(One)
One.
Southeastern border of the Leuven Empire.
This place, bordering the Principality of Arpen across a huge canyon, is famous as a military zone where civilians are prohibited from entering.
“Hmm.”
Major Bright Mellon, the commander of the garrison guarding this border, looked at the two men and women in front of him with an embarrassed expression.
A young-faced girl and a muscular man.
According to what we just received, the two attempted to cross the border.
Afterwards, surprisingly, they succeeded in breaking through all the sieges. However, I heard that he obediently returned to the guard post when he was told that if he ran away like this, he would be wanted throughout the empire.
‘… … First of all, one thing is certain.’
He is said to be a skilled person capable of breaking through the siege of border guards. Bright’s face stiffened with tension.
So as soon as he received the detailed report, he summoned all available troops to the guard post. This is to prepare for an emergency.
“Whoa.”
After letting out a short sigh.
He opened his mouth that had been closed.
“… … Let me introduce myself first. “I am Viscount Brightmelon, commissioned by the great Emperor to defend this border.”
“Ulaanbaatar.”
“I’m Noah Darshen.”
After completing a brief self-introduction.
Bright asked for their ID cards.
It is said that any item that can prove one’s identity is fine. Then Noah handed over the items he had prepared as if he had been waiting.
“Is this okay?”
“This… … .”
“It’s a seal I received from someone I know.”
Noah smiled brightly.
Ulan, who was staring at this blankly, also rummaged through his pockets as if he remembered something.
“Oh, I have something similar.”
A special pass received from Ibella.
This too would be sufficient to prove identity. Because the seal of Count Deorg’s family was elaborately engraved.
Meanwhile, Bright, who received this, immediately opened his eyes wide. This is because we checked the family that issued the seal and pass.
“… … ?!”
Seorik al-Ghorfant.
Istan El Deorg.
Two swordsmen representing the empire.
Seals and passes with the seals of the two families clearly engraved on them. The moment he realized this, he swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
“Uh, so… … .”
Bright, who was fidgeting as if embarrassed, asked in a more cautious tone.
“Si, if it’s not rude, may I ask what your relationship is with the two families?”
“Sure.”
Ending with a gentle smile.
Noah’s answer soon followed.
“First of all, Marquis Gorfant is our guardian. And Count Deorg… … .”
“He is my friend.”
Suddenly Ulan intercepted the answer.
Noah was momentarily taken aback by the bold words, but quickly recovered his expression.
Because it wasn’t wrong.
“Well, then the reason you want to cross the border is…” … .”
“I can’t tell you that.”
Ulan shook his head.
Even if I tell you anyway, they won’t believe me.
“But I assure you, this is more important than anything else.”
Seriously shining eyes.
Bright shrugged his shoulders unconsciously, feeling overwhelmed for some reason.
Then.
“Great, Captain!”
Someone came running in a huff.
A man with a pale face. It was Bright’s adjutant waiting outside the guard post.
He hurriedly approached and whispered in a low voice so that only Bright could hear. A moment later, when the report was over, Bright opened his eyes.
“Is that really true?”
“yes! I’ve just checked.”
The adjutant nods enthusiastically.
Bright looked at Ulan with trembling eyes as if he were agitated. Then he recalled the report he had just heard from his adjutant.
The adjutant said this, referring to Ulan.
『Level 0 management target』
An entity governed by the military and the imperial family.
In addition, he even has a seal with the seal of the Marquis Gorfant family and a special pass issued by the Count Deorg family.
‘Just thinking about it… … .’
He is not an ordinary person.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Bright shook his head furiously.
To roughly guess why Ulan and Noah are trying to cross the border. And before long, I guessed the general reason.
‘Could it be a top-secret military operation?’
It was a reasonable guess.
In this case, it makes sense that they approached the border through a road not traveled by civilians. Having finished his worries, he soon concluded his judgment.
“… … “To open the border gates.”
“yes! All right.”
The adjutant left his seat with a salute.
A guard post engulfed in strange silence. Bright spoke to Ulan and Noah.
“I fully understand the situation.”
“yes? “Situation?”
“It’s okay if you don’t pretend not to know. “I’ve experienced this a few times before.”
It is clear that military operations are being carried out in secret that one does not know about. Because the empire often had similar battles in the past.
After I finished assessing the situation.
Bright said with a solemn face.
“If there is anything you need for the mission, please let me know. “We will cooperate as much as possible.”
“… … ?”
mission? Cooperation?
Noah tilted his head as if wondering.
However, there is no reason to refuse if you say you will cooperate. So, I thought of the things I needed right away and listed them out loud.
“Oh, then can I get some water and food? And things like sleeping bags.”
“I will arrange it right away.”
A refreshing answer came back.
Some time after that.
