The Academy’s Barbarian Chapter 25

(4)

8.

Arsene Academy’s main auditorium.

This is where the new student entrance ceremony is scheduled for today. Students sat on the first floor, and professors sat on the second floor, which had a clear view of the auditorium.

However, what was unusual was that the professors were divided into two groups. The criteria that separated the professors was neither their academic departments nor their age.

A much clearer standard than that.

It was nationality.

Professors from the Leuven Empire.

And professors who are not from the Empire.

As if to prove that the relationship between the countries was not good, the professors from the two camps did not even look at each other.

They just chatted trivially with professors from their respective camps. Meanwhile, the professors’ eyes turned to the first floor one by one.

This is because new students were seen.

Among them, there was a person who caught the attention of professors in the imperial camp.

“Oh, that young man is…”

“He is the eldest son of Deorg, whom I have only heard about.”

Light brown hair and green eyes.

He is a handsome young man with a tall physique. Watching him walk with a blunt expression, the professors exchanged various conversations.

“Are you sure it was Himel deorg?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It is said that I entered the exam ranked 4th. It is said that he achieved particularly good results in swordsmanship and fighting.”

The Count Deorg family is a prestigious knight family that has raised famous knights for generations.

Moreover, Himel is an outstanding talent who is said to be a swordsman genius. It would be natural for the professors’ attention to be focused.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Professors on the opposing camp did not even pay attention to Himel. Instead, all eyes were focused on a small, silver-haired girl.

Delia Arpen.

He was a genius wizard that the principality was proud of.

“Is that the hope of the famous principality?”

“You look much younger than expected…”

“Hey, what does age have to do with it?”

“A wizard just needs to have good magic skills.”

Various conversations took place, and the professors’ eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation.

Union of empires and kingdoms.

After the talent representing the two camps entered, the professors again exchanged trivial conversations. No, I tried to do that.

Until the Ulan appeared.

“······.”

For an instant, the auditorium became quiet.

Students and professors alike had their eyes focused on Ulan at this moment. Even if you try to ignore it, its presence stands out.

A size approaching 2m.

An outfit that exposes the muscular upper body.

And even the ax in his hand.

huh? No, wait. ax?

“You can’t come in with weapons!”

“Possession of weapons is prohibited at the entrance ceremony.”

The guards who understood the situation blocked Ulan’s path. Fortunately, Ulan put the ax down in an appropriate corner without much opposition.

Watching him walk away again.

The professors looked shocked.

“under! “I never thought I would live to see barbarians stalking the academy.”

“I saw him brought in as an experiment about 40 years ago, but this is the first time seeing him as a student.”

“There must be something wrong with a barbarian like that who passed the top exam! Or maybe he committed fraud.”

Contempt, disregard, ridicule, etc.

Each of the professors looked at Ulan with cold eyes. It was a very rare moment where the two camps agreed.

Of course, there were people who had different thoughts.

“Tsk, this is why inspirational people can’t do it.”

“That’s right. “You’re so caught up in your prejudices that you can’t tell what the real gemstone is.”

Ethan and Stella from the Department of Military Studies.

The two professors, who had already recognized the true value of Ulan, clicked their tongues. For both of them, Ulan was a much greater talent than Deorg’s swordsmanship genius.

After a while, the entrance ceremony began.

Ethan yawned at the formal welcome given by the president’s representative. Then, I suddenly looked towards the first floor as if I had discovered something.

Young men wearing blue armbands. The way they were whispering and smiling, it seemed like they were plotting some kind of plot.

“Senior, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Student council bastards.”

After answering with a grumpy tone.

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

“It looks like you’re planning on doing it again.”

“yes? “You’re doing it again, what are you doing?”

“There is such a thing. “I know it when I see it.”

As soon as he finished answering.

Stella’s expression changed subtly.

“······For some reason, I feel uneasy because my senior says that. “Isn’t it better to stop him?”

“it’s okay. “It’s Arsene’s policy not to interfere as much as possible in student affairs.”

As long as it doesn’t lead to bloodshed, most issues are left to be resolved among the students. This was Arsene’s policy.

“And maybe that guy will be fine.”

I kind of feel that way.

Ethan grinned.

It was a smile full of strange anticipation.

9.

“Congratulations once again on being admitted to Arsene Academy. From now on, you will learn Arsene’s character and behavior as a student.”

While listening to the welcoming speech from the President’s representative.

The students yawned profusely. Even freshmen were no exception. Because boring was boring.

Noah, on the other hand, was relatively fine.

I had no choice but to be fine.

Today’s entrance ceremony is an important event for her and will become a new turning point in the future.

Around the time I was watching the stage with a nervous face.

“Haaaaam!”

A loud yawn was heard.

It was his first time seeing someone yawn so openly, so Noah reflexively looked back.

And I opened my eyes wide.

It was because it was a familiar face.

‘Swordsmith, Ibella Eleaad.’

She yawned one after another, paying no heed to the shower of attention. And there was one more person similar to Geomhee.

