episode_0015

The rolled bread hair, where the ends of the hair are rolled up in a spiral shape, resembling a Swiss roll cake, is a common hairstyle seen in anime and webtoons.

It is a distinctive feature that stands out more in supporting roles than in the main female protagonist. Depending on how the ends of the hair are styled, it can emphasize elegance and maturity if only the ends are curled, exude elegance and richness if curled up to the middle length, and give off a mischievous girl vibe when tied into twin tails. That’s the essence of rolled bread hair.

While it can exude various atmospheres depending on the styling, it tends to be more suitable for supporting roles rather than main characters due to personal preferences.

The blonde woman who introduced herself as sitting diagonally behind Elden was fortunately (?) sporting rolled bread hair with only the ends curled up.

It was a unique physical feature, and judging by her claim of sitting diagonally behind Elden, she seemed to be a fellow student at the academy… Although, judging by the difficulty in recalling her, it seemed like Elden wasn’t particularly interested in her.

“Well, it’s not like I would be interested in a character who looks like a newbie like Elden.”

If Elden preferred a sharp fox-like or cat-like demeanor over an innocent puppy-like one.

And the fact that she couldn’t remember, that she chuckled and greeted him first, suggested that Elden was more likely to be an ordinary student not associated with villains.

A brief silence followed.

Fortunately, the blonde woman with rolled bread hair who always buried her head in a novel while sitting diagonally behind Elden vaguely came to mind.

A student who lacked interest in academics and socializing.

A student who carried more novels than textbooks in her bag.

“Ariel… was it?”

“Yeah! You finally remembered?”

Ariel replied with a bright smile.

A fellow student at the Royal Academy.

Despite being somewhat intimidating due to Elden’s glorious past record as the academy’s worst trash, the title of the book Ariel held in her arms was intriguing.

“The Resurrection of the Mage.”

Clearly, a fantasy novel title.

Although one might expect her to be into female-oriented romance novels, it seemed she had a preference for male-oriented novels.

“I was a bit surprised to run into you here.”

“Ha. I should be the one saying that, right?”

Ariel chuckled again and extended her hand for a handshake to Elden, who failed to recognize a fellow classmate he had spent three years with.

“Anyway, nice to meet you again.”

Her delicate hand, like white jade, reached out.

After transmigrating to this world, after transmigrating into the villainous character Elden, it was the first time he received a handshake.

No, come to think of it, this was also the first time Ariel had greeted someone first.

Unlike others who showed astonishment or dismay in their eyes, Ariel exuded a pure kindness.

She must be aware of who Elden Raphaelion is, what kind of monster he belongs to.

Yet, despite not usually being interested in incidents or accidents, and having a dull personality that lacked interest in things outside of novels, it was probably due to her ‘unexpectedness’ that she approached him so readily.

During her introduction, Ariel mentioned that she lived in Tabir Hujakryeong.

A distance that would take about a month to travel from the North Province to the southwest.

Meeting someone you know by chance in a distant and unfamiliar place is a pleasant surprise. And as time passes after graduation from the academy, memories fade, allowing Elden, the villain, to approach without hesitation.

Anyway.

Putting aside unnecessary musings, Elden shook hands with Ariel.

“I’m glad to meet you too.”

“Ah, I heard you made it to the final round of the engagement competition. Congratulations.”

I hesitated on whether it was appropriate to respond to the initial greeting with a secret, but since there was nothing to hide, I shook hands and replied calmly.

“I withdrew.”

“…Huh?”

“I withdrew. From the final round.”

“What? No, why?”

Ariel’s blue pupils widened.

It seemed like the storyteller had found an interesting topic.

However, I had no desire to talk at length, so I cut it short.

“It’s absurd for someone who has lived their whole life as a scoundrel to become the husband of a duchess.”

“… ”

“So, I withdrew.”

“Ah… I see.”

With a sigh, Ariel’s widened pupils soon contracted.

Her parted lips also closed.

The contracting pupils wandered aimlessly.

The closed lips only confronted each other without uttering what needed to be said.

‘…’

It implied tacit agreement.

The fact that a scoundrel’s life could not transform into that of a noble ducal family member.

And that it was a strange thing to cheer on and agree with someone who threw in the towel at a crucial moment.

An awkward atmosphere enveloped Ariel, who couldn’t muster a proper response.

“Ha, haha. Well, if you think it’s okay… No. I mean, not that it’s okay in a rational sense… but compared to the other candidates… um, it’s…?”

In the end, Ariel offered a mix of support and comfort.

It seemed like a confession was about to take place, but it didn’t matter.

Since the person who heard about the withdrawal was more embarrassed than the one who withdrew, it was only right for the latter to take responsibility.

Snicker.

Seeing Ariel flustered made me smile for the first time.

Having been mostly serious while embodying the scoundrel character Elden, I decided that it was a misconception to feel more like mockery than laughter.

“Anyway. Since the withdrawal form is pending, you’re still officially a final candidate.”

“Huh? Pending…?”

“It seems the ducal family is confused because no final candidate has ever withdrawn from the engagement competition in history.”

“Ah… I see.”

With that, the topic of the withdrawal form was quickly concluded, and a seven-story book tower appeared in Ariel’s pupils.

Engagement competitions like this were probably beyond Ariel’s scope of interest.

