* * *

Suppressing a sigh, I tapped the shadows.

“Enough pointless chatter. Get inside.”

—Just saying…

—Ignore them! Ignore them!

—Myaaahk.
“I get it. Now get in.”

—Heewon, don’t overdo it…

—Don’t get hurt!

—Mwaah.

The three creatures chimed in one last time before retreating into the shadows.

I had decided to leave, but I had no clear destination.

The only option that came to mind was visiting Lee Shinhae to explain the situation and request help.

I doubted he’d hand me over to the Hunter Management Bureau.

It was the best choice available, so I pulled my cap down low and stepped out of the dungeon.

The fresh air tickled my nose, a sharp contrast to the dungeon’s slightly acrid smell.

Thankfully, this dungeon was on the outskirts of Seoul.

If it had been in a crowded area, escape wouldn’t have been this easy.

“You’re here.”

As I made my way to the main road to hail a taxi, a familiar figure greeted me—Lee Jaehee.

Judging by his composed demeanor, as if he’d been expecting me, it was clear he’d foreseen my arrival.

Without hesitation, I yanked him toward me with my skill.

His body was pulled through the air and stopped right in front of me.

Even restrained by immense force, Jaehee’s smile never faltered.

“Hello, Heewon.”

“I’m not fine.”

“That’s to be expected. You’re unwell, after all. There’s no sign of improvement either…”

I frowned deeply.

How much did they know about my condition?

Knowing them, probably everything.

My fists clenched tightly.

“What the hell are you people up to?”

“What do you mean?”

“The terror incident.”

“Hm.”

“Was it your doing?”

Lee Jaehee curved his eyes and smiled delicately.

On the surface, it seemed gentle, but his expression was laced with venom.

“Since God refuses to help, we have no choice but to handle it ourselves.”

It was practically an admission.

My clenched fist tightened.

I lightly pressed against Jaehee’s neck, but he remained unfazed, as if confident I wouldn’t kill him.

Should I just kill him?

The thought of extracting information instead crossed my mind—surely, it was better than killing him outright.

At the same time, I realized this hesitation was my subconscious unwillingness to take a life.

I glared at Jaehee.

Oddly, the more aggressive I became, the more he seemed to enjoy it.

“I saw it. What kind of relationship I had with you in the past.”

How could he possibly have seen that?

Setting aside the logistics…

It was not something pleasant to remember.

I had treated him as a tool, a slave in the past.

Yet, Jaehee looked euphoric.

“You were strong and beautiful, Heewon. You were mercilessly tearing this world apart. The world was spiraling toward ruin, and I was captivated by it. Back then, and even now, after seeing those memories.”

I couldn’t make sense of Jaehee’s reaction.

If he wanted to take revenge on a world that persecuted him, that would be understandable.

But why choose the path of destruction?

“Why do you want to destroy the world?”

“Because it’s more fun that way.”

“…Fun?”

“Yes. No lofty reasons. I’ve thought this way since I was a child: breaking things is enjoyable.”

“You’re insane.”

“Haha.”

Jaehee laughed aloud.

His genuinely amused expression made my skin crawl.

“I’m here to make a final proposal.”

“……”

“Will you help us now? It’d be better than running away and dying a miserable death.”

“Shut your mouth.”

My words didn’t seem to intimidate him; he only laughed again.

“Don’t you want to bring Sehoon back to his senses?”

“And you can do that?”

“Of course.”

If he was so confident, did that mean Kim Kyungmin was the one who brainwashed my uncle?

Or was this just an empty bluff?

Even if my uncle could be restored, in this situation, there was no way I could align with them.

“I have no intention of doing that.”

“You’re so stubborn.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

I gritted my teeth.

I wasn’t here to trade words anymore.

Lee Jaehee had to die here.

I couldn’t afford another failure like with Kim Kyungmin that led to an even bigger disaster.

Don’t hesitate.

I exerted force on Jaehee’s body, enough to easily snap a human neck.

But just as I was about to tighten my grip, Jaehee smirked.

A system window materialized between us.

[Attempting reassessment.]

It was a type of window I’d never seen before.

Following that, a painfully familiar message appeared.

