The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 350



350 – The Recurring Nightmare

Deathmunt Darvab.

Aside from the first head of the Deathmunt family, he was the one with the most exceptional talent in magic. He was known in the world as the “Mage of Annihilation.” All enemies associated with him had vanished without a trace.

Whether the target was a territory.

Or an individual.

He was a person born with the qualities of a great mage who annihilated them.

Countless knights who had made names for themselves bowed their heads before him, trembling in fear at the sound of his name.

A monster, they said.

Even the swords of the empire, known as the strongest on the continent, tried to avoid conflict with him, and many nobles sought to steer clear of him as well. All because of the existence of the great mage “Darvab.”

Yes, once known as the “Noble Bomber,” the great mage was.

“…Let go!”

For the first time, I was tasting the bitter flavor of defeat at the hands of a young prosecutor in his early twenties.

“Let gooo!!!”

I made an awkward expression as I watched Darvab being held by Kyle’s hand. I never expected him to go down in one blow.

Honestly, I didn’t think I would lose.

Still… I mean, he is the head of the Deathmunt family, after all. I had anticipated a fierce exchange.

– Caliburn.

– Yes, my lord.

– Did I borrow a lot of your power during that exchange just now?

– No…? I didn’t even use it.

From noble mtl dot com

– …I see.

I looked at Darvab with a bitter expression, unsure of what kind of face I should make.

If I were to smile here, I had a gut feeling that the mansion wouldn’t survive. If Darvab was vulnerable to anger, it would be more than enough to cause chaos.

“Let gooo!!!”

I know.

I know that Darvab isn’t tapping into his true power. The strength he displayed in the novel was beyond imagination, so I didn’t think this was all he had, nor did I take it for granted.

Yes, I understand that he is holding back to some extent during this duel…

“Let gooo!!!”

I didn’t know how to react to the sight of Darvab genuinely angry.

What was certain was that the dark magic that had been blocking his bloodline had vanished, making him stronger. That’s why Darvab was so heated.

“If I unleash my true power…!”

“Father!!”

“Let go of Kyle!”

A prosecutor. It might seem foolish for a mage to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a Sword Master, but Darvab was a monster capable of making that possible, so I couldn’t overlook it.

“Let go! If I use my magic properly!!!”

“Calm down!! Olivia is watching, isn’t she?!”

“What?!”

Darvab lifted his head at Kyle’s words and looked out the mansion’s window. When he saw the lady enjoying the garden with Rosanna while sipping milk, his eyelids twitched.

“Ohhh. Mom. Dad is fighting with Ricardo.”

“It’s not a fight; it’s a duel. And it’s not ‘Dad,’ it’s ‘Father.’”

“Then why are we fighting?”

“I don’t know.”

“Um… I’m bored, want to make a bet?”

“What kind of bet?”

“I’ll bet a chocolate that Ricardo will win.”

“Then what about Mom…”

Rosanna recalled her husband from his younger days as she looked into Darvab’s intense eyes. The passionate man who hated to lose.

“Hey. Thanks for saving me last time. Adventurer.”

“Shut up. You’re ruining the taste of my drink.”

“Ugh… next time, I’ll save your life. In the name of Deathmunt.”

“Shut it.”

With a light smile, Rosanna accepted Olivia’s bet. It was only natural, now that she was a wife.

“I’ll bet on Ricardo too, Mom.”

After all, she had to protect the family’s wealth.

Feeling the gazes of the two, Darvab rose to his feet, igniting his resolve.

‘My wife is watching.’

‘My daughter is watching.’

‘I am the head of Deathmunt, and a father determined to catch the thief trying to steal my daughter away.’

‘I need to confirm my worth.’

Before being a head of the family, he was a husband. Although Rosanna didn’t expect Darvab to win, the fact that he was fighting in front of his wife reignited his fighting spirit, and he exhaled deeply.

“You’ve gotten stronger.”

“You’re too kind.”

“No. It’s fine to be arrogant. Most swordsmen can’t even keep up with my toes.”

“That must mean the lord is strong.”

“Exactly.”

This is a big deal…

While trying to boost Darvab’s pride just enough, I couldn’t think of a way to lose. I needed to control my strength; if I did it half-heartedly, I might end up dead.

Did Darvab even understand my feelings? He approached me, scattering a chilling aura.

“From now on, I will be Darvab of Deathmunt, not Olivia’s father.”

“Stopping here would be…”

“Going.”

“…No way.”

“Meteor…!”

