The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 22

Clang! Clang!

The sharp resonance echoed through the chapel.

The battle between Malik and Pascal.

It was a tense confrontation.

‘Maybe I can handle this alone.’

Sharpened by tension, he was driving Pascal into a corner.

Whenever Malik’s sword struck Pascal’s dagger, Pascal’s stance wavered significantly.

Witnessing Malik’s overwhelming brute strength and tyrannical swordsmanship, I hypothesized that Malik might actually win.

‘As expected of the Histania Family.’

The son of the Knight Commander.

The Sub Male Lead, Malik.

The martial arts of the Eldest Son of Histania exceeded expectations.

Malik’s talent was so evident that it explained why Rowen had dismissed Hanna’s abilities as lacking all this time.

It took him one minute to grasp Pascal’s swordsmanship.

Three minutes to gauge the time it took for Pascal to deploy his Dark Magic.

In this battle, he demonstrated monstrous adaptability, taking less than five minutes to analyze his opponent.

He neutralized Pascal’s magic, aimed at his blind spots, with Body Strengthening Magic, distracted him with Elegant Swordsmanship, and calmly mixed illusions with reality to wound Pascal’s shoulder.

It was no wonder he thought he could take Pascal down on his own.

With skills like these, most criminals would surrender rather than resist. While I wasn’t sure if the Imperial Knights’ Order was full of such monsters, one thing was certain: Malik’s skills were on par with Pascal’s.

However, when it came to experience, Malik couldn’t match Pascal.

Having survived numerous life-and-death situations.

And having ended the lives of many adventurers, Pascal’s experience was overwhelming.

Pascal also possessed talents comparable to Malik’s.

And he had honed them through countless real battles.

-Clang…!

Blocking Malik’s sword with a dagger slightly longer than his forearm, Pascal smiled.

“Isn’t this way too easy?”

From a Third-Party Perspective, Malik was clearly dominating the fight, yet Pascal provoked him with a relaxed smile.

Malik’s irritation showed at Pascal’s bluff.

“Have you gone mad at the thought of going back to prison?”

“No. It’s just that I was scared because of the Histania name.”

Whoosh. Pascal’s dagger lunged forward.

Malik failed to dodge.

Blood trickled down his cheek.

Pascal grinned and licked the blood off his blade.

“You’re much more pathetic than I thought. Heehee.”

Having read the novel, I knew.

Pascal was the Archbishop of Madness.

A crazy bastard who laughed a lot.

And no matter the situation, he would always provoke first.

Especially since his ability was.

-Stumble.

The power to control a person’s body.

Malik’s body staggered violently.

Since being grazed on the cheek by Pascal, it had become difficult for him to maintain his balance.

The more he staggered, the more wounds accumulated on Malik’s body, and every time Pascal savored the blood on his blade, Malik felt his strength ebb away.

As his body staggered against his will, Malik asked Pascal.

“What did you do to me?”

Pascal shrugged in response.

“Who knows?”

Bang.

Malik swung his sword with force.

Aiming straight for Pascal’s neck.

He slashed horizontally with all his might.

But his sword struck not Pascal, but a chapel bench split in two.

“Where are you swinging? It’s not even winter yet—are you chopping firewood?”

“Shut up….”

“Keh heh heh….”

Pascal sheathed the dagger at his waist and walked toward Malik. The sharp sound of his shoes echoed through the chapel, marking the end of the battle, and Malik trembled violently.

“So~ Malik, Malik, Malik, what genre do you like?”

Even though Malik was within striking range, his body refused to move. He bit his lip hard and struggled to swing his sword, but his body had long since stopped responding to his will.

“…”

Pascal’s expression grew increasingly confident. He was certain Malik had fallen under his Dark Magic.

Walking right up to Malik, he spoke.

“A poignant romance dreaming of an impossible love? Or perhaps a thrilling action story. Oh, this one’s good too—a comedy about the Eldest Son of Histania being utterly useless!”

“Shut your mouth before I rip it off…!”

“Puhaha! Malik, keep going.”

“Shut up.”

“More… more… more! Struggle harder to become the ultimate masterpiece.”

With eyes drenched in madness, Pascal said to Malik.

“Smile.”

Pascal grabbed Malik’s face.

Forcing him to smile.

Demanding he smile wide enough to show his gums.

Malik trembled with rage.

He was disgusted by his own helplessness and ashamed of losing the battle due to a single moment of carelessness.

Seeing Malik’s hatred-filled eyes, Pascal smiled in satisfaction.

“Finally, another masterpiece of mine is complete. What should I name it….”

Pascal looked at me, seated on a chair, and spoke.

“How about ‘Friendship’?”

Meeting his gaze, I slowly stood from my seat in response.

“I’m not really into comedies.”

“What?”

“Personally, I prefer romance over comedy.”

“Actors in my works don’t get to choose the genre, you know?”

“Ah! Like how insects can’t choose their habitat?”

“Just die already.”

Deprived of his freedom, Malik walked toward me. The closer he got, the more Pascal’s laughter seeped into madness.

