The Villainous Aristocrat's Efforts Led to a Genuine Harem - Episode 16

Episode 16

…Reem.

In the main story of the game, she was a cool, strategist-type character.

Certainly, she was a character skilled at seeing through lies. At that time, her catchphrase was, “The smell changed.”

To think… the meaning of that line… was literal…

“…No way, you decided that Ryō and I were the same person because of that?”

“The cloak you were wearing then had your scent soaked into it! Honestly, showing up dressed like that is the same as revealing your identity, you know?”

“There’s no way it’s the same!”

“The reason I figured out that you and Ryō were the same person was because of that. So now, I want a reward.”

“…A r-reward?”

“I want to indulge in your scent…”

Saying that, Reem slowly approaches.

As I dodge her leaping at me, Reem puffs her cheeks in frustration.

“Is it okay if I reveal that Ryō is Lord Reis!?”

“…No, that would be—”

Please stop. That could clearly affect the original story.

“Then, it’s a trade. Let me sniff you.”

…That’s cheating.

Threatened by Reem, I couldn’t run. And she hugged me tightly.

As I was pushed down onto the sofa, Reem pressed her nose against my body like a dog seeking affection.

Her soft chest and body pressed against me. It made my heart skip a beat for a moment, but—

“Haaaahhhh!”

“What the hell, suddenly!?”

Her strange cry snapped me back to reality. Looking at her face—she had a crazed expression.

“Fantastic! I can’t get enough! This feeling of being wrapped in Lord Reis’s scent from head to toe! The scent is invading not just the outside of my body, but inside too…! Right now, all of me is being overwritten by Lord Reis…!”

…Reem.

As she kept shouting like she had gone insane, I let her sniff me for a while.

After some time, when she finally calmed down a little, I peeled her off and sat her on the sofa across from me.

All I could do was ask her, with a strained face:

“…For now, can you please keep quiet about me being Ryō?”

“I’ll stay quiet as much as you want, if you let me sniff you. But why don’t you want it known?”

“If people find out, who knows what my family will say.”

“Isn’t it something you can just easily beat them up over now?”

“…Nobles aren’t that easy to deal with.”

If strength alone could overturn the hierarchy, that would be nice—but we’re not in that kind of era.

Even if I went on a rampage against my parents, I’d just end up being a criminal pursued by the country.

That’s not something I want.

“That makes sense. So the reason you’re acting as Ryō… is just because you don’t want your family to find out?”

“Yeah, pretty much. And also… I want to become stronger, even just a little, while I still can.”

“…Why?”

Of course she would ask that.

There are many reasons I want to become stronger… but how much should I tell her honestly?

If I talked about my previous life, she’d probably just think I was some weirdo.

Still, if I gave her some half-baked lie, she’d probably see through it.

…If I’m going to tell the truth, maybe I should just adjust the details a bit.

“I had a dream.”

The moment I said that, Reem opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“…A dream?”

“Yeah… a little while ago. I had a dream where I died… In the dream, I was too weak, I couldn’t do anything… and I was killed. It just felt so real. So I thought… maybe there’s something I can do now to change that dream. Though… maybe it’s just a dream and not worth worrying about.”

To speak the truth, I used the idea of a dream… but maybe it was too far-fetched?

As I worried about whether she’d question it further, Reem’s strange behavior from earlier disappeared.

She looked at me seriously.

What’s going on? Then her beautiful lips trembled.

“I also… had a dream on the day our village was attacked by the High Wolves.

…The High Wolves were attacking the village… and my father was… being eaten alive.

…In the dream, I couldn’t save him… it felt so real… I woke up shocked.”

“…”

…That matches what Reem said in the original game’s story.

“But,” Reem continued. She smiled gently as she looked at me.

“…But it didn’t come true. That’s because you came to help me.”

“…That was just coincidence.”

“Maybe so. …But that’s the reason I came here today. To smell your scent—and also, to thank you.”

“That’s the ‘also’!?”

When I said that, Reem smiled softly.

“Just kidding. You’ve really changed, haven’t you? In the past, if I joked like that, I’d never know what you’d do to me.”

“…I had a dream. And, well… I’m sorry for everything.”

…After talking this much, my relationship with Reem is bound to change.

So—I should apologize for all the sexual harassment I’ve done to her.

“You don’t have to worry about it. …Thank you. Thanks to you, I can still be with my precious family now.”

Reem spoke. She had a beautiful smile that made me forget all her strange behavior up until now. 

…Seeing that smile reminded me all over again why she was a popular character in the game.

And it made me glad I did what I did for her.

“…I see. In any case—even if it was just coincidence, I’m glad I saved you.”

“Yes, me too. …Then next, it’s my turn.”

“…What do you mean?”

“About your future—where you might die. To change that, I’m going to fight too. I can fight pretty well, you know?”

Reem winked with a smile.

…I felt happy to have gained such a reliable ally.

Though, at the same time, a thought crossed my mind: what would happen once the main story of the game begins…?

…Well, maybe I’ll just not worry about the details for now.