Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord - Volume 2 - Chapter Pr

Prologue

I, Yumiella Dolkness, am the villainess and hidden boss of an otome game. Or at least now I am, since I reincarnated into Yumiella’s body. When I’d realized who I’d become—a girl destined to be stronger than the final boss, otherwise known as the Demon Lord, and who could use strong dark magic—I might have gotten a little too excited. My gamer instincts had taken over, and I’d level grinded way too hard.

When I’d entered the Academy, it had been revealed during the level assessment portion of the opening ceremony that I was at the unprecedented level of 99, and so people had been very frightened of me. Some of them had even suspected that I was the Demon Lord. The fact that I’d been born with the same black hair as him hadn’t exactly helped my case, nor had the Kingdom of Valschein’s perception that the color black signified evil.

Alicia—the main character of the game—and her three love interests had also been convinced that I was the Demon Lord, and trying to clear things up with them had been a truly difficult task. In the end, the only one who’d understood that I was just a completely harmless civilian had been Prince Edwin. As for the other three...well, they’d ended up almost murdering me just moments before our battle against the real Demon Lord. My parents had actually tried to have me killed as well, which had led to me succeeding my father’s title and becoming a countess.

You know, I feel like way too many people have wanted to kill me...

Despite all that, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t had any good times. I’d gotten to hatch my adorable dragon Ryuu from an egg that I’d incubated myself, and best of all, I’d met someone who liked me for me. Speaking of which, he—Patrick Ashbatten—and I were currently in the middle of fighting a monster.

At this point, roughly a year had passed since all the commotion around the Demon Lord’s resurrection had been settled, and Patrick and I had made our way into the depths of a dungeon near the Royal Capital. It was the more dangerous of the two dungeons located in the area—Patrick was probably the only one who could properly take on the monsters here. Well, Patrick and I both.

After destroying an entire wave of monsters that had come crashing toward us, Patrick turned to me and panted, “Couldn’t you help me out a little?”

I shook my head. “I can’t,” I said simply. “I’ve already reached the maximum level, so the experience would go to waste.”

“Still, it’s a bit tough to take on this many on my own...”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that,” I admitted. “You need to stop playing it so safe. If you don’t conserve your energy by dodging attacks at the last minute, or exert more power than you need to kill them, your grinding efficiency is going to drop.”

He could even just take the brunt of the attacks to save time, I mused.

“There’s no point in being efficient if I end up getting hurt and can’t go on,” Patrick said, looking decidedly unconvinced.

“That’s why I’m here! Even if you lose an arm or a leg, I can fix you up right away.”

My thoughts flashed back to my childhood, when I’d constantly been covered in fresh wounds. I’d still been weak back then, and it had been part of my daily routine to use my healing magic to regain a lost limb or two. Honestly, I knew that as long as I protected my head, most other injuries could be healed.

Now that I think about it, there’s even a chance I could regenerate my head, I thought. Patrick should be grateful that he has such a skilled healer with him...

Patrick, however, didn’t seem to agree. “I’m coming alone from now on,” he said dispiritedly. “I feel like I’m in more danger when you’re around.”

“You know that, in the worst-case scenario, you could die in a dungeon, right? I’m only here because I’m worried about you.”

“And yet, I can’t tell if you’re trying to kill me or keep me alive...”

Of course I want you to live! I thought indignantly. You’re my dearest boyfriend! Wait, hold on... Are Patrick and I boyfriend and girlfriend?

I combed through all my recent memories at the Academy, but I couldn’t recall doing a single romantic thing with him. We hadn’t splashed water on each other at the beach, or bumped into each other at our agreed-upon meeting spot like eight hours before we were meant to show up there...

We did kiss...right? I feel like we did. But we haven’t really gone on any dates... Or, wait, couldn’t our current outing be considered a date? I mean, when a guy and a girl go out, just the two of them... I nodded to myself. Yeah, this is totally a date. 

“Of course I want you to live, Patrick,” I told him. “I want you to have a long life, so we can have tons of dates just like this one.”