To be exact, it was better than Geomhee.

Unlike Geomhee, who at least listened to the speech, the silver-haired girl dozed off with her head down.

‘Star Witch, Delia Arpen.’

Both are named members of the warrior party.

Later, they were Ulan’s colleagues.

‘I don’t know about other guys, but I want to become friends with those kids somehow…’

To do that, do I have to dye my hair first?

Noah sighed while smoothing his jet-black hair. Afterwards, her boring time passed, and before she knew it, the time she had been waiting for had arrived.

“Then, from now on, the Arsene Academy student council will begin giving congratulatory speeches to the new students.”

Congratulatory remarks from the student council.

This is the starting point of the event.

She patted her cheek to drive away the drowsiness and looked at the stage with sparkling eyes.

After a while, Noah’s eyes narrowed.

‘As expected, it’s completely different from the script.’

The content is completely different from the congratulatory speech script that Ulan had received. However, there was no need to worry. Anticipating that this would be the case, the survey was written in a way that would be easy for anyone to hear.

“······This concludes my congratulatory remarks. Welcome again to Arsene!”

After the student council’s congratulatory speech.

Applause continued as if they had been waiting.

“Next, we will have time for the freshmen representatives to respond to the congratulatory speeches of the student council seniors. “I would appreciate it if you could listen intently.”

Finally, it’s Ulan’s turn.

Ulan, who had been waiting behind the stage, strode out. But then, the surroundings suddenly became excessively noisy.

Current students talking openly.

Among them, the place where the third graders were was particularly noisy. They were probably instigated by the student council, or they were on their side to begin with.

‘Up to this point, it’s the same as what I saw in the strategy.’

There are several patterns of sabotage at the student council.

Some of them include intentionally distracting the overall atmosphere like now. Or destroying the voice amplifying device.

Still, there was nothing to worry about.

‘are you okay. ‘My script is perfect.’

Now all that Ulan needs to do is read it properly.

Then, we will be able to overcome the disruption of the student council and finish the entrance ceremony smoothly. Also, you might be able to catch the eye of the next student council president.

But at that moment.

Something unexpected happened.

Grumble!

A flame suddenly rose from the lectern.

The hot flames instantly engulfed the teaching desk.

There were no problems up to this point.

Although there was Ulan next to the lectern, he was not swept away by the fire. The only problem was that the script was on the table.

‘Wow, the script…!’

The script was literally engulfed in fire.

At that time, water poured out of thin air and hit the gyotak. It seemed that someone had used water magic to cause the untimely fire.

Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished, and no one was injured.

The auditorium is shaken by sudden circumstances.

After a while, the host bowed his head and apologized to the students and professors.

“sorry. It looks like there was an accident for a while. However, we have decided that it is not a big deal, so we will proceed with the entrance ceremony as is.”

It’s no big deal!

The script was completely destroyed!

I felt like screaming so hard.

‘Ugh, why is this happening…’

Setting fire to the teaching table was a pattern that was not included in the strategy. There was a pattern of secretly stealing written scripts, but there was really nothing like this.

Noah was in tears.

In part, the plan went awry due to unexpected variables, but in part, the script that took an entire day to write disappeared in vain.

‘How hard did it take to write that!’

If I find out who did that in the future, I will curse you!

Out of resentment, I had no choice but to grind my teeth.

But the problem is not over yet.

“what? “Why are you still?”

“I know. “I think quite a bit of time has passed.”

Even though the host said the entrance ceremony would resume, Ulan just remained silent. At that time, the third graders laughed and said.

“Aren’t you frozen because there is no script?”

“Haha, that makes sense.”

“It would be difficult to memorize it with a barbarian head.”

“I’m more surprised that barbarians know how to read.”

Soon, loud applause echoes throughout the auditorium.

Noah frowned.

“······It’s really childish.”

That was definitely one of the student council’s disruption patterns, ‘damaging the voice amplifying device.’

No, now is not the time to analyze the problem.

We have to find a way to help Ulan somehow. Just as she was about to violently roll her head.

Jump, jump, jump!

Ulan, who had been standing still, moved.

Towards the middle of the stage.

10.

After the student council’s congratulatory speech.

Ulan walked out onto the stage.

A lot of eyes pouring in in an instant. Although he seemed a bit intimidated for a moment, there was no change in his expression.

While walking to where the teaching desk was.

Someone suddenly jumped out.

“hi? “We met again.”

A voice I’ve heard before somewhere.

A young man with a face as familiar as a familiar voice. It was Mond, an executive of the student council.

“I thought this might be my first time in a place like this. “I’m here to help.”

He approached Ulan with his signature, sad smile. He still wasn’t smiling at all, as far as his eyes were concerned.

“First of all, you can leave the script on the table. And the crystal ball placed here will amplify your voice, so it’s okay to speak normally.”

Still, I followed what I was told.

I’m sure they wouldn’t do anything in a place with this much snow.

But that nonsense swallowed up Ulan.

