Chapter 12: Chapter 11: I Will Not Let the Villainess Become a Murderer!

Alicia woke up in a white room.

Before her sat a goddess.

Her goddess, Sistielle, maybe. (She didn't actually worship her; she was just leeching off her blessings.)

Golden hair flowed from the goddess’s head down past her hips.

Her bountiful breasts, cupped together by a pristine white dress, rose gently with each breath as she sat in a glowing chair across from Alicia.

“Goddess Sistielle! How are you?” Alicia stood, then quickly sat down on the opposing chair.

Sistielle simply smiled.

“Hello. How’s life going?”

“Well… good, I guess. I just got accepted as a Shadowstep maid.

Ah! By the way, was there a problem with my skill?

I can use magic just fine, but I can't seem to use swords at all. I mean, I even lost to kids my age.

I thought you promised to give me sword and archery skills?”

“Indeed, I did promise you, Alicia,” Sistielle replied.

“However, there have been... circumstances.

Your current body isn’t strong enough to receive those skills.

So I’ve postponed their activation until you’re at least twelve years old—when you begin school.”

“I see.”

Alicia tilted her head, then nodded slowly.

She accepted the answer.

She had no bargaining power—she couldn’t force a goddess to keep her word. Besides, what the goddess said makes sense. Well, Maybe. But as she said before, she had no bargaining power, and she was not a goddess. She didn't know the intricacies of the human soul. The fact that the goddess was at least intended to keep her word soothed her.

“Alright. Thank you, Goddess Sistielle.

Oh, by the way, I only recently realized that we’re inside the world of a web novel!

Did you know?”

“I’m afraid I’m not aware of such things,” Sistielle lied as easily as she breathed. This was all just a game with Reaper. There are rules.

“I may be powerful—but I am neither omnipotent nor omniscient.”

“Huh, really? So… you didn’t know Eli would become a murderer in the future?

And that she’s a reincarnator too?”

“I knew Elidranthia was a reincarnator the moment you met her,” the goddess said.

“In fact, that’s why I’ve been trying to call you here.

When I sensed your blessing had been activated, I reached out. Only now had it succeeded.”

“Huh? My blessing’s been activated?”

“Yes,” Sistielle said, her voice steady.

“Elidranthia has been blessed by Reapera. She is her champion to become the Demon Lord.”

The room seemed to dim as she delivered the next words.

“You must kill her.”

However, Alicia—being the useless person she was—immediately tried to shirk her duty. Well, she had never killed anyone before in her useless college life, so it was understandable.

"Eh? But… Eli is a kind girl! She’s suffered all her life.

Is it possible the blessing misidentified her?

She’s not evil—she can’t be a Demon Lord!"

"Her current behavior is irrelevant," Sistielle replied calmly.

"Anyone who receives Repeara’s blessing will eventually feel an urge to kill.

If they act on that urge, they gain power.

And with that power, the urges will only grow—until they lose control entirely."

"...But she’s not evil now, right?

You can’t judge people based on the possibility of what they might become."

Alicia frowned. Remembering about a movie where the MC tried to kill a scientist because they would make a murderous AI in the future.

She wasn’t objecting out of pure kindness and justice, of course.

It wasn’t that she refused to hurt innocent people—she wasn’t that good-hearted.

No, Alicia simply didn’t want to harm Eli.

The naive Alicia had grown attached to her.

"Indeed.

It pains me to say it… But for the greater good, it must be done."

"I see..."

Alicia stared at the goddess, her doubt growing.

Goddess Sistielle looked like a beacon of righteousness—golden hair, white robes, white wings, a golden halo floating above her head.

She was supposed to be a goddess of good.

So why was she ordering the death of someone who hadn’t done anything yet?

"Haa... It certainly pains me to ask you to kill such a good-hearted child," Sistielle said, as if reading Alicia’s thoughts.

"I must also tell you—I won’t force you.

This is for the good of the world.

But if you are truly reluctant to part with her…

You may let her live."

"Huh?

You’re willing to let her go just like that?"

Alicia blinked in surprise.

She had expected threats, punishment, or at least the risk of losing her blessing.

She never imagined Sistielle would just… let her choose.

"Are you assuming I have something to gain from her death?" Sistielle asked coolly.

"I only asked you to kill her for the greater good of the world.

But I’ve warned you, Alicia.

One day, Elidranthia’s power will grow—and she will threaten the world.

