I Am The Game's Villain

"Wha—!" The man's words were cut off as he came face-to-face with a shimmering mirror that appeared before him. His eyes widened in disbelief, and before he could react, he was struck by the full force of the reflection, thrown backward with an impossible velocity.

–BOOOM!

The sound of the impact echoed through the air like a thunderclap, and the guard was sent flying through the air at lightning speed. He crashed past Freya and her other guards, his body skidding across the ground until he was sent hurtling a hundred meters away, the force of the impact knocking the wind out of him and leaving him sprawled motionless.

Silence fell as every pair of eyes in the place turned toward me, their expressions frozen in shock.

Shit.

I just wanted to push him back a bit.

[<Your mirror's ability is different from the one you had inherited from Mary. The one you have recovered is from the remnants Mary willingly left you before disappearing. You can consider it as Persephone's Legacy.>]

Right.

Until now, I had assumed that when Mary vanished, her ability had gone with her, leaving me nothing. Yet, it seemed she had left behind something far more profound—a fragment of herself, what made her reincarnation of Persephone, willingly bestowed upon me before her disappearance. Persephone's Legacy.

It was hers—what remained of her essence. I had been unable to wield it until now, but with the unlocking of a new Anima's Core, my strength had reached a level capable of bearing the weight of her gift.

Even now, just using it, I could feel her—Mary, or rather Persephone. It brought me a deep sense of nostalgia. My chest tightened, a bittersweet ache rising within me. I couldn't deny it. I was impatient to see her once more.

"Arrest him!"

The shout snapped me back to reality. The guards, who had stood frozen in shock until now, sprang into motion.

"Big brother…"

A timid voice pulled at my attention. The boy behind me clung to my clothes, his small hands trembling as his fear seeped into me.

It did a lot of emotional damages to me as he reminded me of Orlin.

He would be older by now, much like Tihana. Would he even recognize me after all this time?

"Catch him!"

I raised my gaze to meet theirs.

There was no denying it—I had messed up.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to think quickly. I knew where my mother was. Somewhere within the royal palace, hidden behind layers of walls and countless guards. But how was I supposed to reach her now? And after this?

"Wait, there's a misunderstanding," I called out, raising my hands in a placating gesture. I needed to de-escalate the situation, at least until I found a way to continue my search.

Freya, standing, raised her hand, halting the guards in their tracks.

"Speak."

I exhaled slowly. "Thank you, Your Royal Highness. You see, this boy…" I placed a hand lightly on the child's shoulder, "is my slave. That man," I gestured toward the unconscious figure sprawled on the ground, "stole him from me. When I confronted him and demanded the boy's return, he refused and became aggressive. Naturally, I had no choice but to defend myself."

After breathing my story, I paused, lowering my head in a gesture of respect. "As for your knight, I humbly apologize for the misunderstanding. I assure you, Your Highness, I meant no harm."

Freya's expression remained unreadable as she scrutinized me. Her gaze pierced through the carefully woven facade I presented, and for a moment, I wondered if she would call my bluff.

"Is that true?" She asked me.

"Yes, it is," I replied without hesitation, offering a disarming smile.

Her knights, however, were less easily convinced. One of them stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he gestured toward the unconscious man. "We should at least interrogate him, Your Highness. He may have valuable information."

I bit back a scowl, though irritation flickered in my gaze. Of course, they couldn't let it go. I remained silent and waited for Freya's verdict.

"Are you from here?"

Her question caught me slightly off guard, but I masked it with a polite smile. "No, Your Highness. I am a traveler," I replied smoothly. "I arrived in Elyen Kiora two days ago and met this boy during my stay. We formed a bond, and I grew attached, so I decided to purchase him."

The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly, but her expression didn't soften.

"Traveler?" she asked, clearly skeptical. "Yet you seem to know enough about combat to overpower one of my guards? Curious."

That smile. It practically screamed: "I don't believe a word of your nonsense."

I held my composure, my lips curling into a humble grin. "I also worked as a guard for a noble family," I said without hesitation, offering just enough detail to ground my lie in plausibility.

Freya's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Oh? Which family?"

She wasn't going to let this go.

I hesitated briefly, just long enough to give the appearance of weighing my answer. Inside, my mind raced, searching for the gamble most likely to pay off. Taking a slow breath, I rolled the dice.

"The Raonpherys House."

For a moment, silence reigned. Freya's smile faded, replaced by an expression of genuine surprise. Her golden eyes widened slightly.

A ripple of shock passed through the guards around her, their whispers barely audible but brimming with disbelief.

