Villain Family’s Strongest Butler - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 10

“Hmph, do as you please.”
With that permission to drop formalities, the Grand Duke’s Residence opened itself for a second, broader exploration.
At first, I was made to memorize the labyrinthine corridors and layout of the Main Building; by afternoon, the locations of the Annex Buildings behind it.
Dragged along in such a daze, the day slipped away before I knew it.
A low growl rumbled from my stomach, demanding sustenance.
Norbert, walking ahead, glanced back at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
“It’s been barely two hours since dinner.”
“You’ve been dragging me around all day, haven’t you?”
He muttered that two hours was more than enough time for digestion.
Norbert shot me a look, then clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He didn’t seem to care much for me calling him my master.
‘Of course not. Until recently, we were ready to kill or be killed.’
Add to that my unknown origins and lost memories.
‘No wonder he wouldn’t enjoy being called master by someone so full of questions.’
Still, making a fuss over food seemed rather petty of him.
I kept pace with him while glaring daggers at the back of his head.
“The fifth floor of the Main Building is a Restricted Area—don’t even think of going up there.”
“What’s up there?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Very well.”
I answered plainly.
Whatever lay in that Restricted Area, I couldn’t have sneaked in even if I’d wanted to—not in my current state.
After that final warning, Norbert and I slipped out through the back entrance of the Main Building.
Before us, several Annex Buildings arranged in harmonious symmetry filled my vision.
As night fell and lamps illuminated the Annexes, the vista took on a beauty altogether different from what I’d seen in daylight.
The landscape was grand and beautiful enough to remind one of a small town.
‘I have to admit—this Grand Duke is impressive.’
It wasn’t just the scale of the Main Building and Annexes.
‘That’s only part of it.’
Touring the Grand Duke’s Residence in Norbert’s wake today, I’d come to understand something.
Despite intrusions so frequent that dozens of servants had died, not a trace of unease could be felt among the Residence’s employees.
In the conversations passing between them ran a subtle undercurrent of concern for their master, the Grand Duke.
‘It speaks to the depth of loyalty and trust his employees hold for him.’
And then there were the documents piled high on desks.
A lord who ignores the voices of his Territory’s people doesn’t bury himself in paperwork.
‘At the very least, the Grand Duke is a lord who hears his people directly.’
I’d heard the Grand Duke’s Territory of the Cadea Empire rivaled the capital in size.
‘And despite his dark reputation, he commands many loyal retainers.’
The Contract that Norbert had presented to me—I’d been struck not by any unreasonable clauses, but by the generous wages and diverse benefits.
All these facts pointed to one thing: the Territory’s finances were managed with prosperity and care.
The Grand Duke possessed not only the ability of a commander in the field, but also the skill of a Territory’s lord.
‘Yes. Though it’s been only one day, I felt it clearly.’
Ballot, the Grand Duke, came from an entirely different world than I did—a man who’d wielded nothing but a sword beneath the Crown Prince.
‘He’s no mere fool swinging steel mindlessly.’
Credit must be given where it’s due.
And vigilance toward the Grand Duke must not be relaxed.
‘Indeed, if left alive, he poses a threat to our Tenasis Empire.’
An enemy remains an enemy.
This war would end only when one of us was dead, when one of the two Empires knelt in defeat.
‘When I regain my strength……’
I recalled the plan I’d conceived early on and then abandoned.
‘When all is said and done, once I’ve recovered, I’ll take the Grand Duke’s head back to the Tenasis Empire.’
The Grand Duke’s full strength was surely greater than this.
‘Serhin was Crown Prince, yet secretly raised a private army in another Territory without the Emperor’s knowledge.’
There was no reason the Grand Duke couldn’t do the same.
Besides, Serhin had clandestinely established an assassination organization.
I was the leader of that assassination organization.
The Ariad Assassination Unit.
“Serhin. What does ‘Sia’ mean?”
When I asked why he’d given me the name Sia, Serhin answered coolly.
“Shadow. From now on, you’ll live as a blade within my shadow. ……For your entire life.”
And so Serhin raised me to be both the Crown Prince’s bodyguard and the leader of a secret assassination unit.
The unit’s numbers were small, but each member possessed lethal skill.
Yet.
‘Even they failed every mission to bring back the Grand Duke’s head.’
Perhaps the assassins Serhin had sent played a part in the deaths of the Grand Duke’s Residence staff.
From the start, crossing the border and entering Cadea Empire territory was difficult.
