The Unqualified Person

Today, in the peaceful mansion courtyard,

Olivia watched the parked Ferari Unit 1 with tense eyes.

A week had passed since her birthday.

After verifying the performance of the protective magic, the time had come for the historic moment of Olivia's test drive.

From being carried on the butler's back to becoming the owner of Ferari, Olivia was worried she might become a reckless driver, but luckily, the anxiety of a novice driver could be seen in her eyes.

"Hmm"

Looking at the Ferari Unit 1, whose design had been changed from black to red to reflect the rapidly changing trends of the empire, Olivia's eyes widened in amazement.

"Oh Oh Oh my"

The sleek body.

The elegant, red-painted color and the chair made of top-grade memory foam were remarkable features of the wheelchair.

Though there were complex buttons on the footrest, backrest, and handles, it didn't look messy, thanks to the astronomical amount of money invested in it.

I lifted Olivia like a princess and carefully sat her down in Ferari Unit 1.

Olivia's eyes rounded in surprise at the soft cushioning.

"Oh"

She couldn't stop her admiration.

She bounced her buttocks to feel the cushion and hit her back against the backrest to test its sturdiness, then gave a thumbs up.

"Pass!"

I nodded at Olivia's satisfied smile and put a helmet on her head.

"Is it comfortable?"

"Mhm."

"That's good."

"Then, let me go over a few precautions. I told you yesterday, but I think you might have forgotten."

"Mhm. I forgot it all."

As expected, Olivia hadn't disappointed my predictions.

I held up three fingers and began to explain.

"One. No driving after drinking."

"Okay."

"Two. No hitting people."

"What about people who make me angry?"

"Um should I allow that?"

"Okay."

I nodded at Olivia's reasonable suggestion.

"And finally, the third."

I fastened the safety belt around Olivia's waist and continued.

"No speeding. Especially see that flame symbol next to the lever?"

Olivia glanced over to the armrest.

"This?"

She looked at the button with the flame symbol and a question mark popped up in her head.

I nodded and confirmed her curious gaze with a positive response.

"Yes, that one. That's the-"

"Eh!"

-Kkooouuuk.

Before I could finish my sentence, Olivia pressed the button. She looked at me, as if asking if she did well.

I gave an awkward smile.

"Uh you're not supposed to press that."

Feeling that something was wrong with the rumbling Ferari Unit 1, Olivia looked at me with panic in her eyes.

"Shouldn't have pressed it?"

"Yes"

"I already pressed it, though"

"Um well good luck?"

I waved at the Ferari Unit 1, which was roaring like a bull. Since the protection magic was certainly in place, it should be fine no matter where she crashes. With that belief, I bid farewell to the flustered Olivia.

"Drive safely."

-Buaaaaaang!!!

"Eeek"

Olivia flew off into the distance.

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!"

Olivia's wheelchair raced across the courtyard.

I nodded with satisfaction.

"Excellent!"

It was a touching moment. Chasing after Olivia as she unveiled the majestic sight of the Ferari Unit 1, I wiped away tears of emotion.

"Kyyyyyyack!!! Heet Heeeet!"

As I listened to Olivia's cheers, I became lost in thought.

Now another episode is about to start.'

With a bittersweet smile, I thought about Yuria, who would soon be clashing with the heretics at the end of her second year at the Royal Academy.

Well, she'll figure it out.'

It's an episode where they'll be trampled mercilessly.

An episode where Michail will face defeat.

Where Yuria will experience shock.

Where Ruin will feel helplessness.

Hoping they would grow through this episode, I followed after Olivia.

"How do you like it? The Ferari Unit 1!"

"Kyyyyyyack!!!!"

"I'm glad you like it."

"Heet Hooooooooet!!!"

I'm glad she likes it.

***

In the capital's underground dungeon.

Three figures tread on the damp dungeon floor as they descended deeper underground.

"Be careful since it's dark. Yuria."

"Yeah, thanks."

"Michail, you too, be careful."

"Okay."

Yuria, with her pink hair.

Michail, who had awakened his aura.

And Ruin, walking with his hands in his pockets, were descending into the dark depths of the dungeon.

Ruin, with his hands still in his pockets, grumbled to himself. Apparently annoyed about something, his muttered complaints echoed loudly through the dungeon.

"Why are we reporting something that could be settled in the magic department to the royal family"

"Quiet, Ruin. The student council president has her reasons."

"That's what I'm saying, I don't like it. You're so ignorant, only knowing about swords."

Michail and Ruin argued back and forth.

Yuria, standing between the two incompatible people, gave an awkward smile as she tried to defuse the argument.

"Let's not fight everyone We should get along."

"What did you say?"

"Why, you wanna get hit?"

They didn't get along well at all.

***

It all started at the student council meeting.

This morning, the student council president, Chartia, gathered the student council officers and brought up rumors circulating around the Royal Academy.

-You've all heard the rumor, right? A second-year from the magic department has disappeared in the underground dungeon.

-Isn't that a lie? Sounds like someone trying to skip classes.

-Haah I wish that were it But there's a witness who saw him going into the dungeon

Chartia, with dark circles under her eyes, spoke to the officers.

-It seems almost certain. Strange things were found in his dorm room No. For now, make sure that no crazy rumors leak out. The atmosphere at the Academy hasn't been great since the last incident.

-Especially you, Ruin.

-Why?

-Don't run around like last time looking for a student from the magic department. Just wait. The royal family said they would send a search party.

Chartia had instructed Ruin, We dont know what might happen.' To just stay put.

But Ruin, also a student from the magic department and a friend from the magic tower, wasn't one to just stand by upon hearing of his comrade's disappearance.

After the meeting, Ruin went to Yuria. He asked if she would join him in searching for Hans'.

Yuria, who had been friends with Hans' since their first year, thought they shared the same sentiment and accepted Ruin's invitation.

-Yuria. I'm going to look for Hans. Wanna come with me?

-The student council president said to stay put.

-Who knows when the search party will come. And Yuria, you know Hans isn't the type to skip classes. He must've found an unexplored area in the dungeon.

-But

-Come on. I'll buy you something tasty.

The disappeared second-year from the magic department, Hans',

Was also from the magic tower like Ruin.

He was a second-year student with a timid personality and not many friends.

Yuria, who had been friends with Ruin and had become acquainted with Hans through him, also decided to follow Ruin's suggestion.

Yuria was meddlesome but confident in her abilities.

Though her skills were pitiful compared to Ricardo's, Yuria knew that they, hailed as the Golden Age' of the Academy, were superior to any ordinary search party.

Thus, the search party for the missing student was formed.

Ruin, the top student of the magic department.

Yuria, the prodigy of the healing department.

And Michail, who tagged along worried about Yuria.

A party leading the Golden Age' of the Academy was assembled.

***

-Squelch.

As Yuria descended into the damp underground, sticky mud clung to her shoes.

Phew It's okay, its been over a year.

The place held a terrible memory of being left behind by the friends she trusted. Yuria, going down into the dungeon, clenched and unclenched her fists with nervousness.

It's okay'

Even after a year, Yuria vividly remembered the terror of that day.

-Guys?

-Where did you go?

Unable to shake off the memory of being left alone in the dungeon, Yuria shivered and forced the bad thoughts out of her mind.

"Cold?"

Ruin, standing next to her, noticed Yuria shaking and spoke. He was ready to give her his own clothing, but Yuria shook her head, declining his offer.

"No, it's a bit chilly, but I can manage."

"Yeah? If you get cold, tell me. Ill make a fireball for you."

"Okay, I will."

An awkward atmosphere enveloped them again.

They had descended into the dungeon with high spirits, but without any information.

As they continued their aimless walk through the dungeon, Ruin broke the silence to lighten the mood.

"Oh yeah. Did you meet him last week?"

"Who?"

"Ricardo."

At Ruin's sudden mention, both Yuria and Michail flinched. They had recently received help from him and heard harsh words from the man whose name they now spoke.

It was a difficult name to speak casually.

It was also uncomfortable.

Certainly, he was someone who had helped them.

But it wasn't a pleasant feeling to hear the name of a person who had also tormented them, especially in a place that held terrible memories.

Not noticing Yuria's cold expression, Ruin rambled about a recent event.

"I went to Hamel for tower business. On my way back to the Academy, I saw a nice bracelet I wanted to buy. But that guy was there."

Ruin talked about what had happened in Hamel.

How he heard harsh words from Ricardo and couldn't buy the bracelet because the shop owner knew Ricardo.

Regretfully complaining that he had wanted to give it as a gift but was unable to, Ruin grumbled.

"I'm never going there again. I'm going to spread rumors all over the magic department."

Ruin was plotting a childish prank.

During their chatter.

"Hah Hah"

As they descended deeper, Yuria's complexion grew paler, causing Ruin to exclaim in surprise.

