HCV 11

Chapter 11

The memories from that time are hazy and faint.
But at some point, my mana conduit began to narrow—and eventually, it completely closed.
It wasn’t unusual for mana conduits to change as one grew older.
‘Still, it’d be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed.’

Unlike me, Felix’s mana blossomed more and more as he grew.
His magic had been weak, and I often helped amplify it—but that aside, his mana capacity naturally became richer with age.
As a result, Felix made a name for himself at the academy as an exceptional magic swordsman.
Meanwhile, no matter how perfectly I memorized magic theory, I couldn’t even conjure a single spark.

Whenever I watched Felix channel mana freely into his sword and display brilliant swordsmanship, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.
‘Come to think of it, that famous magic swordsman is now my boss, isn’t he?’

Kaien Kreutz.
A genius who had reached the pinnacle of both magic and martial arts.

Hmm. Thinking of a genius on that level just made me laugh.
Even if my mana conduit reopened a hundred times, I still wouldn’t be able to reach his toes.

[I’m not exaggerating! Pipi means it! Pipi is so in sync with benefactor that I’ll surely become smarter soon!]

‘Yeah, that’s great—’

Grrrrowl.

A pitiful sound came from my stomach.
Only then did I remember something crucial and muttered weakly,

“I… forgot to ask for an advance…”

Well, nothing I can do about it.
‘Tomorrow for sure! I’ll get at least a little pay tomorrow!’

Resolving myself, I headed home.
Of course, there was no butler or servant waiting to open the door.
I opened it myself, as usual—

“Ah!”

A burning pain shot through my scalp as my eyes flew wide open.
Someone had grabbed me by the hair.

“Where have you been crawling back from?”

A venomous voice rang in my ears.
When I managed to turn my head, I saw a woman with long, fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders.
Cat-like eyes, emphasized by makeup and a beauty mark—
She exuded an alluring aura.

She was my uncle’s daughter, my cousin Ciela.

“L-Let go.”

“Let go? Explain first! I heard a carriage from the Kreutz family came looking for you! What kind of trouble did you cause for them to come find you?”

[What the—crazy woman! Pipi will go pluck out all her hair right now, okay?!]

I could feel Pipi bouncing furiously inside my pocket.
I quickly wrapped my arm around it to hide the bulge.
‘No, don’t. Hold it in.’
If they found out about Pipi, who knows what they’d do to it.

Then another voice joined in.
“A young lady staying out overnight—how disgraceful.”

It was my uncle’s eldest son, my cousin Edward.
His red hair was slicked back with pomade, and he crossed his arms with a stern face.

“So, you got dumped and decided to throw yourself around? Shameful! Still… perhaps someone…”

His gaze ran from my head to my toes.

“…might still take you in.”

Of course, the servants stood far away, watching with amused expressions. Not one of them moved to help.

[How dare they look at my benefactor with those insolent eyes! I’ll pluck them all out! And what’s with his tone? He looks like a nouveau riche but talks like royalty!]

Pipi’s furious movements made my pocket bulge even more.
‘P-Pipi!’

I hurriedly hid the pocket behind my back.
Still, having Pipi rage on my behalf made me feel a little less alone.
But that feeling shattered the next moment.

“Didn’t your parents teach you any manners? Oh, wait. They’re dead, right?”

Ciela burst out laughing.

“…”

My face burned with humiliation.
I wanted to strike back, but my body trembled.

When I was younger, I had talked back to Ciela before.
But each time, my uncle would beat me harshly with a cane—
Saying an older cousin must cover her younger’s faults.

Those punishments had carved themselves into my memory so deeply that even the thought of rebelling made my body freeze up.

But I didn’t want to live like that forever.
I prayed silently.
‘Pipi… help me.’

[I was waiting for that! “You Too Can Be a Villainess ver.2” launching now! Benefactor, please choose the intensity level!

1. Mild

2. Medium

3. Strong]

Ver.2? When did it upgrade?
I had no time to wonder. I shouted in my mind, filled with rage.
‘Strong! Go with strong!’

The next moment—
My hand shot out like lightning and clamped down on Ciela’s mouth.

“Mmmph?!”

Ciela’s eyes widened as she let go of my hair.

‘Oh my god.’

It was exactly like when Kaien had grabbed that mage’s mouth earlier at the Tower.
I’d thought he was being reckless—but now here I was, doing the same thing within hours!

Before I could even think, my mouth moved on its own.

“I’m sick of hearing ‘orphan, orphan.’ Then why is it that someone with living parents ended up so rotten inside?”

“Mmmph?!”

“Guess your parents are as useless as you are?”

“Mmmphhh!”

Ciela’s eyes went wide with shock.

‘Wait—that line!’
It was one I had once written in my notebook, something I’d wished I could say to her but never dared.

‘Pipi, you even learned that?!’

Shame and exhilaration mixed in my chest.
It was the first time I’d ever said aloud something I’d only imagined saying.

“Mmgh!”

Ciela whimpered in pain.
But I didn’t let go—I even shook her by the stretched mouth.

“Maybe try keeping that mouth in check, yeah?”

Even my tone sounded like a thug’s.

‘Wow, “Strong” really pulls no punches!’

A shiver of both fear and thrill ran down my spine.
I’d always wanted to pinch that foul mouth of hers—finally, I did.

“Y-Young Lady!”
“Are you out of your mind?! Let go of Miss Ciela at once!”

The servants panicked, stamping their feet but not daring to intervene.

Then—

“What in the world are you doing?!”

Edward shouted, horrified.
When I turned my glare on him, he instinctively covered his mouth—
then, realizing how pathetic that looked, quickly dropped his hand and pointed accusingly.

“Release her at once!”

“Mmmgh! Brother!”

Ciela called out pitifully to him.
Edward rolled up his sleeves.

“This won’t do. Father isn’t here, so I’ll have to discipline you myself! To strike a family member—how dare you! Fetch Father’s cane, now!”

A servant hurried to bring Edward the cane.
Watching that ridiculous sight, I finally spoke.

“Yes, I did lay hands on Ciela first.”

“Then show some remorse—”

“But isn’t verbal abuse also a form of violence?”

“What?”

“When Ciela mocked my dead parents, no one said a word. And now suddenly, family matters?”

“You insolent—!”

Flames flashed in Edward’s eyes.
My sarcasm must have hit his pride hard.

Ciela, clutching her swollen lips, screamed,
“Brother! She’s completely insane!”

“I think you’re right,” Edward said grimly, raising his hand.

I smirked.

“Are you really going to hit me? Yesterday, Felix tried the same thing—and got humiliated when a Kreutz knight caught him in the act.”

“What?”

Edward froze, hand suspended in midair.

“…What do you mean? Why would a Kreutz knight come for you?”

“What nonsense! That’s delusional! She’s definitely gone mad, Brother! Punish her already!”

I shrugged.

“Didn’t you hear? I’ve been hired by Duke Kreutz.”

“What? You? Impossible!”

Edward’s eyes widened in disbelief.