Grumble!

To be exact, the teaching desk and the script.

“Wow! What, what?!”

“Stand back! “I will evolve!”

With the emcee in confusion.

Mond quickly stepped forward. When I tapped the transparent jewel-encrusted cane in the air, cool water immediately hit the Kyo-tak.

Shoot!

The flames were extinguished instantly.

However, in the process, the script became completely unusable. Ulan, who was near the lectern, also looked like a drowned rat.

Immediately after the situation was somewhat resolved.

Mond had a serious expression.

“Who on earth would do something like this…”

However, unlike his serious face, the corner of his mouth did not stop twitching.

Of course it has to be that way.

Because the person who did this was none other than Mond himself.

‘Insolent barbarian bastard.’

The reason for doing this is simple.

This is because barbarians who had to live off grass on the outskirts of the empire stood in this position without even knowing the subject.

‘Even if I had to speak out, I should have known the fractions.’

It was also clear that the fact that he was the top successful candidate was manipulated.

Otherwise, this wouldn’t be able to happen. Mond twisted the corner of his mouth with a cold sneer.

‘Just try to be embarrassed.’

Because I have a lot left to prepare for you.

A time when I burst out laughing out loud.

Ulan twitched his eyebrows.

An unpleasant feeling in the eyes. There is only one reason. It was because of Mond.

Immediately after the teaching desk was engulfed in flames.

Then, just as Mond was raising his staff to extinguish the flames, a burning smell came from his staff.

In other words, it means that Mond was the one who burned the script. This is like an insult to yourself. Ulan glared at Mond with her grim eyes.

‘Should I smash your head?’

If the current Ulan had been a seventeen-year-old Ulan who had not regressed, he would have definitely smashed Mond’s head. Just because I didn’t have an ax didn’t mean I couldn’t crush his head.

‘but······.’

It shouldn’t be like that.

Because trouble will definitely happen.

Ulan swallowed his anger and calmed down.

As for retribution, it can be done at any time later.

“sorry. It looks like there was an accident for a while. However, we have decided that it is not a big deal, so we will proceed with the entrance ceremony as is.”

The entrance ceremony was held with an apology.

But a new problem arose.

“uh? That’s strange. “It went well in the morning.”

The voice amplifying device stopped working.

Mond muttered with a troubled face.

“What do we do? I think it will take some time to change to something else…”

Of course, the intention was completely different.

No matter how unresponsive he is, if the situation goes this far, he’ll be embarrassed or stamp his feet because he doesn’t know what to do.

Mond bursts into laughter inside.

But his expectations were wrong.

Ulan’s reaction was so simple.

“I’m fine.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t have to have that.”

After answering, he looked at the auditorium.

Regardless of what happened on stage, the atmosphere was very noisy and chaotic. The professors don’t seem to have any intention of stopping him.

Then, a familiar face appeared.

Ibella looks at this place with concern.

Delia looks half-asleep.

Even Noah smiles darkly as if he has found someone to curse.

Even in the chaotic atmosphere, all three of them were looking at Ulan. In response, Ulan spoke the first words of the script he received from Noah.

“hello.”

A weak voice came out.

The reason was obvious. Because it was awkward.

Sorry Noah, but her script was extremely formal.

In other words, it lacked sincerity.

Ulan recalled the first time he went hunting in his past life. At that time, his father gave a speech to raise the morale of his warriors and said:

‘They said that in order to move the listener’s heart, you have to shout loudly with sincerity.’

So it can’t go on like this.

After thinking about it, Ulan immediately started walking. He wanted to move everyone’s hearts.

“huh? wait for a sec.”

“That’s not the place for the presentation…”

When the host and Mond reached out.

Ulan has already arrived at center stage. Then, taking a deep breath, he slowly lifted his feet.

And I hit it with all my might.

Kwasik! Quaaaaaaaaa!

The stage collapsed with a loud noise.

And that moment.

The auditorium was hired as if cold water had been poured on it.

The students who were noisy and the professors who looked indifferent. Without any exception, everyone looked at the stage where Ulan was.

“Now you can finally see this way.”

Making eye contact with everyone.

Ulan grinned.

With this, all preparations are complete.

He immediately activated his spirit. The spirit quickly circulated throughout the body and soon began to condense as it rose to the throat.

This is a skill created in a past life.

This is the one named ‘Warrior’s Cry’.

‘After fixing the highly condensed spirit to the neck, the amplification of the volume is maximized.’

If you put murderous intent into it, it becomes a shout that intimidates the enemy, and if you put spirit into it, it becomes a shout that restores or encourages allies’ magic power.

And at this moment.

Ulan has only one thing to contain.

Sincerity enough to move your heart.

Next was a loud voice.

After taking a deep breath.

Ulan roared with all his might and sincerity.

“Nice to meet you!”

As soon as a loud shout rang out.

Ugh! Quagga-ga-ga-ga!

An intangible shock wave swept through the auditorium.

