I Like Villains, so I Reincarnated as One

“Still, was it really okay to leave Lord Nial behind?”

“Well, knowing him, I’m sure he’ll manage somehow…”

After defeating Emile Rio, we were riding our carriage towards the Spirit Spring in the Hamilton territory. We had originally planned to return together with Nial, but he had some business to attend to, so he sent us ahead to the Hamilton territory.

Now, we’ve switched to our own carriage and are heading towards the Spirit Spring.

“Um… do you think Astesia will be alright? Because of me, she has to ride alone…”

“Don’t worry about it. That’s how strong the curse from the heretical cult is. It’s not your fault, Rosalia. Besides, she’s with White, so she should be fine.”

I couldn’t help but smile imagining how happy and fluffy Astesia must be right now, playing with White.

Astesia is riding in a different carriage out of consideration for Rosalia and because she requested it. She said she needed time to mentally prepare to be freed from the curse and didn’t want to see anyone.

Instead, she asked if she could borrow White, so I thought maybe she just wanted to cuddle, but pointing that out would be rude. She probably has a lot on her mind, and besides… she’ll soon be able to cuddle with normal dogs too.

“Ah, and by the way, has that letter reached them yet?”

“Yes, definitely. They should be arriving here a little later. Still, Lord Weiss, you’re very kind. As expected of you.”

“Well, I want my favorite character to be happy.”

“Favorite character…?”

Rosalia repeated my words with a puzzled expression. Right, this world doesn’t have the concept of “favorite character.” While I was wondering how to explain it, she smiled gently.

“I don’t know that word, but I understand it’s a good one. If that’s the case, then my favorite character would be Lord Weiss, right?”

“Eh… ah, thank you. That’s embarrassing.”

I felt a bit itchy as Rosalia smiled mischievously. It was awkward… but I’m no longer my past self. I am Weiss now.

Even cheesy lines that only handsome guys can pull off – let’s go for it!!

“My favorite character is also you, Rosalia.”

“Hehe, thank you. Even if it’s flattery, I’m happy… We seem to have arrived.”

As Rosalia blushed and we gazed at each other, creating a slightly sweet atmosphere, lush greenery came into view. I got out of the carriage and headed toward Astesia’s carriage. Anyone else might hurt her.

“Hey, Astesia!”

“Kyuu kyuu♪”

“Aww, you’re so cute~ Won’t you become my pet? I want to stay like this forever~”

“…”

When I opened the door without knocking, there was Astesia hugging White with a blissful expression, speaking in baby talk.

Well, since the carriage had stopped, she should’ve prepared herself… Just as I was thinking this in my head, our eyes met while she was smiling dreamily – and in an instant, Astesia’s face became completely emotionless, as if she had discarded all her feelings.

“We’ve finally arrived at the Spirit Spring…”

“Y-yeah… This should lift the curse.”

“I see… Finally, I’ll be rid of this curse. It’s been a long time… Thank you, Weiss. I’ll definitely repay this favor someday.”

Astesia suddenly started talking seriously with a straight face. She intends to pretend nothing happened!!! Looking closely at her composed face, I noticed her cheeks were slightly red. There’s really no need to hide liking animals, is there?

“Well, here we go. Are you ready mentally?”

“Of course. I’m a bit nervous, but it’s fine.”

I said this while standing against the carriage door. After seeing her adorable favorite character-like appearance earlier, I couldn’t help but smile.

“I think it’s nice to see you being natural with animals too, Astesia.”

“Pretend you didn’t see anything until the end, you idiot!!!”

Astesia’s scream filled with embarrassment echoed through the Spirit Spring. Well, there are times when you can’t help but tease your favorite character. But it’s good to see her feeling better.

…

We encountered a few monsters on the way to the Spirit Spring, but otherwise, we progressed without major issues. With Rosalia in the front line, me in the middle, and Astesia in support, we were ridiculously strong. And my mental state forming a party with my favorite character is also ridiculous. My vocabulary is getting weird too.

“There are so many spirits here…”

“It’s amazing every time I see it…”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful…”

As we approached the spring, we saw butterfly-shaped spirits and divine beasts of the same species as White bathing in the water, just like last time. The water surface sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.

“Then, Lord Weiss, Lady Astesia, I’ll go patrol the surroundings… You said it’ll be lifted… I’m sure it will. Please rest assured.”

“Yes… thank you.”

