The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 163

An empty laugh escaped at Mikhail’s words.

Telling me not to show off? For a possessor, showing off is as essential as air. Asking me not to do it was like telling me not to breathe.

Annoying as it may sound, it’s true that I’m exceptional.

I put on a troubled expression and timidly voiced my opinion to Mikhail.

“I’m sorry. Being exceptional isn’t something I can control. I don’t want to show off either, but I’m just too outstanding. It seems unavoidable.”

At the same time, I also shared a groundbreaking solution to this issue with Mikhail.

“If you really hate it, Mikhail, you could just become more competent than me. Then this wouldn’t happen, and you’d feel better….”

Mikhail’s brow began to twitch. His expression, as he looked at me with one eyebrow raised like he was staring at an annoying person, was truly a sight to behold.

I looked at Mikhail with a small smile.

“Was that too annoying? I’m sorry. Just think of me as a strange person and try to understand. Aren’t you used to it by now?”

Mikhail clenched his fist and glared at me.

“I hate this about you… showing up in dangerous moments and acting so nonchalant, like it’s no big deal. It makes people feel like fools, and it pisses me off.”

I reacted to Mikhail’s sharp words without much agitation.

After all, I already knew he didn’t like me. And Mikhail had been in a mentally fragile state.

Missing his nemesis right before his eyes.

Learning secrets he didn’t want to know.

Since all of it was what he had gone through, I could somewhat understand his feelings.

I put my hands in my pockets, nodded at Mikhail’s words, and gave my reply.

“So, what do you want me to do about it?”

“…”

“You hate this. You hate it even when I help. You just find me annoying. So, what should I do to make you happy?”

I let out a deep sigh and voiced my dissatisfaction at Mikhail’s vague complaints.

“No matter what I do, you’ll hate it, won’t you? And I feel the same way. Isn’t it time to acknowledge that by now?”

I spoke while looking at the corpses of the heretics lying in the forest. Ten had fallen to my sword, and eight to Hanna’s.

Mikhail’s eyes began to tremble as he looked at the considerable number of bodies.

“You couldn’t have handled this without me. It was the same before, and it’s the same now, isn’t it?”

Mikhail shook his head violently and retorted harshly.

“Even without you, we would’ve been fine!”

“Were you planning to let everyone die?”

“…What?”

“Yuria, Hanna, everyone—if they all died here, would you just blame the world, wondering why no one came to help?”

At my words, Mikhail’s expression grew complicated as he recalled the past.

Remembering his past self, who had sought a hero in the slums where no one came. Grinding his teeth, Mikhail spoke with a boiling voice.

“…Shut up.”

I looked at Mikhail with a stern expression and said,

“Regretting what’s already happened is meaningless.”

“…!”

“Whether it’s the past or now, how long are you going to keep playing the hero? It’s not like anyone told you to.”

“…”

I stared at Mikhail and slowly laid out the harsh reality.

The fact that you’re even able to breathe right now.

The fact that you didn’t stain your hands with the blood you so despise.

If you think about it, all of it was your responsibility, but I took care of it for you. Do you feel nothing about that? I asked Mikhail in a calm voice.

I’m not the protagonist.

I’m not a hero who offers kindness for free, nor a cleric who spreads love. I had no reason to altruistically care for others.

Of course, I was a pushover who showed kindness to the Young Lady and other supporting characters, but that was merely fulfilling my duty as a possessor.

At my core, I was a selfish coward who only protected those within my fence…. To put it bluntly, I could be called a villain. Thinking that way, Mikhail’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

Letting out a deep sigh, I spoke to Mikhail.

“I’m not asking for a thank you.”

Slowly, I voiced the thoughts I had kept inside.

“I didn’t do it expecting hero’s treatment, and I know you won’t give it to me. There’s just one thing I want.”

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

“I wish I could, but you keep making me step in, Mikhail.”

I shared my true feelings with Mikhail.

Dislike.

A mix of love and hate.

At the same time, as a close friend, I spoke the unreasonable request weighing on my heart.

“Don’t get hurt. I’m worried about you.”

Taking a deep breath, Mikhail clenched his fist and spoke to me in a cold voice.

“Why do you care about me?”

“Because we’re friends.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Mikhail replied,

“Don’t lump me together with you. It’s disgusting, so shut up.”

That was too much.

