The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer

“We are being watched.”

All of a sudden, the succubus sat up straight.

She became rigidly still. An action mimicked by the world around us. 

The leaves ceased to rustle. The grass no longer swayed. And the 23 flaming swords which had so keenly danced in the air instead found themselves doused into nothingness.

I was almost impressed.

Only those who recognised the sound of my delicate footsteps sat up half as much as the succubus now did. For her employer to be so beloved that she reacted like a startled servant, maid or guard whenever I slowly walked by the very moment they sat down for even a whisper of a second was quite the feat.

“Oh?” I offered a curious smile. “… And who is watching, exactly?”

The succubus made no reply.

She frowned instead, her eyes slowly taking in the still meadow, the quiet flames from a duke whose performance was sadly curtailed, and a wooden door practically floating upon the grass nearby.

“... I am being judged,” she said, her tone cautious.

I idly looked around.

“Is that so? My, how disrespectful. To me.”

“Excuse me?”

“For anyone else to be judged while I’m present is highly impolite. As a princess, all eyes should permanently be turned towards me. Your discomfort is only reasonable. I see that a word is in order.”

The succubus blinked.

She simply stared at me, and in the process, demonstrated exactly what the appropriate conduct was.

“My dear,” she said after a pause. “A single word is more perilous of an exchange than any amount of swords you might cross with the Ashen Duke. You know little of what awaits. There is something so dark that even the light flees from it. A thing of such foulness that every nightmare you’ve ever suffered would suddenly seem as warm as the sweetest dream. Sleep would never find you again. Your only respite would be the bumps in the night, each now a mere lullaby against the weeping of your soul.”

The succubus’s voice was earnest. Even the demonic duke offered the closest thing to a grunt of agreement.

And so I nodded … all the while raising a hand to my smile.

“Ohohohohohoohohohoho … !!”

Only disbelief met my beautiful laughter.

I hardly saw why. 

After all … what she proposed sounded highly convenient!

“Truly now? How marvellous! If I can’t be rid of the mice dancing above every ceiling, then perhaps I can at least convince myself that they’re actually playing Du Chambremont’s Étude No. 32.” 

“This isn’t–”

“Exactly. This isn’t worthy of my concern. However foul your employer might be, know that I have already survived the darkness–and it came in the form of ink written on a certificate which my loyal handmaiden repeatedly assures me she’s destroyed.”

Coppelia whistled, suddenly interested in an ordinary daisy.

I pursed my lips. 

Another conversation. Another day.

“... With that said, to turn and flee is simply unacceptable. This is my kingdom. And the only direction I go is forwards. Or wherever my horse takes me.”

The succubus quietly considered me.

“I see … then I suppose we must move to the less family friendly part of this performance.”

Without even needing a click of a finger, the waiting duke brought forth a sword unlike any he’d boasted so far. The flames were black as midnight, matching the sombreness which befell his summoner.

Naturally, I understood her regret.

Succubuses so rarely met anyone with whom beauty advice could be gleaned. To allow the opportunity to pass harmed her more than any unseen knife held to her back ever could.

Even so, a contract was a contract. 

She was required to uphold the role of a doorstop. And her fate was to experience life as a punted fruit slime. To escape this was truly the finest riddle anybody could offer. 

But no riddle came without an answer. And I was more than a princess.

I was also a genius.

Ohohohohohoho!

Indeed, there was a simple way for a doorstop to escape their duties … and that was to ensure no door remained to be guarded!

Where others saw obstacles, I only saw a flimsy piece of wood!

However, while every door related problem could easily be resolved with a Coppelia sized solution, it was hardly enough to kick this one down, wasn’t it?

The juggling and the showmanship hadn’t been without purpose. 

It was to offer me plentiful cause to flee, all the while making sure no boos were directed at her from the audience. And for good reason. It’d be terrible if she left the stage only for complaints written in infernal scripture to hound her for a perceived lack of effort. 

That meant … I had to ensure the succubus had the chance to naturally bow out!

She needed the dignity of a defeat so needlessly flamboyant that she could hold her head high as an excellent door!

Thus … it was time for my acting to blossom!

I took in a deep breath.

“Very well, then,” I said, placing my hand to my chest. “I see you intend to fulfil the terms of your contract. You’ve called upon your most steadfast champion. The Ashen Duke is a foe who would drive the fear into any knight. His prowess with a sword … including circus skills, is undeniable. It is clear that to risk his ire would mean my end.”

The succubus turned her gaze downwards.

“My apologies,” she said. “I understand you wish to do well. But I speak the truth when I say this is preferable to any outcome where you would pass me.”

“Fear not. I do not doubt your sincerity. And so I ask only this–please do not doubt mine.”

“... Excuse me?”

I nodded confidently.

“Despite your predicament, you’ve earnestly attempted to fulfil your role. I’ve now utterly no choice. I must use all my strength as a princess in order to achieve victory. In short … I can no longer hold back.”

I raised my sword.

Strangely, far from responding with a look of utmost despair, she only appeared aghast.

It was … well, not the correct reaction, but I could work with this!

“Indeed, I will now use my full strength,” I said, subtly enunciating every syllable as slowly as humanly possible. “My full strength. I will use a technique so powerful that even a demonic duke blessed with a phoenix’s endurance can do nothing but suddenly and inexplicably be sent back to the abyss. The moment I strike, he will mysteriously disappear. Almost as if he has been dismissed. Do you understand?”

The succubus stared at me.

