Head Butler of the Fallen Villainess-Chapter 87 : 19th Days (9) | The Butler and The Thief (4)

Sebastian parried that one single dagger thrust to his liver before delivering a devastating swing that cut through Vivian's—

"Okay~! I will~!"

She dodged his counter swing—! Her body twisted in an inhuman motion!

"…Damnit."

Sebastian could only grow annoyed at every failed attempt of his.

And now, their bout would only reset once more, like a constant dance of death, the limit being whoever let their guard down for a single fatal mistake.

And for those who could only witness their true extent—

Martha, the knight with aspiring potential, stood at the sidelines, her hands clenched into fists.

"…Absurd…" she muttered under her breath, watching in sheer disbelief—witnessing the true prowess of two 'supposedly' S-Rank Adventurers.

"Martha…?"

Anastasia, whom the knight was currently supporting alongside Bella, called, trying to catch her attention.

Neither Anastasia nor Bella could follow the intense battle unfolding in the enclosed, box-walled region belonging to the redhead lord.

The sheer speed… the overwhelming force… it was beyond what the two non-combatants could comprehend.

So the red-haired mistress turned to the one closest in strength to these… two almost inhuman warriors.

"Martha… can you tell what's going on? What is happening with Sebas…?"

"…"

But the knight only pursed her lips.

She was unable to speak—unable to properly describe the battle before her.

However, for Anastasia herself, her knight's silence alone was more than enough of an answer.

She quickly understood. It was simply too absurd to put into words.

So… she chose to focus her sight back on the battle before her… no matter how blurred it was in her own eyes…

And she chose to pray…

To pray for his safety… for his life…

—Returning to the intense battle itself—

Another dagger strike was parried by the butler, followed by another attempt to strike down the thief. But alas, she continued to dodge his counters with practiced ease.

However—

The thief's grin widened all of a sudden.

Because she had noticed it from the very beginning of their deadly clash.

"Holding back, are we~?" she mused, ducking under another counter slash, her footwork barely making a sound against the dirt. "If you were serious, this whole place would be a crater by now~."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. He had no words for her—only the quiet, simmering annoyance in his gaze.

Because she wasn't wrong.

He was holding back.

If he let loose, Anastasia's land wouldn't survive the aftermath.

And as her butler, that was simply unacceptable.

"Hehe~, you're going to regret that~!"

Vivi took full advantage of his restraint—!

Her speed suddenly turned erratic, her movements unnatural, a blur of illusion and misdirection—!

One moment, she was in front of him—the next, she was at his flank! A split second later, behind him!

Her afterimages flickered in and out of reality, her daggers coming dangerously close to slipping past his guard.

Then—

A sharp sting!

A thin, crimson line appeared on Sebastian's cheek!

Vivi's eyes widened in delight as she distanced herself from him… admiring her handiwork.

"Ohhh~! Is that blood?! Yes~! Finally~!"

Vivi twirled on her heel, laughter escaping her lips, as if she had just won the grandest prize!

She continued her celebration, spinning both of her daggers between her fingers, her movements carrying a playful rhythm—like a dancer reveling in her victory.

"Ahaha~, I never thought today would be the day I'd see you bleed, Sebastian~."

She pivoted mid-dance, throwing him a mischievous glance, her eyes alight with wicked glee.

"You always wore that big, clunky armor back then. The only blood I ever saw on you was from the monsters we slaughtered together. But this—"

She licked her lips, her grin curling with satisfaction.

"—This is different~."

Sebastian himself... could only exhale sharply. It wasn't pain that registered in his mind, but irritation.

Vivi was enjoying this far too much.

Still, she wasn't done. Not yet.

"Let me see more…"

In a single heartbeat, she vanished from his sight—! Appearing just behind him—!

"Let me see more of your blood, Sebastian~!!!"

—her dagger poised for the back of his neck!

'Victory.'

Or so she thought.

Because the moment her blade was about to pierce his flesh—

Sebastian disappeared—!

A surge of mana exploded in the air, his form vanishing like mist.

And before Vivi could even react—

He was already behind her.

"…Ah."

She managed to see it on the edge of her vision.

His calm, unreadable expression. His effortless precision. His sheer, unshaken presence.

She had never once doubted his power.

But this—

This was a clear reminder.

"...I guess you really are holding back on me."

Sebastian raised his blade, coated with intense mana.

The Sonic Thief… could only brace herself, a smirk still playing on her lips even as she prepared to meet her fate—

But the strike never came.

Instead—

Clank.

His sword dropped to the ground.

"…Huh?"

Before Vivi could even process it, his hands had already seized her wrists, his grip like iron. A sharp twist—her daggers fell from her grasp!

Clank. Clank.

In an instant, she was completely restrained, held in place with no room to escape.

"…Tch, you big softie~," Vivi huffed in annoyance before testing his hold on her wrists. "Ugh... aagh! You know—! If you wanted to hold my hands so badly, you could've just asked~!"

Sebastian's brow twitched, his irritation far more genuine than her feigned one. "Don't test me, Vivian."

"Oh? What are you gonna do, Mr. Gentleman Butler?" she teased, her smile turning sly.

Even while restrained, she couldn't help herself.

She playfully struggled in his hold, pretending to act like some helpless damsel in distress.

"Are you going to punish me? Maybe you're going to push me down and—!"

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

Her words were cut off—

Because in the next moment—

"Eh?"

Her vision was rotated and turned upside down.

Then—

Boom!

Sebastian… had suplexed her into the ground with the force of a falling boulder!

Dirt and dust shot up from the impact alone…

And as the dust finally cleared, there was Vivi herself… partially buried in the dirt, limbs twitching, a dazed expression frozen on her face as she processed what had just happened.

"…You…" she croaked, her voice slightly muffled by the dirt. "…You didn't have to go that hard…"

Sebastian had already stood up, dusting off his gloves, his face as composed as ever.

"You were asking for it, Vivian."

Vivian, still firmly planted into the ground… could only groan in defeat.

"Not… fair…"

And finally… she was knocked out for good.

Sebastian simply straightened his posture… before exhaling a sigh of relief...

The fight... was over.