"Yuria, what's wrong?"

"Just feeling a bit sick."

Yuria, who had been verbally abused by friends in the dungeon.

-You've always been annoying.

-Why does a commoner like you act so high and mighty?

-Friend? Who's your friend?

Her stomach roiled with the bad memories.

The friends who had hurt her with their words and then disappeared.

And her, left alone.

She remembered running from monsters and fleeing into the depths of the dungeon, but Yuria couldn't recall what happened next.

She had heard that she was saved by Ricardo's hands, but she had no memory of it.

Fleeting memories of you' and resentment that everything was a scheme plotted by Ricardo brushed through Yuria's mind.

-Stop it already! I I trusted you

-I thought you were different!

-Get lost Don't ever appear before me again.

It was a past she didn't want to think about.

She had been angry and scared.

Yuria felt sick as she remembered being left alone in the dark dungeon.

Seeing Yuria's pale face, Ruin gritted his teeth.

"That damn Ricardo"

Muttering to himself, Ruin suggested turning back, concerned about Yuria's struggle, but she refused and continued toward the depths.

"It's okay. I just feel a bit sick is all. Its nothing major."

"Still"

Yuria shook off the chilling feeling and pressed forward with vigor.

"It's fine, really."

"If you feel weak, tell us."

"Okay."

Yuria's unpleasant memories kept resurfacing hazily.

She shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the thoughts.

"Let's find him quickly. Hans must be waiting for us too."

That's when it happened.

-Aaaaaaagh!!!

A man's scream could be heard from nearby.

Yuria turned her head.

She saw the end of a gloomy corridor extending into darkness.

Unlike the dungeon corridors lit by torches, a hole in the wall of the pitch-black dungeon caught Yuria's eye.

It was where the man's scream had come from.

Yuria stared at the dark hole with a perplexed expression.

Why does it feel familiar?'

It seemed like a place she had never seen before, yet it strangely felt familiar.

As if she had been there once before.

She hadn't returned to the dungeon since the day she was left behind, but having done numerous assignments, Yuria had a general understanding of the dungeon's layout.

And.

She was certain that this hole was something she had never seen before.

Michail and Ruin, who had frequented the dungeon for training, would also have known the dungeon well.

The dark hole before her was something they had never seen before.

Yet, Yuria felt a strange sense of familiarity.

As if she had been there before.

Suddenly, a blurry memory flashed through Yuria's mind.

-Run.

-

-Run, I said.

As the image of a red-haired man flickered by.

"Was this place here before?"

Michail's question awakened her muddled mind.

"What? You don't know either?"

"No. I haven't seen this place before."

"Wow shit."

Ruin smirked at the sight of the dark space. He was excited, thinking there might be a nice artifact in this undiscovered area.

At the same time, all three felt an instinctive hunch.

That Hans might be here.

With a conviction that came with their instinct, Ruin's face began to glow.

"Lets go."

Ruin swallowed and looked at the dark space.

"There's nowhere else to look."

Although they were nervous, the three couldn't ignore the man's scream and nodded at the sight of the dark hole.

Michail, supporting Yuria, said,

"Can you go, Yuria?"

Yuria nodded with difficulty.

And then.

[A quest has appeared.]

A blue window appeared before her eyes.

[Q. The Person Who Has No Right to Misunderstand]

There was a girl who had fallen in love.

A boy with red hair and straightforward eyes. His appearance might have seemed fierce to most students, something to avoid, but to the girl, he was someone whose appearance clicked' with her heart.

The girl's love was shy.

She was happy just being with him, overjoyed at the prospect of eating together, and would lie in her dormitory bed with a fluttering heart, staying up through the night. That was until a problem arose with a villainous woman the boy was serving.

The boy tormented the girl.

He would lock her away in a wardrobe under the pretense of danger and pour wine on her dress with a sad smile. He ceaselessly played pranks that hurt the girl's heart.

Yet the girl still liked the boy, comforting herself with thoughts that there must be a reason for his actions.

However, starting with the incident in the dungeon, the girl began to dislike the boy.

She had thought her friends were on her side, but she was abandoned by them in the dungeon. Beginning to suspect the boy who had come to save her as if he had been waiting, she asked herself why.

Why he was there, why bad things always happened around him, the girl started to become afraid.

The girl was doubtful.

She thought about whether the things that seemed to happen against her wishes had actually been the boy's doing or if the bad things happening around her were caused by the boy.

That day in the dungeon.

Despite the boy doing his best to protect her.

The boy thinks he is a bad person. Although he may be right, it's uncertain how you see it.

(!) Find your mistaken memory from the day you were abandoned in the dungeon.

1. Enter the Foundation of Greed. (0/1)

2. Persuade or eliminate Hans' tainted by greed. (0/1)

Reward: You can access Side Story 12 The Person Who Has No Right to Misunderstand.'

Failure: The Person Who Has No Right to Misunderstand' will be changed to Side Story 42 The Unqualified Person' and you will be forced' to view it]

Upon seeing the blue window, Yuria stopped in her tracks.

The clear ding' sound that accompanied the chilling contents had caught her by the ankles.

Frozen in place, Yuria felt her blood run cold.

Because it spoke of killing a friend.

Because it detailed her own story.

A story she had told no one. The blue window clearly indicating the turning point of how she came to dislike Ricardo made Yuria feel as if her body was turning to stone.

What the'

Ricardo did what?'

And who's Hans'

Rubbing her eyes, Yuria asked Michail, who was checking the condition of his sword.

"Michail I see something strange"

"Something strange?"

Yuria pointed at the blue window with her finger.

Michail looked where Yuria was pointing, but he saw nothing in the air. With a perplexed expression, not understanding what she was talking about or pointing to, Michail said,

"I don't see anything. Are you too tense?"

"You don't see anything?"

"..."

Yuria bit her lip hard.

She thought maybe she was seeing things because she was too tense, but the clear words she could see were not easy to dismiss.

Yuria swallowed the doubts that rose to her lips.

She didn't want to ruin the mood with strange talk. She didn't want to show a fuss before exploring an unknown area.

Gripping her fists tightly, Yuria said to Michail,

"No Maybe I just saw something for a moment."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah don't worry about it. I'm okay."

Michail looked at Yuria with concern. He could guess why she was acting this way.

An incident over a year old.

Being left behind in the dungeon.

Michail didn't know about the event from a year ago. He wasn't there and only heard rumors.

What he clearly remembered was Ricardo, covered in blood, bringing Yuria back. This was something he distinctly remembered.

At that time, Michail was interrogating the students who had returned to the Royal Academy.

"Tell the truth"

"We don't know where that wench went!"

"Somebody saw you go in with her and you're still going to deny it?"

"No it's just that"

"Talk. Before I tell the student council president."

"Haah we didn't want to do it!"

"Stop beating around the bush and talk"

Amidst the questioning, Ricardo appeared.

"Damn. Thought I was dead."

Bloody and battered, Ricardo handed over Yuria and then left the place abruptly.

That was all Michail remembered about that day.

Ricardo kept quiet.

And Yuria couldn't remember.

So there was nothing he could say about it.

Before entering the ominous space, Michail reached out a hand to the struggling Yuria and said,

"Let's go back if it's too hard. I'll come down with Ruin and look for it again."

"..."

Yuria shook her head with difficulty.

"No, it's just the cold."

Ignoring the blue window that hung in the air, Yuria rejected Michail's hand.

"What if Hans is injured? Neither of you can use healing magic."

Michail couldn't respond to her valid point.

Running away upon hearing someone's scream didn't fit Michail and Yuria's principles.

The two fools who once tried to save a heretic. They couldn't consider turning back after hearing a human scream.

Yuria stood up with determination and said,

"Let's go. We can do this."

A dark hole in the dungeon wall.

As if proving that no human hand had touched it, the dark and dreary space awaited the three, with no torchlight or lanterns.

Ruin was excited to discover an unexplored area.

Michail felt an ominous premonition.

And Yuria was worried about her friend.

The trio swallowed their nerves and moved toward the depths.

As their feet stepped beyond the wall.

Ding!' A chilling text obscured Yuria's vision.

[Enter the Foundation of Greed. (1/1)]

Yuria ignored the blue window with a stiff expression.

It'll be okay'

She tried to calm her beating heart.

***

The space beyond the wall was nothing special.

No powerful monsters.

No dangerous traps. Just an ordinary space.

If not for the sheer darkness, it was no different from an ordinary dungeon.

There were walls and a path.

A repetitive pattern every few sections.

After about 10 minutes.

Ruin, feeling bored, began to grumble.

"What's this? No monsters, no items We were excited, and there's nothing here. Did Hans take everything?"

"Keep it down. Monsters might show up."

"Keep it down? We haven't seen a single monster so far."

