Since I’m Just the Villain Who’ll be Defeated by the Protagonist Anyway, I’ll Go all out and do whatever I want using Forbidden Arts at Full Power until then! …Wait, what? Because I’m actually a good guy deep down, not only does the heroine like me, but the protagonist’s affection level is also maxed out from the start!? No way—that’s definitely just my imagination. I won’t be fooled! - Chapter 10

[Etica’s POV]

By the time I returned to the Antenne territory, the morning sun had already risen.

I wondered if my brother was worried. Had the children who’d been returned to their parents settled back into their lives safely? I had so many thoughts swirling in my head that, even after a sleepless night, I felt wide awake with no hope of sleeping now.

There was a reason I’d managed to survive through the night despite being nearly eaten by a Green Dragon—because if I let my guard down, I’d remember him. That deep-bucket hat pulled low over his eyes, the strands of blue hair peeking out, the way he pretended to be a scoundrel—Monad.

But no matter how he tried to hide it, those gentle eyes always shone through. I’d been captivated by the sight of him sharing diced steak with the children.

Was that… what they call “fluttering”? Though unfortunately, I’ve never really had the luxury to indulge in romance. My brother was always too overprotective for me to experience anything like a typical teenage love. I’m already fifteen, technically an adult in this world, so he’s loosened up a little, but still—I don’t really understand how love is supposed to work.

Maybe I’m just worried about him. About Monad, who sometimes seems like he treats his own life as nothing more than a way to kill time until death.

I don’t want him to become the villain. I want to stay involved in his life. I want people to know that he’s the kind of person who shares food with children. That’s the only way I know how to repay him for everything he’s done.

That’s what I was telling the coachman during the ride. He was someone who’d taken care of me since I was a child, so I trusted him.

“But Lady Etica,” the coachman said with concern, “you’d be in trouble if the One-for-All Church found out. They’re the ones leading the campaign to vilify the Klyphot bloodline.”

He had a point. The One-for-All Church’s influence in Antenne was growing stronger by the day.

“The lord of the territory is also leaning toward them. After all… his daughter awakened as a Saint.”

A Saint—someone born once in a hundred years. One who can commune with the white god Sephirot and act as a vessel for His power. Even those outside the Church would sell their souls for a chance to possess such a weapon.

Come to think of it, my brother once muttered, “She’s like a heroine…” about the Saint. It was so creepy I ignored him for days. When I did, he apologized like the world was ending, so I forgave him.

For a lord with such a card in his hand, it made sense that Monad would be an unwelcome presence—someone tied to the Klyphot lineage.

“I’ll figure something out.”

Still, I invited Monad to Antenne. Not because I had a plan, but because I wasn’t without hope.

“You probably don’t know this, but… I’m friends with the Saint. And the lord—he’s actually a good person, deep down.”

By now, the sun had fully risen, bathing the world in morning light. Antenne was as beautiful as ever.

Our central city is surrounded by a landscape of mountains and rivers. Through the trees, you can spot beastkin out on hunts, and near the water, children laughing and playing.

Surely Monad would be able to find peace in a place like this. I hoped he would.

The carriage arrived at the manor.

“Etica nee-chan!!”

“You’re energetic this morning. Were you good while I was gone?”

The beastkin and demon children staying temporarily at our estate greeted me with open arms. As I entered through the front doors, I heard the heavy footsteps of an adult rushing down the hallway.

Uh-oh. My brother.

“I’m home, brother—”

“Eticaaaa!! I told you, you have to let me know when you’re leaving town! And you didn’t come back all night, I thought some horrible person had kidnapped you! I was worried sick! Are you hurt? Did anyone from the One-for-All Church try to recruit you!? Wait, don’t tell me you were assaulted by some stranger!? Oh no—quick, lift your skirt so I can che—”

“You’re the suspicious one here, brother!!”

“Abesh!”

One slap to calm him down.

