I Am The Game's Villain

Chapter 414  [Event] [Semester-Exam At Vanadias] [2] Trouble

"W-Wait!"

I paid no heed to his pleas, thrusting the sword downward without hesitation, but before I could strike, my arm was seized, halting my movement.

I looked up and met Toran's gaze. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Could you please stop this?" Toran asked with a smile.

"I could," I replied, not bothering to mask the cold edge in my voice, "but I don't want to."

With deliberate slowness, I pressed the sword further down, the blade inching closer to its intended target. The Elf beneath my foot struggled desperately, like a trapped insect, his pale face contorted in fear.

"Hiii!" He let out a pitiful whimper, his body thrashing in vain, but my foot held him firmly in place, preventing any chance of escape.

Toran's smile faded, replaced by a frown as he realized that despite his grip on my arm, I was still pushing the blade downward. He wasn't just concerned for the Elf's life—I could sense that he was also worried about the potential consequences if this escalated.

"I really don't want to injure you. Stop this," Toran asked, his voice low and controlled. I could tell he was holding back, reluctant to use force against me, but the tension in his muscles betrayed his readiness to act.

I had to admit, Toran was strong—stronger than most. I could feel the power in his grip, the subtle warning that if he chose to, he could overpower me. He was likely at the peak of the 7th Ascension, or perhaps even in the early stages of the 8th. Harvey was right about this guy.

"Sorry, but this guy deserves death," I replied flatly, my eyes locked on the terrified Elf beneath me.

"Do you hear yourself?" Toran's frown deepened, disbelief coloring his tone. "You are a guest here, in our territory… and you want to kill someone like that? Over this?"

He seemed genuinely dumbfounded by my behavior, as if he couldn't understand that I would go to such lengths in a place where we were supposed to be under protection.

I glanced back, feeling the nervous grip of the two girls on my clothes. Their eyes were wide with fear, not just for themselves, but for the situation I was creating. We were in hostile territory from their perspective—any escalation could lead to severe consequences for all of us, not just for me.

Right. This wasn't just about me. I could handle my problems, but dragging these two into a mess they didn't ask for? That wouldn't be fair.

"Fine," I relented, my voice softening slightly.

I shifted the sword, thrusting it down just below the Elf's intimate parts, the blade embedding itself in the ground mere inches from a much more fatal strike.

"I will spare the disgusting Elf."

The Elf let out a shuddering breath, his face ashen, eyes wide with shock. Toran exhaled as well in relief.

"Thank you. I apologize for his unsightly behavior. He will receive the punishment he deserves."

"Say that to the girls," I replied coolly, nodding toward the two behind me.

Toran turned to them, his expression softening as he offered a sincere apology. "I am deeply sorry for what happened. You have my word, this won't go unpunished."

The girls nodded, still visibly shaken but grateful. Toran's words seemed to soothe their nerves somewhat, and they loosened their grip on my clothes, standing a little straighter.

"May I know your name?" Toran asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he turned back to me.

"Amael, what are you doing, man?" A voice called out from ahead. I looked up to see Victor waving at me.

"Amael? Amael Olphean?" Toran's eyes widened in recognition, and I saw a flash of realization in his expression.

The Elf who had been groaning on the ground stopped, his eyes widening in horror as he processed the name. His face turned even paler, fear etched into every line of his features.

"Are all Elves this pathetic? I hope not," I scoffed turning my back on the whimpering Elf. Ignoring the glares from the other Elven guards, I walked forward, confident that they wouldn't dare touch me.

After all, I was a Prince.

Waving at them with a bright smile, I joined the others, but Celes was standing there, her gaze cold.

"I see now why you took your time," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"You saw? No need to thank me. I was just doing my job. I'm not a coward, after all," I replied, my tone light but with a hint of amusement, referring to her earlier words when I hadn't helped Alicia.

"Oh yes, you're not. Enjoy yourself," she snapped, turning on her heel with a 'hmph' and storming off.

