The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 156

Hamel’s Carriage Stop.

-Alright… Focus! I’m going to explain today’s schedule, so…

-Orc Slaying on.

-What are you going to do during free time? If you don’t have plans, let’s drink in our room.

-Be quiet! Ahem. First, today’s schedule is to unpack at the lodging and then have free time. The actual field training starts tomorrow, so… Hey, stop chatting and listen!

I ignored the Student Council President’s loud shouting that echoed in my eardrums and glanced around, searching for a secluded area.

‘Why am I even here?’

I let out a deep sigh and scratched my head.

‘Haa…’

The incident began with Hans’ casual report.

-With Histania Malik as the guide…

At the time, I thought it had nothing to do with me. I figured there was no reason for someone like me, practically a dropout under the guise of a student on leave, to be involved with the Academy.

It was a hassle to get tangled up in anything.

And they wouldn’t want to get involved with me either. I assumed there wouldn’t be any overlap. What happened during the ball was unavoidable. Let’s move on.

As you know, the current third-year students, namely Yuria’s friends, were my peers at the Academy.

Though my time at the Academy was brief, the guys who endured the Young Lady’s tantrums and me, the walking disaster, didn’t like me.

They were the ones who drove me out, after all.

I didn’t think they were wrong. We did something wrong, and it was only natural to face the consequences. That’s why I thought there would be no connection with the Academy, but…

‘Damn.’

I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.

‘What can I do? If the Patron tells me to go, I have to go.’

-Hey, Ricardo.

-Yes, Brother.

-Sorry for dropping by suddenly, but can you handle something for me? I think I need to check out a newly opened store.

-Brother, what exactly is your job?

-The Imperial Knights’ Order.

-…Haha. Anyway, I don’t think I can handle that task.

-I haven’t even told you what it is yet…

-It’s Academy-related, isn’t it?

-100,000 gold.

-I decided not to get involved with the Academy, so no thanks.

-200,000 gold.

-I’m sorry. I’m not someone who sells my precious time for money. Besides, I promised the Young Lady we’d make pizza next week…

-I didn’t want to resort to this.

A week ago, Malik suddenly visited the estate and pulled a thick bundle of papers from his jacket pocket, shoving it firmly into my hand.

[Friends of Forest. 100 Advance Reservation Tickets.]

-Hmm?

-It’s not free.

-Still, I value my time…

-I’ll give it to you for free.

Unable to resist the temptation of a free meal, I happily shook Malik’s hand.

-If it’s a request from you, Brother, I’ll do it without compensation.

-Then I’ll take that as you don’t need it…

-Boss, this is putting me in a tough spot.

Recalling the Young Lady’s smiling face as she tucked the meal vouchers into her treasure pouch, I shed tears of joy.

-Hiiiik! Ricardo, you’re amazing!

-I know.

-So capable! I’ll give you some chocolate!

-I believe you’ve already eaten all the chocolate I gave you today…

-Eeeek…!

‘Well, I guess it’ll be fine.’

I sat on a nearby bench, glancing at Mikhail as he got off the carriage with Yuria.

This Episode revolves around Mikhail.

It begins with a conflict with heretics during the subjugation of orcs.

In this Episode, Mikhail starts to openly express his hostility toward heretics.

‘As long as I don’t mess with Mikhail, it should be fine.’

If I just guide them properly, there won’t be any responsibility falling back on me. All I have to do is help the students if they’re in danger, so I resolved to work with a light heart.

‘Haa…’

I don’t want to work.

As I basked in the warm sunshine of spring, soaking it in like photosynthesis…

“Butler!”

A familiar voice reached my ears.

A girl’s voice, as bright as spring itself.

At the clear and upright tone of the girl, I slowly lifted my bowed head and greeted her with a bright smile.

“Miss Hanna.”

“Hehe…”

Histania Hanna.

Hanna, whom I had briefly met during the ball, was looking at me while carrying a heavy bag on her back.

Despite the bag seeming larger than her body, Hanna’s bright expression and smile were infectious, making me smile as well.

I gestured for Hanna to sit by offering her the seat next to me on the bench.

Hanna hesitated as she set down her bag, then sat beside me, staring at me with a shy smile.

“It’s been a while, Butler!”

“Yes, it has been a while.”

“You’re still as handsome as ever.”

“I know.”

“…Aren’t you supposed to deny it in situations like this?”

“Being overly modest can be annoying, you know.”

Hanna gave an ambiguous smile at my confident tone and muttered to herself, “That’s why you’re so cool…”

As I chatted with Hanna about recent events, I noticed a familiar green-haired head unloading luggage from the carriage and voiced my curiosity.

“It’s Green Head, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hanna didn’t react much to the nickname “Green Head” and accepted it naturally.

It seemed Hanna also had her grievances with Ruin.

Nodding to myself, I lowered my evaluation of the green-haired head.

Ruin’s face looked dark.

It was the darkest expression I’d ever seen on him. The worry of losing his talent and the stress from his strained relationship with Yuria were evident on his face. I looked at him with interest and asked Hanna.

“How is he doing?”

Hanna let out a deep sigh and shook her head.

“Not well.”

Seeing Ruin trudging along weakly less than a week into the new semester reminded me of the mantis I’d seen on Hamel Mountain, evoking a strange sense of kinship.

