The Villainess in the Game Advances Towards Destruction

This wasn't the happy prison life I had expected.

The prison was still dark and cold, but the soft bed I was leaning on offset such discomforts.

Instead of the smell of mold, a subtle herbal scent wafted from the clean, soft-textured walls.

Around my wrists were not iron chains, but something like soft silk ribbons.

'If only these damn ribbons weren't here...'

These ribbons, which clung perfectly to my arms without causing any discomfort, had two types of magic cast on them.

Location tracking magic and behavior correction magic used to control slaves or extreme criminals.

Kindly, unlike other slaves or criminals, the restrictions placed on me were only basic ones such as 'no self-harm' and 'no assault'.

Criminals suffering in other rooms would surely protest at such discrimination if they knew.

'You lucky bastards.'

I, who had expected a daily life of being miserably abused by guards while chained up in prison, was actually envious of them.

"It's mealtime."

A cold voice pierced my ear.

A guard in a drab uniform approached and passed food through the prison bars.

'Wow... she's big.'

To have such a figure even in that awful uniform design...

It was the second largest I had seen since being possessed in this world.

'A new recruit?'

"Hmm... this is too disappointing. Here I am locked up in prison, but I wonder if I should be this comfortable."

I looked up at her with a slightly impudent smile while lying on the fluffy bed.

"Hehe, I'm too lazy to eat. Won't you feed me? Since you're already accommodating me, be a little more generous!"

Our new recruit's face twisted slightly, but that was it. She put down the meal without any further reaction.

Two months ago, right before the golden vacation began, I was thrown in here. I tried to provoke the guards to attack me, but they didn't even pretend to hear me.

'I thought I might enjoy some recreational activities in prison.'

It was especially disappointing since her appearance was exactly my type.

I pushed aside my slight disappointment and began to eat the food.

Warm bread and soup—quite tasty for prison food, but...

'Wow, what is this? A reward?'

The guard's duties included monitoring whether I ate properly.

Thanks to that, the new guard looked down at me with eyes full of contempt and disgust until I finished my meal.

Considering that only guards with stiff, bland expressions had come before, this was like a ray of sunshine!

Is she the righteous type?

Seeing how much she hates me...

'Should I provoke her a little more?'

Two years ago, I possessed villainess in a game I used to play.

Lady Yeon Bennett, who bullied people around her using only her status as a noble lady without properly learning martial arts or magic.

Before possession, I thought she was just an incompetent third-rate villain, but surprisingly, she was one of the few people in this world with a unique ability.

I felt my breathing becoming faster.

My senses sharpened and my body filled with energy.

This isn't enough...

I need a stronger stimulus.

[SYSTEM]

Unique ability 'Masochist' is activated.

It's a bit perverse, but...

...

I had no choice but to immediately disperse the unique ability I had finally activated after two whole months. That's because our unnamed new guard brought shocking news.

"What did you say?"

"I said you need to prepare for release procedures after you finish eating."

She answered in an irritable tone, showing me her signature on the document handler section, but I had no time to pay attention to that.

Release, huh...

The crimes committed by Lady Yeon Bennett had been deliberately spread throughout the world, and my infamy was now even stronger.

Of course, it was actually a false accusation, but only the Academy Director, Duke Bennett, and a few others knew that fact.

In the current situation, I would be released from prison without any punishment after living comfortably.

This would inevitably raise suspicions that the Bennett ducal family had intervened.

This would be a fatal blow not only to my image but also to the ducal family's reputation.

I had expected something when they told me to take a break, but to release me so forcefully...

"Then my status has been restored?"

I could hear the whispers of other guards who had learned about my release from a distance.

"Is this for real? They're just letting that bitch go?"

"I heard the ducal family pulled some strings? Direct intervention from above."

"Even so, she barely stayed here, and now she's leaving after living comfortably? Isn't that too lenient?"

I deliberately ignored their chatter and checked the documents.

'Bella Staren.'

A name that sounded familiar.

But I couldn't immediately recall where I had seen it.

I searched my memory and finally remembered.

Beautiful appearance, decent background, and overwhelming combat ability for her age.

Known as a promising talent responsible for humanity's future, but died on the battlefield early in the story, leading to a funeral episode for the protagonist's group.

A tragic MacGuffin showing the cruelty of the battlefield.

She was supposed to be dead by now, but she was still alive.

I smirked and muttered.

"Bella Staren? I wonder how our proud senior who was active on the front lines ended up in such a shabby place...?"

The eyes of the woman monitoring me twitched.

"You should worry about your own situation instead."

"Hmm? What's my situation? Aren't I about to be released? You'll have to stay here wallowing with criminals."

Bella looked at me with cold eyes before turning her head away.

An attitude suggesting I wasn't worth responding to.

I found her lack of reaction even more amusing and let out a laugh.

'At least that's fortunate...'

Her being alive was proof that what I had done wasn't in vain.

○

Bella still couldn't believe that she was alive and moving.

'If nothing goes wrong, I can rest and heal my wounds for about a year.'

Just two months ago, she had been fighting monsters at the front lines.

The midst of war where someone died every day.

