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

"Oooooooh...!"

A Death Earl rises from the fallen Muto, letting out a cry of agony before vanishing.

Normally, when a contractor is defeated, the demon also perishes.

It seems this guy's time has come.

"Y-you damn brat...!"

"You thought you could just cling to humans and greedily devour their lifespan, huh? Too naive."

"To think you'd cut me down along with the human..."

"That human was the one you chose to contract with. Accept your shared fate."

The Death Earl, with its tattered hood and skull-like face, reaches out toward us.

This thing is a spiritual entity, completely immune to physical attacks.

That's why, even if you wanted to destroy it, only specific methods or certain humans could manage it. In another era, entire nations might have been wiped out because of creatures like this.

They contract with humans, devour their lifespans, and revel in the destruction without lifting a finger.

If they abandon their contractor, they simply move on to the next host.

Looking at it this way, my demon sword isn't so different.

"How pathetic. What's this about being one of the Thirty-Two Pillars of the Demon Realm? If they're all like this, no wonder I never bothered with them."

"Demon Sword Disparate...! Don't get cocky! I am the Twenty-Eighth Pillar... This isn't over...!"

"Yeah, yeah, got it. Pathetic. Just disappear already. You're an eyesore."

"Guh, uoooh...!"

It looks like Hyori's taunting is making it suffer, but it's just reaching its limit.

I slash the Death Earl in two with my Blood Sword, enchanted by the demon sword.

"Nguuaaaaaa...!"

"I'll be taking back the lifespan you stole from me too."

"Y-you... how... how can you wield... power like mine...?"

I wanted to tell it not to compare us, but the Death Earl completely vanished.

As it did, particles of light spread across the sky.

Those must be the lifespans the Death Earl had stolen over the years.

The people whose lifespans were taken are already gone from this world, but I made sure to reclaim my share.

The rest probably went to Rubiton-senpai and the other students I dueled. The particles of light flew toward the academy dorm.

Some of the remaining particles drifted aimlessly, most flying off somewhere, but a few were absorbed by Muto's followers.

The guy I cut in half had his body perfectly reattached, his injuries completely gone.

Come to think of it, I forgot to use the demon sword to finish him off. Oh well.

The Death Earl only stole lifespans, not life force.

It seems lifespan exists independently of the concept of life and death.

I didn't know that either.

"Ugh... what happened...?"

"Muto-san?"

"A-Alfis... sama..."

The former summoners from Muto's faction seem pretty confused as they get up.

They were high on power when I killed them, after all.

Waking up to find everything over must be disorienting.

"Looks like Muto got some lifespan back too. So, what about you guys? Want to die again?"

"We're sorry! We were wrong! Please, just spare our lives!"

The three of them bow their heads furiously.

After all their arrogance, they sure changed their tune quickly.

"First, apologize to Galeo-senpai. He's the one you almost killed."

"Yes!"

The three of them apologize to Galeo.

But Galeo seems more interested in me than their apologies.

Well, after seeing a tragedy unfold and the Thirty-Two Pillars of the Demon Realm show up, I guess that's natural.

Galeo approaches me, staring intently, still wary.

"You really took down that monster, huh...? You didn't hesitate to kill these guys either. Is this what the Barufonte family is like?"

"Yeah. Just so you know, Galeo-senpai, if you want to tell someone about this, go ahead. I can't guarantee what'll happen after, though."

"No, I'll pass..."

Even Galeo, who was so confident earlier, has his limits.

Honestly, it's a relief he's scared. If he weren't, I'd have to deal with him for real.

"Galeo-senpai, I know you have a lot to say, but we're not on academy grounds right now. Let me handle these guys."

"Handle them how?"

"Expulsion, of course."

When I coldly state the facts, Muto's followers turn pale.

"H-hey! Expulsion is too much!"

"Yeah! We went too far, but we're really reflecting on it!"

"Just because you're from the Barufonte family doesn't mean you can do whatever you want! We have futures too!"

These guys really haven't learned their lesson.

I swing my demon sword and slash the ground.

Muto's followers scramble back.

"Don't worry about your futures. Your lifespans aren't that long anyway."

"W-what do you mean...?"

"The lifespan the Death Earl had was divided among you, but there's no telling how long you'll live. A year, maybe two... or you could die tomorrow."

"T-that's...!"

It's no wonder they're shocked.

Coming back to life after dying isn't something that happens even in a fantasy world, so they should consider themselves lucky and accept it.

This is the consequence of the choices they made.

As they stand there in shock, Muto finally gets up.

"Huh...? I feel fine..."

"Your lifespan's just as uncertain as theirs."

"Alfis! You...!"

The moment Muto lunges at me, I punch him hard enough to nearly break his cheek.@@novelbin@@

His already broken nose takes the hit, and half his teeth go flying as he's sent sprawling across the stage of the ruined theater.

"Ah... ah... ahhh..."

"Without the Death Earl, you're nothing more than a mob character. Make the most of what little life you have left."

Muto's followers look at him with pity as he twitches and convulses.

Maybe they're regretting following someone like him.

That punch might have shortened his lifespan even more, but it was self-defense.

"M-Muto-san..."

"Was he always this weak?"

Looks like they're finally starting to face reality.

With Muto lying in the center of the stage, maybe they got some entertainment out of this.

He's making quite the scene as a lying-down actor.

After seeing their boss in such a pathetic state, they can't possibly keep up the pretense of being part of Muto's faction.

"R-run!"

At the shout of one of Muto's lieutenants, they all scatter.

I switch places with the Shadow Servants I had pre-positioned along their escape routes and close in.

"Ahhh! H-help!"

"Did you really think I'd just let you run?"

"We're sorry! We really are! We'll live within our means from now on!"

I deliberately laugh at them.

The idiots seem to relax a little, thinking they're safe.

"Why should I base my judgment on your attitudes? Don't push your luck. Especially you former summoners—you'll be experimental subjects until the day you die."

"Eek!"

"Your lifespans aren't long anyway. Sounds like a good way to spend your remaining years, doesn't it?"

"Y-you demon! You're not human! How can you think this is okay...!"

"After relying on demonic power, that's rich. Let me make one thing clear—the Barufonte family is far worse than any demon."

As I say that, Muto's followers turn pale.

Now then, I'll hand the summoners over to my sister Mirei. As for the others, expulsion is a given. I have no intention of letting them off easy.