Chapter 2

After being summoned to the human world, I looked down at Jeremiah, the one who summoned me, and fell into old memories.

In my past life… that is, when I was human, what kind of existence was I?

The first thing that came to mind was that I was born as the youngest son in a family with one boy and four girls. Following that, I remembered living a life of constant scolding and harsh labor from my family.

Being young, I was ridiculed; being a boy, I was burdened with hard labor; and as the youngest, I inherited only the hand-me-downs from others…

In such a tiring life, the one who particularly tormented me was my fourth sister, just a year older than me. The reason I ended up in the unfamiliar world of Hell was because of a game she forced me to play.

Romancing Academy.

A game where a commoner heroine enrolls in an academy, gets caught up in various incidents, builds relationships with the male protagonists she encounters, and moves towards the promised ending.

At first glance, it seems like a typical romance fantasy, but in reality, it was a hardcore, dark game filled with the malice of the developers.

After all, if you made the wrong choices, hundreds of bad endings awaited the player.

Choosing the wrong options could lead to death or expulsion from the academy, and if you miscalculated the affection points at branching paths, you’d head straight to another bad ending. If you didn’t save meticulously, you’d have to start over from the beginning.

To collect all the endings in such a game, you had to endure a blood-curdling struggle.

In this game filled with malice, the one associated with most of the bad endings was none other than Jeremiah Anderson, the main villain.

“Um… excuse me… you’re a demon, right?”

That Jeremiah was the one who summoned me from Hell.

How should I take this? After pondering for a moment, I decided to go along with her and assess the situation.

“Yes, I’ve just been summoned, so my body is a bit unstable, but I am indeed a demon summoned from Hell.”

“Are you really a demon?”

“Hoho, you’re quite skeptical.”

It must be her first time summoning a demon, so she’s unsure.

But seeing her timid demeanor, I felt a sense of dissonance.

In the game, she was a master of dark magic and a witch who commanded demons, with a wicked personality and malice towards the world.

Yet, the current her seemed far from that, exuding a freshness as if she had just left puberty.

Realizing this, I deduced that the current timeline was before the main story.

“Then… demons do grant wishes, right?”

If so, what was the reason this future main villain summoned a demon at this moment?

The reason also vaguely came to mind as I recalled the game’s content.

“Do you have a wish you want me to fulfill?”

“Yes, revenge…”

Revenge.

Not directed at a specific target, but an endless malice towards the entire world.

“I want revenge on those who cast me out.”

Come to think of it, the reason wasn’t properly depicted in the game.

She simply sought revenge on the world for some reason, primarily targeting the academy that served as the game’s setting.

“Could you explain that in detail?”

Perhaps now I could find out. As I asked, hesitation began to show on her face.

“In detail…?”

“Why you want revenge, who you want revenge on, and how much revenge you desire.”

“…Do I have to say it?”

Oh ho, look at this?

Wanting revenge but not wanting to explain the reason.

“It would be easier to fulfill your wish if I knew.”

There might be something here. Encouraging her to answer, Jeremiah hesitated before finally speaking.

“…I was cast out.”

“Cast out? From where? And by whom?”

“From the academy… and from my family…”

Her face grew increasingly somber.

Her trembling body indicated that the emotions she was expressing were not light.

“I had a fiancé. Arranged by my family, but we vowed to spend our lives together.”

“Did your relationship with your fiancé fall apart?”

“It wasn’t that it fell apart… it was never good to begin with. His heart was always with someone else.”

So she resented the unwanted match arranged by her family.

Indeed, even in the game’s main timeline, there was a male protagonist who abandoned his fiancée to be with the heroine.

Jeremiah often created harsh trials for the relationship between that male protagonist and the heroine. Perhaps that was connected to her past.

“My existence, unable to give him my true heart, was a thorn in his side. I couldn’t bear it and harassed the classmate he was interested in. And it piled up…”

“Until your fiancé accused you, broke off the engagement, and expelled you from the academy.”

“…”

Jeremiah remained silent.

I quietly asked her the conclusion I had drawn.

“Did the news reach your family, and were you cast out from them as well?”

Although Jeremiah’s past wasn’t depicted in the game, similar storylines existed.

Surely, after being accused and expelled, her family also turned against her.

“…All that’s left is this old mansion I’m staying in now.”

Her voice was filled with desolation.

“Nothing else exists. No one comes to see me, and I spend my days alone in this mansion.”

“So you decided on revenge, huh.”

Jeremiah silently nodded.

Finally understanding her circumstances, I smiled wryly and shared my thoughts.

“It must be quite heartbreaking. To be abandoned by your lover and family, left alone to live a lonely life…”

Given the circumstances, it’s understandable to seek revenge out of resentment.

Without family support or anyone to rely on, turning to a demon is a natural step.

And such a contract with a demon would gradually lead her to ruin, eventually crossing a point of no return.

Perhaps even more than she initially intended…

Planting a malice that could plunge the world into catastrophe.

“I’ve told you the reason.”

Could she foresee such a future?

Did she summon the demon knowing that her resentment towards her family and fiancé would soon turn into malice towards unrelated people?

