The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Chapter 34: Discovered Secret (1)

A week had passed since Yuria left.

The empire is now buzzing with adventurers flocking to Hamel because of the unidentified dungeon discovered there.

Hearing news of a dungeon in Hamel, adventurers began arriving with dreams of striking it rich.

Adventurers heading to the bustling area passed between the mansion's walls, and we watched them absentmindedly.

-Surely it's an unidentified dungeon, right? Just need one solid artifact to come my way, please.

-Damn it. Like that’s going to happen? You should have prayed at the church like I did.

-Give me a break, fool. You should quit gambling.

I watched the backs of the adventurers leaving with hope and muttered softly.

"Pfft."

***

The quiet second floor, in the lady's room.

The lady frowned at the old bundle placed on the bed.

"Is this what Ricardo called the 4D pocket?"

"Yes."

An old bundle with patchy stitching.

As the lady poked it with her finger, the clear sound of coins jingling came from within.

"Ooh…!"

The lady nodded her head.

"A pouch that grants wishes!"

"That's right. This is a 4D pocket that can grant any wish."

Eyes wide, the lady focused all her attention on the old bundle. She hesitated to touch it as if it were a sacred relic, looking to me for salvation.

"Can I use this to conquer the world?"

"Do you want to?"

"Mhm."

Taken aback by such an unexpected answer, I quickly shifted my gaze.

The lady asked again.

"Is it possible?"

"Well, that’s a bit…"

"What? Then…"

The lady’s interest waned and with an "Ugh," she hit the bundle, sending a stream of glittering gold coins pouring out.

The lady pointed at the coins with her finger, her face asking what in the world was going on.

"Treasure?"

I nodded.

"Treasure."

The treasures in the bundle were gathered during our 2-night, 3-day exploration of the dusty dungeon, a week ago.

The treasures that adventurers dreamt of striking rich with were now inside this worn-out bundle.

Overwhelmed with amazement, the lady’s hands trembled.

"I can… grant my wish."

"With that amount, hardly."

"Not enough?"

"Yes."

"Still, it’s great."

Smiling, the lady began placing the gold coins against her chest as if she were a bank robber scooping money into a bag. Observing the lady swiftly moving her hands, I asked.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving."

"Over there?"

The lady nodded.

I took pleasure in seeing the lady develop such a strange habit, my eyes feasting on the spectacle.

‘Perhaps… this is better.'

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I began to pull out items from the bundle, brought from the dungeon.

"Ooh…!"

As one dazzling item after another was lined up on the bed, the lady’s eyes rounded in excitement, her hands clapping.

"Do you see this?"

A bracelet fashioned from gold, a golden goblet, and more. The lady felt dizzy among the brilliant array of treasures, dazzling enough to blind, and she placed her hand on her forehead, staggering.

"Oh no… I feel like I’m going to go blind."

I shrugged, as if it were no big deal.

"This is the extent of our wealth."

"Are we no longer poor?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

The lady looked at me incredulously as though she couldn't believe it.

Today, she looked at me with an expression of pride I had seldom seen; it was so rare that my face flushed red.

The lady raised her thumb.

With a refreshing smile, she threw me the highest praise.

"I’m proud of you!"

I scratched the back of my head and blushed.

"I know."

Riding high on the lady's praise, I continued to pull out the remaining items.

────────────────

Mana Potion [A]

◈If consumed by an individual with a mana stat of ‘+30' or less, their mana stat will increase by ‘+10'.

────────────────

This gift is for Malik.

Thinking of Malik, who should be awakening his aura soon, I brought this treasure from the dungeon.

Aura is notorious for its poor ‘fuel efficiency.'

For a swordsman, mana serves as a means to cast auxiliary magic spells that require relatively less mana, such as physical strengthening spells. However, after awakening to aura, one needs to focus on increasing the overall amount of mana to rival that of magicians.

For Malik, mana is not just a useful stat to have, but an essential one that must be increased.

If even a small amount of total mana increases, it allows for one more sword-energy attack, which can lead to victory in battle, so there was a high possibility that Malik was looking for this kind of elixir.

If the elixir, safely packed, arrives for Malik, perhaps he will visit the mansion.

Such is the value of this expensive elixir, with a worth that cannot be quantified in money.

If Malik comes to our house, I should ask him for a few "Forest Friend" meal vouchers.

I set aside the elixir and grabbed a sword that was sticking out conspicuously from the bundle.

A white-sheathed sword enveloping the blade.

────────────────

Beginner's Sword [A+]

◈Intended for novices who have just awakened to aura. Crafted from a special material that allows for more efficient use of mana when using aura.

[Efficiency’s Reward]

Reduces aura mana consumption by 10%.

[Beginner’s Blessing]

Allows one use of aura-infused sword-energy attack when out of mana. (Once per day)

────────────────

This sword is a gift intended for Hanna.

The last time we parted ways, I had vowed to myself to give her a gift. It was the sword Michail used up to the middle of the novel.

I lifted the sword to check it.

A sword too light and with a blade too short for my use.

Though it felt a bit regretful to gift away a sword with a dignified design and two additional capabilities, it just didn’t suit my hand. More importantly, it was more suitable for Hanna, a woman, than me.

As for Michail, there's no need to worry about such a talented guy; he will grow on his own without such things.

