The Villain's Reincarnation – Tired of Working Hard, I'm Slacking Off! The Peacefully Oblivious Slacker Avoids Ruin! - Chapter 27

“Well, when I say I’ll tell you what to do, what I really mean is—I’ll give you advice.”

“Advice…?”

“Yes. Because it’s important that you decide your own path.”

“Then… could you, just once, put into words why it’s so important to decide for oneself?”

Swallowing my pride, I asked my master.

Of course, I somewhat understood the importance of choosing for oneself.

But I had just learned that “somewhat” wasn’t enough. That’s why I wanted to hear my master’s view—someone who always defines things clearly with words—as a reference point.

“You learn quickly,” he replied with a smile. “It’s a good habit—thinking carefully about the meaning behind things.”

He agreed readily, as always.

“I think there are many reasons why deciding your own path is important. Some say it’s because it lets you take responsibility until the end. Others say it’s so you’re not swayed by others. Or that decisions you make yourself carry more weight and form the core of your life. I believe all of these are valid. But if we keep listing reasons like that, we’d end up with as many meanings as there are stars in the sky. We humans can’t handle that many at once. So we end up brushing it off with a vague ‘I just kind of get it.’”

“That’s true…”

We’re not so exceptional. We can’t properly process an overload of meaning. That’s why we blur things, leave them undefined, and move on.

“But don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying vagueness is bad. In fact, I think it’s often the right approach. The world is constantly changing. There’s no such thing as an eternal absolute. What’s ‘right’ changes with the times.”

So because things change… there can be no true absolutes…

Everyone instinctively wants to believe in something absolute—because it feels safe and comforting.

But my master had always looked at absolutes with both clarity and caution—seeing not only their strength, but their fragility, and accepting both.

“There are no absolutes. So before I explain why deciding for oneself is important, let me say this first—”

He looked straight into my eyes.

“What I’m about to share is only my current opinion. It isn’t absolute. That’s why I want you to never stop questioning the meaning behind things. Always reevaluate and search for what’s true in that moment.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

It’s precisely because he truly sees the impermanence of things that he values constant reevaluation.

That must be one of his core beliefs.

“Now then, as for why I believe choosing your own path is important—it’s because I think it allows you to live a life you can genuinely be satisfied with.”

“A life… I can be satisfied with…”

It wasn’t about what was right or wrong.

“Let’s start from the basics. As I said before, there are no absolutes. No matter how hard you think, no matter what choice you make that feels right at the time—in the long run, it could end up being completely wrong. Unless you’re omniscient and all-powerful, there’s no avoiding that.”

He spoke almost as if recalling something from long ago.

“Mistakes happen. That’s a given. That’s why the real question is—what will you do with those mistakes?”

Even though it should’ve been obvious, the way he said it made it feel like a completely new truth.

“If you made your decision after seriously thinking it through, then you’ll be able to reflect on what went wrong. That turns into experience. It becomes a path to your next step. You can look back on the past and say, ‘I did my best,’ and face it honestly.”

“Face it honestly…”

“Right. The more sincerely you try, the less you’ll feel like blaming yourself. That becomes a source of comfort. And if there’s little to regret, it becomes something you can even laugh about someday.”

His words sounded a little self-indulgent, a little soft—even cowardly.

But still, it seemed far better than breaking down, doing nothing, and drowning in self-loathing.

“Well, I rambled a bit. But to put it simply—when you choose for yourself, it’s more likely to lead to the best outcome for you. In other words, you’re more likely to live a life you can truly be content with. That’s all there is to it.”

“Heh… yes, that makes a lot of sense.”

He spoke with a warm ease, like chatting with a friend.

Maybe that’s why I was able to reflect calmly, from a broader perspective, on what it means to decide for oneself.

And so, without resistance, I felt it settle within me—yes, that’s the kind of life I want. I want to choose for myself.

“Thank you… I think I understand now, at least a little.”

“Good. Then, shall we move on to the real topic?”

With that, my master began—not with a stern expression, but with the same gentle tone as before.

“First, let’s reflect on the current situation. You were so overwhelmed that you realized it, didn’t you? There are far too many things you need to think about right now—and your current self isn’t able to handle them all. They’ve turned into chains that bind you. That’s why you couldn’t do anything.”

“Yes… that’s right.”

I had taken on more than I could manage—too many burdens I simply wasn’t ready for.

“And when you couldn’t do anything and the pain became unbearable, you tried to forget it all and stepped outside. In other words, you ran away—you left everything behind.”

“…I ran away. Yes. I did.”

I admitted it, half in self-mockery.

Hearing it said aloud made it feel even more shameful.

I felt like the worst kind of person.

But… unlike before, I didn’t fall into despair.

Because this time—someone was here. Someone who saw this as proof that I’d given my all… and truly believed that.

And that made it easier to stay calm.

“In summary, your current state is one where you’ve run from everything—you’ve returned to nothing. A state of zero.”

“Zero…”

Hearing him say it aloud made it feel real.

That moment I ran out into the night breeze… I had wanted to abandon everything I’d built up until now.

Even though I always said I’d dedicate my life to the nation… deep down, my fear for myself outweighed it.

