The adventurer's guild in the capital was as noisy as ever. The only difference was that this time they were annoyed.
Out of jealousy.
They found out that a colossal monster almost attacked the capital, but it was stopped by several brave nobles who sacrificed their lives to stop it.
Among them were two young men who delivered the final blow.
A man was having breakfast, sitting in a chair.
The guild also served breakfast; this wasn't unusual.
"Dad, here's today's newspaper."
His daughter, who was also an adventurer like him, brought him the newspaper.
After taking it, he thanked her; his mouth was full, and food remains fell onto the girl's covered cleavage.
After wiping off the food remains, she sat down.
Her father flipped through the newspaper pages looking for something interesting until...
"Buhh!"
He spat his coffee to the side.
There was no one nearby, so it wasn't a problem.
"That's what you get for not chewing properly and just swallowing it."
"No! Look!"
The man showed her a certain piece of news. It was the article on unnecessary things for nobles, and on the front page, no less.
His finger pointed at the entire headline.
"Let's see..."
"Today, a celebration will be held for our beloved dukes... the daughter of the newly restored Rosenberg Household will enter into an engagement with the future duke..."
"I remember hearing about that, but so what? That has nothing to do with low-ranking nobles like us."
"No! Look here!"
His finger pointed to a small part of the announcement; it seemed they did it on purpose.
"That girl's fiancé, I know him! He's the kid I sometimes did missions with after that spider incident!"
"Oh, how nice. And?"
"And? You say!"
He got up from his seat to approach his daughter.
She stepped back because she didn't want him to come near her.
"That kid is the one who, along with the newly renamed third prince, defeated that calamity on legs!"
His daughter still really didn't care about that.
"Next time I see him, I'll ask him for all the details!"
◇◇◇
At the same time, but in another part of the empire.
A man was drinking the highest quality tea in a tea house in his immense garden.
"D-Do you want more tea, father?"
"Thank you."
He was with his daughter, who served him tea while trembling.
The man read the newspaper without interest until a news item caught his attention.
"...?"
"Is something wrong?" His daughter asked, interested in the expression her father made.
"Not really, I'm just astonished. Apparently, His Highness Regulux was dismissed as the third prince in the line of succession and replaced by the fourth prince."
"... Father, which faction did you belong to?"
"The faction of the Crown Prince Sirius. But that's not the strangest thing."
"Oh, no?"
"Yes. Here it says that the Duke Rosenberg's house had problems with large sums of money. But, a young man who was one of the saviors of the capital a few days ago will be rewarded by getting engaged today to the duke's daughter."
"This is undoubtedly very important news. It's possible that a new beginning for a ducal house has arrived."
◇
It's a beautiful Saturday morning.
"Take that over there!"
Or so it was supposed to be.
"The red flowers go on the bride's side and the white ones on the groom's side! They did things backward, and now we have to change them again!"
"Does anyone know where the snacks are that the cooks were supposed to deliver an hour ago?"
"Some guests are already arriving; do we let them in or ask them to wait in the reception for now?"
That's right, today is utter madness.
The reason. I'm getting engaged.
I was lying on a sofa in a private room in a Western-style church.
After the emperor's declaration about my engagement to Eli, the officials and servants went crazy.
The first problem arose with choosing the location.
The prime minister was sent by the emperor to ensure they spared no expense and that everything was perfect.
I had a slight opportunity to speak with him since I was ordered to stay in the palace.
He ordered that the place be the largest cathedral in the capital. Weddings were held there only for important people.
The temple obviously refused. But upon learning it was ordered by the emperor, they reluctantly accepted.
The second problem was the guest list.
The Rosenberg Household had no relatives or friends. My family has no other relatives or anyone interested in coming.
Speaking of my family. I went to see them with Cid to tell them the news.
My mother and little sister were happy. Not for me, but for Eli.
They found out what she went through and then how her house ended up.
They said it was similar to a TV drama.
On the other hand, my father only said. It was your decision, so don't regret it.
(I don't know if I should take that as a kind of "well done" or something?)
The thing is, they seem happier for her than for me. They even said that, being a future duke, they would have nothing to do with the Rosenberg Household.
We would only be related by family, but nothing more.
The final problem is what's happening today.
The arrangements for the ceremony are wrong.
Some things have broken, the floral arrangements haven't arrived or are the wrong ones, the banquet food isn't ready yet.
