242 – Back to True Form -6-

-Snap.

Drops of crimson blood fall to the floor.

The pain that should have been felt in the abdomen disperses between tightly shut eyes, and the overwhelming sense of injustice vanishes with the night breeze.

Mikhail slowly lifted his heavy eyelids.

Red hair.

A black butler’s uniform.

Broad shoulders that covered everything in sight.

His unique scent of perfume tickled Mikhail’s nose, extending a greeting.

“I was worried.”

Ricardo’s low voice briefly resonated, inquiring about his well-being. Without asking anything, just silently holding the thrust blade, Ricardo stood as steadfast as a rock.

Mikhail asked with a trembling voice. Before he could react to the news that the quest was completed, he looked at Ricardo, who had grabbed the blade with his bare hands.

“How…”

“How, you ask? The secret girl sent me telepathy asking for help, so I came.”

Leaving a flustered Mikhail behind, Ricardo spoke in a dark voice to the man before him.

“Don’t we still have things to discuss?”

“It seems we could talk all night and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Ricardo’s voice, cool and distant, drew laughter from Yung. Despite its unvaried tone, it sent shivers down his spine.

With each syllable Ricardo uttered, it felt like a needle piercing through Yung’s skin, making him shake his head and burst into laughter.

“Puhah… Puhaha! Haa… I definitely chose the wrong day, didn’t expect a knight escort to be present.”

“I think today was quite well chosen.”

“Haa…”

Yung cut off his hearty laughter and lifted his head. His sharp gaze met Ricardo’s in mid-air and then fell away.

“I just dropped by to say hello. Wanted to make sure you hadn’t forgotten about me. After all, that friend of yours is quite the celebrity. It’s just a reminder that people like me exist.”

“Do you always greet people with a sword fight?”

“Huhuhu… That’s one way to put it.”

Ricardo’s cold voice, which Mikhail had never heard before, turned his hands icy as glaciers.

“…”

Yung backed away slowly, laughing awkwardly.

“I tried to turn that kid into an idiot… but he knows nothing, just keeps saying ‘dad, dad’ and then bam…!”

“You have a nasty hobby. Makes me want to kill.”

“…Ah, maybe I’ll just do it right now.”

Yung looked coolly over his shoulder at Mikhail hiding behind Ricardo, a regretful smile on his face. As if he truly wished he could, he threatened, and Ricardo responded with a small smile.

“Do you think you can?”

“…”

The red aura reaching out began to strangle Yung’s breath. Even as it spread ominously like the gates of hell opening, Yung showed no sign of backing down, still clutching the dagger in his hand.

“Complacency is something anyone can afford. Me and you alike.”

“…”

“This gentleman here has quite the skill.”

Ricardo let go of the dagger he had been holding, smiling awkwardly.

“Just kidding.”

He could kill if he wanted to.

And he could neutralize the black magic…

[There are restrictions.]

└Mikhail’s psyche is very unstable.

As the time spent with ‘Yung’ grows longer, the constraints begin to waver.

If you end up killing ‘Yung’, ‘Mikhail’s awakening will be delayed.

Because God does not wish it so.

Having arranged a meeting with Mikhail, Ricardo, somewhere, hurled a few irreverent words at the watching God, then withdrew the aura he had extended towards Yung, who was moistening his dry lips with saliva.

“It doesn’t seem like today is the day.”

“…I almost died.”

“Leave before I change my mind.”

“I suppose I should…”

With that, Yung disappeared into the darkness, bidding farewell to Mikhail, who was glaring at him as if to kill.

“See you next time, kid.”

Ricardo also bid farewell to Yung.

“I won’t let you off easy next time we meet.”

“I don’t want to see you again either.”

With those words, Yung vanished.

*

A silence enveloped the alleyway.

Mikhail looked down at Ricardo’s bleeding hand, unsure of what to say. It seemed natural to thank him, but the words wouldn’t come easily.

Ricardo silently wiped the blood from his hand. Taking a handkerchief from the inside pocket of his jacket, he pressed it against his palm, then slowly walked towards Mikhail, nodding his head and said,

“Are you alright?”

“…”

“Are you hurt?”

“…”

Mikhail swallowed the questions that were leaking out, along with the night air. There was so much he wanted to say.

From questioning why Ricardo helped him to asking if he was alright, he tried to hide the questions that were leaking out in his heart, but his words were choked by one question, and he swallowed a dry breath once more.

