The Academy’s Barbarian Chapter 30

(2)

2.

It wasn’t difficult to find the way.

Excluding the area where the water was rising, there was only one passage. Ulan walked steadily, clearing the darkness with a torch.

Some time after that.

“uh?”

Sylphy let out a puzzled exclamation.

She stopped in her tracks and looked closely at the floor and wall, then her eyes widened.

“The road is different from before.”

“It’s changing?”

“It was a bumpy road just now, but from here on it seems like a well-paved road. “It’s as if someone artificially cleaned it.”

It was just as Sylphy said.

The road ahead was much smoother than the road I had walked so far. It seemed comfortable to walk too.

Also, the more I walked, the more the surface of the wall became smoother. I was walking while observing the road gradually changing.

The group stopped in place again.

“It’s blocked.”

There was no more way.

It was because something that looked like a piece of metal was blocking the road. At that time, Bella, who was looking around, shouted as if she had discovered something.

“I think there’s something written here.”

Ulan and Sylphy quickly approached.

There were certainly strange-looking letters written there. The problem was that it was my first time seeing a text message.

“Can you read?”

“sorry. “Because it’s my first time seeing a text message.”

Around that time, Ibella was laughing awkwardly.

Suddenly, Sylphy’s eyes turned round.

“ah! “This is the language of an ancient desert kingdom.”

“Desert Kingdom? “Does that mean it’s a pagan language?”

“It’s like that from a modern perspective.”

“How to speak the language of the pagans…”

Did you recognize it at a glance?

Just as I was about to ask that question, Sylphy’s answer, anticipating the question, came back one step ahead.

“When I was young, I had the opportunity to travel with my parents and learn various languages. So I can read a little bit.”

“What does it say?”

“Hmm! “I’ll read it.”

After briefly clearing his throat.

Sylphy slowly interpreted the text.

“You, the hero who was not chosen. It’s okay to be discouraged. Prove your worth as a hero by taking on this ordeal. Then you will be given strength and wisdom to fight the abyss.”

It was a perfect interpretation that even Ulan could understand.

“It somehow sounds like something out of a children’s book.”

“Ahaha, sure.”

Sylphy also smiled as if she agreed with Ibella’s muttering. However, Ulan did not laugh. Because she heard familiar words.

‘It’s an ordeal.’

When I first felt that this place was similar to the hero’s trials, it seems I was not mistaken.

At the time when Ulan’s eyes deepened.

“Oh, there’s something else written here.”

I found a new letter again.

“Can you read that too?”

“Sure.”

Because it was all the same language.

Sylphy immediately began to interpret.

“This is the hero’s ordeal. You who have made up your mind. Open the door and face the challenge. However, only those with the minimum qualifications can open the door.”

A hero’s ordeal? Isn’t it the trials of a hero?

Ulan tilted his head.

It’s because I’ve never heard of a hero’s ordeal in my past life.

“Ah, this was the door.”

Meanwhile, Ibella knocked on the piece of metal that was blocking the road. Then he took a deep breath and pushed the door open with all his might.

“Hmm!”

Arms and legs trembling.

My entire body’s strength was concentrated on my arms and palms, and my face turned red in an instant.

After that, I tried my best, but it wasn’t enough.

An iron gate that doesn’t move at all. This Bella took in her breath and frowned.

“Ugh, that won’t work. “It doesn’t budge.”

Let’s take a break and do it together, all three of us.

Ibella was about to say that.

But there was no need for that.

Quack! Wow!

The iron door, which had not even moved a moment ago, was opening with a loud noise. By Ulan. Ibella asked blankly.

“······How did you do it?”

“I just pushed.”

By applying a little more force than usual.

In response to the insignificant answer, Sylphy said with an awkward smile.

“Minimum qualifications probably meant minimum strength.”

Ending with a low murmur.

The group resumed their movement.

The road beyond the iron gate looked much better maintained than the road we had passed before. Although dust had accumulated, perhaps because it had been neglected for a long time.

“Wow, it looks like a very old ruin!”

“You seem kind of excited.”

“sure! “You never thought there would be a relic like this in the Fountain of Magic?”

Eyes that sparkle like stars.

From what I heard, he obviously majored in ancient history, so he was probably excited to see the ruins.

How long has it been like that?

Suddenly, Ulan blocked her path.

“Stop.”

“yes? Why all of a sudden······.”

“There was a sound in front.”

As soon as the answer is finished.

Ibella and Sylphy kept their mouths shut. Then, after a while, I really heard something.

Slurp! Sreuk!

It sounds like a snake crawling on the floor.

Or it could sound like old clothes being dragged across the floor. At that time, I was swallowing dry saliva out of some unknown tension.

Soon the identity of the sound was revealed.

“Hey, human?!”

Like Sylphy’s surprised cry.

What appeared through the darkness was a human. A short-built human wearing tattered robes.

But Ulan thought differently.

“Wrong. “That’s not a human.”

“yes? but······.”

Just as Sylphy was about to say something.

