episode_0183

The Sword Princess was on the stage.

Alisa was so beautiful it was impossible to express it any other way.

Her unrestrained footwork, elegant hand angles, and natural gaze processing showcased movements that were truly close to perfection.

The only reason it couldn’t be called perfect was that the movements, which had been considered perfect just moments ago, were becoming even more flawless with each passing second.

These were artistic movements, unrelated to the realm of swordsmanship.

‘Alisa…’

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

To what extent? To the point that for a moment, I fell for her.

Even though our relationship was destined for ruin, I found myself entertaining the foolish thought of wanting to accept her affection.

Of course, I quickly regained my composure, but the impulse still stirred within my heart.

As time passed, her dance grew more intense, and the concentrated magical light of her rapier shone even brighter.

It was then.

Crack! Crackle!

Perhaps its durability had reached its limit, but cracks began to appear on the rapier.

It couldn’t withstand the power of the magic.

Alisa seemed to feel it too, and momentarily wavered, causing her dance to falter.

Her wide eyes showed her panic.

“Damn it….”

I bit my lip hard.

Although I didn’t have strong positive feelings for Alisa, at least for now, I didn’t want her to shrink back.

I wished for her to finish her performance splendidly, smiling amidst everyone’s cheers, and to be satisfied with that.

Even as I silently cheered her on, her agitation grew, reaching a level where even ordinary people could notice.

A murmur spread, and a look of urgency appeared on Alisa’s face.

But the more anxious she became, the more crude her dance became.

I sighed.

‘What should I do?’

It wasn’t about finding a way to calm Alisa’s agitation. I had already found one long ago. It was simply that I lacked the resolve to execute it.

Clenching and unclenching my fist, I deliberated, then made a decision upon seeing Alisa’s face darken.

Slide—

As I rose from my seat, Yas, who was sitting next to me, asked a question.

“Huh? Ruan? Where are you going?”

“Just to the restroom for a bit.”

“Now? Hurry back.”

“Okay.”

I replied briefly, then left my seat and stopped in a deserted corridor.

I carefully took out a mask from my pocket.

“Is it really okay to do this?”

Right now, I felt a premonition of sorts. That this action would bring about negative consequences in the future, in some way or another.

But despite that, I intended to choose the present over the future.

“Hoo… Once I’ve decided, I’ll see it through to the end.”

Setting aside my indecisiveness for a moment, I put on the mask and headed back to the arena.

Many people passed me on the way, but they didn’t seem to think I was Eunrang, only giving me a fleeting glance.

Finally standing in the arena, I silently gazed at Alisa.

Did she feel that gaze?

Her eyes, which had been desperately continuing the dance, met mine.

Her body stiffened with a jolt.

A worry that I might be disappointed by her poor performance was conveyed.

I spoke a single light word.

-Cheer up.

At that moment, her red eyes sparkled like jewels.

Her deep fear vanished, and fierce joy and confidence imbued her movements.

Completely shedding her anxiety and tension, her movements once again began to display near-perfect fluidity.

A smile graced her previously anxious face, showcasing dazzling beauty.

She quickly fell into a state of ecstasy.

‘This should be enough, right?’

Confirming that Alisa’s state had recovered, I took one last look at her before turning my back.

With this, Eunrang’s role was over.

*

All sorts of emotions swirled.

All negative emotions inverted into positive ones, and her inner landscape rapidly transformed.

This was wholly sublimated into her movements.

Swish!

The rapier moved at an incredibly fast pace, yet without losing its elegance, gracefully weaving through the space, expressing her inner self.

What resided within it was love!

A vast, poignant emotion directed toward someone was clearly expressed.

The audience all knew.

That this was not merely a dance, but a confession dedicated to the one she loved.

While envying the person who received such love from such a beautiful girl, the audience also cheered her on.

Under everyone’s support, the stage rapidly approached its climax.

The spread of cracks accelerated, and Alisa’s dance movements also quickened, as if following suit.

When it finally reached its peak.

Hummm!

With a clear resonance, the sword shattered completely, and from within it, a red light was born.

The delicately blooming light dispersed like threads, then intricately intertwined to form a single, brilliant blade.

“Sword Aura!”

Someone’s words revealed its identity.

Alisa had achieved enlightenment not through battle or training, but through sword dance.

The red sword aura, blooming, painted in the air like a brush following her movements, blossoming into beautiful roses.

A mesmerizing form, difficult to approach due to its sharp thorns, yet all the more alluring for it.

The direction that flower gazed upon was but one.

I squinted my eyes at the form that perfectly expressed her heart.

‘Beautiful.’

A thought I’d had countless times today.

It was truly a paltry word, but no matter what flowery language I added, it wouldn’t be enough to express my current feelings.

Finally, Alisa swung her sword wide, scattering thousands of roses in all directions.

For a moment, it felt as if the entire arena had transformed into a flower garden.

“Ah….”

With my small gasp, Alisa, who had held her pose for a moment, retracted her sword and bowed.

After a brief silence.

