K_Y_4815

There’s this super-famous game series called First Fantasy—people usually call it FF. It’s a massive franchise, loved by everyone from casual gamers to hardcore fans.

They made an anime version of FF, but it’s often called the biggest flop in the entire series. Why? Because the main characters never catch a break, and the story is full of gloomy, depressing twists. Most people hated it, saying it’s the darkest stain on FF’s record. Some fans even refused to admit it was part of the series! The official title of the anime is First Story, but in a joking way, people started calling it FS to make it sound separate from actual FF.

In this infamous anime, there’s a villain named Arc Noyadarma. His name sounds all grand and evil, but he’s basically just a throwaway bad guy. His final scene is so brutal that viewers don’t feel satisfaction—only trauma. Now, our protagonist has been reborn into this poor guy’s body… even though he knows nothing about FS!

“A count? Isn’t that, like, easy mode for life? I’ll do whatever I want and be a corrupt noble!”

That’s how he decides to take advantage of his new noble status for personal gain. But somehow, he keeps saving the people around him—and ends up wrecking all the depressing storylines of the original FS without even trying.

Reborn as a Villainous Noble

Mid-class, a siren blares all of a sudden.

A staff member rushes in, yelling:

I've run into them while hunting bandits.

But I don't see a reason to bother.

I'll let someone else deal with it.

I'm a noble. I can just wait for the report.

"L-Luine-sama is under attack by monsters!"

Oh, the duke's daughter is in trouble.

She's fighting some monsters and isn't doing well.

I can go beat the monster she can't handle and show her who's boss.

While everyone else runs, I go toward the monster.

I see Ruine and a red-haired guy with a burn mark over one eye fighting it.

"Damn it, why is there a monster in here?!" the redhead shouts.

"Hey, you! It's dangerous! Get back!" the redhead yells.

"Shut your mouth and watch, kid. I'll end this in a second."

The creature's about three meters tall.

It has a pig-like face and a nasty grin… must be an orc.

It swings its club at me pretty fast.

I studied Sharyx's new theory and built my own chantless spells.

Only someone as special as me can do this.

A blue magic circle appears under the orc's feet.

"Hahaha! Look at this orc icicle! But wow, you're ugly. Really disgusting."

"Know your place, pig. People say 'Heaven didn't create anyone above anyone else,' but here's a filthy pig staring down at me. You deserve punishment."

So does the orc, now in a million pieces.

That's what happens when you look down on me, a count.

At least watching you break was entertaining.

The red-haired guy and the duke's daughter just stare.

So what if your family outranks mine?

I can freeze you whenever I please.

I throw the duke's daughter a smug grin.

Ruine K. Urashima, the Duke of Venice's daughter.

She's a black-haired girl with Eastern heritage.

She believes he's using the "Sharyx Theory."

Back when Arc corrected her in class (taking the "knowledge advantage" over her), she didn't really feel upset.

She knows there's stuff she doesn't know, and she's happy to learn.

Ruine stayed up late studying Sharyx's theory.

They also call it "parallel theory."

When she saw him cast a chantless spell, she realized that must be the foundation.

By following it, you could theoretically do chantless magic.

But it's still extremely hard to pull off.

Only a handful of people can do it worldwide.

It's usually described as summoning a magic circle instantly without chanting.

But calculating all that data in one moment is huge.

Even if Sharyx's theory cuts down on the math involved, it's still really tough.

"How did he process all those calculations…?"

She can't figure it out right away.

Actually, Arc has special magical inscriptions inside his body that do the heavy lifting.

They let him cast without chanting.

But Ruine has no idea he basically mutilated himself to get them.

Instead, she's just curious about him.

She's also grateful that he helped her.

Of course, Arc didn't actually intend to help.

17