The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 356



356 – The Bet -6-

Shartia, who had returned to the arena, came to me with wide eyes.

“You… What did you do!!!”

“Hmm?”

I shrugged and smiled at Shartia’s familiar face as I drank tea in the lounge.

“Is something wrong?”

“There is!”

“Hmm?”

He didn’t seem angry.

It looked more like he was confused rather than angry. He had expected a fierce battle, but it ended with just one spell. It was understandable that he was surprised. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to be knocked out in one hit either.

-Froststorm…!

-…!!!

-Wow… Boss.

-…What did I just see?

-Wasn’t it a good show? Haha…

He was quite taken aback.

“Does it make sense that a single bracelet could take down the crown prince in one hit?!”

“Haha!”

Shaltia rolled up her sleeve and showed me the crimson bracelet on her right hand. What on earth was this bracelet?

“…Secret?”

“You little…!”

“Haha!”

About a minute had passed since I awkwardly faced Shaltia, when a timid voice came from the bracelet she was wearing.

-Master…?!

“Oh… I forgot.”

-Um… Can I go back now?”

“Of course. Did you have a good trip?”

-Yes…!

The way to make Shaltia defeat the crown prince was simple. Give her a stronger weapon. This was the easiest way without causing harm to others.

There wasn’t enough time to enlighten her in a short period, nor was there enough time to devise a strategy.

Fortunately, Caliburn had the ability to transform freely, and I had confirmed that if she bore the risk of not being able to use magic for a while, she could use a bit of Caliburn’s power, so I lent it to her.

It might be considered cowardly, but since Mikhail started using the holy sword, the restrictions on weapons had long been lifted. Besides, it seemed like the crown prince had brought several items with him as well.

When I glanced at the crown prince on the arena, it didn’t seem like he had brought just one or two treasures from the royal family.

A ring that increases magical power.

A famous sword that amplifies magical sensitivity.

Even a bracelet that increases magic resistance. The crown prince also wanted to start with items, because fighting honestly on one side would make you a fool.

“Isn’t it enough that we won?”

Shartia, knowing the crown prince’s armament, didn’t say much, but she looked at me with a bewildered expression, having overwhelmed the crown prince more than she expected.

“Teo was knocked out in one blow.”

“Oh my… How pitiful. I should visit him in the infirmary.”

“Don’t tease…!”

I shrugged my shoulders and responded to Shartia’s retort.

“After all, in battle, equipment is life.”

“…”

“The crown prince also brought a lot of stuff, so it’s fair.”

“But still…!”

I smiled wryly and asked Shartia.

“If it wasn’t for me, the one lying in the infirmary right now would be you, princess.”

“…!”

I reached out to Shartia without a care.

-Saaa…

As my hand approached Shartia’s wrist, the bracelet she was wearing transformed into the shape of a sword.

-I missed you…!

“Haha.”

-You are the best, master.

“Is that so?”

Shartia stood still like a stone statue, watching my calm demeanor.

“…”

“You don’t have to feel guilty.”

“…”

“If the opponent had been Mikhail or Hannah, it wouldn’t have worked. If it had been my friends, I wouldn’t have done it either.”

“…”

Shartia clenched her fists and asked me.

“Why…”

“Yes?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Hmm… I wonder.”

I looked at Shalltear and gave a bright smile.

“I’m weak against pretty people.”

“You…!”

-Next match is the semifinals! The rising new power!!! Yuria and the unchanging hero of the academy, Mikhail!

I interrupted Shalltear as I heard the announcer’s voice echoing through the ceiling.

“The next match is about to start. I should get going.”

“Wait a moment…!”

“Let’s talk slowly next time.”

Shalltear looked at the spot where Ricardo had left and scratched her head.

“Sigh…”

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out that man.

*

Mikhail and Yuria were standing facing each other.

Mikhail, holding the holy sword, greeted Yuria with a light nod.

“Long time no see! Yuria!”

Yuria also smiled brightly and bowed her head at Mikhail’s cheerful greeting. They were old friends, after all.

Mikhail and Yuria were friends who trusted and relied on each other. They supported each other during tough times and leaned on each other during the incidents with Ricardo and Olivia.

They never expected to meet each other in the ranking match. Mikhail was expected to advance, but not Yuria.

Yuria knew she was weak, and Mikhail knew Yuria’s combat abilities.

Really…

They never expected to meet like this in the arena.

“I’m so nervous I could die.”

“Haha!!!”

