Page 341 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

[You have entered Caliburn’s Trial.]

"...What the..."

I muttered in confusion at how easily the demonic sword had allowed me to undergo the trial. To be honest, I hadn’t expected it to succeed on the first try.

I thought it would be more difficult than the Holy Sword...

[The content of the trial is ‘Loneliness.’]

I was surprised by how readily Caliburn accepted me. Was my life really so miserable?

By ordinary standards, sure, my life could be considered unfortunate. Abandoned by my parents in my past life, and now living as a servant to a villainess. Still, calling it miserable? I was quite happy.

If my level of misfortune qualified me to wield the demonic sword, any half-decent heretic could probably wield it too. Ellicia alone was proof of that.

‘Well, it’s not all bad.’

With a light chuckle, I focused on the trial, feeling slightly amused by the relatively low barrier to entry.

[You will now witness your most ‘miserable moment’ from the past. A moment where, even after being abandoned by a loved one and drowning in sorrow, you could do nothing but laugh.]

‘...Do I even have something like that?’

[There is only one way to pass the trial.]

[Do not turn away from what is presented to you.]

When it came to loneliness, only one thing came to mind. Back at the academy, I had overheard people gossiping behind the lady’s back... That had hurt me deeply.

‘That... was pretty rough.’

As the cold voice in my ear continued to explain the details of the trial, I listened carefully.

[The flame before you will either dim or burn brightly depending on your emotions.]

[Do not let the flame go out.]

[This flame will serve as your ‘eyes’ within the trial.]

If all I had to do was face some bad memories to get my hands on a legendary sword, then it was a fair deal. The past is the past, and no matter how unpleasant the memory, it wouldn’t change anything now.

Taking a deep breath, I stretched out in the ° N ?? v ?? l i g h t ° darkness and clapped my hands. Clap.

“Let’s get this over with.”

[Caliburn frowns upon your life.]

[Caliburn trembles.]

[Caliburn fears the ‘challenger.’]

‘What...?’

Before I could question it, the trial began.

[Caliburn’s Trial begins.]

‘It’ll be fine...’

[Hold the flame.]

Along with the cold voice, an old wooden table appeared in front of me with a faintly flickering black flame atop it. Swallowing hard, I reached for the flame.

The moment I grasped the flame with a heavy heart, shimmering light spread around me, revealing a white door ahead.

‘Gulp.’

Tap.

[Open the door of memories.]

I shrugged my shoulders, feeling the cool breeze against my skin, and slowly walked toward the white door that stood before me.

The door—an odd contrast to the term "demonic sword"—was pure white. As I placed my hand on the handle, the door creaked open with a long screech.

Shhhhh.

The environment shifted.

I felt a chill in the air as the wind brushed past my hair.

And then...

Hic... sniff...

The sound of someone’s sobbing reached my ears, snapping me back to attention. A faint, sorrowful cry. I lifted my head and looked around.

‘Where... am I?’

I found myself standing in a pristine field, not quite the kind of fearsome memory I expected. I looked around, puzzled, as the location didn’t match what I had anticipated.

I thought I would see the academy, but instead, I woke up in an unfamiliar field, bewildered. As I took in my surroundings, a voice called to me, making me turn sharply.

"Ricardo...?"

‘Huh...?’

"What are you doing over there?"

It was the lady.

The lady was standing before me, alive and well, tilting her head with a quizzical look.

"Ricardo...?"

She appeared at least five years older than I remembered, and I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Am I... dead?"

"What?"

"Am I dead?"

"Stop spouting nonsense!"

Despite the years that had passed, her tone hadn’t changed, and I let out a small laugh, shaking my head.

‘Still the same.’

"Stop...!"

The lady grabbed my hand and tugged at me.

"Stop lying down and come quickly."

"...Huh?"

"People are waiting."

"Who... is waiting?"

The lady puffed her cheeks out in annoyance and pointed in one direction. I followed her gaze and froze when I saw the familiar faces sitting in a circle on the vast plain.

Yuria.

Shaltia.

Shuen.

And even Mikhail.

It was a bizarre combination of people, all sitting together, and as the lady pulled me along, I moved without understanding why.

What kind of situation was this?

It made no sense.

The trial was supposed to show me my worst memory, but this was something I had never experienced before. I had no idea what was going on.

"Sit!"

Pulled by the lady’s hand, I plopped down on the ground, feeling the cool breeze brush against my face.

"...Hmm."

What part of this was about loneliness?

‘...’

What part of this was related to misfortune?

The scene before me was so peaceful that it felt awkward, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of fear and joy simultaneously.

‘Is this an error?’

Thinking I had unintentionally found a loophole, I relaxed a little and slowly turned to Mikhail and Yuria to strike up a conversation.

"How have you been?"

"..."

"..."

"Huh...?"

The frozen expressions on Yuria and Mikhail’s faces made the smile disappear from mine.

"..."

It was dark.

Mikhail and Yuria’s faces were filled with sorrow, like people standing before an unbearable tragedy.

"...Why are you making that face?"

"..."

"Are you not happy to see me?"

"..."

Confused, I turned to the lady for answers. She had been the one to bring me here. If anyone could explain Yuria and Mikhail’s expressions, it would be her.

After all, this was a trial.

It hadn’t really happened.

There was no reason to be afraid.

But then...

"Sniff."

"My lady...?"

If only she had told me that everything was alright...

