episode_0014

Ruina Lindel.

The eldest daughter of the Lindel family, born in the Falun Magic Kingdom.

Her family has been in the alchemy business for generations. It is not a family with great fame, and the Lindel Trading Company run by the family is more famous.

She, a third-year student in the Department of Production, is not a great figure either. She was just a very common and ordinary student who was not the top or the runner-up but was a bit good at studying and had some talent.

If you ask a third-year student, they would probably say, “Ah, her. I know her,” knowing her to a moderate extent. Her presence is not outstanding either.

In the story, her role is that of a helper. She helped the main character with alchemy when he was in trouble or needed help. In the beginning, she acted too much like a pushover, so readers belittled her, calling her a tool shuttle.

At least until she awakened as a villain threatening the world.

The sight of her transforming into an avatar of destruction and taking over and destroying the academy without any signs or reasons shocked many people.

Such a person, tens of thousands of times higher in class than a third-rate villain, was in front of me.

“So? What’s your name?”

“It’s Kyle Arden.”

“Second year?”

“I’m in the Department of Knights.”

“I see.”

Short, curt words. They feel truly insincere. Everyone feels this way. Even the main character felt that way at first impression.

But her appearance was popular. She doesn’t have sociability or affability, but many readers liked her unique, quirky personality.

So, even an illustration of her was made, but in the end, she was killed by the main character… The readers were extremely angry. As far as I know, about ten thousand people sent her long messages containing 5,700 characters of curse words. Because of that, the site was paralyzed.

“Here.”

She suddenly handed over a stack of papers filled with writing.

“Memorize it. I’ll give you an hour.”

“What is this?”

“Precautions.”

With those words, she went back to her workbench. She didn’t even give me a small glance and immersed herself in her work. The way she silently does her job. That aspect made her charm even more prominent.

“Hmm.”

I also took my eyes off her and read each page.

The content was precautions as she said. But the amount was ridiculously large. The content also required basic knowledge of alchemy to understand, and there were also contents related to her personally.

‘Why is she so strict?’

I muttered a small complaint inside.

But there are many eccentrics in this field originally. In modern times, novelists or cartoonists, and in fantasy, alchemists or blacksmiths. Those who create something have sensitive aspects in certain areas.

She is the same. Especially in alchemy, even a really small mistake can ruin the work, so it required a lot of caution.

Clatter, clatter.

Bubble, bubble.

The sound of something being made. I was memorizing it with that as the background, so I could concentrate better.

After about 50 minutes, I had memorized everything.

“I’m done.”

“Really? That’s fast.”

She stretches out her hand without a word. Noticing the meaning of the action, I handed over the stack of papers. Because of this kind of behavior, she was a frustrating character in the beginning.

Then she immediately started asking questions.

“What do you need when making mass-produced potions?”

“Ingredients, circuits, and bottles to hold the potions.”

She nodded. This was easy because it was basic knowledge.

“What should you be careful of when combining ingredients?”

“You must not move your body, use magic power, or make noise. However, it is okay when combining herbs.”

“Yeah.”

She seemed satisfied with this answer as well.

“At what percentage of mana concentration is the item being produced affected?”

“Potions are affected at 71 percent or higher, and minerals are not affected. Ah, potions vary depending on the combination of ingredients, and you will adjust that on your own, so I don’t have to worry about it.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Then what is the coping method in that situation?”

“Put it in the box that you made. And turn on the mana concentration control device.”

“You memorized it well.”

After that, she continued with 20 more questions. Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. It makes me wonder if she is hiring a personal assistant instead of a part-timer.

That’s how the test called a question ended.

“Amazing. Even the third-year students couldn’t do it.”

She looked at me as if she was proud, and then she sat facing me.

“When can you start working?”

“I can start right away today.”

“What about the time? Are weekdays okay?”

“I have community service every day, so I can do about 5 hours on weekends in the morning or evening, and 3 hours after 4 p.m. on weekdays.”

“Yeah, good.”

Nodding her head, she handed over a piece of paper. It was an employment contract.

I carefully read the contract. Then I saw something a little strange.

“Senior.”

“Yeah, why.”

“The hourly wage is strange?”

The hourly wage written on the contract was 3 silver coins per hour. It was three times different from the 1 coin written on the request form.

“It’s okay.”

“No, still…”

“Anyway, there’s no one but you.”

“Ah…”

Well, with this kind of test, they wouldn’t be able to pass or would be busy running away. That’s how tough Ruina Lindel’s request is.

Well, I’m welcome if she gives me a lot of money. The more money, the better.

After signing the contract, I asked the employer.

“Shall we start working right away?”

“Yeah. Move that first.”

I lifted the box in the corner and moved it to the designated spot. As I was working like that.

“Are you going to be here too?”

“If you allow it, I would like to stay until the work is finished.”

The employer was talking to Ellaim.

“Then you have to memorize this.”

The employer held out the bundle of precautions. Ellaim made a troubled expression.

“Do I have to know this? I’m just monitoring the young master…”

“No. Then you’ll ruin it. Will you pay for it?”

“If my existence ruins the product, then I will…”

“It’s at least 10 gold.”

Ellaim couldn’t close her mouth after hearing the price. Even though she receives support from her family, gold coins were too expensive. As a commoner, Ellaim knew the weight of money well.

“Th, then I’ll just wait outside.”

“Good idea.”

A flustered Ellaim left the workshop. And waited in front of the door.

‘Serves her right.’

Maybe it was because she made fun of me yesterday, but her pitiful appearance was thrilling.

“Now move that.”

“Yes, Senior.”

