I Favor The Villainess

Several days after the ghost ship fight Claire-sama and I visited Louis’s home .
The reason is because Claire-sama wished for it of course .

“My my, Rei-chan . It’s been a long time”

When we entered the room, Louis’s mother – Ophrisan, greeted us with a gentle smile .

“I’m sorry about lying down like this . My health is a little poor . It’s nothing much, but…”
“No, aunt . It is fine if you remain like this”

The one who rushed over to Ophrisan with these words wasn’t me but Claire-sama .

“Ara, who’s this young lady? Perhaps Rei-chan’s friend?”
“No, she’s――”
“Yeah, that is right, aunt . I am Claire . I was friends with Louis-san?”

Claire-sama told Ophrisan with a gentle smile on her face that she’s never directed at me .
I’m jealous .

“My, with Louis? I haven’t seen him at all ever since he handed me the medicine . Is that child well?”

Ophria’s words, said with an expression that suddenly shined, froze Claire-sama for a moment .
However―― .

“Louis-san has… pa.s.sed away”

She clearly announced what she needed to .

“That… That, it’s a lie, right…?”

At first, Ophrisan’s face stiffened as if she heard a poor joke .
However, looking at Claire-sama’s serious expression, she seemed to soon realize it was a hard fact .

“… That child… why did he die…?”

Ophrisan’s voice seemed like it would disappear at any moment, even so she somehow managed to ask .

“Louis-san――”

Claire-sama started saying something, however she shook her head a little as if she reconsidered, and,

“Louis-san died protecting his comrades during the suppression of the ghost ship that attacked the town”

Yes .
That’s the official stance at present .
I was strongly opposed, but Claire-sama stubbornly insisted on telling that .

“Louis-san was very brave . If he weren’t there, there’d be serious damage to this town”

Saying so, Claire-sama took Ophrisan’s hand .

“Louis-san is the hero who saved this town”

At Claire-sama’s words, for a moment Ophrisan was lost for words in a daze .
However, before long she recovered and said .

“I see… I see… That child who was such a crybaby did something so praiseworthy…”

A smile showed on Ophrisan’s face .
She must feel proud of her son .
However, it was mostly tinged with a different emotion .
That’s because―― .

“But… Even so, I was fine with him being a crybaby… I wish he would return to me”

After she said that, Ophrisan wept without saying anything .

“Poverty… is a dreadful thing…”

When we retired for the night to my room, Claire-sama muttered these few words .

“Claire-sama?”
“I certainly did not know there are such implications to being poor”

Claire-sama had a tormented face .
Judging it’s not a scene I should make light of, I sat next to Claire-sama .

“It is not just the amount of money we possess that is different . Without money, you may even need to stray from the right path to save a person dear to you”
“I think not everyone is like that, but certainly compared to the wealthy the range of options is narrower”

I replied in the softest voice I could muster .

“Louis certainly did something bad . But, was it not something unavoidable . It is too easy to condemn him, but that is misunderstanding the essence of things”
“By essence you mean?”

I felt Claire-sama was struggling to grasp something .

“Poverty is evil . And the fact is, it is the politicians who leave poverty unattended… In other words, the very structure of the country”
“I think that’s a slight overstatement…”

I continued speaking to Claire-sama who went too far with her extremist thoughts .

“Certainly, poverty is evil, and I don’ think the country bears no responsibility . But, Claire-sama should know the best, politics don’t work on beautiful gestures alone, right?”
“Certainly, that is how it is . But――”
“But?”

When I nodded for her to continue, Claire-sama kept thinking for a while .

“Isn’t it simply running away from the ideal to reality? Is it wrong to pursue beauty?”

I desire to protect this lovely person forever .

“I think it’s good for Claire-sama to do as you wish . As I said before, I will support Claire-sama in whatever you wish to do”

Saying so, I took Claire-sama’s hand .

“Rei…”
“I respect Claire-sama’s virtuous heart . I’ll protect this resolution to not run away to reality . Please use me”

“I respect Claire-sama’s virtuous heart . I’ll protect this resolution to not run away to reality . Please use me”

I will do anything for Claire-sama .
Yes, for example .

Even betray Claire-sama . . . . . . . . . . .

I pray that time won’t come, but if it does, I won’t hesitate .
My priorities will never change .

