Surviving As The Villain’s Childhood Friend - Chapter 11

The night air was fresh. Even with the cause of my anguish (Roziel), it seemed as if my complicated brain was unraveling.

“Roziel, do you come here often?”

“Yeah.”

He found his way well as if he were out during the day. Well, I don’t think it’s a good place to take a walk alone.

“I think there is a more beautiful garden in the main building than here.”

“There is, but…”

He hesitated, dragging the horse.

He had an incredible vulnerability that it was hard to believe that he was a villain who destroyed the world. However, was his nature like a villain? I can’t believe you like this dark place with a well-decorated garden…

“There’s no one here. That’s why I like it.”

But the words that came out of his mouth were not what I expected.

“Sometimes I just want to be alone.” As he said that, Roziel looked somewhat depressed.

I didn’t ask anymore.

‘When I was young, I grew up unloved.’

His past was not revealed in detail, but a brief explanation revealed his general circumstances. Instead of showing him the love of his family, the Marquis forced him to take responsibility and duty. Young Roziel had always wanted to run away from the things that bound him.

‘I feel sorry for you.’

He was a little pitiful as he was happy even just giving the horse a name. So I decided to grant him a little bit of kindness from the bottom of my heart, not an ulterior motive.

“Yeah? So where is your favorite place here?”

“My favorite place?”

“Yes, there must be a place you stay often.”

His shoulders shook as if it was an interesting question. “There’s the biggest tree in the forest over there. I love playing under it.”

“Please show me it!”

If you count the experience of playing with Blandis, it was about 5 years. For me, Roziel was also a child, and I knew a child’s heart as I was a hero that would protect the world. Children didn’t hate people who paid attention to what they said.

As expected, he turned his head with excitement. The place we arrived at was a place with a huge tree.

“…It’s really, really big.”

It was only a separate house where the trainees stayed.

“Right? The name of this tree is Cecil. It has lived for a thousand years.”

“A thousand years?!”

When I reacted in amazement, he nodded with a proud expression.

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

“A thousand years is a time when history will change over and over again. Are you saying it hasn’t been cut by anyone in that time? That’s a very lucky tree.”

When I stroked the tree, he burst into a small laugh. I looked around the forest in the dark. When the wind blew, the leaves fell gently from the tall tree.

“So, what was Roziel doing here?”

“I just sat still.”

“That’s it?”

“I was also thinking…”

“That’s all?”

“Well, I also practiced swordsmanship… “

“Did you really do that?”

“Yes.”

Roziel nodded gently.

“Roziel. Playing means climbing a tree, pretending to be a monkey on a tree or at least dancing here.”

“Uh, huh?”

“Ha, you really don’t know how to play…”

Roziel quickly became sullen as I sighed.

“Then how do you play…?”

“I like to play house or play hide-and-seek with my brother in the garden.”

“But I am alone.” His face became haggard.

“…Hmm… yes? Then would you like to play with me?”

Please, I hope that my proposition does not seem disgraceful.

If he allowed it, humanity would be one step closer to world peace.

“Do you want to play together?”

“Uh-huh.”

Roziel pondered for a moment. “I don’t know how to do that…”

It looked like he had really never played. I felt sorry for him.

“It’s okay. I know, so there’s nothing to worry about. Here, give me the sword.”

At my words, he took the sword from his waist. It was a shorter sword than the long sword used by a knight.

“When I was playing knights with my brother, I created this swordsmanship.”

He nodded.

“Look carefully. First, close your eyes and create a worldview. It’s even more interesting if it comes from a novel.”

“A novel?”

“Yes.”

His eyes sparkled.

“We are in a world on the verge of destruction. And in front of us stands the villain of all villains, the final boss.”

“Villain… “

“What can we do to protect the world?”

Embarrassment crept across his face.

Was it too difficult a question for the future villain?

But it was ok. I was confident that I would teach him calmly even if he said the wrong answer. This training might also help save the world.

“We must defeat the villain!” However, surprisingly, he answered correctly.

“Smart! Now, shall we defeat the villain together? This tree here is the villain.”

