The executioner's blade was descending slowly, slow enough for me to feel every moment of its approach.
The very people I had risked my life for were now the architects of my death.
The pain of the chains digging into my knees was nothing compared to the agony of betrayal from those I trusted.
Even without words, I could feel the crowd's silent roar—"Traitor! Traitor!"
The air was thick with spit and hatred, so palpable it was impossible to ignore.
Below the platform, thousands of faces waited eagerly for my death.
I steeled myself and slowly raised my head.
My former companions stood in the distance, eyes cast downward.
Mark—the man whose life I'd saved countless times, risking my own—stood with his gaze fixed firmly on the ground.
Sarah—my dear sister, the only one who wanted to save me—had been silenced by them.
I had expected nothing from anyone anyway.
In the distance, clad in golden armor, he stood.
The Golden Hero. Elric.
Our eyes met.
For a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes.
Perhaps regret.
Perhaps guilt.
Then he smiled.
A faint smile, but one filled with ice.
Something broke inside my chest, as if I'd just realized something crucial.
"Any last words, traitor?" the executioner asked. His voice was hollow, merely following orders.
I looked at Elric.
"I dreamed of dying for you," I said quietly. "But not by your hand."
Elric said nothing.
He simply raised his hand.
Gave the signal.
The executioner lifted his sword.
Only one thought flashed through my mind:
"I defeated the Demon King for this."
A sharp, fragmented memory—the blood-soaked battlefield.
The Demon King's black armor. His sword buried in my shoulder. Pain that stole my breath.
But I didn't stop.
I drove my blade through his chest.
His final scream.
Then... silence.
The celebration ceremony.
The king's blessing. Gold coins. Garlands around my neck.
"You saved us all!" the crowd had cheered.
Elric had been smiling. Standing beside me. Like a brother.
"We'll always be together," he'd said.
Liar.
The secret meeting.
The king's court. Closed doors.
I had been summoned.
"You've become too powerful," an elderly minister had said.
"What?" I didn't understand.
"People have started to see you as more dangerous than the Demon King himself."
Then Elric entered.
Documents in his hand.
"This... is testimony against you," he said. No emotion in his voice.
"You didn't kill the Demon King... you made a deal with him. You're a traitor."
My ears rang.
"What nonsense is this?!"
"This is the kingdom's decision," the king said. In a cold tone.
"You will be executed at dawn."
I looked at Elric.
"You... you're my brother!"
He smiled.
That same cold smile.
"I'm the hero. And heroes eliminate threats."
The sword fell.
Cold steel against my neck.
Pain.
Then deep darkness.
ERROR.
Soul compatibility detected.
Target character: Darius Valmont.
Status: Presumed dead (Chapter 10).
Reason: Plot revision required.
Transfer initiated...
Darius Valmont woke with a gasp.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
His hands trembled.
The sheets were soaked with sweat.
The first thought in Darius Valmont's mind was: I'm alive?
His breathing grew faster. His heart pounded.
Another question flashed through his mind: But how?
He quickly scanned his surroundings.
An incredibly luxurious room. High ceiling.
Silk curtains swaying in the breeze.
Gold statues on the walls.
Expensive furniture.
This isn't a prison.
This is a palace.
He raised his hands.
He stopped abruptly.
Why are these hands so thin?
Weaker than even a normal person.
Veins clearly visible. Too visible.
The skin was so soft—the kind that belonged to someone who had never done hard labor.
Another question formed in Darius Valmont's mind: These aren't my hands?
My hands had sword calluses. They were the fruits of hard work.
These are someone else's hands.
Darius Valmont's heart raced.
"What's happened to me?"
Then his gaze fell on the mirror mounted on the wall. He stumbled toward it with unsteady steps.
His legs felt incredibly weak.
Balance seemed nonexistent in this body.
As soon as he stood before the mirror,
his breath caught for a moment.
Black hair. Long, silky.
Deep blue eyes. Sharp.
Sharp features. Handsome. But weak.
The face was familiar.
Very familiar.
No.
This can't be.
"Darius Valmont."
The name escaped his lips.
Lightning struck through his mind.
The Forgotten Villain.
That novel. The one I'd read back then just to pass the time.
Darius Valmont.
Weak noble.
Jealous of the hero. Arrogant without strength. Conceited without reason.
Hated by all.
