Blessed to be the Villain

Ethan was deep in thought when the knight on his right—a middle-aged man with a short beard and black hair—spoke, his tone firm yet respectful.

"Young Master, we need to hurry. The commander ordered us to bring you back before sunset."

Ethan furrowed his brows, snapping out of his thoughts. "What? But we just got here! And it's already getting dark. How are we supposed to tour the whole town in such a short time?" His voice carried frustration, but also a hint of disappointment.

The guard on his left, a younger man with sharp features and a calm demeanor, responded with a small shrug. "You can continue tomorrow, Young Master. It's not like the town will disappear overnight."

Ethan wanted to argue, but he held himself back. There was no point in complaining now. Instead, he exhaled through his nose and crossed his arms. "Fine. But we still have some time, so we can check out other things before heading back."

Without waiting for a response, he took the initiative and strode forward.

The knights exchanged brief glances before following him, their heavy boots clanking against the stone-paved streets. The scent of fresh bread and roasted meat wafted through the air as they passed by merchants calling out their wares. The vibrant marketplace slowly faded behind them as they entered a new district.

This street had a different atmosphere—less lively, more worn. Ethan's sharp crimson eyes scanned his surroundings with curiosity. The houses lining the street were a mixture of brick and wooden structures, their designs reminiscent of medieval Europe. Some homes had sturdy stone foundations, while others looked as though a strong wind could topple them. The scent of damp wood and distant smoke lingered in the air.

As he walked, absorbing the sights, Ethan suddenly veered right, dashing into a narrow alleyway.

For a brief moment, the knights were stunned by his sudden movement, but their instincts quickly kicked in. They hurried after him, their hands instinctively resting on their weapons, ready for anything.

When they caught up, they found Ethan crouched down, his eyes locked onto something in front of him.

A white cat with black spots sat hunched over a pile of discarded fish bones, its tail flicking lazily as it ate. Ethan stared at it with an intensity that surprised the knights.

One of them, the older knight, furrowed his brows and spoke cautiously. "You should be careful with wild animals, Young Master."

Ethan didn't look away, his hand slowly reaching out toward the cat. "Why?"

Before the knight could answer, the cat's ears flattened, and with a quick swipe of its paw, it attempted to slap Ethan's hand away.

Ethan yanked his hand back just in time, eyes widening slightly. The cat let out a sharp hiss, its fur standing on end before bolting deeper into the alley.

The knight sighed. "Because of that."

Ethan watched the cat disappear into the shadows, a small smirk tugging at his lips. He muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear, "Cats are the same no matter which world it is, huh."

Rising to his feet, he placed a hand against the alley wall as if to steady himself. For a split second, a faint glimmer of power pulsed beneath his palm—imperceptible to the knights.

"You're right. Let's go."

As he removed his hand and stepped away, no one noticed the symbol that had silently appeared on the wall—a faint, intricate mark resembling a collapsing cycle. One of the five marks Ethan could create using his skill: OmniMark.

Before leaving the mansion, Ethan had tested the skill, learning how it functioned. All it took was a thought, and the mark would be placed. Simple. Efficient. Lethal if needed.

This wasn't the first location he had marked. There was already one in his bedroom.

As they exited the alley and returned to the main street, the faint hum of evening activity was suddenly shattered by a piercing scream.

"Kkkk—!"

Ethan's muscles tensed at the shrill sound. His heart skipped a beat before steadying itself.

The knights immediately formed a protective circle around him, their hands gripping the hilts of their weapons as they turned toward the source of the scream.

A woman stood a few feet away, her body trembling violently. Her disheveled hair clung to her sweat-drenched face, and her clothes were dirt-streaked and torn, as if she had been running for hours.

But it was her eyes that caught Ethan's attention.

Wide. Wild. Terrified.

Yet they were locked onto him.

She lifted a shaking finger and pointed straight at him, her lips quivering as if struggling to form words.

"You… You… You're the source. You're the reason!"

Ethan's brows furrowed. "What…?" His voice came out softer than he intended.

Before he could fully process her words, the sound of hurried footsteps reached them. A man came sprinting toward the woman, his face etched with panic.

"Please! My lord, don't harm her! I beg you!"

The man, panting heavily, reached her side and quickly dropped to his knees, pressing his hands together in a desperate plea.

"Please, forgive her, my lord! She's gone mad!"

The knights tightened their formation, shielding Ethan even more closely. One of them spoke, his tone wary. "Mad?"

The man nodded frantically, glancing between them and the woman. "Yes, my lord. Since yesterday, she's been like this. She keeps running out of the house, raving nonsense. She won't sleep. She won't eat. I—I don't know what to do!"

Ethan, still partially hidden behind his knights, leaned slightly to the side and asked, "Then why haven't you taken her to a doctor?"

The man flinched at the question, his expression tightening with something akin to shame. A strained smile stretched across his lips. "I… I don't have the money, my lord."

Ethan felt a pang of something—was it pity? Frustration? He wasn't sure.

But before anyone could say anything else, the woman spoke again.

Her voice was hoarse, almost cracked, yet filled with unshakable certainty.

"You'll be the reason."

Ethan's fingers twitched. His gut instinct told him this was more than just madness.

He narrowed his eyes. "The reason for what?"

The woman's breath hitched. Her pupils shrank as she took a step closer.

"For everyone's death."

A chill ran down Ethan's spine.

"You'll be the reason everyone dies. Everything will change. Nothing will ever be the same again!"

Her words hung in the air like an ominous prophecy, and for the first time that day, Ethan felt something cold coil in his chest.

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