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6.
Lunch time was almost over.
After leaving the restaurant, Ulan headed to the forest near the training ground. This was because Noah, who suddenly came to see him, said these words.
“Ulan, Ibella’s condition is a bit strange.”
A word that came out of nowhere.
Ulan looked puzzled by the unexpected words. So he asked what the situation was, but didn’t get a detailed answer.
“I don’t know the circumstances, but while I was talking to someone, my expression got really bad. “It’s as if something serious has happened.”
After a brief explanation.
Noah told me where Ibella was.
This is why Ulan visited the forest.
As he looked around the forest and expanded his senses, he soon detected a familiar figure.
‘found.’
It was Ibella’s presence.
She sits on a rock and stares blankly into space. It definitely looks different from usual.
It looks like something happened just as Noah said. Ulan immediately showed his presence.
“Ibella.”
I called his name, but there was no response.
I’m still just staring into space with a half-fazed expression. Ulan didn’t seem to notice her presence, so he spoke a little loudly.
“What are you doing here?”
“······uh?”
He seems to have noticed this time.
That was enough to cause a slight shock wave.
Along with the dust rising from the floor, light returned to the blurry turquoise eyes.
“ah.”
After letting out a short exclamation, she smiled slightly, as if she had found Ulan.
“It’s Ulan.”
The reaction is definitely different from usual.
It felt like I was having a conversation with my mind somewhere else. As I heard from Noah, things looked bad.
So I asked right away.
“Are you worried about something?”
“Yes? “Why is that?”
“Because it has that kind of face.”
Ibella’s eyes widened slightly.
Then he let out a soft laugh.
“Ahaha, I tried to hide it, but I guess I can’t hide it from you.”
Finally, a subtle facial expression.
She got up from her seat.
“Ulan.”
With a very serious expression.
Ibella burst out laughing.
“I’m going to abstain.”
“abstention?”
“huh. “Something came up.”
A bitter smile spreads across your lips.
Ulan frowned.
“Hehe, it’s okay. “It’s not a serious matter.”
Ibella shrugged her shoulders lightly.
As if it was no big deal.
Meanwhile, Ulan stared blankly at the sword in Ibella’s hand, not at her expression.
Whether you know this or not.
She continued to answer.
“Even if you really say it’s okay? It’s just that something happened. “I was also not feeling well.”
“······.”
Maybe Ibella herself doesn’t know.
Ulan knows a little about her habits.
First of all, when you feel anxious.
Ibella hides her feelings completely. She tries to appear calm and considers the whole thing insignificant.
‘but······.’
Every time that happens, she holds on tightly to her sword.
As if only the sword could be relied on. As if this is the only way to calm your mind.
“And anyway, you’re okay without me, right?”
Next, when you say something different from what you really mean.
In other words, it’s time to lie.
But you can’t tell just by looking at the face. Ybella is good at hiding her facial expressions, eyes, breathing, and voice.
But just one.
There are parts that cannot be hidden.
‘Sword.’
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When you say something that is different from your true intentions.
The sword held tightly trembles slightly. In times like this, it means that most of the time, you are lying.
Yeah, like right now.
“If it’s Ulan, he’ll be in the top 10, and there’s also Dilia Arpen…”
“You’re still bad at lying.”
A word from Ulan suddenly followed.
Ibella immediately closed her mouth.
A rather perplexed look. Looking at the agitated and trembling eyes, Ulan gave an answer.
“I know it when I see your face.”
“······.”
“Because it was an expression of unwillingness.”
As soon as I finished answering.
She bit her lip slightly. But he also smiled for a moment.
“Oh, of course I don’t feel like it. But as I said before, circumstances arose…”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s just a simple family matter.”
Originally, I wasn’t planning on saying anything.
However, I felt that Ulan would not be convinced if I kept my mouth shut, so I decided to reveal the reason only slightly.
“It’s because my family might be in trouble if I don’t abstain. But it’s okay. “If only I abstain, everything will be okay…”
“Wrong.”
“Uh, what?”
“You are not okay.”
Words that strike like a dagger.
