The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 341-342
[You have entered the Trial of Caliburn.]
"...What?"
I expressed my confusion at the 'demonic sword' that had so easily granted me the trial. Honestly, I didn't expect to succeed at once.
I thought it would be fussier than the holy sword...
[The content of the trial is 'solitude'.]
I was surprised by the generosity of the demonic sword, which granted the qualification more easily than I had thought. I wondered if my life was that unfortunate.
By ordinary standards, my life could be judged as unfortunate. In my past life, I was abandoned by my parents, and in this life, I am living as a butler serving a villainess. Still, to call it unfortunate... I'm happy enough.
If my level of misfortune qualified me to wield the demonic sword, wouldn't most heretics be able to brandish it at will? Elysia was a case in point.
'Well, a good thing is a good thing.'
I let out a hollow laugh at the demonic sword's unexpectedly low barrier to entry and focused on the trial.
[From now on, you will see the most 'miserable moment' of your past. You will see a 'moment' where you were abandoned by a loved one and had to laugh despite being overwhelmed with sorrow.]
'...Is there such a thing?'
[There is only one way to pass the trial.]
['Do not turn your eyes away' from the given trial.]
One thing did come to mind regarding solitude. When I accidentally overheard the young lady being badmouthed at the academy... I was really hurt back then.
'That... is a bit tough.'
The cold voice in my ears began to give more information about the trial.
[The lantern in front of you will either go out or blaze up depending on your emotions.]
[Do not let the lantern go out.]
[Because this is your 'eye' in the trial.]
I thought it was a worthwhile trade to see bad memories in exchange for a famous sword. It was something that had already passed, and nothing would change just because I felt bad.
Stretching in the darkness, I took a deep breath and clapped my hands. 'Clap.'
"Let's go."
[Caliburn frowns at your life.]
[Caliburn vibrates.]
[Caliburn fears the 'challenger'.]
'What?'
Before I had time to wonder, the trial began to come upon me.
[The Trial of Caliburn begins.]
'It's probably nothing...'
[Take the lantern.]
With the cold voice, a worn wooden table and a black lantern began to appear before my eyes. As if telling me to take it, the faintly flickering lantern made me swallow my saliva and grab it.
The moment I grabbed the lantern with a heavy heart, a heat haze-like light spread around me, and a white door began to appear before my eyes.
'Gulp.'
-Click.
[Open the door of memory.]
I shrugged and, feeling the cold wind, slowly walked towards the white door in front of me.
The door.
As I placed my hand on the doorknob, which was pure white, unbecoming of a demonic sword, it began to open with a creaking sound.
-Saaah...
The environment changes.
I could feel the deep darkness and cool wind brushing against my hair.
And.
-Sob... hic...
The sound of someone crying in my ears brought me to my senses. The sound of crying. At the sound of mournful sobbing, I raised my head and looked around.
'This place is...'
Where is this?
Waking up in a clean plain, which was far from a fearful memory, I looked around to get my bearings. It was completely different from what I had expected.
I had thought it would be the academy, but waking up in an unexpected plain, I looked around with a bewildered expression and stiffly turned my head at the sound of someone's voice in my ears.
-Ricardo...?
'Huh...?'
-What are you doing there?
It was the young lady.
The young lady, walking perfectly on her two legs, was looking at me with a tilted head.
-Ricardo...?
Towards the young lady, who looked about 5 years older than she did now, I tilted my head and voiced my question.
-Am I dead?
-Eek?
-Am I not?
-Eeeek!! Stop talking nonsense!
At her unchanging way of speaking even after time had passed, I let out a small, hollow laugh and shook my head.
'You're still the same.'
-Eek...!
The young lady grabbed my hand and began to pull me.
-Don't just lie there, come on.
-...Yes?
-People are waiting.
-Who... is waiting?
The young lady puffed out her cheeks and pointed to one side. And my eyes trembled at the sight of familiar faces sitting in a circle on the wide plain.
Yuria.
Chartia.
Shuen.
And even Mikhail.