That’s why―― .

“Rei, thank you”

When Claire-sama said so with a smile on her face, I couldn’t look her in the eyes .

“Come to think of it, during the fight with Louis there was that dangerous moment, wasn’t there?”

I brought up a completely unrelated topic to change the subject .
It was when Claire-sama was distracted by the sound of the water current I caused .

“Yeah . That was my carelessness”
“But, Louis’s sword didn’t reach Claire-sama . How in the world did that happen?”

I found it strange all this time .

“It is just a guess, but the cause was probably this”

Saying so, Claire-sama searched around her chest and took “that” out .

“Ah, that…”
“Yeah, it is the amulet I received during the academy festival”

Which reminds me, there was such a thing .

“It’s broken”
“I think it was perhaps something like a sacrifice item”

It might have been a magical tool that protects the body of the person wearing it once, is the conclusion Claire-sama reached .

It might have been a magical tool that protects the body of the person wearing it once, is the conclusion Claire-sama reached .

“Such an effect…”
“It is nothing but a speculation, but I cannot think of anything else”

Saying so with a wry smile, Claire-sama carefully stashed away the amulet in her bosom .

“But, what an unthinkable false advertising . No, but thanks to it Claire-sama was saved”
“Eh? … Aah, yeah! Yes, you are right!”

For a moment, Claire-sama’s reaction to my words was somewhat strange .

“Claire-sama?”
“It is nothing! Let’s go to sleep quickly! Good night!”

Claire-sama said as she quickly entered the futon alone .
What the eff .

“Claire-sama, are you hiding something?”
“I I I, I am not hiding anything do not mind me why do you always have to be so obtuse only at times like these!”

I got overpowered by her swiftly saying one thing after another .
It can’t be helped, I entered next to her in low spirits .

At any rate, breaking flags is difficult .
When I took measures with Hans-san to break the Undead Hunt flag, the course of events turned around to such a place .
After all, if I want to do something, I have to deal with the root cause .
The situation only changed on the surface, but because I was unable to deal with it using the game knowledge, it in fact became worse .
I have to be careful, I thought .

“Speaking of flags… Claire-sama?”
“What is it”
“Was the love fulfilled?”
“Go to sleep already!”

I might have been mistaken as I had extinguished the lamp already .
But, I felt like Claire-sama’s face was faintly red .

Several days after the ghost ship fight Claire-sama and I visited Louis’s home The reason is because Claire-sama wished for it of course

“My my, Rei-chan . It’s been a long time”.

When we entered the room, Louis’s mother – Ophrisan, greeted us with a gentle smile

“I’m sorry about lying down like this . My health is a little poor . It’s nothing much, but…”. “No, aunt . It is fine if you remain like this”.

The one who rushed over to Ophrisan with these words wasn’t me but Claire-sama

“Ara, who’s this young lady? Perhaps Rei-chan’s friend?”. “No, she’s――”. “Yeah, that is right, aunt . I am Claire . I was friends with Louis-san?”.

Claire-sama told Ophrisan with a gentle smile on her face that she’s never directed at me I’m jealous

“My, with Louis? I haven’t seen him at all ever since he handed me the medicine . Is that child well?”.

Ophria’s words, said with an expression that suddenly shined, froze Claire-sama for a moment However――

“Louis-san has… pa.s.sed away”.

She clearly announced what she needed to

“That… That, it’s a lie, right…?”.

At first, Ophrisan’s face stiffened as if she heard a poor joke However, looking at Claire-sama’s serious expression, she seemed to soon realize it was a hard fact

“… That child… why did he die…?”.

Ophrisan’s voice seemed like it would disappear at any moment, even so she somehow managed to ask

“Louis-san――”.

Claire-sama started saying something, however she shook her head a little as if she reconsidered, and,.

“Louis-san died protecting his comrades during the suppression of the ghost ship that attacked the town”.

Yes That’s the official stance at present I was strongly opposed, but Claire-sama stubbornly insisted on telling that

“Louis-san was very brave . If he weren’t there, there’d be serious damage to this town”.

Saying so, Claire-sama took Ophrisan’s hand

“Louis-san is the hero who saved this town”.

At Claire-sama’s words, for a moment Ophrisan was lost for words in a daze However, before long she recovered and said

“I see… I see… That child who was such a crybaby did something so praiseworthy…”.

