I Woke Up as the Villain

Do-Jin looked like a madman cutting through the air because no one took a hit. However, his movement itself was elegant and antique. Meanwhile, Yu-Seong breathed out and swept up his hair which was messed up by the sudden movement.

‘I really thought I was going to die.’ 

To be honest, if Yu-Seong couldn’t recall the conversation between Do-Jin and Baek Cheol from the original novel scenes—where Do-Jin tried to secretly attack the enemy that appeared behind Baek Cheol—Yu-Seong would have flown to another place even before Do-Jin started moving. In fact, the most dangerous thing was the fact that the opponent who had appeared from behind Yu-Seong definitely tried to kill him. There had been no hesitation in the enemy’s move wielding the hidden blade protruding from the tip of the shoe.

‘That makes me even more upset.’ 

Yu-Seong had already guessed the invisible opponent’s identity through his ability and weapons.

‘It’s the Demon King Worshiper, the Ghost.’ 

The Demon King Worshiper was the name for the evil organization that unsurprisingly appeared in the novel. Ghost was the nickname of the Villain, who would probably be a player currently listed as B-rank Max Level. Their target was none other than Kim Do-Jin.

Strictly speaking, their goal was to convince Kim Do-Jin to join them. Do-Jin had a natural talent and was cold-hearted, which made him one of the figures with everything that Demon King Worshiper valued. Finally, the reason why Ghost – one of the Demon King Worshipers—had come here now was to convince Do-Jin. In such a process, they attempted to kill Choi Yu-Seong who was considered an unnecessary obstacle for them.

This was the conclusion that wouldn’t have happened if Yu-Seong hadn’t met Do-Jin in the first place. Although he survived, Yu-Seong certainly felt that the situation was unfair. The more absurd feeling followed because admiration for Kim Do-Jin arose inside him even in that meantime.

‘Besides, how did he find and follow someone that can’t even be seen? I knew that he’s the main character, but he is beyond my expectation.’

Ghost‘s invisibility ability would not be able to be penetrated even with Insight, which was the burning blue flames in Do-Jin’s eyes. The reason for this was simple.

‘Because Ghost is a B-rank hunter.’ 

With the C-rank skill Insight, it was impossible to identify the higher B-rank skill, invisibility. That was why one of the nicknames of Ghost–the Psychic type Villain, whose main talent was invisibility–was called “the invincible underdog.” There was no way for a lower-rank hunter to find Ghost, since even the skill of the main character, Insight, could not see through it.

However, Do-Jin was fighting Ghost not through the ability of his skill but with his sense as a returnee or some subtle changes and sounds around him. Of course, it wasn’t easy for Do-Jin either. It was like skating on thin ice. He was avoiding fatal injuries, but it was clear that he was sustaining more and more injuries.

In a way, it was a matter of course. Basically, Ghost was a B-rank Max Level hunter who was one rank above Do-Jin. Also, the enemy who was not visible would be difficult to deal with no matter how great their senses or skills were.

Ghost was bewildered by Do-Jin’s first surprise attack and was initially unable to show his skill, but he was now regaining his rhythm

‘It’ll become dangerous over time.’ 

Yu-Seong should not just wait and watch Do-Jin with admiration. Yu-Seong slightly bit his lower lip.

In fact, the current situation was definitely unexpected.

‘Originally, the Demon King Worshiper should have appeared only after Kim Do-Jin reached B-rank Max Level.’ 

Therefore, Ghost that appeared in the original novel was much easier than the current Ghost in front of them and had been more easily suppressed by Do-Jin. In other words, it was Ghost‘s role as a supporting character to help showcase the main character’s strength.

However, Kim Do-Jin was still currently a C-rank.

‘Variables are created because of me.’ 

There was nothing more to say. Yu-Seong has changed too many things since he entered this world. Moreover, that change even affected Kim Do-Jin. This situation was not good in any way.

