Page 265 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

-Murmur, murmur.

-Click, clack. Click, clack.

-What the...? Why is she here? Wasn’t she expelled? -She didn’t get expelled, she dropped out, right? -Even so, what kind of confidence does she have to come back to the academy? Did she re-enroll? -Ah... damn, this sucks.

With my hands in my pockets, I confidently strolled down the academy hallway, listening to the murmurs of the female students. One familiar face stood out—Lady Vienna, the same girl I had showered with sand during the ranking match. She seemed so “pleased” to see me again after all this time, glaring daggers at me while muttering some sarcastic remarks.

‘So, this is what it’s like to live as a handsome man.’

In an academy filled with average-looking guys, someone like me must be a rare sight, so I could understand their fuss with a broad heart.

This was the burden I had to bear as a handsome man. If that lady saw this, she’d probably clap, saying even my nonsense is refreshing. But since there’s no one here who could understand me, I just blinked at the murmuring students.

-Oh my god, he winked!

Look at them losing their minds. This is the perk of being good-looking.

The familiar scent of the academy filled my nose. The lively chatter of students brought life to the dreary place, and the everyday complaints about assignments provided some strange comfort in this bleak society.

‘Ah, youth.’

I felt good. At the same time, I thought, ‘I had times like that too.’ With a bitter smile, I unfolded the paper in my hand.

-Senior Director’s Office.

“Looks like I’m almost there.”

The paper had a map of the academy on it. This was the place where Malik, who had taken the role of Senior Director, resided—just like in the novel.

In the novel, Malik lived like half a wreck. After losing Hanna, he couldn’t hold a sword and resented his father.

-You want me to take up the position of Senior Director of the academy...? Are you joking?

Back then, Malik had taken the Senior Director role in Shartia’s place after she lost consciousness. There was no one else for the job, and he made the tough choice to prevent another tragedy.

Even though he knew the Histania family was the one responsible for Hanna’s death.

Malik had always been a man filled with regret. He’d stand by Hanna’s grave for hours, lost in thought, crying like a fragile man.

In the novel, he becomes entangled with Yuria as a Senior Director, playing the role of the second male lead, though he never becomes the main protagonist.

Now, however, he’s someone consumed by business.

“Hm.”

Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, I hurried to the place where Malik was waiting.

The longer I stayed here, the more I would annoy the people who didn’t welcome me. I wanted to get things done quickly and disappear.

I didn’t have many good memories here. No close friends either. On my way back, I thought I might stop by Hanna’s grave. Walking toward the sign hanging above the door, I read the labels.

[Disciplinary Office]

[Student Council Research Room]

[Student Council President’s Research Room]

“Hm...”

-Click, clack.

“Hm?”

-Hiccup!

“Someone’s following me.”

I shrugged and continued walking when I saw a flash of purple drills peeking from behind a pillar.

‘Shuen.’

I didn’t need to guess why she was following me. It was obvious. It’s exactly what one would do after meeting a rival idol.

‘Forget it.’

I was busy now, so ignoring her was the best option. I had already found the Senior Director’s office.

“Found it.”

[Senior Director’s Office.]

Putting aside my complicated thoughts, I carefully knocked on the door where Malik was waiting.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Sir, it’s your doormat.”

“Come in. And it’s Malik.”

Smiling at the familiar voice of the boss, I slowly opened the door.

‘Oh...’

The scent of Malik’s cologne drifted through the open door—a modern, clean fragrance. Typical of a businessman, Malik paid attention to even the smallest details. I nodded slightly at Malik, who was seated in his chair, appreciating his refined taste.

“It’s been a while, sir.”

“How many times must I tell you, it’s Malik. You’re a proper businessman yourself now. Why are you still being so stiff?”

“Why would I be a businessman, sir? You’re the one running the business.”

“Don’t call me ‘sir.’ Just say ‘Mr.,’ or better yet, drop the formality.”

“Haha...! I’ll work on that.”

“You’re a tough one.”

Malik seemed to like my cautious demeanor, smiling as he began brewing tea. He carefully prepared the tea, using a magic kettle that gently bubbled, infusing the tea leaves with care.

“What kind of tea is that? It doesn’t seem like black tea.”

“Mandrake. The response to our Mandrake candy was good, so I’m planning to release it as tea leaves next.”

“Hmm... Isn’t it too bitter?”

“Don’t worry about the taste. I spent a bit on the drying process.”

Malik smiled as he watched the tea turn a light brown color and gently placed the teacups on the table.

“Sit.”

-Sip.

“It’s quite nice. Not too strong, and the bitterness is just right. Nobles will love it.”

“Didn’t I say I was confident in the taste?”

Clearly pleased with the business-related praise, Malik smiled and sipped his tea, finally getting to the point.

