I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 453  [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [39] Blockhead Amael

"Ugh…" I groaned as I forced my eyes open. The world around me was still, yet my head throbbed with the relentless ache of a headache that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. I clutched my head, trying to steady myself as my vision slowly focused.

I looked up, noticing that the stars had faded from the sky. The inky blanket of night was gone, replaced by the first hints of dawn filtering softly through the canopy of trees. Pale golden light seeped through the leaves, casting a cool, quiet glow across the forest floor. The morning air was brisk, biting at my skin and sending a shiver down my spine.

Then I remembered the dream—or rather, another fragment of memory from my past life. Ephera's face lingered in my thoughts, her smile vivid as if she were right in front of me. I'd nearly forgotten that day, or maybe I'd buried it deep, reluctant to relive the moment I'd crossed paths with 'them' again.

Back then, I'd been foolish—so hopelessly naive it was almost laughable. All I wanted was to start anew, to turn the page on a life filled with wrong decisions and regrets. Yet, every choice I made seemed to lead me down another dead end, another trap…until I met Ephera and the others. But even they were taken from me, torn away just when I had begun to hope again.

"I'll make sure you're the happiest man in the world."

–Bam!

A surge of anger bubbled up andI drove my fist hard into the ground, feeling the sting as earth and stone pressed against my knuckles. "Damn it," I muttered, the curse bitter on my lips.

I pushed myself upright, grimacing at the dull ache that flared through my body, but to my surprise, the pain was muted. My shoulder and leg, where my wounds had been, were almost completely healed. The realization brought back my last conscious memory—a conversation with Alvara, moments before I'd blacked out.

I shouldn't have been able to heal myself, not in that state. Alvara must have done it…in the end, she chose to save me.

A faint smile tugged at my lips as I pictured her grumbling, her pride warring with whatever compelled her to keep me alive. It was strange to imagine her that way, but oddly satisfying, too.

"Acting like a tsundere right to the end, huh?" I laughed softly, feeling an unexpected warmth settle in my chest. Despite her prickly demeanor, she'd come through for me. I'd made the right choice that night, facing her honestly and offering what help I could.

I owed Myrcella for pushing me toward it. Only a few months ago, I'd been hell-bent on letting Alvara face her fate alone, never considering that she was as trapped as I was. But now, I hoped she'd make the right choices from here, that she'd find a path free from the shackles that had bound her.

"You finally woke up?"

I frowned, startled out of my thoughts. Turning my head, I spotted a figure lounging against a nearby tree—a young werewolf with dark hair, idly tossing a rock back and forth in his hands. His yellow eyes glinted as he looked up at me.

"I was beginning to think you'd never wake up," he said, a smirk at the edge of his lips. "But I guess that's good news too."

It was Rodolf.

Rodolf suddenly narrowed his eyes on me.

"Where is Alvara?" ***

Zone 9

"Agh… I'm so tired…" Celeste murmured, dragging her feet as she walked.

Victor chuckled at her. "You've slept more than enough, haven't you, Celes?"

She shot him a mock glare, but a hint of color rose to her cheeks. "We just fought Amael, and then Earth showed up right after. They both came charging in without a second thought."

"So, you ran into Amael, huh? Any clue where he might be now?" Victor asked, his eyes scanning their surroundings as if the elusive Amael might suddenly appear.

Celeste shrugged, though her brow furrowed slightly in thought. "No idea, but… maybe somewhere in Zone 9 as well? He seemed pretty focused on scoring high in the exam, almost intense about it."

Victor's mouth twisted into a half-smile. "Could be. I just hope he's not still running around hunting points like nothing strange is going on." He glanced at her, a flicker of genuine concern in his gaze. In his gut, he was sure that other students were probably continuing the hunt, oblivious that Behemoth had intruded.

Celeste shrugged, shaking her head. "Amael's not that dense at least in that domain… Victor. He's sharper than you'd think."

Victor watched her closely, noting the way her eyes softened at the mention of Amael. Her smile lingered just a little too long, and Victor couldn't resist pointing out what had been on his mind for a while.

"You like Amael, don't you, Celes?"

"...!" Celeste's eyes widened, caught entirely off guard by his bluntness. She tripped, nearly stumbling over her own feet, before she managed to regain her balance. Her cheeks flared a deep shade of crimson as she shot Victor a glare that was more flustered than furious.

Victor burst into laughter at her reaction. "Ah, I knew it! I've known you for years, and I've never seen you get so flustered or look that happy when talking about someone." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I–I am not shy!" Celeste's voice rose an octave, but her reddening cheeks betrayed her protest quite obviously.

Victor's grin only widened as he continued to tease her. "You sure? Because you get that exact look every time you're around Amael. It's almost too obvious."

"R–Really?" She stuttered, her embarrassment deepening as she realized her emotions had been plain enough for Victor, of all people, to notice. The idea that her attempts at subtlety had failed was mortifying.

