432 – The Resolve of the Returner -8-

He couldn’t even begin to count the thoughts that had swirled through his mind before he’d even considered using magic against Yuriah.

‘…Damn it.’

It was a battle Yuriah couldn’t possibly win, but he hadn’t wanted to hurt Yuriah, the one now playing the role of ‘King’.

Unrequited love.

He’d realized his feelings too late; she was an unrequited love he didn’t want to injure.

He’d conceived of dozens of spells capable of instantly defeating Yuriah, but he’d painstakingly selected one that would bring her down with the least amount of pain.

That spell was, of course,

Seed Shot – a plant-based magic.

“…”

Seed Shot: rapidly growing the seeds kept in his pouch to restrain the opponent’s movements.

It was a magic unique to the Elves, never widely disseminated among common mages, but he knew its advantages better than anyone, having learned it from his grandfather.

Being struck by the arrow-like seeds would sting, yes, but it was the best magic to subdue without inflicting lasting harm.

He truly believed it was the best way to defeat Yuriah while minimizing her suffering.

“Why…”

Why were you…

“Focus on the battle, Ruin.”

…making that face while you beat me?

– *Thwack!!!*

Ruin stumbled back from Yuriah’s fist, his face contorting in a grimace of pain.

Here he was, feeling like the world was collapsing with every spell he cast.

Yet, why.

“Your flank was wide open, Ruin.”

– *Crack…!*

“Gah…!”

Why were you hitting me without the slightest regret?

Enduring the shock that twisted his internal organs, Ruin desperately wanted to ask Yuriah, her face so cold.

Didn’t they have a shared history as friends?

Didn’t they have a time when they smiled at each other? Didn’t any of that matter to you?

“Damn it…!”

Like the searing ache in his side, Ruin’s heart began to throb with a dull pain.

“Sniff…”

Heartrending.

The feeling of being pummeled by a girl you admire.

“…Sniffle.”

Truly heartrending.

It felt as though no matter what I did now, there was no way to turn things around.

‘Shit…’

Even if I knelt and begged.

Even if I became a magician stronger than that b*stard.

“Ruin. Don’t pretend to be weak, fight properly.”

“…Just a moment.”

“Holding back isn’t consideration. And it’s not good for the team either.”

“Just wait a moment…”

Yuria, seeing Ruin hiding his eyes with his sleeve, fist clenched, halted her approach and tilted her head.

-Pause.

Could it be.

“Ruin…”

You got hit just once.

“Are you crying now?”

Crying?

“I’m not crying.”

Having heard the most shameful words a man could hear, Ruin shook his head, clinging to his crumbling composure, but his tears, already betrayed, made Yuria’s pupils tremble.

The reason being, of course.

“Huh?”

Because he looked pathetic.

Yuria, frowning at the sight of Ruin crying after being struck only a few times in the middle of a battle, in a duel that decided the team’s victory or defeat, relaxed her fist that had been charged with divine power and asked Ruin.

“Why are you crying?”

Why cry?

“Why are you suddenly crying, Ruin?”

“I told you I’m not crying.”

“What do you mean you’re not crying?”

“…”

“Take your hand away.”

“…”

“If it hurt too much, should I adjust my strength? I don’t even know how hard I’m hitting right now.”

“…Ah.”

“I’ve only been hitting monsters lately. I have no idea how much it hurts to hit a person.”

“Really…”

“Should I adjust a little….”

Wiping the tears from his eyes, Ruin shouted loudly to shake off his gloomy mood.

“I REALLY wasn’t crying!!”

Like a ten-year-old brat, screeching in front of the kids who were teasing him.

“I wasn’t crying!”

“…”

“A mosquito flew into my eye, that’s all! Just ignore it!”

“…”

“Got it?! A mosquito flew into my eye…”

Startled, Yuria widened her eyes and nodded her head stiffly.

“Ah…okay.”

“…”

“Yeah, I wasn’t crying.”

All the while thinking, ‘Ugh, he’s crying.’

“Since a mosquito flew into my eye, should we take a little break and then fight?”

“…You don’t have to.”

“No… It’s just… I don’t feel so good.”

“…”

Ruin thought to himself.

‘Ah…I really want to die.’

I want to die.

‘It’s over…’

Not only did he use magic in front of the girl he liked, but he even cried after getting hurt.

Ruin, now looking like the most pathetic guy in this whole world, hid his tears with his sleeve and struggled to conceal his trembling shoulders.

‘Sh*t…’

Nothing was going right.

“Ruin.”

“…”

“Are you okay?”

“…”

“Should we just stop here and I’ll run away?”

It was almost laughable, being comforted by the girl he liked.

“Yeah, that sounds good. You think so too, right…?”

“…”

“We have plenty of other strategies…”

Being crushed like a dog in a battle he was so sure he’d win was maddeningly humiliating.

Looking at Yuria approaching with a worried expression, Ruin clenched his fist tightly and began to steel himself.

‘Now that it’s come to this, I’ll just have to win.’

Since the pride he was trying to protect was already gone, he resolved to show his true abilities, no matter how ugly it might be, and reached out his hand to Yuria, saying:

Of course,

“Yuria.”

Hiding his red, swollen eyes with one hand.

“I’m going to get serious now.”

“Th-that’s right.”

“Even if it hurts, try to understand. I’m done holding back here.”

At Ruin’s tearful words, Yuria nodded awkwardly in response.

“Uh… okay.”

Wearing a reluctant expression as she did.

“I understand. I won’t resent you.”