Ibella closed her mouth tightly. At one harsh word, as if it had ripped into her heart, her emotions, which she had barely managed to hold back, fluctuated loudly.
One more thing here.
Ulan’s surprise words slightly removed the mask of calmness she had barely been able to hold on to.
“······There’s nothing we can do.”
Emotions that were tightly suppressed behind the mask.
The emotions that had been churning like an angry sea slowly leaked out. And she couldn’t afford to stop this from happening to Bella.
“If I go to the finals, my mother will suffer, so they tell me what to do…!”
“Did your mother tell you directly?”
“What, what?”
Ulan’s question suddenly came in.
When I was taken aback by the sudden question, Ulan fired off a barrage of questions as quickly as a cannonball.
“Have I ever directly asked you to protect me from something else?”
“that······.”
“Have you ever been told not to act carelessly because you’re in trouble?”
“······.”
I couldn’t answer.
Because that has never happened.
“Do you really think it is for your mother’s benefit to just interpret and judge as you please without asking her directly?”
“······Then what should I do?”
Listening to the harsh words pouring out.
Ibella gritted her teeth.
The mask has already come off. The torrent of emotions she had been harboring swirled wildly.
“Even though I know it will hurt my mom, can I ignore it and just go to the finals? Then will it really put my mind at ease?!”
“Of course you won’t feel at ease.”
“Then why…!”
“I never told you not to abstain.”
Ibella closed her mouth.
That’s what I heard and saw.
Ulan just told me to be honest with myself. She did not try to dissuade or reverse her choice or decision.
“No matter what choice you make, I have no right to deny you. “But as a friend, I hope you make a choice you won’t regret.”
Bright red eyes looked at her.
Seriously sparkling eyes. I could feel his heart only thinking of Ibella.
Is that why?
The moment I made eye contact with Ulan, the emotions that had been swirling like a torrent gradually subsided. Her feverish head also gradually cooled down.
When I felt my mind calming down.
“Ask me again.”
Ulan spoke up.
It was the same question as before.
“Does your mother want you to protect her?”
“······.”
“If that’s really the case, you can abstain. But if you’re not sure, think about what your mother really wants from you.”
This was all I had to say.
Now, the rest is for Ibella to choose.
So Ulan kept his mouth shut.
Meanwhile, around that time.
Ibella suddenly remembered an old incident.
No, it’s not that old.
Just a few months ago.
It was the time when I was leaving the County of Deorg to take the entrance exam for Arsene Academy.
The weather was just as gloomy as it is now.
After saying goodbye to her mother, she immediately turned around. But she soon stopped again. It was because she suddenly felt like crying.
Really for the last time.
Let’s go and see mom one more time. With this thought in mind, I was about to look away.
“Don’t look back!”
A sharp voice was heard.
Surprised, Ibella stiffened. She deserved it. She couldn’t believe it was her mother’s voice, who had always been gentle and kind.
“Don’t stop, just look ahead and walk.”
Ibella’s mother, Ideline Eleaad.
Unlike usual, she shouted firmly in a voice filled with strength.
“The only things that are behind you are things that are of no help to you now.”
At the time, I couldn’t really understand what my mom was saying. She didn’t try to understand.
It was because I felt sad and disappointed at the cold tone of voice that was completely different from usual. So, it was a time when I couldn’t take a step back.
“are you okay. Ibella. No need to worry.”
A warm voice was heard again.
It was her mother’s voice that Ibella remembered.
“Mom will watch over you from behind. From now on, let go of your past and your family, and live only for you. “That’s all her mother wants.”
Memories buried in the sadness of farewell.
As she recalled her mother’s revived message, Ibella’s turquoise eyes immediately became moist.
‘Yes, it was like that.’
What a mother sincerely wishes for.
It was not a request to protect the family from persecution. Just this Bella living a life just for herself. That was all.
The moment I remembered this.
A new emotion arose. It was a slightly different feeling than the emotions that had been swirling before.
Then.
“Ibella.”
Ulan spoke again.
In your usual serious voice.
“We are friends.”
Regardless of the relationship in my past life.
