The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 319-320

Smiles bloomed on each other's faces. They were smiles laced with tears, but they were far from the emotion of sadness.

"...Really."

"..."

"You've really been through a lot."

A trembling voice came out of my throat. The process was long, but the fruit that had formed in that process was so beautiful.

Old memories came to mind like a revolving lantern.

The moment when the young lady, who had lost her legs, chose to live in seclusion.

-I'm not going out.

-...The weather is really nice today.

-I said I'm not going out.

-Delicious chocolate...

-Do you think I'd like to go out looking like this? It's embarrassing.

The unforgettable memory of almost becoming a boiled Olivia in the bathtub.

-Gurgle.

-Young Lady?

-Heek... I'm falling in.

-Young Lady!

They were passing by like a film, endlessly.

Along with a deep, overwhelming emotion.

"...Heehee, mhm."

Hope dreams of a small future.

And the future danced, adoring happiness.

As if to tell us that it was now time to be happy.

"You've been through a lot too, Ricardo."

They were dancing.

An afternoon where years of effort bloomed into a flower.

"Ahem!"

"The weather is nice."

"It is."

The young lady and I were sitting on a bench in the mansion's garden.

We were facing each other.

It was a bit awkward after a good cry, but the sunny weather was erasing that feeling.

"..."

Slowly.

I looked at the fidgeting young lady and thought. How admirable.

"..."

When our eyes met, the young lady looked at me and smiled faintly.

"Heehee."

"...What's with that arrogant smile?"

"Heeheehee."

I looked at the young lady who was smiling for no reason and smiled faintly.

"Why?"

"Heehee... Ricardo."

"Yes."

"I walked."

"You did well."

The young lady peeked her head out and pouted her lips.

"Is that all?"

"You're amazing."

"Right? I'm amazing, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm cool, right?"

"Of course."

"Heehee... praise me more."

I burst out laughing at the shy top of the head of the young lady who was pushing her white hair towards me. Because she looked so naive.

-Pat.

"You did well."

The young lady's hair brushed against my fingers. The feeling, like petting a fluffy puppy, was felt through every joint of my fingers.

"You're very admirable."

The young lady, as if she felt good at the hand stroking her head, closed her eyes slightly and came closer to me.

"You are the coolest in the world."

"Heehee, I know."

I played along with the young lady's whining and stroked her head until she was satisfied.

'This is nice.'

It was good that her body had gotten better.

But what was even better was the fact that the young lady had taken a step herself. Because the passive young lady was not someone who did things on her own.

'...'

Knowing that there are things that don't get better by rushing, I think I was even more moved by the young lady's heart.

Like courage.

Or passion.

Because those things don't come just because someone tells you to.

Knowing that she would fall, the fact that she took a step on her own was what I was most grateful for and what moved me the most about the young lady.

Honestly. I didn't think I would cry.

-Huh...?

'...Embarrassing.'

When I thought about that moment again in my head, my face seemed to flush hot. Because I never thought that I, who was not close to tears, would cry in that place.

One thing is certain.

"Heehee..."

It's that I'm happy.

After stroking her head for a long time, I bent my knees to the young lady sitting on the bench and met her eyes.

-Whoosh...!

"?"

The young lady who turns her head when our eyes meet. Even if I turn my head in the opposite direction, the young lady who runs away with a 'whoosh' smiled faintly at my puzzled expression and teased, 'Crybaby'.

"Crybaby."

Who is calling whom a crybaby, I've seen her cry more. At the words of the young lady who was showing off in front of an expert, I let out a dry laugh and looked up at her.

"You cried too, Young Lady."

"I cried because I fell."

"That's crying."

"Ricardo, you just cried."

"No, I didn't."

"Eeeek."

I looked at the whining young lady, smiled faintly, and replied.

"I cried because I was happy that you stood up, Young Lady."

"...Ugh?"

"Hehe."

The young lady clenched her fists and shouted.

"Why are you admitting it!"

"Why. It's the truth."

"Eek...! Eeeek... Eehee!"

I gently pulled the young lady's cheek and burst out laughing. And then I took a deep breath, looked straight into her face, and asked.

"So, Young Lady."

"Mhm,"

"How did it feel?"

"What feeling?"

"The feeling of standing up after a long time."

"Heehee..."

