I'm a Villain in My Own Game?

[Raul POV]

Before me, the original Raul de Garcia appeared as the Guider within the Soul Room I possessed. I couldn't help but wonder why this was happening in the first place.

"Talking to a man who has the exact same face as you is rather awkward, isn't it?" the original Raul said, scratching his cheek. "So, what should I call you? You have a real name of your own, don't you?"

"You can call me Evans," I replied. "At least, that was my name before I entered your body."

To be honest, I didn't need to ask the Guider about the Profound Codex I possessed. I already knew which Profound Codex the character Raul had in the game. However, I still needed the Guider's permission before I could activate them whenever I wanted from now on.

Still, I was slightly surprised to discover that Raul himself had become the Guider inside my Soul Room.

So, the original Raul's soul really had remained inside this body all along. Perhaps that was the reason I was always affected by his emotions whenever I was around Ariel.

"Hey, am I dead?" Raul asked me. "The last thing I remember before waking up here was Brian striking me hard in the head during our duel."

That was also the first thing I saw when I regained consciousness in the game world I had created—lying flat on the ground with excruciating pain in my head.

"I don't think you're dead, since your soul is still inside this body," I answered. "Even outside this place, your feelings for Ariel still affect me whenever I'm around her."

"I see..." the original Raul muttered. "Speaking of Ariel, how is she doing now?"

Do you really want to know? Will your heart be ready to accept the bitter truth?

"She's been getting closer to Brian lately," I answered directly. "There are even rumors that the two of them have already become a couple."

Upon hearing my words, the original Raul collapsed to the floor and immediately clutched his chest.

"Guhhh... That bastard! Damn it!" Raul began pounding his fists against the floor. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Did he really hate Brian that much?

Actually, I was the one who had designed him to harbor such an intense hatred toward the Hero. I never imagined that I would one day have to witness him suffer firsthand because of something I had done while developing this game.

"I... I can't accept Ariel ending up with a disgusting man like him!" Raul cursed as he vented his anger.

"Do you want to take this body back and take Ariel back from Brian?" I asked him seriously.

"Is that even possible?"

I merely shook my head in response to his question.

"But I'll find a way for you to return to this body someday. How about that?"

The original Raul stared at the floor, seemingly contemplating something after hearing my offer.

"My father... He never considered me his son at all..." Raul muttered. "The only person who was ever close to me—Ariel—would rather be with the man I hate. I don't have anything precious left out there..."

It was true. In the game, Raul's life was extremely isolated. He never interacted with the other students. He would only speak to other people when it involved something that could harm Brian.

I suppose it made some sense why Raul became desperate enough to get Ariel back that he was willing to sell his soul to a demon.

Ariel was the only person in this world who truly cared about him.

To him, Ariel was the reason he could feel that his life in this world had meaning.

I understood his feelings because I had also lost Liana—the woman I loved, who left me for another man. However, I was fortunate enough to still have my dreams to cover up the despair I felt after losing the woman I loved so deeply.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

When we are children, we are always amazed and impressed by the deeds of heroes, while hating the villains who spread suffering among others.

But as we grow older, we begin to understand why villains do the things they do to reclaim what was taken from them.

As a Child, we admire the Hero...

As an Adult, we Understand the Villain...

---

[Valeria POV]

Tomorrow, we would arrive at the location of the third-stage exam and take part in an examination where the participants could lose their lives.

Previously, Raul and I had managed to finish in first place during the second-stage exam. We were awarded a total of 300 points for our victory.

It felt wonderful to finally achieve first place in one of these survival exams.

At the moment, I was walking around the participants' resting area, looking for Raul. However, I hadn't found him anywhere.

"Where could he be?"

As I searched here and there, I spotted a man and a woman sitting side by side beneath a tree. If I'm not mistaken, the two of them were members of the disciplinary committee led by Raul, weren't they?

When they noticed me approaching, they stopped their conversation.

"Have you seen Raul?" I asked them.

