I Am The Game's Villain

Jarvis asked as I slipped on a black cloak and a black mask to conceal my identity, altering my eyes and hair.

"I\'m changing my appearance," I replied.

[This time, it\'s Nyrel.]

"I don\'t want to end up on Caishen\'s blacklist or reveal my face to Milleia."

I have enough problems to deal with, and it\'s more convenient for me this way.

"Jayden is capable of handling them anyway. I\'ll just take a look to make sure nothing goes wrong."

After donning my mask, my hair turned black, and my eyes became red.

Without wasting any more time, I sprinted towards the 47th floor.

[Your mental state doesn\'t seem stable, Edward.]

"As always."

It\'s only been two days, but it feels like I\'ve been trapped in this dungeon for an eternity. I truly want to finish this Event and leave this place as soon as possible.

[John Tarmias is also a Reincarnator.]

"Yeah, both him and John weren\'t reincarnated by your master, right?"

[Affirmative. You were the only one, Edward.]

"Then who reincarnated them? And for what purpose?"

[I don\'t have the answer to that, Edward.]

"Hmm."

John\'s words about me keep echoing in my mind.

I know.

I know that I\'m relying too heavily on Jayden and Milleia, but it\'s the best solution I could come up with as someone who knows them well. I may be strong, and I might become even stronger, but Jayden is an Apostle. He can do things that I could never. He, along with the other Protagonists, is special. Jayden now considers me one of his close friends. He will undoubtedly prioritize my life over others.

Eric chose to wait from the sidelines, which was also a wise decision.

But John couldn\'t remain idle, knowing that his family was destined for a tragic fate with Layla as the Villainess. So why didn\'t he even attempt to trigger the Villainess\' route? Maybe he despised the idea of his sister being involved with Jayden, considering his role as her brother. I can understand him, as I would never do that with Elona either.

Speaking of John... Despite being a Reincarnator, I don\'t believe he knows who I am, so he couldn\'t have been the one who sent me that letter.

Does that mean there is another Reincarnator?

This is spiraling out of control.

I should discuss it with Eric once this Event concludes.

*******

[40TH FLOOR]

-BOOOOOM!

Katia watched as Draven Stormdila continued to assault the massive mana circle on the 40th floor, but there seemed to be no sign of weakening. It had been an hour since they started their attack, and frustration filled her expression. She knew that her hope of no casualties was nothing more than a fantasy. Whoever possessed the power to halt a Monarch, someone capable of such a feat, resided within the dungeon.

The presence of a traitor was the only explanation she could come up with.

"Mrs. Katia!"

Just as she pondered this, a staff member called out to her.

"What is it?" she asked, turning towards the staff member.

The staff member trembled slightly as he spoke. "Another Monarch has appeared, and also-"

Before he could finish his sentence, two figures materialized before them.

Katia swiftly approached the newcomers and addressed the first woman, "Monarch Brida."

The woman before her was incredibly beautiful, with long red hair and vibrant green eyes that resembled a slightly older version of Kleah. She was Brida Toyreas, a Monarch and the older sister of Kleah Toyreas. Like her sister, she was a half-elf, but her ears currently appeared human. Only a select few knew her true identity.

Brida simply nodded in acknowledgment and hastened toward Draven, a hint of impatience on her face.

"Where is Edward?" the other woman, whose beauty rivaled Brida\'s, spoke up. She was none other than Belle Falkrona, Edward\'s aunt and Thomen\'s younger sister.

"Lady Falkrona," Katia greeted her.

"Forget the formalities, Katia," Belle waved her hand dismissively. "I just want to know where Edward is."

Katia nodded, understanding the urgency in Belle\'s voice. "We don\'t know, Belle. The cameras have been tampered with, and a complex circle has been placed on this floor and the 50th floor, preventing any outside assistance."

Belle fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "I need to get Edward out of here."

Katia furrowed her brows in concern. "Do you believe they are specifically targeting Edward?"

Belle nodded decisively. "Their motives may extend beyond Edward, but he is undoubtedly one of their targets. I didn\'t expect them to dare attack a place like this."

"The Duke isn\'t coming?" Katia inquired.

Belle shook her head. "He wanted to come, but I stopped him. I fear that Brandon Delavoic and Conrad Leroy might be involved. It would be dangerous for him to enter what is likely a trap."

"Lord Waylen is aware of the gravity of the situation, Belle?" Katia asked.

A bitter smile formed on Belle\'s face upon hearing her father\'s name. "Father... I didn\'t even inform him. My eldest brother didn\'t even come for his own nephew, Katia... How can I expect my father to? He might only intervene if Edward is kidnapped since he holds importance for the house. He had always been strict but after Kleines\' death something changed in him. He was the only who awakened our bloodline in his \'core\' with father. I don\'t know why. Maybe he sensed something similar to Edward..."

