I've Become the King of Villains in the Game

When Neil opened his eyes again.

He found himself lying in a quiet, tidy room. By the bedside, there sat a young and beautiful woman.

"Ah, you're awake?"

The woman turned her head and met Neil's eyes, a hint of joy flashing in her gaze.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

Neil sat up vigilantly.

The woman smiled radiantly, wetting a towel from a basin, wringing it out before approaching, and said:

"I'm Rafaela, the Port Master specially arranged for me to come take care of you... After you fainted on the battlefield, you were brought here for treatment, but the doctors were all at a loss, and even... even the doctors got infected and died."

Rafaela tentatively brushed the towel against Neil's forehead. He frowned but didn't refuse.

She showed a lingering expression of relief and chuckled thankfully:

"Originally, I was prepared to die, but fortunately, with the Flame's favor, you survived, and the infectious disease entangled within you has disappeared... In fact, even the priests from the Redemption Church came to see you, they bluntly said you wouldn't make it... It's truly a Miracle!"

Rafaela's hands were gentle, and the towel was moist and warm, allowing Neil's initial tension to dissipate.

He couldn't help but pray gratefully in his heart:

'Thank you again, great Snake, for saving me once more.'

The Snake did not respond.

Little did Neil know, with himself being healed multiple times by the "Crystallized Cells," his body was no longer truly his...

Soon.

Upon hearing the Awakening and miraculous recovery of "Hundred-Slayer Nils," Port Master Ivar, accompanied by several ministers, personally came to visit.

This was a short, somewhat overweight middle-aged man, clad in a large deep blue robe, with valuable ornaments on his neck and fingers.

"Hero of Green Shade Harbor, Lord Nils, I thank you on behalf of the entire port city... The success of the war owes much to your heroic efforts."

Port Master Ivar spoke with a smile, his chin layered, and said:

"Next, I would like you to assume the role of Leader of the Mercenary Corps, leading a team of five thousand."

Neil raised an eyebrow.

Though young, he was quite intrigued by the notion of becoming a Leader, so he promptly agreed.

"Thank you for your trust, Port Master, Nils will not disappoint you."

"Very good."

The fat man nodded contentedly.

He gestured, and a servant by his side brought a wooden box over, handing it directly to Neil at the bedside.

"I hope you can abandon your previous identity and serve me... This is a meeting gift, I hope you'll like it."

The box opened, revealing a hundred Gold Coins stacked neatly inside.

Neil couldn't help but admire the prosperity of Green Shade Harbor and the generosity of the Port Master.

This was equivalent to the tax revenue of Black Horn Domain for five years!

"Thank you, Port Master."

Neil accepted the wooden box and thanked him.

However, Ivar did not leave yet, instead, he kindly asked:

"Nils, although young, your bravery far surpasses many Knights under my command... I heard you wandered here as a Mercenary from the south. How do you find Green Shade Harbor compared to the south?"

"It is very prosperous here, Port Master."

Neil answered truthfully.

Ivar's smile widened, and he pointed his plump finger at the young woman sitting by the bed, saying:

"Rafaela is the fourth daughter of the Finance Minister of Green Shade Harbor. I think she's suitable for you."

"Hmm?"

Neil turned his head in surprise, only to see Rafaela's shy smile directed at him, making his heart race.

Rafaela's facial features were very refined, possessing a sense of delicate beauty.

In such a feudal dynasty era.

Neil, who was already seventeen, as a noble's child, was supposed to be involved in matters of romance much earlier, but following his father's death in battle and Uncle Miller's forcible occupation of Black Horn Domain, he became the lowliest of servants, having no qualification or thought of such things.

Now, he possessed strength and was recognized by others.

The Port Master granting Rafaela to him stirred Neil greatly.

"Thank you... Lord Ivar."

*

*

*

Thus, Neil joined under the Port Master's command as "Nils" with the identity of a Mercenary, leading troops as Corps Leader in battles.

And temporarily settled in Green Shade Harbor.

Naturally, Rafaela became Neil's wife.

Although their relationship lacked an emotional foundation, fortunately, Rafaela was gentle and, coupled with Neil's extraordinary looks and prowess, she deeply admired him.

So, their marriage life turned out to be quite happy.

Soon, one day.

Chen Lun suddenly sensed the [Nameless] ritual reaching a crucial stage, guessing that it might be Conrad Your Majesty and the Generous Council secretly aiding, thus the century war on Sun Continent reached another peak of chaos.

The massive ritual feedback propelled Chen Lun's regional renown to new heights, accumulating 1500 Points, halfway through the ceremony.

He once again felt an irresistible drowsiness.

Chen Lun had a premonition that this time he would sleep for a longer duration.

So before that, he instructed Neil if there's a chance, to start with the Redemption Church, to acquire subsequent Supernatural Knowledge for advancement.

Initially, Neil was somewhat panic-stricken, having long accustomed to the guidance and assistance of Snake Your Majesty, losing it suddenly, he felt extremely uneasy.

Fortunately, after a series of events, he became more mature and calm... Confirmed that Snake Your Majesty was merely temporarily in suspended animation, Neil exhaled deeply.

He solemnly promised Chen Lun that he would try his utmost to find the subsequent knowledge and continue on the "Holy Fire Pathway."

"I will leave you with three opportunities for 'Healing' and 'Epiphany,' use them wisely, before my Awakening, I won't give any further response..."

Chen Lun said faintly in Neil's mind.