(I feel sorry for the officials and servants who have to work hard for me even though they are neither acquaintances nor allies.)
"There's certainly a great commotion outside. There are still a few hours until it starts, but they have almost nothing ready."
The one who made that honest comment was Cid.
We were both dressed elegantly.
Only he wore a black suit, and I wore a white one with a white rose near my heart.
Unlike me, Cid looks very good. It's because he's a handsome man, an extra capture target.
Unlike me, he's not ugly.
(I may be ugly, but I'm getting engaged to a beauty.)
(I'm a winner.)
(A scared winner.)
I seemed relaxed, but I was actually trembling with fear.
Engagement. The word I never thought would happen in my previous life or my new life.
I said things like getting engaged, but they were just words.
I never imagined something like this would happen!
Being told. Hey, you're getting engaged today, right? You must be happy, right? And I would reply. Of course, nothing would make me happier than what will happen today.
(Lies!)
(I'd only say that so they wouldn't think badly of me!)
(I don't want to get engaged!)
(I'm still a damn teenager!)
(I want to form a harem just because I can and I want to. But something like having responsibilities would be too chaotic for a guy like me!)
(I don't want to get engaged; having a girlfriend yes, but engagement no! Help me!)
"By the way, Razel."
Cid called me while I was having my terrifying monologues about the engagement.
"Yes?"
"It's not important. I was just remembering what we saw that day, and it seemed funny to me considering your situation."
"That day?"
"You know. When we went to the duchess's house after seeing your parents."
"Oh, that day. How could I forget..."
That day was the craziest of the whole week.
◇
After leaving my family with the invitation to my engagement, I headed to the former Rosenberg mansion.
Since they had regained their lands and prestige, the duchess and her daughter were happy.
My things were there, so I had to pick them up since I was still sleeping at the palace.
I told the head butler not to announce that I had arrived.
The reason I gave was that I didn't want to see the future bride before the promised day.
It was a lie. I didn't want them to thank me because it would make me blush and feel very embarrassed.
(This cruel killer of wrongdoers is also human.)
Cid and I walked secretly until we reached the exit.
We had to pass through the great hall before reaching the only front door.
Then I found something strange.
Lily was talking with the duchess and Eli.
I told Cid I wanted to listen to their conversation.
"Uhm... why did you wish to call me, Duchess?"
Eli's mother stared at her. Her daughter also had a very firm look.
According to them, they supposedly became friends after the Xerxes attack.
At the same time, they both found out that one was my girlfriend, and the other was my future wife.
I never actually planned for the latter to become a reality.
"Lily-san, I heard from my daughter everything that happened that day. Especially about how you were Razel-kun's secret girlfriend."
(Apparently, I'm the topic of conversation.)
"Yes..."
Lily seemed a little scared.
"I see. Do you know that now he will be the future head of this house, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know that he will also be my daughter's husband when they finish the academy, right?"
"... Yes."
Lily lowered her head at the duchess's intense words.
I didn't know what to do.
The duchess didn't blink.
Her mouth moved...
"For that reason, I..."
But she stopped for some reason.
She clutched her dress as if she were a little girl asking permission to go to the bathroom.
Her head was bowed.
As she lifted it, I saw something even stranger.
"I..."
Her eyes were teary.
"Would you like to join this family?!"
"I... huh?" Lily expressed a face of not understanding what was happening.
"... Huh?" Me and Cid similarly made the same face.
The duchess cried like a child.
"... Despite not belonging to our family, nor being the daughter of a vassal, much less a noble. You have done so much for my daughter... I... truly don't know how to thank you."
Her tears ran down her cheeks; her daughter also began to cry.
"In my entire life until now, only you and Razel have been the only good thing in hers. My mother also fits in there, but she is in a different position."
The duchess approached to take Lily's hands.
"This family was in ruins until Razel-kun saved us. My daughter had no one to depend on but him and Prince Cidfert. But you also came; thanks to you, she was never alone. And even during that incident, you came back to help her."
"You're wrong."
Lily began to make a sad face as she looked at them both.
"I... I never tried to run away, I was just scared! I was scared that something would happen to Eli-chan, but I didn't know how to react! We weren't anything yet, so I didn't know how to take it! As an order or a favor; worse, upon seeing her being attacked, I couldn't take it anymore and decided to act only when she was in danger. I'm a bad person for taking so long."
(Ehhhh! Are you so pure that you call yourself a bad person for an act as abnormal as not fleeing?)
