The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Chapter 79: The Unqualified Person (3)

Ruin had always thought of Hans as a good friend.

Adopted into the hands of a tower master, Hans was the only friend who reached out to him when he couldn't adapt to the magical tower.

-What's your name?

-What's it to you?

-I'm Hans. I have no last name!

-Who asked for your life story?

-…You're really touchy. But that's okay! We can start getting along from now.

He was one of the few friends who could put up with Ruin's foul temper.

They were companions who had shared over a decade together in the magical tower. They were similar in being orphans and having similar backgrounds. They both loved magic, and that's why they got along.

Even though Hans's magic abilities had not improved, leading him to fall out of the line of direct disciples, Ruin had thought they maintained a relationship as friends who talked and relieved stress together at the Royal Academy.

The day before Hans went missing, he came to Ruin's room with a bottle of alcohol. Ruin was puzzled by Hans's appearance since he usually did not drink, but he didn't think much of it.

-Ruin… I'm thinking of quitting magic.

-What are you saying, idiot. What will you eat if you quit magic?

-Just… Whenever I compare myself to you and other friends, I feel like this path isn't mine, and no matter how hard I try, I can't escape the lower classes.

-Stop talking nonsense and just try harder. Once you graduate from the Academy, you can get a decent job with a good family. And wouldn't the old man set you up somewhere good?

-…Maybe.

-Try your best like I do. I haven't just been playing around either.

-…Try my best?

-Yeah. Work your ass off.

-Even at the risk of my life?

-Idiot. Isn't that obvious?

After pouring out his heart, Hans left Ruin's room that day with a refreshed look.

-Ruin, you told me to do this.

Hans left with a meaningful remark.

Until then, Ruin never imagined things would escalate to this degree.

Not even slightly.

***

The magic circle began to emit a red light.

The bodies piled on the magic circle turned into black liquid, becoming nourishment for the spell, and the black magic emanating from the magic circle began to cling to Hans, the caster.

Yuria attempted to suppress the dreadful dark magic made of pure malice by pouring out her holy power, but her clumsy holy power could not stop the intricately crafted magic.

The name of the magic was ‘Transmutation.'

It was a spell that shed the skin of a magician to be reborn as a dark wizard, devised by a dark wizard named ‘Calypso' who had spread terror across the empire 100 years ago.

The more souls gathered, the more the power of the spell changed, and the type of ability was determined by the caster's desires; it was a wicked spell.

One day, a year ago.

It was the magic Hans had found while training in the dungeon.

-Kukukukuku…

Along with a majestic sound that shook the earth, the screams of the sacrificed people began to ring out from the magic.

As the malice that seemed to pierce their skin weighed heavily on their shoulders, Michail shouted at Ruin.

"Ruin!"

"…"

"What are you doing! Come back quickly!"

Michail's words did not reach Ruin.

Everything felt like a lie.

His friend, who couldn't even kill an ant, didn't seem like the kind of person to do something as frightening as murder.

He couldn't believe the sight of his friend, standing in the middle of the altar with a mad smile.

The introverted.

The timid Hans was gone.

Long gone.

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The dark wizard awakened Hans was laughing maniacally, his face brimming with satisfaction from the surging power.

"There's an easy way to get strong, so why did I go around in circles? There was no need to bother with formulas and calculations. Just words."

Ruin clenched his teeth and asked Hans.

"Hans, I have one question for you."

"Huh?"

"Did you kill all these people here?"

Hans replied without a moment's hesitation.

"Yeah. This is magic learned for killing people, what about it?"

Ruin's red orbs began to rise, radiating an intense heat.

One. Two. Three.

There were countless orbs of flame, and Hans watched them with curiosity.

"Have you grown again? How strong are you going to get?"

"It's not growth. It's effort."

"Right, effort… I've tried a lot, so I know."

With a ‘snap,' Hans flicked his fingers.

Simultaneously with the flick, black waves spread across the floor, and the orbs that Ruin created began to disappear with a ‘fizzle.'

