The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 337-338
[Bang! Bang! Bang!]
-Big brother...! I'm scared...
-It's okay. If we hide in the closet, they won't find us... If we just hide today too...
[Creeak.]
-There you are.
-Aaaaaah!! Big brother!!
-Help me!!
My life was miserable.
It was dark and ugly until I received the epithet of Temperance.
I had to run from debt collectors who knocked on the door every other day, and I had to fear my father who was mad with alcohol and gambling. My mother had run away long ago. I had the duty to protect my only younger brother.
-Don't hit him... Big brother...! Help me...
Because that's what a big brother does.
Because that was my life.
Because it was a pitiful life I was born into. I lived resenting the misfortune that came my way.
One day, yes... on a day I was beaten by my drunk father for no reason, I went to a church and prayed. Why did I have to live such a life?
Other people lived happily in loving families, but I prayed to God, asking why only I had to face such misfortune.
-Please kill my father.
Of course, God gave no answer.
The sermons I heard at the church I went to for comfort were always 'Love.', 'Forgive.', 'Be temperate.' They offered no solution to the misfortunes that came my way.
What kind of God is that?
What kind of forgiveness?
When I'm living in hell every day.
When my father, who swung his fists every other day, choked my younger brother, I abandoned the laws of heaven.
Because the world was a bitch.
If it weren't for you.
If you hadn't created us.
We wouldn't have had to suffer like this.
Only then did I realize.
That all misfortune begins with the act of 'temperance.'
Because I was 'temperate,' misfortune came.
Because I 'endured,' happiness did not come to me.
-Haah... haah...
Only after I killed my father with my own hands did I realize. That 'temperance' was a foolish thing.
The law of the jungle.
That's the way of the world, but I had tried to run away. After belatedly realizing the way of the world, I decided not to endure anymore.
I killed people for profit.
I spread misfortune for money.
And so, wealth accumulated, and threats began to appear.
People who held grudges against me.
Those with beliefs that could not be swayed by offerings. Humiliatingly, when I felt that their strength surpassed mine, I fell into despair. Because the ones who had lived happy lives showed me mercy.
-I will not kill you.
-...
-Because your life is pitiful, live the rest of your life for others.
And then. He came.
-The look of despair in your eyes is pleasing.
-...
-Do you want power?
He, who bestowed upon me, who could not be temperate, the epithet of Temperance, extended his hand to me.
"..."
Yes, my desire is temperance.
To be temperate for the sake of greater happiness is the desire I seek.
-Thump.
With Elysia's smile, Temperance's hand grasped the holy sword.
It was the result of a moment's carelessness.
"...!"
Because Elysia's black magic was a power that fulfilled wishes. The moment he faced her, he shouldn't have let his guard down.
That was.
"Haha...!"
"..."
"I got it, didn't I?"
The scariness of the Apostle of Meekness.
Elysia's madness-tinged smile was reflected in the eyes of the confused Apostle of Temperance.
It was the moment a crack appeared on the arrogant face of Temperance, who had always been sure of victory.
"Kahat..."
Temperance burst into laughter.
If it had come to this, he just had to kill them all.
Enduring is foolish.
"Yes... I should have killed you from the start."
"..."
"It's not so bad that things turned out this way. It's better for Him to have a faithful apostle than a bitch who just clumsily imitates."
"..."
Temperance gripped the holy sword and began to apply force.
"You got it...? I'm the one who got it, you stupid bitch."
"..."
"What can a mere piece of iron like this do?"
"..."
"An ancient relic like this has no influence on me. I am Temperance. An apostle chosen by Him."
However.
-Crack.
"...What."
A large crack began to form on Temperance's hand that was holding the holy sword.
Flesh split.
A spasm ran through the hand that was holding it. As if a sudden aging was coming over his body, Temperance's trembling hand was losing its strength.
Thud.
"Uh..."
Temperance saw the pool of blood forming on the floor and wiped his nose. And he saw the bloodstain on the back of his hand and his pupils trembled.
"Why... my body is."
Rupture.
As a huge holy power that seemed to swallow his breath began to wrap around Temperance's hand, Temperance looked at Elysia with trembling eyes.
"What did you do?"
"It seems the holy sword is testing your qualifications."
"...!"
"You said you could do it."
"...Don't make me laugh!"
Temperance pulled at the holy sword with trembling pupils, but his pupils began to tremble greatly at the weight of the holy sword that wouldn't budge.
"...Kuuuk"
"Just keep holding it."
The moment Elysia's hand was about to cut Temperance's breath.
