The Villainous Me Turned the Losers into Blackened Bosses-Chapter 12 - "What Would You Do If I Were Killed?"

At the gates of the Hysterm estate.

“Today marks the day I bid farewell to the home I’ve lived in for over a decade. Today, I embark on the long road of education and growth.”

“Fate has dealt me pain, and I shall repay it with sorrowful defiance, with steel-like fangs and a heart tempered through countless trials.”

“The young man shall set sail, toward the unknown path of destiny and the endless blue sky.”

Standing before the carriage, Will gazed back at the massive Hysterm estate, his heart filled with sentiment.

Only Eir…

“U-Um, Young Master… just to confirm, we’re really just heading to the capital to study, right?”

“Of course, why do you ask?”

“Then… why are you dressed like that?!”

“Oh, don’t mind it. This is the armor of a young man leaving his hometown for the first time, a fortress for his inner walls.”

—Will, clad in a helmet and thick armor covering his arms and legs, spoke with conviction.

“And why is the horse wearing armor too?!”

“Oh, don’t mind it. To pave a new path often requires the weight of armored hooves pressing into the mud.”

—Will gently stroked the white horse, which was wearing heat-resistant +10% armor.

“And why are we traveling in an armored vehicle?!”

“Oh, don’t mind it. This is the sturdy shield provided by my family to ensure I face no hardships on the road.”

—Will gestured toward the dungeon-grade iron-plated assault vehicle with a calm demeanor.

“Don’t bother trying to reason with him, Eir. After all these years, you should be used to it by now.”

Susan patted Eir on the shoulder, speaking with a knowing tone.

“Y-Yes… right… I just need to convince myself that everything Young Master does is absolutely correct!”

Eir wiggled her ears and nodded firmly.

—

It was early spring. The apple trees along the riverbank were budding, their reflections swaying on the rippling surface of the lake.

The path they traveled was a private road owned by the Hysterm family, leading directly to the capital. It was quiet and peaceful, with no other travelers in sight.

But now, this serene path was disrupted by the slow crawl of an armored vehicle, pulled by a panting, muscular white horse.

Will, fully armored, sat inside the vehicle, gazing out the window. He was starting to feel a bit hot.

But…

Eir had changed out of her maid uniform and into a black formal dress.

The off-shoulder neckline exposed her delicate shoulders, which were slightly flushed from recent training. The slightly low neckline accentuated her well-developed figure, giving her a mature appearance, while the small bow at her neck added a touch of cuteness. The inner lining of the dress’s hem was red, adding a hint of boldness to the otherwise black ensemble.

Even her wolf ears were adorned with tiny black bows.

Eir had insisted on wearing her usual maid uniform, but Will had countered with, “You might need to attend social dances at the academy, so it’s best to get used to formal attire now.”

Of course, there was a personal reason behind Will’s choice of outfit for Eir on this important day.

The black dress gave off a distinct yandere vibe, as if she might pull out a cleaver at any moment.

So dark. He liked it.

Will was genuinely curious to see how Eir would handle her first battle.

Thus, he had her dress to match his imagination.

“Young Master… th-this road is so empty.”

“Of course. It’s the Hysterm family’s private transport route. Most people don’t even know it exists. It’s usually only used to deliver important dungeon supplies to the city.”

“Wow… the Hysterm family is really impressive. A private road like this…”

“Ah, this is where you’re mistaken. My father—or rather, the master—has been leading a wave of reforms in dungeon exploration. Right now, we’re probably the most sought-after allies of the royal family and various political powers. We might even be at the top of the food chain.”

“Ah… that’s hard to understand.”

Eir tilted her head, her wolf ears twitching.

Though Will’s character was a comedic cannon fodder, the Hysterm family behind him was anything but.

The Hysterm family, as merchants operating dungeon expeditions and owning several large adventurer guilds, controlled the most resources and production capabilities in this world.

