Ch.60If the body is weak, the mind suffers.

# 1. The Great Raid on Aria Main School

The Night of Blood, when the Pope and four High Priests were brutally murdered.

This was clearly the <Black Wolf>’s response to the Light’s declaration of war.

However,

“…From what I’ve heard, the Light stormed in afterward to eliminate the Black Wolf, but they had already fled, so it failed.”

“And that’s not all! Thanks to the Black Wolf’s attack, it was revealed that <Demon Worshippers> were hiding in Aria Main School!”

“Come to think of it, whether it’s the Emperor assassination attempt or the plaza attack… this <Black Wolf>, you know? Don’t they essentially clean up the garbage that the law can’t reach?”

As could be heard, public opinion was subtly siding with the Black Wolf.

Nevertheless, they remained top-class wanted criminals of the Great Babylonian Empire.

“Oh… defending high-profile criminals… please, do continue. I’m curious to see when your heads might roll.”

“L-Lord Dragon!! I-I’m sorry! These fools are drunk…!! Get up, you bastards!”

“Where do you think you’re going? You should pay your bill before you die.”

“Eek?! Branch Manager, when did you—?!”

Thanks to Ruby’s scolding and Dalan’s intervention, it ended as a mere incident.

This was the Black Wolf’s order.

-Our name will be circulating after this incident, but I intend to keep a low profile for a while. Everyone, cut off rumors without overexerting yourselves.

-Yes, Leader.

The Leader, the Black Wolf’s command.

Though they followed it because it was obviously to be obeyed, the members were honestly curious.

‘If the citizens recognize the Black Wolf’s cause, wouldn’t that be beneficial in many ways?’

As many people said, wasn’t it true that they were cleaning up the Empire’s trash in place of the superficially polished law?

‘…Could it be.’

Was the Leader saying that he only wanted to clean up trash, not seeking recognition?

‘…As expected of the Leader. Truly no different from a sage.’

That’s why the questioning stopped right there.

‘Let’s not be curious anymore, nor dig deeper. Just follow the orders given.’

Because it was the Leader’s command.

Because the Leader’s will was our will.

Meanwhile, Nahan, lying in the hideout as ‘Ian Red,’ thought:

‘……I’m fucked.’

In the <original work>, the <Black Wolf> was a group understood by no one.

Therefore, the main story revolved around eliminating the absolutely evil Black Wolf and the Emperor.

But now, like this:

“…But the Black Wolf…”

“Shh…!! I understand how you feel, but please stop, man…!!”

If people trying to understand the Black Wolf’s true intentions changed their perception from ‘absolute evil’ to ‘villains with circumstances,’

If public opinion about the ‘Black Wolf,’ who met their end as the ‘mastermind,’ were to be reversed,

‘The difficulty would increase drastically.’

If that happened, the information Nahan knew from the <original work> would also be greatly distorted.

‘This must be prevented.’

Because the three remaining episodes he would face, excluding the already completed <12. Assassination of Viscount Gospel>, would be too difficult to clear without information from the <original work>.

The reason for Nahan’s prediction was simple.

As you can see,

【Bad Ending 8 – <Death of the Hero> is set upon the fate of this world.】

【Bad Ending 9 – <Death of the Emperor> is set upon the fate of this world.】

【Bad Ending 10 – <Collapse of the Light> is set upon the fate of this world.】

【Bad Ending 11 – <Mastermind – Duke Hallorand> is set upon the fate of this world.】

【Bad Ending 12 – <Appearance of the Solar Eclipse> is set upon the fate of this world.】

It had actually become more difficult.

Was it because he assassinated <Viscount Gospel>, originally the 12th, early on?

Or was it because he created Ian Red?

The exact reason was unknown, but the difficulty had certainly increased.

As mentioned earlier, Nahan suspected the cause was deviation from the <original work>.

‘…Then could it be that these two appeared simultaneously because I deviated from the <original work>?’

Nahan pushed away the bad endings that had appeared and checked the main scenario – Those Who Cannot Be Saved.

【Main Scenario – <Those Who Cannot Be Saved – Hanryang & Cheonilhong> has been completed.】

【The third member – <Hanryang(S+)>’s rank has been raised to <Hanryang(SS+)>.】

【Rewards will be given.】

【Main Scenario – <Those Who Cannot Be Saved – Ruby Red & Rose Red> begins.】

【”As always, don’t be afraid and shine, Ruby.”】

【Main Scenario – <Those Who Cannot Be Saved – Dalan & Rose Red> begins.】

【”Dalan. What was it that you truly loved?”】

Like the bad endings, though not as many, two main scenarios had appeared simultaneously instead of just one.

‘…No. After examining all the members’ pasts, <Rose Red> was an important person to both Ruby and Dalan.’

This wasn’t retribution for ruining the original work; it would have proceeded this way originally.

Regardless, it was true that the bad endings had intensified due to damaging the <original work>.

‘The bad endings need to be normalized.’

While resolving these bad endings, he would try to restore the flow to be as similar as possible to the <original work>.

‘Five bad endings at once…’

Although Nahan’s head was already throbbing, he didn’t think it would be impossible.

