The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

Chapter 31

Jody was unsettled.

"Shut up and take a closer look."

From the face alone, it was certain he was an ally, but there was no information to confirm it.

'I might be deceived.'

Jody lifted his head.

The man had black hair and black eyes, seemingly from the East.

However, it was their first meeting.

'Have I encountered him on campus before?'

No matter how much he thought about it, he hadn't.

It had been nearly ten years since he joined, but he had never met someone who looked like that.

Jody lamented.

'If only my rank were higher....'

Even the Demon God Cult had a hierarchy.

At the top was the Archbishop, the founder of the Demon God Cult.

Below him were the Seven Bishops who bore the Seven Deadly Sins, followed by High Priests, Ordinary Priests, Junior Priests, and Believers.

Jody had been an Ordinary Priest for eternity.

He had risen quickly from Believer to Junior Priest to Ordinary Priest, but that was the end.

In the Demon God Cult, only those of higher rank could confirm the faces of those below.

Thus, he couldn't act recklessly.

If that man was of High Priest-level or above, he could kill him on a whim.

The difference between those who had received baptism and those who hadn't was like heaven and earth. It meant dying without even a chance to block or resist.

If the man was truly a high-ranking official, bowing his head and begging for his life was the right move.

'But what if it's a lie?'

He would die as well.

If his identity was discovered during the mission, he would die even if he escaped and returned alive.

-Observe Frey Salvatore.

This mission was directly assigned by the Bishop of Greed.

It was a moment when he was precariously walking the tightrope between life and death.

"Hey."

From the man's black eyes, a red glow began to emerge.

He asked briefly.

"Why do you keep staring?"

"You told me to look closely, didn't you?"

"So what?"

"Pardon?"

"If you don't want to die, avert your eyes."

"Ah, yes...."

Jody's worries ended.

'This bastard is truly a Demon God's Cultist.'

With a more sinister expression than the Demonic Tribe and a character as filthy as mire after rain.

If someone like that wasn't part of the Demon God Cult, then who could be?

"Do you need more time?"

"No."

Jody knelt on one knee.

Lowering his eyes as if he would no longer look at the face, he showed his respect.

"Salvation to the false world."

His heart pounded like crazy. It was a basic code and greeting unique to the Demon God Cult.

If the man wasn't part of the Demon God Cult, he wouldn't have any excuse even if his head was cut off right here.

Overwhelmed by fear, nausea surged. He barely swallowed it down and steadied himself.

Swoosh.

Finally, the shadow moved.

Grip!

Jody closed his eyes.

The pressure of impending death was unbearable with a clear mind.

It was while he was waiting for an answer.

"Glory to the Father who will descend."

He heard the sweet whisper of a demon.

Only then did Jody feel convinced.

And he felt relieved.

'As expected, he is part of the Demon God Cult.'

He might be able to survive now.

2.

Does the Demon God Cult only recruit idiots?

The Valentine family's eldest son was like that, and so was the bastard in front of me, so easily deceived.

If someone as decent as me claimed to be part of the Demon God Cult, shouldn't they at least suspect it?

Either way, it worked out well.

The Demon God Cult was also a thoroughly hierarchical society.

As long as the other party recognized me as a superior, I could easily extract information.

However, he might still be suspicious. I whispered into his ear.

"Greed sent you, didn't it?"

"Greed, you say...?"

"One of the Seven Bishops."

"H-how do you know that?!"

It was the correct answer.

Baalphegor of Greed.

One of the Seven Bishops, directly below the Archbishop, and an incredibly greedy individual.

If he wanted something, he would obtain it at all costs, even defying the once-mighty Adonis in his previous life to covet something.

He especially coveted talent.

He deployed his subordinates to find humans with talent, and if that talent exceeded a certain level, he would use any means to abduct them.

It was clear he had picked up rumors about the Young Lady through his hidden agents.

Receiving Mana's Favor was more precious than any other talent.

It was the same in his previous life.

While the Demon God Cult raided the academy, Baalphegor's subordinates targeted the Young Lady.

After repeated failures, he eventually appeared in person, to the extent of possessing a body, out of obsession.

Thus, I speculated.

That they were still uncertain about the talent the Young Lady possessed.

Just in case, I asked.

"Ordinary Priest?"

"Yes, that's correct!"

"You're only here to observe?"

"Yes, that's right!"

Sending only an Ordinary Priest and not showing themselves openly.

It was clear they were still in the stage of suspicion. This was the chance to make them lose interest.

Grab.

I grabbed the bastard's hair and moved toward the blind spot of the Magic Stone.

Crackling sound.

I accidentally pulled out a handful of hair, but the bastard said nothing. The place we arrived at was a cave in forest terrain.

It was a place I had come to know by chance in my previous life, where I had cared for the exhausted Young Lady.

After checking the surroundings several times, I whispered into his ear.

"[Deliver this to Baalphegor.]"

It was a command.

"[Frey Salvatore has no talent, but rather, that butler has talent.]"

