The Strongest Villain, Who Had Secluded Himself Deep in the Mountains To Avoid the Destruction Flag, Is Forced Onto the Main Stage by the Heroine He Helped

To begin with, doesn’t the death flag only raise if it involves the capture targets and the protagonist?

Alba was now getting deeply involved in the main storyline and he could not do anything about it.

Initially, Alba had no intention of attending the academy.

Being on the main stage inevitably leads to game flags rolling nearby. If he didn’t go there, he wouldn’t die.

However, now he’s been forced onto the main stage due to the Pope’s threat and one of the main heroine’s smiles.

So, from here on, he must avoid his own destruction flag through his actions.

Alba’s death is only relevant to the heroines’ stories.

If he simply avoids getting involved with the heroines, he won’t get involved in their routes.

In other words, as long as he doesn’t stick his neck into the heroine’s route, he won’t die.

Nevertheless, he’s already gotten involved with two people so far, but there’s no helping that. Let’s switch our focus.

Now, why did Alba suddenly start thinking about this?

It’s because…

“That guy… is the trash son of the Duke, right?”

“Wasn’t he supposed to be dead?”

“Worst of all, he managed to be in the same class as the Saint-sama and Ireina-sama. Who would’ve thought he was alive?”

…Right from the beginning, his true identity had already been exposed.

‘Yeah, well… I knew this would happen soon.’

Whispers of his past filled the air. Whether because he appeared wearing a mask or for some other reason, the gazes of the entire classroom were fixed on Alba and his companions.

It’s only natural that the more attention he gathers, the more people there are who notice that Alba, with his changed hair color, is the scumbag son of the Duke’s family. Thus, shortly after starting school, Alba was already gaining recognition as the trash son.

“I thought it would turn out like this after all.”

Facing Alba from the corner of the classroom was a red-haired girl.

Resting her cheek on her hand, she murmured as if it were someone else’s affair.

“Hey, Ireina, why don’t you go somewhere else? If you stay together in the same space as him, you’ll just attract more attention.”

“It’s too late for that. If you really mean it, you should start by distancing him from the Saint.”

“I’ll do my best after this.”

Distancing themselves immediately wasn’t possible.

After all, the Saint who would be better off apart right now was currently sitting on Alba’s lap with puffed-up cheeks.

“Why is the Saint on that trash’s lap…”

“Could it be that he threatened the Saint?”

“That’s something he might actually do. Seriously, he’s the worst.”

However, there will be another time to argue about it later.

Even as this was happening, the unfair gossip that he hadn’t heard in a long time was spreading further.

“Muu… Everyone is talking bad about you, Al-kun!”

“One of the reasons is the young lady, you know? Come on, get down already.”

“If they will badmouth you, the goddess won’t stay silent and punish them!”

“Ireina, it seems like the time for you to help has come. Try to smoothly engage in conversation with the Young Lady if possible.”

“I’m sorry, but it seems I can’t help you right away.”

“Sigh…”

Alba sighed deeply in response to Sheria, who wasn’t listening to the conversation.

The plump sensation and the faint sweet scent could truly be described with the words “supreme ecstasy,” but the situation was what it was.

If he didn’t stop acting clingy, he might eventually be shunned by various connections.

‘It’s okay. As long as I don’t get involved with other heroines, I won’t die, and at worst, the Pope will cover it up for me…!’

“What are you thinking, Al-kun?”

Alba’s current earnest wish was…

“I can’t stand it anymore! I’m going to complain!”

Saying that, Sheria, who had been sitting on Alba’s lap to avoid other girls from approaching him, finally stood up.

But, of course, there was no time to feel regret or happiness.

If Sheria were to say something strange here, the situation would only worsen.

“Well, hold on, Sheria. I don’t really care about being spoken ill of. I came here with that kind of determination. Just so you know, this isn’t just for your sake─”

“Hey! You can’t talk badly about people!”

“He’s not here anymore, you know?”

“Damn it!”

Sheria’s determination was evident in a single word.

“Fine… I guess I’ll go try to interact with my classmates.”

“Take care.”

“…..”

“…Please come with me.”

“Sigh… I thought you’d ask that.”

