Somehow, I’m the Otome Game Villain 26:

Somehow, I’m the Otome Game Villain 26:

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by LordMarksman

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After starting off on our plans to establish a new world order, I went back down to have lunch with Clarice and Angelica.

They seemed surprised by something when we started, but only spoke about it once we got to tea.

“The dishes in Alzer are quite… light.” Angelica stated and I blinked, before nodding. “Why is that?”

“Ah, that’s because of a few changes father put a few years ago, when I discovered some things while researching. Most of the foods for breakfast and lunch are on the lighter side with a focus on what we can produce in our territory.” Some soup, some bread, and two sides that ranged from pickles to protein. Yeah, it was my best attempt at getting the food I liked in this world. Most of the recipes failed the first dozen times, but with some effort and work we figured it out. The benefits were honestly surprising. “We still have normal fare in the evening during dinner, but these meals keep up full enough and healthy for the rest of the day. A lot of people get less sick now, too.”

The classic Isekai staple of innovating was something I didn’t really care much about. My focus was mostly on retaining my family’s power, while solving the coming world-ending threats that loomed over us all. Ideal and Luxion were more than happy to figure out soy sauce, rice, and other things, but I was sure that was mostly going to be for me. People here would think that sort of stuff as too weird to enjoy it.

“Pickled vegetables and salted fish are commonly considered peasant fare, but this is quite good. The bread is of great quality and I love this broth.” Clarice spoke up with a smile, gracefully complimenting the food and stating why she and Angelica felt concerns about it at first. I nodded and accepted her words, making her sigh in relief. She blushed prettily and spun her hair around her index finger after a moment of contemplation. “I do feel better nowadays. Breakfast and lunch can be a bit too much for me, sometimes. Unless there’s magical practice and lessons like dancing, of course.”

“Don’t worry. The meals at the Academy keep what you’re doing in mind. On days where everyone’s doing practical courses, we get more food.”

“Wonderful. I look forward to eating Alzer’s finest Academy food with you, Leon.” Clarice smiled, and it was so bright that I almost had to shield my eyes. Damn, she made me lower my guard with academia and fact-sharing, before hitting me with ‘I’m happy that I’ll get to spend time with you.’ This woman knows exactly what she’s doing. “Perhaps, you can show some places to me where we can get some cakes like we used to in Holfort?”

“I’ll do that, but I’d like to ask you both what you’ll be doing. The Academy here is different from Holfort’s.” The differences were extensive, so I was downplaying it. The schools were set up to be open for the public. Everyone from all walks of life could attend if they passed the entry tests. We had commoners aplenty, some who were even orphans without any family ties, not just commoners who had successful merchant parents backing them. “There’s parts of the curriculum that the two of you might struggle with, too. And, there’ll be bullies and rumors. I can deal with the former, but the latter…”

I trailed off, doing my best to avoid saying what happened to them back in Holfort aloud, but the two simply looked at one another and nodded.

“The betrayal and lack of support from all around me was the most stifling and horrible part. Out here in another nation, with a friendly face and my family’s blessings, I assure you that I will be able to keep my head held high.” Angelica’s response was cool and controlled. I found that I believed her, even though she was just telling me and not showing me. Years of training at controlling emotions was at play now. Yeah, having your whole world turned upside down and everyone going after you, despite being told they’re your friends? Probably would’ve gotten me a lot more upset than it got her. “As long as I have your support, especially against those who are Blessed by the Sacred Tree of Alzer, I assure you that I will be able to act in accordance to my station.”

“Don’t worry, Leon. Me and Angie just got really surprised back in Holfort. Being over here, being treated so nicely and looked after without worrying bout who’s on our side… it’s amazing. I just wish that I could’ve brought some of my retainers, but father is making sure that their marriages and engagements are secure and they need to be there.” Clarice stated the fact that her prime minister of a father was working on securing their power base with the same air as she would talk about the weather. Angelica laughed a little at her casual statement. “A lot of our future allies were having cold feet, but this venture out here with you is making things run smoothly again, especially since you helped the crown out so much. We’re also working with Angelica’s family, of course, and more than a few houses of Holfort are keen on befriending you, too.”

