Fated to Be Loved by Villains

Eleanor Elinalise La Tristan stared at the distance as white breath streamed out of her mouth.

Dawn in the Margraviate was colder than she’d imagined.

For someone who was accustomed to evening strolls, this was quite an ordeal. Just standing on the terrace for a few minutes was enough to numb her hands and feet.

Yet, she couldn’t abandon this habit.

Not since she had grown aware of what—or rather who—resided ‘ínside’ her.

“You. You seem to have something to say.”

The moment those words left her lips, the Gray Demonic Aura within her heart thrashed in all directions.

It seemed to carry an intense air of dissatisfaction, as if it was throwing a tantrum over the fact that she didn’t push forward when she should have to.

Knowing what exactly the thing was complaining about, a bitter smile crossed Eleanor’s lips.

“...Right. The matter of babymaking.”

Her focusing on such matter was hardly surprising

She’d been engaged to Dowd for a while now, so what better culmination could there be for their relationship than a starting family?

But, more than that, she believed that...

“It’s better to postpone it. For now.”

Of course, there was a reason why she thought so.

Although she felt sorry for the Aura in her heart—which was raging as if asking what nonsense she was spouting—she still thought that this was the right action to take.

“When you develop feelings for someone, you begin to notice every little detail about them.”

She muttered.

“Once you learn all their little habits, you’ll also come to understand the principles behind how their emotions shift and change.”

With that in mind...

If she were to ‘force’ the relationship forward, ignoring Dowd’s will...

Well...

While he might accept it in the end, given his personality, there was a huge chance that their relationship would be altered significantly in some ways.

And that was clearly not what Eleanor wanted.

Though she didn’t know what kind of internal struggles he was dealing with, she wasn’t someone who’d carelessly dig into someone else’s wounds.

“I believe you understand this as well.”

Eleanor spoke as if scolding the entity within her heart.

As soon as she said that...

Vivid images rushed into her field of vision

Vision. Premonition.

“...-”

Experiencing all this, she clenched her teeth and clutched her head.

This suspicious ‘roommate’ residing in her heart would occasionally show her ‘fragment’ of the future like this.

She knew what this was.

At first glance, it appeared to be a mere illusion, but it was actually something that someone had already ‘experienced’.

It was a future that the roommate in her heart—who was capable of rewinding time on a universal scale—had experienced countless times.

Dowd Campbell’s body, covered in blood.

His eyes that had lost their light, and his heart that had lost their beats.

The future of his death, which had repeated countless times already.

She had seen it many times before.

In other words, it was a warning.

That if they didn’t do ‘something’, such a future will repeat this time as well.

“That fool.”

Eleanor spoke while stroking near her heart.

“Always thinking that he’s the only one who can make sacrifices for our sake.”

Having been the one to teach that mindless Dowd a lesson before, she knew this side of him particularly well.

The foolish man clearly thought that everything would only move forwards if he was the one doing the ‘giving’.

It was as if he thought that he was the protagonist of this world.

Well, considering the achievements he had built up in such a short time, it wasn’t entirely wrong, but...

...——

Suddenly, the Aura in her heart became a little bit more restless.

As if saying ‘You knew this and you’re still not doing anything?’.

“...I already told you, I understand.”

In any case, this was why the ‘thing’ inside her hadn’t criticized her harshly for having this kind of relationship with Dowd.

Because it also understood that this was one of the ‘steps’ necessary to save that man.

The only reason why it was throwing a tantrum now was because it just wanted her to hurry up and have intercourse with Dowd already.

“No need to rush. There’s time for everything.”

——...

Sensing the rumbling Aura in her heart, Eleanor chuckled.

From the way it was acting, it seemed to be worried about something.

“I told you already. No need to worry about that.” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

But, Eleanor just continued calmly.

“When the time comes, I fully intend to drain his soul to its very depths.

If Dowd were to hear those words, he’d definitely tremble in fear.

“Think about it from my perspective. It’s been several years since I met that man.”

-...

“And yet, all we’ve done is hold hands and kiss a few times. Have you ever considered that I might be the most frustrated one here, even without your nagging?”

-...

“I swear, if we ever end up in bed together...”

She stroked her chin with a ‘Hmm-’.

“I won’t stop until I make him pass out at least three times. That’s the only reasonable compromise.”

-...

Only then did the Aura in her heart settle down.

It let out an air of satisfaction, as if to say ‘Good. You need to do that much at least...’.

“...Hmmm? What is it now?”

But then the Demonic Aura started to squirm again, prompting Eleanor to tilt her head.

As she turned to look at it, expecting it to be another complaint, she noticed a commotion from below the castle walls.

She looked down to see what it was, and saw Dowd being chased by the Devil’s Vessels.

Seeing how it reacted to the scene, it was clear that the gray entity disliked it when others pestered its partner.

In a way, it might be even more possessive than Eleanor herself.

“Well, just let them enjoy themselves to some extent.”

She said while running her fingers through her hair.

Whatever happened between that man and the other women, they both knew who would truly stand beside that man.

Hence why she didn’t mind sharing his ‘byproducts’ with others, as long as they didn’t cross the line.

Besides, rather than worrying about that...

“I have something to settle in the meantime.”

