I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 78 Villainess Wants Blood

”Then? What do you want to talk about?” I asked Layla, getting straight to the point.

”Why are you so impatient, dear Edward?” Layla responded with a smile, which irritated me.

The nickname ʼdear Edwardʼ was already annoying enough.

”Iʼm not impatient. Take your time, Villainess.”

”Villainess?” Layla asked, tilting her head in confusion.

”Yeah. It suits you perfectly,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

”...” Layla didnʼt seem to mind the nickname, running her index finger over her lips with a smile.

”I like it,” she said.

Sighing, I wondered if Iʼd ever get used to her.

It was no wonder that men like Loid, Thomas, or Eric were avoiding her. They knew that she could easily steal their hearts if they spent too much time around her. Unfortunately, Ronald had fallen for her and couldnʼt escape her charm.

Alfred seemed to have developed an immunity to Layla, which wasnʼt surprising given the amount of time they spent together. I wondered if he preferred someone like Milleia, who was innocent and kind.

”Iʼm really happy that you talked back to Thomas in class,” Layla said, beaming at me.

I realized she must have been pleased that I prevented Thomas from forcing Milleia to sit next to Alfred. I didnʼt want Milleia near that guy either. Putting aside the gameʼs happy ending, Milleia was a genuinely good person, and she deserved someone better than the clueless prince.

”Iʼll respect my words, and I hope you do the same,” I replied.

”Of course!” Layla nodded enthusiastically.

”I wonʼt talk to her or bother her, directly or indirectly,” she promised, raising her hand.

Even now, she couldnʼt stop smiling.

”So, did you call me just to thank me?” I asked incredulously.

”Yes. I wanted to confirm that Iʼm genuinely accepting your offer,” Layla replied.

That morning Layla was still wary of me, but now she seemed to believe me. Did my takedown of Thomas really win her over? Who knows, but at least she wasnʼt suspicious anymore.

I looked at Layla, deep in thought. Maybe she could help me with finding ʼXʼ.

”Did you notice anything weird about Alfred or anyone else?” I asked her.

”Weird behavior? Like what?” she replied.

”You know, like someone acting differently than usual.”

I explained the situation to her.

”The first person that comes to mind is you, Edward,” she said, circling around me and scanning my body.

”Me?” I asked, surprised.

”Yes,” she nodded. ”I havenʼt seen you since the princeʼs birthday party, but youʼve changed a lot since then.”

I shrugged. ”Yeah, Iʼve been working out. Trying to stay fit.”

Layla giggled and shook her head.

Layla stopped in front of me and stared into my eyes. ”Not that, dear Edward,” she said. ”At first, I thought you became like before, when we were children, but thatʼs not quite right. You seem like a different person…”

I started to sweat as Laylaʼs red eyes narrowed. It was true, I wasnʼt exactly Edward. I had memories of Nyrel or vice versa.

But fortunately, Layla nodded to herself and said, ”But in the end, you are Edward. Hm.”

”Iʼm glad that you didnʼt forget me, but could you answer my question?” I shifted the topic to my question.

”Your question, hm.”

Layla closed her eyes and fell into deep thought. Her closed eyes twitched a lot before she opened them again. I wondered what was going on inside her mind.

”U-Um Iʼm sorry, Edward,” Layla said with a shy expression, twirling her wavy hair between her fingers. ”My mind is filled with His Highnessʼ face.”

What the hell?! Was she that obsessed with Alfred?

”Ugh, whatever,” I muttered to myself as I turned to leave, feeling utterly fed up with Laylaʼs antics.

”Wait!” she called after me, stumbling over her own feet.

Instinctively, I reached out to grasp her hand, but before I could react, Layla had pulled me down with her and we both hit the ground hard.

”Ow!” She grumbled, trying to pick herself up off the ground.

”Donʼt ʼowʼ me! What was that?!” I snapped at Layla, who was looking up at me with an innocent expression with her arms spread out.

My suspicion rose as I stared down at her. Was this just another one of her tricks?

”L-Layla?! Y-You fucker!!”

”What…?”

I turned around to see Ronald, Laylaʼs official simp, running towards us.

Seriously, she had played me again.

I gritted my teeth and stood up.

”H-Hey!”

I grabbed Laylaʼs arm and pulled her up in front of me. Ronald stopped short when he saw me using her as a shield.

”What the hell was that, Layla?” I demanded.

She looked up at me with a sheepish expression. ”I just needed to get rid of him since youʼre here for me.”

