The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

Chapter 20

"Puhat! It's okay, Yuri!"

The young lady, who had already recovered, approached me with a triumphant expression.

"So what if you didn't make it into the top three! What matters is that you passed!"

So annoyingly smug.

If it had been Asha or Claudia acting like that, I would have flicked their foreheads immediately.

But I'm a butler, and the young lady is a noble.

In a situation where even physical contact must be cautious, such an act was simply unthinkable.

I calmed my mind as much as possible and opened my mouth.

"Why am I not the top seat!!"

"Oh, shit, you scared me."

To think this is me holding back. But I couldn't possibly accept the results.

It was a Demon God, after all.

No matter who summoned what opponent, there's no way something stronger than a Demon God could have appeared, right?

Of course, Kevin did intervene and cut off half of its horn, its source of power.

Thanks to that, Thanatos, who had been summoned at Count-level, was downgraded to Quasi-Viscount-level, and it was surprisingly easy to capture.

But still, it was a Quasi-Viscount-level Demonic Tribe!

Three years ago, Valentine, who had threatened the Emperor in the imperial palace, was Quasi-Baron-level.

A Quasi-Viscount-level Demonic Tribe required at least two 7th Circle Archmages or a Sword Master at the peak of mastery to subdue.

And yet, I took down such a monster in a single strike!

Even if I were awarded the top seat a hundred times, it wouldn't be enough, and yet I'm just a regular pass?

"This doesn't make any sense!"

I vented my frustration, turning my head toward the young lady and Claudia.

"Pfft."

"Ki."

Both of them covered their mouths with one hand, looking at me with crescent-shaped eyes as they laughed.

"A regular pass is talking?"

"Exactly. By the way, I'd be worried if I were the young lady!"

"Oh, because the butler is a regular pass?"

"Yep. Puhkikipuhki."

"That's true. Puhkikipuhki."

Snap.

I could feel the veins popping on my forehead. It seemed they didn't understand the situation, so I needed to explain again.

"Let me say it again, there's something wrong with me not being the top seat―"

Before I could even finish, the young lady moved. She approached from the sofa across and settled directly on my knee.

"Oh my, is that so?"

She gave a sharp smile unique to a villainess and lifted my chin with her finger. Just as I was about to be captivated by that seductive smile.

"If you're upset, rank higher than me."

"Excuse me?"

With that one additional remark, my head cooled down.

"Y-yeah, you weakling!"

Claudia, who had been watching with her mouth wide open, finally joined in.

"Young lady! Me too! I want to sit there too!"

"Find your own spot."

"I want to tease him like that too!"

She hovered around as if trying to imitate the young lady, but the young lady didn't seem inclined to move.

"Nyeh. If you're upset, rank higher than me."

"Young lady, you're third seat! I'm higher than you!"

"Not the entrance ranking, you bastard, the rank!!"

"Same thing!"

Sigh, what a mess.

When everyone goes crazy, it's the relatively sane person who ends up keeping their head.

Watching them quarrel like an angry puppy and a cat, my mood calmed down.

"Stop fighting."

I lifted one person on each shoulder and set them back down on the opposite sofa.

"Anyway, you all passed, didn't you?"

"Hehe, but you're last place."

"Yes, yes, that's correct."

"The Captain is trash!"

"Got it, so don't call me Captain outside."

When I responded half-heartedly, as if tired of it, their bodies slumped.

"...So boring."

"...Trash and boring too."

Ultimately, it was nice that they settled down.

"Hmph! I'll tease you for the rest of your life."

"I'll tell Grandfather everything."

"You have a grandfather?"

"Huh? The young lady is making family jokes!"

"No, that's not what I meant!"

After confirming their amusement, I checked the acceptance announcement paper on the table.

+

Outstanding Pass List.

Top Seat: Claudia.

Second Seat: Asha Estevan.

Third Seat: Frey Salvatore.

The other one – Yuri (Black Head)

+

From the document title to the third seat, it was written in neat and tidy handwriting.

However, the last sentence was different. It was scribbled in terribly messy handwriting.

Black Head, seriously?

And they even got my name wrong as Yuri.

While frowning and turning the paper around, I noticed small text in the corner.

"...Unmeasurable Special Admission?"

The explanation written below was as follows.

"Due to the current exam method of Sion, it is impossible to measure this applicant's limits... Therefore, it is specified as special admission rather than general admission?"

Special Admission.

It was a category applied only to those with high status and power, such as heroes, saintesses, personal disciples of the Top 10 Strongest, or the next Magic Tower Master of the Five-Colored Magic Towers.

There were at most one or two special admissions per year, and they received separate education not given to regular students.

In summary.

"I am a special admission."

"What?"

"Huh?"

It means I'm higher than those two.

"Stop lying!"

"You're pathetic, Yuri! Pathetic!"

The two, as if in disbelief, snatched the acceptance list from my hand.

"Huh!"

"Eek!"

The moment they discovered the hidden text, they slowly turned their heads toward me.

"...It's, it's true?"

"...As expected of the Captain."

The two looked at each other and laughed.

"As expected of my exclusive butler!"

"I believed in you, Captain!"

"P-party! We must have a party today!"

"Me! I'll prepare well!"

