I Am The Game's Villain Chapter 833: Toward Edenis Raphiel

"My Lady, My Lord."

By the time John finally reached the next platform along the others, the scenery had changed completely.

The platform extended toward a massive harbor specifically built for airships, with several enormous vessels either already docked or preparing to depart. Their hulls towered above the ground, supported by enormous structures and surrounded by workers and knights moving around them.

The airship they were supposed to take immediately stood out among the others.

It was large, elegant, and clearly of considerably higher quality than most of the vessels stationed nearby. Its white hull reflected the sunlight, while several large structures were built into its underside and sides.

It was obvious that this wasn’t an ordinary public airship.

It had been prepared specifically for the passengers arriving today.

As John and the others approached, the knights accompanying them immediately began taking care of their luggage.

"Careful with those."

One of the attendants gestured toward the storage section of the ship as the knights began moving the various trunks and bags inside.

Meanwhile, a long sloping staircase had been lowered from the side of the airship.

It wasn’t simply a staircase.

Mechanisms had been incorporated into it, allowing the steps to move continuously upward like an escalator. The system made boarding significantly easier, especially for the older nobles and anyone carrying heavy belongings.

Rubina was the first to step onto it.

She adjusted her sunglasses as she began ascending without the slightest hesitation.

The others followed shortly after.

The nobles who had arrived with them remained behind for the moment, patiently waiting for the more important figures to board first.

Nobody seemed particularly eager to violate the unspoken hierarchy.

John eventually stepped onto the moving stairs as well holding Amelia’s hand carefully, supporting her.

As they gradually climbed toward the deck, the view of the harbor expanded behind them.

The sheer scale of the airship port became even more apparent from above.

There were airships everywhere.

Some were enormous military vessels, while others were clearly civilian transports. Smaller private ships were docked farther away, while several larger vessels were already hovering above their platforms, preparing to depart.

Edenis Raphiel’s wealth was difficult to ignore.

The infrastructure alone was enough to demonstrate how advanced Edenis Raphiel was compared to many other places.

When John finally reached the deck, he was immediately greeted by several members of the ship’s staff.

"My Lord."

"My Lady."

They bowed respectfully.

More staff members quickly appeared behind them, ready to handle anything the passengers might need during their short journey.

It was almost excessive considering the trip itself would last barely an hour.

Yet nobody questioned it.

For people of their status, even a short journey was apparently enough reason to have an entire crew dedicated to their comfort.

John glanced around.

Everything was immaculate.

The deck was spacious, the furniture carefully arranged, and the various areas of the ship had clearly been designed with wealthy passengers in mind.

Amelia and the others were guided toward the main passenger area while the knights finished storing the remaining luggage.

Eventually, everyone was aboard.

The crew checked the final preparations before the boarding ramp was retracted and the doors were secured.

A low humming sound gradually began vibrating through the deck.

John felt it beneath his feet.

The airship was preparing to leave.

He looked over the railing.

The harbor was still beneath them.

For a few seconds, nothing seemed to happen.

Then, the shop began to rise.

The entire enormous vessel slowly levitated from the ground.

There was no violent shaking or sudden acceleration.

Instead, it rose smoothly, almost as though an invisible force had simply decided that the ship no longer needed to obey gravity.

The source of that power was obvious enough.

Attached beneath the hull were several large anti-gravity mana mechanisms.

Their energy activated in sequence, producing the force necessary to lift the entire airship from the platform.

The harbor gradually began shrinking beneath them.

The platform.

The people.

The buildings.

Everything slowly became smaller as the ship continued ascending.

John watched silently for a moment.

They had finally left the ground.

"You’re going to live in the sky now."

Amelia’s quiet voice brought John’s attention back to her.

He glanced at her before looking through the large windows toward the clouds below.

"It seems so."

Amelia smiled faintly.

"You know, after I give birth, maybe I should—"

"Amelia."

John immediately cut her off.

"We already discussed this."

His tone wasn’t harsh, but there was enough firmness in it to make Amelia pout.

"I don’t want you burdening yourself."

"You’re being too protective."

She puffed her cheeks slightly, clearly unhappy with his answer.

John sighed.

"Just give birth safely."

He reached down and gently placed a hand over hers.

"Rest properly. Take care of yourself and the baby."

His expression softened.

"We’ll see what happens afterward."

Amelia stared at him for a moment.

She clearly wanted to argue.