Bright and the border guards prepared various supplies in addition to those requested.
Eventually, after all preparations were completed.
Ulan and Noah crossed the border of the empire, receiving a warm welcome from the garrison. Their destination is a mountain kingdom beyond the canyon.
It was the Principality of Arpen.
2.
Meanwhile, at that time.
Late at night when everyone was asleep.
Count Deorg Castle, which protects the southern part of the Leuven Empire, still shined brightly.
Then.
“Whoa.”
Suddenly, a small sigh was heard.
A woman sitting obliquely by the window.
The light blonde girl looked blankly at the sky, with the moon in her turquoise eyes.
“Haaa.”
Before long, another sigh comes out.
A few days ago, it was Ibella Eleaad, who returned to the County of Deorg for vacation.
“It’s really strange.”
After making a frustrated expression.
She glanced at the calendar on the wall.
“Now is the time to come.”
The person Ibella is anxiously waiting for.
It was Ulan.
Thinking of him, Ibella recalled the Academy’s academic schedule.
‘Retake of the final exam is Friday.’
On the other hand, today is Sunday.
No, it would be safe to say that it was Monday, to be exact. Because the current time is past midnight.
‘If you pass the test… … .’
Slowly, we arrived at the county territory. But why is there still no news?
It was a time when I was worried with a confused look on my face.
Suddenly, an ominous guess came to mind.
“You probably failed the retest, right?”
Immediately after muttering with a look of wonder on my face.
She burst out laughing.
Of course that can’t be the case.
Because Ulan is the top student.
At the time, weren’t your grades so excellent that you were given a field trip as a representative of new students at the entrance ceremony?
‘therefore… … .’
It’s probably in full swing by now.
Ibella believed so.
Still, I still couldn’t sleep, so I looked up at the moon in the sky in silence.
smart!
Suddenly there was a knocking sound.
Who is it? There’s no one worth coming to visit.
As I was tilting my face in confusion, the door opened slightly. A familiar voice was heard immediately.
“Ibella.”
The moment I heard a clear voice.
Her face brightened a little.
The sudden visitor was her mother, Ideline Eleaad.
“Do you mind if you have a moment?”
“Yeah, it’s okay, but why?”
“I’m having trouble sleeping today, so if it’s okay, would you mind hanging out for a bit?”
That’s not even a problem. The reason she couldn’t sleep was the same for her.
Ibella nodded willingly.
Until I heard Edelin’s backstory.
“With the Count.”
Immediately after her answer.
A blond man could be seen through the half-open door. Istan El Deorg. He is the owner of this county castle and Ibella’s biological father.
“… … .”
Scared to find him.
Ibella’s face became as hard as stone.
A face full of chills, as if it had never smiled before. Just when her cold aura was hovering over her, Delrin approached her and wrapped his arms around her.
“I’ve prepared, so let’s go. huh?”
Idelin pulls his arm.
I wanted to firmly refuse, but I couldn’t. This was because Ibella was particularly weak to Idelin.
“… … “Then just wait a moment.”
“Yeah, it’ll just take a moment.”
Edelin smiled with satisfaction.
Some time later, after a short period of time, the three families arrived at the terrace. A variety of refreshments and steaming tea.
It’s literally tea time in the middle of the night.
Of course, this was an act that was highly against noble etiquette, but no one here cared about that.
Rattling!
In the quiet atmosphere, Ibella took a sip of warm tea.
“Whoa.”
I feel like my whole body is tired.
At the same time, his stiff expression also relaxed a little.
Then the Count, who was looking at Ibella as if observing him, opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.
“Sometimes a place like this is nice.”
“… … .”
Of course, Ibella did not respond.
The Count tried to continue speaking again with a shy expression on his face. But then, Idelin, who had been silent, joined the conversation.
“Not sometimes.”
“Hmm?”
“This is the first time this has happened, right? Especially drinking tea with Ibella and me.”
“That’s true, but… … .”
“It’s your first time, right?”
“… … “I’m sorry.”
The Count eventually lowered his head.
It’s because there was a sin committed.
During the years he was on the battlefield, he neglected the mother and daughter and made them live in pain.
“If you’re sorry, you can do better in the future.”
“I will. “I promise on my family name.”
“You don’t have to wear your family name.”
Idelin shook her head.
As if family crests are somehow nice.
Then he continued speaking again.
“Promise me as Ibella’s father.”
“… … .”
For a moment, the count was speechless.
There are two reasons.
One was because it was something I had never thought of, and the other was because I was questioning whether I really had the qualifications to do so.
After letting out a short sigh.
The Count spoke with a serious face.
“… … “To be honest, I don’t know if I have what it takes to be a father yet, but if I do, I’m willing to swear.”
