Unintended Encounter -3-
A heavy silence hung in the air. Yuria stared at me with moist eyes, while Ruin glared daggers. Caught in the burdensome gazes of the novel's heroine and sub-male lead, I had no idea where to put myself. Especially Ruin—he was glaring at me fiercely, clenching and unclenching his fists, looking ready to blast magic straight into my face at any moment.
He seemed eager to score points with Yuria this time around, but I had no intention of playing along with the Green Village chief's scheme. Eyeing Ruin, who kept trying to lock eyes with me like we had some flirtation going, I asked him point-blank.
"What're you staring at? You just stood by when we were bullying Yuria."
"What did you say?"
"What, you gonna say you didn't step in back then because you weren't close?"
"...Shut your mouth. I didn't know Yuria was suffering...!"
"Bullshit."
Sure enough, a red orb formed in Ruin's hand. The moment he stomped the ground hard, lunging at me in a flash—
"Ruin!"
Yuria shouted. Ruin shot her a glare, his eyes protesting why stop me? But I sent the exact same look her way. I could've stuffed his head with flowers—what's with stopping him?*
"Yuria."
Ruin called her name in a serious tone.
"That bastard said he bullied you because it was fun."
"Not 'that bastard.' It's Ricardo. The Green Village chief."
"This fucking—"
"And don't sugarcoat it. It's not because of Yuria—it's because it hit too close to home, right? I don't recall seeing you around when she was getting bullied at the academy."
I was right on the money. Back then, Ruin was in the slow build-up phase of falling for Yuria. To him at the time, she was just a pretty girl—nothing more, nothing less. The bullying grated on him a bit, but he never stepped in.
"I told you to shut up!"
"Shh."
I quietly pressed a finger to my lips.
"Keep it down. The orcs might hear. You might pass for one of their own, Ruin, but Yuria and I sure as hell won't."
"I'll kill you...!"
"If you think you can handle it, go ahead and yap. I could manage, but you? No chance."
Ruin froze. Even a flame magic prodigy like him would end up as orc mincemeat against a pack of elite ones.
I flashed a grin at the now-silent Ruin.
"Let's talk this out quietly, yeah?"
Yuria, who had been watching all this silently, spoke up.
"Ricardo."
"Yeah?"
"Is this fun for you?"
Her voice dropped awkwardly. She tried to meet my eyes straight on, but her pupils danced away the moment we locked gazes. Unfamiliar with anger, Yuria clutched her skirt hem tight and pressed on.
"Is this situation fun?"
"..."
"I'm asking seriously, and you pick a fight with Ruin? Do I even exist to you?"
Tears welled up in her eyes before I knew it. Those glassy orbs looked ready to burst at the slightest touch. I clenched my fist.
"Am I a joke to you?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"..."
"I'm asking! Why... why... why are you doing this?!"
Yuria's words came out like an accusation, brimming with pent-up fury. I couldn't muster a reply. No excuse would change a thing here. We were the bad guys, just trying a little less bad. To Yuria, we were no different from elementary kids whining, 'Why pick on me when you bully others worse?'
I answered with silence.
"Say something."
"..."
"I'm asking! Was I that disgusting to look at? Or was it because a commoner like me hung around nobles?"
Those were the words Yuria heard most at the academy. In the novel's early days, she wasn't praised as pretty, lovable, or amazing. It was always commoner trash, ugly to look at, low-class. They were the barbs Yuria endured—and the same ones I heard most as a commoner admitted solely on Olivia's status, unlike Yuria, whose overwhelming holy power earned her a spot.
I'd probably faced even worse discrimination than her, so I knew the struggles of a commoner at the academy better than anyone. That's why Yuria was laying into me now: We're both commoners—why discriminate against me?* It could be her venting past grudges, or genuine hatred. Either way, as fellow commoners, we could've shared the hardship, endured the nobles' scorn together. But instead, I bullied her for fun. If I were Yuria, I'd lose all affection too.
I answered honestly, setting aside my initial words for once.
"I'm not looking down on you. I'm a commoner too—what kind of discrimination is that?"
