I Raised the Villain's Daughter Too Well-Chapter 51: Didn’t Know! -

Even the mana space was entering sunset.

But it was far too red to be called an ordinary sunset. It looked as though someone had slotted a sheet of crimson glass above the sky.

A silent trumpet, signaling the arrival of giants—and that the skirmishes were ending, and the real battlefield was about to begin.

Since it wasn’t a Forbidden Zone, it also meant the exam was nearly over.

“Looks like it’s ending soon. Get up.”

“...I can’t move.” freewebnoveℓ.com

“Told you to leave the rest to me. This is your karma.”

Emily let out a sigh as she watched Virdem nudge the collapsed Arin with his foot from a slight distance.

A butler and a commoner witch. The worst hand possible—and yet, they’d landed cleanly in the top ten squads.

People who didn’t know better would surely think:

“To get such results with those kinds of nobodies—Laurencia is truly amazing!”

Naturally, public opinion about her would shift as well. Her brother would be pleased too—even if she didn’t make first place, ranking this high with such a team would be impressive in itself.

But Emily didn’t feel at ease.

Because she had learned too many things she wasn’t supposed to.

“Haa...”

That strange man.

What was he, really?

She kept her gaze on Virdem, trying to suppress the strange emotions stirring inside her.

‘From what I remember, he is a butler...’

He definitely was. In her childhood memories, he always stood beside Firnea in a butler’s uniform—something about Geminos? He had learned the unique magic passed down by the Head Butlers, so he was certainly a butler.

—If you ignore how ridiculously competent he was.

It hadn’t been a long time. But it had been more than enough to make the proud daughter of Laurencia bend her pride.

History, warfare, magic, swordsmanship... no matter what she brought to the table, she couldn’t confidently say she would win in any of them.

Beaten by a mere butler—when she herself had been called a prodigy since childhood and received elite training.

Why had they passed the exam? Easy. They had two people who could’ve served as team leaders—no, factoring in the raw power of that commoner girl, they had two and a half.

If the exam had less emphasis on competition between cadets—

And if Virdem had actually aimed for first place—

That’s probably how it would’ve turned out.

Which is why she couldn’t truly celebrate.

Because once this exam was over, she’d have to count that man as an enemy.

“Why the long face, Lady Emily? Still bitter about not going after more outposts?”

“...”

As she glared at Virdem, Emily reined in her anger—but suddenly found something odd and decided to ask directly.

“Come to think of it, since when have you been Firnea’s butler?”

“...Excuse me? Where is this coming from?”

“No, it’s just... in my memory, you’ve been her butler for a long time.”

“I took the butler exam when I was ten and passed. I became the young lady’s butler right after, so... nine years ago.”

“You’re nineteen?”

Arin, still lying on the ground, chimed in.

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re younger than me.”

“What? You even know your own age?”

“Yup. Grandma told me ten years ago that I was ten.”

“Huh. Neat.”

“You can call me ‘noona.’”

“Are you insane...”

Virdem nudged Arin with his foot, sending her tumbling back down the hill, then turned to Emily with a slightly puzzled expression.

“So, why did you ask?”

“Oh? You just looked too young.”

“I’m often told I look older than my age, actually...”

“No, I mean for a Head Butler...”

“Excuse me? Why would I be a Head Butler? I have zero interest in that.”

“...?”

Emily was momentarily speechless at the clear distaste in his tone.

Not just because he wasn’t one—but because he didn’t want to be one.

“Wait, you don’t want to be Head Butler?”

“Yes. Even if someone offered it, I wouldn’t want it.”

“Why? So you’re just going to stay a regular butler your whole life?”

“I think there’s some misunderstanding here. I never intended to be a butler for life.”

“...What?? Why?? Is there something you dislike about Seriratus?”

“It’s not like that.”

Virdem spoke as if it were no big deal.

“I owe everything to Seriratus—and to the young lady. The fact that I can even function in this Academy is entirely thanks to them. I have no intention of abandoning them ungratefully. Especially not before I’m absolutely certain she’s safe.”

