The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

1.

It was by no means an ordinary room.

Surrounded by brick walls and partially buried underground, it was extremely damp.

A thick iron door, about half the height of the wall, could only be opened from the outside, and the sealed window on the opposite wall was high and narrow.

The straw, slick with sweat and grease, served as a bed, while the insects crawling out from all directions became a means to stave off hunger when no food was provided.

The girl drew pictures.

Using stubby colored pencils and a stack of paper, she carefully created one advertisement flyer after another for the circus troupe she belonged to.

A red and white tent, comical members, a crying mask, and the only smiling mask.

“…I want to wear the crying one too.”

Even though they called it a family.

The girl felt isolated. Yet her hands did not stop drawing.

Time slipped away helplessly.

The only solace was that the small window allowed her to roughly estimate the time.

“…I’m hungry.”

After neatly stacking the advertisement flyers she had piled up, she waited for the iron door to open.

It was around the time the sun had set and complete darkness had arrived.

…Step, step, step.

Vibrations could be felt from outside.

“They’re here!”

She donned the smiling mask she had tossed onto the straw, knelt down, and waited.

Clang!

Creak…

At last, the thick iron door opened, and bright light poured in.

“Still waiting, huh?”

The first to enter was a man with a vicious expression. He muttered as if disgusted.

“How do you always know to wait?”

This place was an underground prison used to store the goods for performances.

Though the rooms were trash, the soundproofing was so thorough that no one would know even if someone were killed.

Most only realized when the door opened, yet the girl seemed to know in advance and waited.

As the man hesitated, chilled by an inexplicable dread, the girl spread her arms wide.

“Uncle! I waited well today too, right?”

Her murky green eyes met his. They were ominous, like staring into an endless abyss.

The man averted his gaze from her and looked at the middle-aged man accompanying him.

“What should we do, Captain?”

He was the captain of the Happiness Circus Troupe.

At that moment, the girl stood up.

“Captain?”

Hearing the word “captain,” the girl smiled so brightly it seemed as if she were entranced by something.

“Daddy came with you today too!”

Only then did the captain reveal himself.

“Ah, hug me! Hug me, Daddy!”

Unlike the excited girl, the expressions of the two men were dark beyond measure. Without a word, the captain, who had been silently examining the girl, gave an order to the man.

“Tomorrow, the VIPs will be visiting as a group. You understand what that means, right?”

“Yes, Captain.”

The man summoned his aura.

With it, he strengthened the wooden club he had brought and slowly approached the girl.

The corner of the girl’s mouth trembled.

But she did not lose her smile.

As before, she spread her arms wide, wearing a sorrowful smile as she approached the man.

“Thanks for playing with me again today, Uncle.”

“…Monster-like girl.”

That was the name all the members, except for the captain, called the girl.

What followed was merciless violence.

The man, a lower-grade Sword Expert, swung the wooden club as if he had discarded his humanity.

This was that kind of place.

The Happiness Circus Troupe.

They sold violence and sadism to those addicted to pleasure and twisted desires.

The girl was the captain’s treasure.

The other parts broke down and died after one to three performances at most.

But the girl did not die. No matter the wound, she healed within a day.

She didn’t even attempt to escape.

For years now, performances had continued, and each time she was broken to a degree that made it hard to believe she was still alive, yet she followed the members, especially the captain, with blind devotion.

The man stopped his beating and wiped off his sweat.

“Phew… Shall I continue?”

The captain checked on the girl.

Her appearance was horrifying, but her body was already beginning to recover.

“Just as much as you did now, one more time.”

“…Understood, Captain.”

The performance always had to begin with the girl’s recovery.

Considering the time it took for her to heal, they would damage her body and then showcase her recovery to the audience.

Requests would flood in.

People were thrilled at the prospect of seeing scenes they had only imagined come to life, and in extreme cases, some would even come down to the stage to try it themselves.

It was all money.

Before the girl appeared, there was nothing left after paying tribute to the Demon God Cult, but now they earned an enormous sum with every performance.

“…Da…ddy.”

