1.
Calm down.
– I’ve said this before, but you get too angry. Let’s try one step at a time.
– …Alright.
As my only friend taught me.
Like cooking meat and boiling vegetables, taking things one step at a time will help overcome anything.
‘So, let’s start with Ruby.’
There’s no point in stalling and only fueling her suspicion.
I wiped away my cold sweat, steadied my breathing, and finally spoke.
“Is this the last room?”
Unlike the casual tone I’ve used until now, my voice became deeper and more serious.
As befitting the worst and strongest mastermind of <Babylonia>, <Black Wolf>.
“…Yes, Captain.”
“Estimated time needed?”
“If you allow me to enter, I expect it to take about 5 minutes.”
In response to my thoughts, the madness had disappeared from Ruby’s voice as well.
Thanks to that, I became even more calm and walked forward to open the door.
At the same time, a red silhouette appeared.
“I’ve been waiting, Captain.”
Behind her thin smile, her crimson eyes flickered eerily.
Ruby Red.
The branch manager of the Mercenary Union’s Babylonia branch, a magician with an attitude befitting her high rank and power.
However, she is actually the sixth member of the infamous organization in the novel, <Black Wolf>. Also known as the “Crimson Witch,” she loses herself in madness at the sight of blood.
◆No6. <Ruby Red – Crimson Witch(New!).>
I ignored the newly appeared message and slightly nodded toward Duke Gafelt’s room.
“Clear out.”
I left Duke Gafelt’s room without waiting for a response.
‘This is how <Black Wolf> treats the members in <Babylonia>.’
A man who forms no attachments with anyone and only speaks when necessary.
Not knowing this, I had been trying to gather information on my way here. Now I understand why Ruby has been suspicious of me.
‘So, let’s finish this quickly and return to the <Black Wolf> mercenary group.’
If the information in the guidebook is true, the other members won’t even consider suspecting me except for Ruby Red.
‘Let’s find a way to deceive Ruby, and if that’s impossible…’
…I’ll have to have the members kill Ruby.
And then, gather the faithful members in one place, and just run far away.
While thinking through this as the solution to the problem and naturally imagining Ruby’s death, she suddenly spoke.
“Thirty-two.”
“…”
“The number of trash who dare to imitate the name of <Black Wolf> so far.”
A colder voice than usual flowed into my ears.
“Oh, now it’s thirty-three.”
The sharp bone fragments of flesh golems clashed and pointed toward me.
“Captain… Where are you?”
Death was approaching.
2.
Calm down.
Please, calm down.
Please, please don’t shake…!!
Nahan instinctively realized.
‘Shake, and you die.’
Even if your heart beats fast,
Even if your breathing gets irregular,
Even if cold sweat runs down…you die.
‘This isn’t the rule-of-law country where I used to live. This is a world where <monsters> live, monsters that even the law can’t control.’
And now was the moment when one of the top monsters turned my “suspicions” into “certainty.”
Stay calm.
Let’s try one step at a time.
Nahan, who had barely calmed his mind in the face of death, began to think.
‘What do I have now?’
The effect of the Ex-grade skill <Black Curtain>, which is oppressive, and the not too shallow, not too deep information obtained from <the Original Work> and <the Guidebook>.
First option:
‘Can I subdue Ruby with oppression?’
The terrifying answer came immediately.
‘Impossible.’
The activation condition of oppression is that Nahan must feel <fear> for at least a moment.
And it must be fear for Nahan after the reincarnation, not before.
So the second option.
‘Is there any information known only to Nahan and the members?’
…No,
There isn’t.
‘Since the information gained from the rewards, the complete episodes of <Babylonia>, and the additional reward of <the Guidebook> had only limited information about <Black Wolf>.’
Nahan had only come to know in detail about the main character of the novel, the hero, and his surrounding people, and the future events, but he was still an amateur when it came to Emperor and <Black Wolf> details.
After much consideration, the conclusion was reached.
‘I’m going to die.’
In fact, even if it wasn’t a C-grade mercenary but a man standing above many S-grades, one could only be helpless against such sudden disasters.
“Haa…”.
So, let me just die.
Anyway, there’s no one to go back to.
In this moment of frustration, a sigh was let out. Suddenly, the voice of his only friend echoed again.
– …Brother, no matter what… Please, never give up on me.
– I understand, open your eyes, okay?
– Really? Hey… it’s a promise, alright?
