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

"By the way, Lord Alphis. I am technically under your command, right?"

"I forgot about that ancient history."

As we walked through the research facility’s rest dome, Shemna began reminiscing about the distant past.

Wait, so the Shemna faction was under Letitia… but also under me?

Ugh, it’s too convoluted. Let’s just pretend none of that ever happened.

"Since I am technically under you, Lord Alphis, you can order me to do anything~."

"Wha—?! A-Anything?! What the hell are you saying?!"

"And who the hell are you?"

"I am Luciel, Lord Alphis’ right-hand man! How dare you suggest he order you to do anything—you shameless hussy!"

"Hah?"

…This guy’s delusions are off the charts again.

At this point, he’s definitely the weirdest one here.

"I don’t get what you’re yelling about, but I’m fully prepared to be Lord Alphis’ hands and feet."

"H-Hands and… feet?! Listen here, I won’t tolerate anyone usurping my position as his right-hand man!"

"Hmm. If you’re the No. 2, then fine, I’ll follow your lead."

"Eh?"

Without hesitation, Shemna placed a hand on her thigh and bent forward slightly, bowing her head.

…I’ve seen this pose in delinquent manga. Guess it exists in this world too.

I expected a fight, but turns out Shemna’s the more mature one here.

"Hah! So you do know your place. In that case, walk half a step behind me."

"Like this?"

"Yeah, yeah! That makes me look superior!"

"Got it."

Shemna bowed again in that same half-crouch.

Luciel claims to be No. 2, but to me, Shemna seems far more composed.

There’s no real hierarchy here—if anything, Shemna’s the one with the bigger presence.

Still, if she was gonna be this obedient, she should’ve just acted like this from the start.

Then again, maybe gaining demonic power and seizing an opportunity changed her.

Humans aren’t strong enough to resist temptation, after all.

"Oh, right, Lord Alphis. Since Lady Letitia is your girlfriend… wouldn’t that make us, like, step-siblings or—"

"Uh, well…"

She was about to say something incredibly stupid, but luckily, I spotted him nearby.

Sitting by the lakeside inside the dome, hugging his knees next to a shaggy monster.

"Mirei, is that guy a model prisoner too?"

"Hmm… More like he’s just so docile that he ended up that way. Easy to handle, at least."

When I approached, he looked startled—but that was it.

None of the ferocity he’d shown before remained.

"You’re Ios, right? Former No. 2 of Erik’s faction."

"Lord… Alphis."

Ios, Erik’s second-in-command.

The guy who contracted with a Yeti and gave Luciel a decent fight.

I was the one who crushed him in the end.

Not a bad fighter, but he’s missing something crucial.

At best, he’s slightly above average in the whole academy.

"Miss having your boss Erik around?"

"No…"

"Disappointed you’re not the big-shot No. 2 anymore?"

"Just… leave me alone."

I tried provoking him, but his reaction was surprisingly flat.

He just turned his face away.

"Whatever. Guess you’re useless without Erik, huh?"

"He has nothing to do with it. I was never capable of anything to begin with."

"No need to be that hard on yourself."

"It’s the truth. I had no talent. Erik just happened to take a liking to me, and I just happened to contract with a Yeti… Pure coincidence."

Beside the self-deprecating Ios sat the Yeti.

Maybe remembering its fight with Luciel, it stuck out its tongue and made a mocking face.

Luciel, in turn, bared his teeth and growled.

"Erik relied on you, didn’t he?"

"I just flattered him. He kept me around because it fed his ego. That’s all."

"So you were just a lapdog."

"…Yeah. I have no talent like you. Just another nobody."

People like him come in two types:

Those who self-deprecate because they want to be told they’re wrong.

And those who genuinely believe it.

Hard to tell which he is—honestly, it’s best not to get involved.

The right move is to leave him alone, like he said.

But something about his words pissed me off.

"Yeah, I was born lucky. Got talent, like you said. But you don’t know what I’ve been through to get this strong."

"Maybe, but talent is what matters in the end."

"True. But I don’t think everyone in the world needs to be strong."

"Huh…?"

For the first time, Ios looked me in the eye.

Meanwhile, Luciel and the Yeti started wrestling like idiots.

…You two get along great.

"You were No. 2, right? Then be proud of that."

"But No. 2 is just… second-best. A glorified lackey."

"You’re underestimating No. 2. You think the world runs on No. 1s alone?"

"That’s…"

Grabbing Luciel and the Yeti by their heads to shut them up, I sat down.

Seriously, you two are annoying.

"A No. 1 only exists because there’s a No. 2. There’s no hierarchy—just roles. Right now, you’re just a pathetic guy wallowing in self-pity. Don’t you dare insult the title of No. 2."

Ios stared down at the grass, silent.

Maybe I went too far, but it’s the truth.

"So… I wasn’t wrong to accept being No. 2?"

"If you just accepted it, then yeah, you’re spineless. But being No. 2 isn’t something to be ashamed of. Own it."

"I was… complacent?"

"If you strive to be the best No. 2, that’s badass. Whether you’re No. 1 or No. 2, do it with conviction. Without that, you’re just hollow."

…I sound like a damn motivational speaker.

Why am I even bothering with this guy?

But then, Ios stood up.

"Conviction… You’re right. I never had that. I just coasted on being No. 2."

"Uh, yeah. Well… Keep your head down, and good things might happen."

"Good things… like what?"

I didn’t answer, just walked away.

This isn’t a prison—if he behaves, he might even get released eventually.

Not that I can promise anything with Mirei around.

"Lord Alphis…"

I heard Ios mutter behind me.

What he does next isn’t my problem.

I’m busy. No time to babysit some self-loathing ex-lackey.

"Such a wonderful little brother~…"

Beside me, Mirei nodded to herself, looking way too pleased.