The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 333-334

The falling sword energy began to shake the battlefield.

-Boom...!

-Kwakwakwakwang!!

-Kwaaaaaaaang!!!

Lowen's aura, imbued with moonlight, shook the earth and shattered the battlefield, and screams began to echo across the ground.

"It's the Lion of the Empire..."

The moment Lowen's sword energy hit the ground, the heretics, thrown into a state of pandemonium, began to scream and fall into chaos.

The falling sword energy shook the ground and spread out like delicate blades. It was just a single stroke of the sword.

-Jjeeeeeeeok!!!

It was staining the earth red.

Histania's swordsmanship.

"[Nameless]."

Because it was a swordsmanship that could split the world.

Fear was infecting the eyes of the confused heretics. Telling them to run because the Lion of the Empire had arrived.

Heaven beyond Heaven.

Hearts pounded fiercely at Lowen's sword, which transcended the realm of humans.

Conversations of escape passed between the archbishops confronting Hanna.

-Damn it, didn't another Apostle say they would buy time?

-Let's retreat for now. Sigi.

-Kuuuk...! Wait a minute...! Greed, behind you! Watch your back...!

-Kuuuk!! This bitch!

Above Shulia, who was overwhelming Ruin, a voice promising a next time echoed.

-I'll rip you to shreds next time.

-Cough... Screw you.

Balak, standing on the corpses of the heretics, let out a small laugh as he watched the brilliant sword energy falling from the sky.

"A monster."

The aura of the Empire's Sword, unchanged even as the era passes, is truly awe-inspiring. He thought he had reached the level of a strong person through blood-curdling effort, but the Empire's Sword was beyond that category.

"I can't catch up."

Balak let out a hollow laugh and cut off a heretic's head. The huge greatsword danced forward. Towards someone familiar. And he slowly walked towards his benefactor.

"..."

I let out a hollow laugh watching Lowen's sword energy fall from the sky.

'He really is a monster.'

The state of the Empire's Sword as described in the novel, how should I put it? Should I say it's like a beast of prey? The hollow laugh came from the completeness that I could imitate but could not replicate the essence of.

"A madman."

Words failed me.

The explosive martial prowess possessed a power beyond what I had imagined. As if shouting, 'I am the Sword of the Empire here.'

But still.

I think I can reach it.

I smiled slightly and slowly began to move to clean up the battlefield.

Because this war was not over yet.

I felt a familiar person approaching from behind me. The steps of a man with ferocious and violent power were approaching me.

'Looks like he's here.'

I slowly turned around and met the man's eyes, and the moment our eyes met, I gave a faint smile and greeted him.

"It's been a while."

"..."

"Looking at your complexion, it seems things were resolved well."

"..."

Balak, holding the greatsword, reddened his eyes once and then nodded. It wasn't a great feeling to see a well-built man's eyes redden, but a smile formed on my face at his peaceful-looking face.

Balak said to me in a trembling voice.

"Thank you."

"..."

"I don't know how I can repay this kindness, but..."

The hand holding the greatsword was trembling.

I smiled slightly and brought a finger to my lips.

"Shh. Let's clean up first."

I lightly kicked off the ground and left the spot. And I approached Hanna, who had fought with all her might.

"Butler!"

I supported Hanna, who had driven her sword into the heart of the Archbishop of Greed, and smiled.

"You've worked hard."

"...I knew you would come!"

"You were amazing."

"Hehe... I wasn't."

"You fought against two archbishops. That's incredibly amazing."

"What did I do..."

Hanna, in my arms, smiled shyly and rubbed her face against my chest. Although she couldn't finish off the Archbishop of Envy, many lives were saved because of Hanna. If even a single archbishop had moved freely on this battlefield, the damage wouldn't have ended there. I stroked her head with gratitude.

'I didn't think she would kill Greed...'

See, I told you she had talent.

I smiled, looking at the rising moon.

"The currently identified casualties are about 80, with no fatalities."

"That's a relief."

"It's a miracle."

Having quickly set up a temporary shelter, I began to talk with Malik, Lowen, and Balak. It was just a campfire, but it was better than talking casually at the cleanup site.

Lowen, with his arms crossed, lowered his head and sighed.

