Chapter 23

^{I Like Villains, so I Reincarnated as One}

“You… You’re Hades!!”
“Do you know my true identity? Whose servant are you? Zeus? No, this feeling is different…”

Shit, shit, shit! This guy isn’t someone I should be facing here. I only know how strong he is because of the game.
The protagonist is the one who receives Zeus’s blessing, not Lord Weiss Hamilton. But with the way things are going, does that mean I’m receiving some kind of divine protection too?

Well, whatever. While he’s lost in thought, I need to figure out a way to turn things around…

I glance at the Spirit Spring. Gods are weak against the blessings of other gods. In the game, an effective weakness was using the power of the Holy Maiden to borrow the strength of Zeus, or forming a contract with a divine beast for protection. But there’s no one around me who can do that. If I could somehow use the power of the Spirit Spring imbued with another god’s energy…

“I know your weakness—it’s divine protection! With the water from the Spirit Spring, I have nothing to fear!!”
“Hmph, so you even know my weakness. But you won’t reach the spring. I don’t care whose servant you are, but interfering with my plans is unpleasant. Die!!”
“Woahhhhh!!!”

With just a swing of his arm, a crimson blade materializes and comes flying at me. The only reason I managed to dodge it was because I knew his attack patterns from the game. It’s Hades’ signature move—Death Concentrated. Its effect is simple: touch it, and you die. A ridiculous effect, but fitting for the final boss.
Thankfully, his movements matched those from the cutscenes. Just as Hades was about to unleash another crimson blade, his body was struck by an ice arrow, freezing him in place.

“Are you alright, Lord Weiss Hamilton?!”
“Rosalia, you saved me!!”

I thanked Rosalia for her support and readied my sword, charging toward the frozen Hades. I had to finish him off while he was still weakened…!!

“Hahaha, did you really think such weak magic could stop me… Why can’t I move?”
“Why do you think I shouted out your weakness, huh?!”
“What? This ice… it’s from the spring’s water… Damn it… My power… With just that information, how did they manage such coordination…?”
“My maid is excellent, isn’t she?! Take this!!”

My sword pierced Hades’ throat. But even as he grimaced in pain, he glared at me fiercely. The oppressive aura emanating from Hades began to weaken, and the ice slowly started to melt. But his moment of weakness was fleeting.
Once again, I felt an overwhelming pressure from Hades.

Damn it!! Without the blessings of a Holy Maiden or a divine beast, can I even deal any real damage to him?!!

Before I could finish that thought, the ice shattered, and Hades regained his freedom. Shit… The only reason it worked earlier was because we caught him off guard.
At this rate, not just me but Rosalia, Nial, and Aegis, the Bloodstained Villainess, are all in danger. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rosalia running toward me, weapon in hand, probably thinking she’d take my place if something happened.
Just like in the game when the protagonist’s master sacrificed herself… Like hell I’d let that happen!! I quickly began chanting.

“O Tyrant of Shadows, lend me your arm!!”
“An advanced spell…? Gahhh!!”

My shadow transformed into a massive beast, its arm gripping the sword alongside mine, driving it deeper into Hades’ body. This has to end it…

“Lord Weiss Hamilton!! Armor of Frost, protect me!!”

Between Hades and me, Rosalia stepped in, clad in icy armor. Hades, enduring the pain, launched a counterattack at me. His crimson arm, wrapped in deathly power, collided with Rosalia, now encased in ice… For a brief moment, there was balance. Then Rosalia was blown back toward me.

“Kahh!!”
“Ah…”

I barely managed to catch her, but Rosalia coughed up blood, groaning in pain. She might’ve broken a rib. She survived because the blow wasn’t direct, but this isn’t good…

“Lord Weiss Hamilton… please escape. I’ll buy time…”

Despite her suffering, she smiled at me, her breath ragged. That scene overlapped with the memory of the protagonist’s master sacrificing herself in the game… No… At this rate, Rosalia will die… And unlike the protagonist, I won’t be miraculously saved. Is everyone going to die…? Even though things were finally starting to go well…

I can’t accept that… What should I do?

“Hahaha, did you really think the power of Cerberus alone could defeat me? I admit, I’m surprised someone like you could cast an advanced spell. But that’s all… That woman will die a pitiful death, and you’ll accomplish nothing. You’re useless!! And she’s foolish too… If she hadn’t interfered, she wouldn’t have to die…”

The voice from above mocked us with laughter. Don’t fuck with me… And… what did you just say? What did you call us?

