Young Master's PoV: Woke Up As A Villain In A Game One Day

Every single Spirit Beast lurking in the ruins was implanted with an explosive device.

The moment I snatched the flag, the heads of monsters across the battlefield simultaneously exploded.

Their mangled bodies twitched and fell lifelessly one after another, like grotesque fireworks going off in rapid succession.

—BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

A few Cadets screamed.

Others just stared around, their faces pale.

But most simply slumped to the ground with exhausted grunts.

In the very next second, a loud announcement echoed through the ruins.

It was Selene's voice, amplified by some sort of Spell Card in a way that made it sound like she was standing right next to us:"The test has ended.

Squad 27 has captured the flag.

Cease fighting.

I repeat, all Cadets cease fighting immediately.

"I took several long breaths while wiping a trickle of blood off my chin and looked around.

The plaza was in… well, ruins.

Stone buildings shattered.

Craters smoking.

In the distance, monster corpses scattered like confetti made of flesh and bone.

Cadets strewn across the area in various states of exhaustion, injury, and existential crisis.

It looked like the aftermath of an apocalypse.

A few meters away, Michael had finally made it to his feet, shoulders heaving.

His armor was scorched, dented, and coated in ash.

He had taken off his helmet, revealing his onyx hair that stuck to his forehead with sweat.

He looked like he'd crawled out of a volcano.

But instead of worrying about himself, he dismissed his armor and moved to check on his teammates.

Alexia and Kang had been flung back earlier after getting caught in my attack.

They were now lying several feet away on the ground.

They looked fine.

I hoped they really were fine.

But honestly, I was too busy savoring the sweet taste of victory to care about anything else.

After all, I had just won.

I defeated my sister.

I defeated the royals.

I defeated the main characters.

And the best part was that I practically did it all on my own.

All alone.

Okay, sure — my team helped a little in the end.

But I was the one who carried us to the win.

And if I could pull this off here, then I could definitely handle that mock war.

I could surely find a way to beat Thalia.

This test proved I didn't need anyone.

I didn't need support.

I didn't need an army.

And I sure as hell didn't need things like friendships and teamwork.

As edgy as it may sound, why would I rely on others when I could continue to use them to achieve the desired result more efficiently?

So, yeah.

Even if I was going to be outnumbered and outgunned during the mock war, I'd still find a way.

A way to control the pawns, flip the board… and win.

I allowed myself a satisfied smirk, the flag still clutched in hand, breathing hard like a war hero from a dramatic film.

…Well, if that hero also happened to be a slightly unhinged tactician with a questionable moral compass.

That was when I heard slow, mocking claps behind me.

I turned to see a dark-haired girl limping toward me, her bloodied face barely hiding the murderous glare in her eyes.

"Bravo!

" Veyna Rosen, my dear teammate, yelled hoarsely.

"Bravo, you absolute psychopath!

Ditching us, starting a monster stampede, using the flag as bait, and then when we come to help you, blasting us with a fatal attack?!

Truly, a masterclass in treachery!

"Her right arm and left thigh bore second-degree burns, no doubt from getting hit by my light arc.

The light leather armor she donned before the test had disintegrated, and what was left of her combat uniform hung off her figure in rags.

She gripped the dagger in her left hand tighter as she closed in — and judging by the pure, visceral fury in her expression, she was one second away from plunging that knife into my face.

Luckily, Reiner stepped in just in time to grab her from behind.

I should mention he didn't look much better himself.

Half of his torso was also badly burned, his combat uniform blackened and torn in places.

His tentacles had already vanished since he'd deactivated his Origin Card, leaving him looking more human — and a lot more exhausted.

He wrestled Veyna back, barely restraining her as she thrashed around in his hold.

"Whoa," I said, raising both hands in mock surrender.

"Calm the fuck down, dagger girl.

The healers will patch you up.

You'll be fine.

"Veyna froze for a second — like I'd said something so profoundly stupid her brain refused to process it — then exploded with anger again.

"You think that's the problem?!

" she rasped.

"The problem is that you knew we were in the blast radius, and you still fired your attack anyway!

"Her voice cracked by the end, sounding raw and shrill.

I winced.

"But that's exactly why I did it.

It was a strategic move.

No one expected that.

That's why it worked.

"Her eyes bugged.

"We're your team!

""And we won," I said simply, as if that explained everything.

"That's what matters.

"Her jaw dropped and it looked like she was about to scream again… but Reiner clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Just let it go," he muttered, holding her back.

"He's not worth the aneurysm.

"She kept struggling a bit longer, then sagged — not because she calmed down, but because she ran out of strength.

Reiner half-carried her for a moment, letting her catch her breath, before finally letting go.

"You're an asshole," she hissed while glaring at me with venom.

Then turned and stomped off, still limping.

"Pleasure working with you too!

" I shouted after her brightly.

Reiner sighed one of those long, soul-weary sighs that carried the weight of bad decisions and even worse teammates.

Then he looked at me.

I admit I was a little surprised to not find even an ounce of anger on his face.

He didn't even look disappointed.

Instead, his gaze was full of calm indifference.

"Hey, Theosbane," he said in a flat tone.

"When we get back to the Academy… could you take your name off our Squad?

I don't think it'll work out between us.

"I blinked and stared back at him in the silence that followed.

Then shrugged like it made no difference to me.

"Sure.

Whatever.

"