The Villainous Aristocrat's Efforts Led to a Genuine Harem - Episode 3

Episode 3

It can’t be helped.

It does bother me a little that he doesn’t use polite speech with people older than him. But I guess it’s better to act the same as always.

“Forget what just happened… both of you. I want to ask again—please call Zangell here now. There’s something I want to talk about.”

“C-Call the Captain…? B-But—”

“…Is it difficult?”

“N-No! That’s not it at all…! I’ll go confirm immediately!”

The soldier shouted in a panic and ran off.

The other soldier looked after him with a glare. It was like he regretted missing his chance to escape.

…Looks like I scared them again.

More than I thought, the “villain character” of Reis-kun has really stuck. I don’t even know where to start to fix it.

…But if I fix it, they might stop treating me like the enemy—no, forget that thought, me.

I glanced at the remaining soldier, and he was trembling violently.

…Even if I made small talk, he’d only remember the fear.

“When the soldier from before returns, knock on my door. I’ll be waiting inside.”

“U-Understood…!”

After telling him that and turning back toward the room, he suddenly bowed his head deeply in a panic.

…Seriously.

You don’t have to be that scared.

While feeling a bit lonely from his fear, I also kind of envied someone who could be feared to that degree.

Then, after waiting in the room for a few minutes, there was a knock on the door.

“…Lord Reis. It’s Zangell. Do you have a moment?”

“Come in.”

When I spoke, Zangell entered with a soldier. He told the soldier to wait at the entrance, closed the door, and then bowed deeply to me.

…He came from a commoner background. But as expected of someone who served in the Royal Knights, his demeanor was refined.

Zangell walked straight toward me. He then asked,

“I heard you called for me, Lord Reis. What seems to be the matter?”

“I’ll get straight to the point. I want you to teach me swordsmanship and magic.”

When I said that, Zangell blinked in surprise.

“…You, Lord Reis?”

“That’s right. Who else would it be?”

“N-No… My apologies.”

…No need to apologize so seriously.

I said it kind of jokingly. But I guess my current tone doesn’t convey that.

“Still… I understand it’s impolite. But may I ask—why do you want to learn sword and magic?”

Zangell looked at me. Like he was trying to read me.

He had already lost hope in this country.

…I don’t know how much my words will reach someone like that.

Even so, if I just said pretty lies, he probably wouldn’t be moved.

“I… don’t want to die.”

“…You don’t want to die?”

Zangel twitched at my words. He furrowed his brow.

It’s probably what anyone would think—but he didn’t expect someone to say that in this room, I’m sure.

That’s why Zangell seemed to really listen to my words.

For now, the opening line worked. What happens next depends.

“Yeah. Vale has been peaceful for decades, even looking at history. The monsters in the ‘Forest of Rebellion’ were sealed by a sage’s power, right?”

…I had checked the materials left in the mansion about Vale and the Forest of Rebellion.

“Yes. Thanks to the barrier created by a sage around a hundred years ago, the monsters almost never come out anymore.”

…Yes, almost.

But sometimes, a few monsters are confirmed outside the forest.

So we know the barrier set by the sage isn’t perfect.

However, the Validor family does nothing.

They waste money to keep up with other nobles. They were spending it on their hobbies.

For now, they survive by selling off stores of goods, imposing heavy taxes, and cutting military costs.

But we don’t know how long that’ll last.

In the game’s story, even without a stampede from the Forest of Rebellion,

The Validor territory was expected to fall eventually due to a rebellion by the people.

“If peace lasts from now on, that would be best. If that’s the case, my family could continue living like they do now. And at least externally, there wouldn’t be a big problem.”

“…”

Zangell kept silent and listened.

Since I was criticizing my own family, and he was their subordinate, he probably couldn’t nod in agreement.

“…But no one knows what could happen in the future. I don’t want to die when the time comes. …That’s why I want the strength to survive. And I want you to teach me.”

“So that’s it.”

Zangell exhaled a small breath and seemed to be thinking.

“I heard you used to be Vice Captain of the Royal Knights. You have much more experience than the average soldier. Can I ask this of you?”

“…Let me see.”

Zangell put a hand to his chin and thought for a moment.

His expression was a bit severe—

Actually, I could clearly see he was thinking of how to turn me down.

…That’s also my fault, because of how Reis-kun used to act.

No one in this mansion is willing to help me.

Seriously, what was Reis-kun thinking, turning everyone into an enemy?

No—stop. Don’t come out of my memories.

Saying things like “I get off on being tormented by everyone”… Yeah, let’s stop that now.

“Understood. However, I believe you’ll need your family’s permission if I’m to train you.”

“…Right.”

If I act on my own, my family will blow up.

Born from a mistress, I have the weakest position in the family. No one loves me.

…I can’t help but think that’s why Reis-kun’s personality turned out so twisted.

But still, forcing S&M play on the maids? That’s way too twisted, isn’t it?