The Villainess in the Game Advances Towards Destruction

Before being possessed here, my life was pathetic in itself.

The day the Gate opened.

The city turned red, and the roars of monsters that seemed to tear the sky apart echoed.

My memories of my family were hazy.

Only vague recollections remained—that my mother's embrace was warm, and my father's hands were large and reassuring.

However, I clearly remembered one person who saved me in that blood-soaked world.

A hunter who cut down a massive beast with a single strike.

Along with the light behind his back, crimson blood soaked the ground.

In that moment, I forgot fear and sorrow, and watched in a daze.

In that moment when I lost everything I had, only one thought filled my mind.

'I want to become like that person.'

From that day on, I decided to become a hunter.

But...

"You have no talent."

I was in a daze for a while.

"What...?"

"An ordinary person who hasn't awakened cannot become a hunter."

'No, there must be some way.'

I desperately went to the Hunter Association and continuously searched for ways to develop abilities.

But the answer was always the same.

"It's impossible if you can't awaken."

"You can't last even a minute in a Gate if you can't handle mana."

They looked at me with eyes of pity, and I despaired.

In the end, I never awakened, had no talent, and fell significantly behind others despite training.

After several years passed, I finally gave up everything.

The day I accepted that the path to becoming a hunter was completely closed.

Since I couldn't do anything in reality, I wanted to be someone, at least in the virtual world.

I holed up in my bed.

A life spent reading novels and playing games all day.

But now, that pathetic experience might be somewhat helpful.

Yeon Bennett's end was very miserable regardless of which route was chosen.

Honestly, I thought she deserved it, but the problem is that now I am that Yeon Bennett.

What would happen if I treated the servants well in this situation?

Originally, when a person with a bad image does something good, the effect is greater.

I recalled the possession novels I had read before.

What happens when troublemakers and villainous ladies change their behavior after being possessed?

Their relationships with those around them improve quickly with their changed attitude.

By showing just a little kindness to subordinates with modern common sense, they immediately become moved and offer loyalty.

All I can do now is actively utilize that cliché.

By earning trust that way, I could get an opportunity to befriend the playable characters who are active in the main story, and perhaps use knowledge gained from the game to clear the story with them and somehow end the final chapter with a happy ending.

That was a perfect plan.

It certainly should have been.

Maybe it's not as easy as I thought?

"Haah."

Even so, to faint right after I apologized...

What on earth had this girl Yeon Bennett been doing?

○

Carrying a collapsed person to the infirmary wasn't as difficult as I thought.

Having a level means having awakened mana; Yeon's body could exert strength certainly greater than an ordinary person's.

I was worried that the doctor might be flustered seeing someone as infamous as her carrying her maid, but he only slightly stiffened his expression and silently focused on the examination.

"Um... could you tell me how Annie ended up like this...?"

So this maid's name was Annie.

"Uh..."

I hesitated slightly.

"No... no! You don't have to answer! It's just a simple fainting spell, so she'll recover after resting here for a while."

Fear was evident in the doctor's expression and tone.

He must also be a victim of Yeon, having worked in this mansion.

This might actually be an opportunity.

I tried to put on the most dejected expression I could.

"I think I've been too harsh, so I apologized... and... she just fainted."

As I finished with an awkward laugh, he looked at me with a complicated expression.

"Are you sincere?"

"Yes. I'm sorry to you too. And I want to apologize to everyone else."

He observed me for a moment, then tilted his head as if he couldn't quite believe it.

"You've really decided to change. Your expression has brightened considerably. May I ask why?"

I sighed and said:

"I'll be entering the academy in a year. I want to become a hero who fights against contamination and saves people. I think I can't live selfishly and immaturely anymore."

There was some sincerity in those words, not just for survival.

The characters of 'Tales of Etheraisha' who had comforted my loneliness in that dark room.

If they were real people, I wanted to save them.

And like the hunters I admired in my previous life, I too wanted to become a hero.

He looked at me with a surprised expression.

"Still, it won't be easy. Because Lady... ahem... because of what you've done so far, others won't open their hearts easily, just like this child lying here."

That's true.

Even I, who only saw Yeon's atrocities through the game, would shake my head, so the servants of the mansion who experienced it directly would harbor deep resentment.

"But I believe you'll make the effort."

He smiled and looked at me with warm eyes.

It felt strange.

A numbing, sad, and resentful feeling.

It wasn't mine.

I had no reason to feel such emotions toward these people who weren't game characters.

Could it be Yeon's emotions?

That she would feel such emotions.

Really...

Does she have no conscience?

After the treatment, instead of calling someone to take Annie back to her room, I decided to carry her myself.

If I'm going to earn points, I might as well do it properly.

Judging by the doctor's expression, he seemed to have almost come around.

When I arrived at Annie's room and opened the door, a book with an incredible presence was sitting on the desk.

'What's this? Is it some kind of magic book?'

Upon seeing the title, I opened the first page as if entranced and started reading.

「First of all, we sincerely welcome you to working as a servant for the historic Bennett family.

Whether you've committed a wrongdoing or have circumstances that led you to become Lady's dedicated maid, we provide you with this manual containing precautions for your safe return.

Please be careful not to lose it and make sure to hand it over to your successor.」

1. Never trust Lady Bennett in any situation.

It seems I should give up on winning Annie's heart.

○

Three months have already passed since I came to this world.

The place I was possessed was a mansion owned by the Bennett family, located in a remote area.

