TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 237
A peaceful Academy.
“One thousand three hundred sixty-one.”
“One thousand three hundred sixty-two.”
“One thousand three hundred sixty-three.”
Today as well, Mikhail, who was swinging his sword in the Training Grounds, wiped away the pouring sweat and exhaled rough breaths.
A sword swung with the sole purpose of becoming stronger.
Believing that there was nothing better to clear his mind, Mikhail continued swinging his sword today to shake off distracting thoughts.
“One thousand three hundred sixty-four…!”
After class, to the Training Grounds.
On weekends, to the Training Grounds.
Pouring out sweat and being able to sleep without worries was Mikhail’s only hobby, so it wasn’t something he could easily give up.
If only his dreams could have been sweet, though.
“Are you still swinging your sword?”
Hanna, dressed in Training Clothes, approached Mikhail, who was engrossed in swinging his sword, while stretching her shoulders.
“You’re really amazing. That’s why your skills improve so quickly.”
Hanna, wearing Black Tights and a White Shirt, spoke to Mikhail after visiting him for the first time in a while.
“Senior.”
“…”
“Senior.”
“…”
“Are you still angry?”
Mikhail shook his head. The defeat that day was because he lacked skill, so he couldn’t easily talk to Hanna out of regret for the loss, not because he was angry at her personally. Perhaps it was a matter of Pride, or maybe he felt sorry for fighting her sincerely without knowing her situation.
Unable to think of anything to say, Mikhail let out a Deep Sigh and stopped the hand that was swinging the sword.
“No, it’s just awkward to talk.”
Hanna let out A Chuckle and grabbed her sword.
“Why? Is it because I won?”
“…No.”
“Liar.”
Hanna thrust her sword energetically and said.
“It’s because I had a good Mentor. I met a Mentor who is far superior to my Father in both character and swordsmanship.”
“…”
“Butler is truly an undeserved Mentor for me.”
“…”
Mikhail couldn’t agree with Hanna’s words.
While he acknowledged Ricardo’s skills, he couldn’t agree with the statement that Ricardo was a good teacher. Mikhail had seen it—the things Ricardo had done at the Academy.
-Ricardo again…?
-I heard he was near the Fire Scene this time too.
-He’s always where incidents happen.
-Why do you think that is? It’s because he’s the one causing them.
Although he knew Ricardo’s swordsmanship was exceptional, the idea that he was kind irritated Mikhail.
Mikhail, with a slight change in his expression, spoke to Hanna.
“No, it’s because you’re good.”
“No, it’s because Butler taught me. Both in the past and now, everything I’ve achieved is because of Butler.”
“…”
“If it weren’t for Butler, I probably wouldn’t even be able to hold a sword.”
“…Ha.”
Mikhail had a lot he wanted to say, but he bit his lip and held back. He felt that no matter what he said to Hanna now, it wouldn’t get through to her.
If he was such a good person, then why did everyone dislike him? As someone who had experienced Ricardo firsthand, Mikhail cautiously spoke to Hanna.
“Ricardo isn’t the good person you think he is.”
Hanna, hearing this, hardened her expression and responded. No matter what anyone said, Hanna was someone who always stood by Ricardo.
“What do you think Butler is, Senior?”
“Huh…?”
“What did Butler do to you for you to say such things? At least to me, Butler is a good person.”
“I….”
Mikhail closed his lips and lost his words.
He wondered what kind of person Ricardo was in his own mind.
After thinking for a long time, Mikhail answered Hanna. The conclusion he had about Ricardo could be summed up in one sentence.
“He’s the complete opposite of me.”
“So what?”
Hanna, quietly swinging her sword, spoke.
“Senior doesn’t know anything about Butler.”
Mikhail, at Hanna’s response, firmly closed his mouth and said.
“…I don’t want to know.”
*
Darkness descended upon the Dormitory.
After finishing his training and returning to his room, Mikhail sat on the Bed, exhaling a tired breath.
“I should shower, but I’m too lazy.”
Thanks to maintaining high grades, he had a private shower right in front of him, but Mikhail couldn’t easily lift his exhausted body.
“Ha… Still, I feel gross, so I guess I have to shower.”
Reluctantly getting up from the Bed, Mikhail. Although he wanted to lie down again, knowing there was no end to laziness, he pushed himself off the Bed.
-Plod.
As he walked weakly toward the shower, Mikhail paused for a moment and looked at the Mirror next to the Wardrobe.
“I look like a mess.”
Hair drenched in sweat.
Soaked Training Clothes.
Silver Hair reaching down to the back of his neck.
Looking no different from The Man, Mikhail let out an Empty Laugh.
“Really…. I look pathetic.”
In his early twenties, the prime age for dressing up.
