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 40

[Abel’s Perspective]

“Waaah! This is amazing, Abel! The buildings are so big and beautiful! This is the royal capital, isn’t it!?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

I watched Sophie, who was leaning out of the carriage in excitement, with disinterest.

I am Abel, the Hero, fifteen years old. I was born an ordinary villager with no special talents—

That is, until a few days ago, when an angel descended from the heavens and proclaimed that I was the Hero destined to defeat the Demon King.

In that instant, my level skyrocketed to 99.

I acquired over 100 different skills and mastered the legendary Light Magic, a power only Heroes could wield.

Just like that, I had become the strongest human alive.

The euphoria I felt in that moment was indescribable.

“Welcome, Hero Abel, to the 100th iteration of this world. You will begin this cycle with all of your previous stats and abilities carried over.”

The angel had said something along those lines, but I was too overwhelmed with joy to pay attention.

After all, I had always dreamed of being the protagonist—the Hero destined to slay the Demon King.

Yes… but more than anything—this power!

I could crush the bandits who attacked my village with my bare hands.

With a flick of my fingers, my Light Magic reduced monsters to nothing but dust.

The villagers praised me, calling me their Hero.

Hahahahaha!

At that moment, I understood.

This world exists for me.

“I still can’t believe it! We’ve been recognized by Prince Leon, and now we can become nobles! Once everything is settled, let’s call my parents here so we can all live happily together!”

Sophie, my childhood friend, beamed at me with an idiotic smile.

…Hah?

I am the one who was recognized by Prince Leon and will be granted nobility.

Why would I have to bring her parents here and live together like some kind of peasant family?

Sophie was under the delusion that she was my destined lover and that marrying me was a foregone conclusion.

How ridiculous.

The moment we arrived in the royal capital, everything became clear to me.

I used to think Sophie was beautiful, but in this glorious city, girls of her level were commonplace—barely worth a second glance.

Especially the noble ladies.

They were elegant, refined, and sophisticated—nothing like some uncultured country girl.

I am the Hero.

I am going to become a noble.

How could someone like Sophie, a filthy country bumpkin, ever be worthy of me?

That’s why I decided—today will be our last day together.

“…Sophie, don’t tell me you actually took that childhood marriage promise seriously? That was just childish nonsense.”

“W-What…?”

“I hate to break it to you, but you are not fit to be in my Hero’s party. Consider yourself banished.”

“W-What are you saying, Abel…? Y-You’re joking, right?”

Sophie looked utterly bewildered, as if she couldn’t comprehend what I was saying.

Good grief… Do I really need to spell it out for her?

“You are useless to me. Your level of magic is pathetic—you would only hold me back. You haven’t contributed anything.”

“I-I know I’m not strong enough yet, but…! I-I’ve been working so hard for you, Abel! I cooked for you, washed your clothes, carried your bags—”

Tears welled up in Sophie’s eyes as she desperately clung to me.

I sighed.

Sophie had always been considered the prettiest girl in the village, and ever since I lost my parents, she had taken care of me.

She woke me up every morning, cooked my meals, and even did household chores for me.

“Honestly, Abel! You’d be helpless without me!”

That had always been her catchphrase.

Back then, it had made me happy.

But now?

It was nothing but an annoyance.

As I looked out of the carriage window, I noticed a statue under construction—a tribute to Viscount Edward Fernando, the man who had recently saved the royal capital from the undead army.

“Tch, what’s with this ‘Hero Who Slayed the Undead’ nonsense…!?”

I clicked my tongue in irritation.

“Eh?”

“If I hadn’t been burdened with Sophie in my party and had gone solo, I would have been the one to take down that army of 15,000 undead!”

If that had happened, my name would have spread throughout the kingdom, leading to my rapid rise in status. By now, I would already be living my ideal harem life…

“…Sophie, listen. I was chosen by the angels to be the Hero destined to defeat the Demon King. You understand what that means, don’t you?”

“Huh? But… you’re still Abel, right? My childhood friend, the boy I grew up with?”

A wave of unbearable rage surged through me.

So Sophie still saw me as the same weak, talentless nobody I was before I awakened as the Hero?

That pathetic version of myself was long gone.

I was now destined for greatness, set to walk the path of glory and success.

I was no longer the person she thought she knew.

“I-I’ll work harder! I’ll train until I can use incredible magic! I swear I’ll be useful to you, Abel!”

Sigh… that’s not the point.

She just doesn’t get it.

Heroes in stories are always surrounded by beautiful, gifted, and extraordinary women—forming the perfect harem.

In other words, only those who are both intelligent and stunning deserve to stand at my side.

Sophie may have been trained in magic by the village elder, but her abilities were mediocre at best.

That’s why I kept her around temporarily—just until I gained recognition by clearing out the monsters around the village.

And now, with my exploits catching the attention of Prince Leon, I had no further use for her.

“Use your Light Magic to lift the curse blocking my healing. Do this, and I shall grant you a barony.”

That was what Prince Leon’s letter had said.

The moment I received it, I climbed into the royal carriage sent for me and left for the capital—just like that.

“But Abel, we’ve been best friends forever! We even promised to get married one day! T-That means even now, as the Hero, we’ll always be together… right?”

“Ugh, you’re so annoying.”

I kicked Sophie off the carriage without hesitation.

“Eh!?”

She was sent flying, crashing headfirst into Viscount Fernando’s statue, shattering it into pieces.

“Why the hell would I ever marry someone like you, you worthless tramp? Know your place.”

Destroying a nationally funded monument would make Sophie a criminal.

I glanced at her—she was bleeding from the head, completely motionless.

Heh… is she dead?

Either way, this meant I was finally free from her clingy, self-important nonsense.

Ahhh, what a relief.

I stretched, feeling completely refreshed.

“Sir Abel, the Hero!? W-What just happened!?”

“Don’t mind it. I was just getting rid of a foolish woman who was only after me for my future potential.”

I smirked as I brushed off the coachman’s concerns.

“I-I see…! Understood, sir…!”

“Once Prince Leon officially grants me nobility, I expect to be introduced to suitable companions—pure, elegant beauties worthy of a Hero’s party. Ahh… preferably noble daughters, maybe even a princess… Oh! Or better yet, the Saint of the World Tree herself!”

I grinned, already envisioning my future harem.

“The Hero Who Slayed the Undead, huh? Hah!

Sooner or later, I’ll crush him with my own hands—and prove that I am superior!”

I spat at the shattered remains of the statue.

At this moment, I had no doubt in my glorious destiny.