The Apostle of Temperance's eyes widened, and he cut off the hand that was holding the holy sword. Because he could feel his strength draining away the longer he held the holy sword.
If this continued, he wouldn't be able to check not only Elysia but also the man behind her, so Temperance, having made a decision, looked at his severed arm and let out a hollow laugh.
"Kahahaha..."
Temperance let out a mad laugh and looked straight into Elysia's eyes.
"Kahahaha!! This is fun... really fun."
Elysia looked straight into Temperance's eyes and gave an even bigger mad smile. Madman versus madman.
'This is scary.'
Watching the battle of the apostles, I clicked my tongue and let out a sigh. The fight between the two madmen was a bit scary for me too. The only disappointing thing was that Temperance had cut off his own hand. If he had held on a little longer, one of Temperance's black magics would have been sealed. He might have even been retired.
I don't know the specific abilities of the holy sword, but the author left a setting for the part about testing qualifications.
-Q. What happens if a heretic forcibly pulls out the holy sword?
-A. Their black magic is sealed, or they die. Because the holy sword is a picky fellow.
I knew nothing about the holy sword other than that it was a cheat sword that bestowed numerous blessings on its user.
What was certain was that the current Apostle of Temperance could not defeat Elysia.
I saw the look in Elysia's eyes, wishing for the beginning of her revenge, and gave a small nod as a signal. That she didn't have to hold back.
The moment the signal was given, a chilling mana began to wrap around the space from behind Elysia. A mana so strong that it didn't seem like a villain who had exited without showing their true power was distorting the space.
'...?'
An awakened Olaf.
No, it was a stronger mana than that.
Elysia bowed her head in gratitude and muttered softly.
"Glory to the Saint."
It was a good thing I recruited her.
If I hadn't, that mana would have been directed at me.
Elysia's hand brutally grabbed the Apostle of Temperance's face and threw him violently towards a corner.
-Jjeeeeeeeok...!
The space distorts. All the space seen through Elysia's eyes distorts and begins to shatter like glass shards.
"Temperance. No... I should call you 'Zehar,' right?"
"...You insolent bitch...."
Temperance staggered to his feet and began to spread a huge magic circle on the ground.
His black magic was 'Temperance'.
A power that created rules to suppress.
A power that suppressed death.
The ability to suppress the target's magic within a certain area. It was a cheat ability that could create numerous precepts and grasp them as he wished.
Of course, the precepts had their limits, but it was an outrageous ability that had limited Lowen's aura in his battle in the novel. It was the ability to become a god within a certain area.
However.
-Kugugugugung.
The same was true for Elysia, who knew his ability. She was also an apostle.
Elysia, with her blue glowing eyes, distorted the space and said in a cold, low voice to the Apostle of Temperance.
"How long have I waited for this moment."
"Don't be arrogant, Meekness."
"It seems you're the one being arrogant. Aren't you afraid? Of what kind of gift I might have prepared."
"Ridiculous."
Temperance began to coldly utter precepts.
"Black Magic. Regulation."
"..."
"From now on, within this space, I will restrict the black magic of Apostle Elysia."
"..."
"Struggle all you want, you foolish woman."
Elysia said with a sneer.
"Holy Magic."
"...!!!"
"Ritual Flame."
A pure white flame began to dance on Temperance's body. At the same time, flames also formed on Elysia's body. For one who had abandoned God to use high-level holy magic was an act that deserved divine punishment. It was a double-edged sword that came back to Elysia as well.
However.
"Kuuuk....!!!"
The key was that the holy magic inflicted an even greater wound on the injured Temperance.
"Your precepts are wavering."
"..."
"If this is the case, I have no choice but to exploit the opening, don't I?"
"Stop...!"
"Like this."
-Jjeeeeeeeok!!!"
At the wavering precepts, Elysia gave a small smile and distorted the space, and at the same time, Temperance's magic circle split in half and began to confront the territory created by Elysia.
The black magic circle symbolizing precepts.
And Elysia's blue mana created a violent wave and began to divide the space where the holy sword slept into two territories.
-Jjejeok...
-Jjejejejejejejeok!!!
Elysia's explosive mana wriggled as if it couldn't be contained and was repeatedly restored.
"Struggle harder."
"..."
"Because if you die, your younger brother will be in danger."
Elysia looked straight at Temperance.
At the color of his emotions.
She was smiling, looking straight into her own eyes at the color of emotions that were shaking and trembling in fear.
It squirms.
The color of Temperance's emotions.
The red color symbolizing anger.
