Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Villain's Maid
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All humans are born with their own unique individuality from the moment of their birth.
Individuality is, in essence, the user's mental image.
A manifestation of their justice, values, and desires made real.
The former Everlin—no, Experiment Alpha-001—her individuality 'Black Flame' existed solely for destruction.
A flame of utter nihility that annihilated everything. Back then, she had no purpose, no values.
But now, things were different.
Her encounter with Grimoire had transformed her very existence. She was no longer anyone's tool. She had become an independent being, complete with her own will and values.
Protecting Grimoire.
Safeguarding Grimoire's happiness.
Building the world Grimoire desires.
This had become Everlin's new reason for being.
And Black Flame had evolved to match.
'For Master to be happy... his daily life needs a diligent maid like me.'
A powerful conviction surged within Everlin.
'If I get hurt, Master will grieve. I cannot allow that.'
Black Flame was no longer an uncontrollable blaze of destruction. It had become a tool that perfectly embodied Everlin's will.
"Complete control over Black Flame...? That's impossible! Even countless alchemists of the Hermetic Order abandoned any hope of wielding that power!!"
The final chain melted away, and Everlin was at last free. She slowly straightened her posture.
"I've gathered plenty of information. Anything new to share?"
Her words made Lazar's eyes bulge wide.
"You don't mean... you did this on purpose from the start...?"
"I needed the latest intel on the Hermetic Order. You... fell for it far too easily. Thank you."
Only then did Lazar realize the truth. All along, Everlin had been pretending to be captured just to extract information from the Hermetic Order.
Solomon's Chains, the secrets of Ether, even internal details on the Grand Sage Council. Everlin had successfully pulled every core piece of enemy intelligence.
"How dare you deceive me!!"
Lazar pounded his chest. Suddenly, even more Ether erupted from his body. Blue light enveloped him entirely, warping his form. His mechanical parts corroded under the Ether's assault, reshaping into something far more powerful.
"I don't know what trick you pulled, but do you think you can win? Behold! My true form! I am the grand alchemist who perfected Ars Magna!"
Lazar's right arm mutated completely into a massive Ether cannon. His left arm sharpened into an Ether blade. From his back, multiple mechanical tentacles twisted into razor-edged forms.
Black Flame reignited in Everlin's hand. Black fire wrapped around her body. The flames traced graceful curves from her shoulders all the way to her toes.
With every breath in, they blazed fiercer. With every breath out, they refined into more delicate shapes.
A colossal shadow loomed behind her back. The flames swelled, taking form.
At last, black wings unfurled.
Black Wings—enormous appendages forged from Black Flame, too vast and alien for human eyes to fully comprehend.
Shiiiik—!
One wing fluttered lightly.
In that instant, Lazar's left arm disintegrated. The Ether blade scattered like dust across the floor.
"This... this is impossible!"
Lazar unleashed his right arm's Ether cannon. A torrent of blue light roared toward Everlin.
But the beam withered the moment it touched the Black Wings. Swallowed whole, like light into a bottomless abyss.
Even the Hermetic Order's cutting-edge technology was impotent against Black Flame's overwhelming might.
The blue energy broke down in sequence.
Ether into fire,
fire into air,
air into water,
water into earth,
and finally, into ash.
"Stop! Don't come any closer! I said stop!"
Everlin took a step forward. Then another.
"You tried to turn Master into a monster, but he chose the villain's path for himself."
"He's no monster! We sought to create a god! A new king worthy of a new world!"
"Master must grow freely—in the world, not caged in your iron bars. And of course, that world will have me, Everlin, right by his side."
The mechanical tentacles lashed out in desperation, but all six vanished in a blink.
Lazar's body began crumbling in earnest. From his feet to his thighs, then his waist. Mechanical components melted away one by one.
Kiiik—
Upper body alone now, Dr. Lazar crawled across the floor in a bid to flee. Sparks flew ceaselessly from his ruined machinery.
