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

Competing is a hassle, but it might be fun to flaunt my power in front of everyone. Actually, that sounds really satisfying.

I glanced at the servant girl, Ewa, the one in a boar mask and some cavewoman-like outfit, with a tusk earring. She's a chimera formerly locked away by Viscount Hagenau.

Camilla's not around—she's off on that crucial mission to get the test—so Ewa's filling in.

She's odd. I can't read her face because of the mask, and among the chimeras, she's the hardest to figure out. She noticed me staring and tilted her head.

"What were you thinking just now?"

"I was thinking about how gorgeous and dignified you look, Arc."

"Heh, compliments, huh? Not bad. Still, a bit dull."

I don't mind flattery. In fact, I like it. But it's boring if that's all she says.

Fine, I'll mess with her a bit. I'm a villainous noble, after all.

"Do you have anything important in your life?"

She answered instantly. That's a perfect response for a servant, but not what I wanted.

Hmm. That's not interesting at all.

"Maybe not a person. Could be an object or a memory… something precious to you."

"Let's say I take that precious thing away right in front of you. Would you still swear loyalty to me?"

I'm not really doubting her loyalty. All the chimeras are pretty devoted to me, and I love their beastly forms. Even if they weren't loyal, I'd keep them around just to look at them.

But if she's going to serve close to me, I might as well check her resolve.

"Heh. Good answer. So if I steal the thing you treasure most, you'll still swear loyalty?"

So bland. But at least I enjoy how she looks, with those cute boar ears. Beastfolk are the best.

Ewa remembered her past, back before she became a chimera, when she was happy.

She'd grown up in a small village that worshipped boars even as they hunted them, living day to day with gratitude. They had almost no magic tools. It was a simple, rural place.

She was engaged—well, more like promised—to a local boy since childhood, which was normal in that village. She figured they'd be married by fifteen, the usual age. Once you turned twelve, you were considered an adult, and boys started boar hunting. Her fiancé always said he couldn't wait to bag a huge boar.

Ewa liked him. Maybe it wasn't quite romantic love yet, but she cared for him. She imagined a simple, gentle life, never doubting it was possible.

Then on her twelfth birthday, everything changed. Viscount Hagenau's private soldiers came. Actually, they attacked. Later, she learned they were kidnapping girls from small, defenseless villages.

Ewa survived because she was considered pretty, but that was hardly a blessing. Living under Viscount Hagenau was pure misery. He used her in twisted experiments, merging her with a boar.

By chance—or bad luck—she was a perfect fit. On the outside, she was almost human, except for slightly tusk-like teeth and boar-like ears. But she wasn't truly human anymore.

She wanted to die, but they wouldn't even let her do that. All chimeras were forced into a slave contract under Hagenau, banned from going against him.

That was her nightmare until Arc showed up and saved her. He didn't just free them from that terrible place; he also accepted them, even with their monstrous traits.

For that, Ewa would gladly give her life for him. Even if she had to choose between her old fiancé and Arc, she would pick Arc without hesitation. She'd thrown away her past. Now, she lived for him alone.

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