Became a Villain Heroine in a Harem Story

“This is… dangerous.”

“It’s okay. We can start again. I have my own connections, and trading networks with other organizations…”

“It’s fine.”

“What?”

“I said it’s fine. This is my problem.”

He slowly dusted off his suit and stood up.

And then, he took off his clothes and put them on me.

“Unfortunately, I kept most of it in cash. That’s all the inheritance I can give you right now.”

“You’re making jokes even in this situation?”

“It’s fortunate amid misfortune. They didn’t see your face, and there are no CCTVs nearby, so they won’t be able to find any connection between your identity as an ordinary high school girl and me.”

“W-what are you saying?”

“Actually, at first, I planned to use you as a disposable piece. I clearly thought something would eventually go wrong if we continued this work.”

I don’t understand.

What is he saying?

Why does he look like a person who’s going to die, yet seems to be preparing to leave?

His retreating back looked so distant.

“My ability, it can be used like this too?”

He touched me with his hand.

His hand touched my forehead.

Slowly, starting from my head, my body and the clothes I was wearing began to become transparent. Eventually, even my shadow completely disappeared.

“How is it? Can you see?”

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

“Abilities lightly ignore the laws of physics. Common sense says you shouldn’t be able to see when your eyes become transparent.”

“Mister?”

“Depending on people’s perception, abilities can change their form, and some even deal with concepts themselves. Some humans even become certain concepts.”

“Just what…”

“Bia. Listen carefully.”

His lips were constantly moving, but for some reason, I couldn’t hear the sound.

There was so much moisture in my eyes that I couldn’t see properly.

This time, there was something I could do. Apart from the option to run away, there were plenty of things I could do.

If I ambushed those people and attacked with shadows, I might be able to cut their necks faster than they could shoot their guns.

It would be a gamble with my life, but the probability is quite high.

There’s something I can do this time.

: That man is telling you to run away.

: He’s also saying that if his ability is released, he will die.

‘Please…’

: There is one way.

‘…’

: It is for you to complete the quest.

Certainly, if I had the ‘regeneration’ that the status window promised, I could somewhat counter firearms.

But how can I enroll in the academy in this state?

: It’s an advance.

‘…What?’

: First of all, I am on your side. I don’t want you to die. Even less to break down.

‘Suddenly saying such things now…’

: When you become an adult, enroll in the academy. If you don’t complete it, you will die. That’s the condition for the advance.

Yes. It was the cliché “death penalty upon failure” often seen in status window novels.

That cliché, which disgusted me every time I saw it, came to me.

Perhaps the purpose was to eliminate my freedom of choice.

This time with a sweet offer to give the reward in advance. It was trying to make me enroll in the academy.

It used to act like it wanted to break me down, but now it changes its attitude as if it’s really acting for my benefit. As if it had a dual personality.

The status window always emphasized the story.

That the main event must happen.

Then, my family’s death, facing this crisis, and eventually accepting the status window’s conditions and enrolling in the academy.

Everything.

Was designed.

That must be the meaning.

: There’s one thing I need to tell you in advance.

‘What is it?’

: He will refuse help. And he is scheduled to die. This is an absolute main event that must happen.

If this world is really like a game with a predetermined future, and the status window is simply trying to make me the villain heroine.

I will thoroughly shatter that premise.

“There’s no such thing as an event that must happen.”

“…Bia?”

“Mister, give me the inheritance later. To be honest, I don’t want to wear that bachelor-smelling suit coat.”

“That’s harsh.”

I immediately took out the sword I was keeping in my shadow.

A long-bladed Japanese sword popped out.

Even in this serious situation, the mister was looking at me, dressed in a school uniform holding a Japanese sword, with sparkling eyes. I couldn’t help but frown.

“Maintain [Invisibility] on me continuously. Except for the shadow.”

“Even if we shake off the police now, it’ll be worse next time. Soldiers? Anti-ability forces? Can you escape from them too?”