Even at the moment of passing away, pushing away the oxygen mask and extending a pinky finger, he said it.
” …Alright. Let’s keep our heads together.”
That was the promise we made on that day.
You nodded and hooked pinky fingers with that promise. You can’t die from something so trivial before fulfilling your friend’s dream.
Nahan’s eyes lit up again.
The thought that was engraved as <I'm going to die> crumbled and brought forth a third option.
It wasn’t the skills obtained here or the content of the original work or rewards obtained.
It was the talent Nahan had possessed in his previous world, the brightest part of a man who has been always shadowed, something only one person recognized.
It was…
– One day, startle everyone with your acting, would you, bro?
– Yeah, definitely.
It was <acting>.
After finishing his reminiscence, Nahan closed his eyes.
‘Black Wolf.’
Even though the story is still in the <Prologue>, the supreme and the strongest mastermind organization that would make an entire continent tremble in fear, <Black Wolf>, hasn’t even shown up yet.
‘Cold-blooded eyes, few words, cruelty, extreme strength, apathy. Even the S-grade members of the organization fear him and suppress grievances with absolute pressure while expanding his power. If a mistake was made by a member of <Black Wolf>, it often goes unnoticed.’
‘However, it’s still insufficient.’
Then let’s bring up.
『Tap, tap. The faint sound breaking the tranquil silence. Black Wolf tapped his right index finger on his thigh when he was lost in thought.』
All sentences in the original Babylonia text about Black Wolf.
And then,
『Ironically, what <Ruby Marin> fears most are blood and flesh. She goes berserk in blood and flesh not because she enjoys it but because she is terrified and escapes by masking it with madness.』
Combine all the information that might be of any help and simulate Black Wolf’s actions.
Swish.
Nahan’s crumbling poker face collapsed and immediately layered on Black Wolf instead.
A beginning ripple of black energy.
A gaze sharp as if cutting through the air.
An eye darker beneath that is turning even darker.
Like a caterpillar shedding its skin to become a butterfly, the reincarnated Nahan was becoming Black Wolf.
‘However, it’s still lacking.’
Then let’s bring it to mind.
『Tap, tap. The faint sound breaking the tranquil silence. Black Wolf tapped his right index finger on his thigh when he was lost in thought.』
All sentences in the original Babylonia text about Black Wolf.
Combine it thoroughly.
『Ironically, what <Ruby Marin> fears most are blood and flesh. She goes berserk in blood and flesh not because she enjoys it but because she is terrified and escapes by masking it with madness.』
Combine whatever information that is of any help and simulate Black Wolf accordingly.
Swoosh.
A hand shrouded in black gloves descended onto the right thigh.
Tap, tap.
The movements of Black Wolf reconstructed in Nahan’s mind were now being reproduced through his body.
Finally, the 2nd stage.
“Uh, uhuh…? J, just a moment…”
Thud!
Ruby, who had been retreating awkwardly, tripped over a flesh golem and fell backward.
Nahan thought.
‘I still don’t know the tone or accent of Black Wolf, so if I say too much, it could raise suspicion again.’
Fortunately,
『Cold-blooded eyes, few words, apathy.』
Thanks to the pre-analyzed information, he could decide his next move before any silence occurred.
Tap.
Finally, Nahan stopped tapping his thigh and merely glanced down at Ruby.
If I were really Black Wolf, the punishment to Ruby, who doubted my very existence, would be–
“Going back.”
–none, which is the answer.
『If the offender is a member of <Black Wolf>, minor mistakes are often overlooked without a word.`
That concluded his speech as he turned away expressionlessly.
[Failure to enter <Stage 3>]
[Reason: Insufficient information on the character.]
Nahan instinctively realized.
Had I reached the third stage, I could have fooled them without such tension.
‘However, the opportunity is already gone.’
All that remains is to keep acting as Black Wolf and pray that Ruby’s doubts are dispelled.
‘Of course, they won’t be resolved immediately.’
The <Black Wolf> character, who was thoroughly analyzed, differed greatly from himself after reincarnation.
If other members had doubted like Ruby, he would have long been dead.
‘What if Ruby continues to doubt? What if she tells the others? How can I explain and persuade about the near-month’s changes?’
As he walked silently, his insides were burning black.
But then.
“I’ll take the lead.”
Snap!
Crash!
Ruby, who had gathered the collapsed flesh golems, passed by Nahan and took the lead.
