I Am The Game's Villain-Chapter 638: [Event] [The Beauty And The Beast] [18] Plan Gone Wrong

"You could’ve told me sooner!" Roda said upset at me.

"Well... I’m telling you now, aren’t I?"

Her eyes narrowed. "No. You’re not just telling me—you’re lying."

I stared at her, stunned. "What? I lied to you? Seriously? I didn’t lie—I just didn’t say anything because... it’s complicated, Roda."

Complicated didn’t even begin to cover it. How exactly was I supposed to explain that Deborah Dolphis—yes, that Deborah Dolphis—might be resurrected by hijacking Amelia’s body? Try dropping that bomb casually over tea. No way she wouldn’t freak out. I barely understood how we got to this point myself.

"Complicated?" She repeated, crossing her arms. "How is that even an excuse? Things were already bad enough and now—somehow—they’re worse!"

"I know," I muttered. "But as long as she’s safe... nothing should happen. It’s under control."

"I don’t feel like it is," Roda replied. "I am worrying. Obviously."

"What, are you sulking now?"

Her glare sharpened. "Shouldn’t I be? Was it because you didn’t trust me? After everything? After all we’ve been through?"

Ouch. That one stung more than I expected.

"Okay, fair point," I sighed. "But can you lower your voice? Please?" I glanced around awkwardly. "People are starting to stare."

A few women nearby were shooting me judgmental looks, their eyebrows raised in that all-too-familiar ’trash boyfriend’ way.

From their perspective, I probably looked like some guy who cheated on his girlfriend and was now getting called out in public.

Roda finally seemed to realize the scene we were causing. Her eyes darted away, a faint blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

Well, she wasn’t wrong. No matter how complicated things were, I should’ve told her earlier. She had a right to know.

After a few beats of silence, Roda mumbled, more to herself than me, "I just don’t get it. Why is your timeline so much more chaotic? Two of their Executives are already dead. Everyone we care about is still alive. Things should be better... but they’re not. It’s like the danger’s evolved."

"It’s probably... because of me."

She turned toward me, brows furrowing.

"I’m not saying the world revolves around me, alright?" I said quickly. "But I can’t stop thinking about what Claudia Tepes told me. That ever since I showed up in Sancta Vedelia, things started spiraling. I’ve been trying to tell myself it’s just a coincidence, that things would’ve gone sideways no matter what... but deep down...." I looked away, a bitter taste in my mouth. "Deep down, I think my presence here made everything worse."

I don’t know how fate works—maybe it’s just chaos pretending to have meaning—but one thing’s clear: my presence in this world carries more weight than most. Whether that weight tips things toward the good or plunges them into the worst possible outcomes... that part is still up for debate.

"That’s not true," Roda said suddenly, shaking her head. "No matter what she told you, or how things played out differently, I know for a fact that you’ve helped a lot."

She nodded her head.

"Elizabeth and Selene are still alive, like the rest of us. You even managed to change Alvara—and honestly, that alone is kind of a miracle. And now you’re throwing yourself into this fight against Behemoth without hesitation. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. So don’t let her words get to you too much. Claudia was pretty harsh to me too in my world, so maybe that’s just who she is."

She ended with a small shrug, trying to brush it off like it was nothing. But to me, it meant a lot.

I hadn’t expected her to go out of her way to comfort me like that, but here she was. And I found myself smiling, genuinely.

"You know," I said, glancing at her with a teasing smile, "Current Roda could learn a thing or two from you."

Roda raised a brow and let out a laugh. "Am I that bad?"

"Well," I replied playfully, "she’s had it easier than you. That’s probably why she’s... not quite as mature as you are. Maybe she will never be now that I think about it..."

That seemed to catch her off guard. A slight blush had definitely crept onto her cheeks beneath her mask, and she quickly looked away.

But just as the moment a sudden chill ran down my spine. That weird sixth sense kind of chill. I turned, glancing over my shoulder—and sure enough, there she was.

Celeste.

She was standing a few feet away, watching us with an unreadable expression. Her lips parted as if she was about to say something—but she didn’t. Instead, she just turned and walked away.

Damn it.

Before I could even process what just happened, another voice rang out quite irritated.

"How can you do that to Celes?!" Amelia, who had been standing nearby with John, snapped at me. Her eyes were narrowed, lips pressed in annoyance. "I don’t get what your problem is, but she’s too good for you. If you’re playing hard to get or whatever—then you better remember something. Celeste can have any man she wants. She’s not going to stand around waiting forever, like you’re the only guy left on the planet!"

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off.

John didn’t say a word. He just gave me this strange, lingering look before following after her.

"Is something going on between you and her?" Roda asked quietly.

I could’ve told her the truth right then. About the Prophecy. About why I kept pushing Celeste away...

But I didn’t.

I wasn’t planning to tell anyone either.

"Yeah," I said simply, looking away. "Something like that."

"She’s not exactly wrong, you know," Roda said, glancing at me with that knowing look of hers. "If you really like her... then keeping her waiting like this—it’s not fair. What if she decides to move on with someone else?"

I couldn’t even picture it. Just imagining her in someone else’s arms made something in my chest twist into a knot of pure, bitter hatred. Yeah... I’d hate it. I’d hate it more than I could ever put into words.

I guess that’s just how much she meant to me.

