The Villainess is Retiring

Chapter 2

The royal family is an impossible breed to understand. I mean, aren’t they overreacting? If they were angry, they should’ve just punished me. Now the whole territory is in jeopardy because they cut ties with Airelle.

To be honest, I didn’t really care that Airelle and Ocale Company ended their relationship. However, the fact that there’s no more firewood to warm me up as a result is very important to me. Putting in the effort to mend their broken relationship will be annoying, but I’m on the verge of freezing to death.

I thought my father said that nothing ever happened here. He told me I could just live peacefully. Now, the quiet and comfortable life I imagined seems out of reach. I really was going to keep my head down after leaving the social world.

Was it because I wanted the events of the original novel to stay the same? Haa... My reasons weren’t all that pure to begin with.

I have no desire to rectify what Everia did nor the will to make great contributions to this fictional world. Coming back to life as a noble lady surrounded by luxury, I just want to take it easy. Working hard just takes too much energy.

The problem I’m facing now is a matter of survival. I need to survive in order to enjoy my new life. With that in mind, I wrapped the blanket around me tightly and jumped up.

“I have no choice. I need to use the cheat code.”

“The... ‘cheat code,’ miss?”

Emma tilted her head at the unfamiliar phrase.

A cheat code can instantly turn a complex, strategic game into a simple one—like Minesweeper. No matter how complicated the game is, with a cheat code, winning becomes easy.

“Emma, why can’t I use the fireplace even though I’m shivering in this cold weather?”

“Because Ocale severed ties with Airelle, so there is no more firewood, miss.”

“No. You’re wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“There’s plenty of wood in Airelle. Just look at all those black steel logs. There’s plenty of those, right?”

“That’s true, but they don’t burn well. We can’t use them.”

“Maybe they won’t with a normal fire. But what if we had a really, really powerful one?”

Emma didn’t even bother to answer. As the conversation became increasingly strange, she seemed to be wondering if the freezing cold was causing me to lose my mind.

“Emma, have you heard the legend of the azure fire? It’s the story about the archmage who used a very powerful flame to burn all of his enemies.”

“Of course, miss. Everyone in the kingdom knows that legend.”

The founding myth of Geraint begins with the blue wizard. He was the archmage who helped the first king, Efron Geraint, wipe out all of his enemies. He was the king’s most powerful ally, but after King Efron’s death, he was completely erased from the kingdom’s history. He was gone like the wind.

It was almost as if he never existed in the first place. The name of the archmage wasn’t even recorded in history books. All that remained was a single prophecy he left behind before he disappeared.

“If there comes a time when my name is called again, I will use the azure flame for the one who summoned me.”

He helped the king found the kingdom, but that was the only thing mentioned about him in historical texts. No one ever tried to find out the identity of the blue wizard. I mean, he was a figure in the founding myth after all. In myths, many things were exaggerated to emphasize the greatness of the progenitor. The people of the kingdom regarded the archmage as the same kind of exaggeration.

“A fire as strong as the archmage’s azure flame would burn black steel logs. Then I could have a warm night.”

“But... the blue wizard is a mythical figure, miss. And the same goes for the azure flame.”

Just like everyone else in the kingdom, Emma also didn’t believe the archmage was real. But since I read the novel, I knew this world. I not only knew about the existence of the archmage, but I also knew the reason he was erased from history.

He would be my cheat code.

“Emma. Please fill the fireplace with those black steel logs.”

“But, miss… black steel wood really doesn’t burn. Filling the fireplace with it will be of no use.”

“Let me worry about that. You just fill the fireplace with the logs. Go on.”

Realizing how determined I was, Emma stopped trying to dissuade me. As if she had given up everything, she lowered her head and answered weakly.

“Yes, miss. As you command. I’ll pile them in the hearth.”

* * *

The fireplace in my room was soon filled with black steel wood. Emma was suspiciously snooping around the fireplace, but I kicked her out so I could be alone. I couldn’t very well summon the magician in front of her. Of course, it wasn’t possible for the people of this world to know his name. But since I’m a reincarnated reader, I know the name of the archmage that King Efron used as his right hand.

Well, he’s actually a demon.

A demon appearing in the founding myth of a holy kingdom? Sounds ridiculous, I’m sure. And if anyone were to find out, the kingdom would get turned upside down. Which is precisely why his name was erased from history.

Efron Geraint wanted to hide the fact that he had borrowed the power of a demon to build his kingdom. He told no one about the blue wizard and never even uttered his name, which was completely understandable.

“The king who established the kingdom thanks to his loyal archmage” sounds a lot better than “the king who made a pact with a demon.”

There are two ways to make a contract with a demon. You can either call the demon by his name, or pay the demon with something that he finds interesting. Efron Geraint chose the latter and offered the soul of his first child to the demon in exchange for a contract. But I, of course, chose the former option and called out his name.

So just because I know his name, the demon will do my bidding for free. If that isn't a cheat code, what is?

“Theoharis.”

I called the name of the demon I read about in the novel. It isn’t a very common name, but it’s not a very unusual name either.

I trust by now you’re wondering what would happen if someone were to call out his name by accident. However, the name was erased from the minds of all the people in this world. Demons tend to wipe their names from people’s memories, thus saying a demon’s name is impossible for the people in the novel. In a sense, it’s a contract designed to mock them.

“If you call my name, I’ll work for you for free, but since you can’t remember it, you’ll have to pay me.”

“What? What’s going on? Is this the human world?”

The demon was confused at being summoned suddenly. Of course, he had questions. According to the rules of this world, no human was capable of saying the demon’s name.

But I’m not from this world.

It felt refreshing for some reason. I quite like the fact that I have special privileges because I’m from another world.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Theoharis.”

