Became the Villainess’s Guardian

Londinium Magic University’s Cookie Monster.

Professor Magni had ventured out, seizing the opportunity to catch up with Edan, who had mentioned preparing chocolate chip cookies at the clubhouse.

After all, he needed to share some prime tips for smoothly gaining admission into the Royal Academy.

However, upon arrival, he was greeted by Edan’s laments about Freugne’s apparent onset of puberty.
Only after Edan finished recounting his ‘Freugne Parenting Diary’ did the professor finally speak.

“I understand the story. Didn’t I previously mention my daughter going through something similar? It’s a natural phase, so no need to worry excessively.”

“Knowledge increased.”

“But it does seem rather peculiar. You said her daily patterns changed abruptly overnight. Is such a drastic transformation common…?”

“Knowledge decreased.”

“Well, just as there are all sorts of people, there can be variations in temperament too.”

“Knowledge unchanged……”

Judging by the unsatisfying reactions, it seemed Edan had already come to terms with Freugne’s (non)puberty long ago.

As the professor sipped his tea, Edan broached his plans to enroll the young lady in high school, prompting the professor to seize the opportunity and inquire about something he had been privately wondering.

“Edan.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Does that girl hold any special significance for you?”

Edan tensed visibly.
If asked whether she was truly special… he wished to affirm it. Perhaps by now she might no longer be extraordinary, but as the one privy to her original fate, he would undoubtedly regard her as such.

“You seem to dote on her like your own child. Any plans to formally adopt her?”

“I wonder if Freugne would appreciate that.”

“Considering you’ve yet to marry or settle down, it might not be such a bad path for both of you.”

Adoption.
Would Freugne, who had begun distancing herself and seeking solitary time due to the onslaught of puberty, accept such an arrangement?

Seizing the momentary pause, the professor landed another remark.

“Or perhaps you intend to marry her eventually?”

“Kugh, cough! What kind of suggestion is that?”

“By your age, your peers would have already started their own families. If you hadn’t been wasting time, you might have even seen children by now.”

Edan waved his hand dismissively as he responded.

“How would others view such actions from a guardian?”

“They likely wouldn’t think much of it.”

“…?”

“Why, the mayor of that distant western city even married his former ward, to whom he had gifted a baby carriage.”

“…Ah.”

‘My modern sensibilities are lacking. In the wilderness that is Londinium, nothing is truly outrageous.’
Reminded of a fact he occasionally forgot, Edan grasped at a rebuttal.

“Even so, what would a girl like Freugne see in an old geezer like me…?”

“Why, you have a respectable reputation and ample wealth, don’t you? I’d wager you’ve received proposals on multiple occasions.”

In truth, Edan had entertained notions of marrying someone eventually, as the professor mentioned – it was common practice around university graduation age.

But.
Aware that the entire nation could potentially become a smoldering ruin within a few short years, decisively committing to starting a family was challenging.

As someone not bound by the constraints of age, Professor Magni could discern the source of Edan’s hesitation.
In that sense, while it might sound like nagging, the professor decided to offer some concerned advice to his former student.

“You could afford to live a bit more freely, you know. With more years ahead of you than me, there’s no need to rush.”

“I wonder… if that’s truly possible.”

“Hmm?”

A fact Edan had refrained from divulging to avoid being labeled a madman, but…
He personally held grave doubts about Professor Magni’s survival prospects when the Demon King’s invasion occurred.

On the walls of the ruined Londinium Royal Academy headquarters, portraits of its members lined the corridors.
Their birth and death years were inscribed below, and if his memory served, the sole portrait without a listed death year belonged to the academy president who had delivered humanity’s deathblow alongside Freugne.

Such post-war devastation might be mere artistic direction in games, but in this world where reality had become thus…
Did it not essentially guarantee that inaction would lead to the demise of all, nothing more?

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll just give it some more thought later.”

“Is that so? Well, if you insist, I won’t press further. But more importantly, let me discuss the accomplishments the Royal Academy values-”

As the professor continued, Edan mentally reviewed his current assets.
Right, there was no need to become mired in the looming future just yet. Professor Magni was still alive and well before him, wasn’t he?

Objectively assessing the present situation, it wasn’t entirely bleak.
He had at least met the minimum threshold to raise a vocal opposition when the Demon King truly invaded. ‘No air conditioners for you if you’re dissatisfied.’

Having initially posed some challenge to the demon forces during the war’s onset, merely continuing to monitor for anomalies and sponsoring the half-defunct military-industrial complex would provide sufficient aid.

