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 41

“Cain! Hey, Cain! This isn’t the road back to the Schwarz estate, is it? Where are we going?”

Angela, riding behind me on her horse, called out loudly.

“Brother Cain, I thought we were returning to the Schwarz estate. Is that not the case?”

Selvia, clinging to me as she swayed on the horse, also asked.

I had told Lancelot and the others that we would head straight home after turning the Atlas Empire’s agents to our side, but I decided to change our plans.

We received shocking news through a communication spell from the Dark Crows in the capital.

Apparently, Hero Abel had appeared in the capital.

Not only that, but he had destroyed the unfinished statue of Viscount Fernando by slamming a girl—his childhood friend, Sophie—into it. My worst fears had come true.

Hero Abel most likely retained his level from a previous playthrough, making him a maxed-out Level 99.

“…Actually, I plan to visit a hidden elf village in the Atlas Empire.”

“A hidden elf village? Why?”

“Because Angela’s mother is there.”

“…What!?”

In the later stages of the game, there was an event where visiting the hidden elf village, which was protected by a magical barrier, revealed that Angela’s mother was living there.

If the main story progressed after receiving a request from her mother to “free Angela from the emperor’s grasp,” the mother would pass on a rare skill.

If Angela was executed as an incompetent by the emperor, her mother, in tears, would entrust the protagonist with that rare skill, begging for revenge.

That was how this hidden event played out.

But… that’s just too tragic!

This event gave me serious trauma.

I figured that if I let Angela meet her mother, I might still be able to get the skill.

So, I decided to do something the original game never allowed—reuniting the mother and daughter.

The Lost Forest, where the event takes place, is guarded by an army of about 5,000 powerful Wood Golems. Ideally, I’d want to bring Lancelot and Gordon along…

But I had already assigned them to strengthening the Schwarz army and leading special training.

Now that Hero Abel—someone who might actually kill me—had appeared at his strongest, we couldn’t afford to waste time.

We had to increase both our power and the army’s training efficiency, even if it meant pushing ourselves.

Also, though the Dark Crows were still investigating, there was a possibility that Hero Abel’s personality had become twisted.

After all, he was only 15 years old. If an emotionally immature teenager suddenly gained a godlike Level 99 power, what would happen?

Depending on his nature, there was a serious risk of him becoming drunk on his own strength.

Sophie was currently being treated and protected by the Dark Crows, but since she had suffered a serious head injury, she had yet to regain consciousness.

As soon as she woke up, I had ordered the Dark Crows to invite her to the Schwarz estate so I could hear more about this world’s version of Hero Abel.

Sophie was originally one of the hero’s party members. Though weak in the beginning, she had a hidden talent for debuff magic, which, when developed, made her incredibly strong.

If possible, I wanted to recruit Sophie into my own forces now that she had been cast aside by the hero.

Meanwhile, Hero Abel had been invited by Prince Leon and was even granted a noble title. If those two joined forces, it could be even more dangerous than the empire siding with the Demon King.

“I’m surprised. Is your source of information Ash and the others? I can’t believe the elves would reveal the location of their hidden village to outsiders…”

“You even know about Oath Magic and my father’s plan to revive the Demon King. Where exactly are you getting all this information?”

“Well, that’s…”

I tried to come up with an excuse, but nothing good came to mind.

At this point, it was becoming impossible to keep hiding the truth.

Besides, after everything we’ve been through, I felt that my bond with Selvia had grown strong enough.

Even if she thought I was strange, it wouldn’t ruin our relationship.

So, I decided to tell the truth.

“Actually… this world is from a game I played in my previous life. That’s why I know about future events, key historical figures, and important organizations.”

“…What?”

Both of them stared at me, completely dumbfounded.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Are you just trying to avoid telling us the truth?”

“A game? Like a board game?”

Angela thought I was joking, while Selvia didn’t understand the concept at all.

“Uh… well, basically, I was born already knowing a lot about what will happen in this world.”

That said, I didn’t know anything before the game’s story began, and I had already made major changes—like making Angela a slave and exposing the emperor’s secrets.

With Hero Abel now in his strongest state, I had no idea how things would play out from here.

“I see. So it’s like a Unique Skill? I’ve never heard of such an ability before, but if Brother Cain says so, I’ll believe it. This world… is a game?”

Selvia still didn’t fully understand but seemed to accept it.

She really is a good girl.

“If there really was a skill that let you see the future, that would explain a lot. You know things you shouldn’t, yet still rely on information networks like the Dark Crows. I always wondered how that made sense.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it. It’s not like I know everything.”

It was a relief that Selvia and Angela somewhat understood. This would make things easier from now on.

“As expected of Brother Cain! This journey is for Princess Angela’s sake, isn’t it?”

“…I… I truly appreciate it, Cain.”

Angela turned her face away, blushing in embarrassment.

“You’re actually keeping your promise… Why are you being so kind to me? Could it be that you… l-like me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Brother Cain finds joy in making his companions happy!”

“H-Huh…?”

Angela and I were both confused by Selvia’s sudden declaration.

Wait… what?

“…I’m still technically Cain’s slave. I wouldn’t call myself a companion.”

“Didn’t you see the Schwarz army, Princess Angela? Brother Cain never treats those bound to him with cruelty. He values each person as an important companion, and because he fights for everyone’s survival, they follow him willingly!”

“W-What…?”

Angela’s eyes widened in shock.

Of course, the real reason I valued the Schwarz army was because I didn’t want them to die and waste all my effort in leveling them up…

“S-Someone like that… Someone who gives selfless love to others… actually exists?!”

“Uh… well, yeah, if such a person existed, I’d probably think they were lying too.”

“But that person does exist! It’s you, Brother Cain! That’s why you’re trying to stop the Demon King’s revival!”

Selvia proudly puffed out her chest.

It seemed she hadn’t heard me quietly agreeing with Angela.

Her admiration for me was skyrocketing.

“I have received Brother Cain’s selfless love, and I’ve come to truly, truly love him!”

“A-Ah… I see…”

It was flattering but also extremely embarrassing.

“This journey proves Brother Cain’s selfless love, doesn’t it, Princess Angela?”

“U-Ugh…! Y-Yes, that’s right!”

Angela seemed deeply shaken, as if her entire view of the world had been turned upside down.

“Angela, don’t think too hard about it. I’m really not that amazing, and I don’t have any grand ideals.”

“S-So this is just… normal for you?!”

“Huh…?”

“Exactly! Helping suffering people and companions is just natural for Brother Cain!”

Selvia confidently declared.

No, Selvia, I do expect something in return for my actions…

But whatever.

Angela looked like she was having an existential crisis, but it wasn’t a big deal.

We continued riding toward the border.

Our destination: the Lost Forest in the Atlas Empire.