Unfortunate

'War? Am I in terrorist territory? Who the hell is attacking? I should report this to the higher-ups!'

My thoughts were in complete disarray. Soon after, memories flooded my head as new information kept coming, slightly hurt while it happened.

'War…'

No wait…

'I've recognized that face…'

Looking towards the marbled ceiling which was maintained very well, almost seeing the reflection of oneself, my face froze at the spot.

Duke Mauberon

One of the villains of my novel The Rising Star. An infamous dealer in the underworld and one that almost waged war through the three nations.

With his dark auburn hair and cold two eyes, excluding the calming and villainy demeanor, one could surmise wickedness circulating around the person.

'No way, right? There's absolutely no way this is happening to me…'

But it was actually happening.

"Sir?"

Looking at the person on my front with a hint of confusion, I realized that I have no idea who this is.

At least, for a moment.

My head throbbed once more before memories that I didn't own surged through it. It just kept coming.

The time 'I' was a child, the time 'I' trained so hard, the time 'I' had a pet dog, the time 'I' fell in love, the time 'I' almost got killed due to the business I had attended.

'This wasn't mine…'

It obviously came from the body of this person.

'Strange… this is definitely strange…'

"Sir?"

For the second time, the female secretary on my front called respectfully once again with a glint of worry mixed in her tone.

It's probably due to how dazed I was compared to how 'I' acted every day.

Duke Mauberon is somehow I can call a mediocre villain but his personality is top-notch unlike every else. He was calm, cool, and collected whenever and wherever the situation calls it.

He had purposes of his own, an unknown but famous mafia boss in the underworld, and someone who will wage war just for his goals.

"Maria…"

Even though I've inherited the memories of this person, there are just some things I'm unsure about.

"How long has it been since Fiend's Day happened?"

One of the memories I saw from this body I've transmigrated into was Fiend's Day. Hellish monsters that came from the Nether Realm swarmed throughout the world, giving the image of dystopian age.

Because of this day, Duke lost the person he loved who has his child inside that person.

Maria, who had her hairstyle braided, answered without any questions, "It's been two years."

Two years…

'My goodness…'

I didn't transmigrate from this body at the very start of the novel but almost halfway through the time I will drop this book.

'A lot must've happened.'

Of course, it is.

If I'm thinking it correctly, it's been three years since the start of this novel. The first year was the main character going through the hurdles which I've written solely for the character, meeting companions the character could trust.

The second year was the time Fiend's Day happened and the main character had already solidified her position in the world, making her one of the pillars that could stand toe to toe with other powerful individuals.

The third year was basically a reformation throughout the whole world, mainly restoring everything after Fiend's Day.

The never-ending battle from the fiends shook everyone from their knees. The final boss whom the main character met at the time they moved through dimensions almost loses the entirety of humanity if not for the 'mc' pulling off her plot armor.

'But that's only the beginning…'

The boss they fought was no other than the lapdog of the real boss which is a hundred times… no, much more stronger than the opponent they face.

Then after that, I pretty much dropped the book.

Well, it's because I've pretty much lost readers at that point. I've also read a lot of comments that it becomes repetitive such as villain emerging>mc confronts them> villain dead> mc won.

It was the same as Duke Mauberon who I wrote will appear in the near future to confront the main character and decided to announce war which unfortunately didn't happen due to Fiend's Day II.

When that time comes, another hellish era will begin.

"Fuck…"

Shocked that a curse left my mouth, Maria drew a gasp as she immediately grabbed a kettle from the side, and pour the tea into the cup before handing it to me.

"U-uhm, let me just call ma'am Sezter. I'm sure she'll help you."

"Call her and she'll escort you outside in the lower streets."

"Eeek—!"

Letting out another terrified gasped from her mouth, I didn't drink the tea Maria had given nor she moved after warning her not to call Sister Sezter.

In my chair, I've silently wandered my thoughts around, thinking about what to do next.

'Okay… I've decided…'

I will leave behind everything. The riches I've gathered, the men this body worked hard for so many years he could use, and all the territories this guy had… I will not hold onto anything on this.

I will quit being the villain and will focus on finding a way to get back to my previous world.

'For that to happen, I should create a scenario where someone trustable I hold will witness their boss falling short in terms of everything…'

That's it…!

