The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 325-326

Among wanderers, the one who ends up in a subordinate position is the one who hasn't decided on a place to return to.

A life without a place to return to is bound to wander. Tired of wandering, they eventually collapse and become subordinate in their relationships.

The strongest person is not the swordsman who defeated a dragon.

Nor the hero who wields a holy sword.

It is the person who has conquered themselves.

The greatest enemy for any person is the self. If you can conquer your 'self', it's no different from overcoming all the adversities in the world.

'Hmm...'

"What is this nonsense?!"

Shuen, reading a philosophy book at the convenience store as usual, scratched her head and bit into a hot bar.

Perhaps because it was heated in a mana stone-powered microwave, it was a magical food where the juices burst forth in one's mouth.

"Chomp... chomp..."

Shuen preferred the hot bar to philosophy.

Even though her family, the Tetras, had made their name through philosophy, Shuen, who couldn't understand it, was sighing out of boredom.

"It'd be more fun to serve another customer than to read this kind of thing."

"No emotion. No fun. Why did they write something like this? It's so boring..."

Shuen and philosophy were not on good terms.

Philosophy is fundamentally a discipline that unfolds by applying the lessons learned throughout one's life.

"This is why our family has no money."

Philosophy, which just spouts uselessly uninteresting things, lost its relevance a long time ago.

Shuen thought philosophy was old-fashioned, walking a path completely opposite to the ideals that people today want.

"I'm glad I passed it on to my younger sibling. If I had become the head of the family, we would have surely been ruined."

Shuen was excellent at self-assessment.

The one philosophy filling Shuen's mind right now was:

'Money is best.'

Money is the best.

Because you can't do anything without money.

Therefore, money is the best.

Deeply impressed by the line in a book that said, 'If there's something you can't do, it's because you don't have enough money,' Shuen was inwardly resolving to live diligently.

[The Secret to Success of the Founder of Forest Friends.]

"This person is my role model."

Without realizing it, Shuen had made the convenience store owner her role model. With the belief that she would one day become an outstandingly wealthy person.

-Ting-a-ling.

"Welcome! This is the Happy Convenience Store, SU!"

As the bell on the convenience store door rang, Shuen quickly closed her book and stood up.

-Customer service begins with a greeting. Even if the person who comes to your store is your enemy, in that moment, they are king.

"...Oh. Hello."

-Bow!

They weren't close.

They were classmates, but students Shuen wasn't close to.

Because she had no friends in this academy, and no one to eat with.

An awkward smile formed on Shuen's lips as she looked at her classmates, and a subtle twitch appeared on the female student's face as she looked back at Shuen. As if neither was happy to see the other.

As they walked towards the display aisles, the students' conversation reached Shuen's ears.

"Hey... why is she doing that over there?"

"I know, right? The final exams are right around the corner, isn't she studying?"

"..."

Shuen clenched her fists.

"I hate studying."

The truth was, it wasn't that she hated studying, but that she was focused on something else. Of course, she knew this lazy appearance was wrong, and she did study from time to time in her dorm, but there were many things she wanted to say, but Shuen decided not to.

Because they weren't close.

She was very shy.

Because of a slip of the tongue during the entrance ceremony, many people disliked her, and she was scared to approach them clumsily because of the many times she'd been hurt.

"I'm lonely."

Shuen clutched her blue uniform tightly in her hand and lowered her head.

At that moment, the sound of the students chatting pierced her ears. The secret to becoming popular.

"Hey, did you hear about that?"

"What is it?"

"The holy sword."

"The holy sword?"

"Shh, your voice is too loud!"

Before the student could turn around, Shuen lowered her head and whistled. As if to show she had no interest in their conversation.

-Glare.

"Wheeeeee~"

-...

Perhaps Shuen's act worked, as the student focused back on the conversation.

"Yeah, the holy sword...!"

"Uh... but what's a holy sword? You don't mean the one from the fairy tales, do you?"

"Of course!"