"Aren't you going to ask?"
"..."
"Aren't you curious... about what the color of your emotions is?"
"...Shut up!"
"The color of your emotions right now is..."
Symbolizing fear.
"Blue."
A deep blue.
A fierce battle unfolds.
The battle between Temperance, who had lost one arm, and Elisia began to spread coolly within the space where the Holy Sword slept.
Elisia distorted the surrounding space, expanding it further. To increase the number of things she could utilize, she began to expand the space where the Holy Sword slept to a degree incomparable to before.
Removing the walls.
-Kwaddeudeuk...!
She imbued the displayed armors with emotion, making them move like puppets.
"Bring me that man's head."
Temperance did not remain still either.
He drew up black magic power, expanding his precepts, and was nullifying Elisia's magic and firing spheres of magic power.
Funnily enough, neither of them moved a single step from their positions, but the riots they created were comparable to a disaster.
What I saw before my eyes was just one thing. Elisia's blue magic power and black magic power drawing a line in this space, making their territories clear.
-Pajik...
On the surface, the battle between the Apostle of Temperance and Elisia seemed to be evenly matched. Because when Elisia distorted the space to attack, Temperance used his precepts to turn it into nothingness.
But.
"You're using such pathetic tricks...!"
"..."
"Ahahahat! Why are you struggling so much, you who say so."
"..."
"You must remain calm, Temperance...!"
Elisia was mocking Temperance.
The situation was flowing so intensely that it was impossible to be sure who had the upper hand, but a mad laugh never left Elisia's lips. In contrast, cold sweat was flowing down Temperance's forehead.
Temperance, who had dropped cold sweat on the floor, said in an unshaken voice.
"Don't be mistaken, Meekness. If I draw out my true power, someone like you..."
"It's the same for me."
Elisia, her blue eyes shining, began to draw up deep black magic power.
"I haven't even started yet."
-Saaaaaaaaaa....
The space is being dyed.
The space was being torn and restored repeatedly by the magic power Elisia had spread.
The white floor was undulating like waves, creating an abyss on the floor, and the ceiling wall likewise began to extend huge awls above Temperance's head, as if trying to grasp the sky.
Temperance clicked his tongue.
"Kuhk..."
He had not known Elisia's magic was this strong. She was a woman who had lived alone. An apostle who had no archbishops under her and no believers.
To replenish black magic, a lot of manpower and complex procedures would surely be necessary.... Temperance could not understand why she possessed an inexhaustible supply of magic power.
For a moment, a hypothesis came to Temperance's mind. A hypothesis that not only black mages, but even ordinary people knew.
-Black magic is different from magic.
-The method of replenishment, depending on one's own desires and wants, can be a bone-crushing effort or as easy as breathing.
Temperance, recalling the back of Elisia praying in the dark temple, gritted his teeth.
Because the reason Meekness had been praying continuously... was not a mental illness, but to build up her power.
"Sssik..."
The corners of Elisia's lips went up.
Because Temperance's precepts were collapsing. The precepts that had never once collapsed were shaking. As if to prove it, the floor Temperance was standing on was squirming like a slime touched by fire.
"Don't make me laugh!!!"
-Kwaaaaaang!!!!
Temperance's complexion gradually began to turn pale. Because he had never imagined that the precepts that had never once been breached would crack.
The ultimate shield.
The shield that he thought would not be breached even by the Empire's Sword was being breached by a single woman, and Temperance began to waver.
Elisia looked at Temperance and spat out a taunt.
"You're wavering."
"..."
"The precepts are shaking. Temperance."
"...Shut up. Meekness."
"If you're so careless, you'll end up dead."
There was more than one thing to worry about.
He had to avoid the mental control of Meekness who saw through emotions, and he also had to be careful of physical attacks that aimed for his blind spots.
And besides. That man.
"..."
The situation where he didn't know when that man who was silently looking at him would join in was extremely urgent. The magic power he felt from him was on the same level as his, or perhaps the same as the Empire's Sword. Temperance, becoming anxious at the appearance of an unexpected strong person, gritted his teeth and muttered to himself.
"I didn't want to use this magic..."
For a moment, the air around Temperance begins to change. The magic circle of precepts that filled the floor began to be sucked into Temperance's body as if seeping in, and at the same time, black walls like a heat haze began to fill the four sides around Temperance.
Temperance touched the black wall and said softly.
"Regret it in hell. Meekness."
The black wall is coated onto Temperance's body.
As if a person wearing armor, precepts began to be layered onto Temperance's body. The moment numerous formulas and precepts covered his body, a black armor began to take its place on Temperance's body.
