Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

"Nymeria?"

The elven woman smiled softly. "We meet again, Himmel."

Confused, I looked at Daina who stood on the side.

"It was Lady Nerissa's idea," she replied, looking away. "I couldn't do anything about it."

I let out a sigh as I rubbed my temples with my free hand.

"So, did you not notice me sneaking up on you?" Nymeria asked, jerking my hand.

"I thought you were just some random elf," I replied, looking at her. "You all look the same anyway."

Nymeria's smile twitched. "Careful. You'll hurt my feelings."

I gave her a look. "I doubt you have any."

"I really like that face of yours, that doesn't trigger me," she replied, looking at my face. "Don't make me ruin it."

I leaned forward. "Try it, ug—"

Daina cleared her throat. "Enough. We're short on time."

Nymeria turned her gaze to Daina, then suddenly pulled my hand tighter, forcing me a step closer.

They began to move and I was dragged along.

With some peace of mind, I looked at the handcuff that was on my hand.

Again, it wasn't normal but a mana restriction cuff.

'Not that it matters when I can break free in a snap.'

Still, it's annoying to deal with the woman attached to the other side.

'…Nymeria.'

With her being up close, I could see her more clearly.

With long wavy red hair and long ears that peeked out of it.

She had quite the whitish skin along with a beautiful face.

Had it not been the scar on her face, she would have looked beautiful.

'Not that it matters when she is going to die soon.'

The Elven War was the end of Core One of Game Two.

Even though the timing is different, I am sure things will still go the same way.

Nerissa will go berserk and Ragnar will kill Nymeria and steal Anastasia's divinity.

I narrowed my eyes at her as a thought crossed my mind.

'What if I kill her right now?'

I could do it.

One quick twist of the wrist, a snap of the neck, or a silent strike of mana sharp enough to pierce through her heart.

She wouldn't see it coming.

Daina would probably try to stop me, but even she wouldn't be fast enough.

It's her fate to die at the hands of whose acknowledgment she yearns for.

I am merely changing her fate.

Maybe then I stop Ragnar from getting even stronger and maybe I can—

"That necklace you wear," Nymeria's voice made me snap out of my thoughts. "Where did you get that from?"

I blinked before I slowly looked down at the dangling necklace.

"I got it from someone special," I replied, looking away. "It was a parting gift."

"I see," she mumbled softly. "I had a similar necklace once… I lost it when I was a child."

I glanced at her, a little surprised by her tone. For once, she didn't sound like someone eager to pick a fight.

"You remember losing something from that long ago?" I asked.

"Why are you talking so much?"

"You started it."

She didn't reply, instead she looked down.

I turned towards Daina. "Where are we going?"

"A place I arranged for you to stay," she replied, her voice soft. "You will live here until Lady Mariam can calm down others."

"So, basically a prisoner?"

"You are not a prisoner."

I raised my hand to show her the handcuff. "Really?"

"It's important," Nymeria replied instead. "To make sure you can't run away."

I looked into her golden eyes with spirals. "And what makes you think anyone here can stop me?"

Nymeria stopped in her tracks and turned fully towards me. "Do you really want to know?"

I didn't bother with her trying to be intimidating. "Try me, you ugly elf."

That seemed to piss her more than I expected as her hair began turning golden.

"Nymeria," Daina quickly jumped in between us. "You can't do that. It's strictly prohibited to harm him."

"I don't care—"

"But Lady Nerissa will!" Daina snapped. "She won't take you breaking the orders kindly."

Nymeria stopped in her tracks as she drew in a deep breath.

She looked around and instead walked towards a messy table of weapons.

Much to my irritation, she began to arrange it in correct order.

'Damn her OCD!'

[<Qais.>]

'Yeah?'

[<I think living here for a while might not be a bad idea.>]

'Hm, why do you say so?'

[<Just trust me on this one. You will learn a lot by being here.>]

'...'

I didn't reply as Nymeria dragged me to another weapon table.

With a sigh I shifted my gaze back to Daina. "What if vampires attack this place?"

"Well…" She let out an awkward smile. "Part of the reason for Lady Mariam to choose this place was—"

"Don't tell me," I cut in her words, frowning. "She doesn't expect me to take care of this place, right?"

"..."

Oh come on!

"Don't take it the wrong way," she hastily said when I glared at her. "She just thinks you alone would be enough for an army."

"Not helping, Daina," I replied, before jerking my hand as Nymeria began to walk towards another table. "Would you cut this out already!?"

"Shut up!" Nymeria snapped at me. "Let me do—Himmel!!"

I began to drag her, ignoring her protest.

'Where do I need to go, Inna?'

[<Back to your graves.>]

---

---

[Plains of Drago, Alfheim.]

[Central Army.]

The sun hung low, illuminating the long stretched fields of grass in the area.

Lines of war tents stretched on either side of the fields, one belonging to elves and the other to Demiurges.

On the elves' side, things looked bleak as if all hope was lost.

There was no clatter of armor, no songs of courage, no laughter.

