The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 404



404 – Special Lesson in Hell -1-

I can’t focus on work.

“…”

Shaltia, holding a pen in the office, bowed her head and swallowed her complicated thoughts.

“…”

Since the end of the reading, I haven’t been able to think properly.

-Smile…

-…

-You really don’t look good when you cry.

When I put down the pen, the scene from the reading kept coming to mind, giving me a headache. Ricardo’s end… And the ugly image of myself that I couldn’t erase from my mind.

‘Clench’ Shaltia gripped the pen tightly and let out a deep sigh, speaking softly to find a way to resolve this situation.

“Should I ask to meet?”

It wasn’t a good method.

I didn’t know what to say if we met.

Suddenly, a blue window appeared, showing a strange past, and I felt sorry for that time… If I said that, I would seem like a strange person.

A way…

“…Haah.”

The only thing that increased with the persistent thoughts was sighs.

I wanted to meet him.

At the very least, I wanted to apologize. Even if it wasn’t my fault… No, even if Ricardo didn’t know, there was someone who continued to bear the wounds from what happened.

I didn’t know where these feelings would lead, but I wanted to see Ricardo’s face and talk to him.

“I don’t know.”

What the right answer is.

What the wrong answer is.

I thought I was strong when it came to test papers with right and wrong answers, but when it came to problems mixed with emotions, I had no idea what the right answer was.

“…”

Shartia spent her time soothing her complicated feelings. She made a resolution to definitely visit if her feelings remained strange even after time passed.

It was then.

Someone knocked on the door of the silent office.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

At the sound of the formal knock, Shartia covered her documents and looked at the door.

-Is the student council president inside?

“Who is it?”

-It’s Histania Malik, the senior director of the academy. I came because I have something to discuss, do you have time?

‘Why is the director here all of a sudden…’

Shartia let out a deep sigh at the appearance of the uncomfortable person. Malik’s power in the academy was immense right now. Moreover, he had also reduced the work related to the student council.

“Come in.”

-Then, excuse me.

As Malik entered the room, he glanced around Shartia’s office and gave a brief comment.

“Your document organization is neat. It seems you have a top-notch secretary, or did you do it yourself?”

“Haha… Thank you for the compliment.”

“I’d like to hire you as my secretary if I could, but I’ll refrain.”

“…Thank you?”

After a moment of awkward silence.

Shartia asked Malik, who was drinking tea, why he had come here.

“You said you had something to discuss, may I ask what it is?”

Malik began to speak with a small smile.

“Do you remember the ‘special class’ I mentioned a few weeks ago?”

Shaltia nodded, recalling Malik’s request to post the announcement. She had also submitted an application for the class Malik was organizing.

“Yes, I remember. You asked me to close the announcement a week ago, so I did… Is there a problem?”

Malik shook his head as he replied.

“It’s not a big problem, but the invited instructor wants to teach a small, select group…”

“May I ask how many students you have in mind…?”

“About 50 to 100.”

Shaltia responded with an awkward smile.

“Oh…”

The number of applicants was nowhere near 100, not even 50.

“Well… you don’t need to worry about that part.”

“Hmm?”

“The truth is… we have just under 20 applicants.”

Malik nodded without much change in his expression, muttering to himself, “To miss such an incredible opportunity…”

His disappointment was so evident that Shaltia was quite taken aback. It was the first time she had seen Malik, who usually kept his emotions in check, openly display his feelings.

“Come to think of it… I heard you invited a competent instructor from outside…”

“That’s right.”

“May I know who it is?”

“…You’ll be surprised.”

Malik nodded with a meaningful smile.

“Before I tell you… let’s start by signing this contract.”

“What?”

With a meaningful smile, Malik pulled out a contract from his pocket and spread it out on the desk.

“What is this…”

Looking at the contract, Shaltia’s eyes trembled as she alternated between Malik and the contract.

[‘Non-Disclosure Agreement’ and ‘Liability Waiver.’]

“What is this ominous contract?”

The contents of the contract, which had more severe conditions than she had imagined, made Shaltia’s eyes tremble.

“By the way, the student council president also said they would participate in this class.”

“Yes… Since the senior director handled it, I thought it would definitely be helpful.”

“That’s right.”

Malik nodded with a satisfied smile at Shartia’s flattery. Even though Malik had been through a lot, the princess’s flattery felt good.

With a cold smile, Malik began to tap the edge of the contract with his finger.

