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After Ulan rushed out from the base, Noah, left alone, focused on defending the base. Of course, there would be no chance for Eloden's attack force to arrive here. Because for that, they would have to get past Ulan.
Still, there was always a chance, so she figured she'd better take some precautions.
'First, I need to make a defense formation.'
A defense formation.
It was the most basic defensive technique. It involved driving magic totems around the object being protected and arranging amulets in a sequence to create a strong and sturdy protective barrier in a small area.
'I don't have any magic totems, though....'
Fortunately, there was a substitute.
The human totem that Ulan had left behind.
The student council president, Cliff Anton.
Thanks to the fact that he had been at the base the whole time since the mock battle started, he had a considerable amount of mana, making him ideal to use as a totem.
Some time later.
The defensive formation guarding the banner was complete.
'Good. I've got some insurance with this.'
Next, should she make a barrier to defend the base itself? Just as she was about to take out a few amulets to prepare, "Excuse me," a familiar voice brushed against her ear.
Along with a perceived presence.
Shortly after, a girl with turquoise hair appeared, her hair swaying.
The appearance of an unexpected person.
Noah opened her eyes wide in surprise. In contrast, the other person had a calm smile on their face.
"May I come in for a moment?"
"...Laurea."
Eloden's next Saintess.
She wondered how she had gotten past Ulan, but if it was Laurea, she could understand. She possessed an ability akin to teleportation.
"Fufu, there's no need to be so guarded. After all, my goal isn't the banner."
"What do you mean...?"
"I have a few things I'd like to ask you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
Laurea smiled faintly.
Noah hadn't said it was okay to ask yet, but Laurea didn't care.
"Then let me ask this first."
As if Noah's permission wasn't needed.
A moment later, she asked, her eyes narrowed like crescents.
"Who are you?"
An oddly probing question, yet deceptively simple on its face. So much so that Noah nearly answered reflexively before….
"I'm..."
…she hurriedly shut her mouth; that's because she realized it only then, when she met Laurea’s bright yellow eyes. About the special ability Laurea possessed.
'...The Eyes of Penetration!'
The eyes that could perceive and pierce the absolute essence of anything they gazed upon. An arcane gift that allowed the wielder to discern truth from falsehood with perfect clarity — faced with such a power, she would have to carefully consider every syllable.
Especially someone like Noah, who harbored so many secrets.
'If I answer Noah Darshen here, that answer will be a lie.'
Because while the owner of this body was indeed Noah, her soul, her psyche and her fundamental self belonged to the earthling, Yoo Min-ah.
In other words, she had to explicitly mention Yoo Min-ah as well for it to be the complete truth. Having thought this far, Noah gulped dryly.
It was to read Laurea's intention.
'For her to suddenly ask something like this...'
It meant she was aware Noah had some secret and was trying to uncover it.
'Did she see something with her Eyes of Penetration?'
There was a description in the original work about this.
It said that when Laurea saw the essence of a target, it always appeared in a clear, tangible form. And based on this, Noah could infer that her essence had appeared in a peculiar form to Laurea's Eyes of Penetration.
'Then the wisest course of action is...'
To keep her mouth shut.
The only way to nullify the Eyes of Penetration was to not answer at all.
"You don't seem like you want to answer."
Did she see through Noah's intentions?
Laurea shrugged.
"Well, okay. It's not that important anyway."
As if it wasn't a particularly important question.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something she had forgotten, Laurea exclaimed excitedly and asked again, "Ah, right. This is a slightly different question. You seem quite close with Ulan. How long have you known each other? It must have been a long time, right?"
An ordinary, natural question.
However, this was also a question with a trap.
Noah and Ulan had only known each other for about half a year, which Ibella and Dilia were aware of. But the reality was a bit different.
Noah had known Ulan not for half a year, but since she started playing the original game.
Therefore, in order to get the result of truth, she had to include this period in her answer. So Noah exercised his right to remain silent again.
"Hmm, I see."
On the other hand, as Noah continued to keep her mouth shut, Laurea narrowed her eyes. Then, she spoke with a sly smile.
"You seem to know."
Accompanied by that portentous smile, she gestured toward her bright yellow eyes.
"About the secret of these eyes of mine."
"..........."
Noah's gaze wavered at her words; she had belatedly realized Laurea's true intent.
'...I've been had.'
The two questions Laurea posed initially seemed completely ordinary on the surface. If it had been Ibella or Dilia, they would have answered without hesitation.
Noah, on the other hand, could not do that.
Because she was aware of the existence of the Eyes of Penetration.
So she had to exercise caution with her responses, choosing to evade the unfavorable situation by keeping silent. But it seemed that very reaction was Laurea's goal all along.
'If I keep going like this, I'll be drawn into her pace.'
Simply staying silent would not resolve this. She had to cut off the line of questioning itself. Otherwise, there was no telling what other tricks Laurea might employ.