Instead, she eventually sighed and relented.

"Alright."

She looked away.

"We’ll talk about it later."

John nodded.

That was enough for now.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, letting her lean against him.

He understood why Amelia wanted to stay beside him.

After everything that had happened between them, the idea of being separated again probably wasn’t pleasant for her. Especially now that they were expecting a child together.

And honestly...

John didn’t want anything different.

He wanted Amelia beside him.

He wanted their child to grow up with both parents around.

But he couldn’t forget what had happened in Celesta.

And then Sancta Vedelia.

He had nearly lost Amelia there.

He had already experienced what it felt like to watch someone precious to him slip away, and he wasn’t willing to gamble with her life again just because she wanted to accompany him to the academy.

Not in Edenis Raphiel.

(<You made the right decision.>)

John’s expression barely changed.

’You think?’

(<Yes. I don’t want to scare you, but I haven’t been this uneasy even when you were in Sancta Vedelia before.>)

John’s eyes narrowed.

’What?’

He immediately became more alert.

’Do you know something? If you do, just say it.’

(<I am not sure either to make assumptions.>)

There was a brief pause.

(<But you should use your time in Edenis Raphiel to become stronger. And don’t forget your promise to me.>)

John’s expression darkened.

’Yeah, yeah. You want that giant Clytius dead. But you still haven’t told me why.’

(<I’ll tell you when you’re ready. For now, you’re simply too weak.>)

John’s eyebrow twitched.

’And you’re actually begging this weakling to kill that giant.’

(<He is an enemy. That’s all you need to know.>)

The answer was frustratingly simple.

(<He hates me. If he manages to escape, he could eventually come after the people close to me. That includes you... and Layla.>)

John’s expression immediately hardened.

’You never fucking told me that!’

He had to force himself not to raise his voice.

’What the hell does that mean? He can come back? Didn’t you tell me he was in the Underworld?!’

(<He is for now. So hurry up, get stronger and end him.>)

’Fuck this. Just tell me one thing. Are we actually in danger right now?’

(<Relax. You are safe and sound.>)

The answer came almost casually.

(<You know, you could avoid all of this danger entirely if you simply stopped taking part in the academy in Edenis Raphiel and stay home beside your wonderful wife?>)

John stared silently ahead.

’And ignore the upcoming cataclysm in Edenis Raphiel?’

His expression hardened.

’The entire world could be at stake.’

His thoughts immediately returned to Sancta Vedelia.

’Sancta Vedelia place was already a massive disaster. I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.’

(<And lose another friend?>)

John went silent.

He didn’t answer.

He didn’t want to think about that.

Not now.

Until he saw things with his own eyes, he couldn’t know what was real and what wasn’t.

Not too far away, Simon stood alone against the railing of the deck.

The wind swept past him as the airship continued its journey toward Edenis Raphiel.

The Archipelagor was still far.

The trip wasn’t particularly fast, but that wasn’t necessarily a problem.

There were countless airships traveling through the skies at the same time, and the routes were carefully regulated to prevent accidents.

Not every vessel was heading toward the same Skyport, but there were still enough ships around that they couldn’t simply fly at full speed.

Simon rested both arms against the railing, staring into the enormous expanse ahead.

Clouds stretched endlessly beneath them.

The world seemed strangely peaceful from up here.

His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

Simon pulled it out.

The screen illuminated his face as he unlocked it.

His wallpaper appeared immediately.

A picture of him with Azeliah and their one-year-old daughter, Liona.

The three of them were smiling.

They looked like a happy family.

And they were.

Simon smiled faintly as he stared at the image.

It was a genuine smile.

But even so...

Something was missing.

Lyra.

No matter how happy his family had become, there was still a hole in his life that hadn’t been filled.

His daughter had brought him a happiness he couldn’t describe.

Azeliah had given him a family.

Yet the absence of Lyra remained.

For a long time, Simon had been forced to accept that there was nothing he could do.

Now, however...

Hope had returned.

The Saintess had awakened.

And, more importantly, she would be attending the same academy as him.

Simon stared down at his phone.

He knew the Saintess wasn’t simply another student.

She was one of the most protected people in the entire world, and her powers weren’t something she could freely use on whoever she wanted.

Her healing abilities were considered sacred.

Precious.

The Holy Church had strict rules regarding their use, especially when it came to blessings and miracles.

For all Simon knew, the Saintess might not even possess complete authority over her own powers.

