The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 224

-The Favorability Restriction has been lifted.

-Yuria’s Favorability has increased.

[Favorability: 100↑]

(!) Yuria, the ‘Saintess of Purity,’ begins her Awakening.

“Hm?”

A Blue Window appeared with a notification as I was receiving heart-fluttering flirting, completely oblivious to the mood. It could have shown up a bit later, but instead, it appeared without any sense of timing. I almost committed Blasphemy against the intrusive Blue Window, but realizing the Affinity Window contained unexpectedly important information, I barely held back my irreverent words and let out a Deep Sigh of relief.

‘Saintess…?’

Perhaps it was because of the kiss from the sleeping Princess, but the Status Window’s message about the lifting of the Favorability Restriction and the start of the Saintess’s Awakening left me astonished.

With a Question Mark on my head, I openly expressed my confusion at the nonsense displayed on the Status Window. Then, shaking my head slightly, I looked at Yuria, whose face was flushed red.

“No… that’s not what I meant.”

Yuria, whose face had turned as red as a tomato, muttered to herself, looking as if she might burst if poked.

“That doesn’t mean it has no meaning either… Ugh, what am I even saying…”

I wanted to tease Yuria, who was fanning her face and avoiding my gaze, but there was a more pressing matter at hand. With trembling eyes, I turned to look at the Affinity Window.

[Yuria Lv. 41]

Job: Saintess of Purity (Awakening in Progress)

Favorability: 100

Favorite Conversation Topics: First Love. Ricardo. Family. I Must Become Stronger. My Personal Promise. Plans for Children. The Person I Like.

Disliked Conversation Topics: Ruin. Heretics. People Who Hurt Ricardo.

It felt like a lot had changed.

From the Favorability Restriction to the Saintess’s Awakening, there were many elements I hadn’t been aware of that were now showing significant changes. Looking at the golden glow of the changes in ‘Favorability’ and ‘Job,’ I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of resistance. ‘If you were going to tell me, you should’ve told me earlier,’ I thought.

If it was something this important, couldn’t the Status Window have at least hinted at it through a Quest? I found it hard to grow fond of the perpetually laid-back Status Window.

‘Still, it’s better than not being told at all.’

Letting out a Deep Sigh, I stared at the Affinity Window’s shameless text. Until now, I had thought Yuria’s Favorability hadn’t increased because of my shortcomings, but now I understood there was a reason. Moreover, the issue I had considered the biggest problem, the ‘Saintess’s Awakening,’ had been resolved, so I decided to see the silver lining.

With a satisfied expression, I looked at Yuria and patted her head.

“Thank you.”

*

A peaceful Young Lady’s hospital room.

“Grrr…”

The Young Lady, holding a Dog Chew in her mouth, bristled as she noticed my return.

Not chocolate, but a Dog Chew.

Rubbing my eyes, I double-checked what was in the Young Lady’s mouth, but the unchanging sight of the Dog Chew made me let out an Empty Laugh and shake my head.

‘Where on earth did that come from?’

There were many questions I wanted to ask the Young Lady, who was nibbling on the Dog Chew, but first, I needed to act. Watching her hair stand on end as she remained on guard, I cautiously reached out my hand.

“Hiss.”

“…”

“Wait.”

“…”

She seemed completely like a dog.

As I seriously pondered how to turn the Young Lady back into a person, she spat out the Dog Chew with a ‘Ptooey.’ Crossing her arms, she looked at me with a Sullen Expression and spoke in a grumpy voice.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes.”

“You went to meet a woman, didn’t you?”

“Have you truly become a dog?”

“Huh?”

As expected, the Young Lady’s canine instincts were sharp.

Smiling faintly, I slowly approached the Young Lady, who was sitting on the hospital bed. Wearing patient clothes due to the lack of anything else to change into, she surprisingly pulled off the look quite well.

Perhaps because she was the most beautiful woman in this world, the Young Lady’s appearance suited any outfit. Admiring her beauty, I picked up the Dog Chew that had fallen to the floor and asked.

“Where did this come from?”

“The Mister gave it to me.”

“A Mister?”

“Yes. The innkeeper.”

“Ah…?”

Pointing to the Hospital Room Door, the Young Lady explained, “The innkeeper came looking for Yuria,” and recounted her conversation with James.

“He said he thought she’d be here, but when I told him she wasn’t, he gave me this.”

“That…?”

“Yeah. He told me to give it to you, Ricardo.”

“To me?”

“Yes. Remember how you said you were raising Gomtangi last time?”

“Ah… But why were you chewing on it?”

“He said it was really expensive and even humans could eat it, so I tried it. Ricardo, you should try it too. It’s made of beef jerky, and it’s delicious.”

“Ah…”

Even so, eating it seemed a bit much. Pushing aside my trivial doubts, I smiled as I patted the Young Lady’s head, who was wearing a Sullen Expression.

“Well done.”

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t get into a fight, did you?”

“No.”

She was such a kind Young Lady. Whatever the reason, she had kept a middle-aged man entertained. Handing her the chocolate from my Pocket, I spoke in a Gentle Voice.