“Then, it looks like I’ll need to work hard to make sure that the two of you have a great couple of years before graduating.” They both agreed and small nods. This was a display of power and of influence. Father allowing them to stay as honored guests, the country letting them join our school, everything pointed towards strengthened ties with Holfort. Those in Holfort who viewed the Redgrave and the Atlee families as untouchable after the broken engagements were now clamoring for their attention and aid, as they secured a foreign, wealthy, and powerful backer in Alzer. One of the strongest nations on the planet who has never been defeated in their territory. Territory that they conquered. Anyway, I raised my cup towards the two. “Don’t worry. We keep our promises in our household. I’ll keep you both safe no matter what. I promise.”

That statement earned me smiles from both Angelica and Clarice.

I wished that I could promise them boring, normal lives, instead of promising to keep them safe, though.

Unfortunately, with the world that we now lived in, that was impossible.

…

After lunch, Ideal and Luxion both appeared to talk to me again.

Ideal had this jittery way of flying when it was excited, which clued me in on the fact that it found some the Black Knight.

“His name is Vandel Him Zenden, and he is the foremost warrior of the Principality.” Scary. Ideal showed off the full 3D model of the man I told him about mere hours ago. Just how far have they penetrated the future big bads with their invisible drones? You know what? Nevermind. I don’t want to know, and I’ll just gladly accept the actionable information given. “Unfortunately, he does not appear to possess a Demonic Suit, yet. However, I will be keeping him under observation… though I have already found something very interesting.”

We switched to a live feed of what looked like an elevator shaft, which the drone was flying down into.

I was confused, until it led into what looked like a manor in the middle of a lush field, if not for the fact it was in some sort of cavern.

“Some sort of bunker for the royal family to live in? A self-sustaining one?” There were greenhouses present, and I could see food being easily stored in the artificial lake if it was kept cool. With magic, it’d be easy to start turning the grass into farmland, too. “Seems like a good escape room, if the elevator shaft is hidden and there’s a hidden dock somewhere.”

Luxion piped up, while Ideal continued to show the sight of its other bodies.

“It is not a bunker. It is a housing complex for the Princesses of the Principality of Fanoss. They are kept here, taught here, and live here. They are puppets of the existing political order, of which Vandel Him Zenden is a part.” I blinked at the news. I watched as the invisible drone phased through materials and entered the manor. Portraits of their ancestors were massive within the household, as were busts and vases. Books on shelves that we passed by were volumes of Principality history as written by them. The more I saw, the more it made sense how these two could be so blasé about sacrificing their lives playing the Magic Flutes. They never had a choice. “Every book within the domicile is propaganda. Every lesson they are taught espouses the virtues of their nation and the wrongs of the Holfort Kingdom. They are being turned into weapons to use the New Human Artifacts known as the Magic Flutes.”

The pictures of the two princesses were finally presented.

They were both as pale as porcelain with black hair and red eyes, just like all the portraits looking down on them. Did they ever see a day of real sunlight? Have they spent time outside a mansion where they weren’t told what to think and how to feel? Were these two people really villainesses? Or just weapons that never had a choice?

One question, however, superseded them all.

Do I still go through with my plans to just kill them both?

Surprisingly, Ideal spoke up.

“The treatment of these two young ladies is reprehensible. The Principality of Fanoss must be brought to justice for their crimes, and these two saved. I object to the initial plan of killing them. I propose that we abduct them and destroy the New Human Artifacts intended to take their lives.”

I didn’t hesitate.

“Done. Let’s do this right.” I got affirming nods from both Luxion and Ideal. I tried to look cool for a moment, before going ahead and wiping the sweat off my brown and sighing in relief. “Jeez, I was having a moral dilemma there. Thanks for coming up with another way to keep two giant, world-ending monsters from spawning, guys.”

