Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son-Chapter 337: [Who Killed Mary?] [5] [Origin]

’What is this place?’

I scanned the palace around me, its walls adorned with countless ornaments and marble of varying shades.

It was extravagant—breathtaking, even—yet there was an eerie coldness to it.

Towering pillars stretched toward the ceiling, which was painted, their outlines traced in gold.

Zenith had told me this was merely a replica of the original palace, but—

"Is it really a replica?"

The sheer beauty, the impossible level of detail… Could something like this even be replicated?

I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.

"And where does this map lead to?"

I grumbled, glancing at my palm, where I had hastily sketched the map from the ceiling.

The path led deeper into the palace, where the light grew dimmer with every step.

Tweet!

The little bird sitting on my head chirped loudly.

A soft glow radiated from its body, casting a bluish hue over the walls and floor.

"What are you doing with me, Liraz?" I murmured, running a gentle hand over the phoenix’s feathers.

Shouldn’t he be with Epione?

Tweet!

A sharp peck on my head was his only response.

"..."

What is wrong with him?

Can’t he behave like a normal chicken?

Sighing, I gave him a light tap before continuing down the corridor.

I had no idea how the exams were going, and frankly, I didn’t care.

The results wouldn’t change anything.

Right now, my only priority was figuring out what the fuck was happening to me.

[<...Qais>]

Inna’s meek voice echoed in my head.

’Yeah?’

[<Are you not going to ask anything?>]

’...’

What was there to ask?

I’m already a mess, different memories running in my head.

I don’t know who I was, and I don’t care.

Right now, I was Himmel.

Not some mad lover.

Not a genocidal killer.

Just Himmel.

And besides—

’You wouldn’t answer me even if I did ask.’

[<Are you not even curious why I call you Qais?>]

’You’re not the only one who calls me that, Inna.’

Christina used to call me that. So did Senara…

Wait.

Why Senara?

[<She called you Qais?>]

’Yeah.’

I had a memory of it. But she never told me what it meant.

Ah.

[<It means ’lover.’>]

"...Yeah."

A strange bitterness settled in my chest as Senara’s innocent face flickered in my mind.

She was such a sweet girl.

I longed to see her again.

But—

’Would you tell me if I asked about Qais?’

[<.....I have my reasons for keeping things from you.>]

’I see.’

[<But I will tell you what you need to know.>]

"...."

What I need to know, huh?

There was a lot I wanted to know, but I wouldn’t push her.

If it weren’t for her… after Christina left…

That vision might have been my reality.

I exhaled softly.

My steps slowed as I reached a dead end.

"....What the fuck?"

I stepped closer, running a hand along the cold stone.

Hours of walking… and this is where I ended up?

I sighed, looking around carefully.

The place was without light, but Liraz’s soft glow gave me just enough light to search properly.

And then, my gaze landed on an unlit wall lamp.

It was slightly off-center.

I reached out, gripping it like a handle, and pulled.

A deep creak echoed through the space as the wall trembled.

Then, with a slow, grinding motion, it receded back—revealing a narrow passageway.

I inhaled sharply before stepping forward.

"I really hope there aren’t any monsters down here."

---

The descent was long—too long.

Ten minutes of carefully treading downward, every sense on high alert, before I finally reached the bottom.

Eagerly, I looked around.

An empty room.

"What?"

Confusion tightened around my mind.

Nothing.

No artifacts, no symbols—just four bare walls.

What the fuck?

I closed my eyes, taking a slow breath.

"Okay, let’s calm down first." I whispered to myself as I rubbed my face.

Lumi hadn’t mentioned anything about this place being empty. There had to be something here.

There should be something that could help—.

"Mana."

I mumbled as I drew in a deep breath.

Coating my hand, I touched the wall.

And.

Instantly, the room came alive.

Intricate carvings ignited, glowing with a soft golden light.

As the pattern started to take shape, I weirdly looked around.