"My late arrival was the mistake."

"..."

"I tried to come quickly, but the chancellor held me back."

"Thank you just for coming."

Lowen glared at me once, then let out a chuckle.

"You're everywhere."

"We just happened to be on the same path."

"Did you come to get the holy sword too?"

"I came to watch."

"Puhat... I've never seen a strange guy like you before."

Malik nodded as if in agreement.

It seemed peaceful.

It felt like the first time I had felt a warm feeling from the Histania family.

'They seem to have changed.'

Looking at Lowen's eyes, I felt that many things had changed. I could feel warmth in his gaze towards Hanna. He didn't tell her to quit the sword when they met. A strange sense of relief came over me at Lowen's worried face as he stared intently at the collapsed Hanna.

Malik slowly stood up and began to report on the situation.

"The damage to our camp is beyond imagination."

"..."

"We haven't even reached the temple, yet 80% of our forces are injured..."

"..."

I shook my head at Malik's words and replied.

"We might be lucky that the damage ended at this level."

"Lucky...?"

"If this number of people had entered the temple, our side might have been wiped out, leaving only a few."

Lowen gave a small nod as if in agreement.

"That's certainly true."

I turned my head to the side and looked at Balak, who had set his greatsword beside him, and said.

"And we have someone who can tell us in detail about the 'damage' on the heretic side, don't we?"

"..."

Lowen looked at Balak with suspicion. Wondering if he could really trust someone who was a heretic. He had seen him fight against the heretics, but he had to consider that it could be a ploy, so Lowen looked at me and asked.

"Is he a trustworthy person?"

At Lowen's unconcealed suspicion, Balak nodded and answered.

"Sword of the Empire."

"...Are you calling me?"

"Yes."

"Speaking informally on our first meeting, quite unpleasant."

"..."

"Speak."

"Do you have a child?"

At Balak's question, Lowen nodded in lieu of an answer. And Balak, at Lowen's answer, let out a breath and said slowly.

"Thanks to that person's help, I was able to save my daughter's life."

At Balak's words, Lowen nodded and said.

"Is that so."

"..."

"Can you stake your daughter's name on those words right now?"

-Nod.

"I see. I'll trust you for once."

"I thank you for your trust."

Balak slowly began to speak about the heretics' situation.

"The number of heretics deployed in this operation was approximately 130. Among them, the number of dead heretics is 80. They've taken about 60% damage. The heretics have also suffered considerable damage, is what I'm saying."

That's good news.

That we've dealt a blow to the heretics' forces.

"Thanks to the female student lying here killing the Archbishop of Greed, the heretics' morale will be at rock bottom."

"...She's my daughter."

"Are you bragging?"

"Yes."

"I'm envious."

I almost laughed.

Because a pleased smile was on Lowen's lips as he casually bragged about his daughter.

I suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out and focused on Balak's words.

"The retreated archbishops are unlikely to return to battle. They're all seriously injured by your sword."

"I just swung it hoping to hit anyone, looks like it connected."

"Are you serious?"

"No."

"..."

"Anyway, there's practically no chance of them returning to the battlefield. Black mages can only be treated by mages with special properties."

"..."

That means.

"It's worth a try."

Balak shook his head.

"No."

"Why not? All the archbishops are injured, and the number of heretics has been halved. If we push now, can't we seize victory?"

"That's also true, but."

Malik looked at the temple and smiled bitterly.

"Because there are apostles."

"...Apostles."

"Half of the damage we received in the recent battle was done by an apostle."

"..."

"And there will be three such apostles in there. Do you think a frontal assault is possible?"

"..."

"Even if we safely enter the temple, it would be a big problem if three apostles ambushed us at once."

"..."

"My opinion is that now, with the heretics' morale at its lowest, is the perfect opportunity to retreat."

I raised my hand.

"Excuse me."

"Speak."

"You have me, don't you?"

"...Hmm?"

Hearing my words, Lowen nodded.

"That's right. We have you."

"If I, the person with the purest heart in the world, participate in the exploration, we could also obtain the holy sword."

"...?"

"...?"

"...?"

"What?"

At the reaction of those with giant question marks above their heads, I gave an awkward smile and lowered my head.