"That's why you need to be careful. What if there's an irregular? Are you going to be responsible?"

Annoyed by Michail's conservative actions, Ruin was irritated. The tentative steps were grating on his nerves, and the more they walked into the depths, the heavier the foul stench became.

Ruin furrowed his brows at the nauseating smell and complained to Michail,

"Your breath stinks Go brush your teeth or something."

As Ruin's sarcastic words came out, Michail walked up to him with big strides, and Ruin stepped backward, spouting curse words.

"Are you mad? It struck a nerve, huh"

"Stop joking around and focus."

"Nu-nu Stop joking around Ah!"

Thud! Avoiding Michail, Ruin tripped over something dull and fell.

"Damn it Annoying"

As he tried to get up, he reached for the ground.

"What's this?"

His hand felt something squishy, and Ruin began to lower the orb he had floated in the air.

"What's wrong?"

"No just a moment, something feels strange"

A creepy sensation froze Ruin as he had a chilling thought.

It wasn't like a rock. It felt a bit softer.'

A hard texture, yet somehow soft.

The feeling wasn't like a rock but rather like sitting on a living creature made Ruin carefully lower the orb to illuminate the floor.

An obstacle began to reveal itself in the light of the orb.

"Yuck!"

Ruin, who had been sitting on a human corpse, jumped up in horror. Sticky bodily fluids clung to his clothes.

He breathed heavily as he discovered the source of the stench that had filled their noses.

"Damn"

Seeing the exposed corpse, Ruin covered his mouth.

"Ugh"

"What's going on, Ruin Aaah!"

Yuria screamed and stepped back upon seeing the corpse. She bent over, retching.

Her face turned pale.

The eyes of the dead corpse were open, having died with its breath still.

The corpse was wearing the patrol uniform of an exploration team that managed the dungeon.

And it wasn't just one there were several in a row.

Seeing the bodies scattered on the floor, Michail tried to maintain his composure as he bent down.

He placed his hand on the neck of one corpse and then shook his head.

"They're dead."

Michail was confirming their deaths.

Ruin, supporting the flustered Yuria, looked at Michail and said,

"Damn What is this?"

"I don't know."

"No Ah"

Ruin swept a hand through his hair, his mind a whirlwind.

Corpses.

In the capital's dungeon.

Seeing corpses in a dungeon was a relatively common sight, but finding abandoned bodies in the dungeon near the capital was not something to overlook.

A dungeon adopted for the safety of the Royal Academy's students. A place where first-year finals and most assignments were conducted. The presence of bodies meant something had gone terribly wrong.

Monsters that threatened students' lives didn't exist here, and there was a team continuously managing the dungeon.

The death of people meant it was clear-cut murder.

Suddenly, an eerie sensation began to prickle the skin of the confused trio.

-Aaaaaaagh!!!

Once again, the scream of an unfamiliar man sent shivers down Ruin's spine.

Ruin's smug smile began to fade, while Michail, who had been standing expressionlessly, started to channel magic into his sword.

With inexperienced aura kept as a last resort, Michail, tensed by the situation, surveyed the surroundings.

As another chill wind blew through,

Michail, deciding on a course of action, looked at Yuria and Ruin and said,

"Let's go back."

"What are you saying, man."

"Let's go back."

"...."

Ruin bristled at the mention of turning back and started to argue with Michail. He was aware of the seriousness of the situation, but Ruin was worried about his friend.

Michail calmly replied to Ruin,

"Something is wrong."

Michail said it.

Something was terribly wrong.

Michail began to walk towards the entrance, shielding the panting Yuria behind him.

"Let's give up."

"What?"

"Give up and go back, it's not our problem to solve."

Michail suggested heading back to the entrance, but Ruin shook his head and responded loudly,

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? We can't just leave after coming this far"

"We've come far enough, so let's go back before it's too late. Let's go back."

"Then what about Hans? Just leave him to die?"

Ruin thought Michail was scared.

With such an attitude, Ruin looked down on Michail, thinking he couldn't accomplish anything. Ruin started striding towards the opposite side of the entrance, towards where the man's scream had come from.

"Being scared, what can you do? Idiot."

Michail reached out to grab Ruin's hand, to stop him from going further and to go back together.

"What's that?"

Michail halted when he saw Ruin suddenly stop.

It was a vast space.

A wide space that seemed like a dungeon boss was lying in wait.

The dark, high ceiling. An arena-like circular space came into view, and at its center, a giant red magic circle drawn in blood loomed before them.

And.

In the midst of chaos, a familiar man was standing with a strange smile.

A modest-looking man with black glasses.

The boy who looked like a model student was Hans,' the missing student they had been searching for.

Ruin started walking slowly towards the center of the magic circle.

Ruin walked as if entranced, with an incredulous look in his eyes as if asking why Hans was there.

"Hey Hans, what are you doing here?"

Hans, upon hearing someone approaching, turned around and saw Ruin. With a nonchalant expression, as if nothing was amiss, he said,

"Oh it's Ruin? And Yuria and Michail are here too"

Hans, unfazed in a place filled with corpses, sent shivers down Ruin's spine.

Hans was waving his hand.

His hand smeared with blood, he muttered something eerie.

"I didn't expect to show the first demonstration to you guys Maybe this is fate too?"

Ruin, now close to Hans, spoke with a trembling voice. Confused, as the friend he knew wouldn't act like this.

"What are you doing here"

"Can't you see?"

"What?"

"I'm studying. Trying to keep up with talented people like you."

Hans spoke to Ruin with innocent eyes.

"I was self-studying."

"You're not going to interrupt, are you?"

Suddenly, the red magic circle under Hans's feet began to glow.

"I don't want to kill you. After all, we are friends."

The supporting character, tainted by jealousy, turns into the Archbishop of Greed.

Hans looked at Ruin with an innocent smile.

Ruin had always thought of Hans as a good friend.

Adopted into the hands of a tower master, Hans was the only friend who reached out to him when he couldn't adapt to the magical tower.

-What's your name?

-What's it to you?

-I'm Hans. I have no last name!

-Who asked for your life story?

-You're really touchy. But that's okay! We can start getting along from now.

He was one of the few friends who could put up with Ruin's foul temper.

They were companions who had shared over a decade together in the magical tower. They were similar in being orphans and having similar backgrounds. They both loved magic, and that's why they got along.

Even though Hans's magic abilities had not improved, leading him to fall out of the line of direct disciples, Ruin had thought they maintained a relationship as friends who talked and relieved stress together at the Royal Academy.

The day before Hans went missing, he came to Ruin's room with a bottle of alcohol. Ruin was puzzled by Hans's appearance since he usually did not drink, but he didn't think much of it.

-Ruin I'm thinking of quitting magic.

-What are you saying, idiot. What will you eat if you quit magic?

-Just Whenever I compare myself to you and other friends, I feel like this path isn't mine, and no matter how hard I try, I can't escape the lower classes.

-Stop talking nonsense and just try harder. Once you graduate from the Academy, you can get a decent job with a good family. And wouldn't the old man set you up somewhere good?

-Maybe.

-Try your best like I do. I haven't just been playing around either.

-Try my best?

-Yeah. Work your ass off.

-Even at the risk of my life?

-Idiot. Isn't that obvious?

After pouring out his heart, Hans left Ruin's room that day with a refreshed look.

-Ruin, you told me to do this.

Hans left with a meaningful remark.

Until then, Ruin never imagined things would escalate to this degree.

Not even slightly.

***

The magic circle began to emit a red light.

The bodies piled on the magic circle turned into black liquid, becoming nourishment for the spell, and the black magic emanating from the magic circle began to cling to Hans, the caster.

Yuria attempted to suppress the dreadful dark magic made of pure malice by pouring out her holy power, but her clumsy holy power could not stop the intricately crafted magic.

The name of the magic was Transmutation.'

It was a spell that shed the skin of a magician to be reborn as a dark wizard, devised by a dark wizard named Calypso' who had spread terror across the empire 100 years ago.

The more souls gathered, the more the power of the spell changed, and the type of ability was determined by the caster's desires; it was a wicked spell.

One day, a year ago.

It was the magic Hans had found while training in the dungeon.

-Kukukukuku

Along with a majestic sound that shook the earth, the screams of the sacrificed people began to ring out from the magic.

As the malice that seemed to pierce their skin weighed heavily on their shoulders, Michail shouted at Ruin.

"Ruin!"

"..."

"What are you doing! Come back quickly!"

Michail's words did not reach Ruin.

Everything felt like a lie.

His friend, who couldn't even kill an ant, didn't seem like the kind of person to do something as frightening as murder.

He couldn't believe the sight of his friend, standing in the middle of the altar with a mad smile.

The introverted.

The timid Hans was gone.

Long gone.

