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~ - 37

Chapter 37: Noah, Thinking

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“Layla…”

Softly, as if speaking to himself, Noah murmured Layla’s name. Right before Noah’s eyes, Layla lay sleeping peacefully. However, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her breathing was shallow.

Is she dreaming about her family…?

If he spoke to her, she might wake up. Wishing even a little that she could sleep comfortably, all Noah could do was gently hold Layla’s hand. Layla had collapsed from emotional shock, triggered by a letter from her father, Oswald. Just remembering that made Noah feel like he might sigh.

“No, that’s not good. That won’t do! I have to be myself when Layla wakes up, yeah.”

Lightly slapping his cheeks, Noah forced himself to switch gears. What he needed to think about now was the letter.

“In the game, Layla’s route isn’t supposed to trigger until a year from now and a letter arriving like this never happened in the game either…”

According to the game’s scenario, Layla’s father—Oswald—was supposed to come in person to the mansion where Layla worked for the protagonist. Layla would naturally reject the father who had never cared for her. After repeating that exchange two or three times, Layla would always wear an expression even sadder than her father’s. Unable to bear seeing that, the protagonist would speak up.

『You could at least try exchanging letters. If you still hate it, you can ignore him. I’ll protect you.』

With the protagonist’s words pushing her forward, Layla would begin exchanging letters with her father. Strangely enough, the letter exchange never stopped after that. Eventually, at the time of the epilogue, the two would reconcile. The catalyst was the child born between Layla and the protagonist, who melted the frozen time between father and daughter. And thus, the story would reach a happy ending.

That was, of course, assuming the player didn’t make the wrong choices. If the wrong choices were made, Noah would naturally barge in. And then, Noah would kill Layla’s father, because he knew that would deal the greatest blow to her. After all, Noah knew Layla’s weaknesses better than anyone, having worked beside her for so long. The emotional wounds that had just begun to close after the incident with Noah would be shattered in an instant.

In the end, weighed down by guilt toward Noah, whom she had nearly killed due to an allergy, and the profound grief of losing her father, Layla would take her own life. That was the game’s scenario Noah found himself remembering.

As he looked at Layla’s sleeping face, he couldn’t help but think.

What can I do for Layla…? How can I make her smile?

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Some time later. There was a soft knock at the door.

“Noah, may I come in for a moment?”

The voice belonged to Freya. When Noah responded, Freya entered the room. Seeing the two of them inside, Freya froze for a moment.

“…How is she doing?”

“Just like you can see, she’s been asleep the whole time. I’d feel better if she woke up soon.”

At Noah’s wry smile, Freya lowered her gaze.

“I see… That’s worrying. And Noah, make sure you get proper rest too, okay? If you collapse from staying up all night to care for her, Layla would be sad too.”

“Yeah… Thank you.”

Hearing the heaviness in Noah’s voice, Freya’s brows creased.

“…I should be heading home soon. And if anything happens, rely on me right away.”

As Noah tried to stand in response to her words, Freya hurriedly stopped him.

“You don’t need to see me off. Stay by her side for now.”

“Thank you, Freya. And I’m sorry I couldn’t properly welcome you today.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re friends, right? That’s only natural.”

Freya flashed a mischievous, lively grin.

“Oh, but! Next time I come, you’d better have some really expensive sweets ready! That’ll make us even for today!”

Realizing it was her own way of showing concern, Noah couldn’t help but smile. He finally felt able to let out a breath, the tension draining from his shoulders.

“Aye aye, understood. I’ll prepare some extra-sweet cookies loaded with sugar and black coffee.”

“Ah! Don’t tell me you’re holding a grudge over the day I came to apologize?!”

“Huh? I have nooo idea what you’re talking about.”

“That obvious delivery! Geez… You’re awfully cheeky for someone like you, Noah…”

“What are you, a tyrant…?”

“Who do you think I am? I’m Freya, the eldest daughter of the Present family. But still… You’re better off smiling like that.”

Cutting herself off, Freya lightly balled her fist and tapped Noah on the chest.

“I’m your best friend, Noah, so I’ll always be there for you. S-so… Hurry up and get back to normal already… Otherwise, it throws me off. A-and this is just for my sake, so don’t get the wrong idea!”

With that, Freya darted out of the room with her ears bright red. Stunned by her words, Noah’s eyes widened. After that, Noah walked over to the window and watched Freya leave.

“Thanks. I feel a little better now.”

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“Huh? Layla’s gone…”

It happened while Noah had stepped away to use the bathroom. When he returned to Layla’s room, she was gone.

“Where did she go…?”

A vague sense of dread washed over him. Panicking, he searched and managed to find Layla in the backyard. However, just as Noah was about to call out to her, he hastily closed his mouth and hid behind a tree. He felt it was better not to speak to her right now.

“Don’t mess with me! Why now, of all times?! After everything you put me through… Ah, damn it! Screw this!”

Layla hurled a bucket and a watering can lying nearby off into the distance. She kicked at fallen leaves near her feet, and even as she gasped for breath, her angry shouting didn’t subside.

After a little while…. Perhaps she had calmed down somewhat, because Layla—breathing heavily—headed back toward the mansion.

“Layla…”

Noah didn’t call out to her. More precisely, he felt he shouldn’t.

For now, I need to listen to what she has to say.

And so Noah returned to the mansion as well.

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“Ah, Noah-sama. I’m very sorry for collapsing so suddenly.”

When Noah went to Layla’s room, she was there—back to her usual self, as if what had happened earlier were an illusion. That was precisely why it hurt Noah all the more.

“No, don’t worry about it. For now, you can take today and tomorrow off work. Get some rest.”

After that, Noah took a small breath, steeled himself, and asked Layla.

“Hey, Layla. I know it’s not something I should ask right after you woke up, but… cCn I ask what the letter said?”

It was probably something like wanting to reconcile, or telling her to come home… But would that really make her lose control that badly…? At Noah’s words, Layla’s gaze drifted slightly before she answered.

“It was exactly as you’re thinking, Noah-sama. So please don’t concern yourself with it. And thank you for your consideration.”

“Huh? Ah… Yeah…”

“I’m sorry, Noah-sama. I’m already quite tired today, so please allow me to rest.”

At Layla’s vague response, Noah found himself nodding despite it all. After leaving the room, he suddenly realized something had been glossed over and looked up sharply.

“Could it be… That the letter contained something more than just the desire for reconciliation…?”

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