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 11

Do You Like a Little Sister Who Turns Weak Attacks into Map Weapons and Commands Demonic Beings?

Ilza poked my nose with a soft squish.

“Hehe, Gant, my dear big brother, you’re so cute. Stay in that stuffed bear form forever and keep entertaining me, okay?”

That smile full of pure delight looked exactly like the original Ilza from the story.

I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t move a muscle.

After all, I’d turned into a teddy bear. The thought that I’d spend the rest of my life like this flooded my heart with despair.

N-no way… I just wanna live a normal life without any problems… I…

“U-uh, m-move… ha?!”

I woke up in my own bed.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, telling me morning had arrived. The fresh air filled my nose, but my mood stayed gloomy. All because of that nightmare.

“Haa… what a ridiculous dream…”

A little time had passed since the whole demonic beings incident.

The servants had been asleep from Myris’s medicine, so none of them noticed the commotion. I’d handed over the family heirloom to Myris as promised, and she’d left on good terms.

Peace should have returned, but my heart still wouldn’t settle down.

One little change in our daily life was really bothering me.

“The terror of turning into a stuffed animal and not being able to move… I don’t even wanna taste that in a dream. Huh? Something feels heavy…?”

There was a weight around my stomach. And it felt warm too.

I carefully pulled back the sheets, and there was a silver-haired devil sleeping cutely right next to me.

“Zzz… mmm… big brother…”

It was Ilza. She was in black pajamas, snuggling up to me like a little animal.

Her defenseless sleeping face made my heart skip a beat.

Of course, it was from pure terror.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

W-why is she here?!?! This is my room?!

Maybe reacting to my scream, Ilza mumbled something and slowly sat up.

“Good morning, Gant big brother. That’s a wonderful scream you have there.”

“…Is my scream your alarm clock?”

“Yes, your screams really stick in my ears.”

Ilza tilted her head cutely and smiled happily.

Why does she look so cheerful after hearing my scream…?

If this were a rom-com, having my little sister sneak into my bed would lead to all kinds of heart-fluttering moments. Well, my heart is pounding, but for a completely different reason.

“So… why were you sleeping in my bed?”

“Last night I had trouble falling asleep, and I thought I’d end up with insomnia. So I figured I’d just sleep together with you, big brother. …Family members sleep together, right?”

“…Yeah, we’re family. But there’s still a proper sense of distance, you know?”

“That’s not normal for me.”

Ilza emphasized the word “normal” like she was getting revenge.

So that’s how she’s gonna play it.

…She’s gotten really attached, huh.

Ever since the demonic beings mess, Ilza had been sticking to me like glue. At first I stayed on guard thinking she might try to control me, but it seemed like she genuinely adored me.

I’d thought that would make me feel relieved, but it was actually the opposite—I couldn’t get used to it at all.

“At least ask for permission after you wake me up.”

“Will you give me permission?”

“…Depends on the time and situation.”

“Then sneaking in was the right choice. Hehe, last night it felt like I was doing something naughty, and my heart was racing, you know?”

Ilza gave me the sweetest smile.

…She’s cute. I do think she’s cute. She’s seriously an adorable kid.

“Ilza, even though we’re family, you’re still a girl. You gotta take care of yourself properly.”

“Yeees, I’ll take good care of myself~ …Hehehe.”

Ilza looked really happy after I scolded her.

My little sister, who had completely changed, got down from the bed and said, “Big brother, see you later,” before leaving the room.

I’d wanted her to change, but I never imagined it’d be this much.

“…Guess I’ll do my best today too.”

And so my busy days of training and studying began.

The only small change was that I now had some time with Ilza in between.

In the relaxed afternoon, I got invited to Ilza’s room.

On the table sat fragrant black tea and pudding.

“Spending time with you while eating pudding, big brother. This is what luxury should be.”

“Haha, that’s a bit much. But if you’re enjoying it, I’m happy.”

“Yes, very much.”

Ilza turned toward the soft breeze coming through the window and looked totally comfortable.

Her long silver hair flowed gently, and I almost found myself staring.

It was a calm moment that made me feel like the ordinary life I’d wished for had finally arrived.

…Or so it should have been.

“By the way, Ilza.”

“What is it, Gant big brother?”

“What the… is that…?”

I pointed with a shaky finger like a rusty robot.

Near the table stood a wooden doll.

It was tall with long limbs and simple clothes. It kinda gave off Zasgate vibes. Every now and then it creaked as it moved, picking up leaves that had blown into the room and tossing them into the trash.

A g-golem…?

But it felt way too alive…

Ilza made a proud face.

“This is Big Brother No. 1.”

“Big brother??? No. 1?????”

“Yes. Big Brother No. 1.”

Even when she repeated the unfamiliar words, my brain refused to process it.

No. 1? Does that mean there’s a No. 2? Is she planning to mass-produce them?

“I realized that even if I want to advance my understanding of magic, it’s hard while still pretending to be a normal girl.”

