I Became Close to the Villain - Chapter 1

Home I Became Close to the Villain Chapter 1

I have so many worries swirling around in my mind.

What if I can’t protect my country, what if I die.

Many saw me and told me to put my worries to a rest. I could only reply yes, although I know deep down that it’s a lie.

People always tell me to lighten up, but how can I do so?

I’m the only saint in this country.

If I fall through, the barriers may break and cause danger to everyone.

Until one day, my knight told me that my sacrifice was wrong.

He told me I should end my worries.

“I would do so,” that was how I replied to him.

And that same day, that knight killed me.

My death brought me peace, I finally stopped agonizing over my responsibilities.

But ultimately, I was reincarnated into a novel.

Should I start worrying again?

What should I do if I live as the villain’s neighbor in the novel?

And what am I supposed to do if the villain kills all of his childhood neighbors in the future?

That’s what I want to ask.

I’ve become the villain’s neighbour, someone please save me!

***

Vienne Astahilt. It’s my new name.

I was reincarnated into a novel I read before my death, It was not long after my birth that I learned of it.

It was because I overheard Vienne, my mother, said that an ominous child was born next door.

Strangely enough, I can understand the language that is spoken here ever since my birth.

“It’s Idris. That white-haired kid.”

The ominous one, the white-haire child, Idris.

All of the descriptions align with the villain’s features.

White hair is a rarity in this world.

It is even more so because this world inhabitant, their hair won’t turn grey even as they become older.

The villain Idris was born with white hair and red eyes. It was an ominous symbol for people of this world.

He grew up under the abuse of his parents and neighbors.

But being capable of wielding magic, Idris becomes the master of evil mages a few years later.

As he gained his power, Idris burned down his childhood village as a revenge. He even searched for his childhood neighbors and murdered them in cold blood.

In other words, everyone in this neighborhood will die, including me.

Dying once is enough for me, I don’t want to die anymore.

So I was determined to find a way to change the plot.

Before Idris was old enough to remember me, I even asked my parents if we could move away. However, my parents rejected the idea.

In a desperate attempt, I tried other various methods, alas every time it proved to be futile.

While I was trying to escape this place, without realizing it, many years had passed.

“Ugh, what am I going to do?”

The six years old me sat in the garden and sighed deeply.

“What should I do…?”

Soon, I will become an eight years old child.

“I don’t want to die…”

Then, 10 years old.

After that,11 years old.

“Will he kill me if I try to get closer to him?”

After much consideration, I decided to take a leap of faith.

“He is the villain in the future, but right now he is just a child. I’m sure he won’t reject me.”

It was a little scary, but there is no other way.

‘I’m the only one who knows the future, and this knowledge is my only advantage.’

In this place, not only my new family but my neighbors and my best friend, the heroine in the novel also live here.

When Idris performed the genocide, the only the heroine, managed to escape from him.

Nevertheless, Idris was relentless. He went after the heroine in order to kill her.

But as long as I’m here, I won’t let such a thing happen.

“Liliel, I’ll protect you!”

I clenched my fist and shouted.

As she heard my words, the pretty heroine, Liliel Sigron, shook her head gently.

“Are you even strong enough?”

She pushes me slightly. Because my small body was unable to bear the force, I immediately fell sideways. My shiny black hair spread out all over the place like a cloth laid in a lawn.

“Ah, come on. Why are you like this?”

I sat back as I complained, brushing the dirt off my clothes.

“Look at this. You’re not strong. I’ll protect you instead.”

Liliel looked at me with her arms folded.

It’s unfair.

Even if I’m smaller than Liliel, she always lost arm wrestling! I also know the future better.

Our difference in height is natural because Liliel is a year older than me. I’m never small.

“No. In the future I’ll be stronger than you, Liliel.”

I stood up resolutely.

“I’ll get some more snacks. Wait for me!”

“Yes.”

Liliel’s magenta eyes are full of disbelief, when she sees me leaving the garden.

I’m going to take advantage of this chance and visit Idris.

It’s the perfect timing since all the people who hate the ominous white hair in my house are not at home.

I also saw the people next door going out this morning.

“Well, kids, even if they haven’t met each other before. They’ll get close when they get acquainted.”

This’s a quiet and beautiful village where the middle, lower-class aristocrats and wealthy commoners usually lived.

Every house in the neighborhood has a nice garden, dividing some of the rather close houses with tall trees and grass.

One of them is my house. It’s easy to get to the garden next door with little to no effort.

Adults may not know the way, but I recently found a place that dogs usually use to go through the border.

Without hesitating, I sneak through the bushes and slip inside.

