How to Survive as a Villain in a Novel

14 – Hidden Piece

Episode 14 – Hidden Piece.

In the end, in terms of human relationships for me,

The core point is how much ‘malice’ I can extract from the other person.

While the subject of interpretation is the ‘system’, there are various tricks, but usually, cursing at the other person or making them want to harm you is the most reliable and good method.

For a moment, I thought about being cursed at by Han Chae-yoon, but I decisively gave up.

– Whoosh!

– Swoosh!

– Growl!

Because every time Han Chae-yoon swung her arm, all kinds of monsters were killed.

‘If I make a mistake, I will also die screaming like that.’

Supervillian trait. No pride. When giving up, give up decisively.

“Ahead, a rock.”

Following Han Chae-yoon’s order, I avoided the rock and took a deep breath.

Hmm.

The air is good here.

The place where we are now is a steep mountain range somewhere in Gangwon-do.

There are cliffs that look like they have been cut off on both sides, and we are running on a faint path between them.

And every time Han Chae-yoon swings her arm.

-Crash!

-Squeal!

-Growl!

I could hear all kinds of monsters screaming.

Probably ashen wolves, wild boar subspecies, those guys. This area has a lot of mutant species and harsh nature due to the aftereffects of the undergound dungeon outbreak.

“On the right, the cliff.”

Anyway, thanks to Han Chae-yoon’s carry, I was able to relax.

In situations like now, where it is not easy to collect one-sided malice because the other party is too strong, there is a tactic for this case.

‘I just need to lead it thoroughly to a relationship where I gain profit.’

In this way, most actions are not recognized as ‘benevolence’.

In other words, not a bold villainy, but cleverly gaining villainy.

Cheeky villain.

“This is the present me.

“Into the waterfall.”

– Vroooom!

Otherwise, for some reason, there is a bit of ‘malice’ coming from Han Chaeyoon .

‘Does she hate me?’

Whether she hates me, swears at me in her heart, or wants to hurt me. Judging by her personality…she might see me as some sort of toy.

“Caution, right-side cliff.”

…Maybe she’s angry because she finds me annoying.

I better be careful not to get buried in the ground for no reason.

Fortunately, we arrived at our destination in a moment.

Han Chaeyoon in the lead gradually reduced her speed,

and stopped in her tracks.

A chilly wind blew from ahead.

“Up ahead. There’s a structure…more like a cave. Two cliffs that had stood on each side met.”

“Then we are in the right place.”

We finally arrived.

[Valley of Light]

This place is where I can get the optimal Hidden Piece for me right now. It’s a place where I can extract the best efficiency compared to the effort put in.

“What will we do now?”

Han Chaeyoon asked.

We made it here by somehow getting past the monsters.

She seemed to question what we are going to do in this place.

‘I can see why.’

To an outsider, [Valley of Light] is just a scenic place.

But,

if you stay still and observe for a few days, you will see

A spectacle of this place shining mysteriously when it receives sunlight at a specific time.

This is a unique place where, due to the nature of the Hidden Piece being hidden, you have to match both the space and time conditions.

Ham Chaeyoon, who had simply scouted, led me at my request.

She, who held my arm and stopped.

“Five steps from here is a cliff.”

She threw a stone, it fell making a clink, gradually even that sound faded.

A depth that is difficult to gauge from the ground.

“So, what’s the reason you asked to come here?”

“It’ll show up soon.”

“Huh?”

“When the sun rises.”

Before long, from the distance,

a warm aura began to spread.

“…Ah.”

Han Chaeyoon lets out a small groan.

“It’s beautiful.”

In the original, this place was described like this.

‘A place where the peaks of the valley meet and create a ceiling, similar to a cave. As the sun rises, the pure rays of light shot from each peak beautifully illuminate the interior. That’s where it was. The place where the rays of light converge. It led the traveler to a hidden piece, just like a staircase.’

“Chaeyoon, don’t you see anything above the cliff?”

“…Yes, I see. Things like stairs of light.”

“Where does it lead?”

“From the cliff, to the ceiling up there.”

I was sure of this place.

Then, there’s no need to hesitate.

The moment I took a step forward.

“Ihan!”

Han Chaeyoon grabs my shoulder with a start.

“What are you doing! There’s a cliff in front of you!”

“But you said there were stairs.”

“No, it was just a metaphor! It just looks like a cluster of light is floating in the air. The gaps are incredibly wide and there’s absolutely no way you can step on light!”

But.

Umm. How should I explain this?

Phenomenon?

I don’t know.

Show don’t tell, right?

“Guide me with your magic.”

“What?”

“The point where the light converges. Just shoot your magic there.”

Han Chaeyoon fell silent as if she didn’t understand.

After a moment, her voice came back in firm refusal.

“Absolutely not. I can’t possibly tell you.”

Hmm.

She murmured in a trembling voice.

“…Because I can’t afford to lose.”

What is it that she can’t lose?