Silence,
and more silence.
Until Ruby set fire to the magnificent mansion and completely torched it when they left the huge, luxurious estate.
The burning ruins crumbled, the ground shook, and the ashes flying everywhere settled.
“Sorry, Captain.”
Luvi approached Nahan, turned his head before he could react, hugged him, and buried her face.
She started crying, her voice damp as she murmured in his embrace.
“There was secret information that some of the Ten Strongest on the continent had their bodies taken over by unknown entities… Because of that, I…”
Nahan remained silent all the while.
Black Wolf would have certainly done the same.
As it wouldn’t matter what happened to the members, his hidden <goal> would be all that mattered.
However, unlike Black Wolf, Nahan gently extended his hand and placed it on Ruby’s head.
“…?”
Certainly, there was no talking.
But,
‘If I want to move freely again someday, playing along with the slow transformation would probably be fine.’
As if in response to that inner voice, Ruby, who was surprised, embraced Nahan even tighter and cried with more sorrow.
“Sorry, Captain, I’m truly sorry.”
Pet pet.
“Thank you, always.”
…
[Bonus Quest (Completed!)]
◆ Doll Play
: The 6th member of Black Wolf – <Ruby Red(S-)> suspects your identity. Choose: Deceive her perfectly, kill her, or become her perfect doll friend.
◆ Completion Conditions (Completed!)
: Kill Ruby Red or deceive her perfectly.
◆ Reward:
: Ruby Red dies – <Nothing>.
: Ruby Red survives – <Black Wolf's Memories>. (Completed!)
◆ Failure & Decline (…Deleted.)
: Special Ending – Occurs.
…
While petting Ruby, who cried pitifully, Nahan blankly stared at the system window that floated up.
Black Wolf’s memories.
Right now, it’s more valuable than any treasure, a guarantee for his life.
‘Even living a slow life is out of the question.’
Good or bad, I’ve become the leader of <Black Wolf>, the worst and strongest mastermind organization in <Babylonia>.
If I run now, the <Main Quest> will fail, obviously.
Still, I might manage to save my life somehow, so it wouldn’t be bad to run to the safest place and live a slow life.
But I realized something crucial while facing death this time.
– Let me fulfill your dream instead, Han-ee.
Even if it means dying, I want to keep that promise.
To keep that promise, I must definitely return to the original world, and to do that, I must manipulate <the Original Work> under the name of <Black Wolf> and <Black Wolf>.
So, what can be done?
‘As soon as I learn the accent and tone, gestures, and members’ pasts…’
Anyway, I survived for that promise. There’s no other way but to somehow achieve the <Main Quest> and return.
Just as Nahan was categorizing what he had obtained and needed to obtain,
[Caution.]
[Rebel – <Elena Babylon(S+)> confronts <No.3. Tal>.]
[Bad Ending – <5. Signs of the Rebel (A)> accelerates exponentially.]
An unexpected event occurred.
‘Tal, then Han? It seems the Bad Ending and <Black Wolf> are closely related.’
Even though he tried to find the reason by searching through the original work and the guidebook, his thoughts were sluggish due to the deep immersion.
‘I need to obtain information faster.’
And to make that possible,
“By the way, is it because of the artifact? Duke Gafelt seems to be still alive…”
Ruby had previously mentioned that members of <Black Wolf> disliked the <Emperor>.
However, since the bad ending has accelerated, this was said to prepare for any possible situations.
At that moment, while observing Ruby’s reaction.
Thud!
“Quickly, Captain.”
A terrified Ruby grabbed Nahan’s hand and dashed toward the blue magic tower.
‘I was told using the gate leaves records, so it won’t work?’
While suppressing my desire to ask, Ruby whispered shakily.
“…That crazy woman might kill Han.”
3.
Night Market in Babylonia Island.
The emperor, his golden hair combed, held a serene smile on his lit face.
“Truly bright. No different from midday.”
The result of the merchants coming together to illuminate flares upon hearing the emperor would pass through.
The lined up food,
Various wares,
Glittering shops.
The night market had its own charm, shining brightly to attract people, but except for the emperor and the surrounding guards, only one person was on the street.
“So? Let me hear a reason at least.”
The emperor picked up a fruit skewer with a smile as he asked the only other person.
“How dared you break my carriage.”
In response to the emperor’s question, the towering man with a thick stone mask tersely replied.
“You. You will – die.”
Right here.
Right at me.
…
