I Am The Game's Villain

After completing Alvara's treatment in just two minutes—again—I exhaled deeply, exhaustion weighing on my shoulders. Opening my eyes, I glanced at her. Her face was serene, her eyelids shut gently.

Did she fell asleep already?

Or was she merely resting with her eyes closed?

Well, whatever.

I released her hand and turned away.

Before leaving her room, I paused at the door, casting one last glance at her tranquil figure.

What truly matters isn't what others say about you, but how you respond to it. That answer shapes who you become, and in the end, we're all destined to become the person we were meant to be, aren't we?

I smiled a little and stepped out of the suite, and took the elevator.

"Lady Loki! It's an honor to see you!"

A cheerful voice broke my reverie. A noble from Utopia had appeared, his expression brightening at the sight of me.

By now, the name Loki had spread like wildfire throughout Utopia.

"Utopia will forever be grateful for your role in protecting Elyen Kiora," he said with a wide smile.

I nodded awkwardly, unsure how to answer that.

If he knew I was a Half Human, he wouldn't react the same.

"Ah, only good news recently are coming to us. I heard King Bakarel has already entered Central Vedelia. It's only a matter of time before he takes possession of the Holy Tree."

What?

Bakarel? Already in Central Vedelia?

What on earth were the useless Guardian and that old Prophetess doing?

I tried to recall who had been assigned to protect Central Vedelia. Victor. Yes, it was Victor. He was stationed there. That fact alone should have been reassuring. Yet I felt a bit uneasy.

Bakarel…

I remembered him all too well from the game. The scummiest of the three Kings, without a doubt—but also the strongest. If not for Durathiel wielding his Sin, Bakarel might have been Utopian King ruling the other two.

Would Victor truly be enough to hold him off?

And Bakarel likely wasn't alone. Knowing Selene, she might have joined him. But would even that be enough?

No, this situation was far worse than I'd thought.

Victor shouldn't still be stuck in Central Vedelia at this point. By now, he should have been at Celeste's side, protecting her from Kendel Teraquin. But their relationship wasn't the same anymore.

He hadn't grown close enough to realize just how much danger she was in—or how she'd be targeted. Instead, he remained in Central Vedelia, standing guard over the Holy Tree.

I didn't blame him, though.

My and John's intrusion into Sancta Vedelia had already altered many events that should have played out differently. The changes rippled through the timeline, scattering the main cast across Sancta Vedelia differently.

"I hope we'll have good news for the Prophetess as well," I said, breaking the silence. My words were measured, but my intent was clear—I needed information.

The elf's grin widened. "No worries, Milady. It seems Behemoth is proving itself useful. They've decided to send an Executive to deal with the Prophetess. Zestella will fall soon enough."

"..."

Are you kidding me?

Behemoth was sending one of their four monsters to capture the Prophetess.

The Four Executives—the ones who ruled Behemoth. Navas Dolphis and Nikolas Tepes were among them.

That meant Kendel… or that monster… would face Celeste.

But no, Celeste wouldn't be alone. Alicia was with her.

Wait. This is even worse!

Alicia had the Seed.

The elf continued to speak, his words becoming a distant murmur as I fell in thought.

If things continued at this rate, we'd lose not just the Prophetess but also the Seed.

No, it wasn't just that. Celeste and Alicia's lives were on the line too.

I clenched my fists.

***

Back at Elyen Kiora, I wasted no time seeking out Freyja. She sat behind her desk, a faint trace of amusement flickering in her gaze because of what I had requested.

"You want to quit?"

"Not exactly," I replied, the words tumbling out awkwardly. "I just need a few days to rest. Everything that's happened has left me… exhausted. This is my first war, after all."

Freyja leaned back, tapping her fingers against her cheek as she studied me.

"Hm, I do agree this is your first war," she nodded in agreement. "I've seen it on your face every day you've returned. You look dazed, and I can tell it's taken a toll on you." She paused, raising a brow. "But is that the real reason?"

"I don't understand…" I trailed off.

"Loki, dear Loki," Freyja sighed, resting her fist against her cheek as her usual smile faded. "You should know by now that I despise liars more than anything."

"Yes…"

"Then tell me the truth," she asked again but coldly.

I hesitated, meeting her eyes for a long moment. Lying again wasn't an option—not to her.

"I have people I care about in Sancta Vedelia," I admitted finally without giving out my identity. "I'm going there to save them."

"Hm? That's all?" Freyja asked, almost disappointed.

"Huh?" I let out, taken aback.

"I thought it would be something more… clandestine," she sighed, her lips curving into a faint frown. "Well, whatever. Take the days you need, but make sure Vesryn takes command in your absence. I don't want a single trace of Sancta Vedelia's filth touching my city."

