Why Am I The Villain?! Reincarnated in My Favorite Novel-Chapter 44: A Garden or The World

Two figures emerged from the shadows at the back of the room. One wore a crooked smile. The other moved slowly, upright, silent.

Eve perched on the edge of an armchair, legs crossed, gently swinging her foot. Roman remained standing behind her, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the screen.

"Well?" Page asked, watching them both with a faint smile. "What did you think?"

Roman was the first to speak.

"Your eyes see farther than ours," he said simply.

Page raised an amused eyebrow and lifted her hands in mock helplessness. "You’re no fun, Roman. Good thing Eve’s here to keep things interesting."

Eve chuckled softly.

"I thought he was cute. A little too sure of himself, but those Dark Hand people... they’ve got charm." She tilted her head toward Page. "That said, be careful. My eyes might not see as far as yours, but I have a feeling they’re not as pliable as the Volga."

Page slowly turned her head toward the screen, where the two characters from the old film were still dancing awkwardly.

"Makes things more interesting," she murmured. Then, louder: "Roman. Tell me... what do you think my eyes saw in them that you haven’t seen yet?"

A short silence followed. Roman tilted his head slightly. At last, his gaze met Page’s.

She laughed softly and stood, brushing off her coat absentmindedly.

"I found a partner," she said, with a strange smile.

Eve tilted her head.

"You mean him? Their so-called master?" She sat up a bit. "Do you know who he is?"

Page turned away from her and walked slowly toward the dusty curtains at the back of the room.

"What I know could hurt you if I say it too soon," she replied without looking back. "It’s not time to reveal everything."

She paused, then turned to Roman.

"But I do have a task for you."

She pulled a small, carefully folded paper from her coat’s inner pocket and handed it to him.

Roman stepped forward, took the paper between two fingers, and unfolded it. A name was written on it, followed by a hastily scribbled address.

"Find this person," she said. "They’ll be our new... friend."

Roman nodded slowly, without a word.

"What kind of person?" Eve asked.

Page shrugged, smiling. "Someone who could be useful. Someone who knows things."

Eve crossed her arms, glancing over Roman’s shoulder to try and read the paper. "A new friend, huh?" She stretched lazily. "Feels like we’re gonna end up having to eliminate more people."

Page looked at her, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"You don’t like that?"

Eve burst out laughing.

"I never said that."

Roman took a step toward the door.

"You want a report when I find them?" he asked without turning around.

"No," Page replied. "I’ll let you handle the recruitment."

Roman nodded, then vanished into the shadows.

Page sat back down in the armchair, crossed her legs, and stared at the screen without really watching it.

Eve sat beside her.

"I’ve never seen you this excited. Is the Dark Hand really that interesting?"

Page closed her eyes for a moment.

"I’ve seen things. Their master... he’s not a stranger to me."

Eve raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You’ve met him?"

"No. But I’ve seen the aftermath of his work."

Silence settled between them. The film neared its end, the reel crackling softly as the final scenes played out.

Eve murmured, almost to herself, "If I get killed because of you, I’ll haunt you."

Page opened one eye, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"I’ll build you an altar. Fresh flowers every morning."

Eve laughed again, but this time, her gaze grew more serious. She glanced at the screen, now rolling the credits.

"You really intend to go all the way, don’t you?"

Page didn’t answer right away. Then, calmly, she whispered, "I want to see what’s at the top of this world."

Eve frowned slightly.

"What if it’s just a wall?"

Page turned to her, her eyes oddly bright in the dark.

"Then I’ll blow it up."

The film cut off with a sharp snap. The light flickered, then died. Darkness wrapped around them.

"You’re insane, you know that?" Eve muttered.

"That’s why you’re still here, isn’t it?" Page replied gently.

Eve shrugged with a sigh.

"I like fires."

"Roman’s already left the district," Page said, changing the subject. "In forty-eight hours, he’ll have located our ’friend.’ And you, Eve... I need you to look into something."

"Let me guess."

Page gave a dry chuckle. "You should be an actress. Dig up everything you can about Project Lazarus."

Eve’s expression darkened, her usual nonchalance slipping. "Lazarus?"

Page stood. "What if I told you the Dark Hand succeeded where the Empire failed?"

---

Roman moved between rusted shipping containers.

A metallic creak rang out. Roman froze, his hand brushing the blade hidden under his jacket.

"You’re wasting your time," growled a rough voice. A man stepped out of the shadows. "The person you’re looking for is dead."

