The Villain's Reincarnation – Tired of Working Hard, I'm Slacking Off! The Peacefully Oblivious Slacker Avoids Ruin! - Chapter 30

“……”

When I invited Master to join me for breakfast, he fell silent, as though weighing something in his mind.

The fact that he didn’t answer immediately sent a rush of thoughts spiraling through my head.

Maybe I’d overstepped.
Maybe it really was unnecessary.
Maybe I should’ve just behaved and stayed quiet.
Maybe I was being a bother.

(Calm down… I know this.)

(Getting past this feeling of anxiety is what builds the stronger version of myself—the one who can keep moving forward.)

I didn’t want to be a burden.
I didn’t want to drag anyone down.
I didn’t want to be the cause of failure.

Still, I knew the truth.

Those who had overcome these exact same feelings—those were the people who had made their ideals into reality. The ones who had achieved something meaningful.

Liona believed that. With all her heart.

Her own past failures whispered to her.

About what happens when you stay in the safety zone and choose to do nothing.

In just these two short days, she had seen it—dozens of lives, their stories and struggles. And those lives taught her:

The ones who reached their ideals were those who faced this same fear head-on and pushed past it.

And all the effort I had put in until now—that too had given me the strength to face forward.

And so, I did.

And then—I could see it.

Something radiant, shimmering in the far distance.

I stood in a wide, empty plain, nothing around me. From the depths of my heart, I longed for that glowing light ahead. I reached toward it…

…but of course, I couldn’t grasp it.

If I truly wanted to seize it, I would have to cross the field. I would have to run the path that led to that light.

“Are you going to move forward?”

A voice called from behind.

I turned—and there she was.
The younger version of myself, from before Mother passed away, standing in the breeze with a serene look on her face.

“You’re…?”

“I’m you. The part of you you’ve ignored.”

She answered plainly, almost bored.

“You answered my question, so answer mine now. Are you going to move forward?”

The younger me asked again, this time with a hint of irritation.

“…I want to. That’s what I believe.”

I wanted to change that reality.

“Huh. I see. Well, I’m against it.”

“…What?”

Her words denied my resolve, directly and without hesitation.

“W-Why?”

“Why move forward in the first place? You’ve already experienced it firsthand, haven’t you? What’s waiting beyond that path? A towering wall, cliffs, raging seas, and beyond that—hell itself. That’s not all. Anxiety, fear, responsibility, sorrow… everything will entangle and bind you. And once you stop moving, you fall.”

“……”

Because I had once pushed forward recklessly, I already knew what lay ahead.

And yes, I had been shattered by it all. I’d run away. I had fallen this far.

“It’s true. I did fall. But now, I’m going to start over. And everything I’ve built up until now will make me stronger.”

This wasn’t the same as the first time.

The things I had fought for, step by step—they hadn’t disappeared. They were still with me, and now I could see a world completely different from before.

Even now, in this very moment, the path that had once been dark and invisible was now clear and vivid before my eyes.

“This isn’t like before. I’m going to become stronger and start again. And this time—I’ll reach it!”

That was the vow I made.

“That’s why—I’m moving forward.”

“Impressive. But you still can’t move forward.”

“…Why not?”

I asked her—the stubborn, unyielding version of myself who refused to take a step.

“I already told you, didn’t I? I’m you. And unless I take that first step, you won’t be able to leave this plain.”

The younger me spread her arms wide, gazing up at the clear blue sky as she declared:

“I’m not moving forward. I never want to go through those painful days again. I was finally—finally—freed from that wretched prison thanks to Master!”

(Master… a prison…?)

I didn’t understand what the younger me meant.

But one thing was clear—I couldn’t move forward while ignoring her.

“I’ll stay here forever. Here, there’s no pain, no suffering, no sadness, no hardship. I can finally enjoy peace and rest. This is the safe haven Master gave me.”

Her eyes sparkled. She truly meant it—from the depths of her heart.

“Hey, why didn’t you wear the casual dress? I wanted to wear it. I wanted to be praised by Master. If he’d said I looked nice, I would’ve been so happy.”

“…That may be true. But we can’t just stay as someone who only receives. You know that, don’t you? I know what lies at the end of that path.”

Everything I had built up until now was proof of that truth.

“…You’re the one who doesn’t understand anything!!”

Her voice exploded with rage, and she glared at me with eyes full of hatred.

“You’re saying we can’t just rely on kindness? Don’t be ridiculous!! I want it!! I want Master’s smile!! I want him to look at me and say, ‘You did well.’ I want to lean on him! I want to be selfish! I’m done with days of pain and endurance!!”

“…”

The younger me wasn’t trying to act mature. She just said exactly what she felt, like any child her age would.

“Master’s calling…”

“…Huh?”

Now calm again, the younger me looked up at the sky and said quietly:

“…I hate you. But you’re the one in control. So go. Master freed me… and saw me. I won’t forgive you if you make him sad.”

There was a firm conviction in her words.

“If you try to do something I hate… I won’t help you.”

With that, I was cast out of that place.

“Heyyy, come back to me already!”

“Ah…! I—I’m sorry!”

Before I knew it, Master was standing right in front of me.

“Glad to have you back. Looked like you were lost in thought there for a bit?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry—ow!”

I tried to apologize again, and once more, he flicked my forehead.

“I’m not mad. I did say I’d take care of you, didn’t I? Besides, if you’re thinking deeply about things… that must mean you’re seriously trying to start over, right?”

“Master…”

Master smiled gently at me as he spoke.

“I’m sure there’s a lot you want to talk about. So—why don’t we sit down and have breakfast together?”