The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Chapter 8: The Villainess Who Wants to Attend the Academy

After Hanna had left, it was just Olivia and me remaining in the room.

I welcombed the evening while stroking the sleeping Olivia's hair.

Today was eventful.

There was a fight with Ruin, and Hanna had come to keep Olivia company before she took her leave.

It seemed like a taxing day by all accounts.

It was tough and exhausting, yet, there was an element of fun to it.

"Did you have fun?"

I asked this while gently stroking the sleeping Olivia's head.

"Hmm… Hmm… Michail…"

I wanted to slap her for such a foolhardy look while she called for Michail in her dream, but I could be understanding today of all days. She must be tired and had her share of amusement, too.

I had the chance to observe a wide range of Olivia's expressions.

Hanna's face was a spectacle when she got excited.

– When senior Michail used a physical enhancement spell in the faction battle and instantly moved behind senior Ruin to slash his sword, ‘swoosh'.

– Oh…!

– It was so cool I almost fell for him, really.

– Oh… Ohhh…!

– Ah… What am I doing?

Hanna became more excited and fervent as she spoke of Michail, and then as the story ended, she sighed ‘Ah…' realizing she had gotten carried away. It was a nice sight.

But Olivia was my only concern.

Normally she couldn't help herself when it came to stories about Michail, yet today she had a vague expression as she listened to Hanna's tales. She looked like someone unsure whether they enjoyed the taste of mint chocolate or not.

[Desmond Olivia Lv. 0.5]

[Occupation: Unemployed]

[Favorability: 50]

[Favorite Conversation Topics: Michail/Academy]

[Least Favorite Conversation Topics: Michail]

Thankfully, there was no change in favorability.

But I noticed that something was amiss.

I pondered while looking at her level of favorability.

‘The Academy… Is that it?'

Today's purpose of their visit was about academy readmission. Not for the young lady, but my readmission.

I couldn't figure out why.

The young lady has more talent than I do.

If you ask me whether I wanted to return to school, I would, of course, want to reply ‘yes.'

I wanted to go back; to witness the main girl and guy cuddling up and considering the future, graduating from the academy would benefit my life much more.

There's so much to learn.

Connections to be made.

In so many ways, it would be advantageous, except…

"Snore… Cool… Kooh…"

I couldn't imagine leaving behind the villainess who could do nothing without me.

Leaving Olivia in someone else's care was unimaginable. Honestly, I believed that if it were not for me, there was no other to look after Olivia.

Sometimes she gets angry.

Sometimes she is so upset that she cries.

Sometimes she laughs out of sheer vexation.

She’s not a bad person, but her excessive honesty seems to draw more disdain than fondness from others.

I playfully pinched the nose of the deeply sleeping villainess.

"Huh… COUGH… Air raid warning…!"

"Pffft…!"

The villainess frowned.

She was so cute it was maddening.

How on earth had I become entangled with Olivia?

I had wanted to avoid this villainess at all costs.

I couldn't fathom why I was behaving this way around a villainess who met the most terrible and vile end in the novel.

It must have been that first encounter.

Her frowning face brought back memories of the days I lived in the slum.

On the day I became possessed, not understanding anything, I misbehaved and got smacked around plenty.

By thugs who came to collect protection money.

By the bakery owner.

By the nobles.

Being new to begging, I got beaten by the thugs for falling short on protection money. My lack of dexterity in hands had me getting caught stealing bread frequently, earning me beatings from the bakery owner. And when I was unlucky, I would get beaten by nobles without cause.

It was my first experience of getting hit for no reason; I was flabbergasted.

Perhaps due to my past life in a world where democracy was a given, my unyielding spirit of freedom completely broke my character.

I got hit every day.

And every day, I fought back.

Three times more than I got hit.

It might seem excessive, but what could I do? I was angry.

-Fuck. Life's just shitty!

While screaming against life’s injustice, I met Olivia. Just how frightened had I been when a noble young lady in a lavish dress came striding towards me? Does Olivia have any idea?

-Be quiet! You beggar!

-Hey, little kid, what is it?

At that time, of course, neither of us saw anything but red.

-Did you just call me a little kid?

-Then who else is here, brat?

-Eeeeek!!!

Victory was mine.

The years of scrabbling around in the slums and the street fights from my previous life had crafted me into a winner. The fight against the young lady, accustomed to yanking out the hair of countless other noble young ladies at social events, was not easy, but I came out on top.

The lady's eyes widened.

Her face screaming with a sense of injustice.

Amusingly, she did not cry.

– You, I'm going to kill you.

– Pff. Go back and drink more of your mother’s milk.

– You go drink it!

– I… I don't have a mother.

– Uh… Th-th! Here, take some money and buy yourself something!

That’s how I grew close to the lady.

It wasn't a normal encounter.

Becoming friends through fighting, we weren’t fools. But that’s how Olivia and I became friends, through such foolish acts.

-You're here again today?

