I Am The Game's Villain

How could he have been so foolish? He had underestimated the enemyʼs audacity, dismissing the possibility that they would dare burn the ships-ships laden with reinforcements. Now, the alliance army was pinned, surrounded on three sides by an overwhelming force. The plan was cruelly simple yet devastatingly effective: destroy the ships to delay reinforcements, then bait the alliance army into a vulnerable position where they could be crushed before help could arrive. Once the alliance forces were obliterated, the Ruvelion and Teraquin armies would simply retreat behind their fortified walls, leaving the alliance in disarray.

The glowing mana circles on both flanks intensified. ”Raise defensive spells!” The Dolphis Commander roared, thrusting his sword skyward. ”Form ranks! Prepare for impact!” ***

Not bad for a first time.

A smile lingered on my lips as I strode across the charred battlefield. Scattered around me lay countless corpses-men who had indirectly fallen to my plan. Despite the triumph, an uncomfortable pang twisted in my chest at the sight of so much death. I shook the thought away. This was war. Hesitation had no place here and I had to save my mother at all costs.

The allianceʼs once army of 1,500 strong, had been reduced to a mere 300 in the blink of an eye. Those who remained were battered, their knees sinking into the scorched ground as they gasped for air, exhaustion painted across their faces. They were utterly surrounded, with the Teraquin and Ruvelion Knights forming a ring around them. ”Heʼs their commander,” Vesryn said, gesturing toward the man kneeling at the forefront of the defeated soldiers.

The manʼs eyes burned with hatred as he locked his gaze onto me. ”A little girl. I really got myself beaten by a little girl.” ”You were just naïve, thatʼs all,” I replied.

The commander scoffed, his lips curling in disdain. ”Enjoy your victory while it lasts. This strategy of yours wonʼt work again.”

He was right. The surviving armies aboard their ships would no doubt have figured out what happened by now. They wouldnʼt fall for the same trick twice. ”Well, at least theyʼll think twice—maybe even thrice-before attempting to advance further,” I shrugged.

The commander groaned before speaking again. ”Kill me. Iʼd rather die than become a slave.”

A chorus of nods came from the soldiers behind him. My gaze swept over the group, and my eyes caught on two familiar figures among them-a human girl and a vampire girl.

I blinked in surprise. These were the same students I had saved back in Vanadias, my classmates. Their faces were pale, their gazes fixed on the ground as they trembled. Sancta Vedelia had grown so desperate that theyʼd resorted to sending academy students to the battlefield. To their credit, they were elites of their class, though barely past the threshold of adulthood. Even so, they had chosen to fight. It was admirable from them honestly.

But now wasnʼt the time to dwell on that. There was a grave misunderstanding that needed to be cleared. ”I have no intention of turning you into slaves or selling you,” I said.

The commanderʼs head jerked up, his expression shifting to confusion. Murmurs rippled through the defeated soldiers as they exchanged uncertain glances. ”We arenʼt barbarians or scumbags,” I added.

Behind me, the Ruvelion Knights nodded in silent approval.

Iʼd come to understand something about these knights-they werenʼt just soldiers. They were Freyjaʼs personal guards, sworn to protect her and Elyen Kiora with loyalty. Freyja herself had founded their order, seeking out exceptional warriors like Vesryn and Rania to train and lead the force.

But Freyja had sought something beyond mere strength and skill in her Ruvelion Army. What she valued most was trustworthiness-people who would never lie, never betray her, and who used their heads rather than being ruled by baser instincts. The Ruvelion Knights were devoted to her, embodying a sense of honor. To them, the mere thought of enslaving or assaulting others was an affront to the princess they served, an act so vile it bordered on sacrilege.

This devotion set them apart, making them strangely noble in a Utopia rife with corruption. They despised the vile practices common in the city and among certain factions of Utopia, a sentiment that perfectly aligned with my own beliefs.