And scheduled to die between chapters 10 and 15—executed, just like me, for crimes he didn't commit.
His throat went dry.
"I escaped one execution... only to face another..."
Darius Valmont touched the mirror. The glass was ice cold.
As he thought, Darius Valmont's heartbeat quickened.
Darius's memories began to seep slowly into his mind.
Fragmented. Hazy. But real.
Constant defeat at the academy.
Losing every sparring match. Public humiliation.
"You're useless, Darius!"
"Your family should be ashamed of you!"
His father's cold gaze. "You're a stain on the Valmont bloodline."
His elder brother's hatred. "You're an insult to our blood."
His fiancée's contempt.
Elicia. Golden-haired. Beautiful. Cold.
"Even touching you feels like a sin, Darius. I will never marry you."
She'd said it in front of everyone.
In the academy hall.
Humiliation. Utter humiliation.
And then the duel announcement.
A duel with the academy's hero.
Eren Starlight.
The golden boy.
Everyone's favorite.
"In seven days," he'd declared, "I'll defeat Darius and prove he's nothing but trash."
The crowd had applauded.
And Darius had accepted the challenge. Out of pride.
But he knew.
He would lose.
And after losing... his family abandoned him.
Then he was charged with treason.
Then, within days, a death sentence.
Darius Valmont sank to the floor.
He clutched his head in his hands.
"Seven days," he whispered.
Seven days until the duel.
And a few days after that, execution.
Every breath reminded him of the gallows again.
"I'm going to die again."
THUMP.
The door opened.
An elderly servant entered.
With a cold expression, it was clear he despised Darius Valmont.
"Young Master," he said. But there was no respect in his voice.
And he walked straight in. Without permission.
"The patriarch has sent a message."
I looked at him.
The servant pulled out a letter. Tossed it onto the table.
"If you embarrass the family at the academy one more time..."
He paused and smiled cruelly.
"...then the family will not protect you. You'll live on your own... or die."
The meaning was clear.
You're disposable.
I tried to stand.
My legs trembled. Weak. Lifeless.
I couldn't balance.
My knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor.
THUD.
The servant looked at me with disgust.
"Weak from birth. Weak your whole life."
He laughed sharply, then closed the door and left.
I lay on the floor. My breathing grew heavy.
This body is completely useless.
My old body was incredibly powerful. I could lift a mountain with one hand.
And this pathetic body—I can't even stand properly.
"How am I supposed to fight in this condition?"
My gaze fell on the table.
Beside the letter was another small piece of paper.
Folded. Tied with a blue ribbon.
After a moment, I picked it up with trembling hands.
Opened it.
The handwriting was delicate. Childlike.
"Brother,
Everyone says you're bad. They say you're weak.
But I remember... when I was sick, you stayed awake all night.
Even if the world calls you a villain...
I don't.
You're my hero."
— Your little sister, Lina
For a moment—just a moment—
something heavy settled in my chest.
My throat tightened.
Lina.
In Darius's memories... a small girl. Golden hair. Innocent smile.
The only person who loved him.
I pressed the letter to my chest.
"I won't lose this time."
Suddenly.
A bright flash of light filled the air.
I flinched.
A transparent screen appeared before me.
Glowing with blue light.
Words began to form:
[SSS-Class System Activation Initiated...]
[Host Identified: Darius Valmont]
[Scanning Previous Life Data...]
[Complete.]
My breath stopped.
"What...?"
[Primary Authority Unlocked: Cloning]
[Description: Host can create a perfect copy of any defeated enemy.]
[Copies will be completely obedient.]
[Copies can be upgraded.]
[Warning: Current Energy Level — Insufficient]
[Synchronization Progress: 12%]
[Estimated Completion: 6 Hours]
Then another line appeared. Slowly. In red.
[Additional Warning: Interference with Original Plot Detected.]
[Unknown Variable Active.]
[Caution Advised.]
The screen flickered.
Then slowly faded away.
I sat there. Stunned.
"Cloning...?"
The gears in my mind began to turn.
If I can defeat someone... I can copy them?
That means... an army?
But reality hit immediately.
But I can't defeat anyone right now.
This body is too weak.
Still.
There's hope.
At least there's a way to save this life.
Darius Valmont read Lina's letter again.
Her words echoed in his mind.
"You're my hero."
He clenched his fist.
"This time, I won't just survive."