Chapter 1: Save the villainous heroine

Layla found herself in a bewildering situation.

She had fully intended to leave with Isabel the next morning, but when she awoke, only a middle-aged man stood before her.

“Waaah… Layla, you’ve finally returned! Do you know who I am?”

The man embraced her.

“…F-Father?”
“Yes! I’m your father! Waaah…! I’m so sorry. I was so incompetent…”

Layla instinctively recognized the weeping man.

This was the father she longed for as a child, not the one who had cruelly taught her the art of torture.

This was her real father.

Yet, his unfamiliar affection felt unsettling.

The prospect of living with this man filled her with unease.

“Let’s live together now. You shouldn’t follow that wicked man.”
“…”

He’s not wicked. Layla gently pushed her father away.

“W-what? Layla…”
“…”

An awkward silence hung in the air. Her father sensed her displeasure, though he couldn’t understand the reason.

“Father, where did Lord Isabel go?”
“Lord Isabel…? Do you mean the Black Hound? That man doesn’t deserve such a title. He’s a dreadful person.”

The Black Hound, the shadowy fixer of the nobles’ dirty work.

That was Isabel’s reputation, a derogatory term used to describe his shady dealings.

For the right price, he was said to be capable of anything.

“I must find Lord Isabel immediately!”
“Why do you keep calling him ‘Lord’? He’s a scoundrel! A shadowy scoundrel! Don’t you know?”

No, he’s not. He was her savior, her only hope.

Layla fixed her father with a chilling gaze, reminiscent of her ruthless past.

“L-Layla?”
“Lord Isabel is not a scoundrel… Where did he say he was going?”
“I don’t know… He packed a few things and left without a word.”
“…!”

I have to hurry after him. He can’t have gone far. Layla turned to leave, but her father grabbed her wrist.

“Where are you going?!”
“I have to find Lord Isabel!”
“The Black Hound is already gone!”
“W-wait! Isabel! Isabel!!!”

She desperately searched for him, scanning the streets. Finally, she spotted him in the distance.

“Isabel!!! Wait! I’m coming with you!”
“…”

He didn’t respond, continuing to walk as if he hadn’t heard her. He silently wished Isabel happiness.

“Hey! Isabel! You jerk, are you leaving me here?!”

She looked like a lover whose partner was being sold into slavery. Layla cried out, her voice filled with anguish.

“Isabel! Don’t go! I’ll be good! Please don’t leave me!”
“Layla! What’s wrong with you?! Why are you so obsessed with that man?!”

Her father was baffled by her behavior. Why was his daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in so long, acting this way?

“You don’t understand, Father! He’s a wonderful person! I’m going with him!”
“No, Layla! We can be happy together. I’ve settled our finances. We have enough money, I have you back, and I’ve found a place for us to live. We can finally be happy…”
“No! I can’t…without Lord Isabel…”

She felt like she had lost everything.

The thought of Isabel abandoning her was unbearable.

Her father couldn’t comprehend her obsessive behavior.

_________________________________________________________________________[Status Window]

[The 2nd Phantom, Layla Mistrenge.]

She was the only daughter of the fallen House Mistrenge.

A tragic accident in her childhood separated her from her parents.

The world, in her eyes, was cruel and unforgiving.

Wandering the streets as a beggar, she met a vagrant psychopath named Han.

He taught her torture and efficient killing methods.

She took on the name Black Rose, kidnapping people, enslaving them, and turning them into cyborgs.

Yet, you redeemed this wretch.

Thank you for your kindness and your good deeds.

[Reward: 10,000pt.]

[Skill Acquired: Danger Sense!]

Three and a half years had passed since I became Isabel Leonhardt.

I had redeemed Layla Mistrenge.

Repentant, she freed all her captives and compensated them.

She vowed to live a life of atonement by my side.

A happy ending.

Now that her story was complete, I let her go.

My role was to bring happiness to these women.

So, I gave her a gift: reunion with her long-lost family.

Of course, I ensured I received my due compensation.

It was time to move on to the next heroine.

“Now, the next heroine is…”

I checked the system quest board. It was time to redeem Seraphina Fires, the Countess of House Fires and ruler of Grace Field.

________________________________________________________________________________

[ Status Window]

[The Passionate and Aloof Flame, Countess Seraphina Fires.]

Seraphina Fires was once a warm and compassionate girl, blessed with exceptional talent.

But she was also a victim of her parents’ ambition, forced to endure a rigorous education fit for a monarch.

Her only solace was her older brother, her constant support and guiding light.

Seraphina prayed to always be with him. But her wish was not granted.

Driven by greed, her brother assassinated their parents to claim the title of Count. Seraphina couldn’t understand his actions.

Unbeknownst to her, her brother harbored a deep jealousy towards her, wishing for her demise.

He challenged her to a duel, a tragic confrontation that ended with Seraphina’s victory and her ascension as the first Countess of House Fires.

Her warm heart, once filled with compassion, was now consumed by a destructive flame of hatred.

Black Hound, Mediator of Warmth, become the Countess’ butler and be her guiding light. Redeem the merciless Countess.

[Reward: 10,000pt]

________________________________________________________________________________

My next target. The Countess. I accepted the quest with a chuckle.

“A butler, huh?”

The pay would be good. I walked on, a satisfied smile on my face.

Grace Field.

A prosperous village nestled amidst rolling grasslands.

Despite its exposed location, it remained untouched by invaders.

Was it due to the reputation of Seraphina Fires, the monstrous swordswoman? Or perhaps because of her well-trained soldiers? Likely both.

No one dared to challenge the territory of Countess Fires, one of the five most powerful rulers in the land.

From afar, the village appeared idyllic, a perfectly balanced community. But up close, the reality was different.

A palpable tension filled the air. C

ouples were arrested for arguing, delinquents were tortured and killed, and anyone caught drinking in public was imprisoned for debauchery.

The Countess’s strict rules had stifled the spirit of the village.

While outwardly compliant, the villagers lived in fear, engaging in illicit activities in secret.

I entered the village and looked around.

“Come, come! Fresh bread at the bakery!”

“Potions! Potions for sale, adventurers!”

“Fresh fruit! New varieties just arrived!”

It seemed more normal than I expected. A cheerful atmosphere permeated the streets.

“Hello there, young man! Care for a drink?”

A jovial, portly shopkeeper called out to me. I smiled politely.

“Perhaps another time. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
“Oh? What’s the rush?”
“I saw a notice for a butler position.”

The shopkeeper’s expression turned serious.

“A butler…? Are you applying to Countess Fires?”
“Yes. I hear she’s a great beauty. Perhaps I could…”
“G-gulp! E-excuse me!”
“?”

He suddenly trembled, as if he’d seen a ghost. I watched his changing expression with amusement.

“Are you alright?”
“Y-yes! I-I’m fine! We don’t sell alcohol here. We sell…barley tea! Don’t say anything untoward to the Countess! Understand?!”
“…?”

He scurried back into his shop.

I understood. He was likely afraid of being caught selling alcohol and soliciting customers during the day.

Speaking to me, a prospective butler, about such things was akin to turning himself in.

The rumors about the Countess’s strict rules were clearly true, but I hadn’t realized the extent of the villagers’ fear.

Words couldn’t convey the true atmosphere; you had to experience it firsthand.

“Well, I should be going.”

I looked towards the grand mansion that dominated the skyline.

That must be where Seraphina resided. I set off, eager to redeem my next heroine.