"It's okay. The important thing is that you were the hand my daughter needed."
The duchess took both hands of the tearful Lily.
"That's why, Lily-san. I would like to ask you to be an official member of this family."
(Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!)
(This never happened in the game. Not even when she was declared a saint, much less when she got engaged to the handsome men.)
"It will be difficult, I won't lie. Being a commoner, and not a distant relative nor the daughter of a knight household. Your adoption into the family of a duke will be very annoying paperwork to fill out. But, if you want, I would go through all those trials so that I can call you daughter."
"... Do you wish to be part of our family?"
Once again, Lily shed a great amount of tears.
"I... something like this... isn't fair."
Sobs came from the depths of her being.
"I always wanted to have a real family. But for you to propose it to me like this, and especially when Eli-chan will be the future wife of the man I love."
"You shouldn't worry about that either."
"Oh no?" Said me and Lily, only mine was in a low voice.
"Of course. By being a member of this family, we can officially name you as a concubine. After all, the Rosenberg Household no longer has relatives. We need many babies so our blood doesn't disappear. Nothing would make me happier than seeing my daughters and my grandchildren playing in the garden and reading books."
(Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! She's even visualized the future!)
"I'll repeat it one more time. Lily-san, no. Lily-chan. Do you want to be my daughter and an official member of the Rosenberg Household?"
With a smile on her face, Lily replied.
"Of course, ma'am— it would be my pleasure to be your daughter, mother."
"My little one!"
The duchess hugged Lily in a very affectionate and tender way.
But her enormous breasts buried her entire head. The situation is a bit enviable.
Once those meat bags let her go, she and Eli looked at each other.
They approached until their noses touched.
Then they intertwined their hands in a childish way in the air.
"Eli-chan, with this, we'll be sisters."
"Nothing makes me happier than my best friend being my sister. Besides, we'll both have the same husband, so we don't have to worry about status or courtship. We'll be happy together with Razel. I'll make sure you also have your ceremony. My sister."
"Yes. My onee-sama."
They hugged.
It was a tender moment.
Even their large breasts touched to the point of pressing against each other.
But there's one problem.
(What the hell just happened?!)
(This wasn't in the game!)
(The villainess and the protagonist as best friends and now sisters?! What kind of madman would come up with such a bizarre idea as this!?)
(This...)
(No. You know what. To hell with the game. I have more dangerous things to worry about than the beginning of a sisterly love.)
◇
"It was very strange, no doubt."
"But I'm happy. This shows that the Rosenberg Household ended up winning, unlike those five."
"Yes... wait? What happened to those idiots?"
"Well..."
Just as Cid was about to answer me, someone knocked on the door.
It was a maid; apparently, more guests were arriving, and they were moving them to the main event venue.
Cid said goodbye and left.
(Hey, don't leave me in suspense. What happened to those other four after the duel?)
◇◇◇
When the capture targets' families found out what happened in the game, they showed nothing but joy.
That was the reaction of some NPCs. But in reality.
They were very, very angry with all of them.
Regulux ended up worse than anyone.
He lost his position as third in the line of succession.
His faction was destroyed in a snap.
No power or influence now, despite being the future white knight.
His life from now on will be uncertain.
With Lambert, it wasn't much different.
His father, the Margrave Attley, punished him severely.
Not for what he did. But for losing despite declaring he would win and that he wouldn't allow the prince to fight.
The disappointment and anger on his father's face was something Lambert had never seen.
Even his aunt was angry with him.
She shouted at him. Are you crazy?! What they did to that girl is unforgivable! As a woman, I would be truly pained and would seek for that bastard's family to be punished! You should be grateful that your fiancée's family is very understanding and asked us to make you reflect!
Something similar happened with Bellange and Oscar.
Their parents scolded them badly for losing to a nobody.
Their mothers and other female relatives looked at them with faces of disgust.
Oscar's grandfather even told him. Using magic for something as horrible as that... you are a disgrace to the Pleven name.
Both of their engagements were canceled by their fiancées' families.
They didn't want a horrible man near their daughters.
Bellange was beaten by his father and even his brothers.
As for Jake... he didn't want to go home.
But palace knights dragged him to his house.
There, inside a huge room that was someone's study.
Two figures looked at him very annoyed.
The one on the right, a woman, gave him a very disappointed look.
"I don't understand why my Jake-chan did that? You're a good boy. Your mom taught you to respect women, but what you did made your fiancée's family, with whom we had good connections and several years of trust, have to break it off because of the shame you brought upon us."
