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 12

“Could there really be a child in this restricted forest?!”

“…Yes, Cain-niisama. The tree spirits told me. About 400 meters north of here, a boy is being attacked by a pack of Black Wolves.”

Selvia had gleaned this information from the tree spirits. As the Saint of the World Tree, she could communicate with the spirits of plants and trees, gaining their guidance and blessings.

I didn’t stop to think—I acted immediately.

“Kya!? Cain-niisama?!”

Scooping Selvia into a princess carry, I bolted toward the source of the disturbance.

“Sorry for the abruptness, Selvia. Once we spot the monsters, hit them with Albidus Fire!”

Against a pack of monsters, a wide-range attack like Albidus Fire was far more effective than individually slashing them with my sword. If the boy was under attack by carnivorous Black Wolves, there wasn’t a moment to lose.

“Even if you can’t take them all out, just distract them long enough for me to handle the rest!”
“Y-yes, I’ll do my best, even though it’s my first try!”

Selvia clung tightly to me as she nodded, determination in her eyes.

“Just be careful not to hit the boy with the flames! If you can communicate with the spirits of the Flower of Albidus, you should be able to control it.”
“Understood!”

I sprinted through the forest, my body moving like the wind.

All my daily runs had paid off—my stamina and leg strength had noticeably improved.

Soon, we emerged into a clearing. A pack of wolf-like monsters had surrounded a young boy.

“Here I go! Albidus Fire!”

Selvia raised her hand, launching a small fireball from Petit Fire. As soon as it ignited the flammable gas summoned from the Flower of Albidus, it erupted into an inferno, spreading rapidly and engulfing the pack of Black Wolves.

“Wh-what the heck?!”

The boy, around twelve years old, had fallen back in shock, his legs giving out beneath him. The wolves that had been baring their fangs at him were suddenly consumed by flames.

“…This is… far more powerful than I expected,” Selvia murmured, blinking in astonishment at the blazing destruction.

“Hey, over here! I’m your opponent now!”

I charged forward, slashing down the few remaining wolves that Selvia hadn’t managed to hit.

“Gyauuu!”

The Black Wolves let out cries of pain as they were sliced apart. My Blade of the Black Moon added dark attribute damage, engulfing their bodies in black flames. They disintegrated, leaving no trace behind.

“Amazing…”

The boy stared, wide-eyed, at the scene.

“You took out a B-rank Black Wolf with a single strike… Cain-niisama, your swordsmanship is incredible,” Selvia said.
“No, this was your achievement, Selvia,” I replied, setting her gently back on the ground.

Only then did I become acutely aware of how soft and delicate Selvia’s body felt in my arms, and I found myself blushing.

“Ah… I wish Cain-niisama had held me a little longer,” Selvia sighed wistfully.
“I-it was an emergency!”

It struck me that this was the first time I’d ever done a princess carry—even in my past life. And to think I’d done it with my favorite heroine brought to life… I felt like I might explode from embarrassment.

“Well, then, emergencies aren’t so bad,” Selvia said, smiling mischievously.

“Hey! Who… who even are you two?! That magic and swordsmanship… Are you adventurers?!”

The boy, still sitting on the ground, exclaimed in awe.

“No, we’re not adventurers. I’m Selvia Fernand, a noble,” Selvia introduced herself.
“And I’m Cain Schwarz, the son of this land’s lord,” I added, extending a hand to help the boy up.

“What were you doing in this forest? It’s restricted because of the dangerous monsters that roam here.”
“Cain Schwarz? Y-you’re that infamous…”

The boy hesitated, blinking in disbelief as he took my hand.

My reputation preceded me—unfavorably so. Given my previous behavior of lashing out at both servants and commoners, it was no surprise.

I let out a wry chuckle as I helped him to his feet. Judging by his appearance, he was likely a drifter. Because of that, he probably wasn’t as afraid of me as the local villagers might be. In a way, that made things easier for me.

“Hey! It’s rude to speak like that after Cain-niisama just saved you!”

Selvia frowned, clearly displeased with the boy’s tone.

“Cain-niisama is the kindest, most handsome, and most amazing man in the world!”

“Whoa?!”

I nearly jumped out of my skin at Selvia’s sudden declaration.

Wasn’t that a bit too much to say to someone we’d just met? I… I was flattered, though.