The Academy’s Barbarian - Chapter 77.1 - Cramming (5)

“……Dilia Arpen?” Ibella’s tone hardened; her voice as cold as her icy gaze. However, she wasn’t the only one who changed.

“…….”

The moment she recognized Ibella’s presence, Dilia too clamped her mouth shut and a heavy silence followed.

Was it due to an unsettling atmosphere? Noah rolled his azure eyes, feeling a shift in the air.

‘Huh?’

What’s going on? Why did the atmosphere suddenly change? They had just coincidentally run into each other, yet both remained silent, not uttering a single word. Just staring at each other intently.

It went beyond awkwardness; it felt like a cold current was flowing between them.

As the chilly silence continued, “Oh, right,” Suddenly, Ibella opened her mouth; as if remembering something she’d forgotten.

“So, you said you’re getting discharged today, didn’t you?”

News that Ulan had mentioned during the day.

Upon hearing this, Dilia’s eyes narrowed. As if asking, ‘How do you know that?’

Faced with this, Ibella smiled brightly, “Ulan told me.”

“From Ulan……?”

“Yep. A ‘friend’ who takes the same classes told me that you’re getting discharged this evening.”

The word ‘friend’ had a peculiar emphasis.

Only Dilia seemed to notice. The twitch of her silver eyebrows was evidence.

“Lately, since I’ve been talking with Ulan quite often, I hear various stories.”

“…….”

Talking often. At the mention of these words, Dilia’s expression tensed; a somewhat unpleasant expression. It seemed she didn’t like the fact that Ibella and Ulan were having frequent conversations. But that was only for a moment, and Dilia said in a calm tone, as if she had never made such a face, “That’s, uh, me, too.”

“Huh?”

“Because I, too, talk to him every day.”

Dilia cupped her cheeks in her palms; then she smiled wryly, “I told him that he didn’t have to, but he came to see me every day.”

In fact, that was a lie. She never said it was okay if he didn’t come.

On the contrary, it was Dilia who insisted for him to come every day because she was bored. But the fact that he came every day was true, so it didn’t matter. Dilia thought so.

“…….”

Ibella, on the other hand, was not pleased.

Her eyes burned in silence. It was like looking at a flame fanned by jealousy. But the glare quickly faded.

“Of course, Ulan is very caring.”

Ibella laughed and shrugged her shoulders. As if acknowledging Dilia’s words; then her eyes flashed fiercely. As if she saw an opportunity to strike back, “I’ve been working out alone with Ulan every morning these days, and when it’s time to go back, he always sees me off to the front of the girls’ dormitory.”

Strictly speaking, this was not true. It’s just that the girls’ dorms come first on the way back from the workout. Still, if you only look at the form, it’s right to see off, so it’s not a lie. Ibella thought so.

“……Alone?”

This time, Dilia’s complexion hardened. A rather unpleasant expression. It looked like she didn’t like the fact that they had done something alone.

Meanwhile, at that time.

Noah, who was watching their conversation from a distance, suddenly felt a strange feeling.

‘Oh, what is this?’

Although they were having a normal conversation, it felt like the atmosphere was getting worse and worse? It was a feeling that couldn’t be easily explained in words.

‘And for some reason…’

Looking at Ibella and Dilia now, it was like they’re in a competition to see who was more special to Ulan.

Why?

Noah tilted her head and looked puzzled.

“Noah.”

“……Huh?”

“I’m hungry. Let’s go get some food.”

Ibella grabbed Noah’s hand.

Looking at her stern face, it seemed she didn’t want to continue the conversation with Dilia.

“Uh, yeah. Okay.”

After a moment of hesitation, Noah nodded.

As she was about to follow Ibella, a small palm suddenly caught her wrist.

“No, not yet.”

A stuttering tone. It was Dilia, still holding onto Noah’s wrist, continuing to speak.

“We, the conversation, it’s not over.”

That was true. Noah hadn’t answered Dilia’s question yet.

Thus, keeping Noah in the middle, they exchanged another intense gaze, as if engaging in a peculiar psychological warfare.

‘I somehow feel like the main character in a love triangle.’

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, though.

Regardless of the choice she made, it seemed the relationship with one of them would be strained. The oppressive atmosphere added an extra layer of discomfort.

“Leave her alone and let’s go.”

“I want to, talk, a little, more.”

At that moment, both spoke simultaneously. As if urging her to make a quick decision, the two pairs of eyes turned towards her.

Noah sighed inwardly, her feet shuffling reluctantly.

And at that moment, a voice of salvation reached them.

“What are you doing here?”

A deep, resonant voice; a masculine figure stood against the sunset – Ulan.

“Aren’t you going in?”

“……!”

“Ulan!”

As soon as they spotted Ulan, the expressions of the two girls brightened instantly; without any hesitation, both approached Ulan. Noah seemed to be entirely out of consideration.

Afterwards, Ibella, who was the first to speak, said, “The matter they called you for during the day, is it resolved?”

“Yeah, it was nothing.”

