I Reincarnated as a Mob Villain in a Game World I Had Been Playing~ Using My Knowledge of the Game, I Lived a Carefree Life but for Some Reason I Became Famous Everywhere~ - Chapter 14 - Reunion ①

Chapter 14 – Reunion ①

After spending some time in the branch manager’s office…

“Um… Thank you for all your help.”

“No. By all means.”

“Ah, yeah…”

The man who had descended the stairs and returned to the ground floor was seen off by the muscular branch manager, Garagh, under the gaze of the assembled treasure hunters and receptionists…

The man swore to Kai as soon as he left the Association. 

I’ll never go there again…

Because he was interested in the Association he used every day when he was playing FF, he decided to check it out.

Visiting for that reason, he ended up receiving a completely unexpected baptism that would never happen in the game.

The treasure hunters in the Association glared at him with murderous eyes.

And not just from one person, but from almost everyone.

The man was thankful that he was not attacked, but if he had been, he would have been shaking in his boots.

It was such a scary place in real life…

After this experience, it was firmly imprinted in his brain.

‘Don’t go anywhere dangerous. Put that self-defense to work.’

I mean, I don’t remember the branch manager being like that…

He was terrified, but it was also a big surprise.

After reincarnating in this world, he met a “familiar character” for the first time.

But there was something wrong.

Garagh, who had been as rough-tongued as he looked in the game, somehow did not fit that description this time around. 

W-Well, I guess these things happen…? I didn’t even understand why I was being led to the branch manager’s office…

The man honestly didn’t understand why he was treated like a VIP.

But if the manager was trying to help in that situation… The man couldn’t be more thankful.

Although he was trying to fool everyone around and blend into the Association, he wanted to escape from the menacing gazes as soon as possible.

But… That was a good experience, yeah…

Feeling like he had just gotten over his mortality, he looked up at the sky.

“Well, what do I do now?”

Just as he was moving, looking at his feet, he muttered such a whisper.

The sound of the wheels rattling and the footsteps of horses’ hooves could be heard.

“Hmm?”

The man lifted his head and there was the source of the sound.

Around the corner and coming in his direction—There was a luxurious carriage with ornate doors.

Even a glance was enough to tell that the owner has a lot of money and power.

T-This looks dangerous…

Power is a terrible thing. It is best not to get involved with such people.

The man stood as close as possible to the edge of the road, trying to stay out of the way.

But for some reason, the carriage stopped in front of him.

…Eh?

Thinking it was just a coincidence, the man still couldn’t help but fear he was going to be attacked.

In a swift motion, the man rotated his body, trying to run away, when… 

“W-Wait! Wait a minute!”

The man could hear a girl’s voice that resonated like a ringing bell.

There was no doubt now that the carriage came for him.

Through the armor he couldn’t see clearly, but when he looked back, biting his lip—A girl who could make him drop his guard was getting out of the carriage.

“Hey, why are you running away!”

Karen something something was adorned with a tiara that embellished her beautiful red hair. She wore a dress in white and blue, accompanied by transparent lace-like gloves. Her attire exuded an air of nobility.

“Ah… It’s you.”

“It’s not ‘you’! It’s Karen!!”

“Yes, yes.”

The man found it hard to interact with her because her appearance has changed so much, but her unchanged personality reassured him.

So you were an aristocrat… And that symbol on the side of the carriage, that’s the Duke’s crest, isn’t it…

He had seen this crest when he was eating at the inn. It was something he didn’t want to bother with.

“A-Anyway, it has been a while.”

“Huh?”

“…Long time no see.”

“Yes, long time no see.”

The man’s change in tone was immediately noticed.

“By the way, where the hell have you been hiding? I’ve been looking for you for so long.”

“The inn.”

“I didn’t receive that information at all.”

“Well, I bribed the owner (sort of).”

“B-Bribed!? H-He shouldn’t have (gone against us) accepted…B-But well, I guess it’s different if it’s you.”

Although she was surprised, for some reason she suddenly calmed down and stared at him with narrowed eyes.

“Different?”

“It’s nothing. It’s something you can’t tell anyway.”

Just what is she talking about…?

The man didn’t understand at all.

As he wrinkled his brows and searched for clues, another person got out of the carriage, as if sensing his confusion…

“Karen, shouldn’t we address the matter promptly?”

“Y-Yes, I understand, Sister…”

“……”

The man could no longer speak. His head was punctured by surprise and the sheer amount of information.

That woman was the woman he had met at the clock tower—The woman who hid the upper half of her face with a mask. The color of their hair and eyes, even the demeanor and choice of words were exactly the same.

“Sorry for the delay in greeting you. Sir Jet-black.”

She held the hem of her dress and greeted him in a respectful manner.

“My name is Lyfia Dior Aldi. For what you have done… My words are nowhere near enough to thank you.”

“Ah… Yeah…”

Anyone would act like this if they were greeted so respectfully by someone they had just met.

“Well, so are you going out somewhere today…?”

The person the man prompted was Karen, who was more comfortable to talk to.

“Of course not… I haven’t thanked you yet, so I came to check your availability.”

“Do you have free time today?”

As one would expect from sisters, they showed good teamwork.

“What happens if I say I do…?”

“Of course, we’ll head straight to our mansion. Father is also waiting there.”

“No, I don’t have time.”

“……”

“……”

Karen’s gaze narrowed once again, while Lyfia’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she didn’t expect it.

I mean, going to The Duke’s household…? No way!

He wasn’t even sure how to use honorifics. And he had no confidence in his behavior toward superiors.

While it’s true that he rescued Karen, but if he were disrespectful, he might be “disposed of.”

He refused for a solid reason, but this was not understood.

“Hey, you must definitely have some time. You’ve finished your business at the Association, haven’t you?”

“We would like to show our gratitude to you for all you have done, so please come and visit us.”

How did they get that information…

By the time the man made a retort, he was already walking on his feet.

Karen grabbed his right arm and Lyfia grabbed his left arm, seemingly convinced that he had no plans.

“Come on, let’s go. Let me at least thank you.”

“We also have a comfortable carriage for you to ride in.”

“Eh, wait…”

He was pulled by the sisters without being given a choice. Although their grips weren’t that strong so he could easily break free, who they were made it difficult for him to do so.

As a result, he was taken away half-heartedly.

(T/N: 14 chapters in, and still no name for the MC… He’s addressed as “man” in narration and Jet-black by the characters in dialogues…)