The dark wizard awakened Hans was laughing maniacally, his face brimming with satisfaction from the surging power.

"There's an easy way to get strong, so why did I go around in circles? There was no need to bother with formulas and calculations. Just words."

Ruin clenched his teeth and asked Hans.

"Hans, I have one question for you."

"Huh?"

"Did you kill all these people here?"

Hans replied without a moment's hesitation.

"Yeah. This is magic learned for killing people, what about it?"

Ruin's red orbs began to rise, radiating an intense heat.

One. Two. Three.

There were countless orbs of flame, and Hans watched them with curiosity.

"Have you grown again? How strong are you going to get?"

"It's not growth. It's effort."

"Right, effort I've tried a lot, so I know."

With a snap,' Hans flicked his fingers.

Simultaneously with the flick, black waves spread across the floor, and the orbs that Ruin created began to disappear with a fizzle.'

Ruin's eyes trembled greatly.

Hans spoke to Ruin dryly, as if recounting a philosophy he had come to realize through his own experiences. Calmly, Hans continued.

"Ruin. The realm of talent and the realm of effort are completely different. No matter how much I stayed in the library all day, I couldn't catch up to talent."

"Isn't that right, Ruin? Oh maybe you think differently since you said there's nothing easier than magic. You might see things differently."

Hans was looking directly at Ruin. Wearing a bitter smile and coming close to Ruin's nose. Despite his small stature and having to look up at Ruin, Hans, who had demonstrated overwhelming magic, did not seem small.

Hans, standing before Ruin, said,

"I've been thinking about my future career for a while."

"Since I was stripped of my direct disciple position? Anyway, I started thinking a lot. I wondered if this was really my path and I was going through a rebellious phase."

"But magic was fun, wasn't it? It felt great to cast spells with my own hands and get praised by the tower master. But that ended because of you."

Hans told his story in a matter-of-fact way. He spoke with a voice that seemed liberated, neither resentful nor dissatisfied.

"That's why I thought about quitting."

Emotion began to creep into Hans's voice.

"If there's no sign of progress, continuing is stupid. That's why I wanted to ask you, Ruin."

"..."

"Should I quit magic?"

Hans's black eyes began to shimmer.

"But you said it, Ruin. Have you ever tried your best? So I did."

"Thanks to your advice, I succeeded, Ruin."

Hans's eyes started to be filled with madness.

"Look, Ruin."

He showed the dark magic at his fingertips to Ruin.

Telling Ruin that he too could have talent and not be a simpleton gasping for magic power but could be a prodigy with talent, Hans spoke looking straight into Ruin's eyes.

Ruin prepared his magic once again. To stop his precious friend and to do what he could.

He clenched his fists tight and said,

"Even so, you've crossed the line."

"The line?"

At the moment when Ruin created another red orb, Hans waved his hand and neutralized Ruin's magic.

"Who sets these lines? Did some goddess tell you? After all, you and Michail over there are learning magic to kill people, aren't you?"

"No. We learn to protect people"

"Stop living in fantasy, idiot."

Hans sighed deeply and reached out his hand towards Ruin.

"It's my first time handling this power, so be careful."

"What?!"

With a swoosh,' multiple black chains emerged from behind Hans. The jet-black chains hovered in the air, and at Hans's gesture, they shot out like bullets.

"Catch."

At Hans's command, the chains shot out rapidly. Ruin tried to dodge by turning his body, but the multitudes of black chains had long since entangled his legs.

The sound of taut chains pulling, and Ruin's body fell to the ground with a thud.

"It's so easy. Why did I ever worry?"

Hans put his hand in his pocket and walked towards the fallen Ruin.

Just like Ruin always did, Hans walked arrogantly with his hand in his pocket.

Ruin struggled to escape, but the chains that entwined his legs already tightly bound his hands and feet, leaving him unable to move.

The black chains began to emanate an ominous energy.

The more tightly the chains wrapped around him, the more his magic seemed to drain from his body, and the chains tightened even more.

"Hans, come to your senses!"

"Why are you trying to make a sane man out to be a lunatic?"

Hans stepped on Ruin's head with his foot.

"Isn't it crazy for a wizard to engage in close combat?"

"Hans!"

"Just stay put for a while. I told you I'm not good at controlling my strength because it's my first time."

"Snap out of it!"

The magic leaked from Ruin's body through the chains.

The black chains absorbed Ruin's magic, squeezing him even tighter.

Hans bent down.

Dark magic began to flow from Hans's hand as he touched Ruin's head, muttering to himself.

"Is this how it's done?"

[Pillage]'

Hans's black magic engulfed Ruin, and his dark magic spread rapidly. Hans's dark magic, which was swallowing Ruin, was related to greed.

Hans had been envious of others' talents.

He had desired to steal the realms that he could not reach, and his ability was a reflection of that desire.

Pillage'

It was the ability to steal the unique abilities of the target. If one had a perfect understanding of the opponent's abilities, they could be pillaged.

Hans was trying to steal Ruin's unique ability, Flame Script,' by placing his hand on Ruin's head.

Ruin trembled with a sense of impending doom.

"Aaaaah!!! Let go!"

"Hmm.. it's a bit difficult."

"Let go!"

"Just stay still for a while. It would be strange if I stole something weird. You have to feel it for yourself to understand."

Hans's magic rummaged through Ruin's magic circuits, searching for his unique magic, Fire Script.' As the dark magic slowly reached out to steal Ruin's magic, at that moment.

"Stop!"

With a flash of a blade, Michail's sword gleamed as it cut through.

In a swift motion, Michail severed the chains constricting Ruin and shielded the gasping Ruin behind him as he faced Hans with his sword.

Hans waved his hand.

"Michail."

The numerous black chains aimed at Michail, but he calmly swung his sword, cutting through the chains.

Hans licked his lips as he watched Michail.

"Tsk I'm also tempted by Michail's abilities. But I can't just mess with them without knowing what kind of talents you have."

"Shut up."

"Why? Is it a sin to be envious?"

"Shut up"

Hans wrapped the chains around his own arm. The chains formed into the shape of a giant hand.

With a bright smile, Hans swung it.

"Just one."

With a clang, Michail was flung away, and Hans murmured as he watched.

"Tsk I told you not to interfere."

Hans walked again towards the fallen Ruin, about to cast Pillage' on him once more when.

"Hans!"

Yuria's choked voice stopped Hans in his tracks.

Hans looked up at Yuria.

Meeting Yuria's steadfast gaze in the midst of desperation.

Those were familiar eyes.

Always filled with hope.

The woman who had comforted him during his despair at the wall of talent called Ruin, assuring him he could do it.

For Hans, who had few social connections, she was one of the few friends and a good person in his memory.

Yuria, with her eyes fixed firmly on Hans, shouted,

"You're not this kind of person."

"..."

Yuria's eyes were moist, looking as if she might cry at any moment. Hans felt a strange sense of guilt.

"We used to read books together at the library, and do assignments, right? Are you struggling? We'll help you. If you stay with us, you'll be able to grow too, Hans."

"..."

Hans's expression grew heavy, and he wore a bitter look.

"It's too late, Yuria."

"No, it's not, Hans!"

Yuria clenched her fists and delivered her sincerity.

She didn't want to fight.

We're good friends, so let's find a way, she said warmly, conveying her genuine feelings.

"We're friends."

"That's right. Friends."

"You can stand up again. If there's something difficult, I'll help you."

After hearing Yuria's words, Hans showed an awkward smile.

"But, Yuria."

"Huh?"

Hans's expression turned cold.

"What can you do for me?"

"Huh?"

"What can you help with if you can't do anything? You haven't done anything so far."

Yuria's expression began to fill with confusion. Hans looked at her coldly and said,

"Yuria, do you not remember anything from your way here?"

"Uh?"

"There must be something that comes to mind?"

Yuria spoke to Hans with a trembling voice.

"What are you talking about?"

Hans shook his head as if it were amusing.

"When you were abandoned in the dungeon, don't you remember anything?"

"What?"

"You see, Yuria. When you were abandoned in the dungeon, you ran away here."

Hans said with a bitter smile to Yuria.

"I was lucky I found this place because of you, anyway."

"Huh?"

"There was a very old monster living here. A monster older than 100 years."

Cracks began to appear on Yuria's face.

"What are you talking about."

Hans laughed with a ha' and said,

"How do you think you survived?"

Suddenly, a blue window appeared before Yuria's eyes.

-You have failed the quest.

Uh?'

[Instant access to Side Story 42 The Unqualified Person' is granted.]

Yuria's time began to stand still.

[Hans's Corruption Score' has exceeded a certain threshold.

-As Hans has completely turned into a villain', it is no longer possible to persuade him.]

[You have failed the Persuasion' quest.]

-Ding!

[The will of the characters opposing Hans has been broken.]