The young lady, who smiled shyly with her eyes, hid her raised lips with a smile. Because she was embarrassed.

Slightly glancing at me.

"That is..."

The young lady, who fidgeted with her fingers and nodded her head, answered brightly.

"It was good."

That shy feeling.

At the young lady's bright answer, I nodded my head slightly and expressed my gratitude.

"I'm glad too."

"Heehee."

I held the young lady's hand and looked into her eyes. With the thought that it might be time to take one more step forward.

"Then, Young Lady."

"Mhm."

"Shall we try it now?"

-Nod.

"If it's hard, tell me right away. Because we're having meat today."

"Meat...!"

"Then..."

"Hoo... just a moment."

Her trembling voice had not yet calmed down. Because her heart was still pounding. The excitement of the young lady walking again, 'thump.' Seeing the young lady's treasure pouch, 'thump.' The present, where a little progress was visible after passing through difficult times, felt like a dream.

Although the young lady who was actually doing the rehabilitation would be the most tired and exhausted.

"Shall we try it together?"

I wanted to cheer her on.

I wanted to move forward, helping and cheering on the young lady's steps.

The young lady nodded her head heavily.

"Mhm."

Our hands meet.

The young lady's cold hand.

And my sweaty hand meet.

"I'll pull you. Young Lady, please try to stand up as much as possible."

"...Mhm."

The young lady squeezed her eyes shut.

"One.."

"Hoo..."

"Two..."

"Hieeeek."

"Three,"

I remember.

The day I first tried to help the young lady stand up.

I suddenly remembered the day I had pushed my own stubbornness, wanting to show the young lady, who had fallen into depression, that there was a better future.

That day, the young lady had sworn at me.

And that day, I had cried in my room.

Sad.

Gloomy.

Because I thought I would never be able to see that side of her again.

The gloomy future of not being able to see the mischievous side of the young lady, whom people called a crazy bitch. And the moment I was angry at my own incompetence briefly came to mind.

So.

"Hoo."

"Ricardo, your hands are so sweaty."

"...Haha, they are."

"What am I going to do if you're more nervous, Ricardo?"

"The young lady who says that is trembling, though?"

"Heget!"

The two cowards were trying to muster up a lot of courage today.

"Then I'll start again."

"Mhm."

I held the young lady's hand tightly again and applied strength. A weak force, just enough for the young lady to stand up on her own.

"Uuuuuh..."

The young lady, who was gritting her teeth and putting in strength, trembled and frowned. Because it was the first time in a long time that she was moving muscles she hadn't used, the reaction wouldn't come quickly, but one thing was certain, the young lady was trying harder than anyone else in this place.

"Ugegegegege!"

Although it was a bit noisy.

"Good."

"Uuuuuuuh!"

"Good!"

Had she been sitting in place and putting in strength repeatedly for a while? The young lady, who had shed a bucket of sweat, was panting heavily.

"Hee... heek... hieek..."

At this point, she should have been exhausted and collapsed, but the young lady, who took a sip of water and rekindled her passion, looked straight at me and said.

"Again."

"..."

"I'll do it again."

"Yes."

"Hoo."

The young lady's efforts were amazing.

And.

"Keuhing.. kuhihihing."

She was cute.

"Hieeeeeek!"

With a loud shout, the young lady's eye level rose.

"Huh...?"

"Oh..."

The bewildered young lady looked at me with trembling eyes. She was staring at me blankly with a puzzled expression, not knowing what had just happened.

"Ricardo."

"Yes..."

"You're not giving me a lot of strength right now, are you?"

"No..."

"Like Ricardo used magic to make me stand up."

"You know I'm bad at magic."

I smiled faintly and looked at the young lady.

Trembling legs.

Trembling eyes.

Really...

"You've stood up..."

"...Mhm!"

"Really..."

I shouldn't cry again.

In that moment. I held back the tears that were about to pour out and, smiling, said to the young lady.

"You're amazing...!"

"Thank you."

Although we didn't say it, we were both surprised.

I, at the young lady's will.

The young lady, at the fruit of her own will, was happy.

Of course, a seasoning called 'Hand of Rehabilitation' was added. If I used a little more of the Hand of Rehabilitation.

"..."

A certainty came to me. That the young lady would be able to stand up.