"It's embarrassing if you look at me like that."

"..."

"What."

Lowen let out a hollow laugh once and began to sort out the situation. Applying Balak's opinion to the current situation meant that time was short.

"Then we must move to retrieve the holy sword as soon as possible. That's what you're saying."

"That's right."

"The injured."

"I plan to send them down to a safe place with Balak in the lead."

"Then I'll ask again."

Lowen looked me straight in the eye and repeated the question he had asked before.

"Is that man a trustworthy person?"

I looked at Balak and said with certainty.

[Balak Lv. 91]

[Occupation: Archbishop of Despair]

[Favorability: 100]

Favorite conversation topics: Daughter, Benefactor, Revenge against heretics, Sword, Trust, Repaying kindness

Disliked conversation topics: Heretics, Distrust, Disease, Fetters

I smiled with conviction. Because I had planted the seeds, knowing this day would come.

"He is a trustworthy person."

"Hmm..."

"..."

"I understand."

Lowen looked at the now-awake Hanna and said in a cold voice.

"First, we will send down the severely injured."

Hanna sat up and said in a surprised voice.

"Me too...! I can go too!"

"..."

"Please wait a little. If I drink a potion, I'll be fine in no time...!"

"No."

I firmly refused Hanna's request. The danger that would arise from the moment things went wrong had exceeded the scope. To be honest, I didn't even know if we could secure the holy sword.

Three apostles.

Two surviving archbishops.

No matter how much Elysia was on our side, the weight of the apostles we had to bear was pressing heavily on our shoulders, so I couldn't make a rash decision.

"Why..."

Hanna bit her lip hard. At Hanna's moistening eyes, I let out a light sigh and nodded.

"Let's go on a date, just the two of us, next time."

The number of people entering the temple was four.

Lowen. Yuria.

Ricardo, and Mikhail.

We moved with the intention of destroying the holy sword if necessary.

Of course, Malik.

-Take me too.

He was kicked out for whining.

In front of the temple where the Holy Sword lay dormant.

Standing on the corpses of the heretics guarding the temple entrance, I nodded at Rowen and Yuria who were following behind.

"It seems mostly cleared up."

"That was fast."

"I thought there would be at least one apostle guarding the gate, but since there wasn't, we could finish quickly."

"I thought so too."

"...You're quite stingy with your compliments."

"Indeed."

"...It seems all the archbishops have retreated, and the apostle is inside, so shall we go in too?"

Rowen, who had nodded his head, glanced at me and said.

"Wait a moment."

"Yes?"

"I couldn't point it out earlier because of the circumstances, but."

"Yes..."

"What did you say to my daughter?"

As Rowen's sharp eyes turned towards me, I gave an awkward smile and scratched my head.

"The moon... has risen beautifully."

"..."

"..."

"We'll let it slide for now."

I almost died.

Having escaped from an unintentional danger, I cleared my throat once and slowly began to talk about the plan.

"As I mentioned before, we will enter the temple in two teams."

"..."

"Mikhail and I will be one team. And Yuria and you, Rowen-nim, will be one team."

"...Understood."

"The reason is...."

"Isn't it because splitting into two teams allows us to find the Holy Sword faster? The reason for bringing Yuria and Mikhail is also as a variable in case we don't obtain the qualification for the Holy Sword."

"...That's right."

I gave an awkward smile at Rowen, who had accurately grasped my intentions.

"How did you know?"

"It's obvious."

"You're sharp."

Rowen let out a hollow laugh and nodded his head.

"Then shall we get a move on? It would be troublesome if those guys find it first."

"That's also true."

I gave a small smile and nodded my head. And I stopped my steps at the fork in the road leading into the temple's basement.

"We'll go to the right."

"Then I'll go to the left."

-Click.

"Stay alive."

"Likewise. Oh, and Yuria-ssi!"

The thoroughly tensed Yuria was startled by my call of her name and looked back.

"...Yes!?"

I smiled at Yuria and said.

"I'm sorry I couldn't go with you."

"N-no, it's fine!"

"The Knight Commander is stronger than me. So don't be too nervous and do your best."

Yuria clenched her fists and nodded her head.