Ruin's eyes trembled greatly.

Hans spoke to Ruin dryly, as if recounting a philosophy he had come to realize through his own experiences. Calmly, Hans continued.

"Ruin. The realm of talent and the realm of effort are completely different. No matter how much I stayed in the library all day, I couldn't catch up to talent."

"Isn't that right, Ruin? Oh… maybe you think differently since you said there's nothing easier than magic. You might see things differently."

Hans was looking directly at Ruin. Wearing a bitter smile and coming close to Ruin's nose. Despite his small stature and having to look up at Ruin, Hans, who had demonstrated overwhelming magic, did not seem small.

Hans, standing before Ruin, said,

"I've been thinking about my future career for a while."

"Since I was stripped of my direct disciple position…? Anyway, I started thinking a lot. I wondered if this was really my path and I was going through a rebellious phase."

"But magic was fun, wasn't it? It felt great to cast spells with my own hands and get praised by the tower master. But that ended because of you."

Hans told his story in a matter-of-fact way. He spoke with a voice that seemed liberated, neither resentful nor dissatisfied.

"That's why I thought about quitting."

Emotion began to creep into Hans's voice.

"If there's no sign of progress, continuing is stupid. That's why I wanted to ask you, Ruin."

"…"

"Should I quit magic?"

Hans's black eyes began to shimmer.

"But you said it, Ruin. Have you ever tried your best? So I did."

"Thanks to your advice, I succeeded, Ruin."

Hans's eyes started to be filled with madness.

"Look, Ruin."

He showed the dark magic at his fingertips to Ruin.

Telling Ruin that he too could have talent and not be a simpleton gasping for magic power but could be a prodigy with talent, Hans spoke looking straight into Ruin's eyes.

Ruin prepared his magic once again. To stop his precious friend and to do what he could.

He clenched his fists tight and said,

"Even so, you've crossed the line."

"The line?"

At the moment when Ruin created another red orb, Hans waved his hand and neutralized Ruin's magic.

"Who sets these lines? Did some goddess tell you? After all, you and Michail over there are learning magic to kill people, aren't you?"

"No. We learn to protect people…"

"Stop living in fantasy, idiot."

Hans sighed deeply and reached out his hand towards Ruin.

"It's my first time handling this power, so be careful."

"What?!"

With a ‘swoosh,' multiple black chains emerged from behind Hans. The jet-black chains hovered in the air, and at Hans's gesture, they shot out like bullets.

"Catch."

At Hans's command, the chains shot out rapidly. Ruin tried to dodge by turning his body, but the multitudes of black chains had long since entangled his legs.

The sound of taut chains pulling, and Ruin's body fell to the ground with a thud.

"It's so easy. Why did I ever worry?"

Hans put his hand in his pocket and walked towards the fallen Ruin.

Just like Ruin always did, Hans walked arrogantly with his hand in his pocket.

Ruin struggled to escape, but the chains that entwined his legs already tightly bound his hands and feet, leaving him unable to move.

The black chains began to emanate an ominous energy.

The more tightly the chains wrapped around him, the more his magic seemed to drain from his body, and the chains tightened even more.

"Hans, come to your senses…!"

"Why are you trying to make a sane man out to be a lunatic?"

Hans stepped on Ruin's head with his foot.

"Isn't it crazy for a wizard to engage in close combat?"

"Hans…!"

"Just stay put for a while. I told you I'm not good at controlling my strength because it's my first time."

"Snap out of it!"

The magic leaked from Ruin's body through the chains.

The black chains absorbed Ruin's magic, squeezing him even tighter.

Hans bent down.

Dark magic began to flow from Hans's hand as he touched Ruin's head, muttering to himself.

"Is this how it's done?"

‘[Pillage]'

Hans's black magic engulfed Ruin, and his dark magic spread rapidly. Hans's dark magic, which was swallowing Ruin, was related to greed.

Hans had been envious of others' talents.

He had desired to steal the realms that he could not reach, and his ability was a reflection of that desire.