Looking at his reflection in the Mirror, Mikhail sighed at his shabby appearance.
Although he claimed not to care about his appearance, deep down, that wasn’t true.
Today, for some reason, Mikhail hated the Mirror that reflected his miserable self.
“…”
Looking at his reflection in the Mirror, Mikhail muttered in a Small Voice that no one else could hear.
‘…What am I.’
With a Deep Sense of Doubt in his voice, he lowered his head in the empty room.
‘Neither a woman nor The Man.’
As Mikhail unbuttoned his shirt, he questioned himself. What exactly are you?
‘I can’t go back anymore.’
To go back, he would have to give up so much, so why was he having such meaningless thoughts? Mikhail thought it foolish of himself to ask such questions.
Still.
There was an unavoidable Desire.
Looking at his reflection in the Mirror, Mikhail spoke to himself internally.
‘I also…’
Want to wear Pretty Clothes.
Want to wear makeup.
Want to dress up.
Dreaming of things he couldn’t do, Mikhail bit his lip and stopped the hand unbuttoning his shirt. Because his current self was heading in the complete opposite direction.
His body reeked of sweat.
His short Hair made him look like The Man.
Mikhail, who felt he had no charm, felt especially pathetic today.
Even though it was the path he chose himself.
Mikhail thought he had no interest in such external matters. No, perhaps he was deceiving himself. By convincing himself to just chase his goal without caring, he hadn’t given himself time to think.
“Ha…”
Mikhail moved his hand again.
-Tok. As the button came undone, pale skin was revealed, and the bandage wrapped around his chest began to unravel.
Mikhail, who was undoing the stubbornness he had started out of his own desire, lifted his head and looked at a single piece of clothing hanging on the Wardrobe door.
A White One-piece Dress.
Looking at the White One-piece Dress he had bought because he wanted to show it to someone, Mikhail bit his lips and had an impulsive thought.
‘Wouldn’t it be okay to wear it just once?’
Mikhail, muttering softly, carefully took out the dress from the Wardrobe door with a bitter smile.
‘Yes, just once….’
The Academy shirt and pants fell to the floor.
Throwing the clothes he had worn as if shedding a shell onto the floor, Mikhail, with a Deep Sigh, began to put on the One-piece Dress he had never worn before.
“…”
As if it had been custom-made, the Fluttering One-piece Dress fit Mikhail’s body neatly, creating a graceful appearance.
It was a dress he had bought because he wanted to show it to The Boy someday, and as it fit perfectly, Mikhail smiled like a Young Child.
“It’s pretty…”
Excited, Mikhail spun around in front of the Mirror, looking at himself. He awkwardly lifted the hem of the skirt and even mimicked the actions of female students, bursting into laughter.
“Really, it’s so pretty.”
Mikhail was enjoying his true self. Perhaps what should have been an ordinary, natural part of life was something Mikhail was secretly enjoying in a place where no one could see.
Excited.
And feeling a flutter of anticipation.
Relishing the sense of liberation he hadn’t felt in a long time, Mikhail smiled, but.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last long.
The moonlight, hidden by clouds, began to shine into the Dark Room.
His Reflection in the Mirror, gradually colored by the light.
As the Moonlight’s Prank illuminated his Short Hair and Rough Legs, Mikhail’s faint Smile faded as he looked at the Mirror.
“Ah…”
The Smile disappeared.
A spasm ran across his face.
Looking at his entire self reflected in the Mirror, Mikhail thought to himself.
That he looked ugly.
It just seemed like a man with a chest wearing a One-piece Dress and getting excited. Clenching his fists, he stared at his Reflection in the Mirror. Even though, in reality, it wasn’t like that at all—despite possessing a Beauty like a Princess from a Fairy Tale—Mikhail could only see himself as pathetic.
Mikhail erased the faint Smile he had been wearing and made a tearful expression.
“…What kind of woman is this.”
Mikhail hurriedly tried to take off the dress. He felt that continuing any longer like this would only worsen his mood.
Crumpling the dress, Mikhail spoke in his heart.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I thought it was pretty, but it wasn’t.’
He had wanted to show a beautiful side.
‘But I showed something unsightly.’
With an awkward Smile, Mikhail tried to shove the dress back into the Wardrobe. As the Fluttering One-piece Dress slipped from his reluctant grasp.
-Ding.
A Cruel Alarm tickled Mikhail’s ears.
-A Quest has been triggered.
[Q. To Your Original Form.]
·
·
·
1. Show Ricardo your Original Form. (0/1)
2. Go on a Date with Ricardo. (0/1)
3. Hear Ricardo’s True Feelings. (0/1)
Reward: Lee Minhyuk’s Survival.
Failure: None.
Mikhail clenched his fists and stared blankly at the Blue Window.