I Am The Game's Villain Chapter 2 My Soon-To-Be Girlfriend Is Dead [2]

"Damn, it was freezing out there."

Exhausted, I collapsed onto my sofa.

I reached for the first aid kit on the shelf, the one Ephera had kept here just in case. Without wasting time, I began tending to my wounds.

"That jerk didn't hold back at all," I muttered, grunting in pain.

He was built like a tank while I was nothing but skin and bones. He really should have shown some restraint.

'Whatever. Since he's my friend, I'll be the bigger person and forgive him.'

Once I finished patching myself up, I grabbed the PlayStation controller and powered up the console. The game I intended to play was already inside. It was the one Ephera and I always played together, so the disc rarely ever left the tray.

Ever since Ephera passed away, I had played this game every single day without fail, which explained why I was so drained that morning. This apartment was just a rental. My other friends used to live here too, but they all moved out after Ephera's death. I was the only one who refused to go.

The television screen flickered to life, displaying the opening cinematic for [Princess And Dragon].

I suppose you could call it a dating sim.

It was one of those titles that usually only sold well in Japan, and fittingly, one of its developers was Japanese. Initially, it shouldn't have been a hit in Europe because it lacked broad appeal, yet it became a massive success against all odds.

The gameplay involved taking on the role of the Main Character, a student whose objective was to woo the various [Heroines]. Success depended on making the correct choices and taking the right actions during specific [Events] to charm the girls and reach a happy conclusion.

It sounds incredibly cliché, I know, but that simple formula was exactly why it succeeded and why Ephera and I were so hooked on it.

"There it is."

A small smile touched my lips as the dialogue appeared on the screen.

["Jayden, u-um... do you like Layla...?"]

The girl on the screen had blue hair and looked up with pleading eyes.

The camera shifted to a handsome, black-haired protagonist, and four options popped up.

[A] [Yes, I like her…] [B] [No, I don't like her!] [C] [I love you!] [D] [I will only answer you on my bed.]

I felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment looking at the last two options, particularly the final one.

Since I was interacting with one of the primary targets or [Heroines], the logical move was the third option, but I clicked the second one instead.

My reasoning?

It was the most neutral path. I needed to pick it to steer clear of the trouble associated with Layla, the game's Villainess.

[Really…?]

The blue-haired girl gazed at the screen with puppy-dog eyes.

Damn...

She was undeniably gorgeous, but the game felt far too easy. I probably should have selected the "Hell Mode" difficulty. Hmm...

I lost myself in the game for several hours. I likely would have kept going if my phone hadn't rung.

"Who is this?" I asked, my voice heavy with fatigue.

["Ephera... she might be alive."]

"!"

My breath hitched, and for a few seconds, the world went still.

My heart began to thud violently against my ribs.

"W-what?"

My mind struggled to process the words I had just heard.

["Nyr, if you want your happy life back, come to Tokyo."]

"..."

I stared blankly at the white wall as the line went dead.

***

[Tokyo]

Forty-eight hours had passed since that phone call. I flew to Tokyo, and the moment I stepped out of the airport, I was intercepted by men in black suits.

Now, I found myself sitting across from a middle-aged man who didn't look Japanese at all.

How strange.

"You seem remarkably composed..." the man remarked, not bothering to hide his astonishment.

"Ephera."

I didn't waste time with pleasantries. I hadn't traveled all the way to Tokyo for small talk.

"Impatient, I see," he chuckled before gesturing for his guards to exit the room.

"I cannot bring Ephera back."

"..."

I fought the urge to punch the man right then and there. Did he really think I was in the mood for such nonsense? I already knew he couldn't bring her back!

She was dead!

"At least, not in this world."

"That's enough."

I stood up, ready to walk out.

I had come all this way for nothing.

"Wait."

"Eh?"

Suddenly, my body locked up. I couldn't even move a finger.

"What the hell is this?!"

I was baffled by what was happening to me.

"What did you do to me?!" I snarled at him.

Had he bound my legs with some kind of invisible wire or something?

"Calm yourself, Nyr."

He walked toward me and snapped his fingers.

Something materialized out of thin air.

"!"

The sight left me stunned.

Was he some kind of magician? That was the only logical explanation my brain could provide.

"Do you wish to see Ephera again?" he questioned.

Did I want to see her? Ha.

What a stupid question.

I glared at him, my calm facade finally shattering.

"Oh? You're making such a terrifying face now. Is that really you?" He laughed again.

"Now, look at this."

The man presented something that once again left me speechless.

It was the game. [Princess And Dragon].

What on earth?!

I began to question my own sanity. Had that phone call actually happened? Was I really in Tokyo? Why was he showing me that damn game?

"I'm going to kill you," I said, my voice cold and sharp.

"Either kill me or I'll kill you."

I meant every word, my expression radiating pure killing intent. I didn't care about living anymore. I just needed to release my fury on someone, and he was the perfect target. This miserable world had never given me anything anyway!

"I shall grant your wish."

"What wish?! Get lost!"

He was getting on my nerves. And why the hell couldn't I move my body?

I refused to accept what I was seeing, so I just lashed out like a fool.

That man... why was he looking at me with such pity?

Screw you!

"One day, you'll understand. For now, die."

As he spoke, he placed his palm upon my head.

"Wh-What?!"

A blinding radiance filled the room, swallowing everything. I had no choice but to shut my eyes.

This had to be a dream. A very long dream.

I clung to that hope, but I would soon be proven wrong.