The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

To sum it up, the bet was postponed.

It was postponed for 15 days, until the end of Rowen’s term as an external instructor at the Academy.

-I can’t win yet… I haven’t been your disciple for long, and I’ve just finished training, so I don’t have much energy left.

-Wouldn’t it be less embarrassing to do it now? You have excuses to fall back on.

-You shut up…!

-Your words are quite harsh. I was just trying to be thoughtful.

Thanks to Michail’s pathetic excuses, Rowen was able to avoid being cut off. Though he did argue, it wasn’t easily accepted.

-That’s enough.

-Condition management is also a skill.

-Isn’t that something your talented disciple should prove? They’re both aura users with weapons, and talent recognized by the Empire’s Sword. What are you afraid of to avoid a duel?

-I cannot accept.

-You’re a coward then. The Empire’s Sword.

I was annoyed by Michail and Rowen’s banter, making excuses like a hero asking for time to transform, but it couldn’t be helped.

If the match were to happen today, neither Hanna nor Michail would accept it.

A match that only leaves a bad taste is meaningless. It was even more impossible to break Rowen’s stubbornness.

The only worry was Michail’s growth rate. The story of Michail’s stagnant growth was about to begin.

After all, he’s the male protagonist who becomes the strongest in the world at the end of the novel. He couldn’t be ignored.

By his own power.

And by his talent.

Of course, it was possible with Rowen’s guidance, hardships, and fateful encounters, but it couldn’t be denied that Michail was a monster who reached that position by his own strength.

Because many hardships accompanied him.

That’s why I’m worried. Whether Hanna can keep up with Michail’s growth rate.

A character that doesn’t appear in the novel.

Histania Hanna.

She was someone I didn’t know, yet at the same time, someone who knew too much, which made her a variable.

Judging by the Blue Window’s words alone, she clearly had the talent to surpass Rowen and become the ‘Empire’s First Sword’, but no one knows when the flower of talent will bloom.

It was an undeniable reality that the scales were tipped in this unclear information that could happen in her 20s or perhaps even 30s.

No matter how the situation unfolds, Michail will face hardships and overcome them.

“Hmm…”

One thing is certain.

We have to make her win somehow.

That was the best I could do and my answer to Hanna’s faith.

When a disciple shows courage, a teacher can’t just sit back and say ‘Good luck!’ after all.

I just needed to teach Hanna how to defeat Rowen, just as I knew how to defeat him.

And Michail couldn’t grow miraculously in 14 days, and it was still too early for his growth story to begin.

Even if Michail grew rapidly under Rowen’s guidance, we would grow too.

I spoke to Hanna, who was blankly staring at the place where Michail and Rowen had left.

Asking why she looked so gloomy.

“Why are you making that expression?”

“Ah… I’m just feeling complicated. My heart, and wondering if I can win… I’m troubled in many ways.”

“We haven’t even started yet.”

I said, watching Rowen’s retreating back.

“Neither you nor I have even started yet.”

Looking at that sturdy back.

The back of the Empire’s Sword.

I spoke with confidence.

“We can win. We can.”

We can still become stronger.

Both me and Hanna.

It might be an arrogant thought, but I believe that if I set my mind to it, I can become stronger than anyone.

If fate, hardships, and luck are on my side, I think I can surpass even the Empire’s Sword or the Apostle of Heretics.

It’s really an arrogant thought, but still.

This incident made me think a lot.

Should I call it a wake-up call, or a warning to my stagnant self? I think I was inspired by the sight of trying to overcome Rowen.

I need to work harder than now.

It’s embarrassing to be weaker than the rival’s teacher, so I should at least be a rival, right?

That’s the duty of a teacher to protect the disciple’s pride.

I gently patted Hanna’s head with a small smile. With her hair settling calmly, Hanna hung her head low, unable to lift it.

“I’m sorry. For causing trouble on my own.”

“It’s alright.”

“I wanted to be helpful… I’m sorry for always just receiving help.”

“No, I’m the one who has received a lot of help from you, Hanna. There’s no need to be sorry.”

“I…”

Looking at Hanna, who couldn’t lift her head due to guilt, I smiled lightly.

“It’s okay.”

It was a dark night.

There was still time until daybreak, and we had a long time to be together.

I took Hanna’s hand and led her to the chairs placed in a circle outside the training ground. Not knowing the reason, Hanna silently followed my lead.

I took out a small handkerchief from my pocket and spread it on the chair. Even in a well-cleaned Academy, there was still dust.

As it’s a gentleman’s duty to keep dust off a lady’s clothes, I seated Hanna on the chair and smiled.

“There are so many stars out tonight.”