Rosalia and Astesia exchanged words somewhat awkwardly. Rosalia’s mental strength is impressive, smiling despite the curse.

As Rosalia disappeared from sight, White jumped down from my shoulder and ran toward the spring.

“Kyuu kyuu kyuu!!”

“Kyu? Kyuuu!!”

Perhaps White communicated with them, as the spirits and divine beasts cleared a path to the spring, like Moses parting the sea.

And I felt as if the spirits were smiling at us.

“Well, I’m going in.”

Astesia spoke, looking tense, probably worried about whether the curse would be lifted. I tried to reassure her.

“It’ll be fine. Look, the divine beasts are watching over us too. You’ll definitely be cured. If not, I’ll take responsibility.”

“W-what… responsibility… You should choose your words more carefully… But, thank you. It gave me a bit of courage.”

“Yeah… Do your best.”

For some reason, she nodded while blushing at my words. Then, as if making up her mind, she stepped forward to the spring… but instead of entering, she kept glancing back at me.

What’s going on? I want her to feel reassured that I’m properly watching over her…

“Um… I’m going to undress, so could you look away?”

“Huh? Oh, I see!! Sorry.”

I quickly turned around and closed my eyes. Come to think of it, in games, when maidens enter spirit springs, they usually undress… It’s supposedly to prevent impurities from their clothes mixing with the spring… And depending on whether the protagonist peeks or not, companion affection levels change…

The sound of fabric rustling could be heard. Now that I think about it, this is quite a situation, isn’t it? My favorite character is currently naked behind me!! Maybe because I never had much luck with girls in my previous life, I’m starting to feel strange.

So… if I turn around, Astesia would be naked…

This is my chance to see what I couldn’t in the game… Unable to resist, I swallowed hard and steeled myself… then pinched my knee with all my might!!

There’s no way I should peek!! I reincarnated to make my favorite character happy!! I saved her not to make her uncomfortable!!

“Ughhhh”

Maybe I put too much force into it, but my pinched knee hurts like crazy. While I was battling the pain, I heard footsteps behind me.

“You can turn around now… What are you doing?”

Noticing my intense groaning, she called out suspiciously. I was fighting my instincts! Can’t be helped!!

When I turned around, Astesia’s long hair was slightly damp, making her appear more alluring than usual… but that’s not the point.

“Um… Could you check for me?”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

Smiling to reassure her, I touched Astesia’s white hand and checked her status.

Just as I was about to tell her the results, she suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief. Her gaze was fixed behind me.

It seems the person who received the letter arrived at just the right time.

“Astesia!! Is it true that the curse is lifted? I did such terrible things to you…”

“Angela nee-sama!? Why are you here…”

She cried out in shock at the voice calling from behind… and looked at me pleadingly with her eyes.

“It’s alright. Enjoy this reunion after so long.”

“I’m glad… Thank you. Angela nee-saaaaaamaaa!!”

With tears streaming down her face, she ran and embraced Angela. As I watched them reunite, Rosalia came to stand beside me.

“Lady Astesia has been freed from the curse. Seeing Angela so happy… It’s wonderful. As expected of you, Lord Weiss.”

“It wasn’t just me. Rosalia lent her strength, Angela kept searching for a way to save her, and Astesia never gave up. That’s why she was saved.”

The crying voices of the two reunited sisters echoed through the divine beast’s spring, watched over by the divine beasts themselves. Yes, she was saved because everyone worked hard. My favorite character, Astesia, was finally saved. Feeling relieved, I felt something warm welling up in my chest.

I was able to save my favorite character whom I couldn’t save in the game. Feeling satisfied, I continued to watch over them protectively.

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Top Tools for Learning Japanese: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners and Beyond

Learning Japanese opens doors to a rich culture, unique career opportunities, and a rewarding personal challenge. Whether you’re captivated by anime, planning a trip to Tokyo, or looking to expand your linguistic skills, the right tools can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. With so many apps, websites, and resources available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

This guide highlights the top tools for learning Japanese, catering to different learning styles, budgets, and proficiency levels. From gamified apps to immersive software and conversation practice platforms, these tools will help you master vocabulary, grammar, Kanji, and more. Let’s dive in!

Why Learn Japanese?

Before exploring the tools, it’s worth noting why Japanese is a valuable language to learn:

• Cultural Immersion: Understand anime, manga, and Japanese literature in their original form.
• Career Opportunities: Japan’s global influence in technology, business, and entertainment makes Japanese a sought-after skill.
• Cognitive Benefits: Learning a non-Latin script language like Japanese can enhance memory and problem-solving skills.