The reason being,

【Bad Ending 7 – <Fanatic Uprising> has been cleared.】

【Easter Egg – Selena(SS-) saved!】

【Additionally, calculating the 124,012 souls that would have perished but survived thanks to your choices, the reward tier has been raised!】

【Rewards.】

-<Nahan(Ex)>’s body.

-<Nahan(Ex)>’s aura.

-<Nahan(Ex)>’s combat experience.

-<Passive – Black Wolf(Ex)> seal released.

-Detailed information on all characters (excluding Black Wolf.)

By resolving the previous bad ending, he had finally become a complete <Black Wolf>.

‘…All that suffering was worth it.’

Unlike until now, when he had to risk his life at every moment, from now on,

【Skill List – <Black Wolf>】

-Passive: Black Wolf(Ex) (Fully released!)

-Skill 1: Black Curtain黑幕(Ex)

-Skill 2: Invincible不敗(Ex)

-Ultimate: Access restricted. (Unlock – 10/15)

He wouldn’t be at a disadvantage in battle.

‘Plus, unlike the Black Wolf in the original work, I also have fully enhanced <Ring of Iaso> and <Celestial Shield>…’

If he could adapt to the power gained as a reward, he might become stronger than the Black Wolf in the original work.

If that happened, if he could normalize these bad endings that had rushed in,

‘From episode 13 to the conclusion, it might be smooth sailing.’

For the first time since his possession, he envisioned an easy future.

Nahan’s lips curled into a grin.

“Let’s go.”

Slowly, step by step. If he tackled the problems before him one by one, there would be nothing he couldn’t solve.

‘First, I need to understand the flow of the bad endings.’

The order was: Death of the Hero.

Death of the Emperor.

Collapse of the Light.

Mastermind – Duke Hallorand.

Appearance of the Solar Eclipse.

‘From what I’ve observed so far, the titles of the bad endings penetrate their content.’

This time would surely be the same.

Based on the titles, inferring the content of the five upcoming bad endings:

‘The deaths of the Hero and Emperor lead to the collapse of the Light. Taking advantage of this gap, the mastermind Duke Hallorand will flourish and set the stage, and upon this well-prepared stage, the Solar Eclipse will appear.’

Nahan thought a bit deeper.

‘Duke Hallorand is portrayed as an even more righteous character than Viscount Gospel.’

He is both the guardian of Asha, the hero, and the only counterforce to the incompetent Emperor.

Therefore, he appears as a righteous character even to readers, and after the conclusion, he seems like the only hope for Asha, who has lost everything and is left alone.

However, checking the reward – detailed information on characters:

【Name: Hallorand.】

-Aliases: Emperor’s Counterforce, Hope of the Empire, Great Saint. Hand that Covers the Sun.

-Rank: B+

-Information: First-class meritorious subject from the Great War against the demon race. A commoner-born imperial advisor who received the exceptional title of Duke in recognition of his achievement of defeating an entire legion single-handedly.

‘Hand that Covers the Sun.’

An alias that only belongs to the Solar Eclipse.

Given the lack of additional descriptors, he seems to be a low-ranking member like Gospel, but,

‘Let’s not be certain.’

Since he was as obscure as the Solar Eclipse in the original work, who knows what he might be hiding.

In any case, the information at hand was still insufficient to formulate a detailed plan.

Information gathering.

Understanding future trends.

Planning and execution.

With all of these blocked at present, the only choice Nahan could make was:

-[If the body is weak, the mind suffers!!! Move your body, weak warrior!!]

“…Damn it.”

Just have to use brute force.

‘The next bad ending is the Death of the Hero.’

Somehow, he needed to stay by her side and protect her from death.

Fortunately, having gained her trust by preventing the Gardner banquet attack, it would be easy to approach her as ‘Ian Red’.

But what he needed now wasn’t just ‘contact’ but ‘staying by her side’…

‘What excuse can I use to stay with her?’

…Should he ask to join the hero’s party?

……But how?

As he lifted his head with a sigh after being lost in endless worries,

“……”

His eyes met with a stranger.

Golden hair,

Narrowly opened golden cross pupils,

A subtle aura.

Someone vaguely familiar yet seemingly a stranger.

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence continued, and finally, Nahan spoke first.

“Who are you…?”

Despite the sudden visit, he asked as politely as possible, pretending to be embarrassed, and the woman answered with a smirk.

“I told you before, didn’t I? That it’s very precious to me, and that I’d come back for it someday.”

“…What?”

“Now that I’m here, please return them. The half-burned bracelet, the handkerchief, and the bent symbol of Aria.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did he remember.

-W-Wait! Wait a moment!! At least take this!!

-Yes. Thank you. Now go.

-It’s collateral. It’s very precious to me… I’ll definitely come back for it soon…!!

-If you say so. Goodbye. Please go.

The Saint candidate he had saved from the underground when he went to kill Viscount Gospel.

‘…But I’m Ian Red right now?’

Sensing something, Nahan quickly opened her information window and spoke.

“Hahaha… I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

As he finished speaking, her brilliant golden cross eyes twisted eerily.

“Don’t worry, Lord Black Wolf. I’ll stay quiet for now.”

…Well, for now, at least.