158 – The Story of Becoming a Nightmare for Someone -4-
Another peaceful day in the middle of the Hamel Mountain Range.
-Thud!
“Got one for now!”
With my arms crossed, taking responsibility for the students’ safety, I yawned and distributed the feed to Lupang. Standing still for three days earns you 300,000 gold.
“Sweet.”
I should have found a job like this sooner. Memories of foolishly hammering away on construction sites in the past came to mind, and I nodded with a bitter smile.
Indeed, the boss’s words are always right.
There’s always a reason behind what a wealthy boss asks you to do, so why did a humble familiar like me hesitate?
I expressed my gratitude to Malik, who enlightened me with the wisdom of life, and shouted out.
“Group 3 students. You’ve gone too far. If you don’t want your body and neck connected via Bluetooth, come back.”
“Group 6 students have also gone too far. That’s the elite Orc habitat over there.”
Students, overcome with emotion at the sight of the Orcs crumbling without strength, were recklessly racing towards the summit.
Students, thrilled to show off to friends they haven’t seen in a while and to put into practice what they’ve learned at the academy.
They’re on the path to their own demise.
I sighed deeply and lowered my head.
“Ugh. I don’t feel like working.”
I want to live as a freeloader, but in order to make ends meet, I reluctantly moved my eyes diligently with a bitter smile, acknowledging the harsh truth of life that one must work.
And from a distance, I could see Nokjo struggling to cast spells.
“Ugh!”
Nokjo falling back from the Orc’s punch.
Ruwin, who seemed destined to be a herb gatherer or a fairytale character, had his robe covered in dirt as he continued rolling on the ground.
The magic emanating from Ruwin’s hands, with a feeble sound of “Fiyong,” failed to pierce through the Orc’s skin.
It must be incredibly tough for Ruwin, who has lost the foundation of his talent.
In the novel, Ruwin primarily used his unique ability, “Flame Script.”
An ability that significantly enhances efficiency with the fire attribute. He had more abilities, but at this point, this was his limit.
Of course, that’s in hindsight.
“Dammit. Dammit. Dammit…!”
Ruwin fought with all his might.
Rolling on the ground.
Cursing fiercely.
The members of the same group, with disappointed expressions, looked at Ruwin, who fell far short of their expectations with his magic, causing them trouble.
They must have expected more.
They probably thought that being in the same group as Ruwin, a pride of the Magic Department, would make solving tasks easier, but instead, they found Ruwin, who had become a burden, unwelcoming.
With a tarnished personality.
And being ignorant of cooperation.
Ruwin, not as outstanding as me but far from worthless, was nothing more and nothing less than a disgraceful hindrance.
His attempt to hide his downfall from me by staying far away was probably Ruwin’s idea.
It won’t be easy.
Regaining magic.
Restoring lost relationships.
Unlike the smoothly untangled past, things will probably get twisted this time around. Not my concern, really. No need to complicate things.
I shrugged and turned my gaze away from Ruin.
“You’ll manage just fine.”
Failing to seize the opportunity among many is Ruin’s fault.
While preventing students from straying beyond the designated area, a familiar girl’s voice reached my ears.
“Master!”
The girl approached with light steps.
I slowly turned around and looked at the girl’s face.
“Hanna.”
“How are you? Not finding the work too difficult?”
Hestania Hanna stood behind me, looking up with a burdened expression.
I smiled at Hanna’s innocent, youthful appearance as she slightly tilted her waist and gazed at me.
“No, I want to go home.”
“What’s wrong? It’s only the first day.”
“That’s right. It’s only the first day, but it’s already tiring.”
“Aren’t you being lazy?”
“Is that what Miss Hanna thinks?”
At the piercing question, Hanna raised her head with a sheepish smile.
“I am a student. I should have some free time.”
“If you want to rest, you should rest together. Did you leave your companions behind to come here?”
Hanna avoided my eyes awkwardly. It seemed like she did leave her companions behind.
“I don’t know.”
I responded to Hanna’s ambiguous reply with a vague “Hmm…”
“It’s troublesome if you don’t know.”
Hanna clicked her tongue and turned her head away. She murmured softly while watching Mikhail and Yuria, who were fighting orcs near the edge of the forest.
