The Curse of Being Hated Has Been Lifted

10 – Deletion of the Cursed Zone

“Is that really Logan?”

“He looks like Logan, but…”

Even before, wherever Logan went, he attracted people’s attention.

The changed atmosphere, as the curse was lifted, naturally drew people’s interest.

“What are you looking at like that? Go ahead and pay.”

“Ah… Yes! I understand.”

Logan was a very normal person.

In other words, it meant that he was the type of person who didn’t enjoy the gaze of others seeing him differently due to the aftermath of the curse being lifted, but rather felt awkward about it.

‘To think I can actually use my own money to buy food.’

Logan had never once done something that was obvious to others, like buying a meal with his own money.

It wasn’t even about eating for free or buying food with his own money, he had never made a purchase before.

“This time, I paid properly.”

“Yes! I received it properly, of course!”

Coincidentally, the employee who took Logan’s money at the counter was the same woman he had met on his first day of school.

Because if he pretended not to hear or understand, the money would just disappear again, Logan spoke in a loud enough voice for the people around him to hear.

As he accepted the food and sat down, the murmuring around him became more noticeable.

“But was Logan really that good-looking?”

“I thought he was rude and dirty… But he might be quite chic as well.”

If it weren’t for the curse being lifted, the atmosphere at the academy towards Logan wouldn’t have changed so dramatically.

Just as rumors were starting to spread, questioning whether Logan might not be such a bad person after all, due to his bet with Anna last week, the curse was lifted, causing the perception of Logan by those around him to change significantly.

“They’re such funny people.”

Of course, as always, Logan remained unchanged and simply continued to be himself.

“What are you… Why are you eating here?”

Just as Logan successfully managed to get his food without any trouble, a familiar voice struck his ear as he sat back down with his meal.

It was a voice so irritating that it made his head ache.

“Is there a rule that I can’t eat in the dining hall?”

If Anna had spoken, he might have felt less annoyed.

At least she would have seemed somewhat remorseful. Maybe the sudden change in her tone and the animosity she showed towards Logan was due to the influence of the curse getting stronger. It was upsetting, but blaming Stella for it wasn’t fair to Anna.

Of course, it was Anna’s fault for tormenting Logan relentlessly before.

Even if it had been Anna who spoke, it would have made Logan feel bad. But it had to be Aria who spoke to him.

The woman who, at this point after graduating from the academy, was the one with the worst relationship with Logan.

Of course, Logan was partly to blame for the deterioration of their relationship.

Even though it would be natural to say it wasn’t a big mistake, even now that the curse had been lifted, if asked if it was a big enough mistake to be aimed at as if to kill, the answer would definitely be no.

“Do you know how many people feel bad just by your presence in the dining hall?”

“That can’t be the reason why I can’t eat in the dining hall. According to your logic, you are also disturbing my meal, so you should leave immediately.”

Aria’s face turned bright red at Logan’s sharp accusation.

“This is your last warning. Get out right now.”

“Why are you talking as if I’ve done something wrong? Disturbing someone eating in the dining hall, which one is wrong, even a five-year-old would know. And…”

Before Logan could finish speaking, the plate and the food in it flew into the air.

“Hah.”

In terms of money, it was worth 1 silver.

Considering Logan’s mental state, which had never properly experienced a meal until now, the value of the food flying through the air was immeasurable.

Up until now, Logan had thought that her behavior was unavoidable due to the curse, and had endured it. But even now, he couldn’t bear it if she continued like this.

“From the first time I saw you, I felt that you were a really emotional woman. Whether it’s a bad head or just too lazy to think, there’s no doubt that you’re stupid in one way or another.”

“What?”

“From the very beginning, I had a feeling. It’s typical of someone who only sees what they want to see and makes judgments based on that. There’s no evidence that I did anything wrong, but she’s already labeled me a sinner. And she even had the audacity to challenge me to a duel under the pretext of ‘seeking help for the weak.'”

If Aria’s actions were not influenced by the curse, it would be a lie.

However, not everyone who was affected by the same curse acted in the same way.

In fact, many students at the academy had simply avoided Logan and lived with an aversion towards him, and even fewer had openly insulted him on the streets. Only a few students had directly harassed Logan.

And in extremely rare cases, there were those who had repented.

But Aria’s case was different.

Although there was a misunderstanding at their first meeting, it was Aria who thought of Logan as the culprit without any consideration.

Of course, even if Logan had pretended to confess, if Aria were to hold him accountable, then she should acknowledge that all the suffering Logan endured due to the curse was solely Stella’s fault.

“Go away. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Logan barely suppressed his anger.

Yet, Aria had one advantage over him.

It was not that Logan was at fault or that Aria had done well, but because Aria’s reason for hating Logan was somewhat understandable, he was able to contain his anger to this extent.

Unlike Aria, Logan was a rational person.

“Who do you think you are to talk to me? Does anyone think they can talk to you?”

As the situation began to escalate, people around them started to gather.

The only difference from usual was that they were trying to calm Aria down without dragging Logan away.

“For now, try to calm down, Aria.”

“Are you all out of your minds? You don’t know who Asrian is?”

Logan sighed deeply at the endless hatred directed towards him.

‘If the curse has been lifted…’

Until now, he had avoided speaking about that day, fearing it would only bring about unnecessary repercussions. But it seemed like the time had come to reveal the truth.

“I can’t understand why you hate me so much in the first place.”

“What? You can’t understand?”

Aria’s eyes turned red.

For a moment, it seemed like blood rushed to her veins, making them visible.

“I know what you did…”

“Let me tell you beforehand, I never killed the cat you raised.”

The cat was just hit by a carriage.

Logan just happened to pass by, trying to move the dying cat to the nearby clinic.

If the cat hadn’t exhausted itself by wildly scratching Logan and depleting its own strength, it might have survived.

Of all times, the cat met Aria right before its death.

Of course, Logan told the truth at that time too, but she couldn’t believe him.

That was the power Aria possessed.

Neither Logan nor Aria was at fault.

If Stella is a being affected by the curse Logan received, it’s only natural for her to think that Logan killed the cat.

As Logan, it was impossible to bear Stella’s curse and clear up the misunderstanding. In this case, it could be said that this was solely Stella’s fault.

Until now, that is.

The curse of Stella has already been lifted.

“What nonsense…”

“I swear by my mana.”

Although there is a drawback of reduced vitality for several days after making the oath, it was nice to use it frequently when proving innocence like this.

“I am Aria. I have never killed your cat. I have never been involved in any death. I was just transferring the cat hit by a carriage to the clinic, but couldn’t reach the clinic due to the cat’s resistance, and it died.”

Mana surged strongly from Logan’s heart.

“… What?”

Aria’s face showed bewilderment.

It’s very difficult to forge a mana oath.

Only a grand wizard or a swordmaster could manipulate mana waves as if they had sworn an oath, but Logan couldn’t possibly do that.

That means Logan’s words now are the truth.

“No… what’s this all about…”

Aria couldn’t continue her words.

“Surely you don’t doubt the mana oath?”

With this, Aria’s right to criticize disappeared.

While it might be impossible for her to completely eliminate her hatred for Logan at once, it didn’t mean that hating Logan from now on would be legally justified even if the curse was gone.

“Uh…”

“If you understand, just leave. I want to eat.”

“… Sorry.”

Aria jumped back with a complicated expression.

“This is the cost of being an Asrian!”

“Now it’s finally gone.”

Of course, even if Logan apologized and ran away, it didn’t mean he would see Aria in a friendly light.

In the end, Logan was the one who suffered the most.