I Reincarnated as a Cringeworthy Villainous Noble, but Got Obsessed With Magic

Episode 8: The one who gets involved is a template, but the shitty maid doesn’t follow the template

“I’m so full… How much can you eat?”

“Well, salty foods have their own stomach, and sweet things have their own stomach, so I can eat an endless amount if I keep switching.”

“What kind of flawed logic is that?”

“If you don’t eat when you can, you never know what might happen.”

Her eyes… they’re scary.

It seems that when it comes to money and food, Celestia’s eyes light up. Well, in this world, there are apparently slums and even slaves, making life itself difficult at times. It’s understandable that Celestia would be like this. At least, I can’t say anything, considering that I’ve been fortunate in both my past life and this one.

“…And how did you find such a delicious place in this back alley? It doesn’t seem like there are many customers.”

The last place Celestia took me to was a café-like establishment that served sweets.

However, the location was questionable; it was in a back alley relatively close to the slum area. The sweets were incredibly delicious, which made me wonder how Celestia found out about it.

“Oh, the head maid told me to check it out when we had extra money. Well, she also told me not to go alone!!!”

“I can imagine that. Going alone to a place in such a dangerous neighborhood is insane… Wait, did you use me as an excuse?”

Celestia avoids eye contact.

Staring at Celestia with a piercing gaze, she finally sighed and playfully tapped her own head with her fist as if she had given up.

“You…”

—And here comes trouble.

I could clearly sense that someone was tailing us from behind. There’s no reason to ask for directions in a back alley like this, and it’s definitely not a peaceful atmosphere.

“Celestia, we’re being followed.”

“They’re after me…!!”

“Where do you get that confidence?”

“Well, you haven’t made your debut as Xenon-sama, and you’re not exactly recognizable as a noble, right?”

“No, you’re wearing a maid’s outfit, so it’s pretty obvious that you’re a high-ranking servant.”

“No, it’s definitely the work of someone who fell head over heels for my beauty. Hehe, what a dilemma.”

What’s wrong with her?

In hushed voices and rapid exchanges, I conversed with Celestia, directing a wary glance her way. She’s well into the scary territory now!

…Now, let’s not wait to be acted upon before we take action. I’ll take the initiative.

“What do you want, scoundrel?”

“!?”

As I turned to the rear and spoke in a hushed voice, I sensed a shocked presence. Then, a man emerged from the shadows. He had the disheveled appearance of a bandit, but you could tell from his physique, even through his shabby clothes, that he had some level of training. He wasn’t just an ordinary resident of the slum area.

“…You, are you a noble or a merchant’s kid? I’m going to take you hostage and squeeze every last coin out of you.”

“I see. Do you know who I am?”

“A well-dressed maid. You can tell from a distance that she’s wearing high-quality fabric. And you, you’re clearly wearing fine clothes that an ordinary commoner can’t afford. Someone like this is either a stupid show-off or a rich kid, it’s obvious.”

This guy’s pretty sharp. It seems that information can be gleaned even through Celestia…

“So I am just a fool who wants to show off, huh?”

“If you are, I’ll just strip you of everything.”

“You’re quite straightforward.”

“I have to be if I want to survive.”

I adopted a combat stance, and the man also poised his knife. It was almost about to turn into a showdown… just then, Celestia, who was standing beside me, suddenly emitted an angry aura and shouted.

“Wait a second! Why isn’t this about me!? You have such a beautiful maid right here! Normally, if you’re going to commit a crime in a back alley, it should be something related to women, right? What exactly are you thinking?”

“Settle down, Celestia?”

“There’s no way you’d find such an attractive maid just anywhere!! If you’re going to commit a crime in a back alley, it should involve a woman, right? What’s your intention here?”

“What’s with this person?”

I want to say the same thing. What on earth is this terrible maid doing?

“…If you’re after money, it’s more profitable to demand a ransom than to kidnap a maid. Besides, selling a maid to a slave trader can also be profitable. Harming a maid, who is your bargaining chip, in a hostage negotiation is just inefficient.”

“I’ve been lectured on the rationality of a criminal by a criminal!!…!!! Then at least, let me protect Lord Xenon and be the one to get slashed…!!!”

“Why would you harm the maids who belong to the other side in a hostage negotiation? That’s not even negotiation. You’re creepy. Just leave.”

“Huh?”

He’s saying some really shabby stuff.

What’s going on in this situation?

While listening to Celestia and the bandit’s back-and-forth, I found myself in a daze. This bandit seems reasonably smart, and it’s clear that he’s genuinely targeting us.

He’s telling her to go home, but in reality, he’s probably planning to keep her alive as a messenger during the hostage negotiation. Otherwise, he’d kill her to eliminate evidence.

As for Celestia—she’s been signaling me to run away since earlier. By stalling for time, she likely intends to create an opportunity for me to escape. However, I believe her words reflect her true feelings.

In any case, I have no intention of running away. If I successfully escape, Celestia would be killed. Unfortunately, there’s zero need for her to die for my sake.

“Celestia.”

“Lord Xenon…”

I restrained Celestia and stepped forward. The bandit’s eyebrows momentarily raised, and he fully assumed a combat stance. He’s not letting his guard down. He’s had experience.

“…Sorry, but I won’t give you the time to swing that knife.”

I immediately drew a magic circle and channeled mana into it.

In that instant, the bandit realized I was a mage and made a run for it, but it was already too late.

“【Construct】【Spin】”

I used a magic that creates objects, generating a spherical piece of metal.

With my magic 【Spin】 I set it spinning rapidly in my left hand.

“【Launch】”

“…Gah!”

As I said, the metal projectile shot out, piercing through the air with a ‘bang’ and directly through the man’s right chest.

At this point, there was only a few meters between me and the bandit. If I pushed it, he might be able to reach me with his blade.

I use a conventional wind magic, “【Aero Blast】, to blow the man away, forcibly creating distance between us.

During the battle, Celestia’s maid skirt flew up due to the wind, and she exclaimed, “Kyaa!” or something, but let’s leave that detail out.

There’s no way you can find time to be delighted by seeing panties during a fight, you idiot.

“It’s impossible. My lung’s been punctured. I can’t move directly.”

The man who had risen calmly said while blood oozed from his right chest. I was taken aback by his demeanor.

“You’re surprisingly calm.”

“Life is the most valuable currency, but for the sake of this crime, I need to risk it. I’ve been expecting this moment for a long time.”

I stared at the man’s face intently.

Surprisingly, he looked young, yet his eyes were clouded with a sense of weariness. I could sense from his expressions and words that he had lived a formidable life.

“Can you wield a sword?”

“…?”

“I’m asking if you can use a sword.”

“…Ah, I used to be a knight. I’m probably better with a sword than a knife.”

I slowly drew a magic circle.

The magic that I activated was shining in gold, and the light was absorbed directly into the man’s right chest.

“I’ve healed you. Will you be my swordsmanship instructor?”

Upon hearing those words, the man contorted his face in a grimace.

“Is that pity? I despise those who extend life without reason out of pity.”

Pity… is it pity?

“It’s not pity.”

“What?”

“But I can’t spout idealistic notions like not calculating gains and losses.”

…This is tricky.

When I struggle for words, it seems I end up speaking in a cringe-worthy tone, much like the original Xenon. Well, I’ve been socially awkward since my past life.

“Can you die for me?”

“…? No, I don’t want to. If I die, it’ll be for my own sake.”

“That’s what I like about you.”

“I don’t get it. You’re pretty creepy too.”

It’s… not working.

I understand that I should kill him. He’s a bandit. He attacked us, and although the crime was unsuccessful, it should never be forgiven.

Like a light novel protagonist, “I like this guy, so I’ll spare him!” Ah, it’s so simple. But that’s not the only reason.

If I were to put it in chuunibyou terms, it whispers to me that this isn’t the man who should die here.

Without any evidence, I just feel that way.

It might seem pretty creepy from an outsider’s perspective.

Ah!! No matter what I say, it doesn’t resonate in my heart.

I have that feeling.

Just as I’m inwardly tearing my hair out, Celestia, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

“Isn’t it okay?”

“…?”

“He attacked but got defeated. You healed him. You forgave him. Moreover, Lord Xenon wants to hire this bandit. So, the bandit did this for money. Even if there’s a broker for the hostage negotiation, judging from what he’s said, he’s probably acting alone. How about a job change from bandit to a noble’s private tutor? Regardless of emotions, what about thinking in terms of gain and efficiency?”

Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t hire such an unknown man, but anyway, after spitting out a bit of poison, Celestia fell silent.

Both the man and I muttered simultaneously, looking wide-eyed.

“You… were you… smart?”

“What do you mean, you little…”

Ignoring Celestia, who was fuming, the man spoke to me.

“Honestly, I don’t understand your thinking. I find it creepy too. But the maid has a point. Anyway, I have two choices: I die or become your swordsmanship instructor. If I try to escape, you’ll probably kill me.”

“Yeah, I can’t just let you go.”

If he chooses to run… I can kill him.

No, I must kill him. If I capture him and hand him over to the authorities, it’ll lead to his execution. And there’s meaning in a noble’s son defeating a bandit who attacked him. But… I’d prefer not to live in a blood-soaked world if I can help it. Is that being naive?

“I’m in your care.”

“Ah.”

“Don’t regret not killing me.”

“If you’re going to say something like that, I definitely won’t regret it.”

This guy is definitely talking down to me, I’m sure of it. But I understood that it was his awkward way of giving advice… Even so, his choice of words is terrible, and if it were me, it would come off as cringy.

“…Hmph. I don’t like seriousness.”

“You’re ruining everything, you damn maid.”

The foul-mouthed bandit has become our companion.

______

Author Note:

Sorry for the long response.

He’s as sweet as the protagonist, Chocolate, isn’t he?