The Academy’s Barbarian - Chapter 77.2 - Cramming (5)

And that night…

…after finishing his meal, Ulan returned to his room.

As soon as he entered, a cool breeze swept in. Why the sudden breeze? As he pondered this, he suddenly noticed the partially open window.

“He must have gone out.”

‘He’ referred to Bai Lang.

Bai Lang often disappeared for a walk every night. So Ulan opened the window with an indifferent face.

Whoosh!

A refreshing breeze filled with the scent of the forest blew in. Ulan leaned against the window, petting his sturdy belly and murmured.

“I’ve had a good time today.”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

It was natural. The dinner gathering today was a dearly missed moment for Ulan. To the extent that memories from his past life were vividly resurfacing.

‘Just…….’

There was one thing that was a bit of a concern.

That is, there was no conversation between Ibella and Dilia. However, he judged that it was not a big deal to worry about.

‘I think they were just awkward.’

It was like that when they first met. So, with time, things would probably get better. Just like in his past life.

As he reminisced about the events earlier, Ulan’s gaze suddenly became intense.

“By the way…….”

After finishing dinner,

…As he was about to return to the dormitory, he suddenly heard a meaningful remark from Noah.

「I had a dream that a monster came out of the Fountain of Magic. A monster I’ve never seen before.」

At first glance, this sounded like a simple dream of a monster. But the problem was that it was Noah who had this dream.

It meant it might not be just a simple dream but something that could happen in the future. Moreover, coincidentally, Ulan and Noah were soon going to the Fountain of Magic to take an exam related to Understanding and Detecting the Flow of Mana.

‘Understanding and Detecting the Flow of Mana.’

To take an exam given by Professor Direk Ormine. Thinking about this, Ulan mulled over Noah’s words again.

‘A monster I’ve never seen before.’

Then it was likely a monster from the abyss.

The Fountain of Magic was the closest place to the Abyss. Also, it was because he had actually seen a monster from the abyss in the northern forest not long ago.

However, there was nothing to worry about.

Because dealing with monsters from the abyss was one of Ulan’s specialties.

‘Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.’

In his past life, he crushed the skulls of thousands and tens of thousands of monsters. This time, he just needed to repeat the actions he took back then.

So he wasn’t really worried.

More importantly, there was something more crucial than worrying about the future that hadn’t happened yet.

“…….”

What his gaze landed on was a thick book.

This book, with over five hundred pages, was the textbook for the mentioned ‘Understanding and Detecting the Flow of Mana.’ And this subject was one of the few that included a written exam in the midterm.

However, he didn’t need to read the entire book; thanks to Noah summarizing the key points. Still, the key points added up to more than seventy pages.

‘Only about ten days left.’

He had to read seven pages a day just to barely read it once. Taking a short deep breath, Ulan, with a determined face, sat in front of the desk.

“……This is going to be a tough fight.”

Ulan was a warrior. So when it came to a battle, regardless of its nature, he never avoided it.

Therefore, this time, too, he stepped onto the battlefield.

With a resolute determination in his heart, he didn’t hesitate and started turning the pages of the textbook.

It was the beginning of a fierce struggle.

* * * * * *

Meanwhile, at that moment…

…while Ulan was engrossed in his struggle with the textbook and his impending battle, the northern forest was engulfed in a chaotic atmosphere. Understandably so.

Due to the recent attacks by Abyss Worshippers that resulted in casualties, the Arsene Academy’s investigative team had thoroughly combed through the entire forest.

In the forest path where the darkness of the night had descended in silence, suddenly, there was an unexpected visitor in the forest.

Thud! Thud!

A girl with apricot-colored hair, swaying with each step. It was Deflyn Chernihiv, the leader of the investigation team this time.

How much time had passed? Deflyn finally stopped in her tracks. She had arrived at the outskirts of the northern forest.

“You can come out now.”

Deflyn opened her mouth; as if she was talking to someone and soon after, with a fluttering sound of wings, a raven revealed itself.

“Long time no see, Chernihiv.”

A resonant voice followed; it was clearly an articulate human language.

In contrast, Deflyn, seemingly unfazed, gazed at the raven with a calm expression, “Skip the greetings. It hasn’t been that long. But first, let’s hear your explanation.”