"Yes," I nodded.

Freyja regarded me for a moment before a small smile returned to her face. "Then, tell me, Loki. Did you learn anything during your travels in Valachia and your brief time commanding my army?"

Learn something…

I thought about her question for a moment.

"Both camps have their own reasons," I said slowly. "Neither Utopia nor Sancta Vedelia can be entirely blamed for this conflict."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me as though searching for something. "Then, do you still think one side wears the mantle of Heroes while the other plays the Villains?"

"Not anymore," I admitted.

"That's good," she said, nodding approvingly. "If, of course, you truly believe those words. But thinking alone isn't enough, Loki. Tell me—you're not one of those who merely stand on the sidelines, watching, are you?"

"I… you're overestimating me, Your Highness," I said awkwardly.

Why did she value me so highly?

Yes, I killed Viessa—if letting herself killed even counted as me taking her life. And yes, I managed to command her army successfully, but that was sheer survival instinct.

It felt like Freyja was expecting something far greater from me, something I wasn't sure I could give to her.

"Then, do you perhaps have a solution?" She asked. "Not just for Utopia and Sancta Vedelia, but for wars in general. Conflicts often involve countless factions and entities. What, in your opinion, is the best way for opposing sides to achieve their goals without one feeling less satisfied than the other?"

Was there even a solution for that question?

"That's… I don't know," I shook my head.

Freyja's smile softened. "I appreciate your honesty, Loki," she said, leaning back in her chair. "You may leave."

I nodded, turning to exit the room.

"Loki," she called just as my hand touched the door.

"Hm?" I glanced over my shoulder.

"I am delighted to have met you," she said, sincerely.

My hand on the door clenched slightly into a fist.

"As I am…" I replied quietly, unsure of what else to say, before quickly leaving the room.

***

The next morning, I arrived at the main building, where discussions about the battle against the Alliance army, led by Karl Dolphis, were underway.

"Can I entrust the rest to you during my absence?" I asked Vesryn.

Vesryn placed a hand over his chest and smiled. "You can count on me, Commander. I may not be as skilled as you, but I'll do my utmost to hold this line until your return."

I nodded in acknowledgment, then gestured behind me.

Standing quietly in the shadows was a boy—Ron.

Vesryn, along with Rania and the others, blinked in surprise upon seeing him. Their eyes briefly lingered on the collar around Ron's neck, a disguise meant to help him blend into Elyen Kiora unnoticed. Despite its necessity, I caught a flicker of discomfort in their expressions.

"This boy is… an important noble," I explained curtly, not inviting questions. "Have you assembled the people I requested in the backroom?"

"Yes, Commander," Vesryn replied. "Please, follow me."

He led me to a door at the far end of the hallway. Vesryn pushed it open to reveal a surprisingly well-furnished room, a contrast to what one might expect for holding prisoners. It was a contingency I had arranged—this space was meant for keeping high-ranking nobles of Sancta Vedelia apart if I ever recognized any during our campaigns.

But today, I had a different purpose in mind.

"Here are the students from Trinity Eden Academy, as you requested," Vesryn said, stepping aside to let me enter.

Inside, four individuals sat in a row, their hands bound with mana-restricting cuffs.

Upon seeing me they all flinched.

I recognized them instantly.

Martin, a High Human, and Leire, a Werewolf, had been my teammates during the Exam at Dolphis.

Then there were two others: a vampire girl and a human girl. The ones I had helped at Vanadias.

"Names," I asked.

The vampire girl flinched. "D–Drana…"

"Rean…" The High Human girl mumbled, avoiding my gaze entirely.

I nodded slowly, taking in their reactions.

"Vesryn, wait outside for a moment," I ordered.

He hesitated briefly but then gave a respectful nod and exited, closing the door softly behind him.

Then I reached up and unclasped the pendant around my neck, letting the spell concealing my identity dissipate.

All four of them gasped in unison as their eyes locked onto my face, recognition dawning instantly. There was no mistaking who I was.

"L–Lord Am—" Drana stuttered.

"Shh." I raised a finger to my lips, silencing her before she could finish.

"But why…?" Martin's face twisted with a mixture of confusion and betrayal.

Oi.

"Calm down," I cut him off. "I'm infiltrating their ranks. I had no choice but to act as their commander. Think about it—if I were truly loyal to Utopia, you'd all be dead by now. Don't you agree?"

Martin hesitated, his furrowed brows softening slightly.

"T–That's true… now that I think about it," Leire muttered, nodding thoughtfully.

It wasn't hard to see why. The decision to keep thousands of prisoners here, in Elyen Kiora, was illogical at best and dangerous at worst. The city's proximity only amplified the danger.