“Wait.”

“I’m not a dog.”

“…”

She was a clever Young Lady.

While we continued talking about Dog Chews, midnight passed, and dawn was approaching.

The clock pointed to 3 a.m., and outside the window, a large moon illuminated the sky. The Young Lady and I spent the night in the North, smiling blankly as we gazed at the scenery.

In the peaceful silence of the hospital room, the Young Lady cautiously spoke.

“Ricardo.”

“Yes.”

“Did you make up with Yuria?”

“…”

As expected. The Young Lady was the culprit.

Smiling faintly, I pinched the cheek of the Young Lady, who was leaning on my shoulder, and said.

“I told you not to say anything. Did you end up spilling the beans?”

“Eeeek… It hurts.”

“It’s fine if it hurts. A loose-lipped shepherd girl deserves to be scolded.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Eeeek! I’m sorry!”

“Honestly…”

Letting go of her cheek, I smiled as I spoke. Rubbing her sore cheek, the Young Lady muttered, “Eeeek… It feels like it’s stretched.”

“Thanks to you, we had a good talk.”

“…”

“The misunderstanding was cleared up, and we made up.”

Nodding, the Young Lady gave a small Smile.

“Ricardo, you really are such a Push-Over.”

“That’s an insult.”

“I know.”

Looking at the brightly shining moon, the Young Lady murmured softly. In a voice too quiet for me to hear, she whispered, “You’re such a fool,” and then buried her face back into my shoulder.

The moon was bright.

The moon hanging in the night sky was so bright that it felt like we didn’t even need a lantern. It was serene, a moon that seemed to draw out the stories hidden within. Tonight, it was especially beautiful.

Looking at the uneven surface of the moon, I spoke cautiously. Moments like these made me want to joke around.

“Young Lady.”

“Yes.”

“Did you know there’s a Rabbit on the Moon?”

“Rabbit?”

I looked at the Young Lady, who tilted her head with a question mark on her face, and pointed at the moon with my finger.

“There, starting from that blotch over there to that spot—that’s the ears.”

“Oh…”

“And from down here to up there—that’s the pounding mortar.”

“Pounding mortar?”

“Yes, because the rabbit on the moon makes rice cakes.”

“Rice cakes? Are they tasty?”

At the Young Lady’s question, focused solely on food, I let out a hearty laugh and shook my head. After all, I had never tasted them either.

“Who knows? I’ve never tried them myself.”

“Hmm…”

“Do you want to try them?”

“Yes.”

The Young Lady stared intently at the moon with bright, shining eyes, as if pondering what the rice cakes made on the moon were made of. Watching her innocent expression, I let out a small laugh and spoke.

“It’s a lie.”

“…Huh?”

“There’s no rabbit on the moon. And no rice cakes, either.”

“…Eeeek.”

Her shattered innocence made the Young Lady glare at me with a grudge-filled look, raising her fist. Since long-distance attacks didn’t work, she seemed to have switched to close combat. Watching her, I burst into laughter and smiled.

“Don’t tease me! I really thought it was true!”

“Pfft!”

“Don’t laugh!”

“I didn’t think you’d actually believe it.”

“Eeeek!”

This is fun.

Perhaps because one worry had been lifted, everything felt more amusing, and my laughter became lighter.

Looking at the moon, I spoke cautiously to the Young Lady. With the end of our Northern travel approaching, there was something she might have forgotten.

“Young Lady.”

“Yes?”

The Young Lady, who had been throwing punches, stopped moving at the sound of my quiet voice and looked at me. Her lips pouted in frustration, and though I almost laughed at her expression, I held back with a small smile.

“There’s something you said you really wanted to see in the North, isn’t there?”

“Ah…”

The Young Lady nodded and looked up at the sky. After glancing at the sky and checking her clock, she lowered her head gloomily and spoke in a weak voice.

“I don’t think I’ll get to see it.”

“What is it?”

“It’s… something.”

“Please tell me. I can make anything happen for you.”

“Well…”

“Yes?”

“It’s… that light green picture, you know.”

“Ah…”

I smiled softly, recalling the picture the Young Lady wanted to see. Then, I glanced at the sky and smiled again.

“If it’s that, I think I can show it to you.”

As long as we had enough time… Wait.

A gentle breeze began to blow.

And then.

Something light green started painting the night sky, weaving itself across it.

The aurora.

The picture the Young Lady had wanted to see was spreading across the sky like strokes of paint.

“Wow…”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“Ricardo…!”

“I can do anything…”

I had meant to say we could stay in the North until we saw the aurora. But as the timing worked out perfectly, I thought we were lucky.

‘Wait, what?’

The Young Lady suddenly threw herself into my arms, and our bodies collided.

“It’s amazing!”

“Uh…”

The Young Lady was smiling and bouncing with excitement.

And I…

stood frozen, touching my lips like someone who had turned to stone.

“It really is.”

“Hehe…!”

“It’s so beautiful.”

I had my first kiss.

For the first time since becoming an adult.