My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

It's been two days since Maria disappeared.

We kept searching desperately, but we never got where we were and we couldn't find a clue at all.

It was just that my mind was in a hurry and my heart was just disturbed.

Why didn't you go with me then...... regrets get bigger every day.

"Yes. Drink this and warm yourself up. You look terrible."

That's what the student chairman says. He makes tea and gives it to me.

"Thank you"

I carry the received tea into my mouth.

Tea with the same gentle flavor as usual warms my body.

The usual student club room, I always stare at the seat Maria was sitting in.

Usually when the chairman made me tea like this, Maria was smiling and serving me sweets.

But... now I don't have that smile here...

"Maria's solid, and she's got a strong magic of light, so I'm sure she'll be fine."

The chairman spoke kindly to me as I was staring at Maria's seat and solidifying.

He has such a kind voice and care for me to be depressed, both in the search for Maria and with his help.

I'm not the only one who's having a hard time... even my friends will be having a hard time...

Even the chairman was close to Maria, this can't be hard.

And yet this is how you even care about me.

I can't just regret being depressed.

Let's do the best I can.

I'll definitely find you... please wait and see if you're safe, Maria...

And it was about the third night after Maria stopped knowing where she was going.

Dinner in the dorm was over, and as I went back to my room to prepare for tomorrow, Geold, with a rugged face, visited the room.

Not a visit during a very good time, but a bad feeling spreads from that rugged look.

"What the hell is wrong with you at this hour? No way, something to Maria..."

When I ask upset, Geold shakes his neck to the side.

"I still can't grab Maria's whereabouts.... but I've got some information that might be relevant"

"... information that might be relevant?

"First, look at this"

That being said, what Geold offered was evidence of the other day's evil deeds that were in the possession of the ladies who staged the culpable event when they uncovered my evil deeds.

"This is... the other day..."

"That's right. This is the document that those ladies gave as evidence the other day. I was really curious about this supporting document, and I was looking into it in parallel with Maria's search..."

Anything, Geold said he'd always noticed those courtiers who had a culpable event against me had bad feelings for me.

But in the position of the ladies and their power, they decided that they could do very little harm to me, and left it at that.

But with such Geold's judgment, the ladies made a case like the other day.

And the paperwork that was available there was so decent that it couldn't be made with the power of those ladies.

That's what bothered me, Geold. He's been investigating Maria for the past few days.

Then...

"I found something very odd. It wasn't those ladies who made those papers."

"... what does that mean?

"It was someone else, not those ladies, who made the paperwork. And oddly enough, the ladies had no idea where or from whom they had the paperwork."

…… ... that I don't remember... I don't think so. "

"It's incredible, isn't it? At first, I thought the ladies were lying, and I checked everything... but I don't think I really remember."

I can't believe I don't even know who made the evidence I gave so confidently, and I don't know where it came from... It can't be... I can't possibly list something like that as evidence in the first place...

Have all of those ladies lost their memory...

Gioldo, with a rugged face, went on even further to me.

"But that's not all, actually. They don't even remember why they wanted to do it that day."

"... eh..."

"They did say they neglected you. That was true. But that's why he couldn't think of doing it in public like that."

The ladies did neglect Catalina Kraes, and when I was actually alone, I was inexorably hated.

had been slapping me or something.

But that's why I didn't have the courage to actually do harm to Catalina.

I, Catalina Kraes, am a duke's maid even though she is the fiancée of a third prince and therefore possesses considerable power.

If we harm ourselves badly, it is ourselves who shines.

The ladies were quite noble nobles, but they just didn't think to sell a fight from the front to Catalina like that.

Yet... that day was different. For some reason, I was filled with the feeling that 'I will reward Catalina Kraes with one arrow at all costs'. And so is everyone.

But he dispersed from the dining room, and after a few moments, that feeling disappeared by the way, rather, he said, 'Why did you do that?' and they all held their heads.

For that reason, by the time Geold could look into it, everyone was already flat-apologizing.

"... but if that's true, that's a very odd story. It's as if all those ladies were being manipulated."

The look on Geold's face gets even more rude when I squeal like that.

"It wasn't like he was being manipulated... maybe he was really manipulated"

"... Huh!?

'Cause it was weird how they looked back then.

"But... manipulating or something like that..."

Earthlings can't still manipulate humans.

In this world, I've never heard of anything hypnotic, or something that can manipulate so many people at once in the first place...

Next to me in confusion, again, Geold opens his mouth with a rugged face.

"Manipulating people… is possible if you have the magic of darkness"

"... or the magic of darkness... do you have such magic?

The magic power in this world is divided into 'water, fire, earth, wind and light', and those born with that magic activate that power when they are of some age.

That's what we all know when we're kids, from schools, from tutors.

There are five types of magic: Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Light.

Ever since I came to this school of magic, I have never learned that any other magic exists.

"The magic of darkness that comes from the magic of darkness, it's the magic that manipulates people's hearts."

"... but I've never known magic in such dark magic..."

"The magic of darkness is a dangerous thing, so it has been forbidden, and hidden. Only some people in the country know of it."

"... dangerous?

"If you've been manipulated, and you've been manipulated, you don't even remember it, it's a terrible magic."

They manipulate my mind where I don't know it, and I forget about it.

That's true, it's pretty scary.

"... but suppose that darkness magic had manipulated the ladies of that time... the purpose would have been to discredit me. What does that have to do with Maria being gone?

I think it would be very scary if someone really used dark magic.

And I don't even know why the ladies were manipulated.

But I guess those with dark magic want to do something about me when I make such a case.

Then Maria should be irrelevant.

"Right. Normally, the purpose is Catalina, and Maria is irrelevant. But she's the magic holder of light."

"Yes, but... what's wrong with that?

"It is said that the magic of darkness cannot be perceived… it is also said that only those who possess powers that conflict with darkness, magic of light, can perceive its magic"

…… Then Maria... "

"I noticed something during that incident, and I came into contact with someone with dark magic. And it's now my guess that they took him away."

Dark magic, magic that manipulates people's hearts...

Maria noticed that??

So they took me somewhere...

All of a sudden, I can't think together because I get my head around a lot of information that has been brought to me.

In the first place, I didn't even know it existed until just now.

Forbidden, hidden magic......

That? But then, what happens to people born with dark magic?

"... Um, but if it's hidden because the magic of darkness is dangerous, how is the child born with that magic? If it activates, will it be hidden? With almost no one's informed magic in the first place, wouldn't you have trouble dealing with it if it was activated?

I hit Geold with a floating question.

"The magic of darkness is not what you are born with, like any other magic. The magic of darkness is a new magic that can be acquired by those who possess it."

"... a new magic you can acquire acquired...?

Isn't magic what you're born with?

I didn't know you could get it in your hands acquired...... what does that mean?

Giordo tells me in a quiet tone, more and more confused.

"It takes rituals to acquire the magic of darkness."

"... ritual?

"Yes, it's a ritual. It is said that the magic of darkness is in your hands by doing what you dedicate in that ritual."

"Dedicated?

For once in my questioning, Geold closed his mouth and inhaled his breath deeply.

"The magic of darkness is the magic that can be obtained by giving human life in rituals. So whoever has it has its magic in exchange for someone's life."

It was a dark place. I don't know up there or down there. I was standing in a world that was just dark.

There are loved ones down at my feet like that.

Geold, Keith, Mary, Alan, Sophia, Nicole and Maria.

I'm no longer angry with that face...

"Everybody, wake up, wake up!

I scream so desperately, shaking everyone's body, but no one moves with Pickle.

"... why, why are you doing this..."

I crouch in beside everyone who doesn't move slowly.

My body rattles and trembles, and my eyes are overflowing with tears.

I don't know how this happened...

I can't believe I lost my loved ones like this...

If it were to end like this, how would it have been better for me, one person, to be ruined...

"... why... why..."

I'm in a dark world. I just keep crying.

It was a familiar ceiling there when I opened my eyes.

It is the ceiling of a dorm room that I have been using for more than six months after enrolling in school.

Still, the room is dark and I don't see any lights outside the window. I guess the sun hasn't risen.

"... was it a dream..."

The voices uttered are blurred, and the body trembles in small pieces.

A cold sweat tells her all over her body and when she touches her cheeks she is soaking wet.

Apparently, he was dreaming and crying in real life.

What a terrible dream.

Still hugging trembling bodies with both arms.

You have to redeem someone's life to get the magic of darkness.

Magic where life is the price.

I guess it's because I heard such horrible stories, I had terrible dreams.

But there's no way there's such a future...

In the game "FORTUNE LOVER," Alan, Keith and Geold's only route where life was at stake was rival character villain warrant lady Catalina Kraes.

Nicole hadn't cleared it yet... but Nicole's route rival character is Sophia.

I can't believe that my sister loves Nicole to do something to Sophia.

So... there can never be such a future...

Catalina Kraes is the danger in this gaming world. It's just me.

And I've been preparing a lot for the past seven years to overcome that danger.

'It's okay,' I tell myself.

Still, that dream... that sight doesn't disappear this way.

In the end, after that, I couldn't fall asleep.

The next day, because I could barely sleep at night, or because I dreamed like that and it was terrible...

I fell ill in the morning and Keith, Geold escorted me to the infirmary to rest.

It seemed to fall asleep as soon as I lay down in a warm bed because I was sleepless.

There was a lot of time when I woke up, and in the time it was almost lunch break, Geold and Keith were just back in class.

Having slept with a lot of refreshment, I thanked the doctor in the infirmary and decided to return to the classroom.

Yesterday, Geold told me not to act alone, but it would be as good as a short journey in the school building from the infirmary to the classroom.

From the infirmary to the classroom is a shortcut through the courtyard, so go back through there.

I proceed through the courtyard where the warm sun plunges in at noon.

Then I found a small bench where Maria was about to have lunch before.

I walked over to the small bench and sat there for just a little while.

Maria was eating here alone until she got along with us.

Sweet, sweet Maria... it was perfectly normal to be with you already...

Yesterday, if Geold's story is true... Maria's body is pretty dangerous.

Anyway, there may be people involved who have sacrificed the lives of others and held the magic of darkness...

"Mr. Catalina? What's going on here?

Suddenly, looking back in surprise at the voice called, the student chairman stood there with his usual smile.

"Oh, um... I'm feeling a little sick and resting in the infirmary, and I'm going to go back to class..."

"It was. But we haven't found Maria yet, and it's not safe to be alone in such a blind spot. Come back with me."

"Oh, thank you"

That's how I take the hand I'm offered.

So I thought. I wonder why the chairman is here.

Now I was in class and I was the only student in the infirmary.

What's going on here with him?

Such a question turns his head and looks up to the chairman, his bright red hair shining in the sunlight.

When I saw the sight, that memory came back to me behind my head.

"Hidden characters are surprisingly difficult."

Nimmari laughed. Ah-chan continued to seem to enjoy me roughly reluctant to rattle.

'You're a dangerous man with dark magic, aren't you? It's a sweet day with the protagonist if the offense succeeds...... it's a terrible bad end that the protagonist and his friend, the student council members, will all be killed by him if he fails. - By the way, that hidden character... with bright red hair and gray eyes -'

Yes, I did hear it from you.

The existence of hidden characters and their ending...

Yesterday, dreams were never going to happen...

The protagonist and the student council members all lose their lives... and such an ending did exist...

Cold sweat runs down my back.

Why have you ever forgotten something so important...

I'm a real idiot...

Gray eyes in bright red hair - I stare at student chairman Sirius Deek, who seems to have a tender grin standing in front of me.

He's a hidden character in FORTUNE LOVER, and he has the magic of darkness.

I can't believe this sweet guy... took the lives of student council members, my loved ones, to Maria...

Very incredible......

But if Geold's story is true, this case involves those with dark magic...

And Chairman - Sirius Deek probably has the magic of darkness.

The magic of darkness that can give a man's life...

"Mr. Catalina, what's wrong?

Sirius calls out, apparently suspicious of me solidifying with his hands.

That's the usual tender look.

Is it really this guy...

"The Chairman... does he have the magic of darkness? So, did you do something to Maria?

"... the magic of darkness?

Unexpectedly, Sirius gives a bewildered look to the question that came from his mouth.

It was a face like I didn't know anything like that.

Yeah. You wouldn't normally know about magic like that.

Even I didn't know anything like that existed until I heard from Geold.

Maybe you really don't know.

There was supposed to be dark magic in the game, but maybe reality is different.

My friends have a lot of differences with the people in the game.

Even the chairman is likely to be different than in the game.

"That's right. You don't know that, do you? It's impossible for such a sweet chairman to do something to Maria and the others with the power of darkness, isn't it? I'm sorry I asked you something weird."

That's right. I'm sure not. I can't imagine such a kind chairman taking a man's life and obtaining the magic of darkness.

I thought so, and when I looked at Sirius again...

He had, until now, turned cold eyes on me that I had never even seen.

"... or...?

"... sweet... you always say that about me"

"... because the chairman is kind..."

And while I was upset by those cold eyes and voices, I said,

Sirius distorts his face.

"That's an act. If you pretend to be gentle and calm, it's easy to spend. You fools seem to have been fooled."

Looking at me with amazement, Sirius grinned like he had lifted the edge of his lips and made a fool of himself.

"By the way, I'm the one who took Maria Campbell. Because she knows something you don't have to know.

And then, Catalina Kraes, I hate you. Speak up to the rusty ones, hypocrites who are going to be saving and doing it! I could only be frustrated watching you!

Changing from a cold tone, the rough, spitting words were full of malice.

Still, my hand, which remained connected, was held by a very strong force, and it hurts a lot.

"Please disappear somewhere!

Speak up to the rusty ones? Save or hypocrite?

There was a lot that Sirius didn't understand in what he was saying.

But I could only understand that the word was full of good malice and that he hated me...

And it was still Teng himself, who this man took Maria away from.

So this guy will take the lives of Maria, the other Student Union members and my loved ones as the game goes...

I stare into Sirius' grey eyes.

Cold, cold cut eyes, not like the usual serene expression.

I said I took Maria.

I said kindness was an act.

The words that are spouted are full of malice.

And yet... why...

"... are you okay?

I extended the hand of the ungrasped to Sirius' face.

Sirius throws up malicious words with cold cut eyes.

Yet, contrary to that word, its face looks very, very bitter and spicy...

He still looks like he's going to cry.

You look terribly pale, so bad that you're going to fall down now...

Sirius' cheeks, touched with stretched hands, were cold as ice.

"... this hypocrite... whatever! Leave me alone! Don't come near me! Don't laugh!... disappear from my sight already!

He slapped my hand off as it touched his cheek, and he shouted so.

Then... somehow, it slowly darkened in front of me...

And then the consciousness fades...

"Keep sleeping. Until its life runs out."

Sirius told me to throw up.

The last thing I saw in my fading consciousness--

It was a tear flowing from Sirius' eyes.