Became the Villainess’s Guardian

As a model student of this era who heeds the words of a sage-like teacher, I obediently remained indoors with Freugne, just as Professor Magni had advised.

The newspapers incessantly blared on about a rebellion or whatnot, but truthfully, I did not feel much of an impact.

To begin with, the only direct experience was hearing a few shouts and the sound of doors being broken down, and the fact that this so-called rebellion did not even last three full days was most significant.
Even as Londinium’s city center, including Parliament, was occupied, genuinely nothing happened at my home, so I was honestly unaware of what had truly transpired until the very end.

[Rebellion Suppressed Within Three Days! The Kingdom’s Responsibility?]

[Breaking News) The Demonic Tribe Was Behind the Rebels… Is the Glassgow Kingdom’s Public Safety Acceptable?]

[Shocking! Multiple Demonic Tribe Members Actually Arrested in Londinium… “We Apologize for Not Taking Swifter Action,” Metropolitan Police Superintendent Baldor Reveals Candid Feelings]

And soon after the media reported that Demonic Tribe members had been lurking in the city, the entire city erupted into flames.
No, from what I heard from the people around me, not just the city, but the entire kingdom was fervently boiling over in real-time.

“What has the kingdom been doing to allow this situation? I pay my taxes, and this is the result I get in return? Are you kidding me now?”

“The Demonic Tribe members discovered cannot be the only ones! Who knows how many more are hiding among us!”

“They say the Demonic Tribe can control minds. How can we even notice if they’re mixed among people?”

“Dear, from now on, do not leave the house after 6 PM. The Demonic Tribe might abduct you.”

It seemed the city authorities, having reached the point where they could no longer conceal it, had decided to publicly disclose the Demonic Tribe’s meddling first.

While I was already aware of this fact and did not panic like others, I still felt it was better for everyone to know what had happened.
Rather than denying reality until the Demonic Tribe sparked an all-out war, having the canary in the coal mine occasionally sound the alarm would greatly increase our chances of survival through at least some preparation.

Superintendent Baldor, who had spearheaded the Demonic Tribe’s arrests, and the MPs who had fervently spread this news achieved overnight stardom.

While I had worried this incident might plunge us back into panic, this was Londinium, the industrial city that could even weld glass.
Although numerous individuals were subsequently ousted one after another amid the ensuing chaos of finger-pointing over responsibility, Londinium ultimately rose again, shaking off its scars.

Good.
The situation seemed to be progressing more smoothly than expected.

Despite their initial bewilderment over the weekend’s events, the members remained fervently committed to rail gun development, and Ceres Martop’s assets had also survived the three-day turmoil unscathed.

However, amid this, one aspect remained unsatisfactory:
Freugne, who seemed to enjoy being outdoors so much, continued her frequent outings even after the incident had concluded, as if routinely going out for meals.

“Achoo!”

“Which is why I told you to bundle up warmly.”

She had caught a cold.

In fact, more than just a cold – for about three days, she had been so delirious and out of her mind that I had genuinely thought some calamity had befallen her.
Thus, while Londinium was still reeling from the chaos, I had ventured out to find a capable doctor, whose medication and nursing fortunately enabled her to regain her senses this morning.

Sniffling, Freugne warmed her body with a hot drink.
She had decided to skip school for a few more days. In any case, graduation was just around the corner, and she was already among the top academic performers, so a brief absence would not be a significant issue.

“Shall I hear the reason once? Is there perhaps some concern weighing on your mind?”

I asked Freugne, whose fever seemed to have subsided somewhat compared to last night.

I had presumed it was due to the rebellion, but since she had been diligently roaming the neighborhood even before that, this could not be the sole reason.

“Well, I won’t tell anyone else, so feel free to share openly.”

“…Ugh.”

“Yes?”

“To be honest, there have been many unsettling matters lately.”

“Such as?”

“Worries like the people in the slums planning a rebellion, or concerns that the Demonic Tribe might still be hiding in this city. Am I perhaps overreacting?”

“Not at all, those are understandable concerns. I only wish you could set aside some of those worries.”

It was lamentable that I could not reassure Freugne that these were completely unfounded fears.
While I could lie for the moment, I did not wish to provide an answer I could not stand behind.

“If anything does happen, be sure to call me immediately. I’ll come right away, understood?”