"... No, listen, mother, I..."
"Dorothea. Don't interfere."
When Jake heard the voice of the seated man, his skin turned pale, and his hair stood up as if electrified.
He was sitting in a position ready to do a dogeza at any moment.
The elegant man stood up. His red hair seemed to take the shape of horns. His blue eyes were so bright they looked like those of a wildcat about to attack.
As the man slowly approached his son, Jake sweated coldly.
He shouted from the bottom of his heart.
"Father, listen to me first! Okay? I did it because I thought it would be best for our house!"
"You thought?"
His father, Duke Fitzclarence. A terrible man who rejected the protagonist for not being worthy of being the wife of a future duke, stopped to interrogate his son.
"Yes! I... I did it believing that, with this, we would stop having a bad image and relationship with the palace! I-I understand that my actions against a girl and also a fellow duke are acts that deserve punishment! But I did it believing that the prince would be someone important due to his charisma!"
His father's mouth stopped momentarily, but after a while...
"You... how stupid are you? I don't remember marrying a prostitute for my heir to be a first-class imbecile?"
"Dear. Jake-chan said he did it for the house."
"Dorothea, please don't interrupt me!"
Despite the strong tone of his voice, his elegance and respect did not leave.
"Firstly; that girl's house was one of the few nobles whose opinion I could take into account besides being trustworthy. Thanks to you, the shame we went through would cause them to be humiliated as well; to not infect them with our shame, I broke your engagement with her. That was massive damage to this house."
Jake wanted to cry.
"Secondly; I don't care if it's a duke or a marquis or a margrave you offended. The Fitzclarence Principality is called that because we do not trust the palace. Do you think your stupid act would erase centuries and centuries of mutual distrust, huh?!"
Jake was already crying.
"And finally, but not least important. As a man, you should be ashamed for challenging a woman. But I'm not angry about that; your mother will handle that punishment. What I am truly angry about is..."
His teeth pressed together, generating a loud squeak.
"You... declared in front of many witnesses that you would win and that's why you were the first to go out."
Jake wanted to flee; his father's face was contorting.
"The real disgrace you brought to this house was bragging and going out first! You stupid idiot child!"
"I'm so sorry!"
"Shut up!"
The duke's right arm rose as high as it could. The palm of his hand was open, looking like a sword ready to cut.
"Father, I'm sorry!"
"It's time for your divine punishment! Paternal slap!"
"Gyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
In the principality's castle, cries for help were heard accompanied by various crashes.
◇
The moment of truth had arrived.
The guests were in their seats. On the left side were my family and Cid.
On the right were the duchess and Lily, along with some servants.
The officials sent by the prime minister were seated on both sides.
A cardinal from the temple was sent as the pastor who would officiate our engagement.
(I'm terrified; something like this isn't something I'm used to since it never crossed my mind.)
"The bride has arrived! Stand up!"
An official shouted, and everyone present stood up.
Since my family didn't have a coat of arms to represent us, the emblem of the Rosenberg Household also waved on our side.
Like its name, it had a red rose in a golden frame.
The doors opened.
Music played.
I heard voices of people commenting on things that only scared me.
"Lady Elize is very beautiful."
"Her dress was designed by a very famous fashion designer."
"It makes me very happy to see her smile."
(I don't want to look.)
(Even if she is very beautiful, I don't want to see. I'm terrified; engagement is something—)
"Razel."
Before I knew it, she was behind me.
I turned around in a way similar to horror movies.
My eyes were closed... but I couldn't make her feel bad again.
"Eh..."
Elize was illuminated by the sunlight coming through the door.
She removed the veil from her face, and I could see her beautiful face.
Tears fell as she looked at me.
There are no words to explain how beautiful she looked. But if I could compare her to something, it would be an angel.
"Razel. At first, you were my first friend and then the person I hated most. But now it's different."
Elize walked until she was next to me.
I watched her cry.
"I... thought I would be in this place with Prince Regulux. But I'm very happy that the person I'll be with in the future is you."
I didn't reply because my heart was beating like a locomotive.
The pastor began to speak the typical stuff you'd expect in a church.
"I do."
Said Elize. I didn't hear what the pastor said, but now he was looking at me.
I replied the same way without even knowing what he said.
"I-I do."
"With that, the engagement is complete. You may kiss your fiancée to seal the engagement."