By then, not even the gifts I’ve given you will be enough to stop her."

"Is there anything I can do to stop her from becoming the Demon Lord?"

"Well…" Sistielle paused.

"Repeara is the goddess of death and chaos.

If Elidranthia never kills anyone or causes chaos to begin with, the urge to kill will remain minor—no more than the temptation of chocolate or candy."

"Is that all? Phew! That's easy! Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?" Alicia groaned. The answer was so easy! Alicia felt like she had finally found the loophole she wanted! She will become the true Hero! Where her justice shall prevail! The good ending where everyone is happy! "So all I have to do is make sure she doesn’t kill anyone innocent, right? That’s so much simpler!"

"That means," Sistielle continued, "you must stay attached to her for the rest of your lives.

And no—she’ll gain power from killing any living being. Whether animal or human.

The only exception is monsters—they’re not technically alive."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Eh?"

"Yes.

Even if she kills bandits in self-defense, it still counts.

As long as she kills living beings, Repeara’s influence will grow in her."

"Even rats and mosquitoes?"

"Yes.

There are thresholds for animals, of course. No matter how much she kills bugs, her powers will never grow past a certain boundary.

But she’ll want more. The craving will grow.

To put it in game terms: animals might give 1 EXP, but humans give 100.

Which would you go for, if you wanted to level up?"

Sistielle said. But her rhetoric was incorrect. It was less like killing bugs gave her power, and more like they offered her a chair—while killing humans gave her a ladder to climb the wall of power.

"...But killing bandits in games and killing people in real life are totally different..."

"The urge gets stronger over time.

First, she might work at a slaughterhouse—killing chickens for food.

Once she loses her aversion to blood, she’ll justify killing bandits in self-defense.

Then?

Political enemies.

Then?

Civil war.

Then conquest."

Sistielle’s tone grew colder.

"Reasons can always be invented to justify violence.

But the fact remains: once she kills humans, the urge and power within Eli will begin to grow."

"I see... I just need to prevent her from killing anyone, right?"

"If you can do that, then you’ve exceeded my expectations," Sistielle said gently. Her smile was the brightest Alicia had ever seen.

"I regret placing such a burden on you. So, I gave you a simpler way. You just need to kill her and your task will be finished.

But if you can protect the world without killing her... that would truly be for the best.

After all, like you, I can’t help but feel for her.

She suffered in her past life.

All she wanted was to live peacefully."

"I see...

So if I can prevent her from killing anyone—anyone at all—it’ll be okay, right?"

Alicia looked at Sistielle with new admiration. Pride grew within her. Sistielle had acknowledged her. She had accepted her way.

She really was a goddess.

"If you can do that, then yes, that would be ideal.

I didn’t propose this path earlier because I feared burdening you for the rest of your life.

You deserve freedom—not a life chained to another’s fate."

"It’s fine! I’ll be Eli’s BF forever! The novel said so!"

Alicia puffed her chest.

"And I’ll stop her from killing anyone—even bandits or corrupt politicians!

If anyone needs killing, I’ll just do it myself!"

"Yes. That would be best."

Sistielle smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Alicia.

You’ve lifted a heavy weight from me.

I too, don’t want to condemn an innocent soul.

If you can do this, then I truly have underestimated you.

Once again, I am sorry. But to do this, you will have to stay beside her for her entire life."

She paused.

"But... if the day comes when it’s too late—

I hope you’ll understand what you must do.

For the greater good."

"What will happen if I fail?

Even if Eli gets stronger from killing, I doubt she’d be that much of a threat.

Maybe a town or two might be devastated, but—"

"No. It's not just her magic. She will gain new skills. She’ll gain access to the armies of the underworld," Sistielle interrupted.

"Undead hordes will rise from their graves, killing everything in their path.

And the more they kill, the more they grow—until nothing remains to stop them. The blessing of Repeara controls death and chaos."

"...I see."

Alicia lowered her gaze. She was stupid, but not that stupid. she understood the gravity of the situation.

"I’ll do my best.

I’m sorry, Goddess Sistielle.

If the time comes...

I promise I’ll do what must be done."

"Time is almost up," Sistielle said softly.

"Alicia, be well.

And may your journey be a successful one. Once again, thank you."

"Yes! Thank you, Goddess Sistielle!

I will not disappoint you—I promise!

I will become Eli's maid, and I will not let her become a murderer!"

