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 12

Fragile and Heavily Intense You

A few days had passed since Ilza became part of the family.

She was getting better and better at pretending to be normal, and she hardly scared the servants anymore. The adorable angel stayed an angel and never shattered everyone’s illusions.

Only a handful of people knew about her twisted true nature.

If it had been the original Ilza, anyone who learned her true nature would have been destroyed.

But Ilza didn’t destroy those few people. Instead, she showed them an incredible amount of attachment (?).

It happened one afternoon while I was walking down the hallway of the mansion.

“Big broooother.”

A sweet, spoiled voice came from behind me.

I turned around, but no one was there. Right away, a soft feeling pressed against my right arm.

“Got you. Hehe, you’re still not careful enough, Gant big brother.”

“…I-Ilza. You can’t just hug me out of nowhere like that, it scares me.”

“Then my little prank was a success.”

Ilza hugged my right arm and laughed like it was funny.

The smile on that silver-haired angel (devil) made my heart race. It was pounding hard. I thought my lifespan had just shortened.

“Ilza… um, it’s kinda hard to walk when you’re clinging to me like this.”

“Big brother, little sisters exist to adore their big brothers. Right now it’s my adoration time, so you have to be patient.”

“Is that really what little sisters are for?”

In my previous life I used to take care of my younger siblings a lot, but they treated their big brother pretty roughly. They were cute when they were being cute, but mostly they were just selfish.

“Gant big brother, little sisters are born after their big brothers, right?”

“I know. That’s basic biology.”

“That’s why I have to adore you with all my strength to support my big brother who walks ahead of me.”

“…And how effective is the hugging part?”

“It makes my heart healthy and strong.”

“It’s almost all for you!”

When I shot back, Ilza giggled softly.

She’s cute. I really do think she’s cute. Being adored this much doesn’t feel bad at all. …It just feels like my heart is being squeezed.

“Besides, Ilza and I are only related by marriage, right?”

“That’s true… the bond between me and big brother is just temporary after all…”

Ilza made an expression that looked deeply sad.

“Waaah?! Even if it’s by marriage, we’re still important family! You’re my precious little sister!!”

“Hehe… Gant big brother, you’re panicking way too much.”

Ilza smiled in a really good mood.

I felt like I’d been led into saying that. Like she’d guided me into saying I cared and she was precious.

The servants were watching our exchange with warm smiles.

From the outside, we probably looked like really close siblings… Actually, maybe a little too close… Close enough that someone might start suspecting something weird.

“…Want them to suspect something?”

Ilza whispered it.

I felt like she’d read my mind. It was probably just a coincidence, but it was scary.

“…Suspect what? No idea.”

“You’re so cold, Gant big brother. That’s wonderful too.”

I wondered if Dad wasn’t worried about having a little sister like this.

“The two of you have gotten really close, huh. As long as you two are here, the Eisenburg family will be just fine. Tahaha~”

He already looked like he was ready to retire, completely convinced the family was on the safe path.

Hey. Seriously. Depending on the scenario, Ilza would seal your magic and exile you. Then you’d get killed by some weak monster without being able to do anything… you know?

But the original Ilza and the current Ilza are different… right?

In the end, it seemed like Ilza and Myris had formed a master-servant bond, and something insane like Big Brother No. 1 had been developed.

…Was the situation actually getting worse???

In the game [Yggdrasil Defense Decisive Battle], the ending could change depending on your choices, but the main flow of fate didn’t shift much. If I followed the original story’s events, a brutal future was waiting. I couldn’t honestly feel like “being adored by a beautiful girl is the best feeling ever” and just go with it.

Besides, it wasn’t just simple adoration…

And so today, I trained with Bakudou again.

The training ground with its tense atmosphere had already become my regular spot.

“Haaaaaaaah!”

I swung the training sword with the blade edge removed.

The teacher, who used to not let me move even one step before, was now keeping his distance.

Today’s training was in match format because he said he wanted to see how much the young master had grown.

When Bakudou swung his training sword downward, I dodged backward.

“That’s right!! Don’t jump in carelessly just because there’s an opening!”

“Yes!!”

“Some mages don’t care about light injuries! There are even opponents who release spells while accepting damage! Don’t miss your chance, and land a solid hit!”

While receiving guidance, I handled his attacks, and when his center of gravity shifted, I instantly raised my magic output.

“Taaaaaaaah!!!”

The tip of my sword just barely grazed Bakudou’s side.

“I-I-I did it! I grazed him! I actually hit!!”

Whoa, I’m so happy!! Even though the match isn’t over yet!!

Bakudou said “The match isn’t over yet” while giving me a troubled smile when I looked at him hoping for praise.

I instantly got the message and glanced at Ilza, who was watching.

“Gant big brother! You managed to land a hit on the teacher!”

“…Ilza, I told you I don’t need backup.”

“It’s our combined technique.”

“You don’t even feel bad about it!”

Ilza looked thrilled about the team attack with her big brother. She must have taken slight control of the teacher’s body. She’d grown way faster than me.

“Big brother, it’s common for mages to team up. You don’t have to hold back. Rely on me as much as you want. Let’s have a mutual relationship.”

It also sounded like she was saying “Please become dependent on me.”

“First I need to get stronger myself before we talk about stuff like that.”

“Yeees.”

Ilza listened obediently.

In the original story, Gant had received a certain amount of power from Ilza.

That’s how he kept up appearances as a noble. Well, then he got flipped over and suffered horribly. Knowing that is one reason I can’t rely on her.

Bakudou watched our exchange with a bitter smile the whole time.

“You were close this time, but landing a clean hit on me isn’t that far off anymore.”

“Really?!”

“It’s all thanks to your hard work, young master. You’ve grown really well.”

My heart felt light and bright.

It feels so good to be praised for growing! All that effort was worth it!

I tried the bow and a bunch of other things, but the sword suits me best.

Now I just have to figure out how to use it… Oh right, I was planning to ask the teacher about something.

“Teacher, I have something I want to talk about.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I’m thinking maybe I should join the knight order in the future…”

“Hmm… you mean to learn model strength?”

“It’s not exactly the kind of strength I’m looking for, but it’s one option. Studying with kids my age at the officer candidate school and pushing each other might help me grow too.”

“…I see. That choice makes sense too.”

Bakudou agreed with my idea.

Learning mercenary techniques from the teacher was fine, but if I stayed like this, I might end up stepping onto the academy route.

I really don’t want to follow fate if I can help it—

“Hiiiii?!”

A pressure like the whole world had completely changed shape.

It felt like the air was twisting and creaking—meshi meshi, miki miki, beki beki.

Even the teacher looked like he was about to seriously ready his weapon. Under that pressure that felt like my heart was being grabbed, I very, very slowly turned my eyes toward my little sister.

Ilza had dropped the innocent act and was staring at me with a completely straight face.

She stared at me intensely, long enough to burn a hole right through me.

H-hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii?!?!?

“Hmm… well. You can learn tactics and command too, and if it’s to fulfill the duties of a margrave, that choice might be worth considering.”

The teacher answered seriously while sensing the weird atmosphere.

Thank you for the advice!!

“Right! I’ll contact home often, and I was thinking of coming back frequently anyway, but for now I’ll just keep it as one possible option!”

I-I should at least request some materials from the knight training school!

I definitely won’t leave Ilza completely alone!

But staying right by my little sister’s side every single day forever feels insanely dangerous!!

— A few days later, a letter arrived saying the knight training school had been shut down.