The Villain's Reincarnation – Tired of Working Hard, I'm Slacking Off! The Peacefully Oblivious Slacker Avoids Ruin! - Chapter 24

“So… the second day is already coming to an end.”

Under Master Kaito’s guidance, I had toured various places, and before I realized it, the second day was drawing to a close.

Thanks to his thoughtfulness, I was truly able to ask all the questions I wanted.

I learned so much—how much he does for the people in town, how many lives he’s saved, how seriously he’s treating this inspection. So many things.

Yes, I learned so much. And because of that—I no longer knew what I was supposed to do.

(What am I supposed to do? What should I do…?)

My mind was in turmoil.

Thoughts and emotions surged like waves, crashing over me.

The more I learned, the more questions and problems emerged. The wider the world I could see, the more I noticed. My feelings spiraled out of control, becoming impossible to contain.

I couldn’t focus.

Every time I tried to think about one thing, more thoughts would flood in, leaving everything in a mess.

Thoughts about Master Kaito, the kingdom, Dorothy and the others who I’ve been troubling… and my own useless self, stuck in hesitation, unable to act. Countless things swirled through my head.

(What am I supposed to do!?)

I was caught in an endless loop of hesitation.

(I have to show results within this short time. If I don’t, the kingdom, the people, will be in danger. But what kind of results should I produce? How can I possibly accomplish cooperation with the Mitsurugi family in my current state? That’s impossible. So, I have to grow—I must grow—but I don’t know how. And because I don’t, I panic. I keep making mistakes. I keep asking the same questions again and again, bothering Master Kaito, holding him back. The same with Dorothy and the others. My selfish actions have caused them trouble and burden. It’s all because I’m so incompetent. While I’m stuck here, people are still suffering. I have to do something—but I… I haven’t done anything… Mother, what should I do…?)

I could feel my breath becoming shallow.

There it is again.

That same feeling.

No matter how many times I tried to think things through, I couldn’t find an answer.

Dark, hopeless thoughts smothered everything.

What was happening to me?

Hard times were nothing new. I had faced them before, again and again. So why—why couldn’t I find my answer, like I always had?

I was scared… It hurt…

I wanted someone to help me.

(Father is always so busy, barely managing everything—there’s no way I can ask him. Mother is no longer here. Dorothy and my teachers were there to instruct me, not to be consulted on things that could affect the entire kingdom. And besides, Dorothy and the others… they are the very people I’m supposed to protect. So… so then, who can I possibly turn to…?)

It was just then—while I was lost in those thoughts—

A night breeze drifted in through the open window.

It was cold, but it cut through the chaos in my mind, clearing my head just a little.

“…Outside…”

The quiet, sleeping streets I could see through the window seemed to bring that same stillness to my heart.

It felt so comforting—so peaceful. Perhaps that’s why, before I even realized it, I had snuck out of the mansion and made it all the way to the front gate.

(Just for a bit. Just for a little while…)

I wanted to be outside.

Out in the silence, where there was nothing—nothing to think about, nothing to overwhelm me. I felt like if I stayed out there, I might grasp onto something—anything.

As I reached for the gate, letting my feelings guide me—

“I can’t overlook someone trying to sneak out alone in the middle of the night.”

“G-G-Goodness—Master Kaito!”

Before I knew it, he was standing behind me.

“I’m surprised, really. When did you even find it? That hidden back gate I secretly made just to sneak out when I’m trying to slack off?”

“Uh, ah, no, I—”

I hadn’t really thought it through.

I had simply moved, wanting to leave without being seen by anyone—and somehow, I ended up here.

Most likely, during our exploration earlier, I had subconsciously noticed something. And now, guided by intuition, I had come straight to it.

“It’s the most obvious one, just hidden behind some trees and flowers—but now I’m losing confidence if you found it so easily…”

He was clearly shocked that his prized secret gate had been discovered and seemed rather disheartened.

“I-I’m sorry…”

I apologized, though I wasn’t even sure why—it just felt like the right thing to do.

“You’re supposed to give a sheepish smile in times like this. Well, it’s not a huge problem even if someone finds it. More importantly, were you planning to go outside?”

“!”

My chest tightened at his words.

Having someone else say aloud what I was about to do made me suddenly realize how careless I’d been.

“I-I’m so sorry… Ow—!”

As I hastily began to apologize, a flick to the forehead (his signature dekopin) hit me.

“I’m not mad, so no need to panic.”

“Y-Yes…”

His gentle, composed voice, along with his usual calm demeanor, helped me settle down just a bit.

“I’m sorry for trying to go out on my own. I’ll return to my room.”

Once again, my own weakness had nearly caused serious trouble. Ever since we arrived here, I had been making childish mistakes, one after another.

(Once again… I’ve…)

As I bowed my head in apology and tried to walk past Master Kaito, he gently grabbed my hand and stopped me.

“M-Master…?”

With a soft smile, he looked at me—curious, but calm—and spoke gently.

“I never said you couldn’t go out.”

“…Huh?”

I didn’t understand his words right away.

“You just wanted to clear your head or something, right?”

“!? …How did you know?”

Startled at how accurately he’d read me, I asked him, and he responded with a sheepish grin.

“Well, the hint’s probably… what you’re wearing right now.”

“My… outfit? …!?”

As I looked down at myself and realized what I had on, my face turned a deep shade of red.

“Th-this isn’t what it looks like…!”

“Ahaha… I don’t think any excuse is going to help you now.”

I was wearing a simple, white nightgown—not at all suitable for stepping outside.

(Ughhh… how could I make such a stupid mistake…?)

I wanted to crawl into a hole. I was dying of embarrassment.

What on earth was wrong with me?

To be making such childish mistakes, one after another… This wasn’t like me.

(This is just like when I was little… back when Mother was still here.)

I remembered the innocent version of myself, who didn’t know anything and would always cling to her mother without a care in the world.

Back then, I didn’t have to think about anything complicated like this.

Even when I couldn’t do something, even when I made mistakes, I could laugh about it—because there was someone who always accepted me with a warm smile.

(What am I even doing now…?)

But those days are gone.

Now, I’m not allowed to make mistakes—or to fail.

That’s why someone like me, who keeps messing up like this, is…

“Ow—!”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked up at Master Kaito.

“Again…?”

“Again,” he replied simply.

With a flick of his hand, he used magic to produce a warm-looking cloak and held it out.

“I don’t know what’s got you all flustered—but you really don’t have to worry about causing trouble or making a fool of yourself around me.”

“Why… why would you say that?”

I didn’t understand what he meant.

“Well… I didn’t say it earlier, but at this point, your approval rating with me is already rock bottom. Can’t fall much further, can it?”

“That’s not true…”

I wanted to believe there was still something I could protect—something I hadn’t ruined yet. But as I recalled all the embarrassing blunders I’d made over the past two days…

“P-please just kill me—ow!!”

And again, his signature forehead flick landed with perfect accuracy.

“Th-that was terrible! That was clearly entrapment! You led me into that one, Master!”

“No, no. You walked right into it all by yourself. Actually, sounds like you just admitted it, didn’t you?”

“I did not! I-I’m a capable young lady, I’ll have you know!!”

I shouted it out, with no basis, purely driven by my emotions.

“…And where, exactly, is that confidence coming from?”

He chuckled as he spoke, still smiling, and opened the cloak in his hands to make it easier for me to slip into.

“So—what’ll it be? You can’t go alone, but if you don’t mind me coming with you, we could go for a little night walk. I wouldn’t mind.”

“…Please. I’d like that.”

And just like that, I ended up going on a nighttime walk—with Master Kaito by my side.