Because it's the future I decided.

Because I'll make it that way.

I was certain that someday, the young lady would be able to run.

"..."

It may be a small beginning now, but good things in life will come to us someday, because happiness doesn't only come to the protagonists.

I thought it was time for the light of the wonderful world that had only shone on others to shine on us.

I squeezed the young lady's hand that I was holding. With moist eyes.

"...Young Lady."

"Mhm-nya."

"You're too cool, aren't you?"

"I know."

She was a young lady who didn't know humility.

In the slightly relaxed atmosphere, I playfully threw a comment at the young lady.

"I don't think I can carry you on my back anymore."

"...It?"

"Because you'll be walking on your own."

The young lady pouted her lips, shook her head, and said.

"Eek... no. I'm going to get a piggyback ride."

"...Pfft! Are you going to suck me dry?"

"Mhm. I'm going to suck you dry."

Laughter came out at the complaint of the brightly smiling young lady.

"This is nice."

We looked at each other and held hands.

We don't know how long this journey will continue, but we believe that there is an end to this journey.

"Let's try again."

"Mhm!"

"Now...! One. Two. Three."

-Thud!

"Ugek!"

In a dark room.

The Apostle Elisia's eyes were trembling.

"I... I didn't see it wrong."

In fear.

In a deep fear.

Elisia was trembling.

Because the deaths of that man were countless.

The most important thing for the position of an Apostle is.

-Lord...!!!!

Not faithful belief.

-It is for the Lord.

Not the decisiveness to cut ties with family.

-...Die.

But power.

In a cult where various individuals gather, conflict is inevitable. Because there were many people in the cult.

Those who reach out for stronger power.

-If you grant me stronger power, I will do anything.

Madmen who want to kill more.

-If I can kill more beautifully, being a footstool for God is not so bad.

And those who desire revenge.

-Kill this person... I'll give you my life, so kill this person!!

Because this place, where people have dedicated themselves to the cult for many reasons, is a place where conflict, murder, and violence are incessant.

Only strong power was the answer.

Especially here, where those with the emotion of 'regret' were the mainstays, incidents were ceaseless.

They were people with nothing to lose.

If their eyes turned, they would kill people, and the guilt they had to bear could be forgiven in the name of God.

So here.

-Crack.

Power was the measure of one's position.

Elisia, praying in front of a blood-soaked statue, closed her eyes. She needed to calm the anxious feeling blooming in her heart.

-...

That man's cold eyes.

The spiderweb-like entangled emotions.

Because the trembling in her heart hadn't stopped since she saw the monstrous form that couldn't be captured with her emotion-seeing eyes.

It was the first time she had experienced such a thing since receiving the title of Apostle. No, it would be more accurate to say that it was the first time she had seen such a form since gaining the ability to see emotions.

She had never seen such a grotesque color before.

So much so that her hands trembled even after sufficient time had passed.

"...My Lord."

Elisia bowed her head and offered a prayer. Calling the name of the God who never answered.

"Why do you give me such a trial?"

Elisia prayed again today.

"What is the reason you showed me that monster? Are you telling me to soothe his pain with a gentle heart...?"

To the God who didn't answer even when asked if she should give him the rest of death.

"...Why do you not answer?"

"I have abandoned the name of God for you and am prostrate here..."

"I have made so many followers for you, why do you not respond?"

Behind Elisia, the footsteps of countless people could be heard. The footsteps of those who had abandoned their faith.

-If we kill that woman, we can rise to the position of Apostle.

-It was written in the ancient grimoire... that if you kill a strong black magician, you can become stronger...!

-That woman is alone anyway...? She didn't create a knight order like the other Apostles... Keoheok...!

Elisia shed tears and focused on her prayer. Lightly ignoring the thick scent of blood, she silently told her fears to God.

Without remembering the names of those she had killed.

"My Lord..."

She was crying out the name of God.

She hadn't felt this way even when she saw the Pope. He only had a desire for the top.

He wanted to have the world in his hands.

He wanted to hold power.

He only had the desire to exterminate, but he wasn't scary. Dirty emotions could just be buried in the heart.

But he.

Was more evil than anyone else.

And at the same time, more benevolent than anyone else.

And what was most frightening was that an immeasurable sadness filled that place, which had become a great fear for Elisia. She was scared and afraid.