"Yes...!"

-Click. Clack.

"Shall we go too?"

I said to Mikhail while looking at the backs of Yuria and Rowen disappearing down the fork, and Mikhail nodded his head 크게 and clenched his fists.

"Yes...!"

The echo from the steps on the temple floor continued down to the basement.

The structure of the temple was extremely complex and vast. Much more so than in the novel.

Old armors that had lost their light were displayed all over the walls of the temple basement, and the knights in platinum armor all held swords in their hands.

'Just taking this would be worth a lot of money, but I'd probably get arrested if I stole it.'

After glancing at the armor with a regretful look, I turned to Mikhail who was fidgeting with his fingers and threw a blunt joke.

"It looks expensive."

"...Pardon?"

"Those armors. Not just one, but they all seem to be made of platinum... Shall we steal just one on our way back...?"

"...Shall we?"

Mikhail, who was looking at me with a suspicious eye, nodded his head and gave a reply as if anything I said was fine.

"Pwahahaha!!! I'm joking. Taking something like that will bring you bad luck."

"...Ah. Then I should refrain."

"Of course. It would be a headache if a ghost appeared in your dreams after taking it for no reason."

"...Right."

I gave a light greeting to Mikhail who was mumbling his lips. Because I hadn't been able to talk to him earlier due to the circumstances.

"Have you been well?"

"Pardon...? Ah... Yes. I've been well."

"That's a relief."

"Um... have you been well too, Ricardo?"

"Yes, I've also been healthy as usual."

At Mikhail's awkward reply, who was very shy, I gave a small smile. It seemed Mikhail still hadn't figured out how to treat me.

Since there was a lot of time until we reached the place where the Holy Sword was dormant, I started to chat to pass the boring time quickly.

"It's the first time since that day, right?"

"...Yes."

"We were supposed to meet in swordsmanship class, but meeting like this is a little awkward."

"..."

I looked around the spacious area once and asked Mikhail suggestively.

"Mikhail-ssi."

"..."

"Are you more comfortable with the name Misa, Mikhail-ssi? Or would you like me to call you Mikhail?"

"...Ah."

"It's been on my mind for a while. We've introduced ourselves, so I was wondering what name you'd prefer."

Mikhail glanced at me once and spoke with difficulty.

"I'd..."

"Yes."

"I'd like you to call me Misa."

"Is that so?"

"Ah... that! That...!"

Mikhail waved his hands as if he had broken down, then lowered his head once and let out a hot sigh.

"I'd like you to call me Misa only when we're alone. Because other people don't know I'm a woman...."

Oh...

I laughed seeing Mikhail's reddening face. I wondered how flustered one could be to turn that red. Thinking that steam might come out if I teased him a little more, I let out a hollow laugh and nodded my head.

"Then Misa-ssi."

"...Yes."

"As you said, Misa-ssi, I will call you 'Misa' when we are alone."

"Okay..."

We continued to chat about each other as we slowly made our way to the deep basement.

We were easing our tension by sharing stories that we didn't know about each other, such as how I became Desmunt Olivia's butler, and how I came to the academy.

"So... Olivia saved you?"

"That's right."

"..."

"She may not look it, but the young lady is my life's savior."

"Life's savior..."

"Sometimes her personality is eccentric and she complains a lot, but she's a kind person. You don't believe me, do you?"

"...No."

"I can see why."

"Honestly, I can't believe it. That Olivia is a kind person.... Honestly."

"Pwahaha!! I understand that feeling. If I hadn't seen the young lady from the beginning, I wouldn't have known either."

I changed the topic of conversation and threw another question at Mikhail. Since we were getting close to where the Holy Sword was located.

Judging by the vibrations I felt, it seemed no heretics had come near. They were probably going around in circles in the complex temple maze.

If they tried to force their way through.

-Ssk.

The displayed armors would not have stood still.

I stretched once and asked Mikhail. As if asking for his thoughts before becoming the master of the Holy Sword.

"It's a sudden question, but."

"Yes."

"Who do you think will pull out the Holy Sword, Misa-ssi?"

"...The Holy Sword?"

"Yes, since we've come to the temple where the Holy Sword is dormant, I thought I'd get a little ahead of myself."