Dazed by the sight of a combination of people who should never have been together sitting together, I moved as if being pulled by the young lady's hand.
What is this situation?
I couldn't understand it at all.
They said they would show me the worst moment of my past, yet I couldn't understand the situation of being shown a moment that wasn't in my memory.
-Sit!
Led by the young lady's hand, I plopped down on the ground and began to feel the cool breeze.
-...Hmm.
What could be the story related to solitude?
'...'
What could be the story related to misfortune?
At the terribly peaceful scene, I was feeling both fear and joy with an awkward smile.
'Is it an error?'
Relieved at the thought that I had unintentionally found a loophole, I slowly raised my head and spoke to Mikhail and Yuria.
-Have you been well?
-...
-...
-Huh...?
The smile on my lips began to disappear at the hardened expressions of Yuria and Mikhail.
-...
It was dark.
Sorrow was etched deeply on the faces of Mikhail and Yuria, as if they were facing a great sadness.
-...Why do you have such expressions?
-...
-Are you not happy to see me?
-...
Flustered, I looked at the young lady. Because she was the one who had brought me here. I thought she would be able to explain why Yuria and Mikhail had such expressions.
It was a trial, after all.
It was something that hadn't happened.
There was no need to be scared.
So.
-Young...
-Sniffle.
-Young lady...?
So, if she just told me nonchalantly...
-Why are you crying?
I thought it would be okay.
That is, until I saw the young lady's tears.
-Sob...
The young lady was crying.
She was holding back her tears, rubbing her face with the back of her white hand. As our eyes met, the young lady, who had been hiding her tears, smiled awkwardly and began to speak.
-Let's eat, Ricardo....
-No... why.
-Hmm? No. Let's eat.
-What?
-Yuria and Mikhail brought lunch boxes, so let's eat.
-You have to explain. I'll get indigestion if I eat like this.
-...
The young lady bowed her head deeply and didn't look at me. Mikhail, Yuria, and the others also bowed their heads and just sniffled.
'Why...'
My lips moved on their own.
My lips were moving as if I were a person who had been in this moment.
-...Shouldn't I know too?
The young lady, in a voice thick with moisture, began to answer the question.
-You know, Ricardo.
-...Yes.
-Well, you see.
-Yes.
-Do you remember that time?
-...
-A while ago, the heretics attacked the academy.
-...
-You know, Ricardo.
The young lady's tears fell as she said in a low voice.
-Did you by any chance use black magic?
-...
-Really...
Tears filled the face of the young lady who was speaking silently. Her clenched fists were gripping the hem of her skirt, and tears were dripping onto the back of her hands.
-...Did you use black magic?
My lips.
-...Yes.
Moved on their own.
I feel an emotion.
I could feel my heart pounding and my eyes stinging.
What is this feeling?
What is this feeling of my heart aching as if it really happened?
I was scared.
Of the words that would come out of the young lady's mouth.
And I was scared and afraid of myself, who was answering her words so calmly.
It was something I had never experienced.
It was something that wasn't real.
I couldn't understand why I was feeling this way.
'...'
The young lady continued to speak in a trembling voice.
-You know, Ricardo...
-...
-You know...
-...
-We...
The young lady smiled awkwardly and said to me.
-I think we're forgetting you.
-...
-...
I thought it was an illusion created by the demonic sword.
It's an illusion, so don't be confused.
Don't tremble, accept it calmly, I whipped myself countless times.
However.
'...'
I was at a loss for words at the sight of my face reflected in the teacup.
'Why am I crying?'
Because I was shedding tears.
Because I couldn't raise my head, like a knight's farewell who couldn't protect his lord. My emotions were shaking.
The young lady said.
The story I was most curious about.
She said it with her fists clenched.
-Was the price... our memories?
-...
-Was it our memories....
-...
-Was it?
-With my lifespan....
-...
-It wasn't enough with my lifespan. I thought I had to offer something more valuable... to be able to protect.
-Why would you do that!!!!!
I was bowing my head.
As if the young lady's words were the correct answer, I was just smiling sadly without saying anything.
