Ch.5I Became the Mastermind of a Dark Fantasy

# Chapter 1

At the top floor of a magnificent mansion.

In the most lavish room, a corpulent man trembled, his face deathly pale.

“They were former A-rank knights! Even the mercenaries were all top-tier B-rank!!”

Frantically adorning himself with high-grade artifacts, the man’s name was Louis Gapelt.

He was a viscount of the Babylonian Empire, a capable merchant and a kind nobleman.

Or rather, to be precise…

“Did those rat bastards get their tails caught while dying!? Damn it, who is it? Who’s barging in? Did the families of those I captured band together and hire one of the continent’s top ten mercenaries!?”

He was one of the key figures in a corrupt noble alliance who pretended to be virtuous on the surface.

*Clink!*

His short, thick fingers, fattened by greed, dug through the ornate safe.

Transcendent-grade Regeneration Necklace,

Mythical-grade Magic Disruption Ring,

Mythical-grade Aura Absorption Necklace, and more.

These were the spoils of battle received in exchange for supporting the “Hero Party.”

Artifacts that would be a lifetime dream for some poured out like water, wrapping around his body.

“Good, with these…!!”

Viscount Gapelt was an “A-rank” mage.

Though this rank was achieved not through training but by pouring money into it, the fact that he was “A-rank” remained unchanged.

And now in this emergency, with five mythical-grade artifacts worn, Gapelt believed he had reached S-rank.

Just as he finished his preparations…

“Shall I go in first and cook him? You could hear any answer directly.”

“Don’t be so harsh about cooking. Just asking nicely should be enough.”

“Hmm…?”

“Enough, just open the door, will you?”

Beyond the door, layered with numerous protective spells and barriers, the voices of intruders could be heard.

*Gulp!*

After consuming an elixir as his final preparation, Gapelt glared at the door with a sinister smile.

“…I’ll kill you.”

If they were men, he would tear their limbs apart and display them in the basement; if women, he would coat their bodies with honey and throw them into the dungeon filled with starving creatures.

With his current power, he believed he could evade even one of the continent’s top ten mercenaries.

“Yessir! At your command!”

They were coming.

As Viscount Gapelt crouched in a ready stance with clenched fists, about to activate a 7th-tier spell in sync with the breaking protective magic…

*Clunk!*

“…Huh?”

The door opened.

The defensive magic implemented with an S-grade scroll worth a fortune, and the 8th-tier barrier requested from the “Great Sage” of the “Hero Party”…

*Crash!*

“Wh-what…?!”

They were destroyed without buying even a second of time, scattering into white mana fragments.

‘No, stay calm.’

Though his body was sluggish, Gapelt’s mind was sharp. As he gave up on confrontation and quickly tried to think of persuasive words…

“Hello. You’re Gapelt, right?”

【”Black Curtain(Ex)” is activated.】

◆ Effect

: <Intimidation>: If the opponent feels fear towards <You> even for a moment, from that moment on, they will perceive <You> as death itself. The status ailment <Terror> towards <You> will linger until the moment of their death.

Death loomed over him.

“Guh, gaaack, I-I can’t, breathe, haa, haaack don’t, don’t come near!! Huuuck…!! Can’t breathe…!!”

It felt as if thousands of blades were slicing his body and a cold hand was gripping his heart.

The source of terror was the monsters before him.

“I thought you said you’d speak nicely, Captain.”

The scent of blood hung thick.

White clothes stained red.

Madness overflowing from her eyes.

Horrific doll-like figures that seemed made from crushed corpses were lined up behind the woman, writhing as if ready to pounce.

But that wasn’t it.

The terrible fear crushing him now wasn’t coming from the woman.

“I think I spoke nicely enough.”

A chilling baritone that pierced the ears.

Malevolently undulating hair.

Deep, dark eyes harboring an abyss.

‘It’s this one.’

The monster that drove people to extreme terror, making them wish they could vanish into a dot…

“Ah, aaaah…!! Huaaaack!!!”

As the dense darkness engulfed his entire body, Viscount Gapelt struggled desperately for life.

Pupils dilated instantly,

Legs flailing as if drowning,

Pants becoming increasingly wet.

Whatwasithinkingtonotfleeandeventrytoattackorattempttorecruitsuchamonsterwhenimusthavebeenbornknowingonecanneverescape primordial death.

“Gack, gaaack…!!”

Just facing this being was enough to make Gapelt wail and tear at himself in extreme terror.

How many seconds,

How many hours,

How many days had passed?

Retching in extreme terror, Viscount Gapelt suddenly lifted his head.

‘I’d rather die.’

The only way to escape that monster was to take his own life.

And that would be…

‘Happier.’

*Grin*

Unconsciously smiling, Viscount Gapelt was about to tear out his own heart when…

*Whoosh!*

Like someone pulling him out of a swamp, the terror that had gripped his entire body suddenly vanished.

And immediately following…

“Tell me everything about the Emperor.”

The black monster’s whisper.

As mentioned earlier, though Viscount Gapelt was corpulent, his mind was quick.

