I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

"Roooooooooolling! Chuuuuuuu!"

"Dodge roll."

Every time I visit the forest where the magic research institute is located, my sister ambushes me without fail. Today, it's the terrifying "Rolling Chu" that weaves through the trees like a tornado while spinning toward me. Frankly, the only threatening thing about it is its appearance.

Seriously, imagine your own sister screaming while spinning toward you through the forest, getting closer and closer. Is this a horror movie? I twist my body to evade, and she faceplants straight into a tree.

"Maybe I was a bit too leisurely with that one… I was planning to toy with you while attacking~"

"Mileeey! As long as I’m alive, I’ll never let you get close to me!"

"Rucille-chan, you could totally pull it off too if you got the hang of it!"

"P-p-pull WHAT off?!"

To be fair, Rucille *is* fighting back with arrows. But my damn sister doesn’t even get grazed and closes the distance anyway. Honestly, if someone can faceplant into a tree and come out unscathed, what chance do arrows have? The tree was the one that got snapped in half, after all.

"So, Alphis, you want me to let you meet that girl? Why? Are you two dating?"

"It’ll probably be necessary for the mission. If it’s too much trouble, I won’t force it."

"No, it’s fine, but will you at least kiss me?"

"Can you take things seriously for once, damn it?"

Pushing my sister’s kiss-demanding face away with my hand, I’m led inside by a researcher. After being guided through the usual crap dungeon, we arrive at the experimental wing where research subjects are kept. This place houses test subjects, starting with summon-possessed individuals.

Aside from humans, there are also hordes of monster test subjects, and growls constantly echo from every direction. Naturally, the humans are kept in a separate area—a spacious zone with an artificial natural environment that feels nothing like an indoor facility.

This is the only place where human research subjects are allowed any semblance of freedom. That said, I don’t see Muto or the others we captured before.

"The ones here are the well-behaved model subjects."

"Like model prisoners, huh?"

In other words, it’s better not to ask what happened to the troublemakers. Maybe they’d have been better off quietly rotting in prison.

"It’s lunch break now, so she should be here… Yep, there she is."

The dark-skinned girl my sister pointed at was sitting with her knees drawn up, staring blankly into space. I’d assumed she’d be constantly training, but she looks surprisingly idle. When I approach, her body jerks slightly.

"Hey, Shemna. You look down."

"Ah… A-A-Alphis-sama?!"

She’s Shemna, daughter of the Invernum family—one of the Academy’s top three. She once formed the largest faction alongside Muto and Erik, but now she’s a prisoner. Normally, she’d be in a regular prison, but thanks to the Balfont family’s influence, she’s been kept here as a research subject.

"Shemna. I need you to tell me about the Invernum family."

"There’s nothing *I* can tell you. My old man and brothers barely even talked to me—they always hated my guts."

Shemna hangs her head. This girl doesn’t even appear in the game, so it’s hard to get a read on her. I expected someone more aggressive, but she’s like this. Doesn’t seem like I’ll get much about the Invernum family out of her. Oh well.

"Back when you were fighting Leticia, you were full of energy. What happened?"

"Lock me up in a place like this, and this is what you get. In the end, what was I even worth? I’m separated from Leticia’s big sis too…"

"That’s all?"

"*That’s all*?! I’m never getting out of here, am I?"

Well, I guess being locked up would do that to you. Guess expecting her to be all "I’ll smash my way out of here!" was too much. Her existing inferiority complex must’ve been amplified by this environment.

"You *can* get out. If you choose to."

"…Huh?"

"But not like this. Stand up. Try punching me."

"Wha—why all of a sudden?! And punching *you*?!"

Ignoring her hesitation, I slap her across the face. A sharp *crack* echoes as her head snaps to the side.

"…The hell was that for?!"

"Come at me, weakling."

"You—!!"

Shemna’s fist slams into my cheek. The impact is so intense I nearly stagger back, but I hold my ground. That was a heavy, resonating punch.

"Ah…!"

"You—!! How *dare* you hit Alphis-sama?!"

"Rucille, stop. This is fine."

Restraining the furious Rucille, I look straight at Shemna. She’s completely flustered, her eyes darting around.

"I-I didn’t mean to—!"

"Not bad. As expected of a 'magic-deficient.'"

"Eh? What does that have to do with anything?"

"Magic-deficiency isn’t *actually* a deficiency. The magic you were supposed to be born with was absorbed into your body, becoming one with it."

Shemna blinks, not quite understanding.

"Think of it like milk poured into coffee—once fused, they can’t be separated. But because it merged with your flesh, you became a mutant. That’s why you could fight with just your fists."

"How’s that different from normal magic-enhanced physical strength?"

"Simple. Your body *is* magic. It possesses power equivalent to magic, yet because it’s not *mana*, things like magic detection or reflection don’t affect you."

"Th-that’s amazing, isn’t it…?"

"Which is why moping around here is a waste. And hey, Milee-nee, you didn’t tell her any of this?"

I glance at Milee-nee, who just strikes a cutesy "teehee" pose. She’s hopeless.

Magic-deficiency—or rather, a "magic-body"—is extremely rare. And also a pain to deal with. In any game, the most annoying enemies are the brainless brutes who bulldoze through everything with raw strength. Even that muscle-headed demon Müha was a tough boss in the game.

"…I see. It’s because of this power that I was even allowed into the Academy."

"Research on magic-deficiency is practically nonexistent. Most people don’t even acknowledge it. Like your family."

"I… I want to prove myself to them with this power! But I can’t even leave this place…"

"If you want out, I’ll get you out."

Shemna gasps. I extend my hand, and she hesitantly takes it.

"Alphis-sama…"

"But you have to promise me one thing. You’ll spare no effort to get stronger. If I think you’re slacking off, I’m throwing you right back in here."

"Y-yes! Alphis-sama, I *will* get stronger!"

Shemna nods firmly. Simple-minded people bounce back fast. That mentality will serve her well in battle.

And yeah—I want to fight Shemna at her absolute strongest.

"Milee-nee. This is fine, right?"

"Kiiiss! Kiiiss!"

"Damn it."

Reluctantly, I press my lips against hers at maximum speed—magically enhanced, of course—before immediately pulling away.

"Gosh, Alphis, you’re such a shy one~"

At least this way, I can claim I technically fulfilled the "kiss" requirement. Just another survival tactic I’ve perfected in life.