“This thing we’re doing right now is definitely not a date,” Patrick protested.

I sunk back into thought. Is it wrong to try and go on a date in a dungeon?

◆◆◆

Not too long after that, Patrick and I decided to call it a day and started to head back toward the entrance of the dungeon. As we reached the lower levels, fewer monsters appeared, so we ended up walking side by side and chatting.

“This might be the last time we come here, with graduation being so close,” I commented.

Patrick nodded. “Sounds like we’ll be graduating from the hidden dungeon of the Royal Capital then as well.”

The hidden dungeon of the Roya— Oh, right. I guess this dungeon is called hidden. The moniker doesn’t really feel right, though; the other one’s just accessible at a much lower level. 

As we continued to walk the dim dungeon path, a moment of silence fell between us. I looked over at Patrick and caught him staring at me, an almost fearful look in his eyes.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No, I just thought you might suggest taking down the boss to commemorate our last time, or something like that.”

“Patrick, do not fight the boss here.”

“Whatever it is, it must be pretty strong for you to say that,” he commented, eyebrows raising.

If I was recalling the game correctly, this dungeon had nothing going for it aside from the fact that it was close to the Royal Capital. On top of that, the boss was a total pain in the ass—I hated that golem.

“It’s not that the boss is particularly strong,” I told Patrick. “It’s just got really high defense, so fighting it is really inefficient experiencewise.”

It took forever to take that golem down, since the monster was resistant to both physical and magical attacks. It also dropped an elixir for some reason, which I found strange and completely unnecessary—it wasn’t like I needed any recovery items during the battle.

Patrick sighed. “I got worried for nothing. I forgot that’s the kind of person you are.”

“The kind of person I am”? I thought, perplexed. What does that mean?

But before I could ask, I heard something rustling down ahead of us. Patrick and I put our conversation on hold and held up our weapons, preparing for an attack from the front, but then relaxed when we realized the sounds we’d just heard were only the shuffling of footsteps and the low murmuring of several voices.

It looks like other people are here for once, I thought. I better call out to them first, so we don’t end up in a scuffle. 

“Hello, it’s a fine day for dungeon crawling, isn’t it?”

“Well, well,” a man’s voice responded. “I’m surprised to see other people in here. We’re members of the Royal Knight’s Order; we’re here to train.”

Sounds like there’s two or three of them, I mused.

I decided to continue forward, since I didn’t anticipate having any issues with members of the Knight’s Order. I walked around a corner and was met with the sight of three men dressed in Royal Knight uniforms, each of which were wielding a sword.

I bowed to them, only to be met with a scream.

“Whoa! Something’s here!”

“What?” I looked around, trying to figure out what had appeared, but the only other thing I saw was Patrick, who was looking dubiously at the group of men in front of us.

One of the knights who hadn’t screamed stepped forward and bowed. “I apologize for that, Countess Dolkness. We didn’t expect to actually meet someone here, and it seems he was caught off guard. Are you perhaps returning to the surface?”

“Yes,” I agreed, “we’re just on our way out. Oh, and just so you know, we took down most of the monsters around the fortieth level. I suspect that area won’t have much going on for a while.”

The knight chuckled. “Ha ha, that shouldn’t be a problem. The deepest we’ll be going is around the tenth level.”

“Is that so? Well, good luck then.”

And so, our innocuous conversation ended, and we went our separate ways.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what that one knight had seen. It was a question that was answered for me only a few moments later. Thanks to my acute sense of hearing, which I’d gained through leveling, I was able to pick up on the three knights’ conversation.

“I didn’t think we’d bump into her,” one of them murmured. “I thought I was going to die when she popped out of the dark.”

“She’s the one who made the skies black in the Royal Capital, right? To think she has the ability to call forth the night... How terrifying.”

“I was pretty scared when we ran into her too,” said the knight who’d spoken to me. “Seems like the stories about her being a black-haired demon and dragon tamer aren’t too far off. But she did seem pretty normal when I spoke to her.”