The weapons he had studied by ‘borrowing’ materials from Professor Magni would also prove somewhat useful.
And the underground bunker, a last resort option he hoped would never be needed.

To this extent, the future had already diverged considerably from the [Londinium Survival Log].

Freugne had overcome her childhood trauma. (Or not)
There was no longer any connection to the dark queen she might have envisioned by now. (Or not)
Her mind was likely occupied only with the anticipation and apprehension of impending high school admission. (Or not)

Without the Freugne who would have shorted humanity, replaced instead by an ordinary high school girl Freugne, it seemed worth a try.
Within the bounds of the reality he was aware of, Edan could only arrive at such a diagnosis.

“-Well, that’s all I know. Think you can handle it?”

“Of course. Who would refuse the title of youngest Royal Academy member? I must gain admission.”

“That’s the spirit. And keep my advice close to heart as well.”

“I’ll give the adoption matter some serious thought later, if not marriage.”

Edan’s happiness circuit had been fried.

The thought had occurred – since he had already altered Freugne’s path from her originally self-sufficient survival, perhaps it was only fitting that he formally adopt and take responsibility for her.

The chilly September nights heralded the arrival of a new semester and high school admission season.

From this point onward, public education no longer sufficed, gradually transitioning into tuition-based schooling accessible only to a select few.
However, with Edan covering the expenses and Freugne’s outstanding academic performance, it hardly posed a significant hurdle.

“You cannot change your decision, can you?”

“No, I wish to study magic!”

There was no harm in acquiring more knowledge.
Once the intellectual’s badge of magic was attained, she need not worry about putting food on the table.

Fire mages could work at power plants, boiling water and spinning turbines.
Water mages could maintain plumbing systems, ensuring clean water supply.
Wind mages took turns casting spells to prevent aircraft from crashing.
And there was never a shortage of earth mages needed for sewer maintenance and excavating new waterways.

With a bit more ingenuity, one could become a researcher, an inventor like Edan, or even nurture future disciples.

Ultimately, the crucial aspect was securing a minimum level of social influence.
Thus, on this arduous educational path, it was possible to either ingratiate oneself with influential figures before achieving eminence or discover promising talents worth cultivating.

“Study diligently. And don’t be discouraged if things don’t go as smoothly as anticipated.”

“Yes, I’ll work hard.”

“Good. Double-check your room to ensure you haven’t forgotten anything.”

Of course, Edan remained unaware of such underlying motives.

In truth, there were personal ambitions intertwined as well.

Freugne recalled the small, flickering lightning and the crude yet marvelously self-propelled squirrel contraption she had witnessed during her orphanage days.
How exhilarating would it be to recreate such marvels with her own hands?

So while there were ulterior motives, she did genuinely harbor a sincere desire to pursue serious academic study.
As her patron and guardian, Edan would be watching. She had no intentions of half-hearting it.

“I’ve prepared all the books, perfect stationery supplies, and also……”

As Freugne rummaged through her bag in her room, her gaze fell upon the drawer containing her diary.
Concealed like the Death Note itself, with modifications like a hidden secondary compartment, just in case Edan might stumble upon it – her precious future diary.

The preparations were nearly complete.
And by ‘preparations,’ it encompassed not just readying for school, but everything related to the organization as well.

Having shipped the disgraced businessman to the metropolitan police precinct, they had formulated guidelines, deterring the others from running rampant.
Consequently, the quality of the intermittently dispensed rewards, the information, gradually improved, and the organization members were steadily ascending to higher social strata.

-Flick

“So, since it’s now September……”

The pen guiding Freugne’s annotations, delineating the original and revised futures, halted at a particular juncture.

The future required periodic verification and updating.
Who could foresee if her actions might have altered it? Just as Edan’s attempt to shoot her had been averted, diverging into a stalemate.

Conversely, some futures remained immutable.

Deaths from illness, cataclysmic natural disasters, and even the kingdom’s policies at this current juncture where her influence was still limited.
And the future Freugne had glimpsed a few weeks ago by lightly grasping Edan’s hand while delivering her morning news briefing was no exception.

The unemployed lining the streets.
Runaway inflation spiraling out of control.
The rising voices of radicals.
Investors leaping from windows in shrieks of anguish.
Edan’s stock portfolio, a miraculous -99% in the red.

Freugne knew precisely what the newspapers had dubbed this phenomenon.

“Panic.”

The pristine Londinium economy had less than a year before being beset by this miasma.

And paradoxically, such a crisis would present the perfect opportunity to significantly expand the organization’s reach.