‘If Kim Do-Jin is overpowered or killed by Ghost here…’ 

It could lead to a completely different story from the original novel. It was very unlikely, but in the worst case, Do-Jin may be reborn as a Villain after being brainwashed by the Demon King Worshiper. That would be an extremely terrible case.

‘Heukhwa[1] Kim Do-Jin…’ 

How much faster would Do-Jin–the main character who has yet to transcend his potential–grow if he got stronger without having any conscience by being among the Villains?

‘It would be better to become the Demon King’s enemy.’ 

And as mentioned, Do-Jin should not die in that sense.

‘If Kim Do-Jin dies, who’s gonna stop those crazy cults and Demon King?’ 

Choi Yu-Seong himself? That was nonsense. The Demon King who would appear in this world in the coming future was terrifying. He even made Kim Do-Jin, who had such deceptive abilities, desperately fight. Those guys used cruel and terrible powers to ravage humans and destroy their minds.

It was something that Yu-Seong should absolutely avoid, since his goal was to eat well and live well moderately, and live to the point where he won’t die, then enjoy life in peace and die as the ninth son of a conglomerate family. For him to reach that goal, Kim Do-Jin had to remain alive.

‘That damned guy is the hero who will save this world.’ 

Therefore, Yu-Seong had to think soberly. It would be stupid to step in and attack Ghost together. Yu-Seong was still only an E-rank from the beginning, and was likely to be unhelpful in the fight between Ghost and Kim Do-Jin. It would be fortunate if he avoided being a burden to Kim Do-Jin, who was already struggling.

‘Jin Do-Yoon is…’ 

Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.

Do-Yoon still wasn’t here, so Yu-Seong had to assume that there was a problem.

People had suddenly disappeared from Itaewon street on the weekend and Do-Yoon should have been the first to run if he had seen a crisis. Choi Yu-Seong quickly found the answer.

‘It’s a barrier.’ 

The question was, how did the barrier activate? The first plausible method was to hire the Barrier Master, one of the Psychic-type players. The second was to use the Barrier Scroll produced by that Barrier Master. Barrier Master was not common even among players throughout the entire world. It would be about ten people at most. Thanks to that, the price of Barrier Scroll was also at an enormous level.

‘There are 2 Barrier Masters among Demon King Worshippers.’

However, it was still too early for those precious talents to move. Even in the original novel, Barrier Master of Demon King Worshiper appeared only after the middle of the fifth volume.

Therefore, inevitably, there was only one possibility left–the Barrier Scroll.

‘If they used the Barrier Scroll, there must be a Gate of Life somewhere.’ 

Among the contents of [Modern Master Returns], there was a setting that said the Barrier was a kind of Battle Formation and that it could be broken apart if the Gate of Life was found. Currently, it was clear what Yu-Seong had to do in a situation where they desperately needed help from the exterior.

‘I have to find the Gate of Life.’ 

Having decided what to do, Yu-Seong threw off his heavy coat and began to run.

***

There were several laws inside the Barrier. First, the Barrier was a virtual space. The entire building and the objects that existed in the Barrier seemed to be real, but they were all ‘fakes’. In other words, it was a plausible form of illusion. If one were aware of this fact and had the ability to see through the phenomenon, it was not difficult to find the Gate of Life.

Most of the fakes would be passed through like holograms and he would be able to find the actual force, the Gate of Life, at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, Yu-Seong could not use this method. If it was a Barrier Master who could produce Barrier Scroll, it meant that he was a player who was at least B-rank.

‘It wasn't found even with Kim Do-Jin’s Insight, so of course, it would not be found with my duplicated Insight.’ 

Thus, Yu-Seong should focus on the second law of the Barrier. There was a limited number of people and space that could be accommodated by the Barrier. Also, it was impossible to pinpoint and lock-on to only one person precisely. This was also why Yu-Seong being near Do-Jin was involved as well when the target was Do-Jin. It was a penalty that could be taken for granted as the Barrier itself has such a complicated structure, but some parts could be guessed through this.

‘There are at least three people, there may be more but that’s it for now. Then the size of the space itself would not be that big either.’ 

