The Heroines All Want to Kill Me

"Master, it's dinner time."

"...Mmm." As night fell, Kania entered the room carrying food.

"What's for dinner today?"

"Your favorite sandwiches and coffee, master."

"Is that so?" Since Kania discovered that I was a Pseudo - Villain, the only good thing was that I could enjoy the delicious food she prepared without worrying about wasting it. Kania was an excellent cook. She had been good at cooking since childhood and had tried various cooking methods to suit my picky taste, so her cooking skills were comparable to those of a professional chef.

"...Is it not to your taste?"

"No, it's extremely delicious."

"Really?" I complimented instinctively, then realized my slip - up. Looking up, I saw Kania wearing a confused expression, as if she was unaccustomed to such treatment.

"...Kania, you've been good at cooking since you were young."

"Me?"

"Yeah, so every time I wasted food to act evilly, I felt it was a pity."

"...Didn't you leave my cooking because it was bad?" Since I had already praised her, I might as well continue. Kania looked at me with an incredulous expression and asked. She looked so comical that I almost burst out laughing. Hurriedly, I picked up the sandwich on the plate in front of me and continued, "Don't you know? Just taste it yourself, and you'll understand whether I'm being unreasonable or not."

"I tasted it myself, but since you always said it didn't taste good, I thought my cooking really was terrible."

"Didn't you let anyone else taste it?"

"I wasn't confident in my cooking. Except when you ordered me to prepare food, I hardly ever cooked."

"I see..." Thinking of Kania dejectedly cooking in the kitchen, my heart ached. I forced a relaxed expression and picked up the coffee in front of me.

"...Mmm."

"Is it too bitter?"

"The coffee you made is also very delicious, Kania."

"Really?" Kania asked with an incredulous expression, and I nodded with a wry smile. "All the harsh words I said to you were lies. Remember that."

"...So, what my younger brother said about my cooking being delicious wasn't just to comfort me, but the truth?"

"Yeah, that's right." I was glad that she could regain her self - esteem now. As I continued to eat the sandwich, I suddenly remembered the day of my first return and carefully said, "Ah, do you remember the day I knocked over the sandwich last time?"

"Yeah..."

"That was also a lie. I'm really sorry, ah..." I wanted to say sorry to her, but then stopped. According to the script I explained to her, I didn't even have the right to apologize to her.

"You're saying sorry?" Seeing that I remained silent, Kania frowned and retorted. I stared at her quietly. Finally, I decided to give up the thick - skinned attitude I had planned at first, lowered my head, and started the conversation. "As I promised last time, I did those things to you, so from now on, I won't ask for your forgiveness."

"..."

"But I'll do my best to treat you well."

"...To me?"

"Yeah, in front of others, I may still have to be cold to you... But when we're alone, I'll do anything you want."

"...Anything?"

"Yeah, anything." After I said it sincerely, she stared at me quietly. Looking at her, I carefully continued, "Just think of this as my atonement for you. Of course, this is my unilateral action, and you don't have to accept it. If you feel uncomfortable, you can also refuse." After saying these words, I waited nervously for her response. Kania frowned and reluctantly said, "...Do as you like."

"I understand, Kania." Judging by her reluctant look, she had reluctantly agreed... But even so, I wanted to treat her better in this way. Of course, I also wanted to treat the other "Heroines" better, but the one who had suffered the most was Kania, who had always been by my side. Even when she died, it wasn't forced, but voluntary - even in front of me, while cursing me. One can imagine how much she had suffered inside.

"So, it's great to be able to take good care of you like this."

"Kania, aren't you going to eat?" I was about to continue eating with a smile when I suddenly realized that I had never seen Kania eat.

"...I only prepared your meal, master."

"Then when do you eat?" When I asked her when she ate, Kania replied as a matter of course, "All along, when I prepared your meals, I would eat a little by the way."

"...What?"

"Striving to suit your taste... I unconsciously got into the habit." Hearing her words, I stood up and said, "Let me cook for you."

"...What?"

"I can still do some cooking. Just cut the ingredients with a knife and sprinkle some salt... Uh!" But when I summoned up the courage to stand up, the pain all over my body made me sit back down again.

"...Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'll recover soon."

"But your recovery seems a bit slow."

