Young Master's PoV: Woke Up As A Villain In A Game One Day

Chapter 61 Love Triangle

”U-Um… can we talk?”

I narrowed my eyes at the boy standing on my doorstep. He was so nervous he was trembling.

I wasnʼt even exaggerating.

He looked like he was moments away from being a part of some unholy sacrifice.

His hands were shaking like dry leaves in a storm, and his wide eyes kept darting around like he was expecting a landmine to explode beneath him at any second.

Unable to resist, I leaned forward and lowered my voice for dramatic effect before shouting, ”Boo!”

”Aaah!” He flinched so hard he nearly leapt out of his skin. ”W-Why would you do that?!”

I burst out laughing. ”Ah, relax. I was having a boring day.”

Calming down, I gave him a proper look from head to toe and arched an eyebrow. ”So, who are you, exactly?”

The boy blinked at me, looking utterly bewildered. ”Y-You donʼt remember me?”

”Should I?” I tilted my head. ”Have we met?”

”We just met! A few hours ago!” he spluttered, his voice climbing higher with every word. ”Iʼm Ivan! I was with my friends, Viktor and Irina... You gave us back the money you, uh… borrowed from us.”

I frowned, tapping my chin. ”Hmm…”

After a few seconds, I snapped my fingers. ”Oh, right! Youʼre one of those idiots — uh, I mean, one of those Frostborn! Sorry, you guys all have very forgettable faces, yʼknow?”

He looked genuinely offended at my words. ”You guys? Th-Thatʼs… rude. And m-maybe racist?”

I snorted. ”Oh, no, no. By ʼyou guys,ʼ I donʼt mean Northerners. I mean literally everyone besides me.”

His jaw fell open in utter confusion. ”H-Huh…?”

I nodded sincerely. ”Oh, yeah. See, Ikan—”

”Ivan,” he corrected meekly, but I ignored him.

”—Iʼve gotten so used to staring at my own beautiful face every morning in the mirror for hours. Naturally, now no other face in the world even comes close, so nothing sticks in my memory. Itʼs not you. Itʼs me.”

His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, clearly at a loss for words.

After a moment, he managed, ”T-That… has to be the most narcissistic thing Iʼve ever heard. Aside from your speech at the ceremony…”

I shrugged casually. ”Itʼs not narcissism if itʼs true, Nican.”

”Itʼs Ivan,” he muttered, but the correction sounded more defeated this time.

”Right, thatʼs what I said.” I waved him off before heading back inside.

The boy followed me behind with the confidence of someone who didnʼt know what they should do next.

”Anyway,” I guided him back to the living room and gestured for him to sit on the sofa. ”Youʼre here for something, arenʼt you? Or did you really just come to bask in my glorious presence?”

He hesitated, as if debating whether to actually speak or just run out of the room. Meanwhile, I grabbed a bottle of scotch and two glasses.

Eventually, he took a deep breath and straightened his back — well, as much as someone like him could. ”I… I came to thank you for earlier.”

”Thank me?” I frowned, genuinely surprised. ”For what? Returning your money?”

”W-Well, yes. And for, uh, I… I wanted to ask you something.” He smiled the kind of smile youʼd expect from someone trying to pat a rabid wolf. ”I-If I was to return my share of money back to you, could you do me a favor?”

”You want to pay me for a favor?” I mused, pouring some scotch into the glasses, grabbing one for myself and pushing the other toward him. ”Thatʼs new. Most people just beg.”

”O-Oh, I donʼt drink,” Ivan waved his hands.

I blinked a couple of times before taking a slow sip from my glass, watching him squirm under my gaze.

”This scotch is worth more than what most people earn in a year, you know? A man should always know when to indulge and when to abstain.” I shook my head in disappointment. ”Anyway, go on. Whatʼs this favor youʼre so nervous about?”

He shifted in his seat like a child preparing for confession before finally blurting out, ”Itʼs… itʼs about my friend, Irina.”

”Ah, Irina,” I drawled, letting her name stretch like I was savoring it. ”The one with strawberry blonde hair and the most punchable face Iʼve ever seen. Sure. Go on.”

