Became the Villainess’s Guardian

There are occasionally people in this world possessing extraordinary abilities.

Like the hero who fired death beams from their eyes against the last Demon King.
Like Professor Magni, the foremost authority on electromagnetism, creating hypnosis techniques.
Still somewhat clumsy, but akin to Freugne herself glimpsing the futures of those she made contact with.

Such individuals existed indiscriminately, from impoverished slums to affluent districts, regardless of circumstance.

Freugne had compiled an extensive list, but for now, she decided to extend her reach only as far as what was within grasp.

Weaving through the pedestrians on the streets, Freugne quickly arrived at her destination.

Edan had immediately provided a renovated warehouse on the outskirts of East Londinium as lodgings for homeless children.
In truth, there was hardly any aspect of his charitable foundation that Freugne could directly influence. No matter how much Edan trusted her, he would hardly delegate all operations to a teenage girl.

“Ah, Freugne, you’re here?”

“Hello, caretaker. I’ve come to see the children staying here.”

“Again today? You’re quite diligent.”

In the end, all that remained within her jurisdiction was selecting the sponsorship recipients and subsequent management.
For Freugne, having this authority was sufficient.

Edan’s charitable foundation was… a kind of audition venue for her.
A pretext for gathering people, and an opportunity to briefly observe and identify promising individuals to join her cause.

And after diligently canvassing to assemble them, observing them for months,
Freugne had successfully handpicked those here who could share her ambitions.

-“Money? Ah, yes. Money is good. I can provide a bit, but of course, it won’t be free.”

-“Power might take more time, but it’s certainly attainable if you follow my lead.”

For those with reasonable ambitions, she would whisper enticements of wealth. For the indecisive and wavering, she would reveal glimpses of her vision.
And occasionally, some seemed to have already grasped her intentions to some extent, taking the initiative to approach her first.

Ulr, who had survived through petty thievery in the slums, was one such case.
Unusually large in stature and thus conspicuous, Freugne spoke to him from behind in a hushed tone.

“Could we meet behind the lodgings for a bit later?”

“Hm?”

“I have a proposal for you.”

Following Freugne’s suggestion, Ulr discreetly slipped away to the back of the lodgings, scanning his surroundings before speaking.

“There’s something I want to ask first.”

“Go ahead.”

“Isn’t there a reason you’ve gathered us here? Surely not just to provide food and shelter, right?”

“Did you have any particular reason for thinking that?”

“Well, how should I put this? There are quite a few… peculiar folks around here. You can’t expect me to believe there’s no ulterior motive.”

“Ah, so that’s what tipped you off. Fair point.”

“So, the answer to my previous question?”

“Mister Edan’s kindness is indeed his sole intention towards you all. But yes, I have separate business.”

She had no plans to undermine Edan’s goodwill. She was simply inserting herself to broker new vocations.

“What if I betray you?”

“You won’t, will you?”

Freugne lightly brushed aside the not-quite-threat.
After all, exposing one’s nature was a minimum prerequisite for selection – she could hardly be unaware.

“A single betrayal is enough, you see.”

Whether that betrayal would be hers or Edan’s remained uncertain.

Setting aside such complicating thoughts, Freugne continued.

“More than that, I’m interested in your transparency ability.”

“So you were aware.”

“Wasn’t it something you had already surmised?”

“I suppose so.”

The applications of a transparency ability were boundless.
Especially if it could extend to whomever one touched.

Edan would likely shout ‘log out’ and turn invisible in the middle of the street.
And later, he might fetch a friend, performing a disappearing act together before onlookers, remarking, ‘At last you’ve realized, come back to the real world with me.’

But the true owner of that ability was Ulr, who had merely been using it for petty theft thus far.

And taking one step further, it could facilitate the perfect crime against people. A future that would have inevitably unfolded without intervention.

Freugne wished to employ that talent as a courier service of sorts.
With no convenient devices like telephones yet, wouldn’t it be useful to have someone relay messages and fetch responses?

Those Freugne had handpicked from Edan’s foundation would serve as her mouthpieces.

“Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”

“I am.”

“Then would you assist me with a small task?”

And the individuals she would soon meet would become the hands to wield as she wished.

Until recently, Baldor’s family had been enjoying a pleasant atmosphere.

The paterfamilias, who had seemed destined to remain a superintendent until retirement, was prospering with modest accolades from the metropolitan police department.
With the plumper salary envelopes graced by bonuses, they could finally afford new clothes, shoes, and other comforts, bringing domestic bliss as many issues were resolved.

But as the phrase ‘until recently’ implied, that happiness did not last.

As a proud member of Londinium’s police force, he had dutifully reported the public interest tips he had received to his superiors.
While uncertain if the detailed contents were truly public interest disclosures or internal whistleblowing, it was not his place to judge.

