SWNOVELXO Chapter 92
The Rise of the Blue Flame, the protagonist Eve.
I was taken aback by her statement.
I had fallen victim to the magic of the ancient dragon.
This meant she had noticed the remnants of the ancient dragon that dwelled within me.
How could she?
I’ve played Eve myself, and I know she doesn’t possess the foresight like Sharine does.
So there’s no way she could have detected the dragon’s remnants.
Yet Eve figured it out and approached me.
My expression twisted in confusion.
At the same time, I tried to quickly comprehend the emotions etched on Eve’s face.
Eve is a very blunt character.
Perhaps that’s why it was hard to read her expression.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
I instinctively denied it.
Eve slightly furrowed her brows.
She had the appearance fitting a protagonist with a compelling backstory.
Maybe that’s why her actions seemed almost picturesque.
Now I understood her emotions.
I could control Eve’s feelings.
“You’d better deny it while you can.”
With those words, Eve took a step closer to me.
Of course, I backed away a step.
Eve’s eyes glinted with a mysterious light.
“… Why are you running away?”
“Because you’re approaching me threateningly.”
Her brows knitted even more.
“Threatening? Where do you see that?”
Sorry, but you’re definitely intimidating.
Eve, along with Lucas, is one of the protagonists.
Moreover, at this moment, she holds an advantage over Lucas when it comes to sheer power.
‘To think I was exposed to someone like her.’
Though the remnants of the dragon within me aren’t well-known to the world at large.
However, powers associated with ancient dragons are forbidden magic across the globe.
Even if I seemed calm, I was pretty flustered.
I never imagined I would get caught by Eve regarding the dragon’s magic.
‘What to do now?’
I intended to talk to Eve one way or another.
But I never thought it would spiral into this.
“… Am I really that intimidating?”
At that moment, an unexpected reply came back.
Eve was hugging herself and staring at her toes.
She looked surprisingly passive.
Seeing this, my head tilted in confusion.
After all, Eve’s strength lies in her unwavering spirit.
She wouldn’t have gotten the nickname “Unbreakable Blue Flame” for nothing.
‘Did something happen over there in the last six months?’
I wasn’t entirely versed in Eve’s backstory.
Although Preleez is a fallen kingdom, it endures until the current generation.
So aside from a brief appearance in an international individual competition, I had no opportunity to meet Eve in the main story.
“Who said I was intimidating?”
Still, since I had experience playing the protagonist, I couldn’t help but ask back.
Eve, looking somewhat embarrassed, responded.
“… Sorry, don’t worry about it.”
Seeing her expression, it seemed surely someone had said such words to her.
But now was a chance to continue the conversation.
I seized the bait that Eve had cast without hesitation.
“If I had to say, yes, you are intimidating.”
Eve’s shoulders twitched.
Her eyes were filled with a wild shudder.
It seems the earlier remark about being intimidating struck a nerve.
It’s tough to hurt the “Unbreakable Blue Flame” with mere words.
“Eve, you generally have a blank expression and an intense aura.”
“That aura is not something I have.”
“Yes, regardless of your true feelings, your aura is something you’re born with.”
Eve is beautiful.
But beauty has its types.
For example, Isabel is like a golden retriever—endlessly bright.
Her cheerful face is so striking that anyone meeting her can’t help but feel she’s harmless.
Eve stands in stark contrast to Isabel.
She’s pretty but carries an intimidating older sister vibe.
In reality, she would sit at the top of the social hierarchy at school.
Not to mention she has skills that could easily place her among the six stars.
When you combine her natural aura with her background, it’s no wonder she comes off as intimidating.
“… I know that much too well.”
Eve gently played with the tips of her hair with a slightly gloomy face.
“I tried growing my hair to avoid looking like a tomboy.”
To say she looks tomboyish wouldn’t be entirely unfounded.
“… Kids are scared of me.”
Now I finally figured out who had called Eve intimidating.
‘It was the kids.’
She wouldn’t be hurt at all by hearing such remarks from peers.
But there’s one thing.
Eve, too, couldn’t help but be hurt by what’s said about kids.
She genuinely likes children.
To be precise, she loves most small creatures.
Hearing she was intimidating to kids must have been a huge shock for her.
“Then, how about showing a smile to change the atmosphere a bit?”
A smile can swiftly alter the vibe of someone perceived as intimidating.
“When I smiled, the kids got even more scared.”
“Maybe you didn’t smile properly. People are surprisingly bad at using their faces.”
With that, I demonstrated a variety of expressions.
“Kids are especially sensitive to expressions. The more exaggerated, the better the effect.”
Eve’s eyes widened.
“… You’re really good at using your face.”
“I practiced.”
To be exact, it was rehabilitation.
After an injury, I developed facial paralysis.
To treat it, I used a mirror for facial massages, practicing using my mouth, eyes, and nose.
Through that process, I learned how to more accurately portray my expressions.
Of course, my case was unique.
I wouldn’t expect others with facial paralysis to go through the same as me.
Still, it helped me navigate various situations after joining the Flame Butterfly side.
Especially in front of Isabel, it served me rather well.
Isabel wouldn’t have been able to distinguish my fabricated expressions until now.
… Though I’m not so sure recently.
“Would you like me to teach you?”
Eve, sensing the atmosphere, looked at me.
Then she flinched and rolled her eyes.
Her earlobes turned slightly red; she seemed eager to learn.
Then, as if recalling something, she turned back to me.
“Wait. This isn’t the conversation I wanted to have.”
Oh no, did she catch on?
I guess trying to smoothly shift the subject didn’t work.
“Anyway, the problem is the ancient dragon’s magic. It’s dangerous. If you can’t resolve it immediately, you might end up consumed by the dragon.”
