THE PERFECT VILLAIN: Another chance with a system
Chapter 20: Velroth

Chapter 20: Velroth

Niel’s breath caught as he heard the name, though something in that moment felt off. He should have launched out to find her, should have torn her apart for what she’d done, regardless of her excuses—and yet none of that stirred in him at all. Instead, he felt nothing.

No hatred, no anger, no sadness. If anything, he could sense a faint stir of excitement building beneath it. The moment he heard her name, something surged in him rapidly, almost like rage, but it died just as fast, as though it had never been there at all.

A smile grew on his face briefly before he turned away.

Claire: You seem eerily calm now. For a moment I thought you’d set the world on fire.

I’m just as surprised as you, Claire. Well, let’s go see what this hero brings.

He glanced at Mia and stood up. "Let’s go welcome the hero."

Dan and Mira were already ahead. They all walked out of the bar and made their way to the village square, where people had already begun gathering.

They pushed to the front of the crowd, where villagers were chanting loudly.

"Lady Amira! Lady Amira!! Lady Amira!!!"

She had reached the square and was waving at the villagers around her. Niel tried to work out why she was here—the village was far too small for a hero to bother visiting, and worse, the statue was still standing, which meant this tiny place of barely fifty people somehow had two heroes tied to it.

Something didn’t add up, and as he thought further, a memory surfaced in his mind.

***

[6 years ago]

"Arghhh, I keep postponing the visit, and the longer it drags on, the harder it gets to actually go," Amira said as the group of five heroes sat beneath a tree in the woods.

"Where are you talking about?" Aurelian chipped in.

"My hometown. It’s a small village in the west," Amira replied with a casual smile.

"We could go after this mission, if you like," Cael added, biting into an apple.

"No, we can’t. We still have a demon heir to hunt. You know Lambadack would burn through too many cities if we don’t keep track of her," Amira sighed, exhausted.

"Yeah, we really do have to find her," Aurelian added, then turned his gaze fully to Amira. "Anyway, in case we ever split up and go separate ways—how would I know it’s your hometown?"

"Oh, it’s a small town, less than fifty people." Amira paused, a smile lingering on her face as her eyes drifted up to the sky and stayed there. "My hometown is called... Velroth."

***

Velroth. This is her hometown.

Almost immediately, a blonde woman walked past him. Her confidence, her bearing, her scent—forever burned into his memory. Unmistakable. Amira.

She stepped up to the podium where Aurelian’s statue stood. She lingered there in silence for a moment, letting the crowd settle, then cleared her throat.

"Hello, everyone. It’s been a while since I last came here—four months, if I recall." She paused, letting it sink in, then continued. "The heroes have been out, slaying demons and keeping peace across the kingdoms."

She stopped for a moment, then turned and looked up at the statue. "Though, not all of us."

She stood there in silence, and for the briefest fraction of a second, Niel caught something genuine in her expression as she gazed at the statue—something close to sorrow.

Is that—is that regret I see?

Claire: Perhaps. Having a change of heart?

Niel let out a faint laugh, his voice barely above a breath.

"Never."

Amira turned back to the crowd and drew a deep breath. "I hope one day we can build a better world for everyone—especially those who can’t defend themselves."

The crowd fell silent, as though they understood exactly what she meant, and it only deepened Niel’s need to know what had happened to Aurelian’s name and reputation since his death.

She closed her speech with one final line that caught his attention.

"I’ll be staying for a week to help however I can. I hope that, with your support, we can make the most of it. Thank you all."

She gave a polite bow and stepped down from the podium. A few children ran up to her, and others followed, buzzing about the news they’d heard. She smiled warmly back at them, every bit the picture of someone truly good.

Niel felt strangely irritated—not from hatred, but something closer to disgust—though he kept it hidden well enough that no one noticed.

Claire: You have a plan.

We’re going to make one. And one week is the deadline.

---

Soon they arrived at a small apartment shared by Dan, Mira, Anna, and Mia. It was an unremarkable home, the kind he vaguely remembered from his past life, though he still couldn’t work out how the four of them counted as family when none of them resembled one another.

As soon as they stepped inside, the first thing he saw was a young woman in a bright green dress, her long ginger hair catching the light. Her smile seemed to light up the room as she held a tray close to her chest.

"You guys are right on time. Dinner’s ready," she said, smiling.

Mia and Anna ran to hug her. Anna spoke first. "Hey, Luna, Lady Amira came, and she’s staying for a week!"

"Oh, really? I’ll pay her a visit tomorrow," Luna replied.

Mira and Dan brushed past her toward the dining table with nothing more than a "hey, Luna" by way of greeting. For people who’d eaten only a few hours earlier, they seemed far more thrilled to see the meal than to see her.

The family gathered at the table, and everyone began eating, Niel included, though he noticed something odd about halfway through the meal.

First, he could actually taste the flavor of her cooking, which struck him as strange given his earlier experience. Second, he could feel her gaze brushing against him now and then, as though she were studying him. He wondered if there was some habit the real Niel had at meals that he’d overlooked.

After dinner, everyone retreated to their rooms. Niel waited patiently, tracking whose room belonged to whom so he wouldn’t wander into the wrong one, and once he’d worked it out, he went to lie down for a nap.

He’d barely settled when a knock came at the door.

"You may come in."

He answered without moving. The door clicked open, and Luna stepped in carrying a cup of orange juice.

She crossed to him and held it out. "Here you go. You always like orange juice before bed."

He wondered if that was part of the real Niel’s routine, but he didn’t question it—just took the cup and murmured, "Thank you."

Silence settled between them for a moment before she broke it. "Niel?"

"Hm?" he answered, meeting her gaze.

"Are you okay?"

Am I okay? Did I—did I slip somewhere?

Niel thought, but answered almost at once. "Yeah, I’m just tired. We barely survived the cave today. I think I just need some rest."

She studied him a beat longer than she needed to, then leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Alright. Sleep well."

She murmured, turning toward the door. As she reached it, she glanced back at him, and for the briefest moment there was something searching in her eyes. Then she offered a small smile and walked out.

Niel stared after her in confusion for a moment before reaching up to touch his forehead.

I see. There might have been something between them, and that’s going to be a problem. I may have just slipped up without meaning to.

He looked down at the juice, wondering if it was safe to drink.

Claire, what would happen if I drank a poisonous substance?

Claire: Nothing—you’re completely immune now, thanks to the poison abilities you acquired.

Good to know.

He thought, tipping the cup back and draining it in one go. He set the mug down on the table beside his bed and stared at the door for a while before muttering to himself.

She’s sharp.

He let out a quiet laugh under his breath.

At least I’ve found someone in this village with a brain worth noting. I’m impressed.

Claire: —and by that, what do you mean?

Niel’s lips curved as he answered, casual as ever:

"She dies next."