I Became the Older Brother of a Villainess - Chapter 15.2
[Sorcerer! Look there! All the misdeeds are committed by this village chief!]
It seemed as evident as the quivering white beard of the chief, whose wide black eyes gleamed in the midst of the commotion. With an almost tactile inspiration, he lowered his body and approached me, firmly grasping my hand.
In contrast, Kaku, true to the game’s narrative, embodied justice. His stature was robust, and his demeanor was upright.
Originally, Pippin was the protagonist of the Game. ” A man created to protect Pippin couldn’t be anything but just.
Clear as day, the chief appeared to be plotting something. Villagers with ominous glints in their eyes observed Pippin and Kaku with malicious anticipation. Even the spirit by my side frothed at the mouth, claiming, ‘They are being treated unjustly.’
However, I must not forget.
That I am, indeed, the antagonist.
“The chief’s words make sense. Everyone must have been surprised to encounter monsters so suddenly. Let’s focus on organizing the village today. I’ll give you some time, and I hope you sincerely confess your mistakes tomorrow morning.”
They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The village chief might not have won my favor, but I thought it would be advantageous to side with him for now. The chief expressed gratitude, planting a small kiss on the back of my hand with his pursed lips, and then stepped back. Soon, a few people approached, offering a place for me to rest.
As I started to follow them, Pippin unexpectedly spoke up with his characteristic innocent voice.
“Sir! Would you like to stay at our place? Even if you’re not buying meat, how about experiencing the taste? It’s a special opportunity. An infrequent chance.”
His disarmingly sincere voice left me momentarily stunned. When I turned around, Pippin was smiling brightly. Behind him, Kaku, with a hand on his forehead, and the village chief, biting his tongue, looked amused.
[Ignoring such a kind kid will bring divine retribution. The goddess will surely be angered.]
The spirit leaned close to my face and exhaled a chilly breath.
“Pull yourself together. Still talking about monster meat in front of me.”
I continued out of the village hall towards a humble accommodation. It was time for strategic planning. I needed to firmly grasp Pippin’s lifeline. Staring at that bewildered face won’t help clear my mind.
***
Upon arriving at the accommodation, fatigue overwhelmed me. Unexpectedly using numerous skills took a toll on my body, and the weight of the responsibility to eliminate Pippin immediately added to the exhaustion.
However, more than anything, it was the spirit who proved to be the most tiring.
[Oh, poor Pippin! Oh, how pitiful! Oh, so pitiful!]
The spirit incessantly muttered about Pippin’s misery, as if trying to brainwash me. If I attempted to drink water, her finger would suddenly pop out of the glass. During dinner, she shook the table, causing the servants, including Dandel, to cower underneath in fear.
“It seems like monsters might come again! Your Grace! Your Grace! Where are you going?”
Until I reached my room, the spirit’s obsession didn’t end. She didn’t need to mock her steps to climb the stairs. It was only me who hastened my pace to avoid her.
Even as I sat at the desk, contemplating whether to imprison or execute Pippin, the spirit persisted.
[If this continues, not just Pippin, but everyone in the village will suffer! They might all perish at this rate!]
Shoving her bloodied face toward me, the spirit snapped her eyeballs back into place.
[You’ll regret it. If everyone in the village dies, we’ll gather and throw a spirit party right in front of you. It’ll be even more tormenting than now. I’ll curse you. As a duke who neglected his territory, you’ll pay for it for the rest of your life. We’ll come every moment without restrictions, torment you by clinging to your carriage, harass you while changing clothes, pester you during meals…]
Even when I turned off the light to sleep, the whispering continued.
[How vexing… How infuriating… If you would just listen to my grievances, I could comfortably leap into the soothing embrace of death…]
“I can’t entertain that idea, truly.”
I opened my eyes wide and eventually surrendered.
“What benefit do I gain by helping you?”
[You’ve thought it through, Sorcerer! If you listen to my grudge, you’ll gain numerous benefits!]
Flumph. The spirit brightened the room by lighting it.
“Do you even have such a skill?”
Shielding my face with my forearm from the stinging sensation, the spirit spoke with more excited tones than before.
[You can save the villagers, gain their trust, and introduce you to outstanding mercenaries. I overheard that Dandel, a local bard, mentioned they came looking for escort knights! Taking Pippin along should be fine too. Despite his flawed judgment, he’s skilled. He eats a lot, but it’s worth it! It might cost a bit for food, though.]
“Forget about that.”
[Huh?]
I abruptly sat up from the bed. The spirit, who had already died once, timidly moved away from my bed, unsure of what was frightening.
“If there’s no real benefit, I’ll continue to ignore it. I don’t need the trust of this small village. I’m not a virtuous person who would take pride in saving a few lives. Tell me about a proper benefit.”
Facing the spirit, whom I had avoided until now due to discomfort, I leaned in. With my newfound assertiveness, I sensed the spirit hesitating.
She suddenly looked distant, as if she had changed her plan, and shook her head.
[I… will soon become a specter… losing consciousness and wandering, leaving curses behind.]
“Congratulations. It would be great if you could drift away far while becoming a specter.”
[If I become a powerful specter, you can even use me as a Summoning Spirit.]