[Reasons:

Ruin: Long-standing friendship.

Michail: Righteous belief of not killing people.

Yuria: Lack of combat ability / The fragile heart that cannot kill a friend.]

[No characters willing to kill Hans can be found.]

[You have failed the Eliminate Hans' quest.]

[You have failed the quest.]

The moment Yuria questioned Hans's words.

The blue window rang with a chilling notification, declaring the end of the story. The blue window, telling us that there was no hope left for the disqualified, had delivered its verdict of failure.'

Upon hearing the word corruption,' Yuria's eyes shook violently.

Her expression darkened with the thought that it might be too late and the guilt of not having protected Hans.

"Hans"

"Don't look at me with that face. It's too late anyway."

Hans said mockingly to Yuria, who had a pitiful expression on her face.

"I should finish what I was saying earlier. How do you think you survived in the dungeon without even knowing offensive magic?"

Hans's words stirred questions that Yuria had forgotten about for a long time. Hans, challenging the conclusion she hastily came to that it was all Ricardo's doing, was wearing a sardonic smile.

"Aren't you curious about how you survived?"

Yuria had thought it was Ricardo's wrongdoing.

She had considered the possibility that it wasn't Ricardo, but if not, that would mean someone else had brought her out of the dungeon. She thought there had to be some connection, however slight.

The odds of it being a coincidence were too absurdly low.

But. Hans's dissent was beginning to shake the conclusion she had reached.

"In fact, I was there too. I came to the dungeon to test out some nice magic I'd learned."

Hans spoke casually as he placed his hand on Ruin's head.

Promising himself this time he wouldn't fail, Hans, who was constricting Michail with black chains and emitting dark magic, looked at Yuria.

"Was it about an hour ago? I heard a strange noise in the corridor, telling Michail to stop following me. I knew it was you from the start. Honestly, who else would I hear that from, right?"

Ignoring Ruin's agonized curses, Hans recounted the events of that day that he remembered.

With eyes like a venomous snake.

"Those guys are so mean. If they're going to curse, they should do it behind my back, not right to my face. Then they cast a spell that collapsed the exit I wanted to help, but"

Hans erased the faint smile from his face.

"When I cleared the blocked path, you were gone."

"..."

"Do you remember, Yuria Have you ever heard of the dungeon ghost stories at the Royal Academy? The ones where if you go into the dungeon alone, you get bewitched by ghosts."

"What are you trying to say?"

Yuria challenged Hans's words, but he scoffed.

"You should know. You were bewitched by that ghost."

In Hans's hand was an orb containing Ruin's unique magic, burning red. Looking down at the gasping Ruin, Hans began to absorb the magic slowly as he stomped on Ruin's head.

Smiling at the hot heat, Hans continued to explain to the clueless Yuria, simplifying his words.

"You know Calypso, right?"

Hans wore a bitter smile.

"This person is the mastermind behind those ghost stories."

"Stop joking around. How could someone who has been dead for over 100 years"

"Who said he was dead?"

"Actually Is it correct to say he's dead now?"

Hans flicked his finger.

The red orb that was Ruin's unique magic began to shine with hundreds of lights, illuminating the dark ceiling.

Yuria squinted as her view suddenly brightened, and the scene before her eyes left her speechless.

The ceiling and walls were covered with numerous sword marks and dense ancient characters.

Reading the bewildered Yuria's eyes, Hans said,

"Do you still not remember anything?"

Suddenly. A memory that Yuria had forgotten flashed through her mind.

-Ruin, snap out of it. I'll say one, two, three, and then you run over there, okay?

-Don't be scared.

-I'll sort it out. Just look ahead and run.

The man's face in the faint memory was obscured like a fog, but the kind voice was unmistakably someone Yuria knew well.

Overwhelmed by the wave of memories, Yuria shook her head.

"No, that can't be right At that time, it was definitely"

Watching Yuria mutter, Hans shook his head and sighed deeply.

"Poor Ricardo."

The moment the unique ability Hans had taken from Ruin was completely absorbed into his body.

-Pzzzt.!

"Aaaaargh!!!"

A red light began to pour out of Hans's body.

Suddenly enveloped by the red light, Hans started to be covered by it. The unique ability of Ruin being absorbed into Hans's body reverted to orb form and began to detach from Hans, and Hans started to scream in severe pain.

"Arrgh!!! What's this! I thought I had perfectly manifested the spell! What went wrong?!"

Writhing in pain, Hans felt something was off and gritted his teeth as he searched for the cause, but he couldn't find the source amidst the rampaging dark magic and kept floundering.

"Now's the time!"

Seizing the moment, Michail, freed from his bindings, charged at Hans, and the unique magic that had been in Hans's hand flew through the air and fell to the floor.

Ruin was crawling on the floor, reaching for his fallen magic.

Michail was confronting Hans.

Yuria was grappling with the fleeting memories in a state of chaos.

Hans, panicked by the rampage of dark magic, muttered a familiar name in a voice filled with frustration.

"Did you serve me spoiled food, Ricardo!"

Hans looked at the giant sword marks drawn on the ceiling and muttered, the sword marks erasing the complicated characters, spewing out bitter curses.

While everyone was fighting for their lives, the blue window, which had been dormant, began to slowly reveal itself to Yuria, who stood hollowly.

[As a penalty for failing the quest, instant access to Side Story 42 The Unqualified Person' is granted.]

In that moment, Yuria's time stood still.

Michail with his sword facing off against Hans.

Ruin crawling on the floor.

And Hans himself, clutching his head in the grip of the black magic's rampage.

Everything seemed to freeze as if turned to ice, and even the dust floating in the air stood still.

Uh?'

Yuria harbored a small question.

She, too, could not move freely in the suspended time. All she could do was look at the blue letters that had appeared before her eyes.

A sense of foreboding began to wash over Yuria.

-Aren't you curious?

The words Hans had said flitted through her mind.

Yuria looked at the blue window with trembling eyes, realizing there was a hidden memory in a story she thought had ended.

[In 10 seconds, Part 1 The Reason He Saved Her.' will be accessed.

10

.

.

.

9

.

.

.

.

.

3

.

.

.

2

.

.

.

1]

[The viewing begins.]

Yuria's vision went dark.

***

Yuria opened her eyes in a familiar place.

In front of the Royal Academy's fountain.

Yuria stood where many students passed by.

It was early dawn.

The ashen sky illuminated the fountain at the break of dawn.

Confused, Yuria looked around, but realizing the situation was not real upon seeing a girl with black hair, she understood.

-Hmm.

Desmond's youngest daughter, a noble lady with luster in her black hair before she used black magic, equal in prestige to that of a magic tower.

Yuria realized she had gone back to the past upon seeing the former appearance of Olivia Desmond.

Is this a dream?'

Or maybe she had passed out, but one thing was clear she was invisible to them.

Olivia was sitting on the fountain's railing. The princess, chewing on chocolate in front of a red-haired man, had her former fierce gaze.

-So, did you do what I asked?

-Putting tacks in the indoor shoes?

-Yeah.

-No, I didn't.

-Why not?

-It seemed bothersome.

-Want to get cut?

-Snip.

-Aieee!!

The two were having a mundane conversation. Yuria clenched her fists at the sight of the two exchanging banter like old times, not pleased to see the two she disliked. The fact that they were talking about putting tacks in her shoes with such ease made Yuria's blood boil.

After a brief banter, Olivia sighed deeply and spoke to Ricardo.

-I'll say this only once, so listen carefully.

Hearing Olivia's words, Yuria loosened her clenched fists.

What?'

Echoing her thoughts, Ricardo spoke to the past Olivia with a puzzled voice.

-What did you say?

-What you heard.

-No Ah.

A flustered Ricardo ran his hands through his hair. His exasperated expression as he looked down at Olivia showed a hint of anger.

Ricardo spoke to Olivia, suppressing his anger and calmly voicing what he had heard.

-What does it mean to leave Yuria alone in the dungeon?

Ricardo challenged Olivia. Complaining that it was unfair, how could they leave Yuria, who didn't even know offensive magic, alone in the dungeon? Watching Ricardo raise his voice, Yuria thought,

Why is he making that face?'

Yuria couldn't understand why Ricardo, who had tormented her, was making such an expression.

Shouldn't he be happy instead?'

Yuria felt that her memory must have been mistaken.

The past Olivia was avoiding Ricardo's eyes.

-It wasn't my idea.

-Then who!

-Kayla.

A familiar name brushed past her ears.

Kayla.'

Despite being a high noble's child, she was a precious friend who approached Yuria when she was being ostracized.

The unexpected mention of her name made Yuria feel as if she had been hit hard on the head with a club.

She wanted to believe it was just a dream.

She had been getting along fine.

