The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Sitting at his desk, Malik read the report with a faint smile.

-It has been confirmed that Vienna, a third-year student in the Swordsmanship Department, committed theft on campus….

-Based on the testimony of convenience store worker ‘Ricardo,’ evidence was found during a search of ‘Vienna’s dormitory by Mikhail and another student, revealing her knowledge of the ‘Method of Smuggling Dark Magic,’ along with three additional stolen items….

“Hmm…”

Less than a month into his role as senior director, Malik found himself embroiled in an incident. Bearing the weight of responsibility, he nodded and checked the note attached beneath the report.

-Handle it appropriately.

If this incident becomes public, both the Academy and Vienna will face difficulties. Handle it discreetly.

Malik nodded and let out a sigh.

“I can’t read this.”

He didn’t need to think hard to deduce who had written the headache-inducing note.

‘When did they leave this?’

The contents were as predictable as they were unnecessary to interpret.

“They just want me to wrap it up quietly.”

Knowing the writer’s aversion to standing out, Malik assumed they had left the note quietly and vanished. Why they bothered leaving something he couldn’t even read was beyond him.

“I’ll never understand them.”

What a strange person.

Like a sage who knew the future, they possessed vast knowledge and strength so formidable it seemed a waste to serve as the Villainess’s butler. Malik would have liked to keep them by his side, but he knew all too well he couldn’t handle someone so unpredictable. He chuckled dryly and nodded.

“At least I’ve got a good business partner.”

Thanks to them, life was enjoyable.

His sibling’s matters.

His dreams.

And his business.

In a life filled with unending entertainment, Malik smiled faintly, placing his empty teacup on the table and lifting his head.

“So, do you have anything to say, Cadet Vienna?”

Malik asked, looking at Vienna seated on the sofa across from him. If she had something to say, now was the time.

Seeing the densely written report, Vienna shuddered under Malik’s cold gaze. This was her first time facing the senior director, whom she had assumed to be a mere figurehead.

“I… I…”

The director, whom she had thought was installed merely to appease the students, was terrifying.

His emotionless tone.

His calm, scrutinizing gaze.

His sharp eyes, far from those of a puppet leader, made Vienna feel as though her blood was freezing.

“This is a setup…! Why would I ever use Dark Magic?”

“That’s not what I’m curious about.”

“What? What do you mean… Haha! You know the truth too, don’t you?”

Malik spoke to Vienna with a faint smile.

“Hmm… Yes.”

“I knew it…!”

Malik addressed Vienna, who was grinning slyly, in a light tone, as if it were no big deal.

“It seems Cadet Vienna doesn’t know why she’s here.”

“…”

“If it were about disciplinary action, it would’ve been handled in the Student Council Room. Don’t you think?”

“Then why am I…”

“Well, wasn’t it to frame my business partner?”

“What…?”

“That friend of mine explicitly said they didn’t want to do it, but I insisted it was fine and forced them into it.”

“…Director?”

“What do you think, Cadet Vienna? Do you think I could face that friend of mine after this?”

Malik smiled faintly as he looked at Vienna, whose eyes were trembling.

“Cadet Vienna.”

“Gulp…”

“Words are a frightening thing.”

“Th-That’s…”

“And for an entrepreneur, trust is even more terrifying.”

Malik stood up from the sofa and gently placed a hand on Vienna’s trembling shoulder.

“Ricardo said he hoped I’d handle this appropriately. That it would end with mere probation, so no strange rumors would spread….”

-Tap.

“What does Cadet Vienna think about this resolution?”

Vienna’s shoulder, under Malik’s hand, began trembling like a leaf.

“I have no intention of ending it at this level, so I’d like to hear the student’s opinion.”

“Hic…”

“Don’t cry, Cadet Vienna. Power only has meaning when wielded, don’t you think?”

Like a villainous antagonist, Malik whispered softly to Vienna with a faint, sinister smile.

“Have you ever been locked inside a drum can?”

Vienna’s complexion turned pale.

Malik chuckled softly and beckoned with his fingers. Then, men dressed in black entered the director’s office.

“Take her away.”

-Nod.

“Director!! Director!!”

The thugs, who walked in with measured steps, roughly grabbed Vienna by the shoulders and began dragging her out the door.

“Please spare me!!!”

“My ears are ringing.”

“Please! Please spare me!”

Malik refilled his empty teacup with the kettle and smiled.

“I told them not to kill her, so just scare her a little.”

Ricardo had asked him not to blow things out of proportion, so Malik figured resolving it at this level would wrap things up neatly.

Of course, he intended to scare her just enough to ensure she wouldn’t die.

“It seems the honor of Histania ends with this generation.”

Malik was in a foul mood.

Because they had dared to mess with his business partner.

*

Another peaceful day at the Academy.

As the Academy’s theft incident quietly concluded, peace returned to the convenience store.

Malicious rumors persisted, but as time passed, the students gradually pieced together Vienna’s disappearance, and things calmed down.

Today, a familiar guest visited me as I stood behind the convenience store counter.

“Pyeongmin!”

“…What’s with that weird pronunciation?”

“I bit my tongue.”

“It’s too late to act refined now; it won’t work.”

“Hmph.”

