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 4

You Are the Most Insane Villainess

A few days had passed since Ilza became the new family member.

I ended up getting a clear look at the huge gap in talent between us.

The magic training room of the Eisenburg family.

It wasn’t the usual training ground I used. This was a room made to bring out magic efficiently. Magic circles were drawn on the floor, and the mana circulation rate inside was high.

There were also scarecrows with auto-repair, so it was the perfect spot to test magic.

I sat cross-legged on the floor and focused on the several stones I had placed in both hands.

“Move, move, move.”

I kept concentrating so hard my temples started to hurt.

The spell code that output mana as words was simple. A first-class mage could cause mysteries with their own original spell code, but there was no way I could do that even if I stood on my head.

“Fly!”

At my shout, two of the stones floated up unsteadily.

Then they drifted along in a straight line, taking their sweet time, and gently bumped into the scarecrow a few meters away before dropping.

Myris, who had been watching from the side, gave me some dry claps.

“Very impressive. You managed to float two of them.”

“Yesterday I got three… Heh heh, I feel like crying so bad.”

“You said yourself that crying or screaming won’t improve talent.”

“I never said I wouldn’t complain.”

Gant really had zero talent.

His mana amount was average, but the output needed to turn it into actual spells—basically his sense—was hopelessly bad.

It felt like something you could sense, but it wasn’t. The output seemed directly tied to brain function, same reason why people who are bad at sports or drawing stay bad forever.

“Isn’t that normal for your age, Young Master?”

“…That would be for kids who never trained in magic at all. Do you know how old I was when I started training?”

“Around eight?”

“Since I was old enough to understand things.”

“Young Master! What kind of talent is that!”

“Shut up. Sigh… there was a period of flattery too, but I’ve only been facing it properly recently.”

This was the root of the complex the original Gant had.

That’s why people could poke at the gaps in his heart. I could understand not wanting to hear anything but nice words.

“Well, wishing for what you don’t have won’t help. Let’s look for what I can do, what I can do.”

“You’ve been in a really good place lately, Young Master!”

“If I can grow up nicely, I’ll only do things within my reach. My only wish is peace.”

“You’ve become way too enlightened lately, Young Master.”

Myris said it with a slightly bored tone.

I was still continuing magic training because the instructor told me to “go find your own weapon.”

I even secretly tried some curses by ordering materials.

But the beginner curse [Stomachache Spell] failed.

I tried to curse the boss everyone at my previous workplace hated, but the curse bounced back on me.

While suffering terrible stomach pain and diarrhea, I looked it up. Apparently magic rituals are based on mutual contracts, so “if there is no target, the power of the contract twists and the collection goes to the caster himself.”

It could also bounce back even if there was a mana difference.

Curses took too much time to prepare anyway, so I gave up.

“But you’re amazing, Young Master.”

Myris was praising someone. Of course it wasn’t me.

While still sitting in meditation, I said in a flat voice.

“Yeah… Even though she’s my little sister, I’m honestly impressed.”

A little distance away from us, Ilza was using magic.

Ilza stood there with a quiet smile.

Dozens of birds and butterflies were flying around her, creating a scene like a painting. She was controlling all of them. …Whether they were alive or dead.

The personal maid watching the perfectly dominated flock of birds had forgotten to praise and just stood there with her mouth wide open.

“Fueee…………”

“Fufu, everyone is so cute. If they have wings, they should fly forever, right? Don’t you think so too?”

When Ilza smiled at her, the maid nodded in a big panic.

Even though you could see her lack of ethics, Dad only ever praised Ilza’s magic with “As expected of Ilza!”

Well, I guess anyone would want to overlook some inconveniences.

I could barely move two or three stones.

In contrast, Ilza was perfectly controlling dozens of birds and butterflies at the same time.

You’d think she must have chanted some complicated long spell code, but no.

“Let’s play, everyone.”

That was it. The same simple spell code as mine.

When converting mana into magic, I had no idea how much information was packed into the words. Talent and sense were fundamentally different.

Myris asked out of curiosity.

“Young Master Gant, how strong is Lady Ilza’s skill and talent exactly?”

“As far as I know, her skill is head and shoulders above anyone in her generation. As for talent… it’s probably faster to count from the top of all humanity.”

And the scary part was she still had room to grow.

The Eisenburg family’s magic nature was [Control].

They made their living by controlling matter.

Maybe because she was distant blood, Ilza was in the same category, but she was the superior version.

Ilza’s magic nature was [Domination and Servitude].

As her understanding of magic deepened, her domination could reach concepts themselves. When she appeared as an enemy in the simulation part, she even dominated the game system and showed battle power that traumatized tons of players.

If I was close-combat and mana amount “C” rank, with everything else mostly “D to E,”

Ilza was all “S,” and her growth potential was also “S.”

Then Ilza came closer, bringing the birds and butterflies with her.

“Big brother Gant, what do you think? I don’t often show my magic to anyone… but if you enjoyed it, I’m glad.”

She smiled like she had just finished a recital.

…In the original story, Gant’s heart completely broke when Ilza appeared.

He had longed and longed and longed for talent, but now he was forced to stare at something he could never reach.

I stood up and gave a bitter smile.

“No wonder Dad praises you so much.”

“I hope I don’t bring shame to my father-in-law’s name…”

“Ilza’s talent… is far more worthy of upholding the Eisenburg family honor than mine.”

“No way… Compared to your talent, big brother Gant, I still have so much to learn…!”

Ilza said it like she was praising her step-brother.

And then the original Gant, whose heart had snapped, believed the girl’s words. He clung to them. He tried to keep his dignity by thinking he had been acknowledged by the overwhelming Ilza.

“Flattery is fine.”

“I-it’s not flattery.”

“I know I have no talent. So I won’t get in a bad mood about it or get angry at compliments, don’t worry.”

Ilza’s eyes widened in surprise, and for some reason Myris said proudly,

“Young Master Gant has the talent to accept that he has no talent!”

“You’re praising me in the weirdest way possible.”

Myris said she was praising me, but could I trust that?

Ilza, who had been listening to our exchange, laughed like it was funny.

“Fufu… you’re different from what I heard.”

“Young Master has been really great lately. Even if he bleeds or breaks bones in training, he keeps standing up while screaming. He’s a believer in guts.”

“Oh my. So big brother Gant is quite the wild one.”

Ilza looked at me like she was revising her opinion.

…The atmosphere was peaceful. Maybe because I was working hard, we had stepped into a bright future………… no we haven’t!!

“You’re different from what I heard.”

She said that even though she knew the arrogant Gant, and now she was family!!

That compliment earlier was clearly aiming for the gap in my heart so she could control me!

Way too scary! How many times has this kid lived her life?!

“Big brother Gant? You have a really complicated look on your face…”

“Young Master has been really into making funny faces lately, so it’s entertaining to watch from the side!”

You’re treating it like it’s someone else’s problem!!

There was the idea of cutting the bud while Ilza was still young, but I wasn’t without that thought.

But there were scenarios in the original where that backfired. I didn’t want to follow fate. Besides, the power difference was still way too big right now.

But don’t underestimate me!

This is my serious second round of life! I have working-adult experience!

“Ilza, after magic training, can you spare me some time?”

“…Oh dear, what are you going to do to me with such a scary face?”

“Hah… just a little pampering.”

When I smiled boldly, Ilza smiled a little boldly too.

That’s right! I’ll show you!

Using all my past-life knowledge like a proper isekai reincarnator, I’m going to give you my full-powered flattery for survival… full OMOTENASHI hospitality!!