“You know why I called you, right?”

“Ah, you mean the convenience store?”

“Yeah, the convenience store. I’ve sketched out the plan you mentioned, but there’s a problem.”

With a bitter smile, Malik placed a pile of documents on the table and sighed.

[Academy Convenience Store Business Plan.]

Flipping through the papers with my thumb, I nodded.

“You’ve written this in great detail.”

“Money hates stupidity. It’s our first store, so we can’t afford to be careless.”

“Did you get approval?”

“I got it. I unintentionally became the Senior Director, after all.”

“Senior Director?”

“Yeah. Thanks to that, I was able to bypass the student council to get the permit. You know how powerful the student council is in this academy.”

“The student council does hold a lot of power.”

Malik smiled bitterly, muttering to himself, “If I’d known this, I’d have greased the wheels when I was the student council president.” As the eldest son of the Histania family, he sure had the right sense of humor. I chuckled, nodding.

“So, this is the issue then?”

“Exactly.”

[Employees]

Counter Staff

└ Hire academy students.

└ 3 shifts.

·

·

·Malik pointed to a specific page, and I nodded.

“I scribbled down some ideas, but I’m struggling to figure out the exact image I want for the store. Things like rice balls or the interior can be adjusted later, but I don’t have anyone to manage the initial operations.”

“Can’t you just hire regular employees for the store?”

“It’s not like we have a ton of convenience stores around here, and this is our first attempt. We can’t just hire anyone. Plus, there’s the issue of business confidentiality.”

“Hmm... I suppose that makes sense.”

Malik sighed and looked at me.

“Do you understand what I’m asking you to do?”

[Counter.]

“You mentioned you planned to hire academy students for part-time work later, but you need someone to set the framework and provide feedback initially.”

I understood exactly what he meant.

Since I came up with the idea for the convenience store, he wanted me to manage the counter and hand over the reins to the next suitable candidate when the time came.

But surely, Malik knew this too.

“While it’s a good plan, you know as well as I do, if I take charge of the convenience store, it’ll fail before it even begins.”

“...”

“I’d get bombarded with eggs.”

Malik nodded heavily and responded.

“I know. But there’s something I believe in even more than that.”

“And what might that be...?”

Malik smiled at me.

“I believe in your face.”

His words hit me like an epiphany, and I nodded sagely. With a bright smile, I replied.

“That’s a good point.”

As the self-proclaimed most handsome man in the world, I couldn’t betray Malik’s trust. Even though this wasn’t in the novel, it was my duty as a transmigrator to manage it smoothly.

Since a convenience store here was different from the ones in this world.

I smirked at Malik and asked.

“Then can I keep the leftover food?”

“...Hoho. You’re clever. As expected from a butler of the Desmund family. You’re quick-witted. The Histanias could never have thought of such a proposal.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Malik reached out his hand.

“Then I’ll call you when it’s ready.”

“Will a week be enough time?”

“If you can handle the handover properly. I’d prefer to ask for more time, but...”

“As you know, I’m a high-quality employee.”

“I’ll make sure to compensate you well.”

Nodding, I shook Malik’s hand.

“Then I look forward to working with you, sir.”

“It’s Malik.”

And so, the chaotic life of managing a convenience store began.

At that moment.

A girl peeked out from the hallway, staring intently at the Senior Director’s office with sparkling eyes, clenching her fists in determination.

“That man... he’s the one Histania Hanna likes...!”

With her purple drill hair and ample chest, the girl, Shuen, tried to hide behind a pillar, though her large chest ? Nоvеl?g?t ? (Official version) betrayed her.

He wasn’t an ordinary person.

It wasn’t often that someone with no visible magical energy appeared before Shuen’s eyes.

-He’s either incredibly powerful...

-Or has no magic at all.

Naturally, Shuen assumed it was the latter.

“Suspicious.”

Shuen wanted to investigate this man. He was the one her friend had a crush on, and he had also bullied her idol.

She wanted to unmask him.

-Ding dong dang.

“Oh! I have to get to class.”

Still fixated on the Senior Director’s office, Shuen rushed off as the bell rang.

At the same time...

-Creak.

The door to the office opened.

Shuen sped up her pace.

But since running wasn’t her strong suit, her legs got tangled, and she naturally tripped.

“Eek...!”

The edge of the staircase came into view. If she fell, her forehead would surely hit the corner.

‘No, not my face!’

Shuen shut her eyes, bracing for the pain.

At that moment...

“Whoa there.”

With the soft scent of cologne, her collar was caught, and she fell into a man’s arms.

Shuen opened her eyes wide.

“Huh...?”

The gentle voice that followed left her in a daze.

“Are you alright?”

Ricardo.

Shuen had just encountered the person she disliked most in the academy.