episode_0023

“Ughhh…”

Only after confirming that the Yetis had passed by—

I crawled out from inside the corpse of the Yeti.

Steam still rose faintly from it. I shook off the chunks of flesh clinging to me and used partial combustion magic to burn away the remaining blood.

The stench of blood was so overpowering that this crude method was the only option.

Covering my own blood with the Yeti’s.

The curse caster probably never imagined that a noble like me would go this far…

Of course. It was that horrifying.

…This debt will be repaid in full.

Gritting my teeth, I drew my sword and advanced in the direction the Yetis had come from.

“Ah, wait. Ughhh…”

Between several dry heaves.

Michelini couldn’t believe his eyes.

“What the hell…!”

Yeah, the previous target had been monstrous enough to deserve the label.

Closing the distance in an instant, severing the nape before they could react, and leaping back—

Easier said than done. The series of movements executed in less than 0.5 seconds were less swordsmanship and more akin to art.

But—now, seeing that girl, he understood.

The word “monster” existed for her.

—Guh, ghhh…!

A slaughter unfolded.

The blackened sword, radiating overwhelming heat that evaporated even the blizzard around it, seared and cleaved through the Yetis’ bodies as it touched them.

It wasn’t the same fluid, efficient movement as before.

As if the Yetis were mere training dummies, she carved them into dozens of pieces. A power that should have been impossible from that tiny body.

“…”

Of course, Michelini wasn’t just watching.

The more inefficient the movements, the more openings they created.

“Now!”

Using the dismembered Yeti as a foothold, five more Yetis lunged at her.

—Grahhh!

Enduring the bleeding, he even slightly synchronized their pain receptors.

The Yetis’ movements became far more precise. Their claws and fangs, capable of effortlessly rending human flesh, descended upon Arin.

And then—the impossible happened.

“…You monster bitch.”

She didn’t dodge.

Not out of recklessness—but because there was no need to.

The fangs and claws couldn’t pierce Arin’s skin.

“…”

Arin’s gaze, after taking the Yetis’ attacks, turned toward Michelini.

Meeting his eyes with the emotionless stare of someone who had died decades ago, she forced a smirk.

“So this is what a witch is like?”

“I’m not a witch.”

“Which bastard spouted that nonsense? Another witch?”

“Me.”

Michelini immediately turned around.

There, his target stood boldly.

For some reason, with a face full of rage.

The curse caster’s identity was the insolent noble brat I’d seen in the waiting room before the exam.

His family name… I don’t remember.

Not that it matters. I drew my sword and spoke to Arin.

“Hold off the Yetis for a bit.”

“Okay.”

—Ghhhaaah!!

A grotesque sound of tearing flesh echoed across the snowfield, drowning out even the blizzard.

I locked eyes with the bastard. He seemed just as pissed at me.

“How did you evade tracking?”

“I hid inside a Yeti.”

“You insane…”

“And how did you control the Yetis?”

“Bloodline Subjugation.”

A fairly well-known curse, so that explained it.

But there wouldn’t have been enough time…

Ah.

“…Preparations in advance?”

This bastard knew about the Crovan Mountains.

With a disgusted expression, I raised my sword.

“Just how well-connected is your sponsor?”

“If that’s what my sponsor wants, I’ll oblige. No hard feelings.”

“You don’t need to say it. It’s Emily, isn’t it?”

“You know I can’t answer that, right? You piece of shit. Don’t block my path to success and just fuck off.”

“Hard pass. I don’t feel like wasting energy, so if you want to succeed, kneel right now, apologize sincerely for making me crawl into a Yeti’s guts, and then smash your own slate.”

At my ultimatum, the bastard raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

“…What?”

“Was my introduction overdue? I’m a member of the Seriratus family.”

“—”

After a brief pause, the bastard let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Did Lady Firunea have a cross-dressing hobby? Didn’t know that.”

“Serbus Vir Dem. Though it’s more than I deserve, I serve as his personal butler.”

“What the hell…”

Squinting at me, his jaw dropped.

“…Wait, Serbus? The real Serbus? That Seriratus-exclusive legendary warhorse branded on the neck?”

“…”

Strangely, being compared to a beast didn’t feel insulting.

There’s something about the word “warhorse” that stirs a man’s heart.

The man smirked and looked me over.

