I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

I, Esty, have been entrusted with escorting nobles alongside Galeo-senpai and the others.

I thought we could relax since the mage corps were also present, but the academy was suddenly attacked.

Right now, we’re evacuating the nobles.

"What the hell is going on? Hey, first-year. Stay half a step behind me."

"Y-yes, Galeo-senpai..."

"The enemies are tough. Even I got my arm wounded, and Student Council President Clyde isn’t unscathed either. As much as it pisses me off, we’ll have to leave the rest to the mage corps."

"What in the world is happening...?"

Galeo-senpai walks protectively beside me.

My heart pounds as we head toward the underground passage, only to find a girl in a red hood crouching along the way.

"Waaah, waaah..."

A child in a place like this?

Did she get separated from her parents during the evacuation?

Just as I was wondering, Clyde-san approached her.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Did you get separated from your parents?"

The moment he reached out, a vision flashed in my mind.

"Clyde-san! Get away!!"

"...!"

The instant I shouted, President Clyde leaped back—just as a massive set of jaws snapped shut right where he had been.

In his place now stood the enormous head of a wolf.

"Mmm~... Not bad, kid. Sharp instincts."

"...Tch. That was close. Almost got me."

"Hee-hee-hee... You should thank that pink-haired girl over there."

The girl in the red hood was actually a wolf.

Its head smoothly morphed back into a human’s—now revealing the wrinkled face of an old woman.

Though child-sized, she looked like a granny stuffed into a child’s outfit.

"Wh-what the hell is this thing?!"

"I’m Baul of the Black Hood, Sixth Division Commander of the Grimmritter. Though lately, this trick hasn’t been working as well."

Galeo-senpai stepped protectively in front of me.

I felt guilty for needing his protection, but given the opponent, it couldn’t be helped.

"Too bad your cheap trick failed! Now that we know what you are, we won’t hold back!"

"Doesn’t matter. You’ll all die here anyway. No harm in revealing myself."

The cunning old woman smirked, and everyone tensed.

Then, I remembered Alfis-san’s warning:

—The Grimmritter of Allgan will soon attack the academy.

—I don’t know which division, but if you encounter a Commander,

—drop everything and run.

—They’re not opponents you can face. I won’t let anyone blame you for it.

"The Grimmritter... A Commander..."

I stepped back, ready to follow Alfis-san’s orders.

But could I really abandon Galeo-senpai and the others, who were risking their lives to protect me?

While I hesitated, they launched a simultaneous attack.

With the mage corps on our side, surely we wouldn’t be defeated so easi—

"How tedious."

Before my eyes, Galeo-senpai and the others were sent flying.

Blood sprayed through the air—some of it belonging to the mage corps.

Baul had transformed into a wolf, her claws dripping with fresh blood.

"Huh? Wh-wha...?"

"Underestimating me, were you? My contracted beast is the Shadow Wolf, Garm. A cute little thing that once devoured even a Demon King."

Baul reverted only her head to human form and cackled.

My mind went blank.

Before me stood a monster who had effortlessly slaughtered the mage corps and my seniors.

President Clyde, Galeo-senpai, everyone...

What should I do...?

"So the sharp-witted brat’s the last one standing. Well, no second chances."

"Wh-why are you doing this...?"

"Who knows? No clue what the higher-ups are thinking. As long as I get paid, that’s all that matters."

"Just for money...? How could you...?"

"Enough talk. Time to die."

I stumbled backward as Baul lunged.

Ducking just in time, I felt her claws whistle past above me.

"Oh? Did I go easy on ya?"

"Eek!"

I couldn’t help but run.

Then, another vision flashed in my mind—imprinting itself instantly.

Baul’s claw strike would come from the right.

"Tch! Missed again?!"

Her attack narrowly missed my side.

A second, then a third strike—my body moved on its own.

Thanks to [Foresight], I could predict every one of her moves.

"What’s with this brat?! Damn, you’re fast!"

After dodging Baul’s onslaught, something inside me snapped.

A floating sensation, my heart pounding wildly.

Even in the face of death, my entire body burned with exhilaration.

"Left, right, low, low, center—"

"You little—! Damn you!!"

The floating sensation gradually became second nature.

I remembered feeling this way once before—when I watched Alfis-sama fight.

Even with death looming...

Why did I want this so badly?

An overwhelming euphoria surged from within, unbearably intoxicating.

"Ahah! More...!"

"Wh-what’s wrong with this brat?!"

A storm of slashes split the air—each carrying the promise of death as they grazed my skin.

Every brush of wind sent shivers down my spine, electrifyingly sweet.

More. More. MORE.

"Hah... Hah... Wh-what the hell...? How is she reading me...? Don’t tell me she’s contracted with something...?"

"More... more... Ahah!"

"You’re one creepy kid! Fine, no holding back!!"

Baul was getting serious?

Good. More. I could fight more.

"Huh...?"

Suddenly, my legs gave out.

I couldn’t move—my body refused to obey.

"Oh? Ran out of stamina?"

"N-not yet..."

"Tch. Annoying brat, but this ends now. My cute subordinates have probably taken over by now anyway."

"Ah... Aah..."

I couldn’t even lift a finger.

It was as if all strength had drained from my body.

Right—this was what Alfis-san called "gas running out."

—Don’t overuse your energy. Your body will shut down completely.

That’s it. My body had reached its limit.

So, was I going to die here?

If so, then so be it.

I wasn’t strong like Letitia-san, Lilisha-san, or Lucille-san.

I wasn’t worthy of standing by Alfis-sama’s side.

I should’ve been content just watching from afar.

"Made it in time."

Someone stood right beside me.

A man, perhaps?

Effortlessly, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to where the others lay unconscious.

I tried to see his face—but my consciousness faded entirely.