It was crazy powerful. For a moment, the auditorium was shaking. At that time, Ulan’s greetings swept through the auditorium like a wave.

Screams erupted from everywhere.

“Ugh! “Ears, ears…!”

“Uh, huh? what?”

“I suddenly can’t hear anything?”

what? Can’t you hear?

That won’t work. Ulan’s eyes sparkled.

To shout louder.

“Naneuuuuuuuuuuuuu! The warrior of the plains! Ulaaaan—! Baatoruuuuuuuuuuuu!”

The warrior’s shouts continued one after another.

This completely destroyed the noisy and chaotic atmosphere that had enveloped the auditorium. The problem was that it wasn’t just broken.

Crash! Clink!

Windows breaking one by one.

Although Ulan’s voice was that loud, the exact reason was his spirit.

“This time! Newbie~! Reply! I took it!”

It wasn’t just the window that was broken.

Students who sat close to the stage and professors who were exposed on the second floor were also affected. The blood flowing from his ears was evidence.

“Aaaah!”

“Professor, come to your senses! professor!”

“Quickly bring a stretcher!”

“No, first take that bastard out!”

Have you finally realized the seriousness?

The guards hurriedly came running.

But they couldn’t stop Ulan. This was because Ulan, who was so absorbed in the greeting, raised his neck to the point of shouting.

“Friends!”

A loud, loud cry.

The auditorium was truly a mess. I saw students covering their ears and struggling, as well as students who lost consciousness and fainted.

But the biggest victim was different.

The person closest to Ulan.

It was Mond.

“Ugh! “Kwaaaaaak!”

Mond is rolling around on stage with his bloody ears covered. He hadn’t heard anything since Ulan had shouted that he was happy to see him earlier.

That’s not all.

My head is pounding and my nose is bleeding.

Did he feel the threat of death?

Mond held on to his staff with trembling hands. With the intention of using protective magic.

However, a problem arose.

‘What magic can I use to stop that?’

The answer was silence magic, but Mond couldn’t find the answer easily. Maybe it was because of the intense pain, or because his head wasn’t working properly.

And that moment.

Ulan took a deep breath.

“······!?”

I have a bad feeling for some reason.

Mond opened his eyes wide. Then she waved her hands wildly and shouted.

“Oh, no······!”

Please shut your mouth!

I felt like I wanted to beg like that.

However, his voice was drowned out by Ulan’s shouts and soon disappeared without a trace.

“We get along well! Let’s get along~!”

Coo coo coo coo!

The main auditorium shook as if there had been an earthquake.

The windows that had barely survived could not hold out any longer and were all broken. Of course, Mond was not safe either.

“Bwak! “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”

Mond collapsed with his eyes closed.

There was even white foam at the mouth.

The auditorium was devastated as if it had been bombed. Looking at this, Ulan lowered his head.

“This concludes the field trip.”

He spoke in a polite manner, like a gentleman, but no one paid any attention to it.

Because that wasn’t the case.

Forty-eight people had ruptured eardrums.

Including students who fainted and professors, there were nearly a hundred people injured.

The scene was truly a wasteland.

Around the time I was staring at this scene.

“He closed his mouth!”

“Hold it now!”

A rope was wrapped around his body.

The day when the entrance ceremony that would be recorded in history ended.

Ulan was taken to the student leadership.

interlude. An unprecedented freshman

One.

Around the time Ulan was taken to the student leadership.

Count Dermore was about to drink the tea he had just brewed. However, when he heard the report that had just come in, he was in no mood to drink tea.

“what? “Failed?”

“Yes, I’m sure that’s what I heard.”

Alond, the head of the earl’s family, answered with his head down. The count, who had been silent, burst into cold laughter.

“Haha, it seems I overestimated my brother-in-law. “I can’t believe I can’t even handle something like this.”

The request I made to the Count’s brother-in-law, Professor Direc, was not particularly difficult.

Because all they had to do was give an F grade to the barbarians who didn’t fit in at Arsene Academy and kick them out.

Even Professor Direc is the test proctor.

If you want to give it an F grade, you can give it as much as you want. But I can’t even do that. The Count felt himself laughing at Direc’s incompetence.

“I just say there is a reason.”

“이유? 그래. 뭐라고 지껄이던가?”

이쯤 되니 이유가 궁금해졌다.

대체 무슨 변명을 지껄일지, 그의 눈에 멸시의 감정이 깃들었다. 그러나 이어진 알론드의 대답에 백작은 안색을 굳혔다.

“디플린 체르니오가 개입했다고 합니다.”

“······뭐라고?”

그의 눈이 큼지막하게 변했다.

생각지도 못한 이름이 튀어나온 탓이다.

“그 여자가? 어째서?”

“자세한 이유까지는 듣지 못했습니다.”

송구하다는 듯 고개를 조아리는 알론드.

백작은 입을 꾹 닫은 채 창밖을 바라봤다.

디플린 체르니오.

아르센 아카데미 마법 학부의 학장.

