Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

[Somewhere near the Eastern Border, Alfheim.]

A soft humming filled the car as I leaned back in my seat.

Across from me sat an elven woman with long blonde hair, flipping through stacks of documents.

"Daina."

She looked up. "What?"

"Where are we going?"

She paused, sighed, then said, "You'll know soon enough."

"Urgh. At least tell me how long it'll take."

"..."

She ignored the question, continuing to scan through her papers.

I sighed and turned toward the window.

Outside, all I could see was greenery stretching out endlessly, tall trees lining both sides of the road.

'How did it come to this?'

The road curved gently, the tires crunching softly over gravel as the car moved forward.

I kept my eyes on the trees passing by.

Daina still hadn't said a word.

I glanced at her again.

Her face was calm, focused, her fingers flipping through pages.

She didn't even look tired.

Meanwhile, I was trying not to fall asleep.

"You know, a little context would be nice," I muttered.

She turned one page but gave me no reply.

I slumped back in my seat. "This is kidnapping, by the way. Just saying."

She finally spoke, eyes still on the paper. "Technically, you walked to the car."

"Under threat."

"You were not threatened."

"You barged into my room at six in the morning."

She didn't respond.

I stared at her, trying to read her expression, but she gave nothing away.

'What the hell is so important that she had to rush me like this?'

"Daina."

She finally looked up.

"What is this place?"

"We're near the border," she said. "Tamriel's edge meets the outer forest here. It's where Sir Buinal fought that idiot vampire, Lazarus, over and over again."

She took my interest as I leaned forward, placing my hand on my knees.

"Mind telling me more about it?"

She looked mildly annoyed but didn't refuse.

"The first leaders of both the elves and vampires cared about their people," she said, finally setting her documents aside.

"So, when they fought, they made sure not to involve anyone else."

"So they fought here?"

Daina nodded. "The eastern border became a wasteland because of them."

"Wait," I said, raising a brow, "you're telling me this used to be a battlefield?"

"Used to be?" She leaned back slightly. "It still is. Just quieter now."

"Quieter sounds better than a warzone."

She gave a small, dry chuckle. "It's still one of the most active borders," she replied. "Vampires never fucking rest."

I raised my brow, as this was the first time I heard her curse.

"Anyway, what makes this place special is what's buried here," she said, glancing at me.

"And what is that?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"The graves of Sir Buinal and that vampire." Her voice was quieter now. "They're here."

I frowned. "What?"

The car bumped slightly as we drove off the main road and onto a narrower dirt path.

"They both asked to be buried here, with no way for anyone to find their bodies," she said, looking out the window.

"They did it to make sure no one could misuse their remains."

"..."

I stayed quiet for a while, staring down at my hands.

Knowing that my dead body is somewhere around here doesn't sit right with me.

It made me feel uneasy in a way I couldn't quite put into words.

The hum of the engine was the only sound between us now.

I shifted in my seat.

"They were enemies, right?" I asked after a while. "Why would they be buried together?"

"They weren't always enemies," she said at last. "In the end… I think they understood each other more than anyone else could."

I paused at that. Glanced at her, but she didn't offer more.

We kept driving deeper into the woods. The trees grew thicker, older, closing in around us.

The road sloped downward, and the air turned colder.

"This place gives me the creeps," I muttered.

The car eventually stopped.

We had reached a clearing. The trees surrounded us, tall and silent.

Daina opened the door and stepped out.

I followed after her, boots crunching against grass and dry leaves.

The damp, earthy smell hit me the moment I stepped out.

"What now?" I asked.

She looked ahead, then started walking. "Follow me."

I walked behind her, eyes scanning the area.

"Are you going to explain why I'm here?" I asked.

Daina looked over her shoulder. "Lady Mariam suspects the council members might try to kill you," she said, her voice calm but quiet.

"We can't take you to the World Tree, but keeping you in Akasha isn't safe either."

"Why not?"

"There could be a revolt if you're kept in Akasha," she mumbled. "Lady Mariam fears the elves will turn on each other."

"She really thinks a civil war might happen?" I asked.

"She knows it might," Daina said, slowing her steps. "And if the elves start fighting among themselves now… the kingdom won't survive."

Eventually, she stopped and looked around, scanning the clearing.

Then she raised her hand.

The air shimmered, like the surface of still water rippling and she vanished.

I frowned and walked forward.

The moment I stepped through, the world around me shifted as if I'd walked through the surface of a lake and I emerged somewhere else entirely.

'Huh?'

Gone was the quiet clearing and its circle of ancient trees.

I now stood in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by hundreds of elves moving with purpose.

"A secret base…" I whispered, taking a step forward.

I turned, trying to get my bearings. Daina stood a few paces ahead, waiting for me.

She gave a small nod. "One of the oldest bases left. Sir Buinal used it during the border wars."

I glanced around again, noting how well-organized everything was.

Before I could ask her anything else—

Click.

A sudden sound drew my attention to my wrist.

A cold cuff had locked around it.

"..."

I looked up at who placed it, only to find the other one placed on the hand of an ugly elf who was looking at me coldly.

"Nymeria?"

---

[Unknown place, at the boundary of Lumina.]

A white silence surrounded him.

There was no sky, no ground...just light. Endless, pure, blinding light.

It moved like mist but carried weight, pressing gently against everything it touched.

Samyaza floated in the center of it all, his body still, arms relaxed at his sides.

His robes barely moved, despite the slow current of glowing air around him.

His eyes were closed, but his face was calm. Peaceful, even.

The light pulsed softly, like a heartbeat.