At least I didn’t curse at him.

Feeling bitter, I let out a bitter smile and brushed off my complicated feelings.

“Mikhail, shut up and just get treated.”

“…You.”

“You’re losing too much blood.”

Mikhail looked down at his own body.

It seemed the wound he had sustained in the earlier battle was deeper than he thought, as the flowing blood had soaked his clothes.

With trembling eyes, Mikhail quickly turned around and started to leave.

I wasn’t sure why he was so flustered, but I guess this conversation was over.

Waving my hand dismissively, I began to walk away.

“I’m leaving.”

And then.

‘Thanks for the meal.’

[Q. Mikhail’s Guardian,]

There is a swordsman who has encountered their nemesis.

The swordsman was a person with a gentle heart.

They hated killing and lived with the hopeful belief that villains could be reformed through idealistic emotions.

They thought that if the boy who had once been their light were alive, he would live this way, too, and they had been taught hope during their years at the nunnery.

The swordsman suddenly had this thought.

What if they met ‘that man,’ the nemesis who had killed the boy? How would they react?

Now, after much time had passed, the swordsman thought their emotions had dulled and decided on forgiveness as the answer. Today, that day had come.

And the swordsman realized just how strong their hatred was.

(!) Help Mikhail, who is in danger.

1. Protect Mikhail without killing the High Priest of Oblivion, ‘Yung.’ (1/1)

Reward: Tirbing’s hidden ability.〈???〉

Failure: Mikhail’s collapse.

*

Another lazy day in Olivia’s Room.

Olivia sniffled as she stared blankly at the rainy sky.

“Sniff.”

In the chilly weather brought by the cold after a flower bloom, Olivia wrapped herself tightly in a blanket and gazed out the window.

The rain was gradually letting up.

The sky was full of clouds.

In the gloomy weather, Olivia’s mood sank as well.

‘I’m bored.’

Ricardo had gone out for work, and the emergency food supply… no, Gomtangi, was curled up in a corner, eating away, perhaps because of the rain. Yawning, the bored Olivia tried to stave off her dullness.

“Sniff…!”

Being alone to watch the house is truly a tough job.

Staring blankly out the window without anyone to acknowledge her efforts consumed a lot of Olivia’s focus. She had to keep an eye out for thieves breaking in and chase away anyone scribbling graffiti on the estate, so Olivia kept her eyes wide open, concentrating all her attention.

Olivia nodded with pride in her job.

“Hmmph.”

That aside, why hasn’t Ricardo come back yet? It should be about time for him to return.

-Young Lady, I’m heading out for work.

-Huh? But Ricardo, you’re unemployed.

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

-I’m the unemployed one here.

-Take pride in your profession as an unemployed person.

-Hehe!

Ricardo, who claimed to have found a high-earning part-time job, had promised to return before sunset today. They even made a pinky promise, agreeing that if he was late, he’d give her two chocolates. But now, the sun was already halfway down the sky.

With her face resting against the windowsill, Olivia puffed up her cheeks in frustration as she stared at the darkening gaze of the sinking sun.

“Pffffft… You’re late.”

Olivia’s whiny complaints continued for about ten minutes as she pouted and grumbled.

From afar, a familiar figure was approaching.

“Oh…!”

Seeing the red-haired man carrying a load of items in his hands, a smile began to spread across Olivia’s lips.

‘It’s Ricardo…!’

Ricardo, walking with a triumphant stride, beamed at the sight of Olivia waving her hand vigorously at him.

“Young Lady!”

Ricardo waved his hand energetically.

Olivia, caught up in the moment, waved back to greet Ricardo, and she shouted loudly toward him.

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

Ricardo smiled brightly and lifted the bag in his hand as he replied.

“Tonight’s dinner is Soybean Meat Stir-Fried with Vegetables!”

“…”

Olivia didn’t like Ricardo.

“Get lost!”

“Hehe!”

But still, after all—

“I want to eat something else!”

“Just eat what I make for you!”

“Eeeek!”

Olivia liked Ricardo.

He felt like a friend.

Being with him was fun.

And it was comforting not to feel worried.

Friendship?

That didn’t seem to be it.

It felt like a waste to label this fluffy emotion as mere friendship.

Though she hadn’t found the correct answer yet.

Olivia—

“Get lost!”

liked Ricardo.