I Got Reincarnated as the Game's Villain

"STOP THIS MADNESS! IT IS AGAINST THE RULES OF ADEN TO ENGAGE IN SUCH SENSELESS BATTLES BEFORE THE EXAMS. TAKE THIS AS A WARNING: ANYONE CAUGHT FIGHTING WILL BE PENALIZED. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE—A MINIMUM OF 50 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE CANDIDATES INVOLVED!" bellowed one of the officials overseeing the exams.

He arrived just in time, preventing me from being completely ganged up on and beaten to death. Ajest, on the other hand, looked like she was a mere breath away from completely losing her sanity.

I exhaled sharply in relief, drawing a collection of glares from the crowd.

"Now, all those who've finished filling out their details, proceed to the upper floor where the capture phase will take place," the official continued.

But no one moved.

Wait... Don't tell me they all still plan on attacking me.

A chilling thought struck me: Could Ajest be manipulating them?

"Damn it, I better avoid her," I muttered under my breath, clutching my form tightly. Under the watchful eyes of the official, I made my way toward the upper floor.

The form wasn't particularly demanding, just the usual: the candidate's name, the course they were applying for, and a few trivial questions. After that came the time of the capture, which was straightforward thanks to the time relic suspended in the enormous hall.

The next section asked for the candidate's family affiliation. I hesitated, then scribbled None and, after a moment's thought, added /Orphan.

Then came gender. Easy. Male.

Race? Also straightforward. I'm human—though my stark white hair often makes people think otherwise. Still, other than my hair, I look entirely human. Right?

Whatever.

The last line was a signature block, confirming agreement to the academy's terms: that the institution wouldn't be held liable should candidates face life-threatening situations. Furthermore, compensation to families, affiliations, or relatives would be at the academy's discretion—if deemed warranted.

I signed. That was it.

"Do you realize the mess you're in?"

I tilted my head to see a mermaid walking beside me.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"You have such an… interesting way of speaking," she replied, her tone nonchalant, as if she wasn't a complete stranger.

"What do you mean by mess?" I decided to feign ignorance. Of course, I knew exactly how deep I was in.

She was someone way stronger than me. Sigh.

"Do you know her fiancé?" she asked, and I froze.

"What?"

Ajest shouldn't have a fiancé.

No. That didn't happen in the original storyline.

"No, I don't," I replied evenly.

Ajest is a mermaid, part of the reason for her extraordinary beauty. Her mind-manipulation abilities come from her lineage. But she's not just a mermaid—she's a halfling, born of a human and a mermaid. The story behind it is complicated, but I digress.

"Prince William," she whispered.

It felt like my brain flipped upside down.

"I'm not in the mood for jokes," I said, walking off, but she hurried after me.

This was getting annoying.

There's no way in hell that's true. Prince William is the elder brother of Angelina and her twin sister, Diana—my ex-fiancé. He's a prince of the human empire. Why would he be engaged to a princess from the underwater world?

Wait...

Could it be for an alliance?

But why? This didn't happen in the original storyline. Why would the empires suddenly seek an alliance? What could possibly be powerful enough to make them unite?

"It seems you don't believe me," she said with a smirk. "But the fact that you don't even know what's going on makes it all the more interesting." She chuckled softly. "Well, just prepare yourself for what's to come at the academy. After all, you messed with the fiancée of your future emperor." With a light laugh, she walked ahead, her pace quickening.

"..."

No way.

The prince is a third-year. Definitely stronger than me—by a lot. There's no way I could beat him, not with my etherpool so pathetically small and my body too weak to handle the strain of the blessing.

"Hey, wait up, dear!" I called after her, breaking into a jog.

Well, since the opportunity presented itself, why should I miss it?

I can use her status to protect myself for now. Though… this feels a bit like cheating on Lily. I'll explain everything when I find her—if I find her.

"What? The Sixth Princess is having an affair?" I heard the whispers ripple through the crowd.

Ah, of course. What better way to spread a juicy piece of gossip than in a hall full of nobles?

Yes, I know who she is. Everlin.

Ajest's sister. The Sixth Princess of the Mermaidian Empire.

Mermaids, like elves, are a proud race. Most would rather die than associate with what they deem "lesser beings," namely humans. That sentiment stems from the fact that humans have shorter lifespans, which makes other races feel superior. Honestly, it's a widespread attitude in this world.

Everlin, however, was different. A mermaid, yes, and an undeniably beautiful one at that—rivaling Ajest herself. Her beauty was ethereal, otherworldly. Though her figure wasn't as voluptuous as her sister's, her allure was no less captivating. For someone like her—someone who should have been a narcissist like Ajest—to laugh and speak so casually with me, it had to be her.

She wasn't just anyone, though. In the game, she was one of the main heroines. A key player in taking down Ajest during the arc titled A Beautiful Disaster.

"What do you think you're doing?!" she snapped, her voice cutting through my thoughts.

I gave her a wicked smirk. "Why do you seem so shocked? You presented a chance for protection. Did you really think I wouldn't take it?" I said, leaning just close enough to give the wrong impression.

Her eyes widened, but I knew she wouldn't attack me. She wasn't the type to resort to physicality so easily.

"How do you even know who I am?" she demanded, her ocean-blue eyes locking onto mine with a mixture of disbelief and intrigue. Her golden hair shimmered under the light, like spun gold brought to life.

Damn. Mermaids could be a man's greatest weakness.

"Why wouldn't I know?" I said, grinning. "You're far too beautiful to be just another mermaid."

"Oh, so now you're flirting with me?" she teased, but a mischievous smile tugged at her lips.

Damn.

I'd gotten ahead of myself again.

How could I forget who she really is?

"Alright," she said, leaning closer. Her scent, delicate and floral, wafted through the air and invaded my senses. It was intoxicating. "Let's see who kills you first—your human prince or my numerous suitors and admirers."

Then, I felt it. A slick sensation on my cheek.

Did she just—?

"Hehehe," she giggled and skipped ahead, her carefree demeanor leaving me frozen in place.

Wait.

Did I just get bested at my own game?

God. I'm so screwed.

I glanced down and caught murderous glares from humans and mermen alike. Their eyes burned with such fervor that sticking with her throughout this exam suddenly seemed like the safest, albeit most humiliating, option.

Damn it.

I didn't account for this situation.

I was supposed to be the one pulling the strings, but with one sly move—a peck on the cheek, no less—she'd flipped the roles entirely.

"Huh?" she hummed as I caught up to her. She was skipping ahead so fast it was both infuriating and exhausting.

"What are you—?" she started, but I grabbed her slender, fair hand and held it firmly in my palm.

"Well," I said, forcing a smile, "you just turned me into a walking target and then tried to run away."

She stopped skipping and slowed to a halt, her mischievous grin never faltering.

"Just so you know," she said with a sickeningly sweet tone, "I have an overprotective older brother."

My stomach dropped.

I'm even more screwed than I thought.

The brocon! I'd completely forgotten about him.

Before I could muster a retort, we arrived. The room before us was massive, lined with strange devices I didn't recognize. It had an almost futuristic vibe, the kind of place where magic and technology collided—magitech, as they called it.

Candidates were scattered about, each seated before a device, and there were enough stations to prevent any long waits.

"Well," I muttered, trying to sound unbothered, "that just means more protection. A brocon in-law sounds about right."

Her smile faltered, replaced by a frown. "What…? Why are you so annoyingly persistent?"

"I don't know. Maybe because I don't have a choice?" I shot back, brushing past her.

Now.

Time to get that meta-watch.