I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 456: [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [42] Johnʼs Thoughts

Zone 7.

The dense forest whipped past, as John moved swiftly, one arm securing Selene against his side, the other gripping Amelia with a gentler hold.

”Still canʼt pinpoint where Edward is?” John asked, his voice sharper than intended as he asked Hecate.

It wasnʼt the first time heʼd asked, but each moment without an answer twisted the tension in his gut tighter. His instincts flared in warning, a sense that something terrible was lurking just ahead.

Something was about to happen.

()

Johnʼs jaw clenched in annoyance. ”Youʼre a Goddess, arenʼt you?”

()

Johnʼs brow furrowed. ”And who is this ʼotherʼ?”

()

But John already had an idea.

”Edwardʼs third legacy, huh?” He muttered, more to himself than to Hecate. ”Donʼt take me for a fool.”

()

John swallowed his frustration, forcing himself to focus. ”And what about Layla?”

()

”Sheʼs your favorite, isnʼt she?” John scoffed. ”I bet she knows everything by now.”

() Hecateʼs voice softened into a teasing lilt, though a note of genuine amusement glinted beneath her words.

John didnʼt bother to answer.

()

Johnʼs gaze shifted forward. ”Good for her,” he replied, a touch of ambiguity coloring his words.

The closer he got to the heart of this tangled web Edward had spun, the more he questioned if he could handle it alone. He wasnʼt Edwardʼs confidant, nor his lover. His role had always been one of quiet vigilance, stepping in only when Edward seemed intent on running headlong into danger. He had tried once, with Alvara, to stop him. But it had only ended in a bitter argument, their words clashing like blades.

John shook his head at the memory. He knew heʼd failed to convey what heʼd meant back then, yet some part of him had hoped Edward would understand.

ʼJust a few more months...ʼ

In around four months, the Second Game would end. And when it did, maybe just maybe- theyʼd find a chance to breathe.

But before any of that, there was Utopia. Just the thought of it made Johnʼs head ache. These were not ordinary opponents; they were organized, strong, and each encounter had stakes that far surpassed the almost gentle atmosphere of the First Game. Back then, they had been lulled into a semblance of normalcy, almost a slice-of-life calmness, before it all crashed and burned. He had grown accustomed to the relative peace of it, however brief.

Johnʼs steps slowed abruptly. A flicker of mana rippled through the trees ahead. Instinctively, he stopped, shifting his stance to shield the two he carried. A moment later, a figure descended.

Elizabeth.

Her gaze slid over John, acknowledging him briefly before it landed on her sister, Selene, tucked under his arm. A faint look of surprise flashed in Elizabethʼs eyes but was quickly replaced by a calm expression.

”Perfect timing,” John muttered, letting out a breath he hadnʼt realized he was holding. His arm shifted as he tossed Selene toward her. ”I was starting to get tired.”

Elizabeth caught Selene, her expression impassive despite the slightly brusque manner in which Selene had been handed over. She said nothing about the abrupt gesture, knowing that John had brought her sister safely this far. Her attention was immediately on Selene, her gaze hardening as she assessed her condition. Her crimson eyes darkened, flashing with a cold, lethal edge, but in a blink, it was gone. Silently, she produced a small vial of blood, tilting it to Seleneʼs lips and helping her drink it down. Gradually, Seleneʼs expression softened.

Satisfied, Elizabeth looked up, her eyes flicking toward Amelia. ”And her?”

”Fine,” John replied.

Their interactions had always been sparse and formal, a few perfunctory greetings exchanged only when she was with Edward. Elizabeth was one of the central figures, a [Main Heroine] in the Second Game, and undoubtedly the hardest to reach, let alone understand.

Since arriving in Sancta Vedelia, heʼd caught wind a little of what she had faced, the personal struggles that had marked her recent years-but that wasnʼt his concern. That was Edwardʼs matter. And now that Edward was officially engaged to her, the matter felt even more detached from him.

Yes, Elizabeth was engaged to Edward. That reality alone clawed at John in ways he didnʼt want to analyze. It wasnʼt jealousy-it was irritation, a quiet resentment on behalf of Layla, his sister. Miranda, he could accept. She had been Edwardʼs friend since childhood also his own. He understood the connection, and he had accepted it. And the women Edward had met in Celesta-well, that was a different story. Edward had been through hardships there that had changed him, scarred him. If they had become close in Celesta, it had felt earned, natural, a result of shared suffering.

He was thinking obviously of Edwardʼs First Legacy and a woman called Mary Edward would sometimes talk about with Annabelle around.

But the others?

Their presence grated on him, though heʼd learned to bury the feeling. Perhaps Edwardʼs world had simply grown larger, more complex, with each addition. And perhaps it was time for him to reconcile with that truth. As long as Edward treated Layla nicely.

Heʼd never forgive anyone for making Layla cry the way Alfred had done back then. Shaking off the anger, he turned to Elizabeth.

”Do you know where Edward is?”

”Edward...” Elizabeth murmured, a glint of realization dawning in her gaze as she remembered Amaelʼs first name. ”Amael. I saw him briefly yesterday, but heʼs likely up in the higher zones.”

John nodded as he looked off into the distance.

”Was that Behemoth?” Elizabeth asked suddenly, though she doubted her suspicion. ”Yeah, it was them,” John replied bluntly, sidestepping any mention of Ameliaʼs state. For now, he wanted to keep her condition a secret from everyone-except Edward. He needed Edwardʼs opinion. They had walked parallel paths in the game, each making their own choices, so perhaps Edward had gleaned something useful about Ameliaʼs strange condition. ”Can you look after Amelia? I need to see Edward,” John asked.

He would rather keep Amelia by his side, especially in her fragile state, but he knew his presence would only put her in greater danger. Behemoth had attacked, and John was convinced the true threat loomed in the higher zones. Leaving Amelia with Elizabeth seemed the best choice. He trusted Elizabethʼs strength and knew Amelia would be safe in her care. Elizabeth regarded him silently, a flicker of understanding in her eyes, before she gave a nod. She had no intention of leaving this place until Selene woke, and looking after Amelia- someone she counted as a friend-was no burden.

With great care, John laid Amelia down beside Selene, her face softened in quiet slumber despite the trails of dried tears marking her cheeks. He reached down, patting her cheek gently, his gaze lingering a moment longer than necessary.

Then he rose to his feet, preparing to leave, when a sudden, chilling sensation swept over both him and Elizabeth. They instinctively looked up, their eyes narrowing as they scanned the treetops. Though branches obstructed their view, their attention locked on the massive barrier encircling the Ashenor Forest, shimmering above.

”...!”

Johnʼs eyes widened suddenly. In an instant, he turned, storming away.

Elizabeth remained rooted in place, her gaze fixed on the barrier, her expression darkening.