From now on, I will do my duty as your husband and Ibella’s father. The Count spoke in a calm tone, almost like a whisper.
Meanwhile, when his oath was over, Idelin looked at Ibella with a bright smile. With a look in her eyes as if she were asking ‘How are you?’
“… … .”
Ibella still didn’t respond.
However, it was not a complete non-response. When the count swore, it was only a split second, but her eyes were clearly focused on him.
A wall that has been built for a long time.
It sounded like the sediment, which was harder than anything else, was breaking down just a little.
By the time I drank half of the tea.
Suddenly, Idelin spoke up.
“It’s quite a bit later than that.”
“What’s wrong with being late?”
“The boyfriend you wrote about in your letter.”
“Oh, you’re not my boyfriend yet!?”
Ibella shouted in embarrassment.
Of course, I wrote in the letter that there was someone I liked, but I never called him my boyfriend. Meanwhile, despite Ibella’s strong reaction, Idelin paid no heed and refuted.
“Why not? “Once a grown man and woman stay in a hotel for the night, she’s done.”
“Well, that’s true, but… … .”
Did you recall a memory from that time?
Ibella’s ears gradually turned red.
But for a moment, she shook her head and answered firmly.
“But nothing happened!”
“… … .”
Idelin looked at Ibella with narrowed eyes. Eyes that don’t waver at all. She didn’t look like she was lying.
Is that why?
She asked with a serious face.
“I’m asking just in case.”
“what?”
“Your boyfriend, is there a problem with your lower body?”
“mom!”
Ibella screamed.
With a face stained red.
On the other hand, Idelin was still serious.
“Is that so? “Do you mean to say that we spent the night together in the middle of the night and nothing happened?”
“Oh, that’s because Ulan is a gentlemanly man.”
“How are you? “Do you believe that?”
“Yes, I can trust Ulan.”
Ibella answered with confidence.
However, Idelin’s reaction was heartbreaking.
“Then sooner or later your trust will be betrayed.”
“Uh, how does Mom know that? She had never actually seen Ulan… … !”
“It’s obvious even if you don’t look at it. “Because all men are the same.”
After cutting off her rebuttal with a single cut.
Idelin smiled strangely.
“Also, my mother had a similar experience.”
“Similar experience?”
“Yes, even the most gentlemanly person my mother knew changed his mind as soon as night fell.”
A wistful expression, as if recalling memories.
After a while, Idelin looked back at the Count with a bright smile.
“Yes?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Oh my, don’t you remember?”
“Hmm! “I’m not sure.”
“there’s nothing we can do. So, let me explain vividly what happened that night… … .”
“… … “I was wrong.”
The count immediately lowered his tail.
He was famous for not bowing his head to anyone except the emperor, but he was of no use in front of Idelin.
They look like an ordinary couple.
At this sight, Ybella unconsciously smiled softly. Of course she was back to normal as soon as she realized she had smiled.
It was then.
“Ibella.”
Suddenly the Count called his name.
At this, Ybella frowned reflexively, but did not avoid her gaze. Soon after, her count called her and announced her business.
“I just want to ask you something.”
“… … “What is it?”
“By any chance, is it the pass I gave you? “Is it true that you handed it over to Ulan properly?”
She nodded silently.
Before leaving the academy and getting on the carriage, I recalled the memory of handing it over to me.
Meanwhile, the Count looked awkward at Ibella’s answer. Then, perhaps out of curiosity, Idelin suddenly asked a question.
“But why are you suddenly asking that?”
“Uhm, it’s nothing else, I just received a call that the pass was used.”
“… … !”
Ibella’s eyes widened.
The fact that the pass was used meant that Ulan was coming here. On the other hand, the Count still spoke with an awkward expression on his face.
“It’s just that it’s a bit of an unexpected place… … .”
“Uh, where are you?”
“Southeastern Borderlands.”
huh? A border?
Ibella looked puzzled at the unexpected answer. However, her expression immediately hardened at the words that followed.
“It’s the closest place to the Principality of Arpen. Do you have any other guesses?”
Immediately after the Count’s questioning.
For an instant, my heart sank.
It was worth it. As soon as I heard the word Arpen Principality, there was only one thing that came to mind.
‘no way… … .’
Probably not. Probably not. That can’t be possible.
For some reason, my chest felt tight, and I kept licking my lips.
But the confusion rarely calms down.
Feeling like her chest was congested, Ybella looked out the window.
‘Ulan, why…? … .’
My mind is becoming increasingly complex.
At the same time, his turquoise eyes flickered like a candle reflected in tea water.
Nervousness, embarrassment, confusion, anger, etc.
In the flood of all the different emotions, there is only one that burns the most intensely.
It was jealousy.
Chapter 37 rescue
fantasy,
