Ch.6Shining Talent

1.

Stay calm.

“As I’ve said before, you have too much anger. That’s the problem. Let’s take it slow, one step at a time.”

“…Did I?”

Just like my only friend taught me.

Like grilling meat and boiling vegetables, if you tackle things one by one, slowly, you can overcome anything.

‘So first, I’ll bring in Ruby.’

There’s no point in wasting time; it would only make that woman more suspicious.

I wiped away my cold sweat and regulated my breathing before finally speaking.

“Is this the last room?”

Unlike my casual tone until now, I spoke in a lower, more serious manner,

befitting the worst and strongest villain in <Babylonia>, <Black Wolf>.

“…Yes, Commander.”

“Estimated time required?”

“If you allow only me to enter, I estimate around 5 minutes.”

As if responding to my thoughts, the madness had disappeared from Ruby’s voice as well.

Thanks to that, I could remain even more composed, so I walked forward and opened the door.

A red silhouette appeared simultaneously.

“I’ve been waiting, Commander.”

Behind her narrowed smiling eyes, a red glow flickered eerily.

Ruby Red.

The branch manager of the Babylonian branch of the <Mercenary Union>, a magician who always maintained a dignified attitude with matching rank and power.

But in reality, she was the sixth member of <Black Wolf>, the worst villain organization in the novel. Known as the <Red Witch>, who falls into madness at the sight of blood.

◆No6. <Ruby Red – Red Witch(New!)>

Ignoring the newly appeared window, I nodded toward Gapelt’s room.

“Clear it out.”

Leaving only those words, I walked out of Gapelt’s room without waiting for a response.

‘This is the attitude of <Black Wolf> toward its members as described in <Babylonia>.’

A man who never forms attachments with anyone and only speaks out of necessity.

No wonder Ruby was suspicious of me, since I had been chattering away trying to get information the entire way here, not knowing this.

‘So let’s wrap this up quickly and return to the <Black Wolf> mercenary group.’

If what was written in the setting book is true, the other members besides Ruby Red wouldn’t even think to doubt me.

‘I’ll go find a way to deceive Ruby, and if that’s impossible…’

…I’ll have to order the members to kill her.

Then I can gather the loyal members in one place, run far away, and that’s that.

As I was walking, naturally thinking of Ruby’s death as the solution to the problem.

“There were thirty-two.”

“…?”

“Until now, the number of trash who dared to imitate the name of <Black Wolf>.”

A cold voice, different in caliber from before, flowed into my ears.

“Oh right… now it’s thirty-three.”

Clack, clack.

The sharp bone fragments of the flesh dolls collided with each other before aiming at me.

Crack!

The sixth member of <Black Wolf>, the <Red Witch>, with fury that had swallowed even her madness, her eyes glowing red, asked:

“Where is our Commander?”

Death was right before me.

2.

Stay calm.

Please stay calm.

Please, please don’t tremble…!!

Nahan instinctively realized.

‘If I tremble, I die.’

If my heart beats too fast,

if my breathing becomes irregular,

if cold sweat runs down, I die.

‘This isn’t the law-abiding country I used to live in, but a world inhabited by <monsters> that even the law can’t restrain.’

This was the moment when one of the top-tier monsters among them had turned her “suspicion” about Nahan’s identity into “certainty.”

Calm down.

Slowly, one step at a time.

Having barely settled his mind, Nahan began to think in the face of death.

‘What do I have right now?’

The intimidation effect from the Ex-grade skill <Villain>, and information from the <original work> and <setting book> that was neither too shallow nor too deep.

First option.

‘Can I subdue Ruby with intimidation?’

The answer came as soon as he considered it.

‘Impossible.’

The activation condition for intimidation was that the target must feel <fear> toward Nahan, even if just for a moment.

And not toward the <Nahan> before possession, but toward <Nahan> after possession.

Then the second option.

‘Is there information that only Nahan and the members know?’

…No,

likewise, there isn’t.

‘Even in the complete <Babylonia> series I acquired as a reward, and the additional <setting book>, information about <Black Wolf> was limited.’

Nahan had only learned in detail about the novel’s <protagonist>, the hero and those around him, and the future events, but he was still ignorant about the inner workings of the <Emperor> and <Black Wolf>.

The conclusion after much deliberation.

‘I’m going to die.’

In fact, even if he were the villain commander standing above numerous S-rank members, not just a C-rank mercenary, he would still be helplessly defeated by such a sudden natural disaster.

“Haah…”

Yes, let’s just die.

It’s not like there’s anyone waiting for me if I go back.

As he sighed in frustration, the voice of his only friend echoed once more.

