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 43 - (Marie’s POV)

Chapter 43 – (Marie’s POV)

After who knows how long had passed since she came face to face with the Jet-black in his study…

“Well, it’s hard to say, but… I don’t need this much gratitude.”

“Please don’t say that, please accept it!”

“If you don’t accept it, we’ll be in trouble too…”

“I’ll be troubled if you say such a thing.”

“P-Please find it in your heart to accept it…”

From the moment they moved on to the topic of showing their gratitude, this kind of push and pull occurred.

Nina, who was saved by the Jet-black, was fighting at full power. Marie, unable to find the right timing to support her, felt left out of the conversation.

Because she was in a position that could be called a third party, she was able to calmly observe the situation.

He… He really doesn’t want to accept our gratitude…

The man resisted, waving his hands to the side, without any ulterior motive.

Marie, who had been left stunned by his calmness of the situation, was,

—So what Lyfy said was true…

Marie remembered the words she heard from Lyfia, the Duke’s eldest daughter, in the backyard of the church.

‘Instead of demanding a reward, Sir Jet-black didn’t even accept the reward we offered him.’

To be honest, Marie was not fully convinced.

She couldn’t believe the fact that the man rescued three people without regard for danger and even used precious elixirs and did not want anything in return.

How could he, who did something which was beyond compensation, not demand anything?

How could he not want to accept the gratitude in front of him that changed the color of eyes of those who saw it?

But the reality was different. It really was as Lyfia had said.

“Even if you say that, I can’t accept all of it. It’s just too much.”

The man didn’t look like he was holding back, he didn’t look like he was reluctant, he just shook his head in a voice that seemed to say, ‘Please forgive me, really.’

I-I can’t believe it… He’s too good of a person…

He was too good, too generous even that it was frightening.

—Marie couldn’t help but understand what Lyfia, who had been involved with so many people, said about the Jet-black, ‘The kindest I’ve ever met’

“I will receive this and this. I cannot receive anything else. It would be scary if I received too much.”

The Jet-black pushed back one of the two cases of money prepared and an heirloom necklace with a large gemstone embedded in it.

Instead, he received the Ansage family emblem and another case containing money.

“……”

“……”

To lighten the atmosphere, he made a witty joke about it being ‘scary’, but no one reacted to the sudden joke.

“So… *cough*”

Jet-black coughed awkwardly after the unsuccessful joke.

Marie felt it was her fault that it ended in failure, so she bowed her head slightly, apologizing, “I’m sorry.”

“S-Slightly off topic… Nina. Even after this much show of gratitude, do your parents still intend to come here again to show more gratitude?”

“Y-Yes! That has been confirmed.”

“Confirmed…huh…?”

The moment he finished listening to this, Jet-black began to move his fingertips on the table without hesitation.

Eh? He seems…impatient?

Would it be inconvenient for Marie’s parents to visit?

The armor prevented Marie from seeing the man’s face, so she couldn’t read the emotions that she should be able to read.

“Let me just say two things. First of all, this is enough. Really.”

Speaking quickly, the Jet-black, who pulled the emblem and the case of money together again, continued to speak.

“And secondly. I’ve received enough, so I can’t accept any more charity. There is no need for your parents to come.”

“B-But…”

Nina tried to resist. Marie didn’t stop her.

She naturally pushed back the thank-you gift that was pushed back before to provide support.

“…W-Well, I understand what both of you are trying to say. I also get that you want to stick to your principles and positions. However—”

“—!”

The Jet-black turned his face away.

Marie didn’t know what the hell he was looking at, but she thought he had a crease between his eyebrows.

“Having felt that you have stuck to your principles enough, I can’t compromise any further. I have no intention of receiving any further gratitude, so, in other words… Don’t your parents have other things they should be doing?”

“O-Other things?”

Although urged in an understandable way, Marie was not as intelligent as Jet-black.

Tilting her head, she waited for his next words.

“Well, I have no intention of receiving any more rewards, so it would be a waste of time to come to this mansion. In the first place, your parents shouldn’t be the type to waste time… That’s what I’m saying. They have other work to do, don’t they?”

“…………”

J-Just what is he talking about!?!?

They came back to the starting line.

Maybe I haven’t been thinking straight, that’s why I don’t understand…? No, there’s no way that’s the case. But even if he’s saying it like that, there’s no way I can understand…

Marie looked sideways to see how Nina was doing, and Nina was looking at the ceiling as if her head had been punctured.

