The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen-Chapter 321: Prayer (2)

Elicia.

A saint with the eyes to see emotions, Elicia was a devoted clergyman who cared for and loved the weak despite facing countless criticisms and scorn. The world called her the Saint of Compassion.

She remained steadfast in her good deeds, enduring hardships and scorn while faithfully embodying love in the name of God. Even though she didn’t possess the same great divine power as Yuria, she treated people’s wounds with the medical knowledge she had learned and healed the scars hidden within their hearts using her unique ability to see emotions. She was a sincere clergyman, sacrificing her own happiness in this life for bliss in the next, no matter how much others mocked her as a fool.

One day, she met someone she loved on the battlefield, and they created a happy home together. Though they didn't have great wealth, Elicia found happiness, and when her young child called her "mother," she would often wipe away tears of joy. She was the kind of person who could find happiness in small things.

However...

The endless happiness in Elicia's life was shattered when tragedy struck. An unexpected attack by heretics took her husband and child from her, and she knelt before the one who had killed them, pleading desperately.

"Please, spare my family. If you can’t save them all, at least spare my son. I beg you, please."

But they merely put a collar around her neck and whispered false hope into her ear.

They offered to save him in exchange for a promise. Without realizing it was all a lie, Elicia naively made a pinky promise with them.

In the story, she was the most selfless Apostle. She never killed for pleasure and adhered to the righteous path. Of course, she was indeed a villain, for the number of people who died at her hands was beyond counting. Even if her motive was to save her son, how could that justify her as a good person? No matter how tragic her reasons, her actions were driven by personal greed.

Still, I don’t judge her. I, too, have killed for the sake of my Lady’s happiness. I am not qualified to judge others.

In any case, in the story, Elicia eventually acknowledged her wrongdoing and struggled to return to where she had started. Although the protagonist Yuria was the key to this, Elicia was the only Apostle who genuinely tried to redeem herself.

As for her end, despite her efforts, she met a miserable demise due to the collar around her neck. Elicia, now, was merely the dog of the Apostle of Temperance, bound by a life-forbidding decree.

And that collar...

"Hmm?"

...was the very watch around that man’s neck.

I glared at him, smiling with a mix of anger over my lost chocolate and curiosity about the watch.

‘Interesting...’

The man simply stared at me in silence, his eyes filled with calculated madness. As a Sword Master, I could easily tell the difference between intention and accident. I had clearly tried to avoid him, yet he collided with me directly—like a delinquent who bumps shoulders on purpose after a breakup.

The Archbishop of Disgrace, under the protection of the Apostle of Temperance, was a heretic bound by blood relations. In the novel, his introduction started with using Ruin as bait, humiliating him by revealing his past, which stirred a major uproar at the Academy.

At the time, Yuria had offered words of solace, "So what? You’re still my friend." This allowed Ruin to overcome his past and grow. Now, however, he was just a sheep carrying a valuable item.

I looked at the watch hanging around his neck and wondered, 'Why does he have Compassion's Restriction?' Even if the Apostle of Temperance cares for his kin, he wouldn't give away something so precious.

'Is Temperance here?'

That didn’t seem likely. If he were, I would have sensed him by now.

Then...

‘Could he be planning to use the Apostle of Compassion?’

The watch, infused with Temperance’s dark magic, was likely protected by powerful spells that couldn’t be easily stolen. Temperance would be too preoccupied with the upcoming ‘Holy Sword Struggle’ to take this task on personally. He must # Nоvеlight # have given it to the Archbishop to delegate the responsibility.

I couldn't help but grin, though I knew I shouldn’t. The rage I’d felt over my shattered chocolate was now being replaced by a strange delight. Of course, he would still need to pay for the chocolate, but I was curious to see what Temperance would do once he learned of his loss.

I turned to the man staring at me and spoke with a mischievous smile.

"Ugh... Ah! My chocolate!"

"I apologize."

"Take responsibility!"

I grabbed him by the collar. The Archbishop of Disgrace showed no reaction, coldly smiling as if he had anticipated this.

I yanked him closer, speaking in a rough tone.

"What are you going to do about it? That chocolate was hard to get!"

"...I’m sorry. Blame it on a priest with no sense of direction, Brother."

"...”

"Though I am a penniless wanderer, if you forgive me, God will surely reward your kindness."

I smirked.

"Yeah, right."

"Pardon?"

"What god would bring back my chocolate?"

