I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 535: [Event] [Elven Utopian War] [74] Reaching The Prison

I walked alongside James, keeping my guard up while trying not to draw attention on the streets of Utopia. James, however, seemed restless.

”Are you sure about this?” He asked abruptly, whispering.

”About what?” I asked..

”You know what,” he said, shooting me a serious look.

I met his gaze before nodding. ”I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

James let out a soft sigh before glancing at the street ahead. ”How long have you been in this mess?”

”Long enough,” I replied, shrugging. ”And you?”

”Two weeks,” he said. ”It wasn’t easy breaking into their ranks.”

A grin tugged at my lips. ”Took me a few days.”

James raised an eyebrow at me. I had to admit, I was lucky to have crossed paths with Freyja early on. Without her, I doubted I would’ve gotten this far so quickly. But still, I had to give credit where it was due—James had carved his path here alone.

He stared at me. ”Loki. I heard about him—the woman who won battles in Elyen Kiora. They say she’s killed a lot of the alliance’s army.”

I fell silent at his intense gaze.

”You didn’t come here lightly,” James continued. ”Taking the risk to infiltrate them... You must have a good reason.”

I glanced at him, caught off guard by his insight. I expected him to show anger as he lived longer at Sancta Vedelia than me. ”You’re surprisingly perceptive.”

James chuckled softly. ”Don’t forget, we spent weeks training together. I know how you think, even if you don’t say it out loud.”

”More than you know your own daughter, it seems.”

”...”

I sighed, choosing to be honest at the end. ”I’m here for my mother. She’s being held in Elyen Kiora. I’ve gained the trust of the High Elf Princess, but if I want to get her out, I need to act fast.”

”Alea is here, then…” James muttered, nodding slowly.

For a moment, silence settled between us, but I had to ask. I turned to him. ”Aren’t you angry? After what I’ve done... betraying my own people?”

James lowered his gaze, his expression shadowed. ”I should be,” he admitted softly. ”But I’ve got no right to judge someone who’s willing to go to any length for their family.”

There was a flicker of something in his eyes—sadness, regret, maybe even guilt. It lingered for a moment before he looked away.

”Even if it means killing the innocent?” I asked, my voice quieter now.

James raised a brow. ”In war, knights step onto the battlefield ready to die. The only true innocents are the civilians. You infiltrated knights and fought because the alternative was being killed yourself, wasn’t it?”

I nodded slowly.

”Then it’s fine,” he said simply.

Somehow, hearing those words from James brought an odd sense of relief. He wasn’t absolving me, but he wasn’t condemning me either. It felt like... understanding.

”You know,” I smiled wryly, ”you could’ve been a better father if you’d spent more time with your kids.”

James arched an eyebrow at me, his tone turning defensive. ”You’ll understand how hard it is to be a father when you have kids of your own.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him that I already had something like kids—Tihana and Orlin—but I stopped myself. That road led to questions I wasn’t ready to answer. If I told him, I’d have to explain why I’d left them behind with people I deemed more capable, why I’d chosen to protect them by keeping my distance.

Damn, maybe I was the worst father after all. But I’d made that choice to keep them safe. They were just kids; they didn’t deserve to be dragged into my mess.

”Well, I didn’t exactly grow up with great father figures, so you can’t expect much from me,” I said, my voice trailing off.

Of course Nyrel Loyster had been fortunate—a good father, a solid foundation. But Amael? That was a different story. My memories of Kleines’s father were hazy at best, and Thomen... he’d never been the father he wanted him to be.

James stopped walking, turning to face me. His expression was conflicted, caught somewhere between sympathy and understanding.

I forced a laugh, holding up my hands. ”I was just joking—”

Before I could finish, his hand landed on my head, warmly. The gesture startled me. I blinked up at him. ”Huh... Mr. Raven?”

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”Isn’t this what fathers do to comfort their sons?” James asked, awkwardly.

I stared at him, momentarily speechless. The warmth of his hand lingered, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything sarcastic.

Finally, I muttered, ”Master, you have three sons, and you still don’t know how to act like a father to them? I don’t know if I should call that pathetic or impressive.”

James groaned as he slowly pulled his hand away and resumed walking. ”Come on,” he said, brushing off my jab.

I hurried after him, smirking a little. ”Don’t take it to heart, Master. I was just joking around.”

James ignored me, his attention shifting to the building that loomed ahead. It was white, with walls that looked more fortified than decorative. Though not large, it resembled a miniature fortress.

”We’ve arrived,” he said.

”Yeah,” I nodded, my gaze fixed on the structure ahead.

This was the building they had pointed out when I asked where they detained the captured commanders.

I was a bit uneasy.

While I was almost certain Bryelle was here, a small seed of doubt was at the back of my mind.

[]

My eyes widened slightly. ’You’re sure?’

[
]

’Don’t worry about that,’ I nodded and strode toward the guards stationed at the gates.

As I approached, they moved forward to meet me. Without hesitation, I retrieved the Ruvelion Royal badge that had been bestowed upon me by Freyja. I held it out for them to see.

”Loki, Commander of Elyen Kiora’s defenses and personal guard to Princess Freya,” I said.

The guards exchanged surprised glances before quickly bowing their heads. ”Oh! Milady! It’s an honor to meet you!”

I gave them a curt nod, keeping my expression neutral. ”I need to see some prisoners.”

