Chapter 29: Unintended Encounter (1)

Chapter 29: Unintended Encounter (1)

I looked back.

A man walked toward me with his familiar smile, hands in his pockets, swaggering.

The esteemed village chief of Algae Village.

It was Ruin.

Seeing him made me think.

‘Why is Ruin here?'

While it was pleasant to encounter an academy peer unexpectedly, Ruin wasn’t supposed to be here yet.

About a week should have passed before the news spread in the capital about the dungeon, attracting adventurers and Ruin’s participation in the unfolding story, but why was he here now?

He wasn’t here for a hike.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked him why he came.

"Excuse me... Algae Magician?"

"...It’s Ruin."

"I see. Algae Knight."

"Not a knight, a mage. And just call me Ruin."

Ruin clenched his fist.

Seems like he's disliked me since the past.

Despite remembering his name and giving him honorifics, was he always angry whenever he saw me? Ruin’s psychology was more irritating than a lady whose magical powers bloomed.

What have I done wrong?

Even with Hanna, who would give her liver and gallbladder, he broke into a fit on me only, which I found extremely upsetting.

We weren’t close at the academy, but we used to greet each other when passing by.

-Good morning~

-Are you mocking me?

-No? It's just, our lady boasts about being the top student.

-You dog.

-Woof.

I cherished the memories of cheerfully greeting each other, congratulating on successes, and lightly bantering, but it was frustrating that Ruin was the only one who seemed resentful.

It was supposed to be a good memory.

-Uh... Ruin, I heard you burned up the lady’s dress in the recent duel. It was quite expensive; are you okay with that? If it’s tough, we could...

-I can pay it back. Do I look like I can't compensate for a mere dress?

-It's 300,000 gold.

-Oh...?

-The lady said not to repay her, but should we send the bill to the tower then?

-Wait a second...!

I vaguely remembered comforting Ruin, who was beaten by Michail and collapsed in the training ground daily.

-Lady, you have moss stuck on the floor.

-Oh...! It’s huge!

-You dogs, stop it!

-It talks too.The original appearance of this chapter can be found at Ñøv€lß1n.

-Eek...!

I was pleased to see Ruin, but why did he react like that?

Ruin licked his lips as he looked at me. As if I was something to eat, he excitedly clenched and unclenched his fist like a dog in heat.

[Ruin Lv. 35]

[Profession: Royal Academy Student]

[Affinity: -77]

[Favorite Conversation Topics: Olivia/Magic Recognition/Dating]

[Disliked Conversation Topics: Inferiority about Magic/Blonde Hair/Red Hair/Being Defeated by a Junior]

Not even a mortal enemy, why is our affinity so low?

It hurt.

But he’s still a friend. I reached out to Ruin with a handshake, full of my joy of meeting him.

"Anyway, glad to see you, Ruin."

"Glad, huh?"

Ruin snorted in disdain. Either he found me funny or the situation amusing.

Either way, I knew that the laughter wasn't coming from a place of positivity.

Ruin sneakily glanced behind my back, searching for something. He looked around a bit more, then said sarcastically,

"Hey. Where did Olivia go?"

"She's at home."

"Home?"

Ruin, the chief of Algae Village, swelled up with bravado, hearing the lady wasn’t around.

He looked like a bulldog standing in front of a Chihuahua, whereas, at the Friends of Forest, he resembled a wet puppy.

Ruin strode toward me.

He came too close for comfort.

Ruin flinches, trembling at the shoulders.

Why so afraid, I won't do anything.

I laughed awkwardly.

"I just wanted to ask because I want to return to the Academy. Haha."

"Bullshit."

"So, how's school life for you, Ruin?"

"Better without you guys."

"Hmm, really? That can't be true."

The Royal Academy is special.

If you graduate, you can get a job in a well-known business or family within the empire, and even surpass the limits of a commoner to receive a title.

The educational policy was also specialized to discover prodigies.

With a system that allows students to select their own assignments, higher grades are given for more difficult tasks, and lower grades for easier ones.

At the Royal Academy, your grade dictates your rank.

A system designed to allow passionate students to bear fruit.

But considering Ruin, who did not care about grades, came to this far place just for an assignment made me believe there was an ulterior motive.

That's why he didn't take the bait.

I asked Ruin.

"Ah. Are you like that because you were stepped on by Hanna?"

"Shut your mouth."

Ruin reacts violently with a flinch. Apparently, my thoughtless throw has struck a nerve in Ruin's mental state.

I said, almost as if making excuses, wanting to inflict a little more pain on the wounded Ruin, hoping the sore wound would open further.

"No, if not for that, it wouldn't make sense for a prodigy like you, Ruin, to come to a far-flung town like Hamel. Could it be... you were knocked out in the recent ranking match...?"

"Shut up, I said."

I struck Ruin's sore spot again.

Ruin glared at me.

His shattered mental state didn't seem to recover, staring silently with eye contact.

Unable to think of anything to say, I simply gave a thumbs-up and spoke.

"Good choice."

"Shut up!"

Red orbs lashed out furiously.

Last time there were three, but today, ten were flying at me.

The growing Ruin.

Given his growth rate, I thought he could hold his own against a mantis for about 10 seconds.

I naturally reached out to pin Ruin's head to the ground, trying to calm his excited state so we could go our separate ways.

But then.

Just as my hand was about to touch Ruin's head, a familiar voice stopped me.

"Ruin! What are you doing?"

A woman's voice behind me.

A crisp voice, as if filled with fresh fruit, echoed in my ears.

"I'm so sorry─! My friend here gets angry quickly."

The woman behind me apologized immediately upon arrival, speaking to me in a friendly, country-girl tone, unlike the haughty nobility.

With the woman's arrival, Ruin's face, which had turned fierce, relaxed as if nothing had happened.

Ruin, who smiled like an idiot.

I withdrew the hand I had raised.

"Ruin, what are you doing! Apologize!"

"No, it's nothing."

"Don't lie!"

I thought to myself.

‘This is trouble.'

I slowly turned around.

This was not how I wanted us to meet.

Gradually, her smiling figure came into view,

pink hair,

cherry-like lips,

and a refreshing beauty.

As our eyes met,

she began to hide her sunny smile.

"It's been a long time."

With an awkward smile, I said.

"Yuria."

There stood Yuria, the protagonist of this novel, looking at me.