Trash visited the mansion.
Holding a broom and dustpan, I looked at Ruin, estimating whether his size could be swept up, and flicked the broom lightly.
"It seems like folding him up might do the trick."
Hearing the silent threat, Ruin voiced a bland question.
"What's that?"
"Cleaning tools."
"Why are you holding them?"
"To clean."
With a keen sense, Ruin clenched his fist and glared at , but his threats were no match against ard with a broom.
After all, the broom is the natural predator of algae heads.
Ruin, who had helped clean the mansion along with Gomtang, was covered in dust from head to toe.
Considering his grass-colored hair, I briefly entertained the thought of playing soccer on Ruin's dusty head, but knowing his nasty temperant wouldn't allow it, I simply raised my middle finger in frustration.
"This bastard…"
"Calm down. This is a sacred mansion. Please refrain from swearing."
"You started this ss. Wanting to die, huh?"
"Uh…"
I looked at Ruin with a small smile. As my red gaze turned to him, Ruin clenched his mouth shut and refrained from saying more.
"Thank you."
Ruin stood awkwardly in front of the entrance door.
Though I wanted to punch him in the face for entering without permission, as a butler who wished to avoid violence in the mansion, I marked a symbol of patience in my heart and observed him.
"So, why have you co? Mr. Ruin, lover of the environnt."
"I have business here."
"I see."
-Bang!
I pushed Ruin out and closed the door.
I had no business with him.
*
Ruin, who returned, was now sitting in the kitchen.
Seemingly caught a cold, Ruin, sniffling and shivering, wrapped himself tightly.
"How can you leave a person outside for 3 hours…"
"You're not a person, that's why."
"Ha… No, let's not talk about it."
"A wise decision."
Ruin had battled the winter chill for three hours. He was upset for coming unannounced, and I had no reason to let him in.
The reason I brought Ruin into the mansion was one.
I feared complaints about an unsightly statue being left in the yard. It wasn't out of pity for Ruin, nor a desire to converse with him.
So, what could have brought him here?
I looked at Ruin, still holding the broom.
"…Put that down."
"Sorry. The lady dislikes dirt in the mansion."
"Ha."
-Bang.
Ruin, regaining so energy, stuffed his hands into his pockets and placed his legs on the dining table. Acting as if he belonged, Ruin placed his legs on the table where we eat.
I wanted to kick him out.
Sincerely.
"If you have a guest, at least offer so tea…"
"I'll count to three."
"What?"
"Find the reason yourself."
One.
Without hesitation, I counted.
Three seconds until the secondary male lead loses his legs. Considering enough ti to see his life flash before his eyes, that was the number I settled on.
"Two."
"No."
"Three."
Just as the broom was about to hit Ruin's knee, he awkwardly slid his legs off the table.
Choosing his body over pride, Ruin seed ready to converse now.
Ruin, furiously dusting off his algae-colored hair, wore a ridiculous expression.
"Why the hostility…"
Personally, I doubted Ruin's exhalation contained any carbon dioxide.
The reason was simple.
Because he's an algae head.
Regrettably, for soone not fitting the concept, he's a magician who uses fla magic.
I asked Ruin seriously if it wasn't too late to relearn magic fitting his concept.
I'd fully support him. If he learned nature-based magic fitting his hair color, we could work together to create a cleaner world.
I spoke with sincerity.
"Idiot."
Oops, my inner thoughts slipped out without filter.
Ruin wore a dumbfounded expression.
Suddenly hearing an insult and such treatnt must have been a first for him. Unsure of the news he brought, Ruin glared at , but as always, I responded by raising my middle finger.
Ruin, who ca without a companion, was nothing but an unwelco guest.
Like with Hanna, if he had co with a student council officer, maybe, but Ruin's news on his own brought no anticipation.
As I prepared the tea, I looked at Ruin nonchalantly, pouring generously the cheap green tea I had once considered throwing away.
