How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

15 – The Villain’s Dignity

Han Chae-yun wanted to own Lee Han.

She thought it was possessiveness.

The heartbeat she felt every time she saw him.

Whether it was made into a toy, a doll, or even if she had to cut off his arms and legs, she wanted to have him.

Her parched emotions thought so.

For her, born with a cursed constitution, the majority of her living moments were agony.

The agony was bearable.

But the pain ingrained deep in her bones filtered out the beauty of the world, the warmth of human relationships from her.

“I will have you.”

That’s why there was no hesitation.

He intended to confine.

He intended to inflict pain.

Somehow, he intended to make him his own.

If he could be seen by me alone through a slight injury.

There would be no hesitation in any action during that process.

Whenever he saw him, the world brightened and his heart would race– if he could keep that feeling.

But then,

“I will return. Please guide me.”

He thought so until Lee Han came back to him.

“Mr. Chae Yoon. This ring… Huh?”

Lee Han, who was holding something out, staggered.

He only reached out his hand with the idea of supporting him. But then.

– Swoosh.

While holding Lee Han who came into his arms, he looked down at his hand.

A ring put on his finger.

… A ring?

“……?”

Even she knows the meaning of the ring given by a man.

Han Chae-yoon’s face turned red in an instant.

“Well, of course I wanted to possess you.”

“…Mr. Chae Yoon.”

“But I guess this is too soon…”

“Dang.. Danger.”

– Swish. Swish.

Lee Han, who lost his consciousness just like that, was looked down at by Han Chae-yoon for a moment.

His heart throbbed.

This was the first time.

Fighting with someone.

Someone entrusting their body to him.

Being near him when he was in the most pain.

Every moment was the first time.

“Ah…”

Han Chae-yoon realized.

There are other valuable aspects besides ‘possession.’

‘First’

Han Chae-yoon grabbed the falling arm of Lee Han.

He finally realized.

If I cut my hand to possess him,

There wouldn’t be a moment of holding his hand for the first time.

If there’s no arm, we can’t hug.

“If you don’t have legs, you can’t take your first walk.

“…I see.”

I want to share all these firsts with her.

It was as if a shower had fallen on her once parched emotions.

I felt my heart gradually soaking up the moisture.

I started to think that this journey might not be too bad.

“In that case…”

She half lifted the unconscious Lee Han.

Then, she lifted her head to look at the ceiling.

“Is this the peril you spoke of?”

All types of monsters were pouring out of the ceiling.

– Screeech!

It’s a spectacle, but not in a good way.

They filled the narrow valley with the force of a waterfall.

“If it’s like this, we are out of options.”

Holding Lee Han in her arms,

Yoon Hanca began to raise her sword towards the approaching monsters and thought,

“Clear the way, monsters.”

I want to try walking this new path.

* * *

As I open my eyes, I see a white ceiling.

[The Inner Eye (level 1) has been activated]

It feels as if I just woke up from a long sleep.

I wanted to savor this lingering feeling a bit more,

But I didn’t have the luxury to do so.

– Syncing…

＜!＞ System level has been upgraded.

[‘Fate of the Villain’ has been upgraded to ‘Dignity of the Villain’]

———「Dignity of the Villain」———

◆ Overview

: Commit as many evil deeds as possible and gather ‘Evilness’.

◆ Details

: Currently activated effects.

＞ Can change the ‘Growth’ system.

From noble mtl dot com

＞ ‘Evilness’ system activated.

◇ Penalty

: If recognized as good act instead of evil, corresponding mental and physical penalty.

——————

“At last…”

With a sigh, I clenched my fist tightly.

Indeed the system level had increased.

But more than anything else,

The feature that had been inevitably forced to activate due to the [Fate of the Villain].

Finally, I could address the acceleration of the growth of the surrounding villains.

‘[Do you wish to change ‘(System) Growth’?]

-Forced Activation feature

: an increase in the growth rate of villains within a certain range.

“How do you change this?”

Lost for a moment, I realized that there were a few options below.

“Increasing growth of surrounding villains. Increase in the growth of villains…”

What. These are all just changing the words.

What’s the point of increasing the system level if it’s like this…

“Oh.”

Despite having a ton of constraints, I found a good one.

‘[The ‘(System) Growth’ has been changed as follows:]

: Increase in the growth of the designated character.

There were many constraints such as relationships with the character, physical distance, etc.

But I like the fact that I can at least choose.

‘Worst comes to worst, I don’t have to choose anyone.’

Shall I give it a try for now?

[The current ‘growth’ targets that can be selected are as follows:]

: Han Chae-yoon, Yoon Hyun-jin.

Huh, Han Chae-yoon is a bit surprising. Considering we worked together these past few days and are rather close, it makes sense. But Yoon Hyun-jin?

Granted, I’ve been trying to prevent her mental breakdown, but… She fundamentally dislikes villains.

Moreover, she’s not physically close to me.

“Is she nearby?

I’ll have to figure this out.

As I was thinking,

– ＜!＞ Synchronization will be carried out for the implementation of the system ‘Evil’.

With the sudden status window, unbearable pain attacked me.

“Ugh…ugh”

If I scream, the nurses will surely come running.

I gritted my teeth, somehow refraining from screaming out.

“Gah…!”

It’s a pain that feels like every blood vessel in my body is being re-engraved one by one.

