I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 311  Jonathan

”This is your new sister, Jonathan; say hello,” a woman exclaimed with a warm smile, gently urging her son forward.

Jonathan flinched and slowly approached the girl. She was his age, wore glasses, and bore a kind smile.

”Iʼm Shayna, pleased to meet you, Jonathan!” She extended her hand with a bright smile.

Jonathanʼs somber eyes flickered as he observed Shaynaʼs cheerfulness. Pity for her situation with his parents lingered in his gaze.

He was ten years old and his parents have been beating him for years. He was an unwanted child and they showed him that very well.

-Bam!

Suddenly, a man appeared and struck Jonathanʼs arm with a club.

Jonathan groaned, collapsing to his knees, clutching his bleeding arm. Tears welled up from the pain, but he bit his lip, determined not to cry—his parents disapproved of tears.

”Are you okay, Jonathan?” Shayna rushed to his side, concern etched on her face. She widened her eyes, casting an angry glance at her foster father. ”Why did you—”

Before she could finish, a hard slap silenced her, sending her frail body colliding with the wall.

”Youʼre new to our family, dear,” the mother approached Shayna with a seemingly kind smile. ”Itʼll take time, but youʼll get used to it. Weʼre just expressing our love in our own way.”

Shayna coughed blood, tearfully searching for her glasses.

”If you and your new brother behave well, we wonʼt have to resort to hitting you, okay?” The mother asked, maintaining the façade of kindness.

”...”

”Answer her!”

”Hiii!” Shayna recoiled as her father raised his tone abruptly.

”Iʼll explain to her...” John stepped forward, nursing his broken arm, and positioned himself in front of Shayna.

”Oh?” The father narrowed his eyes at Johnʼs gaze. It was a cold glare. ”You asked for it!” He raised his club again, but—

”N-No!” Shayna pulled John down and shielded him with her body, coughing blood in front of a shocked John.

”W-Why...?” He stammered, utterly shocked. He hadnʼt intervened to protect her, just to end the beating.

Shayna looked at him with a pale face, fear evident in her eyes. Despite her own terror, she managed a small smile. ”I-I always wanted to have a brother... a f-family...”

Her warm tears fell onto Jonathanʼs face, and for the first time in a long while, genuine tears of emotion escaped his eyes.

***

”John.”

”...”

”Johnny.”

”...”

”Siscon,” I nudged Johnʼs shoulders as he stood daydreaming in front of the castle gates. The knights were awaiting our entry, but he seemed lost in his thoughts.

John quickly snapped back and shot me a glare.

Ignoring his reaction, I walked ahead. ”I bet you were thinking about Amelia again. If you miss her so much, just call her to join us.”

A vein popped out on Johnʼs forehead. ”Fuck off.”

”Thatʼs the spirit you should show to whichever fucker King Charlie sent to ʼcontrolʼ us,” I remarked with a smirk.

Led by some knights, we were ushered inside the castle. In contrast to the exam period, we now had access to the forbidden Wing reserved for the royals. The corridors were notably more ornate and opulent.

”Edward.”

”Hm?” I glanced at John, who wore a downcast expression.

”You mentioned that Kleah was your friend from Earth, and she said that each of us had our lives controlled back on Earth, right?”

”Yeah,” I nodded. I had shared with John most of the details linking my transmigration here.

”Then that person or persons might be the cause of all the deaths that happened to us, right?” He asked, echoing Gladysʼs words.

It was precisely what Gladys had suggested.

Epheraʼs death had been calculated, much like everything that had transpired for me, John, and Eric. Both of them hadnʼt seemed open to discussing their past lives, so I didnʼt press. I also kept certain personal matters to myself.

I didnʼt provide an answer, but John understood my implication.

He clenched his fists tightly.

There was nothing more to say.

Whether it was me or him, we both harbored a profound hatred for the people responsible for the events that happened to us on Earth.

I couldnʼt understand why we had been chosen.

What was the common thread among me, John, Eric, Gladys, and Leon?

No matter how much I pondered, I couldnʼt discern a connection.

Perhaps itʼs just me. But then how am I related to John or Eric?

The most straightforward solution would be to ask them directly, but would they be forthcoming?

[]

ʼRight.ʼ

”Itʼs here.” The knightʼs voice interrupted my thoughts as he opened the doors.

What awaited us was a small waiting room adorned with four luxurious red sofas.

The knights instructed us to wait, and we each took a seat.

”Why donʼt you sit next to me, brother-in-law?” I suggested to John, who had chosen the sofa opposite me.

”I donʼt want to,” John replied.

I sighed at the rejection and stretched my arms. ”If only Eric were here.”

”He would have lectured you about his sisterʼs well-being,” John snorted.

Seemed like he knew Eric quite well.

After all, they were both siscons.

[]

ʼIʼm a proud siscon.ʼ

I had three wonderful sisters I was proud of and would always cherish.

[]

”Right, Connor was a great big brother. Itʼs a shame I wasnʼt able to speak with him...”

And the other one was my foster brother, Simon.

How on earth was he doing?

The last time I saw him, he was heartbroken over Elonaʼs death.

I told this idiot to reconcile with Elona, and she died before he could make amends.

After a little while, the opposite door opened, and two people emerged.

”M-Mom?” I was surprised to see Mom there with a radiant smile. But when I saw the person behind her, my smile widened.

”A-Aunt Belle…”

”How are you, Edward?” Aunt Belle asked with that familiar, kind smile.

She approached me and ruffled my hair. ”You have grown up quite a bit, havenʼt you?”

It felt as though I hadnʼt seen her in a year.

I felt so guilty about Elonaʼs death that I was even apprehensive about meeting Aunt Belle again.

My lips quivered a little before I gently embraced her. ”Itʼs good to see you again, Aunt.”

Aunt Belle smiled and patted my back. ”Black hair doesnʼt really suit you, Edward,” she said thoughtfully, holding her chin.

”It doesnʼt change the fact that Iʼm very handsome. All the girls in this place are swooning over me,” I replied with a proud smile.

”What did you expect from my son, Belle?” Mom also puffed out her chest proudly.

”Is she the one whoʼs supposed to control us?” John asked, still seated on the sofa.

”Oh, John? Youʼve grown up too!” Aunt Belle exclaimed with a smile. ”Here, a letter from your father,” she added, tossing a letter to John, who caught it.

John seemed surprised at first but then proceeded to read the letter.

”So, Aunt Belle, youʼre here to control us? Then itʼs going to be easy,” I grinned, envisioning the prospect of outsmarting King Charlie.

Unfortunately, Aunt Belle shook her head. ”No, I just accompanied him...”

The door opened again, and a man entered.

”Itʼs good to see you, Edward Falkrona, and you as well, John Tarmias.”

I narrowed my eyes, while John stood up slowly, glaring at the man.

He had the same hazel eyes as Louisa but was entirely different from him.

The Chancellor of the Kingdom of Celeste and Louisaʼs uncle, Donald Trueheart.

”Are you kidding me...” My fists clenched just at the sight of this manʼs face.

He didnʼt shed a single tear at Louisaʼs death and didnʼt even attend her burial.

ʼShe died because she was weak.ʼ

Thatʼs what he had said to Ronald, Louisaʼs brother without even a shred of sympathy.

I despised that guy not just for what he did to Louisa, but also because he was truly dangerous. A manipulative individual who controlled King Charles like a puppet. Eric, who played the Third Game, told me to be very careful while dealing with him.

It wouldnʼt be a surprise if he was the one orchestrating orders when we were imprisoned.

He was very close to King Charles and the latter would always rely on Donald to advise him. Donald Trueheart was untouchable in Celesta.