The Academy’s Barbarian Chapter 95

(3)

5.

It was well past noon.

The southern districts of the capital were crowded with people walking up and down the streets. This was because the largest market in the entire capital was held here.

Merchants raising their voices to sell goods.

Women who came to buy snacks, etc.

To anyone who could see it, it was just an ordinary scene of everyday life, but Perticia could hardly take her eyes off it.

Seeing her looking around the street with curiosity, Rimmer spoke to her vaguely.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“yes! “It’s my first time outside the imperial castle.”

Perticia smiles with excitement.

The seventh princess of the empire. Looking at her status alone, she has a noble lineage that the world would envy.

But in fact, she is a hidden princess whose existence is almost unknown except to the imperial family and a few nobles.

‘If I were to ask why… … .’

It could be said that it is due to the unique personality of the current emperor, who is lying in a hospital bed.

Martes plume ul leuven.

A capable emperor who planted the imperial flag in parts of the eastern jungle and the western canyon area.

He boasted of omnipotent power and believed himself to be the most noble blood in the world.

Maybe that’s why he often said that the only true partner worthy of him was a being from legend or myth.

‘They said they thought it was a joke at the time.’

If you look at the records of historians, it is written that the emperor often told jokes like that.

But surprisingly, it wasn’t a joke.

After having six children, the young emperor began to issue strange orders.

“Find a legendary being who deserves the most noble seed in the world, someone you wouldn’t be ashamed to have by your side, and bring him here.”

It was the moment when the emperor’s travels began.

After the order was delivered, the feudal lords, including great nobles, searched the entire continent to find those who met the emperor’s conditions and offered tribute.

Of course, it was impossible to truly find the legendary beings, so most of what was actually discovered were sub-humans.

Beast people, fairies, fish people, etc.

The emperor had relationships with all kinds of sub-races and had a total of five children.

However, four of them died before reaching adulthood. The reasons were different for each person, but it was highly likely that it was an act of the empress’s forces.

‘And the only survivor… … .’

This is Princess Perticia.

In a way, her mother was almost similar to the legendary being the emperor was looking for.

Because Princess Perticia’s mother was none other than a spirit.

‘I don’t know how on earth you have a relationship with a spirit whose existence is not even clear.’

What is clear is that Perticia is half-human and half-spirit, possessing the strengths and characteristics of both humans and spirits.

As proof of this, she can see things that are invisible to ordinary people.

For example, spirits or spirit creatures.

Furthermore, you can not only see their presence, but also have conversations with them or borrow their power.

Meanwhile, around that time.

Perticia, who was looking around the street, suddenly made a disapproving expression. She then spoke as if she were muttering with a soft sigh of her own.

“I’ve felt this for a long time, but I think you’re too overprotective of me.”

“yes? What does that mean… … .”

“Lord Lapidis is here, and he’s sending fifteen Royal Guards.”

“… … .”

Rimmer closed his mouth at the next words.

As the saying goes, the Royal Guard, a unit directly under the Imperial Family, is currently following behind the group.

However, I never told this to Perticia.

However, she accurately found out not only the existence of the Royal Guard but also their numbers. This is thanks to Perticia’s special ability.

‘… … Elemental magic.’

Communication with the spirits mentioned earlier.

Through this, Perticia’s eyes and ears are much better than other people’s.

This is thanks to spirits invisible to ordinary people telling her stories.

‘And one more thing.’

She has special abilities.

It was a song. Beyond just having a talent for singing, Perticia’s songs were imbued with an unidentified mysterious power.

Just listening to the song calmed my mind or restored my energy.

This is one of the reasons why Limer’s lord and first prince Chartrand cherishes Perticia.

“Hey, Sir Lapidis.”

Then.

A clear voice broke my thoughts.

It was Perticia. She gently tugged on Rimmer’s collar and pointed in a certain direction.

“What is that?”

A three-story building in a downtown area.

On the bulletin board in front, I saw a promotional leaflet titled ‘Floris’ Song.’