After saying that, her gaze slowly turned to the snowy terrace outside.

“...Would you mind coming out?”

At first glance, it seemed like she was speaking to an empty space.

“I’ve already noticed your presence since I first set foot in the Margiaviate.”

After those worlds fell...

A ‘machine’ that had been hiding in the empty space revealed itself.

Although Eleanor wasn’t particularly well versed in technology, she knew that this wasn’t your average machine.

It was something from the Magic Tower.

And there was only one person who’d put such a thing near Dowd.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Astrid.”

Eleanor nodded as she opened her mouth.

“As a fellow enthusiastic stalker of Dowd, why don’t we have a chat?”

[...What kind of nonsense are you sprouting?]

“I mean it’s quite unique for a mother to stalk her son.”

[...]

“It was a joke”

[...That wasn’t funny.]

●

Honestly, having these Devil’s Vessels fighting over me wasn’t exactly a rare occasion.

If I remember correctly, this has happened at least three times so far.

Back when I lost my memory after getting caught by the White Devil, during the Crimson Night Incident, and when I found the club.

But this time, their fight was a little different.

It was a little bit more...intense...

“Just stop right there! Teach! Let’s talk first!”

“There’s no way he’s going to listen to you when you’re chasing him with a drawn sword! Hey, just stop for a sec! I promise we won’t do anything too extreme-!”

“Riru, your Demonic Aura is leaking! There’s now way he’s going to believe—!”

“Enough, just don’t come any closer-!”

I was running frantically around Margrave’s Mansion while screaming something like that.

Sure, they told me to stand still and said that they wouldn’t do anything extreme, but...

[ A life-threatening situation detected. ]

[ ‘Skill: Desperation’ raised to EX-Grade! ]

There was no way I’d believe their words when this window popped up!

They were definitely trying to do something to me!

Just why did she feel the need to say such unnecessary things—?!

This all started with Iliya’s terrifying proposal of, ‘Can everyone please step aside so I can have a private chat with Teach for a bit?’.

Since Eleanor wasn’t there, she probably thought that she could handle everyone there.

The problem was...

Rather than the proposal itself, the other punks hated the fact that she was trying to take the lead.

It was evident in how Riru and Faenol, who initially tried to speak nicely, gradually became more hostile in their tone.

And since these punks didn’t know how to back down when they started to argue, the argument kept escalating.

Eventually, it turned into a scene where all kinds of insults and abusive language were flying around.

One of them called Iliya ‘a clingy disciple who called him Teach as an excuse to follow him around despite not actually being interested in learning anything from him’. Another one called Riru ‘a loser who hadn’t done anything significant while the others had already kissed, or sucked or whatever’. And the other one called Faenol ‘a creepy pervert whose clingy behavior after regaining her emotions becomes more and more disgusting’. Who said what to who actually didn’t matter much.

The thing that mattered here was the fact that these words struck the nerve of the punks they were directed at, prompting Faenol to bring out her Red Demonic Aura. Then, Riru followed suit and brought out her Blue Demonic Aura. Everything just went downhill from there.

And then, for some reason...

-Alright, why don’t we ask Teach who among us he wants to receive a marriage proposal from first?

-Yeah! Sounds like a plan!

-I agree! Of course the answer is obviously me. There’s no way he’ll pick you loose whor–

Let’s censor Faenol’s last comment.

That part was too horrifying!

Seriously, was she always this foul-mouthed...?

Marriage proposal or whatever.. !

It was still too much, even for me.

If it was after clearing the Main Scenario, I’d gladly accept their proposal or whatever, but now? I just can’t do that!

As I was thinking as such while running for my life.

“...Eck.”

I was yanked by something and dragged to a corner of the Margrave’s Mansion.

Then, I looked up to see the person who yanked me away.

“...Yuria?”

“S-Shh...”

Yuria placed a finger to her lips, as if urging me to be quiet.

“...”

Thank God.

At the very least, it didn’t seem like she was gonna jump my bones right away, unlike the other.

Actually, now that I think about it, when the others were going crazy and arguing, she and the Saintess hadn’t been doing anything.

“Thanks, you saved me—”

I was about to express my gratitude, but...

My words were cut short.

Because I noticed the ‘handle’ of the leash Yuria was holding.

I could just take it as her asking for another ‘walk’ as usual, but if that was the case, she would’ve handed me the handle instead of holding it.

That and considering the leash looked pretty new...

I suddenly had a terrible premonition.

“... What’s that?”

I asked with a trembling voice.

Hearing that, Yuria just tilted her head.

“...Walk...”

Oh, thank God, my premonition was wrong—

“...Mr. Dowd...”

“...”

My thoughts just cut off right there and then.

“I-I want to... T-Take Mr. Dowd for a walk...”

“...”

“I-Isn’t t-this kind of thing also included in physical relationships...? S-Since you usually do it to me, I-I thought m-maybe if I do it to you in return... I-It counts as an intimate physical relationship...”

“...”

“I-I also want to become someone...w-who can propose to you, M-Mr. Dowd...”

“...”

“...Do you...hate it...?”

As I watched Yuria’s eyes gradually losing their light as she said this.

Only one thing crossed my mind.

I couldn’t trust anyone in this world.