A Story That Becomes a Nightmare for Someone -5- * The Rain Falls
Rain poured down. Shoooo... A sudden downpour erupted from the clear sky, and the winter-dormant earth began to soak in the spring-scented raindrops. Splashhh...
The students in the middle of their field exercise grumbled as they dashed under the trees.
"What the hell, rain out of nowhere."
"Tell me about it. We were just about to hit ten."
"Looks like today's exercise is over."
"Damn it. So close!"
I watched the students cupping their hands over their heads to create tiny shelters from the rain as they hurried over. I rummaged through the bundle on my back for an umbrella.
"Hmm..."
One by one, they approached me, swarming like a pack of dogs the moment I pulled out the umbrella. I waved with a smile.
"Over here! I've got umbrellas!"
The first to arrive was a swordsmanship department associate professor whose name I couldn't recall. All I remembered was his shiny bald pate and his foul temper—an educator who'd gone bald prematurely. No great martial prowess, just a short fuse. Still, I didn't hate him. People could be like that sometimes.
I gave the approaching octopus-head a small smile.
"Welcome."
The professor said nothing, just stuck out his hand. His fingers wiggled impatiently, demanding the umbrella. At this rather arrogant gesture, I kept my smile and shut my mouth.
...
A brief silence fell. The professor, getting drenched, shot a displeased look at his hesitating student—our gazes met as I eyed him like seafood.
'What?'
'What.'
'What do you want me to do?'
'You little shit.'
Unable to bear the silence, the octopus finally spoke. He must have needed my umbrella to protect what little hair he had left.
"Umbrella."
I nearly applauded his efforts to preserve the human species but nodded instead.
"One hundred gold."
"What?"
"Price went up. Three hundred gold."
A drop of rain plinked down his shiny scalp as he stared at me with dull eyes. Beads formed on his long mustache, and I muttered as if to myself.
"They say rain promotes hair loss."
"..."
"Might make what little you've got left fall out."
"..."
"Sorry. The rain just reminded me. Wasn't talking about you, Professor."
"..."
The professor stared at me stiffly.
"Is that true?"
I flashed a cruel smile.
"Yes, it's true. Read it in a medical book once. Rain promotes hair loss..."
He fumbled in his pocket and held out a gleaming gold coin.
"One. I'll pay the rest tomorrow."
I handed over the umbrella with a sincere smile.
"Wise choice."
"Heh heh..."
"Hohoho..."
Suckers are always easy to hook.
Under the rainy sky, Mikhail, Yuria, and Hanna Histania from the Histania family—who'd strayed from the group—huddled under a tree to escape the downpour.
"Ah...! I wanted to share an umbrella with the butler!"
Hanna stomped her foot in regret. Mikhail clicked his tongue at her, while Yuria perked up her ears at Hanna's words and echoed the sentiment.
"Me too..."
"Hm? Did you call me, Yuria?"
"No, just talking to myself."
No monster in the area could handle their skill. Regular orcs couldn't withstand Mikhail's aura-infused sword or keep up with Hanna's swift blade. Worried they'd endanger their classmates by sticking together, Mikhail had led the two away from Ricardo for the exercise.
Of course, they'd wandered beyond the designated zone. The pair were confident in their abilities, and Yuria figured it'd be fine. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Shoooo...
The relentless rain pounded on. No passersby, no other students in this secluded spot. The three sheltered in silence. An awkward wind blew.
The one they admired. The one admired. And Yuria.
They waited wordlessly for the rain to stop. After a long silence, Mikhail cautiously spoke at the unrelenting downpour.
"Rain's not letting up."
"Yeah..."
"It sure isn't."
"Hope it stops soon."
No response. Mikhail glanced at Hanna's bored face, gave up on conversation—especially awkward with Ricardo's close friend—and turned to the squatting Yuria with casual chit-chat.
Weather's warming up lately. Lots of snow this year. Light topics flowed until it turned to their first night in the dorms.
"What'd you do last night, Yuria?"
"Just rested in my dorm."
"Yeah?"
"What about you, Mikhail?"
"Me..."
Ricardo's face flashed in his mind; Mikhail frowned, forced an awkward smile.
"I rested too."
"I see."
Yuria turned to Hanna, who was drawing on the ground with a stick. Hanna sketched a familiar man's face. Yuria held back her curiosity and relayed Mikhail's question.
"What about you, Hanna? Resting in your dorm?"
"Me?"
"Yeah."
Hanna shook her head.
"I went to see Lady Olivia."
"Huh?"
"Figured she'd be bored, so I visited after a while."
Hanna chuckled at last night's memory, drawing on the ground.
-Brought chocolate?
-Yes!
-Ooh... Good girl. I'll praise you.
-No praise? Just say I'm pretty?
-No.
-Why?
-Just. Too much hassle.
Olivia, whom she'd hated so much. Now Hanna somewhat understood why Ricardo served her.
The two clamped their mouths shut at Hanna's words. To them, Olivia was a nightmare—wicked, selfish villainess whose victims they'd been.
Mikhail spoke coldly.
"How do you know Olivia?"
"Met her when I delivered the reinstatement papers last time. We got friendly."
"Friendly with Olivia?"
"Yeah, she's not... super nice or anything. But fun."
Hanna smiled, pleased at how she resembled Ricardo more. As Mikhail opened his mouth to warn her away from such a dangerous person—
Rumble...!
"Don't hang out with Olivia—"
CRACKBOOM!!!!
A flash of lightning, and a black shadow appeared before Mikhail.
"Found you."
The man exuded chilling killing intent. White priest robes, deep scar over his eye, sharp gaze. He grinned at Mikhail—a sticky, goosebump-inducing smile, staring piercingly.
Hanna instinctively gripped her sword hilt. The viscous malice made her assume stance, gather aura. One slip and I'm dead. She swallowed hard in tension.
Yuria drew mana for buffs. Mikhail... had been frozen stiff since seeing the man's face.
The man ignored Hanna and Yuria, eyes only on Mikhail. He pulled a photo from his robes, compared it to Mikhail's face—eyes, nose, mouth—nodding.
"Knew your face looked familiar."
He sneered, dropped the photo into the rain. It was Mikhail's commendation photo from the recent dungeon incident.
"It's you, right?"
A cruel, eerie smile.
"The one who killed your friend to save your own skin."
Mikhail's expression hardened coldly.
It was a very old memory. No—an enduring nightmare.
That day in the dark slums, encountering the calamity called the villain. Rain fell then too, just like now. And that man stood there.
-Should've run when I told you to. Now this kid's gonna die because of you.
-N... no...!
-No my ass.
It was terrifying. The big man's swinging fist, getting hit for the first time—everything was new and scary.
That day, the man smiled just like now.
-Oh, thought of something fun. Pick a cruel choice.
-Fight each other. I'll let the survivor live.
-...
-Why freeze? Move.
And he had chosen that day. A choice he'd regret forever. One he'd made with his own hands.