And at some point, the letters ceased arriving for him.
Simultaneously, a cousin serving in a neighboring department as a metropolitan commander was promoted. Without concrete proof but based on circumstantial evidence, he could surmise what had transpired.

In truth, Baldor could accept this much. The letters may have been addressed to his office mailbox, but he had not actively earned them through his own efforts.
That someone else had reaped the credited achievements in that process… Well, it was not an unfamiliar sight, so he could let it pass quietly.

But.

“Hmm……”

“What seems to be the matter, Commander?”

“No, it’s nothing. Today’s letter contains nothing of particular importance.”

While his superior seemed to be attempting some concealment, he was evidently receiving compensation in exchange for covering up crimes.
Or perhaps he didn’t even bother hiding it, given the parade of arrested criminals swiftly released, his changing wardrobe colors, and the glinting wristwatch adorning his arm.

Knowingly turning a blind eye to crimes.
This was… rather improper, wasn’t it?

“What’s wrong, Baldor?”

“It’s nothing. Just… I haven’t been sleeping well lately, so I’m feeling fatigued.”

“Perhaps it’s time for you to start taking care of your health too. With so many troublemakers disrupting Londinium, you’ll need to rest well to regain your strength.”

The hand patting his back bore a rugged yet smooth gold ring.

Returning home without any notable achievements yet again that day, Baldor hung his cap on the wall and trudged heavily towards the dining table.
His son, drawing on the living room floor, looked up and extended his hand.

“Dad, a letter.”

“Is that so? Who would be sending me one…?”

Baldor’s eyes widened slightly as he absentmindedly opened the envelope.

Having only seen it thrice before, he was certain. It was that familiar scrawl.
While unsure why it had arrived at his home instead of the usual office mailbox, it was a welcome change. Perhaps it contained information that could aid his career prospects.

Contrary to his expectations, however, the contents did not list any crime spots, times, or dates as before.
It merely bore a commandment: ‘Come alone to the central park in West Londinium at 4 PM tomorrow. An offer you cannot refuse will be made.’

Ordinarily, such a suspicious proposal could be swiftly rejected and reported to his superiors.

But as Baldor moved to return the letter to his pocket, a harsh reality gripped his ankles.

‘The rent has been raised again. I suppose I’ll need to start working too.’

‘No, dear. It’s alright. Money will certainly come in soon.’

‘We could move houses, but what about our child’s schooling? Their grades qualify for high school, but we lack the tuition fees.’

‘That’s……’

‘We should strive to provide them a better life than ours, shouldn’t we?’

While he alone might have managed, his children were not the kind he could bear to see suffer.
If upholding his lifelong principles led to such inequities, should he truly persist?

After prolonged contemplation.
Baldor eventually left only a brief mention of taking a stroll in the park, omitting the actual destination, and stepped outside, just in case.

The afternoon park had a fair number of people present. He was assured no one would blatantly attack or abduct him in plain sight.

Baldor discreetly unfolded the letter from his pocket.

‘No specific location mentioned.’

It merely instructed him to come to the park. Rather than trouble himself further, Baldor simply took a nearby bench.

And then.

“You actually came?”

“…?!”

Whipping his head around at the voice from behind, he saw only a barren tree.
Yet the disembodied voice continued.

“If my memory serves, I sent five more letters after the first one… Did you receive them?”

“No, not one.”

“I see, that would make sense. I assume you know the reason better than I do.”

“……”

“In that regard, I figured it might be better to directly exchange information one-on-one from now on, hence the summons.”

The other party spoke as if fully aware of his predicament, no – with outright conviction.

“I’m not asking you to do anything illegal. Let’s just call it mutual cooperation.”

It was the voice of a young girl. While sounding youthful, there was an unnatural quality, as if she was deliberately altering her tone.

“I’ll keep providing information to aid your promotions, you properly utilize it, and incidentally, the city becomes safer… A mutually beneficial arrangement, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I presume there would be a price for that.”

“Nothing major. Just occasionally sharing internal police matters, and fulfilling minor requests now and then.”

“You believe I would accept such an offer?”

While phrased as mutual cooperation, it was evident he would essentially be strung along by someone holding the most crucial information.
Accepting this proposal would lead to incessantly pleading for ‘further cooperation’ like an addictive vice, constantly proving his usefulness.

And in polite society, such a relationship was called not cooperation, but servitude.

“Yes.”

“……”

Working under someone else’s charge was hardly an unfamiliar concept. He too had superiors – a superintendent, a metropolitan commander above them, and several more ranks beyond.
And this unidentified other party did not seem any less capable than them, if not better.

How far could their words be trusted?
Was he not making a deal with the devil?

Such trivial hesitations were soon swept away by pragmatic concerns, and Baldor found himself nodding in acquiescence, as if entranced.

The enigmatic voice seemed pleased, its tone rising slightly.

“Then our negotiations are settled!”

“I’ll arrange separate contact methods for you. Until we meet again.”

And just like that, all traces had vanished.