The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 146

The Red Thunder pouring down on the heretics showed no signs of stopping.

Once at Hans.

“Kraaah…! What the hell is that monster?!”

Twice at the Archbishop of Blasphemy.

“What is that monster…?!”

And three times at Ruin, reigning over the battlefield.

“Damn bastard…!”

“Sorry. I had to balance things out.”

The Red Thunder rained down, separating the heretics from the students who had lost their will to fight. The relentless thunder devastated the heretics.

The Red Lightning was fundamentally different from the commonly known Electric Magic.

-Rumble…

In terms of power.

In terms of the speed at which the magic was constructed.

It overcame the inherent weaknesses of the electric attribute.

Commonly known Electric Magic took significantly longer to cast compared to other types of magic.

The very concept of ‘electricity’ was difficult for the inhabitants of Another World to visualize, and applying it required considerable time.

Although it possessed explosive power, the attribute had clear drawbacks. However, such limitations did not exist for the red-haired wizard.

Because he was someone from a world where electricity was commonplace and had learned how to use mana efficiently from novels.

Ricardo was driving them into a corner, demonstrating an overwhelming difference in skill.

Whenever Ricardo snapped his fingers, the falling crimson thunderbolts repeatedly struck to suffocate the heretics.

“Was magic always this easy?”

Ricardo threw a light smile, mocking them.

*

Hans’s mind was in turmoil.

A significant error had occurred in the meticulously progressing plan.

For Hans, who had orchestrated everything, Ricardo’s involvement was an unforeseen variable.

He never imagined that Ricardo, who was in Hamel, would attend the Academy Banquet, nor did he think Ricardo would recognize Yuria.

He had planned to isolate Yuria, who had lost her beauty, in a secluded place and kidnap her when no one was around. But with Ricardo’s appearance, everything began to fall apart.

There were plenty of fools blinded by jealousy, making them easy to manipulate.

Yet, the guy who possessed overwhelming martial arts compared to his peers and concealed countless secrets was once again disrupting his plans.

Everything had gone according to plan until Ricardo arrived….

Like a well-spun thread unraveling, he had even felt a thrill watching Ruin torment Yuria more severely than expected.

He had considered delaying the plan, revealing Yuria’s magic in front of Ruin, just to see Ruin’s reaction when he learned the identity of the woman he had ignored or when Yuria coldly rebuked him with a contemptuous expression. But everything was ruined by that monster’s arrival.

The smoothly unraveling thread became tangled and knotted repeatedly due to that monster’s appearance, eventually turning into an immovable knot.

‘To deal with that monster…. We’d need the Archbishop of Despair. No, maybe even an Apostle-level figure.’

He thought it was just someone skilled with a sword, but what the hell is that guy?

Hans stared at Ricardo, who calmly unleashed magic, feeling a surge of nausea.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one thinking this way.

The Archbishop of Blasphemy, who was clashing with Mikhail, also glanced at Ricardo with a hollow laugh, as if in disbelief, and even his close friend was watching Ricardo with a stern expression.

“What the…”

The voice of his friend, steeped in despair, reached his ears.

“What the hell is that bastard?”

*

Ruin looked down at his hands and let out a hollow laugh. Compared to Ricardo, who effortlessly unleashed magic, all he could do was create more Fireballs than others.

Not only was he envious to death of the unique attribute called ‘Thunder,’ but seeing Ricardo wield that magic as naturally as breathing filled Ruin with a deep inferiority complex.

Even if he used the secret technique taught by the Tower Master, he felt he couldn’t defeat that guy.

Ruin’s confidence stemmed from the secret technique the Tower Master had taught him. The unique magic created by the Tower Master was known only to the two of them.

He had thought that with it, he could defeat anyone, but seeing Ricardo, Ruin was slowly admitting that such thoughts had been sheer arrogance.

He had known, but not to this extent.

Taking even magic away from him was just too much.

As Ruin stared at his trembling hands, a black orb began rapidly approaching him.

Without even the sound of a ‘whoosh,’ the orb approached to choke him. Ruin barely managed to dodge it and looked ahead.

“Hans…!”

“Ruin.”

Hans loosened his wrist as he walked toward Ruin.

Since he couldn’t achieve his goal of kidnapping Yuria, Hans decided to at least satisfy his personal desires.

Hans thought that if he could seize Ruin’s unique magic, the ‘Fire Script,’ which he had failed to take last time, it would be a worthwhile trade. Without hesitation, Hans began pouring magic at Ruin.

For some reason, Ricardo didn’t seem inclined to help Ruin.

For reasons unknown, Ricardo was merely standing still, offering magical support in front of Yuria and Hanna. Moreover, the Archbishop of Blasphemy was keeping Ricardo in check.

Taking advantage of the Archbishop of Blasphemy holding Ricardo back, Hans aimed to secure at least some gains.

Hans used magic to create a gust of wind, closing in on Ruin.

“Get a grip, Ruin.”

-Squelch. A chilling sound of rupture echoed.

“Kraaah…!”

The black orb created by Hans struck Ruin squarely in the chest.

Hans’s attack reverberated through the banquet hall, leaving Ruin coughing and clutching his chest. Hans pressed into Ruin’s space again and spoke.