-Yes! I'll beat you terribly today.

-Pff.

The villainess who came every day.

And me, I didn't hold back and really roughed up the noble young lady.

-You little scoundrel!

-Little scoundrel~

-Stop copying me!

-Stop copying me~

-Grrr… Grrr…

-Don't cry. I'm sorry.

Thinking about it now, I was crazy back then. A commoner brawling with a noble young lady was an offense punishable by immediate execution. But the lady forgave it all.

To the bodyguards who came to break us up, she yelled, "Don't you dare touch this bastard! If you do, I'll kill you!" Neither the bodyguards nor the maids were able to break up our fight.

They all knew what her temper was like.

Perhaps that’s why; even after our fights, the bodyguard didn’t bother me. Instead, he secretly slipped me some money, asking me to go easy on her.

Anyway. That's how we became close friends.

Then, when I was really about to die.

-You… just come and live at my house.

The lady saved me.

The lady is both my friend and savior. That’s probably why I am so concerned about her and can't bring myself to leave her behind.

"Rumble…"

The lady had a good sleep. Ever since she was young, she slept so soundly that it could be considered a problem. It seems that the saying ‘a beauty needs her sleep' is true after all.

‘She's sleeping quite peacefully.'

I checked her favorability again. Her favorite topics of conversation had increased.

‘The Academy…'

I recalled the way Olivia had evaded the subject earlier.

-Do you want to return to the Academy?

-Uh… What? No?

Her expression was one of genuine panic. Now, as then, she had no talent for lying.

I knew it. She longed for the Academy. After serving her for 13 years, it would be strange if I had failed to notice the desires of the young lady's heart.

But I had to deliberately ignore it.

Because there was nothing I could do. She had already been expelled from the Academy.

With her reputation at rock bottom, returning to the Academy was not a good option.

The lady wasn't foolish enough not to know this. She had to be aware that she could be ostracized or live a life even worse than not attending at all.

Nevertheless, it seemed she still wanted to go to the Academy.

-Uh…

The sound of her regretful voice still lingered in my ears.

I looked again at the lady, sound asleep. Even when I pinched her cheek, she didn't wake up.

"Ooh…"

She just made silly noises.

I pinched her cheek and asked her again.

"Do you want to go to the Academy?"

"Mmm… Mhm."

Half-asleep, the young lady had candidly responded with her true feelings.

A smirk formed on my lips. I felt foolish for even wondering. After all, there's nothing impossible for a possessor.

‘I should do something.'

I pulled out a small card that I had tucked away.

"Histania Hanna."

It was a business card given to me by Lady Hanna of the Histania family.

She had told me that if I ever needed to earn some pocket money to come by, as their family runs a small knightly order where temporary work could yield a decent amount of cash.

I stroked the lady's hair and got up.

***

The preparations were completed by 9 a.m.

I quietly borrowed the sword Olivia had bought for Michail and secured a small dagger to my belt.

I set aside the usual butler attire and instead donned my active wear, indulging in self-admiration as I looked in the mirror.

‘Oh… even I have to admit, I look good.'

The lady asked me with a blank look in her eyes.

"Where are you going?"

"To earn some money."

"Money?"

The lady looked utterly puzzled as numerous question marks appeared above her head. I kindly explained our household's financial status.

"Don't you want to eat meat?"

"I do."

"Then we need to earn some money, right?"

"We don't have any money?"

"We're broke."

Finally understanding our dire straits with an ‘Ah', the lady vigorously nodded her head and posed another question.

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm off to hunt some monsters."

"Monsters?"

The villainess fell into deep thought.

The lady then pointed to the desk.

"Give me that."

I picked up the paper and pen from the desk.

"This?"

"Yes."

The lady rapidly scribbled down some words.

Her calligraphy was as artistic as one would expect from a once-prominent noble. There’s no way I could write that beautifully. My handwriting is so unique that no one can imitate it—and not in a good way.

While I was admiring the artistry of the lady's penmanship, her masterpiece was already complete.

She thrust the paper towards me proudly.

"Here."

Hope shone in her face as she offered the paper.

My heart swelled.

I thought she had written a protective charm for her butler going off to do dangerous work. I took the paper, fighting back tears of emotion.

I looked at it and let out a dumbfounded ‘eh'.

[Things I want to eat]

Meat.

Ice cream.

Apples.

Chocolate.

The spicy rice cake dish you used to make.

The paper was a list for the lady's binge-eating.

As ever, she defied expectations.

The lady's gambits were always surprising beyond my predictions. Nonetheless, I put the endearing shopping list in my chest pocket because I liked the cute handwriting.

"I'll skip the chocolate."

"Ah."

Blank-faced Olivia seemed short-circuited by my blunt refusal. I couldn't help but laugh brightly at her reaction.

"Instead, I'll buy you some candy."

Olivia's eyes widened. I turned from her and opened the door.

"Um…"

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

Olivia waved her hand at me.