A Villain by Default

I'm hunched over the sink in the men's restroom, my knuckles white as I grip the porcelain, trying to steady myself. The world spins in nauseating circles, and my stomach burns like fire, twisting in ways that feel as though I'm being ripped apart from the inside out. The cool metal of the sink is the only thing keeping me grounded, the coldness biting into my skin as my breath hitches in shallow gasps.

Dignity+.

That damned trait is suffocating me again. It's like a weight around my neck, dragging me down, forcing me to hold it together, to appear composed, even as my body betrays me. Even as it demands to be vulnerable, to show weakness. But I can't. I won't.

Dignity+ says I'm not allowed to show anything less than perfection.

I grit my teeth and try to breathe through the pain, the bitterness rising in my throat. This is the worst it's been. I've dealt with this before, but it never gets easier. It feels like my own body is rebelling against me, like the more I try to hold my head high, the more it tries to drag me down.

The door to the restroom creaks open, and I freeze. There's no time to hide. I can't recover in time, not with this much pain.

I expect it to be a classmate, or worse, an instructor. But no. Instead, Silva walks in. My maid. She stands there for a moment, eyebrow raised as she takes in the sight of me clutching the sink like it's my lifeline.

"Master Eclipse," she says, her voice as calm and composed as ever, not even the slightest hint of concern. "I brought you some water."

I blink, confused. Water? In here? Of all the places to meet, this is the least appropriate. My gaze darts to the door, but I can't tell her to leave. Not with Dignity+ crushing me into silence. The trait twists the words into coldness before I can even speak them.

"No," I manage, forcing my voice to sound indifferent, even as it trembles. "I'm perfectly fine, Silva."

But she doesn't leave. She doesn't even blink.

She steps closer, her eyes narrowing as she assesses my posture, the stiff lines of my shoulders. "If I may, you don't look fine."

A bitter laugh almost escapes me, but I suppress it. This isn't something I can laugh about. Her concern, her sympathy, it just makes everything worse. Dignity+ won't let me accept it, not from someone beneath my status. It's like a cruel joke. And it makes my stomach twist even more.

"Do you need a drink?" she asks, holding something out to me. It's not water anymore, but a small vial of something else. I don't know what it is, but it's the last thing I want right now.

"No," I croak, the word coming out sharper than I intended. "I might die if I drink that."

She gulps, clearly startled. For a moment, there's a silence that stretches, thick and heavy, as if I've said something absurd. Which, in a way, I have. But that's what it feels like. Everything feels like it's teetering on the edge of collapse, and the last thing I need is anyone's pity.

After a long pause, Silva nods. "The trial will be starting soon, Master. We should prepare."

The mention of the trial jolts me upright, a rush of cold clarity washing over me. The trial. Right. That thing. The one that's supposed to be my chance to prove myself, to do something, to escape this damnable life. My family's watching, the Academy's elite, everyone waiting to see if I can rise to the challenge or fall flat on my face. Not that I have much of a choice. I'm trapped in this role, whether I like it or not.

I straighten my back, trying to suppress the nausea. I can't afford to show weakness now. Not with all those eyes on me.

"Let's go," I say, forcing the words out through gritted teeth, and Silva gives me a quiet nod before leading me out of the restroom and toward my dorm.

Inside, I change quickly, pulling on a fresh set of clothes. A dark shirt, plain, with silver embroidery running down the seams. It's the least flashy option I can find, but it's still more than I feel like I deserve. I tug at the sleeves, glancing at my reflection in the mirror.

If I had a different face, a different life… Maybe then I could just be normal. Maybe I'd have a girlfriend. Maybe I'd have freedom.

But that's not the life I'm living. Not now. Not with Dignity+ suffocating me, dictating every breath I take.

A loud bell rings through the Academy, echoing down the halls and snapping me out of my thoughts. The trial's beginning.

I grab my things and head out, Silva by my side, her silence as steady as ever. The air is thick with anticipation as we walk toward the central assembly hall. There's no escaping what's coming.

Inside the hall, the crowd of students stands like a sea of faces, each one brimming with their own hopes and fears. Some of them I recognize, names from the game, their abilities already burned into my mind. They all look so much more real in person. And that's what makes it worse. I'm not just here for a game anymore. This is real.

My gaze drifts over the crowd, landing on Caelum and his entourage. My pulse quickens. The Hero's path is unfolding, and I'm supposed to be part of it. Whether I like it or not, I'm a pawn in someone's game.

The sound of footsteps silences the murmurs in the room. Everyone stands straighter, and I know she's here.

Lady Aurelia. The headmistress. Her presence fills the hall, cold and sharp like a blade. She's as imposing as the stories made her out to be, her golden hair gleaming in the light, her eyes piercing. The room falls silent under her gaze.

"Welcome, students," she begins, her voice ringing out with authority. "Today, we will begin the first of many trials you will face. Only the strong will rise to meet the challenges ahead. Only the worthy will lead in the war to come. And only the exceptional will survive."

Her eyes sweep over us, assessing, calculating. I can feel the weight of her words, heavy and suffocating. I've been through enough of these trials in the game to know what comes next.

The first trial. The one that decides everything.

"Prepare yourselves," she continues, her gaze cold and unyielding. "Your survival is a top priority. I trust you've all been informed, so I won't waste your time with more words. The first trial begins now."

A flicker of motion, a surge of mana, and then—nothing.

The world spins.

And I'm somewhere else entirely.

The forest awaits.