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 - Chapter 41 : Epilogue
Having enjoyed Mina’s bento, Alba felt like he was finally returning to his everyday life.
That being said, only a few days had passed since he entered this new environment. Calling it a return to normalcy somehow felt unsettling.
‘I miss those days of seclusion in the mountains…’
Returning to the newly assigned house, Alba lay back on the sofa, lost in thought.
Now that he thought about it, he felt like he had adapted to this world quite quickly.
There were moments when he almost forgot he was a former Japanese, and there were days when he didn’t think about the other side at all. It seemed his awareness had adapted quite well.
However, it felt like he was living through rather dramatic days.
‘…Hmm.’
In just a year, he had left his home, accidentally saved one of the main heroine, spent time together with her in the mountains, attended school due to the Pope’s blackmail, endured duels, defeated magical beasts during extracurricular activities, defeated a cult to save Sheria, and even saved Mina… Isn’t that a bit too much? Just thinking about it made him realize how far he had strayed from the idea of living quietly.
Now, he pondered if there was a way to peacefully avoid the destruction flags. Ignoring the fact that he had interacted with almost all the characters, Alba began to contemplate this.
At that moment, Sheria’s face suddenly filled Alba’s field of vision.
“What are you thinking, Alba?”
It seemed Sheria, who was preparing for bedtime, was peering at him.
Her lovely and elegant features on the side were quite a sight to behold.
“Hmm… I was just reminiscing about when I first met you,” Alba replied.
“Really?!”
Sheria’s eyes sparkled with joy.
Was there anything in the current conversation to make her so happy? Nevertheless, since it was true that he had been reminiscing, Alba affirmed her statement.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Well, if you ever need stories to tell at our wedding, I have plenty!”
“Sorry, I might have been mistaken while hearing you.”
As the conversation became increasingly unclear, Alba quickly changed the subject.
“But, Alba-kun, while I’m happy that you remembered, lying down on the sofa like this might make you catch a cold before bedtime.”
“Okay.”
Following Sheria’s advice, Alba sat up.
Indeed, he had finished various preparations and tidying up, and it was about time to go to bed. If he continued to lounge around here, he might fall asleep accidentally, so it might be better to head to bed soon.
Thinking so, Alba got up and headed for the bedroom.
Then, suddenly…
“Alba…”
With a soft sound, he was hugged from behind.
A gentle touch and a sweet fragrance enveloped his senses. Alba’s heart skipped a beat at the typically female intimacy, but he turned to Sheria with a calm demeanor.
“What’s wrong? Did you suddenly decide to be clingy before bed?”
“Well, you see…”
Despite having clung to his back, Sheria now buried her face in his chest.
Getting hugged by a bewitchingly beautiful girl was making it hard for him to resist the temptations. Alba couldn’t help but feel touched, or rather, he couldn’t help but enjoy this.
Alba scratched his cheek while Sheria snuggled closer against him.
However, Sheria had a reason for saying this now…
“I’m glad I met you, Alba.”
“Now that’s completely out of nowhere, huh?”
Alba thought while gently stroking Sheria’s head.
But in Sheria’s heart, there was a reason for saying this now.
If she thought about it carefully, she had been targeted for assassination, nearly killed many times. No matter how kind a saintly girl she was, she couldn’t just erase those fears.
She didn’t hate Mina, but there were certain emotions she couldn’t erase.
But with Alba by her side, all those feelings seemed to disappear. She had held back her accumulated anxiety until now, but she couldn’t hold back anymore, so she clung to him and wanted to express her gratitude for being with her.
‘Alba is my hero…’
If she hadn’t met Alba before coming to the academy.
If she had been rejected after being saved.
If fate had been a little twisted, and she hadn’t met Alba…
Sheria didn’t know what she would have done if that were to happen.
But even if she were told such things, she would probably answer, “It doesn’t matter.” She had nothing but gratitude for meeting Alba.
“I’m glad I got to meet Sheria too,” Alba said with a wry smile, despite being dragged into various troublesome situations.
Could those troublesome situations include what happened earlier? Now that she thought about it, Sheria felt like she hadn’t properly thanked Alba.
Recalling it now, Sheria nervously began, “Um, Alba! Tha—”
Just as she started to speak, Alba’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.
“That’s why it’s natural for me to think about you. If you keep thanking me for something so ordinary, you’ll get tired, you know?”
Sheria closed her mouth. What was she about to say? Alba tilted his head in confusion.
And then…
“Thank you, Alba,” Sheria said with the brightest smile he has ever seen.
If gratitude was ordinary, she would convey words of appreciation instead. Sheria knew better than anyone how hard Alba had worked.
So, she decided to show her appreciation once again, including for what happened recently. She spoke words born of trust and gratitude, and hugged Alba tightly.
“Yeah, thanks,” Alba finally understood the intention, and continued to pat her head.
…Just so you know, Alba was also grateful.
He genuinely appreciated this side of Sheria that leaned on him. But more than that, in a world where he had no allies, having someone like her by his side was even more gratifying.
He was thankful, and he treasured her.
That’s why he decided to protect her back then, and he was sure he could do it for Sheria in the future too.
If he had one wish, it would be for them to live in peace without such things happening.
Alba prayed quietly to some deity while holding onto Sheria in his embrace.
“Well, I guess it’s time to go to bed.”
“Yes!”
It had been a few years since Alba reincarnated as the worst villain.
The story had changed. It showed a bit of change due to his influence.
What will happen from now on? What kind of story would confront Alba in his life?
He didn’t know. Maybe, he would never know anything again.
However, Alba wished for this everyday life to continue.
That’s why Alba would continue to strive with all his might to avoid the death flags.
That was the strange yet unchanged goal of the boy who had reincarnated as a villain.
“Alba-kun, by the way, today I received a letter from the Pope, and it said, ‘I heard you’re putting my daughter in danger, huh? Show your face, I’ll beat you to a pulp and kill you’.”
“Oh, I have to prepare for a midnight escape before going to sleep.”
“And, I also received letters from Tina and Lady Michaela saying, ‘You’ll pay for this, you know? We’ll make you regret it’.”
“Oh no, I’ll be killed by the church before I can avoid the death flags!!”
However, the path to that goal seemed difficult and uncertain.
☆☆☆☆☆☆
TL/N : This concludes the end of this novel. I know the ending feels a little rushed and there were lots of interactions left with other capture targets, but the author decided to end the story this way.
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TL : Zenon#4120