And finally, when her turn came, it wasn't anything special.

Her mana core was cracked, leaving her body unable to move even a finger.

Monsters approaching to finish her off.

And then, a miracle.

Before her eyes, the mid-to-low level monsters that had been dominating the battlefield suddenly died in droves.

Without any warning.

From that moment, the battlefield completely reversed.

Humanity could have taken an overwhelming advantage, but being unable to understand the situation, they cautiously observed instead of rushing in.

The investigation results were hopeful.

The high-level monsters were still alive, but feeling disadvantaged, they retreated deep into the contaminated areas.

Once it was confirmed that the current situation wasn't their trap, humanity immediately recovered lost fortresses and narrowed the front lines.

And...

A small "breathing room" was created at the front.

For morale management, the council ordered injured troops or those who had served for a long time to rest in the rear.

That's how Bella was assigned to the rear.

The place she was deployed to was Bastille Prison.

A place where evil god worshippers, those corrupted by contamination, or equivalent criminals were imprisoned.

A place called "Hell" by criminals.

One prisoner lazily sprawled out in such a place.

Bella's mood sank as she recalled her face.

Lady Yeon Bennett, who picked meaningless fights and deliberately provoked others.

She knew about the infamous troublemaker noble lady, but it was beyond her imagination.

Had her displeasure been obvious?

Prison Warden, Count Mortana, looked at her and spoke.

"I've heard the news. I'm sorry that a hero like you had to go through such an experience."

Bella shook her head.

"There's no need to say that, Warden."

Count Mortana, who had seen countless criminals while working as the warden of Bastille Prison.

He knew better than anyone how much human greed had brought tragedy.

Therefore, he no longer wanted to see Bella, who had fought at the front lines for humanity, being insulted by a mere criminal.

"What do you think about doing more rewarding work elsewhere?"

"Pardon?"

Bella didn't understand immediately.

"I'll write you a recommendation. It'll be more rewarding than cleaning up after these criminals."

'Rewarding work...'

The Count's words echoed in her heart.

Bella naturally looked at her own hands.

The rough palms bore traces of countless times holding a sword.

Those traces were proof of the blood and sweat she had shed on the battlefield, and stood in stark contrast to her current role of taking care of criminals.

"Rewarding work... What exactly do you mean?"

When she asked cautiously, Count Mortana smiled and said:

"You'll return to the academy you graduated from."

"The academy...?"

Bella's eyes trembled slightly.

"If someone with your practical experience becomes an instructor, humanity's future will be brighter."

She fell into thought for a moment.

The Count's proposal was attractive.

But it also came with fear.

Could someone like her, who had retreated from the battlefield due to injury...

Be qualified to teach others?

Could her experience be helpful to others?

"Could you give me some time to think?"

When she asked carefully, the Count nodded.

"Of course."

However, he already knew.

That Bella had made up her mind.

"But there's one condition."

Count Mortana spoke with a slightly reluctant expression.

"Take that troublemaker to the academy."

○

I was now running while savoring the refreshing outside air I was feeling after two months.

"Haa, I had expectations when they called it the world's worst prison..."

I had anticipated this when the Director told me to take a break.

He probably didn't want me to be treated the same as other criminals...

But that was a completely unnecessary consideration for me.

So...

After being possessed in this body with this perverted ability, I developed a somewhat strange taste.

It's definitely not my fault...

I just got a little consumed by the strangely named ability called 'Masochist' after training a bit intensely to build strength.

Umm...

Well...

Actually...

I was a little curious about the torture other criminals received.

Of course, for ability training.

No other meaning.

'I mean, honestly, when a criminal imprisoned acts so impudently, couldn't a guard as a guard slap them a few times, restrain their whole body and throw them in a dark solitary cell, torture them a bit, or at least curse and berate them as trash?'

To succumb to pressure from above and serve a criminal like me with the utmost care...

The guards' courage was too small compared to the prison's infamous reputation.

If they were going to accommodate me, they could have at least not cast that terrible behavior correction magic.

Thanks to that, I couldn't enjoy my hobby... I mean, develop my ability for two whole months.

After running for about an hour, I was able to reach my destination.

The guards are probably frantically searching for me by now?

I feel a bit sorry, but...

Since I'm being released anyway, I left early because I had somewhere to visit.

'If you're upset, you shouldn't have removed the behavior correction magic.'

Lady Yeon Bennett, an incompetent villain when unable to manifest her ability.

But...

When 'Masochist' is activated, I can easily evade mere guards.

'Hehe, how long has it been since I enjoyed my hobby?'

I looked at my broken left pinky with a satisfied smile.

A powerful force, incomparable to the strength I gained from Bella's contemptuous gaze earlier, was circulating in my body.

This warm feeling that filled my starved soul!

I deserved it after suffering from frustration for two whole months.

I usually broke my fingers lightly as a warm-up, but today it felt much better than usual.

'Still, I can't meet Annie looking like this...'

With a regretful heart, I concentrated mana on my back to activate the regeneration magic circle drawn there.

[SYSTEM]

Unique ability 'Masochist' is deactivated.