I Am The Game's Villain

Allen returned her smile faintly, lifting a bag he had been carrying. "Yeah... good morning. I brought you a few things to eat. It's not exactly royal cuisine, though."

Bryelle's eyes sparkled as she took the bag from him. "It doesn't matter! Anything you bring me is perfect, Elder Brother," she said, her smile brighter than ever.

"..." Allen froze for a moment, staring at her sorrowfully and regretfully. Her pure kindness and love for him despite having taken part in her bullying really consumed him with guilt.

What had he been doing all these years?

Bryelle had endured so much, yet she still looked at him as her big brother.

That innocent smile—so pure, so untainted—shone on Bryelle's face despite everything she had endured. It struck deeply Allen. In that moment, he finally understood why Alvara cared so deeply for Bryelle, more than anyone else. This child wasn't just kind; she was too good for a world so consumed by violence and greed.

What had once been a task entrusted to him by his elder sister had, over the past weeks, transformed into something deeply personal. Allen now bore the responsibility of protecting Bryelle not as a reluctant guardian but as her elder brother.

He quickly prepared a plate and set out the modest meal he had brought for her. The scent of freshly cooked food wafted through the room as he placed the dishes in front of her.

"Aren't you eating, Brother?" Bryelle asked, tilting her head slightly.

"I already ate. Don't worry about me," Allen replied with a reassuring smile.

"Oh…" Bryelle nodded, though her eyes lingered on him with a trace of hesitation. After a moment, she spoke again. "Um, Elder Brother... Have you heard any news about Elder Sister, Mother, or Elder brother?"

Her concern for Alvara, Tanya, and Kendel was always there. What astonished Allen most was her continued worry for Kendel. Despite everything—despite Kendel abandoning her when Behemoth attacked Vanadias—Bryelle's heart still held room for him.

Allen's expression contorted slightly, but he quickly masked it. "Kendel is with the Zestella forces, attacking their stronghold. Elder Sister is at Utopia, preparing to marry the Utopian King. And Mother…" He hesitated, softening his tone. "Mother is in Vanadias. She's fine."

"I see…" Bryelle's cheerful demeanor dimmed for a moment as her face clouded with worry. The war had torn their family apart, and it seemed that nothing had changed.

"You should eat before it gets cold, Bryelle," Allen said.

"Yes!" Bryelle nodded, shaking off her thoughts and turning her focus to the meal.

Allen sat down across from her, silently watching as she ate. A pang of guilt and warmth stirred within him. In the past, he had scarcely considered Bryelle a part of his family, let alone cared for her. But now, seeing her like this, he felt something foreign—something pure. A desire to protect her and to make her happy.

"Bryelle."

She paused mid-bite, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Yes, Elder Brother?"

"After the war is over... do you want to start over—"

-Thud!

A sudden, loud impact struck the door, cutting Allen's words short.

"...!" Allen immediately stood, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword.

He raised his free hand toward Bryelle, motioning for her to stay quiet. Her eyes widened in concern, but she obeyed, freezing in her seat.

Allen took slow steps toward the door.

They were protected—Namys Elaryon herself had imbued the house with powerful mana circles at Alvara's request. These barriers were impenetrable without precise knowledge and time to dismantle them.

As long as they remained inside, the mana circles would make it impossible for anyone outside to reach them. Allen was confident that no significant threats would enter this far into such an unremarkable town.

Still, his instincts screamed otherwise.

Allen moved toward the window beside the door, carefully pulling the curtain aside just enough to glimpse the outside. His blood ran cold.

There were six men standing there, each clad in armor emblazoned with the Utopian Emblem. They were Durathiel's personal knights.

"...!"

His breath caught as his gaze fell on one of the men, who held a struggling woman by her hair. It was Nilin—one of his concubines, a woman who had chosen to stay by his side despite everything he had done to her.

Allen's expression contorted with pure fury, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. For a brief moment, he turned back toward Bryelle, who was still seated, her wide eyes filled with concern.

"Bryelle, stay here. Hide in the basement. There is enough canned food there for two months if you need it," he said. He didn't wait for her response, instead striding toward the door.

He closed it behind him, ensuring the key remained inside. The house was sealed. No one would be able to enter.

"Allen!" Nilin cried out, as she struggled against her captor's grip.