“We’re in the middle of a battle right now.”

“…Ugh. Get a grip yourself, Hans!”

“Stop spouting nonsense and focus.”

-Squelch…!

Ruin was slammed into the banquet hall wall, covered in dust. With no time to feel shame in front of the many students, Ruin focused all his energy on defending against Hans’s relentless magic.

“You’re nothing. You’re not as strong as Ricardo, and you’re weaker than me.”

“I can beat a weakling like you. Shut up.”

“Hahaha! Ruin, you’re hilarious. You could be a comedian.”

Hans smiled as he shot a black awl at Ruin.

“I used to think you were amazing, you know? Your magic was impressive, and your learning speed was extraordinary. I was so jealous and thought you were incredible, but….”

Hans’s mocking laughter pricked at Ruin’s ears.

“You’re truly hopeless, aren’t you?”

The sound of Ruin grinding his teeth reached Hans’s ears. Hans felt delighted by the sight of Ruin’s eyes, burning with rage, as if he would charge at him any moment.

Though the plan had failed, he could still toy with Ruin.

“You couldn’t even see through the magic and insulted Yuria.”

“I told you to shut up.”

“You dared to challenge Ricardo out of misplaced pride and got utterly crushed.”

“Keep running your mouth, and I’ll sew it shut.”

“And now, without understanding the situation, you’re just flapping your mouth like…!”

Hans’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.

“It’s pathetic, isn’t it? Don’t you think?”

“You son of a bitch!”

Whoosh. Flames grazed Hans’s cheek. Feeling the heat of his friend’s fiery anger, Hans smiled with interest and unleashed more magic at Ruin.

The playful exchange of attacks was now over.

There was nothing more to say to Ruin.

He wanted to taunt him a bit more, to torment him further, but it seemed the Archbishop of Blasphemy wouldn’t hold out much longer.

-Haaaah!

-Mikhail, stop messing around and watch your blind spot.

-Hah!

-And stop making those weird shouts.

-Ugh…! Just shut up!

-Shut up and look ahead.

The Archbishop of Blasphemy’s Dark Magic, poured out with all his might to kill Ricardo, had no effect on him. Seeing the Archbishop panting heavily, Hans realized time was running out.

Even in the midst of battle, Mikhail was rapidly growing stronger, and Histania Hanna, who had been standing behind Ricardo, was slowly gathering her aura to join the fight.

Hans guessed that if those two joined forces, Bibang wouldn’t last even ten minutes.

That’s why.

Hans thought it was time to put an end to this accursed karma.

“Ruin. I’ve always envied you.”

Ruin, unable to withstand Hans’s onslaught of Dark Magic, was slammed against the wall, gasping for air. His entire body was drenched in blood, and he gritted his teeth in frustration, feeling the overwhelming difference in power.

“Damn… Damn…!!!”

Hans, feeling burdened by Ruin’s glaring eyes, kicked him in the head.

‘Thwack.’ The sound of a rupture echoed.

Looking at Ruin’s slumped shoulders, Hans wore a bitter expression.

“We’re both orphans, but you were always so great, and I was always so pathetic.”

“…Cough… Cough.”

“It pissed me off so much, seeing how the Tower Master adored you and how your friends accepted you even when you acted like a dog.”

“You felt the same, didn’t you…”

“Bullshit.”

Hans grabbed Ruin’s hair roughly and said,

“Ruin, people need to know humility.”

“…”

“If you were lucky enough to be taken in by the Tower Master, you should’ve lived quietly. We had the same worthless lives, so you shouldn’t have looked down on me.”

“I…”

“Shut up. I know you’re about to spew more bullshit about how you didn’t.”

Hans stomped on Ruin’s face and slowly placed his hand on Ruin’s body. It was Dark Magic that stole the opponent’s magic, understanding everything about them.

It was his own magic.

The ultimate Dark Magic that allowed him to surpass Ruin once again exuded an ominous energy, tightening around Ruin’s throat.

“Why don’t you try living without that precious magic of yours for once.”

“What are you doing…”

Ruin spoke in a trembling voice. Shaking with foreboding, Ruin grabbed Hans’s hand, but Hans brushed it off and said,

“What do you think I’m doing.”

A red orb slowly emerged from Ruin’s body.

Hans, his eyes filled with greed, stared at the orb and replied,

“I’m taking away what you cherish the most.”

With Hans’s words, Ruin’s vision went dark.

And then.

“Are you finished?”

Ricardo’s figure loomed before Hans, standing atop the Archbishop of Blasphemy’s corpse.

Hans pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

“Damn.”

*

In the banquet hall, after everything had ended.

Malik, who had arrived as a member of the Imperial Knights’ Order, sighed as he looked at the chaotic banquet hall.

“So, what exactly happened here?”

Sitting atop the corpse in a white cleric robe, I gave Malik an awkward smile as he stared at me in disbelief.

“Surprise?”

“Ha…”

Malik looked at me, his face weary, and said,

“Whose name should I use to explain this time?”

“I like how quick you are to the point, Brother.”

“Don’t call me Brother, you monster.”

“Monster? That’s a bit harsh. It hurts my feelings, you know.”

I smiled as I looked at the fallen Mikhail.

“Let’s go with Mikhail this time.”