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.

Arrow of Transition

My right ear throbbed with a dull pain.

Every time my heartbeat got stronger, I could feel blood spilling out from the wound.

“Gant young master, thank you for everything so far. Sadly, Myris is quitting as of tonight.”

Myris smiled like it was just another normal day.

That’s exactly why it’s scary! Don’t smile while you’re hurting someone!

“Don’t you want any severance pay?”

“The family heirloom can count as severance.”

“…You’re really overcharging, huh.”

“Desperately trying to hold back your fear, young master, that’s really cute. When I first met you, you were such an arrogant little shit who couldn’t see reality… I wanted to kill you quick, but now I really like you.”

Myris pointed her right hand at me and made a little flick like she was giving a forehead flick.

“Temporary Fix. Finger Bullet.”

Her finger snapped.

A dull pain shot through my stomach like something invisible had hit me.

“Ugh…!!”

Owww, is this Myris’s unique magic?!

Before she cast it, there was that special spell word.

People who really understand their own magic nature can chant extremely fast and make it really powerful. Even without complicated spell words, it becomes a strong weapon, and lots of mages train to do it…

Mine is [Control], Ilza’s is [Domination and Servitude], and Myris’s is probably…

She smiled, looking impressed.

“Yeah, you don’t panic at this level. You’ve gotten pretty used to pain, haven’t you?”

“It’s, uh, thanks to my daily training…”

“I really like the current you. …So, I guess either way is fine.”

Either way.

She probably meant she didn’t care whether she let me live or killed me.

Actually, she’d want to kill any witness. The fact that she hadn’t killed me right away meant she really did like me a little.

But if I said the wrong thing… I would die.

“…So Myris’s magic nature is [Fixation]? That’s pretty rare.”

“Bingo. My magic fixes anything I touch. Water, fire, even air works.”

“That’s why the magic looks invisible.”

“Yup yup, I fix the air and shoot it. …So, you still wanna keep chatting?”

Myris gave me a cold stare.

Guh! She’s trying to see if there’s any more benefit for her!

There’s no way I can win if we fight. I don’t feel like I can handle her with a straight-up approach.

“Then let me ask properly again. In exchange for giving you the treasure, take my request—”

“Temporary Fix. Fly, sharp fangs.”

“Haha… This time my left ear hurts…”

“Got any other interesting stories? Next I’ll carve up your right arm.”

I’m used to bleeding from training, but attacks full of real killing intent are on another level, damn it.

Was it impossible to persuade Myris after all?

…Idiot!! Don’t get weak! If you give up, it’s not just the match—it’s game over for your life. Think, think, use every bit of knowledge from your previous life. Gather information, remember.

“That’s a really convenient magic. …I’m seriously jealous.”

“I went through a lot to survive in the guild.”

Myris gave a bitter smile. It didn’t look fake.

…The thief Myris Kulok came from an assassin guild.

It was a dark organization that gathered only orphans and gave them education that was basically brainwashing. To crawl up from a place where no one would help, she kept betting her life again and again, feeling like she was dying over and over.

That’s probably why the original Myris was different from a simple thief or robber.

She had the organization’s rules, but she also took pride in her own work.

Maybe Ilza from the original story liked that villain’s pride, because she never dominated Myris with magic. She thought leaving her as she was made her the strongest and most interesting.

If I’m going to poke, it has to be here… this is the only spot…

But the chance she’ll snap is super high.

“Gaaant young master~ feels like there’s nothing left, huh?”

Myris traced her finger through the air.

She was about to shoot an invisible blade.

I really don’t wanna go through with this… I might get tortured to death…

Uwoaaaaah, damn it!

I’ll do it! I’m gonna do it!!

“So like I said, I’ll give you the treasure, so take my request—”

“Temporary Fix. Fly, sharp fangs. …Next is your left arm, okay.”

Owww! Did my right arm get cut?!

I dropped the silver sword, but it was fine—it only grazed me. Not a fatal wound. I held down my trembling knees and took one step, another step, and another toward her.

“In exchange for the treasure, my—”

“Temporary Fix. Fly, sharp fangs.”

