TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 197
-Bang..!
Ruin, standing alone in the Training Grounds again today, wiped away the sweat pouring down like rain and gritted his teeth.
“Haa… F*ck.”
Nothing was going right.
Ever since he failed to recognize Yuria at the Ball, nothing had gone well.
Ruin clenched his fist at the steep decline of his circumstances.
“Just hit it, damn it!”
There was no sign of improvement. Only three days remained until the Ranking Battle, yet his magic showed no change.
Despite practicing harder than ever in his life, the fact that he could barely hit a single scarecrow was utterly ridiculous.
Time was running out.
Living up to others’ expectations.
Even having enough time to fend off the pouring criticism was absurdly lacking.
“F*ck… F*ck…!”
The comparisons were inevitable. His peers had achieved so much.
Mikhail had acquired the weapon Aura in just one year, the Crown Prince had mastered both Sword and Magic to an exceptional level, and Yuria was rapidly growing while learning Holy Magic. Meanwhile, he alone, as a Disciple—or rather, was sinking into an unfathomable abyss.
It would be a lie to say there was no comparison. Among those once called Rookies, he was the worst.
-Hey, don’t you think Senior Ruin has been acting strange lately? His personality seems sharper, and he can’t even use basic magic.
-Nah~ He’s probably just having an off day. Senior Ruin is so strong; after all, he’s a Disciple taught by the Tower Master!
-Really?
-Yeah! I think Senior Ruin is the strongest among the Third Year Students! He’s definitely going to show something amazing in this Ranking Tournament.
He had nothing prepared to meet the expectations he had shown until now.
Ruin couldn’t erase his Urgent Mind.
He was afraid of being criticized by everyone. He thought he had to do something.
He desperately needed a way to grow instantly, no matter the method.
To repay the Admiring Gazes he had received so far, the only way was to prove himself solely through skill.
“Damn it!”
-Sizzle…
“Damn it…!”
-A chuckle…
“F*ck!”
-An empty laugh.
The only thing that grew with time was the swearing.
Time passed.
A day.
Two days.
Unable to produce any Outcome, Ruin simply stood in the Training Grounds, clenching his fists.
“This isn’t working. What am I supposed to do?”
Ruin had so many things he wanted to do.
He wanted to apologize to Yuria and be forgiven for the mistake he made that day. He wanted to be close to Yuria again because he wanted to feel that emotion he had felt every time—the feeling of just being with her making him happy.
But with his pathetic current self, there were too many obstacles to appearing before Yuria, and there was no chance she would accept him.
He lacked exceptional magic.
A shining Future.
Admiring Gazes. If someone like him, devoid of all these, approached the radiant Yuria, he would surely look pitiful. The way others viewed him and his fragile Pride wouldn’t allow it, so Ruin hesitated.
Unaware that Yuria had no intention of accepting his Apology.
-Drip…
With an Urgent Mind, Ruin bit his nails to calm his complicated thoughts.
‘Is there no way…?’
-Drip…
‘Is there no way to become strong, even just for one day?’
-Drip!
‘If I could just be strong for one day, I think I could manage the rest by asking the Old Master for help. Then both I and the Old Master could protect the Magic Tower’s Honor…’
Ruin bit his nails as he searched for alternatives, shaking his head at the impulsive thought that crossed his mind.
‘Are you crazy? That’s really not it.’
He didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of his friend. No matter how desperate he was, that wasn’t something a person should do. And it was humiliating.
After all the times he had dismissed it, how ridiculous would it be to resort to Dark Magic? He had even mocked those without Talent for using such cowardly methods.
Ruin let out an Empty Laugh at his impulsive thought, shaking his head, and began trembling his fingers at the lack of any conclusion as time passed.
‘…’
And the moment his Urgent Mind reached its Climax.
With the plodding Sound of Footsteps, a woman wearing a white robe began walking from the entrance of the Training Grounds.
She looked to be in her 30s. A woman wearing glasses with a warm impression.
She looked at Ruin with a Bright Smile and called out.
“Oh my! What are you doing there, Ruin?”
It was a forced Smile. It felt like she was smiling despite not being happy and pretending to be surprised when she wasn’t.
Seeing her, Ruin hid his bitten nails behind his back and spoke with a cold expression.
“Professor Shulia.”
Riven Shulia. A professor in the Magic Department and a teacher of mental magic.
She was a professor beloved and well-regarded by students for her kind demeanor, but she was also a professor Ruin disliked.
Ruin pursued explosive firepower and strength, not the cunning nature of mental magic. Moreover, he wasn’t fond of Professor Shulia’s meaningless Praise.
Ruin looked at the professor with vigilance.
“What brings you here at this hour? It’s well past your working hours.”
“I left something behind. So, what are you doing here, Ruin? You’ve been here for quite a while.”
“I wasn’t doing anything…”
“Could it be that you’re reviewing?”
Shulia clapped her hands, cutting off Ruin’s words. Glancing at the sweat-soaked Ruin with an Eye Smile, Shulia spoke to him in a Small Voice.
“Impressive, Ruin.”
Feeling irritated at Shulia’s gaze, which saw him as an Inferior Student, Ruin clicked his tongue and rejected her Praise.
“Just go on your way.”
Shulia hugged the book tucked under her arm tightly and replied to Ruin.
“How could I leave such a diligent Student behind? I never knew you were so passionate about magic, Ruin!”
Praise from anyone other than Yuria didn’t make Ruin happy. It felt like they were neglecting his Talent, and they weren’t even better at magic than he was. Receiving Praise from someone like that didn’t please Ruin, who sighed with a displeased expression.
