I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 828: The Responsibilities of the Apostle of Lumen

“Why…”

Jayden’s voice trembled as he struggled to catch his breath.

“…Why did you do this?”

Every word hurt.

His body was covered in cuts and bruises, his armor cracked in several places. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth before falling onto the shattered white stone beneath him.

Even standing had become difficult.

Still…

His eyes never left the figure floating high above.

Below them…

Edenis Raphiel had become almost unrecognizable.

The legendary floating archipelago, the holiest place in the world, untouched by war for thousands of years, had been reduced to ruins.

Magnificent buildings had collapsed into mountains of rubble.

Sacred gardens burned beneath purple flames.

Entire districts had simply ceased to exist, swallowed by craters that scarred the floating islands.

Screams echoed from every direction.

The sky itself seemed darker.

And the one responsible…

Floated silently above it all.

Like a specter.

Like death itself.

For a moment…

Jayden could only stare.

His mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing.

Because he knew that face.

He knew it.

He had watched that man die.

He had fought him.

Defeated him.

Killed him.

More than two years ago.

“…Edward.”

His voice barely escaped his lips.

Edward Falkrona.

A boy his own age.

Someone he had first met after enrolling at the Royal Eden Academy in the Kingdom of Celesta.

Someone who from the begininng was a evil man who acted innapropriately.

Until the truth had come to light.

Edward had been a member of Ante Eden.

A man responsible for bringing suffering to countless innocent people.

After fleeing Celesta, he had vanished without a trace.

Only later had everyone discovered that he had been living within Sancta Vedelia under an entirely different identity.

The moment his whereabouts had been revealed…

Jayden.

Elona.

Simon.

And many others…

Had immediately rushed to Sancta Vedelia.

Not merely because he was a criminal.

But because, to Elona and Simon, Edward had been family.

No matter what he had become, a part of them still wished to see him with their own eyes.

Perhaps, a tiny part of them had hoped there was still something left to save.

Some fragment of redemption buried beneath everything.

There hadn’t been.

And in the end, Edward Falkrona had died.

Jayden had seen it himself.

He remembered it vividly.

Which was precisely why, nothing could have prepared him for this moment.

For seeing Edward standing before him once again.

Floating, like some fallen angel descending upon the world.

His appearance was almost identical to the Edward Jayden remembered.

Almost.

But there was something deeply, horrifyingly wrong.

One of his eyes had become pitch black.

Not merely dark.

It was as though all light had vanished from it entirely.

A dense aura of darkness surrounded his body, twisting unnaturally around him like living shadows.

Behind his back spread a pair of enormous black wings.

Not feathers touched by darkness.

Darkness itself had become wings.

Simply looking at him caused an instinctive sense of dread to settle within everyone’s heart.

His presence alone was overwhelming.

Far stronger than anything Jayden remembered.

Far stronger than anything he had ever imagined.

Edward slowly lowered his gaze.

His eyes settled upon the battered survivors beneath him.

Then, he smiled.

“…How regrettable.”

His voice echoed strangely across the ruined city.

“And how…pathetic.”

The few people still capable of standing instinctively tightened their weapons.

None of them looked away.

Jayden.

Victor.

Lucius.

Milleia.

And others, among them most knowing Edward.

They all glared upward.

Edward looked at them almost lazily.

“So…”

He tilted his head slightly.

“…these are the Great Knights of Eden… who are supposed to stop me?”

Victor spat blood onto the broken ground before raising his sword once again.

“You won’t leave this place alive, Edward.”

Lucius stepped beside him with an icy gaze.

“You’ve crossed a line that should never have been crossed.”

For a brief moment, silence settled over the battlefield.

Then Milleia stepped forward.

She looked up at Edward.

Unlike the others…

There was no hatred in her eyes.

Only sadness.

“…Please.” Her voice trembled. “You’ve already killed enough people. Isn’t this enough?”

Her eyes wandered across the ruined city surrounding them.

The countless corpses.

The smoke.

The destruction.

When she looked back at Edward, pain had become anger.

“…Isn’t it enough?!”

Edward simply looked at her.

For several long seconds, he said nothing.

Then…

Still wearing that faint smile, he answered.

“…No.”

His single word echoed through the silent ruins.

Slowly, he raised one hand toward the sky.

The shadows surrounding him immediately began to writhe.

Like living creatures answering their master’s call.

Darkness spread outward in every direction.

It swallowed the sunlight.

It crawled across the heavens.

It devoured everything it touched.

Edward’s smile widened ever so slightly.

“It…”

His voice remained as empty as before.

“…will never be enough.”

***

“Enough!!”

“Hyaa!”

Jayden shot upright so suddenly that the young woman sleeping beside him nearly fell off the bed.

She let out a startled cry, clutching the bedsheet against herself before glaring furiously at him.

Jayden sat frozen, breathing heavily.

Cold sweat covered his forehead as he stared blankly ahead, his heart pounding violently inside his chest.

