I Favor the Villainess - CH 265

Feb 23 2021

Once the fissures consumed the entire world, everything around Claire-sama changed.

The late Miria-sama had returned to life, and I was also by Claire-sama’s side.

“Mother, the new maid is strange. She even says that she likes me.”

“My, isn’t that a good thing? Until now it’s just been Lene, right? Who said something like that.”

“Lene is a special case. However, the one this time… there’s something… strange.”

“In what way?”

“I can’t really put it into words well.”

“Oh my… it appears that even Claire has finally reached that age…”

“Y-you’re wrong! What kind of thing are you suggesting, mother!”

“Fufu…”

This scene of Claire-sama venting about me, and Miria-sama warmly watching over her―which shouldn’t have been possible no matter how badly Claire-sama wished for it―was playing out in front of my very eyes.

“Claaaiiree-sama!”

“Hya!?”

“What’s with that face? See a ghost or something? Come on, let’s go to the academy! Lene is already waiting too.”

“I got it! I got it already, so let go! You shouldn’t be touching me so casually!”

“Ah, so it’s okay if I do it dripping with affection?”

“There’s no way it would be!”

“Kh, fufu… Have a good day Claire. I’m leaving Claire to you, alright?”

“Leave it to me, mother!”

“Who are you calling your mother! Let’s hurry and go!”

“Aaahn, wait for me, Claire-sama.”

A peaceful daily life, that was what was here.

This was surely the ideal world that Claire-sama envisioned.

Perhaps I’d be getting ahead of myself to think that I was a part of Claire-sama’s ideals, but I was aware that my existence wasn’t a trivial thing to her.

The fact that Miria-sama was still alive was enormous.

These were surely the peaceful days that Claire-sama had always wished for.

If it were possible, even I… wished for days like this to continue forever.

However―.

“Claire-sama, please wake up.”

I called out to Claire-sama.

Because I needed to bring Claire-sama back no matter what.

No matter how much happiness this world that she had always sought after brought her, it was a lie.

However, perhaps due to how space functioned in this imagined world, no matter how much I walked, no matter how much I struggled, it didn’t seem I was getting any closer to Claire-sama.

The scene I saw before me continued to peacefully transition.

Claire-sama’s bond with this exaggerated version of me that she had conjured continued to develop.

We gained Manaria-sama’s approval and became a couple recognized by the whole academy.

Then after school on one particular day,

“Claire-sama… may I?”

“Could you not ask something so boorish?”

Within a classroom dyed by the colors of the sunset, the two gazed at one another longingly.

“HOLD UP! What are you going to do to MY Claire-sama!”

This was the five seconds leading up to an intimate kiss.

I wasn’t just going to let this go.

Claire-sama’s lips are mine, and mine alone.

Even if she’ll be kissing me, that was a fake me.

Even while I had those thoughts, the distance between the two continued to close.

“Whaー wait, wait!”

“Get a hold of yourself, Rei Taylor.”

“Phya!?”

As I was fraught with panic, the one who called out to me was a black shadow.

“Demon Queen…”

“I hate to say it, but if anyone could save Claire-sama, it’d have to be you, got it?”

The Demon Queen spoke along with a heavy sigh.

I’m not sure what she did, but the kiss scene froze just before their lips touched.

Thank you, Demon Queen… Wait, are you alright? All those…”

The Demon Queen’s body was covered in wounds.

Way worse than when we had fought her.

It seemed that TAIM had done something.

Her body was covered with electronic noise, with her whole body phasing in and out.

“It’s a waste of time to cast your worries on me. Do you understand, Rei Taylor? Listen carefully. Claire-sama is currently under the effects of TAIM’s hacking.”

“Hacking?”

“Yes. Taking advantage of her desire to ‘protect a peaceful world’, she’s been closed off in this stagnated dimension.”

“Something like that… what exactly can I do…?”

There was no way that I was capable of hacking.

“Didn’t the Pope also say so? This is the world of one’s heart. It’s another dimension that functions under its own logic. Here, the strength of one’s feelings means everything.”

“The strength of my feelings…?”

“Claire-sama is currently trapped in a cradle of lies. A fake Miria-sama, and a fake you―she’s currently living an eternity of stagnation with those two. If there was anyone who could break her out of that, it would have to be you.”

“Me?”

“That’s right. My heart has been crushed under the weight of an eternity of time, it can’t produce the power I’d need to free Claire-sama. However, you’re different, right?”

My feelings toward Claire-sama.

If that’s the deciding factor―.

“I wouldn’t lose, not even to God.”

“Good response. It may look as though your voice isn’t reaching her, but right now, your hearts are connected. So shout, with more passion.”

If I did so, perhaps my voice would reach her, that’s what the Demon Queen said.

“Thank you, Demon Queen.”

“If you’re going to thank me, I’ll have you do it after you’ve taken Claire-sama back.”

“Right.”

After giving a strong reply, I turned back to face the two who would imminently lock lips.

