Before my possession, my only hobby while working myself to death every day was reading web novels. That’s why I’m saying this. Usually in web novels, don’t they find a new body’s owner based on the possessor’s deficiencies?
For example, a possessor with an appearance complex gets possessed into the most beautiful person in the worldview. Or a possessor who was timid in life gets possessed into a refreshing overpowered character who says everything they want.
But…… terminal illness to terminal illness? Crazy, this is just disrespecting the dead.
“Is there no way?”
“Currently…… there is no particular method, I apologize.”
The old man’s pitiful voice pierced my ears. The old man was trembling so much that even I, the terminal patient in question, felt sorry for him. Just as I was thinking that even the infamous Lucius might soften his heart at this level.
“How many family members did you say you have?”
“……Pardon?”
“Your family, I mean. Yes, did you say a grandson was newly born this year……”
I involuntarily gasped. It’s out—villain Lucius’s signature technique. The ‘Not you, but your family’ skill! It was an even more chilling statement because it came from Lucius, who casually committed murder in the original work. The moment his grandson was mentioned, the old man, whose face had completely lost all color, dropped to his knees on the floor with a thud.
“I-I’ll somehow find a way.”
“Yes, I trust you’ll take responsibility for those words.”
While the old man staggered out of the room, what caught my eye was Lucius’s hand, still bleeding. Even in this situation where breathing was difficult, my mind worked quickly.
‘At least one fortunate thing is that Lucius, the strongest villain in the original work, is on my side. But why is Lucius on Ash’s side? Compared to his other siblings, Ash has no abilities and isn’t even his biological child.’
The Elion Empire was a multi-racial nation composed of 90% beastmen, 5% other races, and 5% humans. Among these, the human race was treated almost like livestock, usually employed as servants or taking on all sorts of menial tasks. Had Ash not been adopted into the Serpent family, he would have certainly lived as a slave like other humans. Yet Lucius specifically adopted Ash and cherished him like his own child. Why on earth?
‘Damn it, I don’t know. I need to know that to tell whether Lucius is really on my side or not. Lucius is a calculating character. There’s no way he’d cherish Ash for some trivial reason.’
Being possessed into an extra rather than a main character was a bigger problem than expected. The information value was far too lacking compared to other characters.
And this also meant I couldn’t be completely at ease until I knew the reason why Lucius cherished Ash, unlike in the original work. If Lucius cherished Ash for some ‘reason,’ the moment that reason disappeared, Lucius’s protection would vanish too.
‘For now, it won’t hurt to act endearingly.’
As soon as I made my decision, I grabbed the comforter. Lucius’s eyes widened at my sudden action. I wrapped the comforter around Lucius’s torn hand and smiled faintly.
“You should care for your own body rather than mine, Father.”
“……”
“I’m going to die soon anyway. You’re someone who will accomplish great things in the future.”
In the original work, Ash was a typical waste-level character with a weak personality. The truth was, his siblings discriminated against Ash not only because he was adopted, but also because they found Ash displeasing for being of no help to the family whatsoever. Free-riding isn’t welcomed anywhere.
‘But this life is different. I’ll do anything to survive. To do that, I absolutely can’t lose a precious SS-rank card like Lucius.’
Just as I was acting like a ‘good and kind son’ to gain Lucius’s favor, Lucius, who had been silent, let out a deep sigh. A cavernous low voice pierced my ears.
“So……”
“……”
“So admirable.”
I narrowed my eyes at the affection-filled line that made me doubt my ears. His delivery of doting dialogue that didn’t match his appearance was awkward, like a foreign film that had been dubbed over. Lucius, who had pulled frozen me into a tight embrace, exclaimed in an overwhelmed voice like an actor who had swept three major film festivals.
“The way you speak is so admirable and adorable, you don’t seem like a child I made.”
“I’m…… adopted though.”
“Don’t say such things! Ash, if you say that one more time, I’ll tear your mouth apart like a Venus flytrap.”
To think it’s possible to express affection and make threats simultaneously. After muttering cringe-worthy words for a long while, Lucius only left the room after I begged him to leave.
“Then rest well, Ash. If you need anything, call for this father anytime.”