Elisia, who had seen an emotion that could not be expressed in words, trembled her shoulders as she recalled the memory of that day.

Even when she saw a horrific murderer.

Even when she met a robber who held a blade to her neck.

She had thought of dying, but she hadn't been scared.

Immeasurable sadness.

Endless anger.

A murderous intent that seemed to tear things apart.

Elisia was trembling in fear because she knew that there was no being in this world who could harbor such emotions.

She felt she couldn't dare to be hostile to him.

Her ability was to visualize everything she saw. Especially those with great emotions were easy to make into her prey, so she could manipulate and kill them as she pleased.

But he.

-Tremble.

was a monster that far surpassed her own scope.

'I'm going to die...'

'If I see that person's emotions, I'll die...'

'I'll definitely die...'

The indirect fear felt like her whole body was being twisted, so Elisia was afraid.

At that moment.

-Clack.

The sound of a stranger's shoe heels reached Elisia's ears.

The emotion felt was 'peace'.

It was the emotion of a messenger who had come to deliver someone's words.

"Apostle of Gentleness."

A man's voice reached the ears of Elisia, whose prayer had been interrupted. A calm voice that controlled its emotions.

At the man's voice, Elisia turned her head, and as soon as she saw his face, she frowned.

Because he was an unwelcome guest.

"What brings you to my church, Archbishop of Disgrace?"

The Archbishop of Disgrace.

The one who had killed her son was setting his dirty feet in her sanctuary. Elisia frowned more than when she saw the heretic who had come to kill her.

"I have come to deliver the words of the Apostle of Temperance."

-Saaaaah...

The color of emotion turns purple.

To a purple that rises like a haze.

Elisia gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger, and cried out for gentleness in her heart. Because she wanted to avoid an irreversible mistake due to a single moment of anger.

The Apostle of Temperance held her weakness. And that man was the Apostle of Temperance's blood relative.

-My brother killed your son.

-Ah... noooo!!!

-Do you want to save him?

-Please... save him.

-Good. But let's make a promise.

Elisia clenched her fists, thinking of the Temperance who held her leash. And the Archbishop smiled as he saw Elisia's appearance.

The Archbishop of Disgrace said to Elisia.

"You have failed."

"..."

"And you were caught by the Imperial Knight Commander."

He pointed out the Apostle's mistake with an arrogant expression, as if he were a superior.

"The Apostle's disappointment is great."

"Shut that mouth."

"I cannot. I am a messenger delivering his words. Even if the Apostle of Gentleness does not wish to hear my words, I am only being loyal to my duty."

Grind.

Elisia, who had clenched her fists, glared at the man in front of her. And she closed her eyes when she saw the 'old clock' the man was holding.

"..."

A prohibition.

Elisia closed her eyes at the unspoken threat of the Archbishop who held her leash.

-The Pope looks upon your talent with favor.

-...

-But it seems a leash needs to be put on... Even if you look at me with those eyes, there's nothing you can do. It would be good for you to follow my words now.

-Please... I'll do anything, just save my son.

-Then... this is your son's possession... Puhah! No... a memento?

She's disillusioned.

With this current situation.

She has no regrets about abandoning God, but anger wells up at the mistake she made that day.

"Speak."

The Archbishop nodded his head lightly.

"The Apostle said he would return this item if this matter ended well."

"..."

"But since things have turned out this way, he said it's a shame."

"Archbishop."

"..."

"Are you toying with me?"

The emotion of the man in front of her was joy.

Arrogance and pride at being able to treat an Apostle so carelessly. The color of this emotion was dancing and playing.

She could kill him with a single gesture.

She could twist his emotions and turn him into a half-corpse, but knowing that the Apostle of Temperance would not easily allow such a thing, Elisia closed her eyes in anger.

Certainly.

Temperance would be here.

"Shut up, Archbishop."

"..."

"Are you excited to have an Apostle on your back?"

"I think you're misunderstanding, Apostle. I am merely a messenger delivering the words of the Apostle of Temperance..."

"If you think I won't kill you because Temperance is your blood relative... you're gravely mistaken."

"..."

"Here, even your brother, Temperance, is just a lamb who believes in one God."

"...As I said again, I am merely a messenger delivering the words of the Apostle of Temperance."