Then, with all of my emotions I shouted.

“HOLD ITー!”

When I moved, entrusting myself to the anger that welled up within me, my body rapidly approached the two.

For some reason my appearance also changed to that of when I had attended the royal academy.

And then―

Before I realized, I had landed a drop kick onto the other me.

As I watched my other self turn disperse into particles and disappear, I wore a satisfied smile.

I really showed them.

“Kyaaa!?” Hey, what have you done!?”

As though she was looking at a complete stranger, Claire-sama spoke.

“That’s my line, Claire-sama. To think that you’d try to kiss someone other than me, that is absolutely inexcusable!”

“What nonsense is this? In the first place, who even are you? To get in the way of me, Claire François, I’m sure you’re prepared for the consequences?”

Claire-sama crossed her arms and took a prideful pose, glaring down at me with her chin high.

That’s considered a reward in our industry, but this wasn’t the time or place to be saying something like that.

“Claire-sama, what’s the name of the person who you were just going to kiss?”

“Haah? Why should I have to reply to your question?”

“Oh? Can’t reply? Ah but of course, even though Claire-sama usually puts up airs, when it really matters, she pussies out, that’s right.”

“… To openly provoke me, you have some nerve. Then fine, I’ll be sure to inform you. The name of the person I hold most dear is… her name is…?”

Claire-sama’s expression lost its hue.

It seemed that she wasn’t able to remember.

It appears that Claire-sama truly wasn’t in her right state of mind.

It was obvious that something was tampering with her mental condition.

This must be TAIM’s doing.

I see.

Claire-sama was willingly offering herself to the system, but her mental state was being manipulated.

“Claire-sama, this is not where you ought to be. You have a home that you must return to!”

“Ugh… Hghh…”

Claire-sama backed away.

It seemed that she was wavering.

In that case, just one more push…

“Stop it!”

“!?”

“Mother!?”

What stood between me and Claire-sama was Miria-sama, who had appeared out of nowhere.

“Please don’t cause my daughter suffering! This girl she’s… she’s already…”

“Mother, get back! It’s dangerous!”

Even while crying, Miria-sama became a wall protecting Claire-sama.

Even if it was a fake, there was no way that I could attack Miria-sama.

Especially not in front of Claire-sama, who had already lost her once before.

“I won’t! I wasn’t able to protect you until the end! Even though I wanted to continue to watch over you for so much longer…!”

“Mother, what are you saying!? It’s fine, so get back!”

Claire-sama moved to stand in front of Miria-sama who had collapsed into tears.

A purple light rose up from her body.

“I don’t know who you are, but I won’t allow you to lay your hands on my mother! I’ll eliminate you, immediately!”

With that declaration, four emblems floated by Claire-sama’s body.

This was… Magic Ray.

“Claire-sama, please return to your senses!”

“I warned you.”

A flash of light surged forth from the emblem.

I hurried to dodge.

The Pope had said that this world was a quantum world, so strictly speaking this was probably not magic.

I had come to save Claire-sama, and yet, how unfortunate to think that I’d have to fight her.

I put my head into full use in order to think of a way to get Claire-sama to open her eyes.

“Have you forgotten about me!? It’s Rei! Rei Taylor!”

“I don’t recall. So long as I have my mother and her, then it’s all fine. I suggest you promptly take your leave.”

“No!”

“In that case, I’ll just have to eliminate you myself.”

Yet another flash of light.

Somehow, I narrowly evaded this one as well.

“Scuttering about like that… how impudent. Then… what about this?”

The four emblems built up light at the same time.

Trying to dodge four at a time would be harsh.

Not even a wall of tungsten carbide could block the Magic Ray.

Was I out of options?

“Disappear.”

For the third time, the Magic Ray was launched at me.

The attack closed in on me from all four directions, and then―

“… Do you intend to get in my way as well?”

“To think you’d become TAIM’s puppet, that’s not like you.”

In order to protect me, that Demon Queen stepped out in front, stretching her arms and legs in a protective stance.

Though they’ve worn out a bit, I too continue to feel for you. Could I ask that you don’t assume you can break me so simply?”

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at, but simply put, it’ll be fine if I erase you too, right?”

Controlling the emblems, Claire-sama aligned all of them onto the Demon Queen.

“Guhh…”

Having taken a direct hit from the Magic Ray, the Demon Queen raised her voice in anguish.

It appeared that one of her arms had been blown straight off.

“Demon Queen!”

“It’s not like I’ve really lost an arm. The damage is simply being reflected in a way that’s easy for our quantized selves to understand.”

“So in the end it’s still a heavy wound!”

“I don’t feel any pain. Rei Taylor, go on and do what you must do. Hit her with the brunt of your emotions!”

“… Got it!”

After quickly responding to the Demon Queen’s words, I closed my eyes so I could concentrate and build a firm image.

I will definitely take back Claire-sama―that sole desire filled my heart.