I smiled and held out my hand to the demon.

“Oh, was I not supposed to call you by name? Shall I address you as Mr. Archmage?”

“‘Mr. Archmage’? The only person who called me by that cheesy title was that idiot king who sold his son’s soul a few hundred years ago and told me he wanted to become king.”

The demon checked me out like he was examining his goods.

“You’re not one of his descendants, are you?”

“No way. Of all the people in this world who hate the Geraints, I hate them the most.”

All five of Kathryn’s men were annoying, but among them, the two Geraints—the crown prince and Lydon—were the most annoying. Even so, the demon’s eyes narrowed as he stared at me with a disgusted look on his face.

“I see. You’re a human too, but you have a completely different aura.”

The demon nodded as if he understood, but then he furrowed his brows and looked even more confused.

“If you’re not his descendant, how did you summon me? Actually, even his descendants wouldn’t be able to say my name.”

“You’re right. They don’t know your name.”

“So how did you summon me? And how did you know that humans don’t know our names?”

“It’s a long story. I’m not even sure if you’ll believe me...”

He was an honored guest who came to light my fireplace. I raised the corners of my mouth, trying to appear as nice as possible.

“Do I really have to explain all that? Can you just quickly grant me my wish?”

Since selfishness is a demon’s special trait, he completely ignored what I said.

“Hey, human, I asked you a question. How do you know my name? You’re not an ordinary human, are you?”

“If I wasn’t a human, would I be shivering like this in the cold? How about you light a fire for me and go on your way?”

“A fire? You want my fire too? Are you like that idiot from the past?”

His attitude changed a bit when I mentioned fire.

“A... fire? Fine.”

A moment prior, he seemed annoyed, but there was suddenly a slight smile of interest on his face.

“Among my clan members, I’m the best at handling fire. It’s no wonder you called me if that’s what you need.”

He even seemed rather satisfied, which was good. The happier he felt, the more powerful his fire would be. I was quick to agree with him.

“Of course. There’s no greater fire than the azure flame, and when it comes to handling a fire like that, the blue wizard is surely the best.”

“You know what’s up. Are you trying to become king like this idiot?”

“...What? No.”

“Then you’re after money, aren’t you? And you need to get rid of a lot of people in order to get it, huh?”

“That’s not it either.”

“Really? Then what do you need the azure flame for?”

“I need it to light my fireplace.”

I calmly pointed to the fireplace stuffed with black steel logs. After the demon’s gaze followed my finger, he gasped in disbelief.

“What? The fireplace?”

“It may seem like normal firewood, but it’s actually black steel wood. It doesn’t burn easily. I need a really strong fire, so that’s wh—”

“Wait!” he abruptly cut me off before continuing. “You summoned me here to light a fireplace? You summoned Theoharis, the azure flame demon, for this?!”

“Correct.”

“Y-you don’t want me to kill anyone?”

“Ugh! Do you want me to make me into an actual murderer? I’m kind of sick of that word.”

“Then what about blood? Don’t you want blood?”

“Why would I? I mean, I have no use for that at all.”

The demon looked at me with his mouth agape. He had a blank expression like half his soul was gone.

“You’re right. Humans don’t have any use for blood,” he muttered before coming back to his senses. “Then... what about the kingdom? How about you conquer the kingdom and become king?! I know humans love that sort of thing!”

“Nah...”

“Why not? Don’t you want power?”

“Not really... Seems like it would be bothersome and difficult to maintain.”

There had to be a reason all the kings from the ancient kingdoms had short lives, right? It’s because being a king is a hard job. Why would I want such a tiring responsibility?

“Life isn’t always better at the top. I think it’s best to just eat well and live comfortably as an ordinary aristocrat.”

What position has all the best privileges and doesn’t require one to work? You guessed it—a nobleman’s daughter.

“So, Mr. Demon...” I said as I pointed to the fireplace again. “Could you hurry up and light the fire?”

The demon’s face immediately went pale.

* * *

The black steel wood was burning. Although everyone said it couldn’t be used as firewood, it was just as I expected. The demon’s flames were much stronger than ordinary fire. Although it’s called the azure flame, it didn’t look very blue. There was a bit of blue at the center of the flame, but it was hard to see unless I looked very closely.

But who cares about the color? What’s important is that it’s burning!

Watching the flickering flames with satisfaction, I threw myself on the sofa. My frozen body relaxed thanks to the warmth emanating from the fireplace. I didn’t have to shiver because of Airelle’s ridiculously cold weather anymore.

There’s plenty of black steel wood that can be used for fire, so I just have to keep this flame going.

“Hey.”

Unlike me who was very happy with the situation, the demon seemed dissatisfied. But since I got what I wanted from him, I no longer felt the need to placate him.

“You’re still here?” I asked while waving my hands indifferently. “I got my wish, so you can go home now.”

“You want me to go home?”

“Yes. Go home. Don’t demons have homes? Go back to the place you came from.”

I had no idea where demons live, but they kind of looked like humans, so I assumed they lived in a similar way. I was certain he had a family and a home, but then he furrowed his brows.

“You summoned me here.”

“I did.”

“So now you’re responsible for me.”

“I’m responsible for you? Why?”

“Don’t you know what summoning a demon by name and making a contract means?"

Of course, I knew. The demon was summoned, so he needed to grant a wish. Was there something I missed? I stared blankly, and he beat his chest in frustration.

“The contract is for life!”

“What?! It’s a lifetime contract?”

“That’s right! I have to stay by your side until you die! I have to constantly grant your wishes!”

“What?”

What the heck was he on about? I just wanted to light a fire! I thought the demon would go home after he granted my wish. But it was a lifetime contract! Would I be stuck with him for good? I never wanted an annoying beast like him!