I Thought I’d Reformed the Villainous Heroine. But Their True Nature Remained Unchanged, and They Were Still Being Doted On—I Just Don’t Have Enough Lives. - Chapter 10

I’m Not Letting You Go No Matter What

“W-well, you see…”

The words wouldn’t come out even though I wanted to spit them out.

I couldn’t think of any dramatic comeback that would completely flip Ilza’s way of thinking.

Of course I couldn’t. My previous life was just that of an ordinary salaryman.

Don’t throw impossible tasks at me.

Zasgate slightly hunched his back and spoke gently to Ilza.

“It seems your brother-in-law has forgotten how to speak. Shall we go, our princess?”

“…Gant brother-in-law, please don’t worry so much. I will come back to the mansion.”

Ilza’s smile didn’t change. I felt an unbreakable wall.

Half-hearted words definitely wouldn’t reach her. She would see right through them.

But if I let her go like this, Ilza would sink deeper into understanding darkness. She would fall even further into the abyss, and once she came back, my voice would never reach her again.

U-ughhh!! Think harder, brain!!

“Good night, Gant brother-in-law.”

Ilza started to leave.

She was about to disappear into the depths of the forest with her swarm of corpses trailing behind her. Even at a time like this, it was as if she was saying she’d feel lonely without someone by her side.

Ah, that’s right. Villainesses are always lonely.

It’s their own fault, they get what they deserve, good triumphs over evil. They exist just to be defeated.

The dark girl is meant to scatter someday so that the other characters and players can learn about the light in people’s hearts. That’s the only reason she exists. Just like me, she walks the path of ruin, and the only ones who can walk beside Ilza are probably the dwellers of death.

There is no mutual understanding there.

This… is my true feeling.

I’m not taking the villainess’s side.

If I had to make an excuse, it’s because of her fragile appearance. No matter how cruel, how vicious, how merciless she is, still… still.

Spending the rest of her life completely alone in the world forever seemed so lonely.

That’s what I ended up thinking.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Zasgate… Oh?”

Ilza stopped walking.

Because I had run up and grabbed her small hand tightly.

“Hey, could you stop trying to tempt my precious little sister? Zasgate.”

My whole body went numb from sheer terror. I felt like I was about to burst into tears any second.

When I glared up at him, Zasgate let out an unpleasant voice.

“Do not interfere with our princess.”

“Princess? Gross, you lolicon.”

“………… Even though you are only her brother by marriage, I was letting it slide because you are her brother. Release her hand right now. Our princess of darkness looks troubled.”

“Didn’t you hear me? Calling her the princess of darkness when she’s a kid who doesn’t even know right from wrong is seriously messed up. How old are you anyway? Shouldn’t you think about your age?”

The whole forest rustled at once.

Waves of demonic power leaked out from Zasgate in sharp bursts.

The animal corpses stopped moving one after another like their strings had been cut. It was overwhelming magic power strong enough to interfere with Ilza’s own magic.

I wanna run awaaaay!

I don’t wanna be here anymoooore!

Even while my face twitched, I signaled Myris with my eyes to stay on standby.

“Ilza has a bright future waiting for her. Could you please not invite her into a den of perverts?”

“You… dare to insult us?”

“That’s why I’m asking—do you even know how old Ilza is right now? You total perveeeert.”

“I’ll sew that mouth of yours shut with threads.”

Zasgate pointed one of his bony, long fingers at me.

Even so, I didn’t let go of Ilza’s hand. Even if I died here, I had no intention of releasing it.

Still, I was shaking. I’m sure the pathetic sight was obvious.

Even then, Ilza didn’t shake me off. She silently squeezed my hand back.

A small hand that matched her age. The hand I thought would be cold… was actually warm.

“…Ilza?”

Zasgate’s voice sounded shaken.

“Ha! You’re just a higher being after all! There are things you can’t see from up there!”

“You… a mere human…”

“There are things only humans can understand. Ilza, just ignore this lolicon guy and let’s go home quick. Your big brother is exhausted.”

While making a family appeal, I kept holding her hand.

Ilza didn’t answer.

But she showed a hint of hesitation on her face. That alone was enough.

“Gant brother-in-law… I…”

I pulled her hand closer and hugged her to my chest. There was a tiny bit of resistance, but Ilza let me hold her while keeping her expression blank.

Her body was so slender it surprised me.

It made me realize she was still just a child.

“This is my honest, no-lies true feeling. …Don’t go anywhere.”

“…………”

Ilza didn’t change her expression, but I thought I felt her give the tiniest nod.

Zasgate must have realized persuasion was impossible. He sent an irritated voice flying at me.

“Your existence… will surely become known to the forces of darkness.”

Yeah, I knowwww!! Waaaaah!!

Guhhh! I know a future where getting killed is better! I’m good at going all-in when I have nothing left!