Only after several long seconds did he slowly turn toward her.

“I… I’m sorry, Arete…”

“You scared me half to death!”

She punched his shoulder without holding back.

“Ouch…”

Jayden rubbed the spot with a pained expression.

“Sorry… really…”

He let out a long breath and ran a hand through his messy white hair.

“Damn it…”

Arete watched his frustrated face.

The annoyance she had felt only moments ago gradually disappeared.

She had seen that expression far too many times recently.

Her shoulders relaxed.

With a quiet sigh, she tucked a strand of blue hair behind her ear.

“Another nightmare?”

Her voice had become noticeably gentler.

“You’ve been having them almost every night lately.”

Jayden lowered his eyes.

“…I don’t know.”

He hesitated.

“It doesn’t really feel like a nightmare. It feels…”

He struggled to find the right words.

“…Too real. Like I’m remembering something.”

Arete frowned slightly.

“How many of your wives have you already woken up like this in the middle of the night?”

Jayden instinctively glanced toward the large cabin window.

Bright morning sunlight poured through the curtains.

“It’s not the middle of the night.”

Arete simply pushed him back onto the mattress.

He let out a surprised sound.

Before she could pull away, however, Jayden caught her wrist.

“H-Hey.”

With a light tug, he drew her closer until she lost her balance and fell against him. She landed against his chest with a small huff.

“Sorry.”

Jayden smiled apologetically.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Arete rested her chin against him for a moment before letting out an exaggerated sigh.

“…Looks like our trip’s already over.”

There was real disappointment in her voice.

Jayden smiled softly.

“We’ll still see each other.”

“I know but I won’t have you all to myself anymore.”

She looked up at him.

“Not like these past few days.”

Jayden brushed a loose strand of her hair away.

“You’ll always have a place by my side.”

Arete rolled her eyes.

“Alongside your sixty other wives.”

She scoffed.

“What a privilege.”

Jayden laughed awkwardly.

“Come on. Don’t be upset.”

“I am upset.”

She crossed her arms.

“And from what I’ve heard…”

Her eyes narrowed.

“…you’re actually considering the marriage proposals you’ve already received from Edenis Raphiel.”

Jayden’s smile faded.

“I have to consider them.”

His tone became more serious.

“Arete…I’m the Apostle of Lumen. I have responsibilities.”

She already knew what was coming.

He continued anyway.

“They all tell me the same thing. I have to pass on my bloodline. It’s part of my duty.”

Arete remained unconvinced.

“The Apostle of Nihil doesn’t seem to have sixty wives.”

She folded her arms.

“He rejected every proposal except the women he genuinely loved.”

Jayden looked directly into her eyes.

“I love all of my wives.”

He answered without hesitation.

She sighed.

“You still have the right to refuse.”

“I know.”

He nodded.

“But duty isn’t always about doing what you want. I never chose to become Lumen’s Apostle but I did become him. And because of that…I intend to fulfill every responsibility that comes with the title.”

He paused before continuing.

“You can compare me to the other Apostle if you want but if he refuses to preserve his bloodline for the future of humanity, of the world…then I honestly don’t think he’s fully fulfilling his role,” he said.

“…’Preserve the bloodline.ʼ”

Arete repeated the words with obvious sarcasm.

Resting against his chest once again, she looked toward the ceiling.

“You sound exactly like my father.”

Jayden blinked.

“He used that same excuse every time he justified another affair to Hera.” She imitated Zeus’s voice. “‘It’s for the bloodline.ʼ”

She looked back at him.

“Instead of simply admitting…that he liked beautiful women.”

Jayden immediately shook his head.

“It’s not like that. I’ve rejected plenty of proposals too.”

“After those completely shameless interviews you insist on holding with every candidate?” She raised an eyebrow. “Do you have any idea what people say about those?”

Jayden shrugged.

“I don’t really care what other people think.”

“…What about Milleia?”

The single name instantly silenced him.

Arete noticed immediately.

“Jeanne.”

“Aurora.”

“Sylvia.”

“Maria.”

She listed them one after another.

“Should I continue?”

Jayden frowned.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I’m reminding you how shameless you can be.”

She counted on her fingers.

“Two of them are princesses and one is already engaged to a crown prince.”

Jayden let out a quiet sigh.

“Aurora’s grandfather personally approached me. Her family is considering me as a possible husband for Sylvia.”

Arete couldn’t help laughing.

“I think it’s more accurate to say you’re one of her candidates,” she said. “She’s incredibly popular and while you’re the Apostle of Lumen…you also come with sixty wives attached.”

Jayden shrugged helplessly.

“The royal family simply wants to connect our bloodlines.”

“Exactly.” She answered dryly. “Bloodlines.”

She rolled her eyes once again.

“…Whatever.”

Turning away from him, she began adjusting the blanket around herself.

Jayden watched her for a moment.

“…Why are you suddenly worrying so much about my wives?”

He smiled knowingly.

“You’re usually calmer than this.”

