The Unqualified Person -1-

Today, in the peaceful mansion courtyard, the young lady stared at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠parked Pexri No.1 with tense eyes. A week after her birthday. After verifying the performance of the protective magic, the historic moment of her test drive had arrived. From the housekeeper's back to the owner. The young lady, now a Pexri owner. I'd worried she might turn into a reckless driver, but fortunately, I could see the tension of a novice in her eyes.

"Hm..."

Her eyes widened round as she gazed at Pexri No.1, its design updated from black to red to reflect the empire's rapidly changing trends. "Oh... Oh... Oh my gosh..."

A sleek body. An impressive wheelchair painted in luxurious red with the highest-grade memory foam seat. It had complicated buttons on the footrest, backrest, and handles, but thanks to the astronomical cost poured into it, it didn't look cluttered at all.

I scooped her up in a princess carry and carefully placed her in Pexri No.1. Her eyes went wide at the plush cushioning. "Oh..." She couldn't stop marveling. Wiggling her hips to feel the cushion, then slamming her back against the backrest to test its sturdiness, she thrust up her thumb.

"Pass...!"

I nodded at her satisfied smile and fitted a helmet on her head. "Is it to your liking?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

"Then let me go over some precautions. You probably forgot what I told you yesterday anyway."

"Yeah. Forgot it all."

As expected, she didn't defy predictions. I held up three fingers and began explaining.

"One. No driving after drinking."

"Got it."

"Two. No hitting people."

"What about people who piss me off?"

"Hm... Shall we allow that?"

"Yeah."

I nodded at her reasonable suggestion. "Finally, number three." As I buckled the seatbelt around her waist, I said, "No speeding. Especially, see that flame icon next to the lever?"

She glanced at the armrest. "This one?"

Her head tilted with a question mark at the flame-shaped button. I nodded and gave an affirmative to her curious eyes.

"Yes, that one. That's—"

"Take this!"

-Vrooooom.

No sooner had I spoken than she pressed the button. She looked at me with a "Did I do good?" expression. I gave an awkward smile.

"Uh... You shouldn't press that."

The trembling Pexri No.1 let out a rumble, and she realized her mistake, looking at me in panic. "Can't press it?"

I nodded. "Yes..."

"But I did..."

"Uh... um... You got this?"

I waved at Pexri No.1, which was bellowing like a bull. The protective magic was solid, so even if she crashed anywhere, it'd be fine. With that faith, I gave a farewell to the flustered young lady.

"Drive safe."

-VRROOOOM!!!

"Hiet..."

The young lady shot off into the distance. "Kyaaaaaaa!!!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Her wheelchair tore across the courtyard. I nodded with a satisfied smile. "Excellent...!"

It was a moving moment. Tears welling up at the majestic debut of Pexri No.1 in the world, I chased after her.

"Kiyayayayayak!!! Hwet... Hweeeet!"

Hearing her cheers, I fell into thought. 'Now... the next episode is about to start.'

The end of the academy's second year. Thinking of Yuria, who would soon clash with the heretics in earnest, I gave a wry smile. 'Well, she'll handle it.'

It was the episode where she'd get brutally crushed. Defeat to Mikhail. Shock from Yuria. Helplessness for Ruin. Hoping they'd grow through this episode, I pursued her.

"How is it! Pexri No.1!"

"Kiyayayayayak!!!!"

"Glad you like it."

"Hwit... Hoeeeet!!!"

Good that she likes it.

*

In the capital's underground dungeon. Three shadows stepped onto the damp dungeon floor, descending deeper.

"It's dark, so be careful, Yuria."

"Yeah, thanks."

"You too, Mikhail."

"...Yeah."

Pink-haired Yuria. Mikhail, who had awakened his aura. And Ruin, hands in his pockets, made their way into the dark dungeon depths.

With hands in his pockets, Ruin grumbled to himself. Seeming irritated about something, his mutters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠echoed loudly through the dungeon.

"Why the hell publicize to the imperial family something the magic department could handle..."

"Shut up, Ruin. The student council president must have her reasons."

"That's what pisses me off. You sword-obsessed idiot."

Mikhail and Ruin bickered. Caught between the ill-matched pair, Yuria gave an awkward smile and tried to mediate.

"Don't fight, you guys... We should get along."

"What'd you say?"

"Wanna get smacked?"

They weren't on good terms.

*

It all started at the student council meeting. That morning, President Shartia gathered the executives and brought up the rumor circulating the academy.

Shartia had cautioned Ruin. 'Something might happen.' Stay put. But Ruin, a fellow magic department student and friend from the mage tower, wasn't the type to sit idle at the disappearance news.

After the meeting, Ruin sought out Yuria. Asked if she'd join him to find 'Hans'. He'd been friends with 'Hans' since first year, so he figured she'd feel the same.