I hear the young lady's screams in my ears.
-Why did you do that!!!
-...
-Why!!! Why!!! Why!!!!
-...
-You should have let them all die. At least you should have lived.... Why did you do that!!! Why did you do such a thing....
My heart feels like it's going to rip apart.
It's nothing.
It's just a dream.
But strangely, my chest....
-I'm sorry.
It hurt as if it was going to rip apart.
If what I get in return for saving people is oblivion.... I thought that would be too scary.
'...'
It was miserable and lonely.
The young lady, who had been screaming for a while, urgently grabbed my face and began to cry. Eyes, nose, mouth, she urgently wiped them with her fingers and swallowed her tears.
-You know... Ricardo.
The young lady was crying.
-...I can't remember you.
She was forcing a smile, hiding her tears.
-I'm trying to remember, I'm trying not to forget....
Tears flow.
-I can't remember your face...
A solemn mood descends.
-I can't remember.
I let out a sigh. Not a sigh of frustration, but a sigh steeped in sadness, escaped my lips in a low voice.
-That's a relief.
I said, choked up.
-It's a relief. That you can forget the ugly butler.... It's a relief.
The emotions are transmitted directly.
A sadness that made it impossible to lift my head was weighing down my emotions.
I held the young lady's hand and gave a bright smile.
-We can just start over.
-...Hic.
-If we start over from the beginning, I can remain as a cooler person in your memory.
-...A lie.
-Have I ever lied?
-...Will you really come back?
-Of course.
I get it now.
The reason why this trial is scary.
-Sniff... You really have to come back...?
-Just don't fall for me.
-...You idiot.
The scariest thing in this trial is not the false past, but the despair that might have happened.
-I've already...
[Flicker...]
The lantern begins to flicker.
Like my fluctuating emotions, the lantern was faintly going out.
Saving the world.
No.
I couldn't save my world.
Me.
My people.
I was the one who fell without saving anyone.
Therefore.
This trial was scary.
-You...
Thump.
The young lady's hand that was caressing my face moves away. It was moving away from my face, cold and stinging.
I feel a sharp gaze.
I could feel all over my body that the way everyone sitting here was looking at me had changed.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
And with an awkward smile, I waited. To hear the words I least wanted to hear. The words I feared the most.
-...Grip.
I was preparing my heart.
-...
The young lady, with her trembling eyes shining, said.
"Who... are you?"
The lantern flickers violently.
[The trial moves to its climax.]
[To the moment of being treated coldly....]
[To the moment of struggling to restore relationships but failing to reach.... Chijik... chijijik...]
The trial is getting strange.
The lantern, which was about to go out, began to flare up with a bright light.
[That's enough.]
Along with the blue window that appeared after a long time, a crack began to form.
[Before I break it.]
With the cool voice of the status window, the space of the trial began to shake.
-Get lost. You look smelly...
-(...)
-Ha...? You want to be my butler? You should know your place. How dare a commoner without a surname present their name to Desmunt.
-(...)
The space wavered and the trial began to move quickly. At the sight of the trial moving quickly as if fast-forwarding a video, my pupils trembled and I couldn't come to my senses.
-I said get lost!!! Why do you keep following me and bothering me.
-(...)
-Are you laughing? What's so funny.
-(...)
-Don't laugh. It's unpleasant.
Because I didn't know what this situation was.
I could see the situation changing rapidly. I saw myself forcing a smile and talking to the young lady who had lost her memory.
-...Why are you crying alone?
-(...)
-Ah... you want to be friends with me?
-(...)
-I'm sorry. I have a prior engagement.
I saw the shabby back of myself extending a hand to Yuria who had lost her memory.
To Mikhail as well.
-Who are you?
-(...)
-Ah...? You want to learn the sword from me? I'm sorry, but I don't teach the sword to people I don't know.
-(...)
-I'm sorry. It's a bit much to go to a cafe on our first meeting...
-(...)
-Yes? Who are you. How did you know I'm from the slums...?
-(...)
-Are you threatening me right now? Please leave before I report you. I think I'm going to get upset.