Ivanʼs face twisted in horror. ”S-She doesnʼt have a punchable face!”

”She does,” I said matter-of-factly. ”But continue. And make it quick. I have somewhere I need to be.”

”O-Okay.” He exhaled sharply, steeling himself. ”I think I… like her. Like… like her like her.”

I tilted my head, faking confusion. ”And this is a problem because?”

”She… she likes my best friend Viktor,” he admitted, his voice barely audible.

”Ah, unrequited love,” I said, sipping my drink with mock solemnity. ”The classic tragedy. So, let me guess. Youʼre here to ask me, Samael Theosbane, for advice on how to win her over?”

His face flushed even redder, but he nodded. ”Y-Yes! Youʼre… youʼre the most confident person Iʼve ever seen. Most nobles are conceited, but you — youʼre just on another level! Even at the ceremony, the speech you gave in front of everyone… I could never say those things to anyone in a million years! Irina said she likes confident guys, so I thought maybe I could come to you. Maybe get some advice… and…”

I leaned forward, a slow grin spreading across my face. ”And you figured Iʼd take pity on you because of your tragic romantic plight?”

His face somehow turned an even deeper shade of crimson. ”I-I didnʼt mean it like that!”

”Oh, I know exactly what you meant,” I said, waving him off. ”And while Iʼm flattered you think so highly of me, let me make one thing abundantly clear.”

I leaned back in my chair, letting my smirk fade. ”Iʼm not interested.”

”What?!” he yelped, looking completely crushed. ”But… why not?”

”Because,” I said, taking another sip of my scotch, ”youʼre boring. And your little love triangle? Even more boring. Irina likes Viktor. Viktor probably has no idea. And you? Youʼre the third wheel clinging to the cart like your life depends on it.”

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, his expression crumbling into a sad, deflated mess.

I sighed, resting the glass against my lips. ”Look, Iʼm not trying to be cruel — well, maybe a little — but your problem is entirely your own. And honestly, what chance do you stand against Viktor? If I remember correctly, heʼs taller, stronger, and considerably less… shaky than you.”

I gestured toward the door. ”You can see yourself out. I have better things to do than playing cupid in your teenage drama.”

For a moment, I thought he might actually cry.

His shoulders slumped, his face reddened. His steps were heavy as he got up and turned to leave — probably heading straight for some empty park bench to have a heartfelt sob session.

But just as he moved, something caught my eye.

Something shiny glistening in the roomʼs dull light.

It was a badge pinned to his uniform.

My eyes squinted as I leaned forward. ”Wait a second…”

He froze mid-step. ”W-What?”

”That badge.” I said, my tone shifting from disinterest to intrigue. ”Youʼre in the Alchemy Society?”

He blinked, glancing down as if heʼd only just remembered it was there. ”Y-Yeah. Why?”

A devious smile crept back onto my face.

Oh, this was too perfect. I had been considering hiring a novice alchemist to assist me with some of my… plans.

And now, as if fate itself had intervened, one had walked right through my door.

The heavens must be favoring me today.

”Oh, no reason,” I said casually, though my smirk betrayed the storm brewing in my mind. ”Except that changes everything.”

His eyes widened. ”It… it does?”

”Of course!” I exclaimed, setting my glass down with an air of sudden enthusiasm. ”I could never turn away a future scholar of such noble pursuits. Especially one with access to certain… resources.”

”R-Resources?”

”Mm-hmm.” I nodded, my expression as innocent as a wolf in sheepʼs clothing. ”Now, letʼs talk about your little crush, Igor. I think I might just have the perfect plan.”

”Ivan–” he tried to correct me yet again, his voice defeated, but then he froze mid-sentence upon realizing what I had just said. ”Wait, you do? So, y-you are willing to help me?”

”Of course,” I said, pointing toward the chair, and he sat back down like an eager puppy. ”But before I help you with your love life, youʼll need to do three favors for me.”

”Three?” he asked, incredulous.

”Well, unless you think you can win over a girl so far out of your league without any help, feel free to reject my offer.” I shrugged nonchalantly.

He didnʼt hesitate for even a second. ”Whatever! Iʼll do whatever you say!”

