I Favor the Villainess - CH 266

The Pope said that this world was a reflection of one’s heart.

The Demon Queen had told me to hit her with the brunt of my emotions.

Which emotions, should I reach out to Claire-sama with?

After some thought, I decided on that.

Reaching out and pointing my finger toward Claire-sama, I released the image I envisioned.

A dazzling light stretched out toward Claire-sama and made impact.

『That a low-life commoner would line their desk with mine, know your place!』

The light flashed in a spark, and a very nostalgic line echoed within the darkness.

At the same time, the sunset dyed classroom was painted over by another landscape.

That’s right.

The scene of my first meeting with Claire-sama.

“This is… I…?”

“That’s right, Claire-sama. These are your real memories.”

“Don’t know… I don’t know… something like this! Don’t go saying such rubbish.”

“It’s not rubbish. I have always been by Claire-sama’s side! Ever since this first moment!”

I raised my voice.

So that my feelings could reach.

So that I could heal Claire-sama’s heart that had been corroded by TAIM.

One after another, I continued to launch bullets of light.

『Claire-sama, I truly love Claire-sama.』

『Wha…, wha wha wha…!?』

I had whispered my love to Claire-sama.

Continuously, unfailingly.

Ever since the day that I had reincarnated, with everything that I had, single heartedly.

『Oh? My apologies. You were standing so vacantly, I thought you were just an object.』

“Even though you have your groupies at your disposal, to think that you’d go out of your way and do your own dirty work! That is exactly how Claire-sama should be!”

Each time my bullets of light reached Claire-sama, the world changed its appearance.

The nostalgia of the days where I had merrily gone out to get bullied.

『Why do you keep saying that you love me?』

Becoming her maid, I was able to begin serving her.

『I’m aware that I don’t have a personality that people would particularly like.』

Though I continued to whisper my love, she couldn’t bring herself to honestly accept it.

『Then, I’ll do my best so you’ll believe me.』

Even then, I didn’t stop whispering my love.

『Thank you for everything until now, Taylor-san.』

As a result of Manaria-sama’s meddling, we had even quarreled.

『Even if the scale of the Gods does not acknowledge it, even then I will love you. No matter who I might lose to, I will continue to love only you. That’s why―』

Nevertheless, we made up, making the bond between us stronger than ever before.

『Rei belongs to me! Don’t take away what belongs to me!』

It was probably around this time, that Claire-sama too, had changed.

『I am, a noble.』

And yet, we let each other slip once again.

『At least once, please listen to my selfishness! You dummmyyー!!』

Just like that, the two of us had overcome countless trials.

“Khh… No matter how many of these illusions you show me…”

“Though you say that, you seem to be straining yourself, Claire-sama. Is it possible that the memories and feelings of the real Claire-sama within you are throwing a tantrum?’

“There’s no way…!”

“I can keep going, you know!”

I continued, launching even more bullets of light.

『You, the cute one with short hair. From today forward, you will be known as Mei.』

“Cute…? Mei…?”

“You, the pretty one one with long hair. You will be Alea.”

“… Pretty? … Alea?”

The time we met Mei and Alea.

“I’m glad we were able to come here today. Thank you, Rei.”

Our peaceful lives as newlyweds.

『Your diligence in coming such a long way is appreciated. I am the Naa Empire’s Empress, Dorothea Naa.』

We moved to the empire.

『I had never been able to understand my mother. I had always thought that she just wanted to make me suffer… But I think… that was probably wrong. At that moment, when she offered her own body to protect me from the explosion, she was certainly my mother.』

The failed assassination attempt on the Pope.

『Oh Rei, your face is completely flushed, you know?』

『All of this, it’s all Claire-sama’s fault.』

『Fufu, Is that so… eh?』

We danced together at the ball.

『On the account committing of high treason, you are hereby exiled.』

The moment our plans to cajole the empire failed.

『He’s done what should absolutely never be done. He’s really provoked our wrath now.』

『Yes, he really has.”』

『Let’s make sure we capture him.』

『Yes, absolutely.』

When we had managed to solve the burdens our students carried.