To Shuen as well.
-Oit?
-(...)
-Hmmmm... I don't know-yot.
To Chartia as well.
-Do not dare to touch Her Highness the Princess's body!!
-(Flinch...)
The shabby back of me, failing to approach, was quickly passing by. Surprised by the incomprehensible situation, I let out a sigh of relief and nodded. I didn't know what was going on, but if I had kept watching that scene, the lamp would have surely gone out.
[Flicker...]
Looking at the lamp burning small like a candle, I let out a sigh of relief.
'I managed to endure it somehow...'
It feels like I can finally breathe.
I was out of my mind from the relentlessly rushing trial. It wouldn't have been this hard if it was just showing a simple hallucination, but since I was in a hallucination that perfectly replicated emotions, it seems my emotions couldn't help but be infected.
If it had shown the process a little more slowly and in detail, the lamp would have definitely gone out.
'Hooah...'
Standing alone in the space of the trial that had ended with the appearance of the status window, I stretched and refreshed my mood.
'I almost died.'
Right now, focusing on recovery was the priority. Because I didn't know if the trial was completely over. I had to keep in mind the situation that the trial might start again if the status window's intervention ended.
Refreshing my lowered mood and calming my heart was the only preparation I could do right now.
'...Kuhmmm.'
Sitting down on the floor with a plop, I looked at the small burning lamp and softly uttered a single question. That I didn't know why the status window had helped me.
I had always thought it maintained neutrality, but I hadn't expected to receive such favoritism.
['Caliburn' sternly warns the 'Unknown Existence' not to interfere with the 'Trial'.]
[The 'Unknown Existence' threatens the origin of 'Caliburn'.]
['Caliburn' and the 'Unknown Existence' are in conflict.]
[Caliburn... and. Static...]
·
·
·
[The trial is temporarily suspended.]
'Suspended, huh...'
What I needed to prepare for now was my attitude towards accepting the trial. My attitude in accepting this was more important than the meaning of the trial I saw before me.
I thought it would be a bigger problem if I recklessly challenged the trial and fell into depression. Because I had to think about what would happen after passing the trial. I had to be calm and collect myself.
'Hoo'
But I couldn't treat this trial lightly either.
My mind would be at ease if I thought it wouldn't happen. The ointment of 'avoidance' was a well-working medicine.
But.
No, perhaps my memories seen through the trial were also a field of opportunity to avoid the worst choices. Because I thought I could see a happy ending only by overcoming this trial.
Honestly, I wanted to avoid a sad ending.
I in the trial looked sad.
Like a clown hiding sadness with laughter, I looked gloomy and depressed.
I asked myself.
'If it were me now, would I be able to not choose black magic to protect everyone?'
The answer to the question I asked myself did not come easily. Because if I could protect everyone with the sacrifice of the existence called 'I', I felt I would willingly make that choice.
So.
The point is.
'That I'm weak, I guess.'
It probably means that the strength I thought was strong enough doesn't meet the standards of the trials to come.
'...Then I must obtain the magic sword.'
Because I in the trial was holding Tyrfing. The desire to overcome this adversity for the sake of greater strength was coming in strongly.
'Let's do it.'
My breathing stabilizes.
The dying lamp also regains its stability and begins to light up a flame of hope.
I slowly nodded my head and collected myself. Not to pretend to be weak, but to become strong.
Thinking that was the key to escaping the worst, I slowly regained my energy.
The noise gradually began to subside.
The noise, whose end could not be seen due to the intervention of the status window, slowly began to subside, and the trial began to show signs of starting again.
'Hoo...'
-Chzzzzzik...
'Let's overcome it.'
[The 'Trial' changes.]
[The 'Unknown Existence' 'intervenes' in the trial.]
'Huh...?'
With the magic sword's words, my vision changes once more.
A cold wind is blowing.
And a familiar pure white door appeared before my eyes again.
I slowly got up from where I was sitting and approached the door. I held the lamp in my hand and boldly collected my heart.
'Let's go.'
-Kiiiiiiik.
The wind is blowing.