We both turned in the direction where we were staring at each other.
I didn't know what to say, but it seems Elize understood my heart.
"It's okay. I'm scared too, but it doesn't matter. I'll be by your side forever. Even if I'm a little clumsy, I'll support you in everything you do."
My heart felt a little calmer hearing that.
"I'll be a nuisance. You can count on it."
"I know. I spent several years thinking about hitting you when I saw you. But now I want to give you something else."
Elize tilted her body, and her red lips were in position for a kiss.
Her still-closed eyes let fall tears.
"Razel, I'm ready to be your woman."
With a big kiss, we closed this day.
◇
The day was fun, I won't lie.
Once the ceremony was concluded, there was a banquet and then a dance.
I didn't know how to dance, so I refrained from making a fool of myself.
My parents danced; I was amazed at how well my father moved with his large body.
After the party ended, we returned home.
My parents returned to their house, and Cid to the palace.
In my case, I had to go stay at the Rosenberg mansion.
I was officially introduced to the servants.
Elize didn't leave my arm alone.
We are engaged.
In a few years, my title of baron and my surname will be nothing.
I will become the future Duke Rosenberg.
Fortunately, I don't have the surname prefix 'von,' so I won't be treated as someone important.
(My life as a background character who doesn't stand out isn't ruined.)
(After what happened with Xerxes, many assume that Cid defeated it and I was just tagging along.)
(In fact, they also say that it was him and not me who defeated the idiots.)
(It's better that way; I won't stand out.)
(Now that things have taken an unimaginable turn.)
(Only the most important minor details remain.)
(The white knight is an idiot. I'm terrified that he might actually become emperor, as he could take revenge against us.)
(Lily as the saint is something that will help us when danger has entered the capital and there's no one left to save us.)
(That only leaves the five true threats that I'll have to figure out how to deal with in these two years left until the prologue ends.)
(The Black Crows and their mission to harass Lily.)
(The remaining capital sins. Since I killed one of them, and as for the others, Eli, Amy, and Cid have possibly become my allies.)
(Their future antagonistic roles won't happen.)
(That would leave only the sins that are truly enemies. Sloth, gluttony, and greed. Two of them belong to the same person, so it will be difficult to fight that individual sooner or later.)
(The four dark knights of the Ideal Empire.)
(The Ideal Empire itself, but to be precise, the emperor and the archdukes.)
(And finally, the most annoying of all. The four demon kings.)
(I don't know how I'll do it when they appear, but thanks to my knowledge of the game. One of them will be killed by another demon king. Then, another demon king will be killed off-screen by the twilight saint, and the last one will be killed by the dragon gods after rebelling against their master.)
(That would only leave the most dangerous of all, Desmond. I hope someone kills him so he doesn't cause me problems in the future.)
"Razel, are you awake?"
Someone knocked on my door.
"Yes. Come in."
(From the voice, I can deduce its Lily calling me.)
(It's already late; I don't know what they want at this hour.)
"Is something wro... ng?"
I was left speechless by what my eyes saw.
Eli and Lily were at the door in very erotic attire.
The only clothing they had was a thin cloth covering their breasts and reaching their hips.
Black thong underwear was visible along with their beautiful thighs.
They smelled very good; their hair was damp and loose.
With their hands behind their backs, they walked a few steps.
Lily closed the door while Eli told me.
"I know it's only our first night as a couple. But, I wanted it to be special."
Lily approached Eli.
"We wanted to wait until after marriage to have that 'special night,' but..."
She took her hand while their faces were red and their eyes very moist.
"We realized that when we think of you, we get very strange."
They approached.
"My heart beats very fast. I want to be one with you." Said Lily as she got on the bed and crawled like a cat.
"Me too. I love you; I don't want to wait two more years to satisfy this desire. Besides, I don't want another woman to steal your first time."
Eli also approached. Their breasts, without a bra, hung like udders because they were so large.
(Huh, what are they talking about? Let me tell you, another woman already has.)
"So~"
"Let's have lots of fun together, the three of us, before classes start. What do you say? Da~rling~"
The girls pressed their large breasts against my face in a very playful way.
(If anyone had the chance to have the protagonist and villainess as girlfriends, would they let them go?)
(In my case... like hell I would!)
I decided to leave the fate of the world for another time while my mind and body enjoyed two beautiful flowers for myself.
(Now, which of my girlfriends should I start with?)