Eve didn’t come looking for me to assign blame.
She approached me purely out of concern as we met for the first time today.
No wonder, it’s as if she carries an innate kindness.
Glimmers of warmth shone in her eyes, and I slowly smiled.
“It’s definitely dangerous.”
“Exactly.”
“But I actually need it.”
Eve’s body halted momentarily.
The moment she realized I held the remnants of the ancient dragon.
Earlier, I babbled some nonsense to buy time.
And then I made my decision.
I decided instead to use the remnants of the ancient dragon.
“I have things I need to do. So can you keep this a secret?”
A smile played on my lips.
But beneath that smile lurked a hint of malice.
“Unless, of course, you don’t want to.”
A subtle chill began to emanate from my body.
I barely brushed against the remnants of the dragon to awaken them.
“I might end up in a lot of trouble if you don’t.”
Eve’s eyes narrowed.
At the same time, a blue flame began to slowly flicker from her body.
“So now you’re trying to silence me?”
She was a six-star.
A strong contender among her generation’s elite.
No matter how connected I was to the dragon’s remnants, that wouldn’t hold a candle to Eve’s blue flames.
If we were to fight, I’d most likely lose.
“Yes, so I’ll teach you to express properly, so will you keep this a secret?”
“What?”
“I know you want to learn how to express yourself. This can be the price for your silence.”
I grinned cheekily.
“Or are you looking for money? I don’t have anything of that sort, so that would be tricky.”
“… I’m not asking for money.”
Eve looked at me as if she couldn’t comprehend my words.
But I meant it sincerely.
“How about it? It’s quite the enticing offer, isn’t it?”
“No, I’m telling you, the ancient dragon’s magic is dangerous.”
“Yes, I know, but I have to risk it.”
Eve stared at me with a furrowed brow.
She seemed eager to uncover my intentions, but she couldn’t read anything at all.
That wasn’t surprising.
I had no clear plans for the dragon’s remnants right now.
No matter how much Eve tried to pry into my thoughts, nothing would surface.
“Then I’ll teach you the expressions later. I have things to do today.”
I effortlessly turned around.
She looked shocked and reached to grab me, but it was too late.
I quickly made my way back to the Jerion Academy’s room.
I was flabbergasted.
I never expected to be caught by Eve regarding the ancient dragon’s magic.
However, given Eve’s nature, she likely wouldn’t spill the beans about the ancient dragon’s magic.
She wasn’t the type of person to do that without knowing my situation.
She’d probably try to resolve it on her own.
As I quietly exhaled, the atmosphere of the quiet room settled around me.
There were two people in the room watching me.
“D-Did you just come back?”
“Hanon, take it easy.”
I blinked.
‘Ah, come to think of it, I did say I was leaving for a bit.’
I had completely forgotten.
I should have given them a bit more time before returning.
I came back too early.
I figured I’d have to act angrier.
“Hanon, I’m hungry.”
But that soon became unnecessary.
Seeing Sharine made me simply frustrated.
Thanks to her, I confirmed that my anger hadn’t faded just yet.
＊＊＊
International Individual Competition Meeting.
As mentioned, the true value of the meeting lies in the following party.
A party where everyone can chat freely.
As it gathers the future leaders of the world, every conversation exchanged at the party becomes a connection and future asset.
So the children at the party are like hyenas of politics, eagerly scanning for conversational partners.
In a party filled with such kids, one proud-looking woman entered.
The woman in a flowing black dress was the 3rd princess of the Haishirion Empire.
Iris Haishirion.
As she walked, all eyes turned toward her.
Iris’s unique allure instantly captivated the atmosphere around her.
The children gazed at her in a daze.
Iris resembled a black rose.
Her beauty drew one in, yet felt treacherous, as if reaching out would lead to being pricked by thorns.
That was Iris.
However, those trailing behind her were not to be underestimated either.
Rather than a dress, a languid-faced woman appeared in a school uniform.
Curiously, her casualness drew even more attention from the crowd.
The daughter of the Lord of the Blue Magic Tower.
Sharine Sazarith.
She nonchalantly tossed her dark blue hair, yawning with a relaxed expression.
Next to her stood a bright, sunny-faced woman.
Dressed in a neat crimson gown, her cheerful demeanor was evident.
Her brightness affected those who saw her, causing them to smile involuntarily.
The main heroine.
Isabel Luna.
With the emergence of these three women, the children began to murmur.
And there was one boy trailing behind!
‘Oh, no one’s paying me any attention.’
Master of concealment, Hanon.
Of course, my face disguised as Hanon was decent-looking, but in comparison to those three, it was practically invisible.
I welcomed the attention focused on the three, intending to slip away unnoticed.
‘Alright, let’s just…’
I was about to silently step back, observing the situation.
That’s when I heard footsteps.
I raised my head, unease creeping in.
I didn’t expect someone to approach me while all the attention was elsewhere.
But I had overlooked one thing.
The other party didn’t care about such matters.
“Hanon Irey.”
Where she picked up my name from, she accurately called my name.
I swallowed hard, turning to see a woman in a blue dress with blue hair.
The “Unbreakable Blue Flame.”
Eve.
She boldly stood before me with everyone’s attention on us.
I never thought she would make a move so overtly.
As if signaling that she was the starring role, she behaved unpredictably.
Eve might just be a hoodrat.
As Eve caught eyes as much as the first three, and called out to me, all the kids started looking our way.
But it wasn’t just the kids who were looking at me.
I felt two intense glares aimed at the back of my head.
Isabel and Iris.
The two were glaring at me intensely enough that I could feel the heat radiating.
It felt like they were talking directly behind me.
“So, you went out and managed to flirt with a girl in that short time, huh?”
And Sharine directly voiced it.
This is so unfair!