"I'll be fine after a good rest." I replied weakly, sitting in place. Kania nodded gently and stood up. I watched her quietly. When she picked up the cat doll on the table, I carefully asked, "Ah, Kania."

"Hmm?"

"That black cat doll on the table, can I get one too?"

"What do you mean?"

"...Actually, I really like cats." Kania stared straight at me. No wonder, a few days ago I said I hated cats, and now I said I liked them. Her reaction was normal.

"Unfortunately, this cat doll was made by my younger sister. There's only one in the world."

"Is that so? Then there's nothing I can do." Although I said so, I couldn't hide my disappointment. Kania hesitated for a while and finally said, "If you really like it that much, I'll give it to you."

"No, there's no need for that..."

"I can ask my sister to make another one." As she spoke, Kania expressionlessly handed the cat doll to me.

"...Thank you." I wanted to refuse, but thinking that this doll could increase my mental power value by 0.3, I was really grateful. After much hesitation, I accepted it.

"Huh? Why isn't there any sound?"

"Ah?"

"I remember this doll would make a cute sound when you pressed its belly..."

"..." Hearing my words, Kania suddenly frowned. I tilted my head in confusion, and she said in a low voice, "...Why did you touch there?"

"Ah?"

"No, I mean... When did you touch my doll?"

"...Damn it." I accidentally let it slip that I had touched her doll. I broke out in a cold sweat and secretly observed her expression. She seemed to have known that the doll I liked had been touched by me and was blushing with anger.

"Um... I'm sorry for touching it without your permission. But it's so soft..."

"....."

"And the meowing sound was so cute that I unconsciously..." The more I spoke, the more incoherent I became. She still stared at me with a red face, and then said in a stiff tone, "That doll was for my black magic experiments."

"...Black magic experiments?"

"Yeah, I was trying to make a doll that could move automatically after setting the medium just once."

"...Is that so? So there's such black magic."

"When it was first made using black magic with the doll as the medium, it would only consume black magic energy. Usually, it would automatically sense the black magic energy around me and didn't need to consume my magic power... That is to say, it could move without consumption."

"Wait, isn't this amazing?"

"Of course, because it's in the experimental stage, it often malfunctions. It could originally move by itself... But now it's probably broken."

"I see." Hearing that the cat doll was broken, I poked its belly dejectedly. Kania hesitated for a while and said, "...If it's a night when my black magic becomes stronger, maybe I can fix it."

"Is that so? That's great."

"Then, see you at night, master." After saying that, Kania left the dormitory.

'Didn't she say she had something to do and went out just now... What happened?' I was worried about her for a while, but soon guessed that she probably knew the truth and didn't want to see me like this, so she often ran out of the dormitory. Thinking of this, I lay on the bed sullenly, hugging the cat.

"...By the way, I still have to transfer life force to Kania tonight." It seemed that when I went to my home next week, I had to put other things aside and give medicine to Kania's younger sister first.

Time passed, and the night grew deeper.

"Ugh..."

"...Are you okay?" Kania asked with a solemn expression as she saw me sweating profusely and shivering while lifting up my shirt to expose my abdomen.

"St, still okay..."

"...Are you really okay?" The reason Kania was like this was that I was now placing my hand on her abdomen to transfer life force to her. When transferring life force, direct contact with important parts of the human body such as the abdomen and heart was the most efficient. So, at this moment when my life force was greatly depleted, in order to maximize the transfer efficiency, with Kania's consent, I pressed my hand against her skin. Of course, I couldn't touch embarrassing parts like the chest, so I chose the abdomen, which was relatively less embarrassing.

"...." I secretly glanced at Kania's expression and found that she was still frowning, looking quite displeased. Well, anyone would be angry and tremble if a person they hated put their hand on their abdomen.

"...Master, you should be able to stop now."

"Cough! Cough! Haa... It seems so." But if I didn't do this, Kania would die, so I gritted my teeth and continued to transfer life force. However, I reached my limit after just one minute. Originally, if I could transfer life force slowly for about five minutes, there would be no problem. At this moment, I truly felt the horror of the punishment.

"There's blood at the corner of your mouth."

"This sometimes happens when using the hero's power to heal black magic. It only happens during treatment. Don't worry."

"...Okay."

"...Then good night, Kania."