Now, let’s look at the best tools to help you achieve your goals.

1. Duolingo

• Best For: Beginners seeking a fun, gamified approach.
• Key Features:
  • Free with optional premium upgrades.
  • Bite-sized lessons on vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure.
  • Listening and speaking exercises to practice pronunciation.
  • Gamification elements like points, streaks, and leaderboards.
• Why It Stands Out: Duolingo’s user-friendly interface and reward system make it ideal for building a daily learning habit. It’s perfect for beginners but may need to be supplemented with other tools for advanced learners.

2. Rosetta Stone

• Best For: Learners who prefer immersive, structured lessons.
• Key Features:
  • Paid subscription with a focus on immersion.
  • Interactive lessons covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
  • Speech recognition technology for pronunciation feedback.
  • Lessons build on each other for gradual progression.
• Why It Stands Out: Rosetta Stone’s immersion method helps you think in Japanese rather than translating from your native language. It’s ideal for serious learners looking for a comprehensive curriculum.

3. Memrise

• Best For: Vocabulary building with spaced repetition.
• Key Features:
  • Free with premium options.
  • User-generated courses and official Memrise content.
  • Spaced repetition and mnemonic techniques for memory retention.
  • Audio and video clips from native speakers.
• Why It Stands Out: Memrise excels at making vocabulary stick. Its use of real-life videos and community-driven content adds variety and cultural context to your learning.

4. Anki

• Best For: Customizable flashcard learning, especially for Kanji.
• Key Features:
  • Free on most platforms (paid iOS app).
  • Create custom flashcard decks or download pre-made ones.
  • Supports images, audio, and example sentences.
  • Spaced repetition system (SRS) for optimal review timing.
• Why It Stands Out: Anki’s flexibility allows you to tailor your learning to specific needs, like mastering Kanji or advanced vocabulary. It’s a favorite among serious learners for its effectiveness.

5. Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese

• Best For: Grammar-focused learners.
• Key Features:
  • Completely free online resource.
  • Comprehensive grammar lessons from beginner to advanced levels.
  • Clear explanations with practical examples.
  • Available as a mobile app for offline access.
• Why It Stands Out: Tae Kim’s guide is a go-to for understanding Japanese grammar. Its straightforward approach demystifies complex concepts, making it a must-have for self-learners.

6. HelloTalk

• Best For: Conversation practice with native speakers.
• Key Features:
  • Free with premium options.
  • Connects you with native Japanese speakers for language exchange.
  • Text, voice, and video chat options.
  • Built-in correction tools and translation features.
• Why It Stands Out: HelloTalk bridges the gap between textbook learning and real-world conversation. It’s perfect for practicing speaking and listening in a supportive environment.

7. Kanji Recognizer

• Best For: Learning and recognizing Kanji characters.
• Key Features:
  • Free app available on Android and iOS.
  • Draw Kanji on your screen to search for meanings and readings.
  • Provides stroke order, example words, and readings.
  • Offline functionality for on-the-go learning.
• Why It Stands Out: Kanji Recognizer is a handy tool for quickly identifying and learning Kanji. It’s especially useful for beginners struggling with character recognition.

Tips for Maximizing Your Learning

To get the most out of these tools, consider these strategies:

• Set Clear Goals: Whether it’s mastering 100 Kanji or holding a 5-minute conversation, specific goals keep you motivated.
• Practice Daily: Consistency is key. Even 15-30 minutes a day can lead to significant progress.
• Mix and Match Tools: Use a combination of apps for well-rounded learning. For example:
  • Vocabulary: Duolingo or Memrise.
  • Grammar: Tae Kim’s Guide.
  • Speaking: HelloTalk.
  • Kanji: Anki or Kanji Recognizer.
• Embrace Mistakes: Language learning is a process. Don’t be afraid to make errors—they’re stepping stones to fluency.

Conclusion

Learning Japanese is a journey that requires dedication, but with the right tools, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. From gamified apps like Duolingo to immersive platforms like Rosetta Stone and conversation tools like HelloTalk, there’s something for every learner. Start with the tools that best fit your style and goals, and don’t hesitate to experiment with different combinations.

Ready to begin? Choose your first tool and take the first step toward mastering Japanese today!