"Then what is it? Like you said earlier, just because it was fun?"
"No. Earlier I just..."
'No matter what I say, you won't believe it. Last-ditch defense.'
I swallowed my frustrated thoughts and offered a plausible alternative.
"Uh... well, you see..."
Yuria let out a hollow laugh. She knew exactly how pathetic I sounded—I knew it too. What an idiot I was. That's why I felt even sorrier toward her.
From my perspective, it was the best answer I had.
"It's because I'm the bad guy."
"Ha."
Slap.
Two days later, on the way down from finishing the quest and heading back to the academy.
"..."
Yuria's expression was grim as she descended the mountain. She'd aced the assignment perfectly—returning to the academy would rocket her back into the rankings. She could've recovered from dropping to the bottom after an early loss to Hanna in the tournament. But she just couldn't muster the energy, letting out a deep sigh.
"Haa..."
This mood had clung to her ever since meeting Ricardo. That nagging, unsettled feeling.
'It's because I'm the bad guy.'
She still couldn't shake that face—beaming brightly even after the slap.
-Feels good to get that off my chest now.
-Are you insane?
-I figured I deserved at least one hit.
He'd bowed his head, thanking her, and it pissed her off while nagging at her heart. She hated him. Despised him. Never wanted to see him again by chance. Yet deep down, a voice screamed to see him once more.
She'd liked him so damn much. Always swooping in like a knight on a white horse, chasing off the villains.
-Miss. It stings.
-I'm not a dog, you know?
-I'll get you that mint chocolate bath bomb.
-I bark real good!
When she'd collapsed after sipping poisoned tea disguised as black tea.
-Which one of you bastards?
-...
-Speak now, or you're dead for real.
In front of high nobles, a mere commoner had stood there grinding his teeth. Impossible not to fall for him. Even if it was all in the past now.
"Haa... Yuria, snap out of it."
She had to get a grip. No forgiveness for Ricardo. She'd managed to reenroll, but he hadn't come back—that irked her. Sure, rumors said Olivia was ill, but Yuria didn't buy noble gossip bloated with lies and exaggeration.
"Hey, Yuria."
Ruin spoke softly, worried by her listless vibe. Having a good friend like him lifted her spirits a bit.
"You look rough. Wanna hit Forest Friend on the way?"
"Forest Friend? We went last time."
Ruin grinned.
"We can go again."
Yuria shook her head. Couldn't impose on Ruin, who'd already carved out precious time for her.
"No, it's fine. I'm good now."
"I'll treat."
"Really, I'm okay."
Ruin gave a wistful smile. They'd walked a bit more when—
"Uh... what the hell."
Ruin, leading the way, spotted something and yanked Yuria's clothes urgently.
"Kyaa!"
Yuria toppled, losing balance. She scrambled to stand, combat-ready—Ruin acting like that meant monsters or bandits. But as she rose—
"Yuria. Stay put."
Ruin held her back. His face was grim as he began chanting magic. Yuria clamped her mouth shut.
Ruin muttered under his breath.
"Fuck."
Something was seriously wrong. Yuria slowly looked up.
A massive man stood there, gripping a huge greatsword, staring at her with a crazed expression.
"You look blessed with fortune."
Drip. A drop of blood splattered on Yuria's forehead.
"Wha... wha...?"
Yuria stammered. Ruin was speechless too. Before them loomed a giant in black priest robes, scarred face, clutching a massive greatsword. He held a black holy book and intoned,
"Ah... could you point the way? To the saints."
Gulp.
"Do you know the path to salvation?"
It happened in an instant. The cold greatsword blade rushed toward Yuria's face. Just as she thought she couldn't do a thing—
"What do you think you're doing."
Boom. A massive explosion rocked the ground.
The dust cloud cleared. Yuria, who had squeezed her eyes shut, cautiously opened them. Unharmed, intact. She sighed in relief.
"What the hell are you doing? You trying to die for real?"
A cold, hardened voice rang in her ears. Polite yet arrogant tone. A familiar voice. Yuria looked up to see a red-haired man blocking the greatsword with both hands.
The man said,
"Close your eyes for now."