They looked at each other upon hearing my question.

"The Captain? If I'm not mistaken, he went west earlier. He said he wanted to be alone for a while before continuing the journey," the woman replied.

"All right. Thank you."

Leaving the two of them behind, I followed the direction the woman had pointed toward.

Not long afterward, I spotted a black-haired man sitting with his back against a tree.

As I approached him, I realized that he was asleep. A black Mark could be seen glowing on his hand.

"Huh? Isn't this the Mark used to activate a Codex?" I muttered, slightly surprised by what I was seeing. "Has Raul already awakened his Codex? But why hasn't he ever used it?"

Speaking of Codexes, I hadn't awakened mine yet either. That was because there was no certain method for awakening one, as every person had different conditions.

Ugh... Am I going to fall behind him again?

Even without using any Nature Mana, he's already terrifying. What would happen if he used both of those powers in battle?

---

[Raul POV]

A Profound Codex consists of various special Skills possessed by someone who has awakened their Codex.

For example, Brian possesses a Codex with the themes of Justice, Bravery, and Tenacity.

As Brian's Mental Codex grows, more Skills become available for him to use. Each theme contains three Skills that can be unlocked.

As for Raul's character, he possesses Codex themes centered around Hated, Anger, and Bloodlust. Each theme possesses Skills with different abilities.

However, the most dangerous Skills to use are those belonging to the Bloodlust theme.

Raul in the game was never able to control himself whenever he activated these Skills.

"You came here to activate your Skills, didn't you?" Raul asked, now much calmer after venting his anger.

"You're right," I replied casually.

"I already knew that," he said as he stood up. "When I first woke up here, my head suddenly started hurting because so much strange information entered my mind all at once."

So that's how the Guiders received information about someone's Codex?

In the game, this was never explained in detail. The Guiders would simply appear whenever the Player selected the Soul Room menu to train.

"This has become my duty, hasn't it? To help you become stronger?" Raul said, staring directly into my eyes. "I'll grant you access to the Skills if you promise me one thing."

"Tell me."

"Please protect Ariel with this power."

Even if he hadn't asked me, of course I would protect someone as important as Ariel.

She would become the Saint and save this world from the demons' invasion.

"Of course. Leave it to me."

Hearing my answer, Raul appeared relieved.

"Before I go, there's something I want to ask you, Raul," I added.

"What do you want to ask?"

"Which assassin organization did you hire to kill Brian during the third-stage exam?" I asked him.

Previously, I had received a mysterious letter stating that the preparations to kill Brian during the survival exam had been completed.

Knowing which organization they belonged to would at least allow me to prepare something for when I eventually had to fight them.

"Ugh... About that..." Raul muttered, looking uncertain. "If I'm not mistaken, their name was Ouroboros."

---

[3rd POV]

That night, one day before the third-stage exam began.

Three men and one woman were gathered not far from the Monster Forest—the location where the survival exam would be held.

"I've scouted the surrounding area. The group of participants has just arrived and is currently resting outside the forest," said a man with closely cropped hair.

Judging by his appearance, he was a Brawler.

"Good work, Ape," said the man with a sword strapped to his waist. "When do you think the exam will begin?"

"I suppose tomorrow morning, considering they just arrived and need to rest before the exam begins," said a mage wearing a brown robe. "According to the information I obtained, there are eight instructors who will be guarding the forest."

The eight instructors would each be stationed at various points where the participants would enter the forest.

They would ensure that no one interfered with the exam from outside.

"Foxy, they're your responsibility, aren't they?" the swordsman called out to the only woman in the group.

"Yeah, yeah... Don't worry, Marlin. I'll buy you some time by drawing the instructors' attention," Foxy said confidently.

"We're entrusting this task to you because you're the fastest among the four of us."

Tomorrow, the participants would undertake the third-stage exam.

However, they had no idea that the true danger they needed to fear was not the monsters lurking inside the forest, but these assassins who were going to disrupt the exam tomorrow.

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