The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen – Chapter 156

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 156

Hamel’s Carriage Stop.

-Now… focus! I’ll tell you about today’s schedule…

-Orc Slaying on.

-What are you going to do during Free Time? If you don’t have plans, let’s drink in our room.

-Be quiet! Ahem. First, today’s schedule is to unpack at the Lodging and have Free Time. The actual Field Training starts tomorrow… Hey, stop chatting and listen!

Ignoring the Student Council President’s booming shout that echoed in my eardrums, I glanced around, searching for a Secluded Area.

‘Why am I even here?’

I let out a Deep Sigh and scratched my head.

‘Haah…’

The incident started with Hans’s casual report.

-Histania Malik as the Guide….

Up to that point, I thought it had nothing to do with me. Even though I was technically on a Leave of Absence, I was practically a dropout, so I didn’t think I’d have any connection to the Academy.

It was annoying to get involved.

They probably didn’t want to get involved with me either. I thought there would be no overlap. What happened During the Ball was inevitable. Let’s move on.

As you know, the current Third Year Students, namely Yuria’s Friends, were my peers at the Academy.

Although my time at the Academy was brief, those who endured the Young Lady’s tantrums and the natural disaster that was me disliked me.

They were the ones who drove me out, after all.

I didn’t think they were wrong. We did something wrong, and it was only natural to face the consequences. That’s why I thought there would be no connection to the Academy, but….

‘Damn.’

I let out a Deep Sigh and shook my head.

‘What can I do? If the Patron tells me to go, I have to go.’

-Hey, Ricardo.

-Yes, Brother.

-Sorry for showing up suddenly, but could you do me a favor? I think I need to visit a Newly Opened Store.

-Brother, what exactly is your Job?

-Imperial Knight.

-…Haha. Anyway, I think it’ll be difficult for me to do this.

-I haven’t even told you what it is yet….

-It’s Academy-related, isn’t it?

-100,000 Gold.

-I decided not to get involved with the Academy, so no thanks.

-200,000 Gold.

-I’m sorry. I’m not someone who sells my precious Time for money. Besides, I promised to make pizza with the Young Lady next week….

-I didn’t want to do this, but….

A week ago, Malik suddenly visited the Estate and firmly placed a Bundle of Papers from his jacket pocket into my hand.

[Friends of Forest. 100 Advance Reservation Tickets.]

-Hmm?

-It’s not free.

-Still, I value my Time….

-I’ll let you have it for free.

Unable to resist a Free Meal, I grabbed Malik’s hand with joy.

-If it’s The Brother’s Request, I’ll do it without any compensation.

-Then I’ll take it as you don’t need it…

-Proprietress, this puts me in a difficult position.

Recalling the Young Lady’s smiling face as she put the Meal Vouchers into her Treasure Pouch, I shed hot tears.

-Hiiiik! Ricardo, you’re amazing!

-I know.

-So capable! I’ll give you some chocolate!

-I believe you’ve already eaten all the chocolate I gave you today…

-Eeeek…!

‘Well, it should be fine.’

I glanced at Mikhail, who was getting off the Carriage with Yuria, and sat on a nearby Bench.

This Episode revolved around Mikhail.

The story began with a Conflict with Heretics during the Subjugation of Orcs.

In This Episode, Mikhail began to reveal his hostility toward the Heretics in earnest.

‘As long as I don’t mess with Mikhail, it should be fine.’

If I just guided them well, there wouldn’t be any responsibility on my part, and I’d only need to help the Students if they were in danger. With that thought, I resolved to work with a light heart.

‘Haah…’

I don’t want to work.

While basking in the Warm Sunshine of spring, doing Photosynthesis.

“Butler!”

A familiar Voice reached my ears.

A Girl’s Voice, matching the season of spring.

At the upright and clear tone of the Girl, I slowly raised my bowed head and smiled brightly.

“Miss Hanna.”

“Hehe…”

Histania Hanna.

Hanna, whom I had briefly met During the Ball, was looking at me with a Heavy Bag slung over her back.

Hanna’s smile, as if the Heavy Bag wasn’t a burden at all, brought a smile to my face as well.

I gestured for Hanna to sit next to me on the Bench.

Hanna hesitated, set down her Bag, and sat beside me, giving me a Shy Smile as she stared at me.

“It’s been a while, Butler!”

“Yes, it has been a while.”

“You’re still handsome.”

“I know.”

“…Aren’t you supposed to deny it at times like this?”

“Being too humble can be annoying, you know.”

Hanna gave an enigmatic smile at my confident tone and muttered to herself, “That’s why you’re so cool….”

While chatting with Hanna about recent events, I noticed a familiar green-haired head unloading luggage from the Carriage and voiced my curiosity.

“It’s Green Head, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hanna didn’t particularly react to the nickname Green Head and accepted it naturally.

Hanna seemed to have a lot of pent-up feelings toward Ruin as well.

Nodding my head, I lowered my evaluation of the Green-haired Head.

Ruin’s face looked gloomy.

It was the darkest expression I’d seen on him so far. Ruin, burdened by his lost Talent and the strained relationship with Yuria, seemed visibly stressed. I looked at him with interest and asked Hanna.

“How is that guy doing?”

Hanna let out a Deep Sigh and shook her head.

“He’s not doing well.”

Seeing Ruin walking dejectedly less than a week into the new semester reminded me of the Mantis I’d seen at Hamel Mountain, evoking a strange sense of camaraderie.

