Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 164  Back Home

"Arghh."

A groan escaped my mouth as my eyes fluttered open.

My body ached in pain, but my back hurt more than ever.

It felt like my back had been slammed again and again with a metal rod for hours.

[You fell twice on your back, what else do you expect?]

'Can you shut up, man?'

I groaned, gazing up and finding an unfamiliar ceiling—a pure white one.

'Hospital it is.'

I thought, letting out a tired sigh.

Shifting to my side, I looked around, finding myself alone in the room.

The beeping of the machines was the only sound in the background.

Looking around, I found the insignia of the Pargoina Empire engraved on the wall.

'Willis?'

Dada!!

'...We are safe for now.'

I thought, letting my body relax.

"What happened?"

I mumbled, shifting and lying on my stomach.

The last thing I remembered was being on the broken bridge with Olesia before I lost consciousness.

[...You partially awakened your racial trait.]

"...I see."

I mumbled, closing my eyes, with only one question in my mind.

....How?

"This wasn't supposed to happen."

I grumbled, reaching up and massaging my temples.

I never awakened anything like that in the game.

In the first place, it wasn't possible for me because I didn't have any mana in my body since childhood.

[...Do you remember what happened when you fell into the river?]

"...I heard voices."

Whispering softly, I vacantly looked at the white tiles.

There weren't many things I remembered, but one thing was clear: that one voice.

"...My mother's voice."

I whispered tiredly.

Why, of all people, did I hear her voice in my head?

[She might know you have awakened.]

"...Are you not feeling repulsed?"

I asked awkwardly.

...If anything, I don't want that.

[Why would I?]

"You can guess my race, right?"

I whispered, shifting my torso and placing my legs on the ground.

[Yes, what about it?]

"...Don't you know about them?" I asked, moving towards the door, "Even in the forsaken families, we are the ones hated the most."

[That doesn't mean anything to me, Az. You are still the same—dumb little boy.]

"...What the fuck do you mean, dumb?" I grimaced, opening the door, "I am smarter than you."

[Sure, you are.]

"..."

Since when did he start being sarcastic?

"Hmmm?"

But as soon as I opened the door, a girl stood in front of me.

"..."

"...What are you doing?"

Christina asked, grabbing the door as I tried to close it again.

"Nothing." I mumbled, stepping back, letting her inside the room.

She walked in, grabbed my hand, and made me sit on the bed again.

"Don't move too much." She said, moving the chair and sitting in front of me.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking at her.

"Back home." She replied, grabbing her blue hair and starting to tie it, "It's been more than a week since you lost consciousness."

"...What happened after that?" I asked, standing up and walking behind her.

"...Someone working for your mother was there, helping you." She whispered as I grabbed her hair softly, "...You were already unconscious when we found you with her."

"...Do you know her?" I asked as I tied her hair in a high bun.

"No, I haven't seen her before." She replied as I walked back and sat down.

'...Who was she, then?'

I wondered, feeling curious about that person.

Christina knows almost everyone important working for my mother.

But she didn't know her?

'...I will ask Adaliah later.'

"So how are we back here?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Royal guards came to rescue us as soon as they could." She replied, glancing at my hands.

"What?" I asked, grabbing my robe and covering my arms, "...How did they let a foreign empire's force into their lands?"

"They didn't." She replied, shrugging, "Royal guards just barged in."

"...That works as well." I mumbled, rubbing my temples.

A few seconds of silence lingered in the room before I asked, "How many died?"

"...Five students." She replied, leaning on the chair, "The Muzzrim imperial family has promised proper compensation for all the deaths that happened because of their negligence."

"And what was our royal family's response?" I asked, having some idea of how it must have gone.

"They accepted it." She replied, letting out a sigh, "...It will be beneficial for the upcoming pact between the empires."

....Using this mishap to gain the upper hand later.

It's not a bad idea.

"How is Oliver?" I asked, gazing back at her.

