Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Unlucky Bodyguard

"Back to work," Grunthor barked, pointing at yet another patch of soil. His moss-green skin gleamed under the sunlight, his permanent scowl deepening with every moment I sat idle.

I glared at the patch of dirt like it had personally wronged me. "This is how villains are made," I muttered.

[Progress: 25%. Reminder: At this rate, you'll be done sometime next century.]

"Oh, shut it," I snapped, pressing my palms into the dirt again. "You're just mad you don't have hands to do this yourself."

[Incorrect. I am entertained by your incompetence.]

Ananara, perched smugly on a rock, tilted his leafy crown. "You know, I've seen ferns grow faster than this. Perhaps gardening isn't your calling."

"Oh, I'm sorry, what is my calling then? Playing babysitter to a fruit with delusions of grandeur?"

"Harsh words for someone who couldn't command a clump of soil if her life depended on it," he retorted.

Grunthor cleared his throat loudly, snapping my attention back to the task. "Less yappin', more focus. Feel the ground. Don't force it. Yer trying to dance with the dirt, not stomp all over it."

I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. Fine. Dance with the dirt. Sure, why not. Slowly, I extended my senses, trying to connect with the soil beneath me. My hands warmed, the tingling sensation returning.

A faint rumble started again, and this time, I felt a shift—like the earth was responding. The soil began to ripple, forming small waves under my palms.

[Progress: 50%. Miraculous. I didn't think you'd make it this far.]

"Ha!" I barked triumphantly. "Take that, you glorified spreadsheet!"

"Are you… talking to the ground?" Grunthor asked, his brow furrowing in genuine concern.

"Don't question it," Ananara advised. "Her madness is a delicate ecosystem."

I ignored both of them and pressed on. The rippling waves grew stronger, rising into small mounds. My breathing steadied, my focus sharpening. The earth moved with me now, following my will.

And then it clicked.

The mounds solidified into a small, jagged wall a crude barrier of earth. It wasn't perfect, but it stood.

[Congratulations! Skill unlocked: Earth Wall (Level 1). Truly groundbreaking.]

Grunthor let out a low whistle. "Well, I'll be damned. Didn't think ya had it in ya, but ya proved me wrong. This time."

I collapsed onto the ground, staring at my creation with a mix of exhaustion and pride. "I did it. I actually did it."

Ananara rolled over dramatically. "Yes, yes, your monument to mediocrity is stunning. Shall we move on now?"

[Mission complete: Master two distinct magical types. Reward: Two random skills unlocked.]

The system's announcement appeared in my mind, accompanied by a soft chime.

[Reward: Skill unlocked: Stone Shot (Level 1). Skill unlocked: Earth Sense (Level 1). Enjoy your dirt-themed arsenal.]

"What?" I blinked, sitting up. "Wait, I get two skills for this?"

[Correct. Don't get too excited. Both are Level 1, so your current prowess remains laughable.]

I clenched my fists, then relaxed as the fatigue hit me. "I'll take it. I don't even care. I earned this."

Grunthor smirked. "Don't get cocky now. That's a good start, but yer just scratchin' the surface. Real earth magic takes discipline and patience, somethin' you're severely lackin'."

Ananara snorted. "Discipline? Patience? Have you met her? She couldn't even wait for water to boil without threatening the kettle."

"Hey!" I protested. "That kettle had it coming!"

Grunthor shook his head. "Alright, brat. Yer done for today. Go on and celebrate yer baby steps, but don't think this means you're off the hook."

I stumbled to my feet, brushing dirt off my clothes. "Celebrate? Oh, I'll celebrate alright. With a shower. A long, uninterrupted shower."

[Enjoy your small victories. You'll need them when the real challenges begin.]

I shot a glare at the sky. "You could at least let me enjoy this moment."

[Where's the fun in that?]

As I walked away, leaving Grunthor to his scowling and muttering, I couldn't help but smile. My first earth magic skill. Two new abilities. And for once, I didn't feel like I was completely hopeless.

Ananara rolled beside me, grumbling under his breath. "You know, if you'd just let me take over—"

"Not happening," I cut him off. "But thanks for the pep talk, buddy."

"Buddy?" he echoed, offended. "I'd rather be compost."

"Well, you're halfway there already," I shot back, brushing dirt off my hands as we approached the academy's main courtyard.

Ananara let out an exaggerated sigh. "The indignities I endure. I should've bonded with someone more refined. Perhaps a duke. Or at least someone with basic hygiene."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. "Complain all you want. Just try not to roll into any gutters."

The academy was buzzing with its usual activity: students hurrying to classes, groups gathering under the shade of towering trees, and the occasional show-off demonstrating magic in inappropriate places. My goal was simple—find Enara and head back. After all, we were done for the day.

But as I rounded the corner to the VIP courtyard where she usually lingered, I froze.

Enara stood tall, her raven-black hair glinting faintly violet in the sunlight, her midnight eyes narrowed into a glare that could slice steel. Surrounding her were three older students, their posture radiating arrogance and hostility.

"Listen here, little princess," one of them sneered, stepping closer to her. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with horns that curled sharply backward. "You might be royalty, but here, you're just another brat."

Enara's laugh was cold, a sharp blade wrapped in silk. "Is that so? And yet, it's you wasting your breath trying to prove otherwise. Pathetic."

Another of the students, a girl with fiery-red hair and gleaming silver eyes, smirked. "Don't get cocky, Valthorne. You're not untouchable."

"That's funny," Enara retorted, tilting her head with a menacing smile. "You seem to be standing very close for someone who thinks I'm not untouchable. Care to test your theory?"

The air crackled with tension, and I didn't hesitate.

"Oi!" I called, striding into the scene, sword at my hip and Ananara rolling behind me like a pompous entourage. "Back off."

The three turned to me, their expressions flickering between annoyance and confusion.

"And who are you supposed to be?" the red-haired girl asked, unimpressed.

"Her bodyguard," I said with a grin, my hand resting on my sword. "And trust me, you don't want to see me in action."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Oh, please," the tall one scoffed. "This doesn't concern you. Run along before you embarrass yourself."

Enara crossed her arms, her voice dripping with mockery. "You're making a mistake, letting her get involved. She's more trouble than you can handle."

"Damn right," I said, stepping between her and the trio. My grin turned sharp. "So, what's it gonna be? Walk away now, or learn the hard way?"

[Warning: Hostile intent detected. Initiating combat preparations.]

"Don't get ahead of yourself," I told the system silently. "I haven't even drawn my sword yet."

"You've got guts, I'll give you that," the tall one said, cracking his knuckles. "But guts only get you so far."

Enara chuckled behind me. "This should be fun. Don't hold back, Liria. Show them what you've got."

I smirked, my blood already boiling in anticipation. "Oh, I plan to."