Chapter 2: TBSL

Did he get him?

“Y-young master… why are you doing this to me…?”

Si-on muttered inwardly, “Not yet, not yet!!” and brought the candlestick down on Trey’s head once again.

He worried for a moment that he might actually kill him, but if he hesitated any longer, he might end up shaking hands with this knight and taking a pleasant trip to the afterlife together. There was no time to think.

“Ghk!”

With a short scream, Trey stretched out his limbs and collapsed into a full “大” shape on the ground, completely unconscious.

Si-on let out a relieved breath, then immediately realized he couldn’t afford to waste even a second, and hurried over to Lucia.

“Don’t come closer! Please, don’t! Stop it!!”

“……”

If Kim Yuhyeon arrived and saw this scene as it was, losing just an arm would be the best possible outcome.

It was absurd and unfair enough to suddenly get thrown into a novel world after talking with the author—but he had no intention of dying as a nameless extra cut down by the protagonist.

He had to calm the girl in front of him by any means necessary.

Only then could he survive the night intact.

Think, think. I was Reader No.1—there’s no way I forgot everything about Lucia, one of the heroines! Focus! If you don’t want to die!

Then he suddenly remembered.

The one who had ultimately contributed to Lucia’s miserable death… was Si-on.

Lucia had been kidnapped and subjected to horrific abuse for a simple reason.

Her appearance.

Because she had grown up closely with her father and rarely interacted with men, she was extremely wary of them—especially handsome ones.

And Si-on in the novel was described as having exceptional “looks,” even by the author.

And right now… that Si-on was himself.

“Lady Lucia.”

He cleared his throat.

A soft, pleasant voice flowed out.

He forced a gentle smile as he looked at her.

It was so cringeworthy he almost wanted to die from embarrassment—but survival came first, even if he had to crawl through filth.

Lucia, trembling at his voice, looked at him with frightened eyes.

Si-on then did something a noble would never normally do toward a commoner.

He knelt on one knee and bowed his head respectfully.

“I sincerely apologize, Lady Lucia.”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems my knight misunderstood my order to bring you here. I only wished to meet and speak with you, the daughter of Lord Raido. I assure you I have no improper intentions.”

Lucia stared at him, dumbfounded.

Si-on instinctively knew—this was the best and final moment.

He continued bowing repeatedly, as if performing a full ritual of apology.

And then—

The gates of hell opened.

BOOOOOM—!!

A sound like the world itself collapsing echoed through the hall.

Si-on knew instantly.

He’s here.

Dust scattered everywhere as debris flew.

…Why the hell did he break through the wall instead of using the door? That’s just scary.

The novel never mentioned this detail, so Si-on had assumed he would enter through the door.

But instead of a door, the wall itself had been blown apart.

Whatever the reason, it was undeniably effective at intimidation.

Si-on slowly turned toward the direction of the sound, praying he would survive tonight.

But—

There was nothing there.

Just a gaping hole.

As he stared blankly, a rule from horror movies flashed through his mind:

The monster that disappears in front of you is always behind you.

He turned around—

“…Shit.”

Their eyes met.

The moment Si-on saw those eyes, only one thought filled his mind.

I’m going to die.

Even as an ordinary Korean man living an ordinary life, his instincts screamed it clearly.

Those eyes were cold, vicious—like a beast.

“……”

The man’s gaze briefly shifted to Lucia beside him.

And the next moment—

Fury ignited in his eyes.

Anyone could see it. Absolute rage. Killing intent surging like a storm.

Si-on felt wronged.

Not the usual “I didn’t do anything but I’m about to die” kind of wronged.

He felt wronged because—if he was going to get possessed into a novel anyway—why did it have to be this useless villain?

Why not one of the stronger, more interesting villains like “Baek Sabyeong” or “Khan”?

Unlike them, Si-on Clausen was neither powerful, nor destined to become powerful, nor a strategist.

