The Perks of Being a Villainess

If it had been the old me, I would've just smiled and brushed off the irritating remark.

Back then, I believed that living peacefully, avoiding conflict, was the best way to go.

But now that I've died and come back, I know better. That whole "patience brings blessings" thing was a lie.

All it brought was constipation, not fortune.

"…That's unfortunate."

I stared him down as I replied. The man, who had looked so smug as if thinking 'figures', froze at my next words.

"A librarian with such a narrow mindset? I'm starting to think my father made a mistake assigning such a critical role to a petty man full of stubborn pride."

"N-narrow-minded, you say? That's quite harsh, my Lady."

Clearly not expecting my retort, the man began to stammer. I didn't give him a chance to recover.

"You're proudly boasting that this library doesn't offer books across various fields. How is that not narrow-minded?"

"This library is filled with respectable texts. There's no reason to carry third-rate novels that offer nothing of value."

"And have you actually read any of those 'third-rate novels' yourself?"

"There's no need to. It's obvious."

"So you demean someone's creative work as garbage without even checking the contents? You really don't think that's narrow-minded? Refusing to acknowledge your own limited view—that's narrow too."

I deliberately kept using the word narrow to needle his pride.

Before he could find anything to say back, I reached for the library ledger on the desk.

"With such a pathetic system for managing this library's collection, it's quite unfortunate you still had the audacity to offer me a tour."

Having worked part-time at a library during school breaks, I couldn't help but click my tongue inwardly as I looked at the classification system here.

Since books are rare and far fewer in number compared to the modern world, it's no surprise that the system for managing them isn't very sophisticated either.

"What book are you looking for? If it's not some third-rate literature, I'll find it for you right away."

He still refused to acknowledge his earlier slip-up, stubbornly holding his ground.

Does the Seymour family really have so few capable people? This is just… pitiful.

"A magic book containing formulas for 3rd-class wide-area spells. Can you find it without making me take a single unnecessary step?"

He hesitated—clearly not expecting me to ask for something so specific.

Judging from the classification system, he might be able to take me to the section with magic formulas.

But locating a precise 3rd-circle volume without a single misstep? That was a stretch. It's not like this place has a search system.

"If you make me walk even a single step in vain… You know what my personality is like, don't you?"

I raised my thumb and made a slicing motion across my throat.

Only then did the librarian seem to grasp the gravity of the situation, bowing his head repeatedly while apologizing profusely.

But I had no intention of letting this slide quietly.

'Maybe I've let the servants see me as too soft all this time.'

Even if he was the son of a powerful vassal family, I couldn't believe someone would so openly talk back to a Duke's daughter. I made sure to memorize the librarian's name and face before heading upstairs in the library.

'Hmm...'

Just as the librarian had said, this library mostly contained books on magic. Scanning the shelves carefully, I managed to find a book related to mana formulas.

『Introduction to Mana Formulas』

'Wow. That's ridiculously thick. I don't even want to open it.'

Why is it that even after being reborn, I still can't escape the shackles of studying?

'I was born with an orichalcum spoon in my mouth, yet I still have to earn money.'

With a slightly depressed heart, I reluctantly opened the book.

This book is dedicated to my beloved Danae.

'Danae? Who's that?'

Tilting my head in confusion, I flipped to the next page.

My colleague Lycurgos and I oppose the claim that the flow of mana is extremely irregular and fragmented. Mana—noble like a river, light as the wind, and solid like the ground—doesn't just indicate a high level of complexity, but rather a completely different kind of complexity altogether. There are countless measures for understanding its regularity, and all of them exist for various practical purposes… (etc.)

Flipping through the thick book, I clicked my tongue lightly.

"...This is really long."

The lengthy 20-page preface explained in detail when, by whom, and why mana formulas were created.

The full development of formulas began during the ancient Tegea Empire, long before the Asteia Empire was even founded.

An archmage, who had reached the pinnacle among ancient sorcerers, systematically organized the naturally occurring mana for practical use—that was the origin of mana formulas.

'Finally found it.'

After setting aside the theoretical text and flipping through the applied formulas for 3rd-circle magic, I smiled in triumph. I had answered the professor's question correctly.

'Still, this is nuts. Who would've thought area magic was based on a geometric sequence?'

In this world, geometric sequences are explained as a mana manipulation technique used to expand the range of magical effects. In game terms, you could call it an AoE skill that wipes out low-level mobs.

But even without that knowledge, for an engineering student like me, spotting numerical patterns was easier than eating rice cake while lying down.

'The more I read, the more it tickles an engineering student's curiosity.'

Magic that transforms mana into a sphere uses the formula for the circumference of a circle—I held back my laughter.

'There's a reason why mages give off engineering vibes.'

Since magical formulas weren't all that different from the math in my world, I skimmed through the book with growing interest… until I frowned at something odd.

There was no basic formula for calculating the sum of a geometric sequence.

'Why isn't that formula in this book?'

Thinking there might be an appendix at the very end, I flipped through the pages uncertainly—until the sound of approaching footsteps made me snap my head up.

Step… step… step.

Between the gaps in the bookshelf, I saw a small figure with shimmering silver hair. The youngest of this household—Enrique Seymour.

Sunlight pouring in through the large windows lit up Enrique's plump, rosy cheeks. Seeing the soft white fuzz glittering on his ears and cheeks, I quickly covered my mouth.

Is this made of copper (Cu) and tellurium (Te)? CUTE!

'His bangs make him even cuter now.'

If Enrique had ever appeared on a family variety show, I'm sure his innocent cuteness alone would have landed him five trillion commercial deals in an instant.

'If they sold Enrique photocards, they'd be sold out in one second. Why? Because I'd buy every single version.'

Enrique rolled his big round eyes around, looking quite serious, and nibbled on his tiny lips before suddenly hopping like a rabbit with his arms stretched out. It seemed the book he wanted was just out of reach.

'Ugh. I'm getting dizzy.'

His overwhelming cuteness was seriously making my head spin.

To be honest, I was more susceptible to cute things than handsome guys. Puppies, kittens, and kids—they were my kryptonite.

Every time I walked through the alleys, the local cats would gather around me hoping for food. I guess even they could tell I was an easy target.

'I want to help him.'

It hasn't even been that long since I vowed to act cold and heartless.

'But he's just too adorable….'

Every time he jumped, his silver hair fluttered. I had to press my hand to my forehead. While I was caught in a fierce internal struggle, Enrique let out a soft groan and just barely managed to hook his fingertip around the edge of a book.

'Nice, Enrique. You've got this.'

But because the books were packed so tightly, Enrique failed to pull it out once again. Looking disappointed, his silver eyebrows drooped into a sad curve, and his small, round shoulders slumped down.

'I give up.'

In the end, I completely surrendered to Enrique's cuteness. It was beyond my control. How could anyone not help something that adorable? You'd have to be the devil himself.

"Here."

I walked up behind the kid who was still jumping and, pretending to be nonchalant, handed him the book coolly.

'Ugh. I'm going insane.'

Suddenly seeing his round little crown from above made me bite down on the soft flesh inside my mouth to stop myself.

Startled by my sudden appearance, Enrique jumped back. Shock flickered across his silver eyes as he turned to face me.

Well, yeah. Deborah in a library? It's like miso soup paired with macarons. I get how weird that sounds.

"S-Sister?"

"The book you were trying to reach."

Enrique's eyes instantly cooled. The guarded look on his face made me want to sigh.

"Were you spying on me?"

He asked with unexpected sharpness.

"Yes. Because you're cute."