Despite that, the two of them smiled brightly, encouraging each other.

“For someone who’s nervous, you’ve come a long way.”

“I’ve worked hard. Mikhail, you’re amazing too. You even beat Hannah.”

“That was just luck. Without the holy sword, I would have lost.”

From noble mtl dot com

Yuria smiled faintly and asked Mikhail.

“Are you going to use the holy sword?”

Mikhail shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“Of course.”

“Don’t you have any intention of going easy on me?”

“Nope. I promised to buy something delicious with the prize money.”

“Who are you going to buy it for?”

“It’s a secret.”

“That’s no fun… But I also decided to buy a meal for someone I like if I win this time.”

“Do you have someone you like?”

“It’s a secret.”

Yuria smiled and loosened her wrist.

He was a friend she had only watched from behind while attending the academy. A friend who was stronger and tougher than anyone else. Just as others said Mikhail was someone they couldn’t catch up to, Yuria also thought Mikhail was someone she couldn’t catch up to.

He was an outstanding person. It wasn’t a romantic feeling. It was respect from one person to another.

Mikhail wasn’t her ideal type.

Yuria’s ideal type was a man who smiled well, was handsome, and was kind only to her. Yuria could put in more effort because such a man was watching from the stands.

Yuria looked up at the man in the audience. She noticed Ricardo’s face, sitting side by side with the senior director, as if they were acquainted.

When Ricardo’s eyes met Yuria’s, he waved his hand. Mikhail also looked up and was staring at Ricardo.

The moment both of their gazes turned to one man, Ricardo mouthed silently with lips that couldn’t be heard.

“Mr. Mikhail, win…!”

“Ms. Yuria, win…!”

They both thought he was cheering for them by name. But Ricardo actually said something else.

-What should we have for lunch?

With their fighting spirit rising, both of them started to vow that they would definitely win, and the moment the announcer’s voice signaled the start of the match.

-We will now begin the semifinals!!

Mikhail and Yuria kicked off the ground and started moving.

Mikhail’s sword, moving quickly, was approaching to strangle Yuria. Yuria also gathered her holy power while keeping her eyes on Mikhail’s sword.

‘Just like in the nightmare…!’

With a cold expression, Yuria gathered her holy fire and swung her fist, and Mikhail quickly twisted his body to widen the distance from Yuria’s deepening attack.

-Boy. Keep your mind straight.

The holy sword spoke to Mikhail.

“I can’t use my power on a priest.”

“Where does it say that?”

“I have no choice. It’s a vow I made to myself in the past.”

Mikhail gritted his teeth and spoke to the holy sword.

“You had no problem using it when you fought Hannah.”

“That was because she wasn’t someone who used holy power.”

“Yuria isn’t a priest either.”

“But still, it pricks my conscience to touch someone who uses holy power….”

“Ha…”

Yuria was coming at him fiercely. Her punches were coming in so fast that if he faced her with mediocre skills, he would suffer serious injuries.

“…!”

Being someone who could see through everything about his opponent with divine eyes, it was easy for him to find weaknesses.

– Whoosh…

Moreover.

The white flames rising around her scattered his magical power, making it difficult to use his sword aura properly.

Seeing the rising holy flames, Mikhail kept his distance and checked Yuria.

“Impressive, Yuria.”

“Right? I’m quite… ha… ha…”

“You’re struggling.”

“No…?!”

“Maintaining the white flames seems to require a lot of stamina.”

“…”

Mikhail’s casually thrown words seemed to be correct, as Yuria looked exhausted. Her breathing was rough, and cold sweat was dripping from her forehead like rain.

Convinced that she couldn’t keep the holy flames burning for long, Mikhail gripped his sword firmly and looked straight at Yuria, speaking in a cold voice.

“I’m sorry.”

Mikhail prepared a powerful strike.

When the power of the holy flames weakened, he would use his secret technique to break through.

Yuria, too, gathered the holy flames she had spread around into her fist and prepared a strike. Determined to decide the match with this blow, Yuria slowly caught her breath and took a step towards Mikhail.

“I’ll tell you in advance, Mikhail.”

“…”

“It would be better to avoid this attack.”

“I feel the same way.”

Both of them said the same thing.

“This attack (technique) might really hurt.”

They both laughed softly and ran.

-BoooM!!!

Amidst the spreading smoke with a massive vibration, one person stood alone.

“…”

The announcer spoke with a trembling voice.

-The winner of this match is…!

“I won…!”

-Mikhail!!!!