The Butler of the Villainess Has Returned

Chapter 30

Crazy bastard.

"Clench your teeth tightly!!"

"You should... tell me that... before hitting me...."

"Ah, I mixed up the order."

He's definitely a crazy bastard.

"Fist!!"

"That's a kick!!"

"Oh, you caught that."

Both his mind and his skills.

Philia Gospel felt frustrated.

Even those brought in using the family name or bribed with money were no match for that black-haired butler.

They were people recruited to bring to the family after graduating from the academy.

Yet, they couldn't even compete.

Grit.

Philia ground her teeth.

She shouted fiercely at the ten or so people still standing.

"To the one who defeats that guy, I will give a family proof badge stamped with my seal!!"

In that moment, their eyes sparkled.

Proof token.

Something only noble families could possess, and it was immensely valuable on its own.

But that wasn't all.

If someone brought the proof token to the family that issued it, even a beggar would be treated with utmost hospitality.

Depending on who gave it, if one returned the proof token with a request, it was customary to fulfill most reasonable requests.

Philia Gospel.

The sole heir of the Viscount House of Gospel, renowned for its wealth, and a genius of magic.

It was her proof token.

Even now, it held great value, but it was certain to shine even brighter in the future.

"...A proof token?"

A student who had been lying down stood up.

"I'll take it.... It's my only chance to escape this wretched lower class...!"

Others followed suit and stood up.

"That's... right! If I can just join the Knights' Order's lowest rank, I'll do anything!!"

"Typical commoners. I'll make sure to take it and use it to elevate my family's reputation."

"Yeah, let's go!! It's just one guy!!"

Determination filled their eyes.

Bodies frozen in fear regained courage and moved forward.

'It's working...!'

Philia cheered inwardly.

They had been defeated individually, but if they all attacked at once, they might win.

Swoosh...!

The aura and mana of numerous talents surged simultaneously. Though insignificant compared to Yuri, these were still students of Sion.

In their respective places, they were called geniuses and revered.

Such people were now launching a coordinated attack.

"Die, you bastard!!"

Just as the one at the frontline was about to charge.

"Hold on."

Swoosh.

Yuri raised her right hand.

Yuri, who had been alternating between asking questions and beating people up.

She hadn't drawn aura, mana, or even her sword, yet they couldn't stop her.

Yuri's eyes, which had been consumed by combat, regained vitality.

Everyone couldn't help but feel tense.

In the ambiguous silence, they flinched, watching Yuri's movements.

After some thought, Yuri asked.

"I want to collapse."

"?"

Thud.

Yuri lay flat on the floor.

Then, she extended one hand.

"Won't you give me the proof token?"

"...?"

"I defeated myself."

At that moment, a question mark appeared in everyone's mind.

Only one person came to their senses.

"Is this a surrender?"

It was Philia.

However, Yuri shook her head.

"That would disqualify me."

"Then what are you trying to do?"

After a brief thought, she answered.

"I'll stay still for just five minutes."

"Ha! And you want the proof token for that?"

"Is that unacceptable?"

"Of course!"

It was absurd.

A proof token, no less.

Philia Gospel was good at calculations.

Though young and prone to impulsive decisions, when it came to calculations, she resembled her father, who was called a magnate.

Thus, she predicted the outcome.

'We can't win anyway.'

Even if everyone, including Philia herself, gave their all, they couldn't win.

She didn't know why such a talent had ended up under Frey, but it was an undeniable fact that they couldn't win.

So, she offered the proof token.

To show that she was someone who could offer such rewards without hesitation.

To ensure the talents she had selected would become more devoted to her.

Therefore, she had to demonstrate it.

"The negotiation is over."

The dignity of the next family head of the House of Gospel.

Crackle, crack.

The three mana circles Philia possessed began to rotate.

Yuri stood up again.

"You'll regret it."

She was wrong.

Knowing she would lose, there was nothing to regret.

Thus, even her defeat had to be utilized.

