I Am the Novel's Extra Villan

Ryker knew that monster cores had different values depending on where you were, but he hadn't expected this. A single-star floating city valuing the lowest rank cores so highly seemed crazy at first.

But when he thought about it, it made perfect sense. Most people in this town were barely above Novice rank with their bloodlines. They needed every core they could get to power their weapons and energy shields. Those shields were the only thing keeping monster herds from overrunning the town.

"Well, you can exchange it and give me the change," Ryker said, picking up his bread.

The bread had soaked up the chicken soup, giving it a sweet, savory taste. He ate it in one bite, enjoying the warm feeling in his stomach.

The girl nodded but looked nervous. She kept glancing around the inn like she expected someone to jump out at her. Ryker noticed her fear but didn't really care. He knew how dangerous it could be to carry something that valuable in a place like this.

After finishing his meal, Ryker pushed the empty plates away and sighed. The food had been simple but filling. He couldn't imagine spending two months in that forest eating nothing but whatever he could catch.

"I may be a bloodline holder, but I'm barely at red core level," he thought. "I need real food to keep my strength up."

He left the table and walked to the front counter. A woman stood there who looked very similar to the girl who had served him. She had the same dark hair and friendly smile.

"Young sir, how can I help you?" she asked in a professional tone.

"I gave your daughter a gray beast core for my meal," Ryker said. "Now I'd like to rent a room for the night."

The woman's smile grew wider. "Ah, you're the fine gentleman she mentioned! Of course. Our best room costs five hundred credits for one night."

Ryker nodded quickly. He didn't know if that was a fair price, but with the core money coming, he could afford it easily.

She handed him a brass key. "Take the room at the top of the stairs. You can't miss it."

Ryker took the key and headed for the staircase. Behind him, the woman watched him go with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

The room was simple but clean. It had a wooden desk, a medium-sized bed with white sheets, and a small window that looked out over the street. It was exactly what you'd expect from a modest inn.

Ryker dropped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. His body ached from all the fighting, but it was his mind that felt heavy. He'd killed so many people in just one day - the bloodline user in town, the archer girl in the forest, and the guard at the gate.

"I'm supposed to be a villain," he muttered to himself. "But this feels like too much, even for me."

Then again, they had all tried to hurt him first. The bloodline user had attacked him. The archer girl had tried to rob him. The guard had been looking for a fight.

"I guess when people treat you badly and you feel like they deserve it, it's better to just accept it," he said, closing his eyes.

Sleep came quickly, deep and dreamless.

---

A loud knocking sound woke him up. Ryker groaned and rolled out of bed, his muscles still sore from yesterday's fights.

"Who is it?" he called, walking to the door.

"It's me, sir," came a familiar voice.

Ryker opened the door to find the girl from yesterday standing in the hallway. She looked nervous, fidgeting with her hands.

"How can I help you?" Ryker asked, raising an eyebrow.

The girl took a deep breath before speaking. "It's about the core you gave me yesterday. I need to go exchange it, but I have several other valuable items too. It might be dangerous for me to go alone without protection."

Her smile looked forced, and Ryker could see the fear in her eyes.

He understood her problem. Walking around with valuable monster cores was like carrying a bag of gold through a den of thieves. Anyone who saw what she had would try to take it.

"How sure are you that I can actually help?" Ryker asked. "I don't want to get involved in something that won't work out well for me."

The girl pointed at his waist where his sword usually hung. "I saw your weapon yesterday. You're a raider or an adventurer, right? That means you can fight."

Ryker nodded slowly. "Well, if you know I'm a fighter, then you know my skills aren't free."

His gaze grew intense, and the girl took a step back. She could feel the weight of his stare, like he was deciding whether she was worth his time.

But she gathered her courage and nodded. "I'm willing to pay whatever you think is fair."

"Good," Ryker said. "Give me a minute to get ready."

He closed the door and grabbed his sword, checking that it was secure at his waist. He also made sure his remaining cores were hidden safely in his pack.

When he opened the door again, the girl was still waiting.

"Lead the way," he said.

As they walked down the hallway, Ryker couldn't shake the feeling that this simple exchange was going to turn into something much more complicated. In a town like this, valuable items had a way of attracting trouble.

And trouble seemed to follow him everywhere he went.