Starting with a small greeting.

To calm the mind unsettled by sudden events, I offered a greeting, and Hanna nodded in response.

“You’re right… There are so many stars. I didn’t know there could be this many.”

“Indeed.”

Hmm…

“Sometimes we need this kind of leisure. The leisure to look at the sky without thinking about anything.”

“…”

“It’s been hard for you, hasn’t it?”

“…”

Hanna had no answer to the quietly asked question.

There probably weren’t many people who asked about the process of her efforts. Used to being told to run, to keep running even if she falls, or to stay still and not run, I didn’t rush Hanna for an answer.

I just quietly spoke my thoughts from observing Hanna until now.

“I think it must have been very hard for you.”

“…”

“I know how difficult a race without a destination can be.”

“…”

“But you know what?”

I sat next to Hanna and pointed at the twinkling stars. I think that star was called the North Star, but this being another world, it might not be. But since it was the brightest star, I smiled and went with it.

“ them.”

Looking at Hanna, who was staring intently at the stars, I said:

“It’s funny how many people say the stars are pretty without knowing the effort they put in to shine.”

“But, I know, don’t I? That those stars are shining while struggling terribly.”

“Today, that number has increased by one.”

I smiled brightly at Hanna.

The wind is cold.

The cool breeze blows, singing of the night, cold yet warm at the same time.

The wind ruffled my hair, and I stroked it while gazing at the stars.

‘What’s this.’

Hanna was looking at Ricardo.

She was staring blankly at Ricardo, who was emitting a bright light like those faintly twinkling stars.

Sparkling.

Brilliant.

And warm at the same time.

With emotions welling up inside her, Hanna just silently kept looking at Ricardo.

I smiled slightly at Hanna’s silence and said:

“Sometimes I think to myself. Is there a need to do something when no one appreciates it?”

“Being criticized. Hated. Cursed at. Is there really a need to go through such hardship?”

“But you know what.”

I spoke, letting out a small breath. Though it’s cringe-worthy to say with my own mouth, it was something I wanted to tell Hanna.

“Someday, everyone recognizes it.”

“Strangely enough.”

“Just like how I recognize your efforts, Hanna.”

I smiled slightly and lowered my hand that had been reaching towards the stars. I guess such sentimental words don’t suit me after all.

Shaking my flushed face, I said to Hanna:

“Aren’t you cold?”

“No, I’m not cold. Are you alright, Butler?”

“I’m cold.”

Hanna’s eyes widened at my playful words. Seeing Hanna fidget as if she would take off her coat to give to me, a small laugh escaped me.

“I’m just joking.”

“What…!”

“I guess it’s because I bought expensive clothes, but I’m not cold.”

I smiled gently.

Hanna and I talked about many things.

How we’ve been doing.

How this winter wasn’t too cold.

The main topic was probably about the young lady. It was my favorite subject and one Hanna could relate to.

-The young lady is making money?

I never thought I’d be talking about the young lady with someone else.

-Next time, I should introduce you to the part-time job I’m doing.

It felt different to have these kinds of conversations.

-The young lady is on a diet…?

-Yes. She suddenly said she wanted to lose weight.

-Is she not feeling well?

It was fun to be able to have such conversations with someone else.

-Butler, why do you dislike chocolate?

-Because the young lady likes it.

-Hahaha…! What’s that supposed to mean?

-It’s half true, but it’s also because it’s too sweet.

I was grateful that there was someone curious about me.

I had few people in this world I could call friends. It was the same in my previous life.

There were few people who could accommodate my picky personality, and I lived centered around the young lady.

I had no regrets about my narrowed relationships.

She was the person I chose.

A beautiful person.

I had no regrets either.

After talking for a long time, I stood up, dusting off my pants.

Hanna looked up a ground.

“Are you feeling a bit more relaxed now?”

“Yes.”

Hearing Hanna’s answer, I stretched my shoulders to loosen up. It was time to do my job as a teacher.

I spoke to Hanna in a light voice.

“Then let’s begin. If we’re going to win anyway, it’s better to win decisively than to struggle through it.”

Slowly, Hanna also stands up.

I think she looks reliable as she opens her eyes straight and looks at me.

“It won’t be easy. I’ll teach you much more intensively than before.”

-Nod.

“We can win.”

Before going down to the training ground.

Hanna grabbed my collar and said:

“Um, Butler.”

“Yes.”

Taking a deep breath and lowering her head, Hanna spoke in a trembling voice:

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

I answered without hesitation.

“Because you’re pretty.”

Hanna stood still for a long time.

She just stood there for a while, her face flushed red.

End of Chapter