Reincarnated As A First Rate Villain: I Don't Know How To Play My Role Chapter 4

The faint creak of the heavy doors echoed behind Lucien as he stepped into the grand library of House Velebrandt. Towering shelves lined the chamber, reaching towards a high ceiling painted with celestial murals. Dust particles danced in the filtered sunlight streaming through the high arched windows, casting a serene glow upon the polished floor.

Lucien took a breath, his footsteps muffled by the luxurious crimson carpet. He scanned the seemingly endless sea of books, their spines bearing golden titles and ancient runes. "This... this could take a while," he muttered.

Hours passed. Row after row, shelf after shelf, Lucien poured over texts ranging from geography to arcane theory. And yet, what struck him most wasn't the knowledge—no, it was the language.

He was reading fluently.

"...Wait," Lucien whispered to himself, blinking in realization. "This isn't Japanese... or English. I don't even know what this is."

Even more perplexing, he'd been speaking it too—effortlessly. Whether it was to his maid, the guards, or his parents... It ca naturally, as if ingrained.

He leaned back, closed the dusty to, and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Is this part of the character I reincarnated into? Or the system adapting to this world?" He considered it briefly, then let out a sigh. "Well, if it benefits , no point in overthinking it."

With that, he turned his focus back to the text.

The next to was thick, bound in beast hide, and etched with tallic sigils. Its title: The Core Principles of Power and Awakening. Lucien flipped through the pages, eyes widening with every line.

This world didn't run on a singular form of strength. Instead, it was divided into three primary forces:

Aura — A raw and physical power, honed through discipline and body refinent. Often wielded by humans, beastkin, and intelligent monsters. Aura reinforced the body, weapon strikes, and heightened instincts.

Mana — A mystical energy that flowed through the leylines of the world. Elves, Drakari, witches, and many magical races were born with access to it, often bending nature and the elents to their will.

Holy Power — A divine energy bestowed upon devout followers by deities, particularly through the Church of Elyssira. Used for blessings, healing, and smiting evils—though not all races pursued it deeply.

Interestingly, so powerful races didn't rely on the Church. While they respected the divine, they often lacked practitioners of holy power among them. Instead, they awoke their potential—be it aura or mana—naturally from birth or shortly after.

Lucien furrowed his brows as he flipped to a section on system awakening.

> "Once an individual awakens to mana or aura, the system interface will unlock, providing insight into their talent, path, and potential."

"...Then why is my system already unlocked?" Lucien whispered, glancing to the faint symbol always lingering in his mind's eye—his interface, already active.

And yet... there was no aura registered.

"I haven't awakened to anything yet..." he murmured.

He turned the page again, eyes narrowing at a passage.

> "Most humans are brought to the Church at age 10 to undergo their awakening ritual. So succeed, so don't. Those who fail beco ordinary civilians."

Lucien leaned back, thinking hard. "So my body hasn't reached the age for awakening yet. That explains the absence of aura or mana..."

Still, it left him with questions. Why did his system activate? Was it because he reincarnated into this world? Was it because of the demon's influence that once possessed this body?

"...Whatever it is, I'll need to be ready. If the 16 heroes awaken at age 10, and they're one year old now like my brother... I still have ti."

He closed the to with a soft thud, eyes filled with a burning determination.

"I need to prepare... if I want to survive this world and rewrite fate itself."

The grand library of House Velebrandt had grown silent, save for the occasional flutter of parchnt as Lucien turned page after page. Candlelight bathed the dark-wood shelves in a soft golden glow, and the lingering scent of old vellum and leather bindings gave the air a certain tilessness. Despite his young age, Lucien sat cross-legged on the velvet-cushioned seat, hunched slightly over an open to thick enough to be a weapon.

The next few hours were spent buried in more tos, each one peeling back the veil on the world he now inhabited.

---

Lucien flipped to the next volu—a thick geopolitical atlas detailing the known world. A fold-out map revealed four massive continents, sprawled out in sweeping detail. His eyes scanned to where a golden mark indicated the Continent of Aerithrall.

> Ho. My ho now.

This continent was the beating heart of civilization—ho to the vast Human Empire, divided into six great Archduke Houses. It was also the land of the Elven Enclaves, the Drakari Clans of the Skybound Peaks, and the ocean-bordering kingdoms of the ranth.

At its center, an intricately illustrated tower marked the Reinegard Empire Academy—the prestigious stronghold of education and talent that united young elites from all races between the ages of fifteen to twenty.

Each race's empire held its own dominion:

To the West, the lands of House Velebrandt, facing the edge of the Abyssgate Wastes.

To the North, cold and perilous, lay House Dragelheim and the frost-bitten Drakari settlents beyond.

The East was verdant and alive with ancient magic—protected by House Florentel and bordering elven territory.

The South Seas danced against the coastlines of House Rheimara, guarding against deep-sea horrors and ranth diplomacy.

House Solcrux, high above in the floating spires and airborne forts, controlled the Skylands Gate, where the mysterious Celestians passed.

And finally, the Veilscar, a region corrupted by ancient magic and abyssal echoes—policed by the ever-secretive House Obrechtz.

Each Archduke House was responsible not only for their lands but also for balancing the Empire's delicate peace.

Lucien traced the central academy with a finger. That... is where my fate will inevitably lead.

---

As he read further, he discovered the second continent—Varnakar—where beastfolk ruled mighty empires of claw and honor. The Lupans, Leonin, and Ursari dominated with strength and pride, separated from Aerithrall by dangerous sea currents and drifting ley storms.

The third land, Nytherra, was darker. Witches, rogue Drakari, dark elves, and fractured human empires fought for power in an ever-shifting balance of war and secrecy. Few ever returned from Nytherra unchanged.

And finally, in the very center of all—the cursed continent of Nythraxis.

> The Abyssian Domain.

A land of black skies, perpetual twilight, and an earth that whispered curses. It was the birthplace of the Abyssian King, the origin of the Eternal Abyss, and the stage where the previous heroes fell.

Lucien closed the book slowly.

> So this is the stage I've stepped onto... a world of blood, war, politics, and prophecy. And I... the villain of a failed era... am sohow here again.

He leaned back in the plush chair, watching the candle burn low. His thoughts swirled.

About the 16 heroes.

About his brother.

About the awakening to co.

---

Outside, the moon had risen high above the Velebrandt estate. A cold wind brushed against the stained glass of the library, and for a mont—just a mont—Lucien thought he saw a pair of red eyes staring from the mirror's surface.

But when he turned—nothing.

Only his reflection, and the quiet hush of the world waiting for him.