"But, what about it?"

"You idiot... if it's the holy sword, then what."

"A hero?"

"Exactly! A few days ago, I happened to overhear a meeting in the student council room."

"Uh-huh."

"Apparently, the student council president found a clue to the holy sword and is gathering an elite team from the academy to go find it."

"R-really?"

Shuen thought.

'The holy sword?'

She wondered if she could become popular too if she obtained the holy sword.

-This is the holy sword!

-Wow!! Shuen is so cool! As expected of a noble!

-Huhu! Don't touch it! It'll wear out!

-Of course! Why would commoners like us touch it!

-Huhu!

'Ohoho!'

Certainly, the news that they had found the location of the holy sword, which only appeared in legends, was remarkable information.

The holy sword that could only be wielded by the chosen one when the world was in danger. A sword that only a hero could wield.

And if she gave that holy sword to that man as a gift...!

'It would be enough for a dowry!'

Shuen was more excited about being able to prepare a dowry than becoming popular.

By tradition, both the man and the woman must prepare wedding gifts. Considering that man's humble status and income, it was highly likely that she would have to prepare the gifts.

Her rival, Hanna, didn't seem close to her father either. So, thinking that she, the most excellent person, should prepare it, Shuen nodded and focused on the girls' voices.

"But isn't it strange?"

"What is?"

"The holy sword, which has only been a legend for hundreds of years, suddenly appearing. It just sounds like a lie made up from some weird book."

"You idiot! They couldn't find it for hundreds of years, and now they've found a clue. Do you think scholars have been slacking off all this time?!"

"Ah... now that you mention it, that makes sense."

"Right? Hah... I hope Senior Mikhail gets it. Wouldn't that be so cool? A hero with a holy sword, his silver hair fluttering...! Just imagining it is so cool."

"Hehe... you're right about that...!"

Hmmmm...

Shuen listened to them and nodded.

If the red-haired butler wielded the holy sword and swung it with a flourish.

"Hehe!"

A smile appeared on Shuen's lips.

"What's with her... she's weird."

"She was always weird."

"Hehe...!"

The holy sword.

Shuen decided to take a vacation soon. To get the holy sword faster than anyone else.

Finders keepers, after all.

"Hehit!"

And it was her choice to give it away.

At the same time, in the academy's student council room.

The student council room was in turmoil over the recently discovered information about the location of the holy sword.

"There's something I learned while looking at ancient documents recently."

"..."

"I've confirmed that the location of the holy sword seems to be in the North."

"..."

"Yuria said so. She said there's a kind of folk tale passed down for generations in a specific region of the North. To put it badly, it's a ghost story, but listen anyway."

The executives nodded, looking at Chartia with bright eyes. They had never seen Chartia this excited before.

On the other hand, Chartia's workload had been halved since the senior director arrived, so she was fully enjoying the happiness of life.

'Ah... so happy.'

-Pass this task to the general affairs department.

-But... I should be the one setting the budget.

-You just need to stamp it, don't you?

-Then I...

-You should play.

-Uh...

-Write a letter to Ricardo. He sent suggestions for improvement because he thought you had too much work.

-Why is a mere butler so competent....

-On top of that, Ricardo said this. Don't try to carry all the burden yourself, he's worried you might collapse.

-...Ricardo said that?

-Yes.

-Grip...

Chartia smiled happily and gently pushed Yuria forward.

At Chartia's powerful glance, Yuria took a step forward and, with a nervous expression, recounted the story she had heard from her father.

"Ahem."

"..."

"In our northern region, there's a mountain we shouldn't climb."

"..."

"It's called the Andes Snowy Mountain, and my father told me never to go there after the sun sets."

"..."

"He said monsters come out."

"..."

"He was right about that. The northern snowy mountains are actually full of demonic beasts. But when I was a child."

Yuria recalled what she had done in her childhood and said.

"When I was about nine, I once secretly climbed that mountain without my dad knowing. The medicinal herbs that grow on the Andes Snowy Mountain were of really good quality."

