I Don't Know The Playthroughs Of The Returned Villainesses - Chapter 2

A week had passed since I recalled being a reincarnator.

 

Woooong

 

“Phew…”

 

I finally felt alive.

 

“Magic power, hooray.”

 

I was currently circulating magic power throughout my body, a kind of ‘physical enhancement.’

 

Woooong

 

Just circulating the meager mana I possessed revitalized my dying body.

 

“This is fantasy, alright.”

 

Mana supremacy was universal.

 

“So, what do I do now?”

 

There was nothing to do.

 

Or rather, there was a lot to do.

 

If magic was capped at the 3rd Circle, I had to reach the 3rd Circle. If aura was limited to Expert, I had to reach Expert.

 

But, I couldn’t.

 

In this world, learning magic required a substantial amount of money to become a mage’s apprentice. Similarly, aura could only be wielded after receiving instruction from an aura-wielding swordsman. This wasn’t a world where you could learn magic from reading a book or awaken aura by swinging a sword a lot. I considered myself lucky to have at least learned to manipulate magic power, even if not to the extent of using magic, when I was younger.

 

The reason I was explaining this was…

 

“I have no money.”

 

There was no money left in the mansion. My parents, having abandoned the failing family, had fled after transferring the title to me, and the butler and servants had absconded with anything of value. Though it was called a noble’s mansion, it was a mess inside.

 

“Hmm…”

 

What to do? At this rate, I wouldn’t even have the money to hire a carriage to the Academy.

 

“Is this even possible…?”

 

What was I supposed to do if the story started with this level of difficulty?

 

“Let’s do some calculations.”

 

Calling a carriage to this mansion would take two days, and traveling to the Academy would take about four days. Including the time for the carriage to arrive, I had ten days left. Within that time, I had to train, earn money, hunt for food…

 

“Oh, for fuck’s…”

 

Even I knew that was bullshit. With my body, enhanced by mana to the level of a fit commoner, there was no way I could earn that much money in just ten days.

 

“Looks like it’s over before it even began.”

 

Rrrrring

 

Just then, a phone ringing from somewhere within the dust-covered corner of my room.

 

“Huh?”

 

The identity of that orb emitting a modern-sounding alarm was a ‘crystal ball.’ While it was called a crystal ball, it was simply this world’s version of a mobile phone. A communication tool for nobles who could use mana and aura, as it reacted to both. The butler had left it behind, claiming it couldn’t be sold quickly. I had lived without anyone to contact or be contacted by, so I had forgotten about its communication function, but…

 

“Why is it ringing?”

 

You couldn’t make a call without knowing the unique code. Who was calling?

 

Rrrrring…Click

 

“Yes, this is Aron Dite.”

 

Who would know my crystal ball’s unique code, my phone number, that even I hadn’t memorized? I should have hung up, just in case it was someone dangerous, but what could I say? I was lonely.

 

“…”

 

Beyond the crystal ball, I could only see someone sitting, their face hidden by shadows.

 

“Hello?”

 

Couldn’t they say something?

 

“Is the connection bad?”

 

I remembered this was how you adjusted mana flow…

 

Hum, hum

 

I tried manipulating the mana slightly, but the crystal ball was working fine.

 

“…”

 

But the person just sat there silently. Talking to myself in front of a silent person felt awkward for the first time in a while.

 

‘To think I’d miss this awkward feeling…’

 

I must have been incredibly lonely, to be acting this crazy.

 

As I stared blankly at the crystal ball, about to lose myself in my own world,

 

“Aron Dite, is it?”

 

A deep, slightly distorted voice came through.

 

‘This is a voice modulator.’

 

I knew it instantly, even though I’d never heard it before. The reason was simple. It sounded like the poor-quality voice modulators I’d heard back in my modern life.

 

“Yes, this is Aron Dite.”

 

Since they seemed to be looking for me, I responded. It wasn’t like I’d done anything wr—

 

‘Wait, are they creditors?’

 

Were there any debts when the family went bankrupt? No, wasn’t the downfall of nobles mostly due to debt? As不安な考えが膨らんでいく中、

 

“You don’t think I’m a creditor, do you?”

 

“No, sir.”

 

I was slightly taken aback, but I couldn’t exactly admit I had considered it.

 

“Anyway, I know you need money right now.”

 

The sudden statement that they knew my situation filled my mind with countless hooks.

 

“…???”

 

How did you know that?

 

Ding

 

An additional notification sound from the crystal ball.

 

“I’ve sent a little. Let’s talk about the rest at the Academy.”

 

Zing

 

The one-sided conversation ended abruptly without any further signal.

 

“What was that all about?”

 

It was exciting to have a conversation with someone for the first time in a while, but I had no idea what was going on.

 

‘So, what did they send?’

 

They said they sent something, but what did they send…?

 

“Whoa.”

 

My financial problems were solved in an instant…

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Was I miscounting the zeros? The amount deposited was several times the cost of the carriage I was planning to hire.

 

‘…What?’

 

What did they see in me to send this much money? Did they know me?

 

“Someone who knows my crystal ball’s unique code and that I’m broke right now…”

 

Wait.

 

Flip

 

I quickly opened the folded penalty window.

 

‘…the saved memory data will be restored to those who tried to remember you.’

 

Yes, that was the phrase written in the penalty window.

