Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 237  [Festival Of Love] [5] [One After Another]

'...What a pain.'

I let out a tired sigh as I slowly walked toward the stage, the students around me kept murmuring.

...I was planning to go at the very last so I could have enough time to prepare myself.

But, no.

That fucker friend of mine couldn't let me live quietly.

Thinking about him, I turned and glared at him.

He grinned back, raising the pack of popcorn.

'I will remember this, you fucker.'

No matter how long it takes, I will definitely take my revenge for what he did.

Even though I walked slowly, I reached the stage in no time.

The beautiful lady named Layna welcomed me with a smile.

"I don't think you need any introduction," she said as she passed the blindfold to me.

"Thank you for the compliment," I replied with a fake smile as I took the blindfold.

'I should have just stayed home.'

I grumbled in annoyance as I placed the blindfold over my eyes.

'Hmm?'

But as soon as I did, I felt a distortion of mana around my eyes and ears.

The murmurs of the students, which were clear just a while ago, now sounded garbled.

'A magical equipment?'

I guessed as I touched the blindfold.

...Perhaps there have been cases of cheating before, so they developed a defense mechanism.

'Probably for the best.'

I thought as I drew in a deep breath to calm myself.

Now, it's either do or die.

"Are you ready, Sir Azariah?" Layna asked as she helped me face the crowd of students.

"Yes."

"Do you need some time to prepare?"

"No, I am ready."

Is it just me, or is she acting extra friendly with me?

[...It's your face; some girls turn polite when they see someone handsome.]

'.....'

I'd rather not talk about it.

Ignoring all that, I tried to listen to the murmurs around me.

And even though I couldn't make sense of it, I could vaguely feel the collective emotions.

'...A gasp.'

I thought as I sensed a lot of people gasping together.

'...Either someone too beautiful or unexpected.'

I can rule out the unexpected because I'm pretty sure Christina would eat her alive if anyone tried to walk before her.

...Now that I think about it, that's scarily true.

"First question: Guess the name."

Layna's voice echoed in my ear, which was oddly clear.

'Maybe the mic?'

"Christina," I replied without thinking much.

"Correct," Christina's voice echoed from behind me.

"Second question: What is she wearing and the color of her dress?"

"...A white gown that looks like a bridal dress, but not quite one," I replied, guessing her dress. "Oh, and she likes flowers a lot, so there should be some design related to it on her sleeves."

"...Correct."

[Do you know this from the game?]

'No, only Ashlyn participated in the game.'

[Then how?]

'...I just know her enough.'

...And I'm pretty sure she's smiling like crazy right now.

"Third question: Accessories."

"An engagement ring on her left hand," I replied immediately.

"That's cheating," Christina's grumbling voice echoed.

"It still counts," I replied with a light smile.

A silence lingered, which I assumed was because of the notebook thingy.

"Last question: What does she love the most about you?" Layna asked as I drew in a deep breath.

"Everything," I replied without thinking much.

"...Correct."

A distorted round of applause echoed as I sighed tiredly before reaching for the blindfold.

"Wait a minute." And as if my worst nightmare came true, Layna stopped me from taking it off. "We have another participant."

I sighed, already feeling more exhausted than I was from climbing twelve hundred steps.

Layna awkwardly asked the question again, "First question: Name."

'Let's just lie and get this over with.'

[Are you sure?]

El's voice echoed, making me halt.

'What?' n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

[How long are you going to feed them lies? Isn't it time for you to tell them the truth?]

'What do you want me to do?'

[It's up to you, either tell the truth and accept them or—.]

'Reject her, huh?'

[...]

I sighed in my mind as I softly replied, "Ashlyn."

"...Correct."

Layna stayed quiet before she asked, "Second question: Her dress and color."

I drew in a deep breath as I replied softly, "...A traditional golden dress that belonged to her mother."

"Correct."

...Yeah, I remember seeing it in her house.

"Third question: One of her accessories."

A tricky one, but knowing her, she would definitely go for, "A platinum earring."

"Correct."

Again, a small silence lingered as Layna took her time to note her answer.

"Last question: What does she love the most about you?"

"How I always take care of her and how I always save her first from any threat," I replied as I rubbed my sweaty palm.

I just want to go away now.

"Correct."

A voice echoed as I sighed in relief, at last.

This time no one clapped, and I don't even care about that.

"Wait!"

But just as I reached to remove the blindfold, Layna stopped me again.

'...Not this again.'

Even in the distorted voices, I could clearly hear someone laughing hard.

And I definitely know who he is.

'...I will remember this, Aimar.'

"We have one more participant," Layna informed me of the obvious.

"Fine," I grumbled, as I already have an idea of who she is.

Layna took more time to arrange herself as she asked once more, "Name?"

So she started cutting down on words as well?

"...Shyamal," I replied with a tired sigh, knowing soon I am going to have a headache.

"Correct," Shyamal's voice echoed from behind.

Even though she's the easiest to guess, that doesn't make me happy in the least.

"Her dress and color?" Layna asked, and I'm now sure she's cutting down the words.

"A black bridal dress," I replied without thinking much. "It also has a beautiful pattern around her shoulder and neck."

...Knowing her, she's definitely wearing it.

"Correct."

Thought so.

Layna stopped for a few seconds as she asked, "Accessories?"

"Do we count weapons as accessories?" I asked, looking nowhere.

"...Yes."

"Sweet, she's holding a scythe," I replied while shrugging my shoulders.

"Correct."

Easy.

Wait! Fuck!

I shouldn't be happy about this!

For fuck's sake!

Again, a slightly longer time than before, and Layna asked the last question, "What does she love the most in you?"

I sighed as I brought the mic close to my mouth, "...I remind her of Shane."

"...Correct."

I sighed as it finally ended, but still, I didn't reach out for the blindfold this time.

I waited.

And I don't know why I did.

But of course, a distorted collective gasp echoed once again.

'...Unexpected.'

...Why her now?

Why her of all people?

What does she want now?

"We have a new participan—."

"I know," I cut in her awkward voice, my frustration clear.

Taking deep breaths to calm myself down, I waited for her to continue.

Layna once again asked, "Name."

"Arianell."

"...Correct."

Stopping the urge to ask 'What the fuck is she doing?' I patiently waited for the next question.

"What is she wearing and the color of her dress?"

"A light blue princess gown," I replied, as I already know her preference.

"Correct."

...Wanna-be princess.

"Guess one of her accessories."

"...Are we counting flowers?" I asked, to which she replied positively.

"She's holding a bouquet of blue roses," I replied as I tapped my legs on the ground anxiously.

"...Correct."

And finally, Layna took her sweet time to ask the last question, and the time that felt like eternity, she finally asked.

"What does she like the most about you?"

I drew in a deep breath as I felt something uncomfortable in my heart.

Because I know the answer better than anyone.

"...It's blank," I replied with a light chuckle. "The notebook is empty."

"...Correct."

Finally, I took off the blindfold before someone else tried to get in.

My eyes slowly adjusted to the light as I looked down.

...And, oh, the look in everyone's eyes.

It felt like they were going to shred me into pieces.

Only one boy was laughing his ass off.

...Fuck you, Aimar.

"Now, in this type of condition." I turned to look at Layna as she whispered softly, "You have to choose one of them."

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I turned to look at the girls.

They all had various emotions on their faces, which I tried not to notice.

"Now, Sir Azariah, choose one."

Finally...

...Time to end all this.