427 – The Resolve of One to Reclaim -3-

“They’re eager to kill, aren’t they?”

Malik gazed down at the murderous faces of the siege team below, a low chuckle escaping his lips.

“That’s why these young ones are so terrifying.”

Malik envied the raw, unbridled spirit of their youthful blood.

The defending team numbered nine.

Starting with Hans, a professor from the magic faculty.

Then himself and Veilinn and Rohan from the swordsmanship faculty, the last two skilled in stealth.

From the magic faculty also came Schuen, Shartia, and Airi.

And from the healing faculty, Yuria and Sophia.

The siege team was similarly composed of nine.

Including Elysia, once an apostle of Onyu.

From the Swordsmanship Faculty: Shigor Rook, Histarnia Hanna, and Mikhail.

From the Magic Faculty: Ruin and Faulkner.

From the Healing Faculty: Gair, Lynn, and Silvaeren.

“…Troublesome, this.”

A cold assessment revealed the siege force was at a crushing disadvantage. Histarnia Hanna and Mikhail alone were monsters capable of dismantling half their numbers. Strategically, avoiding a full-on engagement was imperative.

Even one-on-one duels were a significant concern.

Even if he could occupy either Histarnia Hanna or Mikhail, they lacked the strength to properly restrain the other.

If the battlefield devolved into close combat, Shuen, specialized in long-range magic, would be rendered useless and swiftly eliminated. The same went for Shartia.

“…”

The defense team’s advantage resided in the high concentration of skilled magic users.

“Shuen-gel…! Mana recovery complete!!! Meteor again!!”

“Calm yourself! They’re practically at the gates.”

“…Ugh. My mana is just *thrilling* to be unleashed!”

Malik asserted that the outcome hinged on the strategy they employed.

And as leader, he had no intention of simply surrendering.

“Haa… I had hoped to drag this out for three days, but alas.”

Still, it mattered little.

He had prepared plans from A to Z.

‘(As decided by Ricardo) The greatest mind in this world,’ having anticipated countless scenarios, Malik took a deep breath and gazed at the personnel surveying the battle from below the ramparts. His lips parted heavily.

“Did you enjoy the presents we prepared?”

“…”

“Judging by your expressions, it seems you received them all. As the gift-giver, that is gratifying.”

Faces contorted with murderous intent.

All but one.

“Hans-nim~ Your strategy was quite effective, wasn’t it?”

“Elicia-nim, your dispelling of the barrier was rather straightforward as well, wouldn’t you say? I had no idea you could dismantle a labyrinthine barrier with a single finger.”

“I’ll be sure to point out areas for improvement next time.”

“Haha!”

“Haha!!”

Malik deemed those two unworthy of his concern.

“…”

What to do now?

One day remained.

He needed to weigh his options: Plan C, stalling for time with bombardment, or Plan T, a small elite force infiltrating and obliterating the enemy ranks.

Malik, mapping out the operation in his mind, ran a hand over his gaunt face, exhaling a quiet sigh.

“Magic Instructor.”

“Yes, Student Malik?”

“Is it possible to cast a fog spell around the fortress walls right now?”

“I *could*, but it’ll be dispelled almost immediately. My role is finished the moment Elysia arrives, you see.”

“…”

“And these soldiers…”

Malik gazed at the golem soldiers formed within the fortress, addressing Hans.

“The golem soldiers will be safe. It seems Elysia has brought her own army as well.”

“Roughly, what numbers are we talking about?”

“The opposing forces consist of approximately three hundred mid-level undead. Our side has around one hundred and fifty soldiers.”

“The difference is larger than I anticipated.”

“Well, it wouldn’t feel like a proper siege otherwise, would it?”

“Haha… Then, can I assume command of these soldiers?”

Before Malik even finished his sentence, Hans snapped his fingers, creating a small magic circle beneath Malik’s feet.

“Command transferred.”

“…Quick work.”

Along with Hans’s sly grin, the scarecrow soldiers with their round eyes began to fix their gaze upon Malik.

“Good. This is manageable.”

Malik clenched his fist, a faint smile playing on his lips as the vast influx of information flooded his mind. Complex, yes, but this kind of manipulation could raise a 100% victory rate to 101%.

-Kuguguguguguung.