On top of that, I had to slip into the mansion of the Grand Duke, located in the northernmost reaches of Cadea.
It was no easy feat.
‘In that sense, I’ve stumbled onto the best opportunity.’
Which meant I had to regain my strength from my prime as quickly as possible.
Pondering how I might deal with the Grand Duke in the future, I followed Norbert toward the western Annex Buildings where the employee quarters were located.
When we reached the entrance to the employee annex, Norbert turned to me and spoke.
“Today’s duties end here. You’re welcome to return to your quarters and rest now.”
It was a welcome sound.
“Is today’s work completely finished, then?”
At my question, Norbert nodded.
“That’s right. On days without special events like today, most duties are concluded by this hour.”
“Most?”
“The Blacksmith Workshop in the Annex Buildings operates day and night in shifts, the Knight Order stands watch in rotation as well, and the Kitchen in the Main Building must prepare materials for the next day’s meals, so their work ends late.”
“I see.”
At Norbert’s explanation, I thought to myself.
‘I need to avoid being assigned to the kitchen at all costs.’
If I were assigned there, I wouldn’t have time to train.
Norbert spoke.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Norbert turned to leave. I quickly called out to him.
“Master.”
When I spoke in a lowered voice, Norbert turned his half-turned body back around and looked at me.
“Might I ask one favor?”
“A favor?”
I spoke carefully.
“Would it be permissible for me to use the Training Ground after my work hours are finished?”
At that, one of Norbert’s eyebrows twitched, and his already sharp eyes narrowed further.
“The Training Ground is closed when it’s not the Knight Order’s training time. Of course, another employee using it for private purposes is out of the question.”
“Ah, I see. As I thought.”
It was what I’d expected. The Training Ground was directly connected to the Knight Order.
There was no way they’d open it to someone of unknown identity.
“But what is your reason for wanting to use the Training Ground?”
Yes, this was it.
I’d been waiting for this question. And I answered honestly.
“To build up my physical stamina.”
…….
“I hate to admit it, but following you around today made me realize my stamina is significantly worse than that of an elderly master like yourself.”
I added shrewdly that using the Training Ground seemed the most efficient way to build my strength in a short time.
As Norbert listened quietly to my words, his brow furrowed slightly.
“Physical stamina training, is it? It seems this employee found today’s work rather amusing.”
Hmm? I raised one eyebrow.
“No, Master. I think there’s been a misunderstanding. The stamina training is simply a personal necessity for me, not because I think lightly of employee duties—”
“That’s enough.”
Norbert cut off my words.
It seemed he was under the impression that I took employee duties lightly.
‘Take them lightly? That’s hardly the case.’
If anything, I was drained of all energy.
‘And I certainly won’t tell him I nearly collapsed following him around.’
Besides, the Training Ground wasn’t really my goal.
I had intended to gather information by running around the Grand Duke’s Residence during off-hours under the pretense of physical training, but it seemed I’d created a misunderstanding instead.
‘I’ll have to scout a different location…….’
Then, just then.
“Good.”
“……What?”
Good?
As I turned to him with a puzzled expression, Norbert curled one corner of his mouth and smiled thinly.
“I’ve had a book sent to your room already. It contains the very basics that any employee of the Grand Duke’s household ought to know.”
“…….”
“Memorize every word of that book by this time tomorrow. If you succeed in that task, then the Training Ground, or rather…….”
Norbert fell silent for a moment, his head tilting thoughtfully.
“Yes, that would be better.”
Still muttering to himself, he fixed his gaze on me once more.
“I’ll have a private training ground built for you — one where you’ll have no chance of running into the Knight Order.”
My heart leaped. A private training ground?!
There was no need to deliberate. A space where I could concentrate on training without anyone’s interference, without worrying about prying eyes — this was a windfall.
Without hesitation, I answered swiftly.
“I accept.”
“You’re saying you can do it?”
I nodded firmly.
“By this time tomorrow, I’ll give you an answer that satisfies you, Master. In return, you must keep your promise — about the private training ground.”
“Of course. I’m not a man who speaks out of both sides of his mouth.”
Norbert’s reply was just as resolute.
After parting from Norbert, I hurried back to my quarters.
‘A private training ground. What a stroke of luck.’
That book — I’d memorize it even if it were five copies, ten copies, any amount at all!
Burning with determination, I stepped into my room and caught sight of a single volume resting on my desk, letting out a soft murmur.
“This old man really…….”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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