Misunderstood Villainess Volume 1 Chapter 2 – Literature Localizer Meerkat

Chapter 2: When I Bought Slaves, One Was a Prince!?!?!?!?

“—Now then.”

After finishing the business discussion. Kinoko-kun had left, and about thirty sick and injured slaves remained before me.

They all had expressions showing they couldn’t keep up with the situation. Well, it’s better than their initial dead-looking faces—those were gloomy.

“I bought you all for one reason. To make you submit to this Reite-Hungaria-sama and protect me until you die.”

When I said that, they became even more confused. What’s with that?

“—Sorry. One thing, may I?”

The young man at the far left spoke up.

This is the person who, when I “look” at him, seems like he’ll die tomorrow.

The injuries he bears are full-body burns and lacerations all over. Though crude bandages are wrapped around him, pus and the smell of death drift from them, and even without using [Queen’s Mirror Eyes], I can tell he’s done for. His face especially is all mangled.

…Yet he can still stand well. I wonder if he’s particularly tough?

“Who are you? What’s your name?”

“My name is Weiss… just Weiss. I’m a low-ranking soldier.”

Hmm, I’ll remember that. So what does this Weiss-kun want?

“You said you bought us ‘to protect you until we die’… As you can see, we’re all in a battered state. We’re not up to the task of being bodyguards. So—”

Saying that, he knelt on one knee.

“If you’re going to push us too hard, please only do so to me…! Please let the others rest quietly and receive treatment…!”

Oh, how impertinent. This slave just made a request of his master right off the bat. For a low-ranking soldier, he’s acting rather high and mighty.

The remaining group, seeing him spout such nonsense, shed tears while saying things like “What a noble person…!” “Please don’t worry about us!” with what seemed like genuine respect.

I don’t really understand, but he seems to be a low-ranking soldier with popularity.

But unfortunately,

“No good. Everyone will work starting today.”

“!?”

Weiss-kun stares in shock.

He looks displeased, but that’s natural. I paid good money, so I need them to work immediately.

“You… no, you…! How… extremely evil…!”

“Aha! You understand well, Weiss-kun! Yes. I am the very incarnation of evil, Reite-Hungaria! The supremely wicked queen of this land!”

Ahh, such clear anger and hatred feels so good!

Everyone in my territory is good at hiding such feelings, but apparently Weiss-kun can’t put on an act. That’s actually reassuring.

“…When you bought all us sick and injured slaves without exception, I believed you were a benevolent noble…”

“How unfortunate. I’m not a [benevolent noble idiot] who spends money without benefit, but a [malevolent noble] who seeks practical gains. From now on, you’ll work like pack horses.”

“Kuh…!”

And so—

“—[Horn of the Sacred Divine Horse Unicorn], heal these people.”

Instantly, golden light enveloped the slaves.

“This is…!?”

“What is this warm radiance!?”

“The pain is… fading!?”

Watching their confusion, I pulled out a single horn from the deep sleeves of my gothic dress.

This is the [Sacred Divine Horse’s Spirit Horn]. A legendary item that can heal any wound or illness just by wishing for it.

Well, it diminishes each time I use it, so after healing thirty people at once, it became small enough to fit in my palm.

“Wh… the [Sacred Divine Horse’s Spirit Horn]…!? To use such a thing, so casually…”

Even Weiss-kun, who had been near death, is now sparkling clean.

The skin visible through gaps in his bandages has regained its whiteness, and his black hair, which had been burnt and dulled, now has luster.

“Well, that should do it. Now you should be able to work, right?”

[……]

The group of slaves remained silent.

Seeing not only burns and lacerations healed, but crushed eyes and noses and missing fingers and limbs restored, they trembled in stunned amazement.

Among them, only Weiss-kun opened his mouth.

“You… no… what are you…?”

“Reite-Hungaria, Margrave. My favorite foods are meat and egg over rice, my hobbies are taking walks and cat watching.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Then what do you mean? I don’t understand the intent of your question.