Avoiding the raining blows, the girl reached out toward the captain.

Only after her body had been damaged to the desired extent did he gently take her outstretched hand.

“My pretty daughter, Claudia. Thank you for enduring for Daddy again today.”

The girl smiled as well.

“…Okay.”

And so, she was left alone again.

Crack, swish.

Broken bones realigned and fused, and torn flesh grew back, covering the wounds.

When she could barely move again, moonlight streamed in through the small window.

The girl reached toward the light, but what her hand touched was not the light, but the advertisement flyer.

“…Family.”

She smiled.

More tears flowed from her eyes than blood from her unhealed wounds.

The girl murmured.

“I’m happy.”

As if saying it once was not enough to convince herself, she repeated the words over and over.

“…Am I happy?”

At the moment she asked the question to the void, a strong wind rushed in through the window.

It scattered the straw she lay on and the advertisement flyers she had drawn, carrying them back outside.

A few flyers drifted outside, but she decided not to care.

After all, no one would find them anyway.

The girl curled up her body.

Ignoring the pain that surged through her entire body, she unconsciously murmured.

“…Hug me.”

As expected, no answer came.

Only the ashen moonlight seeped in and held the girl’s small hand.

2.

Three weeks had passed since the advertisement flyer was discovered.

-It should be tomorrow.

They had hidden so thoroughly that even Ian had to personally search on foot.

Today was the day Ian had mentioned.

Once the Young Lady fell asleep, the plan was to immediately leave the mansion and rescue Claudia.

“Ugh! Today was exhausting again!”

“You worked hard.”

While tidying up the bedding, the Young Lady, having finished her preparations for bed, returned to the room.

The Young Lady threw herself onto the bed.

A sigh escaped me without realizing it.

“I worked so hard to tidy it up…”

“It gets wrinkled anyway when you sleep, doesn’t it?”

“If you’re going to get up anyway, why bother sleeping?”

“Are you back-talking to the household staff?”

“Almost said that.”

Her gaze was still sharp. I turned my head to avoid her eyes and changed the subject.

“Only a week left now.”

“Right.”

“Have you made any progress?”

“Of course! Let me tell you how much I’ve grown!”

The Young Lady began chattering away.

She explained everything—training methods, training effects, new skills, and more.

“The more you hide your strength, the more advantageous it is. Especially from enemies, it must be hidden tightly.”

The Young Lady chuckled softly.

“Are you planning to fight me?”

“Am I crazy?”

“Well, Father said I might surpass five circles before the entrance ceremony. Of course, it’s a bit of a shortcut, but if that’s a trait, then it’s a trait…”

Her voice trailed off.

“That’s impressive.”

I was a bit late to respond, lost in thought about Claudia.

“You’re acting strange.”

Muttering that, she got up from the bed.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

“No, you look like you’re worried about something.”

She’s like a spirit, I swear.

Tonight’s wall climbing would lead to Claudia’s salvation.

Since they were bastards I hadn’t encountered in my previous life, I couldn’t predict what might happen.

What if Claudia gets hurt?

What if Ian gets injured?

What if I die?

Without realizing it, I started imagining the worst scenarios. That anxiety must have shown on my face.

I thought I had hidden it well, but it was useless in front of the Young Lady.

I sighed and met her gaze.

“Actually, I do have one worry.”

“What is it?”

“It’s time to sleep, but the person I serve has climbed off the bed.”

I deflected with a joke.

Someday, I might have to tell her everything, but now wasn’t the time.

Hearing my excuse, the Young Lady chuckled softly.

“So, what are you going to do about it?”

“I plan to put you back on the bed.”

I slowly bent down.

Carefully, I slid my hands under the back of her neck and behind her knees, lifting her gently.

“What?”

It was a pose famous among the Young Ladies of noble families.

Wasn’t it called the Princess Carry?

“…Wait, no…”

The Young Lady stiffened completely.

“…How dare you touch a noble’s body…”

“I’m your personal butler, though?”

“W-What does that matter!”

“Please stay still. I might drop you otherwise.”

