Adopted The Main Villains

Chapter 1 – Luminous Caesar

‘Ugh…. my head.’

I sat up in the soft bed, clutching my head.

Since I normally sleep on the ground, there’s no way I’d be waking up in a bed, so I must have collapsed on the street and been taken to a hospital.

But did hospitals use such soft and comfortable blankets and mattresses?

‘What is this?’

This isn’t a hospital.

There’s a possibility this place could be a hospital, but even as a high school graduate, I know that hospitals don’t typically use doors that look decorated with gold or employ middle school-aged girls with soft-looking golden hair as nurses.

Of course, the scenery visible through the window is impossible to imagine as Korea filled with fine dust.

And what’s most annoying right now is the headache I feel upon waking up.

I got up from the bed, clutching my aching head, and looked around the room.

It was filled with things that anyone would recognize as expensive.

Then I spotted a mirror. As if possessed, I peered into it.

Reflected in the mirror was someone other than myself.

A handsome face that could seduce anyone, with hair that had grown quite long.

This isn’t me.

I was just an ordinary person you could see anywhere in South Korea, not this handsome man.

‘Is this possession or transmigration like in web novels?’

I clearly remember that before coming here, I had worked for about 70 hours without sleep.

I remember collapsing on the street because of that.

If this happened afterward, then it must be possession.

‘But my head has been killing me since earlier.’

It’s not the kind of headache that comes from being unwell, but rather the kind that feels like something is being forcibly injected into my head.

Because of it, I feel like throwing up even though I haven’t eaten anything.

‘…Brother?’

In my current dizzy state from the headache, an even more dizzying development appeared.

‘You’re… you’re awake?’

The middle school kid who had been sleeping against the bed got up and started approaching me.

Looking like she might burst into tears at any moment.

I really hope she doesn’t cry.

I like children (not in a romantic way) but I’ve never dealt with them, so I wouldn’t know what to do if she cried.

‘Oh… brother… I’m sorry about that time. I spoke too harshly then. I’m sorry… if I had known it would turn out like this, I would never have said such things.’

I don’t know what happened at ‘that time’ or what she said.

I’m not this girl’s brother, just a complete stranger.

How should I handle this situation? Should I comfort her? How?

Would giving her something kids like these days stop her from crying? Do I even have anything right now?

While I was thinking all sorts of complicated thoughts, I heard the door to the room opening.

I thought the situation couldn’t get worse, but making it worse was quite simple.

‘Car?’

‘Is Car awake?’

It was the appearance of people who seemed to be the parents of this body’s owner.

Those parents slowly approached and hugged me.

Judging by the situation, it was clear that their sick son had awakened after several months.

‘…….Huh?’

At that moment, various memories began to enter my head.

The problem was…

‘ARGHHHH!!!!! MY HEAD!!!!’

The incoming memories were excruciatingly painful.

I clutched my head and rolled around on the ground.

After rolling on the ground for a full minute, the pain completely subsided, and I could feel this body’s memories.

The name was Luminous Caesar.

Nickname: Car.

Although he was the eldest son of a duke’s family, his reputation was poor due to his delinquent-like personality.

The fortunate thing amid the misfortune was that he didn’t behave like a hooligan, unlike other children of high-ranking noble families.

Moreover, that girl from earlier—no, Luminous Karin—was Caesar’s younger sister who called him ‘dear brother,’ suggesting they had a good relationship, though until he collapsed, she had called him the family’s disgrace.

In fact, Caesar himself seemed to know well that wasn’t her true feeling.

‘Car, are you alright?’

‘Yes, I’m fine, Father.’

‘…..!?’

Ah, I spoke incorrectly.

Caesar doesn’t call him father and ignores him.

It would be no different with his mother.

They were merely housemates, nothing more, nothing less.

Their patience in not removing such a son from the family register was remarkable, but such behavior is no longer necessary.

I now know exactly what kind of world this is and what the problems are.

‘I won’t cause you any more worry. Father, Mother…. and Karin.’

I stood up and dusted off the dirt that had accumulated while rolling on the ground.

‘I’m sorry for everything until now.’

I must survive in this world.

Time remaining: 10 years.

***

This world is the setting of the famous novel [The Four Calamities].

The reason for my certainty lies in Caesar’s memories about the Saint, the Hero, and the Imperial Family—all matching [The Four Calamities].

The problem is that in 10 years, when the Hero appears, the Four Calamities will have taken over most regions.

In that process, many families and people will disappear or die.

Among them, the Luminous family suffered something far more terrible than what other families experienced at the hands of the Four Calamities.