“Viscount Gapelt. If you encounter someone who doesn’t use honorifics for the Emperor like we do, don’t lower your guard, but watch them more carefully.”

“Why?”

“Among the forces opposing us, the most dangerous is the ‘Black Wolf.’ They assist the Emperor, but unlike us, they don’t use honorifics.”

“How ridiculous. Are they friends with the Emperor, that monstrous woman?”

“Don’t be curious. Don’t even try to know. The moment you become curious about them, they’ll already be aiming for your neck.”

The warning from the Archbishop of the Aria Order who had supported the rats with him.

“Oh, and if you ever meet them, leave without hesitation.”

“Leave? You mean run away?”

“…You’ll understand when the time comes.”

Suddenly recalling that conversation, Gapelt unconsciously opened his mouth.

“So it was, huff… So it was you!! The, the Emperor’s hound, Black Wolf!!”

*Flinch*

When he barely managed to shout, the man’s brow furrowed deeply.

Gapelt became certain of his hypothesis seeing the man’s reaction.

‘So it is the “Black Wolf” after all.’

But what difference would being right make?

“…Are you going to make me ask twice?”

The chilling voice and abyssal eyes were still there.

“I-I’ll talk!! Our plans, everything we’ve done for those plans, all of it!!”

Gapelt’s mind raced to its limit as he recalled the terror of death.

‘Though I’m just a low-ranking elder of “that place,” I’m not completely ignorant. So if I offer information about the “Emperor” and the “Hero” in exchange for being accepted into the “Black Wolf”?’

…Maybe,

I could survive?

*Hiss!*

His greedy, fat face suddenly filled with a desperate desire for life.

‘I can live!’

The faint hope that bloomed from extreme terror made Gapelt’s mouth open wide.

“Our “Eclipse” actually plans to—!!”

*BOOM!*

And he exploded.

It was only then that Viscount Gapelt truly understood.

“You’ll understand when the time comes.”

What the Archbishop had meant wasn’t fear of the “Black Wolf,” but the price of betrayal.

“…What the hell?”

Faced with this sudden turn of events, Nahan stared blankly at what used to be Gapelt, while Ruby heated up instantly and let out a cry of joy.

“Kyaaah! He suddenly became so adorable!! Thank you for the gift, Captain!! You did this, right?!”

.

.

.

─『Sub-Quest Completed!』─

◆ Blood-Stained Gold. (Achieved!)

: Assassinate “The Golden Merchant – Viscount Gapelt” and secure the Emperor’s secret funds!

◆ Completion Conditions. (Achieved!)

: Limit of 1 “Black Wolf” member accompanying, rescue the “Nun” trapped in the underground chamber before she becomes “Corrupted” (Achieved!), complete all conditions before dawn tomorrow.

◆ Reward. (…Calculating.)

: The complete contents of “Babylonia” will be bestowed upon the savior – “Nahan”!

◆ Upon Failure & Rejection. (…Deleting.)

: Bad Ending “4. Black Wolf” occurs, existence of the savior – “Nahan” is erased.

.

.

.

…It wasn’t me, you crazy bastard.

# Chapter 2

I recalled a conversation with my only friend before being possessed here.

“What happens when a cow climbs stairs? It gets cow-bumps.”

“Hahaha! Stop it, seriously!!”

“What do you call a gourd that dies? A skull gourd.”

“Kyaaah!! I’m going to burst from laughing too much!!”

“What are you saying? Who dies from laughing too hard?”

And now, back to the present.

“Our “Eclipse” actually plans to—!!”

*BOOM!*

Someone really did burst from laughing.

“…What the hell?”

Dumbfounded by the absurd situation, Ruby, who had shielded me from the exploding corpse, blushed.

“Kyaaah! He suddenly became so adorable!! Thank you for the gift, Captain!! You did this, right?!”

It wasn’t me, you crazy bastard.

Swallowing the words that almost burst out, I looked around to assess the situation when…

*Ding!*

A bright alert sound accompanied a bluish-green system window that appeared before me.

【”Blood-Stained Gold” Achieved!】

【As a reward, the complete contents of “Babylonia” will be bestowed upon the savior “Nahan”!】

【As more than 6 hours remain until dawn, “Additional Reward” will be granted!】

【Additional Reward: “Author-Certified Setting Book – Unreleased Collector’s Item”】

【Would you like to acquire the reward – “Babylonia” Complete Edition + “Setting Book”?】

【Required Time: 1h.】

【Accept / Postpone / Reject.】

It was about completing the damn sub-quest “Blood-Stained Gold” and offering an “Additional Reward.”

“Postpone.”

As I muttered quietly, the system window disappeared, and moonlight shone through again.

‘…I survived.’

I felt relief as the blade that had been hanging over my neck seemed to withdraw.

‘…I’m surprisingly unfazed.’

Despite killing hundreds on the way up, and even witnessing someone explode right in front of me.

My mind, or rather “Nahan’s” mind, remained as calm as if going about daily life.

‘Well, even though he’s C-rank, he is a mercenary captain.’

For mercenaries who constantly risk their lives, such scenes must be ordinary.

