The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

Chapter 35

First, I checked my physical condition.

To put it simply, it was a victory for Devouring Greed. Not only did it copy the trait of the Unfair Contract, but it also managed to completely erase the Trace of Baalphegor.

However, I was lacking mana.

It seemed that consuming a Bishop Class trait had caused an enormous amount of mana consumption.

On top of that, it was contaminated.

Since I had swallowed a high-grade trait covered in Demonic Energy, I also needed time for purification.

But the Aura remained intact.

The Intermediate-Advanced Aura of a Sword Expert quietly rippled within my dantian.

Just as the purity of mana was high, the Aura too had been compressed to the extreme, just as Ian had mentioned.

If I hadn't compressed it and had only accumulated it, I might have reached the threshold of a Sword Master.

In any case, this much was enough.

I stretched lightly and extended my hand to Claudia, who was sitting idly.

"I'm really sorry, but could you ask that guy for a favor?"

"That guy?"

"...Sorry."

"Ah, I see!"

She finally caught on.

"There's no need to apologize between us!"

Bang bang!

Claudia patted me on the back.

"So! What do you need?"

"Just a long sword, please."

"What! That's simple!"

Claudia began to stir her mana.

As three Circles started rotating, the surroundings sparkled with Emerald Light.

"[Swindler of the Fallen World.]"

At the moment the activation spell was recited, a Pierrot appeared carrying three massive barrels.

-What reward do you want?

"Just one long sword!"

-What grade?

Claudia looked at me. Just one swing's worth would be enough.

"The lowest grade will do."

"I'm really fine! Should I get you something better while I'm at it?"

"No, thanks. I'm not fine with that."

"Hehe, you're so considerate."

Claudia lifted her head.

"You heard that, right?"

-I heard it very well!

The Pierrot nodded.

-If you succeed, I'll give you a cheap longsword! But if you fail, what will you give me?

"Is there something you want?"

-Oh! Of course, there is!

The Pierrot's mouth twisted grotesquely.

-I'll take three of your fingernails.

The Swindler of the Fallen World.

It was closer to a spirit than a trait and had followed Claudia since her previous life.

It possessed all the items of the Fallen World and handed them over upon winning a shell game.

The stake on this side was the body.

The higher the grade of the requested item, the greater the penalty for failure.

-Do you dislike it?

"No! I love it!"

-Haha! That's why I like you!

The game began.

The massive hands of the Pierrot started shuffling the three barrels chaotically.

Claudia's eyes, imbued with a subtle emerald light, didn't waver.

Bang!

At the same time as the translucent firecracker exploded, the Pierrot's hands stopped.

-Please make your choice!

"The middle one!"

-Wrong.

Crack.

The moment the Pierrot's massive hand brushed against Claudia, three of her fingernails disappeared.

It happened in the blink of an eye, but Claudia didn't mind.

"One more round!"

-Shall we?!

As the plucked fingernails grew back quickly, the barrels were shuffled once more.

Claudia pointed to the same spot.

"The middle one!"

-Oops! That's correct!

Click!

The lid of the shell game barrel opened. From within, a single longsword popped out.

-It's a Grade C longsword.

"I asked for a Grade F one."

-I told you, I like you. Also―

Grin.

The Pierrot met my eyes.

-I've developed an interest over there as well.

"Hey! Don't mess with the Captain!"

-Haha! I can't touch them unless they call me first!

"Liar! You just came to me on your own!"

-That's because you're special.

Swoosh.

The Pierrot's massive hand slowly approached Claudia.

No way...?

Just as doubt began to sprout in my heart,

"I love being petted!"

Claudia smiled brightly.

"You're kind too, after all!"

-Only for Claudia.

It was just a pat on the head.

Claudia grinned and added.

"I want to smash everything related to the circus, but I'll let you off until the end!"

-Haha! Thank you!

"Then go rest inside!"

-See you next time!

The Pierrot's form began to scatter.

Just before it disappeared completely.

-You too.

It winked at me. Claudia, however, remained cheerful.

"You heard that, Captain! A better deal!"

Hugging the long sword to her chest, she ran towards me and held it up.

