TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 121
Within a story not included in the viewing.
Ricardo, who failed to overcome Dark Magic, let out a deep sigh and stared at the old ceiling.
“I was unlucky…”
Everything is a mess.
Even my body.
A Devotee.
Everything is a mess.
It all began when the gamble, where the lives of two people were at stake, ended in defeat.
A crossroads where giving up on the Young Lady would grant the rare attribute of White Magic, while choosing her would provide resistance to Dark Magic.
I started betting, wagering my life.
The absence of luck, which always seemed to side with me, led to failure, and, as always, downfall came in an instant, devouring my life.
The Status Window spoke to me, who had lost.
[Main Quest ‘Two Lifelines’]
◈Olivia, in unrequited love, is attempting Dark Magic.
1. Go to the 2nd floor and save Olivia.
Rewards
1. Olivia’s survival
2. Olivia’s Favorability +1
3. Trait 〈Dark Magic Resistance Lv.3〉
Penalty: 50% chance of death.
2. Neglect.
Rewards
1. All characters’ Favorability +10
2. Magic Stat +30
3. Trait 〈White Magic Lv.3〉
───────────
Penalty: Olivia’s death.
[Your luck did not reach the 50% chance. Due to the Limit Break penalty, all rewards except 〈Olivia’s survival〉 are nullified.]
[You have 2 years left until your physical body ceases.]
───────────
It seems this is the first time I’ve been sentenced to a life with Limited Time Left, including both my previous life and current life.
The fear of death didn’t feel as heavy as I thought. Perhaps because it was an anticipated outcome, it was a little frightening, but as time passed, I found myself nodding and preparing to accept it calmly.
Rather than the fear of death, I was more worried about the image of the Young Lady left alone, and I nodded with relief at having twisted her fate.
And I was saddened by the fact that I could no longer see the Young Lady and depressed that I couldn’t witness the end of the novel with her.
Still, it was a gamble where I managed to protect half the stake. Isn’t that not such a bad ending?
“Idiot.”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Just like Yuria said, I wondered why I was going this far.
How could I answer when I didn’t even know myself? I found it hard to answer Yuria’s question as well.
Six months after the Young Lady used Dark Magic.
I realized my body was deteriorating.
The discoloration of my skin, which I thought would stop at black spots, began to spread and grow, and the itchiness on my skin gradually turned into a pain that felt like it was scraping my bones.
As time passed, the pain showed no signs of subsiding, and my breathing grew harsher.
I thought I could endure it.
Until then, I had been healthy.
I thought the Goddess of Hope, Luck, would visit me once more.
But…
The Status Window did not show me another path, as if telling me to take responsibility for the consequences of my mistake.
“Petty bastard.”
It was an entity that never showed up when it was truly needed. That’s what the Status Window was.
There was a way to survive.
The Tears of God, known as the Elis Stone.
But the Elis Stone played a crucial role in the novel, and since I didn’t know its location, I couldn’t find it.
The thought of killing a hero who saved countless lives just to save myself weighed on my conscience.
So I chose goodbye, and that’s why I’m lying here in solitude.
I wanted to stay by the Young Lady’s side until the end, but I didn’t want to show her my pitiful state. I didn’t want to be a burden or show her a dark side of myself.
I felt I wouldn’t be able to bear showing her my deteriorating state. No matter how much we bickered, I wanted to end things beautifully.
Like a never-ending memory, I wanted to live on thinking she was doing well somewhere out there.
But it didn’t go as smoothly as I hoped.
At first, it was undoubtedly a terrible accursed karma, but strangely enough, now she’s someone I miss.
The villainess who appears in the novel.
A villainess with a filthy personality and a penchant for mischief.
When I first possessed this body, she was the person I thought I should avoid the most, but at some point, she became the most significant presence in my life.
“Truly a villainess.”
Lying in bed, I covered my heated eyes with my sleeve.
“Ridiculously beautiful…. If her personality matched her appearance, I wouldn’t have even glanced at her.”
The fault lay heavily with the Young Lady, who was far too beautiful for a villainess.
It started as the worst.
During my time in the slum, she saved my life, gave me a new home, and, through constant bickering, I grew attached to her.
At some point, the resolve to run away turned into a purpose to twist the Young Lady’s fate, and I enjoyed the time I spent with her.
Over the 13 years I spent with Olivia, the villainess became an overwhelmingly significant presence in my life. She approached me as an object of admiration, someone I wished happiness for, even if it wasn’t with me.
And now.
It seems the time has come to burn my last flame.
Ricardo slowly rose from the bed.
His unresponsive legs felt especially heavy today. His physical condition was at its worst, and his breathing was labored, but the thought of seeing the Young Lady after so long almost brought a smile to his face.