"This is an error! A glitch! Every calculation... every prediction... You weren't supposed to have emotions!"
Everlin tilted her head slowly. No hatred burned in her eyes for Lazar. No anger.
He had never held any value to her, from start to finish.
"Then explain it."
Her voice was soft.
"Why my chest warms whenever I see Master."
"Why it tears me apart inside whenever Master is sad."
"And why I feel truly alive every time Master smiles."
Lazar gaped at Everlin, utterly speechless.
"I decide my own purpose."
Everlin declared firmly.
"And that purpose is one thing alone—to protect Master's happiness."
"What... what have you become?"
Lazar's voice had dwindled to a whisper, barely audible. His body was nearly liquefied, formless.
Everlin smiled coldly.
"A maid."
One word. In that single word lay her entire identity, her resolve, every choice she'd made.
"Wait! I... I can help! Every secret of the Hermetic Order, every research file, I'll tell you—"
Lazar's plea cut off unfinished. Black Wings engulfed him, reducing his body to ash in an instant.
The factory returned to silence. The Cherubim were gone. So was Lazar.
Now, it was time to clean up.
Her Black Flame wings stretched over ten meters, filling the factory's interior.
Every scrap of evidence, every piece of equipment, alchemical apparatus, and experimental tool touched by the black fire turned to ash.
Whoosh—!
Not destruction, but purification. It erased every trace of the inhuman experiments conducted here.
The Black Flame's darkness gradually dimmed, condensing into a tiny ember. She cradled it gently between her palms.
Everlin withdrew Black Flame. The black fire obediently retreated into her hand.
Moonlight filtered through cracks in the ceiling. Everlin's silhouette, standing alone in the empty factory, cast a long shadow.
Everlin left the factory behind. The night air chilled her skin, but her heart burned warm.
'Time to go home. To our house.'
She turned toward Crown Villa.
Her steps quickened. She could deny it all she wanted, but her heart overflowed with longing to see Grimoire.
The villa came into view, and a smile curved Everlin's lips.
This was her home. Where Grimoire was. Where she could be a maid.
At the entrance, Darkness and White King awaited her. The two rats squeaked joyfully at the sight of her, as if celebrating her triumph.
The rats clutched a long sheet of paper between them. A makeshift placard, hastily thrown together.
[☆Congrats☆ Mission Complete ☆Congrats☆]
Squeak—!
"Shh."
Everlin pressed a finger to her lips. The rats fell instantly silent.
"I merely did some cleaning, as a proper maid should."
She stepped inside. Room 301's familiar warmth welcomed her.
Everlin changed into light sleepwear, tucking the black suit deep into the closet.
She eased open Grimoire's door.
There she was, clutching a rabbit doll tight, sleeping soundly.
Moonlight spilled through the window, gilding Grimoire's silver hair and tiny horns.
Peaceful breaths, eyelids twitching now and then as if dreaming, lips murmuring softly.
Just looking at Grimoire's face melted away all weariness.
"This Everlin will protect your happiness."
In that moment, a smile unlike any other bloomed on Everlin's face.
Not her usual composed, prim expression—but one brimming with heartfelt warmth from the depths of her soul.
Everlin's everyday face was always refined. Prim and proper, the picture of a perfect maid devoted to her master.
Yet right now, beholding Grimoire's sleeping visage, it was something else entirely.
The smile on Everlin's lips was delicate and pure, like petals unfurling in spring after a harsh winter.
A beauty no gem, no masterpiece could rival.
Why, then, did Everlin—with such a radiant smile—never show it before Grimoire?
The reason was simple, surprisingly so.
'Because... it's embarrassing.'
Everlin chuckled softly, drawing the blanket up over Grimoire.
No one needed to know what happened tonight. A true guardian lingered in the shadows.
Grimoire could keep dreaming her innocent villain dreams.
"Good night, Master."