“I’ll think about what happens later, later. What will happen will happen anyway.”

“…Bia.”

“There are no CCTVs around this area, and it’s an alley where public authority doesn’t reach. Right?”

“…”

“Then, if we shake off those people or kill them, it will take 3 days until they realize it and send the next pursuit.”

He was watching me with a resolute expression.

Suddenly remembering the cold, expressionless face I had seen before, I unconsciously trembled again.

Without realizing it, I took a step back.

The invisibility cast on my body was completely released.

It was the expression of an adult scolding me for my mistake with a stern face.

Like the strict teachers that each grade had one of when I was in elementary school in my previous life.

“Bia. It’s okay.”

“But…!”

“It’s okay to run away. You’re young. Do what’s appropriate for your age.”

This was behavior appropriate for my age.

If you’re an adult, you should take responsibility for your actions.

I am an adult. Although my body was still that of a child who hadn’t finished growing, I was indeed an adult.

This was a matter of responsibility.

“Don’t think about dying alone, in a cowardly way, trying to look cool. These days… you’ve been watching too much anime. Mister. I should have known when you gave me the Japanese sword.”

“Haha…”

Just as the status window said, he’s trying to reject my offer and die alone.

I wanted to prevent that somehow.

So, just help me this once.

: …Understood.

‘I don’t care what result awaits. I want to at least try.’

: Even if the future is already determined?

‘Who knows. If I give up without even trying, I’ll regret it forever.’

[Receive Reward]

[Penalty upon receipt – Forced scenario termination if current ongoing quest is refused]

[Current ongoing quest – Academy Enrollment]

I slowly grabbed the sword and slightly cut the tip of my finger.

The mister grabbed my arm with surprised eyes and took away the sword.

“What are you doing!”

“Watch… carefully…”

It stings. It hurts. It’s hot.

I had accidentally cut myself with a kitchen knife before, but I had never deliberately harmed myself.

Since I had never properly maintained or used a sword, the blade, which was heavily rusted and roughened, butchered the cross-section.

If I don’t disinfect it, will I get tetanus?

Let’s worry about what will happen later, later.

It hasn’t happened yet.

Slowly the bleeding stopped, and the wounded area began to regenerate.

“…How.”

“I’ll explain the details later. But with this ability, I can fight.”

He had an expression of contemplation for a moment.

Without any basis, his expression looked like he was weighing his conscience and life on a scale.

“Mister.”

“…”

“If I let you die, I think I’ll regret it and blame myself for the rest of my life.”

“…Alright. Let’s do it.”

Status window, you were wrong.

Didn’t you say the mister would reject my offer?

See? The future can be changed.

♦♦♦

The plan was simple.

He makes me invisible. I, with my invisible body, enter first.

While they’re confused, I neutralize them all. The top priority is to make them drop their guns.

He follows right after. He touches their eyes to remove their vision.

…However, the best option is not to create a situation where he has to step in at all.

Even if I get shot a few times after entering first, I can regenerate, so my life won’t be in danger.

It’s perfectly possible if I just protect my head with shadows.

: This is reckless.

‘No, it’s perfect.’

: There are too many variables. What if they called for reinforcements in the meantime? What if there are other forces waiting nearby?

‘How long do you think I’ve lived in these back alleys? Thanks to that, I can at least figure out whether the other side has that kind of leeway or not.’

The opponent had no leeway.

If they had, they would have aimed to subdue rather than kill.

They took out guns because they judged they couldn’t subdue us with their current manpower.

The mister… though I hated to admit it, was a skilled merchant.

Thanks to invisible bullets, he had formed quite a trading network.

Capturing him would definitely bring more gain than loss.

If necessary, they might be able to dismantle the headquarters of the involved organizations like a string of sausages.

Yet they still insist on killing him?

Because that’s the only method they have.

“Mister.”

“I got it.”

He nodded. My body turned invisible.

I’m going in.

The future can be changed.