Became the Villainess’s Guardian

This is a story from about 4 years ago.
In other words, when I was 18 years old – physically and legally a complete adult.

The time had long passed since I graduated from being a snot-nosed assistant to a proper university graduate.
A brief period, long enough for me to inadvertently forget that this world was hurtling toward destruction like a train with broken brakes.

Before time ran out, I was pondering whether I should find a secluded mountain cabin or maybe dig myself an underground bunker, when an insidious serpent slithered towards me.

‘I have a proposal for you.’

It was my professor and pioneer of electromancy, Magni.

‘How about staying on as an assistant while continuing your studies? I feel like teaching you more.’

‘But I need to find employment after graduating…’

‘It wouldn’t hurt to differentiate yourself from others. This will all add to your experience and achievements.’

‘But I can hardly afford more tuition fees.’

‘It’s alright. Now, take a look at this.’

After scribbling with a pen on some documents for a moment, Professor Magni showed them to me. It was a recommendation for a university scholarship.

I don’t quite remember what happened after that.
For a while, he seemed to be persuading me to stay, and when I came to my senses, I was giving him a seal clap as he presented “100 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Graduate and Join Society.”

‘Let me ask again. Won’t you continue as an assistant?’

Having nodded as if in a trance, Professor Magni gave me a satisfied look, soon obtained my signature, shook my hand, and handed me a stack of papers.
It was only then that I realized something was amiss, but by the time I noticed, it was too late.

After that, my days were spent doing menial tasks like proofreading thesis fonts and staying up nights.
In fact, I did try to find another path a few times during my extended assistant life when I got tired of it.

But reality was harsh.

My grandiose dream of creating burgers to spark a culinary revolution in this other world, living off food, was beached by the lowly sardine sandwich that only Professor Magni seemed to like. I had overlooked that the tastes of this other world were completely different from what I knew. Guaaah.

“Thank you for all your teachings, Professor.”

“What brought this on, all of a sudden?”

“I’m being sincere. Getting to this point was entirely thanks to your efforts… not just my genius abilities, of course.”

In any case, I don’t think that choice was necessarily wrong. Probably.
Since this is another world, even if I didn’t have delusions of breaking the game with overpowered talents like in cliches, I had at least established a decent social standing.

If instead of becoming an assistant, I had joined the lower ranks of court mages, on my recent visit to the orphanage, I wouldn’t have been able to sponsor them – at best I might have tossed them a handful of ginseng candies and said “Share these.” Not only would I have been unable to build a reputation as an academic idol, but I wouldn’t have had free access to the university facilities either.

“But from now on, I’ll be living for myself.”

I clenched my fist and spoke solemnly.
Since this wasn’t the first or second time I had tried to take leave, the professor’s initial expression was ‘here we go again,’ but when I didn’t present any resignation papers for his signature, he pulled up a chair and opened his mouth.

“For real?”

“I’m serious.”

“I thought you said you weren’t ready yet.”

“That’s what I said. But now, I feel I’ve gradually become ready.”

“Well then, let me hear your reasons. Why is that?”

The truth is,
Just saying this is tearing my heart apart.

It was already an immense kindness for him to have lent an ear when I, a mere uneducated orphan, asked to become his disciple.

For me to betray someone like that and abruptly leave…
I can’t do that…

Slap! I struck both my cheeks hard.

“…Hah! I can’t do this!”

“I see it’s not working anymore.”

Just as my resolve was wavering, I managed to regain my senses at the last moment.
Only after averting my eyes from Professor Magni’s gaze did my insane thoughts subside a bit.

There were occasionally people in this world with special abilities.
In fact, it was said the hero from decades ago could shoot beams from his eyes, so the planarian regeneration ability wasn’t too far-fetched. At least there was a reason why I wasn’t shunned for being different.

And the professor’s ability was to brainwash people into becoming his assistants.
It was truly a formidable power. Initially it may have been my choice, but even after graduating, I ended up falling victim to it and continuing as an assistant.

“He said it wasn’t brainwashing, just a simple suggestion.”

“That’s basically the same thing.”

“I merely strengthen thoughts you already have. The feeling you experienced just now was in that context.”

And now he’s claiming to just be amplifying existing thoughts, even after exercising a power capable of enslaving someone for life.

“But seeing as you overcame it, I understand your resolve.”

“…You won’t try to stop me further?”

“Why, feeling sentimental?”

“No, it’s not that. It just feels strange that you’re letting me go so cleanly…”

After a brief silence, Professor Magni spoke quietly.