‘And Caesar was among them.’

How exactly he suffered wasn’t properly described, but there was only a vague mention that it was extremely, extremely horrible.

And now I have become the subject who will experience that horrible fate.

‘So I need to stop the 4 Great Calamities.’

Fortunately, I’m not only an avid reader who has frequently read [The 4 Great Calamities], but I also know most of the plot.

Of course, I know how to use the mana of this place.

I know what’s good and what’s bad.

Plus, there are still 10 years left until the 4 Great Calamities arrive.

So I thought that maybe I could stop them.

‘Then I need to find that person first.’

First, I need to build up my foundation.

To do that, I need to establish myself as the owner of a territory.

And the closest place to the person I’m looking for is…

‘Father.’

‘Car, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?’

‘No, I was just wondering if I could ask for a favor.’

‘Anything, I’ll give you money or whatever you need.’

‘Then please give me the land of West Vale.’

‘You mean that village famous for its alcohol?’

‘Yes, there’s something I need to do there.’

‘Alright. Since it’s far from here, I’ll need to prepare a carriage. And you’ll need to pack right away.’

I didn’t expect permission to come so easily.

Honestly, I thought he would tell me not to go or try to stop me.

‘Father, aren’t you upset about me going there?’

‘I am.’

‘Then why did you give permission so easily?’

‘If I didn’t grant your request this time, I felt like you might really leave for good, Car.’

‘What about mother and Karin?’

‘It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.’

‘I understand.’

With my father’s words, I returned to my room.

I need to leave for West Vale tomorrow.

Though 10 years might seem long, it’s a short time for me.

Within that time, I need to either kill the 4 Great Calamities before they become calamities or prevent them from becoming calamities in the first place.

To do that, I need to head to West Vale where the young 4 Great Calamities are.

And as a bonus, save that person too.

***

The next day, I boarded a carriage heading to West Vale.

Karin and my mother told me not to go when they heard I was going to West Vale, but since it was already decided, they couldn’t stop me.

And so I arrived at West Vale.

I finally arrived at West Vale.

It was a long journey that took a full 5 hours, but fortunately, nothing major happened during those 5 hours.

‘But to think I’ll be using this large mansion all by myself….’

This is the mansion my father handed over to me along with West Vale.

The problem is that it’s too big and there are no servants.

I’d like to hire servants, but I don’t have money.

After West Vale, I didn’t want to ask for handouts, so I left everything behind except for a few clothes and essential items.

‘Let’s just start right away.’

The start is tonight.

A dagger, a cloak that can hide my body, and a disgustingly bitter green juice made with the golden ratio that allows me to use ‘that magic’ for a short time.

Especially this green juice is the key to this operation.

I need to drink a week’s worth of green juice right now.

‘I really think I’m going to throw up.’

It’s about 4 liters of green juice, equivalent to four 1L cola bottles.

I have to drink it all and let my body absorb it.

I must endure… but… I need to do this.

‘*Deep breath in*… *Deep breath out*…’

I never thought I’d be intimidated by this kind of green juice when I could easily eat seafood bibim in the military.

‘I should have never tried it at home…’

This green juice tastes insanely bad.

As I just mentioned, even though I’m the type who can eat seafood bibim well, it was bad enough to make me vomit.

‘I guess… I have to drink it?’

I’m a little scared, but.

‘Here I go!!!!!!’

I said that, but it took an hour before I started drinking.

And it took another hour of drinking to finally force it all into my stomach.

***

‘Hello.’

‘Yes.’

‘This mask will hide your identity, so please make sure to take it.’

‘Understood.’

‘Then enjoy your shopping.’

The tight-fitting suit isn’t my style, but I have to wear it to come here today.

This place holds a rare slave auction once every quarter, where all kinds of unusual humans and slaves are brought in.

Today, something especially special is being presented.

The Elven Queen ‘Siren’

I don’t know how the Elven Queen got captured by slave traders, but I need to rescue her.

If not, this elf’s fate will be to have her limbs amputated and be turned into a sexual outlet for the northern soldiers.

Elves are said to have little sexual desire originally, but thanks to an overwhelming amount of aphrodisiacs and drugs, Siren had been broken down to that extent.

After seeing this, the elf in the archer position of the hero’s party lost her mind with rage and killed all the northern soldiers and those who had enslaved Siren, after which she rose as the new Elven Queen.

‘Thanks to that, the tone of the work became even darker.’

[The Four Calamities] was a dark work from the beginning.

From the start, it explained everything about how the hero’s parents died and what happened to their bodies, while simultaneously showing scenes that demonstrated how the protagonist remained good despite experiencing such things.