“You actually admit it? That you’ve been pretending this whole time?”

“Meow~”

Ilza tried to cover it up with a cat sound.

Ugh! She’s so cute I almost don’t mind getting tricked!

“I felt bad that my personal attendant always got scared of me. So I thought it’d be better to make someone who could take care of me myself, and I created a highly expandable automatic doll. I named it Big Brother No. 1, meaning someone who stands by my side.”

Like some kind of Stand…

Uh, um… should I stop her?

But she seems to really like it, so maybe it’s better not to say anything weird? I don’t know, what should I do… ah, whatever, I don’t know anymore.

“…I think it’s fine!”

“Hehe, I thought you’d say that, big brother.”

“…So, uh, what’s that over there?”

This time I pointed sharply.

Because Myris was standing there in a maid outfit, not looking sorry at all.

“Phew~ I thought you’d just keep ignoring me.”

“Why are you here?! You quit on good terms, right?!”

I’d given her the family heirloom and sent her off nicely!!

I frowned, thinking I didn’t want any more trouble, when Ilza quietly set down her cup.

“I stopped her.”

“She stopped me~”

“I was worried about your injuries, Gant big brother… So I called her back from that moment and we talked things over.”

“We talked~ She scolded me real hard~”

Myris sounded carefree, but Ilza’s voice was dead serious. Scary. And yet Myris was still grinning—that’s a dark one for you…

When I glared at her, she just gave me a big sloppy smile.

“But the young lady told me! Even someone like me can turn over a new leaf!”

“Huuuh?!”

“So I turned over a new leaf!”

“Liar?!”

“Seeing the bond between you two made me want to believe in people again!”

“Liar?! Are you seriously okay with that?! What about your thief pride?!”

“To be honest, I was planning to come right back anyway. But… I figured if I didn’t bring the young lady Ilza a gift, I couldn’t stay.”

Huh? She was planning to stay all along???

Why??? I gave her the heirloom, didn’t I?

“Hehe… I don’t need any gift. Having Myris here is more than enough.”

Ilza smiled quietly.

Maybe… she’s aiming to make contact with the assassin guild…?

In the original story, Ilza controlled things through Myris… N-no, but she did turn over a new leaf.

“I want to learn from your generous heart too, big brother.”

Wait, am I being turned into the owner of a generous heart now?

It feels like these two are getting closer to their original relationship…

Should I kick Myris out… or hand her over to the right people?

But I don’t want to get tangled up with the assassin guild. Plus, this whole incident made me painfully realize how weak I am and how few cards I have. If Ilza’s around, Myris probably won’t do anything crazy and will listen properly. Her usefulness can’t be ignored.

But she’s definitely not reformed… ughhh…

…Alright, I’ll just pretend I didn’t notice anything.

“If you’ve really had a change of heart from the bottom of your heart, then I have nothing to say. Take care from now on, Myris.”

At my perfectly ordinary smile, Myris somehow looked satisfied.

“As expected of the young master. Perfect expression, perfect response. Amazing talent.”

“? You know I don’t have any talent.”

“You should get to know yourself a lot deeper~”

Myris looked like she could see right through me.

It kinda annoyed me that someone else knew me better than I did, so I started to talk back, but—

Big Brother No. 1 came over to me and poured tea into my empty cup.

“Oh, thanks… You’re more thoughtful than Myris.”

“I’m thoughtful in places no one notices!”

Shut up, fake maid.

I ignored Myris’s nonsense and tried to drink my tea, but a muffled voice came from Big Brother No. 1.

“Tasugede… Don’t do bad things twice…”

Big Brother No. 1 let out a really ominous line and went back to its spot.

I stared at the smiling Ilza with my mouth wide open.

“I noticed the wraith that was watching not just me, but you too, big brother.”

“?! …! …!!”

“It must have been sent by the demonic beings… I told the wraith that it’s not okay to mess with you even if it’s fine with me.”

“!! …! …!”

“Hehe, it helped me find the power source for Big Brother No. 1.”

I couldn’t even make a sound anymore.

Ilza’s magic nature is [Domination and Servitude]. The more she understands her magic, the wider the range of things she can control. She can probably fully dominate something like a wraith by now.

Ah… I remember—well, I’m not sure if it’s right!

Zasgate!!

I think he was in the corner of the original Ilza’s weak attack [Demonic Horde – Servitude]! Lucky you! If things stayed like that, you’d have been dominated sooner or later!!

Ilza herself looked at Big Brother No. 1 with a slightly dissatisfied face.

“Hmm… should I ask the automatic doll to have big brother’s cuteness too? …No, after all, big brother should be the only one in the world.”

She muttered that in a really unsettling way.

Ka-ka-ka-ka…

“Ka-ka-ka-ka…”

“?” “?”

In front of the two puzzled faces, I screamed inside my heart.

She’s not reformed at allllllllllllllllll!!!