But things weren’t so simple. My condition was deteriorating by the day, and the prophecy still loomed like a noose overhead. If I really ended up dying—if that future couldn’t be changed—then dragging her into all this would be selfish. She deserved better than that. She deserved happiness... even if it wasn’t with me.

I had to be sure to remain alive before taking things seriously with her.

"I’d hate it," I said quietly. "But we’ve got more important things to worry about right now, Roda. It wouldn’t mean anything to get into a relationship with her if I’m just going to die soon after, right?"

"I guess... yeah." Roda didn’t sound convinced, but at least she didn’t argue.

"Come on. It’s getting late. I’m calling Rodolf."

Time to move.

...

...

The sun had dipped beneath the horizon. We were crouched in a dim, abandoned structure on the outskirts—nothing more than a forgotten little storage shed Rodolf had set up for moments like these.

Kneeling before us was the last of the drug addicts we’d rounded up. The guy was barely holding it together, trembling, sweat-soaked, eyes bloodshot and darting like a cornered animal.

Rodolf’s tone was ice-cold as he stepped forward. "You didn’t forget the way, did you?"

"N–No! I remember! I swear!" He stuttered, nodding so fast it looked like his head might snap off.

Rodolf gave him a shove. "Then go."

The man stumbled to his feet, cast one nervous glance back at us, and then bolted into the dark.

Roda folded her arms, watching his retreating figure. "You sure he’s actually leading us to Braham’s brother?"

"He’s taking us to the ones supplying them with the pills," Rodolf replied without looking at her, eyes still locked on the street beyond.

Roda turned to me next, as if silently asking for confirmation. I just shrugged.

"We’ll know soon enough. Let’s follow him."

She nodded, and the three of us slipped into the shadows behind him, keeping a careful distance. With Rodolf’s enhanced tracking and Roda’s sharp senses, losing him wasn’t even a remote concern.

Ten minutes passed in tense silence, the only sound our own soft footsteps and the distant animation of the city.

Rodolf suddenly raised his hand. "He stopped."

"Is he alone?" I asked, scanning the darkened alley ahead.

Roda’s eyes narrowed. "Can’t tell from here... We need to get closer."

We crept forward, careful not to make a sound, until the narrow alley came into view. The place looked eerily familiar—tight brick walls, flickering lights overhead, the same kind of backstreet setup we’d seen before.

"We should split up," I whispered, ducking into the corner that led into the alleyway.

Rodolf nodded and, without a word, launched himself upward, landing silently on the rooftop above.

I cast a glance toward Roda, expecting her to move into position or at least take the higher ground like Rodolf had. But she just stood there beside me.

She caught me staring and gave a small shrug. "I’m not like Uncle. I don’t leap around like some hyperactive monkey."

"You didn’t seem to mind jumping half-naked into my bed that one time."

She glared immediately at me and I thought she might actually punch me. The only thing stopping her was probably the need for silence. A punch would’ve echoed through the alley and ruined everything.

Before she could respond, I held up a hand. "Shh. Someone’s coming."

The sound of footsteps echoed against the tight alley walls. A figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the street, walking with calm steps until he stopped in front of the trembling addict we’d sent ahead.

"You came alone this time," the man said.

He didn’t look like your typical drug dealer either—his clothes were clean, pressed, and expensive-looking.

"I—I did," the addict replied, barely holding it together, knees shaking like a leaves.

"Then let me ask you something," the man said, tilting his head slightly. "Are you ready to answer for your crimes?"

"We—we lost the pills," the addict cried. "I’m sorry, I really am."

The man sighed, shaking his head like a disappointed parent. "A mere ’sorry’ won’t cut it. We’re already short on supply after an incident last week. Every pill is precious right now... until we secure another source."

The addict kept glancing around nervously, obviously trying to locate us without being obvious about it.

Truly failed yes.

"What exactly are you looking for?" The dealer asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"I—It’s nothing! I was just—"

Before he could dig himself any deeper, Rodolf made his move. With a heavy thud, he landed silently behind the man.

Always the impatient one.

I stepped out from the shadows and into the alley. The man turned his head, taking us in—but strangely, he didn’t look as rattled as someone in his situation should’ve been.

"As expected... you betrayed us," he said, glancing back at the addict with mild disgust.

"N–No! I didn’t—" The addict whimpered, then crumpled to his knees, unable to even meet the man’s eyes.

"As expected?" Roda repeated, stepping beside me, her expression darkening. "You expected us to come?"

The man chuckled softly. "Of course we did."

"That must mean someone tipped you off," I said as I took a step closer. "I’m guessing it was whoever killed the brothers in their cells. Someone with enough information to know what we’re doing...."

Rodolf and Roda both turned to glance at me, caught off guard by the deduction.

The man raised an eyebrow, then tilted his head with a smirk. "Do you really think I’d tell you that, Amael Olphean?"

"Either you’re stupid, or you’re bold. And something tells me you’re not bold. So what’s the game here?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

His grin widened—and that’s when I felt it.

A faint ripple beneath my feet. A warmth spreading through the cobblestones.

Then it lit up.

Glowing lines traced themselves along the ground, connecting into a pattern that quickly surrounded the entire alleyway..

"A teleportation mana circle," Roda muttered.

Should have guessed it.