SWNOVELXO Chapter 139
TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 139
Inside the dark room.
Beneath the darkness where not even a sliver of light entered, Yuria sat with her head lowered, crying.
“No….”
“This isn’t me….”
“I don’t look like this…!”
The floor was covered with broken mirror shards.
The mirror in the bathroom.
The mirror on the dressing table placed in front of the desk.
Even the hand mirror she carried in her bag had all been shattered into sharp fragments and scattered around.
Amidst the sharp shards that looked as if they could cause deep cuts with a single misstep, Yuria crouched in a corner of the bed, sobbing repeatedly.
“Why me….”
Yuria felt wronged.
Her face changing overnight.
Being betrayed once again by someone she had opened her heart to—it hurt and stung deeply.
Was it a mistake to follow the friend who suddenly apologized? Was she a fool for believing that this time might be different?
“I just wanted to get along with everyone.”
She should have thought it strange from the moment they suddenly started talking to her. She should have realized something was off when people who never spoke to her before suddenly approached her.
Talking behind her back.
Ignoring her to her face.
Yuria thought she should never have looked kindly upon someone who only caused her pain.
If she had, none of this would have happened.
Yuria bowed her head in the darkness, pouring out her sorrow.
Regrettably, time continued to flow, and on the bed lay two dresses.
The white dress Ricardo had gifted her.
The light green dress Ruin had gifted her.
Now, they were meaningless.
*
Beneath the bright chandelier, a large crowd was bustling about.
“You must present an admission ticket or an invitation to enter.”
The voice of the guards blocking the path of unfamiliar guests mingled with the laughter and chatter of students who hadn’t seen each other during the vacation, filling the spacious banquet hall.
The protagonists of this ball were the students of the Academy.
The Academy’s ball, which only those with special invitations could attend, was a gathering space solely for the students.
Held to reaffirm their enthusiasm for academics and to strengthen friendships before the start of a new school year, the ball was graced by the presence of many Academy cadets.
The Student Council President, Chartia.
“Disciplinary Committee! Get the line in order. It’s a mess!”
The second-in-command of the Academy’s Swordsmanship Department, Mikhail.
“I don’t understand why we have to do this bothersome task. I’d rather be swinging my sword right now.”
The Disciple of the Master of the Tower, Ruin.
“Shut up, bug. Do you really want to swing a sword on a day like this? Ugh.”
The stars destined to lead the future of the Empire shone brightly, adding splendor to the ball.
And half of the conversations among the female cadets revolved around the male students.
After catching up on what they had missed during the vacation, the topic of their chatter naturally shifted to the male students.
A female student wearing a dress with excessive frills glanced at Mikhail, who was talking to Chartia in the center of the banquet hall, and spoke.
-Wow… Mikhail looks even more handsome.
-Right? As time goes by, he becomes, how should I put it, more alluring. You know, that…
-Beautiful boy…!
-Yes! That’s it. Mikhail has this vibe of being incredibly strong yet looking delicate like a girl—a beautiful boy kind of vibe…!
-Exactly!
The female students blushed as they chatted.
Laughing and joking about how their eyesight had deteriorated over the vacation because they hadn’t seen Mikhail, the most handsome man in the Swordsmanship Department, they continued their lively chatter.
Mikhail, whose hearing was sharp, clicked his tongue and gave an awkward smile.
“Why is everyone like this?”
“Why? They’re just complimenting you because you’re amazing, Mikhail. Not that you’re my type, though.”
“Please don’t tease me, President.”
“Hehe. But you’re secretly enjoying it, aren’t you, Mikhail?”
Mikhail sighed as he looked at Chartia, who was playfully teasing him, while sipping his wine.
“By the way, hasn’t Yuria arrived yet? She’s always early, but I don’t see her today.”
Mikhail glanced around the banquet hall, searching for his close friend. He couldn’t find Yuria, who always arrived an hour early for every ball.
Chartia, like Mikhail, turned her head and said,
“You’re right, she’s not here.”
“That’s strange. She’s not the type to be late.”
“Hmm. Is that so? She’ll probably show up soon.”
Mikhail let out a worried sigh and tilted his wine glass.
In another corner, the girls were talking about a man with a sharp impression.
The female students, who peeked at the Green Magician glaring coldly at approaching girls and acting prickly, giggled and let out delighted squeals.
-Wow… Ruin looks even more handsome.
-Oh my god. Look at that decadent charm. Even the dark circles under his eyes look so sexy.
-Exactly, it’s insane…!
-Sigh… Will I be able to talk to Ruin this year?
-You dream big. Ruin is just like an idol you admire from afar.
-Sigh…
Ruin paid no attention to the girls’ chatter as he checked his wristwatch and tapped his foot.
“Why isn’t she coming?”
Ruin wanted to see Yuria as soon as possible.
