Page 178 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Under the streetlights that illuminated the cold darkness.

Mikhail was talking to me.

“Why did you appear before me...?”

I didn’t say anything.

Mikhail, who watched me without doing anything harmful, put his hand on the handle of his sword and glared at me.

“What have you shown up to do this time....”

I had something I wanted to say to Mikhail.

It wasn’t anything important, but I had something I wanted to say to resolve a simple curiosity.

However, my mood was hurt by Mikhail’s coldly inquiring attitude, and I said with a bitter smile.

“You didn’t even greet me... Aren’t you being too cold?”

If I spoke like this, I would have no choice but to speak roughly. In the world I knew, there was a proverb that said, ‘When the going is good, so is the coming.’

For the most part, I tended to avoid saying words that would hurt someone. I didn’t know when I might meet them again, and my conduct was directly connected to the young lady’s face.

However, if I misunderstood people like this, I would have no choice but to undermine my beliefs.

My mind, which I had barely managed to make up, seemed like it was going to waver.

No matter that he was an academy acquaintance.

No matter that he was an acquaintance from unfortunate memories, it was really difficult to speak to him this way.

He was a benefactor who had saved my life several times, no less.

I didn’t want to be treated like a hero. I didn’t desire it, and it somehow felt embarrassing to be supported.

But that didn’t mean I wanted to be treated like this.... I let out a sigh at the sight of Mikhail placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.

I spoke to Mikhail with a complicated heart.

“Mr. Mikhail.”

“...Why.”

“No matter how much you hate me, isn’t it a bit much to put your hand on a weapon? We haven’t even greeted each other yet, and even if I am handsome, it hurts to be treated like this.”

“Shut up.”

“What did I do so wrong that you’re acting like this? Of course, I was wrong, but now that we’re adults, it’s time to just let it go....”

“Now that we’re adults, it’s time to just let it go?”

Mikhail bit his lip, took his hand off the hilt of his sword, and glared at me. As anger appeared in Mikhail’s blazing gaze, I thought, ‘Oh no.’

This time, I had made a mistake.

I was at fault for having forced my unwanted love on her. This time, I was the one in the wrong.

Although I had stopped the young lady, I hadn’t given Mikhail a proper answer. I had simply said, ‘Please speak nicely,’ and ‘Please don’t treat me so mockingly,’ so it was a blatant lie to say that I wasn’t at fault.

I realized only after I had uttered the words that my words, ‘Isn’t it time to forget about it,’ were nothing more than a guilty complaint.

Mikhail strode towards me, one step at a time.

A bitter laugh formed on my lips as Mikhail approached with force in his steps. I knew what made him angry.

Mikhail looked up at me and said.

“Do you think you’re qualified to say something like that?”

“...”

“When I told you to stop, you ignored me, so do you think it makes sense for you to tell me to forget?”

“...”

Mikhail didn’t know my circumstances.

He wasn’t trying to understand.

He didn’t intend to listen.

The reason why it couldn’t be helped.

I was a little angry with Mikhail for not telling him my circumstances that made it impossible for him to do otherwise.

I didn’t want to bother him either.

I didn’t want to bother Yuria.

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

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

Nevertheless, the reason I had no choice but to do it was for a stupid reason. For a better future and to protect everyone, that was the stupid excuse.

The conclusion is, to protect the young lady.

I had no power to stop what she liked. I was afraid of the aftermath that would arise from stopping what she liked.

I want to say it too.

You don’t know how I feel.

Being involved in a fault I didn’t commit.

Being cursed for something I did for others.

Being rebuked by everyone because of something I did to save a life. I wanted to say that I understand how I feel.

Nevertheless, my fault won’t disappear.

That’s why I smiled.

Because it wasn’t something I did hoping for something in return.

From Noble mtl dot com

I looked at Mikhail with a smile because I was someone who did it on a whim that I just wanted to forget like the passing wind.

Of course, it’s unfair and there are many things I want to say, but I like the young lady and at the same time, I’m someone who has a sense of responsibility as a quasi-emperor.

I have no hobby of becoming a hero. Unfortunately.

Rather than a hero with a story, a villain that can joke around while laughing is more fun. I smiled as I looked at Mikhail approaching.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Why do I have the right to say it? It’s just that I wanted to say it.”

“Ha...”

Mikhail let out an empty laugh.

I tilted my head as I said it without any falsehood to Mikhail ? NоvеⅠight ? (Read more on our source) who was getting angry and irritated at me for calmly saying what I felt.

“Mikhail started the trouble first. From the time we first met until now.”

“When did I...!”

“Don’t you remember? To me...”

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

“...I see.”

I nodded my head under the streetlight and tried to erase the gloomy feeling. No matter what I say, my words won’t reach Mikhail.