Marie, who is now 18, didn’t understand—Her sister, who is six years younger, couldn’t possibly understand.

“…Y-Yeah, that’s it. I’d rather your parents spend their time doing something good for the city than wasting their time. I’m sure your parents can do that.”

Perhaps he settled on the idea, perhaps he decided to stop urging it… No, he crunched his words to make it easier for Nina to understand.

“I’m not taking all this money here… Yes, that’s it. Instead of letting me have such a large sum of money, it would be much more meaningful if you put it to use over there.”

“But that’s not why we’re here…”

“If you use the money more meaningfully, it will be a reward to me. If the Holy Church gains more power, this emblem… The effect of its backing will become stronger.”

Jet-black ignored Nina’s protest.

He explained his intentions in an easy-to-understand manner, and connected the dots with lines.

Marie was surprised that he had put that much thought into it.

And he acted with trust, saying, ‘The Ansage family can do it.’

That means the greatest show of gratitude to Jet-black would be to answer his expectations, and the push-and-pull was a complete defeat. 

“—Okay. In that case, I promise that I will use the returned gratitude in a meaningful way. …As for the family heirloom, it might be difficult, though.”

“S-Sister!?”

“There’s no other choice. This is Sir Jet-black’s will.”

“I appreciate it.”

Somehow, the man sounded relieved. It could be said that he sounded happy. There was no trace of sarcasm in his voice.

…Does this mean that we should work together to make things better…? 

Marie started to recall.

She recalled when she asked Lyfia what would be a great reward to make Jet-black happy.

‘Well, if, hypothetically speaking, he’s affiliated with Vertal, we’d seriously be in trouble.’

‘Is that in terms of the content of the reward?’

‘Yes, that’s right. He has more power than us, doesn’t he? I don’t know how the organization runs, but he’s basically in a position to get what he wants.’

‘But I got the feeling that Sir Jet-black was more pleased with the money than with our family’s emblem, though?’

‘No, that doesn’t make sense.’

Money was something you could get if you work, but the Duke’s emblem was not something you could get just by working hard.

Marie, who gave the natural reply, heard the following words.

‘I think he was pleased because he saw more ways in which he could help people in need, such as orphans. Because if he was in need of money, he would’ve been happy to receive a villa, and there was no way he could afford such a fine collection of weapons and armor, and he was also very good with Karen, so I’m sure he likes children.’

The Holy Church also provided support and assistance to orphanages.

If the man was not accepting the full amount of money was because he thought it might have an impact on them, and—

If he believed that by extending the funds and cooperating, he could help even more people in need, then—

C-Could this person just join our Holy Church already…? He can be a special advisor…

It was obvious he was powerful, kind, not conceited and above all, a good person.

Marie really wanted to have him on her side.

‘I’m sure Sir Jet-black is definitely Marie’s type.’

“……!”

Suddenly, Lyfia’s words flashed through Marie’s mind.

“Ah, that’s right. This is from me. Take it, Nina.”

Jet-black stretched out his arm after he opened a drawer and rummaged through it. The little sister Nina received the object in her hand and immediately tilted her head.

“Is this…a key?”

“Yes, the key to this house.”

“Eh!?”

Huh!?

If it had been Marie who had been given the keys, her inner voice would surely have leaked out.

“As you can see, I’ve got more than enough space in this house. Regardless of whether I’m here or not, you can come and go as you please. Of course, both of you are welcomed.”

“A-Are you sure!?”

“Well, I’ve given it to the Duchess’s sisters as well, so you can use this place for a meeting or just to play. Of course, it’s not that I’m lonely or anything, it’s just that it would be a waste to have such a splendid house.”

…Well, even though it’s a shame, isn’t it unusual for such things to happen!? —And Lyfy didn’t tell me about her spare key…

Knowing Lyfia’s character, it was easy to imagine that she had visited and met Jet-black once or twice.

“Ah, and Marie-san.”

“W-What is it?”

“You don’t need to hold back here. You can make yourself comfortable and I prefer it that way.”

“…Ah, y-yes… T-Thanks…”

She was suddenly complimented on her genuine personality by a person whose face she did not know. 

For the first time, she was complimented for who she really was.

‘I’m sure Sir Jet-black is definitely Marie’s type.’

These words once again flashed through Marie’s mind.

(T/N: Longest chapter yet, but some lines were repeated from past chapters.)