 

‘Restore memory data.’

 

“Then… could it be?”

 

It was probably that ‘could it be.’

 

“The person who sent this money is my comrade who remembers the previous playthroughs?”

 

I couldn’t stop myself from grinning.

 

‘This is the first hopeful news in this messed-up situation.’

 

I felt like crying.

 

Clap

 

I slapped both my cheeks hard.

 

“This isn’t the time for this.”

 

This was ten days my comrade had bought me. Ten whole days. During that time, I had to at least reach the 2nd Circle in magic or build up my physical strength.

 

“Let’s do this!”

 

I had to muster up some nonexistent fighting spirit. I put the crystal ball down on the desk and quickly headed out of the mansion.

 

I didn’t know at the time.

 

That the people whose memories had been restored were ‘multiple.’

 

Who exactly among them had sent me the money.

 

Whether the person I considered my comrade was ‘good’ or ‘evil.’

 

In a dark alley, illuminated only by the shadows of buildings cast by the moonlight, someone emerged.

 

Step, step

 

The moonlight, spreading through the black shadows, began to illuminate her. Ash-grey hair, which could almost be mistaken for white in the darkness of the night, highlighted by the moonlight. Golden eyes that not even the shadows of night could conceal, absorbing the moonlight.

 

She tossed the coat she was wearing to her subordinates waiting at the entrance of the alley.

 

“Keep this safe.”

 

“”Yes!””

 

Her single command energized her subordinates. They shouted with vigor, oblivious to the late hour.

 

“Sigh…”

 

She simply sighed, seemingly accustomed to it, and moved on.

 

“Did the transaction go well?”

 

An elderly gentleman suddenly appeared beside her.

 

“Yes. It was a very satisfactory transaction.”

 

She replied casually.

 

“Sending money unilaterally is a transaction… That’s unusual for the ‘Empress.'”

 

However, the old gentleman, having secretly observed the whole situation, began to lower his voice, as if trying to exert pressure, like he had grasped her weakness.

 

“Indeed…that kind of money is like a necklace for a male prostitute to yo…”

 

At that moment.

 

Swish

 

A dagger flew towards his throat.

 

Trickle

 

The dagger’s trajectory barely missed, grazing his neck slightly.

 

But,

 

He felt it.

 

‘If I don’t stop talking, it will cut deeper.’

 

As if to prove it, his whole body was trembling. From the energy emanating from the young girl standing before him.

 

No.

 

Killing intent.

 

Crack

 

An inexplicable pressure. Just the faint mana emitted along with the killing intent cracked the old gentleman’s glasses.

 

Step

 

Very slowly,

 

Step

 

She approached him.

 

Crackle

 

As she drew closer, the killing intent directed at the old gentleman grew heavier.

 

Rumble

 

The slight pressure gradually transformed into an overwhelming force crushing his entire being.

 

Finally, the old gentleman,

 

Thump

 

Knelt before her. Defeated by nothing more than killing intent infused with mana.

 

Step

 

She finally reached him, close enough to touch.

 

Slide

 

She slid her finger along his chin, lifting it up. Like a wolf selecting its prey.

 

“You don’t want to die, do you? Why did you stop talking?”

 

“I…I’m s…sorry…”

 

“Quiet.”

 

Thud

 

Five daggers embedded themselves in his thighs.

 

Press

 

She placed her foot gently on the daggers protruding from his thighs and began to press down slowly.

 

“Ugh…ugh!”

 

An act purely for inflicting pain. She no longer saw him as a business partner. In her eyes, he was ‘prey.’ She recognized herself as the ‘predator.’

 

The old gentleman…no, he could no longer be called a gentleman, looked at her with a distorted expression.

 

“The reason I’m cooperating with small-minded people like you, whose ambitions are limited to devouring a single kingdom, is not because I need you.”

 

This was not a conversation, but a warning.

 

“Mine.”

 

Each word,

 

“Insult him, you die.”

 

Emphasized with a pause.

 

“If you try to climb over me again, I’ll hang your entire family upside down on the palace gates, understand?”

 

…Nod, nod

 

He simply nodded, his face devoid of sanity.

 

Flick

 

She glanced at him with the look of a child observing a broken toy and turned away.

 

Swoosh

 

Her shadow expanded, and from within, something resembling black butlers emerged.

 

“What shall we do?”

 

One of the shadow-like butlers asked her.

 

“Dispose of him as usual.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Bow

 

The something bowed and, leaving her shadow, began to run through the darkness of the night.

 

“Now, soon.”

 

She twirled a strand of her long hair around her finger, rubbing it against her cheek. As if trying to hide her flushed face.

 

At that moment,

 

Twitch

 

Ears popped out from between her hair. They began to flutter back and forth, unable to conceal her excitement.

 

“M…Master. Your ears are showing…”

 

One of the lumps that emerged from the shadow tried to tell her, but

 

“Shhh.”

 

She simply shushed him.

 

“Let’s enjoy ourselves comfortably today. I haven’t even taken out my tail, have I?”

 

Flick, flick

 

She made a gesture as if brushing off her hands.

 

Bow

 

They simply bowed and retreated into the shadows.

 

‘Just who is the Empress so interested in…’

 

With a slight curiosity,

 

After they returned to the shadows, she pondered.

 

‘Instead of a necklace… should I buy a collar?’