—Whoooa!

—Amazing!

—I love you, Alisa!

Clapping!

The audience, barely escaping the enchantment, showered her with praise and applause.

Responding in kind, Alisa bowed several times, changing her angle, and finally bowed deeply before descending from the stage.

As if taking her place, the announcer ascended the stage.

[That was the stage performance by Miss Alisa Bretes just now! Truly incredible! It was a performance that perfectly showcased an unapproachable sharpness and captivating beauty. And now, for the next stage….]

I only listened until then before rising from my seat.

After excusing myself to Abel and Yas, I left the audience seats and moved toward the waiting room.

Sure enough, Alisa was in the corridor.

“Well done. Really well done!”

With a bright smile across her face, she stroked the hilt of her rapier, praising herself repeatedly.

Joy, relief, and pride coexisted.

After secretly observing her for a moment, I turned my back and left the corridor when the distance between us had significantly narrowed.

I exited the building and looked up at the sky.

“Today is over too.”

The sunset glow was painting the sky red.

Since the second day had passed, only tomorrow remained. The last day wouldn’t require any more attention apart from the tournament finals, so I would be able to rest comfortably.

Sighing, I left my complicated feelings behind and headed to the dormitory.

*

Inside a bathroom filled with thick steam, Roxana, soaking in the bathtub, let out a small sigh.

“Haa….”

Many things had happened today.

Among them, what stood out was watching the tournament with Ruan.

She unconsciously pouted.

“That young brat, seriously.”

Every conversation she had with Ruan replayed vividly in her mind.

He had played pranks calling her beautiful, casually flirted by calling her cute, and claimed age was just a number, engaging in truly unthinkable words and actions.

It was truly infuriating how he tried to act as an equal just because she’d treated him a little familiarly.

Still, thanks to that, there was a new fact she learned.

“My guess was wrong.”

That was the point that Deborah and Ruan were not in a romantic relationship.

If they were dating, no matter how much of a playboy Ruan was, he wouldn’t openly hit on her in front of Deborah unless he was crazy.

That was as good as proof.

This meant that Deborah was, in the end, experiencing unrequited love.

This was certain.

“Her expression was no joke.”

Before he revealed it was a joke, when Ruan had actively pursued her, claiming sincerity, Deborah’s face had turned dark and lifeless.

Perhaps it showed her firsthand what it felt like to have someone she loved taken before her eyes?

That’s why she felt even more sorry.

“It was fun.”

The time spent with Ruan had briefly awakened her dormant romantic cells.

She placed a hand on her chest.

Thump! Thump!

It was normal now, but for a moment, when she lost her balance and fell into his arms, her heart had pounded harder.

The firm chest she felt through their touching bodies.

The deep, masculine scent that permeated her nose and the warm hand that firmly supported her waist.

All of it was stimulating to her.

This had happened because she hadn’t had contact with the opposite sex for a long time.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have reacted this way.

Of course, that didn’t mean she had fallen in love with Ruan. Her cool-headed mind would never allow her to engage in a love triangle with her own student.

Even the fleeting feelings for Ruan had long since been completely discarded.

“Hoo…”

Roxana let out a long breath.

After gazing at the ceiling for a moment, she rose and stepped out of the bathtub.

She stood before the full-length mirror.

“Age is just a number…”

Reflected in the mirror was a beautiful woman.

Her long, wavy hair, damp from the water, exuded even more allure, and her mature features were striking even without makeup.

Looking further down, one could see ample breasts that couldn’t be held in one hand, a slender waist, and shapely legs.

It was a captivating body that would never be outmatched by anyone.

However, this was merely confined to her outward appearance.

Her inner self had matured through long years, and ultimately, had grown old.

Would Ruan truly be able to say she was beautiful or cute even after facing her inner self?

Roxana, vaguely imagining that moment, suddenly realized her own state.

“What was I thinking…!”

She thought she had already cut off all lingering attachments, but it seemed she hadn’t.

To show such an embarrassing display.

She smiled bitterly, then, leaving the mirror that had quickly fogged up behind her, donned a gown and exited the bathroom.

Sitting at her vanity, she slowly dried her hair while recalling her worries.

“By the way, what should I do about Deborah?”

She knew that Ruan wasn’t deceiving Deborah for a fake relationship, but that didn’t solve the problem.

Ruan was in a forbidden relationship with Isis Friuli, and Deborah was unrequitedly in love with such a Ruan.

For Deborah’s unrequited love to be realized, she would ultimately have to take Ruan away from Isis.

Roxana couldn’t bear to let her beloved student throw herself into such a messy situation.

She had to stop her somehow.

“Should I ask Ruan for help?”

Since things had come to this, it wouldn’t be bad to have the person involved reject her directly.

Of course, trying to cut it off too hastily could backfire, so she would have to intervene at an appropriate time, depending on the situation.

However, there was no guarantee that Ruan would accept her request, so it was on hold for now.

“Hmm… I suppose I’ll have to think about this more.”

Roxana’s mind began to race.