One of the other knights scoffed. “Would a normal person go all the way to the fortieth level of this dungeon? The guy who was with her was the son of a margrave, right? I don’t know how he puts up with her.”

“Yeah...” There was a pause. “You know, after seeing her in person, I think she’s the one who defeated the Demon Lord.”

“The official statement from the kingdom is that His Highness took him down, so don’t say that to others.”

Oh, so they were afraid of me. They even figured out the truth behind the battle against the Demon Lord too...

I couldn’t help but wonder if Patrick, who was walking beside me, had also heard their conversation. It was a bit embarrassing that the elite Royal Knights of this kingdom were afraid of me.

“Just so you know, Yumiella,” Patrick said suddenly, “I don’t feel like I’m ‘putting up’ with you.”

So he did hear everything... I thought. But, hold on, if he’s not putting up with me, that means he’s choosing to spend time with me! So this is a date after all. 

I smiled, just slightly. “Thank you, Patrick.”

◆◆◆

A few days after our dungeon adventure, the graduation ceremony for the Royal Academy of the Kingdom of Valschein had been held. I’d daydreamed my way through the commencement addresses of both Prince Edwin and the headmaster, and not long after that, the ceremony had ended without anything remarkable happening.

Now it was time for us to attend a buffet party, which was being held in the same venue.

So... I mused. Is this the kind of event where I can leave whenever I want?

I had other things to take care of, including packing up my dorm. I was much too busy to have the time to enjoy a party.

Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever had fun at a party.

I decided to look for Patrick and suggest we leave. As I searched my surroundings for him, a person began to make their way toward me—one who most people avoided. Her eyes welled up as she drew up by my side, as if she could burst into tears at any moment.

“I’m so sad to be saying goodbye to you, Yumiella,” she said, sniffling. “We...we will see each other again, right?”

“We will, we will,” I promised. “Now, can you give me a little more space, Lady Eleanora?”

I gave the girl in front of me a wary look. She was a duke’s daughter named Eleanora Hillrose, who for some strange reason was very fond of me. She and her blond ringlets kept inching closer and closer—I felt like she was just seconds from latching on to me.

“When will we see each other again?” she demanded. “Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?”

“Well, I’ll be at my family’s mansion in the Royal Capital for a few days, so I think we’ll be able to meet up a couple of times.”

“Really?!” Eleanora happily exclaimed. “Then I will definitely visit you!”

Oops, I think I may have said a bit too much there. She’s definitely going to invite herself over.

Eleanora’s expression was suddenly clouded, as if she had realized something. “But...why did you say we’d only be able to meet up ‘a couple of times’? Yumiella, are you leaving the Royal Capital?”

“Yes, I’ll be returning to my county.”

Now that I’d succeeded my father’s title, I was now responsible for Dolkness County. Before, I’d left things to our deputy since I was still a student, but from now on I’d need to return home and work from on-site.

I’m surprised Lady Eleanora didn’t realize I was leaving before this, I thought. I mean, it’s already widely known that I’ve become the countess of Dolkness...

“No, but that can’t— Oh! Does that mean you have to say goodbye to Patrick as well?”

“I’m afraid so...”

I hadn’t really allowed myself to dwell on that subject before now, and I began frowning slightly.

She’s right, I thought with an inward sigh. Until now, I could see Patrick at the Academy every day, but after this, I won’t be able to meet up with him so easily. 

Patrick’s home, the Mark of Ashbatten, was on the complete opposite side of the kingdom as Dolkness County, with the Royal Capital stationed in between. It was something I’d long been aware of, something I’d known from the day I’d met Patrick, even before he’d confessed his feelings to me. Still...no matter how aware I was of the facts, that didn’t make our situation any less sad.

“I can’t believe the two of you are going to be apart...” Eleanora said with a gusty sigh. “What are you doing wasting your time talking to me?! You must hurry to Patrick!”

Eleanora ducked behind me, pushing me forward from behind. I didn’t budge even an inch—my significantly stronger muscles meant that I could remain effortlessly in place.

