I Am The Game's Villain Chapter 730: [Final Event] [Blood Moon Festival] [12] Percy’s Decision

"This city is truly stunning..." Amelia whispered, her green eyes darting with wonder from one luminous corner to the next. "Wouldn’t you agree, Celes?" she inquired, looking toward Celeste, who was walking alongside her. By some twist of fate, the two had been placed in the same group for their walk through the capital of Ravenia.

Celeste, however, was completely preoccupied.

Her attention wandered across the bustling thoroughfares, her eyes scanning the masses in a desperate search for a specific face.

High above, the twilight sky was draped in its usual heavy darkness, yet this particular week saw a subtle crimson tint staining the moon like a fresh contusion. This strange radiance bathed the city in a supernatural shimmer, making Ravenia feel as though it were a living, breathing entity.

In many ways, it was.

Vitality surged through the capital. Melodies and laughter erupted from the plazas and taverns, while lanterns drifted through the air like luminous phantoms, and vibrant banners decorated every street. It was the annual festival week—a singular event that drew people from every race and kingdom to partake in the festivities. Vampires dressed in sophisticated dark garments socialized with werewolves in fur-trimmed mantles, while Elves and High Humans wandered the streets with wine and smiles.

It offered a rare glimpse of harmony in a world that seldom experienced it.

Nevertheless, Celeste continued her search. She paid no mind to the festive lights or the joyous sounds. Her focus remained on finding one man.

Amael.

She had nurtured a perhaps foolish hope that he might be present within the sea of people. Yet, no matter how many times she surveyed the crowd, he was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, Celeste."

"Yes?" Startled, she turned quickly, her internal monologue interrupted.

A mischievous smirk played on Amelia’s lips. "Relax. I’m certain your prince in shining armor will appear sooner or later."

A faint blush crept onto Celeste’s cheeks as she looked away. "It isn't... I only..." Her sentence remained unfinished.

Her heart simply yearned to see him one more time. Just once.

Discussing royal betrothals and political alliances seemed trivial compared to that singular desire. As the hours passed, the weight of her impending arranged marriage felt like a tightening band around her chest. She was powerless to stop it—but she desperately wanted to find Amael before her world changed forever.

Watching her friend’s vacant expression, Amelia let out a quiet sigh. Having secured her own joy with the man she loved, she felt a wave of sympathy for Celeste—trapped by her lineage, her rank, and the suffocating prison of aristocratic duty.

"Ah—excuse me!" Amelia suddenly tripped forward, accidentally colliding with someone’s back.

As the individual turned around, the words died in her throat.

Standing there was Percy Moonfang.

"Oh—Senior Percy! I didn’t—" She cut herself off, her entire frame turning stone-cold.

The moment Percy’s steady, yellowish eyes locked onto hers, a piercing ache tore through her skull. Amelia stumbled, gripping her head as chaotic, dark fragments of memory surged through her consciousness.

Then, total silence.

Her pulse raced. The memory—whatever it had been—evaporated like mist.

Ever since John had recovered her following the events at the Moonfang Capital, that entire day had remained a fragmented mess. She could recall the act of fleeing and the suffocating terror of Behemoth’s aura... followed by an abyss of darkness.

By the time she regained consciousness, everything was over.

Whenever she tried to pry details from John and the others, they met her with silence. Their expressions would harden, and their tones would drop. They maintained that she was better off not knowing and that the truth was unnecessary for her to remember.

John was particularly adamant.

He had strictly prohibited anyone from revealing the reality—that Amelia had been the catalyst for the return of Anasthara Dolphis and Behemoth. He understood her character too well. If she discovered the truth, she would piece it together instantly. The weight of the carnage, the lost lives, and especially the passing of Elizabeth would crush her with guilt.

Amelia was far from dim-witted; she had her doubts. Occasionally, a resonance would stir in her chest, as if her soul possessed knowledge her mind was blocking. However, she never delved too deep. Perhaps, in her heart, she was terrified of the answers.

That was likely why her body reacted with such tension in Percy Moonfang’s presence. Her instincts screamed of a hidden threat, yet her conscious mind could not identify the source.

"Amelia, are you alright?" Celeste’s concerned tone sliced through her panic.

"A–Ah, yes... I'm fine," Amelia managed a forced smile, shaking her head to dispel the fog. When she looked up again, Percy had already moved on, merging back into the flow of students.

He never cast a glance back.