"Thank you for your gifts, Snake Your Majesty, I will not let you down!"

Neil, after just kissing his wife Rafaela, turned and responded quietly while looking out the window.

"Very good."

Chen Lun said at last.

Then he fell into deep sleep.

His hazy consciousness settled into silence, not knowing how much time had passed.

When Chen Lun awoke again, three years had passed.

Plop, plop...

In the pattering rain, hurried footsteps echoed.

Chen Lun quickly saw.

Under the nightfall, twenty-year-old Neil stood tall and imposing, clad in a fitted metal armor with a deep blue cloak, pursuing a man wrapped in bandages all over his body.

The street, composed of various stone houses, was dim and ancient, with wet puddles on the ground. The two were already at a corner of an alley, one chasing and one fleeing.

"Nils, I didn't expect you to progress so fast... In just three years, you've advanced to Sequence Seven, I can't understand why you didn't die under my plague back then."

The bandaged man seemed to know he couldn't escape, turned around and said coldly.

Neil drew the English Lion Sword, expressionlessly looking at the opponent.

"No need to delay time anymore, Slapan, the plague airflow you've spread along the way has no effect on me... I always believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, now you must die."

"Hmph!"

The bandaged man named Slapan raised his hand, intending to summon disease insects to attack Neil.

But his arm froze halfway up.

From the slit of the bandages, his eyes flickered with shock.

He saw Neil using his left hand to make a gesture, utilizing the Sequence Ability of [Commander] to control his opponent's movements, while his right hand brandished the sword.

Whoosh!

Flames appeared from thin air, clinging to the sword, transforming it into a burning sword.

With a swish!

The Cross Sword pierced into Slapan's left chest, flames igniting his body. Amidst the wails, Neil showed a satisfied smile.

His face was continuously festering and oozing pus, with blisters growing on his neck and arms... In truth, Neil's previous words were merely to deter his opponent. Throughout the chase, his body had already accumulated a severe degree of plague.

"Healing!"

Neil said in a deep voice.

Soon, his "illness" paused and then rapidly returned to health.

The blisters vanished, the festering healed.

"The last 'Healing' is also used up..."

Neil let out a long sigh.

His expression was quite reluctant.

In these three years of Snake's absence, he had gone through countless battles, relentlessly hardening an iron will.

But each time he thought of that great being, he could not help but feel a sense of awe.

Due to the lack of subsequent Supernatural Knowledge, he tried everything possible.

Finally, leveraging the trust and importance placed by Port Master Ivar, he was recommended into the Redemption Church of Green Shade Harbor, becoming a monk within under a false identity.

For three years, he treaded on thin ice, climbing step by step.

He is now the most trusted Leader of the Port Master, commanding tens of thousands of troops, while also serving as the "Local Priest" of the Redemption Church in Green Shade Harbor.

This was thanks to the difference between Green Shade Harbor and other regions.

According to doctrine, the clergy of the Redemption Church generally cannot intervene in secular matters on their own. Fortunately, the area is far from the Holy Land, Klein, and the Port Master has a close relationship with the Bishop of the Church, resulting in an exception like Neil.

Watching the enemy who once used Supernatural means to ambush him being incinerated in flames, Neil smiled happily.

However, what he didn't know was.

The moment the sword pierced through the opponent, the hidden "Snake" within him had already used "Mental Steal" to see the secrets in the opponent's mind, as well as Neil's experiences over the three years.

'It's indeed a [Plague Doctor]...'

Chen Lun marveled at the information stolen from the bandaged man Slapan's mind.

Their chosen Supernatural Pathway was called the "Path of Plague."

Sequence Nine [Patient], possessing disease resistance, with a frail body, but capable of controlling the diseases they carry to some extent and spreading them to other targets.

Sequence Eight [Decayer], whose diseases would severely worsen, causing the whole body to fester, significantly increasing the infectiousness of diseases and greatly reducing cure rates... while initially possessing the ability to store diseases in animals, plants, and even lifeless objects.

'Patient, Decayer, and Plague Doctor... If the subsequent Supernatural Knowledge can be obtained, Maggie's future path can indeed continue forward.'

Chen Lun couldn't help but think.

'This isn't a dead-end path at all, it's just that the "Plague Lord" hasn't severely eroded the Sun Continent, which has led to a considerable gap in knowledge from that side.'

Meanwhile, he also saw Neil's current Sequence.

The Holy Fire Pathway, Sequence Seven [Arsonist].

He can create fire out of thin air, freely command Supernatural Flames to repel enemies, greatly enhancing destructive power. Transcendents of this Sequence can often serve as Priests within the Redemption Church.

"Nerlucius..."

A familiar voice suddenly echoed in Neil's heart.

His whole body trembled.

Immediately, he showed immense joy.

"Snake! Have you awakened?!"

"Hmm..."

Chen Lun's voice remained as calm as ever.

"Don't rush to be happy, you have long been under surveillance by the high-ranking members of the Redemption Church. This time, be careful when you return to Green Shade Harbor."

"My identity has been exposed?!"

Neil was stunned.

Since arriving at Green Shade Harbor three years ago, the Redemption Church had not pursued him. He had even become a priest of the church now.

Originally, he thought the matter had been buried with time.

Unexpectedly, due to being "possessed by a demon," he once again attracted the attention of the Redemption Church.

His expression turned grave, and he finally said deeply, "I understand, Snake."