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~ - 40

Chapter 40: Noah, Finally to Layla…

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“F-Father…”

Layla murmured in a dazed voice, her face drained of color and her hands trembling. As if shaken by her unfocused gaze, Layla’s body swayed unsteadily.

“Layla!”

Noah hurriedly supported Layla’s unsteady body. A beat later, Oswald—Layla’s father—also tried to rush toward her.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Noah barked sharply, warding Oswald off. Oswald furrowed his brow for a moment, then let out a sigh as if giving up.

“…You’re right. Everything is my fault.”

“So then, what exactly brings you here today? From the letter, it sounded like you were simply waiting for Layla. And more importantly, how did you even enter this estate?”

Holding Layla tightly against his chest, Noah asked calmly, his voice eerily composed. But to anyone who knew him well, it was obvious he was right on the verge of exploding with rage. Oswald lowered his gaze sadly in response.

“…Yes. Noah-sama’s anger is entirely justified. I apologize for the sudden visit. I told them I was Layla’s father, and when I showed the same family crest seal that was on the letter, one of the maids let me through.”

“And then? Why did you come today?”

“I was simply worried about my daughter. I couldn’t stay away any longer, so I—”

“So you came here without any prior notice. Isn’t that rather rude behavior for someone from a baron family toward a marquis household?”

Cutting Oswald off, Noah spoke in a low, even voice. His hands were clenched so tightly they had turned white.

Hold it together. Hold it together. Hold it together…

He repeated it in his mind like a mantra. Layla had said she would try writing to her father. Noah couldn’t be the one to destroy their relationship here.

“Th-that is… I sincerely apologize.”

Oswald averted his gaze awkwardly. But he soon looked back toward Noah and Layla, speaking desperately.

“B-but I was truly worried about my daughter! I regret it so deeply! Why didn’t I stay closer to her back then? Why didn’t I support her more?”

“…Then why didn’t you take her side?”

Noah asked, his voice trembling.

“…It was for Layla’s sake. If I showed her kindness carelessly, my wife’s treatment of Layla would only have become even harsher.”

At that moment, Noah felt his emotions go cold. At the same time, Layla’s grip on him tightened. When Noah looked at her face, she was gazing back and forth between him and Oswald, her eyes wet with tears. When her eyes met Noah’s, Layla tried to smile as if to say, “It couldn’t be helped, right?” But her lips froze halfway, unable to form the smile. Her eyes wavered slightly, tears welling up. And then, in a voice trembling with tears, Layla spoke.

“…I really am hopelessly indecisive, aren’t I.”

In that instant, Noah straightened his back. An unwavering light ignited deep in his eyes, and his lips pressed tightly together. He took a single breath.

“Sorry, but could you please leave now? And could you also never involve yourself with Layla again?”

Noah’s voice was low and unnervingly calm. But that calm made Oswald catch his breath.

“You knew, didn’t you? That Layla kept remembering her home, feeling sad and miserable? That she kept having stupid fantasies about leaving this estate right away just to see you again?”

“N-Noah-sama…!”

Just as Layla tried to speak…

“Now, now, Layla-san. It’s alright. Let’s leave this to Noah-sama, okay?”

Flora, who had entered the room without anyone noticing, stopped Layla. Looking closely, tears were pooled at the corners of Flora’s eyes as well. Entrusting Layla to Flora, Noah walked toward Oswald. Then he grabbed Oswald by the front of his clothes and shouted, his voice brimming with raw emotion.

“When Layla leaves the estate, she says ‘I’m off,’ and when she comes back, she says ‘I’m home’! This place already became Layla’s home a long time ago!”

Once he started, Noah couldn’t stop. Ignoring Oswald’s stunned expression, he continued to unleash his anger on behalf of the woman he loved.

“Layla already found her place here! She’s trying to be happy here! Don’t get in the way of Layla, who’s finally looking forward to the future!”

Noah himself didn’t know why, but tears welled up at the corners of his eyes. Shaking them away, he hurled his fury at Oswald.

“Listen carefully. I’m not gentle like Layla, so I’ll say it clearly. Live your life chained to the guilt of abandoning your daughter! You hurt her and made her suffer for years, didn’t you? Then carry that pain in your chest until the day you die!”

Overwhelmed by Noah’s intensity, Oswald let out a weak cry and collapsed onto the floor.

“You hurt the person I love, and now you think you get to feel better about yourself? Don’t you dare!”

Forcing Oswald to face him, Noah declared without hesitation.

“Remember this well. Layla is mine. I’m the one who’ll make her happy. I’m the one who’ll marry her. And none of it is up to you to decide!”

Staring Oswald down as if piercing him through, Noah delivered his final words.

“It’s way too late for this… Don’t screw with me.”

“Th-that… A-Abe—sama…”

Oswald seemed so terrified that he could barely form words. And then…  At the same time his crotch darkened, a foul smell filled the air.

“Pathetic… Flora, sorry, but could you call a few guards—wait, why are you crying too?”

Layla was clinging to Flora, sobbing uncontrollably. That part made sense. But for some reason, Flora was crying too.

“Ehehe… I don’t really know why. I just thought… I’m really glad the person I love is Noah-sama.”

After taking Layla from Flora’s arms, Flora hurriedly left the room.

“Layla, let’s go back to your room.”

“Yeah.”

Supporting each other, the two of them left the room.

※※※※

The moment they entered Layla’s room, she wrapped Noah in a tight embrace.

“…Thank you very much.”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“That’s not it… If you hadn’t been there, Noah-sama, I never could have made that decision…”

“It’s fine. When that happens, I’ll make the decision for you. Let me shoulder that much.”

When Noah gently wiped away the tears pooled at the corners of Layla’s eyes, his heart pounded unbearably. And Layla turning bright red from just that made her impossibly adorable. She was usually calm and mature, but sometimes she showed a childlike side. Now he understood, she probably hadn’t been allowed much time to just be a child. So he wanted to spoil her as much as he could.

“Hey, Layla. Do you remember? Two years ago, when we were looking for Mimi-chan’s parents?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Of course… but why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“Back then, I thought how amazing a family really is. Mimi-chan had one, and I was honestly a little jealous of her.”

“Noah-sama…”

Noah let out a wry laugh. He gently stepped back from Layla. Having been so close moments ago, the distance felt a little cold. Grasping Layla’s shoulders, Noah faced her directly.

“I love you, Layla. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long. If someone like me is good enough—”

“I’ll gladly accept!”

Layla said that as she leapt forward and hugged Noah tightly.

“I love you too, Noah-sama! I may be like this, but please let me make you happy!”

“Yeah. I’ll stay by your side so you never feel lonely. I love you, Layla.”

As if on cue, they both closed their eyes. Drawn together, their faces moved closer—and they kissed.

“Hey, Layla. I’m really happy you accepted my confession, but I was actually still in the middle of talking.”

Noah said playfully, making Layla chuckle.

“If they’re Noah-sama’s children, I’ll give birth to as many as you want. Leave it to me.”

“Did you see right through me!?”

At Noah’s retort, the two of them burst into laughter together. A moment of pure happiness flowed there.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー