I Was Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Who Gets Killed Midway Through the Story but It Looks Like I’ll Be Executed as a Traitor if I Try to Do Good Deeds - Chapter 81



81: The Feeling I Want to Believe In

At Astral Academy, we often have mock battles using magic, and we have a decent amount of free time. Well, other classes are usually in the middle of lessons, so it’s a privilege of being in the top class.

It’s both good and bad that strong people are gathered here. If you think about it, there’s not much room for growth. But if you think about the original story, you’d want to become stronger in this new environment.

Just learning from Philis isn’t enough. I mean, it’s not like it’s not the highest level of teaching, but… I want to learn various things by interacting with many people.

Now is the time to team up with someone I like and show off our magic. It’s like I can hear the message “Let’s polish ourselves.” It’s a time to build up our relationships and deepen our bonds with each other. It’s like a gal game.

“Rex-kun, let’s do our best today too. As dark magic users, it’s efficient for us to team up.”

“You’re really calm about watching Rex’s magic… I couldn’t do that…”

“We’re both human, so it’s not a problem, right?”

Muska says some really kind words, but if I didn’t know she was acting, I might have fallen for it. Well, I’m doing the same thing, so I can’t really say anything. I’m also hiding my true self.

It’s like she’s breaking the heart of the original character, and it’s quite painful. She was a character who only believed in her own power, but now she’s unrecognizable. She was a character I liked, so it’s a normal shock.

“Haha, you’re quite something… But I can’t even run away. It’s pathetic…”

“If you’re not going to give up, then you’re not defeated yet. Why don’t you try facing your heart?”

The Muska I know from the original story would encourage me like this, but in reality, she’s the type who laughs at people who are down. Well, she doesn’t show it on the surface.

In the end, Muska is a person who only thinks about her own greatness and can’t accept anyone being above her. That’s why she betrayed the protagonist in the original story.

Knowing that, it’s hard to trust her. I understand. If I doubted her from the start, I wouldn’t be able to gain her trust. But I still end up being cautious.

“It’s about time. Let’s go, Muska.”

“Alright. Let’s do our best today too, Rex-kun.”

Her smiling face is really gentle. If this face is the real deal, then… I wouldn’t want to doubt people. It’s ideal if everyone can get along.

But if I let my guard down and someone gets hurt, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

We’re going to show off our dark magic and see what kind of effects we can produce. There are techniques I know from the original story, and some I don’t. There’s a lot to learn from, and it’s actually useful for studying.

Simply put, as fellow dark magic users, she’s a respectable ally. I can feel her efforts in her magic. In reality, as long as she doesn’t hurt anyone, she’s a person who will do her best. Then, I wouldn’t think too badly of her.

What can’t be forgotten is that, at this stage, Muska hasn’t committed any wrongdoing. If I attack an innocent person out of suspicion, the problem lies with me. In other words, it’s simply impossible to think normally.

No matter what, I can’t think that it’s okay to kill someone who might commit a crime in the future. That’s only applicable if they’ve actually taken action. Moreover, in this world, it’s undecided what Muska will do.

“Yeah, Rex-kun is amazing, isn’t he? I’m almost envious.”

“There’s no reason to doubt that I’m a genius. It’s only natural.”

“You know I’m not lazy, and I make an effort, right?”

Being praised like that makes me feel good. However, I can’t help but suspect their true intentions. I understand it’s not a good thing, but I just can’t help it.

If I continue to suspect Muska like this, regardless of their true intentions, I’ll end up making them an enemy. They’re not foolish enough to not notice my emotions.

“Do you think I looked like a foolish person who’s lazy?”

“No, that’s not it. But there are people who misunderstand, so I’m different.”

“Are you pretending to be understanding? You think you can figure it out just from meeting me?”

“Rex-kun isn’t someone who wants to hurt people, and that’s not why he’s talking like this. I can understand him.”

That’s it. Honestly, there’s a high possibility that they’ve seen through my true intentions. That’s why it’s crucial to take a trusting attitude from my side. Even though I understand that, my heart can’t keep up. It’s difficult to control myself.

“So, do you want to say I’m a foolish person who can’t understand others’ emotions?”

“No, Rex-kun is trying his best. I wanted to convey that. I believe in you.”

“Is that so? Do as you like. No matter what you do, it won’t change what I do.”

“I’ll do as I like. I’ll get along with Rex-kun as I like.”

While saying that, she places her hand on my chest. If she interacts with people like this, she might have become a Circle Crusher in her past life. It’s terrifying. In reality, Muska’s actions to gain people’s favor are genuine. Her efforts are worthy of recognition.

The problem is whether my close friends will be attacked or not. If that’s protected, then we can really get along. It’s better to have fewer enemies, after all.

“You won’t stop no matter what I say, will you? That’s troublesome.”

“Maybe I can stop you with force? But Rex-kun wouldn’t do that, would he?”

“It seems that way from your perspective.”

“Hehe, you’re being strong. That’s cute. I think we can get along from now on.”

“It’s fine. If we get along, we’ll both gain something.”

“Like when Rex-kun learned my magic, Black Thief? You’ll teach me various things too, right?”

Well, I’m not exactly proud of stealing Muska’s magic. This isn’t about her true nature; it’s just a matter of course that anyone would feel bad if their hard work was stolen. That’s just a plain fact.

Thinking that, I feel like I’ve failed initially. Well, I can only make up for it from now on. After all, I can’t turn back time.

“I don’t have the hobby of teaching step-by-step. If you want to grow, you’ll have to steal from me.”

“I’ll do that. Since you’re a great model, I won’t let it go to waste.”

“Then, I’ll observe you closely. Gratonewear!”

“Yeah, Rex-kun is amazing. I’ll learn a lot. Let’s get along from now on!”

If we can get along like this, it would be incredibly happy. However, it’s difficult, isn’t it? Thinking that, my heart becomes heavy.

In contrast to Muska’s bright smile, I’m not smiling, am I? That’s how I feel.