Page 403 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

The short but intense first meeting between the two ended all too quickly.

"I’ve brought the car."

"Then I’ll be off now!"

"Mm. Be careful."

"Uh...?"

Shuen had achieved her original goal and left, claiming she needed to make new plans.

"Miss Shuen, it’s raining heavily outside. You’re welcome to stay here. We have plenty of empty rooms."

"It’s fine!"

"Still..."

"I have work tomorrow! If I’m not there, some students might starve to death!"

"It’s dangerous. I could escort you early tomorrow—"

"I can’t risk losing my hard-earned job!"

Without much explanation, Shuen apologized for showing up unannounced and disappeared without leaving a note.

"...What just happened?"

At least it was a relief.

I had been worried that bloodshed might occur if the lady and Shuen met, but fortunately, everything had passed without incident.

And then,

"Goodbye."

The lady smiled, seemingly satisfied with her encounter with Shuen.

"Next time you visit, don’t forget to bring chocolate."

Watching # Nоvеlight # Shuen leave, her head caught in Gomtang’s jaws, I turned to the lady and asked,

"What did you think?"

"It was fun. She seemed both dumb and smart at the same time."

"Like you, then?"

"Eek?"

That was a relief.

*

The next day, the sky was clear and bright.

"Shall we go to the sea to catch fish?"

"Shall we go to the river to catch fish?"

Near the Hamel River, bathed in warm sunlight, cheerful voices echoed.

-Clatter.

"Ah..."

-Clunk.

"Eek!"

It was the sound of a cart being pulled.

Seated in the cart, the lady hummed a song, watching me as I dragged it along.

"Fill this jar to the brim~"

"Lalala, lalala..."

She seemed in high spirits, likely because it had been a while since she’d gone out. Her cheerful humming brought a smile to my face, and I put more strength into my steps.

Today was the long-awaited fishing trip.

It had been ages since the two of us had gone out together. Ever since Gomtang had joined us, such outings had become rare.

The cart was loaded with fishing rods, bait, and plenty of food. Glancing back at the lady, I asked,

"Are you excited?"

"Mm."

"So am I."

Who knew what we might catch?

To be honest, I didn’t know much about the fish species in this world. While I prided myself on knowing about orcs and monsters, the novel hadn’t delved into fishing.

Back in my previous life, I’d fished for catfish and bass in rivers. But here, I was venturing out with little more than intuition and hope.

"Miss."

"Mm?"

"Have you ever caught fish before?"

"Nope."

I could only rely on instinct.

When I bought the fishing rod, I wasn’t told much, but it seemed like it should work.

"Can I buy a fishing rod?"

"Have you decided on a target species? Like ‘Orc Trout’ or ‘Troll Snakehead’?"

"Uh... I’m not sure. I’d just like a rod that can catch big fish."

"Big fish, small fish—it all depends on luck! Haha! Let me see... what rod should I give you?"

"..."

The rod and bait turned out to be quite different from what I’d seen in my past life, which was a bit surprising.

"Is this the hook? It looks more like a saw."

"For big ones, this is what you need."

With goblin meat as bait and a hook the size of a finger, we were all set.

"Shall we go fishing... Ricardo, what’s the next line?"

Well, it should be fine. Fish aren’t that dangerous...

Forcing a smile, I shrugged off my unease. Whatever happened, as long as it was fun, it didn’t matter.

"Ricardo!"

"Yes?"

"Will there be a lot of fish?"

"Probably. The day after rain is said to be good for fishing."

"Why? Wouldn’t they hide because of the swollen river?"

"I’m not sure. I just know they’re supposed to be plentiful."

"Hoooohmm."

"We’ve arrived."

"Mm!"

By the water’s edge, I unfolded a chair and seated the lady on a nice, flat rock.

"This is a good spot. I feel like we’ll have great luck here."

"Luck? Is that something you eat?"

"No, it’s the fortune of catching a lot of fish."

"Ricardo, it’s bad to believe in superstitions too much."

"..."

Ignoring her scolding, I focused on setting up.

I attached the hook, baited it, and spread a blanket over her lap in case she got cold.

-Whoooosh.

"It’s refreshing."

"Indeed."

"I think we’ll catch a lot of fish."

The cool breeze felt wonderful.

Fishing truly was the perfect way to relax. It didn’t hurt that I got to see the lady in her casual clothes, which made me smile even more.

She wore a white dress and a matching white hat. Though anything dirty would ruin them, it didn’t matter—we could always buy new ones.

Now, to sit back and fish...

"Crunch."

Hm?

Hearing a cheerful crunching sound, I turned to look at the lady.

"Hm?"

"Chomp, chomp..."

She was munching on snacks, her eyes focused on the bright red float bobbing in the water.

"My lady?"

"Mm."

"When did you bring snacks?"

"Earlier."

"Oh."

"Want some, Ricardo?"

Watching her dig into her bag of treasures for more snacks, I laughed and shook my head. I wanted to share them, but I figured it would distract me from fishing.

"Maybe later."

Ten minutes passed.

"Haaahhh..."

"..."

"Ricardo."

"Yes?"

"When will we catch something?"

"It’s only been ten minutes."

"Really?"