“Now, will you fulfill my revenge?”

Whether she foresaw it or not, I am currently bound to her through the summoning.

Without her, I would return to Hell and resume my daily battles with demons. To prevent that, I needed to keep her in good spirits.

“Well, since you summoned me, I should follow your orders.”

“Then…!”

“But unfortunately.”

However, keeping her in good spirits doesn’t necessarily mean fulfilling her wish in the way she expects.

“I find it difficult to fulfill your wish in its current state.”

“…What?”

Jeremiah looked stunned by my words.

As if she hadn’t expected such an answer, her following question was filled with confusion.

“W-why? Demons grant wishes, don’t they? Why do you find it difficult to fulfill my wish?”

“Because I don’t sense any desperation in you.”

“Desperation…?”

“Desperation is crucial for fulfilling wishes. To have a demon grant your wish means making a deal with a demon.”

Yes, demons are greedy and sadistic beings.

They don’t grant wishes for free; fulfilling a wish means they demand something in return.

Something cruel and ruthless.

“If you wish for revenge, I could take something precious from you.”

“Something precious…?”

“For example, your life.”

My body, like black mist, moved according to my will and touched her chest.

Her trembling body instinctively feared losing her heart.

“Or I could demand something equivalent. Maybe something you can’t bear.”

Of course, not all demons demand material compensation.

Some simply want to exert their power, while others find pleasure in watching someone suffer.

And the fate of those entangled with such psychopaths is usually not good.

Surely, the girl who initially sought revenge on those around her would, under the demon’s influence, develop a desire for revenge against unrelated people and the entire world.

“Even so, do you still wish for revenge? Even if it means losing your life and everything else?”

No, even her desire for revenge on those around her might be flawed.

The girl before me showed resentment but no malice.

It seemed less like she wanted revenge and more like she had nothing left, so her attention naturally turned to revenge.

In such a state, she likely hadn’t made any concrete plans for revenge.

Thus, she might have been more drawn to a being like a demon who could make those plans for her.

“…I can do it.”

Half-convinced, I didn’t sense any sincerity in her following words.

“After all, there’s no meaning in living any longer.”

A life with nothing to achieve and no one to be with, turning to revenge.

While such a hollow life leading to ruin would be a delightful game for a demon, as someone with a human foundation, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“So, this life is… ugh!”

While I was pondering how to persuade her, she collapsed to the floor while pleading with me.

Seeing her breathing heavily with her eyes closed, I guessed she had fainted from dizziness.

She must have exhausted her magical energy opening the gate to Hell.

“My, it seems my master is more fragile than I thought.”

She might have talent in dark magic, but she’s still just a sprout.

No choice, I used my magical energy to lift her body and lay her on the bed across the room.

Then, I carefully covered her with a blanket and gently stroked her head.

Although she tormented me terribly in the game as the main villain, she’s still just an inexperienced girl now, and I can’t hold that against her.

Moreover, without her, I would return to Hell and resume fighting demons.

To avoid that life, it’s better to maintain a good relationship with her.

“…Come to think of it, the room is quite messy.”

So, for the time being, I’ll focus on building a friendly relationship with her.

Having made that decision, I gathered my scattered body in the center of the dirty room and poured magical energy into it.

Gradually, my body took shape, and familiar sensations returned.

Once my human-like body was complete, I clasped my gloved hands together and smiled.

“Well then, I suppose I’ll start by cleaning the mansion.”

Hoping my master will be satisfied.

****

Some time later.

“Gasp…!”

Jeremiah woke up and immediately sat up in bed.

Having been waiting for that moment, I straightened up from leaning against the wall and greeted her.

“Finally awake, I see.”

“Y-you are…”

“My apologies. I would have liked to prepare some tea for a comfortable awakening, but the house is completely empty.”

Her family had left her with only this old mansion.

As she said, the mansion was completely empty and untouched.

Cleaning it was quite a task.

Fortunately, my past life of being bullied by my sisters made me accustomed to housework. As I thought this, Jeremiah began to show wariness on her face.

“W-who are you?”

“Ahaha, you summoned me and don’t recognize me? That’s quite disappointing.”

“Summoned… wait.”

Looking confused, she soon realized and widened her eyes.

“A demon…!”

“Shh.”

Finally revealing my identity, I placed a finger on my lips to negate her answer.

“Right now, I’m not a demon but a butler.”

“A butler?”

“While you were asleep, I looked around the house. It seems what you need right now isn’t a wish but someone to serve you.”

This mansion, created solely for her, was completely empty.

So, wanting to maintain a good relationship with her, I decided to become her servant and assist her.

Rather than corrupting my contractor into a villain like other demons, simply helping her from the side seemed more suitable for a comfortable life.

“In that sense, let me introduce myself. From now on, I will serve you wholeheartedly in this mansion as your attendant…”

Yes, all for a quiet life.

Keeping that in mind, I introduced the role I would use to guide my relationship with her.

“Please call me Sebastian.”

Hoping that the girl destined to be a villainess.

Will grow into a proper lady under my protection.

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