"I'm getting more and more curious. Who are you, and what is your purpose?"
Watching her adopt an intrigued expression, Noah abruptly flung a amulet at her. The ordinary amulet transformed into azure flames that rushed to engulf Laurea.
Woosh! Crackle!
The fierce blazing flames.
Yet not a single lick of fire managed to singe even a hair on Laurea — thanks to her divine barrier.
"You don't seem like you want to talk."
"............"
Correct.
Of course, Noah was not one who enjoyed combat.
But compared to continuing this conversation, she preferred extricating herself from this predicament, even if it meant coming to blows with Laurea.
"Alright, then before we talk, let's get rid of some of your power first."
Laurea too did not shy away from battle.
With a faint smile, she clasped her hands reverently as her lips began to move.
Then, the moment her prayer was complete -
Woooosh! Kwaagagaga!
A torrent of pure divine power exploded forth.
Sweeping over Noah like a violent storm.
* * * * *
【Ian Marcus: Dead】
【Remaining Eloden Forces: 4】
Along with the notification announcing his elimination, Ulan recounted their brief battle.
The domain of Thirty-Nine Steps.
Just before this vast domain engulfed Ian, he swung his sword as if sensing danger.
'It was a wise judgment.'
Otherwise, he would have been defeated without even being able to swing his sword properly.
Not that it changed the outcome.
The domain of thirty-nine steps devoured the interior much faster than Ian's sword strike.
But Ulan did not evade his attack.
This was a duel with his former comrade — it was a bit of a shame to miss this rare opportunity, and there was something he was curious about and wanted to try.
From the current perspective, he was curious about how much power Ian Marcus had at this point, the level to which he had been pushed to the limit with divine power.
And the result?
Ulan gauged Ian's true strength.
Ibella, Dilia, Ian, Laurea.
Among the former comrades Ulan had met so far, there was no one who could surpass Ian in a one-on-one battle.
'As expected, he has great talent.'
Just before their battle began, Ian had briefly mentioned a certain name.
'The Paladin Master, Lord Sanctius .'
Cadel Dun Sanctius , to give his full name. The strongest knight of the Holy Kingdom and Ian's former master. He was also a man Ulan had spoken to a few times in his past life.
Back then, he had said—
「If I had one regret in my life, it would be when Sir Marcus reached the realm of Expert」
The reason was simple.
Because as soon as Ian became an Expert paladin, he graduated from Cadel's tutelage.
Of course, he could have received further teachings, but the thoughts of the upper echelons of the Holy Kingdom were different.
They didn't want someone who had reached the realm of an Expert, a tactical weapon which they had obtained with much difficulty, to waste away in training grounds.
So from that point on, Ian traveled the continent carrying out the duties of a Paladin.
「If I had strongly opposed it back then, and given Sir Marcus a little more instruction, he probably would have become a Master much sooner.」
Cadel had lamented that Ian could have been of even greater help in the war against the Abyss if that were the case.
But now it was fine.
Ulan remembered Cadel's regret.
'I'm not very good at teaching others, but....'
He knew ways to make someone stronger than they currently were. Simply by pushing them to the brink of death through harsh training and repeated battles on the edge.
'So this time, it will be different.'
He would personally take over Ian's training.
To help him surpass his past self and become an even more reliable shield in the upcoming war against the Abyss.
Ulan smiled, satisfied.
As if looking forward to what lay ahead.
It was then that —
Kwaaagagaga!
—a sudden, raucous boom rang out. Ulan calmly turned his eyes toward the source of the thunderous roar.
'Arsene's base.'
What he saw was a partially demolished hut.
Soon after, he sensed divine power and mana clashing. It seemed Laurea and Noah had started battling each other. Ulan simply watched impassively for a moment before averting his gaze.
'There's no need to go out of my way to help them.'
The two were about equal in strength.
At this rate, they should be able to drag it out longer than expected. With that, he lowered his stance slightly as he eyed the direction of Eloden's base.
As if he had decided on his destination.
'I'll charge straight through.'
Immediately after setting his goal.
Boom!
He stomped the ground roughly.
Then he took off in a blistering dash, instantly crossing the forest and surging across the vast plain.
A little later, the Eloden base came into view. But something strange was seen.
'That is...'
A brilliant white light enshrouding the huts.
A Grade-5 divine barrier combined with various protective wards — likely insurance measures Laurea had set up while at the base.
Of course, it wouldn't be a problem.
Just smash it and it'll be fine.
Saaaaaah!
Activating his spirit and maximizing his physical abilities, he gripped his club tightly. Then, soon, the ordinary wooden club turned red hot.
The symbol of a master, Aura.
And soon, Ulan's blows rained down.
End of Chapter. . . . . . . .Thanks for Reading. . . . . . . . .
Translator's Notes:-
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