What kind of dress would she be wearing…? No, he wanted to see the beautiful sight of Yuria wearing the light green dress he had gifted her.
Ruin turned his head eagerly, searching for the absent Yuria.
Forty minutes remained until the start of the ball.
Despite the ample time left, the chatter and the heated atmosphere made it feel as if the ball had already begun.
People searching for someone.
Youth catching up on delayed conversations.
Whispers of affection for loved ones filled the Academy’s banquet hall as it marched toward a dazzling beginning.
About thirty minutes had passed.
Just as Yuria’s existence was beginning to fade from everyone’s memory.
-Click. Click.
The faint sound of heels echoed from the entrance of the banquet hall.
It was a sorrowful sound of footsteps.
A sound so weak and mournful that it drew everyone’s attention.
As the sound of footsteps resonated from the entrance, silence began to fill the banquet hall.
The people who had been chatting fell silent.
Those drinking wine paused and set their glasses down on the table, turning their heads toward the entrance to see who had arrived.
There were no more expected guests.
This only heightened the attention.
-Click…
-Click…
-Cli…ck.
As the faint sound of heels grew closer and everyone’s gaze focused on one spot, the silhouette of a slender woman began to emerge slowly.
Who is that?
The male students held their breath as they watched the silhouette of the woman from afar.
Just from the black silhouette alone, they instinctively knew that the person walking toward them was a beautiful person.
The timid steps of the girl drew everyone’s gaze as she began to bask in the brilliant light of the chandelier.
The moment the sound of male students swallowing nervously spread through the banquet hall, the appearance of the final guest began to come into view.
A hush fell over the banquet hall.
“…”
“What the…”
“Pfft.”
Upon seeing the girl, the male students let out sighs filled with disappointment and began shaking their heads. The nervous female cadet, too, covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a laugh mixed with mockery.
She was a girl with a grotesque face.
Although the sound of her heels momentarily drew attention, as her face slowly came into view, everyone unanimously began to sneer.
The hunched girl extended a crumpled admission ticket, her head bowed low.
“Here… my admission ticket.”
“Ah… confirmed.”
“Yes… thank you.”
The students had no idea who the guest at the ball was.
Her skin was covered in freckles.
Her eyes were dull.
Her lips were dry and cracked. No one at the academy had ever seen a student with such an appearance.
Her looks were so unappealing that the thought naturally came to mind. It felt like a waste for someone like her to be wearing such a dress.
It was undoubtedly an expensive dress, but the girl looked as though she had borrowed her mother’s clothes, prompting everyone to laugh at her.
-How tacky.
-No, she’s the weird one.
-Hehe, I know.
The dress the girl wore was a green dress. It was elegant yet understated, adorned with subtle green gems that enhanced its design.
At the same time, it became a trigger that provoked someone’s ire.
Ruin clenched his teeth at the sight of the girl wearing a familiar dress.
‘I bought it because they said it was a one-of-a-kind dress. Damn it.’
The freckled girl, still hunched over, walked toward the corner of the banquet hall. Her timid, hurried steps and slouched shoulders seemed oddly familiar, but Ruin was too preoccupied with his irritation over the girl wearing the same dress as Yuria to care.
‘Yuria will be here soon.’
‘Ugh. Damn it.’
-Oh my God. This is so f*cking funny.
Laughter echoed from a corner of the banquet hall.
The culprits behind the incident, who immediately recognized the girl, felt a sense of satisfaction as they watched her cower.
“Thanks to the potion that wizard gave us, I’ve finally relieved some stress. It feels like a 10-year-old frustration has been lifted.”
“Exactly, serves her right.”
“I’m glad we listened to that wizard. Didn’t they say the effect lasts three hours?”
“Yeah. The ball will be over by then, so it’ll be a good experience for her too. Pfft.”
“She should’ve known her place and stayed quiet.”
The noble ladies smiled as they looked at the girl crouched in the corner. Their cruel smiles and piercing gazes seemed ready to pounce on the girl in the green dress, but they dismissed her with mocking laughter.
The ladies began to move, determined to muster the courage to approach the men they had feelings for.
With the new year approaching, they resolved to take a fresh step forward, deciding not to waste time on insignificant women and to avoid regrets.
Ruin, too, was walking slowly toward the girl in the green dress.
-Step. Step.
Ruin’s resolute footsteps were rough and unyielding. Once he set a goal, he acted on it immediately.
Ruin approached the freckled girl.
The girl, seeing Ruin coming toward her, began to tear up. Her expression was one of overwhelming emotion.
As if she hadn’t expected this, she wiped her tear-streaked eyes with her hand and waited for Ruin to approach.
-Step. Step.
When his steps stopped in front of her, the girl slowly raised her head, wiping her eyes and forcing an awkward smile.