The sound of Rohan’s voice, loud and clear, began to resonate in Malik’s ears as he adapted.

“Senior Director! Ruin is preparing siege magic!”

Accompanying Rohan’s shout, a colossal blue bow(Arc) materialized in Malik’s eyes.

“Ruin, is it?”

With resolution etched on his face, Ruin drew the bowstring taut, and Malik, watching him, smirked, clenching his fist.

“Intriguing.”

He was, after all, cut from the same cloth as Ricardo; a man who found a thrill in provocation.

“Shuen, prepare the defensive spells!”

“Got it!”

“Shartia and Yuria, imbue the puppet soldiers with the magic I instructed. The rest of you, listen up for the plan now.”

For this occasion, he felt Plan Z would be the most… entertaining.

Since it was, after all, a siege.

“They’re coming!!!”

And now, it began.

*

Late night.

“…Hoo.”

Ruin and the siege team students, having unleashed countless waves of siege magic, were preparing for another tactic. The ironclad walls would require too much expended stamina to breach conventionally.

The walls needed weakening.

To allow Elysia to deploy her forces inside.

Even to break down the scarecrow soldiers atop the wall, he believed a reckless gamble was necessary.

And the one to execute it?

“We resume in one hour, so I’m counting on you.”

“…”

“Histania Hanna.”

At this juncture, Hanna possessed the greatest explosive power.

The siege team’s greatest asset was their ability to erode the enemy’s nerves. Ruin intended to exploit this advantage to its fullest.

A strategy of striking hard when they least expected it.

·

·

·

“…Hoo. Why so nervous over this?”

Alone under the moonlight, Ruin’s pupils trembled as he exhaled a soft breath. The thrill mixed with the anxiety, even his breath weighed down by the burden of responsibility.

A string of failures, until now.

The first failure, crashing down upon a self accustomed to nothing but growth.

Countless failures I’d weathered since losing my magic, yet facing them never became easier. Even now, when I should have been used to it.

Dozens of times I’d pondered.

Why must I repeat this failure?

With each repetition, people departed, and the warmth of those who remained gradually slipped beyond my grasp, breeding a weariness, a loss of confidence.

It wasn’t like this when I first met Ricardo.

-Hey.

-Hmm?

-What’s your deal, hitting on Yuria?

-Ah…

We saw each other as equals, or perhaps I even thought I had the upper hand. Back then, I was something special. Shameful to say it myself, but with the Magician’s Tower as my unwavering support, I never imagined being bested by that guy.

So, I refused to yield to him.

-Hey, when someone asks you something, answer. Don’t just chew on it like a mute.

-[Who are you?]

-Don’t play dumb. You can talk. Don’t write it down in a notebook, just speak.

-Who might you be?

-You don’t know me?

-I don’t remember men.

-So the rumors of illicit admission were true.

-Hmm… Seems you’re the same.

-You little b*stard.

-Anyway, you have lovely hair.

-What? Are you sucking up to me?

-It’s like algae.

-…What?

-You resemble the trash that pollutes the water.

I wanted to crush him, this guy strutting around with Olivia backing him up.

And that guy hanging around Yuria got on my nerves.

Whenever I walked the halls, he was always there with Yuria. The fact that these two bothersome people were together bothered me, making me feel uneasy.

A person I was drawn to, as a woman.

“Haha… still, it must have been really hard on you.”

“Huh… hard on *me*, you say?”

“Yeah. That burden on your shoulders must have been heavy. I can’t say I’m in the same boat, but I know how crushing it can be to live up to expectations.”

“…”

*Having* the person I loathed clinging to me.

“Oh, hello there, Mr. Green Algae.”

“…Don’t provoke me.”

“Just find it fascinating, a living algae walking around.”

“You son of a—!”

“Whoa, whoa… look, Ms. Yuria is coming this way.”

“…Where?”

“You fall for that every time, don’t you?”

I hated him, a teeth-grinding hatred.

And then, at the ball, when I lost everything.

“Ruin, what *can* you actually do?”

That sneer of his started to crack the unwavering resolve I thought I possessed.

I’d always thought myself superior, always vowed to crush his arrogance someday, but for the first time, I had to admit that he…

“…You said you see people’s true selves.”

It ended right as the love began.