그녀와 데르모어 백작은 예전부터 사이가 썩 좋지 않기로 유명했다. 어지간한 중견 마법사들은 대부분 알 정도로.

한편 백작이 오랜 고민에 잠기자, 알론드는 조심스러운 어조로 말을 걸었다.

“어떻게 처리할까요?”

“그냥 내버려 둬. 그 미친 마법사의 시선을 끌어서 좋을 건 없으니까.”

백작이 눈살을 찌푸렸다.

눈에 거슬리는 야만족 하나를 치우면서까지 디플린과 엮이고 싶지는 않았던 탓이다. 그냥 신경을 안 쓰는 게 속이 편하리라.

“그보다 노아라는 소녀는 어떻게 됐지?”

“합격한 것을 확인했습니다.”

“축하한다는 편지를 써줘야겠군.”

노아 다르셴.

그녀는 향후 백작의 계획에 도움이 될 인재다. 그래서 백작은 노아와 계속 인연을 이어가기로 정했다.

“디렉 남작에게는 뭐라고 전할까요?”

“마음 같아선 당장 내쫓고 싶지만······.”

그런데 디플린이 개입해서 일이 틀어진 거라면 어느 정도 이해가 간다. 말을 흐린 백작은 혀를 낮게 찼다.

“금화 몇 닢 정도만 챙겨서 돌려보내. 조만간 다시 부를 테니까 그때 보자고 얘기하고.”

“알겠습니다.”

디렉과 다시 보자는 말은 빈말이 아니다.

머지않아 그의 조력이 필요한 일이 생길 테니까. 이후 알론드가 문을 닫고 나가자, 백작은 자리에 앉았다.

어느새 차게 식은 찻물을 머금은 뒤.

서랍에서 사진 한 장을 꺼냈다.

그 안에 찍힌 건 백작을 닮은 황금색 머리카락에 갈색 눈동자를 가진 묘령의 소녀.

“······유르페.”

아련한 감정이 깃든 눈빛.

백작은 사진 속 소녀의 얼굴을 쓰다듬었다. 여태껏 짓던 표정이 아닌, 그리움이 묻어나는 얼굴로 속삭이듯 중얼거렸다.

“이제 곧 모든 준비가 끝난단다. 아주 조금만, 조금 더 기다려주렴. 이 아비가 너를 구할 방도를 찾아낼 테니까.”

무슨 수를 쓰더라도 반드시.

백작의 눈빛이 고요하게 타올랐다.

그것은 오랜 세월, 오직 하나의 목표만을 보고 달려온 집념의 눈빛이었다.

2.

노아는 꿈을 꿨다.

그리운 세상의 그립지 않은 풍경.

유성 매직으로 낙서가 된 책상. 뒤집힌 채로 굴러다니는 가방과 썩은 우유 냄새까지.

중학생 시절의 기억이었다.

집단 괴롭힘을 당했을 때의 기억.

그녀를 3년간이나 방에 틀어박히도록 만들었던 끔찍한 악몽.

머지않아 이 광경이 꿈이라는 걸 알았을 때, 노아는 있는 힘껏 몸부림을 쳤다.

빨리 꿈에서 깨어나기 위해서였다.

그로부터 얼마 후.

감았던 눈이 번쩍 뜨였다.

곧 보인 것은 낯선 천장.

마치 병실의 천장처럼 보인다고 생각하면서 노아는 주변을 둘러봤다.

‘여긴 어디지?’

사방을 차단한 커튼과 코를 찌르는 소독약 냄새. 분주한 발소리에 이어 다소 소란스러운 분위기가 느껴졌다.

잠시 후, 이곳이 병실이라는 걸 깨달았다.

동시에 떠오른 기억.

‘맞아. 분명 입학식 도중에······.’

정신을 잃기 전에 봤던 마지막 풍경.

바로 울란이 무대를 무너뜨리고 함성을 내지르는 광경이었다. 강당을 뒤흔드는 격렬한 함성을 떠올리자 두통이 일었다.

‘······끔찍했었어.’

무너질 것처럼 흔들리는 강당.

비명과 함께 쓰러지는 학생들.

실로 아비규환에 가까운 광경에 노아는 다시금 몸을 부르르 떨었다.

‘학생회의 수작에 어떻게 대처할지 궁금하긴 했지만, 설마 이런 일을 벌일 줄이야.’

이래서야 차라리 학생회의 수작에 당하는 편이 훨씬 나을 뻔했다.

일이 너무도 커져 버렸으니까.

어떻게 수습할지 감도 안 오는 수준.

노아는 무거운 한숨을 내쉬었다.

‘일단 교실로 가자.’

입학식이 끝나면 반 배정이 시작된다.

1년간 함께할 친구들인 만큼, 괜히 눈에 띄는 행동은 최대한 지양할 생각이었다.

물론 흑발 때문에 눈에 안 띄는 건 사실상 불가능하겠지만. 그래도 계속 여기 누워있는 것보단 반의 분위기라도 살피는 게 나으리라.