Mikhail looked at me silently and said shyly.

"I... Ikminhyeok... "

"You can just call me Ricardo."

"Yes... I... um... think that Ricardo will become the master of the Holy Sword."

"...Pardon? Me?"

"Yes. Because there is no one as kind and righteous as Ricardo."

"I think your judgment of people is quite flawed?"

Objectively speaking, it's strange for me, the master of a magic sword, to become the master of a holy sword. Besides, I barely managed to tame Tyrfing, and taming the holy sword, which is its opposite, would probably put a strain on me, so it was an unwelcome fateful encounter.

Mikhail gave a shy smile at my lukewarm reaction and threw a question.

"Then who do you think will become the master, Ricardo? The kind-hearted Yuria? Or do you think the Knight Commander will become the master of the Holy Sword?"

"Hmm... I wonder."

I looked at Mikhail and said.

"I don't think anyone other than you, Misa-ssi, can become the master."

"...Pardon? Me?"

Startled, Mikhail looked at me with trembling eyes and expressed his denial.

"No. How could I, the Holy Sword..."

"No. Where else would you find someone as kind as you, Misa-ssi? Giving things away like a pushover."

"..."

"Getting beaten up like a punching bag."

"..."

"Getting scammed."

"...Stop!"

"Pwahahaha! I'm joking."

I looked at the tattered Mikhail and gave a subtle smile.

Because it was funny that the master of the Holy Sword was showing a lack of confidence. Without revealing these inner thoughts, I gave a gentle smile and said to Mikhail.

"Honestly, both the Knight Commander and I are people who have been sullied to the core. We've stained our hands with a lot of blood and have swung our swords for selfish desires."

"...No. You are both amazing people."

"Hey... if you look up close, it's a tragedy."

"..."

"Personally, I don't think there's anyone as kind as you, Misa-ssi. Excluding all past emotions and seeing you as a human being."

"..."

"If Misa-ssi becomes the master of the Holy Sword, I think you'll use it well and not for strange things. Wouldn't the Holy Sword want that too?"

Mikhail, whose face had turned red from the repeated compliments, lowered his head deeply and didn't know what to do.

I stroked Mikhail's head and moved forward.

Imagining the scene I had seen in the novel in my mind. And recalling the hardships that Mikhail would face.

"No matter what happens, you must not waver."

I moved forward.

At the same time.

In the deep basement of the temple, three apostles were moving without a word.

The long linen clothes were being dragged on the floor and getting dirty, but the 'swish swish' sound was making their silence even more grim.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The Apostle of Temperance, who had been silent, opened his mouth heavily.

"Apostle of Benevolence."

"..."

"Do you like being an apostle?"

The Apostle of Benevolence clicked her tongue with a 'tch' at the human language she heard in her ear and showed her displeasure.

"A blunt woman."

"..."

"For someone so blunt, you seem to be useless."

The Apostle of Benevolence, stung by the sarcastic words, stopped walking and said.

"Shut up. Human."

"...Whoa whoa. Calm down."

"I only joined hands for the greater good. Not to hold the hand of a filthy human."

"Of course. But it's hard to give a good evaluation to a failure who couldn't inflict any damage on the enemy forces."

The Apostle of Temperance gave a slight smile and glared at Elisia, who was keeping her lips sealed, for no reason.

"Isn't that right, Meekness."

"..."

"It's a shame that there's no one who handles their work as thoroughly as the Apostle of Meekness. Of course, she recently failed due to an unfortunate incident, but if you just look at her accomplishments, she's someone you can learn a lot from. As if her life depended on it. Haha!!"

"..."

The Apostle of Temperance's words were barbed. To be faithful to the mission assigned.

Elisia, without even glancing at the Apostle of Temperance's sarcasm, replied.

"Let's focus on finding the Holy Sword. Temperance."

"..."

"It seems the intruders have entered the interior."

"..."

The Apostle of Temperance let out a long sigh and said in a low voice.

"We'll have to split up and move."

The Apostle of Temperance was on guard, fiddling with the watch in his pocket.

The variable that Elisia possessed.

And.

"I didn't expect to meet here."

Rowen and Yuria came face to face with the apostle.