The Reason I Have To Be A Villain

[Renée’s POV]

Ah, I was wondering why you were reacting that way then…!

Just as I suddenly lifted my upper body, I also turned my head to look at Diwen. Diwen looked at me as if he was asking what was wrong, and I gestured for him to listen.

He made an unwilling expression and soon gave me his ear.

“You… What did you do with the sword?”

“What?”

“What about the sword…! I told you not to bring a sword, so you didn’t. No, no. You actually brought it right? Huh?”

Now, even if he nodded and showed me the sword that he actually brought, I didn’t think I would be angry that he didn’t comply with the condition. So I desperately hoped Diwen would nod, but what came back was his silence.

“Why, why is there no answer.”

“It’s because I wonder why you’re doing this and that. You told me not to bring a sword last time, but now it’s like you want me to. You were wary even when you got in the carriage.”

“It’s because I didn’t know what was going on at that time… … ! So what, did you really not bring it?”

I asked pitifully, grasping at straws.

Diwen, on the other hand, just hummed and snorted, then leaned back on the chair just like me.

“I didn’t bring it, lady. I’m a man of keeping my word.”

“You… I didn’t know, but you’re stupid! I told you not to bring it, so how can you not bring it….. No, it’s funny that I’m saying this.”

“I’m glad you knew. It’s okay, so please be at ease. I don’t want to get attention for no reason?”

But what should I do? If that brother gets consumed by the dragon spirit, you’ll… …

“I’m in good condition today.”

Just as the thought continued, Diwen suddenly said something nonsensical out of the blue.

“Huh?”

“I’m in good condition today, so there’s no problem. About a sword, I can grab one of the fleeing spectators and borrow it. I’m a knight who doesn’t care about the type of sword.”

“……You broke the sword last time. And furthermore, your legs are cracked now.”

“I wasn’t in good condition at the time. Please sit comfortably, I beg of you.”

When he, who didn’t respond about the crack in his leg, clasped my forearm so that it wouldn’t hurt, loud applause spread from the front.

PLEASE Read only at PM Translations

As I turned my head, a dim light was shining on the stage, and one of the Bradleys was standing under the light.

Judging by the soft expression on his face, he seemed to be the man who had kissed the back of my hand. Without saying a word, the man greeted the audience and turned around to sit on the organ chair.

In an instant, the sound of applause that relentlessly hit the ears died down. Soon, the suffocating stillness subsided into silence.

Kwang―

And the deafening sound of iron pipes.

Even though I knew it was the sound of an organ, it was a shockingly foreign sound. I involuntarily drew in a breath and leaned stiffly against the chair.

Is it because I have no knowledge of music? From what I’ve heard, this performance is just somber.

More than anything else, the sound that filled the venue felt coercive, and my body felt heavy.

Could it be that the performance sounds bad because the first impression of the man is not good? At the time of such doubt, I could barely hear Diwen’s murmuring voice.

“I don’t know what’s good because I don’t have such noble hobbies.”

He seemed to agree with me. Whether this should be considered a relief or not. For now, I thought that I should endure this concert somehow.

***

“Renée, get up. The concert is almost over.”

I was startled by the sudden voice and opened my eyes.

Oh? Since when did I close my eyes?

I blinked my eyes slowly and realized that my vision had tilted.

What…Why is the view….

“You sleep well when you’re scared.”

As soon as I heard Diwen’s voice from the top of my head, I noticed that I was leaning my head. That, of all places, on Diwen’s shoulder.

Raising my upper body as if I was jumping, I looked at Diwen in a panic. Diwen watched me as if he found me unexpectedly funny.

“Wake up. We’re going to the Bradley brothers as soon as the concert is over.”

“…I, am I sleeping?”

“Yes. You slept before the first song was over.”

“S, sorry. Why did I sleep? Maybe it’s because it’s not to my taste. I can’t stand being bored.”

“Those words, when the Bradley brothers hear that, their expression would be quite spectacular.”

Perhaps it was funny, I listened to his words full of laughter and threw my disheveled hair behind my shoulders.

As Diwen said, the concert was really coming to an end and the Bradley brothers were on stage to talk about how they felt about the concert.

Wow, I don’t remember at all. I didn’t even have a clue how much time had passed.

As expected, I don’t think such luxurious concerts are my taste. Apart from the bad first impression, it was a moment of feeling sorry for the two brothers.

By the way.

“Fortunately, nothing I feared happened.”

“I know. I was nervous about what to do if the two of them ran out of control. You slept too deeply that I’m not sure if I’ll be able to wake you up..”

“Eaugh, shut up!”

Puck, I casually slapped him on the shoulder, then looked straight into his eyes and pulled away. Then I remembered that he didn’t hate me, and I turned my head awkwardly. It just so happened that one of the Bradley brothers, the one with a soft impression was talking.

“I feel it every year, but it feels new. Just a decade ago, we didn’t expect to be loved by so many people in just a few years.”

As if it was a last-minute talk, the audience was listening attentively even though the story bounced elsewhere. Well, they’re popular, so they’ll listen to whatever they say.

“Can you guess how we were able to grow this much?”

The man asked. Seeing that his voice sounded so loud, he seemed to be using some device to talk.

Uninterested, I looked at the organ behind him. It wasn’t long before I lost interest, and my heart sank when I casually looked at him again.