It’s much harder than I expected, fortunately I arrived at the garden next door without a scratch.

“Oh….”

Various trees that are carefully tended to are noticeable from where I’m standing.

This is my first time here because my parents always avoid this particular neighbor.

Now all I need to do is to find Idris, and it isn’t difficult to do so.

It is impossible for him to not know someone broke into the garden. I’m sure he’ll check it out, soon enough.

My prediction is only plausible because I know that Idris Schneider is a very sensitive person.

Even in the novel, young Idris could find anyone anywhere. It was because of one of his habits to observe people.

Other than being under an abusive parentship. His freedom was limited. He couldn’t go out and he never met anyone else. All of his knowledge, he acquired through observation.

An inherent gift as a mage.

Of course, Idris, who I’m going to meet, hasn’t discovered his identity as a mage.

He will learn the truth as he grows up.

‘But why isn’t he coming?’

“Huh?”

I am trying to sneak around when my feet hit something. Panic kicks in as I immediately step back to check the damage I caused.

Dressing in a white shirt and black pants, the white-haired boy was squirming from my kick.

‘Huh? Wait a minute. White hair?’

At that moment, the boy turns toward me, hesitating in his step.

It’s Idris, his eyes are glassy from suppressed tears.

‘Ugh, I’m screwed. What should I do?’

As I panicked, I can see the kick left a clear footprints on Idris’s shirt.

“Ah, haha! Hi! I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

Idris’s expression, which seems like it’s going to burst out crying at any moment, morphs into fear.

His body curls up like a frightened puppy and he seems wary of me.

“…go away!”

It was a difficult situation.

“No, look, I’m sorry I left a shoe mark on your shirt, but you should have told me you were there…”

“Go! Ugh.”

Idris who is shouting loudly suddenly groans.

‘What.’

Surprised, I approach him instinctively.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“Don’t touch me!”

“…am I right?”

I ask carefully in the nicest way possible.

Idris widens his eyes in surprise.

“How did you know?”

“I saw the wound. Did the people around you do it? It looks so painful. We need to treat it.”

“…you.”

Idris is still wary, but his eyes observe me closely.

I wait with my hands raised up as a sign that I have no intention of hurting him.

“Vienne of the Astahilt family?”

Wow, he knew my name.

“Do you know me?”

I ask again hoping he doesn’t know.

“You live…next door,” Idris hesitates before he answers.

Damn it. There’s no way he doesn’t know. I live right next door.

As long as he recognizes me, my life won’t be spared in the future.

If I stay here, I’ll end up dead in Idris’ path of vengeance.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m Vienne, I live next to your house. I came here through the bushes. Nice to meet you,” I say as I point the bushes from where I came in.

Idris glared at me, clutching his arms.

“……get out right now. It’s not good for you to be with me.”

“Why? Since we’ve already met, let’s just be friends. We’re neighbors, right?”

“I’m cursed!”

I look at him uneasily when he shouts the words.

“Why do you say that you’re cursed?”

“Are you joking? Look at me.”

Idris gazed at me fiercely.

I thought of how he would be like in the future and I got goosebumps.

But I couldn’t run away. So, I pretended not to care about such things.

“Yes, I see you. You’re handsome.”

“What…?”

He asked back as if he didn’t heard me. I gave the answer again.

“The color you have, it’s not a curse.”

“……”

“You just have a rather unusual appearance.”

Idris froze with his mouth slightly open, as if he was shocked. I was a little sad seeing him.

I think he have just heard something positive about him for the first time.

“All the adults who says you are cursed were wrong.”

I sighed and held out my hand.

“So why don’t you play with me? I’ll treat your wounds first before that.”

I said with a confident smile.

“Huh, Idris Schneider?”

I called out the name of the boy who would become a villain.

Idris eyes shook.

“…but I’m-“

The innocent boy’s eyes glistened due to the sun in the garden.

He was so beautiful that I almost forgot what I was thinking.

I had a hunch that he would be my type when he grows up and becomes an adult.

“I’m the only one in this house right now.”

He spoke sadly like a wounded small animal.

“Oh, really?”

I gazed at him, I thought I wouldn’t be caught trespassing by anyone.

“Do you know what a house without servants or owners means?”

Idris asked me. It was a difficult question.

“Well…? A house where all the family members are busy?”

I answered but Idris didn’t change his expression. My answer was clearly wrong.

“I’m abandoned.”

“What?”

My voice rose in a fit of surprise.

‘There’s no such thing in the novel.’

Apparently Idris lived with his parents until he suddenly disappeared one day.

