The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 177

On the way home after finishing training.

Walking through the late-night streets of the capital, I found myself lost in thought for a moment.

‘I wonder if they’re doing well.’

Since that day, neither Rowen nor Mikhail had come to the training grounds. Whether they wanted to keep their training a secret or avoid the eyes of others, I wasn’t sure, but they hadn’t shown up since.

I suppose that’s a good thing.

If Rowen and Mikhail had used the training grounds as their base, we would have had to vacate the space for them.

There was no place as convenient as the Academy’s training grounds.

It was a place where we could train relatively free from prying eyes during late hours, align schedules with Hanna, who had classes to attend, and access an abundance of training weapons—something that would have been limited elsewhere.

I was actually grateful to Rowen and Mikhail for stepping aside, considering it would’ve taken time to find a new training space.

Seeing faces that made us uncomfortable wouldn’t have been good for anyone. If we had shared the same space, a fight would’ve surely broken out.

Neither Hanna nor I had a good relationship with them in any way, so I was relieved we didn’t have to see them often.

More than that, I was curious about what kind of strategy they would come up with.

Would they refine their aura like Hanna and I, or would they start by honing their basic swordsmanship? I couldn’t quite figure it out.

Personally, if I had been Mikhail’s teacher, I would’ve made him change that damned sword first. But with Rowen, who knows what approach he’ll take?

Rowen would have noticed Mikhail’s flaws by now. A sword too large for his build. An attack style that fails to capitalize on his agility. And finally, an overly defensive swordsmanship that is more of a hindrance than a help—there’s no way the Sword of the Empire wouldn’t recognize these as weaknesses.

“Hmm…”

That said, I also knew Mikhail wasn’t the type to simply nod and accept what others told him to do.

In the novel, Mikhail only began to change after the sword imbued with his long-standing memories was broken.

I was both worried and curious about how Rowen would teach Mikhail, given Hanna as his opponent, and what direction Mikhail would take in following Rowen’s teachings.

This was an episode not mentioned in the novel, and since it was a battle between two father-daughter pairs, the information was limited.

As a teacher, it was natural to analyze the enemy’s movements, but knowing the opponent wasn’t someone to be underestimated, I couldn’t make reckless predictions.

When it came to swordsmanship alone, it was an undeniable reality that Rowen was a better teacher than I was. The years he had spent with the sword and the history etched into it were all in his favor. Comparing myself to him as a mere swordsman was inevitable.

The weight of Histania’s centuries-long history was something my mere twenty years of wielding a sword couldn’t hope to match—it was almost laughable.

There were too many variables.

Rowen as a teacher.

Mikhail’s talent.

There wasn’t just one or two things I needed to keep an eye on.

Rowen chose Mikhail solely for his talent. That alone must have been the reason he took him on as a disciple. Hmm…

In the novel, their master-disciple relationship began with a deeper, warmer bond, but the current connection between Mikhail and Rowen seemed more practical than emotional. In other words, it was likely driven by the potential for greater talent to emerge.

That’s why it bothered me and drew my attention even more. I didn’t know how much Rowen would teach Mikhail.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Rowen, like a madman, might teach him the secret techniques passed down through the family. If, by any chance, Rowen taught Mikhail the swordsmanship of the Histania Family, which was reserved only for direct blood relatives, it would be a disaster in its own right.

Although the novel didn’t describe it in detail, the author had declared Histania’s swordsmanship the strongest, so it would be a lie to say I wasn’t worried.

In the novel, Mikhail eventually learns Histania’s swordsmanship from Rowen. Malik, devastated by the loss of his younger sibling, had wandered and failed to meet Rowen’s expectations. Though he recovered later, it was only after he had fallen out of Rowen’s favor.

In the novel, Mikhail combined his own swordsmanship with Histania’s swordsmanship to create a new style, which Rowen ultimately acknowledged.