그래서 침대에서 몸을 일으켰다.

아니, 그러려고 했다.

그런데 이불이 꿈쩍도 안 한다. 뭐지? 노아는 고개를 갸웃거렸다. 그러다가 옆을 돌아본 뒤에야 곧 이유를 깨달았다.

침대에는 노아만 있는 게 아니다.

한 명이 더 있었다.

베개 주변으로 어지럽게 흩어진 옅은 금색 머리카락. 왠지 저 아이가 이불을 꽉 붙잡고 있는 것처럼 보였다.

“저기, 미안한데 이불 좀 놔줄래?”

대답은 돌아오지 않았다.

아직 잠에서 깨어나지 못해서이리라.

어쩔 수 없지. 자력으로 나가는 수밖에.

노아는 조심조심 이불을 걷었다.

이 과정에서 우연히 옆 사람의 얼굴을 보게 됐고, 이내 소스라치게 놀랐다.

“······! 거, 검희?!”

저도 모르게 크게 외쳤다.

반사적으로 입을 틀어막은 노아는 크게 뜬 눈을 깜박거렸다. 설마 옆에 누워있던 인물이 검희였을 줄이야.

놀란 가슴을 진정시키던 때.

“으으음.”

미래의 검희, 이벨라가 몸을 뒤척였다.

큰 목소리에 정신이 든 것처럼.

잠시 후, 눈을 뜬 그녀는 잠이 덜 깬 얼굴로 주변을 두리번거렸다.

“으응? 내가 왜 침대에······.”

졸린 눈으로 중얼거리던 순간.

이벨라와 노아의 시선이 허공에서 얽혔다.

“······.”

잠시 이어지는 침묵.

이벨라는 이내 화들짝 놀란 얼굴로 얼굴을 돌렸다. 그러더니 눈 깜박할 사이에 예의 무표정한 얼굴로 돌아왔다.

이러한 광경을 본 순간.

<아르센 대륙전기>에서 봤던 이벨라의 캐릭터 스토리 중 일부가 떠올랐다.

『이벨라 엘레아드의 학창 시절은 무척이나 고독했다. 그녀는 누구도 믿지 않고 경계했으며 언제나 혼자였으니까.

그래서 이벨라는 무표정한 가면을 뒤집어쓴 채로 학창 시절을 보냈다. 물론 그마저도 1년을 채 넘기지 못했지만.』

이를 참고했을 때, 이벨라의 무표정한 얼굴은 일종의 방어적인 수단이리라.

줄곧 무표정한 얼굴로 지내면, 누구든 함부로 말을 걸기가 어려울 테니. 그런데 그때, 돌연 이벨라가 먼저 말을 걸어왔다.

“혹시 실례가 안 된다면 무슨 일이 있었는지 말해줄 수 있어?”

“네? 아, 아니. 그게, 그러니까······.”

예상하지 못한 상황이라 당황했다.

하지만 그도 잠시뿐.

노아는 곧 평정심을 회복했다.

강당에서 있었던 일을 설명하기 위해서.

잠시 후, 이벨라는 멍한 표정을 지었다.

‘그야 황당하겠지.’

함성을 듣고 기절할 일은 많지 않으니까.

한편 이벨라는 입을 꾹 닫았다.

그러고는 연신 입가를 씰룩거렸다. 마치 웃음을 억지로 참으려는 것처럼.

하지만 끝내 참지 못했다.

“푸훗! 아하하하!”

박장대소를 터뜨리는 이벨라.

어찌나 크게 웃던지 눈물까지 맺혔다.

이 광경에 노아는 깜짝 놀랐다.

뭐지? 지금 한 이야기에서 웃을 만한 일이 있었나? 아니, 그보다 검희가 이렇게도 웃을 수 있는 인물이었나?

다만 더 놀라운 건 따로 있었다.

“정말, 그 남자답네.”

눈가에 맺힌 이슬을 훔쳐낸 이벨라가 마치 울란을 알고 있다는 투로 중얼거린 것.

노아는 크게 당황했다.

그럴 만도 했다. 그녀가 알기로 울란과 검희는 아직 모르는 사이일 테니까.

무엇보다 둘이 처음 만나는 곳은 아카데미가 아닌, 약 16년 뒤의 전장이다.

‘그런데······.’

왜 이벨라는 울란과 안면이 있는 것처럼 말하는 걸까? 혹시 시험장에서 만나기라도 했나? 의문이 새록새록 돋아나던 무렵.

드르르륵!

사방을 차단하던 커튼이 걷혔다.

곧 나타난 것은 흰색 가운을 걸친 단발머리의 여성. 그녀는 수척한 얼굴로 말을 걸었다.

“거기 둘. 일어났으면 슬슬 돌아가렴.”

제삼자의 출현에 이벨라의 얼굴은 다시 원래대로 돌아갔다. 이후 자리에서 일어난 그녀는 고개를 살짝 숙였다.

“실례했습니다.”

