The Villainous Aristocrat's Efforts Led to a Genuine Harem - Episode 13

Episode 13

(Reem’s Perspective)

I watched the monsters closely from inside the barrier.

The village was surrounded by defensive walls. It made it difficult for monsters to break in.

There were gates to the north and south of the village. And the barrier had been deployed centered around those areas.

…All we, armed with weapons, could do was watch the High Wolves attack the barrier.

…The barrier blocks all attacks. Even those from the inside.

It’s only meant to temporarily stop the enemy’s movement and buy time to prepare our forces.

The more the barrier is attacked, the weaker it becomes. So with the High Wolves constantly assaulting it, the duration it can stay up will be shorter than originally planned.

“The magic stone used as fuel for the barrier device has run out, Lord Boril!”

“…I see.”

…Father furrowed his brow.

Only about three hours had passed since the soldiers left the village.

It was much earlier than expected.

That just shows how relentlessly the High Wolves have been attacking.

“Those damn High Wolves…”

The High Wolves continued their attacks as if they knew the barrier’s limits.

They came at it again and again, nonstop.

It wasn’t just me—some of the soldiers were clearly intimidated.

…Even through the barrier, I could tell. These High Wolves were different from ordinary monsters.

Just as I tightly gripped my rapier, Father gave an order to everyone.

“The barrier will soon break! Prepare to unleash your magic the moment it does!”

We all nodded at Father’s words.

…I can use ice magic. I began preparing the spell I’d practiced many times during training.

…This was my first time in actual combat. I used to beg Father to let me fight monsters. But now that it’s real, my anxiety is overwhelming.

A few minutes passed with the magic at the ready.

Then, the High Wolves charged all at once—and the barrier shattered.

“Fire!”

Though we had been pressured by the High Wolves, we immediately released our magic in response to Father’s command.

My attack hit one of the High Wolves and blew it back—but it wasn’t enough to finish it.

The High Wolf quickly got back up and leapt at me.

“GRAAAH!”

“…!”

That killing intent was real. I flinched for a moment. But I quickly faced it and swung my rapier.

My attack grazed its leg. It threw it off balance.

There was no time to celebrate. More High Wolves surged in, and battles broke out all over.

I couldn’t focus on just one.

Dodging the High Wolf that lunged at me, I thrust my rapier at it.

The battlefield was in chaos. Monsters and soldiers were clashing everywhere.

…We were slightly being pushed back. There were about thirty High Wolves.

We were outnumbered. And they were strong.

“Aaaahhh!?”

Someone screamed.

The High Wolves grew bolder. We were shaken.

Father swung his sword to save a soldier being bitten.

With a powerful strike, he cut the High Wolf down.

Even when another one jumped at him, he immediately struck it down with his sword.

“Heal him now!”

Saying that, Father cast ice magic around him.

The High Wolves’ attention shifted to him. And several rushed in.

I have to fight too—!

“Haaaahh!”

To support Father, I fired an ice arrow at a High Wolf targeting him.

I cut down the one that approached me, reducing their numbers.

But then it happened.

I sensed a surge of powerful magic and turned my gaze. The next moment, an earthen bullet flew toward Father.

“What!? A High Wolf using magic!?”

Caught completely off guard, Father tried to raise an ice wall—but he didn’t make it in time.

“Guh!?”

“Father…!”

Blasted away by the earth magic, Father was immediately swarmed by High Wolves.

In my mind, I saw the same scene as in my dream this morning—Father being killed by High Wolves.

As if reenacting that dream, the High Wolves pounced on him.

I ran to help Father. But a High Wolf suddenly rammed into me from the side.

“…No! Stop…!”

I couldn’t hold back the tears and cried out. I begged anything and everything for help.

“Someone, please help… I’m begging you…!”

Just as I reached out and prepared to cast a spell—

A powerful wind blew through. And a black vortex appeared.

A deep, dark vortex as if it led to the depths of hell.

But from that vortex, a cloaked figure emerged and swung a dagger.

In the next instant, the High Wolf’s body was slashed apart.

It wasn’t just me—everyone, even the High Wolves, were stunned by the sudden event.

That bizarre scene left me frozen in shock.

I didn’t even notice the tears falling down my cheeks—I could only watch.

The shadow that appeared from the black vortex defeated the High Wolves in an instant.

As the High Wolves faltered, two more people appeared—a female adventurer and Colt, a soldier from the village.

Combat began immediately. It was led by the cloaked man and the female adventurer.

The two were incredibly strong… but the cloaked man was overwhelming.

I quickly got up and ran to Father’s side.

Father and Colt were looking in that direction in disbelief.

“…Wh-Who are they?”

“They’re the adventurers who accepted our request, despite the low reward…!”

“…I see.”

He seemed to have many questions. But Father stood up right away and gripped his sword again.

Then he gave me a sharp look—not as a daughter, but as a soldier.

“…The battle’s not over. If you’re scared, fall back.”

“…I’ll fight.”

“Understood. Everyone! Colt has returned with reinforcements! Follow them!!”

“”””“YEAH!!””””

With Father’s declaration, we who had been pushed back grabbed our weapons again and attacked the High Wolves.

…But the High Wolves didn’t waver.

Even when they fell, they immediately got back up. It was eerie—like something was controlling them.

The cloaked man calmly cut down the High Wolves. Then he glanced at a group of them.

“…Trying to restore the correct future, are you?”

…What does that mean?

His low voice stuck in my mind for some reason.

The High Wolves’ attacks grew even fiercer. And just as we started gaining the advantage, the tide began to turn back.

Then it happened.

A particularly large High Wolf that had been hanging back leapt at Father.

But the cloaked man stepped in between and blocked its fangs with his dagger.

“GRRRAAA!”

“…Sorry. I can’t let this man die.”

The cloaked man spoke with irritation and slashed with his dagger.

He moved even faster than before. Had he been holding back? Or maybe leveling up by defeating the High Wolves?

Whatever the case, he was now too fast for me to even follow with my eyes.

He slashed at the High Wolf in the blink of an eye—but the beast didn’t fall.

It still didn’t fall.

As if possessed by something, it rampaged and attacked like a mad beast.

“If you… no, if the world is trying to bring about a correct future—”

The cloaked man muttered. And under his mask… I felt like he smiled.

“—Then I’ll destroy it as many times as it takes.”

His words felt like a declaration against something.

And with that, as if cutting through all the darkness in the air, his dagger was swung—

And the High Wolf’s body was torn apart.

A strong wind blew past.

And I smelled… a scent I’d become very familiar with recently.

From the cloaked man came a scent that calmed me… one I knew well.

No luxury perfume could compare to this beautiful, captivating fragrance.

The scent soaked into his cloak mixed with the sweat from the battle. It was overwhelming me with bliss I couldn’t even describe—I felt like I might faint.

“The leader is down! Hunt down the fleeing ones!”

The cloaked man shouted.

Snapping out of it, I moved to chase down the escaping High Wolves.

If even one escaped, it could disrupt the local ecosystem.

As I ran, I thought about the identity of this masked, cloaked man.

…There’s no way I could mistake that scent.

That rich, blissful scent of Lord Reis—there’s no way I could be wrong.