Reborn As The Villain In A Game-Like World-Chapter 37: Life Of A Villain

Within the VIP box, an agitated prince paced back and forth, occasionally glancing down at Edward, causing his frown to deepen.

"What is that disobedient man doing?" he cursed. "Drink the darn vial and be done with it, you fool."

He spun on his heel, faced the arena, and spoke with disdain. "I refuse to make such an effort to get Jack the role at the Mage Tower should he win."

Seeing the fire of life being ignited in Edward’s previously lifeless eyes, August’s expression turned icy. "It seems his heart is filled with delusions... Bring her in," he said to seemingly nobody, yet the door opened a second later, and a confused and timid maid walked in.

"Evelyn, come, witness your father’s foolish last stand. His pride and ego have consumed him."

"F-father? My father is here?" she asked in an apprehensive tone. All contact between herself and her dear father had been severed years ago. The prince forbade her from leaving his sight.

The prince casually gestured toward the arena below. "See for yourself, although it’s a rather pathetic sight that I am certain he wouldn’t wish for you to witness."

Evelyn timidly walked to the edge and leaned over. She felt the stares of many spectators on her, but she prevailed; her dear father was apparently here. Soon, she spotted a deathly pale man that somewhat resembled the father in her memory, but he seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

With shock she didn’t think twice and shouted out, "Father, it’s me!"

The barrage of attacks stopped for a moment as the decrepit man turned his sunken yet fierce eyes toward his daughter. Unknown to Evelyn, Prince August was shadowing behind her and making a cutthroat action for Edward to see.

"Evelyn—" Edward’s shoulders sagged with defeat. His body was in extreme pain; he knew he had pushed his limits too far today. Taking one final look at Evelyn’s heartbroken and worried face, he said some final words.

"Evelyn, I’m sorry. I failed you and Anna."

His many golems crumbled to dust as he lost concentration and the will to move forward.

Jack didn’t waste a single second and dove down toward Edward. With a well-placed knee to the face, Edward’s nose burst from the impact as he tumbled back a few meters.

"No, no, no! Dad, don’t give up! Keep fighting!" Evelyn shouted while holding back tears. "Let’s go see the spirit blossoms together this summer, like the good old times!" Her voice broke down as she collapsed against the VIP room’s railing.

"He’s already dead, Evelyn," Jack said calmly, and the head professor didn’t refute him. "I’m sorry, but this is the only way."

"Stop it!" Evelyn screamed as she watched Jack empower his punches with Psychic Magic and brutally smack her father around like a rag doll.

The stadium was dead silent; just the sobbing of Evelyn and the sound of cracking bones could be heard.

Jack placed his foot upon Edward’s mangled body. "Surrender, and this will be over."

Edward turned his head with great effort to stare into Jack’s bloodthirsty eyes, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he muttered with disdain, "King Yama is calling. The gates of hell welcome us both."

"Don’t do it," Jack said, his voice as cold as ice.

Ignoring his warning, the head professor retrieved the vial with his barely functioning arm; it was surprisingly still intact, a testament to the quality of glass used to contain the ominous green liquid inside. He popped the cork and brought the vial to his mouth, yet a foot promptly descended and crushed his hand. The green liquid boiled viciously as it made contact with the outside world. Most of the liquid spilled on the ground around Edward, but a few drops made contact with his hand. The liquid entered through his pores like snakes, causing Edward to scream in anguish. His hand became a gray, wiggling mass of something unknown to the residents of this world. A creature from the beyond.

Jack sighed. "Do you take me for a fool? Did you think I would just stand here and let you drink a vial of devil tears? Are you trying to destroy this arena and everyone within it?"

Seeing victory in sight, Jack turned toward the VIP area. "Prince August, I do believe this classifies as a victory, yes? He is using illegal substances in a duel."

Jack expected to see an annoyed expression on August’s face, but contrary to his expectations, he had a mocking smile. August gestured toward Edward. "Are you sure?"

While everyone was misdirected toward Edward, August cast a spell with a small wave of his hand, barely noticeable to the untrained eye, and Edward’s body suddenly shuddered.

Jack knew what August had done, but nobody else seemed to have caught his use of magic in the middle of a duel.

’The deplorable acts of a true villain. At least have a little class to not interfere in a duel with magic.’

He looked down at Edward’s body, which had gone limp. Medics were rushing over, but he knew what had happened already. August had killed the head professor.

As expected, the arena exploded with commotion. "Murder! He killed him!" Jack noticed a person exclaim as he stood up. If one looked closely, there was a small skull tattoo on his wrist, signifying he was one of Prince August’s men.

Jack shook his head. "The head professor was using illegal substances—"

Yet his words were drowned out by the shouts of bloody murder from the spectators.

’I can’t believe I fell for the prince’s trap so easily. If I had let the head professor consume the devil’s tears, I would have been mauled to death. But by calling it out, I forced the prince to act and end the duel himself—an outcome I failed to account for.’

After a while, the prince declared to the arena with a knowing smile. "The duel has been nullified due to the death of Head Professor Edward. Jack Harrington will not receive the promotion to Head Librarian of the Mage Tower. Yet, due to the head professor’s passing, Jack will be promoted from Assistant Professor to the honourable position of Head Professor. That is all."

’Only the Mage Tower has the resources and protection I require to survive the assassination attempts from my brother. While the position of Head Professor would usually be good, it’s far too suspicious that Prince August has granted me the role when he could have me stripped of my dukedom or worse due to murder. He definitely wants to keep me chained to the university where he has power so he can keep me under surveillance.’ 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

With that in mind, Jack was left with only one option. He clenched his fist but then relaxed.

’With the entire world seemingly against me and my back against the wall, there is only one way to beat a rigged game—and that is not to play.’

"Prince August, while I appreciate the offer, I refuse the promotion. I don’t require your handouts," Jack exclaimed loudly before calmly turning on his heel and leaving, ignoring the suddenly silent arena and Prince August’s enraged face.

"I’ll carve my own path in this world—one step at a time. The life of a Fated Villain was never supposed to be easy," Jack muttered with newfound determination.

There was no way for him to become the final boss while playing in the palm of another.