It is a play about the love between a noblewoman and a barbarian, which has recently become popular in the capital. However, Rimmer only spit out the necessary information.

“Oh, it’s a theater.”

“theater?”

“You can think of it as a facility where plays, dances, concerts, etc. are performed.”

As soon as she finished answering, curiosity appeared in Perticia’s eyes. Then Rimer, who noticed the change in her vocabulary, opened her mouth first.

“It’s not possible.”

“Have you said anything yet?”

“I cannot properly protect the princess in a crowded place like a theater.”

“Do not worry. Because I’m not saying I’m going to enjoy the play. Just take a quick look inside… … .”

“I will tell my lord.”

“… … “It’s shameful.”

Perticia pouted her lips.

A look of frustration because you can’t get what you want.

But soon after, she made a curious expression, as if she had just sulked.

“Wow, what are they doing there?”

A building on a large site near the theater.

It seems fascinating to see so many people enjoying refreshments at indoor and outdoor tables.

“It’s a cafe. It’s a place that sells simple food and drinks. However, the quality is not high enough to satisfy the princess.”

“Then we have lunch there too… … .”

“However, it won’t suit the princess.”

“But you still have to eat.”

“it’s okay. “I brought a packed lunch.”

Is it because of repeated rejection?

Perticia’s eyebrows arched.

It looks like he’s really sulking.

“Also, the risk of poisoning… … .”

“That’s taking it too far.”

“When it comes to protecting the princess, too much is much better than not enough.”

“are you okay. “Because there won’t be any poison.”

“but… … .”

“Even if it is, I can tell.”

This time Rimmer closed his mouth.

It was true. Perticia can tell better than anyone else whether food is poisoned. This is because the spirits tell us.

And this ability was the real reason she was able to survive various assassination threats from the empress’s forces.

“I won’t force you anymore, so please give in just this once. “If I go in this time, I don’t know when I’ll be able to tour the capital again.”

Perticia’s repeated requests.

With eyes shining so pitifully, Rimmer eventually raised the white flag.

“… … Phew, I understand.”

“Oh, really?”

“Instead, you must keep it a secret from your lord.”

“yes! “I promise.”

Perticia smiled broadly.

As if I was satisfied with getting what I wanted.

6.

A similar time.

The time when Perticia, who had asked permission from Rimmer, took a lighter step.

A huge crowd poured out of the theater.

These were audience members who had just watched a play and came out. And among them were Ulan and Ibella.

“Ha, it was really sad.”

Ibella sighed and wiped the corners of her eyes that had turned red. Ulan asked with a confused look on her face, looking at the clear tear marks.

“Was it sad enough to make you cry?”

“then. “Especially on the last stage, everyone else cried along with me.”

In response, Ulan recalled the final stage of the play he had seen a while ago.

A scene where the two leads, who sense that their love cannot be realized right away, sing a song promising eternal love and then jump off a cliff together.

“I couldn’t understand.”

“huh? In some aspects?”

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand why we jumped off the cliff together at the end.”

“That’s because we can’t overcome the difference in status. “The man dies, and the woman is taken to her family and has to marry a man she doesn’t want.”

Ibella’s passionate answer continued.

“In other words, if it is a love that cannot be achieved in reality, it expresses the heart and determination to be together even in death.”

“Right.”

Ulan nodded silently.

However, the expression on his face still showed that he did not understand. As I was about to completely leave her theater, she suddenly started talking to me.

“There you are.”

“hmm?”

“What would you do if it were Ulan?”

In the play, a man and a woman choose to be together forever in death rather than living apart.

So what choice will Ulan make?

Ibella waited for an answer with a face filled with both tension and anticipation. Then Ulan answered immediately without any hesitation.

“Fight.”

“… … Yes?”

“We will fight back and solve the problem.”

Ulan raised a large fist.

As if he was going to destroy everything that stands in his way.

Ibella smiled awkwardly.