Another thirty minutes passed.

"Ricardo."

"Yes?"

"When will we catch something?"

"..."

My so-called pride as the “god of fishing” began to crumble. By now, there should have at least been a nibble.

"...Just a little longer, and we’ll get a bite."

"Eeeek... nothing’s happening!"

"...Haha."

‘Well, you can’t always catch fish, can you?’

Using my intuition, I could’ve easily located some fish, but that would’ve ruined the fun. I wanted to enjoy this leisurely moment.

Fishing...

[30 minutes later.]

"Relaxation..."

"My lady."

I turned to the lady, who was yawning.

"Mm."

"Shall we eat?"

"No, I want to keep fishing."

"Isn’t this boring?"

"Mm?"

The lady shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

"It’s fun."

"Why?"

"I get to eat all the snacks I want."

"That’s... a very impure motive."

"Hehe."

Holding her fishing rod and smiling softly, the lady replied,

"You’re having fun too, Ricardo."

"That’s..."

"So I’m having fun too."

"My lady..."

"Now, give me more snacks."

I couldn’t help but feel annoyed at how she so casually shattered the mood.

After a while, with no sign of a bite, I stretched and suggested we take a break. Even I, self-proclaimed fishing master, hadn’t caught a single fish yet.

"Shall we rest for a bit?"

And then it happened.

-Tinkle.

"Mm?"

The soft jingle came from the lady’s fishing rod. The red float suddenly plunged deep into the water. The lady stared at it blankly, then looked at me.

"Ricardo, the rod is moving."

"Uh... what?"

"Look, the rod is—Eek!"

Holding the fishing rod tightly, the lady’s eyes widened as she stared at me.

"Eeeek!!!"

"Stay calm!"

"Eek... eeeeeek! Eeeeek!"

The rod shook violently, and I hurriedly urged her,

"Reel it in!"

The lady clenched her teeth and began reeling in the line.

"Grgghhh!!!"

Making strange noises, she bit her lip.

"It must be a big one!"

"Huh?"

I moved behind her and grabbed the rod, helping her pull.

The tugging sensation on the rod confirmed it—something big was hooked.

"!!!"

The thrilling sensation of a real catch was new to me, almost making me smile, but the lady’s intense expression made me burst into laughter instead.

"Grgghhh...!"

What was that face?

"Eeeeeek!!!"

Despite the effort clearly in her hands, all the tension was on her face. Laughing, I helped her reel it in.

"You can do it."

"Hooeeeeeck!!!"

"Alright...! One, two, three...!"

After an intense tug-of-war, the catch finally revealed itself.

-Gooooom?

It was Gomtang, holding a salmon in his mouth.

"Huh?"

"What the...?"

We stared at each other awkwardly, processing Gomtang’s unexpected appearance.

"Ricardo."

"Yes."

"Is that a fish too?"

"No, it’s a bear."

"Eek..."

Thus, our first fishing trip ended somewhat successfully.

*

In the shadows of a dimly lit church.

"Haa..."

Elicia wiped the blood off her hands and stared at the man before her, who sat silently, his lips pressed tightly together.

"How are you feeling?"

Her cold voice cut through the still air, but the man didn’t respond. He simply laughed, as if he knew exactly what Elicia wanted.

"Aren’t you afraid?"

"Why would I be?"

"If you apologize sincerely, I can make your death painless."

"Kill me? You, who believed in a false god... you’re going to kill me?"

"..."

Elicia’s eyes darkened, her gaze turning predatory.

"Being this shameless is a sin in itself."

"..."

"Shall we start again? I’ve given you enough time to rest."

The Apostle of Temperance, his hands bound by chains, let out a hollow laugh and spoke to Elicia.

"I have no regrets."

"Is that so."

"I don’t regret killing your family. I don’t regret leading a boring clergyman like you into heresy."

"..."

"You must’ve prayed to your god, right? Begging for your drunk, violent husband to die?"

"..."

"I saved you in exchange for a price. I freed you from that wretched cycle."

Elicia smiled faintly and replied,

"So you’re trying to provoke me into using dark magic."

"..."

"Go ahead."

"..."

"I’m listening. Keep going."

Temperance, his intentions seen through, spat out a chilling threat.

"Can you handle it?"

"..."

"The Pope will find out about your betrayal soon enough."

"..."

"You don’t think the other Apostles will sit idly by, do you?"

"I’m not afraid."

"Haha... you’re just as mad as I thought."

Temperance chuckled bitterly.

"Corrupting a clergyman is always a delight."

"..."

"Few are as suitable for it as you."

Temperance continued speaking without pause, elaborating on the heretics’ interest in Yuria and forewarning of more tragedies like Elicia’s.

"When someone relies deeply on another, the range of corruption grows wider."

"..."

"And for a clergyman who dedicates their life to faith? Even more so."

"..."

"Turning faith into hatred unleashes a flood of talents. How could we not take advantage of that? Don’t you agree?"

Elicia smiled faintly and replied,

"Keep talking."

"..."

"Corruption is my specialty."

"What...?"

Elicia’s smile widened as she added,

"Why are you afraid? You should restrain yourself."

The shadows deepened, swallowing the room in darkness.