Why was she so angry?

"T-Thank you for saving us, Lord Amael!".

"I will be eternally grateful! You can ask me for anything!" It was the Human and vampire girls.

"Can you step back a bit now?" I asked, feeling a bit awkward with them so close and their well chest pressed on my sides.

"Oh yes!"

"S-Sorry!"

They both quickly stepped aside, their faces flushed with embarrassment. I couldn't help but feel a bit like a harem protagonist in some ridiculous romance Game.

[<But you are a harem protagonist, Amael.>]

Shaddap.

After the small incident, we were all escorted to the capital in a procession of grand and opulent carriages, the kind reserved for the most esteemed of nobles. The carriages, crafted with exquisite detail, gleamed with a brilliance that seemed almost otherworldly. Each one was large enough to comfortably accommodate ten of us, and there were more than enough to carry our entire group, with many left over. We all clambered inside, the plush interiors welcoming us as we settled in for the journey. The carriage ride provided us with a leisurely tour of Vanadias, the capital city. However, this wasn't just a joyride; our ultimate destination was the dormitories—or perhaps something even grander—that the elves had meticulously prepared for us.

"Wow! It's even more beautiful than the last time I saw it!" Celeste exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe. She was seated beside me, close enough that her body pressed gently against mine as she leaned over to peer out of the window. Her hand rested casually on my thigh, and her face brushed against mine, her soft hair tickling my cheek. The delicate fragrance of her perfume filled the air between us, its sweet scent almost overwhelming.

Did she use up the entire bottle of perfume? Not that I was complaining; she smelled really nice.

Wait! What am I thinking?!

"Have you seen enough yet?" I asked, trying to mask my discomfort with a grumble. She was practically in my lap with how close she was leaning.

"Look, Amael! Isn't Vanadias amazing?" Celeste ignored my grumbling, her eyes wide with excitement as she gestured toward the window.

I followed her gaze and had to admit that Vanadias was a breathtakingly beautiful city. In fact, it might have been the most stunning capital city I had ever seen, surpassing even Zestel, the Olphean capital, the Dolphian city, and Valachia. The trees in Vanadias were of every imaginable color, their leaves fluttering down like confetti in the soft, gentle breeze.

As the city of the elves, Vanadias was, unsurprisingly, populated entirely by elves. The streets were alive with families walking together, couples holding hands, siblings playfully teasing each other—scenes that were familiar and yet somehow more refined, more elegant. The elves were dressed in garments of such sophistication that even the simplest outfit seemed to be a work of art. The women, in particular, wore clothing that covered much of their bodies, a reflection of the elves' reputed modesty, though I knew from experience that not all elves adhered to such prudish standards.

But this was the capital city of the Teraquins, there might be a style code here.

"Yeah, I guess it is pretty amazing…" I admitted.

"When it comes to elves, you never want to admit anything, do you?" Celeste scoffed, casting me a sideways glance.

"I'm an honest man," I replied.

"Keep telling yourself that," she retorted, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

She really thought I was some kind of twisted man, didn't she?

"Look at them, flirting right in front of us!" One of our carriage companions whispered loudly.

"They're so cute together!" Another voice chimed in.

"I totally ship it," someone added, causing a ripple of giggles.

I grimaced at their teasing comments, knowing all too well that these misunderstandings would only lead to more rumors about Celeste and me. Acting so close with boys would hardly bring her peace of mind.

"I think you've seen enough, Celes. Or would you like to sit on my lap to get a better view?" I suggested with a groan, trying to ignore the blush that was creeping up my neck.

I glanced at Celeste, noticing how her ears had turned a deep shade of pink, whether from the teasing or something else, I wasn't sure. "I know!" She huffed, finally settling back into her seat, her arms crossed defensively as she averted her gaze from mine.

Now look at her acting all embarrassed. Looking across the carriage, I caught Amelia giving me a knowing grin, while John stared at me with a cold gaze.

This guy...