The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Ruin was glaring at Hanna.

“What did you say?”

Anger flared within Ruin at the sight of his cocky junior, who stood with her hands behind her back, watching him.

-You can’t help but compare, right?

The junior’s remark, comparing him to Ricardo, wasn’t something Ruin could easily overlook.

Despite losing the core of his talent, Ruin believed himself not inferior to that guy.

In terms of personality.

In terms of kindness.

Ruin gritted his teeth, firmly believing he was better than Ricardo, and retorted to his insolent junior.

“Compare something comparable. This is disgusting.”

Hanna was staring blankly at Ruin’s face.

Then she burst into laughter, causing Ruin to clench his fists.

“Puhaha! Aha! Haa… Senior, you really have a knack for talking. You could be a comedian. Telling me to compare something comparable. I nearly died laughing.”

Ruin’s expression, with lips tightly bitten, was clearly visible to the much shorter Hanna.

Barely holding back his anger from flaring up.

Suppressing his immediate rage, Ruin bit his lips, provoking more laughter from Hanna.

Hanna tilted her head with a sly smile.

“Don’t you think?”

“…”

“I find it hilarious.”

“Shut up.”

“Oh my, did you just tell your junior to shut up? How scary…”

Hanna covered her mouth with her hand, feigning a shocked expression. Behind her hand lay a rising smirk.

Ruin, guessing the concealed smirk behind Hanna’s hand, ground his teeth in anger, glaring at her.

Hanna met Ruin’s murderous gaze straight on and spoke.

“Why? Are you going to try something?”

At her short and firm words, along with the soft brown aura emanating from her fingertips, Ruin’s mouth clamped shut like a dumbstruck mute.

“See? You can’t do anything.”

Hanna, blocking the hallway, spoke firmly to Ruin.

“Move aside. You’re in the way.”

With a ‘thunk,’ she bumped his shoulder and walked past, leaving Ruin leaning against the corridor wall, collapsing into a sitting position.

Ruin, sweeping his dry hand over his face, sat still in that spot for a long while.

*

Another peaceful day in the lady’s mansion.

“Hehe! Fetch it!”

-Rrrr!

“Eeeek! Don’t bite me, fetch that ball!”

-Grrrr?

Playing in to swallow her head instead of fetching the ball, enjoying life nonetheless.

“Eeeeek! Ricardo, it’s going to eat me!”

-Rrrr!

“Argh…! Don’t drool on me!”

Watching the lady experiencing nature’s law firsthand brought a smile to my face.

With Gomtangi around, I had more free time and leisurely watched the lady from a rocking chair.

Is this the life of a successful person?

“Next time I go to town, I should buy some toys for Gomtangi.”

The rubber ball, covered in teeth marks, had long since stopped serving as a toy.

Watching the barely intact rubber ball, I smiled and sipped the tea on the table.

Savoring the warm tea leaves spreading within my body, I gazed at the swaying tree branches and spoke.

“Hans, why don’t you sit beside me? Isn’t it boring alone?”

Hans, caught in his invisibility, flinched, dropping his pen and looking at me.

“Is my invisibility magic that bad?”

Hans, giving me a puzzled look, asked in a surprised voice.

Invisibility magic, huh.

Although the spell’s proficiency mattered greatly, Hans’s magic wasn’t rudimentary.

I’s effect. Hans’s invisibility spell was actually quite high-level.

It was skilled enough to fool even an archbishop.

Shaking my head, I answered Hans’s question.

“No. It’s just that I’m unusual.”

“Even so…”

“Yes?”

“Never mind.”

Glancing at the lady, Hans shrugged off his thoughts and muttered, “It must be a coincidence.”

Hearing the creaking sound as Hans sat down, I asked him a question.

“What were you doing?”

“Oh, I was listing the necessary items.”

“Didn’t I already prepare a separate residence for you? Though it’s in the mountain, it should have everything you need.”

Hans, descending from the tree and sitting next to me, offered his notebook without hesitation.

“It’s not for me…”

Smiling, I leisurely read through Hans’s notebook.