At the same time as the black wall disappeared, an armor that ignored the laws of the world and a black tachi could be seen in Temperance's hand.
Yes, a tachi (太刀).
A sword with an abnormally long blade for a swordsman to use. The tachi, with its black blade spread out long like a single snake, began to blow a cold wind and wrap around Temperance's hand.
Temperance, holding a sword that should be held with two hands in one, let out a faint sigh and said.
"No one has survived after seeing this armament."
"What an honor... I'll be the first."
"How arrogant. Meekness."
"But, Temperance. You know that armament eats away at your lifespan, right?"
"I know. Of course I know...."
The moment a cold melody began to spread. Elisia began to set up the battlefield by changing the four sides into a watery liquid.
"This is fun. A fly struggling..."
-Kugugugugugu...
"It's fun."
Elisia looked at me and cut off the space.
"Saint-nim."
"..."
"Please leave this fight to me."
Elisia began to disappear, cutting off the space with Temperance.
I gave a bitter smile, looking at Elisia and Temperance disappearing to the other side of the space.
Temperance's armament was originally.
Supposed to have two tachis. The victory had already tilted in Elisia's favor.
I let out a hollow laugh looking at the Holy Sword with Temperance's hand still attached.
"Amazing."
A hollow laugh kept coming out at the sight of the Holy Sword, which reminded me of the words 'magic sword'. Because the Holy Sword was absorbing the black magic left on Temperance's hand.
Temperance's arm, left on the hilt of the Holy Sword, was losing moisture and withering like a mummy.
"At this point, it's not a Holy Sword but a magic sword."
Before long, Temperance's arm lost its vitality and began to crumble like sand. After Temperance's arm, which had turned into white sand, disappeared, the Holy Sword was standing in its place, emitting a radiance as if it had never indulged in black magic.
"..."
I looked at Mikhail and gave an awkward smile.
"How is it."
"...Pardon?"
"Do you think you can pull it out?"
"Ah..."
"What's certain is."
-Hwoooong.
I shook my head, looking at the Holy Sword that was causing a sword cry.
"I don't think I can hold it."
I have a feeling.
A feeling that the Holy Sword is rejecting me. If I were to hold the Holy Sword, I shook my head at the strong assertion of the Holy Sword, as if it would not even allow me to approach, let alone be qualified.
The only person who could pull out the Holy Sword in this place was Mikhail.
"...Gulp."
If I think about the novel, Mikhail could naturally pull out the Holy Sword.
In the novel, when Rowen and two apostles were facing each other, Mikhail ran in a hurry to find the Holy Sword under Rowen's orders.
-Don't worry about here and find the Holy Sword.
-But...!
-It's an order. If we retreat from here without gaining anything, it will be an even bigger problem.
-...Please hold on for just a little longer.
In the novel, he found the Holy Sword in this way and was able to escape the temple safely by helping Rowen.
The qualification to hold the Holy Sword is.
A hero.
And a person with a pure white heart.
Considering the Holy Sword, which has an ego, Mikhail's qualifications were more than sufficient. The only thing that bothered me was that my existence was included in the journey so far.
"..."
I was worried because I didn't know how the variable of me would act.
Still.
"Will you try to hold it?"
The result hadn't changed, so it was worth a try.
Mikhail looked at me once and nodded his head. At Mikhail's hand reaching for the Holy Sword without hesitation, I twitched my eyebrows and said.
"Are you going to try holding it right away?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you scared? You saw a person's hand get cut off."
"Yes."
"Pardon?"
"Because Ricardo said I could pull it out."
"..."
"Honestly, it's a lie to say I'm not scared, but still..."
-Grasp.
"Because Ricardo is smarter than a fool like me..."
"..."
"I believe in my friend."
Mikhail closed his eyes and grasped the Holy Sword. With the thrilling energy felt at his fingertips, I felt Mikhail's magic power and the Holy Sword's magic power harmonizing.
I let out a cry of admiration at the warmth of the Holy Sword, which was blending neatly as if they had originally been one body.
But.
-Pajik.
"Uh...!"
The Holy Sword was not such a gentle fellow.
I can see it.
The pure Holy Sword struggling as if it had found a single flaw. The neatening magic power began to create friction, and at the same time, Mikhail's brow began to furrow.
"...!"
Startled, I called out to Mikhail and said. To let go of the Holy Sword right now.
"Misa-ssi!"
"..."
"Misa-ssi...!"