Well, what can I do?

I dislike him just as much.

I nodded my head and started to say out loud the question I had in mind towards Mikhail.

“Mikhail.”

“I said I don’t want to hear it.”

I kindly said to Mikhail who refused to listen. A question is not something kind that waits for someone to answer.

“Why do you wield a sword, Mikhail?”

“...What?”

“I suddenly became curious. I’m wondering why the righteous Mikhail wields a sword. In my case, I was born and raised as a glutton, so I can do it, but it’s not the same for Mikhail, is it? It wouldn’t be bad to work in a pious job like a priest or a paladin.”

“Well... to protect the weak from malicious people like you.”

I found a small clue in Mikhail’s answer that he spat out like a parrot.

“Then why am I a villain?”

“...”

“I may be a sinner who deserves to be called a villain by Mikhail, but on the other hand, aren’t I also Mikhail’s benefactor?”

“That’s not true. I could have defeated that opponent on my own.”

“Then shall we talk about something deeper? Something that Mikhail doesn’t remember...”

[This is restricted.]

“Oops...”

[Further statements may have a negative impact on the subject ‘Mikhail.’]

[Would you like to continue regardless?]

I smiled wryly and shook my head.

‘I almost made a mistake.’

Mikhail, who couldn’t hear the end of the story, glared at me with a sharp expression as I hesitated, but I shook my head with a faint smile.

“No. No, I won’t.”

“Why? You won’t finish your sentence? You seem to have nothing to say now that you’re about to say it.”

“Well... I guess you’ll find out someday.”

I nodded as I looked at Mikhail.

“Anyway, on second thought, I’m actually a good person. I have a warm heart that gives bread to orphans and shows mercy to begging boys and girls.”

“That’s something villains do too. To hide their dark intentions.”

I smiled.

This time, I thought I had bitten Mikhail’s nape because he had taken the bait I had thrown.

‘Gotcha.’

“Then why did you accept this duel, Mikhail?”

“Well, it was my master’s request...”

“Do you do everything your master asks you to do, Mikhail? You’re quite the lackey.”

“Don’t mock me. Someday I’ll be better than you...”

“Yes~ You can deal with that later, Mikhail. For now, let me ask you something else. Why did you participate in the duel?”

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

I smiled.

“You wield your sword for justice, don’t you?”

“...”

“Then who is justice in this duel? Who are you dueling for?”

I took a step closer to Mikhail.

“Hannah? Or your master, who is known as the Empire’s Sword?”

“Does Mikhail think Hannah is a villain?”

I spoke sharply to Mikhail before he could choose his words.

“Are you dueling Hannah just because she is my disciple? Did you accept such a trivial duel with the intention of excommunication?”

“Haven’t you heard Hannah’s story, Mikhail? Surely you didn’t participate in the duel without hearing it?”

I tried to give Mikhail a hint.

It was a strategy to break the opponent’s morale in battle, but I was talking to Mikhail with a view to a more distant future.

A lesson I wanted to give Mikhail, who must now become familiar with killing, and a belief he must have.

If not today, I thought there would be no time to let Mikhail know about this, so I spoke to Mikhail with the hope that he would understand, even though it might be a bit harsh.

“Why are you so biased?”

“I’m biased?”

“Yes.”

“In what way am I biased?”

“In every way. Isn’t it strange to get involved in a bet without knowing what’s at stake, without understanding the circumstances?”

Mikhail spoke to me as if explaining.

That his thoughts were correct.

“Master is Hannah’s father, so to lead her to a better path...”

“Aha.”

“So, if I were to be the key to that.”

“Hmm...”

“That it would be for Hannah’s sake...!”

“I see.”

I nodded and focused on Mikhail’s expression.

He was flustered.

Mikhail’s expression, as if making excuses to me for pointing out a fault that he had perhaps been vaguely aware of, made me nod and think that this was enough.

And I said, meaning to dismiss his bias.

“That’s it.”

“What?”

“I’m like that too. I act and make choices like that for the sake of someone precious to me.”

Mikhail glared at me.

“I’m not the same as you.”

I smiled at Mikhail’s words and nodded.

“That’s right. Mikhail is not the same as me. So, from now on, swing your sword with a light heart.”

“...”

“This is advice from an old friend.”

Mikhail failed to answer this time as well.

I left Mikhail.

Mikhail clenched his fists and looked at me.

“I’ll win.”

I didn’t bother to think about who he meant by “win.”

*

Hannah swung her sword alone.

Slowly, like small ripples forming in a calm puddle, to make the technique Ricardo had shown her her own. And she swung her sword with focus.

On the 10th day.

-Swish.

Hannah found the reason for her sword.