[Reassessing compatibility with Trait ‘Villain’s Qualities’.
Control rate of Trait ‘Villain’s Qualities’ is decreasing. If control rate reaches 0%, the trait will run rampant.

Current control rate: 75%. ]

---

I coughed up blood.

The strain made it impossible to maintain my hold on Jaehee, and he slipped free effortlessly.

As I staggered, Jaehee retrieved a small item from his inventory.

“See you next time—if you survive, that is.”

Jaehee taunted and disappeared.

Just as I was about to collapse, dust emerged from my shadow and lunged at the lingering system window that read Attempting reassessment.

Is this visible to others?

Normally, system windows were only visible to the individual.

A system window visible to others was unheard of.

Dust descended to the ground, releasing black mist from its body as its eyes glowed golden.

Dust’s skill, Devour, activated, granting it the power to use the effects of whatever it consumed.

Dust stared at me intently.

Then, a new window popped up.

The penalty for decreasing the control rate of Trait [Villain’s Qualities] has been removed.

Wait… Is this Dust’s doing?

Can it intervene with the system?

My shock was short-lived as yet another window appeared.

[Trait [Villain’s Qualities] is being ■■.

Trait [Villain’s Qualities] cannot be deleted.

Trait [Vill■■ Qualities] is ■■■■ed.

Trait [Villain’s Qualities] cannot be deleted.

Access denied. Do not tamper with the system.]

While I was frozen in confusion, Dust stumbled and collapsed, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The thick smell of iron made my heart drop.

“Stop it.”

[Trait [Vill■■ ■■■ties] ■ ■■■■■■

Trait [Villain’s Qualities] cannot be deleted.]

Further attempts to interfere with the system may result in death.

Please cease system access immediately.

Dust was trying to delete the trait, but it was impossible. Despite the warnings, Dust kept trying.

“Dust!”

[■■■ [■■■ ■■] ■ ■■■■■■

Trait [Villain’s Qualities] cannot be deleted.]

“If you keep interfering, you’ll die. End it now. That’s an order!”

Dust’s body went limp at my command.

The windows finally stopped appearing.

“Ugh…”

I swallowed the rising lump in my throat.

This wasn’t the time to cry.

I pulled a potion from my inventory and poured it into Dust’s mouth.

Thankfully, Dust managed to drink it despite its weak state.

I didn’t know how effective it would be, but it should at least soothe its battered insides.

I hugged Dust’s blood-soaked body tightly.

Its small, warm form trembled in my arms.

Thankfully, Dust was breathing steadily.

It didn’t seem like it would succumb immediately, but I couldn’t relax.

I held onto it, constantly checking its condition.

“Hiwon… someone’s coming…”

Lost in my thoughts, Yeon’s voice jolted me back to reality.

After some deliberation, I pushed Dust back into my shadow.

It would be safer there than being jostled in my arms.

I couldn’t let anyone else find me like this—not when my uncle or Baek Gunho might be searching for me.

I had to act as if nothing had happened.

Pulling my hat low over my face, I left the area.

The cold wind swept past me, and tangled thoughts churned in my mind.

The reassessment message…

It seemed related to Lee Jaehee.

The timing was far too coincidental, and his attitude was excessively relaxed, as though he had some ace up his sleeve.

There was no way such a thing was possible solely with Lee Jaehee’s own power.

Perhaps some transcendent being was interfering with the system itself to aid him. The situation wasn’t looking good.

Still, one relief was that the penalty for losing control had disappeared.

Thinking it came at the cost of Dust’s sacrifice left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Regardless of what might have been done, I wouldn’t be vomiting blood like this.

Though even so, losing control when the synchronization rate dropped would still be inevitable.

I started walking toward the main road again.

“Ahhhhhh!”

A scream stopped me in my tracks.

Turning toward the sound, I saw a crack forming in the distance.

I had hoped no gate would appear along my path, but…

Monsters started pouring out of the gate.

I wanted to ignore it and keep going, but the screams wouldn’t let me.

This place, remote as it was, was still inhabited.

Even if a Hunter arrived, casualties could occur in the blink of an eye.

With that thought in mind, I was already running toward the commotion.

* * *