It was because his gaze, which had been looking at the audience on the first floor until just now, was heading this way. To be precise, I clenched my fists in amazement at the thought that he was looking at me. Is it my imagination that the eyes feel unusual?

No, maybe he’s not looking at me. Stop thinking too much. But contrary to my expectations, he didn’t take his eyes off me.

PLEASE Read only at PM Translations

At that moment, on the 1st floor, someone answered, ‘Your performance skills.’ The man laughed as if he had not been looking this way and looked away.

“Of course, playing skills are important, but we got help from someone. To be honest, if it weren’t for their support, no matter how good our performance was, we wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today.

As if he was thinking of something, he put on an ecstatic expression and stretched his arms out to the sides. To me, he seemed like a madman, but others seemed to think differently and were in admiration.

Ah, something. Something about it feels ominous… …

As if it wasn’t only me who felt it, Diwen’s hand, which had been playfully tapping the armrest until just now, stopped abruptly.

“Who is that person?”

A question popped up from a corner seat on the first floor. The man turned his gaze toward it and readily answered as if he had been waiting for the question.

“We call her muse.”

“…….”

“It’s usually said that an artist has a muse. We also have one and only muse. You may find it pathetic, but she has a great influence on our performance.”

The moment my head went blank at the familiar words, the man looked up at me again.

Ah, as expected, it’s not a coincidence and it’s not a meaningless gaze.

That man wasn’t just talking to the audience, he was blatantly talking to me.

“Three years ago, the reason why I stopped performing is also related to her. Then you might be wondering about something.”

“…….”

“Why did you quit performing three years ago and reopen it now? It’s simple. Muse, who said she didn’t want to hear me play anymore, said she wanted to hear it again.”

The man’s words made my head spin quickly.

Based on Bradley’s letter, the muse would be Renée Blair, or me. And if that man’s words are true… …

Renée Blair must have asked for a concert. But I have no memory of that.

Did Renée Blair ask me to hold a concert before I possessed her? If that’s the case, I can see why he said that he was able to hold a concert thanks to that.

‘But…’

You said earlier that you got the dragon bone, that brooch, from the muse.

An uneasy thought flashed through my mind.

Don’t tell me the original Renée Blair stole the bone and gave it to you.

It has to be no. If that’s true, Renée Blair…….

‘It’s an evil person that surpasses the villain in the work……!’

It was a time when the horrifying idea made my blood boil. A bizarre sensation took hold of the surroundings.

“Shit.”

At the same time, Diwen swore and stood up. Grabbing my arm as a bonus.

But I couldn’t move. Bradley, no, the Bradley brothers were looking at me.

PLEASE Read only at PM Translations

“Two months ago, the muse I met after three years had changed beyond recognition.  And so rarely, they asked.”

Two months… ago?

“First, the concert must be completed successfully. Second, to bring someone after the concert, Third, after the concert… …”

Bradley grinned, deliberately stretching the end of his words. The smile made my heart beat again.

Bluntly, very, very unpleasantly.

His next words followed immediately.

“This concert hall… …  I’m going to explode Horenne House.”

It was before I even understood what he meant. Like a lie, the lights on the stage exploded with a loud roar.

***

“Everyone, evacuate!”

When the lights burst with a roar, everyone on the first floor screamed. Everyone seemed to be in a state of confusion as the lights exploded and it became dark.

For a moment, I heard Anastasia’s exasperated voice and a faint light filled the venue. The light was shining along the exit. It was to show people the way.

More than that, what about Anastasia?

Worried about her safety, I went to the railing to find her. She was helping people who had fallen in surprise near the stage.

As I was relieved that she was safe, someone grabbed my wrist. It was Diwen.

“You too, hurry up and avoid it.”

“But Asha…….”

“Even if it looks like that, it’s not dangerous with a wide shield now. We’ll take care of it, so please avoid it, huh?”

“…….”

“Where are you going when you said it was scary?”

When I didn’t go out, Diwen urged me in a frustrated voice.

But…….

“You don’t have a sword!”

It was like that. Anastasia aside, now I’m worried about someone else.

The strange condition I put forward a few days ago……. He didn’t come with a sword to meet the condition.

After hesitating and wavering, I continued. The voice that came out was filled with anxiety to the extent that even I myself was surprised.

“What if you die?”

Suddenly, the contents of the mission came to mind. It told me to kill Diwen Fergus under the guise of an accident. I was scared because I thought it was not a random mission.

Of course, I don’t intend to kill him, but on the contrary, if I think about it, doesn’t that mean he’s in danger of dying?

Beyond the leaping thoughts, I heard a ha, a low laugh. When I straightened my blurred focus, I saw him with his hands on his waist and his head down.

Soon after, he raised his head and met my gaze. His eyes were shining in the dark.

“You’re driving me crazy, you.”

TL/N: My face rn

“… …”

“I told you earlier. I’m in good condition.”

It was definitely what he said earlier. I stared at him, speechless, and crumpled my face.

“Don’t be silly! Is there a law that people in good condition don’t die? I heard your legs are cracked!”

“Haha.”

As he smiled incongruously with the chaotic surroundings, he glared in frustration.

“Are you disregarding me or worrying about me.”

As soon as he had uttered in the odd tone, he moved his feet and soon sat on the railing.