I Am The Game's Villain

"What group did you end up in?" I inquired of John as we exited the classroom.

John shrugged nonchalantly. "Two guys I don't know and Amelia Dolphis."

"Ah, you're spending quite some time with her," I remarked with a teasing smile. "Is it fate—"

"It's only been two times," John interrupted with a groan. "And the group isn't exactly a social one. Amelia is the only one doing the talking."

Well, she was the sole girl, and even she might have felt a bit awkward. John wasn't particularly talkative either, much like myself, and the others in his group were likely "mobs" who wouldn't even dare to meet Amelia's gaze, considering her status as a Great Noble.

"What about your group?" John returned the question.

"Sirius, Sephira, and Elizabeth," I replied with a wry smile.

John grimaced upon hearing that. "You're no different from a Protagonist when it comes to attracting important characters."

"Maybe, but I'm quite content with my group. No troublesome individuals, and everyone is friendly," I said.

I really lucked out with this lineup. Elizabeth was amiable, Sephira wasn't much of a talker, and Sirius was just an ordinary guy who didn't seem to care much about status or social hierarchy.

"You are a lucky one," John grumbled before striding ahead.

"Even if it's fake, show happiness for me," I retorted, smiling, as he walked away.

"Hey!"

"?" I turned around to find Sirius and Sephira approaching me in haste.

Did John leave me behind just to avoid interactions with the other characters?

He was truly determined to keep his distance from the cast.

"What's up?" I asked, curious.

"You accidentally took my pen, Amael," Sirius said with a chuckle.

"Ah." I sighed, slightly exasperated with myself. I unzipped my bag and returned his pen. "Do you want the papers too, Sephira?" I added jokingly, and Sephira, who had initially appeared surprised, smiled and shook her head. "I won't have any use for already-written papers."

After that, I continued on my way, with Sirius and Sephira following slightly behind me as they chatted.

Those two...

There's definitely something going on between them.

It was apparent that Sirius had a crush on Sephira, and she also seemed to be interested in him. Just as one might expect from a Pretender. However, this wasn't the Game, and I wasn't going to intervene in the relationship of Sephira and Sirius. Victor wasn't the type to interfere in an existing duo like Sephira and Sirius.

"So, how did you two meet?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Huh?" Sirius was taken aback by my question and cast a nervous glance at Sephira.

"There were some people bothering me, and Sirius helped me out," Sephira replied, her cheeks tinged with shyness.

"Well, that's about right," Sirius scratched his cheek. "I just helped a fellow classmate, ahaha."

"You guys are friends then?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow.

[<Are you having fun, Amael?>]

'Exactly. Look at their expressions. I want to see how they answer this one.'

"F-Friends...yes," Sephira replied, turning her face away.

"Y-Yeah, friends," Sirius laughed, but his expression betrayed a hint of disappointment.

[<I think he expected something more direct from Sephira.>]

'More direct? Like a kiss?'

[<N-Not that direct!>]

Well, something I learned after finishing the First Game in reality and starting the Second Game is that the whole concept of dating sim games and such was complete nonsense. Pursuing and seducing girls as if they were trophies to be won was absurd. The titles of Protagonist and Pretenders were merely names and held no additional privileges. Just because you were a Protagonist didn't mean you could have any girl you wanted, and Heroines were just 'normal' girls despite their exceptional qualities like strength and beauty.

For instance, in the Game, a player might have gone to great lengths to seduce Sephira with Victor if they saw her with Sirius, but that was all nonsense. Sephira and Sirius would do as they pleased, and nobody else could dictate their choices.

What was even more pathetic was that I had treated the Heroines exactly like that last year. I just wanted to 'sell' the Heroines to Jayden to get that Happy Ending, and in the end, we achieved it without resorting to such tactics, even though I had sacrificed a lot to reach that point.

This time, however, things would be different. I was determined to reach the Happy Ending no matter what, but I wouldn't drag the Heroines into Victor's harem to achieve it. After all, I had sisters and a fiancée.

"What are you doing here, you filthy cousin?" I heard a snide remark from behind.

I furrowed my brow at the words and turned around to see who had spoken.

It was Allen Teraquin.

He was there, presumably for Sephira, his cousin, and it was evident that he despised her because of her Half-Elf heritage.

Did he really have nothing better to do with his life?