Once again, Shuen, holding an empty wallet, wore a pouty expression as she tore open the wrapping of a discarded bento. She joked that she couldn’t live without discarded bentos anymore.

Sitting on a chair, Shuen glanced at the students in the convenience store and smiled faintly.

“Still, I’m glad.”

I wondered what she was glad about. Was she relieved that the free bentos hadn’t stopped? As I pondered, Shuen gave me a warm smile and said,

“The convenience store is getting more customers, so your wallet must be getting thicker, Pyeongmin.”

I nodded in response to Shuen’s kind words and replied,

“Indeed. It’s all thanks to you, Shuen.”

“No, no! It’s because you were quick-witted enough to catch the culprit! Well, the Student Council handled the matter quietly, though.”

“Are you disappointed by that?”

“Yes, I wanted to see that woman suffer. And I also wanted to show that you, Pyeongmin, are an honest person….”

“But I’m not honest. In fact, the bento you’re eating right now isn’t discarded—it’s something I secretly took.”

“…Is this theft?!”

Shuen widened her eyes and looked at me with a resentful gaze, as if saying that while we had just caught a criminal, a new one had appeared right here.

I let out a hearty laugh and teased Shuen.

“This makes you an accomplice, Miss Shuen.”

“Ugh… In that case, we have to commit the perfect crime!”

“Puhaha!!!”

Watching Shuen try to stuff the empty lunchbox container into her bag in the name of a “perfect crime,” I waved my hand with a helpless smile.

Truly.

“Ah… I haven’t laughed this much in a while.”

She seems like such an amusing person.

-I’m being serious!

-Yes, yes~

-Don’t laugh at me!

How long did we end up discussing how to commit the perfect crime without getting caught?

Shuen, with a slightly serious expression, spoke to me.

“You’re amazing, Pyeongmin.”

“All of a sudden?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t shown you anything, though. Are you flattering me so I’ll keep giving you lunchboxes?”

-Gulp.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Shuen flinched her shoulders but soon shook her head and said to me,

“No! It’s just… you speak so calmly, and even unfinished sausages seem to meet their end…”

“I didn’t kill them, though.”

“If they disappeared from the Academy, doesn’t that mean they’re dead?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Hmph…! Anyway, I think you’re the most amazing commoner I’ve ever met.”

At Shuen’s excessive praise, I smiled mischievously and asked her,

“More amazing than Mikhail?”

“…No! Why are you comparing me to him?! Are you trying to surpass Senior Mikhail and bear the fruits of love with me?! Pervert!”

“Your delusions are going too far.”

“Grr…!”

Shuen pounded the table with her fist and stomped her feet in frustration. I couldn’t help but wonder why villains always seemed so endearing.

I glanced around the empty convenience store and called out to Shuen. It was time to move on to a slightly sensitive topic.

“So, Miss Shuen.”

“Yes?!”

“Don’t you have something you want to ask me?”

Shuen hesitated for a moment, glanced around, and then nodded decisively before pulling a notebook and pen out of her bag.

“Actually…”

“Yes?”

“Senior Mikhail asked me out on a date.”

“…”

This wasn’t what I expected her to bring up. I had planned to talk about how to become stronger, but the conversation had taken a serious turn.

I nodded slightly and pursed my lips.

“Is that so…?”

“Yes.”

Shuen, wearing an incredibly serious expression, opened her notebook.

-Operation: Capturing Senior Mikhail.

1. Show off healthy teeth.

2. Don’t call him a commoner.

3. Subtly flaunt wealth.

4. Hand him candy, saying you picked it up on the way.

.

.

.

“Ah! This isn’t the right page!”

Though it seemed like I’d seen something odd, I decided not to pry into her innocent heart. After all, I also had a notebook with tips on how to wake up a young lady in the morning.

Blushing furiously, Shuen quickly flipped the pages and showed me a short entry.

-Two days later. 12 PM.

Lunch date with Senior Mikhail at the restaurant in front of the fountain.

Shuen tightly shut her eyes and handed me the notebook.

“This time, I’m certain!”

“Certain about what?”

“That you’re amazing, Pyeongmin! I think you can help me with my love life!”

“Ah…”

Tilting my head, I quietly listened to Shuen. I wasn’t sure how she’d arrived at that conclusion, but receiving compliments felt nice.

“Thank you.”

With a trembling voice, Shuen continued.

She asked what I thought about this situation.

She was getting ahead of herself, wondering if it was time to confess, and looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.

“Do you think Senior Mikhail is sending me signals?”

“…”

“Senior Mikhail said to me, ‘I’m sorry for submitting the report however I wanted… If you’re free, would you like to have lunch? My treat.'”

Shuen awkwardly imitated Mikhail’s voice, and though I almost burst into laughter, I held it in and shook my head at her words.

“I don’t think so.”

Shuen persisted.

She said she wasn’t fully prepared yet but wondered if this was her chance. She added that it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but she couldn’t decide whether to seize it or let it go, leaning in closer as she spoke.

I sighed deeply and said to Shuen,

“Miss Shuen.”

“Yes!”

“By any chance…”

“Yes…!”

“Have you ever been in a relationship before?”

-Thud.

Shuen’s expression crumbled as if her world had collapsed, and she dropped the notebook she was holding.