How to End a One-Sided Love – Episode 18 (18/110)
Tilting my head, I pointed at the cluster of monsters gathered around something at the center.
“By the way… that’s the core, right?”
“Yeah.”
The senior who had been looking at the same spot nodded with a bright expression.
Then this might actually be a good situation. If we remove the core, the remaining monsters should disappear on their own.
Just as my mood brightened, I frowned.
But there’s a strange smell coming from somewhere. Like the smell of rotting corpses…
“Ugh.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes…”
I pinched my nose and tried to maintain a calm expression.
Wait. Corpses?
Come to think of it, my dad had told me not to go to Grania Forest starting when I was about ten years old.
Why was that again? Ah—because a man had hanged himself from a tree there, turning the entire forest into a suicide spot.
In truth, Grania Forest had always been a dangerous place that ordinary people rarely entered unless they made a living hunting. Some people even deliberately avoided it.
“Monsters can be artificially created through mana, but they can also arise naturally under the influence of negative energy.”
Places like abandoned ancient temples or supposedly haunted houses.
I said this while recalling what had been in next semester’s textbook.
“Now that I think about it, this place is a known suicide spot.”
As I said that, a chill ran down my spine for no reason.
I shrank back, trying hard not to look toward the monsters that smelled like corpses.
Perhaps noticing my fear, the senior immediately cast a spell.
“I’ve used a concealment spell for now. You won’t be able to see them, so it should be fine.”
No, and he just casts such high-level magic so easily…
Even so, I was impressed by his nonchalant attitude and froze for a moment.
Right in front of me was a solid chest. During movement, a few buttons must have come undone—through the white collar, a clear line of cleavage and a glimpse of skin were visible.
Uh… wow.
Feeling my face heat up, I glanced toward the monsters again for no reason.
The monsters looked like black paint smeared across a canvas with a brush. The scenery where they stood itself seemed like an abstract painting. They were similar to the ones I had seen before, yet slightly different.
I swallowed nervously.
“Shouldn’t we call Linus-nim and Aiden-nim over here first?”
“That’s right.”
The senior immediately drew a magic circle on the ground. The expertly drawn circle flashed with golden light.
I had come here intending to help, but it felt like the senior was doing all the magic himself, which made me a bit awkward.
“It might take a little time. So—”
“S-senior!”
I called out to him, holding back a hiccup.
The largest monster was aggressively scanning its surroundings as it approached us.
The sound of writhing tentacles and hissing grew closer.
At this point, whether it had noticed us or not didn’t matter. It was flailing blindly—there was a real risk we could be crushed.
I swallowed again, thinking of a magic circle I could use immediately, ready to cast if necessary.
“I’ll handle the fight. Can you protect the magic circle here?”
Noah senior slowly stood up, fixing his gaze on the monster as he spoke.
I nodded with a determined expression.
“Yes. Please be careful.”
As soon as he took a few steps, the monster launched its attack.
I glanced over at him repeatedly with worried eyes and let out a small sigh.
He’ll be fine.
“Haa.”
I cast a protective barrier around the not-yet-activated magic circle and stood beside it. Even then, I wasn’t reassured, so I layered multiple barriers before finally feeling at ease.
Standing there beside the magic circle, watching the senior fight, I couldn’t help but admire him.
“Wow…”
The motions of slicing, tearing, cutting, and blasting were perfectly harmonized. His control over mana and regulation of power were flawless. Golden flashes sparkled everywhere.
As a fellow mage, his skill was truly astonishing.
I had heard he perfectly understood theory—but his practical skills were perfect as well.
I stared at the finely drawn magic circle that resembled the senior’s precision.
Yes, my role is to protect this magic circle. Since the senior was out there, the concealment spell must have already been broken.
I cast fire magic toward several small monsters approaching this way, then glanced at the summoning magic circle.
It still only vibrated with a low hum, showing no sign of activation.
“Hmm.”
While watching the senior fight, I fired a magic circle toward a large protruding rock on the cave ceiling.
The magic circle shattered the protruding rock and returned to my hand like a boomerang.
Several monsters were crushed under the falling debris, letting out screeching sounds before dissolving like smoke.
I smiled slightly and rubbed my palms together.
“Success.”
While guarding the magic circle and occasionally providing support fire to the senior, a somewhat large monster suddenly approached.
Our eyes met. To repeat—it was grotesque. Goosebumps rose all over my back, but I held them back.
Showing disgust might provoke the monster, which seemed to have some level of intelligence.
That one looked like it might already be somewhat of a challenge for him. I couldn’t drop the barrier because of the magic circle, and I couldn’t call the senior over either.
No choice. I had to do it myself.
In the tense atmosphere, I swallowed and drew my most confident offensive magic circle.
Red flames flickered and danced like a tongue.
“Kieeek!”
Ugh, even its scream is disgusting!