"Why are you crying?"

I thought everything would be fine.

At least until I saw the lady’s tears.

"Hic..."

The lady was crying.

Rubbing her face with her pale hands, she was trying to hold back her tears. When she met my gaze, she awkwardly smiled and spoke.

"Let’s eat, Ricardo..."

"No... why?"

"Huh? It’s nothing. Let’s eat."

"What? You need to explain... If we eat like this, I’ll get indigestion."

"..."

The lady avoided my eyes, bowing her head deeply. Mikhail, Yuria, and the others also kept their heads down, sniffling.

‘Why...’

My lips moved on their own.

As if I were truly part of this moment, they moved on their own.

"Shouldn’t I know as well?"

In a voice heavy with emotion, the lady finally responded.

"Hey, Ricardo..."

"...Yes."

"That... Do you remember?"

"..."

"Not long ago, when the heretics stormed the academy..."

"..."

"Ricardo."

The lady, tears streaming down her face, spoke softly.

"Did you use dark magic?"

"..."

"Tell me the truth..."

Her face was soaked in tears as she asked the question, her fists clenched tightly around her skirt, droplets of water falling from her hand.

"...Did you use dark magic?"

My lips.

"...Yes."

They moved on their own.

I could feel the emotions rising.

My heart was pounding in my chest, and my eyes were burning.

What was this feeling?

Why did it hurt, as if I had really experienced this?

I was scared.

I was terrified of the words that would come from the lady’s lips.

And of myself, who answered them so casually.

Even though this hadn’t happened.

Even though this wasn’t real.

I couldn’t understand why I felt this way.

‘...’

The lady’s voice trembled as she continued.

"Ricardo..."

"..."

"You know..."

"..."

"We..."

The lady smiled awkwardly as she spoke.

"We’re starting to forget you."

"..."

"..."

I thought it was just an illusion conjured by the demonic sword.

I told myself not to get confused.

Not to tremble, but to accept it calmly.

But.

‘...’

When I saw my face reflected in a teacup, I couldn’t speak.

‘Why are you crying?’

I was crying.

Unable to lift my head, like a knight who had failed to protect his master. My emotions were in turmoil.

The lady continued, speaking the words I most dreaded.

With her fists clenched tightly, she spoke.

"Did you offer your memories?"

"..."

"Did you really...?"

"..."

"Was it your memories?"

"I..."

"..."

"I couldn’t do it with my lifespan... I had to offer something more valuable to protect you all."

"Why did you do that!!!"

I kept my head down.

As if admitting that her words were correct, I said nothing, only offering a sad smile.

The lady’s anguished cry echoed in my ears.

"Why did you do that!!!"

"..."

"Why!!! Why!!! Why did you do that!!!"

"..."

"You should’ve let everyone else die. At least you could have survived... Why did you do that!!! Why did you do something like that..."

It felt like my heart was being torn apart.

This wasn’t real.

This hadn’t happened.

Yet, my chest hurt.

"I’m sorry."

The pain was overwhelming.

I had saved people, but if what came back was nothing but oblivion... that would be too terrifying.

‘...’

It was miserable and lonely.

After shouting for a long time, the lady suddenly grasped my face and began wiping away her tears. She was in a hurry, frantically running her fingers over my eyes, nose, and lips, trying to hold back her tears.

"Ricardo..."

The lady was still crying.

"I... can’t remember you."

Forcing a smile, she tried to hide her tears.

"I’m trying to remember, but I... I’m trying not to forget, but..."

Tears kept falling.

"I can’t remember your face..."

It was solemn.

"I can’t remember you."

I exhaled a quiet sigh. Not one born from frustration, but a sigh laden with sorrow escaped my lips.

"That’s a relief."

I spoke softly.

"It’s a relief you can forget your foolish servant... It’s good."

The emotions transferred.

The sadness was so heavy that I couldn’t lift my head.

I took the lady’s hand and gave her a faint smile.

"We can just start over."

"Hic..."

"If we start again, I can leave a better impression this time."

"...Liar."

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"...Will you really come back?"

"Of course."

Now I understood.

I finally understood why this trial was so terrifying.

"Hic... Will you really come back...?"

"Just don’t fall in love with me."

"...Idiot."

The most terrifying part of this trial wasn’t some fabricated past, but the despair it showed me—despair that could have easily come true.

"I already..."

Fwoosh.

The flame flickered.

Like my turbulent emotions, the flame wavered, on the verge of extinguishing.

To save the world.

No.

I couldn’t even save my own world.

I couldn’t save myself.

Or the people I loved.

I failed to save anyone and fell.

That’s why...

That’s why this trial was terrifying.

"You..."

Plop.

The lady’s touch on my face suddenly withdrew. Her cold, stinging fingers left my skin.

I could feel the sharp gazes.

Everyone in the circle was staring at me with a completely different expression now.

I clenched my eyes shut.

And I waited, forcing an awkward smile as I prepared to hear the words I dreaded the most.

Thud.

I steeled myself.

"..."

With trembling eyes, the lady spoke.

"Who... are you?"

The flame trembled.

[The trial reaches its climax.]

[Return to the moment of cold rejection... The moment you struggled to restore a bond but failed...]

The trial was going awry.

Just as the flame seemed on the verge of going out, it flared up brightly.

[That’s enough.]

Cracks began to form as a blue screen appeared before me.

[Before I destroy everything.]