The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 178

Under the street lamp that illuminated the cold darkness.

Mikhail was speaking to me.

“Why did you appear before me…?”

I said nothing.

Mikhail, who was resting his hand on the sword hilt while glaring at me, didn’t attack or say anything further.

“What are you here for this time…?”

There was something I wanted to say to Mikhail.

It wasn’t anything important, just something I wanted to ask out of curiosity.

But Mikhail’s cold attitude soured my mood, and I spoke with a bitter smile.

“You didn’t even greet me… Isn’t this a bit too cold of a reception?”

If I put it this way, I’d have no choice but to speak harshly too. In the world I know, there’s a saying: ‘Kind words beget kind words.’

Generally, I avoided saying things that could hurt others. After all, you never know when you might cross paths with someone again, and my behavior was directly tied to the Young Lady’s reputation.

But if someone misunderstood me like this, even I couldn’t stick to my convictions.

It felt like the resolve I had painstakingly built was about to waver.

No matter how close a friend from the academy they were.

Even if they were a close friend from unpleasant memories, speaking like this was truly troublesome.

I was his benefactor who had saved his life multiple times, after all.

I didn’t want to be treated like a hero. I didn’t expect it, and being put on a pedestal felt embarrassingly awkward.

But this kind of treatment wasn’t what I wanted either… Seeing Mikhail with his hand on the sword hilt, I let out a sigh.

With a heavy heart, I spoke to Mikhail.

“Mikhail.”

“…What.”

“No matter how much you hate me, isn’t it a bit much to rest your hand on a weapon? I haven’t even greeted you yet, and even someone as handsome as me would feel hurt by this.”

“Shut up.”

“What did I do so wrong to deserve this? Sure, I’ve made mistakes, but now that we’re adults, shouldn’t we move on…?”

“Move on now that we’re adults?”

Mikhail, who had been biting back his anger, removed his hand from the sword hilt and glared at me. As his eyes filled with the emotion called rage, I suddenly thought, ‘Oops.’

This time, I had made a mistake.

Because I had been wrong to impose unwanted affection on him. This time, my mistake was undeniable.

Even though I had stopped the Young Lady, I hadn’t given Mikhail a proper answer. All I had done was ask him to ‘speak kindly’ and ‘not treat me so coldly,’ so claiming I wasn’t at fault would be an obvious lie.

Only after blurting out, ‘Isn’t it time to let it go?’ did I realize it was nothing more than a guiltless complaint.

Mikhail briskly walked toward me, one step at a time.

Watching his determined footsteps as he approached, I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. I knew what had angered him.

Looking up at me, Mikhail spoke.

“Do you think you have the right to say that?”

“…”

“When I told you to stop, you ignored me. Do you think it makes sense for you to tell me to forget it now?”

“…”

Mikhail didn’t know my circumstances.

He didn’t try to understand.

He had no intention of listening.

The reasons why I had no choice but to act that way.

I was a little angry at Mikhail for not trying to understand my circumstances.

It wasn’t like I wanted to torment him.

I didn’t want to trouble Yuria either.

I didn’t want to be hated by the students.

I didn’t have a hobby of being hated by others.

Even so, the reason I had no choice but to act that way was a foolish one. For a better future and to protect everyone—a foolish excuse, really.

Ultimately, it was to protect the Young Lady.

I didn’t have the strength to stop what I liked. And I was afraid of the aftermath that would come from stopping what I liked.

I wanted to say it too.

Do you understand how I feel?

Getting caught up in things I didn’t even do wrong.

Being cursed at for things I did for others.

Being criticized by everyone for actions I took to save lives—have you ever tried to understand how I feel? That’s what I wanted to say.

Even so, my mistakes wouldn’t disappear.

So I smiled.

Because it wasn’t something I had done with any expectation.

Like a fleeting breeze I wanted to forget, I was just someone who acted on a whim. Smiling, I looked at Mikhail.

Of course, I felt wronged and had plenty I wanted to say, but I liked the Young Lady and carried a sense of responsibility as a possessor.

I had no interest in becoming a hero. Unfortunately.

Being a villain who could joke and laugh seemed more fun than being a hero with a tragic backstory. Smiling, I watched Mikhail approach.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Why do I need the right to say something? I just want to say it, so I do.”

“Ha…”

Mikhail let out an empty laugh.

Seeing Mikhail get angry and annoyed at my honest and straightforward words, I tilted my head in confusion and spoke.

“You started this, Mikhail. From the first time we met until now.”

“When did I ever…!”

“Don’t you remember? To me…”

“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to remember anything related to you, so shut up.”

“…I see.”

Under the street lamp’s light, I nodded, forcing myself to erase my sullen feelings. No matter what I said, my words would never reach Mikhail.

Well, what can I do?