A smile showed on Ophrisan’s face She must feel proud of her son However, it was mostly tinged with a different emotion That’s because――

“But… Even so, I was fine with him being a crybaby… I wish he would return to me”.

After she said that, Ophrisan wept without saying anything

◆◇◆◇◆.

“Poverty… is a dreadful thing…”.

When we retired for the night to my room, Claire-sama muttered these few words

“Claire-sama?”. “I certainly did not know there are such implications to being poor”.

Claire-sama had a tormented face Judging it’s not a scene I should make light of, I sat next to Claire-sama

“It is not just the amount of money we possess that is different . Without money, you may even need to stray from the right path to save a person dear to you”. “I think not everyone is like that, but certainly compared to the wealthy the range of options is narrower”.

I replied in the softest voice I could muster

“Louis certainly did something bad . But, was it not something unavoidable . It is too easy to condemn him, but that is misunderstanding the essence of things”. “By essence you mean?”.

I felt Claire-sama was struggling to grasp something

“Poverty is evil . And the fact is, it is the politicians who leave poverty unattended… In other words, the very structure of the country”. “I think that’s a slight overstatement…”.

I continued speaking to Claire-sama who went too far with her extremist thoughts

“Certainly, poverty is evil, and I don’ think the country bears no responsibility . But, Claire-sama should know the best, politics don’t work on beautiful gestures alone, right?”. “Certainly, that is how it is . But――”. “But?”.

When I nodded for her to continue, Claire-sama kept thinking for a while

“Isn’t it simply running away from the ideal to reality? Is it wrong to pursue beauty?”.

I desire to protect this lovely person forever

“I think it’s good for Claire-sama to do as you wish . As I said before, I will support Claire-sama in whatever you wish to do”.

Saying so, I took Claire-sama’s hand

“Rei…”. “I respect Claire-sama’s virtuous heart . I’ll protect this resolution to not run away to reality . Please use me”.

I will do anything for Claire-sama Yes, for example

Even betray Claire-sama

I pray that time won’t come, but if it does, I won’t hesitate My priorities will never change

That’s why――

“Rei, thank you”.

When Claire-sama said so with a smile on her face, I couldn’t look her in the eyes

“Come to think of it, during the fight with Louis there was that dangerous moment, wasn’t there?”.

I brought up a completely unrelated topic to change the subject It was when Claire-sama was distracted by the sound of the water current I caused

“Yeah . That was my carelessness”. “But, Louis’s sword didn’t reach Claire-sama . How in the world did that happen?”.

I found it strange all this time

“It is just a guess, but the cause was probably this”.

Saying so, Claire-sama searched around her chest and took “that” out

“Ah, that…”. “Yeah, it is the amulet I received during the academy festival”.

Which reminds me, there was such a thing

“It’s broken”. “I think it was perhaps something like a sacrifice item”.

It might have been a magical tool that protects the body of the person wearing it once, is the conclusion Claire-sama reached

“Such an effect…”. “It is nothing but a speculation, but I cannot think of anything else”.

Saying so with a wry smile, Claire-sama carefully stashed away the amulet in her bosom

“But, what an unthinkable false advertising . No, but thanks to it Claire-sama was saved”. “Eh? … Aah, yeah! Yes, you are right!”.

For a moment, Claire-sama’s reaction to my words was somewhat strange

“Claire-sama?”. “It is nothing! Let’s go to sleep quickly! Good night!”.

Claire-sama said as she quickly entered the futon alone What the eff

“Claire-sama, are you hiding something?”. “I I I, I am not hiding anything do not mind me why do you always have to be so obtuse only at times like these!”.

I got overpowered by her swiftly saying one thing after another It can’t be helped, I entered next to her in low spirits

At any rate, breaking flags is difficult When I took measures with Hans-san to break the Undead Hunt flag, the course of events turned around to such a place After all, if I want to do something, I have to deal with the root cause The situation only changed on the surface, but because I was unable to deal with it using the game knowledge, it in fact became worse I have to be careful, I thought

“Speaking of flags… Claire-sama?”. “What is it”. “Was the love fulfilled?”. “Go to sleep already!”.

I might have been mistaken as I had extinguished the lamp already But, I felt like Claire-sama’s face was faintly red