The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Michail’s words made me chuckle.

Telling me not to show off is like telling a creature of habit to stop breathing, as flaunting one’s prowess is inherent to a possessor. Annoying as it may sound, it’s true that I am exceptional.

With a troubled expression, I shyly voiced my opinion to Michail.

“Sorry, but my excellence isn’t something I can control. I don’t want to show off either, but being this remarkable, it’s unavoidable.”

At the same time, I provided Michail with a groundbreaking solution to this issue.

“If you really hate it, just become more capable than me. Then such situations won’t occur, and you’d feel better…”

Michail’s brow started to twitch. His expression, as he glared at me with one eyebrow raised, was priceless.

I smiled faintly at Michail.

“Was that too annoying? I apologize. Just think of me as ‘a strange person’ and take it as it is. You should be used to it by now.”

Michail clenched his fists and glared at me.

“I hate how you appear in dangerous moments and act nonchalantly, making everyone else look like a fool. It infuriates me.”

Facing Michail’s sharp words, I remained unshaken.

I knew he disliked me. Plus, Michail was in a mentally fragile state.

Missing his chance for revenge and learning a secret he never wanted to know—it was all his burden to bear, so I could somewhat understand his feelings.

With my hands in my pockets, I nodded understandingly and responded to Michail.

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“…”

“You dislike this. You hate that. You just find me annoying. What can I do to make it right for you?”

Sighing deeply, I voiced my dissatisfaction at Michail’s vague complaints.

“No matter what I do, you’ll dislike it. And it’s the same for me. Isn’t it time to acknowledge that?”

Looking at the heretic bodies scattered in the forest, I spoke. Ten slain by my sword, eight by Hanna’s.

Michail’s eyes trembled as he looked at the numerous corpses.

“Admit that this wouldn’t have been resolved without me. It was the same before and now.”

Michail vehemently shook his head and retorted fiercely.

“Even without you, we could have managed!”

“Would you have been okay with everyone dying?”

“…What?”

“Would you blame the world for not helping while Yuria and Hanna died here?”

At my words, Michail reminisced about his past with a complicated expression.

Recalling the time when he sought a hero in the abandoned slums and gritted his teeth, speaking in a boiling voice.

“…Shut up.”

With a stern expression, I addressed Michail.

“Regrets about what’s already happened are pointless.”

“…!”

“The past and the present—will you continue living in a make-believe hero world? No one forced you into this.”

“…”

Staring hard at Michail, I spoke slowly about the harsh reality.

Even the breath you’re taking now…

The blood you hated so much is not on your hands…

All of it, when broken down, are tasks you should have done, but I did for you. Do you feel nothing about that?

I am not the protagonist.

I am not a hero who bestows kindness for free, nor a priest who offers love selflessly, so I have no reason to be altruistic.

Of course, I only those within my fence. In other words, calling me a villain wouldn’t be wrong. So Michail’s words weren’t entirely incorrect.

Sighing deeply, I addressed Michail.

“I don’t even expect a thank you.”

Speaking slowly, I uttered my heartfelt words calmly.

“I didn’t do this to be treated as a hero, nor do I expect you to do so. I only want one thing.”

“Don’t expect anything. I have nothing to give you.”

“I wish that were true, but Michail keeps making me intervene.”

I spoke my genuine feelings to Michail.

Dislike.

A mix of love and hate.

And a worried friend’s concern.

“Don’t get hurt. I’m worried.”

Taking a deep breath, clenching his fist, Michail spoke to me in a cold voice.

“Why are you worried about me?”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Michail responded without hesitation.

“Don’t lump us together. It’s disgusting.”

That’s too harsh.

Still, I didn’t curse.

With a bitter smile, I brushed off my complicated feelings.

“Just shut up and get treated, Michail.”

“…You.”

“You’re losing a lot of blood.”

Michail looked down at his body.

The wound from the recent battle was deeper than he thought, with blood soaking his clothes.

Startled, Michail quickly turned and began to leave.

Why is he so flustered? Well, I guess this conversation is over.

Waving my hand slightly, I started to leave.

“I’m going.”

And then.

‘Thanks for the meal.’

[ Q. Michail’s Guardian, ]

There was a swordsman who met an enemy.

The swordsman was a person with a peaceful heart.

Hating to kill and believing he could reform villains with idealistic feelings, he lived with such a hopeful mindset.

Thinking if the boy who was his light were alive, he would have lived this way. During the years in the convent, he was taught about hope.

One day, the swordsman thought.

What would happen if ‘he met the enemy who killed the boy’?

Now, afiveness in his heart. And today that day arrived.

Then the swordsman discovered the intensity of his hate.

(!) Help Michail in danger.

1. Protect Michail without killing ‘Yoon’, the High Priest of Forgetfulness. (1/1)

Reward: Hidden ability of Tyrfing.

Failure: Michail’s collapse

*

Another lazy day in Olivia’s room.

Olivia, sniffing, stared blankly at the rainy sky.

“Sniff.”

In the chilly weather brought by lingering cold, Olivia wrapped herself tightly in a blanket, watching the rain outside.

The rain was slowly stopping.

Clouds were abundant.

Under the gloomy weather, Olivia’s mood also sank.

‘I’m bored.’

Ricardo had gone out to work, and emergency rations… No, Gomtangi, was sitting in the corner, eating away because of the rain, while the bored Olivia yawned, trying to fend off the boredom.

“Sniff…!”

Being alone in the house is tough.

Staring blankly outside without anyone to notice consumes a lot of focus. Olivia stared sharply, guarding against thieves and chasing away graffiti vandals.

With pride in her role, Olivia nodded.

“Hmph.”

By the way, why wasn’t Ricardo coming back? It was about time.

-Milady, I’m going to work.

-Huh? Ricardo, you’re unemployed.

-Unemployed? I have a proper job as a butler.

-But I’m unemployed.

-Take pride in being unemployed.

-Hehe!

Ricardo, who claimed to have found a high-paying part-time job, promised to return before sunset. They even made a pinky promise that he’d bring two chocolates if he was late, but the sun was already halfway down.

Seeing the faintly set sun, Olivia puffed her cheeks and complained, leaning her face against the window sill.

“Phu… You’re late.”

Olivia’s grumpy complaint continued for about ten minutes.

In the distance, a familiar figure appeared, walking toward her.

“Oh…!”

Seeing the red-haired man carrying something in his arms, a smile spread across Olivia’s face.

‘Ricardo!’

Ricardo walked confidently, smiling at the sight of Olivia waving vigorously.

“Milady!”

Ricardo waved enthusiastically.

Olivia also waved and called out to Ricardo in a loud voice.

“Ricardoooo! What’s for dinner tonight?!”

Ricardo beamed and held up the bag in his hand.

“Tonight’s dinner is soy meat stir-fried with vegetables!”

“…”

Olivia suddenly hated Ricardo.

“Get lost!”

“Hehe!”

But still…

“I want to eat something else!”

“Just eat what’s prepared!”

“Eeeeek!”

Olivia loved Ricardo.

Like a friend.

It was fun being together.

She felt reassured.

Friendship?

That didn’t seem right.

She felt it was inadequate to label this warm, fuzzy feeling as friendship.

Although she hadn’t found the answer yet,

Olivia…

“Get lost!”

She liked Ricardo.

End of Chapter