The guards hesitated. ”Of course, Milady, but…” Their eyes shifted to James, standing behind me.

”He’s accompanying me,” I said briskly.

The guard closest to me shook his head apologetically. ”I regret to inform you, Milady, that only High Commanders of Utopia are permitted inside.”

I narrowed my eyes. ”I am here on behalf of Princess Freya.”

The mention of Freya made them exchange uneasy glances, but it wasn’t enough. They shook their heads again. ”I deeply apologize, Milady, but this is a direct order from His High Majesty, the King of Utopia.”

Their words stopped me mid-retort. The look in their gazes was clear—they wouldn’t budge. Despite the influence Freya wielded throughout Utopia, her authority was second to Durathiel’s, the Utopian King. No amount of persuasion would sway them.

I turned toward James, my mind working for an alternative plan. James, sensing the shift, instinctively began to step back, but I moved faster. In one swift motion, I tore the pendant from his neck before he could react.

His disguise melted away in an instant.

Gasps rippled through the guards and the soldiers atop the walls. Weapons clinked as they drew them. Even James, caught off guard, reached for his weapon. But I caught his arm, holding him still.

”I present to you James Raven,” I smiled. ”Heir of the Raven House, and consequently, our ally. Am I wrong?”

The guards froze, their weapons still in hand.

James, who had been too stunned to speak, quickly caught on. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his own royal badge, holding it aloft. ”James Raven.”

Princess Freya has tasked me with gathering information from Harvey Indi Zestella,” I continued. ”James Raven here strongly suspects that Harvey possesses crucial information regarding the Seed of Eden.”

This time they widened their eyes in surprise. Of course they knew about the Seed of Eden.

”We have already try to interrogate—”

”You may have but not James Raven,” I cut him off. ”James has been a close associate of Harvey. If there’s anyone who can make him talk, it’s James Raven. Do you understand?”

Still hesitation.

”Princess Freya sent me to retrieve the Seed of Eden. Are you truly going to stand in my way?” I lowered my tone.

The guards exchanged nervous glances. But finally, one of them relented, stepping aside. ”N-No! Of course not, Milady.”

The others followed his lead, moving to clear the path. ”Open the door!” The lead guard barked to those stationed nearby.

I exhaled quietly, relieved but wary. While I’d succeeded in convincing them, one truth had become painfully evident—Lazarus Raven was a traitor, through and through. James Raven, standing beside me, wore a complicated expression. He had known about his father’s betrayal, yet he had come this far to save his friend. I could only imagine what fate Harvey might have faced, if they were going to successfully conquer Sancta Vedelia.

We were led through the dim, stone corridors of the prison, descending into its deepest, most fortified section. Guards stationed along the way either saluted or averted their eyes as I passed—joining Freya had undoubtedly been the best decision I’d made in the past year.

Finally, we stopped before a thick, reinforced door etched with glowing mana circles. A faint hum resonated from the protective spells.

”The Head of the Zestella House is here,” one of the guards said, gesturing to the door.

I nodded curtly. ”James Raven will handle his interrogation. Meanwhile, I need to see another prisoner—Bryelle Teraquin.”

The guard hesitated. ”Bryelle Teraquin, Milady? But… Prince Lykhor—”

”Lykhor?” I interrupted with a scoff. ”And who, exactly, is Lykhor to Princess Freya?”

The guard opened his mouth as if to protest, but then caught himself and smiled nervously. ”You’re right, Milady. Please, follow me.”

Before turning to leave, I glanced at James. ”I’ll be back.”

James gave me a nod before stepping toward the cell door. The guards began deactivating the mana circles sealing it, and James disappeared inside.

I followed the lead guard deeper into the corridor. It wasn’t long before we stopped in front of Bryelle’s cell. Unlike Harvey’s, this door bore no defenses—no glowing mana circles, no layered seals. It was almost underwhelming.

Then again, it made sense. Bryelle Teraquin wasn’t considered a significant threat.

I didn’t hesitate for a moment and stepped through the heavy door.

Several Utopian guards surrounded Bryelle, who sat hunched in her wheelchair, trembling as silent tears streaked down her face. Her frail frame shook under their laughter.

The moment they heard the door open, the guards turned, their smirks faltering when they saw me.

”Leave,” I ordered. ”Everyone out.”

One of them, a burly man with a sneer that didn’t quite hide his unease, scoffed. ”Huh? Prince Lykhor won’t—”

”Fuck Prince Lykhor.”

At my response they fell silent.

”I am a Commander of Utopia. Not a dog traitor from Sancta Vedelia,” I added with a glare.

The guards exchanged glances before looking toward the guard who had escorted me. With a nod from him, they reluctantly began to shuffle out, their irritation barely concealed by scowls and muttered curses.

I ignored them and waited until the door clicked shut behind them, leaving me alone with Bryelle. For a moment, the only sound was her quiet, shuddering breaths.

I stepped closer. Bryelle flinched at the sound, her gaze fixed on the ground, as if even looking up required a strength she no longer had.

”Bryelle,” I called.

She stiffened, her fingers clutching the edges of her wheelchair, her head remaining bowed.

I sighed, realizing she wouldn’t believe it was me until she had proof. Without another word, I reached down and yanked the pendant from around my neck, holding it out so it was clearly visible to her.

”Look at me.”