『Dorothea, have you realized?』

『What?』

『That long before the conference, when you had let her go, that it was at that point you that had already lost? Fufu, fufu… Ohーhohoho!』

The moment that we had cornered Dorothea at the leader’s summit.

『It’s the advent of the Demon Queen. Worthless humans, despair, and then die.』

When we had been pushed to the brink by the demon’s assault on the imperial capital.

『That’s right. You’re a genius. That’s why… even alone, I’m sure you’ll do just fine.』

We came to face the truth of the world together, and were shocked by it.

『Dummy… dummmyy… Aaaah…!』

『Sorry… I’m sorry, Rei. I put you through something really scary, didn’t I. I’m really sorry…』

Our fight with the Demon Queen that had pushed us beyond our extremes.

And, now.

“Haah… haah… Why are these phony…!”

“Give it up and just remember already, Claire-sama, there’s no way what was between us was so shallow it could be overwritten by something so trivial as humanity’s continued existence.”

“Humanity’s continued existence… trivial!?”

“That’s right, trivial. Compared to Claire-sama and I spending the rest of our days together, isn’t everything else just rabble? Why don’t you understand?”

“Humanity’s continued existence couldn’t possibly be trivial! What are you saying, Rei! … Ah.”

“Yes, that’s right, that’s the way. Already much better, right, Claire-sama?”

“I… uh, eh… why…?”

Claire-sama curled up as though she was afraid.

The deep purple that had once engulfed her body seemed to thin quite a bit.

As though to suppress the light back into herself, Claire-sama painfully twisted about.

“Claire-sama, please remember! About everyone who’s made you who you are! About Mei and Alea! And beyond anyone else, about me!”

“Urgh…”

The light was now flickering.

It appeared that this was what was tieing down Claire-sama’s heart.

“Didn’t we promise? That we’d return home as four! Let’s go home together, Claire-sama!”

Channeling my precious feelings, I fired the bullet of light signaling the coup de grâce​.

『Is that so? In that case, please allow me a redo.』

『I-if you insist? I’ll make an exception and allow it.』

『No, that’s not what I meant.』

『Eh?』

When we finally overcame the revolution, we exchanged our first mutual, happy kiss.

“Ah… Aaahh….”

『Claire-sama』

『… Yes.』

『I love you.』

『I love you too, Rei.』

『I vow that I will love Claire-sama for the rest of my life.』

『Forever by your side, I will continue to support you, Rei.』

Our kiss the night before the revolution had come from Claire-sama.

Our kiss during the revolution had been from me.

Finally, during our wedding, it was from both of us.

“Aaah…. ahhh…!!”

As Claire-sama clutched herself and screamed, the purple light burst off of her and disappeared.

Simultaneously, our surroundings lit up.

“Claire-sama!”

“No… I don’t… I don’t want to be separated from my mother. I don’t want to be separated from ‘you’.”

As though struggling within a nightmare from which she couldn’t wake, she spoke.

Not to sound full of myself, but to her, it appeared both Miria-sama’s death, and my own existence, held great meaning.

“I’m not going anywhere, I’m here with you. I’m sure, that Miria-sama too―”

Before I could finish what I was saying, Miria-sama’s phantom gently pushed Claire-sama from behind.

“Mother?”

“Claire, it seems you’ll be just fine. In that case… I too can rest easy and send you off.”

This Miria-sama was supposed to be a phantom that TAIM had made.

Even then, as though she was the real one, she offered Claire-sama her guidance.

“No, I don’t want it! I want to stay with my mother forever!”

“I am always by your side. Manaria-chan said so too, didn’t she? My will continues to live and breathe from within you. So long as you don’t forget.”

“There’s no way that I would allow myself to forget!”

“That’s right. In that case, you already know, don’t you? What you need to do from here.”

“…”

Claire-sama still appeared to be lost.

Her internal conflict reflected like a storm on her ocean colored eyes.

“You are Claire François. Dor François and Miria François’s beloved daughter. If you truly are our daughter, live in a way that won’t bring shame to that fact.”

“That won’t bring shame… to my mother and father…”

“Didn’t Rei teach you? Even if things were tough, even if you suffered, even then, the path on which you have walked held meetings with a great number of people. You shouldn’t squander all of their thoughts and feelings.

