The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

"Hmmph…!"

"…"

"Hmmph!"

"…"

As winter's end approached,

The lady and I were outside in the yard practicing magic for the first time in a while.

Unable to use magic herself, the lady was lazily sipping cocoa, while the inferior student, who had taken a liking to the discipline of magic, was facing a snowman, extending his right hand, and letting out strange screams.

"Hmmph…!"

‘I can feel it.'

‘If my mind draws the hot shape of fire, and firmly believes in success, then…'

"Hmmmph."

Slowly, with the image of magic forming in my mind, I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes.

-Flash…

‘Here goes.'

"Fireball."

-Whoosh…

"…"

Awkward glances were exchanged.

The lady, who had paused with her cocoa at her lips, and the inferior student, who had taken all the proper stances only to fail spectacularly, both had their awkward gazes fixed on the snowman left untouched.

-Sizzle…

"It's strange. It feels like the world is against me."

"It's because Ricardo is dumb."

"I had it perfect in theory."

"Ricardo is too dumb to understand theory."

"I used to be called a genius at the academy, you know."

"Not a genius, but more like a simpleton."

"That's not true. I was known as a genius in scheming."

"That's not a compliment."

"…"

"First, explain the theory you had in mind. Then we'll know if you're a genius or not."

"Um… Flash then, boom?"

The lady looked at me pitifully, as though asking if that was truly the extent of my magical theory.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly under her affectionate gaze.

"It's embarrassing when you look at me like that."

"It's not a compliment."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Then, today's snack will be dumplings with carrots."

"Eek…!"

Considering the lady's terrified reaction, I stroked my chin, deep in thought.

‘What went wrong?'

‘I thought it was perfect.'

The factors influencing the success of magic are generally five.

One. Understanding of the formula.

Two. The speed of processing magic.

Three. Unwavering concentration and confidence.

Four. The imagination to manifest magic.

Lastly, the total amount of magical power.

I thought there was no reason for my magic to fail. I had enough magical power and a perfect understanding of the theory.

So where did it go wrong?

I should have been able to catch on by now, yet the progress was frustratingly slow.

‘Is it because my imagination was too vivid?'

Wiping the beads of sweat off my forehead, I looked at the lady.

"Why isn't it working?"

"It's because of the carrot dumplings you threatened to make."

"I don't think that's it."

"Eek! I hate carrots! Demon…! Ricardo is a demon!"

"That's not something I'd like to hear from a summoning mage."

The lady crossed her fingers in a sign of the cross. It seems even villains seek divine intervention when desperate.

I offered a light smile before shortly expressing my thoughts on the continued failures.

"I guess I'm not talented in magic."

"You realized that too late."

"…"

"Sorry."

I couldn't help but think I truly lacked magical talent. The fact that I was struggling so much with a simple fireball, something so trivial, seemed ridiculous even to me.

Swordsmanship was so much easier.

Hmm…

I thought I would improve quickly once I started learning, but magic proved more challenging than I anticipated. Without the aid of a trait like ‘Genius at Arms', it felt even slower.

Feeling disillusioned with my stagnant skills, I gazed at the lady with a bitter smile.

"Should I go on a training journey?"

"It seems like Ricardo would be the same regardless."

"You never know. I might gain enlightenment and become an archmage in a single leap."

"Ricardo, your dreams are too big."

"…"

"Sometimes, not dreaming futile dreams is beneficial in life, I've heard."

"Who taught you that?"

"Ricardo."

As expected of someone born a villain; the lady had no qualms about delivering hurtful comments. Of course, I was the one who taught her that.

But being told this much was something.

If I whispered vain hopes, I might delude myself into thinking I was doing well.

If there's no answer, I can just read Ruin's magic book. No need to overthink it.

The situation wasn't urgent, so there was no need to rush a decision. For now, I thought it wouldn't be too late to reconsider after trying all I could and hitting a dead end.

So.

"Ughhhhhhh!"

Let's try again, why not.

*

-Crackle.

*

Below the dark pathway,

Yuria, who had been studying late at the library, was walking alone under the streetlights.

The time was 1 AM.

Perhaps because of the late hour, the streets of the academy were deserted.

Yuria hurried her steps, shivering from the eerie feeling of not encountering even a patrolling guard.

"Maybe I studied too late…"

Because of the vacation, the library was empty, and she regretted not leaving earlier, thinking it might have been a mistake.

If she had known, she might have regretted not studying in the dorm instead.

The academy grounds were vast.

With various facilities like the library, dormitories, laboratories, and lecture halls, the academy was the size of a small city.

Especially, the distance from the library to the girls' dormitory was about a 15-minute walk.

Yuria squinted into the pitch-dark street.

"Right! I'll sing."

Singing when scared helps a bit. To dispel the eerie feeling, Yuria began humming a tune.

"The cuckoo sings in the fields…"

"Croak, croak… Cro…ake…"

-Meow~

"Yah!"

Startled by a cat's sudden appearance, apparently displeased with her singing, Yuria shivered and trembled.

"Ah… How can you suddenly appear like that? You scared me."

-Meow?

"Sorry.. sorry.. my fault, not yours."

Blushing with embarrassment, Yuria looked at the puzzled cat.

"Embarrassing…"

Shaking her head in embarrassment, Yuria shook off the eerie feeling. It was scary being in the dark after all.

The chilling cat's cry.

The empty streets.

Being alone in these streets frightened Yuria.

It would have been nice to have someone reliable by her side…

There used to be someone.

Clutching her textbook tightly, Yuria reminisced about the past.

It was a similar time back then.

Late at night, returning alone to the dormitory from the library, head hung low as she walked.

"I also wanted to study together."

She was scared then, too.

It might have been scarier than now, with the faint cries of crickets in the spring air.

And she was emotionally overwhelmed.

Overthinking the things she would have brushed off on an ordinary day, dwelling deep on words she would have normally ignored.

That day's streets were scarier and heavier.

-Plod. Plod.

Startled by the sound of her own footsteps on that day.

"Are you heading home now?"

Ricardo was there.

In the scariest part of the road without any streetlights, Ricardo was waiting, checking his watch.

"Gosh…!"

"Why are you surprised?"

"You were suddenly standing there… No, more importantly, why are you here? It's late."

"Um… I read it in a book."

"Yes?"

"It happens."

1st year, 1st semester.

That time was spring for Yuria.

Whenever walking alone felt scary, Ricardo was there as if by magic, and even when she came out later than usual, those moments when Ricardo was there.

Sometimes she thought Ricardo might be a stalker, but instead, she felt her heart flutter in the presence of the unemotional Ricardo, warming her like spring.

"Why do you always wait?"

"Afraid you might be scared?"

"…Yes?"

"Just kidding. I was just taking a walk and our paths crossed."

"…Really?"

"No."

Strangely, memories of that day flooded back more than usual.

It hadn't even been a year, but the memories with Ricardo always loomed large in her heart.

Thus, every time she walked this street, Yuria was caught in the past, feeling gloomy amidst the distant memories.

‘Why did Ricardo torment me?' That foolish thought lingered.

Even though she had resolved to forget the pain and start anew, when shadows of doubt crept in, negative thoughts would scramble her emotions.

"Sigh…"

Tonight, Yuria walked with her head down on the street without streetlights.

And behind her.

"I've found you."

The dark shadow began to approach.

***

(!) A quest has appeared.

-Protect Yuria.

Reward: Vitality Information/???/???