Darius fell silent. His mind was simple, and he had truly believed he had finally met someone exceptionally kind. Never did he expect that person to be a mass murderer.
As Darius lowered his head into stillness, Dusk sensed that it was finally time to place his bet.
"Don't be hasty," Dusk said calmly. "Just listen to what I have to say first. Look at the people I've killed—were any of them truly normal? They were all seriously wounded. Even if they were saved, they would've spent the rest of their lives crippled. Wouldn't that kind of life be torture? Could they really endure such suffering?"
He stopped speaking in order to give Darius time to consider what he had said. And maybe he was right this time—Darius had spoken up. His face was filled with inner struggle and confusion as he gazed up.
"You… you're not wrong," Darius muttered. "If I lost my arms or legs, I wouldn't want to live either. What good would I be? I'd be nothing but a useless cripple."
But was he really speaking from the perspective of someone disabled? Of course not. His thoughts were those of a laborer, someone who carried heavy loads for a living. Imagine being crippled and trying to do that kind of work—how productive could you possibly be?
The answer was obvious: not much. Sure, there are people with incredible willpower who can keep working despite their disabilities, but what then? Wouldn't their lives be full of inconvenience? Wouldn't their abilities be severely limited?
It didn't matter how others thought; Darius simply didn't want to live that kind of life. For someone strong like him, becoming a cripple would be worse than death.
Darius's reaction was exactly what Dusk had hoped for. Dusk slowly stepped closer, placing a friendly arm around his shoulder, his face not resembling that of a murderer in the slightest.
"You understand, don't you?" Dusk said, smiling gently. "What I did… it was to help them. You saw how I ended their lives—a single, swift strike. They were in heaven before they even realized what happened. Think about it—heaven is a beautiful place. I freed them from a crippled life so they could enter the paradise of their dreams. If I were truly just a killer, why would I even bother with mercy? I could've tortured them, made them die in agony."
He stopped speaking and took a few steps forward, hands clasped behind his back. For some reason, as Darius watched Dusk's figure, his back seemed unbearably lonely… And tears began to fall from Darius's eyes without him even realizing it.
"Haiz… The world may see me as a cold-blooded killer, but in my heart, I've always pondered how to bring people a better life," Dusk said with a weary sigh, his voice tinged with helplessness and solitude.
"I'm just a laborer, a man of muscle and little education in this society. There's nothing grand I can do. All I can offer is my strength—to free people from their suffering and lead them to a blissful paradise.
Let the world judge me however they wish. Even if they wish to execute me, I accept it without regret. If my life is the price to help more people… then I'll die with no regrets."
He spoke like a man abandoned by the world, yet still trying to help it—his loneliness strikingly noble.
Darius's tears streamed down uncontrollably. In all his life, he had never seen anyone so utterly alone, yet so immeasurably great.
"You… you're a living saint," Darius choked out between sobs, his voice thick with emotion. "From this day on, I shall admire no one but you. Please, allow me to follow in your footsteps… to help bring relief to those in pain."
Dusk grinned to himself when he heard those remarks. His strategy had been successful; he no longer needed to pull his knife.
Once again, he placed a hand on Darius's shoulder, his eyes full of sincere appreciation.
"Darius, your enlightenment brings me great joy. It warms my heart to know there's still someone in this world with such a kind and righteous soul. But are you sure you want to walk this path with me? My road is one filled with thorns—and constant misunderstanding from the world."
Darius stared directly into Dusk's eyes, unwavering determination shining within his gaze—as though he would fear neither the blades of hell nor the depths of the sea.
"You can count on me. I fear nothing. If the world misunderstands you, I'll make them see your greatness. If you are not a saint… then no one in this world deserves that title."
A faint curve appeared on Dusk's lips—a rare, satisfied smile. Now, at last, the foundation for his future power was beginning to take shape.
[Ding! Mission Activated.
Mission Objective: Establish your own faction with at least one high-ranking official.
Reward: 100% success rate on your next relic crafting attempt.]
Dusk froze.
It felt as though fortune itself had exploded in his favor.
Relics were notoriously difficult to craft. Each attempt often required the deaths of countless people and creatures. Under normal circumstances, relic creation demanded immense resources—something far beyond his current reach. Only when he reached Rank 3 would he even dare to dream of making one.
But with this reward… everything changed.
With this reward, instead of needing to kill tens of thousands, a single life might be enough.
'Hahaha… I didn't expect such a tremendous gift to fall into my lap. And the mission? It's exactly what I was already planning to do. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.'
Inside, he was thrilled beyond measure—but his expression remained calm and composed. He couldn't afford to ruin the image he'd just established in front of Darius.
"You… thank you. Truly."
He took a deep breath, then said with solemn gravity:
"Let us form a faction. From today onward, we shall be known as the Great Love Guild. We are a gathering of those who hold immense love—for humanity, for the world itself. Our mission is clear: to establish a paradise among mortals, where everyone can lead the lives they are genuinely entitled to. Allow our great love to permeate every region of the planet."
Darius's eyes were blazing with passion. His soul swelled as though deliberately set on fire. He had already begun imagining the beautiful future that awaited them.
Grabbing Dusk's hand tightly, he shouted, "I swear my loyalty! I swear it twice over! I will help you transform this world into a true paradise, a land where our great love touches all!"
Dusk gently tapped his hand, signaling him to ease up—Darius's grip was a bit too enthusiastic, and Dusk's body wasn't exactly built like a war machine.
"Good. I like your spirit."
He smiled approvingly.
"From now on, you are the Vice Guild Master of the Great Love Guild. In my absence, all matters of the guild are yours to oversee."