As a somewhat cold response flowed out, the raven bowed its head as if it had anticipated this, “We regret the incident this time.”

“…….”

“But in our defense, we had no choice. We can’t control every worshiper, even if they belong to the organization.” The raven spoke skillfully. It flicked his elongated beak, “Especially the magician named ‘Quinth’ involved this time was known for not following the organization’s orders. That’s why…”

“If they can’t be managed, they should be disposed of quickly,” As Deflyn interrupted the raven’s words, her eyes chilled abruptly, “Because of your indifference, I almost lost my precious disciple.”

“We apologize for that.”

“Is that all you have to say? Five of my subordinates also died. Do you know how much money and time it takes to raise an intermediate-level mage?”

“…….”

The raven closed his beak tightly.

When the sharp reprimand from Deflyn finally subsided, the raven spoke again, “I understand. So, what compensation do you want?”

“Compensation?”

“Yes, what do you desire?”

As soon as the raven’s question was finished, Deflyn slightly moved her pointed ears, as if expecting something. But without revealing her expectations, she responded with an innocent tone, “Hmm, honestly, nothing may lift my mood. But still, if it’s a top-grade mana stone, my thoughts might change.”

“A top-grade mana stone?” The raven cocked its head, as if it had heard an unexpected answer, “If it’s about that, haven’t you bought a large quantity?”

“Well, there are some circumstances,” Deflyn frowned slightly.

It was because she recalled the unfortunate incident in the research lab at the Fountain of Magic last month. But that was just a momentary thought.

She steered the conversation back to the main topic, “So, are you going to give it to me or not?”

“We’ll provide it. Ten of them okay?”

“Are you joking? You might as well stick them up your nose. At the very least, you need to give me thirty.”

“That’s too much.”

“It’s not too much. Thirty is enough to pay for the lives of five intermediate-level mages.”

The negotiations were tight, with no room for compromise.

After a while, it was the raven who raised the white flag, “……I understand. I’ll prepare them.”

“Hmm, okay. Then I’ll forget about this time,” Deflyn smirked.

But at that moment…,

…suddenly, her eyes changed and she reached out toward the forest.

Pa-ang!

A brilliant golden light burst forth and soon after, arrows of light shot out.

Quang! Kwaaaaang!

With a loud noise, the forest was instantly reduced to rubble. At this abrupt action, the raven looked at Deflyn with surprised eyes, “What’s wrong?”

“Hmm, it’s nothing.”

“For nothing, you seem a bit tense.”

“I just thought someone might be listening, but it seems like it was just my imagination.”

Upon closer inspection, there was no sense of any presence.

Deflyn shrugged her shoulders. Meanwhile, the raven redirected the conversation elsewhere, “More importantly, how is the progress of the ‘experiment’?”

“The preparations are complete. All that’s left is to execute it.”

“And when is the scheduled date?”

“As soon as the exams are over, consider it a day when everyone’s tension is relieved.”

Did the vague answer not sit well with the raven? It squinted its eyes with a fierce look.

“Tell me the exact date.”

“Friday, April 30th.” An immediate and firm response. Deflyn smiled cunningly as she spoke, “The day after the midterm exam period ends, I’ll start the fifth experiment. So, you must definitely send me at least six top-grade mana stones that will be used in the experiment by then.”

“I understand. I’ll deliver them as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

“Then, I’ll contact you soon.”

After concluding their lengthy conversation, the raven’s eyes became fiercely determined.

“For the Abyss and the truth.”

“Yes, for the truth.”

With Deflyn’s response as the last words…,

Whack! Thud!

…the raven’s body twisted wildly; then, it burst like a balloon. Feathers and flesh scattered in all directions. Ignoring the raven’s carcass, Deflyn left the forest.

How much time had passed since then?

Suddenly, from the place where Deflyn had randomly cast her magic before, a faint mist began to rise.

Hiss!

The mist wriggled like a living creature, then quickly took on a shape. A white wolf with sharp claws and white fur.

It was Bai Lang.

[Grrrr!]

It growled low and menacingly as it stared at the spot where Deflyn had disappeared. Then, it transformed back into mist, dispersing into the air.

After some time…,

…the northern forest returned to its silent state.

As if no one had been there from the beginning.

And as time passed…,

…it was the last day of midterms.

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

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