The door closed, and silence descended upon the bedroom I was left alone in. I let out a groan and pulled at my hair. Where did the proud, luxury villain Lucius go, and where did this doting fool appear from?
‘What on earth…… is this situation?’
I sighed and shook my head. Rather than wallowing in despair, figuring out the situation was the priority.
It was already unfair to be terminal with only a year to live, but to be the youngest of a villain family facing annihilation at the protagonist’s hands. It couldn’t be more unfortunate than this. I sighed and muttered.
“……Anyway, it’s a life I’ve gained one more time.”
I got up and stood in front of the mirror. An appearance quite pleasing to look at for an extra was reflected in the mirror. Disheveled platinum hair on pale skin befitting a terminal patient. Emerald eyes pooled like jewels beneath long eyelashes only looked endlessly weak.
But what use is all this? I’m a terminal character who dies in a year anyway. Judging from the development of the original work, from now on there was only one way for Ash to survive.
‘The probability of it being impossible is higher, but……’
The chilling sensation I felt when dying alone wrapped around my entire body once more. I couldn’t waste even this second life I’d barely obtained in vain. I erased the fear from the face reflected in the mirror and clenched my fist.
“Let’s become a villain or whatever.”
* * *
“Frighteningly dark.”
In the dark forest where rain was falling, a mercenary group gathered with torches and groaned upon seeing a massive cave. Someone who felt the eerie energy flowing from inside muttered in a low voice.
“Rowen’s party has been inside that cave for a week already. We can’t just keep waiting any longer.”
“What should we do? Should we report to the imperial family as is? Or should we go in ourselves……”
“Are you crazy? Don’t you know what it means that the elite mercenaries went in and there’s been no news for a week? There are monsters inside that cave. It’s useless even if mercenaries like us go in.”
The mercenaries who had been talking with serious expressions all closed their mouths at once. It was because the sound of hoofbeats was heard not far away. A mysterious man who appeared from the darkness brought his horse to a stop.
“Who are you!”
At the appearance of the man of unclear status, one of the mercenaries drew his sword from his waist. The man, who didn’t waver in the slightest even with a blade pointed at his nose, removed the hood he’d pulled down low.
“K-Kilius-nim!”
The mercenaries who confirmed the man’s face simultaneously dropped one knee to the ground. One of the mercenaries tightly closed his eyes as if to calm his pounding heart.
‘This can’t be, he’s more beautiful than the rumors.’
Snow-white hair like a snowy field and ashen eyes. His name was Kilius Zebron, who had a beautiful face with delicate features despite his solid physique, and possessed beautiful looks that captivated people regardless of gender. Kiss, who passed the kneeling mercenaries and reached the front of the cave, muttered as if amused.
“I gave you that much time and you still haven’t resolved it.”
“We apologize, we sent an expedition but there’s been no particular news……”
“So, you just waited here doing nothing?”
A chilling voice that didn’t match his beautiful face rang out. Kiss stood before the frozen mercenary captain and crouched down in front of him as he knelt. Then he said with a smile.
“Then it can’t be helped.”
“……”
“Seal the cave entrance. Don’t let even a single one escape.”
At the cold voice, the mercenaries’ faces turned deathly pale. One mercenary who had family in the expedition urgently dropped to his knees before Kiss. Then he bowed his head with a desperate face.
“B-but Kilius-nim. My younger brother is inside. I’ll go in now and take care of the monsters myself. Please, please just stop sealing the cave entrance.”
“How can you resolve monsters that couldn’t be resolved even with two weeks’ time?”
“Please reconsider once more. That child has done nothing wrong. My younger brother said he wanted to help our poor family even a little, so at such a young age he took on mercenary work……”
“Yes, being poor and weak isn’t a crime.”
At Kiss’s answer that seemed to have changed his mind, color returned to the mercenary’s face. In contrast, Kiss, whose smile had disappeared from his face, grabbed the mercenary by the collar. Then he said in a dry voice.
“But being incompetent is clearly a sin.”
Kiss, who released the collar he’d grabbed as if throwing it, turned around without hesitation. The mercenary with a blank expression curled up in despair. From inside the quiet cave, a scream of unknown origin rang out.