"..."

"It was snowing heavily that day, and the sun was almost setting."

"..."

"I was so engrossed in gathering the numerous herbs that I wandered around the mountain and found myself at the summit. At some point, the blizzard gradually subsided, and I saw it."

"...It?"

"A temple."

"A temple?"

"Yes, a temple. It seemed to be a temple that went underground. I don't remember clearly, but I think that's what it was."

"Hmm."

"And then I came down because I was hungry."

As the story lost its excitement, the executives looked skeptical. They thought it was too far-fetched.

However.

-Thump!

Chartia spread the ancient document deciphered by the imperial family on the desk and smiled. A meaningful smile that said, 'I will shatter your doubts.'

"This is it."

The holy sword is a sacred object that can only be wielded by a truthful person.

A pure heart.

A heart of pure white.

It is an object that can only be wielded by one who has the will to protect others.

If one who does not meet the conditions touches the sword, great pain will follow.

However.

When a great crisis befalls the world, if a qualified person wields the holy sword, they will gain a great power to protect the world.

The holy sword sleeps where pure white resides.

'Pure white'

Everyone nodded at the phrase emphasizing 'pure white.' And Chartia said in a heavy voice.

"You know where it is."

The executives muttered softly under their breaths. 'The North.'

A region of pure white covered in snowy mountains.

If it was pure white, there was only the North.

Chartia sternly added one more point of emphasis.

"We'll be moving with the imperial family on this matter."

"The imperial family?"

"It seems the imperial family isn't taking this matter lightly either."

"..."

"Yuria and I managed to get permission to accompany them by helping with the interpretation. The maximum number of people who can go is about 10 to 15."

"Still, the imperial family is a bit...."

One of the student council executives expressed concern with a voice filled with anxiety.

His words of concern contained various emotions. What if the holy sword is stolen, and at the same time, if he became the master of the holy sword, he might have to hand it over to the imperial family—he spoke out of such foolish worries. But Chartia, roughly guessing their greed, said firmly.

"The senior director said it himself. If the student council moves unilaterally, he will dismiss everyone."

"..."

"What if it's a trap set by the heretics? If there's a strong heretic like last time, can you guys handle it?"

Chartia, who had become cautious after experiencing several hardships, said with a heavy expression.

"We need to keep our wits about us."

And Mikhail, who was supposed to be the master of the holy sword.

"..."

He kept his lips firmly shut.

'I have a lecture next week....'

Unable to focus on the holy sword.

A peaceful mansion, today as well.

"Ricardo."

"Yes."

"Where are you going?"

Waking up to a rustling sound, the young lady tilted her head with a question mark, seeing me packing a backpack in the corner of the room.

"Heek...! Are you running away?!"

"Pardon...?"

Her eyes wide, the young lady made a tearful face and said to me.

"I'll eat less! So don't run away!"

"...Pardon me?"

"I'll... I'll share my chocolate too...!"

I was surprised that the young lady, with her excessive delusions, was capable of saying something objective, but at her fanciful words, I made an awkward expression.

I'd been telling her for a week, but it seemed she had completely erased it from her mind. I'm sure I told her yesterday, too.

"Heeeeee!!!"

I let out a sigh looking at the young lady clutching my collar. I couldn't tell if she was pretending to have forgotten, or if she had really erased it from her mind. Whatever the case, she was cute, so it put me in a good mood.

I let out a hollow laugh and pressed the young lady's cheeks with my hands.

"Oobooboobooppyoo"

"Didn't I tell you a week ago? That I was going out for a bit."

"Ooboobooboobooboo! (Did you?!)"

The young lady, her lips pouting out like a goldfish, wore a sulky expression before frowning.

"Didn't I say that something came up and I'd be gone for about three days?"

"Ooboobooppoo...(Right. You did.)"

Shoulders slumped in disappointment, the young lady let out a deep sigh and said softly.