“Ah, ah! I see. That butler outfit—I wondered what kind of joke it was… So you’re really a butler? Damn, this is so absurd I can’t even…”

“Now that you know, crawl away. Even someone as stupid as you should realize why Emily hired you by now. Even if you enroll in the academy, your enemy will be Seriratus. You know you can’t survive that, right?”

“Cut the bullshit.”

“…”

Not that I had room to talk, but his words were closer to a mercenary’s than a noble’s.

Most nobles would grovel and beg for mercy at the name Seriratus, but this bastard didn’t seem to care at all, slowly closing the distance.

“You’ve got the wrong idea. If my sponsor were attacked by Seriratus, I wouldn’t lift a finger to help. Hell, even if Seriratus doesn’t attack, I’ll bail the moment there’s nothing left to squeeze.”

“Are you even a noble?”

“And are you an idiot?”

The man sneered.

“You’re part of Seriratus… Don’t tell me you actually believe that embarrassing delusion? You’re just Butler No. 1. You think you’re unique? There’s obviously a No. 2, No. 3 waiting. Whether you die here or not, Firunea wouldn’t even blink.”

“Not necessarily.”

“…You’re one hell of a shitty brat. You remind me of my past self.”

Suddenly, the man’s expression darkened, his eyes turning as red as the Yetis’.

His body expanded, muscles bulging. I frowned and raised my guard.

“Synchronization… I knew you were from a curse caster family, but…”

“Creshel Michelini. You wouldn’t have heard of it.”

The now-monstrous man grinned.

…The mana he wielded felt closer to a demon’s than a human’s.

“Of course not. We’re just side characters.”

“We?”

“Yeah, you and me. Annoying as it is, we’re alike.”

“Where the hell did you pull that bullsh—”

“Uahahaha…”

Despite my fury, he laughed loudly before muttering seriously.

“Do you know this special exam was made for commoners?”

“…?”

When I didn’t answer his sudden question, he continued on his own.

“But you and I—we’re nobles in name. How do you think we were allowed to take it?”

“Because nobles who didn’t receive the notice can still apply. You dumbass.”

“Then what’s the difference between those ‘nobles who didn’t receive the notice’ and commoners? Why are we treated like this?”

“What’s your point? That we’re not nobles?”

“It’s worse.”

Michelini lowered his sword as if he had no intention of fighting.

“If you’re born a commoner, at least you know your place. You know your limits, that what’s above isn’t yours. But us… those of us who are neither commoners nor nobles—how are we supposed to live?”

I was stunned.

…This bastard.

He was still clinging to the childish thoughts he should’ve outgrown before turning ten.

“Never invited to any social circles, enduring envy and scorn, facing fear and mockery from commoners—that’s us. The only reason I’m summoned by other nobles is as a plaything when their pet monsters won’t obey. I won’t live like that forever.”

“So you’re planning to strike it big at the academy? What, aiming for top honors?”

“No. I know my place. I’ll seduce a noble lady and marry her.”

“…?”

After spouting all that idealism, he suddenly stated his pragmatic plan flatly.

“Working as an errand boy taught me one thing—noble girls have zero resistance to men. Whisper a little love, and they’ll hand you their liver. Naturally courting a lady is the easiest part; convincing her family is the hardest. That’s why I’m entering the academy, and why I’m making money now.”

“You’re a fucking lunatic.”

I spat to the side and raised my sword.

Trying to understand an idiot’s thoughts was a waste of time.

Just beat him down.

Michelini, as if expecting this, spun his sword and—

“Didn’t think you’d understand. You’ll realize it someday. At least the fact that you’re just a discarded pawn.”

The moment his words ended, he charged at me like a living cannonball.

—Clang!

“…Hup.”

“For a butler, you’re surprisingly strong.”

“…”

Grind—

I couldn’t answer. It felt like being crushed under a boulder.

This was at least the strength of three Yetis.

Michelini’s blazing red eyes met mine. I forced a taunt.

“Ha, how long can you keep this up?”

“Not long.”

He could’ve hidden it, but the bastard answered honestly.

Of course. Synchronizing with a demon… No sane person would do that. He must’ve saved it as a last resort.

But I gritted my teeth. The fact that he admitted it so readily meant—

“Then I’ll finish this before that.”

He was certain of his victory.

“…Oh, is that so?”

But—there was one thing this bastard didn’t know.

“I’ll grant your wish.”

“…?”

I’m closer to a mage than a swordsman.

“What the—”

Noticing the red threads creeping up the blade, Michelini barely had time to react before he exploded.