Since he was a third-year student, Percy Moonfang had been placed in their group. At this stage, however, he seemed indifferent to the Academy’s rules. The sharp ambition of a student had long since vanished from his eyes.

As the night progressed, the festival began to wind down. The laughter subsided, the lanterns grew dim, and a quiet hum settled over Ravenia’s streets. Both locals and tourists started heading back to their lodgings.

The Trinity Eden Academy students headed toward the lavish estate secured for their visit—a magnificent mansion situated near Ravenia’s castle. The residence was grand enough to rival a high noble's home, complete with crystal lamps and marble columns, yet it still lacked enough space for private rooms for every student. They were assigned to shared rooms based on gender.

Soon, a stillness fell over the mansion.

The moon reached its zenith, casting silver and red beams through the tall windows onto the buffed floors. Outside, the city slumbered beneath the blood-tinged sky.

Suddenly, a shadow shifted.

A solitary figure moved through the hallways with quiet, measured steps.

It was Percy Moonfang.

He stepped out of the residence. Along the stone walkway, roses swayed in the chilly night air. The castle stood before him, a massive silhouette.

As he approached the gate, the sentries stepped aside immediately, offering no resistance. They didn't even question why a student was out at such an hour.

The air inside was freezing and motionless. Percy’s footsteps rang out softly against the marble as he traversed the halls. The massive doors to the throne room stood open, revealing a dark interior where a single man sat in the shadows.

Cyril Raven.

He was perched upon the throne that had once been his grandfather’s, looking relaxed with a slight smirk on his face.

"Percy," Cyril greeted with a smile. "You’ve finally committed. I was beginning to worry I’d have to handle you personally. I am... truly pleased."

Percy halted in front of the throne. "It is as you claimed. Sancta Vedelia is fracturing. Without change, its destruction is inevitable."

Cyril leaned back, his chin resting on his hand. "Correct. Locking away my grandfather—one of the primary deterrents against other nations—was pure stupidity. The current leadership of Sancta Vedelia is blinded by their own pride and idealism." His eyes sharpened. "And that includes your own kin, Percy."

"Does that alter our objectives?"

Cyril shook his head, his smirk widening. "It does not. While Elizabeth’s death was... problematic, she played her role as Selene well. I have already found ways to compensate for her absence. Duncan Tepes is no longer a threat, but the other Heads might cause issues—particularly your uncle."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Cyril tilted his head. "You aren't having second thoughts, are you? I assume you are capable of managing this?"

"My uncle is already aware of my connection to Behemoth," Percy stated.

Cyril’s smile vanished. "Did Amelia speak? You should have eliminated her once her utility was exhausted."

"She said nothing," Percy countered. "She has no memory of those events."

Even if her memory had returned, Percy had prepared for such a scenario. One of Behemoth’s subordinates possessed the ability to perfectly mimic others. He could have easily claimed he was being framed. He could have lied his way out of it.

Regardless, it was irrelevant now.

They had progressed too far to turn back.

Cyril gave a soft laugh. "In the end, it doesn't matter. Behemoth fulfilled its role. Though, I must admit—I had hoped Jefer Moonfang would be killed. He is far too calm for my comfort and has been suspicious of me from the start."

"I will take care of it," Percy declared.

Cyril leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Are you truly up to the task?"

"I understand my uncle better than anyone," Percy answered. "I know exactly how to strike. He is already traveling here."

Cyril’s lips curled into a satisfied grin. "Excellent. Then liberate your family from their delusions. They are blinded by false morals—morals that will soon lead them to their downfall."

Percy offered no reply.

After a moment, he asked softly, "What is the plan for Victor and Celeste?"

Cyril’s grin grew more intense. "Victor’s end is near. He is a pathetic excuse for an Apostle. Once I have Celeste under my thumb, the true power of the Holy Tree will be mine to command." His voice lowered. "With that strength, the remaining Heads—and even Central Vedelia—will have no choice but to bow."

"The Heads are one thing, but there is another variable. Amael Idea Olphean. His current location is unknown, but my information suggests he is... very close to Celeste. Do you truly believe he will permit this marriage?" Percy questioned.

Cyril smirked. "Of course he won't. But complexity isn't always necessary." He stood up from the throne. "Celeste is already mine. She will submit when the time comes. He can scream all he likes—it will change nothing."

Percy said nothing further. With a brief nod, he turned and walked away.

***

Simultaneously, within the Dolphian Kingdom...