And now, I couldn’t help but wonder:

Can someone as worthless as me… really start over again?

The fear was overwhelming.

But in the next moment, my master’s words swept away all my uncertainty.

“Yes, you’re in the best possible position to take your next step forward.”

“…The best?”

I couldn’t understand what part of this was so ideal. But my master was smiling brightly, as though this was truly something to celebrate.

“Yes, the best. Don’t you see?”

He stood up, took a few steps forward, and gazed out at the empty, quiet streets and the glittering night sky above.

“From here, you get to start over from zero.”

The moment I heard those words, the world seemed to open up—wider and more beautiful than before.

“I’ll say it clearly. From this point forward, you’re in the most enjoyable phase. Because from here, the only direction is upward. And it’s not just a simple reset.”

He spoke with such joy in his voice.

“Starting over doesn’t mean everything you’ve experienced disappears. The things you’ve built, the things you’ve learned—they’re still with you. You know what worked and what didn’t. You’ve grown. You can do things now that you couldn’t back then.”

As he said, not everything had been erased. The things I’d done, the thoughts I’d had, the experiences I’d lived—they weren’t gone.

“And now, you can take your time to truly reflect on yourself and begin anew. Because, for now, I’ll handle the trouble in your place.”

Just for this moment, he would bear the burdens that had once fallen on me.

From the very beginning, he had been giving me this—an environment where I could take a breath and look inward.

Which meant…

“You have the chance to grow stronger—and then face your problems again, on your own terms.”

The world fell silent. Time slowed.

And in that moment—I saw light.

“Can someone like me… really do that?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

Just as he had before, he placed the decision in my hands. But this time, it was different—because now, I understood what that truly meant.

“So, what will you do next?”

He reached out his hand to me.

“Lady Liona!”

“Lady Liona!”

“Your Highness!”

“Liona!”

“Liona!”

Voices called out, from all across my memory.

I took his hand.

“From zero… I will begin again.”

“Good.”

And thus, this became the moment I began walking forward—not as the First Princess of the Kingdom of Justina, but simply as Liona Justina.

On the way back, we talked about what was to come.

“For now, tomorrow and the day after are going to be pretty relaxed. Some knight inspections, a garden tea gathering… Think of it as a little break. You’ll have more time than usual to reflect. Actually, the Knight Commander was just lamenting that his subordinates are so capable that he has nothing to do—so if you have any concerns or questions, feel free to ask him.”

“Thank you. And, I have one request… While I’m here, would it be all right if I went to that place at night again?”

I knew it would likely be a burden on him. But in that place, I felt like I could face anything.

This chance to start over—it might never come again. I didn’t want to hold back.

“Of course. I don’t mind at all.”

He agreed so casually, like it was nothing.

“Thank you…”

He really is a kind person.

Someday, I want to repay him for everything he’s done for me. That thought gave me strength to move forward, here and now.

“Whoa now! What a scoop! Talk about lucky! Haha!”

“…Lord Dokunai?”

Before us appeared none other than Lord Dokunai—the man we’d met on the first day.

“Ah! That voice—Lady Mary, is that you?! I was just sneaking around, wondering who Lord Kaito was meeting at this hour, and wow, I didn’t expect it to be you! And my goodness—you’re looking way better than you did yesterday! Looks like Lord Kaito did the deed, huh?!”

“I did not!”

Thwack!

Lord Dokunai clutched his head and crouched down, having taken a solid punch from my master.

“Honestly. You always show up at the worst possible time.”

“Well, that’s my only redeeming quality!”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

The two of them bickered like they always did.

“So, Lord Kaito! Can I run this in tomorrow’s paper? I’ve been totally out of juicy material lately, and this is just perfect!”

“No. Absolutely not. If you print it, I swear you won’t live to see the morning sun.”

He said it with a sigh, and for some reason, I found that side of him… refreshing.

(Come to think of it, this man might be the only one who actually teases Master so openly…)

Everyone treats my master like a friend, yes—but they still hold deep respect for him. No one else dares to push him quite like this.

“Well then, I’d better scram before I get in more trouble! Retreat!!”

And with terrifying speed, Lord Dokunai vanished into the night.

“He’s way too fast when he runs.”

My master sighed, watching his swift departure.

“Yes. But… you look like you’re enjoying yourself a little, Master.”

He made a “good grief” expression, but at the same time, there was something undeniably warm in his eyes.

“Not really. He’s annoying. But still… having at least one idiot like that around can make things more fun. If it looked like I was enjoying myself—well, that’s probably one of his charms.”

He spoke with a gentle smile.

“I just wish I wasn’t always the one on the receiving end of his antics. That sort of chaos is only fun when you’re watching from a distance. I suppose I’ll have to report it upstairs and make sure he’s properly dealt with…”

He seemed determined not to let things slide, already scheming some adorable form of revenge.

That side of him—lighthearted and almost childlike—suited the image of a “peaceful, lazy ruler” more than anything.

“I want him to live like that… so that everyone can truly believe he’s just a harmless, carefree slacker.”

I still didn’t know what I should do.

But more than ever, I wanted to create a world where he could remain like this.

And so, we made our way back home.