The Academy’s Barbarian
Chapter 63: It Is Not Your Decision (4)

The general ward of the Military Studies Department.

Upon entering Istan El Deorg's hospital room, Ulan tilted his head with a subtle expression.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. It's not that serious," Istan offered a faint smile, though its persuasiveness was lacking; his body was covered in bandages, his complexion somewhat pallid, "A small price to pay for a glimpse of such brilliance. Never mind." His tone was different from before. Istan nonchalantly chuckled, as if it didn't bother him.

But it was only for a moment. Suddenly, the smile vanished from his lips, and he lowered his head towards Ulan, "...I'm sorry."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"An apology for calling you a barbarian. It's late, but please forgive me."

An unexpected apology.

In truth, Ulan wasn't particularly offended or angry. He wasn't young or spirited enough to get upset over such matters. But there was no reason not to accept an apology. So he nodded in agreement, "Alright, I accept your apology."

"Thank you," After another bow, Istan continued, "Now it's my turn to keep my promise."

A promise to cleanse the honor tainted by Himmel's actions. Just as his words finished, someone entered the room.

"Ah, Father, you called...... Huh!"

A young man bursts into the room, his face grim and his temper flaring at the sight of Ulan.

It was Himmel Deorg.

Why would this guy come here? Ulan pondered the question as he squinted his eyes. Just as he did so, right after Istan finished his reply, "I called him for you."

"You did?"

"Yes, for a proper apology, the one who sullied the honor should be present too."

Just after he finished, Istan cast a chilly gaze and in the aura of a Master's anger, Himmel's complexion turned a shade of pale blue.

"Well, that completes the arrangements for the apology."

All that remained was who to apologize to.

All that remained was for them to travel together to Ulan's friend. So Istan looked back at Ulan. To ask him to show him the way.

But there was no need for that.

Clang!

The door swung open unexpectedly; because the concerned party had arrived.

"Ulan, they said you were looking..."

Ibella Elearde.

She flushed as soon as she spotted Ulan, but clamped her mouth shut shortly afterward—

"......."

—her face instantly hardening. It was understandable. Now here were the two people she least wanted to see in the world.

But she wasn't the only one taken aback.

"......Ibella?" Istan asked, dumbfounded. He hadn't seen her in years, but the girl in front of her was definitely Ibella.

"Why would you be here......." Istan mumbled in confusion when a thought flashed through his mind.

"She, she must be the friend you told me about......!"

"Yes, Ibella Elearde," Ulan replied, finally and a heavy silence enveloped the room.

Istan was baffled; Himmel, whose face had gone deathly pale, and Ibella, emanating an icy chill.

During the awkward silence that lingered—

"......Let me get this straight."

—Istan managed to speak, looking visibly puzzled; with a furrowed brow, he drummed his fingers on the table, quickly organizing his thoughts, "So what you're saying is that Himmel sullied Ibella's honor and disrespected her?"

"Exactly."

"All right. I appreciate your honesty."

As Istan finished his response, his gaze transformed, "Himmel Deorg."

"......Yes?"

"Kneel before Ibella."

"I, why, I......!" Himmel retorted, caught off guard. Or rather, he had intended to. However, at that moment, no words came out of his mouth.

"I already heard what you did."

An intangible force squeezed his breath.

It was Istan's killing intent.

Under the terrifying aura that this Master was intentionally emitting, Himmel's face turned paler and paler.

"You will kneel before Ibella at once, and confess all your wrongdoings thoroughly. An apology comes after that."

What Ulan considered impoliteness was just the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, Istan intended to hear about everything that had transpired.

But Himmel refused to comply; he clenched his fists in frustration. As if he hadn't already come to his senses, he shouted while relying on his meager pride, "...I refuse."

"What?"

"What's wrong with calling a low-born person inferior?! I...... ughh!"

And at the moment, with a lone scream, Himmel's body floated into thin air. Istan, whose patience had reached its limit, lifted him away—

Thud! Crash!

—and Himmel was sent flying, crashing in the corner. But it wasn't over yet. Istan grabbed Himmel by the hair as he groaned in pain and slammed him straight to the ground.

Starting with a loud vibration, in unison, Istan bowed his head, "Let me apologize on his behalf."

The direction both their heads were facing was towards Ibella and Istan said with a troubled expression, "I heard everything that Himmel did. How he tarnished your honor, and how he spouted nonsense."

"......."

"I am truly sorry for what happened to you. I will make sure that this never happens again. I swear on my name and my family," Istan bowed his head again. It was a clean apology, one that threw away all pride or honor.

