Maybe I really am a Villian

Asher returned to his room and was just about to fall onto his bed for a nap when his mobile suddenly started ringing.

He glanced at the screen and saw that it was his father calling him.

Asher calmly picked up the call and placed the phone on a nearby table.

A moment later, the mobile projected a holographic image of Edward sitting calmly in his office.

Asher looked at the projection and said, "So, why did you call out of nowhere today?"

Edward replied calmly, "I heard what happened today during the Spirit Selection. Are you feeling anything unusual with your mental state or your body?"

Asher looked at the projection and said, "You got the information quite fast, as expected of one of the fastest men alive. But somehow, you’re always slow when it comes to getting the most important information and acting quickly on your decisions."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"It’s nothing. There is nothing wrong with my mind or body, so there’s no need to worry. And I’m not an idiot who would sacrifice his own health. As you already know, I’m one of the most selfish and honest people alive."

Edward looked at Asher for a moment before saying, "I know that, but I’m still sending someone to check on you. He’ll arrive there once he’s free from his duties."

Asher simply nodded and said, "Okay. Do whatever you want. I don’t have any problem with that."

After that, Asher ended the call and fell onto his bed.

"So the spirits can sense it and view it as something dangerous, but they can’t tell what it is."

"Is it because their nature is almost completely opposite to it?"

"Whatever. There’s no need to worry as long as they can’t identify it or physically sense it."

"As long as I don’t use that element in public, no one will know about it or sense that something is wrong."

"Let’s just sleep for now."

"I should enjoy this peace while I still can. Who knows whether I’ll get to enjoy it in the future or not?"

With those thoughts in mind, Asher slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Meanwhile, in Edward’s office.

The call had just ended.

Edward looked at the mobile for a moment before saying, "He isn’t lying, but he also isn’t telling the whole truth. I guess he really doesn’t trust anyone, not even me."

Arthur, who was standing in front of the desk, replied calmly, "Young Master is just cautious by nature, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t trust anyone."

Edward looked at Arthur for a moment before saying, "No, you’re wrong, Arthur. He really doesn’t trust anyone. And why would he? He has already been the target of two assassination attempts."

He stopped speaking for a moment before continuing in a slightly angry tone.

"And that was inside his own home, despite the fact that he wasn’t even competing for the succession. And where was I at that time?"

He paused again.

"Yeah, I was in the middle of some important discussion with my dear father-in-law, while the people who were supposed to be protecting him failed to do their jobs."

Edward looked at Arthur and asked, "What happened to those people, Arthur? What was the reason they weren’t present at that time?"

Arthur hesitated for a moment before answering, "They were threatened to leave Asher alone. If they didn’t comply, their families would be killed."

Edward looked at him and asked, "And who threatened them, Arthur?"

Arthur hesitated once more before replying in a low voice, "We don’t know. They took their own lives before revealing anything. They were afraid that if they spoke, their families would be in danger."

The space in the room began to crack slightly.

Edward spoke again.

"And Asher survived on his own. I didn’t even learn about that assassination attempt until Asher told me himself."

Arthur lowered his head and remained silent.

Edward continued, "I really am slow when it comes to receiving the most important information, just as Asher said. Quite ironic, isn’t it? One of the fastest men in the world is slow when it comes to learning about his own son."

Arthur still said nothing.

Edward continued, his voice growing colder.

"And one attempt wasn’t enough. There was another assassination attempt as soon as I left again. This time, the people protecting him weren’t threatened."

He paused.

"They were the assassins."

The cracks in space spread further as several objects in the office began to break apart.

Edward looked at Arthur and continued, "Isn’t it funny, Arthur? Assassins were able to infiltrate the household so easily. What were the people responsible for screening everyone before they entered the estate doing?"

Arthur answered in an even lower voice.

"They were either bribed or threatened."

He hesitated before continuing.

"And we still haven’t found any evidence or clues regarding who was behind it."

Edward let out a cold laugh.

"But everyone knew who was responsible. Yet I still couldn’t do anything because of the invisible shackles binding me."

He leaned back in his chair.

"And when we returned home after hearing about the assassination attempt, what did we find?"

He looked at Arthur.

" Corpses"

"The assassins died with an expressionless face, as though they had seen the God of Death himself before taking their last breath."

Edward’s eyes narrowed.

"And then, a few days later, the person who ordered the assassination was assassinated by her own maid."

He paused.

"And then the maid took her own life."

Edward looked directly at Arthur.

"Eric’s mother died, and her entire family had no idea who was responsible. Everyone who had been in contact with that maid during the previous few days also died mysteriously through accidents or apparent suicides."

Silence filled the office.

Then Edward spoke once more.

"Humans are really easy to kill, no matter how strong they are. Betrayal can kill anyone."

He looked at Arthur.

"Isn’t that right, Arthur?"

Arthur remained silent.

Edward continued, "And Asher..."

For the first time, his voice became quieter.

"Even after both assassination attempts, he continued acting as though nothing had happened. He never complained."

Edward stopped and looked at Arthur.

"And when I asked him why..."

He paused.

"He told me that it didn’t matter."

Edward’s gaze turned distant.

"He said that only you can truly protect yourself. Trusting your life to someone else is foolishness."

His expression became complicated.

"People may say that way of thinking is wrong, but in the end, you are alone."

He slowly closed his eyes.

"You have to protect yourself alone"