In this world’s setting, dungeons were highly efficient and versatile “production sites.” To draw a comparison, if modern goods were produced through labor, here, most raw materials, goods, and commodities were obtained through dungeon exploration.

Materials, goods, and commodities from dungeons were far quicker to obtain than producing them in the natural world, though the risks were significant.

Thus, in this world, “productivity” was determined by the efficiency and cost (especially in terms of lives) of dungeon exploration.

These mysterious dungeons, scattered across the continent, silently provided all kinds of raw materials—metals, wood, herbs, weaponry, and even finished products.

For nations, dungeons were vital strategic resources.

This was the reason for the Hysterm family’s rise. Over a decade ago, they discovered a method to drastically increase exploration efficiency while significantly reducing risks. In the future, the family would even develop industries around adventurer rankings and dungeon tourism.

This led to shifts in imperial power, particularly the decline of the royal family, and spurred a series of reforms across nations.

It was, in essence, this world’s “industrial revolution.”

There was undoubtedly a hidden agenda behind this powerful and mysterious family, but unfortunately, the original story hadn’t reached that point before Will’s reincarnation.

For now, all the information about the Hysterm family revolved around him—the young master destined to be crushed by a slime.

As he pondered, Will glanced out the window.

The tallest building in the bustling capital came into view—a clock tower with a pointed roof, its spire glinting in the afternoon sun.

If that was visible, then danger must be near.

Will turned to Eir.

“Eir, since we have some time, how about I ask you a question that wasn’t covered in class or books? It’ll test your ability to think on your feet.”

“Of course, Young Master. Eir will answer anything you ask.”

Will thought to himself how much more lively Eir had become. She was nothing like the timid, obedient maid from his past life.

“Let’s say I’m someone you like—though I know that’s a stretch. Hypothetically, imagine this scenario.”

“Okay.”

“As the young master of the Hysterm family, it’s inevitable that I’ll face ‘assassination’ attempts in my lifetime.”

“Yes, I learned about that in the maid training courses.”

Will thought to himself that the Hysterm family really did train combat maids.

So his development plan wasn’t entirely off-track.

“If one day, I encounter an exceptionally skilled assassin and take a severe blow, collapsing in a pool of blood…”

“Young Master, what kind of blow?”

Will paused, picturing the scene, then spoke slowly:

“Imagine something like what we saw on the training grounds a few days ago—that Extreme Flame Meteor.”

“It appears suddenly before us…”

“But it’s a calculated strike.”

“It disrupts our plans and our lives, instantly igniting the air around us—”

“And I, like a feather, fall gently into a pool of blood amidst the ruins…”

Will turned to look at Eir.

For the first time, she saw a profound depth in his smile. It was as if he were joking, yet his eyes held a desperate longing for her answer—as though if her response didn’t satisfy him, he would abandon her without hesitation.

For the first time, in her kind yet eccentric young master, Eir saw danger.

“…What would you do?”

“I…”

Eir had never encountered such a question before.

As Will described the assassination scenario, she began to imagine it in her mind. But as soon as the image of her young master injured appeared…

Perhaps it was the vividness of Will’s description, but her imagination grew clearer.

She saw her always-elegant young master with a gaping wound, blood gushing out…

Her mind began to spiral into chaos.

No, no, no—Young Master must not be hurt.

I don’t want, don’t want, don’t want to see him bleed.

Never, never, never let this happen.

“I… huff… huff…”

Why did just thinking about this fill her with an unexplainable emotion?

Her heart raced, her breathing quickened.

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It felt as though all the blood in her body was rushing to her head, hotter than even the sauna training sessions.

He must not die, must not die, must not die.

Who did it, who did it, who did it?

Kill them, kill them, kill them.

Tear them apart, burn them, drown them, dismember them…

Do it all, one by one.

At first, her thoughts were coherent. But soon, they were overwhelmed by raw emotion and purpose—

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

But…

If he were gravely injured…

As described in “300 Questions on Blackening”…

Wouldn’t that mean he’d have no choice but to stay by her side forever?