Breaking the Rules Is a No-No
Silence.
The inside of the warehouse had gone so still, it felt like a vacuum.
… Huh? That reaction’s kinda lukewarm.
Well, Prince Dogorgon-sama and Nagaku being completely freaked out was within expectations.
… But what I don’t get is you.
I looked up at the floating “black ojisan”, the spirit of the evil dragon.
He’s the one who said it.
“I shall grant my power to the one who kills with the least guilt.”
That’s exactly why I read the room and answered his order perfectly.
Killed without hesitation. Not a shred of heartache. I even threw in a positive motive, “helping people.” The ultimate “psychopath appeal.”
So why are you, the one who set the question, the most horrified here?
[… H-Hii…!]The evil dragon’s voice trembled like dissonant noise.
His red eyes weren’t praising a qualified winner, they were darting around like he was staring at some incomprehensible monster.
[I do not understand… Your mental structure deviates from the biological framework itself. The fact of “killing” and the recognition of “helping people” are directly connected without the slightest contradiction…?]His gaze tried to peer into my abyss, then wavered as if frightened instead.
[You are… not “human.” You wear human skin, but you are something else… a c-calamity!]Oh my?
Calling a lady a calamity, how rude.
I just cleared the quest conditions you yourself laid out, as a gamer who loves efficiency.
You’re the one who said, “Bring me a monster.” And now that a real one showed up, you’re panicking?
Could it be this evil dragon-san is actually the sensitive type, despite appearances?
[… I refuse. I cannot accept this.]His shadow swelled as if in rejection.
[I cannot lend my power to an incomprehensible existence like you! My Blessing is meant for one who possesses the vessel of a king! Not for madness beyond comprehension such as yours…!]“... Huh?”
A low voice slipped from my lips.
What did you just say?
You refuse? You won’t lend your power?
“… Ojisan.”
I stepped forward, boots clicking softly against the floor.
I kept smiling sweetly, but the depths of my eyes froze to absolute zero as I looked up at him.
“Adults aren’t supposed to lie to children. That’s a no-no, right?”
I raised my index finger and wagged it lightly.
“‘I shall grant my power to the one who kills with the least guilt.’ That was the rule. I cleared it… So that means you’re obligated to hand over the prize, don’t you think?”
[D-Don’t come closer…! Stay back!]The evil dragon recoiled.
His shadow shrank. His outline blurred.
Ahh.
I see.
… He’s scared of me.
The moment I saw that, I understood.
Oh. I can take him.
If he’s trembling in fear, then he’s already the underdog. And if he’s the underdog, I can make him submit. Devour him. Turn him into my power.
No proof or logic, just gamer’s intuition screaming “Yes.”
“Hmm? Ojisan… are you scared of me?”
I closed the distance. One step. Then another.
“You’re scared, aren’t you? You’re shaking.”
I spread my arms and smiled innocently.
“It’s okay to be scared… After all, it’s the truth of the world that the weak fear the strong.”
That was the decisive blow.
The moment I acted as the “strong” and he cowered as the “weak,” the conceptual master-servant relationship snapped into place.
[Ah… ahh!? M-My body… it’s being pulled in…!?]The evil dragon’s shadow began to avalanche toward my own.
His very soul had been forced into submission.
“Come on… I’ll put you to good use.”
I whispered sweetly, like a devil, and held out my right hand.
[S-Stop…! You think that tiny vessel of yours can contain a massive “malice” like me… ghyaaaaaaaaaaaah!?]My palm swallowed the shadow like a vacuum cleaner.
His scream echoed through the warehouse.
Resistance? Pointless.
You’re already completely terrified. A loser trembling in fear can bark all he wants, it’s not scary at all.
—Juru ruru ruru!
A torrent like black mud converged into my right hand, and vanished.
An ice-cold power coursed through my veins.
[Stooooppppppp!!]With that death cry, the evil dragon’s ego shattered…
… and was reconstructed as part of my shadow.
—Ding
[Skill Acquired: “Blessing of the Evil Dragon”]I quickly checked the displayed window.
Written there was an outrageous ability, something that felt almost fated for me.
[Blessing of the Evil Dragon: Lv1] Authority 1: “Shadow Domination” — Freely alter the “shape,” “hardness,” and “mass” of one’s own shadow, enabling physical interference.Authority 2: Unlocks at Level 2
[Level-Up Conditions] Accumulate a certain amount of “Malice Points.”※Malice Points are calculated based on the total quantity and quality of killing intent, fear, and hatred directed toward you by others.
“… Mmm~ fufu.”
I stared at my right hand, opening and closing it slowly.
Black haze rose from my fingertips.
Amazing. The power fit so naturally. Like it had always been part of my body.
And honestly… “gather malice,” huh?
Isn’t that almost disgustingly compatible with the [Blessing of the Murderer] I’d been saddled with?
Kill people to gain experience. Be hated to strengthen your skills.
System-wise, it’s perfect synergy. No waste. You could even call it a beautifully optimized “villain build.”
… Yeah.
From a gamer’s perspective? Full marks.
From a maiden’s perspective? It’s a bit complicated…
I mean, I’m supposed to be the “cutest, most perfect duchess in the world,” you know?
And yet the stronger I get, the more the entire world has to think, “Die!”
Does the management hate me or something? Or is this their sarcastic way of saying, “You look good as the villain”?
“Well, whatever.”
I said that, and gave a small shrug.
What do you think about this chapter?