But Ibella remained expressionless; as if unmoved.

After a long moment—

"......How am I supposed to believe you?"

—a cold voice returned; along with eyes filled with distrust, "You said the same thing when you came to pick up my mother and me. You said you were sorry for leaving me alone for so long, and that you would always be with me from now on."

"That's......."

"And then you abandoned us again. Do you have any idea how much humiliation and persecution my mother and I have suffered all this time?"

After following Istan into the castle, the terrible harassment began.

Not only were they subjected to all kinds of discrimination and abuse by the Countess and her vassals, but they were also often ignored by the butlers and maids.

There was only one reason — it was because her mother was a commoner.

"We lived in a warehouse full of crawling bugs, claiming that the castle was a luxury for the lowly. The meals were worse than those served to the servants." Her voice flowed calmly; her eyes bore into Istan's, a mixture of anger and resentment.

"So I wanted to run away, but I couldn't. Because it would damage the family's honor if it became known that a commoner's blood had mixed into House Deorg."

She didn't even have anyone to complain to. Because Istan, the only person the mother and daughter could rely on, had abandoned them and gone to the battlefield.

And so years passed.

Taking advantage of a lapse in the watchful eye, Ibella finally escaped from the Count's residence.

"The reason for enrolling in Arsene Academy was precisely because it was a place beyond that woman's reach."

Little did she know that Himmel would join her.

Meanwhile, after the story was over, Istan wore an expression of considerable shock, as if he were hearing these facts for the first time, "I didn't know. I couldn't have known it would be that severe..."

"Yeah, you wouldn't know, because to you, we were just trinkets in a drawer."

With a mocking tone at the end, Ibella glared at him fiercely, "I can never forgive you. Never."

"......."

Istan remained silent, closing his mouth.

Of course, he had excuses.

At that time, he was suffering from the aftermath of the pyre, or Ash Syndrome, so he could not even take care of his own body, let alone his family

But he didn't bother to tell her.

Because no matter what excuse he gave, it didn't change the fact that he broke his promise and left them alone.

But then.

Ibella spoke again, "...On the other hand, it's not the same for my mother."

"Edeline...?"

"She's still waiting for you to come back. I told her it was foolish, that you wouldn't come back, but it was in vain."

So she remained alone in the Count's residence.

If Istan were to return someday, at least one person should be left to welcome him.

Her hatred for Istan remains.

But that was not the case for Edeline. Because her mother was still waiting for Istan. So Ibella added a word for her mother, "So if you're truly sorry for what you've done, if you want forgiveness, ask my mother, not me. And go and be by her side."

That was all she had to say.

Oh, and one more thing.

"Don't make her suffer from unnecessary threats."

"......Threats?"

What was she talking about? Istan's eyebrows furrowed.

In response, Ibella recounted every threat Himmel had ever made.

How he had threatened her mother, Edeline, under the pretext of her safety, to even forcing her to withdraw from the preliminary rounds.

A while later, after it was all said and done—

—Istan's face contorted like a demon. Himmel's, on the other hand, was ashen.

"......Is that true?"

"That, you see......."

"I asked if it is true?"

But there was no response.

Not denying it, Istan ground his teeth. It was clear from Himmel's reaction that Ibella's story was true.

And in that moment—

"You bastard!"

—Himmel's head slammed into the wall.

Kaaaaaah!

The ward shook with a loud crash.

Doctors and nurses rushed in at the sudden noise, but they couldn't say a word and backed away. This was because of the killing intent that Istan was exuding.

Kwaddduk!! Thud!

A face crashed through the wall and Himmel fainted right away.

It was impressive that he didn't die. Istan immediately bowed his head to Ibella once again, "I am so sorry, my dear. I have no face to look at you."

"......."

"This time, I promise you. I will take charge and protect Edeline."

His voice dripped with sincerity; killing intent flowed out along with it.

"I will not spare the servants who disrespected you and Edeline. I will make Himmel's mother and her vassals pay for what they deserve."

A fierce aura pierced the air in the hospital room.

In the face of the killing intent that was indiscriminate, Ibella shrank her shoulders. But the time of being intimidated was not long.

"......Ulan."

Ulan, who suddenly blocked her path, suppressed the surging killing intent. Ibella smiled faintly at his consideration.

Istan finally regained his composure, "You probably won't believe anything I say right now. So I'll deliver a letter announcing the outcome after I return to the County."

"......."

