The Novel’s Antagonist: I walk the path of a Villain - Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Awake

“Argh!” A sharp cough escaped the young man’s lips as he bolted upright, his chest heaving, eyes wide with confusion. He blinked rapidly, his gaze locking onto the unfamiliar ceiling above him.

“Huh?” he muttered, squinting as his vision adjusted to the dim light. A few more blinks, and his surroundings slowly came into focus—a sterile room with white walls, faintly glowing runes etched into the corners.

“Where the hell am I?” Ryan’s voice broke the silence, his tone heavy with unease. His mind felt sluggish, like it was wading through molasses, struggling to grasp the situation.

‘The infirmary,’ a soft voice echoed in his mind, clear yet weary.

“Nelia?” he whispered, his voice uncertain as he rubbed his bleary eyes. Her presence was unmistakable, but something about her tone felt… wrong.

‘…Yes?’ she responded after a brief pause, her voice laced with exhaustion.

Ryan frowned, his instincts prickling with unease. That same weariness—it reminded him of the simulated world, he had sensed something like this from her. “What’s wrong with you?”

‘It’s nothing,’ she deflected, her tone evasive.

“Don’t give me that!” Ryan snapped, his frustration bubbling over. “Tell me what’s going on, damn it!”

A heavy silence followed before she finally relented, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘It’s my lifeforce.’

“Your lifeforce?” he repeated, his brows furrowing. “What about it?”

‘…There was no other choice,’ she confessed, her voice trembling. ‘It was either that, or you… died.’

Ryan froze, the weight of her words sinking in like lead. “What the hell are you talking about, Nelia?” His tone was sharper now, panic creeping into his voice.

‘The merging of your blessing,’ she began hesitantly. ‘It’s not just about power. It carries emotions, memories, and… souls. Two distinct souls—and a fragment of one that mirrors yours, like a missing piece of your own soul.’

Ryan’s breath hitched. “Wait, what? Souls? Why the hell would a blessing carry souls? That makes no sense!”

‘I don’t understand either,’ she admitted. ‘But it’s the truth. And your soul… it’s too fragile to handle the merge. If forced, it would shatter completely. You would cease to exist.’

“What?” His voice was barely a whisper now, the gravity of her words leaving him reeling.

‘I don’t know what you are, Ryan. I’ve never seen anything like this. But when it came down to it… I couldn’t just let you die.’ Her voice cracked, the raw emotion behind it cutting through the air.

Ryan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “What did you do?”

‘In that simulated world, I halted the process by reinforcing your soul with my essence—my lifeforce,’ she confessed.

“You… used your life energy to save me?”

‘Yes,’ she admitted softly.

“Why, Nelia? Why would you do something so reckless?” His voice trembled, a mixture of anger and despair spilling out.

‘I don’t know!’ she cried. ‘I just couldn’t stand to watch you die. Not like that.’

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the faint hum of Runic equipment in the room. Ryan buried his face in his hands, his thoughts a chaotic whirlwind.

“Did you do it again this time?” he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

‘…Yes,’ she admitted reluctantly. ‘Yesterday, I sensed an overwhelming amount of divine energy from that girl.’

“What girl?”

‘Selena,’ Nelia said, her tone wary.

“Selena?” Ryan’s heart sank. “What are you saying?”

‘I couldn’t believe it either. Humans shouldn’t emit that much divine energy—it’s unnatural.’

Ryan ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting. “What the hell is she, then?”

‘I… I don’t know,’ Nelia replied, her voice heavy with uncertainty.

Ryan groaned, his head dropping into his hands. “Selena… I always thought there was something off about her. The way she’s so affectionate, how easily I found myself drawn to her. Just what the hell is going on?”

‘…I used the divine energy to perform a ritual only Fairies know,’ Nelia confessed, her voice trembling.

“What ritual?” Ryan asked, his stomach sinking.

‘A soul bond,’ she whispered.

…

…

“Mr. Ryan,” said the man seated before me, his gaze sharp and scrutinizing. This was the third time in a row I’d found myself face-to-face with him.

“Mr. Vice-Principal,” I replied with a hint of formality, to which he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Just call me Prof. Denva,” he said, waving off my politeness. I shrugged nonchalantly in response.

It was now the third day since I woke up, and I had finally been permitted to leave the infirmary—though not without first meeting the vice-principal. And so, here I was, stuck in this rather uncomfortable meeting.

“I’ll get straight to the point. What happened in there?” he asked, his expression unyielding.

“I beg your pardon?” I replied, raising an eyebrow, though I already knew what he was referring to.

The problem was, I couldn’t remember much.

I knew the building had collapsed. Beyond that, it was all a hazy blur. Yet the dreams—or were they memories?—remained vivid.

I remembered a young lady with pink hair and golden eyes. I remembered men who had called me “brother.”

I remembered a massacre.

I remembered rage.

But that was it.

According to Nelia, the process had been interrupted, leaving me with fragmented memories. She warned me that it was only a matter of time before it began again. Before that could happen, I needed to find a way to grow stronger—strong enough to endure the strain of what she called “the merge.”

“What happened to you during the test? What can you tell me about what occurred before you blacked out?” Prof. Denva pressed, his tone more precise this time.

“…I don’t remember,” I replied, my voice steady.

The man let out a frustrated sigh. “Mr. Ryan, this is already the third time you’ve been in my office—and not for commendable reasons. At this rate, I can already imagine how your time at the academy is going to unfold, and let me assure you, I am not looking forward to it.”

His words were harsh, but I didn’t flinch under his piercing gaze.

“I truly have nothing to say, sir. I don’t remember anything,” I repeated firmly.

For the next two minutes, we sat in tense silence, locked in a staring contest.

What the hell is this old man’s deal? Just let me go already!

“Fine,” he finally said, exhaling heavily. “You may head to your dorm. You are required to move into your newly assigned room before the end of the week. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” I replied curtly, rising to my feet and making a swift exit.

Now, for some much-needed sleep.

…

Anyone who get confused can ask for clarification, but not without dropping a powerstone first!