"Master, please also have a good rest." I casually wiped the blood oozing from the corner of my mouth, said good night to Kania, and walked towards the bed.

'...I still can't move.' I looked at the cat doll beside me reluctantly, prayed that my body would recover a little in the morning, and then fell into a deep sleep.

"...Cough! Cough!" It seemed that not only did I not recover, but my physical condition was getting worse. I was woken up by coughing in my sleep, and my whole body ached unbearably.

"Ugh..." I looked at the alarm clock hazily. It was still not dawn. But judging from the soreness all over my body, I probably wouldn't be able to sleep today.

"Kitty... I feel so uncomfortable." In this gloomy moment, I groaned and said to the cat doll beside me, "The system... and the Sun God... are all useless guys... You think so too, right?"

"....""Are you still malfunctioning?" I carefully asked the doll, but got no response. With a bitter face, I picked up the cat doll, gently pressed its belly, and muttered, "You're so quiet too. I don't even have anyone to talk to..."

"...""I should have been honest with Kania... At least I could have confided in her... No, that won't do. If I make that poor child feel guilty..."

"...Meow."

"...Little cat?" I was muttering pitifully to myself while pressing the cat doll's belly. Suddenly, the doll let out a soft meow.

"Are you... fixed?"

"Meow?" I opened my eyes wide and asked. The cat doll tilted its head and let out a whine. The next second, I excitedly poked the cat doll's belly and cheered, "Meow meow meow meow meow!"

"Woo... Meow! Meow - woo!"

"Don't break down now!"

"Meow! Meow... Woo..."

"...Huh?" Just then, a faint groan came from somewhere. I panicked and continued to press the cat's belly, looking around. Suddenly, the cat doll started to struggle.

"Wow, you scared me!" I was startled and let go. The cat doll that fell on my stomach trembled all over and then glared at me viciously.

"...Ah, so it can move automatically." I remembered what Kania had said just now and carefully asked the panting cat that was staring at me, "Did I make you like this by touching your belly?" As soon as I finished speaking, the doll that had been glaring at me fiercely nodded gently.

"...So that's it. I'm sorry, really sorry." When I apologized to it, the cat doll suddenly turned its head and pouted. Only then did I realize that I had completely ignored the feelings of the doll whose belly was being touched.

"...Such a delicate appearance can be achieved just by setting the medium once. Indeed, black magic is amazing." I seriously considered whether to learn black magic from Kania when I had time in the future. But then I remembered that black magic was incompatible with Starlight Magic Power and might endanger my life, so I gave up the idea and turned to the cat again, saying, "...Kitty, won't you let me touch your belly in the future?" The cat doll turned its head to the side and nodded. It seemed really angry.

"...Can't I even touch it gently?"

"..."

"I won't press hard. Just a gentle touch... Please let me touch it... Okay?"

"...Meow." Finally, after I humbly pleaded with the cat doll, I regained the right to touch its belly. Although I felt a bit defeated, I was willing to lose to the cat doll that took care of my emotions countless times.

"Meow..."

"Hehe... So soft..." I stroked the cat doll's belly for a while. Unconsciously, the pain disappeared, and my eyelids became heavy. With a happy smile, I hugged the cat doll tightly and sank into a dream. That day, I had a happy dream of being surrounded by cats.

...Master, please be careful."

...Mmm." After getting up in the morning, perhaps because playing with the cat had healed my heart, I felt much more refreshed mentally. However, my physical condition was still terrible. In the end, I could only be supported by her and walked towards the classroom.

...Ugh." However, something felt off. Every time I stumbled or my hand accidentally touched her abdomen, Kania would tremble violently and let out a soft groan.

"Kania, what's wrong with you since just now?"

"Th, there's a problem with the synchronization. The sensitivity is a bit..."

"Hmm?"

"Ah, no... My stomach doesn't feel well."

"...I see." I looked at her sympathetically for a while, then looked away and said, "I'll go from here by myself."

"Huh?"

"You don't feel well. I can't let you force yourself to follow."

"But..."

"Didn't I say I would take good care of you? I'm okay. You go back first."

"..." Hearing me say this, she suddenly bit her lip and glared at me.

"...What's wrong? Kania?"

"You don't look okay at all." As she spoke, she pointed to my slightly trembling legs, even though she was still standing in place.

"...This is nothing. I'm the hero."