I couldnʼt help but marvel at how quickly he surrendered. Love really does make people desperate, doesnʼt it?

Honestly, I couldnʼt comprehend the concept of falling in love. Caring for anyone other than me? It was a funny thought.

”Good, I like your enthusiasm!” I clapped my hands together. ”First, letʼs start with something simple. I need rumors spreading about me.”

”Rumors?” Ivan frowned, confused.

”Yeah,” I explained. ”It wonʼt be hard. Iʼve already laid some groundwork. For instance, your friends will definitely be talking shit about me in noble circles behind my back.”

”Oh, so you want me to counter those rumors with good ones about you?” Ivan asked, trying to make sense of it.

”No,” I corrected, shaking my head. ”I want the negative rumors to keep coming. Both the commoners and the nobles. I want everyone to focus on me, and only me.”

Ivan scratched his neck, looking uneasy. ”O-Okay.”

”I know this task might be a little tricky for you since youʼre…” I gave him a hard look, ”an introvert. So, I need you to go find a guy named Vince Cleverly in our batch. Ask him to do this job, but donʼt mention my name. Just tell him to give you his bank account number and promise him a thousand Credits for every rumor he spreads.”

”Vince Cleverly? Isnʼt he one of our batchʼs top-ranking Cadets?”

”He is.”

”How do you know heʼll do what you ask?”

I nearly laughed out loud.

In the game, Vince Cleverly was a fan-favorite side character.

He was a shrewd man who knew more legal loopholes than some of the major lawyers.

He loved chaos and would do almost anything for the right price. Because of that, he was neither a hero nor a villain — everyone hated him equally.

He was the kind of guy who always knew someone for any job you could possibly imagine.

”Believe me, heʼll do it. All he cares about is money,” I said with a smirk. ”Next up, I need you to create a big vial of fake blood for me.”

”F-Fake blood?” Ivan stammered, looking thoroughly taken aback.

”Yeah. Originally, I thought about just making someone bleed and collecting their blood, but then I decided fake blood would be better.”

”B-Better for what? W-What are you planning to do?” His voice wavered as though he wasnʼt ready to hear my answer.

I couldnʼt resist messing with him a bit.

Glaring at him as seriously as I could, I intoned in a deep voice, ”Donʼt ask me about my business, Vivan. Donʼt ever ask me about my business.”

This time, the poor boy didnʼt even bother correcting his name. His face went pale, and I was genuinely worried he might keel over from sheer terror.

I burst out laughing. ”Iʼm kidding! Relax. But seriously, donʼt ask. Anyway, for my last favor, I need you to keep an eye on a girl named Juliana. Sheʼs my shadow. You mustʼve seen her — white hair, blue eyes, infuriatingly good-looking. Sheʼs in the Alchemy Society too.”

”Yes, I think I know her.” Ivan hesitated, scratching his head. ”You want me to… spy on her?”

”No. Not spy,” I clarified. ”Just take an interest. Let me know when sheʼs in the lab, when she leaves, and who she talks to. Donʼt make it obvious. Youʼre not a spy — youʼre an observant admirer. Got it?”

That seemed to calm him down. ”Alright. I can do that.”

Standing up, I placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. ”Good. Do these three things for me, and I promise Iʼll help you win over your little crush. I always pay my debts.”

The look of pure joy that spread across his face was almost enough to make me feel bad. Almost.

”Now, if you donʼt mind, I have some business to attend to,” I said, guiding him toward the door. Just as he stepped out, a thought struck me, and I called after him, ”By the way, whatʼs your Origin Card?”

”Oh!” He perked up, looking oddly proud. ”I can hold my breath underwater for seven minutes.”

I blinked, staring at him.

Surely, he wasnʼt serious.

”...Thatʼs your superpower? Holding your breath for a long time underwater?”

”Thatʼs right.” He nodded firmly, his chest puffed out with pride.

I struggled to find words. ”And Viktorʼs ability? Whatʼs his innate power?”

”Oh, he can shoot lasers from his eyes.”

…Wow.

If I were Irina, Iʼd also pick the guy who could shoot freaking lasers from his eyes over a fucking human fish.

This was going to be an uphill battle.