The Church could very well have the final say over when and how she was permitted to use them.

But Simon had to ask.

He had no other choice.

Because she was the only person who might be capable of saving Lyra.

Lyra was the daughter of a Marquis.

That alone should have given her a considerable amount of influence and protection.

But it wasn’t enough.

Not for the Holy Church.

The Saintess stood in an entirely different category.

Her status was incomparable to that of ordinary nobility. She was above royalty. And after what had happened to the previous Saintess, the Holy Church had become even more protective of the new one.

They treated her as something precious.

Something that had to be protected at all costs.

Her powers were treated the same way.

They weren’t tools to be handed out whenever someone demanded them.

They were divine blessings, and the Church would only permit them to be used when absolutely necessary.

Simon understood that.

He didn’t like it, but he understood.

The Celesta Royal Family had also agreed with the Church.

The Saintess was now considered one of the greatest treasures of the New Celesta Empire, and the royal family had no intention of allowing anyone to recklessly endanger her.

Simon couldn’t really argue with that either.

Still, he couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if Lucius were still conscious.

Would the royal family be speaking with the same careful words?

Would they be so willing to let the Church dictate how the Saintess should be protected?

Simon wasn’t convinced.

Regardless, there was nothing Simon could do for the moment except hope.

Hope that he would get the opportunity to speak with the Saintess.

Hope that he could convince her to help him.

And, most importantly, hope that she would be willing to use her powers for Lyra.

Simon lowered his eyes toward his phone again and swiped through his recent messages.

One name immediately caught his attention.

Belle.

A smile appeared on his face when he saw her latest messages.

She was already in Edenis Raphiel, staying at a private mansion, and had apparently been wondering where he was and when he would arrive.

Simon quickly typed a reply.

[I’m on my way.]

That was all she needed to know for now.

Once he arrived, he would first attend the world reveal of the Saintess.

Afterward, he could finally meet Belle or maybe he should meet up with his in law family first?

His stay in Edenis Raphiel was going to be considerably different this time, though.

Since he would be attending the Holy Academy, Simon wouldn’t be able to properly fulfill his responsibilities as the Duke of Falkrona.

He couldn’t exactly spend his days attending classes while simultaneously managing the affairs of an entire Duchy.

Fortunately, he had already arranged for someone to take care of things during his absence.

His foster aunt would handle the Duchy while he was away.

There weren’t many people Simon trusted enough to leave the Falkrona Duchy in their hands.

Fortunately, his foster father’s younger sister was more than capable.

She was a genius in her own right, and Simon had never doubted her ability to manage the Duchy.

Even so, her visit to Edenis Raphiel was sudden.

That made Simon wonder.

Was she also planning to attend the Saintess’s reveal?

He hadn’t remembered seeing her during the private ceremony.

Perhaps that was why she had come to Edenis Raphiel in the first place.

The Saintess’s reveal wasn’t an ordinary ceremony.

It was a world event.

Even someone who wasn’t particularly interested in politics or religion could understand the significance of seeing the Saintess revealed to the entire world for the first time.

Simon opened their conversation and sent her another message, asking whether she intended to attend.

He waited for a response.

While doing so, he leaned against the railing again.

Then, something suddenly landed on his shoulder.

Simon felt the weight and immediately glanced sideways.

A grey falcon had perched comfortably against him.

His expression softened.

"Ember."

The falcon tilted its head.

"How are you?"

Simon raised his finger toward the bird and gently stroked beneath its chin.

Ember responded with a quiet squeak.

Simon chuckled.

"You haven’t changed."

The falcon belonged to Elona.

His foster younger sister had once been inseparable from Ember, and after everything that had happened, Simon had found himself unable to part with the bird.

In the end, he had simply taken Ember as his own familiar.

It wasn’t quite the same.

He knew that.

But whenever Ember was nearby, Simon couldn’t help feeling as though Elona herself wasn’t completely gone from his life.

A small reminder that somewhere, in some way, his little sister was still with him.

Simon gently scratched Ember’s head one last time before turning his attention back toward the horizon.

Edenis Raphiel was getting closer.

Soon, he would finally meet up with the Saintess.

And perhaps, if fate was kind enough, she would give him the chance he had been desperately waiting for.

Simon smiled faintly.

"Wish me good fortune, Elona."

Ember gave another quiet squeak.

Simon took that as a good sign.