The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 157

There are times when you hate someone for no reason.

Because their hair color is the same as the boy left in my hazy memories.

Because I hated seeing him act in ways the boy would never have.

For no reason, I hated him even more.

The boy I remembered was always upright and steadfast. Maybe it was because of my selfish desire for the man, who resembled the boy who vanished like dew, to be as upright as the boy in my memories.

Of course, the man was actually a villain too.

He prioritized personal gain over justice.

Killing over the sanctity of life.

A man who rejected Yuria and committed evil deeds was a villain through and through.

He was someone completely incompatible with me.

A man whose ideology was different from mine, making it impossible for us to mix.

Mikhail, who had unpacked his belongings at the lodging, was sitting on the bed, looking at an old photograph.

-What are you doing alone? Hurry up and come here!

-…I don’t want to take a picture with you guys.

-Shut up and come here already!

Mikhail looked at his wrist.

Mikhail stared at the spot where the boy’s hand had touched when he had begged him to take a picture together.

It felt as if the warmth of that day still lingered on his wrist. The gentle touch of the boy, who had smiled while holding the wrist of someone who couldn’t blend in with the group, seemed to still remain in that spot.

-Here. Smile!

-I don’t want to….

-Smile!

Click.

“…”

Mikhail’s memories were contained in just one old photograph.

The difficult life in the slum.

The image of the boy.

His own younger self.

All of it was captured in one faded, old photograph.

Though it wasn’t a happy memory, Mikhail, who was looking at the photograph that held an unforgettable memory, gave a bitter smile.

“Idiot.”

Mikhail lowered his head as he held the photograph under the moonlight streaming through the window.

‘I’m doing well, right…?’

‘I’m trying my best.’

What would that boy have said to him?

Would he have patted his back, saying he was living righteously, or kicked him in the rear, calling him a fool?

It was all meaningless delusion, but Mikhail wanted to hear the answer to the questions he was asking himself. Even harsh words would be fine—he just wanted to hear the boy’s voice one more time, just once.

Bowing his head and enduring the night, Mikhail hugged the photograph tightly as he tried to fall asleep, hoping he wouldn’t have nightmares this time.

The dark night, where sleep wouldn’t come easily, carried a breeze that fluttered the curtains as it blew in.

About ten minutes passed like that.

-Tap.

A small pebble fell into the lodging through the window.

Mikhail sat up and leaned out the window, curious about who was calling him at such a late hour.

Slowly, Mikhail stuck his white forehead out the window.

“Ack!”

With a dying scream, Mikhail swept his hand over his forehead.

Feeling a sharp pain, Mikhail looked down at the floor of the lodging and spotted a pebble about the size of a fingernail.

It seemed someone outside the window had thrown the pebble at him. While it wasn’t thrown strongly enough to be an ambush or attack, Mikhail was still annoyed.

No matter how good-natured someone might be, getting hit by a pebble for no reason was intolerable.

Holding his stinging forehead, Mikhail looked down out the window.

Wondering who could have done such a thing at this late hour, he slowly leaned his head out, determined to scold them if he caught them.

Mikhail’s expression hardened at the sight of the man’s face outside the window.

“Nice shot…! Oh, I’ve been caught, huh?”

Ricardo, his arms full of pebbles, was waving his hand. Seeing Ricardo wave enthusiastically, as if greeting an old friend, Mikhail let out a deep sigh and reached for his sword.

‘Ricardo…’

The man he hated the most.

The only man in this world Mikhail felt he could kill without guilt was smiling brightly.

*

Inside a quiet restaurant in Hamel.

I looked at Mikhail, who was glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me, and smiled.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Did something unpleasant happen?”

“…Shut up.”

“Such a horrible thing to say…!”

After teasing Mikhail once, I raised my hand and ordered fried chicken bites and a beer from the clerk.

“Mikhail, would you like a beer as well? It’s on me.”

“I’m not drinking.”

“Why not? Nights like this are perfect for having a drink and chatting.”

“Because sitting with you is disgusting. That’s why I’m not drinking.”

“Is that so…? It’s not because I’m a man, right? You’re one of those people crazy about women! Lolicon!”

Mikhail glared at me as if he was about to draw his sword.

With a bitter smile, I told the clerk bringing the beer, “This guy’s personality is just awful. Please understand,” making Mikhail out to be a complete misfit.

The clerk gave an awkward smile.

I left a tip on the table, subtly pressuring the clerk to agree with me. Spending money to isolate Mikhail was worth it.

“Thank you!”

Money really is the best.

Nodding at the clerk’s bright smile, I looked at Mikhail’s stern expression and sneered, “They said you’re a misfit.”

The clerk’s face turned red as a bonus.

