I Am The Game's Villain

"Blood Curse."

The moment Layla uttered those words, a massive circle materialized around Elizabeth, glowing ominously with symbols I had never seen before. They radiated an eerie energy—curse symbols, undoubtedly.

A sense of foreboding settled in my gut. This wasn't just mere curse spell. This was something far more dangerous.

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as she took in the formation. Without hesitation, she swung her rapier.

Blood erupted around her, swirling violently like a raging storm. Dark crimson wings—no, not wings, but something similar—unfurled from her back, pulsing with blood.

What the hell?

Were they seriously trying to kill each other?

Layla's lips curved into a sweet smile as she lowered her hand. The glowing circle pulsed before shooting skyward, distorting the air itself. A monstrous serpent, even larger than the last, emerged from the heavens, its gaping maw opening unnaturally wide. But unlike the first, this one wasn't made of a curse—it was composed entirely of blood.

Elizabeth's gaze flicked upward, her expression darkening. A split second later, the serpent descended.

-BOOOOOM!

The impact sent a violent shockwave rippling through the battlefield. I barely managed to brace myself, sliding back several meters as dust and debris surged around me. Shielding my face with my arm, I squinted through the chaos.

A silhouette emerged from the explosion.

Elizabeth.

Her shoulder was exposed, fabric torn and blood streaking down her forehead in thick rivulets. But instead of looking weakened, she was grinning—smirking, even—as she charged straight for Layla.

Layla raised her hand again. The first serpent—her towering, basilisk-like beast of dark red fire—coiled around her protectively. Its molten red eyes gleamed, locked onto Elizabeth with a searing glare.

I had seen that monster before. In the game, this scene played out in Layla's Villainess Route.

I clenched my fists. This was bad. Really bad.

Layla looked in control, but the path she was walking... Did she even realize how far she was pushing it?

Elizabeth, on the other hand, didn't care. Not one bit. She was charging straight ahead, rapier swirling with fresh blood, her wounds already closing as if she had never been hurt.

This couldn't go on.

I moved.

In an instant, I appeared before Elizabeth.

She skidded to a stop, mere inches away, eyes flickering with surprise as she stared at me.

"I think that's enough," I said, my gaze fixed on Elizabeth.

Behind me, I heard Layla call out softly. "Honey?"

I turned slightly. "Layla, stop."

She met my eyes, pouting slightly before sighing. With a snap of her fingers, the lingering magic dispersed, fading into nothing as the field cleared.

Elizabeth, however, remained still, her cold eyes locked onto mine.

"Why are you stopping us, Darling?" She asked, stepping forward.

I faced her fully.

"I think you've already seen enough to understand who's better suited for you between her and me," she continued. "What better way to prove it than through strength?"

"Layla is my fiancée. My girlfriend. That won't change."

Elizabeth's lips curled into a smirk. "And I am your fiancée as well, Darling," she reminded me, taking another step closer. Her crimson eyes gleamed as she looked up at me. "Did you forget?"

I held my ground. "We may be engaged, but our relationship isn't the same as the one I have with Layla. Am I wrong?"

A flicker of something crossed her face.

For a moment, she just stared at me.

"This isn't how a relationship should be," I said. "At the beginning, we agreed to act like we chose each other—pretending we were in love. But I can't keep doing that. Not like this. We need to talk. Seriously. And find a solution together."

"Elizabeth."

Just as I waited for her response, a voice rang out.

I sighed in irritation and looked past her. My expression darkened immediately.

Earth.

He stood a few feet away, an annoying smirk already forming as his gaze met mine. "Grandfather is calling you…" His words trailed off as he noticed me, but then his smirk only widened.

But when his eyes landed on Layla behind me, something changed.

Shock.

"You are…" He mumbled.

Elizabeth held my gaze for another second before finally turning away.

"If you don't want me, Darling, you should make it clearer," she said.

I frowned and instinctively reached out, grabbing her arm before she could leave.

"What are you talking about? Did you even hear me?"

She paused, then glanced at me over her shoulder. Slowly, she lifted a hand, fingers trailing against my cheek, nails lightly grazing my skin.

"I understand, Darling. It's not the first time for me."

And with that, she walked away.

I wanted to reach out to her, but maybe it was better to give us both some space for now. Layla's sudden appearance had stirred something in her—something I hadn't expected. For the first time, she had been willing to listen, but she still couldn't see things the way I did.

Earth lingered for a moment, his gaze locked onto Layla before he turned away and followed Elizabeth.

I clenched my fists, my expression further darkening as I watched him disappear into the distance.