“It’s not easy to bring in such an instructor. We had to show our sincerity too.”

“…But it’s the Empire’s Academy. Wouldn’t disclosing information actually help the instructor’s career?”

“Don’t you understand?”

“What?”

“This isn’t their main job.”

“…”

Malik began to tap the documents impatiently.

“I originally planned to have it written on the day. If there were many people, I was going to use this bizarre contract to filter them out. But if there were too many, I was going to somehow ask for a favor and proceed….”

“Haha…”

“I didn’t expect so few people to gather.”

“…”

Erasing his disappointed expression, Malik spoke with shining eyes.

“Since you’re in an important position as the student council president, it would be good to know who the instructor is in advance. Of course, I’ll tell you if you sign the contract.”

“…”

“By the way, once you sign, you can’t back out. Even if you have a fever or break an arm.”

Malik clasped his hands together and said.

“So, sign.”

“…”

“Will you?”

Shartia closed her trembling eyes tightly and asked Malik.

“Can I ask just one thing?”

“…If you don’t write your name on the contract, I can’t answer anything.”

“No.”

A practical question.

“Is the instructor invited by the director competent?”

“Hmm?”

“I want to learn magic.”

“I know.”

“The recruitment notice doesn’t specify the field of study. It just says, ‘For those who want to become stronger.’ Honestly, it doesn’t inspire confidence.”

“Indeed, the student council president’s doubts are understandable.”

“I want to know if that instructor is competent enough to bear the director’s name.”

Malik replied with a determined expression.

“Rather than vague words, it’s better to show clear indicators.”

From noble mtl dot com

“…”

“Student council president, do you know how much I spent to invite that instructor?”

“Around 10,000 gold…”

Malik shook his head dismissively and spread five fingers.

“If I could get an instructor for 10,000 gold, I would have taught you myself.”

“…Certainly, an instructor worth 50,000 gold must be very competent…”

“No.”

“What?”

“500,000 gold.”

“F… Five hundred thousand gold?”

“Yes.”

Malik began to speak to Shaltia in a firm voice.

“Money doesn’t lie.”

“…”

“You’ll understand once you learn from him. Even this is a bargain.”

“Then…”

“You want to become good at magic?”

Malik sneered, showing his confidence.

“I promise you’ll become a step… no, strong enough to face the archbishop alone.”

Shaltia nodded as if entranced and continued to sign.

Unaware that it was the path to hell.

*

One week later.

– Ah, this is a broadcast from the student council.

In the academy, where summer vacation was just around the corner, Shaltia’s voice echoed through each class.

– Students who have applied for special training during the vacation period, please come to the senior director’s office immediately.

The students began to look up and talk to each other at the resounding broadcast. It was a familiar announcement, but most of the students didn’t participate because they didn’t want to waste their precious vacation.

“Did you do it?”

“No. I need to have fun. We won’t be able to play once we graduate.”

“I didn’t do it because of my part-time job.”

“They said it was hosted by the senior director. It’s probably going to be some weird basic physical training or something intense.”

“Still, wouldn’t it be beneficial?”

“…We’re not adventurers.”

The students’ chatter continued for a bit longer.

“Sigh…”

The sound of a deep sigh and a chair being pulled silenced the students.

“…How annoying.”

Ruine, who had been studying, roughly cleared his desk and stood up in response to the broadcast. He was one of the students who had applied for this training.

The girl who had been talking looked at Ruine, who was shaking his head, and whispered softly.

“Did Ruine do it too? I should have applied…”

“Yeah…”

Regretting not being able to join him.

After the Holy Sword contest, Ruine had regained his former self. He had been diligently exercising and focusing on the basics he had neglected.

Even if not as much as before, Ruine, who had the skill to rank within the top 50 in the ranking battles, was regaining his former popularity.

Ruine clenched his fist and muttered quietly.

“Hans must have gotten stronger too.”

“…Phew..”

Ruine began to move slowly.

The broadcast wasn’t just heard in the magic department.

At the same time, sighs of regret were heard in the swordsmanship department as well.

“Mikhail… Are you participating too?”

“Uh… Haha, yeah.”

“I should have done it too.”

It was the same in the Healing Department.

“I will become stronger. Like that woman in my dreams….”

Lastly, even at the convenience store.

“Hehe… The time has finally come for me, Schuengel, to awaken.”

The sound of those yearning for awakening was echoing.