“…You’re gonna accept the request.”

“…You’re not stopping. Yeah. A stubborn young master is pretty nice too~”

The smile disappeared from Myris’s face.

I felt her gaze near my heart, so maybe she really was going to kill me now. Even while blood flowed from both my arms, I kept moving forward.

“If you’re gonna kill me, then kill me!! But if you do, you’ll just sink down to being a vulgar robber!!”

“…Huh?”

Myris twisted her face in displeasure.

“You’re ignoring your master’s wish, even though I’m honestly handing over the treasure, and you’re still gonna kill me!! There’s no skill, no pride—just a vulgar robber… No, you’re even lower than a third-rate thief!!”

“…………Heh.”

“Heh… what? Don’t act all high and mighty!! What was all that pretending to be a maid about! What, did you wanna play at being some storybook righteous thief or something?! Ha! Don’t make me laugh!! You’re just a piece-of-shit robber!”

I kept walking forward, one steady step at a time.

When I finally stood right in front of her, I could see dark flames burning in her eyes.

“Gant young master… sure, a low murder like this would leave a little thorn in my heart. But it’s just a tiny stain. After some time passes, it’ll be a tiny stain I’ll forget.”

“That means! I can at least put a little dirt on your whole life!”

“…Aren’t you scared of dying?”

“That doesn’t matter. Listen, the important thing right now is…”

Because I wasn’t scared at all, Myris made a face like she genuinely couldn’t understand.

Of course I don’t want to die.

I just wanna live peacefully without a care.

But… turning into a teddy bear… or a living stuffed specimen… or a talking painting… Compared to endings where I suffer that kind of hell…

Getting killed right now is way better!!

“You… are going to obey me!! Got it, servant!!”

I stepped even closer and snapped at her.

Myris took one step back.

She looked stunned, like she couldn’t believe she had backed away. She kept staring at her own foot over and over.

“I… backed away…? From a powerless kid…?”

Her voice sounded like she couldn’t believe her own action.

Myris stayed frozen for a moment, then looked at me.

The dark flames from before were gone. Her eyes sparkled like bright stars. Her expression was like she’d found the ultimate secret treasure hidden deep in a cave, and her cheeks looked flushed.

W-what… what kind of feeling is that…???

“Understood. I’ll follow you, young master. I swear my loyalty~”

Myris’s carefree tone was the one I knew well.

“F-for real?!”

“You’re really gonna give me the treasure, right?”

“Of course! I always keep my promises!”

“Yaaay! I got it, I got it~!”

Myris hopped around happily.

If I hadn’t known the original story, I really would’ve thought she was just a cheerful maid…

Haaaa, thank goodness. I survived!

And I got a trump card!

Well, it’s a powerful card, but only good for one use.

Once this is over, I’ll hand over the heirloom and let her retire peacefully.

“Oh? …Young master, looks like they smelled the blood.”

Myris grinned mischievously.

More than ten low-grade spirits flew into the room and came at us.

“Ow…?! Guh!! My arm…!”

“Okay okay, injured people step back. —Temporary Fix. Blossoms of Remaining Fire. Devour and carve them up.”

Myris lightly traced the air with both hands.

Since I was close, I could tell the space was slightly warping. There were traces like spider lilies. The warps flew off one by one like scattering flowers, and the low-grade spirits got sliced to pieces—completely wiped out in an instant.

“How’s that? It’s my cute cute Myris’s hidden technique~”

“So stroooong! Myris is cute! Myris is cute!”

Thank goodness!

I’m so glad I managed to make her a trump card!

I could barely take down one by myself… She’s not someone I can beat head-on…

“Hehe~ Praise me more, praise me more~”

“But I’m never ever forgetting that you hurt me, okay?!”

“Tongue out, okay okay, Temporary Fix.”

While sticking her tongue out, Myris traced my wounds with her finger and they closed up. There was still some pain left, but I could move just fine.

Still, this girl should at least apologize a little.

“What’s up? Looks like you wanna say something. I’ll apologize, geez. Sorry~”

“…Well, whatever. The request is only once, okay. When it’s done, you’re free.”