A sizzling sound like grilling meat filled the air, along with a burnt smell. Unfortunately, it even smelled like pork.
I forced myself to suppress a scream, shut my eyes tightly, and drew the next magic circle to finish it off. Green mana rippled in the air, and in the next moment, the monster vanished like smoke.
“Huh?”
I hadn’t even finished drawing it yet.
I stared at the incomplete magic circle in confusion.
“Good work.”
“Linus-nim!”
When I turned toward the voice, familiar faces came into view. It seemed the magic circle had activated while I was fighting.
Relieved, I lowered my hands.
While Linus and Aiden went to assist Noah senior, I leaned against the cave wall, massaging my tingling hands.
“Phew.”
Resting while occasionally taking out small monsters that approached, I looked toward the senior.
I seemed to have used up about half my mana, but the senior still looked perfectly fine. Part of that was because I wasn’t a combat-type mage, but that alone couldn’t explain the gap. The difference in talent was painfully obvious. How could he be even more skilled than mages from the Magic Tower? So this is what a true genius looks like.
I really need to work hard from now on.
As I cast a fire spell at a wriggling small monster, I let out a faint sigh.
“Kieeeek!”
The large monster, presumably the leader, let out a pained scream.
Noah senior, standing atop it, calmly reached into its body with his bare hand and pulled out a writhing black core.
Looking at Linus, he said,
“It’s over.”
Golden mana, drawn out like threads from his hand, restrained the core.
He made it sound as if he had just finished subjugating a monster like buying fruit at a market in front of his house.
“Kkek!”
Deprived of its core, the monster let out a strange sound and began to disappear.
Starting from the monsters deeper in the cave, even those around me began melting like ice. Soon the ground was covered in a sticky liquid.
The senior turned toward me as if to check if I was hurt. Meeting his concerned golden eyes, I gave a thumbs-up to show I was fine.
“I was worried when you suddenly disappeared. Once the barrier broke, dozens of monsters rushed in all at once.”
Linus said with a light laugh.
So there were many outside as well. Judging by their appearance, the two of them hadn’t been completely unscathed either.
“Good work, senior. You’re amazing.”
As I brushed off the slime stuck to my shoe soles, I looked at him with sparkling eyes.
The dozens of magic circles still lingered vividly in my mind. Being able to cast more than ten spells simultaneously was rare—his ability was truly extraordinary.
Noah senior coughed slightly and turned his head away. His ears, visible through his silver hair, were red.
Could he be embarrassed?
As I tilted my head, a strange sound came from beside him.
“Ah!”
A monster that had not yet vanished was still writhing.
I rubbed my eyes, thinking I had seen wrong, but it seemed to have regained its senses and was about to attack. Its trajectory was aimed directly at the senior’s face.
“……!”
My mind went completely blank.
A scar on that face? Absolutely not. That would be a national loss. And if things go as planned next semester with Senior Flora, he needs to keep his face intact.
I’ll protect the senior’s face.
Instinctively, I ran forward and deployed a defensive magic circle.
“No face!!”
With a sharp cry, the monster collided with the magic circle and was thrown back.
Only then did I realize what I had just said.
“Faces… are vital points…”
With my deflated voice, the magic circle disappeared. By the end, my voice seemed slightly unsteady.
“……”
A long silence followed.
I want to hit myself on the head.
Cursing myself dozens of times, I stood there with my eyes tightly shut. Strangely, my arm felt hot.
“…Huh?”
At the same time, droplets of blood began to flow down my forearm.
Noah senior’s expression instantly turned severe.
“Dad, hi.”
“You… you—!”
My dad, seeing my bandaged arm—treated hastily by the senior—grabbed the back of his neck. Blood had seeped through the cloth wrapped around the wound.
It was understandable that he reacted that way, since his daughter had returned injured.
I also felt a bit doubtful myself. Not only had I failed to use the magic circles I had prepared, but I had also ended up showing a foolish side in front of Noah senior.
“It’s not that serious.”
I murmured, avoiding my dad’s gaze.
The tentacle had been a bit sharp, but that was all—it wasn’t severed, just a cut. Though of course, that didn’t make the pain any less.
“What on earth happened…?”
“It’s my fault.”
Before my dad, who stood there with his mouth agape and a confused expression, Noah senior lowered his head.
“While I was distracted, Caitlin tried to protect me and got injured. So it’s my fault.”
I panicked and tried to stop him.
“Why are you apologizing, senior? I was the one who rushed in!”
But he still wasn’t looking at me.
Is he… angry?
While I swallowed nervously, Linus also lowered his head in apology.
“I am the leader of the subjugation team. It is also my fault for not properly protecting the young lady.”
With Noah senior and Linus both bowing their heads, only Aiden remained standing upright.
And I felt like I was going to die from the pressure of this situation.
“…Let’s get you treated first.”
My dad gestured with a somewhat uneasy expression.
