13

There was one girl who lived with dead eyes.

She was one of the chimeras made by Viscount Hagenau.

She had mouse ears.

She'd been forced to give up her name.

In that place, they called her No. 231.

Just a number.

Her parents were executed for defying Hagenau.

She had a twin sister, but the sister didn't survive the chimera experiments.

The parents who loved her, and the sister who was half of her soul—both gone.

Nothing was left.

She was just breathing, nothing more.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

In this world with no hope, a man appeared.

Arc Noyadarma.

He saved her and the other girls from the darkness.

At first, she didn't trust him at all.

She thought there was nothing in this world worth believing.

"You belong to me," Arc told the chimera girls.

Even being treated like property didn't faze her.

No anger, no sadness.

Just emptiness.

She figured she'd gone from Hagenau's possession to Arc's.

Nothing really changed. She was still a slave.

She had no hope.

But Arc's next words shattered that idea.

"I have only one order—live. Live, and keep showing me your form for as long as you can."

She looked at Arc without meaning to.

She never expected those words.

His eyes were serious.

He truly wanted them to live.

She couldn't understand why.

She had only known despair.

She saw no hope in living.

No one helped her when she needed it.

She lost her parents and her sister.

All that remained was her hideous form.

She felt emotion for the first time in a long while.

That emotion was anger.

She glared coldly at Arc.

"Telling us to live with these monstrous bodies? How cruel."

No one wanted to accept a chimera.

"How can you not see how ugly this is? These ears show I'm not human."

She pointed at her mouse ears.

"Look at me. I'm not even human anymore. How else can you describe me but hideous? There's no place for someone like me. Nobody will ever accept me. Living in a world like that is torture."

"Then I'll make a place for you."

Arc spoke with unwavering conviction.

"….."

"I'll accept you. If the world denies you, then I'll deny the world. If you have nowhere to go, I'll make one. My land will be your home. Got a problem with that?"

She couldn't believe it.

Who in this cruel world would do something so outrageous?

What could Arc gain from protecting 'monsters' like them?

He'd only be mocked for sheltering them.

She couldn't trust him.

She was sure it was a lie.

It's safer not to trust anyone than to be betrayed again.

Yet… deep down, she wanted to believe.

Before long, she learned Arc's words were true.

He gave them food, a place to stay, and even jobs.

At first, she doubted everything. But she realized Arc was just that kind… or maybe that reckless.

He saved her.

She owed him a debt she could never repay.

She decided to devote her life to him.

"I offer my body to Lord Arc."

She pledged her loyalty to him.

With that, the first chapter, the Territory Reform Arc, ends.

◇　◇　◇

Now I'm fifteen.

Finally, I'm old enough for the academy.

Thanks to hiring top-level tutors, I've gotten really good at magic.

By now, there's nobody I can't beat!

Fwahahaha!

Being a noble is awesome!

Commoners can't afford the best tutors.

Everyone at home cried when I left.

They must've been tears of joy!

I get it. They're probably happy to be rid of the bratty tyrant.

They kept saying, "Oh, Lord Arc, we'll miss you so much," but I know they're lying.

My sister sobbed, "Big Brother! I love you! Please don't go!" with tears in her eyes.

No way she loves me.

I've spent years "educating" her, which really means bullying her.

Why would she love me?

She's probably partying inside now that I'm gone.

But I don't care!

I'm still the greatest!

No one can replace me!

Anyway, I'm bringing Camilla to the academy with me.

She's sentenced to serve me for life!

She was crying too.

Hahaha!

So sad for you?

Too bad. I don't care what you feel.

I'll keep you near me and make you suffer!

Fwahahaha!

That's the thrill of being an evil noble!

Isn't it amazing?

Still, I'll miss the chimera girls.

They were my comfort.

I told them to come to the academy once in a while.

I need to see those cute faces.

They cried, "Of course! If it's for Lord Arc, we'll go anywhere!" but they probably don't mean it.

Whatever. They can't get away from me anyway.

Bwahaha!

No human rights here!

You can't go against me, the count!

Unfortunately, at the Magic Academy, I might not get my way all the time…

It seems there are people above me there.

Well, I'll just ignore them.

I'll boss everyone else around.

That's my plan for academy life.

First, I'll gather all the commoners and make them my underlings!

Come to think of it, that might be fun!

I'll burn through the money my people worked so hard to earn and enjoy the academy to the fullest!

Fwahahaha!