He was not particularly attached to equipment and had exceptional talent, so it would be fair for him to start with such a handicap.

After setting aside the gifts meant for the Histania siblings, I felt an intense gaze upon me.

-Glaringly…

Though pretending to be uninterested, the lady’s blatant stare was fixed on the bundle, awaiting her gift.

"…"

An expectant gaze, full of hope.

When I playfully avoided the lady's gaze, I could hear her sigh in disappointment.

‘I would have been in trouble if I hadn’t prepared something separate.'

Anticipating this moment and thinking of the lady, I had set aside a special gift. With an awkward smile, I pulled out a necklace from the old bundle.

I wasn’t sure if she would like it.

"This is a gift for you, my lady."

A necklace with a golden frame and a red gemstone inlaid.

Upon seeing the necklace, the lady's eyes widened, and she was delighted.

"Ex…ex…expensive-looking."

"It is expensive."

"Ooooooh…."

The lady admired the necklace's radiant beauty as she held it up to the sunlight.

Turning it left, flipping it upside down, and even going as far as to bite it. At that, I said,

"It's dirty."

"Gold isn't dirty."

"What nonsensical thing are you saying?"

"Ricardo, my mother used to say that things that shine are always right."

Indeed.

I nodded. Surely things that glitter are always right, whether it's gold coins or gold and even the chocolat…

Anyway.

The lady was right in her saying, but biting into a necklace brought from a dusty dungeon was anything but clean.

Monsters might have played with it in the dungeon, or the original owner might have used it filthily.

I quickly snatched the necklace from the lady's hand and wiped off the dust with a white handkerchief.

"In any case, it's dirty."

"No, it isn't."

"Look here."

I showed the lady how the handkerchief was blackened with grime.

"Ew."

The lady frowned.

After rinsing her mouth with water and keeping her focus on the necklace, she inquired,

"How much would this fetch if sold?"

"The necklace, you mean?"

Eagerly asking the price right upon receiving it, the lady revealed her materialistic side, fitting that of a noblewoman.

I thoughtfully considered the lady's question. Wanting to impress, I mixed a little truth with falsehood in my response.

‘Since it’s an artifact from the dungeon, perhaps…'

"It must be worth 100,000 gold, I suppose?"

"Eeek…! That much?"

"Would it not be?"

Hearing the price, the lady looked at the necklace adoringly.

"I really like this."

"I'm glad you like it."

The lady seemed to contemplate.

"Is it okay to give me something so valuable?"

"You used to wear even more costly things."

"Still… this is valuable. Seems like it could buy ten years’ worth of beef?"

Having gained a proper sense of economy after once becoming impoverished, the lady’s sense of financial responsibility impressed me, but I had already designated her as the true owner of the necklace when I saw it in the dungeon.

"It's fine. It suits you."

"Really? Does it look good?"

"Yes. I thought you were a goddess."

"Hehe…"

The lady smiled happily.

Having cleaned all the tarnish, I placed the necklace around the lady's neck.

It matched perfectly with her pale neck. It was, of course, an easy compliment since she was naturally beautiful, but seeing the lady look so harmonious with the necklace made me smile with pride.

‘I really did well bringing it.'

────────────────

Promised Necklace [A+]

◈A necklace given by a conscripted man to his beloved wife as they parted for war.

[Let's Meet Again]

If the necklace chain breaks, the wearer swaps places with the giver. (Once)

────────────────

This artifact, though not appearing in the novel, had a good ability, so I brought it.

Seeing that the lady liked it made me feel delighted too.

In a moment of distraction.

-Rustle… Rustle…

The lady was already rummaging inside the bundle.

Was my gift not enough for her?

As she buried her face into the dusty bundle, a feeling of slight annoyance made me block the opening of the bundle.

"Eeeeeek…!"

"Ricardo…! The bundle is eating me!"

The lady struggled.

"Eeeek."

Before she could swear out loud, I opened the blocked entrance of the bundle.

The lady, covered in dust, glared at me sharply.

"Ugh…."

Seeing the dust matted in her hair, I turned my gaze to the window, whistling.

"It looks like the bundle monster found you quite tasty."

"No, it's a lie. It was Ricardo."

"Was it obvious?"

"Yeah."

After a moment of silence, the lady reached out her arm to me energetically, seemingly about to throw a gold coin she’d picked from the bundle.

"Such a feeble attack won't…"

I turned my head to dodge, but instead of throwing the coin, the lady grabbed my wrist. She then offered me a gold bracelet she had taken from the bundle.

The lady said to me with a cheerful smile,

"This is for Ricardo."

"For me, you say?"

"Yes."

The lady smiled brightly. Covered in dust, her face showed an innocent smile, which oddly touched my heart.

The lady took my right wrist.

Just as she was about to personally fasten the bracelet on me, she paused and tensed up.

"Ricardo."

"Yes?"

The lady looked at my right sleeve and spoke.

I noticed a question mark in my mind as she gazed at me with eyes full of reproach, not understanding the reason.

"You've wrapped your hand in bandages?"

"Ah…"

I replied with an awkward smile,

"You said you didn’t like tattoos."

The lady decisively said,

"I've come to like them now."

"I'm embarrassed, though."

The lady told me,

"You’re mean."

And so, I was scorned again today.