Suddenly, Ulan kicked the ground. He closed the distance in the blink of an eye and knocked the head off of his fierce opponent.

Sigh! Tuk!

With the sound of tearing dry bark.

The head said goodbye to the body and rolled around like a ball. The two girls looked embarrassed by this sudden attack.

“Woah, Ulan?!

“What are you doing all of a sudden…?”

“Calm down and look at him.”

Ulan calmly pointed at the other person.

Then at that moment. The body lying on the floor wriggled as if it were alive.

Pop! Crack!

A body that moves while making strange noises.

Even the head that flies into the corner moves like a living creature. Ulan muttered, casting a cold look in his eyes.

“If it were human, it wouldn’t have moved any more after its head was blown off.”

“······.”

Are you checking it like this?

Ibella and Sylphy closed their mouths. This is because I was speechless due to the radical and ignorant classification method.

“Our tribe has a proverb like this.”

Whether you know this or not.

Ulan continued his explanation.

“If you don’t know whether it’s a human or a monster, destroy the head first. Then your problem will be solved.”

This probably means that if you have a choice to make, don’t hesitate and make a bold decision. However, when Ulan speaks, the meaning itself sounds different.

After making an awkward expression.

Ibella pointed to the floor.

“What is this instead?”

To be exact, a body struggling while being stepped on by Ulan. Soon Ulan’s answer came back.

“This is an immortal.”

“Immortal?”

“They are also called undead. Have you ever heard of zombies or skeletons? “It’s a monster commonly seen in deserts and jungle areas.”

“Oh, I have never left the imperial territory.”

Ibella smiled awkwardly.

Ulan, on the other hand, had a puzzled expression.

Because the person who informed Ulan of the existence of immortals was none other than Ibella in her last life.

‘That means…’

I think it was probably after I graduated from the academy that I met an immortal. Ulan nodded her head in understanding.

Around that time.

An exclamation erupted from an unexpected place.

“Um, those are undead?!”

“okay. Do you know about the undead?”

“Yes, I saw it in a book. They say that to get rid of the undead, you need a holy weapon, a weapon coated with holy water, or a weapon coated with silver…”

The moment when Sylphy became speechless.

Slurp! Sreuk!

The sound I heard before came again.

What appeared soon after were guys that looked exactly like the immortals that Ulan had blown up.

This time the numbers are quite large. Because only the ones that came into view right away were over twenty. Also, the guys who showed up this time even had rusty swords.

“What should we do now?!”

Sylphy shouts in embarrassment.

Ibella bit her lip tightly.

“Is there any other treatment method?”

“It’s a pity, but as far as I know…”

“there is.”

Then Ulan interrupted.

He then grabbed the ax and his eyes flashed.

“If you cut them into pieces until they stop moving, most immortals lose their fighting ability.”

“······yes?”

The moment Sylphy was blankly asking.

Ulan headed forward like a flash of light.

Then, like a wolf charging at a flock of sheep, he swung the ax with ferocious force.

puck! Quack! Crack!

Flesh is torn and bones are broken.

The head was split in two, and the body was completely crushed. Ulan was swinging his ax like a madman.

And the result.

The enemy was reduced to powder in an instant.

Push!

The head of the last remaining immortal was trampled by Ulan and turned into mush. After crushing it on the floor. He said in a grave tone.

“This is the fourth way to eliminate immortals.”

“No, that’s…”

It seems like a method that only you can use.

Sylphy tried hard to suppress what she wanted to say. Meanwhile, when the battle was over. Suddenly, Ibella began rummaging through the remains of the immortals.

“Hey, Ibella? “What are you doing?”

“To get the sword.”

“Ugh, don’t you feel uncomfortable?”

“Yes, but wouldn’t it be better than having no weapons at all?”

That’s right.

There’s no way a monster like this won’t appear again. After gathering useful equipment.

“Then let’s keep moving forward.”

Ulan and his party quickened their pace again.

Toward the depths of the ruins.

3.

Meanwhile, at that time.

Noah barely stopped crying.

The situation is already like spilled water.

So I decided to regain my composure and accept reality like an adult. As her melancholy disappeared, she soon recalled the information of the Hidden Event.

‘The name of the event is Hero’s Trial.’

This event is a hidden piece for named characters who cannot challenge the Hero’s Trial.

Is that why?

If you pass this ordeal, you can gain considerable power and rewards, even if you are not a hero.

Or, your potential may be awakened.

Anyway, it is an event with generous rewards.

‘The difficulty level itself is easier than the Trial of the Hero.’

To put it bluntly, it is about one level lower.

Moreover, there are Ulans there who have already passed the warrior’s trials, so there shouldn’t be much difficulty.

‘And maybe…’

The Ulan who passed the ordeal may come out with a reward. If that happens, it would be a perfect situation for Noah.

There is just one problem.

‘Three hardships.’

There is something called ‘suffering’ in the trials of a hero.

In terms of the game, it is a test in the form of a mini game, and three characters are needed to overcome it.

‘In the strategy, it was said that each individual will face their own hardships.’