Then we sat down, and I explained everything that had happened the day before: how I’d helped free the beastkin and demon children from the slave traders’ estate that my brother had already smashed; how we returned the kids to their families; how we’d been attacked by a Green Dragon along the way—but Monad had saved us; and how he even donated a large sum of money afterward.

“…Monad? As in, that Monad—from the Klyphot bloodline?”

The moment I said his name, my brother’s brow furrowed deeply. Strange. I didn’t remember him being particularly wary of the Klyphot family. Thinking Monad was just being unfairly treated, I unconsciously raised my voice in his defense.

“Brother, Monad isn’t a bad person! He gave me that money and stood up to an entire merchant guild for my sake. Don’t say awful things about him!”

“Wait, hold on, Etica. That was my bad… I didn’t mean it like that. I was just a little… confused, that’s all.”

At first, my brother had been panicking like a fool, but now he’d fallen silent, deep in thought. It didn’t seem like he was wary of the Klyphot bloodline itself, but rather… puzzled by Monad’s actions.

“…Wait… Monad still shouldn’t be able to use Black God Magic: Apple yet, right? So why would he…?”

“Eh? Wait—Brother, you know about Monad?”

“Yeah, well… He’s from the Klyphot bloodline, so I had reason to be cautious. I’ve looked into him a bit…”

His eyes were darting all over the place—he was clearly dodging the question. But then, after a heavy nod, he turned to face me with a rare, serious look.

“But still… he saved my sister’s life. Protected her dignity. I can’t sit back and do nothing. That’d be a disgrace to any brother who claims to love his sister.”

“…Brother, that’s kind of gross.”

“Being called that is exactly the right amount of sibling love.”

“You’re setting a terrible example for the children.”

Even one of the little beastkin boys was staring at him with ice-cold eyes… and it had absolutely no effect. My brother is invincible.

“More importantly, Etica—what we’re doing here is what you’d call a non-profit mission. You’re probably starting to realize this, but we’ll never have many people who truly understand us. And since it’s non-profit, we’re always short on money. That’s why donations like that one—twenty million gold—are invaluable. Anyone who supports our cause to that degree deserves nothing but our deepest respect… I’d like to speak with Monad myself.”

That invincibility applies to his humanitarian lectures, too. He’s only a couple years older than me, but sometimes he speaks with the weight of someone who’s spent decades working in remote regions.

And honestly… I have to admit, it is kind of admirable.

He’s helped way more children than I have—kids with no food, no water, no place in human society.

“Which means… we should deal with those One-for-All Church extremists sooner rather than later.”

“You mean the suspicious activity going on lately, right?”

“They’re definitely going to target Monad with everything they’ve got. Because he’s from the Klyphot bloodline. But I won’t let that happen.”

Originally, my brother had already planned to crush the extremists next. If things continued as they were, Antenne would fall into their hands. Between that and the Saint’s awakening, our home was facing an unprecedented crisis.

…I should’ve waited until all of that was dealt with before inviting Monad. I was getting ahead of myself—and now I kind of regretted it.

“So, where’s Monad going to live?”

“He said he’d decide that with Cain, but… oh, right! He said he wanted to build a mansion.”

“…Hey, Etica. Should I build it for him? Monad’s mansion.”

To most people, that would sound like a completely ridiculous thing to say. But my brother could do it.

For someone who could build a Magic Food Supply Device, creating a luxurious mansion was child’s play.

“Yeah! Make it the best one ever!”

“Of course. One worthy of the debt we owe him.”

Wait—way too fast. I’m getting ahead of myself too! Calm down, Etica!

Okay, time to move. No time to sleep. I have to make sure the air in Antenne is crisp and fresh by the time Monad gets here.

(I wonder… Could he be a reincarnated soul like me? If that’s true… then maybe he’s someone who can save Etica from her destined death.)

I thought I heard my brother mumbling something softly in the distance, but the words were too faint and hazy to catch clearly.

Still, with that final thought, my brother—Spino—got to work for the day.