With those dramatic words, Alicia delivered a perfect title drop.

Sunlight poured in through the window, waking her from the dreamworld.

A knock came at the door.

"Alicia, you need to attend your lessons with Lady Elidranthia. Please get ready."

"Yes! I'm on it!"

Alicia changed out of her nightgown into the maid uniform provided by the count.

Still yawning, the ever-indolent Alicia didn’t even bother washing her face before heading off to class.

With a new student present, Laura resumed her usual drilling of noble etiquette.

And she wasted no time putting Alicia in her place—at least in rank—compared to Elidranthia.

"Listen. As I said yesterday, you must refer to milady as 'Lady Elidranthia.' Understand?"

"Of course! It is my pleasure, Lady Elidranthia."

Alicia stood up, one hand over her chest, and gave an exaggerated bow with a theatrical flourish of her other hand.

Elidranthia flinched from secondhand embarrassment.

Now that she knew Alicia was an otherworlder from Earth, the gesture carried a different meaning—it wasn’t just strange; it felt like teasing.

Laura, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow.

Alicia’s bow wasn’t up to imperial standard… but it was oddly elegant.

She briefly considered whether she should adopt it. After all, it was eye-catching and graceful.

"You need not revere me so, Alicia. You are my dearest, after all," Elidranthia replied, twitching at the performance.

She recognized it now—a melodramatic stage bow straight from some Earth play.

"Oh my, goodness gracious!

How can a mere commoner like me show such disrespect toward Lady Elidranthia—the first daughter of a count and a mage!"

Alicia grinned, clearly enjoying herself as Laura’s lessons gave her an excuse to act out.

"...Well, the intention is there, you did as I told you to. Yet... I wonder why it felt so... insulting." Laura said, eyes narrowed. "I must say, you are quite creative, Alicia. We could certainly use that."

"Alicia, we are merely a count in the suburbs. A borderland count.

I don't think we should be so pretentious.

Many in the capital might look on us unfavorably if we acted like that.

Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Laura?"

Elidranthia’s cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment from Alicia’s grandiose act.

"Hm... It's true many might say we're being pretentious if we act like that," Laura admitted.

"Still, being eye-catching could serve us well.

Our house has held nobility for over a hundred years, but our ties with the central nobles are meager.

We need to improve our relationship with our neighbors..."

Elidranthia remained silent.

She knew the truth—Shadowstep wasn’t corrupt.

It was simply poor, its land barren of anything valuable.

There was no great river or trade route.

No unique resource or famed artisan.

Shadowstep existed for one reason only: as a bulwark against the monster forest to the west.

"Well, if you say so, Miss Laura."

"But I agree with you, Lady Elidranthia," Laura continued.

"Alicia, some restraint should still be in place.

We should aim to be unique—but not overly gauche, meretricious, or ostentatious."

"Huh?"

Alicia tilted her head, puzzled by the barrage of esoteric terms.

The rest of the lesson proceeded smoothly—mainly because the author no longer had the intent to open a dictionary for every other recondite word. Let’s just say the etiquette class ended with Laura secretly wondering whether she should adopt Alicia’s theatrical bow as Shadowstep’s unique maid salute.

Then came Mr. Brexford’s lesson.

"Greetings, Lady Elidranthia.

Congratulations on becoming a mage.

Honestly, I feared I’d be demoted to gate scribe once I heard the news.

I’m glad you kept your word—and continued pursuing knowledge despite your magnificent talent."

Mr. Brexford bowed deeply.

"You are welcome, Mr. Brexford. What shall I learn today?"

"Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you," Mr. Brexford said with a teasing smile,

"But Count Shadowstep said I should focus more on tutoring your personal maid. As her personal maid, you should have the necessary knowledge to support your master, right, Alicia?

Don’t worry, Lady Elidranthia, I brought several books for you to read while I help teach Alicia how to write and read."

"I shall accompany Alicia in her studies!" Elidranthia declared, pumping her fists.

"I am a noble! I should lead and teach my subjects!"

Eli beamed with motivation.

Alicia, meanwhile, groaned.

Learning a whole new alphabet and reading was not what she signed up for. Her enthusiasm was nowhere near Elidranthia’s. The goddess had helped them with spoken language, but writing and reading were another matter entirely. Imagine having to write English with Japanese hiragana. That's why she was unmotivated.

After all, she was merely a mediocre college student with no passion whatsoever.