With every pulse, tiny sparks flowed into his skin, like threads of magic stitching themselves into him.

"…It's almost time," he said quietly, voice echoing through the emptiness.

"What time?"

A voice responded nearby, prompting him to turn.

By his side floated another person, an abnormally handsome man with long pristine hair and his eyes closed.

Samyaza let a slight smile form. He looked away, gazing into the light.

"Nice place, isn't it, El?" he said, his tone light. "Azrael made this. It slows down the Creator God's corruption."

"…That doesn't answer my question," Ishmael replied, voice steady and cold.

"Oh, come on," Samyaza said, stretching a little. "No need to act stiff with your uncle."

"….."

Ishmael remained silent as he looked around the place.

"You're probably wondering how he made this, right?" Samyaza continued, grinning.

El didn't respond, but his eyes lingered on him.

"Azrael used the 'essence' of an Outer God for it," Samyaza replied nonetheless. "A way to use corruption against corruption."

El remained silent, but he understood most of his words.

To slow the Creator God's influence, Samyaza was letting the essence of an Outer God corrode him instead.

"Are you done?" El asked flatly.

Samyaza chuckled. "Geez, you really are cold-hearted."

Without answering, El raised his hand and swept it down.

A tear opened in space, and the surrounding essence began to flow out.

Samyaza stepped through, and El followed.

When the world stabilized, they stood in front of an old mansion.

It was a house that Samyaza had been using for thousands of years.

He walked toward it, glancing back. "Want some coffee?"

"I'm not here to be your buddy," El replied, following anyway. "And stop acting so friendly. It's creepy."

Samyaza walked casually, hands behind his back, humming a soft tune.

El followed with arms crossed, his eyes scanning the halls in silence.

"This place hasn't changed," El said, glancing at an old painting on the wall.

"It doesn't need to," Samyaza replied, stopping in front of a wide double door. "Some things are meant to stay the same."

He pushed the door open, revealing a spacious hall filled with bookshelves and old furniture.

A woman stood by the sofa, and as soon as she saw him, she bowed deeply.

Her long black hair had patches of gold, and though her face looked youthful, there was a certain timelessness to her.

She wore a vintage dress that seemed perfectly suited for the mansion's atmosphere.

"Welcome back, Sir."

Samyaza smiled as he walked inside. "I'm home," he said. "Would you please bring some coffee for us, Abellona?"

"Gladly, sir," she replied before heading toward the kitchen.

El watched her leave, and Samyaza noticed his gaze.

"You still remember her?" Samyaza asked as he settled down.

"One of the slaves Qaisel saved," El replied, looking back at him. "You slowed time on her?"

"No," Samyaza shook his head. "I gave her a part of my life."

El raised an eyebrow.

"She was part of an experiment where I tried to exhaust all my life force," Samyaza continued, his voice calm.

"It didn't work out for me, but hey, she is almost immortal now, and she got five more like her."

"Why did you do that?" El asked, sitting down beside him. "And don't lie; I can feel more than just your life from her."

"Oh, that's part of my contingency plans," Samyaza said with a smile. "You know, in case I lose myself."

"..."

Abellona returned a few minutes later, carrying a silver tray with two steaming cups of coffee.

She placed them gently on the table before Samyaza and El, then stood back quietly, hands clasped in front of her.

Samyaza took a sip first. "Perfect, as always."

El ignored his cup. "So," he said, eyes narrowing, "Shall we talk business?"

"I'd warn you one more time," Samyaza said, his tone turning serious. "You can't kill Satan. Not even his unconscious real body."

"I don't need to kill him," El replied, folding his hands. "A seal over his body would be strong enough to keep him caged until 'he' is strong enough."

"El, even Azrael would think twice before fighting Satan," Samyaza said, leaning forward. "What you're planning is suicide."

El leaned forward as he slowly opened his purple eyes. "I don't care what you think."

Samyaza didn't respond immediately. He picked up his coffee again, swirling it gently as he stared into the dark liquid.

"I suppose nothing I say will stop you," he said finally.

"No," El answered flatly.

"Not even if I tell you sealing him will only lead to the revival of the Creator God?"

"..."

El turned silent as he looked at him.

"Satan might not be as skilled at finding loopholes as Azrael," Samyaza said, taking another sip,

"but he's still smart. By separating his soul from his body, he's protected, but the moment Satan returns in his original body…"

Samyaza made sure to meet El's eyes before continuing.

"The Creator God will definitely try to steal his body."

And if he does, it's over for all of us.

Samyaza didn't have to say it out loud; he knew El understood.

"Anyway, I'm more concerned about Morningstar," Samyaza said, clicking his tongue. "He'll definitely try to kill Himmel the moment he returns."

El frowned, closing his eyes. "What's his problem, anyway?"

"It's Azrael's fault, you know," Samyaza replied, looking at him. "When we were younger, Azrael turned into a small dragon, knowing full well that Morningstar liked them."

"..."

El tilted his head as Samyaza continued, taking his time.

"When Morningstar picked him up, Azrael turned back and stabbed him in the throat."

El's eyes widened slightly. "Are you serious?"

Samyaza chuckled. "Of course not."

Having had enough of him, El stood up and began to walk away.

"I can help you," Samyaza said, stopping him. "If you help me."

El turned back, his curiosity piqued.

"Help me bring Himmel somewhere," Samyaza said, his tone soft but serious.

"What?"

"Not now," Samyaza clarified. "But when he's eternal."

El faced him fully, his interest growing. "And where do you want to take him?"

Samyaza smiled gently. "To the origin of Aljanah."