“You called yourself a ‘malevolent noble who seeks practical gains.’ Then why did you use something like the [Sacred Divine Horse’s Spirit Horn] on mere slaves? If you sold it, it would fetch several billion gold…!”

“Ah, about that?”

So that’s what you were confused about. That’s simple.

“There’s one reason. I wanted to create a debt of gratitude with you all to make [bodyguards who will absolutely never betray me].”

“What…?”

“You are sick and injured slaves. You’re all in terrible condition, and you have no clothing, food, shelter, or anyone to rely on, right?”

Therefore—

“That’s precisely why this Reite-sama will help you all with everything I’ve got! I’ll heal your physical ailments, of course, and I’ll give you money and housing too! If you can’t sleep due to trauma from injuries, I’ll even pat your heads. If you have worries, I’ll listen.”

Fufufu. By taking thorough care like this—

“Now, no matter how much you all might hate me, you’ll hesitate to betray me! This is the extremely evil lady’s way!”

Ohohohoho!

Ahh, it feels so good! The slaves are looking at me with glares while their clenched fists tremble!

I’m sure they’re all thinking something like, [What a wicked beautiful girl…! I want to condemn her, but if we harm her, we’ll lose someone to depend on. What should we do…!]

Ufufufu. I don’t know what soldiers you all are, but since you served in the military, you must all be people of justice.

Making such people suffer from inner conflict… how wicked I am! Uhohi!

“Anyway, I’d like you all to work right away, but… what’s wrong, Weiss-kun? You still look dissatisfied.”

“No… it’s not dissatisfaction, but…”

Weiss-kun moves his mouth under the bandages. If you have something to say, say it clearly.

“…Using the [Sacred Divine Horse’s Spirit Horn] worth several billion is still too much of an expenditure just to create a debt of gratitude… That’s what I can’t understand…”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

I’m the one who doesn’t understand what he wants to say.

Several billion in expenditure? So what?

“First, let me tell you one thing. My life is worth far more than several billion. So why would I hesitate to spend money to protect it?”

“That’s quite some confidence.”

“I’m extremely evil, after all. And—”

I look at the men standing behind Weiss-kun.

“You all are becoming my [possessions], aren’t you? Then you should accomplish great deeds worth several billion someday, shouldn’t you?”

[…!]

Yes, lecture over.

Good grief, if you’re going to serve me, I need you to understand at least that much.

“Ah, talking so much made my shoulders stiff.”

When I said that and rolled my shoulders, everyone except Weiss-kun’s eyes lit up, and—

[Please let us massage them, Reite-sama!]

What’s with that all of a sudden!?

READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO

“Hey! Shoo, shoo! If you want to massage my shoulders, first take a bath and clean yourselves! I’ve prepared fluffy changes of clothes too! Ah, make sure to wash behind your ears properly!?”

[Mama…!?]

“Who’s mama!!”

I chase away the former sick and injured slaves who swarmed around me.

Ahh, honestly. These guys turn out this way too. The moment I show off my wealth a little bit, they immediately start fawning and groveling.

They’re probably harboring shallow desires like [If I’m nice to her, she might give me money].

Or maybe they’re planning to make me let my guard down and assassinate me?

But too bad. This brilliant Reite-sama can see through such things. Useless, useless, useless. I probably have an IQ of 200. I’ve read about 100 books (manga and such, though).

“Hmm, on that note…”

In the midst of the commotion, I look toward Weiss-kun, who alone stands coldly aloof.

“You’re quite unfriendly.”

“Ah, sorry, it’s not that I’m not grateful…”

“No, I like it. Stay just as you are from now on.”

“…!?”

When I praised him, Weiss-kun seemed surprised for some reason. What’s with that?

“No… I’ve always had trouble showing emotions on my face, and I often make others uncomfortable. It’s the first time anyone has said something like that to me.”

I see. Well, Weiss-kun is tall and has a lean but muscular build, so if such a man interacted with people expressionlessly, it would be scary.

But too bad. In the heart of me, Reite-Hungaria-sama, an emotion like fear doesn’t exist.

Rather, I’ll glare at him and make him cower.