– Rumble rumble rumble…

·

·

·

After that, Darvab said he got scolded by Rosanna.

Of course, the victor.

“Let go!!! You could just break it and build it again!!!”

“Shut up!”

“Ugh!!!”

It was me, after all.

Darvab, unable to settle the score, continued to huff in Kyle’s arms, but I could see a satisfied smile lingering in his departing gaze.

“…”

Still, it seems I passed.

*

I dreamed again today.

I was dreaming of a woman wandering the battlefield, committing slaughter once more.

One-sided murder.

Faced with overwhelming power, the soldiers could do nothing but tremble in fear at the sight of the woman, while she merely smiled sadly at the soldiers blocking her path.

‘Please, step aside.’

The woman’s pink hair, visible in the dream, was soaked in red, and the heart that once sought a god had long since vanished.

As always, the woman wandered aimlessly across the battlefield, and today, without fail, a man blocked her way.

– Stop.

-…

– I can’t let you go any further.

Not a man with blood-soaked hair, but one with red hair, wore a sorrowful expression as he pointed his sword at her.

His lips moved, but no sound reached me, and though the woman’s lips screamed with pent-up rage, her voice did not reach my ears.

-….!!

-…

-…!!!!!

All that lay before my eyes were the wounds of two men and women, steeped in sorrow.

And the end of that dream was.

-Whump…!

As always, it was the man’s death.

“…Huff. Huff.!!”

Awakening from the nightmare, Yuria gasped for breath, emerging from her slumber.

Her body was drenched in sweat.

The clothes she wore clung to her skin, nearly translucent from the moisture, and her breathing was ragged.

-Drop.

Yuria touched the droplet that fell onto her hand, then rubbed her eyes with her palm. She exhaled a deep sigh as she looked at the tears that stained her hand.

“Again, huh…”

A nightmare that haunted her three times a week.

She thought she might have grown accustomed to it by now, but the persistent nightmare continued to unsettle Yuria.

‘Today, I have a spar with the Director.’

Shaking off the unpleasant feeling, Yuria checked the time and hurriedly got dressed. She was to meet the Director at the training grounds by 5 AM.

She had to keep her promise.

Because that was how she would grow stronger.

She had felt it deeply on the day she went to find the Holy Sword. That she was a fragile person, utterly helpless. Though the Director had lifted her spirits during the meeting, she still felt like a mere child compared to Ricardo, unable to do anything.

No matter how brightly she shone in the eyes of others, if she didn’t shine in his eyes, it was all for naught.

The debts she couldn’t repay continued to pile up.

Yuria stretched and moved her feet busily. She knew that wallowing in gloom wouldn’t help at all.

Dungeon.

Ballroom.

What had happened in the North.

In the midst of countless events, all she could do was strive to grow stronger, as she had been of no help at all. Yuria let out a long breath as she tied her hair back.

As she slowly made her way to the training grounds, familiar faces came into view.

Hystania Hanna.

-I need to catch up to Senior Mikhail…

Mikhail.

– Please be quiet. I can’t concentrate.

Ruin.

– Glance…

Many were striving and moving forward from their own places. Especially Mikhail, who lately seemed to be pushing himself to the brink.

With everyone so busy, it felt like they hadn’t talked like they used to. Back in their second year, they used to eat together often.

“M…”

Just as Yuria awkwardly waved her hand at Mikhail, she was startled and hid her hand at the sound of a voice near her ear.

“What are you doing?”

It was the Director.

Having unwrapped the bandage from his right arm, the Director turned his neck once and then, looking in the direction he had been facing, spoke softly.

“It’s Mikhail.”

“…”

“You’ve been working hard lately.”

“…”

“But…”

The Director loosened his wrist and quietly voiced a single question. A question about whether Mikhail had always looked like this.

“That guy.”

“…”

“Is he growing his hair out?”

“…”

Malik shrugged as if it didn’t matter and flicked his wrist toward Yuria.

“Let’s begin.”

“Okay.”

As they engaged in a lengthy exchange through sparring.

The Director lightly dodged a punch and quietly spat out some information. As if to say, don’t tell anyone you heard this, just keep it to yourself.

“Oh, by the way… have you heard that there will be a special lecture this summer break?”

“Really?”

“They’ve invited an external professor, and I think it would be good for you to participate.”

“Is that so?”

“Um… I told you to create it.”

Malik offered his advice as a mentor.

“It would be best to participate.”

“…”

“After all, it’s a guest lecturer we invited with great difficulty.”

A chilling smile lingered at the corners of Malik’s mouth.