Is she referring to me in context?

Why?

Ah. Well, the Black Cat Group values its employees highly. Even a temporary butler shouldn’t be allowed to have an industrial accident.

But.

What’s up there is a hidden piece that is important to me.

Here’s a villain’s feature.

‘Ignore others’ words.’

As she was muttering something.

I rushed towards the cliff.

“!!!!”

And just like that, he threw himself off.

Hmm. He yelled out to Han Chaeyoon, feeling the gravity with his whole body:

“If you don’t want to lose me.”

A typical villain move.

“Guide me properly.”

Such a bad guy.

* * *

Han Chaeyoon had never trusted anyone before.

As the heir to a world-renowned guild, it was a position that was rightfully his.

Behind him was a position he ought to protect.

While watching Lee Han fall right in front of her,

Han Chaeyoon suddenly had a thought.

And then, belated shock arrived.

“Lee Han!!!”

Is that guy crazy? Why would he throw himself off a cliff!

What should I do?

However, she quickly thought of what Lee Han had said.

“Shoot your magic towards the light?”

She didn’t know exactly what he intended,

But she hurriedly directed her energy towards the nearest mass of light as Lee Han instructed.

“!”

Lee Han, who had been falling, flashes brightly and appears on top of the mass of light.

‘Blink!’

A technique that allows you to teleport over short distances.

At the time of admission, Lee Han attained second place just with this teleportation ability.

But he hadn’t used it since he lost his sight?

The reason it’s impossible to use Blink when you can’t see is simple.

If you bump into an object, the impact is dozens of times greater than normal movement.

‘… Could it be?’

Is he trying to use my expelled energy as a guide light?

“That crazy bastard!”

A curse word that was unlike her came out of Han Chaeyoon’s mouth.

Whether or not that was the case, Lee Han once again threw himself forward.

“Ah, seriously!”

She hastily shot her negative energy towards the point where the light was gathering next. Lee Han moved towards that direction using Blink.

This was repeated.

The problem was.

‘My internal energy is unstable…’

As I got further away from Lee Han, my internal energy that had been calmed due to him began to shake heavily.

“Ah!”

Lee Han wavered due to the skewed negative energy.

Quickly releasing energy once again, Lee Han regained his balance.

An action that could only be done by not completely trusting Han Chae-yoon.

Because she had never casually trusted someone before,

she was confused.

“How can that person possibly trust me!”

She clenched her teeth and focused.

The energy became anxious the further Lee Han got away.

However, focusing all attention only on the flow of the energy.

Concentrate.

Concentrate.

Concentrate.

She didn’t even notice that her lips were cracked and bleeding.

And at the end of all that.

– Whooosh!

Lee Han reached the very top of the scattered lights.

The point where the peaks formed in a round dimension.

“Hah… hah…”

Han Chae-yoon slumped down in her place.

* * *

[ You have acquired a Hidden Piece. ]

[ Inner Sight (Level 1) ]

[ You have obtained an item. ]

[ Ring filled with light ]

– A ring containing the stream of light shining in a dark canyon. It seems to have a certain effect when worn.

Having obtained the Hidden Piece, I gave a sigh of relief.

“They really made such a hassle.”

Inner-sight means eyes that see through the heart.

Why then did they require extremely good eyesight?

In order to obtain Inner Sight, you have to train your eyes to the extreme. Is that the concept?

Anyway, it’s fine now that I have obtained it.

“Hah…”

I, who had sighed, received my reward.

There is no form added as a skill due to [Inner Sight].

The [Ring filled with light] was placed in the palm of my hand.

Should I call this a kind of war trophy?

“It’s not very useful to me.”

‘The Hidden Piece’ is awarded each time along with related accessories.

“Han Chae-yun’s reward should be enough with this much.”

It should calm her unstable heart and spirit to some degree.

With just a single half-basement, the villain who drains the successor of the guild.

That’s me.

There were no difficulties in returning.

According to Han Chae-yun’s instructions, I returned easily via Blink.

“You… you of all people!”

I approached an outraged Han Chae-yun,

and the moment I tried to hand over the ring.

[ ＜!＞ A large amount of ‘Malice’ obtained ]

… What’s this.

Can’t be that I’ve already acquired a Hidden Piece trial?

Once you get a Hidden Piece, various types of trials are given. I, who remembered the trial of this place, quickly tried to hand over the ring to Han Chae-yun.

But at that moment.

[ You have collected all the ‘Malice’. ]

[ You have achieved the ‘Villain’s Fate’ goal. ]

Huh?

Hang on a second…

[ Receiving rewards. Beware of mental shock. ]

Mental shock?

No way.

I should definitely avoid this trial moving it to my mover…

– Whoosh.

With a feeling like someone smashing my head with a hammer,

I collapsed towards Han Chae-yun as usual.

– Shh.

With a sense of pushing the ring I was holding somewhere,

My consciousness faded.