Chapter 0: Prologue

There was a mobile game with the philosophy that there are no bad young ladies in the world.

It was a unique idle game featuring only villainesses: Lilith Tycoon.

Each villainess was of a different type, and as you guided them to redemption, the game rewarded you with more illustrations.

The setting was a vast continent, larger than Earth, populated by diverse races, nobles, elves, beastmen, spirits, demon kings, gods, and other supernatural beings.

Captivated by its charm, I played Lilith Tycoon whenever I had free time.

Though an idle game, I diligently completed daily, weekly, and monthly quests to collect all the illustrations.

The more I collected, the stronger my resolve became to acquire them all.

Today, as usual, I launched the app, intending to admire the illustrations. But something extraordinary happened.

I found myself inside the game, in the body of the male protagonist, Isabel Leonhardt, also known as the “Black Hound.”

Isabel Leonhardt, the Black Hound, was Lilith Tycoon’s main character, known among the nobles as a fixer.

He wasn’t particularly powerful or skilled in magic, but his silver tongue and sharp analytical mind allowed him to overcome any obstacle.

This earned him the moniker “Black Hound” for his willingness to handle even the dirtiest jobs.

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His in-game abilities reflected this, consisting of only two passive skills:

Harmonious Touch (S-Rank):

1. Checks a villainess’s malice gauge.

2. Provides a signal when a villainess is about to commit an evil act.

3. Upon completing a quest by redeeming a villainess, allows the player to learn one new skill.

Siren’s Voice (A-Rank):

1. Enables effective negotiation with all beings through eloquent speech.

2. When speaking, grants a captivating charm that can sway others.

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With these two skills, Isavel had made his living. Handsome and charismatic, it was no wonder the villainesses fell for him.

Fitting his character, he had a unique hobby: guiding powerful women, or rather, redeeming heroines, under the guise of maintaining world harmony.

True to the game’s philosophy, he found amusement in redeeming villainous heroines, or any villainess for that matter.

He reformed a serial killer, transformed a witch into a saint, turned a beastwoman into a protector of the continent, and guided a tyrannical countess to become a benevolent ruler.

His role was to bring peace to the continent through his Harmonious Touch.

That was Isabel Leonhardt’s mission, and now, it was mine. I was living in this world, playing his part.

I sat in a cozy tavern in Nectar, a city renowned for its entertainment.

“Bartender, this is excellent ale!”
“Ha ha ha! Of course! I added special spices. It’s our tavern’s masterpiece!”
“Mmm, indeed it is.”

I savored another sip, enjoying the smooth, sweet taste. It was as good as the bartender boasted.

But I wasn’t here just for the drinks. Getting down to business, I addressed the bartender with a serious expression.

“The ale is fine, but what about the information?”

This tavern doubled as an information exchange.

Every piece of news in Nectar, from significant events to trivial gossip, flowed through this place.

You could even learn about the Earl of Nectar being caught relieving himself against a wall.

“Ah, yes. The Phantom. I hear she’s making a deal tonight. It’s a full moon, you see.”

The Phantom… or rather, Layla Mistrenge, the fallen daughter of House Mistrenge.

Redeeming her was my first objective.

Layla’s story was a tragic one.

Falsely accused of being spies for another continent, her family was forced into hiding.

During their escape, Layla was separated from her parents and left to fend for herself.

She became a vagrant, scavenging for food and struggling to survive.

In her despair, she met the original Phantom, a serial killer who trained her in the arts of torture, assassination, and all manner of criminal activities.

Layla became the second Phantom, kidnapping children, dealing in human trafficking, and committing murder for profit.

She was, for all intents and purposes, irredeemable.

My quest was to save her.

The system board displayed my first target: Layla Mistrenge.

It was a tutorial of sorts, guiding me through the process.

Tonight, under the full moon, knowing she had a deal in progress, all I needed was the location.

“Where’s the meeting place?”
“I heard it’s the alley next to the weapons shop.”
“Thank you.”

It was time to move.

I placed 1,000 Eden on the counter and rose from my seat.

“Hold on, Black Hound. Be careful.”
“Excuse me?”
“Right. I’ll keep that in mind. Farewell.”

I left the tavern.

The full moon cast long shadows in the deserted streets.

I scanned my surroundings. If the information was accurate, she should be around here…

“Get her!──────!”

The shouts of guards and the sound of running feet echoed through the alley.

I smiled and ran towards the commotion.

The Phantom had to be there.

“….!”

Thud!

I tripped over something and fell, feeling a weight on my chest.

I opened my eyes to see a girl with asymmetrical black hair straddling me, her mask askew.

It was Layla Mistrenge, the legendary Phantom.

[The 2nd Phantom, Layla Mistrenge, has appeared.]

The system notification confirmed my suspicions.

“Ha ha ha, Layla! Pleased to meet you.”
“Huh? Who are you? How do you know my name? Are you a guard?”

She frowned, looking down at me.

The moonlight illuminated her face, revealing a breathtaking beauty.

This is why I want to redeem the heroines! I thought.

But I couldn’t say that. Since becoming Isavel, my speech, personality, and values had shifted.

Shink!

“Ah! What are you doing?!”
“I should kill you. You’ve seen my face… But how do you know my name?”
“Ha ha ha, haven’t you heard? You’re quite famous, the beautiful assassin!”
“Huh?”
“Layla, your beauty is like a daffodil… Your allure is…”

Shink!

Damn it! I did it again! Layla, clearly unimpressed by my attempt at flattery, pressed her dagger closer to my throat.

“…Why is your tongue so long? Shall I shorten it for you?”
“Ha ha, that’s a bit violent, don’t you think? I’m a Mediator here to redeem you.”

She scowled at my response.

“Mediator? Are you some kind of pervert?”
“…That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

My feelings were slightly hurt.

“Get her! She’s around here somewhere!”

Footsteps approached rapidly.

Layla looked around and rose to her feet, drawing a knife from her thigh holster.

Her expression hardened, transforming into that of a fearsome killer.

“…You’re next. I need to deal with these guys first.”

[Layla Mistrenge is about to commit murder!]

Letting her go here would lead to a bad ending. She’d kill the guards and become a fugitive, hunted across the continent. That was her fate in the game. I had to change it.

[Layla Mistrenge’s Malice Gauge is at 100%!]

“…Come on, then.”

“Search everywhere! She can’t have gone far!”

The guards were closing in. As Layla prepared to attack, I seized the opportunity and tackled her.

“Hey! What are you doing?! Do you want to die?!”
“Ha ha ha! I apologize for this! I have to redeem you, you see.”

I quickly donned the Cloak of Invisibility, a pricey item from the system shop that rendered me completely undetectable to sight, magic, or any other means.

I covered Layla with the cloak, muffling her protests as we waited for the guards to pass.

“Damn it! Where did she go?!”
“Search the other areas!”
“Yes, sir!”

The guards hurried away. Once they were gone, I removed the cloak and chuckled.

“Ha ha ha, that was close.”
“…Get off me. You’re heavy.”

She glared daggers at me. I scrambled to my feet.

“Ha ha, I’m sorry. I panicked a little…”
“…”

[Layla Mistrenge’s Malice Gauge has decreased by 1%.]

One percent! Just one good deed and I’d already made progress.

This was great! But it was too early to celebrate.

She still had a knife pointed at my throat.

“Ha ha… What are you doing now…?”
“…Who are you? Why are you helping me?”

Her question made me slip back into Isabel’s persona.

“Because it’s my role to redeem you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Isabel Leonhardt, the Black Hound.”