"Why have you co to this humble place, Mr. Esteed Guest? Seeing you ca empty-handed, it doesn't seem like a casual visit."
Ruin twitched at the ntion of being empty-handed. Clearly, he had never learned basic social etiquette.
Even if you visit the house of your worst enemy, bringing at least a flower is basic manners.
I scolded Ruin for coming empty-handed and sat across from him with a teacup.
"You didn't co just to see my face."
I offered Ruin the cheap green tea, steeped until it was dark green. Since it wasn't for , I made it as tasteless as possible.
"Please, drink."
Ruin's distorted expression reflected in the teacup.
"I steeped it well."
"…Ha?"
"Or you can leave."
Instead of responding, Ruin grabbed the teacup and gulped it down. Whether the cheap tea suited his taste, Ruin emptied the cup in one go.
"Cough… Cough…!"
I smiled, satisfied.
-Bang!
Ruin harshly set down the teacup and wiped his mouth. Being the competent secondary male lead he is, everything about him seed well-crafted.
Sowhat decadent yet cool.
Hmm.
"Sorry, but may I punch you in the face?"
"…What?"
"Your pretending to be cool is ruining my appetite."
"Nonsense."
"I'm serious."
…"
Ruin looked at with trembling eyes, "I'm serious," I conveyed through my gaze. Ruin, his eyebrows trembling, cleared his throat and tried to control the atmosphere.
Maybe it was ti to stop the teasing.
The fun of mocking him made lose track of ti more than I thought.
With Ruin, the algae head, in the living room, it seed the air had been sowhat purified. It was ti to get to the point.
My calm voice filled the space between us.
"So, why have you co to our mansion?"
"…I have a favor to ask."
"A favor."
Royal Academy, 2nd year winter vacation.
Ruin, who had been rely interested in Yuria, was starting to realize his feelings.
The mont he saw his frail and beautiful friend Yuria, his face would turn red, and his heart would race.
This winter vacation was like spring for Ruin. Though I didn't know why he ca to us, since he ntioned a favor, there must be sothing I could help with.
I looked at Ruin, lost in deep thought, and asked why he was here. This ti, I posed a straightforward question without any teasing intention.
"Algae… I an, Mr. Ruin."
"…"
"You need to speak for to respond."
"Ha… Shit."
Ruin muttered a curse and then opened his mouth.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"I… Ha…"
Ruin ran his dry hand through his hair, sighing deeply as if unsure what he was doing here.
"Yuria's birthday is coming up at the end of the year."
"Right."
"I want to give her a gift. And that is…"
Ruin's face began to show embarrassnt. Asking for a favor must have hurt his pride.
Honestly, it was amusing.
I never thought Ruin would co to with a favor.
Of course, I had no intention of fulfilling a favor for soone I wasn't close to, so I nodded with a soulless reaction.
"You want to give her a wonderful birthday gift. Excellent. If you lack decency, at least the gift should be proper."
"…You've been speaking nonsense since earlier."
"Why? Do you want to use your face to clean the floor like last ti?"
Ruin clenched his mouth shut at the ntion of his hidden past.
Even for a tough fighter like him, PTSD exists. Without Yuria around, Ruin, lacking his bravado, was more reasonable.
As the atmosphere turned awkward, I smiled and encouraged Ruin to continue.
"Just kidding. Please, continue. You were talking about preparing a birthday gift."
"That is…"
"Yes."
"Ha… It's… I need the jewel of Fabia."
"Oh… The jewel of Fabia?"
The Jewel of Fabia.
From what I knew, it was a gem obtained from a monster with a chicken's head and a snake's tail.
Popular among many nobles.
And for magicians, it increased the efficiency of magic—a high-priced gem that could be processed into an artifact.
Ruin ntioning a high-priced gem that could be turned into an artifact.
Hmm.
"Stop talking nonsense."
This guy was spouting madness.
Ruin, who seemingly aspired to beco chicken feed, couldn't raise his head.
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