"What else should I do!"

"Send a note to the coordinates written here."

"Okay!"

"Ah, and send this one to Ian."

"Got it!"

Claudia, who handed over the notes, created a green rectangular shape.

"[Surprise Box.]"

Pop!

The moment a brief light flickered,

the two notes disappeared.

"Ta-da! I did well, right!"

She looked up at me with expectant eyes. Smiling faintly, I patted her head.

"Take good care of the Young Lady."

"Sure! Don't worry!"

"If anything happens..."

As I trailed off, Claudia smiled brightly. She patted my back firmly and said,

"Don't worry! I'll ask the Pierrot to move the Young Lady to a safe place!"

"...I'll make sure that never happens."

"Right! Just in case!"

I nodded.

"I'm heading off."

"Okay! Come back quickly!"

Click.

Fastening the sword to my belt, I made a resolution.

To repay threefold for the fingernails.

2.

"[Flame Blossom.]"

Fwoosh!

The flame that bloomed from Tania's staff spread like a bush flower, engulfing Baalphegor.

"Now, Kael!!"

"[Water Thunder.]"

Flash!

The water vapor in the atmosphere instantly condensed and then struck down like a sharp lightning bolt.

Boom!

Splatter!

As it struck Baalphegor and touched Tania's flames, steam erupted.

Snap.

The yellow magic stone in the cigarette held in Kevin's mouth burst like a capsule.

"Ringo,"

"Fifteen degrees to the left, straight ahead."

"Got it."

Using the Beastman's senses, the location was identified.

Crackle!

Afterward, a long spear made of smoke, imbued with the electric attribute, was thrown.

Shooosh!

Kaboom!

Its power was incomparable to the previous strikes.

Whoosh....

Steam, cigarette smoke, and dust rising from the ground mixed together, obscuring the sight.

The four people remained silent.

They simply hoped this was the end as they waited for the sight to clear.

After a moment of silence.

Crunch!

"Aaaaargh!!!"

A familiar scream was heard.

"[Impressive.]"

It was Baalphegor.

Crunch, crack, snap, snap!

Revealing himself, he chewed and swallowed humans like snacks, recovering everything.

He removed the blood stuck in his teeth and looked at Kevin.

"[The others are interesting, but I particularly desire you.]"

"Sorry, but I'm already taken."

"[Don't worry about that.]"

Everyone lost sight of him.

He reappeared behind Kevin.

"[I don't need your opinion to make you mine.]"

Just before his hand could grab Kevin's neck.

Crack!

Another magic stone in Kevin's mouth shattered. With Tania's help, he lit it, quickly inhaling both the magic stone and smoke.

Swish.

As if cutting through smoke, Baalphegor's hand, which was about to grab Kevin's neck, missed.

Sage Vasello of Truth and Lies.

It was a magic stone containing False-Type Magic that I specially commissioned from him.

It was a hopeless fight.

It was the power of a Quasi-Marquis-Level Demonic Tribe.

Facing six Count-Level Demonic Tribes would have been more promising.

And he hadn't even been serious until now.

He leisurely spewed nonsense, saying things like he'd steal talents or take them for himself.

"[It's about time to end this.]"

He raised his hand.

Whoosh.

And swung it.

It was just a light motion.

Rip!

Everyone barely dodged the attack, but the barrier Kevin had set up was easily torn apart.

Although it was quickly restored, during that gap, several High Priests escaped toward the field.

"[Vertical strikes aren't very effective. The range is narrow and uncertain.]"

Crackle, crackle.

Baalphegor grinned grotesquely.

"[This time, I'll tear horizontally.]"

Lowering his stance as if drawing a sword, he gripped his right wrist like a blade, ready to swing.

The four of them sensed the end. At least one of them would die from this strike.

Kevin let out a sigh.

"Run away."

"What?"

"I said, run away."

He was the only one who had truly experienced the Era of War. To Kevin, the Red Magic Tower Master and the Blue Magic Tower Master were just green rookies.

The same went for Ringo.

Even though she had experienced the Era of War, it was merely a story from her childhood.

The only one who risked his life on the frontlines and fought a bloody battle was himself.