"He is fine." She replied, "He woke up before you."

"...I see." I mumbled, getting up and moving towards the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked, standing up as well.

"I feel uncomfortable here." I replied, opening the door before glancing back at her, "Let's go out for a walk."

"....."

But as I turned around, another girl stood in front of me.

"How are you, brother?" Avril asked softly, looking up at me.

"Let's talk outside." I replied, walking out.

The hallway was silent, with no one around.

"Are you alright?" Avril asked again, walking beside me.

"I am doing fine." I replied, shrugging, "What are you doing here?"

"What does that mean?" She frowned, a displeased look on her face, "I am here to take care of you."

"...Right." I mumbled quietly as we reached the garden within the hospital.

The gentle light of evening filled the garden with an orange hue as we walked on the pathway quietly.

"Mother told me you awakened?" After an awkward silence, Avril asked, breaking the ice.

"Partially." I replied, glancing at her.

She smiled softly, nodding her head, "You are second to awaken in our generation."

"..."

I remained silent, not commenting on it.

"Brother Killian is the firs—"

"I didn't ask who the first is, Avril." I cut in, glaring at her.

"I am just telling—"

"And I don't want to know!" I snapped, glaring at her.

"What type of idiot shouts at his big sister?" She snarled, stomping on my toe.

"Oh, now you remember you have a brother?" I asked, annoyance clear in my voice.

"Why are you so grumpy all the time?" She frowned, trying to pinch my arm.

"Don't touch me." I moved away, walking faster to avoid her.

"Hey, Azariah!!"

Sometimes I wonder if that girl even has any brains or not.

How can she be so dumb?

[....You could just tell her—]

'Tell her what? Do I have to say everything for them to understand it?'

[...]

Seriously, day by day, my suspicions keep on growing.

Why the fuck was I so kind to everyone?

Was that all done of my own accord?

Did I really want to help them?

Why did I even help them by hurting myself?

Was that all a lie?

Was my personality never my own?

"Azariah!!"

"What!?" I shouted back, turning around to look at Avril.

"Why are you not listening?" She asked, looking at me.

"Because I am avoiding you." I replied, glaring at her, "Now, do me a favor and stay the fuck away."

I turned around, walking away from her.

I can't.

I can't do it anymore.

While wearing so many masks on my face, I have already forgotten who I really am.

Am I really kind, or am I just a bastard?

Am I even a human?

'..Wait, I am not.'

I chuckled at my own stupid joke.

"Hey."

My steps halted as I heard a soft whisper from behind me.

"What is it?" I asked, turning back to look at Christina.

"She ran away crying." She replied, standing in front of me.

Guilt crept into my heart, but I quickly shrugged it off.

"Then you should have gone after her." I replied, looking at her.

"Maybe." She agreed, nodding her head, "But it seems you need more help than her."

She extended her hand to grab mine, but I didn't let her.

"I have already seen it." She whispered softly, making me stop my protest.

She rolled up my sleeves, the cuts and burn marks lay bare for her to see.

"It doesn't hurt anymore." I mumbled as she touched them lightly as if they were fresh.

"You're not going to tell me how it happened, are you?" She asked, glancing up.

"..."

My mouth remained shut as I just looked at her.

"I have said it many times, but I will say it again so your small brain can register it." She whispered softly, looking into my eyes.

"If you want to share anything, I am always there for you and always will be."

"...I know." I replied, rolling my sleeve back to hide it, "...I am guessing you already know about it."

"Aljanah family." She whispered softly, nodding her head, "...The only living descendants of the Fallen."

"Are you alright with it?" I asked, uneasiness filling my voice, "You know we are not the most likable bunch."

"That doesn't concern me." She replied, shrugging as a smile returned to her face, "If anything, I got my own personal flying vehicle."

"Yeah, very funny." I replied with a deadpan look on my face.

"Anyway, I wanted to talk about something." She said, her face turning serious.

"What?"

"It's about Ethan."