Katia fell silent, contemplating Belle\'s words.

\'He has thickly inherited the Olpheans\' blood. Is that why the Falkrona Bloodline seemed to have rejected him? Lord Horus could have probably found a way for Edward nonetheless. Is there something else about the sole Heir of the Olpheans?\'

Belle sighed with a sorrowful expression. "This child has endured enough in his life and continues to face hardships. He doesn\'t deserve such a life, Katia. He should have lived happily with his mother and father from the beginning."

"You can\'t deny that he has... certain challenges, Belle."

"Hey! Don\'t insult my adorable nephew," Belle retorted playfully, finding amusement in Katia\'s words. "He is who he is, but I will always support him. I made a promise to his mother, and he is like a son to me. I was the one who named him," she added with pride and a smile before proceeding to join Draven and Brida, who were still attempting to disrupt the circle.

*******

[47TH FLOOR]

"Tch! I can\'t believe he really left us for Layla!" Elona complained angrily, her thoughts consumed by John\'s actions. "He was like that even before, but it\'s really getting worse by the day."

"Lord John cares deeply for his sister, Elona. It must be that," Milleia responded with a gentle smile.

"I know, but we\'re currently being assessed for the exam. Miranda is our overseer and won\'t follow him. I hope he understands the significance," Elona replied, her frustration evident.

When a group splits, the overseer has to make a choice. The most logical one is to follow the main group with the designated leader.

"Miranda? Ah, Lady Miranda. You and Elona are childhood friends, right?" Milleia asked curiously.

"Yes," Elona answered cheerfully. "My brother and I were friends with her, but they had a falling out. But I\'m sure they\'ll make up someday. I\'ll make sure of it."

"I see. The same goes for Her Highness?"

"Yes," Elona nodded. "Aura is also a close friend of mine. We used to spend a lot of time together. Oh, by the way, you\'ll be attending Aurora and Alfred\'s birthday, right?"

"Eh? I don\'t think someone like me should be allowed at a royal birthday, Elona..." Milleia said a little sad.

"Oh! Alfred should have already invited you, though? Maybe he planned to surprise you? Anyway, don\'t worry about it, Milleia! I\'ll ask Aura to prepare an invitation for you. And what about you, Jayden? Are you interested?" Elona turned to Jayden, who was walking ahead.

"Ah? Yeah. If Edward and Milleia are going, I\'d be glad to join as well," Jayden nodded.

"Brother..." Elona fell into thought, contemplating Edward\'s possible response. "Knowing him, he would want to avoid such a boring birthday. But I\'ll try to convince him." Though Edward didn\'t need an invitation to attend, being the son of Thomen Falkrona, Elona doubted whether he would come. He didn\'t particularly get along with Alfred and had a strained relationship with Aurora.

\'Why is my brother still hiding that he is Amael? I\'m sure Aurora would forgive him, and their relationship might even improve. Maybe I should reveal it to her myself?\' Elona pondered, considering taking matters into her own hands.

Jayden\'s steps came to an abrupt halt, his senses tingling with unease. Milleia, noticing his sudden pause, quickly made her way over to him.

"What happened, Jayden?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Jayden knelt down and touched the grass beneath his fingertips. He inspected his hand and then revealed it to Layla, showing her the crimson stain. "Blood," he stated grimly.

A girl from their group chimed in, her voice filled with disbelief. "Does that mean another group has already passed through? I thought we were the first."

Jayden fell into silence, his gaze scanning the vast expanse of the grassy field that stretched out before them. The absence of any visible end to the field made it difficult to determine their current location.

His instincts stirred, a lingering feeling that something was amiss. A sense of foreboding settled over him.

\'Zeus,\' he called out mentally.

[ϟSomething is amiss, boy. Be careful.ϟ]

Jayden nodded inwardly, his resolve firming. He knew he had to proceed with care.

"Gather around, everyone," Jayden began, his voice projecting authority. "We need to-"

Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp whoosh cut through the air. Acting on pure instinct, Jayden swiftly swung his sword, intercepting a dagger hurtling towards him.

Applause echoed through the field as a figure emerged from the shadows, accompanied by a group of cloaked individuals. The newcomer was clad in full black attire, his face concealed behind a menacing mask.

A voice, laced with familiarity, rang out from beneath the mask. "You\'ve grown stronger, boy," the mysterious figure remarked, his words dripping with a mixture of admiration and amusement. "It\'s been a while, Reinhart Eginfer."

Next Chapter: Caishen

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