‘Pillage'

It was the ability to steal the unique abilities of the target. If one had a perfect understanding of the opponent's abilities, they could be pillaged.

Hans was trying to steal Ruin's unique ability, ‘Flame Script,' by placing his hand on Ruin's head.

Ruin trembled with a sense of impending doom.

"Aaaaah!!! Let go!"

"Hmm.. it's a bit difficult."

"Let go!"

"Just stay still for a while. It would be strange if I stole something weird. You have to feel it for yourself to understand."

Hans's magic rummaged through Ruin's magic circuits, searching for his unique magic, ‘Fire Script.' As the dark magic slowly reached out to steal Ruin's magic, at that moment.

"Stop!"

With a flash of a blade, Michail's sword gleamed as it cut through.

In a swift motion, Michail severed the chains constricting Ruin and shielded the gasping Ruin behind him as he faced Hans with his sword.

Hans waved his hand.

"Michail."

The numerous black chains aimed at Michail, but he calmly swung his sword, cutting through the chains.

Hans licked his lips as he watched Michail.

"Tsk… I'm also tempted by Michail's abilities. But I can't just mess with them without knowing what kind of talents you have."

"Shut up."

"Why? Is it a sin to be envious?"

"Shut up…"

Hans wrapped the chains around his own arm. The chains formed into the shape of a giant hand.

With a bright smile, Hans swung it.

"Just one."

With a clang, Michail was flung away, and Hans murmured as he watched.

"Tsk… I told you not to interfere."

Hans walked again towards the fallen Ruin, about to cast ‘Pillage' on him once more when.

"Hans!"

Yuria's choked voice stopped Hans in his tracks.

Hans looked up at Yuria.

Meeting Yuria's steadfast gaze in the midst of desperation.

Those were familiar eyes.

Always filled with hope.

The woman who had comforted him during his despair at the wall of talent called Ruin, assuring him he could do it.

For Hans, who had few social connections, she was one of the few friends and a good person in his memory.

Yuria, with her eyes fixed firmly on Hans, shouted,

"You're not this kind of person."

"…"

Yuria's eyes were moist, looking as if she might cry at any moment. Hans felt a strange sense of guilt.

"We used to read books together at the library, and do assignments, right? Are you struggling? We'll help you. If you stay with us, you'll be able to grow too, Hans."

"…"

Hans's expression grew heavy, and he wore a bitter look.

"It's too late, Yuria."

"No, it's not, Hans!"

Yuria clenched her fists and delivered her sincerity.

She didn't want to fight.

We're good friends, so let's find a way, she said warmly, conveying her genuine feelings.

"We're friends."

"…That's right. Friends."

"You can stand up again. If there's something difficult, I'll help you."

After hearing Yuria's words, Hans showed an awkward smile.

"But, Yuria."

"Huh…?"

Hans's expression turned cold.

"What can you do for me?"

"Huh?"

"What can you help with if you can't do anything? You haven't done anything so far."

Yuria's expression began to fill with confusion. Hans looked at her coldly and said,

"Yuria, do you not remember anything from your way here?"

"Uh…?"

"There must be something that comes to mind?"

Yuria spoke to Hans with a trembling voice.

"What are you talking about?"

Hans shook his head as if it were amusing.

"When you were abandoned in the dungeon, don't you remember anything?"

"What?"

"You see, Yuria. When you were abandoned in the dungeon, you ran away here."

Hans said with a bitter smile to Yuria.

"I was lucky I found this place because of you, anyway."

"Huh?"

"There was a very old monster living here. A monster older than 100 years."

Cracks began to appear on Yuria's face.

"What are you talking about."

Hans laughed with a ‘ha' and said,

"How do you think you survived?"

Suddenly, a blue window appeared before Yuria's eyes.

-You have failed the quest.

‘Uh…?'

[Instant access to 〈Side Story 42〉 ‘The Unqualified Person' is granted.]

Yuria's time began to stand still.

[The viewing begins.]