The sound of a blaring horn.
Then—white light blinded my eyes.
CRASH!
My body flew through the air. Then—darkness.
"I… I'm dead?" I whispered. My own voice echoed hollowly in the endless dark. It felt strange—like floating, my body weightless, my mind foggy.
"Seriously? I died… because of a truck?"
I wanted to laugh bitterly, but there was no body to laugh with. Only consciousness, dangling in a void.
My monitor, my max-level game character—all of it… meaningless now.
Suddenly, a strange voice echoed.
> [Initializing… Host detected…]
I flinched. "What? Who's there?!"
> [Memory synchronization… complete.]
Pain exploded in my head. Foreign images flooded in: a young man with dark hair, his dull eyes burning with hatred. People pointed at him, spat at him, called him… the "Exiled Prince."
I gasped. "What the hell is this… someone else's memories?!"
Another voice followed, harsh and cold:
"You're not worthy of being born into this kingdom! You should just die!"
Screams. Whips. Cruel laughter. They filled my head until I wanted to scream myself.
Then my awareness was yanked into a body. My lungs burned, my chest felt heavy. I opened my eyes—
Darkness.
Torchlight flickered weakly against stone walls. The stench of rust mixed with the metallic tang of blood assaulted my nose. My body hurt, cold, and… bound by chains.
"This… isn't a hospital," I muttered.
Suddenly, an iron door creaked open. A hard-faced man stepped in, carrying a torch. His eyes narrowed at me.
"So the exiled prince is still alive," he sneered.
I blinked. "Exiled… prince?"
He snorted. "Don't play dumb. You think after betraying your family they'll let you live long? Tomorrow you'll be executed."
My blood ran cold. "Ex… executed?"
He chuckled, slamming the door as he left me alone in the dark.
My heart pounded. I… wasn't in my old world anymore. I was in the body of a prince doomed to die.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think.
"If I really am him now… then I'll die tomorrow. No. No. I have to… I have to do something."
My hands fumbled over the cold floor, searching for anything—weapon, key, anything. But all I felt was dried blood caked on stone.
I swallowed hard.
As if to make things worse, faint sounds echoed down the corridor: screams, cries… then silence again.
I gripped the chain in my hands. "Okay… stay calm. I've already died once. I'm not dying again."
But as my eyes adjusted to the dark, I noticed something—fresh blood splattered on the walls around me.
Not just splatters. Puddles.
And the smell was getting stronger.
I stared at the crimson pool, frozen. It was clearly fresh. Still warm.
"This isn't just a stain… someone was killed… here."
A chill crawled up my spine. I crawled forward slowly, the chains dragging across the floor with a screech. Sticky liquid clung to my fingertips. Still wet.
Who had died? The previous prisoner? Or… was it my turn next?
Heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor. I quickly pressed my back to the wall, pretending to be weak.
Creak… creak…
Another torch flared. A scarred jailer emerged, his eyes bloodshot—maybe from sleeplessness, maybe from drink. He looked at me like I was an animal.
"Still alive, you filthy rat?" his voice rasped.
I coughed weakly. "W-who are you?"
He cackled. "Playing amnesia? Pathetic. Tomorrow morning, your head will be chopped off before the crowd. A fine show for the people."
I stayed silent, processing. Execution tomorrow. I had one night left.
I stared at him deliberately. "If I die… do you get a bonus?"
His eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
I leaned forward, speaking softly. "I can see it in your eyes. You're no ordinary jailer. You're one of my brother's dogs, aren't you? Here to make sure I die slowly before the execution."
He froze for a moment, then smirked. "Sharp tongue. Shame it won't save you."
I swallowed. Okay, my guess was right—this prince really was being hunted by his own family.
"I can give you more than they can," I said quickly. "Release me… and I'll make sure you live comfortably outside the palace."
He laughed, harsh and loud. "Ha! Promises from an exiled prince? You have no power! Don't be ridiculous."
I exhaled softly. "Then… do you want to know why I'm still alive?"
He stopped laughing. His gaze turned suspicious. "What do you mean?"
I stared straight into his eyes. "Because I don't die that easily. Everyone who tries… ends up like the blood on this floor."
For a split second, his face tightened. He glanced down—at the fresh blood still seeping between the stones.
"W-what… is that…"
I smirked faintly. I didn't know whose blood it was either. But better to make him doubt.
He gritted his teeth. "Shut up! You're just trash!"
He jabbed his baton into my chest. "Tomorrow, when your head rolls, I'll be staring into your hopeless eyes."
I held back the pain, refusing to look away. I had to maintain the illusion.
"Tomorrow?" I whispered. "What if it's tonight?"
He blinked.
I grinned. "I'm still alive now… which means someone else can still die before morning."
He stepped back slightly, his face paling before he scowled again. "Crazy bastard. Enjoy your last night, Demon Prince."
BANG! The iron door slammed shut, chains rattling.
I exhaled sharply. "God… managed to scare him a bit."
My head dropped, my breathing quick. I had no idea how I'd survive, but one thing was clear: I couldn't just wait for morning.
I leaned my head against the wall. "Okay… think… think. If this really is a novel world like the memories showed me… I'm just a minor piece. Dead in the early chapters. But I…" I clenched my fists. "…I refuse to be trash in someone else's story."
And then, a mechanical voice echoed in my head.
> [Villain System Activated.]
I froze. "…What?"
> [Host detected. Synchronization: complete.]
[Welcome, Exiled Prince. From now on, your power will grow with every act of villainy you commit.]
My jaw dropped. "A… system? Like… a game?"
> [First Mission: Escape tomorrow's execution. Reward: Basic Skill – Intimidation.]
[Failure: Permanent Death.]
I swallowed hard. "Okay… so it's real. I have a chance. But I have to become… a villain?"
I almost laughed bitterly. Ironic. In my old world, I was just a regular gamer, invisible to everyone. Here… I'm forced to be a villain to survive.
"Fine. If that's the price…" I closed my eyes, a crooked smile on my lips. "I'll become the most terrifying villain they've ever seen."
Suddenly, the sound of chains echoed outside the cell. Heavy, rhythmic. Like someone dragging a giant blade across stone.
I tensed. "What now?"
Torchlight flickered beyond the door's cracks.
"Your time is up, Exiled Prince," a deep voice rumbled.
The iron door creaked open slowly.
Light spilled into the cell… and I saw it.
The floor was slick with fresh blood. The walls were clawed and scratched. And a hooded man stood in the doorway, holding a massive axe still dripping red.
I froze, my body rigid.
He looked straight at me… and grinned wickedly.
"Tonight, I've come to take your head."