“They are capable people.”
“That’s true.”
Indeed, those two were capable. The heroine and the hero.
But still, abandoning the party to rest was not acceptable.
“No matter what, sneaking out alone…”
Just as I was about to start nagging,
“Hey!”
Hanna embraced me.
Caught off guard by Hanna’s sudden embrace, I hesitated for a moment, then burst into laughter at Hanna’s smiling face.
“What’s this sudden hug for?”
“You were about to nag, Master.”
“It’s not nagging, it’s good advice.”
I replied while patting Hanna’s head.
Mikhail could submit the assignment without mentioning his name. He might tell the professor he hadn’t done anything.
“It’s okay. Just come first in the rankings.”
“What? That’s a presumptuous remark.”
“But the butler said so. He said being humble brings no luck.”
Hannah smiled faintly and buried her face in her wide chest. Her face turning red at Hannah’s sniffling breath was a bonus.
“I’ve let you know I’m naughty.”
“hehehe… it was the butler’s mistake.”
“Oh…”
Hannah exhaled deeply and looked around.
One year ago.
In Hannah’s eyes, gazing at the place where they had learned swordsmanship together, seemed to hold complex emotions.
Happy memories and nightmares.
Hannah spoke with a locked voice.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”
“Yes. About a year.”
“Has it been that long already?”
Hannah chuckled bitterly as she looked at the place of the first class.
“It’s been a year already since you told me to try something and left, time flies fast.”
“…Yes, it was unavoidable for smooth teaching. Time was tight as well…”
Recalling the memories she had nurtured strongly, Hannah seemed to have accumulated a lot. She had nothing to say, given how strongly she had nurtured them.
Amused by my bewildered reaction, Hannah burst into a bright smile and muttered in a small, low voice.
“I understand… why you taught me like that. And if it weren’t for the butler…”
Hannah gazed at me with eyes filled with dark emotions. Her touch, embracing like seeing a benefactor of life, tightened even more.
Wiping away the sad smile, Hannah raised her head. Without considering the thought of falling anytime soon, she buried her face once again in my wide chest, took a deep breath, and turned her face away.
Hannah, like a puppy.
Perhaps because she was the boss’s younger sister, her actions were somewhat cheeky.
“Now you should go to work too, Butler.”
“My profession is a butler.”
“That’s true, but today you’re a teacher, right?”
“That’s also true.”
Hannah made a face that didn’t want to let go, then reluctantly released the hand she had been holding tightly.
“I’ll go now.”
“Yes. I’ll cheer you on.”
“hehehe. Yes.”
Hannah walked towards Mikhail.
As Hannah walked away with a look of not wanting to be left behind, I smiled and waved at her.
As Hannah moved further away from me.
I called out to Hannah.
“Miss Hannah.”
“Excuse me?”
“It seems like it’s going to rain.”
“Rain?”
Hannah looked up at the sky with a puzzled expression. Staring at the clear sky without a single cloud, she extended her hand under the clear sky and said, “Yes. It seems like it’s going to rain.”
In response to Hannah’s words, I chuckled and said, “You’re not saying anything?”
“If that’s what the butler says, then so be it.”
That’s why I want to do well.
There are few people in the world who unquestioningly believe my words.
Hannah made a distressed expression and said to me, voicing her concerns about the rain coming.
“What should I do? I didn’t bring an umbrella.”
I smiled and said to Hannah, “Fortunately, I have a few extra umbrellas. Please take one. I’ll give it to Miss Hannah for free.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“I don’t want it for free… How about sharing the umbrella with the butler?”
“No.”
“Aw…”
Hannah took a step back, looking me straight in the eyes. Despite my continuous laughter at Hannah’s leisurely steps, urging her to hurry, she stood her ground, not moving.
“Let’s share it!”
“I don’t want to!”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s narrow?”
“I’ll give you more space.”
“Isn’t that something a man should do?”
“You said it was narrow!”
Unable to resist Hannah’s stubbornness as she puffed out her cheeks, I gave in.
“Fine, let’s share it.”
“It’s a promise!”
“Yes.”
Hannah, who was walking away, gazed at the sky endlessly.
“I hope it rains a lot.”