Why does this feel... familiar?

It’s odd.

Really odd.

The symbols completed their design, and I stepped back, studying them.

It took me a moment to piece it together.

"It’s a story."

Someone had engraved an entire tale into these walls.

I turned to the first panel.

The carvings depicted small humanoid figures kneeling before something—

A star.

A thirteen-pointed star.

I reached out, tracing the lines with my fingertips.

"What does this mean?"

[<They are worshiping Kyr’Vhal.>]

"Who?"

[<One of the Creator’s names. The being who came before all others.>]

I observed the engraving once again.

’Was he a star?’

[<No. But within the hierarchy of gods, the strongest ones leave Pelmoria and make stars their homes.>]

So it’s deceptive as a star?

’Wait, is that even possible?’

[<For a god, destroying a star and reshaping it is nothing.>]

’...So, does that mean every star is a god?’

[<No. But every powerful god is a star. The brightness of a star reflects a god’s strength.>]

I nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

Then, a thought flickered through my mind.

’Wait. The sun is a star too, isn’t it?’

[<Yes. It once belonged to Amun-Ra.>]

’...So was he the strongest?’

[<Below the Primordials, yes. And that strength is why he was killed.>]

I shouldn’t have asked.

Now I was even more curious about how he died.

I exhaled, forcing myself to focus.

The carvings shifted.

’Who are they?’

I asked, touching the engraving of the kneeling figures.

[<Origin race. They used to worship Kyr’Vhal with all their hearts.>]

’And they still died?’

[<The Creator isn’t a benevolent being. He is as flawed as everyone.>]

’...’

I sighed as I moved forward.

The engraving changed.

Now, it showed a shiny thing falling down, and the kneeling figures reached for it.

What’s this?

[<The Origin Crown. Kyr’Vhal’s earliest creation, later broken into seven.>]

’So all the crowns came from a single one?’

[<Yes.>]

I kept walking.

Everything remained the same, but—

The star in the carvings began to crack.

The fractures widened—until finally, in front of the kneeling beings, it shattered into ten pieces, and blood poured down.

That blood became smaller stars.

’...’

No way.

I felt a grip on my chest as a thought flashed past my mind.

[<It’s exactly what you think. When Kyr’Vhal was dying, his organs became the Primordial beings. His flesh and blood birthed the lesser gods.>]

I swallowed hard, pressing forward.

Then—

My steps halted.

The carvings had changed.

They now depicted something grotesque.

Ten children.

A lifeless body.

And the ten feasting upon its remains.

Their faces covered with blood and flesh.

[<Ever wonder why the Primordials are stronger than all other gods?>]

’...’

Even though I knew the answer.

I didn’t want to hear it.

[<They devoured the Creator. They ate him alive.>]

’...’

I took a moment to compose myself.

Too much.

This was too much.

I needed some time to process it.

"Hm?"

But just as I looked forward, my eyes caught a weird engraving.

Tall buildings.

Bustling streets.

Small figures.

Planes in the sky.

Even though it looked like Lumina... it wasn’t.

It was Earth.

******

"The first cycle ends now!"

A voice echoed through the grand hall where the students had gathered.

"Excellent work, students!"

The voice was bright, almost cheerful, as if trying to lift the heavy atmosphere.

But—

With exhaustion hanging over them, it barely made a difference.

"Now, it’s time to guess who the killer is!"

A delighted clap followed, the voice practically humming with amusement.

"Each group’s representative will step forward to make their guess. If you choose not to guess, you may withdraw."

A murmur filled the place as students started eying each other suspiciously.

Fifteen hours without sleep had drained them, their paranoia only worsening by the second.

"Now, representative of Onyx group, please come forward."

The students all turned towards the group.

A silence lingered before a boy with long, vibrant orange hair stepped forward.

His cat-like blue eyes flickered with unease.

Amaury stopped at the center of the hall, exhaling deeply.