"It's because you're leaving without playing with me that I forgot."

"I'll play with you to your heart's content when I get back."

"What if you abandon me and go!"

"I won't abandon you. With a mountain of unpaid wages piled up, where would I go?"

"Heehee, that's right! I'm a debtor."

I let out a laugh at the young lady's ridiculous words, confessing her debt with a bright smile.

"Really. I can't leave you alone."

The young lady gently clutched my collar and said.

"Then can't you take me with you?"

The young lady glanced at me and bit her lip, but unfortunately, the situation didn't allow for it, so I shook my head and gave a negative reply.

"I'm sorry."

"Why!"

How could I say, 'Because it's dangerous'? I shook my head slightly and gave an answer the young lady would roughly understand.

"Because it's a place where you only eat grass."

"Grass?"

"Yes, a famous chef is holding a lecture. The main ingredients are mostly vegetarian, so I think we'll be eating nothing but grass all day."

"Eeeek... But I like grass."

"Paprika and spinach too?"

"Heek...? I don't like those."

"Exactly."

Understanding, the young lady nodded her head and let go of the collar she was holding tightly. From her hesitant gaze, I felt an ominous premonition for some reason. It was a look that said, 'Should I let him go?'

"Haa..."

The young lady let out a long sigh, looked at me, and asked.

"It's not anything dangerous, right?"

As I thought.

'She's not falling for it.'

I gave a sheepish smile at the young lady's question and nodded. It seemed she didn't believe my clumsy excuse. It occurred to me that no matter what excuse I made, the young lady might have seen through the foundation of it. After all, the young lady was a sharper person than I thought.

I smiled slightly and gave an honest answer. Because the young lady preferred direct words over clumsy packaging.

"Since I have to use a kitchen knife. I might hurt my fingers."

"..."

"And since I have to eat only grass, I might lose some weight."

I smiled, stroking the head of the worried young lady. With the intention of telling her not to worry. At the comforting feel of the young lady's hair, a small smile bloomed like a flower.

"You don't have to worry."

The young lady held my hand and said in a small voice.

"If it's dangerous, don't do it."

"I understand."

"You can't get hurt."

"I promise."

"If you think you'll be late, let me know."

"Of course."

"And..."

The young lady looked at me primly, then began to rummage through her treasure pouch.

"Eek..."

"What are you looking for?"

"Eeeeee...."

Frowning and rummaging for a long time, the young lady, like a cat robot with a 4-dimensional pocket, took out a small object and held it out.

Red.

Shaped like a dragonfly's eye.

Um. This is.

"Milady, this is underwear."

"Heek?"

Startled, the young lady put the underwear back in her treasure pouch and took out a small doll, holding it out.

"This."

"What is it?"

"Me."

"...?"

"Think of it as a charm."

"Did you make it yourself?"

"Ung."

Her dexterity was truly a disaster.

I looked at the doll the young lady had made and said playfully.

"It's not a curse doll or anything, right?"

"Eeeeeeeek!!!"

"Pwahaha!! I'm joking."

A doll, huh.

It's been a while.

I stared at the doll in my hand and put it in the inner pocket of my coat. From the hair made of white yarn to the body made of socks stuffed with cotton. I was grateful for the gift that contained the young lady's effort.

Of course, the sharp-eyed doll looked like a curse doll, and I felt like laughing, but I held it tightly to my chest with a grateful heart.

"Thank you."

"Ung-nya."

My luggage was all packed.

A change of clothes and a sword.

Potions I made myself.

And a map with the location of the Holy Sword.

Various other things.

With a huge backpack on my back, I stroked the young lady's hair and smiled.

"Well then, I'll be off."

"Ung-nya."

"Is there anything you want me to buy when I come back?"

"Beef jerky and chocolate."

"Pffft.. Understood."

The backpack on my back felt unusually light today.

'The Sword of Dawn.'

Simply put, the 'Holy Sword.'