“Ruin…”
At the girl’s gentle call, Ruin responded with a cold voice.
“Hey.”
Hearing herself addressed as “Hey” instead of by her name, the girl’s body stiffened.
Her freckled cheeks trembled, and her tearful eyes quivered as if an earthquake had struck them. Seeing her gaze fixed on him, Ruin clenched his fist and looked around.
“Sigh. Since no one’s around, I’ll just say it.”
“…”
“Don’t take this the wrong way.”
Staring at the dazed girl, Ruin whispered in a small voice.
“Can’t you change your clothes?”
“What?”
“I mean… it’s just…”
Ruin ran his hand roughly through his hair and let out another deep sigh.
“It doesn’t f*cking suit you.”
“What do you mean…?”
“You and that dress. It doesn’t f*cking suit you. I’ve worn plenty of expensive clothes, so I trust my judgment. But you? No.”
The girl, her voice trembling, asked Ruin. Her chest heaved as she coughed in frustration, and Ruin began to grow irritated.
‘Yuria will be here soon…’
Ruin was certain Yuria would arrive wearing the dress he had prepared for her.
That’s why he decided to step in himself and say something cruel to this stranger.
He wanted the gift he had prepared to feel special.
He couldn’t bear the thought of Yuria wearing the same dress as a girl who looked like a beggar.
So Ruin growled at the freckled girl.
“I’ll give you money. Go change into a different dress.”
Ruin’s tone was forceful.
It wasn’t a request; his voice carried a strong threat as it reached the freckled girl’s ears.
“…”
Tears began to well up in the girl’s eyes, ready to spill at the slightest touch. Her tearful gaze fixed on Ruin, who clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“I know it’s rude, but I have my reasons. Please understand. I’ll pay you double the original price, so just change. It’s a good deal for you too.”
“…Ruin.”
“Don’t call my name. It pisses me off.”
“…”
With a trembling voice, the girl spoke to Ruin.
Clenching her bandaged hands into fists, she shouted with difficulty, her voice shaking.
“I… I’m Yuria.”
“What?”
Ruin stared at the girl with wide eyes. His trembling gaze revealed a storm of emotions.
Whether it was shock.
Or anger.
Or perhaps rage directed at whoever had done this to her, it was unclear. But one thing was certain: the emotion reflected in Ruin’s eyes was unmistakably shock.
“Hey…”
Ruin ran his hand through his hair once more.
And then.
“Say that again.”
“Huh?”
“Say it again.”
“This is what happened…”
“No… why the hell are you acting like this since yesterday…?”
Ruin glared at the girl with burning eyes.
“Yuria isn’t as ugly as you.”
“Hic… sniff…”
“How dare you flap your mouth so carelessly.”
Ruin began to reach out toward the girl.
“This won’t do. I’ll just burn the hem of the dress a little.”
“…”
“It’s hard to watch you struggling so desperately to look pretty.”
Emptiness began to fill the girl’s eyes.
Drip, drip. Even as the girl’s tears fell to the floor, Ruin paid no attention and began to extend his irritated hand.
At the moment the Blazing Sphere formed and started to burn the girl’s dress hem.
-Bang!
With the sound of the banquet hall door breaking, the sharp clack of shoes began to echo.
Through the rising dust cloud, a man’s silhouette emerged, and all the students held their breath as they watched.
The man, who had captured everyone’s attention, lightly waved his hand in greeting.
“Hmm. Hello.”
The red-haired man greeted them in his usual casual tone.
He had a tall stature and a muscular build.
The man, with his handsome appearance, lowered his head as if overwhelmed by the excessive attention and said,
“I am Ricardo, serving Lady Desmond Olivia.”
The man entered the banquet hall with a bright smile.
“I’m attending as a student on leave. But I brought an invitation ticket, so if you have any complaints, feel free to challenge me to a duel.”
Then, he began to walk slowly toward the freckled girl. His unwavering gaze fixed solely on her, causing the girl’s freckled eyes to tremble violently.
The girl had tried to hide.
She was covering her face with her hands, crying as she attempted to disappear.
Now, with everyone’s attention focused, the man’s steps headed toward the crying, unattractive girl.
Ruin frowned and grabbed Ricardo’s shoulder roughly as he suddenly appeared.
-Thud.
But Ruin couldn’t overcome Ricardo’s physical strength, as if he were gripping a massive boulder.
Instead, Ruin, who had placed his hand on Ricardo’s shoulder, was almost dragged along by Ricardo’s unyielding strength. Annoyed, Ruin spoke in a voice filled with irritation.
“F*ck, do you even know where you are?”
“Hmm… Could you please shut your mouth?”
Ricardo ignored Ruin lightly and stood before the freckled girl, offering a small smile.
Slowly extending his hand, Ricardo gently patted the girl’s head and said,
“You are beautiful today as well.”