I rolled my eyes. ”Iʼm not your lapdog, Layla.”

She groaned. ”I didnʼt mean it like that, Edward.”

”Release he-”

Ronald started to say something, but I cut him off. ”What do you want, Layla?”

She looked around to make sure no one was listening before she spoke. ”Weʼre partners now, and Ronald is always following me around. Heʼs going to find out about our secret talks sooner or later. Heʼs just a liability.”

I sighed, realizing that she was right.

That dude had been lurking around Layla for a while now, and it was starting to get on my nerves. Usually, her brother wouldʼve given him the boot, but for some reason, he was still hanging around. Layla must have told him it was fine or something, but I didnʼt care.

”You jus-”

”Leave her!”

That guy doesnʼt know how to shut up?

We had both been ignoring Ronaldʼs shouts for a minute now.

”Hold up, Ronny. Iʼm talking.”

Layla said, irritated as Ronald cut her off again.

”Ah…Okay, sorry.”

Ronald is such a simp, itʼs embarrassing.

I mean, I donʼt know how he can even function with how much he obsesses over her.

I looked down at Layla, wondering what her plan was.

”What do you want me to do?”

She had a smug look on her face as she replied, ”Show him that youʼre stronger.”

I didnʼt understand how that would help, but I was willing to listen.

”Okay, but how is that going to stop Ronald from following you?” I scoffed.

”It wonʼt solve the problem. Ronald will keep following me around,” Laylaʼs answer didnʼt please me at all.

”Then why do you want a fight between us?” I asked impatiently.

I looked at Layla skeptically as she suggested that I could stop Ronald from bothering us if I proved myself to be stronger than him. ”Do you have any idea how Iʼm supposed to show that Iʼm stronger than him?” I asked sarcastically.

Layla responded with a grin. ”Youʼre quick-witted, Edward. Iʼm impressed.”

I rolled my eyes. ”I donʼt need fake compliments.”

Layla shrugged. ”I just want you to beat Ronny in a friendly match.”

I could feel the frustration building up inside me. Did she not understand the possible consequences of such an action? ”Have you thought this through, Layla? The repercussions wonʼt be nice, regardless of the outcome.”

I waited for her to respond, hoping that she would understand the gravity of the situation.

Aside from the fact that she craved blood because she desired a match between me and Ronald, despite the fact that she knew we didnʼt like each other, there was another factor to consider. I was the son of a powerful Duke, and Ronald Trueheart was the chancellorʼs son and the younger brother of Louisa Trueheart, the president of the student council.

Nothing good will come from our fight.

Letʼs say I can blame the chancellorʼs problems on my poor father; what about Louisa? Despite her impassive demeanor, she genuinely cared about her brother. If I willingly drag that jerk into a fight, sheʼll be furious at me, and itʼll be difficult to even talk to her.

”Roh, Edward. Is that what you think? Do you really want to help me? Iʼm sure you are also winning in this.”

Layla sulked. Of course, it was a fake sulk.

”Or perhaps, are you afraid to lose?”

Her lips curled up.

”...”

It was an excellent question.

I cast a glance at Ronald.

He was fuming with rage.

I believe he is currently stronger than I am.

I had the Anathemas Fire, which truly belonged to me, despite Maryʼs mirror ability, which I didnʼt want to show anyone because it was not innate to me. The issue is that Vysindraʼs rings are taking a toll on my body. Iʼm not sure I could compete with Ronald, who was an earth element expert.

But it didnʼt mean I couldnʼt beat him, at least fairly…

”If you beat him, Iʼll tell you about some people who have been acting strangely in the last month and even before.”

”What…? I thought you didnʼt know?”

I scowled.

Five minutes ago, she told me nonsense as if only Alfred was in her head, but now she knows?

”I am serious. Donʼt worry, Edward.”

”...”

I clenched my fists and closed my eyes.

I considered the pros and cons for a long time.

Fuck!

I let go of Layla and placed my hand on my chest.

​ ”I request a friendly match against you, Ronald Trueheart, with the Supreme Lord Eden as my witness.”

”!”

Ronald was beyond shocked at my words.

All of our parents warned us repeatedly not to fight in vain, but I ignored them. My father had also asked me, but I didnʼt care.

It was an opportunity to test myself against a guy from the Main Cast of the game.

”Do you want to take it, Ronald or…”

I sneered.

”...are you going to flee to hide beneath your Big Sisʼ skirt once more?”

”Edwaaaaaard!!!”