Pain, originating from my heart, coursed through me from head to toe, and finally subsided back in my heart.

– ＜!＞ Synchronization has been completed.

– ＜!＞ System ‘Evil’ has been implemented.

[System ‘Malice’]

◆ You can replace ‘mana’ with ‘malice’ for usage.

◆ The ‘malice’ used will recover over time.

…Can I use magic only with malice, without mana?

I somewhat anticipated this.

Because I already knew you could consume ‘malice’ to strengthen your body.

But completely replacing mana is different.

Physically strengthening oneself is simple. Because you just burn ‘malice’ like fuel to momentarily let your body’s energy run wild.

But the ability to replace mana means… I can use more complex, so-called ‘magic’.

Wait a moment.

[Activating inner view.]

What magic do I know?

I stretched out my hand,

And conjured up the simplest magic I know.

“Lux.”

At the same time as closing my mouth, a slender light blooms on my finger.

However, it’s not a bright white light, but a fleeting, dark radiance.

[Current Malice: (9.81/10)]

From this visual, anyone can tell it’s magic used by a villain.

.

Seeing the appearance akin to dark magic, I let out a sigh.

“Ahh…”

…Isn’t this too good?

Will all my magic now appear in black?

Ideas for villain plays pop up in droves.

“Heh heh heh.”

Things have become easier for villainy.

Especially, the freshman entrance ceremony is soon coming.

And it’s about time to start the main storylines.

It’s the time for the villain to shine.

Huh, wait …

The first episode was definitely…

As if waiting for me to confirm,

[Main Scenario: ‘Dark Magic’] has been activated.

The main scenario window popped up.

Looks like I’m screwed.

* * *

Same time.

Outside the VIP ward of the Revival Hospital.

[Patient in the hospital: Lee Han]

Yoon Hyun-jin, with a box of Ssanghwatang in one hand, hesitated in front of the door.

‘…What should I say?’

This is his first time visiting a sick person.

He didn’t know what to say or how to strike up a conversation.

All because yesterday, he almost visited the hospital with just a bottle of Ssanghwatang. He took a needless trip after hearing that the patient was out for testing. Observing other visitors, he realized they all brought small boxes of gifts.

‘There should be no problem this time since I brought something.’

Steady now.

Yoon Hyun-jin held the box of Ssanghwatang close to him and took a deep breath.

“Hoo.”

Just as he made up his mind and was about to knock cautiously.

“Who are you?”

A beautiful girl blocked his way.

Black hair and red eyes.

…Where had he seen her before?

“I…um…I’m here to visit student Lee Han.”

“He is unstable at the moment, that kid.”

That kid?

What’s this? Somehow, Yoon Hyun-jin squinted at the familiar sounding nickname.

Just who had such a close relationship with Lee Han?

…Wait a minute. She’s a fellow student.

He’d forgotten her face because she often missed school due to illness.

“Han Chaeyoon?”

“Yes, Hyun-jin. So why are you here? Do you have something to do with our Lee Han? I thought you didn’t like him?”

What? Our Lee Han? Our?

Stumbled at that phrase, Yoon Hyun-jin stuttered.

“I, as the chairman of the student council! I came to see how the student is doing…”

“Did the chairman of the student council have such duty? This is news to me.”

“Lee Han is pro… problematic, it’s only natural for the student council president to su… supervise…”

Yoon Hyun-jin, noticeably flustered.

Looking at him, Han Chaeyoon chuckled internally.

In fact, Han Chaeyoon knew.

She saw Yoon Hyun-jin following Lee Han while he was turned into a cat. Despite saying he didn’t like him.

‘Rival.’

The moment he figured it out. Han Chaeyoon brushed her hair.

The angle was the most important thing here.

She brushed her hair slowly, over and over again so that Yoon Hyun-jin could clearly see her left ring finger.

“!!”

Looking at her, Yoon Hyun-jin gasped.

‘…A ring?’

Even though I hadn’t asked.

Han Chaeyoon answered.

“Oh this. Lee Han gave it to me.”

The story was far from truth.

But it was a fact.

There was no way for Yoon Hyunjin to confirm it.

Thunk.

The ox bone soup box that Yoon Hyunjin was holding fell with a thud. Fortunately, it was air-capped.

“Uh… why?”

“Huh? I wonder, what does it mean when a man gives a woman a ring?”

“Forbidden!”

“What?”

“No romance in school! No proposals in school! No marriage in school!”

Yoon Hyunjin exclaimed exasperatedly, fuming with anger.

Seeing him, Han Chaeyoon could only elegantly chuckle.

“We are just friends who exchanged rings. It’s a friend ring.”

“I…I know! Friend ring!”

“Then there’s nothing to be wary about school rules?”

Although she screamed not wanting to lose… a friend ring? What’s that?

Exchanging rings even though they’re friends.

Yoon Hyunjin was just unable to comprehend.

“So, there’s nothing to be wary about school rules?”

“Ah…uh…”

Buzzing.

Yoon Hyunjin’s functioning brain came to a halt due to overload.

With her face bright red, she ran away.

“You! I’ll show you!”

Looking at Yoon Hyunjin fading away in the distance, Han Chaeyoon sighed.

‘This path is not easy.’

Should I just regain it again?

Just for a moment…

Han Chaeyoon steadied her shaking heart.