“Safe...?”

“Yes. The young lady is not safe. The reason she’s kept herself hidden all this time is because the environment around her was too safe.”

Emily looked at him, wondering if he had misspoken—but he hadn’t.

“Does it sound strange? And yet, ever since that incident, no matter how thoroughly I searched, I couldn’t find even a hint of danger in any area she had access to. That, to me, was the most suspicious thing.”

“That is safe, though? You didn’t find anything.”

“No. Even when there’s no clear suspicion, something should always come up. There’s no such thing as a location that is perfectly safe. Unvetted orchestras, high-grade foreign wine—those things must always be flagged as threats. If no trace was left behind, then either someone eliminated them before we noticed... or it was a lure, to draw her out.”

“...”

Emily narrowed her eyes.

Sure, she could believe that Firnea was being targeted...

But this level of loyalty—it was borderline delusional.

Especially when she saw the certainty in Virdem’s eyes.

“If she had gone out, we might have found a clue. But I couldn’t bring myself to wager her life on it. Not when she was so unstable at the time.”

“Then why did you come to the Academy?”

“First, because it’s a place no noble can afford to skip. And second—because now, they’re ready. Both Seriratus and the young lady.”

“And if you find out who’s behind the assassination attempt?”

“By then...”

Virdem looked off toward the distant sky and muttered:

“...Not right away, but I’ll have to start preparing to leave. When that day comes, I’ll have seen too much for a mere butler, and I’ll be too involved. The young lady won’t need me anymore. It’ll be better for both of us if I go.”

“You think you get to make that decision yourself?”

“Haha, usually after ten years, a butler is dismissed. You didn’t know?”

...No way Firnea would ever let you go.

Emily swallowed those words.

“Tch, for a butler who knows so much, you sure run your mouth. You’re telling all this to an enemy like me.”

“None of it is particularly sensitive... Hmm.”

Virdem suddenly gave Emily—arms still crossed—a long, thoughtful look.

“Still, I don’t think I was supposed to tell you. I wonder why I did.”

“...”

“It’s not like we’ve been together long enough to form some grudging fondness—”

He let out a short chuckle and gave Arin, who was climbing back up, another kick, sending her rolling down again. (He must really hate witches.)

“Maybe I just figured you weren’t threatening enough to count as an enemy. My apologies.”

“Ugh...!”

It stung.

The fact that it barely stung at all made it worse.

Humans really are creatures of habit. Even that arrogant tone of his—somehow, she was getting used to it.

I shouldn’t be getting used to this...

For the heiress of Laurencia to be scolded by a butler and not be able to say a word in return—that was clearly the wrong kind of adaptation.

Just like he said, when she saw his infuriating side profile—

Instead of rage or hatred, all she felt was the urge to hit him once.

“Haa...”

All she could do was sigh.

****

As the time came, the mercenary disintegrated into dust, and a small portal opened beside the carriage.

“Please go in first.”

“...Thanks.”

After tossing Emily and Arin in first and using it myself—

We arrived in an empty auditorium, flushed with real sunset light, where Charles greeted us with a miserable expression.

Slumped over, he clapped soullessly and announced our ranking.

“Team Laurencia... 5th place...”

“Ah...!”

Fifth place.

I was surprised, having expected 6th or 7th at best. Emily clasped her hands over her mouth silently, overwhelmed with joy.

Fifth place—despite having a butler and a witch.

This would definitely make a strong impression. For me, whether it was 1st or 10th, it didn’t matter so long as we passed, but for her, this was a dream come true.

“You can go now...”

“Where is everyone else?”

“...Ah, right. You're that one. The butler. I’ve got two messages for you.”

A random comment.

“From whom?”

“From your lady, and the other one who kept insisting I not reveal her identity. What do I look like, some errand boy for nobles? ...Ugh. I mean, I guess I am an errand boy. What can you do—just gotta grovel before Seriratus, right...”

Charles sighed deeply and muttered under his breath.