Elisia burst into a wry laugh at the emotion of the Archbishop, who had clenched his fists. Because his emotion, true to his title, was full of disgrace.

'You insolent wench.' It had exactly that color of emotion.

Elisia found the sight of various emotions complicatedly entangled and squirming not so bad.

If she provoked him further, he would surely explode, but if she did, Temperance would not stand by.

"Tell Temperance. If he comes here one more time, I'll kill him, leash or no leash."

"..."

"Why are you just standing there? Should I kill you too?"

"I'm sorry."

Elisia knelt before the statue again and bowed her head.

In front of the huge statue illuminated by the moonlight.

A hourglass in one hand.

A sword in the other hand.

Behind Elisia, who had bowed her head in front of the statue in the form of a benevolent-looking man, the Archbishop of Disgrace bowed his head and disappeared into the darkness.

Gentleness.

Benevolence.

Temperance.

And four others.

The seven Apostles had always maintained the highest power in the cult. Except for the Pope's four messengers.

Elisia muttered softly.

"Just a single blood relative..."

For a moment, black shadows began to approach the back of the Archbishop who had disappeared into the darkness. The moment the black shadows in the shape of blades were about to approach the Archbishop, the Archbishop bowed his head and said.

"The Apostle of Temperance is prioritizing the work of the Apostle of Gentleness."

"..."

"Thanks to that, the Apostle of Gentleness can reach true faith..."

A sharp shadow was in front of the Archbishop's eyes. As if to say that if he uttered another word, he would see blood.

"Your senses are good, Archbishop."

"..."

"Don't think that I will listen just because a mere Apostle gives an order."

"I'm sorry. I have misspoken."

Elisia wiggled her eyebrows and spoke to the Archbishop of Disgrace again.

"Leave when I'm letting you."

"..."

"Why. Are you feeling disgraced?

Elisia's eyes were shining with madness more than ever before.

"Why do you think I'm not killing you?"

"...Gulp."

"Because I'm afraid of the prohibition?"

"..."

"There are plenty of ways to break the prohibition. I just have to start over from scratch."

"...There is no way in this world to break the prohibition placed by the Apostle of Temperance."

"Keep believing that. I'll kill you in the most painful way possible."

Elisia's eyes were bloodshot.

"When the day of promise comes, I'll kill you all."

"..."

"And I'll go back to before you killed my child and gift you the worst pain again. So wait for it."

"..."

Emotions tremble.

This time, with anxiety and fear.

Elisia smiled contentedly at the Archbishop's trembling emotion, which was more pronounced than any emotion she had shown so far, and nodded.

"Go now. I have to pray."

"I understand."

"If you run that mouth of yours one more time, you won't die a peaceful death, Archbishop."

The Archbishop clenched his fists and left the place. To where the Apostle of Temperance was.

Here in Hamel, where the bright sunlight blows.

I, who had come out to go grocery shopping alone for the first time in a while, was returning to the mansion with a pleasant smile.

Today was the glorious day the young lady had taken a step, and although it was a step she had taken holding my hand, the result was satisfying enough that my smile didn't fade.

"Uhm-hmm."

Beef in the bag.

Asparagus.

And it was full of various spices and chocolates.

In particular, this chocolate was directly procured from the young lady's favorite shop.

I was walking, silently thanking the boss who had provided me with the chocolate that boasted the best taste, with a layer of solid chocolate inside the liquid chocolate.

-Thank you for pretending not to know last time.

-What? No. I should...

-Be quiet. Take this.

-What?

-The duchess seems to like chocolate, so I bought some. It's a fragile item, so be careful with it.

The boss was always an angel.

I smiled slightly and put more strength into my steps back to the mansion. If I just arrive at the mansion like this, I can naturally enter the bathroom...

-Thud.

"Hmm?"

-Crack.

"...?"

The sound of something breaking.

I raised my head, feeling a world-shattering despair. Because a passerby had intentionally bumped my shoulder. I raised my head, hoping he would pay the appropriate price.

And then.

"Ah."

I smiled a little at the familiar face.

White clothes.

Hair down to his shoulders.

And an old clock.

"Hmm..."

It was an Archbishop.

With the grand name of Disgrace.

And I smiled as I saw someone with a very good fortune.

Thinking that this would be enough for a settlement.