I dislike him just as much as he dislikes me.

Nodding, I began to voice the question I had been thinking about to Mikhail.

“Hey, Mikhail.”

“I said I don’t want to hear it.”

Ignoring Mikhail’s rejection, I kindly spoke into his ear. A question doesn’t wait for someone willing to answer it.

“Why do you wield a sword, Mikhail?”

“…What?”

“I was just curious. Why does righteous Mikhail wield a sword? In my case, I’m a scoundrel by nature, so it makes sense, but isn’t it different for you? Wouldn’t a pious job like a cleric or holy knight suit you better?”

“That’s… to protect the weak from villains like you.”

At Mikhail’s rigid, parrot-like response, I chuckled softly, noticing a fragment of something.

“Then why am I a villain?”

“…”

“Sure, I’m guilty enough to be called a villain by you, but if you think about it, I’m also your benefactor, aren’t I?”

“That’s not true. I could’ve handled it on my own.”

“Then shall we delve deeper? Into the parts Mikhail doesn’t remember…”

[A Restriction is Applied.]

“Oops…”

[Further statements may negatively impact the target, ‘Mikhail.’]

[Do you still wish to proceed with the disclosure?]

With a bitter smile, I shook my head.

‘I almost made a mistake.’

Mikhail, unable to hear the full story, glared at me with a sharp expression as I hesitated, but I simply gave a reluctant smile and shook my head.

“It’s nothing. Really.”

“Why? Can’t finish what you started? Or did you realize you have nothing to say?”

“Hmm… Well, you’ll find out someday.”

I nodded as I looked at Mikhail.

“Anyway, if you think about it, I am a good person. I share bread with orphans and show mercy to boys and girls who beg, all with a warm heart.”

“Even villains do that. They just hide their pitch-black intentions.”

I smiled.

This time, since Mikhail had taken the bait I threw, I thought I had bitten into the nape of Mikhail.

‘Got you.’

“So, Mikhail, why did you agree to this duel?”

“Well, it was at my master’s request…”

“Do you do everything your master asks? You’re such a person without principles.”

“Don’t mock me. One day, I’ll be better than you…”

“Yes~ That’s a matter for you to resolve later. But right now, I’m asking something else. Why did you participate in the duel?”

“I told you. It was at my master’s request.”

I smiled.

“You said you wield your sword for justice.”

“…”

“Then who represents justice in this duel that you’re fighting?”

I took a step closer to Mikhail.

“Hanna? Or your master, who is called the Sword of the Empire?”

“Do you think Hanna is a villain, Mikhail?”

I spoke sharply, not giving Mikhail any room to grasp at straws.

“Are you dueling Hanna just because she’s my disciple? Did you agree to a duel meant for isolation with such a light heart?”

“Didn’t you hear Hanna’s story, Mikhail? Don’t tell me you participated in this duel without even listening to it.”

I tried to hand Mikhail a fragment of understanding.

While breaking the opponent’s morale in battle was a strategy, my words were more about looking toward the future as I spoke to Mikhail.

A lesson I wanted to give Mikhail, who now had to grow accustomed to killing, and a conviction he needed to hold.

Thinking that today might be the only chance to tell him this, I spoke to Mikhail with a bit of bitterness but with hope that he would accept it.

“Why are you so biased?”

“Biased, me?”

“Yes.”

“In what way am I biased?”

“In every way. From participating in a duel without knowing what’s at stake to not understanding the circumstances—if that’s not biased, then isn’t that strange?”

Mikhail spoke to me as if trying to explain himself.

That his thoughts were correct.

“My master is Hanna’s father, so to guide her to a better path…”

“Ah.”

“So, if I could be the key to that…”

“Hmm…”

“That would be for Hanna’s sake…!”

“I see.”

I nodded, focusing on Mikhail’s expression.

He was flustered.

Perhaps subconsciously aware of his mistake, Mikhail looked as though he was making excuses, and seeing this, I nodded, feeling that this much was enough.

And I spoke.

As if to push him toward his fragment of realization.

“That’s it.”

“What?”

“That’s the same for me. I acted and made those choices for the best effort of someone I consider precious.”

Mikhail glared at me.

“I’m not like you.”

I smiled at Mikhail’s words and nodded.

“That’s right. Mikhail, you’re not like me. So wield your sword with a light heart from now on.”

“…”

“That’s my advice as an old friend.”

Once again, Mikhail couldn’t respond.

I left Mikhail behind.

Mikhail clenched his fist as he stared at me.

“I’ll win.”

Who he intended to defeat.

I didn’t bother thinking about it.

*

Hanna swung her sword alone.

To make the technique Ricardo had shown her her own.

Like small ripples forming in a still puddle, she swung the sword slowly and with focus.

On the 10th day.

-Swish.

Hanna found the reason for the sword.