◇◇◇
It was afternoon in a room lit only by sunlight.
A nearly broken fan was the only thing cooling that place.
Two men were sitting talking in armchairs facing each other.
The one in front poured himself a glass of cheap whisky into a scratched glass cup.
"Want some?"
"No thanks, I don't drink yet."
"Hahaha, how conservative you are."
"No, I just respect the legal age for drinking strong beverages."
The boy who refused had blue hair with a little brown; his eyes were hazel green.
He looked like a delinquent because of his face, but he was a quiet boy.
He was Serge Seburg, one of the extra capture targets.
"Well then. What would you like to know today?"
A man in a wrinkled white shirt asked his guest normally.
His hair was pale gray, and his eyes were dark red; he had a small scar near his chin.
"The same as last time. I want to join."
Serge was aware of this man because he and his father were acquaintances.
Once he overheard them talking about something important.
"The answer is still no."
"But!"
"You're still a child. You don't know anything about the world."
The man, whose name was Linus, drank calmly from his glass.
Serge's expression was one of discomfort.
"I'm aware of what I'm saying. I just... wish to do justice for what happened to my little sister, but not only for her, also for others who have suffered because of the empire."
This conversation was a fundamental piece during the commoners' rebellion event or Serge's revolution story according to his route.
Both connected to the same thing.
Only Serge appeared in one, but not in the other.
This man was a key piece for said event.
For years, there have been people showing discontent with the current situation of the empire.
The nobles have overstepped the mark.
That's what they thought.
Linus observed Serge; after finishing his drink, he placed it on the table before speaking.
"You should know my situation, right?"
"Yes. But, even so—"
"You know nothing."
"Once, there was an idiot who was the newly appointed head of an important house that supported the imperial family."
"The Arks Household was known by everyone as one of the few families that could rival a duke's without having as much power."
"One day. That idiot man was present at a crime. The ministers and officials did nothing. A noble committed various crimes, and they ignored it. Then, that man committed the stupidest act of all."
Serge swallowed saliva.
"He decided to tell the emperor. The emperor looked at him with a face that suggested he didn't care. The ministers found out about it. They decided to ruin that house for being nosy."
"They played until they broke that man's daughters and wives. His heir was run over and then his corpse thrown into a river. The former head of the house was split in half after being tortured. Finally, they declared that man guilty of treason, and he had to flee to this hole, which is hell itself on earth."
His thumb pointed to a back window.
"The lawless city. A place where scum gathers and can corrupt human life in broad daylight."
Due to the sunlight, a large object cast a shadow that buried through the window.
It was a tower.
A huge, long tower that seemed to want to reach the sky.
The tower was totally black, but it had windows.
Serge watched that while listening to Linus's story.
"Once you enter this place, there's no turning back. It's the only place in the whole world where they wouldn't look for a fugitive."
He poured himself some more whiskey.
"That's why, kid, whatever you think you hear or know, it's false. No one can go against the royal palace. Forget your revenge; just live your life; your little sister would have wanted that for you."
"..."
Serge looked at the table; a plate of snacks was there.
An image of a little girl playing passed through his head.
One day, that girl was with him.
They were poor but happy.
He had to let go of her hand because he needed to help a friend get his cat down from a tree.
Serge was the best at climbing trees; he told her not to wander off.
It only took a few seconds.
When he came down, his eyes scanned everywhere looking for his sister.
It was almost night; he had been desperately searching for her for hours.
"Cleo! Where are you?"
Serge called her, but she didn't answer.
While walking, some people in suits and some dogs were crossing near him.
He stepped aside. They were nobles; he didn't want to get involved with them, but he didn't know what they were doing here.
Before he left, he noticed that one of the dogs had a piece of cloth in its mouth.
He kept searching until he found a crowd.
Approaching to see if it was his little sister crying.
"Are you there, Cleo?"
Serge was horrified to find a scene from a bloody horror movie.
"It seems some nobles have done it again."
"But with such a little girl."
"They're barbarians; we can only pray it doesn't happen to us."
The crowd left.
Serge stayed there. He fell to his knees, and they touched a puddle that reflected the light of a red moon.
He touched a piece of flesh that was once a human face and began to cry.
Serge came to his senses after remembering his reason for accepting his father's request to go live with him.
He wanted revenge on those who did that to his sister, but he wanted something like this not to happen again.
He stood up.
"If you're not going to tell me anything, I'm leaving."
