So You've Become a Villainess: an (Otome) Isekai Raising Project

Remember all that shit Chiaki bought in an omake? I did!


You head to the haunted house with your not traditionally masculine guy posse. Tanya and Chiaki meet up with you on the way; quietly, yet animatedly talking about the best ways to keep up with your unbridled energy.

Tanya's suggested tranquilizer darts by the time you get to the house of horrors in question. It's a ghoulish, imperious building; a reproduction of the Royal Villa with just enough differences to not cause an incident. But you can tell from the forbidding iron gates, spikes tipped with blood-dark rust, what the designer was aiming for.

Chiaki clicks her tongue and mutters something about tempting fate. Tanya is unimpressed. Lucciano shivers in fear. Camille puffs out his chest and stands beside you.

"Bravery in the face of fear is a hallmark of the Asuka family," he says, a little extra bass in his voice.

You hear Tanya snerk at that one.

The iron gates wail as they swing open. Camille, to his credit, does not flinch.

<Flashy> "Trying to show off his cool side? How precious, dahling~"

<Sporty> "If he don't scare, we don't."

You stride alongside him, chin up and eyes forward. "Ready to get the pants scared off of you?"

Camille blushes. "A man without pants being around a lady is obscene."

Your brain takes a while to parse that.

You wave your hand in front of your face. "Whoa, not like that! No hanky-panky with the Birthday Princess."

Chiaki slides beside you from your blind spot. "I understand Young Master Asuka's position here, but I shan't let any would-be suitors have you assume the position, Young Mistress."

It's your turn to blush. "Geez, can't a girl banter with her guy pal without it being all lovey-dovey?"

Camille cringes as if shot. You see Chiaki measure his reaction.

"...Pal, huh?" Camille says, all his zest gone. He trudges his way to the attraction's line ahead of you.

You pout. This relationship stuff was hard enough when you were actually a kid. Now, you're mentally older and playing an otomege IRL where the road is paved in Bad Ends. Camille's cool, too; you don't wanna make things awkward between you.

"The road of the heroine is hard indeed," Chiaki says, pulling you into a hug. "Especially for one such as you."

You look up at her. "Is this a monkey joke?"

Chiaki giggles. "I would never~ You always were a charismatic one, but all that product seems to have had an exponential effect."

"Bwuh?"

"I wasn't sure of it until today, but watching your interactions has given me enough information to make that hypothesis," Chiaki says, before whispering to you. "Sure, there were whispers of the God-Imperatrix shining through you, that you were an angel incarnate and such, but that was background lore in OBV."

You whisper back. "Who would consider me, uh, Grace an angel?"

"Those who value strength and ambition over grace and kindness," Chiaki whispers. "In any case, Camille seems to be considering you in romantic terms; doing so this quickly is unprecedented. As is earning yourself a blood sister and words from the Prince's secret heart."

You ask, "Is this because of me or in spite of me?"

"Because of you and enhanced by the product," she replies. "With everything, you'll likely be the most desired girl in the land by the time the actual story starts."

"Whoa..." You're used to being the coolest or the most athletic girl in school, or the most desirable dance partner/cosplayer among girls at nerd events, but this is on a whole new level.

<Flashy> "Now that's what I want to hear, dahling~! Raise my profile in your mind and I shall make us a superstar~!"

<Sensible> "More desirability means more suitors. More suitors mean more headaches."

<Sporty> "Look on the bright side, Sense. That means more challenges to overcome!"

<Brainy> "All I desire is the power to tear this world asunder."

<Ghost!Emo> "Let's go, struggle... *clap clap clapclapclap* Let's go, hardship... *clap clap clapclapclap*"

You chew on that information in a daze. Now that you think about it, you have noticed your natural charm has gone above and beyond the call of duty lately...


[ ] When you sing, animals come up to you like you're a D*sney princess and do what you want. (Artsy++, gain {Woodland Boogie} Skill)
[ ] People always assume the best of you unless they have a reason to hate you, even if you're doing something wrong. (Flashy++, gain {Teflon Cherub} Skill)
[ ] You're so healthy, people are blinded by your radiant smile and shiny teeth. Sometimes literally. (Sporty++, gain {Natural Body} Skill)


Before you can think too much harder, you hear a high-pitched yell from up ahead. It's Camille's voice.

You run past Chiaki to him, protective mode running on automatic. When you get to him, he's chalk-white with fear, staring mute at a Darkling girl hung by the neck. Her glossy raven hair hangs as limply as she does.

Wait, you recognize that hair.

You gasp. "Lily?"

The corpse snaps to attention, one eager red eye on you. "Young Lady Claudius?"

"You're alive?" You heave a sigh of relief. "You're alive!"

"As much as a Darkling can be," she says, before waving at you. "How's it hangin'?"

You groan at the pun.

The other ride patrons share conspiratorial whispers among themselves.

You turn to them with your hands on your hips. "This girl is part of my entourage and you will treat her with respect."

A nameless male noble chimes in. "We know, Milady. We saw that Darkling girl-"

"You can call me Lily if you want," Lily mumbles.

"-That Darkling girl during your audience with the Crown Prince," the noble says. "What concerns is you three contuing to hold up the line."

"Oh. Whoops." You laugh it off and nudge Camille back to reality. He tries to laugh it off, but is clearly a little shaken.

"Young Lady Claudius," Lily asks, "would you be so kind as to grace me with a private audience? We wouldn't hold up the line."

You ask, "Was that a name pun?"

She gives you a gentle smile. "If it pleases you."


[What do you do?]
[ ] Give Lily the private audience
[ ] Turn the request into showing off how cool you are (Challenging Flashy check - DC 12, Flashy++ on success)
[ ] Press-gang her into hanging out with the whole crew first
[ ] Deny Lily the private audience