When she returned alive from the dungeon, it was Kayla who comforted her first. The thought that Kayla was the mastermind behind everything made Yuria unable to hide her trembling heart.

Kayla did that?'

No, how could kind Kayla?'

We ate together, did assignments, and were so close.'

Denying it deeply in her heart, Yuria tried to focus on Olivia's words, but she couldn't shake off her restless thoughts.

Olivia began to tell Ricardo about why she was abandoned in the dungeon that day.

-Kayla said she liked Michail too. So she wanted to teach you a lesson, said if we trample you down, you'll lose the nerve to ever go after Michail again.

Ricardo sighed deeply at Olivia's casual words.

-So you agreed to do it?

-No, it seemed like there would be too much talk afterward, so I said no.

-That's a good thing.

-I know.

Ricardo massaged his throbbing head. Muttering about why he kept getting involved in such incidents, he spoke to Olivia about Kayla.

-Last week, the dead rat in the locker, was that Kayla's doing too?

-Yeah. I'm scared of rats, can't touch them. Ricardo, can you do it?

-No? I also dislike rats.

-Coward.

It seemed Ricardo had always known. What kind of person Kayla was, what intentions she had when approaching him. Ricardo seemed to have known it all along.

What is this'

Yuria grew anxious at a story so different from what she knew.

Why Kayla.'

Olivia relaying Kayla's words, Ricardo nodding along.

Yuria felt a disconnect, and her head began to ache with muddled thoughts.

It has to be a lie.'

She couldn't believe that her closest friend, who comforted her, intended to kill her, nor could she believe Olivia relating the story to Ricardo.

The thought that Kayla's protective actions were in fact a ruse was unbelievable to Yuria.

As her confused thoughts ran rampant.

Ricardo, putting on his coat, said to Olivia.

-For now, I'm going to take a leave of absence today.

-Going to save her?

-Yes. I don't like seeing my friend in a bad way.

He called her a friend.

Called her his friend.

It felt strange to Yuria to hear the person she had hated calling her a friend.

Olivia told such Ricardo to do as he pleased. She wasn't Yuria's friend, so whether Yuria lived or died, she didn't care.

Ricardo asked Olivia, full of questions.

-But why tell me? You dislike Yuria too.

-Yeah, I do. But

Olivia stood up from the railing with a resolute expression.

-Dying is a bit much. And after fighting with Kayla

-Did you win?

Olivia reached into her pocket and showed Ricardo a tuft of hair that looked like Kayla's.

-Yeah.

A move fitting of the undefeated Olivia.

-And even if I tell you not to go, you'll go, right?

-No. If you tell me not to, I won't.

-Lies. You secretly helped last time.

-That was just good luck.

-Your lies are poor.

-I'll practice.

Ricardo watched Olivia return to the dormitory and then turned around with a determined face.

And he began to run at a rapid pace. Running tirelessly and quickly towards the dungeon where he had been abandoned that day.

The moment the misunderstanding of that day was cleared.

[Part 2 The Unqualified Person' commences.]

The pale blue letters signaling the start of the events once again hovered before her eyes.

Once again, Yuria's vision faded to black.

The air of dawn she had just breathed changed to the musty atmosphere of the dungeon, and Yuria slowly opened her eyes, exhaling a deep sigh.

I was wrong about Ricardo'

Yuria's mind was a turmoil.

I thought it was all Ricardo's doing. I'

The thought that she had hated and despised an innocent person darkened her expression.

I should apologize, right?'

Yuria took a deep breath and lifted her head.

The ceiling made of stone.

In the moss-filled corridor of the dungeon, Yuria stood.

And in one corner of the dungeon.

A pink-haired girl was standing alone, covering her eyes with her hands and crying.

Looking at the collapsed entrance and weeping, the past Yuria clenched her fists.

[The reading will begin in 10 minutes.]

Her own crying figure.

The sight of her past self, head bowed and weeping sadly, overwhelmed her with a mix of complex emotions and surging thoughts.

The blue window began to narrate the story she had experienced.

[That day, you were abandoned by your friends.]

It was content she knew well.

The blue window needlessly spoke of the heartbreaking memory of being abandoned and weeping in despair.

I know.'

Yuria glared at the blue window with resentment in her eyes, but the blue window continued only to tell the story of her past.

[It was a suspicious proposal. The friend who had only exchanged casual greetings with you came to the dormitory at dawn, and despite the dubious nature of the sudden visit and invitation to explore the dungeon together, you nodded in agreement.

At that time, you were being ostracized and were lonely.

Ricardo, who had become awkward.

Your friends, who had been close to you, had started to avoid you, so the invitation from your friends was a welcome change.

You were so lonely that you agreed to the strange request to explore the dungeon at such an early hour of dawn.]

Yuria muttered with a voice filled with anger. Normally distant from anger, she was disturbed by the blue window's bitter words.

I know that.'

Yuria inwardly shouted. She was full of fury, questioning why they had to dredge up painful memories.

I know, so be quiet'

She was already troubled Yuria resented the blue window for continuously provoking her.

I know, so

Please

Shut up..

Yuria crouched down, covering her ears, not wanting to hear any more, but the blue window's relentless narration began to chill her blood.

[That day, the students who went to the dungeon with you were gathered at the request of your friend' Kayla.

They accepted the alluring offer of a large sum of money and covering the Royal Academy tuition in exchange for abandoning you in the dungeon.

The friends who harbored negative feelings toward you agreed to the proposal and conspired to leave you in a deeper part of the dungeon than they originally planned.]

[When they left you, they said this.

-Why are you acting so high and mighty? Do you like men that much?

-Because of you, all commoners are getting a bad reputation. Act like a commoner if you are one.

-I never liked you from the start. Flirting with all the men]

It was a harsh blow to receive verbal abuse instead of gratitude for kindness. You were bound to be hurt.

Now you are in despair, in front of the collapsed exit.

No way back. Your hurt heart.

Your shredded spirit feared returning to the Royal Academy.

You couldn't face them, and the wounds in your heart wouldn't easily heal.

And at that moment.

A lethal voice began to whisper in the ears of your weakened self.

-Come here.

-I'll avenge you.

-Don't you want to kill them? I'll grant any wish you have.

A dark wizard named Calypso,' defeated by the Empire's knights a hundred years ago, was enticing you with his words.]

The blue window's story began to reveal truths that Yuria had not known.

Yuria, who had repeatedly blocked her ears and tried to avoid it, stopped and lifted her head at the blue window's sudden words.

With moist eyes, Yuria slowly raised her head and looked at the blue window with trembling gaze.

What did you say?'

The blue window swiftly answered Yuria's question.

[Calypso is preparing for his revival.

He is scheming to replenish his dark power by enticing people like you, recovering his body wounded in a battle a hundred years ago.]

[You walked towards that place.]

[And.]

[A man following behind you grabbed your hand, leading you away from death.]

The last paragraph struck Yuria's ears powerfully. It told her that she was nearly dead, but Ricardo had saved her.

Clutching her bursting heart, Yuria glared at the blue window.

That's absurd how could'

-Tick

-Tick

-Tick

As the timer on the blue window hit '00:00,' Yuria's break ended.

[The reading begins.]

As the blue window disappeared, a sorrowful sobbing reached her ears.

-Sob Hic Ahah

The weeping voice of her past self echoed in Yuria's ears.

I hic What did I do wrong? I just wanted to be friends with everyone hic..'

Looking at her past self rubbing her eyes and shedding tears, Yuria watched with wavering eyes.

-Wahhh Why does everyone hate me I tried so hard.

Watching herself cry was not a pleasant feeling.

Don't cry.'

-I just

Don't cry even if nothing changes because you cried. Yuria.'

-I want to get along with everyone

Don't cry'

Her past self walked with weak steps toward the deeper parts of the dungeon.

The blue window was right. She was afraid to go back to the Royal Academy, and the thought of seeing those people again darkened her vision.

She truly felt scared.

Even if she got along with a few professors and friends, the atmosphere in the classroom turned ice cold, and it was hard to endure.

She felt like filth. Like something people disliked touching and didn't want to come near.

So.

Her past self had fled deeper into the dungeon. She thought it would be more comfortable to hide.

Yuria murmured as she watched her past self's slumped shoulders.

It's enough now.'

She didn't know why this was shown to her, but having realized her mistake, she wished it would end.

Now that she understood it wasn't Ricardo's doing, Yuria clenched her fists and yelled at the blue window, realizing her misunderstanding.

But the blue window offered no response.

Yuria shouted with frustration.

It was just one time one time! I may have misunderstood once, but Ricardo tormented me far more!'

Acknowledging it didn't erase her mistake.

But

Compared to what Ricardo had done to her at the Royal Academy, her misunderstanding was minor.

Yes, it was just one time.

The time she was left behind in the dungeon. Once.

