I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 608 608: Amaelʼs Peace

After a long, much-needed shower and a little time to cool off—not just physically, but emotionally—I finally felt like I could face the day again. I slipped into a fresh set of fine clothes, something presentable but comfortable, and stepped outside.

Taking the elevator I looked for her in the reception hall and then outside.

There she was.

She leaned casually against the stone wall outside, arms folded across her chest, her eyes tracking people passing by without really seeing them. That old tattered outfit of hers was still visible beneath the cloak draped over her shoulders, torn in places and weathered by time. She looked like she had walked through a battlefield and hadnʼt bothered to change since.

I frowned slightly at the sight.

”Letʼs get you some clothes first,” I said, approaching her. ”Youʼre drawing more attention than you probably want like that.”

She simply nodded at my words. I appreciated that she didnʼt bring up the awkward mess from earlier that morning. Honestly, the less said about that, the better. If she could forget it altogether, thatʼd be perfect.

With that unspoken agreement between us, we headed off toward the nearest clothing shop.

When we arrived, I gestured toward the rows of racks and displays. ”Pick whatever you want,” I told her, giving her the time and space to browse freely.

Meanwhile, I found a bench nearby and settled into it, doing my best to look like I belonged in the womenʼs section—which, judging by the attention I was getting, I clearly didnʼt.

It didnʼt take long before I noticed the looks.

Lots of them.

Giggling glances, bashful smiles, and the kind of flustered blushing that only happens when girls think someone might be worth crushing on. I wasnʼt exactly used to this kind of attention lately, but hey, I wasnʼt going to complain. It was kind of nice to feel... popular. In a good way after how I was treated in the academy.

Though I couldnʼt help but think: if they knew I was Edward Falkrona—yeah, the real Edward Falkrona—theyʼd probably run for the hills.

”Excuse me… are you alone?”

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts as three girls approached me. A trio—two humans flanking an elf girl in the center, who was the one speaking. She fidgeted slightly, clearly nervous, her pointed ears twitching just a little.

”I mean…” I hesitated, not entirely sure how to answer.

”Do you have time, maybe?” She asked again, trying to hold my gaze.

Before I could piece together a polite excuse, a voice called out from behind them.

”Edward.”

Roda.

I looked past the girls and froze for just a second.

She stood there, no longer wrapped in that dusty cloak and worn clothes. Now she wore a light summer dress, sleeveless and airy, the soft fabric falling just to her knees. A thin belt hugged her waist, emphasizing the subtle curves of her frame. The transformation was striking.

She looked… well, beautiful.

The kind of beautiful that made people stop and stare—and in this case, thatʼs exactly what happened.

The three girls turned to look at her, and you could practically hear their collective confidence crumble. Their jaws dropped slightly, and after a few awkward shuffles and embarrassed glances between them, they mumbled something incoherent and wandered off in defeat.

Look what youʼve done, Roda.

I smiled as I got to my feet. ”You finished?”

Instead of answering, Roda turned toward me, her expression more serious than expected. ”How do I look?”

I paused.

I looked at her surprised.

Because in that moment, there was something quietly vulnerable in her voice—like she genuinely wanted to know, not just for vanityʼs sake.

Why the hell was she asking me that by the way?

But honestly, she looked amazing so I decided to be honest.

”Beautiful… very beautiful, even.”

Roda blinked, caught off guard by my sudden praise. ”Eh?”

”What?” I asked, already sensing I mightʼve misunderstood something.

”I—I meant… am I still drawing attention?” She said, her cheeks tinting a light pink. ”You said earlier people might recognize me.”

Ah.

Right.

She wasnʼt asking if she looked good—she was asking if she still stood out too much. I, on the other hand, had answered like some smitten boyfriend.

Now I was the one getting embarrassed.

I cleared my throat, hoping to recover some dignity. ”I think… you might be attracting even more attention now,” I said honestly. ”But… that can be adjusted.”

I glanced around the store, searching for something that might help. My eyes landed on a simple sun hat hanging nearby. I grabbed it and gently placed it on her head, letting the wide brim cast a shadow over her face and hide her most distinct features—her white hair and the tips of her white ears.

”There,” I said with a nod. ”That should help. Unless someone gets too close, you should blend in better now.”

Roda reached up and pinched the brim of the hat between her fingers, adjusting it slightly. Then, without a word, she turned to a nearby shelf and picked out a white hat of her own.

”This oneʼs for you,” she said, handing it to me with a playful smirk. ”Your hairʼs been turning quite a few heads too, you know.”

I chuckled and took the hat from her. ”Fair point.” I placed it over my own white hair, feeling the brim dip low across my forehead. ”Alright then, letʼs go.”

After settling the bill, we stepped out together, the sunlight painting gold across the cobbled streets.

”Where are we headed?” Roda asked as we strolled side by side.

”To a nearby park,” I replied. ”I asked Vina to meet us there.”

Roda raised an eyebrow. ”Vina?”

I nodded. ”Yeah. Sheʼs going to help us reach the underwater path you told us about.”

I had messaged Vina the night before and checked again this morning—sheʼd confirmed sheʼd be there soon.