“Grr…”

The Young Lady turned her head away.

“This is a serious offense, you know…”

“Pardon? I can’t hear you well.”

“You can hear me perfectly!”

As I carried her, a fragrant flower scent wafted up from below.

“I’ll never forgive you…”

After gently placing her feather-light body on the bed, I asked cheekily.

“Really?”

“…I don’t know.”

“You’ll forgive me, won’t you?”

The Young Lady opened her mouth and mumbled silently. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded.

“…Yes.”

“I thought so.”

After tidying her disheveled hair, I leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.

“Young Lady.”

“…Ugh, what…”

“May I ask you for one favor?”

“…What is it?”

“Please make sure to close the window before you sleep.”

With those final words, I stepped back.

Slowly, I opened the window and began drawing power from my heart and dantian.

“Another wall climbing?”

“Yes. You know my dream.”

“Damn, the righteous thief again…”

The Young Lady grumbled as if exasperated.

Then, looking at me, she made one remark.

“You’re being so blatant about it now.”

“It’s better than lying, isn’t it?”

“True.”

She accepted it. As expected, a cool-headed butler in a wealthy household is the best.

“Anyway, I’ll be off now.”

Thump.

Just as I grabbed the window frame and was about to jump out—

“Yuri.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

The Young Lady, who had already calmed her flushed cheeks, spoke with a face full of worry.

“Don’t get hurt, no matter what.”

I nodded.

“In return, please forgive me if I’m late tomorrow.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“You’re the best, Young Lady.”

With those final words, I leaped out.

After exiting through the mansion’s blind spot, I headed toward where Ian was staying.

I immediately entered, donned my robe and mask, and asked,

“The location?”

“It’s near the trench used by the military unit during the Great War. They’ve cast a concealment magic there.”

I nodded.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Captain.”

We dashed straight toward our destination.

“Let’s wrap this up quickly.”

Seven hours until work starts.

3.

Behind the massive tent.

The fully prepared circus members were looking at the circus captain.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, it is.”

“And the monster girl?”

“Her recovery ability seems to have grown stronger; she’s almost fully healed.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

The circus captain, Mammon, rolled his greedy eyes around.

Then, a thought suddenly struck him.

“Shall we test it out on stage today?”

“On stage, you mean?”

“Yes, since it’s only VIPs today, there’s no need to rush things.”

Up until now, due to time constraints, they would injure her beforehand and let her recover, but today was a VIP group reservation.

With her recovery speed having improved, they planned to show her healing after a few swings of the blade.

It was about time the audience grew bored, so they decided to offer something new.

“Prepare it that way.”

“Understood.”

And so, an hour later.

“Thank you all for gathering here.”

Mammon stepped onto the stage.

After greeting the audience, he walked toward the concealed cage prepared by the members.

“Those of you who know, already know!”

Then, he knocked on it and shouted.

“The girl who won’t die no matter what you do! Everyone’s clown, Claudia!”

A roar of madness erupted.

Far more people knew Claudia than those who didn’t.

“Today, we have a special event right from the start!”

Following Mammon’s hand gesture, a cart was brought in, filled with all sorts of weapons.

“We will give you the opportunity to use these on Claudia as you please!”

Another wave of cheers erupted.

Ssiik.

The corners of Mammon’s mouth twisted into a grin.

It was clear that today, too, they would rake in an enormous sum.

They needed to give the audience an even bigger thrill!

That way, they could earn even more money!

Mammon walked toward the cage.

Normally, they would unveil it only after the auction, but today, he didn’t feel like waiting.

“Now! Let me introduce her!”

Showing them was more effective than just letting hungry dogs sniff around!

Kwaak.

Grabbing the cloth, he shouted.

“Claudia!”

Hwaak!

The thick iron bars were revealed all at once.

“Huh?”

Where did she go?

Inside was not the blonde-haired girl wearing a smiling mask.

Instead, it was a man wearing a crescent moon mask and a black robe.

Mammon, flustered, asked,

“Who are you…?”

“Me?”

He responded with a red glow in his eyes.

“Who do you think I am?”