He was as suspicious as he was greedy.

Instead of dispelling his suspicion, it was better to throw a bigger bait and divert his attention.

When the Young Lady is safe, I will lead the moonlight and come to sever his neck.

I added one last thing.

"[After delivering all the news, go to the Imperial Knight Order. There, confess everything about the place you belong to and pay for your sins.]"

Would this be enough?

After finishing my words, I adjusted my breath.

Just uttering one sentence drained the mana contained in the circle.

If I hadn't raised the purity of mana, or grown faster than in my previous life, I wouldn't have been able to issue even a simple command.

Rania, that older sister is truly....

I slightly raised the expectations I had reduced during the confrontation with Valentine.

I kicked the halted spy with my foot.

"Now go, you bastard."

He didn't budge.

"I said, go?"

Still the same.

Something was wrong.

Even though he should have already left, he just stood there blankly.

"Con, confess, confess, Demon God Cult, fa, father, salvation, lie, salvation, lie,"

Something has gone wrong.

Realizing the abnormality, I took out the mask and robe I had prepared in advance and put them on.

"Secre, secrecy, con, contract."

The spy began to tremble and emit light, like an overloaded Magic Stone.

Crack, crackle!

His body grew larger and larger. The clothes he was wearing tore apart, revealing his upper body.

From the engraving of Baalphegor on his chest, demonic energy spread out.

"Ah..., ahh...!"

Perhaps regaining his senses from the sudden severe pain, he briefly met eyes with me.

He reached out his hand toward me.

"Save me."

That was the end of it.

Crackle!

Thud....

His neck, which had been twisting to its limit, finally detached from his body and rolled onto the floor.

However, the body remained intact.

Grab!

Picking up the head that had fallen to the floor with his left hand, he turned his face toward me.

"[How fragrant.]"

The severed face moved.

"[Such a delicious scent.]"

One of the Seven High Priests.

It was Baalphegor of Greed.

He drew a sword with his other hand and grinned as if his mouth would tear apart.

"[I must have it.]"

I also placed my hand on my sword and responded.

"Try me."

After a moment of silence.

Slash!

From Baalphegor's sword, dark and sharp demonic energy surged like waves.

It wasn't a large sword aura, but demonic energy rushing like thousands of needles.

I couldn't block it all anyway.

Instead of blocking, I twisted my body and chose to draw my sword, prepared to take some hits.

Both attacks landed.

Baalphegor's demonic energy pierced my body, while my aura severed Baalphegor's right hand.

However, I was at a disadvantage.

Slither, slither!

Baalphegor's arm was restored, but the arm he had pierced remained as it was.

That wasn't all.

"[What you desire is also sweet.]"

"What are you talking about?"

"[I read your greed.]"

Through the embedded demonic energy, he read something and smiled grotesquely.

"[Frey Salvatore.]"

Bang!

Baalphegor's body soared high into the air.

Toward the source of the fire engulfing the forest, where the Young Lady resided.

There was no time to think deeply.

I immediately followed him, throwing my body after him, and made a deep vow in my heart.

After this raid is over, I will kill that bastard first.

3.

[Frey Salvatore]

[Opponents Suppressed: 85]

My mana was gradually running out.

To be precise, I was mentally exhausted.

Although mana was recovering at a similar speed to its usage, the more exhausted I became, the slower the recovery.

I was reaching my limit.

It was because I had moved hastily with the determination to surpass Yuri.

"...Young Lady, are you okay?"

[Claudia]

[Opponents Suppressed: 45]

Claudia was in a similar state.

Unless it was an extremely urgent situation, the captain had instructed her to use only magic, not the sword.

No matter how talented she was, it was too much to handle so many people with just that.

Someone leaped forward.

"Damn it, die!!"

"Kuh!"

It was a strike aimed at Frey, but Claudia intervened and blocked it.

As they were driven to their limits by the fire, they became increasingly reckless, and now it was reaching its climax.

"Young Lady!!"

"Wait!! Just a moment...!"

Just as I was about to squeeze out magic once more.

[You will regret it.]

A voice echoed in my head.

[...stay away.]

The sensation of an iron rod growing from my heart and stirring coldly inside my head.

It was a voice that became clearer when I was pushed to my limits.

"Young Lady, what are you doing―!"

Oh no.

It was the moment when I came to my senses belatedly and looked toward Claudia.

Swish.

A black aura flew in from somewhere and deeply slashed Claudia's body.

"Huh...?"

It's just a test.

A person shouldn't be cut like that.

At the moment when my brain couldn't comprehend and was denying the sudden situation.

"[Found you.]"

A horrifying voice pierced through my earshot.

"[Indeed, it is an extraordinary talent, but now I have something I desire even more.]"

It was Baalphegor, who had read Yuri's desire.

Clang.

A greatsword, flowing with dense demonic energy, was aimed at Frey's heart.

He walked with a sinister smile.

"[Give me your heart.]"

And then, in the next moment.

Thud.

The black greatsword pierced through Frey's heart.