With a plan in mind, I swiftly executed it.

"Secretary Maria?"

"Y-yes!"

"Give me the files pertaining to the enemies we have in the underworld. I want a big fish, do you understand?"

"Y-yes!"

Maria Scrhinger

She was the secretary of this group and the one who always assisted Duke in terms of file arrangement, managing his needs, and assisting him through tough times. She's a combination of a maid and a worker.

Even though she appeared like this to me, scurrying away like a crying child after strong words, she was definitely a monster on the inside.

She's only like that because I was the boss. If it's the others, whether their powers or rankings are below or higher, she'll definitely fight them if they disrespected or hurt me.

'A beautiful woman working for a mafia boss… If this isn't just a dark fantasy world, a romance might be happening. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen.'

Duke Mauberon loved his wife dearly. If we're describing how loyal he is, then this might be a reason why he'll never fall in love again.

As for me? I don't have time for such things.

I had to put my full attention to this.

'This is so fucking unreal…'

…

"Get out, you two. I want to talk alone to him."

With Fuego being wrapped by the rope he used against me, a cloth plunged into his mouth, and knowing for a fact he can't use any Techniques, I can completely reassure myself that he is definitely trapped inside right in this very room.

Both Klave and Heralton should stop worrying now but even if they do so, since it was a command coming from me, both respectfully bid farewell as they exit the room.

"Now that we're alone, I would like to make two things clear."

Clearing my throat while fiddling with the gun in my hand, I directly stared into Fuego's eyes, "Tell me what kind of dealing does you or the group backing you doing in the underworld?"

I saw the fear in his eyes but I wasn't finished.

"Second, don't think you'll leave in this place."

Stopping my hands from playing with the gun in my hand, I let out a soft smile, "Of course, the second statement can be changed if you are willing to answer the first statement."

I crossed my hands and continued with a carefree tone, "You can have my word."

For a whole minute, I watched his subtle reactions before removing the cloth from his mouth.

So far, there's no difference in his expression aside from his unusual death glare which is just giving me a message that he'll kill me if he had the chance.

"You fucking liar. Do you think I'll buy those words of yours?"

"Hmm, do you mean the former deal where you'll not tell me what I was asking and get you killed or the latter one where you'll answer me and let you live? What was your choice again?"

Fuegos face contorted in a weird way, pertaining that he didn't like anything that was happening to him a bit.

If he didn't believe, he's sure I'll kill him. If he does spill the beans, that single-lining thread might save him from the shithole his group dug for themselves.

Clank—!

Spinning the barrel of the revolver, I swiftly put it back inside before pointing the barrel at Fuego's head.

"Six chambers. If you're lucky, you'll have six chances." Forming a smile, I continued, "But if your luck is as suck as ever, only one."

Fuego's face appeared confident at first, not uttering a single word from his mouth.

Clink—!

I drew the first shot.

"!"

And surely, he appeared a scaredy cat.

"Again, what kind of dealing does your group do in this underworld?"

"I—"

Clink—!

I shot another one.

"I don't like repeating myself."

"W-wait—"

Clink—!

That was the third one.

"I will speak so please, listen to me!" Fuego shouted in fright as shook his head violently, "We're dealing with Fiends! We're abducting people from the lower streets and sending them to the Nether Realm!"

He paused, "You, who was the only bonus if we managed to kill you, is only a bonus. The real business is that! We received rewards from the Fiends and one of those things is to receive Techniques from them!"

"Hoh…"

"Yes, believe me! That's all there is! Now, as you promise—"

Bang—!

Finally, on the fourth draw, the bullet passed through my revolver and shot Fuego down on the ground.

"Sigh… looks like I'll have to change a bit of my plans…"

It might look like they are only unknown characters to others but now that I've transmigrated to this body, I felt pity knowing for the fact that I made those people's life miserable.

Though there was slight guilt, the dominant emotion I was feeling was absolute pity.

That's just it.

If I knew the novel I created would come back to life, I wouldn't write such a horrendous story in the first place.

"How fickle…"

I looked at the Fuego lying on the ground who was gone out of breath. His eyes were wide open due to utter shock.

For a moment, did he really believe that I'll let him live? Well, this was my whole idea but still, he was just not right in the time or place.

"How fickle…"

The tips of my lips slightly go upwards upon repeating the same two words.