He was just a petty, treacherous scumbag who even sold out his own family.

He was basically a guaranteed ticket to the underworld express.

And of all people—he got possessed into this guy.

“You.”

Just one word came from Kim Yuhyeon’s mouth.

But to Si-on, it sounded like an entire execution sentence.

You’re asking to die.

Shall I cut you horizontally or vertically?

As Kim Yuhyeon reached out his hand toward him—

“W-wait! Yuhyeon!”

A voice of salvation!

Kim Yuhyeon stopped.

It was Lucia.

The man who could overwhelm even absolute masters paused at her single word.

Si-on understood why.

Kim Yuhyeon had been severely injured and fallen into this world, where he was taken in by Raido, Lucia’s father. Raido became his benefactor and teacher.

Thus Lucia was the daughter of his savior.

For Kim Yuhyeon, she was someone to protect.

Si-on internally celebrated.

I’m alive! I’m alive! Lady Lucia, thank you! As expected, the heroine is the best! My investment in the “Lucia coin” finally paid off!

Of course, Lucia had later died because of Si-on—but before that, she had been a very profitable asset.

But this time is different!

The villain who killed Lucia… was Si-on Clausen.

And now Si-on Clausen had become the number one loyal reader who invested heavily in her?

This was a guaranteed skyrocketing chart.

Decided. I’m backing you. You’re going to live a peaceful life with Kim Yuhyeon, have kids, maybe even play soccer together!

While Si-on was mentally paving Lucia’s future—

Kim Yuhyeon turned his attention elsewhere.

“Why did you kidnap Lucia?”

“Pardon?”

“Answer honestly. Any lie, and you’ll regret it.”

Fortunately, Kim Yuhyeon was not a human lie detector.

He had lived in constant life-or-death battles, so he had sharp instincts—but he was not cruel by nature.

And Si-on knew that well.

Si-on licked his lips and sighed dramatically.

“It was my fault.”

“…Hmm?”

“I heard she was the daughter of a sage and wanted to meet her to ask for advice. I’ve been dealing with some troubling matters lately. I intended to meet her quietly, but that foolish subordinate misunderstood my intentions.”

“……”

It sounded suspicious.

But Si-on’s expression and tone were flawless.

Lucia even added a small “Ah…” in agreement.

Kim Yuhyeon had no solid reason to doubt him further.

“Your foolish subordinate, you say.”

“Yes. He’s my newly appointed knight, but he’s overly rigid and excessively loyal to a worrying degree.”

“So he misunderstood your intent.”

“Exactly. He acted without restraint, and I was unable to stop him in time.”

Kim Yuhyeon glanced at Lucia, who nodded.

After all, it was Trey who tried to strip her clothes—and Si-on who stopped him.

“…Then the source of today’s incident is entirely your subordinate.”

“If you put it that way, yes.”

“I would like to punish him myself.”

At that, Si-on almost immediately smiled and agreed.

But then he stopped.

He stared at Kim Yuhyeon.

Kim Yuhyeon stared back, as if asking what the problem was.

…This is a trap, isn’t it?

Kim Yuhyeon had once commanded dozens of elite warriors who followed him with their lives on the line.

He deeply valued loyalty and comradeship.

If Si-on casually handed over his subordinate without resistance…

That would be like saying: “Please take my man and break him.”

A massive favorability loss.

Damn it. Either I hand him over, or I risk my life and trust.

“Answer.”

Kim Yuhyeon pressed impatiently.

Si-on glanced at Lucia.

She showed no intention of intervening.

If you’re scared, then die.

A movie line came to mind.

Right. In situations like this, hesitation meant death.

Sometimes life required madness.

“…I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”

Silence.

The moment those words left his mouth, Si-on immediately regretted it.

Kim Yuhyeon’s killing intent erupted like a storm.

His eyes sharpened like blades, locking directly onto Si-on.

He’s definitely going to kill me.