She raised an eyebrow, her head tilting as she offered me a look of pure confusion.

I nodded in satisfaction.

As expected of a succubus, her acting skills could put the seasoned veterans of the Royal Arc Theatre to shame! Why, given her reaction, anyone would think that she didn’t understand my perfectly clear but also veiled instructions!

Thus … I assumed a pose I was all too familiar with.

That of a trained ballerina.

“You say you make a poor dancer,” I said as I made minute adjustments. “But I believe you’ve never had a suitable tutor. Rejoice now. For I shall offer you a dance which you shall remember even in the darkest of places, to help light your way back to where the grass can be found.”

I offered a smile.

And then–I began to twirl.

No differently than when I was upon the stage, I swept around, a symbol of grace and elegance even as my long hair instantly smacked against my own face. I spun regardless, my hands and feet delicately angled. And just like each time before now, all the world stopped to watch.

The cry of birdsong turned to silence, and for a moment, all that could be heard was the sound of an audience gasping in silence … plus my melodic laughter.

“Ohohohohohohho … follow the silver path I carve, lit beneath a melody of endless light. Hear the song of the garden, the notes blooming ever as dawn upon the petals and the leaves.”

I swept my sword around me as I would a ribbon, allowing the light to flare.

“Celestial Starlight Form, 2nd Stance …[A Dreaming Cadence, A Lasting Reverie].”

I closed my eyes.

Within a single breath, I danced without end, Starlight Grace painting lines in the air as I offered my finest display for all the world to judge.

Then, as my movements slowly came to a still, I opened my eyes to the sight of an evening unfettered by any darkness. The fresh shafts of golden sunlight poured upon the small meadow, illuminating the leaves which began to drift down from the branches of every tree. 

As the forest offered its applause, so too did those around me.

Coppelia’s wild applause filled the air. And for a brief moment, so did that of a flaming duke of the abyss. The sight of his gauntlets clapping in acknowledgement was all I saw before he faded into dust, his flames returning to where they were more needed.

Only his conjurer remained.

The succubus still sat upon the grass, her mouth now almost as wide as her eyes as she played the role of the defeated. She touched her cheeks as though searching for a wound. 

Then, she held up a palm, catching the drifting leaves as they fell.

“... I suppose I’ll be needing to re-arrange the handshake event,” she said as several leaves landed upon her face. She blew them away and pondered. “Hm. How unusual. The fragrance is almost sweet.”

I smiled and nodded.

“Ohohoho … such are the leaves of my kingdom. But there are nicer ones elsewhere. Those belonging to the apple trees of my orchard are particularly noteworthy.”

“An orchard. Quite the endearing image. There are few where I’m from.”

“Well, perhaps you should alleviate that. No orchard grows without effort. But it can always be done. Even beneath the ground.” 

The succubus gave a laugh.

It was like the tinkling of a bell. A laugh unburdened by any weight upon her shoulders. Or commands gripping her arms. 

“I’d need to learn how to garden first … but perhaps that’s something I could manage. Even on the most dull of days, I found I enjoyed watching the flowers grow. I must say, you’ve quite the colourful kingdom, Your Highness. And that extends to yourself.”

I offered a curtsy, such as the compliment deserved.

“The colours of my kingdom are there to be enjoyed–providing you pay the appropriate fees, of course. If you wish to see more of this fair and gentle land where nothing bad ever happens, then I remind you that official documentation is required.”

The succubus gave a little snort.

I didn’t see why. I was being serious. A permit was needed.

She clutched at the falling leaves in silence. They all came together as a collage of green, sprinkled with the odd budding peony and iris lifted from their homes. The gift of both spring and summer. And also a fitting memory to take with her, wherever she opted to go next. 

But not just yet.

After all, there was still something which needed to be done. 

“Heh heh.” Coppelia beamed beside me … all the while stretching her leg in preparation. “You know, anytime I see you dance, I almost want to learn it myself.”

I clapped my hands in delight.

“My, is that so? Then we can begin immediately!”

“I said almost. I’m a busy clockwork doll, you know.”

“Well, it shouldn’t take much time. I already you’ve the footwork for it. It’s just a case of learning the formal movements. But that won’t be an issue. Especially when I’d be your tutor.”

“... Have you ever taught anyone before?”

“Of course.”

“Eh? Really?”

“Really! In fact, my lessons are quite renowned. After giving just one, Tristan never needed another from me again. That means I’ve a 100% satisfaction rate. Should we make a start today? If formal dance turns out to be too dull, I could also teach you something more impromptu–such as what I just did.”

Coppelia let out a giggle.

“Hmmmmmmmm … I’m pretty sure I can’t learn that one.”

Then, with her [Coppelia Kick] prepared and smile at the ready, she turned her attention towards the wooden door.

For my part, I was satisfied. 

It wasn’t a denial. And that was a start. 

Fwump.

Certainly, I was happier than she was. Because as the door fell back upon the grass, her smile faded as all her anticipation was betrayed. 

A moment later, we watched as the magical barrier, previously unseen, began to shimmer as innumerable fissures suddenly appeared like fractures upon a glass window.

“Hehehehehehehe~”

Somewhere, a laugh sought to welcome us, the sound both grating and childish.

An audience awaited.

A deeply troubling thing. But not for me.

Ohohohoho … my audience was by invitation only. If anybody wished to admire me upon my stage, then they needed to pay a fee. 

And that was fine.

I was all too happy to collect.