If I could just finish this one job well, I thought I could rest a little.

"Hooah..."

The North, which I had arrived in after a long time, was the same as ever.

Breath coming out in puffs.

A biting wind that felt like it was piercing my skin was blowing, and everything was covered in snow.

It felt like just yesterday that I had defeated the Apostle of Mercy here, but time had passed so quickly. I often felt a sense of regret at how fast time flowed.

That being said.

"What is that."

[★★Northern Gukbap★★]

"...Hmm?"

I frowned, looking at the huge banner hanging in the middle of the northern city. With an expression like, 'Why is that hanging here.'

"Pwahahahaha!!!"

This is why it's so fun.

I never knew the recipe I had casually shared would be such a big success. I was surprised that a character whose only mention in the novel was an obituary was running a large store in the North, and I never thought it would become so popular. The laughter wouldn't stop.

"That's a relief."

I was glad it was providing warmth in the barren North. I made a plan to teach them how to make side dishes like kkakdugi next time, and looked at the highest snowy mountain in the North.

'Andes Snowy Mountain.'

A dizzyingly high snowy mountain.

Andes Snowy Mountain, full of countless monsters, was where the Holy Sword lay dormant. It was a place that played a large role in the novel and held a huge episode. An episode where two apostles appeared, no less.

'Yuria, Mikhail, Malik, Rowen, Ruin, Chartia.'

An episode that starts with many main characters working together. It begins with the schemes of the heretics, but the ending is an episode that concludes with the academy's victory.

This episode begins with the heretics, who found information about the Holy Sword, spreading that information.

The Imperial family's goal is to retrieve the Holy Sword.

The heretics' goal is likewise to retrieve the Holy Sword and reduce their burden. Here, the heretics added one more goal. The goal of eliminating the top students of the academy.

The heretics' scheme, which aimed to boost the morale of the order that had plummeted due to continuous failures and at the same time disrupt the atmosphere within the empire to gain the upper hand, seemed to be succeeding, but because Mikhail wielded the Holy Sword, they were pushed into a disadvantage instead.

Well, it's that kind of episode.

A common episode found in any novel.

There was only one reason I came to the North.

It was to prepare for any unforeseen variables. If the Apostle of Temperance were to bring archbishop-level personnel, the scales would tip greatly.

If the protagonist's party, who couldn't handle an archbishop, were to face an archbishop alone... it was clear that various troubles would arise.

Mikhail and Hanna might be able to handle an archbishop, but 'Yuria' and 'Ruin' were far from enough to handle an archbishop alone. Moreover, the temple that sealed the Holy Sword had more than one or two variables that couldn't be taken lightly. To keep the 'what ifs' in mind, an insurance like me was absolutely necessary.

If the Holy Sword were to fall into the hands of the heretics, the risk to be shouldered would be something that could never be taken lightly.

"Before that.... First of all."

I looked again at the banner I had just seen.

[Salisbury Steak Provided Free of Charge.]

"Shall I just eat before I go?"

Even on Geumgang Mountain, you eat first. At the thought of filling my stomach, I stretched and took a step forward.

And at the restaurant I arrived at.

"Dad!"

"Guffaw guffaw! Where did your boyfriend go! There are more than one or two things this father wants to ask."

"Ah, come on!!!"

Yuria.

"Oppa."

"The flavor has certainly deepened."

"Just be quiet. It's embarrassing."

Malik and Hanna.

"I'm trash."

Ruin.

"We didn't come here to play, you idiots."

Chartia.

And.

"Hoooom. There are quite a lot of rivals-nyot!"

"...?"

There was an unexpected person.

At the unwelcome sound, I lowered my head and looked down. And I saw a young lady with purple hair in cinnamon roll buns.

Wearing a thick fur hat on her head.

"Hoooom."

The woman, wearing a thick fur coat, was peeking into the gukbap restaurant from beside me.

I looked at her and thought.

'...Why are you here?'

The biggest variable had appeared.