"Incidentally, you need not bother with Himmel anymore. He will soon be leaving the Arsene Academy."

"......What?"

Leaving the academy? Ibella asked back in disbelief, and Istan replied in a firm tone,"That's right. I'll be submitting his withdrawal letter in the next week or so, and I'll be taking him with me when I return to the County."

"......!"

"I realized this for sure after this incident. There is something I need to teach him before I teach him how to wield a sword."

Of course, that didn't mean he was any good with a sword. He was not even close.

"Anyway, I plan to keep him on the front lines until he can be useful, so don't worry."

Ibella had a subtle expression on her face at those words.

She honestly didn't expect this.

To have the heir to the family withdraw from the academy, and then suddenly take him to the battlefield. At the moment when she was momentarily at a loss for words at the shocking news.

"Is it okay if I ask you a question?"

A distraught Ulan raised his hand.

As if he had something curious. Istan, as well as Ibella, turned to him at the sudden intrusion.

Their gazes met and Ulan asked curiously, "What is the relationship between the two of you?"

"......Huh?"

He's asking this now?

Shouldn't he be able to guess based on the conversation they've had so far?

Ibella was quite surprised when she was about to answer, and Istan interrupted her answer.

"She's my daughter."

"Wait, who says you're..."

"Although I haven't been a proper father until now, it will change from now on. I swear as the Master of the Empire and the Lord of Deorg."

A determined gaze filled with determination. Was that why? Ibella opened her mouth to argue, but then shut it. Ulan, on the other hand, still didn't understand.

"But your last names are different, aren't they?"

"There were circumstances that made it unavoidable. But things will be different from now on. I will make sure that she can use the Deorg name anytime..."

Istan rambled on and on, however, a strong denial came back.

"No, I am Ibella Elearde."

The words were spoken as an assertion and she spoke stubbornly, "I have no desire to live as a Deorg."

And with good reason.

Long-held anger and resentment couldn't be erased overnight.

The awkward atmosphere lingered again.

"I see. You were father and daughter," Ulan nodded thoughtfully; as if he had just realized the truth.

At this reaction, Ibella asked with a curious look on her face, "Then what did you think of me until now?"

"Just someone who uses the trendy sword technique."

"T, trendy?"

What the hell are you talking about? She asked in confusion, and Ulan explained the circumstances with a calm face.

"During the duel earlier, I realized that your sword techniques were strangely similar."

"Is that why......."

"I thought it was a swordsmanship that was popular on the streets."

After the extremely simple conjecture ended, a quiet silence enveloped the hospital room.

But only for a moment. With an intermittent shake of her shoulders, Ivella burst into a loud laugh.

"Foohoo, ahahaha!"

The mightiest sword in the southern part of the Empire.

To think that Deorg's swordsmanship was treated like a fad of the streets, even in front of his Master.

An insult couldn't get any worse than this.

For some reason, she couldn't stop laughing. Istan, meanwhile, looked puzzled.

"What do you mean by 'the swordsmanship is similar'?"

"Exactly what it means."

"But I never taught Ibella......."

He had never taught her the family swordsmanship. They hadn't spent much time together in the first place. During that time, Ibella casually replied as if stating an insignificant fact, "Deorg's sword dance."

Barely able to contain her laughter, she replied nonchalantly, as if it were a matter of fact, "Before you left for the battlefield, I adapted the sword dance you taught me into an actual sword technique."

"You adapted the ...... sword dance into a sword technique?" Istan's eyes grew wide.

A sword dance was literally a sword dance; a dance performed while swinging a sword in a fancy way; a dance that was completely unsuited to actual combat, and then transformed into actual swordsmanship? If true, this was a realm of talent that no one could match. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Meanwhile, Ibella looked back at Ulan.

"More than that, Ulan."

"Hmm?"

"There's something I want to ask you, too."

Her eyes and expression tense; as if she were going to ask something important. After a moment, she parted her tightly closed lips, "Are you sure you're a Master?"

In fact, it was a meaningless question.

She had seen it clearly in the duel grounds. Ulan, who defeated two swordsmen of the empire. However, even so.

Ibella wanted to hear it from Ulan himself.

It somehow felt more real that way. When she asked with a tense face, swallowing dry saliva—

"Yes. That’s right."

—a simple and accepting answer came back; and at that moment, Ibella involuntarily bit her lip tightly.

'...He's too far.'

Even when she thought Ulan was an expert, it honestly felt too far away for Ibella; however, it was okay until now.

She was certain that if she worked hard, she would be able to catch up someday.

