The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

1.

The original plan was to begin during the friendly sparring session after the banquet ended.

Through Clark, the Young Lady would grow, and then Ian would launch an attack, revealing that Count Valentine was a Demon God’s Cultist.

Though it ended up completely shattered before even getting close, that was the initial plan.

-Isn’t the plan a bit too simple?

That was one of the most frequent questions asked by Asha, the Vice Captain of Moonlight.

Each time, I gave the same answer.

-We grow strong enough to not need a plan.

-What?

-That’s the plan of our Moonlight.

-…Ah, yes.

If the body is strong, the mind doesn’t have to suffer.

Fortunately, all members of Moonlight were strong enough to take down even the Top 10 Strongest on the continent.

If we had revealed ourselves and lived openly in our previous lives, ranks one through six of the Top 10 Strongest would have been Moonlight members.

Oh, except for Ian.

At that time, Ian was stuck at mid-level Sword Expert due to the shock of losing his family.

Whenever I explained the plan, Ian always showed a bitter expression.

-If only I had come to my senses a little earlier, I could’ve been a great help to Moonlight….

Ian only said such things when members returned injured, so all the members united to comfort him.

-Don’t say that, Ian.

-Yeah, yeah! You’re good at cooking, aren’t you?

-Y-You’ve already been a huge help to us!

-…Don’t worry. The Moon Wolf Clan doesn’t abandon even its old or sick members.

I was always the last to speak.

-If you’re upset, get stronger!

-Captain!!

Everyone would criticize me and rush at me, and Ian would smile warmly as he watched us.

And now, back to the present.

“[Die, you bastard―!!]”

Goofy, who had the strength of a Junior Baron-level demon, lunged at me.

Sssss….

This caused a gust of wind to rise. It was an artificial wind created by the flow of power.

However, the Sword Saint even absorbed that wind pressure.

The wind stirred by Goofy began to flow toward my back.

Like a whirlpool beneath a calm water surface, it was both tranquil and dynamic.

I glanced back briefly.

-[Hide Your Presence.]

It was Ian Estevan, whom I had hidden nearby before luring Goofy.

Unlike in his previous life, he was regaining the strength he had when he was called the Sword Saint.

Though he still couldn’t wield it as easily as before, he had recovered enough to recreate at least one strike if given enough time.

Ten minutes had passed while I hid Ian and lured Goofy.

“Are you ready, Ian?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Then let’s finish this quickly.”

Ian nodded and murmured softly.

“Comet.”

Comet. It was the iaido technique I had used before to earn Ian’s trust.

When I used it, the power scattered everywhere noisily, but the Comet Ian recreated resonated quietly, like slicing through a heavenly cloth.

Thunk.

Goofy’s head fell.

He died without even leaving a last will or making a final struggle.

“He won’t regenerate, will he?”

“This is Ian you’re talking to.”

I immediately accepted his assurance. He was a man well-versed in such matters.

Though I wanted to just sleep then and there, there was still much to be done.

“Take care of the rest.”

“Don’t worry.”

Ian moved to carry out the final command, while I moved to return to my seat.

Thus ended Moonlight’s first operation.

2.

The situation was quickly resolved.

“This is a gift from the Captain.”

Goofy’s head, delivered by a gentleman to the Imperial Family, was transferred to the Black Magic Tower, and his body was also retrieved.

Vasello received a medal, and Rania devoted herself even more to her training.

The Valentine Family had their noble title revoked, which was temporarily absorbed by the Empire.

Clark Valentine disappeared, leaving behind a final request to take care of the children.

A bounty was issued for him, as well as for the second son who had vanished earlier. The reward was quite substantial, and I decided to capture them later if I ever needed money.

The ruined Imperial Castle was restored in just a few days, and those exposed to demonic energy regained their stability.

This incident highlighted the dangers of the Demon God Cult, and the Empire began preparing against them.

And as for me.

“You crazy bastard!!”

I got scolded by the Young Lady.

“Die! If you’re so eager to die, just go ahead and drop dead!! No, wait! I’ll kill you myself!!”

And quite a lot, at that.

In any case, the first event after my regression concluded like this.

“It’s been a while, Yuri.”

Or so I thought it had concluded.

“Ah, should I call you Full Moon instead?”

I was now standing before the Emperor.

3.

Arista Leopold L Hyperion.

She was the Emperor of the Empire and a woman with eyes that saw through everything.

Pretending not to hear her call me Full Moon, I bowed my head.

“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”

“Enough of that.”

She hurriedly grabbed me and made me stand.

“Today, I’ve come to see you not as the Emperor of the Empire, but as an ordinary person.”

After a brief moment of thought, I replied.

“Alright.”

“…?”

“What are you staring at?”

“Oh… no, it’s just….”

That’s why you should’ve spoken properly.

Since she referred to herself as an ordinary person, there was no need to treat her like an Emperor.

“So, why did you come?”

“Ah, right! I came to express my gratitude!”

“Go ahead.”

Arista, who had momentarily lost her composure, regained her solemn expression.

She then looked at me with shining eyes.

“Yuri. Thank you for saving me and countless others.”

Even if I tried to treat her casually, there was no choice when she reacted like that. I knelt on one knee and lightly kissed the back of her hand.

“I only did what was natural.”