And then, just as my frustration boiled over, a soft hand wrapped around my own.

"Honey."

I sighed and turned toward Layla. "Yeah?"

"He looks even more miserable than in your memories," she said. "I think… he's afraid of you."

I scoffed. "Afraid? Please. He spends most of his time getting under my skin. I swear, I just want to wipe that damn smirk off his face."

Layla chuckled, shaking her head. "You'd be surprised. People who are scared of someone often go out of their way to antagonize them. It's a way to convince themselves they're not afraid—to prove, at least to themselves, that they're superior."

I blinked, taken aback.

"You really think he's scared of me?" I muttered. "I mean, yeah, I tried to track him down when I was on Earth, but I never found him…"

Layla tilted her head, her grip on my hand tightening. "Honey, you underestimate my perception," she said gently. "Even in your memories of Earth, he had that same look in his eyes. Otherwise, why do you think he tried so hard to get rid of you through other people?"

I stared at her for a moment before smiling and wrapping an arm around her waist. "You really do pay attention, don't you?"

"I do," she said, looping her arms around my neck. "Especially when it concerns you."

She paused for a second before adding, "That's why I feel concerned whenever you pick up more women for your harem."

I sighed. "Layla…"

"You know I don't actually mind, Honey," she said quickly.

"That's… surprising."

She pouted a little before smiling again. "Listen, Honey."

"Alright, I'm listening."

She hesitated, then said, "It's not about Elizabeth herself or how she acts around you."

"You don't like her?" I guessed.

Layla shook her head. "That's not it at all. If anything, you have excellent taste in women, Honey."

"Then what is it?"

She sighed softly. "It's not her behavior that bothers me—it's yours. The way you handle her."

"My way of handling her?"

Layla nodded. "Yes. You're too meek and submissive around her, Honey. She plays you too easily, and you let her." She sighed. "I don't like it, but more than that, I don't think it's good for the future either."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Layla tilted her head slightly, her fingers tracing slow circles against my chest. "Can you guarantee that I'll get along with your other women? Or that they'll all get along with each other?" She paused, letting the question settle before continuing. "Today, we fought, but you were there to stop us. Do you really think that's enough? What about the days you're not around?"

I couldn't argue with that.

Especially when it came to Layla, Elizabeth, and Alvara… picturing them peacefully coexisting was already a stretch. If I threw Ephera into the mix? Yeah, things could get messy—very messy.

Layla took a step closer. "Honey, just being a loving boyfriend or husband to us isn't enough."Her gaze held mine seriously. "I'm more accepting than I normally would be, but that's only because it's you. The others? They might not be. And if you truly want this to work, you need to take responsibility until the very end. You need to be ready to face the consequences."

"Consequences, huh…" I muttered.

Layla nodded. "I'll do my best to support you, but in the end, your women will listen to you more than they ever will to me. That is…" she narrowed her eyes slightly "…if you don't spoil them too much. Because from what I can tell, you've already spoiled Elizabeth far too much."

I glanced away awkwardly. "Well…"

Yeah. She had a point.

"Look at me, Honey." Layla called me out.

I turned back to her, meeting her gaze.

She smiled, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from my face. "I love it when you spoil me. And I'm sure your other women love it too. Who wouldn't want a husband who cherishes them and treats them like queens?" Her smile softened, but a hint of warning lingered in her tone. "But we're not ordinary women, are we? Jealousy, desire, the need to monopolize you… those things will arise. And if you're only a loving husband without knowing how to manage us, it will lead to conflict."

"Right…" I could only agree.

I had managed to stop them this time, but in the future? If I kept being this lenient and soft, things would spiral out of control.

Layla's fingers traced along my cheek. "If you truly wish to have more women—especially those of our standing, proud and with our own eccentricities—then, Honey, being just a loving husband won't be enough."

Her lips curled into a knowing smile as she gazed into my eyes. "You have to be more. You have to be our King."

"A King…"

Now, I was surprised.

"Love us, cherish us, but also rule us," she said. "Show us who is truly in command. If you don't take the lead, jealousy and bitterness will fester—not just in me, but in the others as well. You already spoil us enough, but above all, Honey…" She leaned in closer, her warm breath tickling my skin. "You should never stand below us. You must always stand above us in every way."

Her dark pink eyes glowed as she continued.

"That is the key to ruling a harem of dangerous women. You have to be crazier than us—without ever showing it. More active, more in need, more in control. More possessive of us than we are of you."

She then kissed my cheeks softly.

"And, most importantly… show it to us."