“Can I ask what happened?”

“I just took a retest.”

“Huh? A retest?”

“There were subjects I didn’t get to take the exam for. So, I’m on my way back after the retake exam.”

Ulan briefly explained the reason and process of why he had to take a retake exam in Magical Warfare and Tracking techniques. After a while, Ibella nodded as if she understood.

“I see. How did you do on the exams?”

“I got an S-grade for both of them.”

“Wow, really?”

Ibella’s eyes widened. She had every reason to be.

Getting an S-grade is not an easy task. It was a grade that only one person per class could receive each semester, meaning it was a grade that only the first place could receive.

“As expected of Ulan. You’re really amazing.”

Ibella exclaimed in admiration continuously.

As the conversation paused for a moment, an individual took advantage of the gap without missing it.

Tock! Tock!

A girl stretched out a slender finger and poked Ulan in the side. It was Dilia.

“What is it?”

“I, was discharged.”

“It looks like it.”

“……Is there anything else, you have to say?”

Dilia gave him a sour look, as if she didn’t like his nonchalant response.

But only for a moment.

Soon, Ulan’s questions resumed.

“Are you feeling well?”

“Yes. Now, I’m fine now.”

“What about the headache?”

“That’s gone, too, a lot.”

The questions continued.

Although he was only asking about her health, Dilia’s complexion noticeably brightened. It meant that Ulan was showing interest in her.

At that moment, Noah wore a puzzled expression.

‘Huh?’

For a moment, there was something captivating in her line of sight.

It was the facial expressions of the two girls.

As Dilia’s complexion brightened, Ibella’s face became as stiff as a rock. Conversely, when Ibella smiled, Dilia’s expression seemed uncomfortable, as if her feelings were hurt.

‘What is it? The atmosphere seems a bit…’

It looked like they were being cautious around each other.

And then, a sudden thought occurred to her.

It felt as if they were competing with each other to see who was more special to Ulan.

But Noah just laughed.

‘Come on, that’s impossible. It must be a mistake.’

The other party was Ulan.

A barbarian warrior who only knows how to fight.

There was no rational reason for Ibella and Dilia to feel anything romantic towards him.

‘Well, Ibella might be different.’

In the original work, they were comrades beyond friendship, almost like family. There was even a time when the Sword Maiden openly stated that she trusted Ulan the most. And considering her muscle fetish and the considerable help she received from Ulan this time, it wouldn’t be strange if she harbored a liking for him.

‘But Dilia…….’

She has very little contact with Ulan.

In the first place, in the original work, it was not revealed whom she liked romantically. That’s why she was mainly paired with Ibella in fanfictions.

So Noah judged.

At least it wasn’t a matter of rivalry.

Just as she was making such a decision—

Grrrrrr!

—Ulan’s stomach rumbled; an indication that he wanted something to eat.

And the moment they heard this, Ibella and Dilia simultaneously spoke without waiting for the other.

“Aaah, you’re hungry? Let’s go eat quickly.”

“I food, ordered, ahead, of time.”

Right after they spoke simultaneously, the gaze of the two pairs collided in midair.

However, there was no special conversation exchanged between them. They just turned back to Ulan and continued talking.

“Ulan, you like whole roasted turkey, don’t you?”

“Honey spider, stew is, more, delicious, right?”

A further scuffle broke out.

Fierce gazes from different eyes gleamed intensely. Then, both looked up at Ulan and asked simultaneously.

“What are you going to eat, Ulan?”

“Which one do you prefer?”

What dish would he choose? Although it was just that question, an inexplicable tension filled the eyes of the two girls.

At that moment, Ulan spoke up, “I don’t even have to think about it.”

“……!”

There was no hesitation.

As if he had made a decision long ago, the two swallowed dryly at his words. They waited for his response with their ears perked up.

Then, Ulan smiled slightly and said, “You don’t need to worry because I’ll eat both.” A simple and straightforward answer.

On the contrary, the two had blank expressions. It seemed they didn’t expect such an answer.

“Uh, that’s…….”

“That’s true.”

Certainly, if it’s Ulan, it’s possible.

No, rather, he might eat both and still want more. Still it wasn’t the answer they wanted, and the two made pouty expressions.

But only for a moment.

Ibella and Dilia’s eyes widened.

“……!?”

“Ah, Ulan. Your hand is…….”

Because Ulan suddenly grabbed their hands.

An unexpected action.

Perhaps that was why the two girls looked startled. On the contrary, Ulan responded without any change in his expression, “I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

If they delayed any longer, the cafeteria might collapse.

With that, Ulan took a step forward.

Simultaneously, the conversation also came to an end.

Ibella and Dilia, who were in the middle of talking, closed their mouths and bowed their heads deeply. It was like the slowly darkening sunset with the reddening ears and the dense atmosphere.

“Ah, I’ll go with you too!”

At that moment, Noah also followed belatedly.

Today, she had an important story to tell Ulan. And so, the four of them headed towards the cafeteria.

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

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