The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen - Chapter 177

Chapter 177 – The Will You Hold in Your Sword (2)

On the way back home after finishing training.

Walking through the quiet night in the capital, I found myself lost in thought.

‘I wonder if they are doing well.’

Rowen and Michail hadn’t come to the training ground since that day. Whether they were keeping their training secret or avoiding attention, I didn’t know, but since that day, neither Rowen nor Michail had visited the training ground.

I suppose it’s fortunate.

If Rowen and Michail had used the training ground as their base, we would have had to vacate it.

There was no place as comfortable as the Academy’s training ground.

It was relatively free from people’s attention late at night, could match time with Hanna who had to attend classes, and was filled with training equipment that wouldn’t have otherwise been available outside the Academy.

Finding a new training space would have taken time, so I was actually grateful that Rowen and Michail vacated the place.

Seeing uncomfortable faces wouldn’t have been good for either of us. If we had stayed in the same place, a fight would surely have broken out.

Neither Hanna nor I had a good relationship with them, so I considered it a relief that we didn’t have to face them often.

What concerned me more was wondering what strategy they would come up with.

Would they refine their aura like Hanna and I, or would they focus on basic swordsmanship? I couldn’t grasp it.

If I were Michail’s teacher, I would have made him change that damn sword first, but I didn’t know what approach Rowen would take.

Rowen must have noticed Michail’s problem. A large sword that didn’t fit his physique. An attack style that didn’t utilize his agility. Lastly, an overly defensive swordsmanship that was a poison to Michail. The Empire’s Sword couldn’t possibly be unaware of these issues.

“Hmm…”

But I also knew Michail wasn’t the type to just nod and accept whatever others told him.

In the novel, Michail only started to change after his sword, imbued with many memories, broke.

I was worried about how Rowen would teach Michail, and at the same time, I couldn’t understand what direction Michail would take with Rowen’s guidance.

It’s an episode that doesn’t appear in the novel, and since it’s a fight between the father and daughter, information was limited.

As a teacher, it’s natural to keep an eye on the enemy’s movements, but knowing that the opponent wasn’t someone to be taken lightly, I couldn’t make predictions recklessly.

When it comes to swordsmanship, it’s an undeniable reality that Rowen is a better teacher than I am. The weight of the years he’s spent with his sword and the history of the sword honed by his lineage spoke to his superiority. Comparisons would be inevitable for a humble swordsman.

The weight of Histania’s history, spanning hundreds of years, compared to my own, who has only wielded the sword for twenty years, is laughable to even think about matching.

There were too many variables.

Rowen as teacher.

Michail’s talent.

There were too many things to watch out for.

Rowen choosing Michail was solely due to his talent. He probably took him in as a disciple for that reason alone. Hmm…

In the novel, their master-disciple relationship started with a deeper and warmer connection, but now, what linked Michail and Rowen was more practical feelings than bonds. That is, it was likely due to the need to manifest better talent.

So it concerned and drew my attention even more. Because I didn’t know to what extent Rowen would teach Michail.

I worried that Rowen might teach Michail some secret techniques handed down in the family, like a madman, and if Rowen taught Michail the swordsmanship reserved only for direct blood relatives of Histania, it would be a disaster of its own.

Although there’s no precise description in the novel, Histania’s swordsmanship was recognized as the strongest by the author, so it’s a lie to say I wasn’t worried.

In the novel, Michail learns Histania’s swordsmanship from Rowen. Shocked by the loss of his sibling, Malik wandered and didn’t meet Rowen’s expectations. Although he recovered later, it was after he had fallen out of Rowen’s favor.

In the novel, Michail combined his swordsmanship with Histania’s sword and created a new sword technique, which he proved to Rowen.

What worried me was the possibility of Michail reaching that level. If Michail grows without limitation under Rowen’s endless guidance, frankly, the result of the duel would become unpredictable from that moment on.

To protect the family’s secret techniques.

Or to sever ties with his daughter.

The choice was Rowen’s to make, but whatever he chose, there would be little benefit.

I couldn’t understand why Rowen would make such a big deal out of it.

As someone who claims to love his daughter, I couldn’t understand why he would stand in the way of what she wanted to do.

Although it’s not something I need to concern myself with.

Nothing would change no matter how much I worried, and there was nothing I could do, so I decided to focus solely on Hanna’s growth.

The wind blows.

I don’t know who it will favor, but it’s a wind that touches both me and Hanna.

I am confident.

That Hanna can defeat Michail.

Though my belief as a teacher was strong, in terms of visible skills and realistic results, Hanna was ahead of Michail.

Her desire for the sword.

Choosing the right sword for herself.

Knowing her strengths.

It was clear that she was ahead of Michail. I believed Rowen was aware of this fact too.

I didn’t know what Rowen had prepared, but I hoped he had prepared something less than we expected.

It would be better for both sides if we won overwhelmingly.

Michail could be provoked.

We could firmly crush Rowen’s pride.

I hoped their preparations were lacking compared to ours.

Walking through the night streets of the capital, I continuously organized what I needed to teach Hanna in my mind.

Sorting out Hanna’s problems and strengths in my head, I slowly walked under the streetlights of the capital.

From the opposite side, I began to see a familiar figure approaching.

With a tired stride, the boy coming from the opposite direction made me pause and stand still as I watched him approach blankly.

‘Hanna would be very angry.’

Seeing the boy walking while looking at the ground with a familiar step, I clenched my fist slightly.

It looked like preparations would be ample.

It seemed that Rowen had sharpened his sword significantly. The direction from which Michail was coming was where the training ground reserved for direct blood relatives of Histania was located.

There wasn’t anything particularly special there.

It was overwhelmingly better than other facilities.

It had complex magic that allowed for quick recovery. It was a closed space.

Just one thing.

Knowing that leaving that place meant rapid growth made me bitterly smile.

I looked ahead at the boy and murmured softly.

‘Michail.’

With silver hair illuminated by the streetlight, Michail approached. Michail, who hadn’t noticed I was there, continued to walk towards the Academy dormitory repeatedly.

I took my hand out of my pocket and waited for him to arrive.

I had something to say.

It wasn’t anything significant, just a light question, so I waited quietly as I watched him approach.

As Michail’s approaching footsteps gradually grew louder, feeling the presence, Michail looked up calmly and noticed me.

“You…”

“Yes, it’s me.”

As soon as Michail saw me, his hand reached for the handle of his sword.

To my disappointment.

*

Three days ago.

Michail had followed Histania Rowen to arrive at an empty training ground.

At a training ground equipped with excellent facilities.
A place where just being inside made one feel stronger.

Rowen, who had unintentionally brought Michail into a duel, drew a wooden sword and spoke one-sidedly, not with warm words but with the tone of someone discussing business.

-I told you before, but I have no intention of teaching you Histania’s swordsmanship.

“…”
-The reason I brought you here is so you can grow a little faster. If you had any strange expectations…

-I didn’t have any such thoughts. I believe I am receiving more than enough consideration just by having you teach me.

-…

Before starting the formal training.

Holding a wooden sword, Rowen spoke to Michail. Rowen’s voice, spreading with a slightly softer tone, carried a fundamental question.

-What kind of mindset do you have when you wield your sword?

-I…

Michail couldn’t answer Rowen’s question.

End of Chapter