Whether I withdrew or won, she wouldn’t care.

The seven-story book tower was a good distraction to dispel the awkward atmosphere for her.

Ariel pointed at the seven-story book tower and asked, “Are you planning to read all of this?”

“I’ll just read one book at a time. I need to decide since they all look interesting.”

“Hmm. But you weren’t uninterested in novels, right?”

“I thought I’d pick up a hobby now.”

“Oh… is that so?”

For a moment, Ariel’s blue pupils sparkled with sharp light.

Her bright red lips seemed to salivate.

Eyes gleaming like a predator spotting its prey.

It didn’t take long to realize that it was the excited gaze of a veteran catching a newbie.

“Can I recommend some books for you? Since the books you picked seem to match my taste.”

“Sure, I’d appreciate that.”

“Heh, then follow me!”

With excited steps, Ariel headed back to the classic literature section.

It seemed that among the seven books chosen by the newbie, there wasn’t a single one she liked.

For someone like me who needed recommendations for introductory works, the help of veteran Ariel was like a ray of light.

As Ariel happily walked back to the literature corner, it was clear that her assistance would be invaluable.

And meeting someone with the same hobby in the inactive medieval community is more difficult than one might think.

That’s why it’s all the more joyful.

Extending an invitation to the veteran who was excited at the thought of doing some newdlebark for a change was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

With that in mind, I willingly began to follow Ariel.

**

At the same time.

In Remyan’s laboratory, the experiment that had been temporarily halted was now being resumed.

Bubble, bubble.

Drip, drip.

The first evaluation round with the final candidates had concluded.

It was more of an exploration than an evaluation, and the flow went as expected.

Deran, Kyle, Blund.

The message was delivered to those three as planned.

It was a message conveying the taste of the bitterness that one must force themselves to swallow, the more they chew on it, the stronger the bitterness spreads.

However.

It seemed that the message did not reach Elden Raphellion, but this was just the beginning.

There was still plenty of time, and multiple opportunities remained.

Despite experiencing two defeats, Remyan, who humbly accepted failure as a good nourishment for determination, was diligently continuing the suspended experiment in the laboratory.

This experiment aimed to store mana condensed in special crystals created through alchemy.

If successful, it would become a very useful item for mages.

Therefore.

After completing a thorough analysis of the four potential adversaries following the first meeting, Remyan, clad in experimental attire, was stirring the solution contained in the triangular flask.

The experiment was progressing smoothly towards its conclusion.

It should have ended much earlier, but the unexpected appearance of Elden Raphellion had caused a delay in the schedule.

A competent researcher must strictly adhere to the plans and orders and pursue perfection.

Especially in the field of magic and alchemy, which deal with complex and impure crystals like broken glass, even the slightest speck of dust can alter the results.

Moreover, they are always plagued by unexpected dangers.

Everything had to be perfect, and all experimental conditions and situations had to be under the control of the experimenter.

Therefore.

The uncontrollable Elden Raphellion was inevitably a source of irritation for the experimenter.

The unsolvable puzzle was nothing but frustrating.

Of course, overcoming it and solving the puzzle would provide a great sense of satisfaction.

“Sigh….”

Remyan, who absentmindedly stirred the solution in the experimental flask, let out a sigh and cleared his mind.

It was the final stage of the experiment that he had devoted himself to.

Since the schedule had already been disrupted, he had to clear his mind.

“What’s wrong?”

Marion, who was supporting her with a crutch by her side, asked cautiously.

She looked different today.

As Remyan approached the final stage of the experiment he had devoted himself to, he was always excited.

He should have been humming a tune instead of sighing.

“Marion.”

“Yes, Lady Remyan.”

“Do you think a person’s nature can change?”

To a question unrelated to the experiment, Marion answered carefully.

“Well… if there is a specific reason, it might be possible, I think.”

“….”

After a moment of silence, Remyan narrowed his eyes and stared at the swirling solution in the flask.

“I believe I will never change. Nature is an immutable law that exceptions do not apply to.”

Pouring the swirling solution onto the special crystal, Remyan had devoted himself, considered all possibilities of failure, and pursued perfection.

It had never faltered before.

He was confident of success.

Crack!

If only the sound of the breaking crystal had not been heard.

Then.

Crash! Bang! Pop! Bang!

Like fireworks exploding, like water being splashed into boiling oil, Lemyang was confident of success if the mana solution didn’t explode in all directions.

Piyung! Pwishit! Pwooong! Piyuwong-!

The entire laboratory began to turn colorful as if rainbow paint was being scattered.

The solutions exploded fiercely, almost announcing a festival.

The sound of the explosions was so cheerful, almost ridiculously so.

And the explosion was a truly bitter and cruel failure, eerily resembling someone.

Piyung… Shh…

The perfect experiment had failed at the last moment.

What was the problem?

Everything was controlled, everything was perfect in the experiment.

After the explosions subsided, Lemyang, looking down at the shattered special crystals, couldn’t help but laugh as if in despair.

“..Ha, haha…, hahaha, hahaha.”

In the rainbow-colored laboratory, the futile laughter of a researcher who had fallen in the final experiment echoed for a while.

And.

Since meeting the lady, Marion had never heard such a futile laughter before.

‘S-scary…’