Mikhail looked at me with a disdainful expression and said,

“So, what’s your point?”

I felt a pang of disappointment at Mikhail’s stiff demeanor as he sighed deeply and asked me to get to the point.

“When have I ever been someone who only comes to you with requests? I’m just happy to see your face after so long.”

“…At least try to make it sound believable.”

“I’m serious.”

I was upset that Mikhail didn’t understand my feelings.

Well, it’s not like Mikhail was wrong, though.

Erasing my smile, I spoke to Mikhail.

“It’s true that we’re not the kind to have warm conversations.”

“Exactly. Just get to the point.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I looked at Mikhail. It was 9 p.m. now. Late, but not too late.

There was only one reason I had called Mikhail out at this hour.

“I have a favor to ask.”

It was to make a small request.

A request that wouldn’t be difficult for Mikhail, but was of utmost importance and weight to me.

Preparing for a situation that was unlikely to happen but still possible, I sat here now.

At the word “favor,” Mikhail raised an eyebrow and voiced his doubt.

“A favor?”

“It’s not a difficult one.”

“You’re asking me for a favor?”

“Why not? We’ve worked together at the ball before. It hurts to hear you say that.”

“Worked together? You just killed people unilaterally.”

“I had my reasons, you know.”

Mikhail clenched his fist tightly as he spoke. As if trembling with rage, he ground his teeth as an added gesture.

I kept my mouth shut in the face of Mikhail’s anger. Saying anything more would probably only result in a lecture.

“Reasons…? Do you think that makes any sense?! Fifty people… Fifty. That’s how many you killed back then…”

“Let’s stop this.”

“Stop what? I haven’t even started yet.”

“Mikhail, you know as well as I do that talking to me about this won’t change anything.”

“Son of a b*…”

Shaking my head at Mikhail’s tedious moral philosophy, I cut him off. We weren’t sitting here to have this kind of dull conversation.

I didn’t want to see the Lolicon’s face, and Mikhail probably didn’t want to see another man’s face either. With a bitter smile, I spoke to Mikhail.

“I’ll be straightforward.”

“Hurry up and say it.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I spoke.

“Please don’t come to our estate.”

Mikhail furrowed his brows, his expression saying, ‘Why would I even go there?’ Oddly comforted by the disgust written plainly on his face, I continued with what I had to say.

“As you know, the relationship between you and us is the worst. Even more so with the Young Lady.”

“That’s something you brought upon yourselves.”

“That’s why I’m asking. Please don’t come.”

“Even if you didn’t ask, I wasn’t planning to go to that place. Who knows what Olivia might do again.”

Erasing the smile from my face at Mikhail’s disparaging words about the Young Lady, I responded in a cold voice.

“Watch your words, Mikhail.”

“…”

“You’re not in a position to speak so carelessly.”

A brief silence followed before Mikhail, with a stern expression, found a blind spot in the conversation and spoke.

“You’re asking me not to meet Olivia. Is that it?”

“If possible, I’m asking for it for a lifetime.”

“Ha.”

Mikhail grabbed the sword leaning against the desk and stood up. Without even glancing at the food being served, his steps as he rose were resolute.

“You won’t have to worry about such things.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I don’t want to get involved with you all ever again.”

Watching Mikhail leave with heavy footsteps, I waved my hand.

“Take care on your way back.”

-Plod.

-Plod.

-Plod.

Before stepping out the door, Mikhail stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and spoke to me.

“I have one request too.”

“Of course.”

“Don’t try anything strange during this field training.”

“…”

“And.”

Opening the door roughly, Mikhail spoke.

“No matter what happens, don’t interfere with me. It’s disgusting.”

I didn’t respond to Mikhail’s words. I simply fiddled with my beer glass in silence, a faint smile playing on my lips.

After Mikhail left.

Left alone, I sipped my beer and muttered softly.

“That might be difficult.”

It seemed impossible to grant Mikhail’s request. After all, it was an issue I couldn’t overlook as a Possessor.

And.

For old times’ sake, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

-Creak.

The moment Mikhail left, the guests inside the store pushed back their chairs and stood up.

They had no intention of paying before leaving. The clerk, flustered by their behavior, darted nervous glances at them. I handed the clerk a tip, signaling for them to leave.

Watching the clerk hurriedly vacate the area, I placed my beer glass on the table with a sharp ‘clink.’

Noticing the awkward movements of the unwelcome guests who seemed intent on following Mikhail, I addressed them in a low voice.

“Sit down.”

“If you don’t want to die.”

*

The spot where Ricardo had been throwing stones at Mikhail.

“…”

In the damp alleyway, dozens of heretics lay dead, their bodies strewn across the ground.