Roman inclined his head slightly. "The dead have a bad habit of coming back."

The man narrowed his eyes, wary.

"Who sent you? And how did you find this place?"

Roman didn’t move. His voice was calm, measured.

"I can’t tell you... unless you agree to come with me."

The man gave a dry, humorless laugh.

"I don’t want anything to do with the Stone anymore. Far as I know, the Empire’s got you on a leash, no?"

Roman slowly raised a hand, palm open, in peace.

"The one who sent me knows how to slip through the tightest nets."

"I don’t care. Leave."

That’s when Roman saw it: a quick movement — a young teen sliding in front of a smaller, fragile figure, half-hidden in the shadows of a collapsed container. And others... more figures lurking in the corners.

"You’ve built an oasis here," Roman said quietly. "A shelter in this forgotten hole."

The man clenched his jaw.

"I told you to leave."

Roman nodded.

"You don’t have to worry. I get it. But... what’s the point of protecting a garden when the world is about to burn?"

"I’ll protect my garden, that’s all."

A silence. Roman’s gaze sharpened.

"You’re selfish."

The man stared back.

"No more than the ones in power."

A sigh. Roman stepped back.

"I’ve said my piece. I’ll wait three days. After that, I’ll leave."

The man said nothing, but his eyes said it all. Waste your time if you want.

Roman gave one last glance toward the child in the corner. Then he turned, ready to vanish again.

But something surged forward.

A black tentacle, sleek and veined with midnight-blue, lashed out from between two containers.

Roman pivoted sharply, dodging in a flash, his hand already reaching for his blade.

"Shit!" the man swore. "You were followed!"

Roman frowned, eyes locked on the source of the attack.

A figure slipped from the shadows: a tall woman, dressed in black.

She smiled.

"Looks like another hunter is after the same prey..."

Roman straightened, blade drawn, eyes razor-sharp.

"You should’ve stayed hidden."

The woman tilted her head, amused.

"Oh, but I did. Just long enough."

She cracked her knuckles. Another tentacle coiled around her.

At that moment, the man let out a guttural cry, stumbling back, hands clutched to his head as if crushed by invisible pressure. He staggered between the containers, knees trembling, eyes wide with panic.

"They... they’ll never leave me alone... never..."

Nereva watched him.

"You don’t need to worry," she said at last, her voice soft as velvet. "Aside from me and this dear gentleman, no one else even knows this place exists."

But the man didn’t hear her. He kept shaking his head, mumbling brokenly, "They’ll find me... they’ll find it all..."

Roman slowly stood, his breath uneven, eyes locked on Nereva. He saw the children, the frightened figures huddled together.

"Get them out!" he shouted at the man. "Now! Take them! I’ll handle her."

Nereva laughed, crystal-clear. "Oh, you’re adorable." She stepped forward, and with the same motion, three tentacles whipped toward him, slicing through the air like whips.

Roman twisted, his blade cutting through them cleanly, the severed ends thudding to the ground. Without hesitation, he launched forward, leaping onto a container to gain height.

More tentacles shot toward him, but Roman dodged with supernatural agility, using some as springboards to propel himself closer to Nereva.

She laughed again, light and almost childlike, but with a feral edge.

"So cute. Playing the hero? Very well — let’s play."

With a fluid motion, she raised her hand, and a swarm of tentacles burst around her like living serpents. They struck at Roman, sharp and vibrating.

But Roman didn’t flinch. His blade was already in motion.

In a blur of speed, he sliced through the tentacles, his sword drawing arcs of light and steel.

Nereva, caught off guard, took a step back, her eyes gleaming with renewed interest.

"Interesting..."

Roman became a streak of motion. He tore through the air, cleaving the black flesh with ease. The tentacles tried to trap him, crush him — but he slipped between them, relentless.

Finally, he reached her. He raised his blade, ready to strike.

But something shifted.

A massive tentacle, far larger than the others, surged from the depths, roaring as it tore through the air.

It slammed into Roman with the force of a speeding train.

He had no time to dodge.

The impact hurled him through several containers, metal walls folding like paper. Dust and debris exploded into the air as he crashed into a crumbling building.

Silence fell. Heavy.

Nereva approached slowly, her tentacles folding around her like a moving gown. She stared at the spot where Roman had landed, her smile fading into genuine surprise.

"Fascinating," she whispered. "You’re not a Deviant... and yet... Who are you, dear sir?"

She stepped closer.

"You’re not ordinary."