Ulan and Ibella shared a common name and fought together in the hero’s ordeal. That’s how the two became friends. At least that’s what Ulan thought.
“When friends are in trouble, they do their best to help each other. “Maybe not here, but on the prairie.”
The sound of footsteps approaching.
Soon a large hand was held out.
“So, if you’re having trouble, just tell me.”
Holding an ax in the other hand.
Ulan spoke with sincerity.
“I will help.”
Simple words without much rhetoric.
But that one word of helping was more comforting than any other words.
Is this a feeling of relief? The moist moisture in Ibella’s eyes turned into dew and fell.
“······thank you.”
Filled with honest emotions and sincerity.
Ibella barely answered. But that was all. She stood up from her seat by her own strength, without Ulan holding her outstretched hand.
“But it’s okay. “Because this is my problem.”
Instead, what he held onto was her sword.
Immediately after wiping the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, Ibella lowered her head towards Ulan.
“Sorry. Ulan.”
Because it looks ugly.
Because I’m angry at you for not doing anything wrong.
Ulan accepted the sincere apology without saying a word. Then, a bell was heard from far away. It was a notification that the finals would begin soon.
The moment I heard this.
Ibella made a decision.
“I will pretend that abstention never happened.”
Eyes engraved with a resolute light.
Ulan grinned as he looked into the eyes of someone who decided to be honest with him.
Because now it’s the look in his eyes that I knew.
So the two headed to the stadium.
Ibella walking with Ulan. The sword in her hand no longer trembled.
7.
2pm sharp.
The finals of the selection competition have begun.
While numerous students and faculty were watching.
Mattel Bornus, the eldest son of the Count Bornus family, who participated in the first game, was on the verge of going crazy.
Kaang! Let’s go!
There is only one reason.
This is because of the girl who is currently swinging her sword across from him with a ferocious force.
‘what? What on earth?!’
A sword attack that rages like a storm.
As the stab was aimed only at vital points, Martel seemed to be in a hurry to defend himself, let alone counterattack.
‘Hey, this is different from the promise!’
When the final match schedule was released.
There was a person who suddenly approached Mattel.
Himel Deorg, a friend in the same class. Famous as a swordsman genius, he immediately presented Martel with this proposal.
“I will allow your opponent, Ibella Elead, to abstain. Instead, if you are selected as one of the top 10 in the future, help me become a leader.”
It was an offer that there was no reason to refuse.
At least that was the case for Mattel. Because he had just reached the beginner’s level of skill.
Ibella, on the other hand, was different.
She had already overcome the beginner level and reached the level of a low-level knight. Moreover, the swordsmanship was elaborate and perfect.
In other words, if the match continues like this, Mattel will definitely lose.
So I accepted the offer right away.
But contrary to what you heard, Ibella did not abstain. He swung his sword with all his might, as if he was determined to beat Martel.
‘Holy shit! Himel!’
Eyes bloodshot and bloodshot from anger.
The moment Mattel was glaring at the audience.
Kaaaang!
With a sharp impact sound, Martel’s sword soared into the air.
“Ugh!”
My hands were shaking from the shock of losing the sword.
Mattel gritted his teeth.
At the same time, his gaze was directed not to Ibella, but to the audience where Himel would be. It was anger toward Himel for not keeping his promise.
“stop! “All the way there!”
“Game 1, winner! Ibella Eleaad!”
When the match was over, Ibella took down her sword.
A sword that fits neatly into its sheath.
She bowed slightly to Mattel and went straight out of the stadium. At that time, there were eyes watching Ibella.
“Was there a student like that in our department?”
“You fight better than I thought?”
“Iknow, right. “His swordsmanship is very stable, and his sense is quite excellent.”
“I think I’ve already overcome the beginner barrier.”
“Haha, I heard that this is why the preliminaries are so fun to watch every year. “Sometimes a talent like that emerges.”
Professors of the Department of Military Studies.
They each observed Ibella with sparkling eyes. The eyes were an appropriate mixture of interest, curiosity, and anticipation.
And that time.