‘Why.’

Why are you doing this?

Ricardo has no relation to me. He’s no different from a stranger, so ‘why’ is he doing this? Mikhail clenched his fist, swallowing the rising questions.

‘This isn’t you.’

The woman who was a nuisance at first sight is now the ‘me’ that Ricardo sees.

Not a deep relationship, not a friend, just a ‘person’—neither more nor less—standing before me.

“Why are you stepping in?”

I could just close my eyes tight and turn around, and then no one would know, no one to resent.

But still.

“Why are you helping me?”

If it’s the Ricardo I remember.

The Ricardo who seeks gain without loss. The Ricardo who only showed his reckless side at the academy. It should be natural to be cold and dismissive.

Why…

“I’m trying to be a hero.”

Mikhail couldn’t help but voice the question that was burning inside him. Without an answer, there was no resolution.

“Why…”

All the doubts he had harbored until now began to rise with a small throb.

“Why did you save me…”

“…Ah.”

“You say you’re not one to suffer a loss, so why save me?”

Because Ricardo was just that kind of person, because the other students hated and despised him. Mikhail, who had judged based on the image before him, clenched his fist and questioned that misunderstanding.

“You’re not that kind of person.”

“…”

“You weren’t someone who helps strangers and asks if they’re okay.”

“…”

“But why act like a good person?”

“Why… Why…?”

Ricardo let out a hollow laugh and said to Mikhail.

“Because you’re pretty.”

“…”

“I do have a strong bias towards gender.”

Mikhail clenched his fist and retorted.

“What’s pretty about me.”

“…”

“Dull and undecorated, what do you find pretty.”

“…”

“I’m not pretty at all. I can tell when I look in the mirror. No charm, just ugly. You think so too, don’t you? Dull, fierce, and boyish.”

Mikhail clenched his fists and shouted at Ricardo.

“Don’t lie.”

Ricardo chuckled softly and shook his head.

“What can I do? My eyes find you beautiful.”

Mikhail said to Ricardo with a look of disbelief. What a strange person.

“Are you the troublemaker?”

“…”

“The one who caused a stir at the academy. You seem like such a different person now.”

Ricardo smiled faintly again and said to Mikhail.

“I was immature.”

“…”

“Back then, I thought it was the best way, that if I was bad, others would seem better.”

Crouching in front of Mikhail, Ricardo tied the laces of Mikhail’s undone sneakers and said in a soft voice.

“And it was somewhat true.”

Mikhail closed his eyes tightly and said to Ricardo.

“I still dislike you.”

“That’s quite presumptuous for a student to say to their teacher.”

“Still, I dislike you.”

“…”

Mikhail clenched his fists tightly, and as Ricardo rose to his feet, he said,

Sigh…

“Misa.”

“Yes…?”

“That’s my name.”

“…”

Call me Misa.

Ricardo nodded with a small smile.

“It’s a beautiful name.”

*

Back at the dormitory.

Mikhail lay on his bed, shielding his weary eyes. His thoughts were tangled, his body fatigued. He avoided greeting the dazzlingly bright moon.

So many thoughts flood in.

Why he had revealed his name.

Whether he had told her the name ‘Misa.’

Mikhail, troubled by the emotional choice he had made, let out a deep sigh.

“Haah…”

-I was worried.

Why say that if you dislike it? What even is the sincerity in those words?

Mikhail, covering his eyes with his hand, murmured the emotions he felt today in a soft voice.

“I don’t know.”

I don’t know what kind of person he is.

A good person.

A nice person.

A bad person.

Mikhail, stroking his face, sighed deeply at the sight of Ricardo, so different from the image he had shown at the academy.

Which one is his true self? One thing’s for sure, his thoughts about Ricardo have changed slightly.

From the worst to a little less than the worst.

Mikhail, reflecting on his thoughts about Ricardo, punched the bed with his fist.

“So annoying.”

As complex thoughts and questions continued to prevent sleep.

-Ding.

A cool ‘ding’ of a greeting rang, waving at the tired Mikhail’s ears.

[Would you like to receive your quest reward?]

Mikhail nodded in response.

And then.

He could hear the long-awaited truth.

[Side story. Back to the original form.]

If you.

Because of you, the things that happened.

The day ends with the responsibility of one.

You couldn’t bear it.

A cold wind blew.