They say Duke Bennett confined Yeon here to correct her behavior.

Thanks to that, I hadn't seen any of the family members.

I was slightly disappointed that I couldn't see Serena Bennett, Yeon Bennett's sister and one of the playable characters...

But considering what she had done, none of them would like me anyway.

Still, as expected, the servants opened their hearts quickly.

I felt somewhat uneasy that it was probably due to the class difference, but I was happy.

'Haah, I should also start training my unique ability.'

I tried to use my unique ability but ended up injuring my body, which caused quite a commotion in the mansion for a while.

Knock knock

Hearing the knock, I answered in a slightly mischievous tone.

"Come in. You don't have to go somewhere else for an hour."

"Young lady! We agreed you'd stop teasing me about that!"

Annie and I had become quite close.

Close enough to exchange light jokes.

Though our relationship was only three months old, it was precious to me.

I hadn't realized it, but I was probably lonelier than I thought as I locked myself away playing games.

"I'll help you with your bath, young lady."

"Okay."

"Young lady, is the water temperature all right?"

"It's perfect. Thank you, Annie."

I answered while looking in the mirror.

Hmm...

I wasn't particularly satisfied.

In reality, some people would appreciate what they'd call a slender figure, but...

I prefer bigger ones like Rina.

Well, it might not matter that much anymore.

Since the important organ is gone, this body can't really have that kind of reaction...

'If only I'd been a man when I saw them... sigh...'

Annie gently loosened my hair and carefully guided me to the bathtub.

As I slowly immersed myself in the tub, the warm water enveloped my body, easing my tension.

"Annie. That manual."

As soon as I mentioned the manual, her face turned red.

"I just received it during the handover! And we agreed not to talk about that anymore!"

I answered with a sulky expression.

"It was still too harsh. Treating their master like some kind of monster instead of a person..."

"It was self-inflicted! And that pitiful expression doesn't work anymore, so turn around a bit."

"Hehe, I was just joking. I really wanted to ask you something."

"Feel free to ask, Lady."

"Why didn't you leave that day? Looking at the last guideline, it was emphasized in thick letters and everything."

She had been so scared that she trembled and fainted when she saw the last guideline.

Normally, if you're that scared, shouldn't you follow the manual and leave?

"I wonder. Maybe I anticipated that Lady would become this kind. I didn't want to leave."

She answered while gently rinsing my wet hair.

Hmm... it seems she doesn't want to answer.

I wonder what circumstances she has?

What circumstances made her endure all that abuse from this woman.

I wanted to help her if she had a problem.

"If you're staying by my side because of some circumstance, feel free to tell me anytime. I'll help you."

"It's okay. I can't trouble you, Lady. And it's not because of any circumstances; I'm truly staying by your side because I like you."

For this villain lady to hear such words...

The original one should definitely thank me.

I returned to my room after finishing my bath.

"I'll prepare breakfast and send it up, Lady."

"Okay."

"Don't be picky and eat everything!"

"I said I will! Send it quickly. I'm hungry."

Shortly after, the maid in charge of meals entered my room.

Her name was Mary, right?

"Mary. Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Lady."

She waited for my question with a slightly tense expression.

"Does Annie have some circumstance that prevents her from leaving the ducal family?"

"That... I'm not sure if I should talk about someone else's circumstances..."

"I want to help Annie. I'm not trying to harm her."

She sighed as if there was no choice and opened her mouth.

"She has a lot of debt because of her younger siblings' raising costs and her mother falling ill. That's probably why she couldn't leave. The reason she volunteered to be your dedicated maid is also... Oh!"

She covered her mouth as if she had made a mistake and cautiously glanced at me with slightly fearful eyes.

"It's okay. Even I wouldn't want to serve the me from back then if I were a maid."

I gave a slight smile to indicate it was fine.

She looked relieved and, after greeting me, left the room.

Before coming to this world, loneliness was as natural as air to me.

There were always people who approached me.

When I was at the orphanage, when I was at school.

But I pushed them away.

Because I was afraid.

Afraid of experiencing separation again.

As I forcibly pushed people away, it became easier to keep my distance from the beginning.

Having someone by my side was bothersome, and they would leave eventually anyway.

I, who had lived alone like that, changed a little after coming to this world.

Having been possessed as a villainess destined for a bad ending, I started approaching people first with the excuse that I needed to survive.

Convincing myself it was just to change the reputation of the troublemaker lady.

But in that process, the warmth of a person's touch was warmer and more dangerous than I thought.

At first, it was just behavior shown to others, but before I knew it, I was changing.

I wanted them to be able to smile because of me,

And... I wanted to help Annie.

But what does Annie think of me?

What am I... to Annie?

'Yeon Bennett.'

If it were this woman I saw in the game, she would have tormented Annie to death.

She would have mocked her, who was of lower status, as she helplessly crumbled, and stomped on her until her tears fell to the floor.

That's what the owner of this body had done.

Because of the difference in status, though she might smile on the outside, she might still be afraid on the inside.

No matter how much I've changed...

No matter how sincerely I want to care for her...

Will those feelings reach her?

Suddenly, I became afraid of the moment our eyes would meet.

When she looks at me, is she seeing the real me?

Or is she still seeing that villainess from the past?

'What if Annie never forgives me until the end?'

With that thought, my fingertips trembled slightly.

A feeling I can't give up or ignore anymore.

For the first time in my life, I didn't want to lose this warmth I had grasped.

That's why, selfishly, I want to help her.