Inside the royal residence, Reiner sat slumped in his study, massaging his temples while looking over mountain of paperwork.

Reconstructing a fallen kingdom was a monumental burden.

Though months had passed since the Behemoth onslaught and the subsequent Utopian War, the damage remained—ruined cities, fallen soldiers, and shattered families. He had dedicated every moment to salvaging what remained, yet...

His head throbbed with fatigue.

Everything had been proceeding smoothly—perhaps too smoothly—until those two criminals appeared. Since their arrival, it felt as though the heavens were testing his endurance.

He had cursed Celesta repeatedly for directing those two his way. One had made off with his precious daughter, and the other brought nothing but chaos to Sancta Vedelia. Not a single kingdom had been left untouched by him.

"If you continue to overthink like this, stress will kill you long before an enemy does," a playful, light voice remarked.

Reiner didn't bother looking up. "You’ll understand the weight of it when you have a kingdom of your own to rule."

"Oh? And who says I don't?"

This caused him to stop. He turned his head, narrowing his eyes. "What?"

Anuket was hovering by the window.

"Honestly," she said, "did you think I’ve spent all this time just living inside that angry head of yours? Please, Reiner. That would be incredibly dull—and quite repulsive."

Reiner glared at her. "You clearly have too much time on your hands, Goddess."

"Maybe," she conceded, her voice light but her eyes serious. "But I’m here because I sense a major shift coming, and I wouldn't want to miss the show."

Reiner sat up straight, his gaze sharpening. "What do you mean? Is this related to your previous warning—that we were destined to lose something vital?"

"Ah, that," Anuket laughed softly, her glowing eyes filled with amusement. "Regrettably, you’ve already lost it."

Reiner’s brow creased. "Beyond the loss of my towns and my people, I can’t fathom what else you could be referring to."

She sighed, her mirth turning into something resembling pity. "You are quite narrow-minded, Reiner. You dwell on the past—the tragedy that has already occurred—rather than the future that is currently unfolding."

Reiner’s grip tightened on his glass. "Then explain it to me."

"Well, time will reveal all," Anuket finally said, her tone laced with playful mystery. "Though for your sake... I hope my intuition is wrong."

She gave a faint smirk, her eyes drifting toward the window.

Her gaze settled on a distant radiance far beyond the palace walls.

Amael.

She was certain—it was him.

She recognized that same soul, that same brilliance from five centuries ago. The figure from the Blood Moon War. She didn't know how or why he was present in this era, but she could sense him clearly.

Her smile faded, replaced by a quiet, contemplative thought.

Even after all these centuries, that name brought a sting of grief to her heart. Athena had been gone for a long time. For deities, especially one like Athena, death wasn't necessarily final unless their essence was wiped out. Regardless, Anuket missed her terribly.

Athena had always been the source of wisdom. The steady voice of logic among gods ruled by vanity and power. Yet, she had met her end without ever revealing the weight she carried. Whatever had troubled her, she had chosen to endure it in solitude.

Anuket was not so simple as to think there was nothing behind that silence.

She also recalled one strange detail—Athena’s frequent, clandestine meetings with Cleenah.

Her lips curled into a nostalgic smile.

It was almost humorous.

Athena had loathed Harivel—who was the embodiment of everything she hated. Brutality. Chaos. An insatiable hunger for combat. In her prime, Harivel had been the pure manifestation of war—fire and ruin given life.

Conversely, Athena was the goddess of wisdom and strategy. She didn't desire war; she sought its conclusion. To her, Harivel was the symbol of everything crude about divine nature—action without thought, battle without a goal.

These memories reached back over ten millennia, bringing a bittersweet wave of the past. Many gods had risen and fallen since that time, their names lost to history. Yet the past remained, like the echoes of a conflict that never truly finished.

Anuket exhaled softly, her eyes still locked on the night sky. The pale reflection of the silver moon shimmered in her green eyes.

Then—

-Thud!

The door was thrown open, slamming hard against the wall. The noise caused Reiner to jump and pulled Anuket from her thoughts.

"Doria?" Reiner blinked, looking at her in surprise.

The Queen of Dolphis stood at the entrance, her silk garments messy and her breathing ragged. Her wide, frantic eyes met Reiner’s—she was unable to see Anuket, who remained visible only to him.

"R–Reiner..." Her voice cracked, tears filling her eyes. "Adrian... he’s missing."