[To-do List]

1. Chocolates.

2. Detergent.

3. Cleaning brush.

4. Replace the broken light in the 3rd-floor hallway.

5. Dog toys.

The notebook was filled with necessary items for the mansion rather than personal items for Hans.

The notebook, containing observations made while the mansion was empty, was filled with detailed information akin to that of a caretaker.

Noh.

“Why did you write all this down?”

“Standing idle made me uneasy.”

“You don’t need to do such things. It’s my job, so I should.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll stop, but I just wanted to help…”

Feeling regretful, Hans bowed his head solemnly, prompting me to wave my hand and reassure him.

“No, it’s fine. It actually makes things easier for me, but I just feel a bit bad…”

Smiling at being helpful, Hans put his notebook away and said shyly, “Then I’ll continue.”

I felt slightly like a stingy employer not paying their worker, which didn’t feel great.

With Hans’s unmatched passion, I awkwardly changed the topic to something more productive.

“By the way, how’s the Royal Academy doing?”

“Oh…”

Hans scratched his head awkwardly, giving a strained smile.

“It’s terrible.”

“Really?”

“Both the academy’s morale and the student council’s trust have hit rock bottom.”

“Really?”

I had asked Hans for a difficult favor.

Since I was guarding the mansion, I requested he keep an eye on the academy’s situation.

Given Ruin’s downfall, I needed someone to keep an eye on the story.

I nodded as Hans explained.

“So, does that mean the planned ‘Orc Subjugation’ mission will be canceled?”

“No, wi the subjugation as a practice session.”

“Hmm…”

So the story continues unchanged.

I Ruin.

Moreover, Hans was set to fill Ruin’s void.

Acknowledging Hans’s hard work, I nodded appreciatively.

Having reported for a long while, Hans then mentioned the academy’s security.

“And there’s one more agenda that came up in the student council.”

“An agenda?”

“Yes.”

Impressed by having such a competent informant, I nodded and responded.

“Princess Chartia proposed something….”

“Proposed?”

“Yes.”

Hans hesitated before cautiously revealing something I hadn’t anticipated.

“There’s a proposal to appoint Histania Malik as the supervisor.”

“What?”

“I was also surprised, but it’s supported by Hanna and Princess Chartia.”

“Hmm… Is that necessary?”

Hans shrugged, indicating he didn’t fully understand either.

“With the academy’s current tense atmosphere and the need for a reliable figure, Malik seems a trustworthy choice.”

“But why Malik? He’s already busy.”

“Being the knight who handled previous incidents and being from the Histania family, Malik is deemed reliable. Given my own example as evidence.”

“Ah… That’s true.”

Hans awkwardly smiled and bowed his head.

“Well, it’s something to think about later. No need to worry about it now.”

Malik had the necessary skills to be a competent leader, lacking nothing for the role.

Just as I was finishing my tea.

Hans, watching me carefully, took out a flaming orb from his pocket.

With an awkward expression, he cautiously asked, “How should we handle this?”

Hans’s gesture of offering the forcibly taken magic orb from Ruin had the devotion reminiscent of a loyal subordinate.

“Shouldn’t we deal with this quickly?”

Hans suggested deciding whether to return it to Ruin or for me to absorb it. I shrugged and decided to wait.

“Let’s leave it for now.”

“Really?”

Hans responded with a confused look.

“What if Ruin learns black magic like me? What will you do then?”

I chuckled, shaking my head dismissively.

“Do you think he will?”

“Honestly… yes.”

“Hmm, I don’t think so.”

Smiling, I imagined the defeated green-haired Ruin at the academy.

“Let’s leave him to struggle for now.”

“It wouldn’t be an issue even if he learns black magic.”

“What do you mean by that…”

I looked at Hans.

Given his expertise in this area, he’d grasp my intention.

“As a black magic expert, what do you think of Ruin’s talent?”

“…”

“See.”

Yawning lazily, I chuckled.

“Even if he turns to black magic, you can handle him.”

“Are you a demon?”

“Well, I am a villain.”

I smiled at Hans.

“Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?”

“…”

Hans didn’t hide his smile as he responded.

“No.”

*

And then…

“Long time no see, butler!”

I was sent here instead of Malik.

‘Damn it.’

End of Chapter