Chapter 13 – I Hate Him

I hated him instantly.

He was a walking, talking betrayal-repellent. The kind of guy who radiated so much heroic energy that villainy just slid right off him. He was an obstacle. He was a contamination of my perfect, grimy, corrupt setup.

This man would never, ever betray me. Not even if it was his only option to save the world.

So I had to get rid of him. I had to get rid of him before he said another disgustingly noble word.

Damn. Everything was going so right.

“My name is Siegfried.”

His voice was as smooth and polished as his ridiculous golden hair.

I could feel my face twisting into a scowl. My pure, unfiltered hatred was probably visible from space.

Kenji and Daisuke looked confused. Reina just stared at me.

“Is something wrong, Ryu-kun?”

My blood ran cold.

Ryu-kun?

She gave me a nickname. A cute, possessive little nickname. This was a level-five yandere flag. This was the point in the story where the male side character gets chained up in a basement.

Damn, this girl is crazy.

I had to play the part. I had to be weak. I had to be pathetic.

I let my head loll back against her shoulder, my eyes wide with fake fear.

“N..nope.”

My voice was a pathetic squeak.

“It’s just… I have a bad feeling about him.”

Yeah, a bad feeling. The bad feeling that he was a genuinely good person. A nauseatingly, heroically good person who would ruin everything.

That was the outrageous truth.

But I couldn’t tell them that. They’d see my true, edgy nature. I had to keep it ambiguous.

Reina’s grip on me tightened. Her gaze shifted from me to Siegfried, and her sweet expression was replaced by a look of cold, hard appraisal.

“I see.”

Her voice dropped an octave.

“If you don’t trust him, I don’t trust him either.”

That’s good. At least that’s one good thing to come out of this mess. That guy is probably too good for his own good.

Siegfried, completely unaware of the murderous intent now aimed in his direction, flashed a dazzling smile. It was a smile designed to win over kingdoms and disarm armies.

He ignored Kenji and the others. His focus was entirely on me, the pathetic ‘damsel’ being cradled in Reina’s arms.

“You must be the wounded hero I’ve heard whispers about.”

He glided forward, his movements fluid and practiced. He subtly positioned himself between us and Mayor Pedro, effectively boxing out the one person I needed.

Look at that! He’s so noble he’s shielding me from the ‘corrupt’ mayor! His goodness is blinding! It’s disgusting!

Siegfried extended a hand, his white leather glove perfectly clean.

“Allow me to escort you. A warrior of your caliber shouldn’t be… inconvenienced.”

He was trying to take me from Reina.

Her arms became steel bands around my torso. A low growl rumbled in her chest.

Siegfried’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes were cold. They held a flicker of annoyance, a flash of contempt for the scene. He saw weakness, and he wanted to take control.

He reached into a pouch on his belt and produced a small, crystal vial filled with a shimmering, silver liquid. It looked absurdly expensive.

“I have superior medical supplies.”

He held it up for all to see.

“Let me tend to your wounds properly.”

It was a power play. A blatant, arrogant display meant to establish dominance. He was showing them all that he was better equipped, more prepared, and more heroic than they could ever be.

This guy wasn’t just a hero. He was a condescending jerk.

But my friends couldn’t see that. They only saw his flawless exterior.

And all I saw was my perfect betrayal scenario slipping away. This guy would never offer them a bag of gold to leave me in a ditch. He’d probably offer to carry me himself.

I couldn’t let that happen.

I needed my villain. I needed the greasy, corrupt, wonderful Mayor Pedro.

I made my choice.

With all the strength I could muster, I lifted a weak, trembling hand. I pointed past Siegfried’s perfect, shining form.

I pointed directly at the sweating, terrified-looking mayor.

“No…”

My voice was a pathetic, dying rasp.

“I… I trust… the mayor.”

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Kenji looked like I had just confessed to worshiping the Demon Lord. Reina’s head tilted, her homicidal intent momentarily confused.

Siegfried’s perfect smile finally faltered. He looked at me, then at the gormless mayor, and a flicker of genuine disbelief crossed his face.

Then Reina, with a decisive nod, followed my lead. She turned her back on the shining hero and marched us toward the sweating, corrupt official.