“What do you mean, abandoned?”

“They are all gone this morning. They moved their stuff little by little before, and the servants gradually decreased, eventually they moved away completely.”

“No, why would they do that…?”

“They couldn’t stand the judgement of others, they went away quietly so that the neighbors wouldn’t know. They also hope I’ll die isolation.”

“Huh? How did you even got into this situation?”

‘I haven’t done anything yet, and the plot has changed? What happened?’

It was absurd. And I was suddenly scared. I felt like a lost adventurer in a deep forest.

It didn’t matter if I changed it and made the story like this.

But it was difficult if the story changed before I did anything.

I couldn’t use my advantage of knowing the future.

“…so, there’s nothing good about you being here anymore, I told you.”

Idris spoke in a tired voice, perhaps because of my reaction.

But still I didn’t want to leave him behind.

“No. If you’re gonna ask me to go, then you come with me.”

I shook my head firmly and reached out my hand once again.

“There’s no one in my house right now except for one friend. Let’s go and put some medicine on your wound.”

Idris frowned. He didn’t seem to like my stubborn attitude.

“You…don’t understand what I’m saying?”

“Your situation is pretty bad, but I want to be friends with you.”

I said so.

Idris was very confused, to the point where I can see it in his expression.

Then in the end, he reached out carefully like a wild animal on the verge of being tamed.

He held my hand.

‘Great!’

“Let’s go, Idris.”

I led him to my home.

“Oh my god, Vianne. Did you bring someone?”

When I came back to my garden, Liliel greeted me.

“He’s hurt. I need to heal him.”

“Last time you picked up a street cat…I know how your personality is like.”

Liliel shook her head and saw Idris.

“Is he that kid? The white-haired kid.”

“You’re right.”

“Oh my god.”

“Just in case, don’t say bad things, Liliel. He’s just a friend who’s not at fault.”

“I don’t want to say anything bad, but I just thought for a moment about what your parents would say.”

“My parents won’t be here until evening anyway. We won’t get caught if we stay together until then.”

My family went downtown near the palace to do business-related work.

And in the morning I put everyone out of work except for the reliable servant.

This means that whatever I do today will not be a problem.

“I’m sure he has a family, wouldn’t they caught you sneaking there?”

“They left him behind, they moved away somewhere permanently. It’s ridiculous, but it’s true.”

“Oh my god.”

“For now…alright. I’ll get the medicine box.”

“Do you know where is it?”

“You need it so often so I knew.”

I had nothing to say. I’ve been weak since I was born.

I sent Liliel to fetch the medicine box and tell Idris to sit on the place where Liliel had sat before.

I sat in the garden as my eyes went to Idris. His beauty shone even more in the beautiful garden.

“Let’s wait until my friend comes back.”

“……..”

Idris stared at me with those red eyes, at least, his red eyes were not on alert like before.

“How old are you? I know you’re Idris Schneider, but you might be older than me.”

I crouched down in front of him and said so. In fact, I know my age roughly thanks to the novel, but I can’t predict his age.

“11 years old.”

Idris answered quietly and I nodded.

“You’re the same age as me, Ah, for your information, my friend, who has a blond hair and magenta eyes, is 12 years old.”

“…..i see.”

“Yes.”

“……”

He shut his mouth. I guess he can’t believe this situation.

In the novel setting, Idris had a rough life, I felt so sorry for him.

That’s why I didn’t leave him alone. If I leave him alone, he would have a deeper resentment towards his neighbour.

So I brought him in.

“You still feel awkward with me, don’t you? Just rest until Liliel comes. I won’t disturb you.”

I gave him some time to organize his thoughts.

I sat on the other side of the table quietly, and soon Liliel came back. With both hands full of things.

“Here’s a bandage, ointment, scissors, glue, and recovery potion.”

Liliel brought out the first aid supplies, put them on the table, and then turned towards him.

“Hmm. Let’s see.”

I tapped Idris’ left arm. He’s bearing the pain with his teeth clenched.

“Your arm must have been broken. Drink this.”

I gave him a bright orange potion bottle. This is actually a magic potion, so buying is actually prohibited, but my parents secretly brought it for me.

As I said earlier, it was useful to have something like this because my body is weak.

“What’s this?”

“A miraculous orange drink that gives you energy.”

I explained roughly as I picked up a bandage and cut it with scissors.

Idris sees the potion in wonder. Then, he glanced at me and took the medicine with a gulp. His wounds began to heal as he looked at it in astonishment.

I put my index finger to my lips while laughing.

“The existence of this medicine is a secret.”

