The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 262

Elissia wiped her mouth and shouted at me.

“Don’t come any closer!”

As if she had seen a demon, Elissia recoiled at my approaching steps, breathing heavily and reacting sensitively to even the slightest movement.

“I said, don’t come closer…”

“…”

“You are not human.”

“Pardon?”

“You… are not human.”

I was startled by the fragile appearance of Elissia, something I had never seen before. Though she was said to be the most tender-hearted among the Apostles, she was still a pillar supporting the Heretics.

Elissia’s vulnerable demeanor only made me more tense.

With a trembling voice, Elissia threw a question at me. She seemed unwilling to answer the questions I had in mind, instead moving her shaky legs to distance herself from me.

“Why.”

“…”

“Why can you stand there so calmly?”

“Why are you acting like this? I…”

“You’re rotting away in a cursed fate! Why… why are you able to live?!”

Faced with Elissia’s aggressive questioning, I couldn’t give her a proper answer and kept my mouth shut. Asking someone why they are alive when they clearly are seemed absurd to me. Especially to someone living happily.

“…”

Even though it was a question posed by an Apostle, I could only adjust my grip on my sword and take a deep breath, unable to respond.

Two keywords echoed in my ears.

One was ‘death.’

The other was ‘someone who shouldn’t be alive.’

In the novel, Elissia was known for her exceptional ability to see into people’s inner selves, but it seemed this was the first time she had spoken about someone’s ‘existence’ in this way. It was also the first time she appeared frightened by a person.

She was a woman who didn’t even tremble before the Pope, so I had no idea how to react to this different side of Elissia.

One thing was certain.

I was not a regressor.

Though all of Elissia’s words pointed to ‘regression,’ unfortunately, I was a Possessor, not a regressor. I had no desire for such abilities either.

I shrugged off the unresolved question, deciding not to think too deeply about it. After all, it was likely just the Apostle’s nonsense, spouting uncertain words.

I attributed it to the effects of Dark Magic Resistance or perhaps Mental Magic Resistance, as I keenly observed Elissia’s movements.

“No…”

Elissia clutched her head and exhaled roughly.

“This is impossible. Surely, I must have seen wrong…”

“…”

“Ugh…”

Elissia could see it.

The emotions that appear before someone faces death.

The emptiness at the moment of execution.

The resentment of being killed in war.

The regret of failing to protect a loved one.

And.

“Ugh… Cough…! Cough…!”

She could feel the regrets and grudges of countless others emanating from him.

Elissia reached out her hand toward Ricardo. Though it was repulsive and terrifying, she felt compelled to look into what those emotions meant.

-Swoosh!!

She reached out quickly, but.

“Stop.”

At the cold voice of the man, her outstretched hand faltered and fell.

Elissia took a deep breath and looked into the eyes of the man glaring at her.

The ‘gray’ of regret.

The ‘purple’ of resentment.

And the ‘gold’ symbolizing confidence composed him.

“…Hah.”

Elissia clicked her tongue as she looked at Rowen.

Seeing the intensely radiant emotions of a person felt like it was tarnishing her own colors.

“A false hero has appeared.”

It was revolting.

The earth rumbled.

Just the gaze of two monsters meeting caused the entire mountain to tremble and sound an alarm.

I held the unconscious Chartia and Hanna in my arms and whispered quietly.

“Let’s run.”

I decided to leave the rest to them.

*

The mountain disappeared from the map, and peace returned.

I laid the unconscious students in the village and exhaled calmly.

“Phew… Why is this guy so heavy?”

Especially when I looked at Ruin, I sighed even deeper.

I lightly kicked Ruin’s side, who was foaming at the mouth and unconscious, shaking my head. As the Sub Male Lead, seeing him reduced to spam was quite a sight.

It was self-inflicted, but still, seeing him so thoroughly ruined made me feel a little sorry for him.

“Idiot.”

“Huff… Aaah, don’t come near me!”

“Even his sleep talk is dramatic.”

I shook my head.

On the village bench sat the students who had somewhat regained their composure. Yuria, Mikhail, Chartia, the Crown Prince, and so on. Among them, Hanna seemed to be in the best condition. She was the strongest and most mentally resilient of the group.

I glanced at Hanna, who was stiffly reporting to Rowen, and let out a wry smile.

“I probably shouldn’t have said I didn’t know.”

-The number of people who departed.

-24. There are no fatalities.

-I see. Then…

I had made up an excuse to avoid getting involved, but seeing Hanna talking to Rowen made me feel conflicted.

‘Still, she’s impressive.’

No matter how much she disliked Rowen, Hanna’s ability to strictly separate public and private matters made me think she truly was her brother’s sister.

-That’s all.

-…

-If you need more details, you can visit the Academy later to confirm.

-Hanna.

-…

-Can you spare a moment?

-No, Count.

-…

It didn’t seem like the conversation would end easily.