“Oh!? It’s moving! It’s still moving!! What is this!! So cuuuute!!”

…Look at her.

She’s an A-rank mercenary, so she’s even worse than me.

‘Anyway, this is beneficial for now.’

Since there’s no guarantee that sub-quests won’t appear again, it’s better to remain calm like this until all bad endings are prevented.

I decided to fully adapt to the life of mercenary captain “Nahan.”

‘”Eclipse,” Emperor, Ex-grade skills… I’ll organize what I’ve learned when we get back to the hideout, but first let’s clean up here.’

In this world, magic exists in place of advanced science.

I’ve heard that magicians can recreate crime scenes and even reveal what happened before.

‘What should I do?’

Having only commanded members from the hideout until now, I had no idea how to clean up this large-scale massacre scene.

“…Sigh.”

Should I just turn myself in and wait in prison?

‘This was the fourth bad ending prevention… But why was it called “Black Wolf”?’

Anyway, at this rate, all bad endings should be prevented within a year, but…

‘No. Would I be executed before that?’

As I was staring at the horrific scene, unable to find an answer…

*Click!*

Ruby, who had picked something up and put it in her pocket, looked up at me and asked cheerfully.

“Captain!! Shall we do ‘that’ now?”

“That?”

“Yes! We need to clean up before we leave!”

Clean up?

I calmly asked back.

“Can you make it look like nothing happened?”

“Of course! I haven’t accompanied you while infiltrating the Mercenary Union for a while, but cleanup was always my responsibility!”

Well, she’s an A-rank mercenary, so she must have methods. Her confident attitude unconsciously put me at ease.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes! It should take about an hour, so Captain, please rest for a bit! And from here to there! You guys guard the Captain!”

“…It’s fine, ugh, but—”

“No, no! Of course my babies are weaker than a piece of your flesh, Captain, but appearances matter!”

Who’s going to see after we’ve killed everyone?

Anyway, I nodded, wanting to leave quickly.

“Then!”

*Clap!*

As Ruby clapped her hands, about a hundred flesh dolls began cleaning.

“Everyone use erasure magic well! Since we’re going to burn it anyway, focus on swallowing the large debris!”

The dolls sprayed red mana everywhere like sprinklers and tore off blood-stained parts, swallowing them with their mouths torn wide.

“…Ugh.”

Though my mind was calm, my stomach wasn’t, so I turned away.

“By the way, an hour…”

At just the right time, I called up the system window with the reward again.

【Would you like to acquire the reward – “Babylonia” Complete Edition + “Setting Book”?】

【Required Time: 1h.】

【Accept / Postpone / Reject.】

Viscount Gapelt was known to lock his mansion doors after 10 PM for his pleasures.

Ruby had set up barriers while infiltrating, and the dolls were guarding…

‘Let’s check it now.’

Knowing or not knowing the original content would make a heaven and earth difference for survival.

*Press*

Sitting on a sofa with relatively little blood splatter, I pressed the accept button, and my eyes slowly closed.

【Reward is being granted!】

【The contents of “Babylonia” Complete Edition + “Setting Book” are being transferred to “Savior – Nahan”.】

It’s a bit late, but let’s see.

I wonder what kind of masterpiece it is to pull someone in and put them through this ordeal.

# Chapter 3

An hour later.

“…Holy shit.”

Having absorbed the complete contents of “Babylonia” and the “Setting Book,” I hurriedly rose from my seat.

I needed to escape.

‘This is no time to dream of a slow life…!!’

Even if I couldn’t return to my original world and had to live in this one forever, I needed to abandon everything and flee to the farthest place possible.

“D-rank mercenary group my ass, this is just telling me to die…!!”

As I was cursing in anger, I sensed movement outside the closed door.

Knock,

Knock-knock-knock.

“Captain? Are you awake?”

“Huh!”

I quickly covered my mouth and pretended not to be there, but it was obviously futile.

“The cleaning is done, may I come in?”

*Creeak*

The door seemed about to open at any moment, so I hastily removed my hand.

“J-just wait a moment… No, wait. Don’t come in, Ruby, absolutely do not come in!!”

“Ah…? Oh, yes. Yes! Captain!”

She might wonder why I’m suddenly acting strange, but I couldn’t help it.

Because…

【Congratulations!】

【You are the captain of “Black Wolf (Heukrang),” the worst villain organization in “Babylonia”!】

I discovered that I’m not actually a C-rank mercenary, but the leader of the worst villain organization in this cursed dark fantasy novel.

And above all…

─『Sub-Quest Activated!』─

◆ Doll Play.

: The 6th member of Black Wolf – “Ruby Red (S-)” suspects your identity. Choose: perfectly deceive her, kill her, or become a perfect doll friend.

◆ Completion Conditions.

: Kill “Ruby Red (S-)” or deceive her perfectly.

◆ Reward.

: Upon Ruby Red’s death – <None>.

: Upon Ruby Red’s survival – <Memories of Black Wolf>.

◆ Upon Failure & Rejection.

: Special Ending – “?. Doll Friend” occurs.

“…Captain?”

I just learned that this mentally unstable woman suspects me.