“I never planned to let you go for free.”

“Gant brother-in-law…?”

I smiled gently at Ilza, who looked a little uneasy, as if to say “just watch.” I also gave Myris, who was looking for an opening, another glance to keep her on standby.

“You came all the way from the depths of darkness, so I’ll pay the fee.”

“…Oh? You have something to offer me?”

“Well… it was sudden so I didn’t have time to prepare. …What do you demonic beings like anyway?”

“Soul. Right here and now, make a contract with me and offer ten human souls. Then I will obediently leave.”

………….…………….…………….

A guaranteed win came rolling right at me.

I made sure not to let it show on my face as I looked up at the demonic being who was over two meters tall.

“…Ten souls. Does it matter which humans?”

Ilza looked like she wanted to say something, but I hugged her even tighter.

Zasgate scratched his chin and pressured me.

“Yes, just picture them in your mind. By the way, souls of those already dead are invalid. …If you try to offer fake ones, I will show no mercy. Though… looking into your eyes, I will see through any lies.”

The hollows of the bull skull glowed eerily.

He seemed to have some ability to detect lies.

“…Got it. In that case, I’ll pay with extra souls.”

“…Kuh, kuhahaha! I’m surprised! You really intend to offer souls! You would sacrifice other people’s lives just to survive! I must revise my evaluation of you! …Ah, Bant, or was it Gald boy?”

He deliberately got my name wrong to provoke me right when he had the chance.

I was the one who provoked him first, though.

“…It’s Gant.”

“Kuku… Bakudou boy, would you offer the souls of villains? Then it wouldn’t hurt your heart.”

“…………”

“You will fall. You will sink. Will you be crushed by the guilt of your conscience… or will you fall into even deeper darkness. Ah, I look forward to it.”

“…Could you please just hurry up and make the contract?”

“Very well! Contract established!! …Well, I will be back soon enough.”

A large magic circle appeared on the ground. It was a purple, ominous one.

So he was planning to trick me like a proper demonic being.

In that case… it goes both ways, right?

“Summon the ten souls!! Now, into my hand… w-what?!?!”

Dozens of bright red arms burst out from the magic circle.

Both Ilza and Myris looked shocked.

I was trembling too, but I had predicted this would happen, and the dozens of arms wrapped around Zasgate.

“W-why?! Why are you trying to take my soul?!”

“Kuku… kuhahahaha! Idiot idiot! You stupid idiot!! The contract failed so instead I’m taking your soul!”

When the demonic ritual has no target, the power of the contract twists and the collection goes to the caster himself!

I learned that from failing at curses… through stomachaches and diarrhea!

“Impossible!! You really intended to offer souls…!”

“I was totally planning to offer them!!”

From my previous life, that is!! I pictured the bad guys!!

If the ritual was never valid from the start, it ends in a dud.

Judging from how half the ritual went through when curses fail, the world from my previous life really does exist.

But it’s not connected—it’s cut off.

“I didn’t lie! I didn’t! It’s your fault you can’t collect!!”

“Guh, who do you think I am?! I am, I am…!!”

“This is punishment for trying to tempt my precious little sister!! Go die a million times!!”

“Y-you damn villain aaaah!!”

Zasgate was dragged down into the ground by the red arms.

At his unbearable line, I snapped back a little.

“Who’s the villain?! I’m a plain, normal person who loves peace!!”

“Gant Zie Eisenburg…!!”

While screaming my name, Zasgate sank deep into the ground with a heavy splash. The magic circle vanished and silence fell over the area.

Could you please stop disappearing while yelling my name… it’s scary…

Then Myris started making excited noise.

“Young master, that was super cool! As expected of the person I picked out!”

“Hahaha, how was that! Hahaha… I was seriously scared…”

By the way, what did you pick me out for?

I was about to ask, but Ilza, still in my arms, squirmed like it tickled.

“Oops, sorry. I’ll let go right now.”

But Ilza didn’t try to pull away from me.

She stared at me with her bottomless eyes, filling them completely with my existence.

“…I thought Gant brother-in-law would scold me.”

“Why?”

“Because I was doing… plays that you don’t like…”

While looking over the animal corpses scattered on the ground, I told her.

“I already said it. I was just telling you my values.”

“…Yes, you did. It was… it was me who was lacking. Even after knowing me, you still said I was precious… and I wasn’t even trying to listen properly.”

Ilza smiled at me with a smile that came from the bottom of her heart.

It was so fragile, so lovable, so genuinely cute that I got embarrassed.

“M-maybe! B-because we’re family! Of course I’d treasure you!”

“Fufu, Gant big brother is really cute.”

It was an honest, adorable expression that made me believe in a bright future ahead. The warmth that told me Ilza was heading in a good direction filled my chest.

Yes, Ilza had reformed.

—Or at least, that’s what I thought.