turned serious.
Loen explained the military's purpose and reasons for targeting Ullan, as well as Dean Berze's involvement in the plan.
Once the full story concluded...
The count frowned.
"Where'd you hear this?"
"Reliable source. Anyway, head to Mana Spring Zone 1, and you'll find the barbarian who hurt your son."
He apparently didn't wish to elaborate on the source.
The count didn't press further. Finding the barbarian's whereabouts was enough. He nodded, wrapping up.
"Understood. I'll remember this favor."
"I'd be grateful."
Loen bowed.
His lips twitched faintly.
A smile tinged with odd satisfaction. Somehow uplifting.
Meanwhile, armed with new info, the count promptly set off. Toward the place where the military had hidden the barbarian: Mana Spring, Arsen.