-…You, no matter when… please, never give up.

My precious friend who saved me when I had nothing to be proud of.

-Promise me, okay? Open your eyes, please?

-Really? Hey… that’s a promise, then?

Even in his final moments leaving this world, he pushed away the oxygen mask and held out his pinky finger.

‘…Right. Pull yourself together.’

We promised that day.

I nodded and linked my pinky finger with his. Until I fulfill my friend’s dream, I can’t die from something like this.

Nahan’s eyes lit up again.

As the thought of <dying> crumbled, a third option emerged.

It wasn’t a skill gained here, nor was it content from the original work obtained as a reward.

It was a talent Nahan had possessed since his previous world, the brightest part of a man whose life had been dark, something only one person had ever recognized.

That is.

-Someday, surprise everyone with your acting, hyung.

-Yes. I will.

<Acting>.

Having finished reminiscing, Nahan closed his eyes.

‘Black Wolf.’

Though he hadn’t even appeared in the novel’s <prologue> yet, he was the leader of <Black Wolf>, the worst and strongest villain organization that would one day make the empire and the entire continent tremble in fear.

‘Cold-blooded eyes, few words, cruelty, supreme strength, indifference. Even S-rank members fear him, and he expands his influence by suppressing dissent with absolute intimidation. If someone who makes a mistake is a <Black Wolf> member, he overlooks most errors without a word.’

【Notice – <Acting> begins!】

【Stage 1 – <Analysis> completed!】

【Your understanding of the character – <Black Wolf> increases exponentially!】

Crack!

Nahan discarded his crumbling poker face and immediately overlaid <Black Wolf>.

“…Huh?”

Sensing the sudden change in the air, Ruby unconsciously stepped back, but Nahan ignored this and focused on what he was doing.

The black aura that began to ripple.

A sharp gaze that could cut.

Eyes that grew darker beneath it.

Like a caterpillar shedding its skin to become a butterfly, the possessed Nahan was becoming Black Wolf.

‘But it’s still not enough.’

So recall.

『Tap, tap tap. A soft noise cutting through the quiet stillness. When Black Wolf was deep in thought, he would tap his right index finger against his thigh.』

Every sentence about Black Wolf written in the original text of <Babylonia>.

At the same time, combine.

『What <Ruby Marine> fears most is, ironically, blood and flesh. She doesn’t become intoxicated by blood and flesh; rather, she overlays madness to escape from her fear.』

Combine and apply like Black Wolf would, without discriminating against any information that might help even a little.

Swish.

The hand hidden by black gloves descends to rest on the right thigh.

Tap, tap tap.

The movement of <Black Wolf> recreated in his mind is reproduced through Nahan.

【Stage 2 – <Immersion> completed!】

【You recreate the image of <Black Wolf> you understand without the slightest error.】

Finally, stage 2.

“Uh, uhh…? W-wait, something…!!”

Crash!

Ruby, who had been backing away hesitantly, tripped over a flesh doll and fell backward.

Nahan pondered.

‘I still don’t know Black Wolf’s speech pattern or intonation, so if I speak too much, I might arouse suspicion again.’

But fortunately,

『Cold-blooded eyes, few words, indifference.』

Based on the information he had analyzed beforehand, he could determine his next action before a gap appeared.

Tap.

Finally stopping the tapping on his thigh, Nahan merely lowered his gaze to look at Ruby.

If I were truly Black Wolf, the punishment for Ruby doubting my very existence would be—

“We’re leaving.”

—none, that’s the correct answer.

『If someone who makes a mistake is a <Black Wolf> member, he overlooks most errors without a word.』

With those words, he turned away indifferently.

【Failed to enter <Stage 3>!】

【Reason: Insufficient information about the character.】

Nahan instinctively realized.

If he had stepped into stage 3, he would have deceived her without even feeling tense like now.

‘But the opportunity has already passed.’

All that remained was to continue acting as <Black Wolf> and hope that Ruby would dispel her suspicions.

‘Of course, they won’t be dispelled immediately.’

The character <Black Wolf> that he had analyzed was too different from himself after possession.

If other members had been suspicious like Ruby, his head would have already rolled due to how different he was.

‘What if Ruby continues to be suspicious? What if she tells the other members? How do I explain and convince them about the changes over the past month?’

Even as he walked silently, his insides were burning black with worry.

But the next moment.

“…I’ll lead the way.”

Snap!

Crumble!

Ruby, having collected the collapsed flesh dolls, passed by Nahan and took the lead.

Silence,

more silence.

Until they left the grand, magnificent mansion and it was completely burned down by Ruby’s fire.

When the burnt debris fell, making the ground rumble, and even the flying ashes had settled.