She had to elevate her name and her family's reputation to achieve better results.

But above all else—

"Everyone, run away."

They were the talents she had chosen.

They would assist her in academy life and eventually become her limbs.

The grade can be raised even after the exam is over, but it is difficult to regain someone once lost.

-It's the heart, Philia.

Her father's words that people must be won over with the heart came to mind, but she still couldn't understand.

Relationships that began with interests only needed to be satisfied and advanced further.

To do so, she had to protect them. Only then would they follow her.

Philia imbued the mana she drew out with the lightning attribute. Then she shouted.

"I'll buy you some time!"

"...What?"

"I said, run away immediately!"

The eyes of those who had fallen widened.

Most of them already knew.

Dealing with the butler in front of them was virtually impossible.

To earn money for the medicine of a sick younger sibling, to revive a fallen family, to escape from lower-class status.

While suppressing their desire to retreat, they were following their employer's orders.

It was a familiar situation for them.

Burning their own bodies to achieve results and then receiving their compensation.

They thought Philia would do the same.

"Please take the injured and leave!!"

No, that's what they had thought.

Philia gave her all.

In her left hand, she held the water attribute, and in her right hand, the lightning attribute she had prepared beforehand.

"[Flood.]"

She sent water flowing under Yuri's feet and then struck it with her right hand.

"[Lightning Strike.]"

Crackle!

Lightning struck the wet ground.

"Oh?"

So this is why the young lady had been struggling?

Philia skillfully handled two attributes, water and electricity.

Water extinguished fire, and the lightning tore through the heated air.

Yuri kicked off the ground.

However, it was futile.

It didn't end with just striking lightning. She imbued the ground with magnetism and aimed at Yuri's sword, pulling it to the ground.

"Tsk."

Clack!

He immediately released the sword and escaped from the spot. As soon as the sword touched the ground, the leather belt began to burn black.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

Yuri looked down at it and flashed a sly smile.

"You seem perfectly fine, though."

Philia also forced a smile.

At the same time, she was shocked.

It was an attack where she had poured out half of her full power.

At the very least, she thought he would be slightly paralyzed, but the butler seemed completely unharmed.

'Still, I bought some time.'

She had tied down the butler's feet for a moment, so everyone else must have escaped safely.

But it wasn't enough yet. Since there were injured people, she needed to hold him off a bit longer. Thinking this, she began to draw out mana.

"The butler is more of a problem than the villainess, huh?"

"Exactly. Is that even a butler to begin with?"

"Isn't he part of the Secret Knight Order or something?"

Voices of those who were thought to have fled could be heard. And not just one, but several.

Even the fallen noble Jeffrey approached politely, setting aside his usual aloofness, and extended his hand.

"We will buy you time. Lady Philia, please focus on raising your grade."

Choking up.

Philia's lips shut tightly.

-Philia. What do you think is the most important thing when winning people over?

-Money and reputation.

-Hahaha, that's true, but that's not the most important thing.

-Then what is it?

Philia's lips trembled.

"The heart...."

Squeeze.

The naive young lady raised both hands. She pressed her overflowing chest with both hands and lifted her head to look at those who remained by her side.

"Let's fight together."

Philia raised her mana.

Now, she understood.

"And let's win."

Yes, my lady!

What her father meant by the heart.

2.

It was truly a moving scene.

Everyone, in a difficult situation, was trying to rise up and fight.

I looked at the protagonist of that scene.

It was Philia Gospel.

I had a connection with her even in a previous life.

-You know Frey Salvatore, right? They say she's actually a Demon God's Cultist.

So I scolded them for saying that.

-Y-you said you'd pay me!

-Why would I pay you when I'm going to kill you anyway?

I saved her when she was betrayed by those she had hired with money.

After saving her, I asked.

-Why do you dislike my lady?

Philia, as if this was her moment, began to speak at length.

-You know the two families meet often, right?

-Yes, I know.

When we were young, I handed your lady a wad of cash and asked to be friends.