"Just because you're the hero, it's okay?" Kania clenched her fists and retorted, "Do you always do everything with such stupid thoughts?"

"Shh, be careful of eavesdroppers."

"...I'm leaving first." After she said this in a cold voice, she quickened her pace and walked forward.

'...It's a bit sad.' It seemed that whether I revealed my identity as a Pseudo - Villain or not, I was ultimately doomed to be hated by Kania. But I must be determined because from now on, I had to face the most important main - line mission to reverse the entire script.

'...Come to think of it, there's still one skill I haven't bought.' Since the main - line mission officially started today, I thought I had to be fully prepared. So, I opened the skill store and carefully checked the last skill I hadn't purchased yet.

- Pseudo - Villain's Deception Lv1 250pt

Description) Slightly and permanently increases the persuasiveness of lies.

'...This is definitely necessary, right?' Thanks to my experience in previous rounds, lying or acting was already second nature to me. But this skill not only provided a permanent buff but also increased the persuasiveness of lies. Such an effect definitely couldn't be ignored. Moreover, in the future, I would have to face the sharp - eyed Princess Klarna and my fiancée Serena, who was known as the continent's number - one genius. So, in any case, buying this skill would definitely be beneficial.

"...Actually, I'm a girl." I set aside the points for the potential - enhancing potion, bought the "Pseudo - Villain's Deception" skill, and to test the skill's effect, I tried telling a lie.

"...It doesn't feel very real." But this lie was too outrageous, and I didn't feel any difference. I tilted my head and thought for a while. Just as I was about to rush to the classroom before being late...

...Ugh."

".....!" Suddenly, I found Saintess Pelosh standing right in front of me with her mouth wide open, which startled me so much that I let out a scream. "I, I'm not going to the church!" I shouted in a hurry, but the Saintess still spoke without hesitation. I thought I was going to trigger the "Pseudo - Villain's Intuition" inexplicably again today. However, strangely enough, the system window didn't pop up. What on earth was going on?

"You, you you you…"

".....?"

"…Are you a girl?"

"…What!?" I was completely bewildered. When I heard Pelosh's stupid words that followed, I wanted to question what she actually meant, but she turned around in shock and ran away. I didn't even have the strength to shout for her to stop, let alone catch up with her. I could only slowly shuffle back to the classroom, muttering to myself, "…Does this skill actually work?" I wondered if the skill was too effective or if the Saintess was just too foolish.

....."There's an announcement today." As I entered the classroom and took my seat, dealing with the noble students, Isolte walked in and started to convey the notice to everyone. "There will be a practical assessment soon." Hearing this, the students began to whisper among themselves. Isolte knocked hard on the blackboard to signal the children to be quiet and then said, "Recently, the frequency of unknown monsters appearing in various parts of the empire has been rising sharply. Therefore, the royal family has issued a decree requiring the academy to increase the proportion of combat courses." Listening to her words, I finally realized that the Demon King had officially started to show his power to the empire, and I couldn't help but swallow nervously. At the same time, Isolte swept a stern gaze over the students and continued, "So this ability assessment will be carried out in the form of one - on - one duels among the students." As soon as she finished speaking, the classroom fell into a deathly silence. "You can discuss and decide on your dueling partners by yourselves. If you can't find a partner, I will assign them randomly." When she determined the way to select sparring partners, the children started to whisper again. I looked around at these children and overheard the conversation between Irina, who was sitting next to me, and her friend Ariana by chance.

"Irina, spar with me. I'll go easy on you…"

"Ariana, I told you I don't need your pity."

"But what if you're at the bottom of the rankings? You might be demoted to the lower class, and your scholarship…"

"I said I don't need it!"

"Irina…" After the conversation ended, there was a brief and awkward silence between Irina and Ariana. I watched them quietly and fell into deep thought. "…How can I provoke Irina to lose her temper?" To officially start the main - line mission, "The Attack on the Civilian Dormitory," I had to duel with Irina Filiard in the assessment. The reason it's said to be the "start" rather than the "completion" is that dueling with her is the minimum condition for the mission to be established. Moreover, in that battle, due to the depletion of my magic power, I couldn't even cast basic magic, and Irina's power value was only a mere 3 points... I had to lose to her. And I had to lose convincingly. This really was a damned lousy game.