I Was Reincarnated as the Villain in an Eroge, but I’ll Live Honestly ~Because the Protagonist Was Useless, I Ended Up Making the Heroines Smile and Somehow Built a Harem~ - 2

Chapter 2: Noah Saves the Heroine

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“Damn it, damn it…! Please let me make it in time!”

Panting heavily as his breath came in ragged gasps, Noah ran single-mindedly. Even though his legs felt as heavy as lead and his heart ached, he did not stop running. Layla’s event was, within the game, the very first event to occur. And it also doubled as a flashback scene for Noah, the villain.

Layla’s misfortune began when she tried to make sweets for Noah. Because she was a beautiful girl with black hair walking alone without any guards, she ended up being attacked by vagrants on her way back from the market.

Of course, on the original route, just when she’s about to become the vagrants’ plaything, the protagonist is supposed to save her, but…

If Abel—the protagonist of this game’s world—did not interfere with Layla’s route, a tragedy would occur. And it would leave wounds on both her heart and body that would never fade for a woman. Though Layla would still try to act strong despite being scarred in both mind and body, her misfortune would not end there.

If things follow the route, after returning to the mansion, Layla will be suspected of attempting to poison someone. And then I’ll exile her from the mansion… And in the end…

Just recalling the game’s developments made him feel sick to his stomach. After being exiled from the mansion, Layla would commit suicide out of guilt for having tried to poison Noah. And Noah, armed with knowledge of the game, knew that an unfortunate accident was involved in this attempted poisoning. No one wanted to see their favorite game’s heroine, especially their absolute favorite, suffer like that. Noah thought that was probably why he was running so desperately now.

Please, let me make it in time… Please, let me make it in time…

Even if his body creaked from the inside, his legs did not stop. The sound of his feet striking the ground as he prayed for Layla’s safety echoed like a prayer.

There! If I turn this corner, it’s just ahead—

The moment Noah turned the corner… Right in front of Noah, who was gasping loudly for breath, were Layla and two vagrants. Her clothes were still clean, with no sign that they had been forcibly torn off.

“I… I made it… Just barely, but…”

“No-Noah-sama…”

Realizing that the man who had suddenly appeared was Noah, Layla let out a voice of relief.

“Tch, what the hell…Someone had to butt in at the best part… Hey, you little brat, get lost.”

“Like hell I’d just say ‘okay’ and go home. Let her go. Now.”

Pointing his wooden sword at the vagrants, Noah spoke.

“This little brat… Looks like he won’t understand unless he gets hurt a bit.”

One of the vagrants, a blue vein bulging at his temple, approached while cracking his fingers.

“N-Noah-sama! Please don’t worry about me! Just run away!”

Layla’s voice, nearly a scream, echoed through the deserted alley.

“Heh, it’s already too late. Let’s knock this nuisance out first and then have some fun. Hey! Don’t get cocky, brat!”

The vagrant swung his fist, trying to punch Noah, but…

Huh? So slow…

The vagrant’s punch looked like it was moving in slow motion to Noah.

But if it’s like this…!

Timing his move to the vagrant’s punch, Noah slammed his wooden sword into the vagrant’s wrist.

“Gah!”

As the vagrant reeled back clutching his wrist, Noah followed up. He swung the wooden sword with all his strength, as if to split the man’s side in two.

“Ugh… Gah!”

The vagrant collapsed, clutching his side. Noah then pointed his wooden sword at the other vagrant.

“What’ll it be? Want me to break your ribs too, like his?”

“T-Tch… Damn it… You’ll regret this…”

Saying that, the vagrant hoisted up his fallen companion and fled somewhere.

“A-Amazing…”

Layla, who had been watching the exchange, muttered in a daze.

As expected of Noah… He’s this strong at his age…?

There was a reason thirteen-year-old Noah could overwhelm adults. Simply put, his specs were at a cheat level. He surpassed even the protagonist in both swordsmanship and physique, and since he possessed no sense of ethics whatsoever, he could easily commit even the most despicable acts. That was precisely why he had been able to pile up so many acts of villainy.