Arete stopped moving.

“…What do you think?”

She glanced back over her shoulder.

“Your first wife is understandably worried about how many more wives you’ll come back from Edenis Raphiel with.”

Jayden couldn’t help smiling.

“…Carla.”

He rubbed his forehead.

“I figured.”

“If she didn’t have to stay behind with your child, she would’ve come too,” Arete smiled faintly. “Though…I wouldn’t be surprised if she joins us later.”

“I know.” Jayden nodded. “But she really has nothing to worry about. I’m only attending the Academy.”

Arete gave him an unconvinced look.

“…That’s exactly why none of us trust you.”

She poked his chest.

“Thankfully…I’m not the only one keeping an eye on you.”

Jayden laughed.

“I am glad to hear that.” Jayden smiled. “I mean it.”

Arete simply snorted.

“I can tell you don’t seem very worried.”

She climbed out of bed, gathered her clothes, and walked toward the bathroom.

“I’ll believe it when we leave Edenis Raphiel with the same number of wives.”

The bathroom door closed behind her.

A second later, the sound of running water echoed softly throughout the cabin.

Jayden let out a long sigh.

“…She really doesn’t trust me.”

He sat quietly on the edge of the bed, listening absentmindedly to the water running in the background.

Eventually, he reached for his phone resting on the bedside table.

The screen immediately lit up.

As expected…

Most of the unread messages came from Carla and his other wives.

Several more were from his parents and sister.

A faint smile naturally appeared on his face.

His older sister, Jennyfer, had already traveled to Edenis Raphiel several days earlier alongside their parents.

One of the many privileges granted to the Apostle of Lumen was a private residence within Edenis Raphiel itself.

The moment the offer had been made, Jayden had accepted without the slightest hesitation.

He had already spent too much of his life separated from his family.

He had no intention of allowing that to happen again.

His parents had felt exactly the same.

After everything they had endured…

There was no chance they would willingly remain in Celesta while both Jayden and Jennyfer lived in Edenis Raphiel.

Once Jayden had finally reunited with them in Sancta Vedelia, he had brought them all back to Celesta.

To his home.

For the first time in years, his family had been together again.

It had easily become one of the happiest periods of his life.

There was only one lingering regret.

His younger brother was absent.

Even so, Jayden couldn’t help feeling grateful.

There were no words capable of expressing how thankful he was to Zeus.

Although, a small part of him still resented him.

After all, it had been Zeus who had separated their family.

Even if the reason had been to protect them.

According to Zeus, they had needed to disappear from the world’s eyes.

To everyone else, they had been dead.

Jayden understood the reasoning.

He truly did.

Believing he had lost nearly everyone he loved had become one of the driving forces behind his relentless pursuit of strength.

Without that pain, perhaps he never would have become the man he was today.

Still, now that they were finally together again, he had no intention of letting them go.

Not ever again.

He had become strong enough to protect them.

And he intended to become even stronger.

His current strength had already reached the peak of the Ninth Ascension.

There was only one realm remaining before true divinity.

The realm of the Demigods.

An entirely different existence.

One that countless people dreamed of reaching but would never even glimpse.

Jayden clenched his fist.

He would reach it.

No matter how difficult the path became.

And there was no better place in the world to pursue that goal than Edenis Raphiel.

The legendary floating archipelago possessed opportunities unavailable anywhere else.

Resources.

Teachers.

Ancient knowledge.

Everything necessary for someone seeking the summit.

He would miss Celesta.

That much was certain.

But thankfully, almost everyone he loved would also be living in Edenis Raphiel. Well, almost everyone.

Not all of his wives would be there

That simply would’ve been impossible.

Housing more than sixty wives inside Edenis Raphiel would have been difficult enough.

Managing everyday life afterward, would have been an outright nightmare.

Many had chosen, or been advised, to remain in Celesta for the time being.

Others like his family had traveled ahead to Edenis Raphiel several days before.

Jayden himself had remained behind only because he had been invited to accompany the royal delegation aboard the New Celesta Empire’s official ship.

It had been more practical.

Locking his phone, he slipped it back into his pocket.

He quickly changed into a simple white shirt before leaving the cabin.

The corridor outside was already bustling with activity.

Servants hurried past carrying luggage.

Nobles adjusted their formal clothing while speaking with one another.

Everywhere he looked, people were preparing to disembark.

Judging from the movement alone, they had already reached the transfer platforms.

They probably wouldn’t have much time before everyone began leaving the ship.

Jayden made his way upstairs.

The moment he stepped onto the open deck, a cool sea breeze greeted him.

He closed his eyes for a brief second, letting the refreshing air brush across his face.

“…Feels nice.”

When he opened them again, his gaze instinctively wandered across the deck.

It didn’t take long before he spotted two familiar figures standing near the railing.

One with long pink hair.

The other with shoulder-length white hair.

A smile naturally appeared on his face.

“Oh, Milleia.”

He raised a hand in greeting as he walked toward the two young women.