I wondered if that creature was doing well.

Though I felt a sudden urge to visit, I decided against it, wishing the insect a long life, knowing how prone they are to sudden death.

Hanna propped her chin on her hand and stared at Ruin.

Unlike when she first came to the estate with Ruin and showed respect for her senior, her expression now openly questioned, “Why is he even alive?” Her unfiltered gaze made me chuckle.

‘See, you should’ve done better.’

Hanna slowly opened her mouth.

“Senior Ruin is drifting at school. He skips classes often, waits in Yuria’s classroom only to be ignored, and keeps repeating the same cycle of going back to her.”

“An abandoned green head, huh.”

“Exactly. But he doesn’t realize what he did wrong. It’s something that could be resolved with an apology, yet he foolishly keeps doing the same thing, running into walls. His temper has gotten worse too.”

“Hmm… It’s consistent, which makes it even more unpleasant.”

Hanna turned her head to look at me. At her emotional question, asking if I felt sorry for Ruin, I let out a chuckle and shook my head.

“No.”

I was able to hear a lot from Hanna.

That the students who came to Hamel weren’t all the second- and third-years from the Academy, but rather selected top-performing students.

And that she was grouped with Mikhail and Yuria, though she wore a reluctant expression as she shared this.

In the novel, it was Mikhail, Ruin, and Yuria who were in the same group.

Perhaps this is for the better.

I silently watched Ruin unloading the luggage and thought to myself.

Considering Ruin’s current state, he was of no help. His strength was far too lacking to survive conflicts with heretics, so perhaps it was fortunate that Hanna ended up in Mikhail’s party.

Nodding, I focused on Hanna’s words, and as Princess Chartia’s voice calling the Academy students reached us, we waved our hands to bid farewell.

Before joining her group, Hanna stammered as she spoke.

“Um… Will the butler also be staying at our lodging?”

At Hanna’s hesitant question, I gave an awkward smile and shook my head.

“No. The Young Lady dislikes staying out overnight.”

“I see…”

With a disappointed expression, Hanna lowered her head, slung her heavy bag over her back, and slowly walked toward the other students.

‘I guess it’s about time for me to head out too.’

Watching the students as they began to wrap things up, I slowly started walking toward them.

The green sprouts of the Academy, staring at me as I approached them.

-That’s Ricardo, isn’t it?

-I think so. But why is he here?

-No way… Seriously?

At the murmurs of students marveling at my handsome face, I nodded my head.

Familiar faces I hadn’t seen in a while.

Most of the students looked at me as if they wanted to tear me apart, while the second-year students stared at me as if they were seeing a villain straight out of legend.

With my hands in my pockets, I observed the students.

Listening to their uneasy chatter, I silently counted to myself—one, two, three—and slowly closed my eyes.

‘One Inquisitor, about three faithfuls, I’d guess.’

Matching the information from the novel to the current situation, I nodded as I stretched my neck.

“Ahem. Nice to meet you all. I’ll be your guide to the Orc Habitat this time. My name is Ricardo.”

-Is this for real?

-No way…! Why is he here?

-Is he insane?

In the midst of the intense reactions, three faces with trembling eyes caught my attention.

Mikhail.

Ruin.

Yuria.

The persistent bad karma that bound us seemed to cast a shadow of negativity over our relationship.

Mikhail looked at me with disgust.

Yuria with friendship.

Ruin with hatred.

I ignored their gazes lightly and began to speak, fulfilling my role as a guide.

Since I was hired, I had to do my job properly.

“It’s nice to see so many familiar faces.”

-What is he talking about?

-Exactly. Should we report this to the Student Council President?

-Let’s do that. He’s just another student, so why is he a guide?

-But at the ball…

-Hey! That was concluded to be Princess Chartia’s magic, remember?

“Please don’t curse at me. I feel the same way as you all. Even though I’d love to exchange harsh words since we won’t be seeing each other for long…”

Looking at Princess Chartia’s stern expression, I forced an awkward smile.

“That wouldn’t be very polite, now would it?”

A relieved sigh escaped from Princess Chartia. I smiled at her and slowly began to deliver the words I had prepared.

“From now on, I am your guide. I will lead you to your lodging and to the vicinity of Hamel Mountain Range’s mid-slope, where your field training will take place. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“If you call me outside of work hours, I will, of course, refuse. And if you curse at me, I’ll make sure to bury you in a sunny place.”

As I delivered my speech, which carried the meaning of setting clear boundaries, the students’ expressions grew even sterner.

“Why are you all making such faces…? It’s just a joke.”

As expected, kids these days don’t seem to like jokes like this. With a bitter smile, I held up three fingers and showed them.

“There are just three things I’d like to ask of you.”

-First.

No matter what happens, do not leave the designated zone. If you do, the guide will not be held responsible for any consequences.

-Second.

If you judge the situation to be dangerous, run away.

-Third.

Follow the guide’s instructions without question.

In a humble voice, I spoke to them. Naturally, the response I received was…

“Get lost!”

“Why the hell is that crazy bastard here?!”

“Why should I listen to you?!”

A fierce rejection.

With a smile, I looked at them. Then, with my hands in my pockets and a bright smile, I said.

“Shut up. This isn’t the Academy.”