The Curse of Being Hated Has Been Lifted

2 – Oath of Mana

Logan Astrian.

Not particularly renowned, not exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and not deeply versed in magic, but his family, known for its wealth, had a fair amount of prestige.

The Viscount had one son and one daughter. Despite his daughter having some aptitude for magic and a more refined personality, the son, Logan, was a source of trouble, according to the social circles.

“I heard you intimidated the guards again to get inside the academy yesterday.”

“I thought I might.”

Rumors about Logan were consistently negative.

Without any reason, he damaged the academy’s equipment, or falsely accused innocent commoners, or treated people with disrespect.

There were no formal investigations, but according to the rumors, even this was because Logan had touched the noble’s mistress, which was considered pathetic, and the commoners thought he was filthy.

The rumors about him had spread throughout the social circle long before he entered the academy, so it was natural for even the newly enrolled students to avoid him.

“Logan, it seems like you caused another commotion yesterday.”

As soon as the first period ended, Anna stood up from her seat and approached Logan.

He was standing at the back of the classroom, probably because he had gotten into unnecessary trouble with the professor. His expression was visibly weary, as if he had experienced such things more than once.

“There was a little disturbance.”

He was tired of explaining in detail.

Even if he tried to defend himself, no one believed him, so there was no point in exerting effort.

If he had realized this fact a little earlier, the first year would have passed more comfortably. Unfortunately, he only acquired this skill in the second semester of the first year, when he decided to let things slide.

“If you’re going to say useless things…”

“I wish you would just leave me alone. You should know that it won’t make any difference even if you say a few words to me.”

Logan’s tone was sharp.

Was there a reason why he was disliked by everyone?

Or was it because he was disliked by everyone that he had to put up thorns like that?

“That’s right. You’re someone who can’t change.”

Anna pushed Logan and passed by.

“Today went by easily.”

Of course, the following classes didn’t proceed smoothly.

Logan, who was already despised by all the professors at the academy, always found himself in arguments.

“Asrian! Where did the textbook go?”

“Sorry. I’m sure I brought it this morning, but it seems someone has stolen it.”

“Stolen? More like not bringing it and making excuses.”

This was what happened in the second class, Basic Magic Theory.

“Really…”

“Shut up. I have no intention of teaching someone who can’t even make basic preparations. Get out right now.”

Logan sighed deeply and got up from his seat.

Not only was he widely known as a wanderer, but it was also widely rumored that he hardly received any support from his family, so the professor was not afraid of his retaliation.

Even the daughter of the local viscount’s family had played pranks on Logan, such as accidentally pouring milk on his head.

‘Where should I go?’

It was the first time he had been kicked out just for not bringing a textbook.

Until now, he had never been kicked out unless he had argued with the professor or suddenly been falsely accused. But today, the professor seemed to be in a bad mood, and this terrible thing happened.

The academy was quite spacious, but there were not many places where Logan could go. Most of the classrooms were locked when not in use, and even if he tried to go to a place like the library, his entry was strictly prohibited due to the risk of damaging the books.

In the end, Logan heard a faint sound in his ears.

-Meow

“A street cat?”

The academy was quite open.

It didn’t mean that it was great academically, but it meant that even ordinary people could come and go freely to absorb knowledge or borrow books from the academy.

Since people came and went freely, stray animals were not blocked from wandering around, and it seemed that a black cat had sneaked in through the open door of the academy.

When he turned his head towards the sound, he saw a black cat staring at him.

‘Cute little cat.’

Logan found himself unconsciously moving toward the cat.

It wasn’t a deliberate action.

Even Logan wondered why he was approaching the cat after taking a few steps on his own.

-Kiyaah!

As Logan got closer, the cat instantly assumed a defensive posture and stared at him.

‘Even a small cat is on guard against me?’

He wanted to pet it at least once, but reaching out his hand would probably result in scratches.

‘I should find a quiet place to sleep away from the cat.’

Avoiding the cat, he shifted his steps towards the bushes.

Even though the trees were not very large, being creatures created to efficiently absorb sunlight, going underneath could shield him from the sun.

Moreover, unlike animals, trees had no emotions, so they didn’t run away when Logan approached.

In many ways, they couldn’t be anything but gentle creatures.

“What mischief are you up to again?”

As Logan lay down for a nap in the shade of the tree, another annoying voice pierced his ears.

“Skipping class again?”

“Skipping? Do you think I’m like you? I have permission for personal study from the professor.”

Certainly, the heiress of Viscount Bellocia wouldn’t need to attend basic magical theory classes.

“I’m not skipping class either.”

“If you were expelled from the classroom, shouldn’t you attend through the window or something?”

Anna had never been humiliated even once in her life, so she thought.

If she had been standing nearby, she would have had to endure the professor’s nonsense as usual.

“Yes, you’re right,” Logan could have said many things, but he didn’t bother to say anything.

Their ill-fated relationship had been going on for over 10 years, so he knew very well that making unnecessary remarks would only make the situation more difficult.

“So, Anna, why did you come all the way here?”

He must not give Anna the upper hand.

In terms of image, family, and even magic, Logan was overpowered by Anna.

He had to annoy her enough to make her leave this place.

“I’m giving you one last chance.”

“One last chance?”

It was a ridiculous thing to say.

Had everything he had done to her so far been not torment, but an opportunity?

It was truly absurd to talk about the last chance when he had never given her a single opportunity.

“Do you speak as if there was a first chance?”

“I have always given you opportunities.”

Anna stepped boldly toward Logan.

Although Logan was taller, the mana surging through Anna’s body made her quite imposing.

“To be honest, I don’t want to bother with someone like you anymore. If I hadn’t known what you were like as a child, I would have just incinerated trash like you.”

Not bothering and incinerating? That’s not an option either.

“The word choice is rough.”

“At least the women were left alone, so it ended in burning.”

“So what’s this last chance about?”

Even though he was spouting nonsense about a chance, Logan knew he couldn’t fulfill Anna’s chance anyway.

If that were possible, Logan would have made friends with everyone long ago and enjoyed a lively academy life.

“I’ll give you a week. Stay quiet and don’t cause any trouble.”

“Sorry, but even if I try not to cause trouble because my reputation is so damn bad, I can’t help but get involved, can I?”

“I understand that much.”

Nonsense.

Considering that 99% of the trouble Logan caused was provoked by others, anyone with sense would have let go of their hatred for Logan long ago.

“I understand perfectly how to respond just right when someone else starts trouble first.”

“Is the 7 days until this Sunday?”

“No. Since you’ve already caused trouble today, you must not cause any trouble until next Monday.”

Unintentionally, a sigh escaped Asrian’s lips.

“You don’t seriously believe that someone stealing the textbook is a trouble, do you?”

If it went on like this, there would be no end.

What’s the point of talking to someone who doesn’t even believe their own words in the first place?

“Was this how it was supposed to be?”

Asrian raised a mana as thin as a mouse’s tail, enveloping his heart.

Feeling the faint mana of Asrian, Anna ignited fire in her hands.

It was an action filled with a strong determination to suppress anytime he did something strange.

“Swear on my mana. For the next week, I will not speak a single lie to you. More precisely, I will only speak what I believe to be the truth.”

A bond was engraved on Asrian’s heart.

“No… What.”

A mana oath.

Although it was the best means to prove his innocence, breaking the oath meant losing most of the mana, and during the oath’s duration, over 50% of the mana was bound to the oath. It was a crazy thing one would never do unless they were a criminal.

“Now, can you believe me?”

“Then, stealing the textbook was real?”

Anna was in shock, as if she had never thought of such a thing.