Mystica: Reincarnated Into A Novel As A Villain With 3x Reward System
Chapter 32: Desires of the rotten heart, are they?

Chapter 32: Desires of the rotten heart, are they?

Astrea looked at Arvian, her voice full of hope as she spoke. "But Arvian, soon the professors said there will be an Academy tournament. The top 10 students will be chosen for a long-term tour with all the other nations. I wanted to go on this Academy tour with you and fight by your side. Could we do that before you leave..Imean we.?"

There was a long silence. Arvian’s heart raced, but no words came out. He wanted to speak, to tell her what he truly felt, but the Rotten Dark Heart inside him resisted. It was as if it, too, didn’t know what to say.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the heart spoke, but it was not Arvian’s voice.

"Yeah, why not... we will."

Astrea smiled, her eyes shining with happiness. "Thank you so much... I really, really love you," she whispered, stepping closer to him.

Arvian’s chest tightened. Inside, he was still struggling, still trapped, but the heart had manipulated the situation, leaving him feeling more lost than ever.

Astrea wrapped her arms around Arvian tightly, holding him close. "I will go back, see you tomorrow, Arvian..." she whispered, her voice soft and warm. A smile touched her lips as she pulled away, giving him one last look before heading for the door.

As the door creaked closed behind her, a heavy silence filled the room, leaving Arvian alone once again with his conflicting thoughts and the cold presence of the Rotten Dark Heart.

Arvian lay back on the bed, his mind swirling with confusion.

"What is it that this Rotten Heart wants? What does it mean for me? Am I even myself anymore? Can I live the way I want?"

The questions piled up, suffocating and never-ending. The heart’s influence over him was undeniable now. It wanted something—he wasn’t sure what—but it was clear it was shaping his actions, pushing him into decisions that didn’t feel like his own.

"I can’t just play with her... I’m not even sure I feel the way she does, but now I’m stuck... I have no choice."

The weight of the situation sank in. He had to force himself to fit into this new reality, to feel something for Astrea. But didn’t the system say he’d lose his emotions? Why then, did he still feel something now, even if it was just the pull of the heart?

"Why is this happening? What’s the purpose behind all of this?"

Arvian clenched his fists, frustration building. He had so many questions, but there were no answers in sight.

Arvian lay there, lost in thought.

"I can’t support either side... Evil or Good, neither feels right to me. The system says no matter how hard I try to act, I can’t feel emotions. I can’t ignore the bitter truth anymore. I now understand why the heart told me to leave... it’s better not to get involved in the war."

But even with that understanding, he felt conflicted. Something deep inside him was pulling him in different directions, and the more he thought about it, the more strange feelings stirred in his rotten heart.

"I can’t make sense of any of this," he thought, trying to shake off the unease. It was easier to just dive into a fake scenario in his mind, a distraction from the overwhelming thoughts and emotions he couldn’t fully grasp.

Arvian’s heart raced as the strange, double-echoed voice rang through his mind.

"Let’s have a duel, let’s have a duel. The winner will make the other obey."

Before he could process the words, the system screen appeared before him with a cold, clear message:

[Hey, The Bloody Demon King wants to make a duel with you.]

[Do you agree Y/N]

Confusion and fear flooded his mind. He didn’t understand what was happening, but before he could stop himself, his hand moved on its own. His finger hovered, and with no clear thought behind it, he tapped "Yes."

"What am I doing?" he thought, his chest tightening with unease.

But deep down, he knew: it wasn’t fully him making the choice. It was the Rotten Heart, taking control again, steering his actions toward something he didn’t fully understand yet.

The screen faded, and a strange, chilling presence loomed over him.

The moment the duel was set, Arvian found himself transported to a strange, dreamlike world. The air was thick with a red, eerie glow, and the ground was covered in dark, sticky puddles.

It felt like he was standing in the heart of a nightmare, where the sky above was a swirling mix of blood-red clouds, and twisted, jagged shadows loomed all around him. It was a place that seemed alive with darkness, a realm that belonged to the Bloody Demon King.

The air suddenly became heavy, as if it were weighing down on his chest. The air became suffocating, and gravity seemed to pull harder, making every step feel like an effort.

In the blink of an eye, a figure appeared, moving like a flash of light. It moved and vanished in a flash, then reappeared in another location as it danced across the battlefield.

The figure moved so quickly that it appeared as though there were thousands of them, each one changing positions quickly. The power in the air crackled, and Arvian felt a cold chill run through his body.

The figure suddenly stopped moving, standing just a short distance away.

It was tall—towering over any human—with blood-red eyes and jagged teeth that twisted in a grin that was eerie and screeching. Two horns of pure energy extended from its head, crackling with power.

There was no doubt. It was Zaryx.

Everything felt real—too real. This wasn’t a dream. Arvian had truly been pulled into Zaryx’s domain.

And then, without warning, a system screen materialized in front of Arvian, glowing ominously.

——〔Duel-Quest〕——

Quest Title: The Duel Between Zaryx (The Bloody Demon King) and Arvian

Objective:

Defeat Zaryx, The Bloody Demon King, in a battle.

Reward:

Full control over Zaryx’s power.

Zaryx will obey your commands.

10000 Novel Store Points

Time Limit: Not available.