"Release her," Allen said coldly. His hand rested on his sword, raised toward them. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

"Oh? You must be that little dog Lykhor mentioned," one of the knights sneered, his comrades laughing in unison.

"I said, release her!" Allen roared, rushing forward without waiting for an answer.

One of the knights stepped forward, intercepting him, but Allen delivered a brutal kick to his midsection, sending him sprawling. Without hesitation, Allen drew his blade and slashed across the man's chest, cutting him down in an instant.

Two more knights lunged at him. Allen stomped the ground, summoning thorny vines from the earth. Though he lacked Alvara's abnormal talent with mana, it was enough. The vines coiled around their wrists, locking them in place. With a fluid motion, Allen slashed their throats, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground.

"Hey, dumb prince."

Allen turned sharply at the voice. The leader of the knights stood with a knife pressed against Nilin's throat, a smirk on his face.

"Did you really think we'd be stupid enough to fight you head-on when we have a hostage? Oh, and by the way—we also have your other concubines."

"What…?" Allen's eyes widened.

"So, here's the deal: open the door and let us in, or I slit her throat right here."

"Never," Allen glared.

"Such a shame." The leader shrugged nonchalantly, pressing the knife closer to Nilin's skin. "Then I'll kill her—"

"No! Don't touch her!" Allen shouted, his sword clattering to the ground as he discarded it. Without hesitation, he fell to his knees, bowing his head low. "Please! If you want a life, take mine instead!"

"Lord Allen, no!" Nilin cried, tears streaming down her face.

Allen didn't look at her. He had made his decision long ago. The moment he accepted these women into his life, he had resolved to protect them, even at the cost of his own life. It was the least he could do after destroying their lives.

"I'm begging you," Allen said, clenching his fists against the ground. "Take me instead. Spare her."

"Unfortunately, we need the princess," the leader sneered. "Lykhor wants her to make the Celestial Princess obey."

"What—"

Before Allen could finish, a brutal punch slammed into his cheek, knocking him to the ground.

"Give us the key," the knight asked again.

"No... Take my life instead, please..." Allen begged.

"Wrong answer."

-BAM!

-BAM!

The punches rained down continuously on Allen. Blood trickled from his split lip, mixing with the dirt beneath him. His face was marred with bruises, yet they showed no mercy, their fists pounding him in front of a crying Nilin..

"Allen! Stop it, please! Leave him alone!" She cried out, her voice choking. She struggled to free herself, but the knights held her in place.

Allen's vision blurred, his strength waning, but he refused to yield. He clung to one thought: protect Bryelle at all costs but also his wife.

Suddenly, the sound of creaking wood broke through. The door to the house slowly opened.

"N–No..." Allen's voice cracked as he saw Bryelle wheeling herself out, tears streaming down her face.

"P–Please don't hurt my brother or Nilin... Just take me," Bryelle pleaded.

Her heart ached at the sight of Allen's battered form. She didn't want to trouble Alvara, but seeing her brother being beaten to a pulp left her with no other choice.

"Oh, the sister seems smarter than the brother," the leader cackled, his grin widening.

"If you so much as touch her—" Allen tried to growl, but his words were cut short as a blow to his temple sent him into unconsciousness.

"Brother!" Bryelle cried out, turning her wheelchair toward him. But before she could reach him, one of the knights seized the handles, stopping her in her tracks.

Nilin was thrown aside, and she immediately scrambled to Allen's side, her shaking hands hovering over his bloodied face.

"Allen, please... stay with me," she whispered.

The leader smirked as he reached for a small communication sphere, channeling his mana into it. The sphere glowed faintly, and a voice emanated from it.

["Did you get her?"]

It was Lykhor.

"We have the disabled princess, yes," the leader replied smugly, tilting the sphere to show Bryelle's tear-streaked face.

Lykhor's image inside the sphere twisted into a wide smirk, his eyes gleaming with delight.

["Good. Bring her to Utopia immediately."]

"Yes, my lord," the leader replied. He turned to his men, signaling them to prepare for departure.

Bryelle's gaze darted to Allen's limp form and Nilin's trembling figure. She swallowed hard, her body trembling in fear.

"I'm sorry," she whispered under her breath, clutching the arms of her wheelchair tightly.

The knights began to drag her away, leaving behind both Allen and Nilin.