I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 430  [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [18] John's Anger

Zone 6

John stood amidst the dense underbrush, his expression hardened with contempt as he glanced where the battered body of an elf lay at his feet. The unfortunate elf had crossed paths with John, and in a matter of moments, had been swiftly overpowered. A fresh bruise marred the elf's pale cheek, the result of a single strong blow.

Without a second glance, John scoffed, letting the elf's limp form drop unceremoniously to the forest floor.

(<How about you show a little respect toward others, John?>)

Hecate asked.

"Why should I?" John spat out, irritation seeping into his voice. He had already scanned the elf's Life-Screen.

The elf had tried to flee when John had first caught sight of him, but running was futile. John was too fast and too strong and unfortunately he was one of the elves who beat him in group cowardly by behind back then when Edward came to meet Alvara with a battered Allen.

(<I don't know... Maybe try being kinder for a change. Otherwise, you know, Amelia might leave you.>)

John froze mid-step. The weight of Hecate's words hit him harder than any blow he'd ever delivered. His jaw clenched, and his expression darkened as he fell into deep contemplation. The mere mention of Amelia seemed to stir something vulnerable inside him, something he hated to acknowledge.

(<Oh! You're absolutely adorable when you're in love, Johnny!>)

Hecate's gleeful shriek cut through his thoughts, and John grimaced, his scowl deepening. "Stop calling me Johnny!" John barked. "All because of that damn Edward!"

He could almost feel Hecate smirking. She had picked up Edward's playful habit of calling him 'Johnny,' and now, she wielded it against him like a weapon, knowing how much it grated on his nerves.

(<Oh! Don't be so angry, Jonathan. You know Amelia's madly in love with you! She's not going anywhere. Besides, I'm still here, too! Like I would ever leave you!>)

John rolled his eyes. "Cut the last part."

(<Rude!>)

John scoffed but continued walking, his footsteps crunching softly over the forest floor. Though he tried to push Hecate's banter aside, her words lingered in the back of his mind. He wasn't one to show his emotions like Edward did, but deep down, there was no denying that he was worried. The looming war with Utopia weighed heavily on him, and the thought of dragging Amelia into it terrified him.

He wouldn't admit it—not to Hecate, not to anyone—but her safety had become his priority. And yet, there was something else bothering him...

(<You really should talk things out with Edward, you know.>)

"No."

(<You two look like lovers who had a quarrel! Get over it already, before the war breaks out.>)

John's thoughts flashed back to the previous day. Edward had approached him after separating briefly from Bryelle to have a conversation. They had talked about the war, of course—they always did—but then Edward had brought up something else, something that infuriated John.

***

"What did you just say?" John's voice wavered, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. Edward sighed, fully aware of why John's reaction was so intense. He had anticipated it, the second the idea crossed his mind, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that it needed to be said, no matter how absurd it sounded.

Leaning back into the worn leather of his chair, Edward crossed his arms. "I said maybe there's a way to stop Alvara from becoming the Major Antagonist we all fear."

John blinked, his face tightening into a look of disdain. "Stop her?" He echoed, letting out a bitter scoff that bordered on derision. "Prevent what, exactly? How do you even suggest we prevent something that's been written in stone since the day she was born? She's been a Major Antagonist since she drew her first breath."

Edward waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, you know what I mean. I'm not talking about undoing the past."

"No," John snapped. "I don't know what you mean. There's no stopping what she's going to do, Edward. Either we kill her now and save countless lives, or we wait until Victor kills her once she's completely lost it. Those are the only real choices."

 "Don't forget," John continued, with a low growl, "Alvara already betrayed Sancta Vedelia. She's in bed with the enemy as we speak. Where do you think she's been these last few days? Huh? Not playing house, I assure you."

Edward clenched his jaw, running a hand through his hair. John's words struck the truth, but Edward's thoughts drifted elsewhere—to Bryelle, Alvara's younger sister.

