A month had already passed since entering The Glory, of all games, into the body of its worst character, Evan Dreadnote.
My daily routine was brutally simple.
Waking before dawn and training my body to the point of exhaustion with physical conditioning and swinging a wooden sword.
Then devouring every last bit of food that was worse than dog chow before holing up in my room,
repeatedly practicing Shadow Step, which I'd learned from the Dark Grimoire, to use it more freely.
Yes, that was my entire routine.
It was just a monotonous repetition of the same simple tasks, but even that process alone left me feeling like I was going to die.
Pushing my body to its limits every day until my muscles screamed was par for the course,
and to recover from the fatigue and build those muscles, I needed to consume plenty of food.
"Young Master. I've left your prepared meal by the door."
But with the food that insolent maid brought every day, I couldn't get enough nutrients.
"Haa. Utterly pathetic again today."
I couldn't even eat my fill and instead had to clutch my starving stomach.
Still, there were definite changes.
The effects of hours upon hours of physical training were starting to show,
or maybe it was because my weight was dropping from not even consuming an average adult's calories.
Whatever the reason, the useless fat had vanished without a trace, replaced bit by bit with faint but firm muscle.
The calluses on my palms and the F-rank stats window provided proof of that tiny change.
Shhh.
"..."
The first ability I'd gained, Shadow Step, had become so familiar that now I could move to any spot in the room even with my eyes closed.
I was definitely growing.
Slowly, but surely.
I was satisfied that everything was progressing steadily according to plan.
But today, for the first time, I ran into a major problem.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After finishing training, I returned to my room and closed my eyes as if meditating.
To absorb the negative emotions flowing from every corner of the mansion, as always.
Normally, a chilling surge of energy would flood through me, filling up my Authority of Shadows' experience points.
But today, it was strangely quiet.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Absorbing negative emotion 'Apathy.'] [Absorbing negative emotion 'Annoyance.'] [Authority of Shadows experience points slightly increased.]
"Damn it. Why is it decreasing?"
After finishing my Shadow Step training in the room, I opened the Dark Grimoire and spat a quiet curse as I checked the rat-shit-sized experience gain.
After filling it for days on end, this was all the progress I got?
"Ha."
A bitter laugh escaped me before I knew it.
The first few weeks had been explosive.
The lumps of every negative emotion the mansion's servants spewed toward me had made my Authority of Shadows grow by leaps and bounds.
I'd even been thrilled, thinking I could level up faster than expected within a year.
But in the last week,
the experience gains had noticeably slowed.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination or the usual game mechanic where required experience increases.
But no.
A month ago, the emotions directed at me were contempt, disgust, revulsion—
thick, intense feelings that made me painfully realize just how much the people in this mansion hated me.
But now?
Apathy? Annoyance?
With these soft, cotton-candy-like emotions, even maintaining my current level was a struggle, let alone leveling up.
"...What the hell?"
The change was too sudden; I furrowed my brow.
Had the mansion's residents suddenly turned over a new leaf and started pitying me?
"Bullshit."
As if.
The way they treated me in the mansion hadn't changed at all.
The food was still garbage, and the servants treated me like I was invisible.
There's no way they'd suddenly view me favorably.
I hadn't done a single thing since becoming Evan Dreadnote to warrant that.
'Then what is it?'
To analyze the cause, I had to look back on the past days.
Only then could I figure out when the servants' feelings toward me started to fade.
I began reviewing my actions over the past month.
Dawn training, meals, personal practice.
I hadn't run into anyone or caused any commotion.
I'd just done my own thing like a dead man walking.
Kugung!
Right then, realization hit me like a hammer to the head.
"Holy shit."
The answer came immediately.
The problem wasn't with them from the start.
It was me.
I wasn't the Evan Dreadnote they used to know.
Thinking about it, it was obvious.
The servants had despised and hated me because the original Evan pulled all sorts of disgraceful, scoundrel antics.
But what about me now?
Just a quiet illegitimate son holed up in his room.
All I'd done for a whole month was dawn training and staying in my room.
I hadn't harmed them in any way or even raised my voice once.
Things the original Evan never would have done.
To them, I was no longer a headache.
I'd become like air—barely noticeable.
"Ah, damn it. How did I not think of this?"