“…”

“If that’s what you want, I won’t go easy on you either…”

“Thank you.”

Ruin, chanting the incantation, spoke to Yuria with a cold expression.

“Could I ask you just one thing?”

Before unleashing his full power, he felt a surge of courage, wanting to know her feelings.

“Huh?”

“There’s something I really want to ask.”

Like a soldier about to go to war, wanting to know the feelings of the person he loved, Ruin overcame his cowardly heart and asked Yuria in a low voice.

“Haa…”

Of course, it wasn’t a confession of love.

He wasn’t someone with that kind of resolve, and he knew he’d be rejected soundly if he confessed now.

“…Give me permission, Yuria.”

At Ruin’s face, more earnest than ever, Yuria nodded in agreement.

“If it’s something I can answer, I will.”

“Really?”

Ruin, exhaling a shallow sigh at the approaching tension, squeezed his eyes shut and spoke to Yuria.

“Yuria, you…”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you hesitate?”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing Ruin’s words, Yuria wore the most bewildered expression she had shown thus far and let out a hollow laugh.

“Hesitate? What are you talking about.”

“But… we had a time when we were friends. You might not think so, but I still consider you a friend.”

“I do think of you as a friend.”

“Uh…?”

“We might be awkward now, but I still think of you as a friend.”

“…”

“You helped me a lot, and it was fun.”

Hearing Yuria’s true feelings, Ruin felt a thrill rise from his toes and opened his lips. He knew that grilling her was a bad idea, but

“Then…”

Ruin was too desperate to deny the budding hope.

“…Then.”

“Why… don’t you… hesitate…?”

Yuria, gazing at Ruin, let out a short, amused laugh and began gathering divine power in her hands.

“Ruin.”

Her voice was calm.

“Do you know why I’m angry?”

She said, glaring at him.

“Huh?”

The moment Ruin sniffed, a question in his eyes,

Yuria propelled herself from the ground, closing in on Ruin’s face.

The moment Ruin’s face and Yuria’s fist were about to connect, Yuria said in a cold voice,

“You didn’t apologize.”

“…Ah.”

“You should have apologized properly.”

-Whoosh…

“That’s why I’m not hesitating.”

“…”

“Reflect on your actions.”

“…”

“Got it…?”

Ruin closed his eyes and thought.

‘Ah.’

‘I want to die.’

He just wanted to die from the embarrassment.

-CRRaaaSH!!!

With a massive cracking sound, Ruin’s body spun across the floor like a wheel, slamming into the wall.

“Oh my…”

Yuria looked at Ruin’s slumped legs and gave an awkward smile.

“I hit him a little too hard.”

*

Thirty minutes until the siege warfare deadline.

“…Haa.”

“…Student Council President.”

Mikhail and Shartia, glaring at each other, continued their relentless exchange.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

-Whoosh!

Mikhail was surprised by Shartia’s magic, which was stronger than he’d anticipated. He didn’t know what she’d learned in this class, but her current demeanor, unlike the Student Council President he knew, had him on the defensive.

The Student Council President’s passive nature was long gone.

“Ice Spear.”

The concentration required to decipher Shartia’s magic, fused with illusion magic, was also considerable.

“Oh…! My mana’s recovered a little!”

“…!”

“It’s Flare Blast, you know!”

Each time her mana refilled, Shuen unleashed her magic, leaving Mikhail struggling to gather his wits.

In a one-on-one fight, he would have held the advantage, but facing two opponents whose teamwork was unexpectedly sharp, he was outmatched.

Grip tightening on his sword, Mikhail ground his teeth, spitting a curse at the ruined husk that was once Ruin.

‘What’s Ruin doing?’

He’d sent Ruin with confidence, but anxiety gnawed at him, as long hours passed with no word.

By now, the siege should have been concluded, but instead of a resolution, there was only an unsettling quiet.

‘Could it be…’

“Fireball!”

“…!”

“Just kidding, you know!”

Mikhail bit his lip, making a decision. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed Ruin had been defeated after venturing out alone.

If victory demanded it, he would have to unleash his true power, Mikhail decided.

“Forgive me.”

Composing himself, Mikhail felt a violent aura surge from his sword tip, accompanied by a turbulent wind.

Even if it meant hurting someone, he knew he had to intervene.

Thirty minutes remained.

Mikhail believed that if he pushed himself to the limit within that time, he could still achieve victory. He was about to unleash the aura-charged sword when:

“S-Stop…”

The sensation of a sharp blade pressing against his back stopped Mikhail’s sword mid-swing.

“…What?”

He felt nothing.

“…Now.”

Stunned by the arrival of someone he hadn’t sensed even with his heightened senses, Mikhail turned his trembling gaze towards the person holding the sword to his back.

“Huh?”

Then, a hollow laugh escaped Mikhail, and he released his grip on the sword.

“Baylin.”

He was caught off guard because he didn’t consider this person dangerous.

“Looks like I lost.”

He had forgotten about him, thinking of him as someone with no presence.

“I surrender…”

Mikhail was utterly defeated.

***

Thirty minutes passed.

Mikhail watched Ricard approaching, along with Yuria, her wrist bound with the insignia of the King, and forced a wry smile.

The news that this unexpected person was the King sent a throb of pain through the back of his head.

Ricard offered Mikhail a small nod of greeting, then raised Yuria’s hand, a smile playing on his lips.

“Alright~ Let’s announce the results.”

“…”

“The winning team of this siege is…”

It was a defeat, no need to even say it.

“The Defense Team, at your service.”