The story begins with the protagonist, who has reincarnated as Klaus Renford, a minor villain from the RPG "Altena Fantasia." In the game, Klaus is a subordinate of the final boss, Luciel von Central, and is executed in the epilogue. Klaus's primary motivation is to avoid this fate and, more ambitiously, to usurp Luciel's role as the final boss to resolve the game's perceived lack of a compelling antagonist. He believes that by becoming a charismatic villain, he can achieve this goal.
Klaus, now 15 years old and the head of the Renford Viscountcy after his parents' death, finds himself in a precarious position. The Renford family has a poor reputation for looking down on commoners, and Klaus has inherited this negative trait, making his aspiration to become a charismatic villain somewhat easier to pursue. His first act of "villainy" involves rejecting a dish of red dragon liver, a food he detests from his past life. He punishes the chef and those involved in its procurement by imprisoning them for a week. However, this backfires spectacularly. His butler, Oliver, who also serves as his tutor, deduces that Klaus saw through a deception involving the liver being disguised by illusion magic, leading to an increase in his popularity and perceived wisdom among the populace.
Klaus's attempts to gain a negative reputation continue. He decides to investigate his territory, disguising himself and practicing his newfound wind magic. He observes the struggling town and is pleased to see the commoners' resentment, believing it will help his reputation. When he witnesses a merchant harshly treating a boy who stole food for his starving sisters, Klaus intervenes. Instead of showing mercy, he uses his magic, "Wind Prison," to trap the boy, intending to solidify his image as a cruel lord. However, this also backfires. The boy is revealed to be a disguised member of the criminal organization "Crimson," and Klaus's actions inadvertently lead to the organization's downfall and further increase his popularity as a savior.
Further attempts to cultivate a negative image, such as destroying a local shrine, also backfire, leading to the release of a powerful demon that Klaus defeats, earning him even more praise. His butler, Oliver, and a maid named Marie, who was previously given special treatment by Klaus's parents and lived alone in a luxurious annex, become increasingly loyal and impressed by his actions, misinterpreting his villainous intentions as acts of wisdom and benevolence. Marie, in particular, comes to see Klaus as her savior after he destroys her annex, believing he is freeing her from her past.
Klaus receives an invitation to a party hosted by Marquis Ortho Windham, a key figure in the royal court. Klaus, recognizing Windham from the game as an ally of the protagonists, sees no benefit in attending. However, when Marie accidentally spills tea on the invitation, Klaus seizes the opportunity. He decides to send the stained invitation back as a response, intending to provoke Windham and spread his notoriety. Windham, however, misinterprets the stain as a coded message, believing Klaus is warning him about a conspiracy involving the Mar Koval Border Count and the criminal organization "Phantom Hand." This leads to the foiling of an assassination attempt at the party, further solidifying Klaus's reputation as a brilliant strategist, much to his frustration.
Meanwhile, Klaus's training to become stronger leads him to a dungeon where he encounters adventurers fighting a mutated boss. He defeats the boss with overwhelming power, intending to spread his reputation as a ruthless thief of prey. However, the adventurers, particularly Gwen, are deeply moved by Klaus's actions, believing he risked his life to save them, further boosting his popularity. As Klaus continues his efforts to gain a bad reputation, his actions consistently result in unintended positive outcomes, leaving him increasingly exasperated by his inability to achieve his goal of becoming a true villain.