"Make your guess, Amaury."

The voice quieted, waiting.

Amaury inhaled sharply.

Truthfully, he had no idea who the killer was.

His team refused to listen to him, making things infinitely harder.

But—

A wild guess wouldn’t hurt.

With another steadying breath, he answered.

"It’s Elijah."

Silence.

Then—

A dramatic pause.

"You’re wrong."

Groans erupted from his teammates, but Amaury barely reacted.

They had no right to complain after refusing to cooperate.

"As a penalty for a wrong guess, Team Onyx loses two thousand points."

"What!?"

Amaury’s head snapped up, glaring at the air as if he could see the speaker.

"You never mentioned a penalty!"

"Then you shouldn’t have been foolish enough to assume there wasn’t one."

The voice turned cold, dismissing him entirely.

"Now, Team Azure—"

"We withdraw."

Zenith’s firm voice echoed through the hall.

"Alright then, Team Crimson—"

"We withdraw as well."

Another interruption.

"Same for Team Verdant."

Elijah’s declaration brought an abrupt hush over the room.

"Sigh, fine."

The voice grew fainter, as if retreating.

"But if none of you catch the killer by the next round, you will all be disqualified."

And just like that, it disappeared.

The countdown reset.

Fifteen more hours.

Students dispersed, the once-crowded hall quickly emptying.

Yet, in one of the corners, a lone figure remained.

Aimar stood still, staring at the glowing numbers on his bracelet.

3,000 points.

"Kill some more, brother."

A voice whispered beside him.

Aimar turned his head.

There, mirroring his every feature, was a boy identical to him.

His golden eyes met piercing gray.

"It’s more than enough to win," Aimar muttered, beginning to walk.

"Nah, it’s not."

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His twin followed, hands tucked in his pockets.

"You think the other killers will just sit around?"

"Doesn’t matter."

Aimar shook his head.

"Killing too many will only draw suspicion."

He shrugged. "Fair."

They walked in silence, the dimly lit corridor stretching endlessly.

Until—

"Are we sure it’s him?"

"No, it could be anyone."

"But—"

"What if we’re wrong?"

A group of four girls approached from the opposite direction.

Aimar recognized two—they were in his group.

His gaze shifted to the girl with long black hair and striking, glowing green eyes.

Elise.

"Aimar."

She smiled as she stepped closer.

"What are you doing here?"

"Nothing much," he shrugged. "Just wandering."

His words trailed off as Elise suddenly leaned in.

She took a slow breath—sniffing him.

"Why do you smell like blood?"

Silence.

Aimar’s eyes flicked toward his group members.

Their faces paled.

Their wide eyes screamed the same thing.

"Run!"

One of them yelled as they turned around.

Aimar sighed.

He stepped forward.

And vanished.

The girls barely had time to react before he reappeared—blocking their path.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand.

Two invisible blades shot forward, striking their chests.

Electricity crackled as teleportation magic swallowed them whole.

His twin looked at him with bright smile.

Aimar turned back to the two remaining girls.

One of them trembled violently.

"W-wait—stay back!"

She stumbled backward, her breath hitching.

Aimar kept walking.

"I said stay—"

She choked mid-sentence.

Blood dribbled from her nose.

Her chest tightened—like her body was inflating from the inside out.

Her horrified gaze snapped to Elise.

…Who was smiling.

Brightly.

Then—

She vanished.

Her body swallowed by the teleportation portal.

Aimar finally looked at Elise.

She tilted her head, smirking.

"A curse that turns blood into moss," she mused. "It kills from the inside out. All I need is a single drop."

She stepped closer, stopping inches from him.

"Are you a murderer too?"

Aimar stared down at her.

"I am."

She smiled sweetly.

"Cool."

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

Elise grabbed his wrist.

"I have a proposal."

Aimar glanced over his shoulder.

"What?"

Her smile widened.

"Team up with me."