I touched his left arm again. He’s not in pain now.

“How is it?”

“…it’s still a bit painful, but it’s bearable.”

“That’s great, magic is indeed the best.”

“Is this…magic?”

“Yes, is this your first time seeing it?”

Idris will be a sorcerer in the future, so he needs to be familiar with these kinds of things.

“My parents bought this illegally. So if you reveal this, our family has to go to jail together.”

“…is this a threat? I didn’t have anybody to talk to anyway, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Oh, that’s reassuring. I’ll believe you.”

I spoke jokingly and grabbed his hands, his eyes widened for a moment.

‘He’s surprisingly very cooperative.’

He’s very cute. Either he’s a hero or villain, it didn’t matter to me.

I took out the ointment and put it on the back of his hand.

This potion doesn’t heal deep wounds completely, so further treatment had to be taken.

He looked at me with a twinge of pain.

“Why are you helping me?”

He suddenly asks me.

It was the only question I couldn’t answer honestly.

“You’re my neighbor. Neighbours help each other.”

I answered with a smile.

“Other neighbors don’t think so.”

“That’s because they’re bad people who believe in superstition.”

To live, I needed to let Idris know.

Besides those people, there must be someone in this town who doesn’t believe in superstitions like me and Liliel.

“….”

“Thank you.”

He told me out of the blue.

“…pardon?”

“Thank you for your help.”

His words stunned me. I was embarrassed and stunned speechless at his comment.

As a matter of fact, I had never seen Idris say such a thing in the novel.

It’s amazing how innocent and gullible he was in his younger days.

“Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll secretly get you a little bit of this and that. My family’s rich, so it wouldn’t be too obvious.”

“…you’ll help me to that extent?”

“We’re friends now aren’t we?”

‘Right?’ I looked at him again for confirmation.

He gave me an indescribable look.

“Then how about this! If you’re grateful, you can pay me back by playing with me.”

I felt that this was the right time to say that again.

Idris smiled, this time his expression was far more relaxed.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

I cheered inwardly when I heard his affirmation.

That day was the day I befriended Idris, not Idris the villain, but Idris the little boy next to my house.

My first step was a success.

***

It was a few days after meeting Idris.

Mother called our family and announced, “To expand our business this time, me and your father decided to stay in the capital. It won’t take a long time, but we need you to stay here and safe, the capital is dangerous. We’ll leave a lot of servants here.”

‘Does this mean I can act out as much as I want for the time being?!’

“Yes, mother. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll see you guys later,” I replied as I restrained my smile.

‘I’m free!’

***

After my parents left, I began to bring Idris over to my house.

My parents went to the capital city leaving some of my trusted servants. With no higher authorities in the house, it was an easy feat for me to silence them.

We had an agreement. As long as Idris didn’t come inside, the servants wouldn’t utter a word.

At first, Idris was awkward and out of his comfort zone, but slowly over time, he got used to me and Liliel.

We would sit around in the garden, eat snacks, and play together.

Sometimes we would find beautiful wild flowers in the meadow and play hide and seek among the trees.

Even though the long summer had passed and autumn came, the three of us kept playing together.

‘Come to think of it, we’re a very unusual combination. The heroine, the villain, and an extra.’

The character Vianne Astahilt was an extra in the novel

Perhaps, Vianne was one of those dead extras in the scene where Idris wiped out all of the villagers.

But now, I was caught up in a relationship with the main characters.

But this was only the beginning.

‘I’m going to change the villain’s childhood in the novel. Let me apologize in advance, writer. Although I must admit, I do enjoy your novel.’

“Vianne.”

In the afternoon, Liliel gave me her craft she had been fiddling with.

It was a ring made by tying both ends of the grass.

I smiled jubilantly and slipped it on my finger.

“Pretty.”

“Vianne.”

This time Idris called me. On his hand was a flower crown made of grass and flowers.

“Yes, Idris?”

To be honest, Idris made it much better. He’s great at these kinds of things.

Idris came to me and placed a flower crown on my head.

“You didn’t buy it, did you?” I joked, subtly praising his crafts.

He grinned, “You saw me make it.”

“That’s true. Thanks anyway guys.”

That afternoon, I was in a good mood. I got a present from the heroine and the villain at the same time.

“But why only me? You guys should make one for each other too,” I suggested.

I wanted them to get along well to prevent them from becoming enemies in the future.

“Oh no, it’s a little hard.”

“I’m not good at making things like this.”

‘… are they fighting behind my back?’

Even though the seasons had changed and we had spent quite some time together, the two of them still hadn’t got close. This was my biggest concern these days.