Although the details of the hardship were not mentioned, it was said that a minimum of force was still essential. So it’s probably related to battle.

‘For now, Ulan and Ibella are okay.’

Of course, there is no need to worry about Ulan, and Ibella also possesses a certain degree of military power.

But the problem is the girl with gray hair who was swept along.

‘Seeing as I don’t remember his face or name, he seems like an extra with no significance.’

Please be a wizard.

Then I would be able to relax for an hour.

As I was praying in my heart, a familiar voice knocked on my ear.

“I guess I’ve calmed down a bit now.”

Professor Miel has already arrived.

When I saw him, I suddenly remembered the mistake I made earlier. Noah said, lowering his head.

“······I’m sorry for showing you such an ugly side.”

“Okay. It’s surprising that my friends disappeared right before my eyes. “Don’t worry, I understand.”

A kind answer came back.

At that time, something suddenly occurred to me.

Professor Miel is the professor in charge of Class 3. Then you definitely know what subject the girl with gray hair majors in.

“Well, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“hmm? what?”

“Of the three who disappeared, I was curious which subject the girl with gray hair entered.”

“Hmm, if you have gray hair, you must be a Sylphy student. “She was enrolled in general education, did she not know?”

“yes? “This is a general subject?”

“okay. “I heard that my goal is ancient history.”

As soon as Professor Miel finished speaking.

Noah smiled as if he had been liberated.

‘Goodbye. It’s a hidden event.’

I was happy to be able to look forward to it, even if only for a little while.

With clear dew forming around the eyes.

Noah put his hands together politely.

Now that the reward was good, I was praying that Ulan and his party would return safely.

4.

After a considerable amount of time has passed.

Ibella and Sylphy’s faces showed signs of exhaustion. It would be worth it. As I walked through the endless passage, I got caught up in five battles.

On the other hand, Ulan was still fine.

For him, who had gone through the trials of a warrior for ten days, this was just a light walk.

How long did it take to walk like that?

There was a dead end again.

“here is······.”

A huge room that could accommodate hundreds of people.

The group looked around and looked for any clues. just as expected? This time too, I saw letters written in the language of the desert kingdom.

Sylphy interpreted the text as if she was familiar with it.

“Three heroes who face trials.”

Right after reading this far.

Sylphy shouted with a shocked face.

“Well, how did you know there were three of us?”

“Isn’t it just a coincidence?”

“But it’s too much to be a coincidence…”

“Let’s read the last part first and think about it.”

Sylphy nodded at Ibella’s words.

She started interpreting the text again.

“If you want to face the final ordeal that exists beyond this, first try to overcome three hardships. Prove your knowledge, strength, and talent.”

“If it’s hardship…”

“I guess we should get ready to fight.”

Ulan grabbed the axe.

But Sylphy shook her head.

“No, I think it’s a little different this time.”

“Different? “What’s the point?”

“If you look here, there are three words, right? If interpreted in order, they mean ‘knowledge,’ ‘struggle,’ and ‘talent,’ respectively.”

Knowledge, struggle, talent.

A number equal to the number of hardships. It seemed like a theme symbolizing each hardship.

“Can we each choose one?”

“Hmm, maybe that’s it?”

“Then it will be resolved if Sylphy takes charge of knowledge, and Ibella takes charge of struggle and talent respectively.”

Ulan offered a solution.

Meanwhile, Ibella was surprised.

“Are you telling me to take charge of talent?”

“Yes, because you have a talent for swordsmanship.”

Ulan has a serious expression.

The moment I encountered this.

Ibella closed her mouth tightly. In her heart, she wanted to say that it wasn’t that bad, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

‘······How can I say something when I look at those eyes?’

Eyes full of confidence and faith.

Ulan was the only one who showed any expectations towards him. Not wanting to betray his expectations, Ybella answered with a solemn expression.

“okay. “Then I’ll leave the struggle to you.”

“okay. “Leave it to me.”

Ulan laughed viciously.

It was a smile full of fighting spirit.

“Anyway, this determines the hardships each person will take on. “Now it’s time to find out how to choose the hardships we have chosen…”

When Sylphy continued to answer calmly.

Suddenly, her words stopped.

Rather than stopping mid-speech, the voice literally broke off out of nowhere.

And one more thing.

The group disappeared. There was no sign of Sylphy or even Ibella. Only then did Ulan realize that something strange had happened.

“This place······.”

This is not the room he has been in until now.

A much narrower and darker room. It felt like I had been summoned to a completely different space. Just as Ulan was about to turn his gaze to look around.

Grumble!

Suddenly, a flame erupted.

A flame that devours the darkness and burns. It was as if it were alive and moving, with some characters engraved in the air.

‘That’s definitely…’

This is the text I just saw.

The text is exactly the same as the one Sylphy interpreted by pointing with her finger just before coming here.

So I brought up the memory.

Some time after that.

The meaning of the letters was revealed.

【First Suffering: Knowledge】

Ulan wrinkled his face.

Chapter 10. isolation

fantasy,