Chapter 26: Regret After Betrayal?
(Inside the 7th Largest Guild of Bonzua)
Two days after Sam vanished into another world, Mary was lounging with her friends, casually bragging about her ex-boyfriend.
"Can you believe how pathetic Sam was?" she said with a cruel laugh. "I dumped him right in the Grand Guild Hall, and Victor beat him to a pulp. He was crying on the floor like the trash he is."
But instead of laughing along, her friends fell into a stiff, horrified silence. Their faces drained of color, eyes wide with panic.
Mary's friends had never held any real grudge against Sam. They had only encouraged Mary to "enjoy her youth." Now, seeing what she had become, they were filled with deep regret.
"Hey, what's wrong with you all?" Mary asked, her smile bright and unbothered. "Why are you spacing out?"
That smile—once charming—now struck terror into their hearts.
Their minds raced. How far has Mary fallen? If we stay with her, we'll be dragged down too.
They were the ones who had whispered behind Sam's back, who had introduced Mary to Victor, who had told her to "live a little" and date multiple boys. They had twisted the once kind, elegant, and loyal Mary into this… this greedy, cruel stranger. Sam's feelings had meant nothing to her now.
But the damage was done. They couldn't change the past. Now, they even felt worry for Sam—the boy who had always been kind and considerate, even when their whole friend group looked down on him for his low rank. Just imagining the pain on his face made their chests ache with guilt.
Finally, one of them spoke, her voice trembling. "Mary… please don't talk to us anymore."
Mary stared, bewildered. "Yo-you guys are joking, right? What's wrong with you all of a sudden? Why do you look so serious?"
Another friend refused to meet her eyes. "We're not joking. We can't be friends with you anymore."
Mary's temper snapped. "What the heck are you talking about? Are you guys mad or something?"
"No, Mary," one replied coldly. "The one who has gone totally mad… is you."
A crowd had gathered, whispering and staring. Mary looked from face to face, but her friends avoided her gaze. No one would look at her. Fear began to creep in.
Her voice shook. "Come on, guys, it's not funny, you know. I-if you're telling a joke, then stop it right now. It's not funny at all."
Another friend delivered the final blow. "Mary, from now on, we are completely cutting ties with you. Never contact us again."
With that, they turned and walked away, leaving Mary standing alone, shocked and hopeless. As they left, their whispered words cut deeper than any shout:
"I feel so bad for Sam…"
"What have we done…"
Mary stood frozen, mumbling to herself, "Why? Why??? Why??? Why, why, why??? Why would they suddenly take the side of that pathetic trash when they're the ones who supported me and Vic?"
She gritted her teeth, biting her nails nervously. A thought seized her. "I have to meet Vic… I… I have to go meet Victor now!!!"
Panicked and disheveled, she looked like a madwoman as she ran toward the main guild hall where Victor usually spent his time. But what she saw there shattered the last pieces of her world.
Victor was drunk, his arms wrapped around two other girls, kissing them shamelessly in front of everyone.
Mary's voice was a broken whisper. "V-Victor?!??"
.......