I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

James strolled toward the Ferris wheel, his fingers absentmindedly playing with a gold coin pendant he had crafted himself. It was one of his habits—a subtle tic. However, the coin was a poor substitute for the ruby he used to carry. That ruby had been inseparable from him, something he toyed with whenever he needed to think or calm himself.

The coin didn't offer the same comfort, but it served its purpose for now.

"I need to get that ruby back," James muttered under his breath, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "If Queen manages to cross into this world, there might be a way to return to mine."

His obsession with the ruby ran quite deep.

James' whole life had been surrounded by that Ruby, even his death was because of that Ruby.

Walking behind him, Cattleya caught faint fragments of his murmurs, though she couldn't fully decipher them. She found herself wondering once again—where had this man come from? And why was he dressed like a pirate?

It wasn't unheard of for pirates to exist in this era, but the flamboyant, old-fashioned attire James wore belonged to a bygone age. It wasn't the kind of costume one donned casually or as a hobby. No, to Cattleya, James didn't seem like he was pretending. He was a pirate—the way he spoke, the way he moved with carefree confidence, his gestures, his arrogance, and, of course, his insatiable greed. Everything about him screamed pirate.

But was he really a Devil?

No, something didn't add up.

Cattleya couldn't sense the overwhelming, oppressive aura of possession in him. Yet, back then, she had undeniably felt the presence of a Devil.

Could it really be possible for a human and a Devil to coexist in the same body, neither overpowering the other?

The very notion seemed absurd, yet Cattleya couldn't help but entertain the possibility. Or perhaps she was simply trying to convince herself…

If her parents discovered she was consorting with a Devil, what would they say? What would they do?

And yet, here she was.

"Sir, you'll have to wait in line," a staff member interrupted, stepping in front of James, who had been casually bypassing the queue.

"Queue? Are you seriously asking Cattleya Starlight to wait in a queue?" James asked with a sly smile.

"S–Starlight?!"

All heads turned toward Cattleya, whose expression instantly soured.

Though she was well-known, not everyone recognized her by face. She'd taken advantage of this anonymity, using a cap to conceal her features and avoid unnecessary attention. But in one careless moment, James had shattered her carefully maintained peace.

"M–Milady, my deepest apologies!" The flustered staff member stammered, hastily stepping aside and gesturing toward a free cabin. "Please, right this way!"

"What are you waiting for?" James said, and before Cattleya could react, he grasped her arm and pulled her toward the cabin.

"Hya!" Cattleya let out an involuntary yelp as he dragged her inside.

James paused at the door, turning to the growing crowd of onlookers snapping pictures and murmuring excitedly. "You people are seriously annoying. Can we have some damn privacy for a minute? Beat it, you nosy bastards," he growled before stepping inside.

Cattleya sat across from him, rubbing her arm. It didn't hurt, but she was rattled. No one had ever gripped her like that before—firm and unapologetic. It reminded her of when he'd taken her hostage.

She remembered the warmth of his breath near her ear then, and even now, sitting this close, she noticed his scent. He smelled...good. Too good.

"...!"

Cattleya shook her head, banishing the unwelcome thought.

How vile!

She fixed James with her sharpest glare, ready to lash out with venom.

"About the academy. I can't do what you asked me."

"Why not?" James asked casually, leaning back on the seat. He turned to gaze out the window as the cabin rose slowly above the fairgrounds.

"First, we don't know anything about you. Second, you're a Devil. And third," she emphasized, "our academy requires a high standard of knowledge in exorcism and impeccable etiquette—both of which you clearly lack!" She crossed her arms in annoyance. "How am I supposed to get you into the Ocryphoa Academy for Exorcists?"

"Well," James said, a faint smile tugging at his lips, "your grandmother, who was present at the time of the hostage, is the current Headmistress. You could ask her for a favor."

"T–That's…" Cattleya hesitated. "I'm not close enough to her to make such a request. She'd want to know why," she finished weakly.

"Tell her I'm the man who saved your ass in the forest," James replied matter-of-factly, still gazing out the window. "I put my life on the line for you, after all."

Cattleya's cheeks flushed a deep red.

How dare he speak to her like that!

His rudeness was unbearable!

She was a high lady, for heaven's sake!

"If I tell her that, she'll know you intruded on the Exam! You're not from Ocryphia, are you? Questions will start piling up about how you even got in. And Travis has probably already told them about you," Cattleya explained.