"Stop that, Allen," Sirius intervened, positioning himself in front of Allen.

Jiren, that scoundrel, was with Allen, and the smirk he directed at me made me cringe. I swiftly took a step back, planning to leave the area, but...

"Where are you going, Half?" It was Allen who blocked my path.

What a pain in the ass.

I sighed and spun on my heels to confront the bastard, but Sirius spoke up.

"Go on, Amael, I'll handle them."

"Wait-"

"Thanks," I replied quickly and departed with a broad smile.

The Pretenders in this Game seemed to be less annoying than those in the First Game, with the exception of Allen.

….

….

"Where's Mother and Sister?" I asked directly when I got back home.

"Lady Alea is in her office with Young Lady Christina," Albert answered.

I nodded and went up the stairs until I reached the office.

I hesitated a little before knocking on the door.

There was a brief silence before a voice called out, "Enter."

I stepped inside and saw Mom working at her desk, with Christina by her side, assisting her.

When they noticed me, they stopped and turned their attention toward me.

"I know I've been reckless, but it wasn't for trivial reasons," I began. "Even at school, I'm doing my best to avoid fights over trivial matters. In fact, I've never sought out a fight until now," I said with a slight laugh. "But at Dolphis, I had to kill her, Mother, Sister. I don't take my life lightly, and that's precisely why I'm willing to put it on the line for important matters, like what happened yesterday."

"..."

I sighed before offering a reassuring smile. "Dad and Big Brother may have died because of recklessness, I know, but I'm different. Trust me, I won't die, and I won't let harm come to any of you. I just need you to have faith in me. Did John tell you about Celesta? There, I had no one by my side, but here, I have you, Mom, and you, Big Sister," I added with a grin. "If things get too dangerous, of course, I'll try to avoid them, but I have confidence in my abilities. Don't underestimate me just because I'm the youngest, okay? Ouch!"

"Stupid Brother!" Christina suddenly bashed my head and then enveloped me in a warm hug. "You'd better keep your promise."

"I've never broken a promise in both of my lives."

[<Sounds like a lie.>]

Shut up.

"Now, apologize to Mother!" Christina declared before she left the room.

"Well, I'm sorry, Mom," I began, but Mom cut me off with a sigh before taking a seat on the sofa.

"Come here, Amael," she said, and I nodded, taking a seat next to her.

With a gentle motion, she placed my head on her lap and started stroking my hair. "Can you tell your mother about your life in Celesta, Amael?"

"John didn't tell you?"

"I want to hear it from your own mouth," Mother replied, so I nodded and reluctantly began to recount my experiences.

***

In the office, a peaceful silence settled after an hour of conversation.

Lydia sat there, gently stroking Amael's dark hair with a tender gaze as he slept soundly.

"Amael will be alright."

Suddenly, a voice spoke out of nowhere, and an ethereal figure materialized near Lydia. She didn't panic, but there was a hint of surprise in her eyes as she gazed upon the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life. This woman had vibrant, long green hair and mesmerizing green eyes, a true goddess in every sense.

"Are you the Goddess who helped Amael?" Lydia inquired, her voice filled with respect.

"Yes," Cleenah replied with a warm smile. "I am Cleenah, the Goddess of Banshees and Beauty."

"Beauty, hmm? No wonder," Lydia chuckled lightly before grinning mischievously. "Do you love my son?"

Cleenah was taken aback by the directness of the question but shook her head with a giggle. "No, I don't. I love another man."

"No way...! A child born from the Goddess of Beauty and my son would have been amazing!" Lydia exclaimed, her disappointment evident.

"Amael already has a wonderful fiancée, Lydia. You don't need to worry about children," Cleenah reassured her with a warm smile.

"I want more, though," Lydia insisted, pouting like a child.

"You don't have to worry about that either. Someone like Amael is destined for greatness and to have loyal and powerful women by his side," Cleenah replied with a knowing look.

Lydia nodded, a satisfied expression on her face. "I feel really at ease speaking with you, despite you being a Goddess."

"Your son was also quite at ease when speaking to me for the first time," Cleenah remarked, her tone playful.

Lydia laughed before her expression turned slightly serious. "Can you continue to take care of him as you have until now?"

"I promise you," Cleenah said with sincerity, though there was a subtle hint of dishonesty in her words that Lydia's keen eyes didn't miss. "I will be with Amael until the time he no longer needs me."