Instead of a cool wind, a warm wind brushed my hair and rubbed against my face.
-Flash.
'This is...'
I woke up in a familiar place.
A familiar ceiling.
A familiar smell.
And a familiar bed.
'A bed...?'
When I opened my eyes, it was a bed.
And it was the bed I had seen for 13 years that I was lying on.
The moment the surprised me tried to get up quickly, I felt a warm touch on my forehead and it laid me back down on the bed. Saying gently, 'Don't move.'
-Just lie down for a bit.
I placed my head on a soft thigh.
Unintentionally receiving a lap pillow, I opened my eyes slightly and looked at the owner of the thigh.
-...Heehee.
-Huh...?
-Are you surprised?
-Young lady...?
It was the young lady.
The young lady looking down at me was smiling and brushing her hair. The young lady, wearing a sexy dress that revealed her treasure pouch, was smiling and....
-Ung, it's me.
-...Huh?
-It's been a while, hasn't it? Really... it's been a long time.
was staring at me intently.
-What is this...?
The trial had changed strangely.
'What...?'
The young lady who had lost her memory was gone, and the young lady in a sexy white lingerie was looking at me with a deep gaze, then smiling and brushing my hair.
-Did you sleep well?
-...Um, well... I didn't sleep well?
-Really...? That's a shame. You should have slept a little more.
-Excuse me... what is this situation? A seductive young lady seems a bit strange.
-What situation, it's a good situation.
-Pardon?
The young lady placed her hand on my forehead with a languid expression. Then she calmly took a breath and began to utter incomprehensible words.
-I'll say it quickly before the other bitches come.
-Pardon?
-I'm excited to talk after a long time too, but I don't have much time.
-What do you mean by that?
-Um, just listen.
The young lady roughly pulled my collar and closed her eyes. The moment something moist touched my lips, my eyes widened, and the young lady in the trial smiled slyly and licked her lips in a circle with her tongue.
-I should have tried it earlier.
-No... Pardon?
-No... I'm just saying I feel good.
[Bang bang...!]
-You crazy bitch!!!!
-Open the door!
-Open the door right now. Before I cut it down with my sword.
The sound of someone pounding on the door was heard. The young lady, who had glanced at the door that was ringing majestically as if it would be broken down, smiled slyly and placed a finger on her lips in a 'shhh' gesture.
-I'm sorry.
-What are you sorry about.... No, first of all, thank you for the kiss.
-...I. No.
The young lady, looking at the opening door, said with a sense of regret.
-We're really sorry.
[Kwagagagak!!]
-You can go now.
The young lady gently pushed my chest and gave me a small wave as a farewell.
My vision goes black.
Into a deeper darkness.
No, I began to disappear into the original time.
In my fading vision, the young lady made a sad expression and said in a small, inaudible voice.
-My prince.
-...
-This time, I hope you can grasp your happy ending....
[The 'Trial' of 'Caliburn' ends.]
-Flash.
"Hooah!!!"
Coming to my senses, I stood there blankly, touching the lips that had met in the trial.
Because it didn't seem like a dream.
As I stood there blankly for about 3 minutes at the kiss that felt so vivid. A familiar voice was heard from above.
-Commoner!!!
-Ricardo!!!
"...I'm back."
I'm back.
To the original world.
I don't know how it was resolved, but for now, I let out a long sigh in relief that I was back.
'...It seems things have been resolved well.'
My physical condition was perfectly normal.
I wasn't contaminated by black magic, and even though I was holding the magic sword, no ominous energy was flowing through my body. Perhaps the magic power was flowing even more purely than when I held Tyrfing, and I smiled and shook off the complicated feelings.
Good is good.
It felt like I could pull out the magic sword now. I didn't know if I had passed the trial, but it felt like the me now was qualified enough to pull out the magic sword.
"..."
Having collected my heart, I slowly put strength into the hand holding the magic sword, and the moment I saw the end of the slowly being pulled out magic sword, a smile bloomed on my lips.
[The blessing of the Magic Sword 'Caliburn' is bestowed.]
