I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble, Nothing More Than the Hero’s Foil: Since the Hero Can Only Bring Misery to My Favorite Heroine, I’ll Use My Game Knowledge and Over-the-Top Effort to Rewrite the Scenario and Make Her Happy. - Chapter 10

Selvia’s Perspective

Two weeks later—

“Cain-niisama! I did it! Just like you taught me, I was able to master the advanced skill Quick Chanting Level 1 in only two weeks!”

Overjoyed, I threw my arms around Cain-niisama in the hallway. I couldn’t wait another moment to share the news and receive his praise.

“Already?! That’s incredible, Selvia!”
“Ehehe.”

Cain-niisama gently patted my head, and a wave of bliss washed over me. It felt so wonderful—pure happiness.

“Yes! I was amazed that all I needed to do was chant Petit Fire fifty times a day. Even as a beginner, I could manage that.”
“The Quick Chanting skill gains proficiency whenever you cast a spell in under three seconds. Repeating simple beginner-level spells is the most efficient way to master it.”
“Wow, such a clever trick! I doubt anyone else knows about this!”
“…Probably not. Most mages in this world focus on mastering powerful advanced spells as a mark of status. That mindset likely explains why Quick Chanting is so rare.”

As expected of Cain-niisama. His wisdom knows no bounds.

“In magical combat, the first spell to land often determines the outcome. If your chant is interrupted by an attack, the spell is canceled. Accuracy and speed are what truly define a mage’s strength—flashiness is unnecessary.”
“That’s so insightful! Thank you for teaching me!”

To think that he would share such valuable knowledge with me… I’m certain that studying under Cain-niisama is far better than attending any magic academy.

“But you mastered Quick Chanting so quickly because of your own hard work. Amazing job, Selvia. I suggested thirty repetitions a day, but you went above and beyond with fifty!”
“Yes! Seeing how seriously you dedicate yourself to swordsmanship inspired me to push myself. If I’m to proudly call myself your fiancée, I need to keep up with you!”
“Whoa… That means a lot to me. But don’t overdo it, okay?”
“Are you really one to talk, Cain-niisama? Aren’t you pushing yourself with those 3,000 daily swings? Please take care of yourself.”

I pulled out a potion and handed it to Cain-niisama. At first glance, it appeared to be an ordinary healing potion.

“Here you go. I enhanced this potion with extracts from the magical plant Mandragora. It’s now a High-Potency Healing Potion (Ex-Potion). Drinking it will instantly relieve your fatigue.”

Cain-niisama’s face showed clear signs of exhaustion, likely from overworking himself. There were even bruises on his handsome features, probably from training with a wooden sword.

I wanted to use my power as the Saint of the World Tree to secretly heal him, but I couldn’t risk exposing my abilities.

Through trial and error, I created this High-Potency Healing Potion. Using my Apothecary Level 1 skill, I could craft such potions as long as I had the proper ingredients.

Ehehe. Taking care of my beloved husband’s health is a wife’s responsibility, after all.

“Really? It just looks like a regular potion…”

Cain-niisama took a sip, and his eyes widened in surprise.

“Whoa! My fatigue is completely gone!”
“Really? I’m so glad! I’m happy to be of use to you!”
“Yeah, this is incredible. Thank you so much!”

Overjoyed, Cain-niisama patted my head even more.

Proud of myself, I explained enthusiastically.
“Eheh! This High-Potency Healing Potion is also highly effective for treating injuries. But please, try not to get hurt, okay?”
“Selvia, you’re amazing. I’ll make good use of this. Thank you.”
“Yes!”

Being praised by Cain-niisama made me feel like I was on top of the world. I had to work even harder to be of more help to him.

“Cain-niisama, you said you’d guide me to become the strongest. What should I do next? Should I focus on improving Quick Chanting?”
“That’s important too, but continue avoiding any magic outside the fire attribute for now. Next, we’ll head to the forest…”

Just as Cain-niisama was about to share his plan, Father’s angry voice echoed from the nearby drawing room.

“Monster subjugation? That’s the adventurers’ guild’s job! The glorious Schwarz family’s soldiers are not meant for such lowly tasks!”
“B-but Count! The monster, the Bl00d Bear, is classified as an A-rank threat! It’s so ferocious that even the adventurers’ guild has declared it untouchable!”
“Please, we beg you! Send the soldiers!”
“Enough! I’ve said we will not squander valuable resources on such trifling matters!”

It seemed Father was arguing with village leaders who had come to plead for help.

Protecting the people is a lord’s duty, but our soldiers were already tied up clearing the mithril mine of monsters. Apparently, the mine was infested with a particularly dangerous horde, leaving no troops to spare.

“A Bl00d Bear, huh? Perfect.”

Cain-niisama suddenly flung open the drawing room doors and declared,
“Father, I will take care of the Bl00d Bear myself!”

“What?!”
“You will?!”
“Y-young Master?!”

When I entered the room after him, everyone looked utterly stunned.

After all, Cain-niisama was only level 5. He had just begun his swordsmanship training. Wasn’t this tantamount to walking into certain death?

“Y-young Master, are you sure?”
“Of course.”

The village leaders scrambled to curry favor with Cain-niisama, though their demeanor revealed their low opinion of him.

It infuriated me. How could they not see how noble, kind, and capable he truly was?

This could be an opportunity, though—a chance for Cain-niisama to prove his greatness.

Although an A-rank monster is formidable and ordinarily this would be reckless, I had faith that Cain-niisama, with his heroic wisdom, had a plan.

“Cain-niisama, I will accompany you!”

The danger was real, but with my power as the Saint of the World Tree, I would protect him at all costs.

“Ah, is that the so-called ‘false saint’ I’ve been hearing about?”
“I heard she was exiled for deceiving the royal family.”

The village leaders openly sneered at me.

Ugh…

Even though it was a consequence of my own actions, being looked down upon like this was painful.

“Don’t you dare call Selvia a false saint!” Cain-niisama interjected, stepping in front of me.
“She never claimed to be a saint. That was the church’s mistake, not hers. Don’t insult her.”
“O-of course, Young Master! Our apologies!”

Warmth spread through my chest. Even when acting stern, Cain-niisama always had a reason behind his actions. He was truly the greatest man in the world.

“Cain, are you serious? We can’t spare any soldiers. The best I can offer is Lancelot.”
“Father, I won’t need Lancelot. Selvia and I will handle this ourselves.”
“What?!”

Father was utterly shocked.

“Don’t worry, Count,” Lancelot said, stepping forward with a knowing smile.
“The young master reached Swordsmanship Level 3 in just two weeks. Combined with his unique skill Blade of the Black Moon, he’s more than capable of taking on a Bl00d Bear. His growth is… truly monstrous.”

“What?! Level 3 already?! That’s the realm of a seasoned knight!”

I, too, was stunned.

“Cain-niisama, I thought you were at Level 2 just yesterday?”
“Thanks to this morning’s sparring session with Lancelot, I was able to level up again. Thank you, Lancelot.”
“Your gratitude humbles me. Teaching you swordsmanship is my life’s purpose.”

His growth was nothing short of miraculous.

Talent alone couldn’t explain it—Cain-niisama’s efforts must be extraordinary.

“Leave this to me,” Cain-niisama said, gently patting my head.
“Besides, the Schwarz family’s forest is perfect. It holds everything we need to make you stronger, Selvia.”