I wondered how that guy was doing.

Though I felt a sudden urge to visit, I decided against it, wishing the insect a long life since insects often die suddenly.

Hanna rested her chin on her hand and stared at Ruin.

Unlike the time when she first came to the Estate with Ruin and showed respect for her senior, her expression now openly said, “Why is he even alive?” I couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘That’s why you should’ve done better.’

Hanna slowly opened her mouth.

“Senior Ruin is drifting at school. He often skips classes, waits in Yuria’s classroom only to be ignored, and repeats the same thing over and over.”

“Abandoned Green Head, huh.”

“Exactly. But he doesn’t realize what he did wrong. All he has to do is apologize, but like a fool, he keeps doing the same thing, trying to confront her. His temper has gotten worse too.”

“Hmm… It’s unpleasant because he’s so consistent.”

Hanna turned her head to look at me. At Hanna’s sentimental question, asking if I felt sorry for Ruin, I let out a chuckle and shook my head.

“No.”

I was able to hear a lot of stories from Hanna.

She told me that not all the students who came to Hamel were 2nd and 3rd Year Students from the Academy, but rather, only the top-performing students were selected and brought here.

And I heard Hanna’s story, where she made a reluctant expression while mentioning that she was grouped with Mikhail and Yuria.

In the novel, Mikhail, Ruin, and Yuria were grouped together.

Perhaps this was for the better.

I quietly watched Ruin unloading the luggage and thought to myself.

Considering Ruin’s current state, he was of no help. His lack of strength was insufficient to survive the conflict with the Heretics, so perhaps it was fortunate that Hanna ended up in Mikhail’s party.

Nodding my head, I focused on Hanna’s words, and when Chartia’s voice, leading the Academy students, reached us, we waved and said our goodbyes.

Before joining her group, Hanna stammered and spoke.

“Um… Butler, are you also staying at our lodging?”

At Hanna’s hesitant question, I gave an awkward smile and shook my head.

“No. The Young Lady dislikes staying out overnight.”

“I see…”

With a disappointed expression, Hanna lowered her head, slung her Heavy Bag over her back, and slowly walked toward the other students.

‘I guess it’s time for me to head over too.’

Watching the students finishing up their arrangements, I slowly began walking toward them.

The Green Sprouts of the Academy watched as I approached them step by step.

-That’s Ricardo, right?

-Looks like him. But why is he here?

-No way… Is this for real?

At the murmurs of students admiring my handsome face, I nodded my head.

Familiar Faces I hadn’t seen in a while.

Most of the students looked at me with eyes as if they wanted to tear me apart, while the 2nd Year Students stared at me as if I were a Villain straight out of a legend.

I put my hands in my Pocket and observed the students.

Listening to the students’ agitated voices, I silently counted “One, Two, Three” in my mind and gently closed my eyes.

‘One Inquisitor, About Three Faithfuls, I suppose.’

Comparing the information from the novel, I matched the numbers and nodded my head as I loosened my neck.

“Ahem. Nice to meet you all. I am Ricardo, the Guide who will be leading you to the Orc Habitat.”

-Is this for real?

-No way…! Why is he here?

-This is insane.

Amid the intense reactions, I noticed three faces whose eyes trembled greatly.

Mikhail.

Ruin.

Yuria.

The Persistent Bad Karma that bound our relationship seemed to settle into a dark cloud of denial.

Mikhail harbored hatred.

Yuria held onto friendship.

Ruin stared at me with resentment.

I lightly ignored them and spoke the words necessary to fulfill my role as a Guide.

Since I was hired, I had to do my job properly.

“Seeing so many Familiar Faces makes me happy.”

-What is he talking about?

-Exactly. Should we report this to the Student Council President?

-Let’s do that. He was just a fellow student, so why is he acting as a Guide?

-But at the Ball…

-Hey! That was concluded to be Princess Chartia’s magic, remember?

“Please don’t curse. I feel the same way as you all. Even though I want to speak harshly since we won’t be seeing each other for long….”

Looking at Chartia’s Stern Expression, I forced an awkward smile.

“That wouldn’t be polite, would it?”

With a “Phew,” I heard a sigh of relief from Chartia. Smiling at her, I slowly began to deliver the prepared speech.

“From now on, I am your Guide. I will lead you to your Lodging and to the Vicinity of Hamel Mountain Range’s Mid-Slope, where you will conduct your Field Training. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“If you call me outside of work hours, I will, of course, refuse. And if you curse at me, I will make sure to bury you in a Sunny Place.”

My speech, carrying the meaning of setting clear boundaries, caused the students’ expressions to harden even further.

“Why do you all look so grim…? It’s just a Joke.”

Perhaps kids these days dislike this kind of Joke. With a bitter smile, I raised Three Fingers and showed them to the students.

“I only have three requests for you.”

-First.

No matter what happens, do not leave the Designated Zone. Any consequences of leaving will not be the Guide’s responsibility.

-Second.

If you judge the situation to be dangerous, Run Away.

-Third.

Absolutely follow the Guide’s instructions.

I spoke to them in a humble tone. Naturally, their response was…

“Get lost!”

“Why is that crazy bastard here?”

“Why should I listen to you?”

It was vehement rejection.

Smiling, I looked at them. Then, with my hands in my Pocket and a bright smile, I said.

“Shut up. This isn’t the Academy.”