She had suffered worse things at Ricardo's hands, and those things made her cry more.

If the blue window appeared hoping to make her realize her wrongdoing, then Yuria thought it had severely missed the mark.

This wasn't something to show her, but rather Ricardo.

How tough it had been because of him.

How much she had suffered because of unreciprocated love. Ricardo couldn't even imagine it.

So

She wished it would stop.

Otherwise.

-Sob

She felt it would make her past self seem too pitiful.

About 10 minutes had passed.

The corridor she walked down became increasingly blurry. Her past self, with unfocused eyes, as if enchanted, began to walk deeper into the dungeon.

-Be quiet!

-I never thought of killing my friends!

-Shut up!

Yuria felt a chill as she watched her past self muttering to herself, covering her head.

-No

Shaking her head.

-I'm not alone.

She saw her past self beginning to utter negative words.

After a while, repeating words like a mad person, her past self, who had been blocking her ears and staggering, gradually found stability and began to murmur.

-Right, I can just start over from the beginning. If I get rid of friends and make new ones, I won't be alone.

-Yeah, they're the bad ones. Then it's right to punish them.

With unfocused eyes, her past self stood in front of the dungeon wall, knocking.

Her past self, who had been confronting Hans in the corridor leading to the Greedy Altar just moments ago, began knocking.

Knock knock. As her knocks echoed behind the wall, it crumbled with a rumble, and an ominous aura began to emanate from it.

-We've arrived.

The past Yuria began stepping into the dark space with a bright smile.

Watching her, Yuria began to be enveloped by anxiety, remembering what Hans had said.

-How could someone who doesn't even learn offensive magic survive in the dungeon?

Exactly, how did I survive?'

As her past self walked deeper into the darkness, Yuria's head grew heavier.

She had no idea what was going to happen next. She couldn't imagine that she would have walked into a place called the Altar of Greed, filled with the stench of blood.

All she could hope for was the redhead butler.

Just when she felt so guilty that she couldn't lift her head, a man's voice began to sound from behind her.

-What are you doing!

Ricardo emerged through the darkness.

Seeing him, Yuria's eyes began to well up with tears.

Only now did Yuria realize how she could have gotten out. If it hadn't been for Ricardo, she would have died.

Ricardo had roughly grabbed her wrist in the past.

Gasping for breath and sweating, Ricardo looked at his past self with empty eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

-Oh? It's Ricardo.

Her past self spoke emotionlessly.

-The Ricardo I hate the most in the whole world.

Her past self seemed unaffected as she hurtfully spoke to Ricardo without any emotion.

No anger. No hatred. No sorrow. Just spewing insults at Ricardo without any of those feelings.

Upon hearing the verbal abuse, Ricardo responded with a nonchalant laugh.

-The person you hate the most in the world, is that right? Anyway, let's go back. This place is too dangerous.

-Here?

She looked around with a puzzled tilt of her head and replied with a cold laugh.

-This is my home.

-You've done well for yourself with such a spacious house.

-I'm tired, so I'm going to rest.

Her past self tried to break free from Ricardo's grip and enter the deep darkness, but Ricardo's tight hold wouldn't allow her to leave.

Ricardo spoke to her with a kind voice.

-How about staying out tonight? Ill buy you something delicious.

-I dont want to. I need to go back.

-Chocolate! How about some chocolate?

-Its too sweet. I dont like it.

-But you used to enjoy it Anyway, let's go back. It's dangerous here.

-I don't want to! I don't!

Her past self continued to struggle and resist.

She tried to break free from Ricardo's hand, screaming that she would go, looking like a petulant child.

Yuria felt a chill.

Mind control.

She had thought it had nothing to do with her, but seeing the unfocused eyes and the dark expression of her past self, she had to acknowledge it.

That she had caused a great nuisance.

Hans had been right.

His sarcastic remarks about her not remembering her significant wrongdoing were not wrong at all.

Yuria felt grateful that Ricardo had caught her before it was too late. If she had been even a little later, she might have entered the Altar of Greed of her own accord.

With a sigh of relief, Yuria wiped the cold sweat that had drenched her uniform.

Then she looked at the past Ricardo.

The strange student who insisted on wearing butler clothes, saying that demerits couldn't break a butler's will, and at the same time, the handsome Ricardo with his tall appearance.

Yuria looked at Ricardo with complicated feelings.

Thank goodness.'

She was confident that the end of this nightmare-like memory was approaching.

-We must go quickly.

-I don't want to!

-Yuria Sigh

Ricardo was determined to drag her away by force. Ignoring her past self's struggling words and looking anxiously toward the exit.

Suddenly, her past self shouted at Ricardo.

-Let go of me! You repulsive hypocrite!

-A garbage pretending to be good, who do you think you're holding onto!

-Why? Will you say this is also for my sake?

It was the past Yuria, expressing the words she had kept inside her heart to Ricardo.

Yuria swallowed her breath at the sight.

What are you doing by saying such things!'

She couldn't imagine what kind of reaction Ricardo would have after hearing such cold words. She thought that even Ricardo would feel bad after hearing such things.

He had come all this way to save her.

Nobody would be happy to be called trash. Yuria, with her head bowed, cautiously lifted her head to look at Ricardo.

-Puhaha! So that's what you've been thinking? I thought you were going to die from laughing each time.

Ricardo, as always, was smiling and said to his past self.

-You should have said that earlier. Why suffer in silence? According to Miss Yuria, I am a bad guy indeed, so there's no damage done.

With his hand holding hers firmly, Ricardo spoke in a kind voice, with a familiar expression as he had once shown in Hamel.

-Well, as Miss Yuria says, I am a bad person. You can curse me all you want.

-So let's go.

Facing herself, who had vented her resentment, Ricardo was making a familiar excuse.

Yuria's eyes widened.

-Uh?'

Despite hearing the cold words, Yuria's heart raced at Ricardo's kind reaction.

She had expected him to say something bad, but his easy acknowledgment and kindness were evident.

Overwhelmed by emotions, Yuria exclaimed.

Why are you doing this?'

Why'

Feeling a tingling sensation in her heart, Yuria focused on the scene before her as she rubbed her sniffly nose.

It was almost over. She just had to hold on a little longer and then she could go back and apologize to Ricardo for this incident.

-Ah That's not right. We have a guest who hasn't visited in a while

An old man's voice came from behind.

It was the voice of a feeble old man.

Clearly the voice of a feeble old man, but she couldnt dare to turn her head.

Turning would feel like death.

Overwhelmed by an inexplicable pressure, Yuria's body was trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Who's there?'

She saw a back figure of an old man, who had passed by the terrified Yuria, exuding an abyssal darkness.

She was breathless with his overwhelming presence. Realizing the terror despite it not being real, Yuria shook as she lifted her head, and when she saw the old man's figure, her eyes began to tremble intensely.

-Isn't that so, young ones?

With white hair.

An old man with a black cane.

The old man with cat-like silted eyes and golden irises was someone she had only read about in history books.

The old man, smiling like a crescent moon, said.

-My name is Calypso. The old man once called the calamity of the Empire.' Do you remember?

As the old man's words finished, a pop' sound followed, and the surroundings brightened dramatically.

The ceiling and walls were covered in complicated inscriptions. The original appearance of the Altar of Greed, where they had just stood, began to come into Yuria's view.

The ceiling, once full of sword marks, now had none. Calypso, standing in the center, began to reach out with a malicious smile.

Golden eyes.

An emaciated face.

And the old man wearing a black robe was the very image of the dark wizard who had once plunged the Empire into fear.

No way.'

Calypso was smirking with a vile smile, savoring the moment of finally being able to leave.

Yuria was shivering with dread.

It was despair.

Even in the illusion, when she felt the sheer malice tingling through her body, incapable of imagining what Ricardo must be feeling, Yuria said with a trembling voice.

We have to run'

Against a dark wizard of unimaginably high caliber, Yuria instinctively yelled to run, but the past Ricardo was sighing and muttering to himself.

-Sigh Originally, this would be something the heretics should handle

Saying something incomprehensible and speaking to his past self as if to soothe her.

-Yuria, please come to your senses. When I count to three, well run that way, okay?

-Don't be afraid, okay?

-I will solve everything. Just look ahead and run.

The past Yuria nodded with unfocused eyes.

And then.

Calypso, with a bitter smile, said to Ricardo.

-Hmm Such noble sacrifice. But I dislike such things, you see.

With those words.

Thwack. A sound echoed as red blood began to flow from Ricardo's mouth.

-Oh?

A dagger was stuck in Ricardo's abdomen. A familiar dagger with a pink handle.

The dagger given to him by his father, which he still wore at his waist for self-defense, was now embedded in Ricardo's abdomen.

Ah no!'

Noooo It can't be, right?'

It's a lie It must be! Why would I!?'