"Hm." James fiddled absentmindedly with a gold coin, with a contemplative expression .

This was definitely a problem.

In his excitement over being revived—after a truly miserable drowning death—he hadn't thought to hide his face or withhold his name. Rookie mistake. Not that he regretted beating Travis.

After a moment of silence, James spoke.

"Tell them I'm your acquaintance. No, better yet—your boy friend—"

"Never!" Cattleya snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"Huh? Why not?" James blinked, caught off guard.

He'd only meant it as a close friend, but clearly, Cattleya had leaped to... other interpretations. A pity, really. He'd been crafting an Oscar-worthy tale about how their fates intertwined, turning them into inseparable companions.

"I said no," Cattleya reiterated, crossing her arms with finality.

"Relax. I'll make sure Whiteford knows nothing happened between us. Your beloved idiot will still be yours to pine over," James said, smirking.

"It's not about that..." Cattleya muttered, shaking her head.

Her parents would never forgive her. Worse, she didn't think she'd forgive herself.

James suddenly stood, slamming a hand against the glass above her head, trapping her with an intense gaze. Cattleya flinched, startled by his sudden proximity.

"Cattleya Starlight," he stared down at her. "I consider myself a laid-back man. But don't mistake that for compassion. I'm a pirate. My entire life, I've taken what I wanted without caring about what others thought. I lived as I wished and died with my convictions intact."

Cattleya's heart raced.

"W-What?" She stuttered, her mind spinning. What did he mean he died? He was standing here, breathing—alive.

James leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"I'm not asking. I'm telling you. You're going to get me into your academy. Your mother—she's the headmistress's daughter, isn't she? Ask her for a favor. I know she cares about you," he said, his fingers trailing lightly against her cheek.

Cattleya would normally have slapped his hand away, but something was different about James now.

His smile was still there, but his eyes held no trace of the carefree man she'd been arguing with moments before.

"I—I can't convince her..." Cattleya muttered.

Her mother wasn't one to be swayed easily. First, she'd need a solid reason to agree, and second, the tension between her mother and Isabel Asterion—her own grandmother—complicated matters. Without an ironclad justification, getting her mother to recommend James was nearly impossible.

"Convince her," James said without care. "Otherwise, you're proving to be useless to me. You still haven't delivered the artifact you promised, and now this. Our agreement isn't even halfway fulfilled on my end, yet here you are, strolling around and breathing fresh air like it's owed to you. Don't forget who granted you that life, Cattleya Starlight."

Cattleya's fists clenched on her lap as she glared at him. "H-How many favors are you going to demand from me?"

"That depends entirely on me," James replied with a smirk. "Until your debt is paid."

He hadn't yet mentioned his ultimate goal: gaining access to the Vault. That could wait until he was inside the academy.

"Fine..." Cattleya muttered, her voice barely audible as she averted her gaze.

"Call her, then," James ordered.

"N-Now?" Cattleya looked at him in disbelief.

"Yes, lass. Now," James said with a slow nod, his smile widening. "Or, if you're too scared, I'll do it for you."

Before she could react, James pulled out a phone.

Her phone.

"Hey!" Cattleya let out, shocked. She hadn't even noticed him take it.

James ignored her protests, his fingers scrolling through her contacts until he landed on one.

"Mama, huh?" He said with a smirk, glancing at her reddening face. "That's adorable."

Without hesitation, he tapped the contact and initiated the call.

There was a brief pause before Sina Asterion's voice came through the line.

["Yes, honey?"]

Sina's tone was calm but attentive. She knew Cattleya wouldn't call unless it was something important, given her demanding work schedule.

"U-Um..." Cattleya's voice came out hesitantly.

James's eyes bored into her, urging her to speak. She clenched her fists, summoning courage.

"I want to see you, Ma—mother..." She finally said.

["For what, Cattleya? I'm busy right now."]

"I-It's important!" Cattleya blurted, louder than she intended.

["Honey? Are you alright?"]

Sina started getting concerned.

James sighed, pulling the phone closer to his mouth.

"Lady Sina Asterion. Your daughter is in grave danger. Come to the estate immediately—and bring your dear husband while you're at it."

["W-What?! Cattleya!! Are you okay—"]

James hung up before Sina could finish.

"What have you done?!" Cattleya shouted, jumping to her feet. But her abrupt movement only brought her face inches away from his.

"What you didn't have the nerve to do," James said with a smile. "If you can't handle it, I'll take care of it myself."