The Villain's Reincarnation – Tired of Working Hard, I'm Slacking Off! The Peacefully Oblivious Slacker Avoids Ruin! - Chapter 25

I followed behind my master, walking through the quiet streets under the night sky.

He said nothing, offering no conversation. He simply walked at a slow pace to match mine in silence.

And perhaps because of that, I was able to fully savor the serenity that blanketed the town.

It’s so quiet… like another world entirely.

For the past two days, the city had been lively due to a royal inspection. That made the current stillness feel all the more otherworldly.

The silence brought peace and calm to my heart.

Why does it make me feel so at ease…?

The quietness of the town, wrapped in the hush of night, brought me a sense of tranquility that was almost startling.

“…Over there.”

After walking for some time, a single light flickered in the distance. Laughter and voices drifted toward us.

“It’s one of the taverns. It’s been here quite a long time, one of the older ones in this city,” said my master.

“I see…”

In the stillness, the warmly lit tavern stood out like a beam of light, making it seem even more cheerful and inviting.

“Would you like to stop by?”

“No, I’m fine. I wouldn’t want to disrupt this lovely evening with my own selfishness.”

“Very well. Shall we continue our walk then?”

“Yes…”

And so we continued on. Eventually, with my master guiding the way, we arrived at a place overlooking the city.

“…”

The quiet town lay still below us. Above, countless stars shimmered in the pitch-black sky, painting a mysterious and breathtaking scene.

My master, saying nothing, quietly took a seat on a bench behind me, allowing me to gaze upon the view as long as I wished without any interruption.

I watched the night sky for as long as my heart desired, and once I was ready, I turned to him.

“Thank you, Master.”

“It’s nothing. I’ll stay here a little longer. As long as you’re within five hundred meters, I can reach you in no time—so feel free to do as you like.”

My master continued to gaze absentmindedly at the beautiful night sky.

Even though he suddenly told me I could do as I pleased, I found myself unwilling to stray far. Thanks to that starry vista, my mind had cleared—if only for a moment.

That fleeting clarity made me realize that, more than wandering off somewhere else, being by his side was more important to me.

“May I… sit beside you?”

“Of course, I don’t mind.”

He gave his consent with the same casual, easy manner as always.

Perhaps this is what makes him so beloved by the people.

My master was always warm and approachable. He never raised his voice, not even when I made a grave mistake.

No—more accurately, he never got emotional with his anger. He could be stern, yes, but his words were always meant for the other person’s sake.

Though he always carried himself with gentle ease, he never turned away from harsh realities.

He was kind, but never indulgent.

That might be why the people not only feel close to him but also trust him as their ruler.

“Are things going smoothly for you?”

We sat side by side for a while, gazing at the night sky, when my master posed that question.

“…”

I couldn’t answer.

Because right now, I truly didn’t know.

I didn’t know what I should do. I didn’t know where I should be heading.

I couldn’t see anything clearly, and that scared me. That fear had driven me to flee, to be here now.

And when I thought of it like that, I felt so utterly—

“You know, it’s okay to ask,” he said gently. “If you don’t know what to do, just say so. Ask me to help you figure it out.”

“…What?”

His words rendered my mind blank.

And no wonder—because when we first met, he told me that finding my own answers was my responsibility.

That’s why I had believed I needed to figure everything out on my own.

“Is it… really all right to ask?”

I couldn’t immediately accept his offer. Hesitantly, I sought confirmation, afraid it might not be permitted.

“It’s perfectly all right. Though… perhaps you’re being a little too rigid.”

My master turned his gaze toward me.

“Remember this well—nothing ever stays the same. Change is always happening.”

“Change is always happening…”

“Yes. Change comes to all things, without exception. And because change is inevitable, even if you speak the same words, they will not always yield the same result.”

“…”

I understood what my master was trying to say. But I couldn’t fully grasp the deeper meaning behind his words.

Even though he’s taking the time to teach me… I still…

“Ow!”

Just as I began to loathe my own inadequacy, a flick to the forehead snapped me out of my thoughts.

“That’s another one of your bad habits,” he said. “You always try to understand everything perfectly on the first try.”

“…”

He was right. I didn’t have the ability to do that—and yet, I still pushed myself as though I did.

“…You’re probably thinking it’s because you lack the ability, aren’t you?”

“Eh? Ah… yes.”

My master saw through my thoughts with uncanny precision.

He was always sharp in moments like this.

“Hmm. I think now’s a good time to tell you,” he said. “I’ll explain why I once told you to think for yourself, why now I’m saying it’s okay to ask, and why I called you a little rigid.”

“!?”

I stared at him in shock.

Because this—this might be the key to overcoming my current doubts.

And then, calmly, my master revealed the answer.

“All three… are based on the same criteria. The only difference is whether or not meaning exists in that moment. That’s all.”