“It is a simple enough solution that I expected you to discern it once we provided all the information. Ideal simply wished for some retribution… and I believed he deserved it.” Luxion stated simply, and I glared at Ideal. Ideal, meanwhile, looked as smug as a floating orb of metal with a blue iris could. Oi, I’m your boss, you know!? “There remains, however, the issue of the Principality of Fanoss. We have begun studying and analyzing them. War is guaranteed between them and Holfort, and they have a deep-seated desire for the weapons of New Humans. They are currently searching for Demonic Suit fragments for their own use.”

“Holfort and Fanoss coming to blows will lead to loss of life of True Humanity. The Empire is the true foe with its immense power and strong ties to its defeated ancestry, because of the Demonic Suits and artifacts that it has at its disposal.” Ideal stated, ignoring the fact that it had such glee over the initial plans to smash the Principality from high orbit before we discovered the truth. I wasn’t about to tease it about that, though. It felt too… touchy to use. Maybe in a month or two when we have humane plans in place? Can’t remind the AI it nearly systematically slaughtered millions of the people that it revered. “Even with the abduction of the Princesses and the loss of their weapons of mass destruction. They will still go to war. Their society and culture have simply been primed too long for the act for it to be avoided.”

“Mhmm… and Holfort has their whole issue with their frontier nobility and the strife that’s come with their Prince being bedridden and the shakeup with their political factions. The Principality knows Holfort is off balance right now.” Father taught me about this. The most important part of any battle is having national cohesion and a purpose. Being able to look to your, right, left, and behind and find only common interests and goals is a massive boost to war potential. Holfort, meanwhile, couldn’t rely on its outer nobility, had its main political factions shaken up, and there was even a rising Saintess in the picture mucking things up. “It’s a perfect storm, even if they have a powerful ship at their disposal from the same age that you two came from.”

“Yes. The ship that will allow Olivia to send a psychic attack throughout the land and stop the fighting. I believe it’s some sort of broadcast ship of some sort, converted into a pleasure yacht by the ultra-rich, going by the description of entry method.” Ideal picked its words carefully regarding the stupidity of having a ship locked by affection meters. It was made by Old Humanity, so it couldn’t be bad. Still, I could tell that Ideal was questioning the device. The fact it was private enterprise probably allowed it to logic that not all of humanity endorsed it. “It would be best that it never be used. You have seen the reports regarding the Saintess that I have been forwarding, yes?”

“Yeah. I have. It makes sense, but I don’t like it.” In the game, pieces just fell into place for the heroine after she secures the affection of the capture targets. Here, Olivia was going around with the Church backing her, while she secured alliances with various factions. It made, sense. You can’t just conjure up goodwill and fame out of nowhere. She was effectively gaining power and reputation through healing of the sick, purging monsters, and all that jazz. It made sense… but it didn’t feel right. “I think losing Julius messed with her. She’s nowhere close to being as ‘good’ as she’s supposed to be.”

Luxion provided the picture of the protagonist, and I couldn’t help but frown.

Olivia was clad in black and lace and had a face covered in a veil that stopped just below her lips. It was supposed to be mourning clothes, but it didn’t seem all that modest with the skirt just barely reaching her thighs and plenty of cleavage and her arms being exposed. It was more like a demented pop idol look… and wherever she went she gained fanatic followers and fans, while the capture targets looked more and more aggressive at her back.

They were getting stronger, they were getting support, and it looked like they were gearing up to be able to handle endgame threats.

But something about Olivia just told me something was off.

And, I trusted my instincts.

“Just in case, put something on standby that can take her out of the picture quietly. Secure containment with remote units.” Ideal and Luxion bobbed up and down at my statement. I eyed the Saintess and frowned with crossed arms. She gave me the shivers. Not the good kind. “This force and power she’s amassing can help her in the endgame, but it might also be a knife for her to use for her own gain.”

Rising stars like her with talent and political ability?

Yeah.

Not good for a country embroiled in political strife.