“I’m not useless…”
“Huh?”
“Weiss Hamilton isn’t useless, and Rosalia isn’t a foolish woman!! Unlike you with your bullshit cheat powers, both of them are fighting hard to survive!!”

What brought me back from the brink of despair was the insult to Weiss Hamilton and… the disrespect toward Rosalia. I couldn’t forgive this bastard for mocking people I cared about without even knowing them.
This must be similar to the protagonist’s losing event in the game… But… the one who lost was the protagonist. I’m not the protagonist—I’m Weiss Hamilton, the lord who was used as a stepping stone… And no one knows the limits of Weiss Hamilton, who died halfway through. So I believe in you. If anyone could surpass their struggles, it’s you…!!

“Sword that protects the princess of eternal darkness, come to me! Sword of Devouring Gods!!”
“What… That’s a royal-class spell… How can someone like you…”

This time, my shadow took on a human form. It was pure darkness itself—an overwhelming blackness that seemed to dominate the shadows. I picked up the sharp icicles Rosalia had been wearing and infused them with that darkness.
The pain was so intense it felt like my brain was being scorched. No… My mana isn’t enough… Is this it? Am I still not capable? Can’t I save Weiss Hamilton and Rosalia? Fuck!! If not now, then when?!!

“One person can’t do it alone, but two can.”

Weiss Hamilton’s line echoed in my mind. At the same time, a surge of mana welled up inside me…

“Uooooo!!”
“How dare you think I’ll go down quietly!! What!?”

In that brief moment of instability, chains of ice wrapped around Hades. It was Rosalia. She must’ve used the last of her strength. I charged forward and thrust my sword into his abdomen!!
At the same time, an overwhelming darkness spread through Hades’ body, corroding him from within.

“How dare someone like youuuu!! You’re not chosen by Zeus!!”

Even after all that damage, he’s still moving. Is this it? Is it impossible? Because I’m not the protagonist? Does that mean only the protagonist can defeat him?
For a moment, I hesitated. But then I felt concern for Rosalia and encouragement for myself. That’s right—I’m not alone. Weiss Hamilton and Rosalia are lending me their strength.

“I won’t lose!! I’m not the protagonist!! But we have our own unique power. Right, Weiss Hamilton?! One person can’t do it alone, but two can. We can’t afford to let anyone die!!”
“Kyuuu!!”

It was then, as I poured everything into the sword, that the divine beast hiding among the trees leapt onto my shoulder and roared, filling me with an unfamiliar power.

Could this power be… from this little guy…

I thanked the divine beast on my shoulder and focused even more energy into the sword. The blade began to shine brilliantly, causing Hades to writhe in agony.

“Tch, the blessing of a divine beast… So this is the limit of this vessel… Tell me your name… My…”
“No need to know!! Suspicious bastard!!”

Rosalia’s spear, wrapped in ice, pierced through Hades’ face, and this time, he truly fell lifeless. The slim Schuzel-Hades cultist was now nothing more than a corpse.
While I was fighting, Rosalia must’ve treated herself with a potion. She came running over, panting, and handed me a potion to drink.

“Lord Weiss Hamilton, are you alright?”
“Yeah, Rosalia, thank you… And you too.”
“Kyuu!!”
“Please don’t worry me like that again. Rushing into battle against someone like that… If anything had happened to you, I…”

Rosalia pouted before pulling me into a tight embrace, pressing me against her ample chest.
Shit, this stimulation is dangerous for a virgin like me… But… it’s strangely calming. I didn’t realize how tense I was until now. Exhaustion hit me all at once. I wanted to just lean into her… But that wish wasn’t granted.

“What’s going on here… Signs of a fight… Is this guy dead?”
“Cuddling is fine, but maybe save it for the mansion? Or do you prefer outdoor play?”
“No, it’s not like that!!”
“Oh, Lord Weiss Hamilton…”

Realizing the other two had returned, I hastily pulled away from Rosalia. Please don’t look at me with those sad eyes…
We concealed the truth about Hades and explained to the others that a slim Hades cultist had gone berserk. We decided to make medicine using the Spirit Spring.