In a narrow alleyway—
Charles strolled forward leisurely, his body wrapped in a white robe.
Ever since he got this disguise, no shady lurker hiding in the shadows would be able to sneak up on him with a "Demacia!"*
(*Charles is joking here, using "Demacia" like a slangy battle cry—probably mocking surprise attacks in PvP games.)
Turning a corner, his ears twitched at the sound of low voices.
"Looks like those justice-obsessed women are cutting their way over here. Should we go help?"
"Forget it. Our job is to keep watch, not play bait like those guys drawing their attention. Unless you want Lord Valletta to chew you out."
"But… if we just sit here, how are we supposed to offer our lives to Lord Thanatos?"
"Relax. When Lord Thanatos needs you, you'll get your chance to shine."
Charles blinked, and a bold idea popped into his head. He deliberately made his footsteps heavy, letting the two men ahead hear him.
"Who's there?"
Two white-robed figures drew their swords, glaring into the dark passage.
Charles stepped into view. When they saw he was wearing the same white robe, they relaxed slightly.
"Why aren't you at your post? What are you doing over here?"
Sensing the man's authoritative tone, Charles straightened, fist to chest in a formal salute.
"Order from Lord Rudra: the plan has changed—everyone is to reinforce the front line. Time to show those so-called 'justice maidens' what's what."
One man's eyes lit up.
"Finally! I can give my life for our lord!"
A Dark God worshipper, huh? Charles' gaze flicked to him.
Remembering those suicide lunatics, Charles decided he'd take him out first.
The other man frowned. This didn't match their original orders—but the one giving them now was indeed Lord Rudra. No outsider could possibly know that name.
So he tested:
"Where's your partner?"
"Gone to inform the others."
"Have you completed your task?
"No idea. I'm just here to pass the order."
When the man seemed about to question him further, Charles pressed:
"Move it. I've got other tasks to handle."
"Let's go, big brother! I don't want to miss seeing May again."
"…Fine."
They set off. In the instant they turned their backs, Charles drew a cursed dagger from his robe and plunged it into the worshipper's back.
Blood dribbled from the man's lips. Eyes wide in disbelief, he reached instinctively for his weapon—only for Charles to seize his hand.
But before Charles could enjoy the moment—
Shhk!
A sword punched through the man's chest… and kept going, skewering Charles right through his own.
Blood dripping, Charles stared ahead in shock. The cautious Evilus member had run his own comrade through, just to get him as well?
"How… did you figure it out?"
"Moving alone is strictly forbidden. There's no way you'd be by yourself."
"I… see. Thanks."
Charles suddenly grabbed the sword blade, pulled out his dagger, and slashed.
A crimson arc cut through the air—but missed.
The man released his sword and hopped back.
"Tch. I'm not trading my life with a dead man."
Charles pulled the sword free, shoved the lifeless worshipper aside, and staggered, clutching his stomach.
That brief exchange told him all he needed—this man utterly outclassed him.
Forget it. No point struggling—just hand over the kill.
Before he could act, his blood was pouring freely—
"Don't bother. That's a cursed weapon in my hand. Without an antidote, you're not walking away from this."
Charles looked up in surprise.
"No… way."
"You're clever, but you only fool surface-dwellers. Give it up. You're already dead."
"And you are…?"
"Me? Call me Hyena."
A title?
Charles played along, collapsing as if mortally wounded, staring up in disbelief.
"That's right. I'm not like you lot—I'm a fully elevated Level 2."
Hyena licked his lips, eyeing Charles with interest.
"Don't worry. Once you're dead, I'll make sure to savor your corpse."
Charles shivered. Yep—Evilus was full of psychos. Maybe he should reconsider joining them.
Blood spread across the ground as Charles stared ahead with vacant eyes. Hyena, however, didn't approach.
Instead, he drew a magic sword from his cloak.
"Drop the act. That wound won't kill you that fast. Adventurers are tougher than you think."
He slashed. The ground erupted in earthen spikes, impaling Charles.
Charles hung there like a rag doll on a cactus, glaring resentfully.
Seriously? Using a magic sword on a half-dead small fry? Are you trying to be Cautious Hero or something?
"Knew you were still alive…"
Another swing—the blade shattered, and the spikes rose again, skewering him anew.
Then—
"Fresh ingredients should be eaten right away. Sin's taint, cooking flames, feasting on the flesh of kin—"
[Flaire Visrat]
Fireballs burst from Hyena's palm, igniting Charles.
Fabric burned away… and hundreds of gold coins scattered across the ground.
Hyena's eyes went wide.
"Are those…?"
Greed overtook him. In his mind, there was no way anyone skewered like that, then roasted, could still live. Coins were more tempting than a half-cooked "meal."
He stepped forward, produced a pouch, and began scooping them up.
"One… two… four-eighty-nine…"
With the last coin in hand, he grinned uncontrollably.
Five hundred Gold Coins—five million valis!
"Hahaha! All mine! All mine!"
As he looked up—a dagger glowing with eerie red light slit his throat.
Clutching the wound, Hyena stared in disbelief at Charles' bloodied, savage grin.
"Th… how…?"
He couldn't finish before Charles yanked the pouch away.
"Thanks for collecting my money for me."
Charles pried himself off the spikes, then crouched over Hyena like a vengeful ghost. He stripped him of gear—magic sword, three high-grade potions, fine armor clearly meant for a Level 3 adventurer.
"Nice haul. Murder and arson really do pay."
After looting the earlier worshipper, Charles noticed Hyena still staring at him.
"Not dead yet? As expected of a higher-level adventurer—hard to kill."
Not as hard as you…
Even with his face charred and his body full of holes, Charles was still alive—a sight Hyena couldn't comprehend.
"Monster…"
"I like that name."
Charles raised the cursed sword and stabbed. Once. Twice. Thrice.
He drew back for a fourth—
Whoosh!
A sharp wind tore through the corridor.