The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

Chapter 28

Did I hear that wrong?

Rania doubted her own ears.

Just in case, she asked again.

"Did I hear that correctly?"

"You're saying you'll accept me as your disciple?"

"...You heard it correctly."

Even though she heard it correctly, she refused.

Why on earth?

Me, the Sword of the Emperor, the Continent's Greatest Sword, a Sage, and the number one of the Continent's Top 10 Strongest?

While Rania was struck silent by the shock, the surrounding gazes gathered.

"Rania was rejected...?"

"Isn't it because they don't know any better?"

"Y-Yeah! Their hair is black! They must be some nobody from a backwater village!"

"Ah, I want to date Rania."

The commotion spread in an instant.

Even the general students started whispering, and it reached the ears of other observers.

"Rejecting Rania?"

"Aren't they on our side?"

"You idiot, Rania uses magic too, you know?"

"Ah, that's true."

The Five-Colored Magic Tower Masters whispered among themselves.

"Find out who that guy is."

"Yes, Captain."

The gazes of various knights' order captains focused on him.

But that wasn't all.

Even the nobles sitting in the observation seats showed interest in Yuri, as did the examiners preparing for the exam, who stole glances at him while pretending not to.

Yuri thought.

'I'm hungry.'

...He had no other thoughts.

"Ahem! Ahem, ahem!"

Clearing her throat, Rania removed the ornament pinned to her chest and offered it.

"Take it. I'll give you everything I have."

It was the proof badge of a noble family, akin to the crest of a knights' order. It was as if she was saying she'd give him everything she had.

"I'll also teach you Word Spirit and Heavy Swordsmanship."

Word Spirit.

Rania's unique magical trait that imbues her words with compulsion.

Heavy Swordsmanship.

A swordsmanship that adds mass properties to aura and wields it like a dance.

These were the unique traits that made Rania the Continent's strongest, and she had declared she would never pass them on until the right successor appeared.

Yuri's expression stiffened. He stepped back slightly and stammered.

"Th-That's...!"

Grin.

At that moment, Rania's expressionless face crumbled. Just as she was about to hand over the ornament with a bright smile.

"It's overwhelming, so I refuse."

"...What?"

"I'm quite a busy butler, so I'll take my leave."

"Wait, hold on―!"

Snap....

Rania's words didn't reach him.

"He ran away...?"

Because Yuri had fled.

Even while running away so quickly, he avoided colliding with anyone.

"Th-That bastard's running!"

"Shouldn't we catch him!?"

"How are we supposed to catch that!?"

"Ah, I want to marry Rania!"

As everyone was once again astonished, only one person smiled.

'My little graduate student.'

It was Kevin.

Who would have thought Yuri would reject Rania?

He chuckled and checked the time.

12:50 PM.

The exam would start in 10 minutes.

Sss....

Hoo....

A massive amount of smoke was released.

It floated into the void, forming a massive board that displayed the remaining time.

"The exam will begin shortly. Except for the freshmen, please move to the observation room."

Only then did Ringo and Dorothy, who had just come to their senses, join Kevin to organize the situation.

Rania let out a sigh.

Following Kevin's instruction, she moved to the observation room and made a resolution once more.

"I'll see you again after the exam, Yuri."

It was the moment a new legend was born in the Imperial Academy Sion.

Not long after.

"Everyone, focus."

The grade evaluation exam began.

2.

The content of the exam was simple.

"From now on, kill each other."

Oh, that's really simple.

All gazes turned to Kevin, who had finished speaking.

Everyone waited for additional explanations, but he just yawned lazily.

Everyone only glanced at each other, too hesitant to ask what was going on.

Pathetic.

I raised my hand high and asked.

"Is there no additional explanation?"

"There is, but I don't feel like saying it."

I knew it would be like this.

"Kevin!!"

The Black Magic Tower Lord standing next to him scolded him, but he remained silent.

With a serious expression, he seemed to be thinking about something, but then he sprawled on the podium as if he couldn't take it anymore.

"...Even breathing is a hassle."

It wasn't just words.

He really seemed to stop breathing, as his expressionless face gradually turned red.

"Groan...!"

"Breathe, you idiot!!"

While everyone stared at the podium like dogs chasing chickens, the Young Lady muttered.

"Is that guy really a professor?"

"Young Lady!"

"Isn't he just a crazy bastard?"

"Oh, seriously!"

Hurriedly covering her mouth, but it was too late.

"Who is she to curse at the professor...?"

"Blonde hair and red eyes...?"

"P, Frey! It's Villainess Frey!"

Through those who knew the Young Lady, the nickname "Villainess" spread.

"They say all her exclusive underlings are dead."

"I heard she pushed them down the stairs to kill them."

"No! They said she poisoned them!"

Grit.

Anger surged instantly.

"Those damn bastards."

"Oh, please speak more elegantly."

"Those scumbags."

"Such grace you exude."

It wasn't my anger but the Young Lady's.

She clenched her fist tightly, her red glowing eyes flashing.

"I need to go explain myself."

I cautiously asked the Young Lady, who was like that.

"Why do you need a fist for an explanation?"

"Historically, this has been the cure."

The conclusion came immediately.

If I send the Young Lady now, they'll all die.

Grab.

I grabbed the Young Lady who had turned around.

"You must hold back for now."

Soon, the exam would begin.

And this exam was one where creating many enemies would be disadvantageous.

The Young Lady, who had stopped, unclenched her fist.

"Yuri."

It didn't mean she was giving up.

In an instant, she calmed her intense anger and stared at me.

"Did I permit you to touch my body?"

She was politely reprimanding the butler who dared to touch the master's body.

I immediately apologized and withdrew my hand.

"I'm sorry."

It was careless of me.