방금까지 박장대소를 터뜨린 인물이라고는 믿기 힘들 정도로 건조한 말투. 그렇게 이벨라는 빠르게 자취를 감췄다.

다만 노아는 일부러 조금 늑장을 부렸다.

그녀에게 물어볼 게 있어서였다.

“저기, 죄송한데요.”

“응? 아, 너무 걱정하지 마. 고막이 조금 상하긴 했는데, 포션을 발라뒀으니 조만간 괜찮아질 거야.”

“아뇨, 그게 아니라요. 혹시 울란은 어떻게 됐는지 알 수 있을까요?”

“울란? 그게 누군데?”

뭐라고 설명하는 게 좋을까.

잠시 고민하던 노아가 입을 열었다.

“여길 이렇게 만든 원인이요.”

“아, 그 테러범?”

“테, 테러?”

당황했지만 이내 납득했다.

병실에서 일하는 사람의 시선에서 보면 그렇게 보일 수도 있을 테니까.

“아마 학생 지도실에서 조사 중일 거야. 무슨 이유로 그런 짓을 벌인지는 모르겠지만, 그냥 넘어가진 않겠지. 어쩌면 입학이 취소될 수도 있겠네.”

돌아온 대답에 안색이 어두워졌다.

입학이 취소될 수도 있다니.

‘그러면 안 되는데······.’

울란이 없으면 불안하다.

노아는 초조한 얼굴로 창밖을 바라봤다.

제발 울란한테 아무런 일도 없기를. 그녀는 두 손을 모아서 기도했다.

3.

아르센 아카데미에는 여러 부속 기관이 존재한다. 교무처에 소속된 ‘학생 지도부’ 역시 이러한 부속 기관 중 하나다.

학생 지도부의 역할은 단순했다.

규칙을 어기거나 잘못을 저지른 학생을 데려다가 지도, 교정하는 것.

그리고 현재 학생 지도부의 총괄을 맡은 필립 에르녹은 이러한 일만 20년이 넘도록 해온 베테랑 중 베테랑.

그간 다양한 문제아를 봐왔고, 어지간한 문제아는 그가 나서는 것만으로 해결이 된다.

그런데 이놈은 뭔가 달랐다.

‘울란 바토르.’

변방의 야만족이란 특이한 출신.

여기서부터 감이 왔다.

이 녀석은 대단한 사고를 쳤겠다는 직감이. 이후 울란이 저지른 사건이 줄줄이 올라오자, 필립의 표정은 기괴하게 구겨졌다.

“······입학식 도중에 학생과 교수를 포함, 백여 명을 기절시키고 모든 유리창과 무대 일부분을 부숴버렸다고?”

아니, 대체 뭘 한 거야?

무엇보다 입학식이면 경비병이 있었을 텐데, 일이 이 지경으로 번질 때까지 왜 두고 보기만 했던 거지?

온갖 의문들이 치솟았다.

하지만 그것도 잠시.

필립은 곧 냉정함을 되찾았다. 어쨌든 지금 그가 할 일은 하나뿐. 바로 울란의 범행동기를 조사하는 일이었기에.

“설마 입학식부터 이런 일을 저지를 줄이야. 간덩이가 제대로 부었군.”

작고 어두컴컴한 방.

테이블에 놓인 촛불 하나만이 방의 어둠을 걷어냈다. 벽면은 칙칙한 회색으로 칠해졌으며 입구는 두꺼운 철문으로 막혔다.

이곳은 학생 지도실 중에서도 가장 구석에 있는 방. 중대한 잘못을 저지른 문제아들을 조사하는 용도로 만들어진 곳이다.

“왜 그런 짓을 했지? 목적이 뭐야?”

필립이 울란을 빤히 노려봤다.

현재 울란의 몸은 굵은 밧줄로 칭칭 동여맨 상태. 양손은 뒤로 묶여있었으며 오직 다리와 머리만이 자유로웠다.

그의 추궁에 울란은 입을 열었다.

“난 그저 연설만 했을 뿐이오.”

“뭐? 연설?”

필립이 눈을 치켜떴다.

어처구니가 없다는 듯이.

“네가 저지른 일로 대강당은 대대적인 보수 공사가 결정됐다. 게다가 병동으로 이송된 부상자만 백 명이 넘어!”

대체 무슨 연설을 하면 이런 일이 벌어진단 말인가? 필립은 테이블을 강하게 내리쳤다.

“이걸 보고도 아무런 생각이 안 드나?”

매서운 눈빛으로 울란을 노려봤다.

피해자들에게 미안하다거나 그런 형식적인 말이라도 나올 줄 알았다. 하지만 울란의 입에서 나온 건 전혀 예상하지 못한 말이었다.

“다들 약골인 것 같더군.”

“······뭐?”

“몸을 좀 단련해야겠소.”

뻔뻔한 것도 정도가 있지.

필립은 얼굴을 와락 구겼다. 그러나 아직 평정심을 잃지는 않았다. 대신 한숨을 내뱉은 뒤, 맞은편 의자에 앉으며 말했다.