Yuria covered her mouth with her hands.

-Yuria, why

-...

Because the person who had stabbed Ricardo was none other than herself.

Her past self, who had plunged the sword in, was crying with an awkward smile. Drip, drip,' Yuria couldn't contain her emotions as tears flowed.

Ah it can't be This is'

At the sound of a clap and Calypso's laughter.

Life began to return to her past self's eyes.

Her past self, looking at the blood on her hands, asked.

-Ri-Ricardo?

Ricardo, bleeding, gave the same smile he had in Hamel.

-It's nothing.

[The reading has ended.]

Her transgressions ended with Ricardo's faint smile.

Overwhelmed by an incalculable shock, she reached out into the void, but all that returned was the cold text of the blue window.

[The reading has ended.]

[You will return to the original time in 3 minutes.]

Her vision began to darken.

Only sound was perceptible.

Nothing could be seen.

The only thing that could be heard through the darkened vision was Ricardo's calm voice.

-Run, Yuria.

-Ah-Ah

-It's okay. Hurry up.

She had wanted to stay by his side until the end.

Yuria had hoped to remain beside Ricardo and heal him, but the sound of her own feet running away in the face of overwhelming fear twisted her expression.

-I-I'll heal

-It's okay. Run faster.

The desperate rushing footsteps of the girl echoed like a mad song in the darkened sight.

No'

Don't run away'

I need to stay until the end'

As the sound of her past self's footsteps gradually faded, Yuria crumbled.

She couldn't see anything, but Yuria knew. She knew that in this space, only Ricardo and Calypso were left.

-Clck. Clck. Clck. What to do being abandoned? If you bring that woman back now, I might spare at least you.

-I might know how to attack old men, but I dont know how to respect them.

-Heh, what a dull fellow.

-Indeed. Seems dementia has set in since my humor isn't landing.

After the brief exchange, sounds of a battle that could burst eardrums resonated.

Flesh being torn.

The grim sound of skin being sliced.

Yuria covered her ears and tears fell.

Ah it can't be'

Though she floundered, denying that she was the one responsible, the pieces of memory slowly fitting together refused to let her escape from the swamp of admission.

A forgotten memory surfaced.

After escaping the dungeon, when she had been hospitalized in the infirmary. She remembered how Ricardo had cautiously opened the door of the infirmary.

-Why did you come

She remembered coldly pushing Ricardo away at that time. She hadn't spoken directly, but she asked him to leave in a way that made her intent clear.

Ricardo scanned her body for injuries and then left a small gift on the table of the infirmary with an awkward smile.

-I brought back something you lost.

That day, the small box contained the pink dagger she thought she had lost in the dungeon.

The dagger with which she had stabbed Ricardo.

The precious object she had once told Ricardo was a gift from her father, he had brought it back, recalling the unpleasant memory.

With memories fitting together one by one, Yuria shook her head in denial.

Haah Haah.. No..'

-You poor abandoned thing.

-...

-You want to protect him, even though he ran away from you? If I were you, I would have chased after and dragged her back by the hair.

-You really have gone senile.

-Are you not afraid of losing your life?

-Isn't it about time for you to return to the dirt?

The sounds of Ricardo's desperate battle with the taunting dark wizard, Calypso, echoed in Yuria's ears.

And the voice of the old man, hinting at Ricardo's defeat, reached her.

-You put up quite a fight. Young swordsman.

As Calypso's chilling words concluded.

-Limit break.-

With Ricardo's short phrase, the blue window bid farewell to the past.

[You are returning to the original time.]

***

When she came to, everything was over.

While she stood there, dumbfounded, unable to shake the horrific shock of the terrible past that unfolded due to her mistake.

Michail had gathered all his strength and confronted Hans, and thanks to Michail stalling for time, the Empire's knights who were searching for Hans were able to arrive.

"Damn"

Hans swallowed his frustration and ran away.

With the arrival of someone who could skillfully wield aura, a formidable opponent, he had no choice but to tuck his tail and run.

As Hans fled, spitting out the words if only I hadn't gone berserk' he disappeared with a bone-chilling remark, See you again,' aimed at them.

She hadn't done anything.

She joined the group to provide support, but due to her lack of ability, she was not only unable to help Michail and Ruin, but she also failed to persuade Hans.

Yuria swallowed her frustration as she watched the knights trying to sort out the situation.

"I couldn't do anything"

She lost many victims and friends.

She encountered truths she had never considered.

Having harshly misunderstood and treated someone poorly, Yuria bit her lip and swallowed her tears, now knowing the truth.

"How foolish"

She felt foolish for being powerless.

If she had only been a little stronger, if she hadn't been swayed by emotions, then the events shown by the blue window wouldn't have happened.

Michail. Ruin. Ricardo.

She might have been able to protect everyone.

Yuria felt pathetic in her weakness.

In the vast space where the battle with Hans had taken place.

Yuria lifted her head towards the ceiling to hide her welling tears. It felt like they would pour out if she didn't do this.

Though Yuria didn't want to show herself crying in front of the knights and her friends, when she saw the sword marks etched across the ceiling, the emotions surged like a tidal wave, and she eventually burst.

"Hic"

The sword marks were evidence of a fierce battle.

The traces of a frail Academy student who had swung his weapon to protect her against the wicked dark wizard.

The traces of someone who had protected her.

Tears began to stream down her chin.

"It was nothing."

His tender voice seemed to keep coming back to her mind. The sad face of Ricardo, who had been hiding the blood flowing from his mouth with a faint smile, still lingered in her head.

Yuria murmured with empty eyes.

"It shouldn't have happened."

"You shouldn't have done that"

"I-I misunderstood it as your doing, but if you do that, what does that make me"

Yuria uttered these sorrowful words to herself. Without wiping her tears, she repeated the words while looking at the sword marks drawn all over the walls and ceiling.

"I didn't even know and I hated you."

She had hated Ricardo.

She had hated him enough to wish he would trip over a stone while walking. She had never wished for his death.

She just wanted him to feel the pain she had felt, and she hoped he would be punished for the wrongdoings he committed at the Academy, but she never wanted revenge in this manner.

She hadn't thought she'd be hurt by her own hands

She just wished that she, who had always been at the lower end of the scale of relationships, would rise a bit higher.

She hadn't wanted the weight on the scale to lighten in such a way.

I just hoped Ricardo would suffer a little'

As the misunderstandings she had held until now began to unravel, Yuria could only stare blankly at the ceiling.

The world seemed to be shaded in gray.

She wished that everything she had seen was a lie, but unfortunately, Yuria had to admit that the past she saw was not made up.

That was what Hans had done.

And her faint remaining memories supported that.

Yuria raised her hand towards the ceiling. Her fingers were delicate and white, without a single scar.

With this hand, she had stabbed Ricardo.

"I-"

Yuria looked at her hand with trembling eyes. Her fingertips were quivering, tinged with guilt for what she had done with her hand.

"It wasn't on purpose"

"It was all the dark wizard's doing"

Denying it was the act of the evil dark wizard.

Even as she told the cunning lie that it wasn't her will, the pink dagger at her waist seemed to be screaming, stop joking.'

It was a clumsy lie.

Just an excuse to ease her conscience.

Yuria let out a hollow chuckle and shook her head.

"Yeah it's all just an excuse."

If she hadn't foolishly followed those guys that day, Ricardo wouldn't have had to suffer through such an ordeal.

Her shoulders began to shake with heavy breaths due to the frustration of her own incompetence, always being a hindrance rather than a help.

"It's suffocating."

Overwhelmed by rising frustration, Yuria struck her chest with her fist. She thought it might help alleviate the pain, but the more she hit herself, the more Ricardo's bitter smile came to mind, tightening her chest even more.

"Yuria!"

Ruin, who had been lying down, ran towards her. Despite his own injuries, he ran towards her with concern, and while she was touched by this, the thought of Ricardo's painful smile quickly turned the feeling into gloom.

In no time, Ruin reached Yuria and asked with a face full of concern.

"Are you okay? You must have been frightened"

Yuria caught hold of Ruin and said,

"Ruin it must have hurt?"

"I'm fine."

Yuria's gaze did not settle on Ruin. Looking at the man remaining in her memory, she spoke to Ruin.

"Ricardo must have been in so much pain, right..?"

"He must have hated me so much..."

"I-I must have been hated to death."

Having had plenty of experience healing others, but none being injured herself, Yuria thought she could never understand the pain Ricardo went through.

She thought she could never understand the heartache Ricardo felt from being betrayed by someone he trusted.

Yuria lay face down, thinking.

Even though her forehead touched the dirty floor, she didn't care.

Just

She wanted to stay like this for a while.

Until her heart that felt like it was tearing apart was okay, just for a moment

"I want to stay like this..."

"Yuria!"