Villain MMORPG: Almighty Devil Emperor and His Seven Demonic Wives

Villain Ch 1132. The Beginning of The Darkness [Part 4]

Elio’s jaw clenched, the anger fading from his voice, replaced by something more raw, more vulnerable. “You’re already sacrificing yourself. Piece by piece, you’re losing who you are for a kingdom that doesn’t even see your worth. Is that what you really want? To disappear into the shadows of the people you protect?”

Zael raised his eyes to meet Elio’s, his expression one of deep conflict. “I want them to be safe. That’s all that matters. If I have to give up pieces of myself to make that happen, then so be it. My life, my happiness—they’re a small price to pay for their peace.”

Elio sat back, the exhaustion from the emotional exchange catching up with him. “And when you’re gone, what will they have left? A hero who died for them, or someone who could have lived and done more?”

Zael smiled, but it was a sad, weary smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ve already gone too far down this road. But I can’t promise you that I’ll change. All I can promise is that I’ll try to take it one step at a time. Maybe, one day, I’ll find a way to balance it. To protect the people and not lose myself completely. But for now… this is who I am.”

Zael’s words cut through Elio. He wasn’t facing an enemy, but someone who shared the same inner struggles, someone who mirrored the same pain. It was unnerving, looking at Zael and realizing how similar their paths were. The difference was, Elio still had a chance to change—Zael’s fate seemed already sealed.

Zael stood up from the table, looking at each of them in turn. “Thank you, my friends, for trying to help me. I don’t know what lies ahead for me, but I’m glad to have met people who see me for more than just a soldier. I’ll take what you’ve said to heart. I can’t promise anything, but I will try… one step at a time. Okay?”

Elio swallowed, nodding slowly. “One step at a time.”

Zael smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He turned away, looking toward the empty throne in the distance, his hands clenched at his sides. There was something final about his posture.

Azura glanced at Elio, her eyes soft with understanding. “It’s hard, isn’t it? Seeing yourself in someone else like that.”

“Yeah,” Elio finally said, his voice rough with emotion. “It’s hard. I… didn’t expect it to be this personal.”

Before Azura could respond, Mila broke the silence, her voice small but determined. “I… I want to try something.” She hesitated, glancing nervously at the others. “I want to try to seduce him. Can you guys help me?”

Elio blinked, his focus shifting. His brow furrowed slightly as he tried to process her words. “You want to seduce him?”

Mila nodded, biting her lip as she shifted in her seat. “Yeah. I mean, that’s part of the event, right? We’re supposed to explore different paths, and I feel like… maybe we can help him in a different way. I mean find his weakness. He seems lonely, lost even. Maybe if we pamper him, make him feel wanted, it’ll open up another side of the story.” Her cheeks flushed slightly, as though even saying the words made her feel embarrassed, but there was a determination in her eyes that surprised the group.

Azura tilted her head. A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “Oh, right. We haven’t taken that path yet.” She glanced at the others before leaning back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s try it. I’ll seduce him too. If he’s already conflicted, we can use that. He’s vulnerable right now—emotionally, I mean. We can get close to him, and maybe through that, we’ll learn more.”

Mila’s face brightened at Azura’s agreement, clearly relieved she wasn’t alone in this idea. “Exactly! If we just… pamper him, make him feel like he’s not alone. He’s carrying so much on his shoulders, and right now, he just looks… lonely.”

Father^Alex tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “You mentioned ‘lonely’ twice.”

Mila’s face turned a deep shade of red, and she quickly averted her gaze, fumbling for words. “I… I just think it’s something we should explore.” But the truth was, her mind had wandered back to something far more personal—something she wasn’t ready to admit aloud. Zael’s gaze had reminded her of someone else.

Allen.

Two years ago, after he had won that grand tournament—her first real memory of him—he had stood on stage, triumphant, surrounded by applause and cheers, but his expression had been eerily similar to Zael’s. He had won, but the loneliness in his eyes had been undeniable, as if victory had come at too great a cost. He looked lost, adrift in a sea of praise that didn’t reach his heart. The memory tugged painfully at Mila’s chest, and she swallowed hard, pushing it away.

Azura snapped her fingers in front of Mila’s face, pulling her back to the present. “Do you want to start now?” she asked with a teasing smile, her voice laced with excitement.

Mila blinked, her mind snapping back to Zael and the event. She nodded quickly, her blush deepening. “Y-Yeah, let’s do it.” Her voice was shaky, but there was a determination in her eyes. This wasn’t just about the game anymore—there was something deeper driving her.

Azura wasted no time. Without warning, she slipped her arm through Zael’s, pulling him gently but firmly.

Zael looked shocked at first, his eyes widening as he glanced down at Azura’s sudden closeness. His cheeks flushed a faint pink, but he didn’t push her away. Instead, he allowed himself to be led, his posture stiff but curious.

“Come on,” Azura said, her voice soft but with a playful lilt, as if she were coaxing him into something innocent. “You look like you need a break from all that heavy thinking.”

Zael blinked, still looking unsure, but he nodded, his guard slightly lowered. “I… suppose a short rest wouldn’t hurt.”

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