‘Then shall I start what I need to do?’

A way to bring Siren, even without money.

Kidnapping, that is.

The green juice I drank earlier was all for this purpose.

‘That magic’ is the most fitting magic for this situation.

The dagger is to cut the ropes restraining Siren, who would be weakened by the drug.

So now I must wait.

‘Ladies and gentlemen!!!! Welcome! I’m Martin, your host for today!’

-Clap. Clap. Clap.

-Clap clap clap clap clap.

After the applause from the nameless nobles, the slaves began to appear one by one.

‘Shall we start lightly? First up is Luther, once a war hero who has lost everything!!!!’

‘Shall we start the bidding at 300 gold coins?’

Afterward, various slaves appeared.

A spirit sorcerer.

A beautiful prostitute.

A succubus unable to use magic.

A lizardman.

And so on, various slaves appeared until finally, it was the last turn.

‘Even the hottest atmosphere must come to an end. Yes, some of you may have come today after hearing this news, and everyone might want this. Especially that guest with the wolf mask who hasn’t spent a single coin today.’

That host deliberately singled me out, someone who hadn’t raised their hand even once today.

Probably mocking me for coming to such a place without any money.

‘Then send her up!!!!!’

Slowly, someone ascended to the stage.

That someone was an elf with a face you’d want to look back at twice if they passed by, and golden hair that looked soft enough to feel without touching.

Yes, it was Siren, the Elven Queen.

‘The Queen of Elves!!!!!’

The host shouted with an excited voice.

‘You all know well that elves don’t have much sexual desire!!!! But who are we? We have enough drugs prepared to easily make even the Elven Queen give in!’

‘If you purchase her, we’ll throw in those drugs as well!!!!’

‘Starting price is 10,000 gold coins!!!!!! Let’s begin!!!!’

At the mention of 10,000 gold coins, the nobles began to murmur.

Of course, 10,000 gold coins is roughly equivalent to over 100 billion won, enough to buy a village of considerable size, if not quite a masterless metropolis.

But I have nothing to lose right now, so I can be even more confident.

‘20,000 gold.’

‘20,000 gold has been offered!!!!!’

I don’t have it, but I’m bidding anyway.

‘20,000 gold has been offered!! Is there anyone offering more?!!!!!’

There’s probably no family here that can just give away 20,000 gold.

But I, who have nothing, can speak very confidently.

It’s because I have nothing that I’m more confident.

Having nothing to lose makes me more confident.

‘Nothing? Then I’ll end with the final countdown of 3 seconds!’

‘3 seconds!!!! 2 seconds!!!! 1 second!!!!’

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

‘Wolf mask guest! Please come up to the stage!’

I stood up from my seat and went up to the stage.

‘Could you tell us how you feel about acquiring this elf?’

‘I should have something to receive.’

‘Ah! Here is the slave certificate.’

The host handed me the slave certificate.

However.

‘Before that, you need to pay the money. 20,000 gold coins, that is.’

As I said before, I have no money.

Obviously, I can’t give 20,000 gold coins.

Then what options do I have to get out of this situation?

The hint is that elves can use most magic if they are over 100 years old.

At least at the level of an archmage.

Which means.

‘I wanted to take the easy way out.’

I turned around, took off my mask, and kissed the elf.

The sound like ‘zzeuk~!’ is just my imagination.

It’s an unnecessary action in such a dangerous place, but.

If this elf hadn’t been drugged, I wouldn’t have given her mana through a kiss like this.

‘It’s my first time receiving mana this way, so it’s fascinating.’

‘We’re teleporting now. The branding will come after we move.’

‘Understood, kidnapper.’

Now it’s time to reveal.

What magic that green juice was for.

What I gained by enduring that disgusting taste.

‘I didn’t know humans could use this magic.’

‘Shut up, I can’t concentrate.’

The ability that all office workers, students, and humans in this modern society felt they needed most.

With this, I could have avoided being late for school, and I would have been confident about not being late for work.

Namely.

Teleport.

‘Catch that guy!!!!’

‘Farewell, idiots.’

Just like that, Siren and I had moved to my mansion.

‘I didn’t know humans could handle spatial magic. I’ll give you credit for that.’

‘Urgh…..’

Using magic for the first time.

Severe motion sickness that persists even in a different body.

And above all, dinner that hasn’t been digested yet.

The result of these three things forming a trinity was.

‘Uweeee@!@#!@!!!!!’

My first meeting with my future secretary was fragranced with the scent of vomit.