The Raonpherys House. One of the most illustrious Royal High Elf families, on par with Freya's own Ruvelion lineage. Both families traced their origins to Sancta Vedelia, though the Raonpherys had left far earlier, distancing themselves to avoid the bloodshed that had plagued there.

It was a dangerous name to call. Perhaps even reckless. But I needed her attention, her interest. Without it, my quest to find my mother could take months—time I didn't have to waste.

"Interesting…and you left such an important and honorable duty behind?"

I nodded with a faint smile. "Indeed, Your Highness. I've always had a deep interest in seeing Elyen Kiora. When I finally arrived, I found myself utterly captivated."

By how annoyingly pompous and pretentious this city is.

The words remained unspoken, but the thought burned brightly in my mind. This place was a rotting monument to hypocrisy and arrogance.

If it wouldn't completely destroy my plans, I'd have loved nothing more than to knock every self-important resident off their pedestals, just to see their smug expressions twist into fear.

[<As expected of a Main Antagonist.>]

Damn it, she's not wrong.

But seriously, can you blame me?

"A talented woman who knows proper etiquette and once served as a guard for the Raonpherys family. You are quite amazing, Loki," she muttered.

I am not a woman!

I forced a polite smile, letting the remark slide.

Freya glanced at one of her guards. "I have a few questions to ask you. Give him a horse."

The guard hesitated, his disapproving glare barely hidden as he reluctantly obeyed. With a curt nod, he handed me the reins. I mounted the horse without complaint, compelled to trail Freya's ornate carriage as it began to move. The boy, still clutching tightly to me, followed without a word. Leaving him behind would have been suspicious—after all, I had declared him my slave. For now, I had to maintain the facade.

Freya remained inside the carriage, but the small window was open, allowing her voice to drift toward me.

"I never imagined the Raonpherys family would trust someone outside their exclusive circle."

"Neither did I," I replied. "But they valued my skills and deemed me worthy."

"Quite confident, aren't you?"

Her delicate laughter filled the air.

"I prefer to think of it as honesty, Your Highness."

"I can see you're accustomed to speaking with royalty. The women I've met at Elyen Kiora have all been dreadfully dull. You, however, seem different."

Maybe because I am not a woman!

"I am honored by your words," I said.

She tilted her head slightly, studying me with renewed interest. "Are you from a noble family?"

It seemed some truths were too deeply ingrained to conceal entirely. Be it as Falkrona or now as Olphean, my upbringing had left its mark on my behavior. I offered a modest nod.

"Yes, but not one of significance, Your Highness."

"How is Emilia?" She asked suddenly.

The unexpected question froze me a little.

"Lady Emilia..." I began carefully, "has not yet returned."

Freya's lips curled into a knowing smile. "As expected. Ever stubborn, that one." Her arm rested lazily on the carriage's window frame, her expression somewhat nostalgic?

Curiosity tugged at me, and I asked cautiously, "You have known Princess Emilia, Your Highness?"

"You could say that," she answered ambiguously.

"Then what are you planning to do after this, Loki?" Freya asked, shifting the subject.

"I'm thinking of staying a few more weeks to see all that Elyen Kiora has to offer," I replied purposefully giving a long stay.

Freya had a faint smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "A marvelous idea. My brother has been working tirelessly to ensure things run smoothly in Elyen Kiora. Yet, despite his efforts, I find myself... plagued with doubts about my safety."

"My guards," she continued, a subtle edge creeping into her tone, "don't seem as trustworthy as I once believed—especially when a mere traveler can so easily defeat one of them."

Ah.

She wasn't just making conversation; she was laying a trap.

"Your Highness..." I trailed off, feigning uncertainty. I had a sinking feeling I knew where this was headed.

Freya leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her arm as she looked at me with her beautiful eyes. "What do you think, Loki? Would you do me the honor of serving as my personal guard? Just for a few weeks."

Personal guard?

Wasn't this moving a little too fast?

I glanced around, noting the expressions of her knights. Some looked surprised, others outright offended. It was clear they didn't approve of the idea. After all, I was a stranger—a so-called traveler with no credentials beyond my fabricated backstory.

But despite the unexpectedness of it all, I couldn't deny the opportunity she was offering me.

Freya must have sensed my hesitation because she added, almost casually, "In the meantime, I'll provide you with anything you wish to know about Elyen Kiora."

Her words sealed the deal.

Being her personal guard would grant me access to the castle—the very place where I suspected my mother was being held. It was a golden ticket to the information and proximity I needed. And perhaps, if I played my cards right, I could uncover more about Utopia's plans and intentions as well.

"I accept."

Freya's smile widened.

"Wonderful."