Maybe that’s why I was smiling throughout the work.

***

That evening.

After volunteering until 11 p.m., I entrusted my tired body to the bed in the dormitory.

“Ugh! I’m going to die…”

Working for more than 12 hours a day, I feel like I’m going to die. Still, I’m getting more and more used to volunteering, and the part-time job will get better over time.

“By then, my physical condition will be better.”

Of course, what kind of body is this? Wouldn’t I not get tired even if I worked all day by then?

Well, I was taking a rest while thinking about such trivial things.

“More than that…”

Ruina Lindel, whom I met today, comes to mind. It’s because I didn’t know I would meet her here.

Even in the novel, the meeting between the main character and her was just a coincidence. The main character was carrying around a magic tool he found at the academy, and it caught her eye. That was the connection that was created.

The records were not detailed either. At best, there was an explanation that she was stuck in the workshop and a scene where she talked to the main character with sleepy eyes. Other than that, there was no separate explanation. Just like me.

Therefore, it was not strange that I was embarrassed.

“A mid-boss…”

I quietly call her role.

A mid-boss is different in class from the final boss, but their power, ability, and presence are by no means inferior. Personally, I think there is not much difference except for the narrative.

That’s why I’m interested.

It’s not that I feel affection. It’s an interest that started from the same role as a villain. And it was the first time I had faced a villain directly, so it caught my eye even more.

But is it because she’s a villain? I have a strange thought.

“She’ll die someday too.”

The ending of a villain is always the same. Death by the main character. Even if it’s not death, the villain falls into ruin in some way.

Just like I fell, just like I have to die with my neck cut off by the main character’s hand. She also goes through the same thing as a mid-boss.

‘It’s okay…’

Even in the midst of having her heart pierced and spitting out blood from her mouth, she speaks in a nonchalant tone.

‘You did a good job.’

A scene where she smiles with her eyes and strokes the main character’s head for the last time before closing her eyes.

That’s Ruina Lindel’s last.

It was one of the famous scenes in the novel, but it was so well done in the webtoon that the comment section was flooded with tears while cursing. There were so many people who were saddened by her death to that extent.

Because of that, when the game was released, people begged for a route to save her.

But unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Despite tens of thousands of people sending messages to the writer. As a side note, there was also a famous anecdote that they sent a truck to the game company for that reason.

And as a person who has read the novel, her death….

“Two years left until she dies.”

I didn’t feel anything.

Someone might curse at my indifferent reaction, but I can’t help it. She was a villain and a character born to die. Personal feelings are the way to ruin this world.

Well, that’s why I can treat her comfortably. I didn’t need to be as meticulous as the main characters. Maybe she was the least uncomfortable person among the characters I’ve met so far.

“Just, let’s do it moderately.”

That’s not to say that her fate is not pitiful. I have emotions too. So, I decided to be a conversation partner until she leaves.

As a fellow villain, I can do that much, right? Of course, she has to accept it.

“Haaam~”

I’m starting to get sleepy. It’s already been an hour in the meantime. Sometimes it’s not bad to spend time like this.

“Hoo.”

I turned off the candle and closed my eyes. For the part-time job I have tomorrow.

***

The next morning.

After organizing the ingredients that came in today, the first thing I did was assist with alchemy.

“Circuit board.”

“Here it is.”

I put the metal plate with the magic circle engraved on the workbench. She put the ingredients in each place and infused mana. A bottle of potion was quickly completed.

“Gorun Mountain Iron, Intermediate Magic Crystal.”

Short, curt requests. I took out the iron from the box where the metals were stored, and the magic crystal from the box next to it.

“Senior, here you go.”

“Yeah.”

After receiving the two materials, she immediately started refining them.

In fact, even if it’s called assistance, all I do is deliver the ingredients she calls for. Ruina Lindel is as small as her height, and her arms and legs are thin, so she can’t lift heavy objects, so I have to help her.

Of course, the truth is not that.

There’s no way she would have been working alone without anyone helping her until now, and it doesn’t make sense for a mid-boss to be weak. And even an alchemist learns basic magic like telekinesis.

I can see it in her eyes. The annoyance contained in her empty eyes.

Well, even if that’s the reason, I’m in a hired position, so I have to do it without complaining.

I watched the alchemy from a distance. I admired her skills inwardly.

Extracting only specific components, and extracting mana from the magic crystal. Combining the two and creating the desired structure, and covering the shape with the surface of the glass bottle. The series of processes were carried out quickly and smoothly.

‘Should I learn alchemy too?’

If I only had that, I could fix the dormitory quickly. But I soon gave up. I didn’t have talent for alchemy.

And she is called the essence of alchemy, so such skills and abilities are possible.

“It’s over.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I put the completed product in the storage box.

“Mandrake. The one with the cut roots.”

“I prepared it in advance.”

“How thoughtful.”

She didn’t stop working. I heard that she finishes all the work on the weekends.

“You know?”

“Yes.”

I covered my ears with mana and organized the flow of mana in my body. From now on, I shouldn’t interfere with her work. I stood there blankly next to her.

Time flows.

5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes… Sweat was dripping down, but I could endure this much.

But then, something was seen through the only window in the workshop.

-Chirp!

It was the damn bird I knew very well.

‘Why is that birdbrain here… Ah, no way.’

An uneasy imagination comes to mind. From experience, it always came true.

Knock knock

“Kyle, are you inside?”

The moment I heard a familiar voice,

Whoosh-!!

The mandrake that Ruina Lindel was working on began to spew out mana.

And the door opened.

“K, yle…?”

“Ah…”

I’m doomed.