"...”

"Do you know how rare that chocolate is? Something a beggar like you would never be able to afford."

"You seem rather cruel, Brother."

"...”

"Ah... This is quite humiliating."

"Humiliating?"

The Archbishop didn’t pose much of a threat to me. Apostles were dangerous, but Archbishops didn’t stand a chance. Besides, he was laughing.

Temperance must be plotting something huge. I didn’t recall any episode involving Elicia and the Archbishop of Disgrace together.

Could it be...?

An episode that didn't directly involve them, like an assault by ancient creatures, the calamity that devastated the southern fortress in the latter part of the story.

Thinking about the Archbishop’s connection to this event, I figured he must be preparing a gift for his brother.

Still...

‘I could take it.’

If I’d shattered the Pope’s restriction before, Temperance’s would be just as easy. Even if his spell was refined...

I held the Archbishop by the collar, acting as if I was leading him somewhere private.

"Come with me."

"Brother!"

"I don’t believe in that god nonsense. If you don’t have money, you’ll have to pay another way."

"Please, Brother."

The Archbishop of Disgrace followed my lead into a secluded alley, as if planning to kill me there.

"There will be consequences."

"...”

"I guarantee it."

"Oh, really?"

As we reached the deserted alley, the Archbishop extended his hand.

"Brother."

"...Yes?"

"Have you ever experienced disgrace?"

"Disgrace?"

His hand began emanating a dark aura. I smirked.

"Never."

"Everyone says that. It’s difficult to admit one's own flaws."

"What are you babbling about?"

"Now... let me see your disgrace..."

Wriggle.

The Archbishop’s magic flickered. A scowl crept onto his face as he conjured more dark magic, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

"What are you doing?"

"...”

"I told you, I have no disgrace."

"I’ve never seen someone so overflowing with self-awareness."

What could I say? It’s the truth.

"Perfection can be a problem, you know."

The Archbishop of Disgrace’s teeth clenched, and I reached out, grabbing the watch around his neck.

"I’ve changed my mind."

"...”

"I was going to have you pay with your body... but I’ll take this watch instead."

"...”

His face turned cold.

"That’s not for you to touch."

"...”

"Come on, you said you have no money. This will do."

"...”

"Such a miser, let’s trade it for cheap."

"Brother. This is your final warning."

The [Dark Magic Resistance Lv. 5] neutralized the dark magic surrounding the pocket watch.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.

Tingle.

It was as if I’d been shocked by its raw power, the creation of Temperance himself. Tirbing savored the scent of dark magic, and I stepped closer.

"Is this thing real?"

"...”

"I see the seal of House Fradi. This doesn’t seem like something a beggar would carry."

"...”

"Must be genuine. You’re awfully quiet."

The chain rattled as it dangled from his neck, and I grinned at him.

"Hand it over."

"...”

"Unless you want to die."

[Exceed Limit tests the boundary of 'Dark Magic Resistance Lv. 5.']

[The ‘Binding Magic’ of the ‘Restricting Pocket Watch’ is released.]

Snap.

The chain around his neck broke with little resistance. The Archbishop’s face drained of color.

And I looked at him with a smile.

"Why?"

"Hand it over."

"Are you worried that Compassion’s Apostle will kill you? Or is it your brother who’ll do it?"

"...!"

I smirked at the shocked Archbishop, just as Hans emerged behind him, clapping softly.

Clap.

"Hans."

"Archbishop of Greed...!"

"Shh... Quiet. You’re in the presence of the Saint."

Hans looked at me and asked, "Shall I erase his memory?"

"Yes."

A white mist enveloped the Archbishop, erasing his memories.

I brought my face close to his and whispered, "Familiar magic, isn’t it?"

"...”

"The Archbishop of Forgetfulness was tougher than expected, but we extracted everything."

"How did you...!"

"That’s a secret. Now... you lost your watch while wandering alone."

"...No!"

"It slipped away from you, alone in the mountains, just ‘plop’."

"Shut up...!"

As the Archbishop’s eyes began to close, I bid him farewell. This was the best way to avoid future complications.

"Give my regards to the Apostle of Temperance."

"...”

"Don’t be too resentful. This went for cheap."

"...”

"Chocolate’s worth more, you know."

_____________

At that moment...

The ancient creature from the novel scratched its head with its hind paw, nibbling lightly at the top of her head.

Nibble.

“Eek?”

Nibble nibble.