The missing second-year 'Hans' from the magic department was from the same mage tower as Ruin. A shy second-year with few friends, whom Ruin had dragged around since childhood, so Yuria knew him by face. Thus, she agreed to Ruin's proposal.

Yuria was meddlesome. And confident in her skills. Laughable compared to her peer Ricardo, but as part of the academy's so-called golden generation, she knew they outclassed most search parties.

Thus formed the impromptu missing person search party. Magic department topper Ruin. Healing department prodigy Yuria. And Mikhail, tagging along out of worry for her. The party leading the academy's golden era was born.

*

-Splash.

Sticky mud clung to Yuria's shoes as she descended into the dank underground. 'Hoo... It's fine. It's been over a year.'

A place of horrific memories, abandoned by trusted friends. Tense, she clenched and unclenched her fists while heading deeper.

'It's fine...'

Even after a year, Yuria vividly remembered that day's terror.

Unable to shake the memory of being left alone in the dungeon, Yuria shuddered and banished the dark thoughts.

"Cold?"

Ruin, beside her, noticed her trembling shoulders. He started to shrug off his jacket, but Yuria shook her head, refusing.

"No, just a bit chilly. I can handle it."

"Alright? Tell me if it gets cold. I'll make a fireball."

"Yeah, will do."

An awkward air flowed again. They'd charged in boldly but had no leads. As they trudged deeper in frustration, Ruin spoke to break the ice.

"Oh yeah, did you see that guy last week?"

"That guy?"

"Ricardo."

-Twitch.

Yuria and Mikhail flinched at Ruin's sudden mention. They'd recently been helped—and scolded—by him. A name hard to utter lightly. Uncomfortable, too. He'd saved them, but hearing the name of her tormentor in this trauma-filled place soured her mood.

Missing Yuria's cold expression, Ruin rambled on about the recent incident.

"Went to Hamel for mage tower stuff. On the way back, saw a nice bracelet and was gonna buy it. But he was there."

Ruin recounted the Hamel encounter. Harsh words from Ricardo, the shopkeeper knowing him, so no sale. Regretted not gifting it, grumbled Ruin.

"Never going back. Gonna spread the word in the magic department."

Childish prank in the works. Midway through his chatter.

"Haa... haa..."

As they delved deeper, Yuria's face paled. Ruin startled. "Yuria, what's wrong!?"

"Just... stomach's upset."

In the dungeon, friends had hurled cruel words.

Bad memories churned her gut. Friends who'd spat venom and vanished. Left alone. Fled underground from sudden monsters, but what followed? No memory. Heard later Ricardo saved her, but nothing lingered.

Flashes of blaming "you," thinking Ricardo orchestrated it all.

Painful past she didn't want to recall. Anger, fear. Alone in the dark dungeon—her stomach turned sour.

Seeing her pallor, Ruin ground his teeth. "That fucking Ricardo..."

Muttering, he suggested turning back, but Yuria shook her head and pressed toward the depths. "...I'm fine. Just an upset stomach. No big deal."

"Haa..."

Ruin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hated Ricardo more. The trio descended further. Undead knights and ghouls appeared midway, but vanished with Yuria's simple gesture—no real danger.

"Haa... haa.."

Mikhail eyed her condition worriedly. "You okay?"

"Y-yeah. Kinda tough."

"Can't do this. Let's head back."

He glared at Ruin, signaling to yield for her sake. Ruin nodded too. Finding the missing mattered, but Yuria's health first. He pulled his hand from his pocket to support her.

Yuria shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Just stuffy... Walking'll help."

"Still..."

Shaking off the chill, she pushed forward forcefully. "I said I'm fine."

"Tell us if it's too much."

"Yeah."

Bad memories flickered hazily. Yuria shook her head vigorously to dispel them. "Let's hurry. Hans is waiting for us."

Then.

-Kaaaaaaaack!!!

A man's scream echoed nearby. Yuria whipped around. At the end of the dim corridor, beyond the torchlit path, a hole in the pitch-black dungeon wall caught her eye. The scream's source.

Staring at the black maw, Yuria looked puzzled. 'Why... does it feel familiar?'

Seemed new, yet oddly familiar. Like she'd been here. She hadn't returned since that abandonment day, but countless assignments gave her the layout. And this hole? Definitely new. Mikhail and Ruin, dungeon veterans for training, would agree.

Yet it felt familiar. Visited before. Suddenly, a hazy memory flashed.

A red-haired man's shadow flickered. "Was there a place like this?" Mikhail's doubt snapped her from reverie.

"What? You don't know either?"

"Nah. First time for me."

"Fuck."

Ruin eyed the black space with a small smile. Undiscovered area—artifacts await, he buzzed. All three instinctively knew. Hans was there. Instinct and certainty lit Ruin's face.

"Let's go."

Swallowing, Ruin said of the black void. "No other way anyway."

Tense but unable to ignore the scream, they nodded at the hole. Supporting Yuria, Mikhail asked, "Can you make it, Yuria?"

She nodded wearily. And.