If the Duke’s daughter, Ireina, were here, most people would likely become quiet. To break the current situation in which Sheria, who was probably in a fit of rage, had gotten involved, this piece was essential.

That’s why Alba bowed his head and asked Ireina for help, looking somewhat pathetic.

“But, Saint-sama, you don’t know about that scoundrel son…”

“It’s still not okay! Bad Mouthing others will eventually come back to haunt you!”

Before they knew it, as they approached Sheria on the other side, they could see her already worked up. The people in the group were a diverse bunch. Nobles and commoners alike, some were cowed by Sheria being a saint, some seemed like they wanted to say something, and then─

“Why does Saint-sama defend that trash son? Regardless, a trash is trash, isn’t he?”

The moment Alba reached where Sheria was, a man stepped forward.

Was he a noble? Behind him, students who seemed to be his entourage appeared in a dignified manner.

One of the students who had been talking to Sheria just earlier called out in a flustered manner, addressing the smiling man provocatively.

“Hey!”

“It’s fine, really. Whether that trash son lives or not, he’s as good as dead now. He’s no longer a noble, anyway. No matter what you say, things won’t be the same as before.”

Alba’s ability to live as he pleased had much to do with his connection to the Duke’s family. However, now he was treated as a deceased individual and no longer considered noble.

Certainly, the man was right; anything he said would likely not be met with retaliation.

“Ugh, it’s not about that! It’s not about status, it’s about being humane—”

“Yeah, yeah… Sheria, stop now.”

Alba intervened as Sheria was about to engage in a full-blown argument.

“Alba, doesn’t it make you sad when they say those things?”

“Well, well, calm down. I don’t mind, and it’s the truth, so it’s not a problem. Besides, I don’t want to cause a commotion, you know?”

Alba didn’t want to stand out. He didn’t want to have any connection with the heroine because of something like this. If he could avoid it just by being insulted, insults didn’t matter to him.

Sheria should understand that Alba didn’t want to stand out, but she must have become fed up because her true identity had been revealed. While he appreciated her concern for him, it was what it was.

Anyway, Alba looked into Sheria’s eyes with sincerity.

“Understood…”

Whether his feelings got through or not, Sheria quieted down.

“I understand what Alba is trying to say.”

“Did you really understand?”

“Basically, it means we should all unite and crush this person with the power of the church, right?”

“No way… I didn’t say that.”

“Okay, okay, calm down.”

Seeing the situation wouldn’t settle down, Ireina, who had followed them, intervened.

At her appearance, the people around took a step back. However, the student who had stepped forward earlier didn’t retreat; instead, he confronted Ireina.

“Ireina-sama! Why do you support that person, is that because he is your former fiancé? You should naturally be on our side…”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

“Hey!”

“But I have my own complicated circumstances and emotions too. After all, we were childhood friends.”

As Ireina said this, she pulled Alba’s ear.

Is pulling ears a recent trend? That’s what Alba was wondering right now.

“First of all, what are you trying to achieve by provoking someone who has already quieted down after being told such things? You might not get a retaliatory response, but now you all could end up in the same position as the person before. So, why bother stirring the pot further?”

With those words, the people around started showing awkward expressions all at once.

Indeed, if one were to do the same thing they were done to just because they were hurt, they would become just like the person they despised.

There might be dissatisfaction, but it seemed they didn’t want to stoop to the same level. Those awkward expressions were signs of them reluctantly accepting the situation.

However…

“…It’s not me that Ireina-sama is interested in, but this person!”

The man in front of them was agitated, his anger seemed to be growing even stronger.

Seeing that, Alba tilted his head in confusion.

“Hmm… It seems like this guy has an attachment to Ireina-san, huh?”

“He’s the one who’s been trying to approach her multiple times ever since she broke off the engagement, right?”

“I see, so he is being jealous right now?”

“Probably. It’s all your fault, by the way.”

“Young lady, I’ll apologize later and bow down, so please don’t step on my heels.”

Alba received the explanation in a hushed voice and, despite feeling the pain, he understood the situation.

And then, at that moment, a pair of white gloves made contact with Alba’s chest.

Hmm, who could have thrown them? Wondering, he picked up the gloves and turned his gaze forward.