If the Barrier was of a quite large scale, people other than Yu-Seong and Do-Jin would have been caught up. However, there was no disturbance or miracle from the surroundings. Also, the Gate of Life was the starting point of the Barrier. Basically, it would be located in the center.

Therefore, Yu-Seong could easily make his decision as it was the only choice he could make.

‘First of all, I need to figure out the exact size and shape of the Barrier.’ 

Yu-Seong transformed Pharaoh’s Caprice into a form of a spear while running, and left traces of different forms here and there. There was always a wall at the end of the Barrier. An invisible wall that could not be crossed! And exactly two minutes later, in front of the traces of his spear, Yu-Seong was convinced.

‘This block is the end of Barrier.’ 

Any step forward would lead to another space inside the Barrier. After repeating the process over and over again, Yu-Seong was able to roughly grasp the scale and shape of the Barrier.

‘The barrier is Circular, and the scale is within a 2km radius.’ 

It was just the right level when compared to the number of people. This allowed Yu-Seong to start finding the center, which was a process for the actual breaking of the Barrier. It was not that difficult to draw a map and shape in his head.

‘I’ll say it’s until…somewhere around that building.’ 

The error may occur in the range of several other buildings located on both sides and front-back of that point, but it would certainly be around that surrounding area.

Yu-Seong returned Pharaoh’s Caprice back into a ring and headed to the building that he thought was the center.

‘Pharaoh’s Caprice could also be a hidden variable for the enemies, even though it's not as unnoticeable as Do-Jin’s Subspace that is not even visible.’

The maximum capacity of the circular space of 2km was about four people. If there was one more person, there was no reason not to show up at the battle of Ghost and Do-Jin, however, this was something he could not be certain about.

There may be someone guarding the center of the Barrier. In preparation for that, it was better to hide the weapons as much as possible.

‘It’s quiet.’ 

Entering a five-story building with a rather dark atmosphere, Yu-Seong felt a cold sweat running down his cheek.

‘This must be the center of the Barrier.’

Yu-Seong had a strangely heavy feeling pressing down on his shoulder. Although it felt somewhat unrealistic, that made it more certain on the other hand. It was because the air itself was different from the other spaces inside Barrier where Yu-Seong was busy running around. Climbing the stairs with hasty steps, Yu-Seong’s movement paused for a moment.

‘Let’s be careful. As long as Kim Do-Jin doesn’t overdo it, there’s still time.’ 

Of course, there wasn’t much time. There was also no guarantee that Do-Jin would not overdo it. Do-Jin hated to lose the fight more than to lose his life.

If the fight against Ghost began to flow in an overly unfavorable direction, there was a high probability that he would do kamikaze and bust his ass. There were many concerns, but Yu-Seong tried hard to demand inner calm. It was an emotion he didn’t feel when holding onto the spear.

‘How could it be this different that the skill effect disappeared? I still have a long way to go.’

Feeling pity for the lack of the skill Cool-headed (E), which was an additional effect of the skill Spearmanship Prodigy, he smiled bitterly. The more urgent and difficult situations, the better he had to control his mind. However, maintaining such a solid mental power was not as easy as it sounded.

‘It can’t be helped. Because I’m also just an ordinary human.’ 

Whenever a life crisis came like this, this particular thought always resurfaced. Some of the settings regarding him such as being a member of a conglomerate family, being an Irregular with excellent possibilities…were a mere background after all. Yu-Seong did not have great mental power or a particularly strong heart like Do-Jin. He felt unsatisfied as it was a shortcoming, but he felt that there was nothing he could do.

‘I’m just still inexperienced. Rather, being good at it from the beginning is like a monster.’ 

The best thing Yu-Seong could do was to fight against such fear and anxiety to grow more and more mature. After thinking this or that and a few deep breaths, Yu-Seong regained his composure on his own—without using the skill—and quietly climbed the stairs while holding his breath.

1. literally means “become darker”. Thus it means fallen, corrupted, depraved ☜