The Novel’s Antagonist: I walk the path of a Villain - Chapter 91

Chapter 91: The Broken….

Rizel’s POV:

“Haaah… ha… haa,” I panted, gritting my teeth.

It had been a while since I last ransacked Ryan’s room, searching for… ‘stuff’ that helped me suppress the effects of my bloodline.

But now, those remedies were proving ineffective.

I needed to nip the problem at its root.

I had to find Ryan.

“JUST WHERE IS THAT BASTARD?!” I yelled in frustration. It had been some time since I last saw him—mostly because I deliberately avoided him, terrified of what I might do if I got too close.

But now that I was actually looking for the idiot, he was nowhere to be found.

“Rizel…”

I froze. The voice came just as I was about to turn a corner.

“Huh?” I spun around, only to find—

“…Selena?”

She looked… off. Something about her wasn’t right.

Her hair.

It was pink.

Strange.

“…Your hair—” I started, but she cut me off.

“Have you seen Ryan?” she asked, her voice laced with urgency, almost panicked.

Did something happen?

“Ryan…?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow. “No, I haven’t,” I replied, shaking my head.

She gritted her teeth.

Something was definitely wrong.

Is that why I can’t find him anywhere?

“I see,” she muttered before turning on her heel and walking away without another word.

“Haaah…” I exhaled deeply, trying to steady my nerves as that gnawing, unsettling urge crept up on me again.

Oh, great.

“Haah… haah… haa—” My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor, my chest rising and falling in frantic breaths.

I had to find him.

I had to find him soon—otherwise, I’d go completely psycho in a few days.

“I hate… that idiot… Why did he make me this way?” I groaned, pulling out my ‘medicine’ and inhaling deeply.

“I WILL MAKE YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.”

…

…

Ariana’s POV:

“WHERE. IS. HE?” I asked, my voice cold and devoid of any trace of a smile. The young man slammed harshly against the wall, gasping from the impact.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he forced out, his glare trying—and failing—to mask his fear.

I might have believed him if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes—this thing casting a low-level mind manipulation spell on El. I had spent a week and a few days researching these types of spells, learning to recognize them at a glance. And I could say, with absolute certainty, that what he did to El was exactly that—a spell of the mind.

At first, I thought I was imagining things, but it’s already been two days, and El is still nowhere to be found. Not in the hallways, not in his usual spots, not even in the new room he was supposed to move into.

Which brings me back to this thing, this liar standing before me. He knows something. He has to.

“Trust me when I say this—you don’t want to find out what I’m truly capable of if you keep pretending,” I warned, already preparing to show him one of the many mind-breaking spells I had mastered.

The only reason I even started learning mind manipulation magic in the first place… was because of her.

Selena.

I can’t beat her. I just can’t. She’s too powerful. Disturbingly so. The way she threatened me that day, the way she tried to assert her place in El’s life… I hate her.

But hatred alone changes nothing.

So I changed my approach. If I can’t fight her directly, I’ll fight her indirectly. That’s why I started learning these spells. At this point, I can actually hurt her if I try hard enough. That’s progress. But not enough. Never enough.

“I have no reply to give you,” the young man said, his gaze defiant despite the growing fear in his eyes.

“…Fine,” I muttered.

A thin layer of ice began creeping up his neck.

“W-What are you doing?!” he yelled, panic settling in as he realized my intent.

I smirked. “Breaking you. The slow way.”

“No… NO! SOMEBODY HELP!” he screamed, but it was useless.

This was a private training room, soundproofed with a silence function. No one would hear him. No one would save him.

And by the time I am finished, he would beg to tell me where El is.

…

BAM!

I kicked open a door, stepping into the dimly lit space beyond.

A basement. The lower floor of a rental apartment in Section 27. A secluded place where only the poor dared to live. The perfect place to hide someone.

It was dark.

I scanned the room, my heart pounding.

This was supposed to be the place—that idiot swore El would be here. But…

Is this really it?

Clank.

The sound of glass shattering against the floor snapped me back. I had knocked over a small table.

“A mana bulb,” I murmured, reaching up to touch the dimly flickering crystal hanging from the ceiling. It was barely secured, swaying at head level.

I transferred a pulse of mana into it.

Woom!

Light flooded the room.

Then—

“No…” I whispered, my stomach dropping.

There, lying motionless on a flat surface, was a body.

Please, no.

I rushed forward.

I saw his face.

“El!” I cried, grabbing him.

His eyes were closed.

His hair—pure white.

His skin—pale. Too pale.

He looked fragile. Weak.

He…

He was dying.

“Who are you? How did you find us?”

A voice.

I turned sharply.

A girl stood in the doorway—green hair, deep maroon-red eyes.

I recognized her instantly.

Miranda Silerrin.

And in that moment—staring at El, then at her—

I lost my mind.

…

…

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!