“Yes, it is possible because Ulan is strong, but what if he is not a master? Are you still going to fight?”

“Yes.”

Still no hesitation in answering.

He continued speaking with a serious face.

“No matter what happens, once you run away, you will never be able to escape from being a fugitive for the rest of your life.”

It was a word passed down from the plains, and it was also a realization gained through past life experiences.

Right after giving a meaningful answer.

Ulan asked the question in reverse.

“What would you do?”

“Well, I… … .”

In fact, until a little while ago, I had the same thoughts as the main characters in the play. But after hearing Ulan’s answer, my thoughts changed a little.

“I think I will fight together until the end.”

The reason was simple.

Because what she wanted was to stand next to Ulan. She also felt like she would somehow break the wall of reality if she fought together with the Ulan.

“But we don’t have to worry about being in that situation in the first place. “Father, no, the Count likes Ulan very much.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hehe, it’s nothing.”

Ibella laughed bitterly.

With slightly flushed cheeks.

Afterwards, when I turned my body around.

Gurgling!

A loud noise came from Ulan’s stomach.

It was a shout from the stomach.

“Oh, are you hungry?”

“I’m a little hungry.”

Actually, I was hungry from earlier.

To fit in with the play time, I had a quick meal of sandwiches.

“Then shall we go eat first? “There was a place nearby that served delicious hot cakes and meat pies, so I made a reservation.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

Ulan’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

He looked the most lively since he arrived in the capital today. However, the excitement was short-lived and the two were unable to enter the cafe.

“Sorry, but you cannot enter.”

“yes? why?”

“Well, with that outfit… … .”

“Because it’s a nuisance to other guests.”

The two employees guarding the entrance to the cafe glanced at Ulan. Ybella frowned at this.

“I didn’t say anything like that when I made the reservation.”

“Well, we’ve never had a customer go around topless.”

“I apologize again, but could you tell me the name of the person who made the reservation? “I think I should return the reservation deposit.”

A stubborn attitude that there is no such thing as negotiation. At this Bella let out a sigh of her own, as if half giving up.

“Ha, this is Istan El Deorg.”

“okay. Istan… … yes?”

The staff member who was quietly writing down the name of the person making the reservation looked blank for a moment. Then he asked back in a cautious tone.

“I wonder what kind of relationship you have with the person who made the reservation… … .”

“It’s my daughter.”

“… … !?”

“Now, please wait a moment!”

Two employees who are very surprised.

They quickly ran into the cafe.

After a while, the two came running in a huff along with a man. A man with a large scar over his left eye.

He immediately lowered his head.

“We apologize for the rudeness of our staff. “I told anyone from His Excellency’s family to receive it regardless of the reason, but it appears that the delivery process was inadequate.”

“S-sorry!”

The employees who had scorned Ulan because of his attire also bowed their heads.

To be exact, it was closer to the man pressing down on their heads with force.

“Please come in. Even if that wasn’t the case, I received a call from His Excellency and prepared a space for you.”

“Is it okay to dress like this?”

“Yes, if you are His Excellency’s guest, it doesn’t matter if you take off your clothes. Of course, I can’t help you get reported and get caught by security.”

Ending with a pleasant answer.

He introduced himself as the owner of this cafe with the name Kier Rompel.

He further said that he was indebted to Count Deorg when he was on the southern front. There was also an explanation that if he had not been a count, he would not have been able to run such a prosperous cafe.

Kier led the two to the backyard of the cafe.

A much larger and more secluded space than other places. It seemed like they had deliberately assigned a good place for conversation, avoiding noisy places.

“If there is anything you need, please let me know. “If it’s not on the menu at the cafe, we can get it from the market and make it for you.”

Kier left with a polite greeting.

When he completely disappeared, Ibella whispered as if she was a little tired.

“You are so kind that it makes me feel burdened.”

“It probably means that I received a lot of help from Count Deorg.”

As expected, the Count is a good man.

Ulan let out a brief exclamation. Ibella, on the other hand, had a slightly subtle expression.