"One hundred percent," Victor replied with certainty. "Amael, on the other hand, seems oblivious. Acts like he doesn't notice at all."

Celeste's shoulders slumped slightly, and she let out a frustrated huff. From everyone else's perspective, Amael probably looked like that aloof type, too cool to care about romance or anyone else's feelings. But she knew better; she knew the stubborn, unreachable wall he kept up.

"T–That's because Amael is a blockhead, a complete and utter idiot!" She blurted out in frustration.

Celeste couldn't understand how oblivious Amael continued to be. She'd gone out of her way to catch his eye, doing things she'd never thought twice about before: styling her hair, dressing more elegantly, even applying light makeup. Sometimes she wore jewelry—delicate earrings, a subtle necklace—just for him to notice. Yet Amael barely seemed to give her a second look. She'd imagined at least a raised brow, a hint of surprise, something beyond his usual casual glance. She didn't need the eager stares of her other classmates; she wanted Amael's attention. Her attempts to get closer to him had been no better. Every touch, each subtle shift in proximity, had been brushed off or simply overlooked as if he thought she didn't know what she was doing. And then there was that bite—a kiss by her standards, anyway. She'd caught him off guard, leaning in and biting his lip gently in an attempt to kiss him, a bold move, or so she thought. Yet Amael had come away from it acting as though it were no more than a passing moment. She'd noticed a flicker of something in his gaze, some strange tension, but nothing seemed to change between them. He still spoke to her the same, acted the same, leaving her in a sleepless tangle of frustration and confusion.

Of course, she could blame Amael's cluelessness, but she was beginning to question if she was simply invisible to him. And maybe she wasn't helping matters, either; after all, she was close to many of her classmates. Her easygoing nature with others, especially her friendship with Victor, probably wasn't helping Amael get any clearer picture of her feelings. It had even gotten to the point where she began doubting herself, wondering if she simply didn't appeal to him.

"Maybe I'm not his type… He even called me heavy back then…" Celeste muttered, sulking at the memory. The word had stung, and despite herself, she couldn't shake the idea that Amael just didn't find her attractive.

Victor, overhearing her complaint, raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "That guy…" He struggled to find anything to defend Amael with. Calling a woman 'heavy' was about as low as it got—Amael must have known how that would come across. "Look, I don't think he meant it like that, Celes," Victor said, trying to reassure her.

"Then tell me, you're his friend, right? Does he ever mention me to you?" Celeste's eyes were hopeful as she searched his face, remembering that Victor and Amael had grown close, Amael often tagging along with him and John.

Victor's gaze shifted, slightly uncomfortable. Amael had only ever mentioned Celeste to him once, and the comment was… not ideal. "Well…" He trailed off, scratching the back of his head.

Amael had mentioned her closeness with other guys in passing, saying it might lead to misunderstandings. Victor had been speechless at the time. The irony was thick—Amael was so convinced that Celeste's social nature meant she was unaware of boundaries, while Celeste was only trying to get close to him. Victor had nearly said something to clear the air, but admittedly, he'd found the misunderstanding a bit too amusing to ruin it.

"He talks about you, yeah… so don't worry too much," Victor said with a reassuring smile. "Amael doesn't waste time on people he doesn't care about, you know? And, honestly, if he's bringing you up, it's a good sign. Although," he continued with a playful laugh, "I've mostly heard him mention Layla and Miranda. Seems he's been sending them letters pretty regularly."

"Layla and Miranda…" Celeste muttered, her voice quiet as a twinge of disappointment flickered in her eyes. She knew those names well—they'd come up before, spoken in whispers by Annabelle when Amael's supposed 'list of wives' was discussed.

"So, it was true, after all…" She let out a frustrated scoff, shaking her head. "What a womanizer he is." Despite her irritation, a part of her grudgingly admitted she'd fallen for the same charms that seemed to reel everyone else in. It stung to realize she was hardly the first—or likely the last—to find herself caught up in Amael's unique pull.

She should abandon the notion of him altogether, find someone else less… complicated, someone not surrounded by lovers in the plural or constantly distracted by other women. But that was easier said than done. Amael's mere presence had lit up her world, and imagining anyone else bringing her that same brightness was impossible. She was in too deep.

-BOOOM

Suddenly an impact exploded in front of them, scattering debris and dust through the air. Both Celeste and Victor stumbled back, caught off guard as their hands flew instinctively to their weapons.

"Behemoth?" Victor whispered, ready to fight.

Celeste's hand tightened on her blade at his words, her senses sharpening as they both focused on the shadowed figure emerging in the haze. She adjusted her stance, bracing herself, the silence pressing down on them as the smoke began to clear.

Slowly, the figure came into view—a beautiful young woman with long, flowing black hair that framed her face like silk and intense, deep blue eyes that held an electric spark. Lightning danced over her entire form, illuminating her features in sharp contrast. She stood confidently atop a branch, her gaze fixed on Victor and Celeste below.

Victor's eyes went wide as recognition dawned. "J–Jennyfer?!"