Before leaving, Linus called him.
"I heard that very interesting things have happened at the academy; is it true?"
"It's always boring."
With a loud slam as he closed the door, Linus continued drinking his beverage.
"The darkness of the imperial palace is so great it can swallow you. One day, the darkness will be erased, but much blood will be shed for that."
The shadow of the great tower continued to grow as the sun descended.
◇◇◇
Upon arriving at the capital, Serge entered a bar.
It was a very elegant one, with a piano included.
"Why are you a bartender, Gunter?"
"Hehehe, it's my part-time job. You know, not all of us have a father who pays our expenses."
"..."
Serge didn't respond; he was irritated.
"Sorry, you looked like you needed a laugh."
Gunter served a non-alcoholic drink, but with a strong flavor, to Serge.
He looked at the liquid poured into the small glass.
"I guess as long as I don't prove to be a reliable adult, they'll keep seeing me as a child."
He drank a little of his drink.
"This is delicious. Thanks; the place's specialty is strong drinks, but there are people who don't tolerate them well, so we also prepare drinks like this."
"I see. Give me another."
"That one was free; I'm going to charge you for this one."
"That's fine."
Serge smiled at his friend who was trying to cheer him up.
Gunter wasn't an important character in the game; he didn't even appear.
But undoubtedly, he was a key piece for the future of the rebellion and revolution arc that was planned for the future.
"By the way, the academy notified that—"
The bell placed on the entrance door rang.
A tall man, almost two meters, entered.
"Welcome."
"It smells good."
The man approached the bar.
"Say it again. What did the academy say after that? It feels strange to have so much free time."
"Let me attend to the customer."
"It smells good. A very perfect smell."
"What would you like to order?"
Serge drank from his beverage while Gunter attended to the customer.
"To eat."
Everything happened in a fraction of a second.
Serge felt like he had seen something.
Checking what his eye had seen.
He was left speechless, astonished.
There was nothing out of the ordinary, but undoubtedly, what his eyes saw was unimaginable.
The tall man, wearing a large beige fur coat, gray hair combed back, and eyes red like fire, was inserting his right arm into Gunter's stomach.
"Gun..."
As he withdrew his arm, a large red stain covered his coat and skin.
"ter."
Upon fully removing it, a large amount of red liquid came out of Gunter's stomach as he collapsed to the floor.
"Thanks for the meal."
The man raised his arm and brought it down at great speed, thus completely cleaning the red stains.
"I'm still not full."
Serge watched his friend, the one who would one day bring news of the rebellion that would take place, the one who would provide information to the allies, and above all, the one who would give his life to protect him.
At this moment, that event was crushed.
"... Gunter."
Serge didn't know how to react; the man playing the piano didn't notice until he saw the man in the coat leave.
A great scream was heard.
◇◇◇
Once outside, the man heard a loud scream.
He walked through the crowd normally.
As if he hadn't murdered anyone recently.
His conscience was clean; that was because he was an animal and not a man.
His victorious smile was a sign of how very happy he was.
"Today I've caught over 19 prey. Yesterday it was 39. I'm going very slowly, and the day is almost over, gijiji."
A woman checking her shopping list said something revealing.
"Excuse me, sir, are you a cosplayer? Your costume is very good."
The monster disguised as a man had small eyebrows and seemed grumpy by his expression.
He simply walked on, ignoring the woman.
"It's a good costume. I mean, just look at those horns; they look real."
Two arch-shaped horns were reflected on his head.
The color was black with red tips.
That woman, nor Serge, nor anyone in the vicinity knows who is walking the streets as if they were nobody important.
He is not just a character from the game, but his role is not precisely one anyone would like to meet.
"I want to reach a big number like yesterday."
Because this individual was, none other than one of the four demon kings.
Desmond, the strongest and most dangerous creature on the face of the earth.
The only one who could defeat the main demon king and the one against whom Lily and the white knight fought to save the world.
"My mouth waters to taste more snacks."
Saliva dripped from his mouth in search of his next victim.
________________________________
Reincarnated in an Otome Game as the Ugly Background Character Volume 2 End.
Arc of the Battle to Save the Villainess from Her Fate.
___________________________
Onee-sama means big sister in a respectful way.
___________________________
To end the epilogue, I leave you this gift.
https://mega.nz/file/jsRUXLiL#xQCjR4fUejvIsw9a9-y5L1ooiNWkXrE1qxwu4oYJo1k