I didn't know if it was because they felt embarrassed for teasing me or because they thought I'd return the favor, but they underestimated me.

"I'm not such a petty person."

I smiled as I approached them.

"As the young lady said, everyone passed. That's enough, isn't it?"

"Th-that's right?"

"As expected of the Captain! No, Yuri!"

This life is off to a good start.

Claudia's and the young lady's rapid growth will allow them to protect themselves from the Demon God Cult.

I, too, will receive special training that I couldn't in my previous life, and it will be of great help in dealing with the Demon God Cult and demons.

Considering the events that will unfold at the academy, it was an excellent outcome.

"I will prepare the celebration party."

"Yes! Today, it's on me!"

"Wow! The young lady is the best!"

Sunlight streamed into the gathering room.

The long and large rays of light enveloped me, the young lady, and Claudia.

It was warm.

At the same time, it was happiness.

Watching the two excitedly, I thought that I wouldn't lose anything in this life.

Wiping away the tears that welled up, I gently embraced the two.

"Y-Yuri?"

"What's this? Why are you doing this again?!"

Both of them were flustered, but that wasn't important right now.

Feeling the warmth flowing through our connected bodies, I whispered into their ears.

"So, your rankings?"

How could I hold back?

2.

"P-please stop now...."

"I was wrong, Captain...."

They looked like they didn't even have the strength to get angry anymore.

Well, after teasing them nonstop for three hours, it was understandable.

I asked one last question.

"What must you always remember?"

"There's always someone better than you...."

"And someone even better than that person...."

Hmph!

Now I'm satisfied.

I nodded and smiled.

"Then I'll really prepare the party."

"...Go ahead."

"I love parties!"

The young lady still looked exhausted, while Claudia had already regained her energy.

Should I show off my skills after a long time?

It was the moment I decided to prepare the food myself instead of leaving it to others.

"Hey, Yuri."

"Wow, even Third Seat is speaking!"

"You're really going to...!"

The young lady cut herself off there.

"Fine, whatever...."

As if giving up, she rummaged through the table and handed me a shabby envelope.

"This came for you."

"A letter? Who sent it?"

"I don't know. It looked filthy, so I didn't touch it."

I picked up the letter and opened the envelope.

Judging by the cheap reused paper inside, it seemed sent by someone quite poor.

"Snacks for our baby, healthy treats for Mom and Dad? What is this?"

"It's reused paper, idiot. Look at the back."

"Ah, I see."

Following the young lady's words, I flipped the paper.

Then, large letters written as if with thick charcoal appeared.

Next to them was a crude but stylish mark.

As I read, the young lady and Claudia crept closer behind me.

"What does it say?"

"Me too! Read it to me too!"

Grin.

Before I knew it, the corners of my mouth lifted.

"It says to come collect your change."

3.

It still felt vivid, as if it happened yesterday.

It was during a stroll around the Final Destination Village. I saw a child heading toward the Deep Blue Forest and followed, worried they might have dangerous thoughts.

My plan was to have them live as a beggar and help themselves if they intended to end their life.

But my assumption was completely wrong.

The boy hadn't entered to end his life but to survive.

It was an extraordinary talent.

I didn't know much about Aura since I wasn't an Aura user, but I could still feel it.

The mana that boy absorbed was purer than any mage's mana.

At the same time, his focus was incredible.

Even as his bones twisted and impurities flowed out during his transformation, he remained perfectly still, focused.

Ananta himself lost track of time as he watched intently.

-How much time has passed?

That's why, when Yuri finally spoke.

-Three hours have passed.

He replied without realizing it. Feeling awkward, he naturally tried to start a conversation.

-You're amazing, kid.

-Get lost.

At the same time, he evaluated Yuri.

Though he looked about ten years old, he had created a Mana Heart in just three hours.

-So, why were you spying on me?

-Damn it, I wasn't spying!

Even in front of the fourth-ranked member of the World's Top 10 Strongest, he maintained his sharp attitude.

Monster.

-Especially three years from now. From the beginning of that year to April, never leave your daughter's side.

-What on earth are you talking about?

-Don't regret it. Remember it well.

Or crazy bastard.

That was Yuri's first impression of him.

And thanks to what that crazy bastard said, he was able to protect the life of his only daughter.

He knew the Demon God Cult was dangerous, but they were such passive and reclusive bastards.

He never dreamed that such bastards would deliberately threaten him and his daughter.

To Ananta, Yuri was no longer a monster or a crazy bastard.

He was both a noble person and a benefactor.

"So, say anything. If it's something I have, I'll give it to you."

"Really?"

"Of course. I swear it on the Beggar King's status and Ananta's name."

Ananta was serious.

Beggars might not have much, but the amount of information they possessed was absolute.

The ruins where the elixir slumbered, the barrier hiding the Goddess's armament, the place where the reclusive hero lived, and so on—there was no information that Geollyang didn't have.

"I know where you can find an elixir to make you stronger, a famous sword several times better than that mediocre one, and a master who can awaken your realm."

So, speak up,

Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!

Even if it's my life.

Earth-colored aura flickered in the Beggar King's eyes.

Yuri hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Give me your daughter."

"Damn it, that's a bit much."