I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 384  Upcoming War

”You are the Elites of Sancta Vedelia. Therefore, I will address you not as children, but as adults prepared for the responsibilities that lie ahead. A war is looming over Sancta Vedelia—a war for the Holy Tree of Eden,” Harvey began, his voice resolute and grave.

He was absolutely right. The Holy Tree of Eden was the coveted objective of Utopia, and its possession would determine the fate of all races within Sancta Vedelia. If Utopia were to conquer Sancta Vedelia, the consequences would be catastrophic. The territories would be divided among the victors, and the inhabitants would be reduced to mere slaves, toiling for their new masters. Given how Sancta Vedelia had long scorned and derided Utopia as cowards who fled from past conflicts, such an outcome seemed inevitable.

”We are approaching a pivotal moment in Sancta Vedeliaʼs history, and every one of you will be called upon to fight, including you, students,” Harvey continued, his gaze intense. ”While knights will be on the front lines, let me remind you that you are the Elites of Sancta Vedelia. You are here because you are the best of the best. As such, you must be ready to confront and repel the enemies who will seek to destroy us.”

His words echoed powerfully in the silent room, instilling a sense of urgency and resolve. The students did not display fear; instead, there was a palpable tension, a nervous readiness in their eyes. They were prepared to fight and, if necessary, die for their homeland. The Holy Tree of Eden held a sacred and paramount importance for them.

Noticing the determined expressions on his studentsʼ faces, Harvey allowed a small smile to curve his lips. ”Do not be afraid. The Great Heads will stand beside you. We have Lord Tepes and Lord Raven with us.”

He was, of course, referring to Duncan Tepes and Lazarus Raven—two formidable demigods whose presence was indeed reassuring. Yet, I harbored doubts about Lazarus. His priorities seemed misaligned with the war efforts, and I knew precisely why, though for now, it didnʼt matter.

”The other Heads will accompany us as well. Talented soldiers and we, your teachers, will be there to support you,” Harvey added. ”However, you must also prepare yourselves. We will provide guidance, but the onus of readiness falls upon each of you.”

Yes, with Harvey speaking at such length, it was confirmed: there was no stopping the war now.

The meeting at Edenis Raphiel had been a spectacular failure, making the inevitability of conflict clear. Frankly, I couldnʼt care less about their foolish war, but there were certain people I needed to keep alive.

My gaze drifted to Celeste and Victor. Should I include Selene as well? She was Elizabethʼs sister, and if anything happened to Selene, Elizabethʼs reaction would be unimaginable. It would be easier if I could lock them all away in a safe space, preventing them from participating in the war, but that was impossible. They would undoubtedly play crucial roles in the conflict. Elizabeth could take care of herself and Selene. My primary concern was ensuring the safety of Victor and Celeste. This was the same desire I had last year with Jayden and Milleia, but this time it was different. Victor was not only the protagonist but also someone I considered a friend. Genuine friends you can trust are rare, and I had no intention of abandoning him if he was in danger. Celeste, as the Prophetess, needed to stay alive, and beyond her role, I genuinely cared for her. As the leading main heroine of the Second Game, she had a certain charm that drew people to her.

Regarding my closest ones, their involvement depended on Christinaʼs decision. I had left the ultimate choice to her—whether to participate in the war without our mother or to stay out of it. After witnessing the disinterest most Heads showed in saving my mother, I personally advised her to refrain from joining the war. Let the other countries most at risk exhaust themselves against Utopia, serving as our buffer. We would only intervene if we were in immediate danger.

Why should I care about other countries and use our people when we are not the ones who will be attacked right away?

Knowing Mom or even Connor, they would have joined the war without question, driven by their deep attachment to Sancta Vedelia. I, however, did not share their sentiment. As long as my people were safe, that was enough for me.

So yes, I decided to watch from the sidelines, letting the cast do their jobs. I favored peace over pointless conflict. Why couldnʼt they come to an arrangement? If these High Elves truly wanted something from Sancta Vedelia, why not share it? The Elves from the Teraquin and Elaryon Kingdoms could handle their demands.

Harveyʼs class was essentially a history lesson about past wars and the various races living in Sancta Vedelia. He was clearly trying to arm us with as much information as possible about our future enemies. Since I had no interest in that, I nearly fell asleep on several occasions.

I would either lean my head on Annabelleʼs shoulder or Myrcellaʼs. Surprisingly, neither of them pushed me away. I was quite surprised, especially by Myrcella. She let me doze off on her shoulder without complaint, so I took advantage of their hospitality, finding their shoulders to be quite comfortable cushions.

I received occasional glares from the professor and a few attempts to wake me up from Celeste, but I ignored them. Training with Professor Raven was taking its toll on me, as expected.

”Edward.”

”Hm?” I woke up with a yawn, stretching my arms. ”Is it over?”

”For a while now,” Annabelle giggled.

I opened my eyes and realized I had been sleeping on her lap, my legs sprawled across the desk. The classroom was empty, including Myrcella.

”They left for the cafeteria,” Annabelle explained.

”You should have woken me up sooner,” I said, sitting up.

”I didnʼt want to bother you, Edward,” Annabelle replied, shaking her head.

”Arenʼt you too kind,” I laughed, standing up. ”Letʼs go eat, then.”

”Mm.”