Of course, she lightly ignored me.

-She called me an idiot, a fool, a half-wit, and said my head was filled only with cash!!

-Is that all?

-She even beat me to death!

...Maybe she went a bit too far.

Thanks to that, instead of playing with your lady, I ended up spending more time with her maid or butler.

Those people were injured.

Someone said they had died, whispering that it was because of Frey.

It was an environment where rumors inevitably swayed people unless they lived close by.

That villainess who mistreated her maid and butler, who pushed them away with insults just as she had done to me, was detestable.

So I fought her fiercely.

-I told her to stop killing my friends. Do you know what she said?

-I don't know.

-Buy them before I kill them.

So I did.

The maids who were supposed to be assigned to the young lady were redirected to the House of Gospel.

By offering higher pay and less intense work, they were brought over day by day.

Around that time, my thoughts became twisted.

-People are bought with money.

As my thoughts deepened and changed, the core did not significantly shift.

I must have formed relationships based solely on profit and loss, not on heart.

I explained everything.

The truth behind the rumor branding the young lady as a villainess, the reasons she had to act that way, and how I knowingly let it happen out of fear of harming her.

Philia nodded.

-Father was right....

In her previous life, she realized it too late.

That day, she dropped out of the academy, and later, when the invasion of the Demonic Tribe began, she anonymously provided massive financial support.

And now, once again.

Philia's lips quivered.

"Heart...."

Clench.

The naive young lady placed both hands on her chest. She had realized it much earlier this time.

"Let's fight together."

She stood up from her seat.

"And let's win."

Her eyes sparkled.

How could one not be moved?

I raised my hand high.

"[Full Moon.]"

Crack!

The six circles spun wildly, spewing mana into the void.

The expelled mana formed a sphere and spun, pulling mana from the air back into it.

The once fist-sized pure white sphere swelled in an instant. It then grew as large as a massive rock.

"What is that...?"

I smiled at the astonished onlookers.

"I support your friendships."

"W-wait!!"

"This is a celebratory shot."

"S-surrender!! I surrender!"

I brought my hand down as it was.

Boom!

Bang!

A tremendous amount of light burst forth.

"Oops, I need to make a wish!"

Like lighting a candle and making a wish, I clasped my hands together and wished.

"May they not suffer."

And thus, the light faded away.

That was the moment the first task was perfectly completed.

.

.

.

[Yuri]

[Opponents Suppressed: 32]

After checking the score, I stretched.

Now, all that's left is to catch the Demon God Cult's spy.

3.

Long after Yuri had left.

The forest was a battlefield.

It could no longer be called a forest.

"Fire, fire!"

Just as Claudia said, the place was a sea of flames.

The power was immense.

Even though it was just basic flame-type magic, with so much mana poured into it, it burned relentlessly.

Frey Salvatore's magic was remarkable.

She easily dealt with the incoming enemies and even forced those in hiding to crawl out.

It was during this that someone disguised as a student was observing.

"...Blessed by Mana."

Muttering to themselves, they inscribed words into a small notebook.

The spy's excitement grew.

Those blessed by Mana were precious and excellent sacrifices.

Perhaps this time, their rank might rise.

While they were engrossed in writing for quite some time.

"Ah, you made a spelling mistake there."

Someone spoke to them.

They kindly pointed it out with their hand.

"It's not 'Lady's Favor,' but 'Mana's Favor.'"

"Ah! Thank you!"

What a kind person?

However, after making the correction, something felt off.

"But who are you?"

It was someone they didn't know.

Moreover, no one should have come. They were the only one dispatched for this mission.

The black-haired man grinned.

"Me?"

Crack!

He grabbed the spy's face roughly and answered.

"A secret executive of the Demon God Cult."

"That's impossible!!"

"Huh? Don't you know my face?"

"How would I——!"

"Shut up and take a closer look."

The moment the spy and the man's faces met.

'Ah.'

The spy understood.

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

Such an expression would be hard even for the Demonic Tribe to make.