Mmm.

“…How adorable.”

“Huh!?”

That’s scary!? What are you suddenly saying, you bastard!? And you should be the one getting scared! Hiss!

“Ah, sorry. I’ve always had a habit of saying what I think right away.”

“Wh-what’s with you…”

I seem to have picked up quite a troublesome fellow.

Being unfriendly and unable to keep his mouth shut—he has zero qualities as a ruler. I really think it’s good that he was just a low-ranking soldier.

Well, in exchange, perhaps because there’s no lies in his words and actions, he seems to be liked by the other soldiers.

Like the reliable type in the field?

“—Weiss-sama.”

Just then, a muscular young man among the soldiers called out his name. He had that refreshing macho vibe going on.

Wait, huh? [Weiss-sama]? Why is this guy being so respectful to a low-ranking soldier?

“If I may be so presumptuous to say… wouldn’t it be alright to reveal your true identity to her?”

“Mm, but wouldn’t that cause trouble…?”

“It’ll be fine. …Besides, when Reite-jou bought us, she must have already prepared herself for this. In that case, continuing to deceive her would be more dishonorable, wouldn’t it?”

Huh, what…? What are these guys talking about?

True identity? What? And what’s this about being prepared?

I just randomly bought you injured soldiers from some slave trader who said he came from the royal capital, didn’t I?

…Wait, hmm…?

A merchant from the [royal capital] who brought… for some reason [injured soldiers from somewhere]… could it be…?

“You’re right. Then let us all properly introduce ourselves.”

[Yes, sir!]

Instantly, at Weiss-kun’s words, the restless soldiers all lined up in formation in perfect unison.

The muscular man stepped forward, and then…!

“We are the [Strain Kingdom Knight Order]! A defeated army that lost to the revolution, living in shame!”

Wha—, whaaaaaaaaaaa——————!?

St-St-Strain Kingdom Knight Order!? You lost to the revolution… which means you’re the remnants of the current regime’s enemies!?

“…Embarrassingly, we were captured by that slave trader’s men during our retreat. He said, ‘If your lives are gonna end for free, might as well make them into merchandise,’ and sold us off to distant lands.”

I didn’t know that!

“Well, ‘former soldiers covered in wounds sold by a royal capital merchant right after the revolution’—anyone would figure out their true identity.”

I didn’t figure it out!

“Reite-sama must have realized this when she bought us…”

I didn’t realize anything at allllll——————!?

Are you idiots!? If I knew you were enemies of the current regime, I never would have taken you in!

And if I brought in thirty of you all at once, it’s only natural I’d be suspected of treason!

You—idiots——————!

“If you hadn’t bought us here, what would have happened to us…!”

“To take such risks to employ us, and even heal our fatal wounds and missing limbs…!”

“We’ll never forget this kindness… That slave trader must have known of Reite-sama’s virtue and came to sell us to you.”

Stop making up your own stories!

I didn’t know any truth and just kinda bought you guys randomly… but there’s no way I can say something so uncool…!

So, reluctantly…

“Th-that’s right! This Reite-sama saw through all of that!”

[Ohhhhhhhhh~~!]

D-damn it——————! Remember this, you slaves!

The humiliation of making me, the wicked queen Reite-sama, tell lies—I’ll get you back for this someday!

Ugh… lying always makes me feel sick…

I’m tired and want to sleep… This is depressing~.

“Now then, Reite-sama.”

“What now!?”

Wh-what!? Is there something else!?

I’m already at my limit just from having explosive dangers like you guys!

“The wise Reite-sama may have already noticed this as well. The true identity of this [low-ranking soldier Weiss] here.”

What do you mean by true identity!?

Sure, I thought it was weird how he acted so dignified, how his face had a nice atmosphere even hidden under bandages, and how you all looked up to him for a low-ranking soldier, but what’s this about true identity!? Explain yourself, Weiss-kun!

“Reite-jou. I’m sorry for deceiving you.”

Saying that, Weiss-kun tore off the bandages wrapped around his face, revealing that familiar face I’d often seen in newspapers…!