Handing the towel, Ruby sat across the sofa from where I was sitting.
"Here, wipe your hair dry."
"Mhm."
Running towards her kitchen, she peeked her head from the door.
"Hot chocolate?"
"It's fine." I waved my hands.
"Hot chocolate it is." She insisted.
Well, I forgot one thing. She was stubborn.
"Sigh, alright."
As she was busy preparing the hot chocolate, I looked around the room.
"..."
It was the sa as the original tiline.
'It's surprising that she was the headmistress in this world too.'
Was her dream to always beco the headmistress?
'I don't think so.'
Maybe it was the Hero Association that forced her to take this role.
Now that I think about it… If I was powerless in this version, then who was the Rank-1?
Surely it wasn't so nobody.
"Wait…" Murmuring, I thought for a second.
"Don't tell it's justice."
He was ranked 2 in my real tiline, so it's possible that he's ranked 1 here.
A shiver ran down my spine.
'He was powerful, no doubt, but at the sa ti he was creepy.'
I never liked him a bit.
He always challenged to a duel—with swords. And every ti, I beat him. So he'd co back with sothing even more ridiculous, so shitty challenge pulled out of nowhere.
There was this one ti at the Hero Association, and he challenged to a thumb fight!
Yes, a literal thumb fight.
['Hope, I've trained my thumb specially for you, let put it to the test.']
That day, I had a nightmare.
'Fuck that creepy bastard!'
It was a good thing I died.
"Haaah…"
I feel tired.
Tilting my head toward the window, I watched the weather grow rough.
Rain poured relentlessly, thunder roared above, and the sky lit up with the occasional spark.
'Is the world going to end or what?' I chuckled.
My mood was getting brighter.
Today was Saturday. My Nova classes were only half-day.
Mom and Dad would be worried if I didn't reach ho soon.
And knowing Ruby, she wouldn't let off until the weather settled down.
Clicking on my wristband, I sent my parents a text—telling them I wouldn't be coming ho today because of the weather and that I'd be staying in one of Nova's dorms for the night.
As I wandered inside my thoughts, Ruby appeared, holding two steaming cups.
"Hot! Hot! Hot!"
She rushed over to the table, set both cups down, and then sat, crossing one leg over the other.
"Here. Oh, by the way…" Her gaze lingered on . "What's your na?"
Picking up the cup and taking a sip, I answered.
"Zane Skylark, Headmistress."
"Ah!" Her eyes widened, shifting to a sorrowful look.
I pretended not to notice.
She hesitated for a mont before speaking.
"I… um, I think I understand now. Why you were in pain."
I stayed silent.
She picked up her cup, took a small sip, and spoke in a gentler tone.
"She was kind. Always helping others, always pushing forward…"
A soft smile curved on her lips as her eyes beca slightly moist.
"It hurts… that she had to go through sothing like that."
I looked down at my cup as the steam rose, brushing against my nose.
Gripping it tightly, I spoke, firm and low.
"Was she killed?"
"Huh?"
She flinched, caught off guard.
"Wh—What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what you heard, Headmistress. Why did Nova hide her mission report? Why was her death classified? Why did—"
"Stop." Her tone sharpened.
"Who told you this?"
My eyes focused on her face.
"Hm… What will it change?"
I continued.
"She's no more. None of them told us the reason for her death… You said she was kind, then… Then can't you at least show her this favor of kindness?"
I found myself pleading now.
She went quiet, as if searching for the right words.
Surely, I was not blaming her.
Her eyes darted to my face, and even though I could see her eyes quivering, I didn't let it bother .
"Zane, right?" she murmured. "There are things in this world that are better left hidden."
'I knew it.'
They were hiding sothing.
I had had enough. How much more do I need to endure?
In my old world, they treated like a tool, then tossed aside. Not just , but everyone else. To them, it was all about power and fa.
They didn't care about anyone.
It was all a facade. The heroes, the rankers, the governnt—they were just pretending to be in our favor. But in reality...
They were the real demons.
I let out a deep sigh and stared at her.
"Markus Bloodstone, was it?"
"Huh?" Her gaze wavered, her cup nearly falling.
"What did you say?" She pretended not to know.
I kept my cool and simply answered.
"Is he the one you're this scared of, Headmistress Ruby—or should I call you Pride?"
In a re instant, I found myself staring at a blade pointing at my face.
"Who are you?" Ruby resolute.
Ignoring the blade pointed at , I took another sip from my cup and gave her a piercing look.
"Didn't I tell you who I am?"
"Why did you call with that na?" She demanded. "Answer !"
'Scary.'
"Are you not?" I stood up to match her level.
Her blade was still pointed at .
"Ruby Oliver, age 20, abandoned at a very young age. Adopted by the Hero Association and treated as a tool. Are you not her?"
This ti, she was bewildered.
"How… How do you know all this?"
'I know everything about you.'
"You asked to hear my problems, right?" I smiled, giving her my answer. "I'm doing it now."
Ruby narrowed her eyes.
"You're not making any sense to ."
"I know, that's why I want you to hear my problems first."
Now, it was my turn to explain.
"What's there to know? You knew about my identity and my past. Are you a stalker?"
"Eh?" Her deduction startled . "What did you say?"
"Stalker."
"Why?!"
This is ridiculous.
"I knew about all of you because you're the one who told ."
The blade in her hand shook near my throat.
"The more you speak, the less sense you make. When did I ever tell you? We just t!"
Taking a deep breath, I cald my voice.
"Look, I know this may sound ridiculous, and you may call a madman… The truth is, I was not from this tiline."
"..."
She blinked.
"Did you hit your head?"
Her expression shifted to pity. "Ah, it must be because your sister's death is too much for you, I understand now."
"No! Believe , please."
"How would I believe it? At least make it logical!" She seed frustrated.
"Look, I can point out stuff only you know, things you yourself shared with … in my original tiline."
"Oh?" She tilted her head, her voice laced with mockery. "Then please, go ahead. Let hear my secrets."
Alright, what should I tell her now? I have several secrets that only I and Ruby know of.
Recalling, I piece out a few secrets.
"The first secret, you like white chocolate."
"..." Her gaze narrowed. "Stalker."
This girl, I didn't know she was this much of a—
"Sigh," I let out a defeated sigh.
Maybe I'm doing it wrong.
This ti, I seriously thought about the conversation I and Ruby once had, the ti when I confessed to her.
What was she like? What did she feel… I recalled it again. Her warm hug, those sly grins, and those teasing eyes…
Thinking back, I notice how lucky I was to have her.
Looking at her intense glare, I said in a calm tone.
"Despite wielding this much power, you're soone who never misuses it, no matter how much pain the Hero Association caused you in your childhood. You were once lonely, but as a guardian, you got Master Envy at your side. She was a sadistic devil, I tell you! Haahaa…"
"But she was soone who looked out for you, who even you trusted."
I saw her eyes flicker and lips part in amazent.
I continued.
"You never said your dreams to once, but I can guess what you truly wanted the most."
She never said it. But, as her only friend and maybe life partner, I can sohow tell.
"What do I want?" She whispered.
A smile tugged at my lips as I spoke.
"Family."
"..."
Looking at with wide eyes, she tried to say sothing, but her voice stuck.
And just by a glance, I can tell that I hit the nail.
The things that I just told you were sothing even she didn't share. She never once told about her dreams.
Ti paused as her gaze lood at my face.
Lowering her blade, she broke the silence.
"You told you're from another tiline? That you and I were close?"
I nodded.
She continued.
"And also, that I shared all my secrets with you?"
She was onto sothing. But, not thinking hard, I nodded.
Ruby directly asked.
"Was I in love with you?"
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