“…Yes, uncle.”

“So leave such complex issues to us adults, and why don’t you ponder matters of greater importance to you instead?”

Come to think of it, considering her age, she was likely facing concerns distinct from mere adolescence. Her future path, for instance. Or the person she might marry.

Upon graduating high school, students either went on to become professional magicians in university or immediately joined the workforce.
Freugne was already eighteen. In this Londinium where most secured employment in their early to mid-teens if not pursuing further education, this was the norm.

As for marriage, the timing varied, but most often occurred around the same time as employment.
So it would be unsurprising for Freugne, being of that knowledgeable age, to develop such interests gradually.

Come to think of it, was Freugne currently in a relationship?
Recalling how she had blushed and protested, “I’m not seeing anyone like that!” when I had inquired before, I had refrained from prying further since she clearly wished to keep it private. But given her continued silence on the matter, she was likely still involved.

“…Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“Am I not yet an adult?”

I gazed at Freugne for a moment.

In Londinium, the definition of an adult was not strictly age-based but rather referred to someone capable of taking responsibility for an entire household.
This was because, in this cramped city, countless individuals faced vastly differing circumstances.

And if Freugne were to ask me whether she qualified as an adult, then surely:

“Not quite yet?”

“Oh…”

“Why?”

“To be honest, I thought I had mostly grown up by now.”

“Grown up, you say? Perhaps to others’ eyes, but not to mine.”

“I see……”

Freugne protested, but it was clear she still had a ways to go.

After gently ruffling her hair, I stepped out to procure some light, easy-to-digest fare for her meal.

Despite possessing the ability to receive detailed reports on every aspect of the city and respond accordingly, Freugne’s physical body remained as ordinary as anyone else’s.

Considering she had persevered through the post-rebellion clean-up solely through her innate mental fortitude and concentration, had she lacked those, she would have surely collapsed long ago.
However, unless one could employ a corporeal duplication technique, no one could forever play the role of Londinium’s Big Sister.

“Is your body feeling a bit better?”

Edan, who had returned with bags full of ingredients to prepare a cold remedy, inquired.

“Yes, much improved compared to yesterday. I should be able to attend school tomorrow.”

“No, just stay home a few more days, in case your condition worsens again.”

“Okay……”

That she had been mentally unstable for three whole days.
And that she had been unable to tend to her organization during that period – originally, it had been structured to function autonomously even under such circumstances, so there were no issues.

What occupied the forefront of her mind was how Edan had unfailingly waited by her side whenever she awoke during that time.

Her body felt heavy, sinking deeply into the warm bed.
At times like these, yes, it felt good to depend on him. Of course, he was utterly inept at investing, cooking, and prone to strange fancies, but she could easily accommodate even those trivial flaws.

Come to think of it, it had been quite some time since she had last glimpsed Edan’s future.
She had been so preoccupied with checking for any incidents the next day or within the following month that she had neglected to look further ahead.

Since he happened to be right here, she may as well take a peek.
Freugne gently reached out and clasped Edan’s hand as he sat in a chair beside the bed.

“I had trusted you! How could you do this?”

“I’m sorry for being such a child.”

The now-familiar alleyway she had grown fond of, and Edan lowering the gun he had raised towards her – nothing had changed in the broad strokes of this near-future, though the dialogue and poses varied slightly.

So this time, she decided to glimpse a bit further into the more distant future.
Ordinarily, she might have been able to view it twice more, but her current condition was already subpar, and drowsiness was gradually creeping in, so this would likely be the last future she could perceive today.

How many years had passed?
Four? Perhaps five? Still, to glimpse the distant future while bedridden with a cold was a feat in itself.

This time, the scene was entirely unfamiliar.
The surroundings were too dark to make out clearly, but… it seemed to be a bedroom, and judging by the dim view beyond the window, the time was evening or night.

And:

“I had trusted you……”

Edan spoke in a slightly quivering voice, a blanket draped over his head.

And beside him, seated on the edge of the bed,
was clearly myself, dressed uncharacteristically disheveled, saying:

“I’m sorry for being such a child. But you enjoyed it too, didn’t you, uncle?”

“Damn……”

‘…Huh?’

And that was as far as the future extended.

Just as when she had witnessed the Demonic Tribe burning Londinium, Freugne froze in place once more.