It’s not like it’s guaranteed that Patrick is over in that direction, I thought, exasperated. And, anyway, how am I supposed to handle this situation...?

As I was musing over my next move, I heard a voice call out to me from one side of the room. I craned my neck in that direction, only to see a familiar face.

I knew that was his voice. I knew you were pushing me in the wrong direction, Lady Eleanora. 

“Hi, Yumiella and...Lady Eleanora. What exactly are you doing?”

“Oh, we were actually just looking for you,” I told him.

“And how wonderful that we’ve finally found you, right, Yumiella?” Eleanora asked cheerfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll make myself scarce—I wouldn’t want to meddle in your love affairs.”

That said, she immediately dived into the sea of other Academy students, and...then turned back around and observed us with great interest.

I’m pretty sure that can be called meddling too, Lady Eleanora. 

Patrick and I turned to each other and laughed nervously, both very aware of the burning intensity of Eleanora’s gaze.

“This is just a guess,” I said, “but I think she thinks we haven’t noticed her.”

Patrick chuckled. “Looks like Lady Eleanora’s the same as always.”

Now that he was in front of me, I stared at Patrick’s face. The more I looked at him, the more I thought of how we’d have to be apart for a while. Suddenly, I felt like I was beginning to understand how Eleanora had worked herself up to the point of tears. But Patrick...he seemed to be acting no different than he usually did.

“Do you want me to get you a drink?” he asked.

“No, I’m good.”

Concern suddenly filled Patrick’s eyes. “What’s wrong, Yumiella? You look so sad. Are you really that unhappy over leaving the Academy?”

I don’t get how you and Lady Eleanora can read my emotions from my expressionless face, I thought, surprised that he’d noticed my feelings. Patrick...I don’t care about leaving the Academy—I’m overcome with sadness and loneliness just from the thought of being apart from you. 

Still, there was no way I could say such an embarrassing thing out loud. I supposed my inability to express that side of me might be one of the reasons why the two of us hadn’t had any particularly romantic moments together.

Maybe I should just tell him how I feel honestly, I mused. Even if I end up embarrassing myself, I’ll have some time to cool off since we’ll be apart for a while. Still, the notion felt a little too daunting. Why is being straightforward so hard...? How do I tell him that he’s the reason for my sadness, and not the Academy? Hmm... Maybe if I say people are more important than places, he’ll get it.

“Well, you know... The strength of one’s position cannot ever prevail over the strength of a strong union, or however it goes.”

Patrick blinked, but then asked, “What military text are you quoting? I’d like to read it too.”

He didn’t get it at all! I moaned internally. Patrick, why can’t you just get it?! And here I thought the graduation ceremony was a good opportunity to express my feelings, a chance given to me by fate...

As I stood there frozen, desperately searching for the right words, Patrick casually continued, “Oh, right, I forgot to mention this, but before you head back to Dolkness County, can you stay in the Royal Capital for a little while?”

“What? Why?”

“I just have a few things to take care of, but I was planning on going to Dolkness County with you.”

Patrick...is coming with me? That means we don’t have to say goodbye! Hell yeah, baby, I’ve got no reason to be sad now! Though, uh, I guess I’ll be holding off on sharing my honest feelings, then...

Regardless, I found it very reassuring that Patrick would be coming with me. I’d been worried over figuring out how to run Dolkness County on my own, but with Patrick by my side, everything was sure to turn out all right. It was all I could do to hold in my excitement and not start dancing around in front of everyone.

Desperately forcing my voice into a neutral tone, I asked, “You’re coming too, huh?”

Patrick smiled slightly. “Yeah, who knows what would happen if I let you go alone.”

“It’s not like I’m going to do anything on purpose...”

“I didn’t think you would,” Patrick agreed. “Still, some kind of accident always happens if you’re around.”

Maybe I shouldn’t be so excited about him coming after all...

And so, my third year at the Academy came to an end. With my time as a student over, I made my way toward the next phase of my life: stepping into my role as the countess of Dolkness County.