“Thank you for saying so…”

Arista, who had been trying to pull her hand away, suddenly froze. It was because I didn’t let go.

“One kiss is enough.”

“No, that’s not it.”

I pulled her hand more firmly.

The Emperor’s face, which was difficult to see even from afar, was now close enough to feel her breath.

“W-What are you doing?!”

Arista’s face seemed to redden slightly, but that didn’t matter to me.

I smiled and asked.

“Just words?”

“Huh?”

“The Emperor of the Empire?”

Arista was flustered.

Well, until now, she must have been surrounded by people who were ecstatic just to hear a word of praise from her. Nobles, mages, and especially knights, who valued honor above all else.

But I was different.

To me, a cold piece of barley bread was worth more than such fleeting honor.

“R-Right now, I am not the Emperor but an ordinary person…”

I infused a slight killing intent into my words as I asked.

“So, you have nothing to offer?”

“Eek! I-I do! I do!”

Arista fumbled through her belongings.

Since she was out on a secret patrol, her attire was simple, but she eventually handed something over.

“T-Take this.”

“What is this?”

“…It is my treasure.”

Her sorrowful expression showed she was sincere. But it was hard to accept at face value.

“This tiny bear doll?”

“That’s right.”

“Why does it look familiar…?”

What she handed me was a bear doll that seemed handmade. It was about the size of a thumb, with a small metal loop attached so it could be hung anywhere.

“It is the only treasure my late mother made for me.”

“Is it really okay to give this away?”

“You are my benefactor, are you not…?”

She was on the verge of tears.

I deliberately ignored her gaze and examined the bear doll closely. I wondered if it had any jewels embedded in it, but there were none.

“…It’s cute, at least.”

“H-Hold it gently! Gently!”

What amused me was Arista’s reaction. Every time I inspected the bear doll, she let out sounds like “Ah!” or “Oh no!” and looked as if she might cry.

‘So she can make that kind of face too.’

I had known Arista in my previous life. Back then, she was always expressionless.

-It’s fortunate that you are here.

-Then why don’t you lift the bounty on me?

-Isn’t it true that you belong to a villainous group?

-Shall I prove otherwise right now?

-…No, that’s scary. I don’t want that.

At least when I visited her wearing a mask, she would faintly smile.

I also witnessed her final moments.

She was deceived by the Northeastern Nobles’ Union and sent to a perilous battlefield, where she died protecting the children.

-What about the children?

-Thanks to you, I was able to save them all.

-…That’s a relief.

Ah, now I remembered.

Even then, she had taken out that small doll and murmured regretfully.

-…So, it’s torn in the end.

That was her only ending.

Death was quieter and more hollow than one might imagine.

“Damn it.”

Most of my memories from my previous life were like that—full of sorrow and regret.

Recalling Arista’s final moments, I brought the bear doll closer to my lips.

“[Protect your master.]”

I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it seemed better to do something than nothing.

“Here’s a gift.”

“T-Thank you!!”

She snatched it back without even asking why.

She was so overjoyed to receive something she had given me in the first place. She really was a kind-hearted woman.

“In exchange, I’ll pretend I don’t know about the Full Moon!”

I knew she’d say that. Those silver eyes had been troublesome even in my previous life.

“…Didn’t you see me pretending not to hear?”

“I saw it! But isn’t it better to be clear about these things?”

She had a point.

As the Emperor of the Empire, she would undoubtedly keep her word, even if it was just a promise.

“When did you figure it out?”

“When you pretended not to know about the demonic energy but then slipped up.”

Hearing that, I remembered.

It was when I had feigned ignorance about the malicious energy but, in my haste, accidentally revealed it.

“You caught that even in the chaos?”

“Attention to detail is a basic virtue of a ruler, Yuri.”

She flashed a bright smile.

Anyway, with the power in the Emperor’s eyes, it was only a matter of time before I was discovered.

Since she had brought it up first and offered to pretend not to know, it worked out better for me.

As soon as I felt relieved, all the strength left my body.

I waved my hand toward Arista.

“Alright, now please leave.”

“Already? I’m still fine.”

“I’m tired, that’s all.”

“Oh, I see…”

Arista smacked her lips regretfully. Her eyes shone faintly.

“You really do seem tired.”

“Did you confirm that with your ability?”

“Ugh… N-No, I didn’t.”

As if.

Well, it worked out for me anyway.

I captured the moment the Light of Dawn activated with my eyes.

Although I didn’t have the eyes to fully master it, I could at least apply it to some extent.

Just as I completely grasped the flow, Arista declared confidently.

“Then I shall take my leave now.”

“Take care on your way.”

With the bear doll in her hand, Arista left the room with a lighter step.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a door but a window.

“Let’s go, Rania!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

While snugly nestled in Rania’s arms, she waved her hand at me.

“I’ll come visit again soon! No, I’ll grant you special permission to visit my residence instead!”

“Please, just go back already….”

I felt so drained of energy that I was on the verge of collapse.

“I’m really leaving now! Farewell!”

“Stop adding random endings like ‘neunira’ already….”

It was just as they were about to leave.

“Yuri.”

A chilling gaze landed on me.

It was Rania.

“I’ll remember this.”

“Why again….”

This life was one where peace was never an option.

4.

Three years had passed since that day.