"Go and call Rania."

"But―!!"

"Damn it, seriously..."

He got angry.

Unable to properly grasp the situation, they were swayed by personal emotions.

Swoosh.

Kevin brushed back his disheveled hair and glared at the three people intently.

"If this were the Era of War, I would have killed all three of you with my own hands."

Ringo's ears drooped.

"Right now, I'm the one in charge. When I give an order, follow it without question."

"Kevin...."

"If you open your mouth again, I'll kill you."

With sincerity, he unleashed his killing intent.

The three of them touched their necks. It felt as if their heads had already fallen off.

"Bring Rania."

Kael nodded.

"We can't go directly. We'll stop by a nearby Magic Tower and use the gate to move."

"Estimated time required?"

"At least 30 minutes."

Kevin nodded.

"I'll hold out."

Thud!

The moment he struck the staff against the floor, a blue light enveloped the three of them.

"Hey! Are you seriously leaving!?"

"...[Teleportation.]"

Slither.

And so, the three of them disappeared.

"[Should I wait a little longer?]"

"...It's Kevin. No family name."

"[A courtesy for waiting, I see.]"

"Let's just say that."

"[I am Baalphegor of Greed.]"

Kevin let out a sigh.

Tap.

After throwing away the now-empty case, he pulled a cigar case from his chest.

-What do you want me to make?

-It's written there.

-You'll definitely die after smoking it, you know?

-It's better than just dying.

He smiled at the memory that surfaced.

"Serena told me never to smoke it."

Serena.

She was the former Black Magic Tower Lord and the only person Kevin had ever cared for.

At the same time, she was also the creator of the cigar.

Various magic stones and the auras Kevin had prepared were condensed into a single cigar.

A cigar made of aura allowed him to exert nearly twice his usual power.

However, this cigar was unmeasurable.

He had never smoked it before and wasn't supposed to.

-In theory, ten times the power.

-Damn, seriously....

-But at most, it lasts one to two hours. The faster it burns, the faster you die.

Serena embraced Kevin.

-So never smoke it.

Kevin nodded.

-I'll never smoke it.

-Then why did you ask me to make it?

-Because back then, I didn't like you.

A moment of silence passed.

-Then now...?

-Curious?

-Ah, no? Not really curious?!

-Then I won't tell you.

-Ack! Sorry! Tell me quickly!

Kevin chuckled.

-I'll tell you after I win.

In that battle, Kevin single-handedly faced three Count-Level Demonic Tribe members.

And Serena....

-I'm sorry, Kevin, I'm sorry....

She saved Dorothy and died.

Kevin shook his head.

"...I keep having useless thoughts."

Is it because it's time for me to die?

Grin.

A refreshing smile appeared on Kevin's face, which had been expressionless until now.

Tap.

Kevin put the cigar in his mouth.

"Wait for me, Serena."

He mumbled as he lit the cigar.

"I'll come tell you after I win."

3.

"Are those bastards just fighting with their mouths?"

Yuri let out a sigh.

At some point, he had donned his Full Moon attire.

"Let's see...."

Slowly rising from the treetop, he drew Claudia's sword.

"...About here?"

After calculating something above Kevin and Baalphegor's heads, he drew out his aura.

"Moon Shadow."

A vertical slash infused with vast aura surged toward the designated location.

Crack!

The moment the sword shattered, unable to withstand the maximum power of swordsmanship.

A familiar silhouette leaped toward the designated location.

It was Ian Estevan.

"Nightscape."

As the rapid iai slash was unleashed, the space along the sword path was torn apart.

Crunch!

Slicing Baalphegor's body in half, he grumbled as he approached me.

"What kind of operation explanation is this?"

I read the note that was handed to me.

"Like when you took Valentine's Head, if I mark it, you just show up and clean up. Why is this?"

"Who could possibly understand this?"

I silently stared at Ian.

"...Ah."

He nodded.

"Then I'll really go to land the final blow."

"Are you going without a sword?"

"Of course, I need a sword, right?"

"Exactly, right?"

I reached out my hand toward Ian.

"Give it to me."

"What?"

"Let me borrow your sword."

That one looked nice.