“I’m sorry, Commander.”

Before he could turn his head, Ruby approached, embraced Nahan, and buried her face against him.

Her voice, now moist as if she had started crying, murmured from within his embrace.

“There was secret information that some of the continent’s top 10 strongest had their bodies taken by unidentified beings… That’s why I…”

Nahan remained silent.

Because that’s surely what Black Wolf would have done.

Because only his <goal>, shrouded in mystery, would have mattered to him, regardless of what happened to his members.

But Nahan, unlike Black Wolf, slightly extended his hand and placed it on Ruby’s head.

“…?”

Of course, he still didn’t speak.

But,

‘If I want to move freely again someday, I suppose I can act out a gradually changing appearance.’

As if responding to that inner thought, the surprised Ruby cried more sorrowfully and embraced Nahan tighter.

“…I’m sorry, Commander, I’m really sorry.”

Pat, pat.

“…Thank you, always.”

.

.

.

─『Sub Quest (Completed!)』─

◆ Doll Play.

: Black Wolf’s 6th member – <Ruby Red(S-)> is suspicious of your existence. Choose. Either deceive her perfectly, kill her, or become a perfect doll friend.

◆ Completion Condition. (Achieved!)

: Kill <Ruby Red(S-)> or deceive her perfectly.

◆ Reward.

: If Ruby Red dies – <None>.

: If Ruby Red survives – <Black Wolf’s Memory>. (Achieved!)

◆ Failure & Rejection. (…Deleting.)

: Special Ending – <?. Doll Friend> occurs.

.

.

.

While comforting the sobbing Ruby, he blankly stared at the system window that had appeared.

Black Wolf’s memory.

A reward more precious than any treasure right now, one that would guarantee his future life.

‘A happy slow life is out of the question anyway.’

Whether I like it or not, I’ve become the commander of <Black Wolf>, the worst and strongest villain organization in this <Babylonia>.

If I run away now, I’ll certainly fail the <Main Quest>.

I might still be able to save my life somehow, and it wouldn’t be bad to flee to the safest place and live a slow life.

But facing death this time, I realized.

-Fulfill my dream in my place, Han hyung.

That even at the risk of death, I want to keep that promise.

To keep that promise, I must return to my original world, and to do that, I must manipulate the <original work> under the name of <Black Wolf> and <Black Wolf>.

So what choice do I have?

‘As soon as I get back, I need to study everything—intonation, speech patterns, behavior, even the members’ pasts…’

After all, this life I’ve been clinging to was for that promise; I have no choice but to complete the <Main Quest> and return.

As Nahan was categorizing what he had learned and what he still needed to learn.

【Warning.】

【The Tyrant – <Elena Babylonia(S+)> encounters <No.3.Tal)>】

【Bad Ending – <5. Signs of Tyranny(A)> accelerates exponentially.】

Something unexpected happened.

‘If it’s Tal, does that mean the idler? So the bad ending and <Black Wolf> are deeply connected after all?’

He tried to search for the reason by sifting through the original work and setting book, but his thinking was slow due to his previous deep immersion.

‘I need to get information faster.’

And to make that possible,

“Oh right, is it because of the artifact? Since Lord Gapelt seems to still be alive…”

Getting answers from Ruby was the logical approach.

Finally, after a moment’s hesitation, Nahan voiced the information he had obtained from the status window.

“The idler has met the Emperor.”

As Ruby had mentioned earlier, the members of <Black Wolf> dislike the <Emperor>.

But since the bad ending was accelerating, he spoke up to prepare for any possible situation.

As he watched for Ruby’s reaction.

Grab!

“L-let’s hurry, Commander.”

Ruby, who had turned pale, grabbed Nahan’s hand and rushed toward the blue magic tower.

‘I thought she said gates leave records and can’t be used?’

Unable to ask and swallowing his questions, Ruby trembled and murmured.

“…That crazy woman might kill the idler.”

3.

The night market of the Babylonian Islands.

The Emperor, intoxicated by the light, stroked her golden hair and wore a faint smile.

“How bright it is. No different from daylight.”

It was the result of merchants joining forces to light up the luminous orbs upon news of the Emperor’s visit.

The array of food,

various goods,

sparkling shops.

The night market had its own charm, and that charm shone to attract people, but apart from the Emperor and the knight guards surrounding her, only one person was out on the street.

“So? Let me hear the reason.”

The Emperor, picking up a fruit skewer, smiled brightly and asked that one person.

“Why did you destroy my carriage?”

In response to the Emperor’s question, a large man wearing a thick stone mask answered briefly.

“You. Will. Die.”

Now.

To me.