I Am The Game's Villain

The sudden illumination of the room revealed Lyra peacefully sleeping on a wooden table. Relief washed over Simon, and tears streamed down his face. ”I-I was so scared... I-I...”

”I know how much you care for her. What uncle would kill his nephewʼs lover?” Conrad chuckled.

Simonʼs gaze returned to Conrad, his expression now a mix of confusion and conflicting emotions. ”I-I donʼt understand... Why didnʼt you reveal yourself to me then? I-I thought I was alone.”

”You were never alone, Simon,” Conrad said, his voice filled with a sense of reassurance. ”I have always been watching over you. Your mother entrusted me with your care.”

”...!” Simonʼs tears continued to flow as he heard mention of his mother.

”But as for why I didnʼt come for you and pretended to be dead until now...” Conradʼs expression suddenly turned serious. ”I didnʼt want ʼhimʼ to confirm that I was alive. I didnʼt want him to use you as a hostage to come after me.”

”H-Huh?! W-Who, uncle?” Simon asked, his mind reeling from the revelation.

Conrad approached Simon and released him from the shackles that had held him captive. ”The same person who killed your mother and father.”

”!” Simonʼs face turned pale in an instant.

According to what he knew, his parents had been killed during a subjugation battle in the Enigma Dungeon of Falkrona Capital City.

”T-They were killed by someone?” Simon asked, fear gripping his heart as his breathing became ragged. Anger started to bubble up within him. ”Who? Who, uncle?” Simon clenched his teeth, his face contorted with raw fury.

Conrad nodded solemnly. ”But before we get to that, do you remember what happened on the day your parents died? Iʼm sorry, I know itʼs painful, but I need you to remember.”

Simon nodded and spoke, his mind traversing back to that fateful day. ”We were supposed to leave for vacation, but... Mother received a sudden call. She and Father excused themselves and... and...” Simon furrowed his brow, delving deeper into his memories. ”They apologized to me and told me to wait for them, leaving me alone in the house. I thought they had gone to the Enigma Dungeon to help those in danger...”

”Indeed. Your father and mother were brilliant scientists and formidable fighters, but thatʼs not why they were called,” Conrad interjected, shaking his head. ”They werenʼt summoned for that purpose.”

Conrad produced a rectangular object and placed it on the floor. Light emitted from it, projecting a video onto the void.

Simonʼs eyes widened as he recognized the location—a laboratory where his parents had worked. However, in the video, the place lay in ruins.

”M-Mother!” Simon exclaimed, his voice filled with anguish as he saw his mother lying on the ground, covered in blood. She was lifeless.

Another figure, his father Matthew, crawled on the ground, bloodied and injured. ”D-Dad...” Simon cried, witnessing his fatherʼs desperate struggle. Matthew crawled toward his deceased mother, his body trembling with grief and anguish.

A minute later, Matthew abruptly turned around.

In the video, grey boots came into view, revealing the face of the man.

”...” Simon froze immediately.

Grey hair and grey eyes.

The man was Thomen Falkrona—Simonʼs foster father.

Thomen approached Matthew, a knife clutched in his hand.

Matthew, on his knees, looked at Thomen with reddened eyes, a fierce anger burning within him—an expression Simon had never witnessed on his fatherʼs face.

”N-NOOOOO!” Simon screamed, horrified, as Thomen plunged the knife into Matthewʼs chest.

The video ended with Matthew falling lifelessly beside his mother.

”....”

”I understand the turmoil youʼre experiencing, Simon. You may even doubt the authenticity of the video. Thatʼs why you can confirm it with Thomen himself,” Conrad said.

”?!” Simonʼs mouth opened and closed repeatedly, unable to process the information. He yearned to deny the reality and dismiss what he had witnessed as a mere nightmare.

Conrad placed a comforting hand on Simonʼs shoulder. ”Ask Thomen and observe his reaction. You will understand immediately. You can even take the tape and have it checked for any alterations, but what you saw is true, Simon.” Conrad handed the tape to Simon. ”Thomen Falkrona is a murderer.”

”W-Why...? Why?” Simonʼs spirit shattered, and he felt utterly broken.

”Nine years ago, precisely when your parents died, Thomenʼs wife succumbed to illness. Youʼre aware of that, Simon.”

”Yes...”

”Thomen lost his sanity and sought Matthewʼs help. He wanted your fatherʼs assistance in resurrecting his wife.”