Only whispers, tired eyes, and wounded pride.

A single banner fluttered at the center tent. Inside, Wilhelm sat looking at the map with a tired expression.

"Three battalions gone," came a voice from behind him. "Things don't look good."

He let out a sigh as he looked back at the young boy Aries.

"We are fighting a losing war—"

"I am tired of saying this again and again, Aries," Wilhelm said, glaring at him. "Don't say things that will affect the morale—"

"The army's morale is at an all-time low, Sir," Aries replied without looking at him. "I don't believe it can go any lower."

Wilhelm leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

"You think I don't know that?" he said after a pause, opening his eyes again. "But if we break now, there won't be anything left to fight for."

Aries didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the red pins on the map, each one marking a fallen position.

The young boy looked far older than he was. The war had that effect.

"There's talk among the soldiers," Aries finally said. "About abandoning the front lines and retreating into the Silver Woods."

"Cowards," Wilhelm muttered.

"Realists," Aries corrected. "They're not wrong to be afraid and I would do that too—"

Wilhelm stood up abruptly, making the table rattle.

"Don't make me execute you, boy," he snapped. "I've seen it with my own eyes. Don't lecture me like I'm blind."

Aries didn't flinch as he looked into his eyes. "So, what should we do, sir?"

"…I have talked with Lady Nerissa," he replied, looking away. "We will get more reinforcements soon."

Aries bit his lips as he looked away.

"So what, sir?" he mumbled softly. "Even if we win the war… we have already lost the World Tree."

"..."

Wilhelm didn't reply as he slowly placed his hand on his shoulder.

He squeezed softly. "Things will work out for us. Don't lose hope."

Aries didn't reply as he just gave him a soft nod.

He patted his shoulder and began to walk out of the tent. Aries followed just behind him.

Wilhelm looked at the torn and worn-out soldiers who lay all around.

Then his gaze finally shifted towards the Demiurges' tents.

"…What?"

Aries looked at him confusedly. "What happened, Sir?"

"The tents," Wilhelm mumbled softly. "Were they always this many?"

---

---

[Demiurge Kingdom.]

[Palace of Dignity.]

The silence lingered in the obsidian palace that was illuminated by small lights.

Few maids moved around the place but none were present in the throne room.

The throne room that represented the highest value of the kingdom…

…Had to witness its king on his knees with his head down.

A holographic figure stood in front of him, body flickering from time to time.

The man appeared to be in his mid-sixties with a long braided beard and grey hair.

Two antlers protruded off his head, dangling with silverish decorations.

He was the current head of House Atretic and the other demigod.

His name was Abram.

Kryllios didn't even look up at him as the man spoke.

"What you did was unacceptable," he paused. "Killing one of us in front of everyone."

"…I know, my Lord," he spoke softly. "But it was the only way I could have ensured my people's safety."

Abram's flickering figure remained still.

"Do not confuse safety with defiance, Kryllios," he said. "You did not act out of duty. You acted out of pride."

Kryllios slowly lifted his head. "My pride means nothing compared to my people."

Abram scoffed. "A king who kneels for his people will soon have none left to rule."

Silence stretched for a long moment.

"I will accept punishment," Kryllios said finally, "but I will not regret what I did."

Abram leaned back slightly, his antlers shimmering faintly. "Oh, you will be punished," he said. "But not yet."

Kryllios clenched his fists.

As much as he hated working for them, he admired Abram that much.

The only reason he dared to kill Vadanis was because he was sure…

…That this heartless man will not kill him.

"On the surface, the House Atretic will cut all ties with you," Abram announced, his voice echoing. "But we will still support you."

Kryllios drew in a deep breath as he asked. "And what would you need in return?"

Abram didn't speak for a while as he kept on staring at him.

Finally, he spoke. "You only need to bring me something."

Kryllios looked at him.

"Bring me Heir Himmel's head."

Kryllios frowned hard. "But the Church—"

"You will bear the consequences," Abram cut his words short. "That's your punishment."

Kryllios didn't speak. His lips parted slightly, but no sound came.

"Is that a problem, King Kryllios?" Abram's voice, though calm, echoed with the weight of a mountain.

He lowered his head once more, hiding the twist in his expression. "Understood, my lord."

"Hmm, any questions?"

"Why Heir Himmel?" he asked, looking at Abram. "You know he is an Avatar, the Church won't leave you if they know about—"

"It's the Church who wants him dead," Abram said, making him silent. "And so does my god."

Abram took two steps, standing upright against him. "And I will do whatever my 'God' desires."

Kryllios drew in a deep breath as he nodded. "Understood."

Abram didn't say anything else as he turned around.

"Yeah, the war," he suddenly said, looking back. "Show me some results. You have two months."

Kryllios slowly nodded. "Understood." He looked up at him. "About Lady Yennefer—"

"Don't worry about her," he said, turning away. "Our house will assign a work soon."

"..."

Abram vanished, leaving Kryllios alone in his throne room.