Claire-sama suddenly perked up and looked my way.

Her gaze saw me, but also went far past me.

It seemed that Claire-sama could see something there.

“Come now, it’s time for you to wake. I won’t say goodbye. Take care, my beloved Claire.”

“… Mother. Will we have the opportunity to meet again, one day?”

“Of course, after you’ve proudly lived through your life.”

“… I understand. I won’t lose myself again. I’ll live in a way so that one day, I can smile and report everything that’s happened to you mother―along with Rei.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

With those words, Miria-sama’s appearance slowly faded, disappearing into the void.

Wiping her tears, Claire-sama turned to face me once more.

Her body steadily fell.

While the Demon Queen tried to catch her, I rushed ahead and pulled her into me.

It appeared that I was able to move normally once again.

Laying Claire-sama down on her side, I firmly grasped her hand.

In that moment, I felt another hand layer on top of my own.

And it wasn’t just one.

Lily-sama, Manaria-sama, Misha, Lene, the three princes, Philine, Dorothea, our students… among many others.

All of the people that I had met alongside Claire-sama had come together to hold her hand.

“Rei…”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be… returning home.”

“Yes. How do you feel?”

“… It’s complicated. I saw a really long dream… a very kind, but very sad dream.”

“…”

Miria-sama was there, and though it was a fake, I was there too.

To Claire-sama, I’m sure that was a very comfortable place.

“However, a dream is a dream. No matter how comfortable, it was still fake. In the end, my mother scolded me.”

Strange as it was, it seems Claire-sama had seen the same spectacle I saw.

It might’ve been but an illusion.

However, this was a space where one’s heart meant everything.

No matter what happened here, it wouldn’t be strange.

“Well, all that aside, this should’ve thrown a wrench in TAIM’s ambitions. All that’s left is to return.”

“How exactly do we return…?”

“… Hmm…”

Thinking back, when I came TAIM was the one that sent me, so I didn’t know how to return.

“Don’t worry. I’ll send you back.”

“Demon Queen…”

“Claire-sama… I’m glad that you’re safe.”

“Your… body…”

“Yes, I’ll be at my limits soon.”

During my fight with Claire-sama, the Demon Queen had tanked all of Claire-sama’s attacks in my place.

It appeared that damage in this world also had tangible effects on one’s real body after all.

The Demon Queen’s body was steadily fading.

“It won’t be long before my power reaches its limits. In this world, I am but an irregularity. As I am a virus that the system is meant to erase, if you touch me, you should be able to escape the system as well. Rei Taylor, I leave Claire-sama to you.”

“Wait just a second, Demon Queen. What should we do about the system…”

“At this point, I leave it in your hands. I’m no longer able to do anything about it myself. So whether you let it continue, stop it, or change it, do as you will.”

“That’s so irresponsible.”

“Didn’t you know? I’ve always been on the irresponsible side.”

“… Come to think of it, the Demon Queen is also me.”

“That’s how it is.”

With a feeble smile, the Demon Queen stretched her remaining arm around both of us.

Simultaneously, the three of us began rising upward.

“Once you return, first, you should find a way to restrict TAIM’s functionality. After that, I think it’s fine if you two take your time to decide what happens from there.”

“Thank you, Demon Queen… no, the other Rei.”

“No, I don’t believe I have the qualifications to be called by that name.”

“…”

For a while, we remained silent as we rose up within this mysterious space.

Then, the Demon Queen released us.

“Demon Queen?”

“This is where we part ways. You two just continue to rise, go.”

“And you…?”

“…”

Looking, we could see the Demon Queen’s body beginning to disappear.

Opposite to us who continued to rise upward, she was sinking into what appeared to be the bottom of the ocean.

“It’s been a long… truly long journey for you hasn’t it. Please, go ahead and rest.”

“I won’t say thank you. But, well, good work.”

As though seeing off an elder on their deathbed, Claire-sama and I spoke.

“Yes, I’ll do just that. Take caire, Claire-sama. Rei Taylor, I leave her in your hands.”

At the same time we heard those words, our consciousness faded out.

Though it was hard to tell what face the Demon Queen made in her last moments, perhaps, she was smiling.