Just like the professors, there was someone staring intently at Ibella. Of course, the emotions in his eyes were different from theirs.
‘You damn bitch!’
A young man with a very distorted face.
It was Himel deorg. He glared at Ibella as if she were leaving the stadium.
‘Yes, that’s how it comes out, right?’
Then, everyone here has their own thoughts.
Himel bit his lip and barely managed to swallow his anger. With the thought that sooner or later Ibella would hit the ground and regret it.
Meanwhile, there was another way of looking at him. A girl with beautifully braided black hair.
It was Noah.
‘I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your eyes.’
He is probably trying to retaliate in some form against Ibella, who ignored his instructions to abstain.
‘But I won’t let that happen.’
Noah’s eyes became dark.
Since I had decided to help, I was planning to help them for sure.
‘Should I at least put a curse on it first?’
She is a shaman who specializes in curses.
So I tried to get out a nail and a hammer, but unfortunately I couldn’t achieve what I wanted.
“The second game will start soon!”
“Noah Darshen! Delia Arpen! from now on!”
Because my name was called right away.
Because the first game ended sooner than expected, it was already Noah’s turn. In response, Noah slumped his shoulders.
‘Ugh, I really hate it.’
Why do I have to fight with Delia?
And of course, with a monster who is scheduled to become the strongest wizard in the world! That time when I was sighing repeatedly, letting out my dislike.
Tuk-tuk!
A huge hand patted my back.
It was Ulan.
“cheer up.”
A word of encouragement was soon heard. Noah’s eyes widened at the unexpected cheering.
“Huh, that’s a little surprising.”
“what?”
“I thought Ulan would support Dilia.”
But I never thought you would support me.
So, while I was looking at him curiously, Ulan responded that it was no big deal.
“I told that guy too.”
“what?”
Noah frowned.
What do you mean, cheering for both of them?
Noah, who was looking at him with a sullen expression, suddenly spoke with a mischievous smile.
“Ulan, let me ask you one question.”
“what?”
“Who do you want to win Ulan between me and Delia? “To be very honest.”
Noah gave a subtle look.
Eyes filled with strange anticipation.
On the other hand, Ulan’s reaction was uncharacteristic.
“It doesn’t matter who it is.”
“······yes?”
“The stronger one will win.”
An insincere answer.
Noah pouted his lips. But he didn’t refute it. Because it wasn’t wrong.
“Phew, I understand. “Then I’ll come back.”
After getting up from my seat.
Noah headed to the stadium.
Looking at Delia in the distance, I pondered over Ulan’s words I had just heard.
‘The stronger one wins.’
That is correct.
And in that sense, Noah Darshen cannot beat Delia Arpen. Although their talents are similar, everything else is different.
Just looking at the magical power reserves, Delia had twice as much. No matter how hard I ran the calculator, there was no chance of winning.
‘Also, the penalty isn’t that severe over there.’
Unlike Noah, who has ‘weakness’ and ‘poor stamina’, Delia’s penalty has nothing to do with combat.
If this was a game
Noah would definitely have lost to Delia.
‘but······.’
This isn’t a game right now.
The reality of breathing and feeling pain. Therefore, Noah has a slim chance of winning.
And one more thing.
Noah had ‘information’.
‘They don’t know me over there.’
A shaman of barbarian origin, like Ulan.
You probably only know this much.
Noah, on the other hand, was different. She has a lot of information about Delia.
‘because······.’
Back when she was a gamer.
Although it was only for a short time, I played as Delia Arpen.
So I know everything about Delia.
Traits, habits, magic, fighting style, etc.
Even why he usually speaks in such a frustratingly halting manner.
‘finally.’
It may also be a secret.
This is a skill that only Noah can do.
Also, while skipping lunch, I prepared effective tactics against Delia.
‘Anyway, I have no intention of losing easily.’
Noah must participate in a mock battle.
Because there is a hidden piece there.
With her eyes sparkling, she finally stepped onto the stadium. She was soon exchanging glances with Delia across from her.
“Battle begins!”
The second game has begun.
Chapter 14. What does it matter?
fantasy,