What worried me was the possibility of Mikhail reaching that level. If Mikhail grew endlessly under Rowen’s teachings, to the point where there were no limits… Honestly, the outcome of the battle would become unpredictable from that moment on.

Would he protect the family’s secret techniques?

Or would he sever ties with his daughter?

The choice was Rowen’s to make, but no matter what he chose, the benefits to him would be minimal.

I couldn’t understand why Rowen insisted on escalating things to this extent.

I couldn’t fathom the reason for a man who claimed to love his daughter to interfere with what she wanted to do.

Calling it fatherly love seemed absurd, given how much Hanna had already proven herself. Even as someone who loved the sword, his actions were incomprehensible.

Well, it wasn’t really my problem to worry about.

No matter how much I agonized over it, nothing would change, and there was nothing I could do. So, I decided to focus solely on Hanna’s growth.

The wind blows.

I don’t know where this wind is headed, but it’s clear it brushes past both me and Hanna.

I am certain of one thing.

Hanna can defeat Mikhail.

My faith as her teacher was strong, but beyond that, Hanna was already surpassing Mikhail in visible martial prowess and tangible results.

Her desire for the sword.

Her choice of a weapon suited to her.

Her understanding of her own strengths.

It was clear she was ahead of Mikhail. I believed Rowen was aware of this as well.

I didn’t know what Rowen had prepared, but I hoped it was something far less than what we anticipated.

If we were going to win, it would be better for everyone if it were by an overwhelming margin.

It might even motivate Mikhail.

And it would certainly knock down Rowen’s prideful nose. That’s why I hoped their preparations were weaker than ours.

Walking through the night streets of the capital, I continued organizing in my mind the things I needed to teach Hanna.

Sorting through Hanna’s strengths and weaknesses in my head, I strolled slowly under the street lamps of the capital.

From the opposite side, a familiar figure began to appear faintly.

At the sight of a boy trudging toward me with weary steps, I stopped in my tracks and stared blankly at him as he approached.

‘Hanna’s going to be furious.’

Seeing the boy walking with his gaze fixed on the ground in a familiar manner, I clenched my fist slightly.

It seemed like there would be a lot more to prepare.

It looked like Rowen had sharpened his blade thoroughly. The direction Mikhail was coming from was where the training grounds reserved for the direct bloodline of Histania were located.

There wasn’t anything extraordinary there.

Just better facilities than anywhere else.

A place where rapid recovery was possible thanks to complex magic. It was a secluded space.

There was just one thing.

I knew that anyone who left that place would experience rapid growth, and I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

Looking at the boy in front of me, I muttered softly.

‘Mikhail.’

Mikhail, with his silver hair catching the light of the street lamp, was approaching. He didn’t seem to notice I was standing on the opposite side and continued walking toward the Academy dormitory.

I pulled my hand out of my pocket and waited for him to come closer.

I had something to say.

Nothing grand, just a simple question, so I stood still, watching him approach.

As Mikhail’s slow footsteps grew louder, the sound of a rustling movement caught his attention. Calmly, he lifted his head and looked at me.

“You are…”

“Yes, it’s me.”

The moment Mikhail saw me, he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

Quite disappointing, really.

*

Three days ago.

Mikhail had followed Histania Rowen to an empty training ground.

Equipped with outstanding facilities.

A place that made one feel stronger just by being there.

Rowen, holding a wooden sword, spoke to Mikhail, who had unintentionally found himself participating in a duel. His tone was cold and businesslike, devoid of the warmth of a teacher’s words.

-As I’ve said before, I have no intention of teaching you Histania’s swordsmanship.

“…”

-The reason I brought you here is so you can grow even a little faster. If you had any strange expectations…

-I didn’t have such thoughts at all. I consider it an excessive kindness that you’re even teaching me.

-…

Before the official training began.

Holding the wooden sword, Rowen spoke to Mikhail. His voice, slightly softer, carried a fundamental question.

-What is it that drives you to wield the sword?-

-I…

Mikhail couldn’t answer Rowen’s question.