If I pushed myself further, I could live for about two more months, but as The Man, I couldn’t stand by and watch the woman I loved suffer.
And I knew the Young Lady wasn’t someone who would take things lying down.
With a small smile, I lifted my body.
[Limit Break is testing the limits of ‘Regeneration.’]
[Limit Break is testing the limits of ‘Stamina.’]
[Limit Break is testing the limits of ‘Narcotic Painkiller.’]
[Limit Break is….]
·
·
·
“Let’s go.”
It was time to carry out my final duty as a Butler.
*
Ricardo stood before Olivia, who had her head bowed.
Ricardo, who she thought had abandoned her, was standing there, dressed in black Butler’s Attire as always.
Olivia’s pupils trembled violently.
Her lips quivered as she was startled, and Olivia clenched her fist and shouted at Ricardo.
-Why! Why are you coming now!
Not a cry of emotional relief, but a shout of anger at the Butler’s far-too-late arrival, Olivia yelled.
-Do you have any idea how much I’ve suffered!
-I’m sorry. The long-awaited vacation was just too sweet.
-You’re docked a year’s pay! And what’s this about my personality?
Plop. An awkwardly smiling Ricardo had a rotten egg roll down his forehead.
-This… is a bit much.
Thud. Stones and tomatoes thrown by the onlookers fell against Ricardo’s back, carrying their anger toward Olivia.
-Get lost from the Academy!
-That kind of Villainess should’ve been expelled long ago…!
-Birds of a feather!
-Crazy Woman, make sure she can never set foot in our Academy again!
-Do you have any idea how much I’ve had to watch my step because of you? My Academy life was ruined because of you….
-Get lost, you Villainess!
Ricardo was looking at Olivia with a Gentle Smile. Regardless of what fell on his back or what the crowd said, he simply checked Olivia’s body with a caring expression.
To see if there were any injuries.
To see if there were any scrapes.
He was carefully observing Olivia’s body.
-Everyone seems to be making some savage jokes.
Ricardo asked Olivia with a cold smile.
-Shall I kill them all?
With a tone that truly suggested he would if she wished it, Ricardo kindly inquired of Olivia’s True Feelings.
Even with his dying body, he could still do it.
Because of his dying body, he could perform a Sword Dance.
Realizing Ricardo’s True Feelings, Olivia’s pupils trembled greatly. Though he spoke in a light tone as if suggesting a walk, she knew how Ricardo would act depending on her answer.
Slowly, a Red Aura began to flow from behind Ricardo. The Malicious Aura, unlike anything seen before, quickly subdued the crowd.
The curses directed at Olivia were silenced under Ricardo’s Killing Intent. The filth falling toward her was also blocked by Ricardo’s Aura, unable to reach her.
Ricardo dusted off his hands and smiled.
-It’s a joke.
Ricardo gently bent his knees and patted Olivia’s head.
-So,
Then, he took the Black Object from Olivia’s hand. The Black Stone, drenched in sweat from her tight grip, brought a Bitter Smile to Ricardo’s lips.
-Let’s not do things like this with your hands. I went through all that trouble to stop Dark Magic, and if you use it again, what does that make me?
-You knew…?
-I know everything about you, Young Lady. After 13 years, I could guess the color of your underwear without even looking.
-What color is it…
-White with bears?
-No. It’s black.
-Oops… Well, at least I got to know the color of your underwear.
Ricardo was laughing.
-Young Lady, it’s time for you to start a new life.
Slowly, the Black Stone taken from Olivia’s hand began to tremble, radiating Pitch-Black Darkness.
Formula. Calculation. Innate Talent for Magic. And even the experience of failing Dark Magic.
Olivia met all the conditions to become the Worst Witch. Furthermore, the Swamp of Emotions dragging her into Darkness was enough to lead her to Fall to Darkness.
-So,
Ricardo hugged Olivia tightly with a Small Smile.
-Let’s stop now.
Ricardo, who had become her shadow, enduring abuse and persecution, bit his lower lip and cried.
His eyes turned red as he tried to hold back his tears, and a Small Tear Drop rolled down Ricardo’s cheek.
With trembling pupils, a Small Light emerged from Ricardo’s hand.
And at that moment.
Ricardo said his farewell to Olivia.
-I hope the memories we shared were happy ones.
-Why are you saying this all of a sudden…?
-I just want to be sentimental today.
-No… Something feels off.
-It’s the same.
-What?
-It was a good life.
Ricardo’s body began to burn away.
Leaving behind the scars that covered his body.
And hiding the scars Yuria never knew about.
With a Small Smile, he finished his farewell.
[The viewing ends.]