At that time, I thought I had successfully gotten close to Idris, and I thought I had pulled the death flags from everyone. But I wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Oh, come on. We’re friends with each other.”

“Not really.”

Liliel clung to me while saying so. Idris’ expression quickly darkened.

“Get away from Vianne.”

“I’ll think about it if you take this flower crown off her.”

“You…!”

“Hey, guys? What are you doing…” I moderated them weakly, but to make it worse, both of them had a stubborn personality.

“What is wrong with both of you?”

I shook my head as Liliel answered quickly.

“Idris started it first.”

“Me?”

Idris asked back.

“Yes! You’re jealous of me and Vianne.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense, it’s the truth!”

“……why don’t you stop?”

Idris looks really angry now.

‘What’s going on here? Have they been fighting behind my back? But why?’

I have no idea what happened, Idris reached out to me and to Liliel.

At that moment, I suddenly recalled a scene in the novel.

The scene where Idris Schneider, the ruthless villain who held Liliel a hostage, flashed before me….

I reflectively hid Liliel behind me.

“…Vianne.”

I was startled to hear his trembling voice.

We’re in trouble. This felt like I was protecting Liliel from him. It seemed like I treated him as a threat.

“Idris, this…”

I looked into Idris’ eyes as I searched for an excuse. I regretted my action immensely.

Idris was crestfallen, his sadness was apparent to all of us.

“Did you think I was gonna hurt her?”

“No, you guys are fighting, I was a bit surprised.”

“Do you think of me like how others think of me?”

“….”

‘Oh my goodness, I just made a huge blunder. How do I fix it?’

While I was agonizing inside my mind, he already turned away before I could even formed an explanation.

I tried to catch up to him but he had gone back to his house.

The atmosphere became cold. Liliel looked towards Idris’ house with a shocked face.

“I didn’t mean to be like that. I was wrong.”

“I made a mistake too. He obviously didn’t mean to attack you, but that just reminded me of the wrong thing at the moment…”

“Vianne, what should we do?”

“I’ll apologize first. Let’s solve your misunderstanding afterwards.”

***

I sent Liliel back after dinner.

When I came out again, the sun was long gone into the horizon. I informed the servants that I would take a walk in the backyard.

When I was out of their sight, I went straight to the corner and passed through a hole.

Idris’ house was very quiet, the grasshoppers’ chirping could be heard clearly over the silence.

Even if he hung out with us often, he would inevitably feel lonely and scared when he came back to this house. I should’ve been more considerate of him.

“Idris? Can you come out for a second.”

He had a sharp sense, he’d know I was near his house even if I called him from the outside.

“It was my fault. I’m sorry.”

Still the silence remained while the small figure I had been expecting didn’t show up.

I entered the building cautiously.

The darkness on the inside was apparent as soon as I came in. All the lights in the mansion were out.

I hesitated for a moment, however, soon I gathered my courage and kept walking.

“I have a secret that I haven’t told you yet. And your appearance reminds me of my secret, that’s why I got a little confused. But I never regard you as a bad person.”

There was no one on the first floor.

The wind blew heavily through the mansion as I stepped up the stairs leading to the second floor.

Creak. The sound resounded in the still silence.

Honestly, it was a bit scary.

‘What’s he doing with the lights off?’

“Idris, Liliel didn’t say that because she didn’t want to be friends with you. I guess it’s because your personalities just didn’t match.”

My heart was pounding.

If I had known this would happen, I would’ve brought a candle.

“I think you guys would get along well with time.”

Even so, no reply came. The stillness and gloom in the mansion started to frighten me. I was starting to get paranoid, afraid a ghost would come out. I shifted around nervously.

I arrived on the corridor of the second floor. There seemed to be something at the end.

“Idris, can you come out, I’m scared…”

I said so not to bait him out, but because I was truly scared witless.

I took another step.

Just then,

Something behind me passed like the wind,

“Agh!”

Goosebumps ran throughout my body.

‘Is it a ghost?’

My legs gave out as I fell down in fright.

My head was spinning and my vision was dimming. I felt suffocated.

‘What’s happening? My body won’t move.’

“….Vianne, breathe!”

I barely came to my senses at the shout.

‘It hurts so much!’

“Vianne!”

I laid on my stomach, I couldn’t breathe, but my condition was gradually getting better.

“Hah… I-I just came back from death….”

It felt like when I was running for an hour on a hot summer day. Suddenly, I could feel someone touching my shoulder.

‘Who?’

I looked up and saw the owner of this hand.

It was Idris.

His eyes were gleaming with undisguised worry.