The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

21 – Betting on Fines -3-

Inside the dimly lit temple.

As no one had touched it before, the walls were covered in green moss and water droplets fell from the ceiling.

It felt like a ghost could come out at any moment.

I think I’ll have to sleep next to the young lady when I go back home.

“Hey, Malik.”

“Call me Malik.”

“Alright, Malik.”

“?”

Malik glared at me in response to my shortened speech.

I couldn’t allow my shallow pride to address him as “sir”. The young lady doesn’t even use honorifics, so who are you to tell me to call you “sir”?

A semi-respectful tone suited the arrogant supporting male lead better than honorifics.

Ignoring Malik, who gave me sharp glances as if I were irritating, I spoke with my trembling heart in fear.

“Why did you call me here at such an ambitious hour? It’s kind of scary.”

“We should avoid the public eye. If civilians catch us, it could damage my reputation.”

“Still, it’s a bit unnerving to come to the cathedral at this hour.”

“Hold on. You know you’re getting paid a lot for this.”

Certainly.

The boss said to keep quiet.

All my doubts were resolved.

The boss wanted to resolve it with money.

I wanted to see his face for a long time.

Indeed, money is powerful.

I tightened my grip on the sword, thinking about my bulging wallet.

“Is Pascal here?”

“After the incident broke out, he was immediately put under surveillance. He probably settled in this place about three days ago.”

“Hmm… I see.”

It’s a place Pascal would like.

In the novel, Pascal preferred dark caves or gloomy places. Especially since Pascal’s abilities are primarily focused on dark magic. It might be natural, considering that dark magic is magic that derives more power from darkness.

Beyond the main entrance of the cathedral, we entered the sanctuary.

The moment we stepped on the sanctuary’s front door,

“Be careful.”

I grabbed Malik’s collar, who was standing at the front.

Crash.

“What are you doing…?”

The fallen Malik glared at me menacingly. Instead of replying, I pointed at the cathedral’s door with my finger.

A black arrow was stuck in the door.

Gulp.

Malik swallowed his saliva.

Malik couldn’t say a word.

“If we had just been a little late, we wouldn’t have been able to fulfill the count’s dream and would’ve departed to heaven.”

“Water Lord, snap out of it.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Malik quickly admitted his mistake.

He felt frustrated that he fell into a trap that even beginners would fall for, and it was true that he received help from me.

Malik didn’t make any excuses and placed his hand on the handle to draw his sword at any moment.

He looked much better than before when he had no tension.

“I will open the door.”

Confirming Malik’s determination, I grabbed the doorknob of the chapel.

-Creak.

As I entered the chapel, a giant statue of a goddess welcomed me with its arms raised.

The harmony of moonlight shining through the spider-web-covered chandelier and the crumbled ceiling was quite beautiful.

“But the statue doesn’t have a face.”

My awe was shattered by the headless statue of a lifeless goddess.

The oppressive atmosphere began to engulf the chapel.

Starting from the expressionless statue.

To the empty chairs in the worship hall.

It felt like there was someone there for no reason.

The atmosphere made it seem like a ghost would pop out from behind.

Fearlessly, Malik walked into the center of the chapel.

“Did it run away after all?”

Malik murmured quietly.

“It’s not possible, right?”

I responded to his words with a brief denial.

That damn artist, valuing art so much, would run away from such a beautiful place.

A place where he could hide a corpse.

A perfect place to create a gloomy atmosphere.

Especially since I knew Pascal’s taste, I didn’t think he would ever abandon this place.

Pascal went crazy when it came to blaspheming the sacred.

In the novel, he turned priests and nuns into his artworks. So he would go even crazier in a place like this.

I looked up at the empty pulpit.

The pulpit where the pastor preaches.

Now, a goddess statue resembling an egg ghost is welcoming with arms wide open, but it is usually the place where the history of gods is most vibrant.

I swung my sword towards the goddess statue.

The sword blade silently advanced and cut through the statue with a thud.

Without saying a word, Malic yelled in frustration at my reckless actions.

“What are you doing?”

“I thought there might be something there.”

“What?”

“Pascal. There it is.”

-Teeheehee… You got caught.

Laughter that I recognized behind the severed goddess statue could be heard.

Malic quickly drew his sword.

“Who’s there!”

“Who do you think? It’s Pascal.”

Stay calm.

Didn’t you hear what I said earlier?

The black shadow slowly revealing itself behind the goddess statue. The sight of him holding two short daggers in reverse grip just like he showed during our first encounter reminded me of a familiar insect.

I stepped back one step.

For now, let’s observe.

Perhaps Malic understood my intention, as he slowly distanced himself from Pascal.

Pascal chuckled softly.

“Welcome to my carnival.”

A polite bow from the raven. The way he requested civility like a gentleman reminded me of a male raven that is beguiled by a female.

I raised my hand and questioned.

“I didn’t come here to see an insect carnival.”

Pascal quickly lifted his head.

Could it be because he heard the voice of a friend?

His eyes widened and the way he looked at me was quite welcoming.

“Why are you here?”

I blinked.

“Huh?”

Blinked again.

“What’s going on?”

It seemed they didn’t realize I was here.

The moment they saw my face hidden in the darkness.

– Thump!

A black arrow loomed before my eyes.

[“Dark Magic Resistance” negates “Pascal’s” magic.]

“No matter how delighted I am to see you, this kind of response is rather awkward.”

“You… This is right, isn’t it? I thought it was a dream.”

“I thought it was a dream too. It would have been quite awkward if I had missed it.”

Phew. Pascal took a deep sigh.

He exhaled a deeper sigh than an old man who had smoked for decades.

“Do you know how much my perfect art has been ruined because of you?”

“It must have improved, right?”

With a mocking tone in my response, Pascal’s voice turned more braille-like.

“Improved? Did you just say improved?”

“Yes.”

“…You little…”

Pascal remained silent. Has he not fully grasped the truth yet?

With a bitter heart, I said to him, “Are you still hiding behind that mirror? I’m not very confident about my appearance, but I think I can at least turn you into a somewhat better roach than a crow.”

“…Are you kidding me right now?”

“Uh…! Don’t make that face! You look like a crow, and it’s repulsive.”

Thump…!

Another black arrow flew at me, but once again, it did not affect me.

“What on earth are you? Magic doesn’t work on you…! Dark magic doesn’t work either. Are you a monster!”

Malik also looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

“The body that magic doesn’t work on. There’s no way such a monster exists. However, with such a nonchalant appearance, Malik couldn’t conceal his confusion.

“Who are you? Are you a vampire or a dragonkin?”

“No. Just an ordinary servant.”

“Is it possible for someone like this to be a servant?”

Isn’t it the work of a possessor who makes such things possible?

I kindly explained to Malik with Histania’s way of thinking.

“It’s talent. Overwhelming talent.”

Malik gave me an angry look, but I responded with a shrug of the shoulders, which was a sufficient answer.

“Don’t act all high and mighty.”

“No.”

Kugukuguk…

Darkness began to engulf the cathedral.

It seemed like Pascal’s anger was piercing the sky.

“Umm… Please don’t ignore me.”

A black energy began to seep from Pascal’s dagger.

It seemed like he was about to show his true strength.

I stabbed Malik’s side.

“They’re coming now. Be prepared.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

How strong is Pascal now? Isn’t he at the level of Hanna who awakened?

Hanna’s strength is absolute.

She can handle anything.

If Pascal is using explosive power as an aura user, he might be on par with the current Pascal.

Of course, when he was called the Archbishop of Madness, I was stronger than anyone, including Hanna. But during my days as an adventurer, Pascal might have been a match for me.

Maybe Malik has a chance against him, especially if he knows how to counter dark magic.

The scariest thing about dark magic is that it’s unpredictable.

Even if you see a lady’s brainwashing magic, you can still figure it out.

Knowing the content of the novel, I can understand what kind of dark magic Pascal is using and what his weaknesses are, but ordinary people can’t predict it and are likely to fall victim to it at once.

In the case of ordinary magic.

If it’s fire magic, it would be heat and explosions.

If it’s ice magic, it would be cold and aggressive formations.

If it’s wind magic, one can expect sharp attacks, but dark magic is different.

It can be a corrosive effect.

It can also be a curse.

It creates unexpected variables.

It was extremely difficult to deal with.

But that doesn’t mean dark magic is the strongest.

From Noble mtl dot com

Just by looking at the descendants of Matapju and Death Munt, they possess magic that overwhelms dark sorcerers.

If one were to unleash Meteor or freeze the surroundings, even the most skilled dark sorcerer would inevitably be killed.

Dark magic is simply easier to learn and produces more powerful effects compared to normal magic.

But with great power comes a price.

The risk of failure was very high.

Just like in any field.

The ones who are good are the strongest.

The ones with talent become the powerful ones.

In conclusion, Pascal is still not fully matured.

Before fully immersing himself in the heresy, Pascal is a opponent who Malik could easily defeat with just a little help.

I patiently awaited Malik’s battle.

How far can Malik go now? When should I step in? I pondered deeply.

Malik, trembling shoulders.

He seemed afraid of Pascal’s madness.

“How about it? Do you think you can do it?”

“…Of course I can.”

I provoked Malik.

In the hope that he would feel the excitement of provocation and relax his tension.

“Hey. What about that guy?”

Pascal, with a fierce look in his eyes.

He was staring at us uprightly.

“Give up. Even if Hannah might make it, do you think Malik is impossible?”

“I can do it.”

“Are you not going to pay me a fee after I die?”

“Shut up.”

Malik glared at me.

He seemed determined.

“Histania never breaks a promise…”

“But it seems Hannah has seen a few things that would suggest otherwise…”

“From now on, we’ll keep it.”

Malik stepped firmly into the church.

-Thud!

Black arrows pierced through the walls.

Malik easily dodged them with a slight tilt of his head.

“You rascal…”

“Why do you also call me a rascal?”

“Well, you resemble one… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ignored people with the face they were born with.”

Malik remained silent.

“You, too… I’ll create you as my masterpiece.”

Pascal’s body soared like a crow.