I Was Reincarnated as the Villain Who Confines the Heroine in an Eroge World, But for Some Reason I'm the One Getting Confined by the Heroine Instead - Chapter 41.1: It's the Villain's Job to Save the Heroine

Chapter 41.1: It’s the Villain’s Job to Save the Heroine

“—Do you like grapes?”

If someone asked me that, I would answer without hesitation that I do.

Most people would probably say the same, and if anyone said they hated them, I planned to force-feed them grapes until they admitted they liked them, insisting, “You just don’t know real grapes.”

As a result, in my previous life I lost friends and got fired from multiple part-time jobs at restaurants, but that’s beside the point.

The issue here is what kind of people these guys are.

“Ask-kun!”

As I scanned the thieves around us, Safira, still bound, called out.

“Safira likes grapes, right?”

“Forget that—why are you here?”

“Forget that?”

“This place is dangerous. You have to run away now.”

It shocked me that she ignored my question, but I could tell she was worried about my safety.

“You’re the one in danger, aren’t you? You’re all tied up.”

“I’m fine. They’re only taking me hostage, so they won’t kill me.”

She said that with a smile on her face.

It was a smile, yet somehow fragile.

“Being a hostage isn’t okay!”

“It’s fine. This is the choice I made.”

She looked at me with eyes full of resolve.

“No, it’s not okay.”

There’s no way it’s all right for her to be a hostage.

Even if they won’t take her life, there’s no guarantee she’ll be treated decently.

“Well, whatever. Just watch from over there for now.”

“Ask-kun?”

I said only that and then ran toward her.

“Whoa⁉︎”

“What the hell is this guy⁉︎”

I punched out the thieves surrounding her one after another. I had no weapon, so I used my bare hands, but that was plenty.

It somehow felt like Safira’s fighting style.

While thinking that, I sensed killing intent and turned my gaze toward it. It seemed to come from Lord Masquerade.

“……………………”

The man who had been silently observing me until now stepped forward with a sadistic smile.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Just as I was about to charge with magic, Lavanda’s accusing voice rang out.

“Why are you trying to help the young lady? This is clearly an act of betrayal.”

“—Lavanda, do you like grapes?”

“That doesn’t matter—answer me quickly. What are you, exactly!”

“That doesn’t matter?”

It hurt to be ignored so openly, but I could tell Lavanda was shocked.

“There’s nothing to explain. I’m just a villain who cherishes grapes and Safira, that’s all.”

Nothing more, nothing less.

It’s true that the original me might have belonged to the organization, but the current me follows grape-first principles.

Anyone who tramples a vineyard deserves judgment.

That was the meaning behind my words, but—

“Safira?”

She was glaring at me fiercely.

“Are you putting grapes and me on the same level, Ask-kun?”

“Yeah, but…”

“…You idiot, Ask-kun.”

“Why?”

I didn’t really understand, but she got mad at me anyway.

Grapes being on the same level meant I was devoting my life to her, too.

“I understand now. It seems you were a double agent. In other words, an enemy.”

Lavanda said that with sharp eyes and pulled a knife from under her skirt.

“Step back.”

Lord Masquerade stopped Lavanda just as she seemed ready to lunge.

“You are no match for him. I will handle this personally.”

“But…”

“—I am drawing my blade. You understand what that means, don’t you?”

Warned in a low voice, Lavanda lowered her head and stepped back.

“Then I shall be your opponent.”

His gaze shifted straight from Lavanda to me.

He had the presence of a true master. There wasn’t a single opening, and if I rushed in carelessly, I would be cut in half.

But that didn’t matter to me.

“Hey, Masquerade.”

While calling the enemy’s name, I picked up the sword Safira had dropped. I took my stance and repeated the question.

“—Do you like grapes?”

“I hate them. More than anything in the world.”

“I see. Then I’m going all out.”

With that, I charged.

—To destroy anyone who harms grapes.

※

—The tips of our swords sparked.

Sound, light, and our shadows clashed against each other.

The intermittent screeching of metal dominated the area, looking almost like sparks flying.

Even in the midst of such a fierce battle, Lord Masquerade smiled quietly.

A sadistic smile. The attitude of a mid-boss straight out of a game.

Yet his skill was undeniable; every movement was precise and without waste, and his footwork when parrying attacks was overwhelming.

It was no wonder Safira couldn’t beat him.

The original Luxol overwhelmed opponents with sheer speed. His fighting style was completely different from Safira’s power-based approach.

“What’s wrong? Is that all you’ve got?”

“Wine is described as light-bodied, medium-bodied, or full-bodied, you know.”

After putting some distance between us, I lectured the provoking Lord Masquerade.

“It basically refers to the weight of the wine. Light-bodied is fresh and light, full-bodied is rich and powerful.”

“And what of it?”

Lord Masquerade asked without averting his eyes.

“If I compared your sword to wine, it would be light-bodied. It’s light. Too light.”

“っ—!”

The moment I said that, his calm face twisted in an instant.

“Are you saying I’m weak?”

“Yeah. You’re weak because you don’t eat grapes. Everything feels light because you don’t eat grapes.”

“…You’ve got some nerve. Then I’ll get serious too.”

An angry Lord Masquerade attacked.

—A diagonal slash.

The sword tip drew an arc aiming for my shoulder.

I instinctively pulled my arm back to block, sliding our blades together.

Sparks flew, the impact forced me back, and the dirt at my feet exploded upward.

That dirt slammed into the grape leaves with force, shaking them violently, roots and all.

“Grapes!”

What if my precious grapes get damaged? Don’t mess around.

Furious, I swung my sword down with full strength.

—A single slash.

“Wh—!”