Even Though the Gender Ratio Has Changed, My Attempts at Flirting With Women Are Unsuccessful - Chapter 9: The Man Who Wasn't Reincarnated as a Villain Still Knows Too Little

Chapter 9: The Man Who Wasn’t Reincarnated as a Villain Still Knows Too Little

“Is Ark eager to go to the academy… but what does he want to do there?”

Right after finishing magic power enhancement training, Tiana threw that question at me.

“Well, girls—ah!”

“Girls?”

…Oops. My mouth slipped.

No, I didn’t say “playing with girls” yet! Safe, safe… probably.

“Lord Ark?”

Even Sheffy, who was casting a fatigue recovery spell on me, stared at me intently.

Her gaze felt like it was blocking any escape…?

“G… girls in the same class, I want to get along with them!”

I somehow managed to cover it up.

That was close, so close… when someone asks me out of the blue, my desires just slip out.

Because it’s something I’m always thinking about in my head.

“Hmm, that’s it?”

“That’s it… isn’t that the essence of academy life?”

“Is it?”

Tiana tilted her head.

“Getting along with classmates, becoming friends, having fun, hanging out after school… that’s what academy life and youth are all about, right!”

…I got carried away because of my past life memories, but Ark has never been to an academy.

I’ve always lived in the mansion.

Worried about seeming suspicious, I cautiously glanced at Tiana.

“It’s not like I had that kind of experience.”

“Tiana…”

Right, of course.

Since she was always training with me, she probably didn’t have time to hang out with friends.

I suggested cutting back to once a week before, but Tiana firmly refused.

She’s determined to look after me until the end.

What a great childhood friend!

This is because I didn’t do anything cruel to Tiana and changed the original storyline, right?

But I want Tiana to enjoy academy life too.

“Tiana, from now on, I’ll be by your side.”

“Yeah. Can I take that as a proposal?”

“No, you can’t.”

To begin with, I have no intention of making a move on Tiana.

After all, she’s in the villain’s childhood friend position… if I step in carelessly, who knows what kind of doom flag might pop up.

This is so neither Tiana nor I face a bad ending.

So, the villain’s childhood friend is off-limits for playing with girls!

“Lord Ark.”

“Hm?”

Suddenly, Sheffy took a step closer.

“I’ll be the one by your side at the academy, right?”

“Yeah, got it. As my attendant and a dear friend, I’m counting on you!”

“…Friend, huh?”

I thought Sheffy’s face clouded a little.

W-Wait…?

Her mood changed when I said “friend”… but aren’t we still just like that?

Sure, we haven’t spent as much time together as I have with Tiana, but I thought we were getting pretty close.

“Being Ark’s friend alone is something to be honored about. So you can be happy, Sheffy.”

“Why is Lady Tiana the one acting proud? You haven’t moved beyond the childhood friend position either, have you?”

“…”

“…”

Another silent moment.

But actually, we’re all close, so it’s fine.

In times like this, changing the topic works best.

“Let’s all pass the academy entrance exam together!”

I raised my voice cheerfully.

We’re aiming for the advanced division of the magic academy Tiana attends.

It’s said to have one of the highest competitive rates among academies in this country.

Aiming for such a place means, naturally, that elites will gather there.

But I can’t afford to lose!!

“Ark doesn’t need to worry about the exam. You should worry about yourself instead.”

“Lord Ark is quite defenseless. Going to the academy will probably cause a lot of trouble.”

“Yeah, you’re right…”

I nodded deeply at their words.

I’m someone reincarnated as a villain.

That position won’t change even at the academy.

So I can’t let my guard down!

“…He totally doesn’t get it.”

“Indeed. But that’s why we’re here for him.”

“Right. So Sheffy, make sure you pass the exam.”

“Yes. I’m cheering for Lady Tiana to enter as the top student.”

“Yeah, that’ll be more useful.”

Tiana and Sheffy nodded to each other.

See, they’re good friends after all.

◆◆

“Hehe. Ark-kun is super popular, isn’t he?~ No wonder, since he’s so cool!~”

Watching the three of them through a gap in the door was Ark’s mother.

“Young Master Ark has grown into a fine man.”

Standing next to her was an elderly maid who works at an orphanage.

In fact, she served at the mansion until Ark was five.

So… she knows the old Ark well.

“Still, Young Master Ark has changed a lot since back then.”

“Yes, you’re right…”

The two nodded, recalling the past.

“Back then, Ark-kun hated girls and stayed locked in his room all the time. Even with me, his mother, we barely exchanged a word or two a day… It might be common in households with boys, but it’s still lonely when your own child does that…”

“Indeed…”

“But after he turned ten, Ark-kun started talking to people around him on his own and began training his body himself. Then he became more polished and cheerful…”

“It’s great that Young Master Ark changed for the better.”

“Yes. Above all, I’m happy that Ark-kun’s smiles have increased.”

The mother smiled softly… but her face suddenly turned serious.

“…But I have more worries now than before.”

“What… do you mean?”

The mother paused before speaking.

“Because the current Ark-kun… is too attractive. In this world, the gender ratio is 1:9—there are fewer men, which puts them in a dominant position. While many men feel uneasy around women… some take advantage of their position to act rudely or commit wrongs.”

“…Yes. Even the maids in this mansion, in the past, ended up in the orphanage because of such things…”

“But Ark-kun is different. He’s different from any man in this world.”

The mother continued.

“Cool, cheerful, good at giving compliments, approachable… and strong. If a boy like that appeared nearby…”

“If he appeared…?”

“No one would want to let him go… they’d probably feel that way.”

The mother noticed.

The way Tiana and Sheffy look at Ark is different from mere respect.

What kind of irreversible situations await at the academy?

How will the heroines around him build their defenses…?

Either way, this man still knows too little about this 1:9 gender ratio, reverse-chastity world.