I aimed at the small tree next to Cecil (the big tree he showed her).

Slice–

I cut the branches of the tree with my sword.

“I cut the villain’s arm!”

“Wow.”

Roziel’s eyes sparkled. As expected, the knight game works very well for boys.

“Ugh.”

Then I collapsed and looked distressed.

“What, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, the villain has evolved…”

“Then what should I do?”

“Come pick up the stones. We need to throw bombs.”

Roziel picked up some rocks and threw them at the tree.

“Good. The villain is dying!”

We had a live show that night. It was a perfect sight for anyone to think we were crazy children.

“Phew.”

Even Sparkly laughed at our appearance and kicked.

For so long, we enjoyed playing the game and taking the lead in destroying the environment.

“What do you think? Isn’t this much more fun than just thinking?”

“Yes!”

He looked very excited as if he had really enjoyed it.

I returned the sword to him.

“The sword art was amazing, too.”

“Right? It’s called Black Dragon Swordsmanship.”

“Dragon…”

“I’ll bring you a novel with the dragon later. It’s very popular.”

“Mm-hmm.”

His face became brighter than before. Somehow it made me happy. As expected, bright faces looked good on children.

It was then. Roziel hesitated and grabbed my collar. Again, what else? I became anxious when he looked like a new groom.

“Can I learn that swordsmanship too?”

“Uh…huh?”

I was taken aback. This is because Black Dragon swordsmanship was swordsmanship that I made up while playing with Blandis. The combination of ordinary swordsmanship and Grenta’s swordsmanship made it look so cool that it didn’t have any practicality.

“Well… if you want.”

“Thank you!”

But he loved it so much that I couldn’t refuse him.

“You are a really good knight. You’ve already made your own swordsmanship…”

In addition, he praised me. I was ashamed to hear that from a genius. And it was a little scary, too. What if I was going to become part of his world-destruction dream team?

“…But, actually, I don’t really want to be a knight. I have a separate dream.” I added hastily.

It was an opportunity. Finally, the chance to clear his misunderstandings had come.

“My dream is… not to be a knight, nor to be someone’s lover.”

“Really…?”

“Yes, so I’m not interested in marriage and romance.”

I spoke with particular emphasis on marriage and romance. Having said this, I glanced at him. He tilted his head. I wondered if he understood. I hoped he understood.

I didn’t even think about wanting to be your lover.

“Then what do you want to be?”

“Rich.”

I said it perfectly.

“I’m rich…”

“Do you understand, Roziel? I want to be rich. I don’t even think about anything else!”

He fiddled with his clothes and nodded.

Phew. That was a relief. Now that I had said this much, I thought he understood. I couldn’t believe the misunderstanding had been cleared up so easily. He was more of a sensible child than I thought.

“Here.”

Then, he handed me something.

“What’s this?”

“…Jewelry.”

It was a button he had removed from his clothes. The bejeweled buttons looked very expensive.

“Rich… you said you wanted to be rich.”

“Huh?”

“I’m… like you said… I’m rich… and that’s a lot.”

“Uh what?”

I wanted to be rich, but why would you give me this? I blinked and waited for him to speak. However, he did not say anything. What? Are you bragging about being rich in front of me now?

Roziel. I didn’t see you like that. You’re pretentious.

When our eyes met, Roziel quickly averted his eyes.

“Let’s go back.”

He carefully picked me up and put me on top of Sparkly. And we turned back in the direction we came from.

Rustle.

The sound of Sparkly’s hooves echoed through the huge forest.

“Certainly… under the imperial law, a husband’s property is also his wife’s…”

(TL/N: IM SCREAMING IT’S ALREADY STARTING) (PR/N: HE’S SO CUTE OMG >.<)

“Neighhh.”

(Yuria) “What?”

“But we’re still young, so I think it’s too fast.”

“Neighh.”

He mumbled something, but I couldn’t hear it because Sparkly cried as if he stepped on a stone.

‘I don’t think it’s important.’

I wrapped my arms around his waist, thinking leisurely.

The body temperature of his arm was warm to the touch.

Breathing in the fresh forest air, I put the button he gave me into my arms.