"I don't have much time," I continued, glancing around to ensure no one overheard us. "But listen carefully. I have a way to get all of you out of here. For now, though, you'll have to stay put."

"Really?" Rean's eyes lit up with hope.

"Yes, but I'll need to be absent for the next two days. I've classified you as VIP prisoners to minimize suspicion. Stay here and don't cause any problems. Do you understand?"

The four of them exchanged uncertain glances before nodding in unison.

"When the time comes, I'll send Alvara to you. Then the six of you can escape Elyen Kiora using a boat I'll arrange. Got it?"

"A–Alvara?!" Martin choked, his face draining of color.

"...!" Rean didn't look much better on the verge of fainting.

Damn... Alvara.

You've traumatized your fellow students beyond repair.

"She's just as eager to escape as you are," I assured them. "She won't do anything reckless to draw attention. But you must wait for my signal."

"R–Right. All six of us," Drana repeated, with a smile.

"Well," I began, stepping aside to reveal the boy hiding behind me, "when I said all six, I wasn't including myself."

The young boy clung to my leg nervously, his timid eyes darted between the four strangers before him.

"Oh, he's so cute!" Leire squealed.

Ron immediately ducked behind my leg.

"His name is Ron," I said gently, resting a reassuring hand on his head. "He's lost his family."

The mood shifted in an instant. Sympathy etched itself onto their faces as their smiles faded.

"I've informed the Ruvelion Commander that he, like you, is an important prisoner," I explained. "He'll stay with you until I send Alvara to you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, don't worry!" Martin said, his hand shooting up in a salute. "We'll take good care of him! You can count on us, Prince Amael!"

I grimaced but nodded. "Good."

The students of Trinity Eden held significant value, which fortunately made it easy to convince Vesryn of their importance. He had even accepted my story about Ron without hesitation—a small miracle, given the circumstances.

"B–But what about you, Lord Amael? You're not coming with us?" Drana asked.

Her concern was genuine, and I appreciated it. But my priorities were clear: after ensuring Celeste's safety and securing the Seed, my main goal would be to take down Durathiel Ruvelion. That monster would not leave Utopia alive—I'd make sure of it.

"I can't leave like this," I shook my head. "I'm infiltrated, and I have to maintain appearances. If I disappear too soon, it'll draw suspicion."

"Oh, I see," Drana replied, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Then please, be careful, Lord Amael."

Careful. That word held little comfort, knowing what awaited me in Zestella. The monster I was likely to face there was beyond anything these students could imagine.

I turned to Ron, kneeling slightly to meet his eyes. "Stay with them, alright?"

I had hesitated before placing him under their care. Giving Ron to Freyja had crossed my mind, but the risk was too great. He knew far too much about me, and Freyja's cunning nature was dangerous. I could easily imagine her trying to extract information from him, and I had no trust in the brainwashed maids under her command to keep him safe. As long as Freyja had my mother I couldn't make any mistakes.

Leaving Ron with my classmates as VIP prisoners was the best solution. They were in the same location, making it easier to manage. It also spared me the hassle of multiple arrangements.

"Yes, thank you, big brother!" Ron said, wrapping his small arms around my waist.

"Alright, alright." I smiled faintly, gently prying him off. "Now, stay with your new big sisters and brother, okay?"

Ron nodded enthusiastically, and I nudged him toward the group.

With that settled, I retrieved Bryelle's pendant from my pocket and slipped it back around my neck. As the faint glow of its spell activated, I stood and turned toward the door.

Before leaving, I addressed Vesryn. "Vesryn."

"Yes, Milord?" Vesryn stepped forward.

"These five are crucial prisoners. They could be valuable for negotiations with Sancta Vedelia. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Milord."

"Good. Take care of the rest," I said, glancing briefly at Vesryn and Rania. Without waiting for their reply, I walked away.

Once outside the restricted area guarded by the Ruvelion Army, I pulled a cloak from my spatial ring and draped it over my figure, concealing my features.

Navigating the bustling streets, I made my way to the market, scanning the crowd for my target. It didn't take long to find her.

Levina stood at a stall selling brightly colored lollipops, her hood pulled low over her face. She stared at the candies with an intensity that made me smirk.

"Do you want one?" I asked as I approached her.

She flinched slightly, startled by my sudden presence, before turning to face me. Her blue eyes softened when she recognized me, though she shook her head.

"Are you ready?" She asked.

"Yeah," I replied, adjusting my cloak. "Let's head to Zestella."

If circumstances had been different, I would have left Ron in Levina's care. But I needed her now for a far more critical task—getting me to Zestella swiftly and without detection.