My desperate struggles to survive and grow stronger were blocking my own progress.
How ironic was that?
The growth condition for my Authority of Shadows was absorbing negative emotions.
Yet I hadn't done anything to provoke those emotions from them.
In other words, I hadn't been properly fulfilling my role as Evan Dreadnote.
If everyone's feelings toward me faded like this, I wouldn't be able to meet that growth condition.
At this rate, my Authority of Shadows' growth would stop completely.
Which meant I'd meet the same gruesome end at the academy in a year, butchered by the protagonist's party just like in the original story.
Of course, if I stayed quiet at the academy, there might be a chance they wouldn't kill me.
"..."
Could I really be sure?
...Honestly, I had no idea.
Ever since I entered The Glory, things hadn't made sense anyway.
"...Fuck. So there's only one conclusion."
To survive, I had to generate malice myself.
Make them despise me, hate me again, and even fear me.
I had to become Evan Dreadnote once more.
"Misdeeds, huh..."
It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
How was I, an ordinary guy from South Korea, supposed to mimic the lowest scum like Evan?
'Still, I have to do it.'
But I had no choice.
I was Evan Dreadnote now.
In the original story, a third-rate villain destined to be cut down by the protagonist after all his filthy deeds.
'Even if I sit tight like this, I'll die in a year anyway. Nothing changes.'
If I didn't act, I'd be the one dying in the future.
Conscience? Morality? Those were luxuries for after I survived.
"So, what should I start with to make rumors spread that I did it well?"
Once I made up my mind, my head cooled sharply instead.
If I was going to do it, I had to do it right—thoroughly.
Against the most efficient target, one that would draw out the strongest negative emotions.
Drurruk.
Clack clack.
My deliberation didn't last long.
Right on cue, the familiar sound of a cart echoed from down the hall.
Dinner time.
My dedicated maid, who always looked at me like a bug with an expressionless face.
'Her name was Anna, right?'
Whatever.
Yes, if I was doing this, you might as well be the first target.
Knock knock.
As if on cue, a knock came from beyond the door.
"Come in."
Creeeak.
Anna entered, pushing the cart with her usual blank expression.
She set the tray down on the small table by the door.
Stale bread, watery soup, tough jerky.
The same unchanging menu I'd grown sick of over the past month.
"Your meal, Young Master."
She recited her rote line mechanically and turned to leave.
That had always been our routine.
Exchanging only the necessary words before she vanished.
But today had to be different.
"Wait."
My quiet voice halted her steps abruptly.
Anna turned back with a puzzled look, though her face remained impassive.
Normally, she wouldn't have cared if I called her or not and would have left.
But thanks to Evan's odd behavior lately,
she did something she'd regret—something she never would have before.
I slowly rose from the bed and approached her.
Then silently stared down at the tray on the table.
"What is this?"
"...Your meal."
"That's not what I'm asking."
I flicked my finger against the cold, congealed soup.
"Do you think this is food fit for a human?"
My voice held no anger or irritation.
It was devoid of emotion—cold and still as ice.
That unnerved Anna even more.
"..."
"Answer me."
A short, curt command.
Anna's pupils trembled faintly.
The usual Evan would have bellowed and flipped the tray over.
But my current demeanor was far too composed.
That dissonance must have gripped her.
When she didn't speak, I smirked and lifted the soup bowl.
And then—
Splash!
I dumped the entire contents right at her feet.
"...Ah!"
The startled Anna instinctively stepped back.
Her pristine apron and shoes were splattered with the thin soup.
I set the empty bowl down on the table with a sharp clack.
"You brought food not even fit for a dog, so clean it up yourself. Right?"
I slowly raised my head, meeting her eyes directly for the first time.
What filled my gaze wasn't mere anger or dissatisfaction.
It was cold contempt, backed by a chilling killing intent.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Absorbing negative emotion 'Humiliation.'] [Absorbing negative emotion 'Anger.'] [Absorbing negative emotion 'Fear!'] [Authority of Shadows experience points increased.]
The delightful system messages rang in my mind.
A smile crept onto my lips as thick malice seeped into my body.
I whispered softly to Anna, who was trembling in fear.
"Bring something proper tomorrow. Got it?"
Yes, this was it.
This feeling.
This must be the dignity of a villain.
Are you watching, Evan?