Despite Ruin’s reaction, Shulia continued her story undeterred.
“I never thought someone like Ruin, who never misses second place, would bother to review. Other professors said the same. ‘Ruin doesn’t do anything, yet he’s always above average.’ Especially since you always sleep during my lectures, I thought you’d never do something like reviewing.”
“…”
“But I was short-sighted. You’re amazing, Ruin.”
“If you’re done with the sarcasm, please leave.”
Ruin spoke to Shulia in a sharp tone. Listening to her Whiny Complaints about him not paying attention in class didn’t feel good at all.
Ruin wanted to drive the professor out of this space, annoyed by Shulia’s words, which hid a bitter Blade beneath her sweet Candy-coated words.
However, Shulia didn’t seem hurt at all by Ruin’s cold attitude. Smiling nonchalantly, she took a step toward the scarecrow Ruin had targeted with magic.
“Oh my…”
In a faint Voice, Shulia looked at the scarecrow Ruin had hit with magic. She then turned to Ruin with a pitying Smile.
“Your magic skills are truly pathetic. Judging by the looks of it, it’s a Fireball, but you couldn’t even burn the target.”
“…”
“It’s such an easy spell. Was there ever a Student in our Academy who couldn’t do such basic magic? I thought our Academy only had prodigies…”
“…”
“How fascinating.”
“Ugh, damn…”
“Oh my! That wasn’t directed at you, Ruin. I was talking to the Student who hit this target. After all, Ruin is so exceptional.”
Shulia spoke in a Small Voice that Ruin could hear, hiding a Thorn in her words.
“Ruin, you have Talent, don’t you? With the Tower Master’s teachings and your extraordinary Talent, this should be easy for you, right?”
Shulia rolled up her sleeves and spoke.
“In that case, let me take a look, Professor. No, rather, I should say I need to learn. After all, I need to learn Ruin’s Fire Magic. I’m not very skilled with Offensive Magic, you see. Isn’t that right, Ruin? Hoho…”
“You’re really making me feel Filthy.”
A Cold Current flowed.
Between Ruin, who looked as if he could unleash magic at any moment, and Shulia, who wore a mocking Smile, a Cold Current was flowing.
In an atmosphere like a haystack ready to ignite from a small spark, about 10 minutes passed. Shulia began waving One Book she had tucked under her Side in front of Ruin’s eyes.
“Hey, Ruin. Do you, by any chance, want to become stronger quickly?”
“…”
“I know a method. You know the 2nd Year, Class 1 Student, Hobbes, right?”
Ruin stopped his trembling Fist and recalled the Rumors about the Student named Hobbes in his mind.
It was a name he had heard before. A Student named Hobbes, who was making a name for himself by growing rapidly.
At the mention of a Rookie’s Name who had grown in a short time as if finding a Fortuitous Encounter, Ruin swallowed the curses rising to his throat and clenched his Fist.
Shulia started to form a Sinister Smile as she observed Ruin’s hesitant expression.
“Actually, I’ve been personally guiding Hobbes. I’ve helped with his magic, taken him out of classes to teach him… Of course, Hobbes achieved great results because he’s outstanding, but you know, Ruin, it might be different if you learn from me. Hoho, am I boasting too much?”
“…”
With a Cold Smile, Shulia slowly began to reveal her Malice.
“Don’t you want to become stronger, Ruin?”
Ruin quietly lowered his head and stared at the book Shulia was holding out.
Ruin was gradually being drawn in.
Even though he instinctively knew what that Suspicious Book was, he didn’t avoid it and kept looking.
‘I know.’
It would have been strange not to realize it unless he was a Fool. The sudden talk, the Suspicious Book being offered—he could guess what it all meant. Ruin swallowed a bitter breath.
‘Damn, it’s Dark Magic…’
The path his Close Friend had taken. At the same time, the Worst Magic he had once despised was now presenting itself as the solution right before his eyes.
It was something he definitely shouldn’t touch, something he definitely shouldn’t be tempted by, but even knowing this, Ruin couldn’t control his rationality.
‘Just once.’
If he did it just once, no one would know. If he kept his mouth shut, everything he was worried about would be resolved. If he abandoned his conscience just once, he could solve his deep worries. This Temptation tugged at Ruin’s Urgent Mind.
Shulia raised the corners of her lips and spoke.
“Once is enough.”
In a quiet Whisper.
“If you learn it just once… you can become strong again, like before.”
Ruin reached out his hand toward the Black Magic Book.
As Ruin’s fingers slowly moved toward the book, Shulia’s lips curled up even further.
And the moment Ruin touched the book.
-Sizzle…
The book began to turn to ash-gray.
Shulia let out a stunned laugh as she looked at Ruin.
“Huh…? This isn’t supposed to happen, though?”
In Ruin’s ear, Shulia’s Cold Voice began to resonate.
“What should we do about poor Ruin? Since the… no, the Magic Tome that forcibly Awakens latent potential doesn’t seem to work… it looks like you have no Talent whatsoever in this field.”
Ruin couldn’t comprehend the words coming out of Shulia’s mouth.
Even the heart that had been pounding with tension.
Even the Pride that had abandoned his conscience.
Everything had been denied.
Everything felt like a Lie.
“Pathetic.”
***
A quiet Young Lady’s Room.
“Fairy Tale Book!”
“Just a moment.”
“Eeeek…”
I looked at the Young Lady, clutching her Blanket in frustration, and gave a Small Smile.
“Could you please wait for a moment? Something interesting just happened.”
I burst into laughter as I felt the Ancient Magic engraved on Ruin activate.
‘Foolish Brat.’
It seemed something amusing was about to unfold.