Holding his sword and casting Magic to Strengthen the Body, Malik was drowning in self-loathing.

“…Run away. No matter who you are, you can’t beat that guy.”

Malik shut his eyes tightly.

The only freedom left to him was his voice.

‘Damn it.’

He hadn’t wanted to become a burden.

He had confidently said he could do it.

But he was so disgusted with himself for being utterly useless. He was ashamed.

He should have given up instead of stubbornly insisting when told not to come. Then he could have avoided this humiliation.

Malik bit his lip hard.

The sight of blood dripping down his chin was unpleasant to see.

“I’m sorry.”

Malik’s sword was aimed at me.

The well-forged blade had kindly settled on the nape of my neck, ready to cut off my breath.

His hands were trembling uncontrollably.

It seemed he was resisting in his own way.

Moved by his admirable effort, I spoke with genuine sincerity.

“You know, Malik.”

“Run away….”

“It’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”

“F*ck.”

Malik spat out a curse.

It seemed he resented me for trampling on his noble spirit of sacrifice.

But what could I do? Teasing is always the most fun, like eating fried chicken in front of someone on a diet.

I sneered and said.

“You said you could handle it alone. Where did the person who claimed it was possible run off to?”

“Shut up.”

“See? Miss Hanna is still more impressive. At least she managed to swat at the mantis with a fly swatter.”

At the mention of a fly swatter, Pascal flinched. It seemed like PTSD was kicking in.

“Now, watch carefully.”

I raised my sword.

I imbued it with a rich amount of aura.

I stuffed the aura into it, pressing it down as if it were about to burst.

“This is the Stick of Love.”

Humans learn by getting hit first and gaining lessons from it.

“Even if it stings, bear with it. Only then will the Dark Magic be dispelled.”

[Limit Break (L) tests the limits of Aura (A).]

I also spoke to Pascal.

Opportunities for rehabilitation should be given equally.

“Mister Mantis, watch closely.”

“?”

“It’s an Electric Fly Swatter.”

The red aura gathered in clumps.

I could feel something was wrong.

“Oh no, I overdid it.”

With a flash, Malik’s vision lit up.

*

*

*

Inside the cathedral, under the bright morning sun.

Regaining consciousness, Malik clutched his throbbing head and got to his feet.

“What is this?”

Next to him, Pascal, foaming at the mouth, was lying down, clutching Malik’s hand tightly.

“Young Master, you’re awake?”

The Knight of the Household greeted him with hands respectfully clasped. It was strange enough that morning had already come, and even stranger that Pascal was lying beside him.

Though many questions arose, there was only one Malik was most curious about.

Malik asked the knight.

“Where did that guy go?”

The knight avoided Malik’s gaze and replied.

“He left early at dawn, saying overnight stays were prohibited.”

Malik thought of the Red-Haired Butler.

‘That son of a b*.’

***

“Let go!”

This time, Pascal was being transported like an insect taxidermy. I shed a tear of pity as I looked at him.

“Don’t cry.”

Malik, looking utterly battered with not a single intact spot, patted my shoulder with a haggard expression.

“It’s embarrassing. Please, don’t cry.”

“But… it’s just so sad to let go of such a good moneymaker….”

“Please…”

It seemed Malik had gained some sort of enlightenment from his battle with Pascal. Though he hadn’t awakened his aura, he had taken a step forward as a person.

Indeed, people respond best to the Stick of Love.

[Histania Malik Lv. 48]

[Job: Imperial Knights’ Order ‘Knight’]

[Favorability: 34]

[Favorite Conversation Topics: Self-awareness/Swordsmanship/Repaying Grace/Apology/Reconciliation]

[Disliked Conversation Topics: Perfectionism/Neglect/Discrimination/Pascal/Insects]

Though his temper was still nasty, it seemed he now viewed me in a somewhat favorable light.

Malik said to me.

“Once this is over, I plan to apologize to Hanna.”

“You’ve become a decent person.”

“That’s right.”

Malik’s transformation was pleasing to see.

“If Hanna says she’ll hit you, you have to let her.”

“…Hit me?”

“She said if given the chance, she’d beat you to a pulp.”

“…”

Malik swallowed dryly.

A beating from his aura-awakened younger sister.

It seemed it would hurt quite a bit.

Climbing into Pascal’s Transport Carriage, Malik said.

“The agreed payment amount can be deposited into the same account as the previous bounty, right?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

Before leaving, Malik pulled out two sheets of paper from deep within his chest pocket and placed them in my hand.

“And take this.”

“What is it?”

Malik replied calmly, as if it were nothing.

“Friends of Forest Meal Vouchers. It’s hard to get a reservation, so take the Young Lady when you have time.”

Friends of Forest.

It was said to be one of the top five best restaurants in the novel, and I thought the Young Lady would like it.

Come to think of it.

The way Malik addressed the Young Lady had changed from Daughter of a Fallen Household to Young Lady.

I smiled faintly.

“Thank you.”

I felt happy at the thought of going out with the Young Lady after such a long time.