But that only lasts for a moment.

The two immediately ordered food, and it wasn’t long before a huge amount of food came out.

So much so that the round table swayed.

“Eat a lot, Ulan.”

“I will eat it gratefully.”

As long as the food is served, there is no reason to hesitate.

Ulan greedily gorged on the dishes prepared in front of him. It was a very formal meal, but Ibella just looked at Ulan with a happy expression.

After a while, almost all the food was gone.

“Wow, I’m really looking forward to it!”

Suddenly, a clear voice was heard from outside.

At the same time, Ulan looked towards where the voice came from. Because it was the voice he remembered.

What was seen next was white hair blowing in the wind. At this, Ulan’s eyes widened slightly.

‘no way… … .’

For a moment, the face of an old colleague I had walked with in my past life came to mind. But even for a moment, Ulan shook his head as if in denial.

‘No, that can’t be possible.’

Because he said he never came out to the world until the fall of the empire.

It was a time when I was reminiscing about old memories.

Knock knock!

Ibella’s fingers tapped the table.

As if trying to break Ulan’s thoughts.

“Hey, Ulan?”

“hmm?”

“Are you listening to me?”

“What did you say?”

“… … “Even if you’re eating, isn’t it too much to not listen at all?”

Ibella made a sullen expression.

In response, Ulan slightly lowered his head.

“Excuse me. “I’ll remember this time.”

“No, it’s not something I can remember. “I just asked if you had any plans for summer vacation.”

“Summer Vacation?”

“Once final exams are over at the end of June, summer vacation is scheduled for about two weeks. “Are you going to go back to your hometown with Noah?”

That won’t happen.

Because the distance to the meadow is quite long.

It took two months just to leave the plains and reach the capital of the empire.

Of course, except for Noah, who has weak physical strength, if it were just Ulan, he would have arrived much faster than that.

But still, two weeks is a tight period.

So I shook my head.

“No, I’m not going back to my hometown.”

“really? Then, would you like to come to the county? “It takes three days to arrive by carriage from the academy.”

“Are you talking about your house?”

“Yes, my father said he wanted to see me too.”

More precisely, he wanted to spar with Ulan. After answering, Ibella waited for Ulan’s answer with a nervous face.

Some time after that.

The long-awaited answer has arrived.

“If there is nothing special, I will do it.”

“… … ! “Really?”

“okay.”

Ibella had a bright expression on her face because she didn’t know that the answer would come back so readily.

Afterwards, we were eating dessert and chatting in a friendly atmosphere.

Let’s go!

With the sound of cheerful footsteps, a group of guests entered the backyard. Then he sat down quite far away from where Ulan was.

Soon, just as the girl in the center of the group was taking off her hood, Ulan’s hand, which was about to grab a hotcake and eat it, stopped in midair.

The girl with pure white hair I saw earlier.

Her face was so beautiful that everyone, regardless of age or gender, would definitely look back.

However, the reason Ulan lost attention was not just because she had a beautiful face.

Because she is a person in my memory.

“… … Perticia?”

Immediately after fixing his eyes on the girl, Ulan muttered the name from his memory with a blank face.

The seventh and last warrior to join the party of warriors fighting against the abyss.

A bard who soothed the tired minds and bodies of warriors with his outstanding singing skills. Almost the only being in the world who could use elemental magic.

‘How did you get here…? … .’

A time when I recalled memories of my past life.

Suddenly, Perticia’s eyes met.

Bright red eyes that look like they’re about to be sucked in. When I quietly looked at the mysterious eyes for some reason.

Suddenly, I felt a warm touch on my cheek.

This is the warmth coming from Ibella’s palm.

“… … “I don’t like being distracted.”

With the voice that followed.

Ibella pulled Ulan’s face closer. She then touched her lips to her flushed face.

“Look at me properly.”

With strong jealous eyes.

Ibella looked in this direction as if sulking.

Chapter 24. What Happened in the Capital

fantasy,