Then their eyes met. Layla was still sitting on the ground. Perhaps her legs had given out from fear. Panicking, Noah rushed over to her.

“A-Are you okay? They didn’t do anything weird to you, did they?”

“Y-Yes… Thank you very much… Noah-sama…”

Layla stared at Noah with wide eyes, her expression vacant. Near her, ingredients that had spilled from a paper bag were scattered across the ground.

“Let’s take a short break, and once you can walk, we’ll head toward the main street.”

“Y-Yes…”

I saved Layla… I should be happy… So why does my chest hurt this much…?

For some reason, he felt neither pride nor joy. And even on the way back, Noah never once met Layla’s eyes.

※※※

“Noah-sama, thank you very much for today. I know this isn’t exactly a proper gratitude for your help yesterday, but these are scones I made using ingredients I bought at the market today.”

Layla came pushing a serving cart. On it were milk tea and scones, both of Noah’s favorites.

“One of them is a scone made without sugar, using only the sweetness of honey. The other has crushed nuts mixed in. I hope they suit your taste.”

Despite what had happened earlier, Layla was frighteningly calm. Wearing a gentle smile, she arranged the sweets and tea in front of Noah.

“Th-Thank you…”

Perhaps she couldn’t believe Noah had thanked her. Layla blinked a few times, then relaxed her expression into a happy smile.

“This is the first time Noah-sama has ever thanked me. Has something changed in how you feel?”

“No, it’s not really like that…”

“I see… Still, I prefer the Noah-sama you are now. And if you stay like this, fewer people working at the mansion will quit, and my workload will decrease too.”

Layla spoke half-jokingly, clearly in a good mood.

“Now then, please eat the scones while they’re still fresh. Today’s batch is one I’m quite confident in.”

But Noah’s hand did not reach for the scones. In fact, he did not move at all.

“Noah-sama, is something wrong? If you’re not in the mood for scones, I can prepare something else right away.”

“…That’s not it. That’s not it at all.”

The voice Noah forced out was filled with anguish.

“…Noah-sama?”

Layla tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled.

How can you make a face like that… You should have so much more you want to say to me.

To repeat himself, before regaining memories of his past life, Noah had constantly power-harassed the maids and guards working at the mansion. He threw tantrums and fired people on a whim more times than he could count. Naturally, he was disliked by the staff.

Among them all, only Layla had been kind to him.

No matter how much verbal abuse he hurled at her, no matter how many times he tripped her on purpose, Layla alone had always been gentle with Noah. The question of why she was kind hurt him unbearably. He was forced to face his own ugliness, unable to accept another person’s goodwill at face value.

“Ugh…”

The more he thought about it, the less he understood. Even if Noah had regained memories of his past life… Even if Noah had not saved her… Layla would surely have prepared freshly baked scones for him all the same. In fact, even after becoming the vagrants’ plaything, Layla had hidden that truth and still made scones for Noah. Even knowing she would be verbally abused, and that she might even be subjected to violence… Still, for Noah’s sake….

Perhaps it was because he had regained memories of his past life. Something painful surged up inside him. He tried desperately to suppress it, but his shoulders would not stop trembling. And at last, he could no longer hold it back, and his tears would not stop.

“I-I’m… I’m so sorryyy! I’m sorry for being mean to you all this time… I’m sorry, so sorry, for always doing such awful things…”

“Huh!? N-Noah-sama!? It’s okay, it’s okay! I really don’t mind!”

Even Layla was flustered at the sight of Noah suddenly bursting into tears. After that, Layla continued gently rubbing his back until his tears finally stopped. Because he had memories of his past life, he understood all too well. The cruelty of bullying, and the pain of those who are bullied… He didn’t know how his life would turn out from here on. Even so, he swore in his heart that he would never again make someone unhappy.

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