Reincarnated as the Hated Villainous Prince, I Thought I Could Live Freely in This Life, but Unconsciously Acted Like a Saint ~Trying to Create an Evil Kingdom, but for Some Reason I'm Highly Respected by Everyone~ - Chapter 24

In my previous life, I truly lived a crap life.

Because my family was poor, after graduating from high school, I got a job at a local black company.

Still, I wanted my younger brother to go to college, so I saved up as much as I could on my meagre salary.

Just when I thought my brother had finally graduated from college, I ended up working overtime to please my crappy boss and died in a traffic accident due to exhaustion…

―Living for others, dying for others.

I thought such a life could go to hell.

I am not living for someone else.

My life is mine.

That’s why, even if I have to be a villain, in my next life, I decided to pursue what I love.

…It’s a funny story, isn’t it?

While unconscious, what flashed through my mind was the pathetic previous life that I had deliberately buried deep in my memory.

★　★　★

“―lda-sama, Esmeralda-sama…!”

I awoke to my name being called.

I seem to be lying in a bed right now.

Looking around, Sword Emperor Mirua, First Princess Rofemia, Queen Clophe, the child I saved from the Blood Death Dragons, and many other elves were peering into my face.

It was as if everyone here was worried about me.

As if I had become the main character for all the elves here―

It was a scene that made me feel so.

“Prince Esmeraldaaaaaa!”

“Esmeralda-samaaaaaaaaa!”

Perhaps because I had woken up, Mirua and Rofemia began to cry earnestly.

They buried their faces at the edge of the bed, possibly realizing it would be bad if they disturbed my injuries.

It wasn’t just them.

The other elves were also tearing up, murmuring my name.

The Elf Kingdom was supposed to be just a foundation for building my own kingdom.

But somehow, everyone genuinely seemed happy about my awakening.

“…”

Right.

I had survived despite being engulfed in the flames of the Blood Death Dragon.

I thought that with just about level 50, there was absolutely no way to survive…

――――――

Esmeralda Dia Vefeld Level 100

Physical Attack Power: 10578

Physical Defense Power: 9780

Magical Attack Power: 11032

Magical Defense Power: 9971

Agility: 10451

――――――

Upon checking my status momentarily, I saw that my overall stats had skyrocketed, probably thanks to defeating the two Blood Death Dragons.

…As I thought.

At level 50, I definitely couldn’t have withstood the Blood Death Dragon’s fire breath, but after defeating the first one, a level up had increased my durability.

I thought I might be able to withstand it… and it looks like I was spot on.

Of course, it wasn’t without harm, as various parts of my body were incredibly painful.

Kukuku… Though it was at the cost of my body, but as I thought, the elves are extremely grateful to me.

“Thank you, Esmeralda-sama. On behalf of the elves, please let me express our gratitude.”

In the midst of the solemn atmosphere, Queen Clophe started speaking.

“Without you, Esmeralda-sama, the Elf Kingdom would have been literally engulfed in a sea of fire. Although we elves have some excellent warriors, facing two Blood Death Dragons at the same time would have undeniably resulted in tremendous damage.”

“…”

“Thus, we would like to offer this to Esmeralda-sama.”

What Queen Clophe presented was none other than a “World Tree’s Dewdrop”.

It’s an extremely rare item even in the game that fully recovers HP and MP of the party, and can instantly cure any status ailments, including near-death.

It’s like a cheat item for recovery you often find in games.

To think they would use something so valuable on me…

“You might hesitate because you are so kind, Esmeralda-sama, but this is our heartfelt sentiment. Please accept it.”

Said the First Princess Rofemia.

…Well, without doing at least this much, the Elf Kingdom’s face would be tarnished.

I nodded slightly, and Queen Clophe raised her right hand.

And the next moment, the light emitted from the “World Tree’s Dewdrop” enveloped my entire body.