John had conveniently forgotten that Alvara wasn't always like this. There was a time when she wasn't consumed by hatred and betrayal. The breaking point had come with Bryelle's death, that had driven Alvara into madness. And yet, Edward couldn't help but wonder—if they could save Bryelle, could they save Alvara too? Bryelle had always believed in her older sister, seen the good in her when no one else had. Maybe there was still a sliver of that Alvara left, hidden deep inside her.

"You're thinking of saving Alvara Teraquin?" John's asked seething with disbelief. He leaned forward, his face inches from Edward's, as if he couldn't comprehend the thought. "Are you fucking kidding me, Edward?"

"I'm not," Edward replied quietly. "You said it yourself. If we can change her fate, we save her future victims too."

John's expression twisted with anger, his knuckles white as he slammed his fist onto the table. "I never said anything about saving that psycho! She's beyond saving, and you know it."

"Calm down, John," Edward said, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I will not calm down," John spat. "Why are you making this more complicated than it already is? We have enough on our hands as it is, Edward. Your hands should be full with your sister, your mother, and now your sudden fiancée. Not to mention Celeste, you care a lot about her as well, right? Do you even realize how much you're juggling right now? Why add Alvara to the mix? What? Are you planning to add her in your harem as well?"

Edward's face contorted with fury as his hand shot out, seizing John by the front of his shirt. His grip was tight, knuckles turning white with the force of his anger. John, however, didn't flinch. He met Edward's furious gaze coldly.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Edward spat, his voice low but trembling with barely controlled rage. "I should be the one asking that, Edward. What's really going on with you? I've got my hands full enough as it is—keeping Amelia and Victor alive is hard enough. I'll protect them, no matter the cost."

John leaned closer, his voice hardening as he continued. "But what about you? Are you seriously going to prioritize Alvara over your own sister? Over Elizabeth? Over Celeste?"

Edward's jaw clenched, and for a fleeting moment, uncertainty flickered in his mind.

'Of course not..' Maybe it was a sense of responsibility he felt toward Elizabeth. After what Priscilla had said, he couldn't ignore how much Elizabeth's unstable mind mirrored his own. That familiarity had struck something deep within him—a strange, protective care had grown for her, despite everything.

Then there was Celeste. Even before he learned of her connection to Nevia, something had been growing between them, a bond he didn't fully understand and wasn't sure he wanted to acknowledge. But the more he tried to deny it, the more that feeling deepened, blooming into something undeniable.

And then there was Alvara.

John had said she was born to be a Major Antagonist. Her fate, it seemed, was sealed from the moment she entered the world. But Edward couldn't shake the parallels between their lives, no matter how much he tried to dismiss them.

"What about me, John?" Edward's voice dropped, turning icy as he stared directly into John's eyes. "I was born to be the Major Antagonist of the First Game. And in the Second Game, I'm set to be the Main Antagonist. So, what's your plan? Are you going to kill me? Or are you waiting for Victor to do it?"

"..."

John's face fell into a stony silence, his expression faltering for the first time. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. He couldn't answer. He couldn't look Edward in the eye.

"Alvara… she's no different than me, John. The only difference is, I got lucky. I have memories of Earth. I have friends. People I can count on." His voice softened, a hint of sadness creeping in. "She's got nothing. No one. No way to change her fate—unless someone helps her."

Edward finally released John's shirt, his hand falling to his side. He took a step back, his expression softening but not losing any of its intensity. "Yeah, I care more about my sister, about Celeste and Elizabeth. But that doesn't mean I'll just let Alvara die if there's a chance to save her without putting everything else at risk."

John looked away, patting his shirt, his gaze still avoiding Edward's.

'I'm just worried about...you.'

John thought, clenching his fists, but the words wouldn't leave his throat. They were stuck there.

He wanted to argue, to tell Edward he was wrong. But the truth was more complicated than he could admit.

"If you don't agree with what I'm saying," Edward said, "then fine. Go ahead and kill me at the end of the Second Game. You won't have to wait long. We're nearing the end anyway."

Edward's lips curled into a bitter smile and without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and left the room, leaving John standing there.