Someone I wanted to impress.

Someone I yearned to possess.

Now, at this moment, when even the word “friend” feels foreign, Ruin felt unbearably stifled.

My heart…

“…”

It’s a lie to say it’s gone.

I wish he’d smile again.

I’d turn back time if I could.

Please…

In that moment, when Ruin, steeped in emotion, was aimlessly lamenting under the moonlight, a rustling sound came, and a woman approached. She brushed back her hair and spoke in a sharp voice:

“What are you doing here?”

“…Why’d you come? Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“Just… felt bad seeing you all alone, Senior.”

“…You think I’m pathetic because I’m ostracized?”

“Hmm…? You have tons of friends, Senior.”

“Used to. Not anymore.”

“Why?”

Hanna, gazing at the green weeds surrounding Ruin, spoke with an almost matter-of-fact expression.

“You’re overflowing with friends, Senior.”

“…Huh?”

“Weeds.”

“…So, you call me Green Algae too?”

“Isn’t that your name?”

“This…”

Hanna offered a small smile, cautiously beginning to say what she’d never been able to tell Ruin before. They’d never exactly been friendly, but she owed him her biggest favor, after all.

“Green Algae Senior.”

“Not Green Algae, just call me Senior.”

“Yes, Green Algae Senior.”

“…Sigh.”

“Honestly, we’re not exactly on good terms, are we?”

“You’re the one who’s always so prickly.”

“Ever considered that maybe it’s *you* that people don’t want to be friends with because of your personality?”

“…”

“From the first impression until now, I’ve always thought you weren’t exactly a… person of good character, Senior.”

“…Fuck.”

“Honestly, there were more than a few times I wanted to punch you. Back when I was a freshman, you’d put your feet up on the desk during meetings, and you’d always snap back whenever I gave an opinion…”

“…”

“If you were a friend, I would’ve killed you.”

Hanna, having rattled off Ruin’s faults, said with a small smile.

“Even so. I’m grateful to you, Senior.”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

Ruin stared at Hanna, a bewildered expression on his face. Come to think of it, he’d never once received a compliment from Hanna. Though, he hadn’t exactly showered her with praise either.

The corners of Ruin’s mouth twitched upwards, a pleasant smile threatening to bloom.

“…You met the Butler, didn’t you?”

The familiar name slipped from Hanna’s lips, and Ruin clamped his mouth shut.

“…Just pick one. Compliment or insult.”

“It’s a compliment. My connection with the Butler is a bond forged through your face, senpai.”

“…Face.”

-BANG…!

-GACK…

-Didn’t I hear the young lady was resting?

Recalling the past, Ruin lowered his head and sighed a long breath. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything to Hanna, who had dredged up the blackest of black marks from his history.

“…You know, senpai.”

Hanna, gaze fixed on the moon in the night sky, opened her lips softly towards Ruin.

“You like Yuri-senpai, don’t you?”

“…No.”

“Liar. It’s written all over your face.”

“Whatever.”

“You bark like a rabid dog at everyone else, but in front of Yuri-senpai you wag your tail. It makes me want to beat you senseless.”

“I do that?”

“Yes.”

“Ha.”

At Hanna’s words, Ruin rubbed his face roughly and sighed. He never imagined he’d hear such a thing from a junior.

Hanna turned towards Ruin.

“You know it too, don’t you, senpai?”

“…”

“That it’s hopeless.”

-GRIP…

“Decide. Don’t drag it out.”

“You, are you perhaps…”

Hanna, seeing the tremor in Ruin’s pupils, made a face of utter distaste and gripped her sword.

“Haa… I almost messed things up real bad.”

“…Why.”

“I almost killed you for real.”

“Hey…”

“If you said just one more word…”

“Don’t you hate him *too* much?”

“You just don’t mix plants and people in the first place, you know?”

“Shit.”

“It’s because I like the Butler.”

“What’s so good about that b*stard who just grins like an idiot at pretty girls?”

“That’s his charm, isn’t it?”

“Bullshit.”

“He’s handsome, too.”

“…Shit.”

Ruin was a tattered mess.

The hour was drawing nearer.

The time for the lovestruck mage to make his decision.

“Let’s go.”

Ruin began to walk slowly towards the colossal fortress wall.