I cautiously moved to where Chartia, drenched in cold sweat, was lying.

“Princess.”

“…”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Hah…”

“Are you alright?”

“…”

Chartia remained silent. She merely ran her dry hand over her face, showing no intention of responding to the advances of the most handsome man in the world.

‘This is awkward…’

Perhaps because it was her first encounter with an Apostle, she seemed mentally overwhelmed. Knowing from experience that the flirtation of a handsome man could be a great comfort in such times, I offered a clumsy consolation and sat beside Chartia.

Since I also received comfort from the Young Lady.

-Damn! Ricardo almost died!

Not that there was much to emulate, though.

“Hmph.”

As a true gentleman, the proper thing to do in such moments was to stay silent and simply be there, so I quietly closed my mouth and waited for Chartia to regain her composure.

“Hoo.”

After about three minutes, Chartia let out a deep sigh and raised her head. Perhaps she had quickly sorted out her complicated thoughts, as she calmly exhaled and then carefully accepted the water glass I handed her, beginning to drink.

-Sip.

“You.”

“Yes.”

“Who exactly are you?”

Chartia spoke, her eyes filled with suspicion as she stared at me.

“Whenever something happens, you’re always there… Do you perhaps have the ability to see or predict the future?”

At her rather perceptive question, I scratched the back of my head with an awkward smile. As expected, the Student Council President was sharp.

Chartia let out a sigh, her face heavy with concern.

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange. This incident, the one at the Academy, everything is just too strange.”

“It’s understandable to think that way.”

“Huh?”

“It’s because I’m such an exceptional person.”

“…Don’t joke around.”

I teased Chartia with a vague smile. People with good instincts tend to be greatly unsettled by ambiguous answers.

“Heh…”

I chuckled lightly, further complicating Chartia’s thoughts.

“If I could see the future…”

-Gulp…

“Wouldn’t I have stayed at the Academy?”

“That… makes sense.”

Chartia nodded in agreement, her suspicion dissipating in vain. Then, gazing at the rippling water in the glass, she murmured softly.

“Thank you.”

“…”

“Thank you for helping. If it weren’t for you, everyone… would have died.”

“If you could repay me with generous wealth…”

“…”

“Just kidding.”

Chartia gripped the water glass tightly, her words muffled as if she was frustrated.

“This time, it was mostly my fault. I couldn’t make proper decisions and recklessly tried to handle it with just our strength.”

“That’s true.”

I nodded and gave a small response to Chartia’s words. Then, I offered her a bit of comfort.

“But in that situation, anyone would have done the same.”

“Huh?”

“This incident was planned far longer than you might think. Going back and sorting out the situation will be tough, but still, I believe there was something gained.”

I raised the water glass, looking toward the spot where the church once stood.

“I think it ended not too badly.”

“You… as expected.”

I stood up with a meaningful smile. Then, with a casual air, I slipped my hands into my pockets and began to walk.

“Thoughts are free, after all—Ahh!”

And then, I nearly tripped over a stumbling block.

“Pfft…”

Chartia let out a faint laugh and shook her head. Watching my nonchalant back as I walked away, she muttered to herself, ‘I must be crazy,’ and sighed softly.

“Thank you.”

I waved my hand and walked for a long while.

Checking on Mikhail’s safety.

-Are you alright?

-How did you…?

-I wanted to see you. Of course, I didn’t come here just to see you.

-…

I also calmed Yuria’s ragged breathing.

-Huff… Huff… Ricardo!

-Oh my… Aren’t you clinging a bit too much? You’re touching my chest, you know.

-Thank goodness… Thank goodness!!

-Not that I mind, though.

I walked for quite some time.

And then.

“…Butler.”

I saw Hanna, her expression heavy.

Hanna seemed to be deep in thought. Having felt the overwhelming gap in power with Rowen, while also receiving his help, it was only natural for her mind to be in turmoil.

The Flower of Swordsmen, the ideal every swordsman strives to reach. To have boldly declared she would succeed on her own against such a figure, she must have been feeling doubtful.

I smiled faintly and looked into Hanna’s eyes.

“Why did you call me?”

“I…”

Hanna clenched her fists tightly and lowered her head.

“I feel like I overheard something I shouldn’t have.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

“Butler.”

Hanna looked directly into my eyes and spoke.

“Are you married?”

“…?”

“No, that woman said you have many tangled relationships.”

“?”

At Hanna’s words, countless question marks floated above my head, and I let out a dry laugh.

“I’ve never even been in a relationship, let alone divorced.”

“What?”

“Really.”

“Ah… What?”

Hanna stared at me intently, exhaling through her nose.

“Really?!”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you’ve been sulking over something so trivial?”

“…It’s not trivial. It’s because I have someone I need to convince.”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“What is it?”

Hanna and I shared a hearty laugh as we chatted.

And then.

Hanna was thinking to herself.

-How many times has he died…?

The word ‘death,’ that is.