But now it was different.

'A Master at seventeen.'

This made her realize one thing for sure; Ulan was a genius among geniuses that had never existed before. And that he was simply of a different class from herself.

'What do you mean by leaving a seat next to you?'

Not to mention the next seat, it seemed difficult to even catch up with his shadow. In the moment when a gloomy feeling surged up and cast a shadow over Ibella's face—

"It's okay."

—a large hand patted her shoulder; a hand as big as a mountain and as hard as a rock. It was Ulan, and he locked eyes with Ibella and spoke in a voice that never wavered from courtesy, "You shall become a Master." As if he had read her thoughts.

Ibella stared at him, dumbfounded. She had been questioning it all along. How could Ulan be so sure of her swordsmanship talent when even she wasn't sure of herself?

'...As if he has seen the future.'

So Ibella bit her lips again.

To resolve the question that she had always been thinking about. At the moment she was about to make a voice to ask Ulan—

—"So don't worry," Ulan said; with an unexpected reply, "If you don't reach the realm of a Master by the age of thirty, I will take responsibility for you."

"......?!"

At that moment, Ibella's thinking stopped; her turquoise eyes turned into those of a startled rabbit, and soon, a bewildered emotion spread across her face. Well, that was to be expected.

'T-This is like...'

What was she thinking? Her face grew redder and redder, starting with her pure white ears. But just as quickly, she shook her head in disbelief.

It could have been just her imagination.

So she peeked her head out. To observe Ulan.

What she saw was a very serious looking Ulan. There was nothing false in her eyes, and Ibella blushed again. At a loss for what to do, rolling her feet nervously.

Ulan recalled memories of his past life.

「Last time, I became a Master at the age of thirty.」

So in this life too, she would likely reach the realm of a Master around a similar time. Even if she didn't, it didn't matter.

Ulan had fought alongside Ibella for nearly a decade, and he was confident he could take charge and raise her to the realm of Master.

"I'm surprised you would say that."

Istan let out a short burst of admiration.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the eyes to see through the talents of others. But Ulan was different.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Ibella was filled with strong conviction. As if he was certain she would reach the realm of a Master.

"I understand. Then, I'll leave it to you."

"W-what do you mean by ‘leave it to you’! What are you doing on your own……!”

"I can trust you to do it," Istan continued. Was it because it sounded like he was approving of their relationship? Feeling her face grow even hotter, Ibella turned away.

"Although my daughter seems to have taken it in a slightly different meaning….”

"Hmm? A different meaning?"

“Hahaha, it’s nothing,” Istan laughed meaningfully.

For some reason, it didn’t seem like it would be bad if it went that way. As the situation came to an end, Istan once again parted his lips, "Ibella." He called her in a calm tone and knelt on the floor, "I know this is far from enough to ask for your forgiveness, and I won't assume that I can be forgiven right away."

"......."

"I just want you to know that I'm going to change, and I promise to make it up to you and Edeline in time, far more than the hellish hours you've been through."

She didn't answer; however, her expression was much better than when he first saw her. At least now, the fierce hostility was not emanating from her.

Istan smiled faintly. There was no need to be impatient, and he was content with this for now.

"And Ulan."

"......?"

"Thank you for standing up for Ibella's honor. It's not an exaggeration to say that you're the reason I found out about this, and I'm really grateful."

If it hadn’t been for him, Istan would not have visited the academy, nor would he have known how Ibella was treated as she grew up.

So he was truly grateful.

It was too late, but at least now, thanks to Ulan, they could make things right.

"If there's anything you want, say it. As Lord of Deorg, I can do anything......."

"There is no need," Ulan refused flatly. Then he continued in a calm voice, "There's no need to pay for helping a friend."

The tone of a man who had done the right thing.

Istan closed his mouth at the eyes that did not ask for anything in return. Ibella also looked at Ulan with a variety of emotions welling up.

How much time had passed like that?

"Thank you," With a serious look in his eyes, Istan held out his hand, "Then I promise you, too, that if one day you find yourself in trouble, I will help you, regardless of the reason. As a friend.”

“Hmm, I’ll keep that in mind,” Ulan smiled as he shook hands; as if he had heard a satisfactory answer.

On the last Friday of March.

On the day that the two swordsmen of the empire suddenly visited the academy and were defeated. Ulan made a reliable friend named the Sword of Deorg.

And three days later….

…Ulan's suspension was lifted.

(End of Chapter. . . . . . . .Thanks for Reading. . . . . . . . . )

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