Cold sweat began to flow down Mikhail's forehead. I gritted my teeth at the sight of Mikhail convulsing as if he couldn't hear my calling voice.
'Where did it go wrong.'
It was a confirmed fact that Mikhail would become the master of the Holy Sword... but where on earth did it get twisted.
It's true that Mikhail is a good person.
Although the story flowed differently from the novel, if you look back at her disposition and actions, there was no reason for the Holy Sword to reject her.
There must be another reason.
Not a reason that came from Mikhail or me, but that the current situation occurred due to a factor from a third party...
'Ah...'
No way.
Because of Temperance's black magic...
-A phrase was written in an ancient document.
-If one without qualification holds the Holy Sword, that person will suffer great pain.
-Nevertheless, if that person endures the pain and holds the sword until the end with evil and arrogance, the evil spirit that the Holy Sword is suppressing will awaken.
-This is destruction.
At Temperance's remark that I remembered belatedly, I grabbed the Holy Sword. Because the current Mikhail would be unable to handle Temperance's magic power alone.
The energy of the Holy Sword, which might have been dormant for hundreds, no, thousands of years, would have been neat and calm. But if it was a Holy Sword that had absorbed Temperance's energy, there was more than enough possibility that it would cause a backlash in the process of changing.
If so.
That would mean the current state of the Holy Sword is an overload state, and it could also mean that Mikhail has to take in the magic power of Temperance that the Holy Sword has transformed.
If you think about the worst-case scenario.
It could mean that the existence called 'destruction' that is suppressing the Holy Sword is craving black magic to find stronger black magic.
Confused by the information that was not even in the novel, I quickly grabbed the Holy Sword and applied force.
And.
'It's not the Holy Sword...?'
I realized that something underneath, not the Holy Sword, was indulging in the magic power.
Something huge and explosive was wanting a strong power with the Holy Sword as a medium.
'...'
It's absorbing.
A fellow who wants stronger black magic was craving it with the Holy Sword as a medium. The sword we are holding is indeed the Holy Sword, but on the floor we are standing on, I could feel the fellow who had woken up after tasting Temperance's black magic struggling to overcome the restrictions of the Holy Sword.
It's a mistake.
My mistake of not thinking about the variables.
I felt the strength draining from my body. In my hazy consciousness, I could feel the remaining magic power in my body being sucked out.
I can feel it clearly.
The friction between the Holy Sword and what is not the Holy Sword.
-Saaaaa.
-Kagagagak...
My ears begin to ring loudly.
And.
"Ah... this is bad."
The temple began to darken.
The temple, which had been pure white, gradually darkened and began to lose its light. Only the area around the Holy Sword maintained its pure white light, and the rest was being covered in darkness.
It could be a dangerous situation, but if I let go, Mikhail's mind could be in danger of collapsing. Perhaps his magic circuit could shatter into pieces and he would be unable to recover.
Let's think of a way.
A way to protect the Holy Sword.
And to protect Mikhail.
'I remember...'
-The Saintess has a very high affinity for black magic. I honestly think it's amazing that you, Saint-nim, endured enough black magic to harm the Saintess's body.
-...Why do you call the young lady 'Saintess', Hans-ssi.
-From a black mage's point of view, the young mistress is.
-...
-She surpasses a saintess.
[Unlocks Black Magic Resistance Lv.5.]
I thought about the lingering scent of black magic inside my body. Thinking of that time when I took the young lady's black magic instead, I released the suppressed black magic at once.
As the huge amount of black magic began to disappear through the Holy Sword. The lingering scent of black magic inside my body began to disappear completely.
Yes, black magic.
At the same time as releasing the resistance, the black magic that had been suppressed until now began to escape.
The black magic that was blocking the blood vessels of magic power.
Was disappearing to the point where resistance was no longer needed.
I feel revitalized.
A clean and pure magic power that was unimaginable of my former self was not just flowing through my whole body, but pressing down on all the blood vessels in my body.
But.
I had to pull out the Holy Sword.
So that this craving fellow would not take this magic power.
We needed enough time for Mikhail, who had regained consciousness, to be able to pull out the Holy Sword.
Because right now, I couldn't move to suppress the fellow underneath.
But. With a body that couldn't even lift a finger, there was no way to make Mikhail pull out the Holy Sword with his own hands.
As complex thoughts filled my mind.
"Stop it-yot!"
A savior appeared.
"Don't steal my dowry...yot...?"
I smiled, looking at Shuen who had come covered in talismans.
"Wow... nice timing."
Shuen gave a foolish expression and smiled.
"Hehet!"
