The Villain's Reincarnation – Tired of Working Hard, I'm Slacking Off! The Peacefully Oblivious Slacker Avoids Ruin! - Chapter 29

“Y-Yeah…”

I opened my eyes on top of a soft, fluffy bed.

“So… it’s morning already.”

I looked out the window.

The scene outside was no longer the quiet, mystical city I’d seen in the middle of the night. Instead, it was bright and glowing—radiating a promise that today would be a beautiful day.

“……”

Maybe because that midnight scene had left such a strong impression, the complete contrast now made the town look even more beautiful.

(Ah… I like this. This feeling.)

It was comforting. It filled me with a light, uplifting mood. That must be why I stood there for a while, just gazing at the view.

(I need to get ready… Master will be here soon.)

Master always brought breakfast to my room himself.

He did it out of concern for me.

Just as I opened the closet to change into my maid uniform—

My eyes landed on the cute casual clothes Master had picked out for me—so I could relax and be myself, just as a girl, not a maid.

(…I don’t think he’d get mad if I wore those instead.)

I knew he wouldn’t be angry. If anything, he might smile warmly and even praise me.

But… it felt like that would be giving in to comfort.

Yesterday, Master had said something:

That we would start over from zero.

And maybe… this was the very first step.

A tiny, almost trivial first step. The old me wouldn’t have thought anything of it.

But now that I had thrown everything away and returned to zero, I was finally able to notice even the smallest things.

(So this is what it means to start over.)

It wasn’t the same as the first time.

Because I had experienced it all once before, I could now see things more clearly and reflect on my past with calm understanding.

It might seem dramatic to waver over something as simple as which outfit to wear—but for me, it mattered.

This choice would shape how I approached the rest of the inspection. It would define the state of my heart.

(I… I will move forward. I won’t just sit around waiting to be protected like some storybook princess. I refuse to live like that.)

I reached for the maid uniform and began to change.

Right now, I was completely dependent on Master. I wasn’t his equal.

Master protected me and cared for me. But I still couldn’t do anything for him.

If I didn’t take a step forward, reality would never change.

Ideals are fuel to get moving—not tools that change the world on their own. If I wanted to change reality, I had to do it with my own hands.

“Liona.”

I remembered the gentle smile on my mother’s face as she softly called my name just before she passed.

Back then, all I could do was hold her hand and look at her.

Now that I had returned to zero, that memory felt even stronger.

That ending… it wasn’t what I wanted.

Even if our farewell had been inevitable, I never wanted it to be filled with so much sorrow.

(So that’s why… That’s why I kept fighting.)

I couldn’t forgive that heartbreaking reality. I hated that the woman who gave everything for others—my mother—had died with such a pained expression.

Back then, I could only let it swallow me whole. But now, I could put that raw, early emotion into words. I could understand it.

And as I fully recognized the will that lived inside me, something firm and unwavering formed within Liona.

It was the very first pillar of who Liona Justina would become.

(I will change everything. I’ll turn my ideals into reality—with my own strength.)

Even so, determination alone wasn’t enough to change the situation.

Right now, I was just a girl with a strong sense of purpose.

“All right… That should do it.”

Just as I finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door.

“It’s me… I brought breakfast.”

“Thank you very much.”

I opened the door and received breakfast from Master.

He looked incredibly sleepy.

“Um… I’m sorry… It’s my fault.”

Just as I began to apologize, thinking Master was sleep-deprived because he had stayed up late with me, he flicked me on the forehead.

“Don’t blame yourself for everything. I’m tired because I’m an idiot who forgot breakfast even existed.”

“Master…”

He was probably lying.

I’d heard it from many people—during the day, Master pretended to be lazy so others wouldn’t worry, and only moved into action at night when everyone was asleep.

Considering how he had shown up so quickly last night, even though it was the middle of the night, when I tried to sneak out—it’s highly likely those rumors were true.

(Why… Why does Master go so far?)

His tired expression, the way he seemed slightly drained—it reminded me of my mother, whose body had gradually weakened from illness before she passed.

(What should I do… in moments like this?)

Back then, with my mother, I tried my best to be a good girl.

I didn’t do anything unnecessary—anything that might burden her, even a little.

But… that didn’t change anything.

If I always stayed one step away, trying not to be a bother, I couldn’t do anything. Even if it ended up being unnecessary, if I didn’t take that step forward with courage, I wouldn’t be able to act when it really mattered.

Just being a good girl… isn’t enough.

So even if it might be a bit too much, I decided to take a small chance.

“M-Master!”

“Hmm?”

I called out just as he was about to set the breakfast down and leave.

“Um… if you have time… would you like to eat breakfast with me?”

Liona was moving forward.

This time, hoping for a different outcome than before.