No matter how close we were, separating public and private matters was the right thing to do.

"I'll let it slide this time, but make sure there isn't a second mistake."

"Yes, Young Lady."

The Young Lady remained silent. Then, she lightly patted my head and added.

"And I'm not entirely thoughtless."

"...I'm sorry."

"It's fine, just wait."

Saying so, she moved her steps.

The Young Lady stopped in front of a certain Young Lady who was chattering the loudest.

Confirming the family crest on the robe the Young Lady was wearing, she smiled.

"You must be from the Viscount House of Gospel."

It was a cold voice.

However, the opponent was not easy either.

"I am Philia Gospel."

The woman, introducing herself as Philia, smiled warmly and asked.

"And you are?"

She was asking knowingly.

To lower her speech like that, she had deliberately disregarded the prestigious House of Salvatore. While the Young Lady remained composed, even I began to feel irritated.

If I had heard it up close, my expression would have twisted without me realizing it.

"I am Frey Salvatore."

However, the Young Lady was calm.

She maintained a steady, relaxed smile and looked straight at her opponent.

"How is the Viscount doing?"

"Oh, very well~ Thanks to Count Salvatore, the sales of paper have increased recently."

One of the main sources of income for the House of Salvatore was the processing and distribution of scrolls.

To improve the quality of scrolls, good paper was essential, and high-quality paper was produced in the territory of the Viscount House of Gospel.

"Father said that without our territory's paper, it wouldn't be possible."

Half true, half false.

Salvatore was cooperating with several families besides Gospel.

Of course, it was true that the paper produced by Gospel was of the highest quality.

If the supply from the House of Gospel were cut off, it would certainly disrupt scroll production.

"Ah! Father said so, you know? That if it were up to me, he'd even consider stopping the paper supply."

That Princess Rollbread was acting up like that because she knew.

I quietly thought to myself.

"Is she an idiot?"

I hurriedly covered my mouth.

I wondered if I had accidentally spoken my thoughts aloud, but fortunately, it wasn't me who spoke.

"...What?"

"Ah, excuse me."

It was the Young Lady who had spoken.

The Young Lady stared directly at her opponent and added.

"I tend to have trouble hiding my thoughts."

Oh dear..., that smile....

She wore the sharp smile characteristic of a Villainess and giggled as she looked down at Philia.

"Using family business to threaten in a children's quarrel... I noticed you were a brat when you insulted our family, but this is extreme."

"W-when did I ever insult the House of Salvatore―!"

"Then was it only directed at me?"

"B-barking? And how dare you use informal speech? Are you even a noble!?"

"A noble?"

The Young Lady quietly burned with intensity.

"Here, we're students. Just students. Everyone here is equal."

Outwardly not too bright, but inwardly like quietly burning embers.

"I came here to learn."

She slowly examined those swayed by Philia's words and warned them.

"If you want to live like dogs being swayed here and there, why don't you try going to Final Destination Village instead of Sion?"

What's wrong with her hometown....

Anyway, that was the end of it.

They were just kids, barely in their teens.

Their thoughts were shallow, and they had no intention of taking responsibility for their mistakes.

There was no benefit in getting angrier than this.

While Philia and her group trembled, the Young Lady smiled at those around her. A few who met her gaze shivered.

"Ah, suddenly I feel like lowering my gaze."

"I-I always liked looking at the floor."

"I think I just peed myself...."

Everyone said that while lowering their heads or avoiding the Young Lady's gaze.

"...What are you doing?"

"Oh.... That smile is...."

Of course, me too.

The unique ruthless smile of the House of Salvatore shone when things got serious.

The Young Lady chuckled and passed by.

"Claudia?"

"Ah, ah! Young Lady!"

"Get me some water."

"Okay!"

Creak, creak.

It was a movement that sounded as if such noises could be heard. Following the Young Lady's instructions, Claudia squatted on the dirt floor and began pulling weeds.

"W-Weeds...!"

"No, not weeds...."

At the sight of the foolish Claudia, the tension in the surroundings began to melt away.

"N-Now, huff, huff, we'll start the exam, huff...! We'll begin now."

Kevin, who had started breathing again, began spitting out explanations like a machine gun.

"The moment the gate opens, everyone enters. Duel your opponent without killing them. Those who lose will be eliminated and ranked accordingly. The exam continues until only one person is left."

Huff, huff, huff!

He must have thought it was too bothersome to explain bit by bit.

"When will you ever grow up?"

"Huff, huff...."

"Ugh...."

Dorothy looked at Kevin with disdain and added an explanation for the students.

"Teams can have up to five members. If more than that group together, there will be penalties. Useful items and rewards are also hidden, so keep that in mind."

The moment she finished speaking.

"Eh?"

"W-What?"

I hugged the Young Lady and Claudia, one on each side.

Then I asked the Young Lady.

"Have your acrophobia symptoms improved?"

"I haven't been to high places recently, so I don't know?"

"Then hold on tight."

The moment my hand overlapped with the Young Lady's hand.

Dorothy smiled brightly.

"Then, good luck!"

Thud!

When her hand pressed the button on the podium, light burst out from the floor.

Hwaak!

And so, we were transported into the void. Looking down, I muttered.

"Tsk, starting with the forest again."

Forest.

Snowfield.

Swamp.

Desert.

Evil Land.

Below us was a small island composed of five fields.

Straightening my body at a right angle to fall faster, I spoke to the two.

"I will now explain the operation."

"Eek! Hold on tight! I said hold on tight, Yuri!"

"Yahoooo!!"

Did they not hear me properly?

I opened my mouth once again.

"I will now explain the operation―!!"

"F-Falling! We're fallinggg!!"

"Woohooooooo!!"

...I'll just explain after we land.