“아직 상황 파악이 안 되는 모양인데, 지도부에선 이번 사건을 상부에 보고했다.”

조금 현실적인 협박을 위해서였다.

“상부에서 명령서가 내려오면 입학 취소는 물론이고, 국제법에 따라서 재판이 진행될 거다. 인생이 망할 수도 있다는 뜻이지.”

“······.”

“단, 순순히 조사에 협조하면 정상참작을 해줄 용의가 있다. 그러니 일단 왜 그런 짓을 저질렀는지부터 말해.”

여기까지 말했으면 이해했으리라.

자신이 현재 어떤 처지인지, 그리고 형량을 조금이라도 줄이려면 어떻게 해야만 하는지.

그러나 필립은 몰랐다.

울란이 엄청난 돌대가리라는 걸.

‘국제법? 정상참작?’

무슨 말인지 하나도 모르겠다.

그래서 화제를 돌리기로 했다.

“그보다 난 언제쯤 나갈 수 있소?”

“나가긴 뭘 나가!”

“슬슬 반 배정이 시작될 텐데.”

“그건 이제 너랑 상관없는 일이라니까!”

“왜 상관이 없소?”

“아아아악!”

필립은 평정심을 잃었다.

Why are there all these guys?! There’s a limit to pretending you don’t understand what’s being said!

He was overcome with the urge to slam Ulan’s head against the wall. If it weren’t for the rule not to touch students, it would have happened a long time ago.

It was a time when I was wasting so much time.

Slam! Good!

The tightly closed iron door suddenly opened.

Philip frowned.

“what? “I clearly told you not to open the door until the investigation is over…”

The moment I was speaking in a nervous tone.

Philip’s mouth closed again. It was because of the attire of the man who opened the iron door and entered.

A uniform that looks like a military uniform. A silver, sparkling star pattern was engraved on the chest. Philip’s eyes trembled slightly when he saw this.

‘······Inspector of the Military Faculty.’

The identity of the man who appears before my eyes.

Arsene has a total of five deans.

They are the most powerful beings after the president. They each have one direct agency.

The man in front of me was a member of the inspection group, which was directly subordinate to Dean Bergé, the de facto second-in-command of Arsene Academy.

Jump, jump, jump!

An inspector who came in without any restraint.

he asked, glancing at Ulan.

“Ulaanbaatar, right?”

“exactly.”

“It is release. “Come outside.”

“What?!”

Philip was quite taken aback by these words. He deserved it. He came at all costs and said he would be released.

On the other hand, the inspector general remained steadfast.

“Class assignment for new students is currently in progress, so please go to the second floor of the Lion’s Pavilion and follow the instructions.”

“for a moment! Whoever wants to do it now…!”

“This is an order from above.”

As I was about to argue, the inspector suddenly thrust in a document. A clearly stamped seal. He is the dean of the Military Faculty and the official of Bergé.

Philip read the letter with nervous eyes.

How long has it been like that?

The facial expression becomes increasingly hard.

After a while, he pursed his lips and spoke.

“······Loosen the rope.”

“yes? Ha, but…!”

“Loosen it. “This is an order to release him immediately.”

Looking at the panicked guards, Philip gave instructions again. Then Ulan, who had been quiet, jumped up from his seat.

“There is no need for that.”

Ending with an unexpected answer.

The rope that bound my body broke like a thread.

No, you mean to cut that thing off with force?

Everyone, including Philip, looked at Ulan with bewildered eyes as he tore apart a rope as thick as his finger joints.

“And where is the lion’s coffin?”

“It’s a big building next to the main auditorium. “There is a lion statue in front of the building, so you will be able to find it easily.”

“Where is the main auditorium?”

“······Follow me. “I will guide you.”

The inspector sighed and turned around.

This may be because they judged that if left to their own devices, they would get lost. With that, Ulan left the room with the inspector.

I was watching the two getting further and further apart.

The guards questioned.

“What on earth does it say in the letter?”

“What is it about so easily…”

“They say he’s a person related to the empire’s military.”

“······yes?”

“You mean that terrorist?!”

Philip nodded silently.

And I thought again of the contents of the note enclosed with the order.

『We judged that the actions committed by Ulaanbaatar at this entrance ceremony had no malicious intent, and therefore decided not to hold them accountable.

Additionally, he is a “level 1 control subject” designated by the Imperial Military Department, and if a similar incident occurs again in the future, he will be reported to the Military Studies Department prior to arrest.』

Subject to level 1 management.

This is by no means common.

It only applies to big figures who are considered important by the military leadership.

Philip also knew it well, as he had once served in the empire’s military.

‘I don’t know what the military’s purpose is or why that guy was designated as a target…’

Philip’s eyes narrowed.

“······Arsene is going to be quite noisy this year.”

In many ways.

He looked intently at the place where Ulan had disappeared. For some reason, I have the feeling that we will meet again soon.

Chapter 9. fountain of magic

fantasy,