“I don’t stop those who want to leave. There are plenty of others who wish to receive my teachings anyway. Heh.”

“And yet you resorted to brainwashing techniques.”

“Didn’t I say it was just a suggestion?”

Even if I was treated a bit roughly, my body would heal by eating food, and I had good crafting skills too.
Following the professor, I gained practical experience at all sorts of demonstrations, and leveled up through writing papers.

In other words, I was no ordinary assistant. I was a premium assistant.
And a premium assistant should rightfully be able to see through the professor’s mood swings and cater to them accordingly.

Having seen assistants under him storm off a few times, only for him to give chase parkour-style, I knew he wouldn’t be pleased if I just abruptly quit.
So until the area was deserted, with only the stage crew remaining, I reminisced about the past with him.

And when I felt his mood had improved somewhat,

“By the way Professor, you’re married, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And you have two kids, I heard.”

“Yes.”

“Then as a father, you must know well what kinds of things children enjoy, yes?”

Professor Magni drummed on his desk for a moment in thought before answering.

“Isn’t there something you’re particularly good at anyway?”

“Performances? But adults seem to enjoy those more, don’t they?”

“In front of magic, adults are just children with bigger bodies. They’re utterly captivated by shiny, flashy things with no practical use.”

From my experience, when young, delicate hands spend half a day handling greasy, lubricated machinery, it utterly crushes the spirit.
It was hard to judge from a single observation. While Freugne’s mind seemed healthy for now, there was no telling when the stress could explode.

So unless she was undergoing a second life like me, she would need an appropriate dose of entertainment prescribed.

I began rattling off ideas for how to play with her, and at some point, the professor, who had been silently listening, raised an eyebrow and cut me off.

“Wait, wait. A child, you say? Don’t tell me you got married?”

“No, you know my circumstances well. I barely have time to meet anyone.”

“Then why are you asking about such things?”

“I’ve recently started sponsoring an orphanage. I was wondering if there’s anything the children there might enjoy.”

“An orphanage, is it? Then you’ll need to be more delicate about this.”

“You mean delicate?”

“Aren’t they children who grew up deprived of affection? Moreover, if the facilities are less than ideal, even more so.”

But is this how a father acts when he has a child?
When I asked him to teach me how to handle children, he launched into bragging about his own kids.

After filtering out and absorbing only the practical parenting tips, I set out again for the orphanage, armed with delicate sensibilities.

Freugne.
To be precise, most of the children in the slums were accustomed to being spectacles.

The tour companies of Londinium sold slum tour packages.
It’s a simple concept, true to the name – tour groups ride in carriages accompanied by guards, visiting various slum attractions.

These so-called “attractions” include streets where shocking murder cases once rocked the city, or residential areas that lay bare the stark living conditions of the impoverished.

Of course, there were occasional cases of people dropping coins with pitying gazes.
But even a child could easily imagine the mentality with which these wealthy, privileged people who could afford to tour the slums in broad daylight while hiring guards must have viewed them.

“Oh, it’s a child. How pitiful.”

“Madam, it’s time to move on to the next location.”

“Yes, just a moment. Child, use this to buy yourself something tasty.”

The few coins that clattered to the ground were the price of that pity.

In truth, while she didn’t show it, like anyone living in the East End,

“Someday, I’ll leave this place.”

Freugne too harbored such hopes.

Of course, the other children weren’t unaware of this, which was why they worked 12-hour shifts (legal) at the factories in the orphanage.
Naturally, this question would inevitably follow:

“How? When you have nothing.”

“For now, that’s true. And perhaps for a while longer as well.”

“Let’s drop this topic. It’s only making us gloomy-”

“But if I have someone to rely on and believe in, the story might change.”

It was a vague yet somewhat optimistic plan at best, but Freugne had her own conviction.

Freugne silently tapped the forehead of the girl tilting her head in puzzlement.
And in that instant, a scene flashed before her eyes like a flickering zoetrope.

Around an old dining table, each child had a plate in front of them. On it was a sloppy sardine sandwich.
While personally disliked, it was nominally a special meal. It was also scheduled to be served for lunch the day after tomorrow.

Noticing Freugne’s slight grimace, one of the orphanage girls her age kept shooting her quizzical looks, but Freugne just shook her head nonchalantly as if it was nothing, and the girl soon lost interest.

It was a secret she didn’t share with anyone, not because they wouldn’t believe her at first, but because even if she convinced them, it would just become a hassle.

By simply touching others, Freugne could catch glimpses of the future.