Truth be told, I wasnʼt in the mood to get tangled in more trouble. But some things were unavoidable.

There was something about Vina—a kind of innocence that reminded me of the people Iʼd failed before. Maybe it was because she was still just a child… or maybe because Iʼd already lost Ron, the boy I wanted to protect.

I wasnʼt going to let that happen again.

Even if I had to rely on her this time, I would make sure she came out of this safe.

Roda didnʼt really understand everything Iʼd said, but she nodded quietly anyway.

We walked side by side through the gentle rays of the afternoon, toward the small park where Iʼd asked Vina to meet us. The place wasnʼt busy—just a few families scattered about, some kids chasing each other across the open grass. We found an empty bench tucked near the edge of the playground and sat down in silence.

Rodaʼs gaze drifted to the children playing in front of us. There was a distant, almost haunted look in her eyes as she watched them run and stumble and shriek with joy. Her hands curled into tight fists on her lap.

”Everythingʼs so calm here,” she muttered. ”So peaceful.”

I turned my head slightly to look at her, but didnʼt say anything yet.

”In my world…” She started again, her words sounding shaky, ”Sancta Vedelia is always dark. Always mourning something or someone. Chaos has swallowed everything. I canʼt even remember the last time I saw children smiling like that.”

Her voice cracked at the end, and for a second, I thought she might cry. But she didnʼt.

I inhaled slowly, glancing toward the kids again. ”Things can go back to normal,” I told her. ”Leon—the Edward who caused all of that—heʼs in my world now. He canʼt return to yours. It might not fix everything, but at least… without him there, your world has a shot at peace.”

She shook her head almost immediately, as if the thought pained her. ”Every time I start to believe itʼs over, that maybe this is the last of it... someone else shows up. Someone worse, someone stronger, more twisted. Itʼs like a cycle. And I—Iʼm always powerless to stop it. They tear everything apart, and all I can do is watch.”

I grimaced slightly at her words. I didnʼt know what to say to that. Because honestly? I felt the same.

Iʼd faced death more times than I could count. Every time I thought Iʼd beaten the final boss, someone stronger showed up. And now, knowing that there was a Third Game after the Second one was just reminding me that Durathiel wasnʼt the peak—just another step on the staircase to hell.

”It never ends,” Roda said, eyes still fixed on the kids, though her voice sounded far away. ”Is there a way to stop it? Will we ever truly find peace?”

I let her question linger in the air for a while. The wind rustled through the trees overhead, and one of the kids let out a loud squeal as they tumbled onto the grass, giggling.

”I think…” I began, choosing my words carefully, ”that it depends on what kind of peace youʼre looking for.”

She turned slightly, curious.

”For me, I guess peace looks like a quiet home, far away from all this. Just me, my wives, maybe a few kids of our own. No more wars. No more gods. No one knocking on our door trying to kill us. Just… a simple life. Thatʼs my peace.”

”You want to become a farmer?” Roda asked, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

I let out a laugh. ”Honestly? That actually sounds way better than fighting for my life every damn day.”

The more I thought about it, the more it didnʼt sound that bad. Farming couldnʼt possibly be harder than getting your bones shattered by some twisted organisations or evil Gods. In fact, the image of a quiet life on an isolated piece of land—just a house, some fields, maybe a garden—sounded kind of... perfect.

Yeah, maybe the city would miss me a little. But if I could live in peace, surrounded by my family—Ephera, Cleenah, Layla, the others... and children someday—why wouldnʼt I want that? That could be my endgame. My goal. A life worth fighting for.

”I can only agree with that,” Roda giggled, shaking her head. ”Though farming? Not really my thing. I donʼt enjoy the countryside that much…”

I raised a brow and smirked. ”Arenʼt you supposed to be a noble princess or something? Are you saying you hate the common folk, Your Highness?”

Her cheeks puffed slightly in protest, a tiny sulk forming on her lips. ”I—I didnʼt say that!”

I chuckled, letting my hand fall across the backrest of the bench. ”Alright, alright. Iʼll make sure to find a royal estate tucked away inside a city for you. Something fit for your refined taste, Princess Roda.”

”Wait, are you inviting me into your family now?” Roda retorted to me also playfully.

I met her gaze, still smiling, though something in my chest stirred a little more seriously. ”Well… if you feel like your worldʼs too much to bear, maybe you donʼt have to go back. Your family and friends are still alive here, even if they donʼt know you. And, I mean… Iʼll be here too. If Iʼm not too boring to hang around.”

The words came out more sincerely than I expected. Maybe Iʼd been thinking about this for a while. Maybe Iʼd always wondered—could Roda stay here? Could she have a new life where the people she loved still existed, where peace wasnʼt just a distant dream?

I didnʼt know. But I said it anyway.

Roda stared at me, a flicker of surprise dancing in her eyes.

”…Are you serious?” She asked seriously.

I held her gaze. There was a stillness between us. We didnʼt say anything for a few long seconds, just sitting there.

”I mean…”

”What are you doing?”

A sudden voice cut straight through the moment.

Both of us turned our heads quickly—and standing just a few feet away was Vina.

And she wasnʼt alone.

Beside her stood Alicia.