“Virdem, the cookies—”

“Ah, right. I was supposed to give those. Could you wait outside for a moment? Lady Emily, do as you like.”

“Tch, I don’t need anything from you anymore. Good job!”

Emily hurled the words “good job” like a curse and practically skipped out of the auditorium with joy.

Arin followed after, leaving just Charles and me behind. Charles let out another string of sighs—ughughugh—before explaining.

“Yeah, well, the others? It’d be easier for me to gather everyone all at once too. But the ones who failed get summoned right away in their defeated state—and then they start picking fights. ‘Why did you eliminate me!’ ‘I won’t let this go!’ and so on. That’s why we summon them one at a time, tell them whether they passed or failed, and send them off. They’re all nobles, so once their heads cool off a bit, they realize how petty it would be to throw a fit. Got it? No more questions?”

“I have one more. You look... incredibly upset.”

“Wouldn’t you be!?”

Thud! Charles stomped the ground, tears running freely.

“I didn’t even get to see it ‘cause I was fighting with Professor Luminele, but what the hell happened with the Senfenesia girl? She suddenly changed her plans! From wiping out all the cadets to stopping the moment she secured a spot in the top ten? She can’t do that. She shouldn’t be allowed to do that...”

The part about fighting another professor was hard to make sense of, but I understood he was overwhelmed by having more students to deal with.

Well, at least it had nothing to do with my lady. Not my concern.

“I see. I have nothing more to ask.”

“...Don’t feel like sticking around for two hours to listen to me rant?”

“Would you teach me swordsmanship if I did?”

“No. You’ll learn it later anyway.”

“Then no, thank you.”

A firm refusal.

Charles lowered his head and delivered my lady’s message.

“She said to return the ring as soon as you get out. Not sure what that’s about.”

Sounds just like Firnea.

I sighed and reached for the ring—but instinctively caught the paper airplane Charles threw at me.

...Because my body had registered it as a threat to my life.

Why would he channel throwing technique into a paper airplane? I grimaced and asked:

“What ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) is this?”

“A note. Another noble lady asked me to deliver it.”

“Another lady... Hmm.”

Lariel?

Olvesia?

I must’ve looked confused, because Charles grinned mischievously and teased me.

“A love letter, maybe? Like, ‘Come meet me at midnight~’? Maybe she fell for you ‘cause you fought so well.”

“As if...”

What kind of grade school logic is that—falling for someone just because they did well on a test?

I shot Charles a glare and unfolded the letter—

[Hello. I fell in love with you at first sight. Please date me with marriage in mind. If you’re even a little interested, come to the sparring grounds beside the Academy’s front gate by midnight. If you show up, that means we’re dating, okay?]

It was a love letter.

“...”

I stared blankly at the letter, flipping it front and back.

No mistake.

Charles saw my expression and whispered in shock:

“W-Wait. It’s a real love letter?”

“Professor.”

“...Yeah?”

Clenching my teeth and sweating coldly, I asked:

“Who sent this?”

“Can’t say~ She begged me not to. Come on, how could I betray that trust?”

“...”

“But if it is a real love letter, your life might be about to change, you know? You’d be shocked if you knew who she was. She’s seriously incredible~”

Charles snickered with a smug grin.

Unbelievable that this man was a professor—but now wasn’t the time to care about that.

I’m a grown man. Getting a love letter shouldn’t shake me this much.

Except—

If that letter was written in Hangul...

That changes everything.

“...Guess I’ll have to see who it is.”

I muttered as I crumpled the letter and stuffed it into my pocket.

Charles noticed the shift in my expression—how grim it had become—and spoke with a slight frown, sounding genuinely worried.

“Uh, Virdem?”

“Have you decided to tell me who sent it?”

“No, it’s just... I get that you’re excited and all, but you really should use protection.”

“...Thank you for that sound advice. It will be both flesh and bone to me.”

“No, I mean don’t make any flesh and bone!”

If only it weren’t from an actual dragonslayer...