I Am The Game's Villain

293  Annoying John

”Again? Iʼm honestly a bit weary of these conversations, Headmistress,” I stated in a tired tone.

Three days had passed since the incident in the Capital of Zestel. In that time, Melfina had called me repeatedly for my account of what transpired with Manuel.

”What more do you want to know?” I sighed. ”I defeated him, and he ran away. Thatʼs the whole story.”

Melfina looked at me, exasperated. ”Manuel Hylkren is a notorious criminal, and youʼre reducing it to beating him and him running away, Amael.”

”Thatʼs the truth, though.”

”Over ten years ago, he killed the previous Prophetess and caused destruction in our capital. Now, after years, he reappears. You must understand our curiosity about what happened between you two,” Melfina said.

”Listen, Headmistress, this guy might be a dangerous criminal for you, but Iʼve faced worse in Celesta. Brandon and a shitty God chasing after my fiancée. So, you see, Manuel Hylkren is the least of my concerns, unlike you and the other Heads,” I emphasized.

”He killed my daughter-in-law and tore my family apart,” Melfina muttered, lowering her gaze. ”You encountered him. We just want to know where he is and if heʼll return.”

I sighed at her words. ”Heʼll likely return, given his interest in Celeste and her prophetic power, which, by the way, you conveniently kept hidden from me. But if he does come back, be ready to deal with him yourselves, because I couldnʼt care less about him.”

”I donʼt think you can avoid this so easily, Amael Olphean. You killed Brandon Delavoic, and now youʼve crossed paths with another member of their group. Theyʼre aware of your presence here in Sancta Vedelia,” Melfina said with a wry smile.

”Iʼll handle them if they become a nuisance, thatʼs all,” I shrugged, rising from my seat.

”Good. Now, this is the bill for all the damages done to my city,” Melfina tossed a paper at me.

I widened my eyes at the exorbitant amount. ”Wait, what the hell is this?”

”You have the audacity to ask me that, Amael,” Melfina shook her head. ”You destroyed a substantial part of my city, and youʼre the reason for that deep crater. I managed to keep it hidden from the other Heads, but you wonʼt be able to stay concealed much longer.”

”Mom is going to kill me…” I mumbled with a grimace as I exited.

She was already upset when I returned with a broken arm. Well, itʼs money, so she probably wonʼt mind that much. I hope so.

…

”Whatʼs on your mind?” John asked as we strolled through the academy corridors, heading to class. We didnʼt really speak much for three days for the future plans after all.

”How are things going with Amelia?”

”I swear Iʼll kill you, Edward,” John shot me a menacing glare.

I chuckled a bit before transitioning to a more serious topic. ”Looks like youʼve irked Alvaraʼs gang. Lykhorʼs brewing something against you.”

John snorted. ”Do I need to be wary of those jokers?”

I raised an eyebrow. ”Well, yeah? You still havenʼt fully unlocked your bloodline, right?”

John clicked his tongue. ”Working on it. Itʼll happen soon. Hecate promised.”

”Hecate promised? Thatʼs supposed to comfort me?” I asked, maintaining a neutral expression.

”Donʼt give me that look. Itʼs just a deal I made with her,” John replied.

”Fine. Donʼt expect me to bail you out if you get ambushed.”

”Not like Iʼve relied on you for anything else before,” John scoffed.

”Oh, really? Maybe you should be grateful that I took down Brandon Delavoic?” I retorted.

”Jayden wouldʼve handled it without you,” John shot back.

”In that case, Iʼll ring Amelia.”

”What for?!” John snapped.

A predictable reaction.

Bringing up Ameliaʼs name whenever Iʼm losing an argument tends to get under his skin.

”Well, kudos for standing your ground against Pierre without fully awakening,” I praised him.

John scowled and shrugged. ”Next time, Iʼll finish him. And why the hell didnʼt you eliminate that bastard Manuel when you had the chance?”

”Are you kidding me?” I retorted, irked. ”Heʼs an Apostle. I canʼt just take him out that easily and not in the middle of a city.”

”Iʼm just irritated that weʼre not capitalizing more on our knowledge. Offing Pierre and Manuel earlier couldʼve spared us a lot of headaches down the line,” John expressed.

He wasnʼt entirely wrong, but...

”Killing them then wouldʼve made the plot even more unpredictable. We can only really meddle with the main characters within the academy. Iʼm not so sure about Ante-Eden and Behemoth. Nora was a significant threat due to her ability, which is why I wanted her gone,” I explained.

”Then what? We sit back and do nothing?” John asked, clearly bewildered.

”No. During the Dolphis Horn Event, weʼre going to make our move. Weʼll prevent Behemoth from taking the Horn,” I stated seriously.

10:27

”That event…” John murmured, a hint of apprehension in his voice.

”It wonʼt be easy, but itʼs our chance to take down at least one Behemoth Executive,” I added.

”Taking down an Executive... those guys are monsters. I donʼt even know if both of us, even with me awakened, can beat one…” John muttered.

”Cut the pessimism and get stronger quickly if youʼre so scared.”

”Who said Iʼm scared?” John scowled at me.

”Amelia told me.”

”Screw you!” John grabbed my shirt angrily.

”Stop wrinkling my shirt!” I grabbed his arm, annoyed.

”Are you two fighting again...?” We both turned to our left and saw Amelia and Elizabeth.

”Speaking of the she-wolf,” I grinned at John.

John pushed me away and ignored the duo.

”Why did you call my name?” Amelia seemed to have overheard us.

”Oh, that? John wanted to know-hmmmf!” John quickly covered my mouth.

”John wanted... what?” Amelia asked curiously.

”Nothing,” John replied. ”Why the hell would I want something from you?”

”Y-You donʼt need to be so harsh, you stupid!” Amelia glared at John and walked past us.

”Look, sheʼs upset now,” I said, removing his hand.

”I donʼt care,” John said before storming off, clearly irritated with me.

What a tsundere.

But Iʼm pretty sure he isnʼt completely indifferent to Amelia either.

”Amael,” Elizabeth nodded at me.

”Elizabeth, have you rested enough?” I asked with a yawn.

”Yes, thank you. And you?” She returned the question.

”Iʼm fine as well,” I showed her my right arm. ”Thanks to you.”

”I was just helping a classmate,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

There was a brief silence before we both went our separate ways.

[]

”Yeah, I feel like sheʼs keeping something from me.”

[]