Villain Simulator

The gate closed, and I was left alone in the room.

"It looks like my finger broke."

I looked at my hand, with a deep look in my eyes, sighing inwardly.

Sigh!

Following that, I applied a bit of healing potion to my fingers and wrapped them in a bandage.

’Luckily, everything turned out well.’

What happened today was bound to happen one day, and the sooner it was over, the better.

Charlotte was a villainous character with a childish heart and a tragic backstory, which caused her to have a ruthless side.

But in the book, she didn’t have much screen time or usefulness, so I wasn’t as attached to her character as I was to Rachael’s.

My plan for her was the same as it was for Sylvia.

To isolate her, let her feel desperate, and then make her totally dependent on me with her heart and not just because of our contract.

However, from the very first day, the more time I spent with her, the more I understood her, remembered about her past, and got attached to her.

She was never like this with the old Adrian.

Instead, she had been more like a stoic bodyguard for whom only her job was important.

It was because the old Adrian, who was an asshole, viewed her as nothing more than a slave and was always wary of her power.

So, despite never making a move on her, he bossed her around and treated her like trash, overworking her and not caring if she died or not.

That was why she resented being his Shadow, fueling her desire to leave him.

And there was only one way to do it.

She had to use her unique skill, [Unshackle], that could unlock and unshackle anything, no matter if it was a contract or a lock.

Charlotte wasn’t naive.

From the day she became the Shadow of old Adrian on the premise that the Vaiself family would help in her revenge, she was already prepared to leave in case things went haywire.

She knew she could be betrayed by either, the Vaiself family’s patriarch, who promised her and could also turn back on his words, or by Adrian, who could become her shackle.

But because Charlotte had the skill [Unshakle], she didn’t hesitate to make this deal.

This all happened when Charlotte was a rage-filled, 15-year-old, overconfident girl.

Who, due to her emotions, overlooked the restrictions on her skill—that the stronger and more complex the lock, the more requirements Charlotte had to fulfill to unlock it.

For example: to open an iron lock, her agility and intelligence should be over 15 points.

Similarly, the only way to break this contract was for her master to be weaker than her and voluntarily take her virginity.

However, doing so was impossible for Charlotte.

Why?

Because Charlotte would rather die than sleep with him.

Not to mention, her master, Adrian, was disgusted with her.

In the novel, she began to harbor suicidal ideas like "do or die" as a result of her bleak circumstances.

And she was like a moth flying toward a flame, dying a tragic death.

"But she has changed now."

With me, she was nothing like she was when she was with old Adrian.

It was like a flip in personality, reverting back to the original.

Not that I was complaining, but this wasn’t how our relationship was supposed to be.

Her playfulness, jokes, and childish antics were the real, hidden her that I had envisioned her to be in the novel.

But because of her tragic fate, she never got the chance to show these qualities in the novel.

Then, why was she different to me?

When I gave it some deep thought, I actually understood why she was like this with me.

My existence had caused a change in her.

"She has realized that I am not Adrian, but also am at the same time."

Charlotte already understood this after watching my actions these days, from caring for and changing Rachael’s life to destroying Sylvia’s.

I was smart, I was ruthless, and I was tenderhearted toward those I considered mine.

Which let her see the hope of getting free and me helping her in her revenge.

Therefore, with our bond as a shadow and master, and considering me as her new hope, she wasn’t against sleeping with me.

Besides, she knew that if I forced her, she wouldn’t be able to stop me.

So, she took the initiative first, and then, when she saw that I wouldn’t hurt her, she began to tease me like a child and actually enjoy being with me.

But I knew that, deep down, she wanted to use [Unshackle] to get free, even if it meant giving up her dignity.

Not because, she was cheap or ’open-minded’, but because in her head, she had already planned to die.

Those suicidal thoughts were still in her mind.

’If she completes her revenge, she will kill herself, or die trying.’

This was her mentality, and I couldn’t let it happen, not only because of my plans, but also because I was her Master.

For this reason, I confronted her today in an effort to dispel her suicidal ideas and give her reason to look forward to the future with me.

Letting her know that I cared for her, and that if she wanted to leave, I wouldn’t stop her.

Of course, I wouldn’t really let her go because she was now a significant part of my life.

But that was not the point.

Today’s confrontation was necessary to win her trust.

For as long as she put her faith in me, things would improve, and I’d be able to grow closer to her.

To be honest, I never imagined myself using those cheesy lines for her, but I suppose I had grown attached to my personal cuddle pillow.

Of course, it wasn’t love, or any deep connection like Rachael’s.

Instead... It was something unexplainable.

Like a cute friend, whose company I enjoyed being in.

She seemed like the perfect fit for me.

My Shadow, bound to me.

Who had a connection with me.

Who could do anything for me.

Simply put, I just wanted her to share in the bright future I envisioned for myself and my loved ones.

To prepare for that future, I confronted Charlotte in that way.

But today I almost made a mistake due to acting on impulse.

Which also made me realize that Composure (A) wasn’t as omnipotent as I thought, and I must not blindly be dependent on it.

It dawned on me that I had been mistaken about something.

Composure (A), Nobility (A), Pride (A), or my skill Mental Resistance (Passive), none of these were actually helping me manage my emotions and feelings.

What they were doing was merely suppressing it all and letting it not affect me for the moment.

Consequently, that doesn’t mean my feelings weren’t there.

They were just concealed, growing slowly, deep within my heart.

"One day, they will all burst out at once."

That would be a dangerous situation.

However, there was nothing I could do about it right now.

To do anything, I needed self control or a vent to let these emotions out, because I had realized that relying on skills and traits was not always a good thing.

"Speaking of feelings, I still have no skill to control my emotions in the next world."

This issue was more pressing because these accumulated emotions would undoubtedly surface in the worlds where I wouldn’t have my traits.

In those worlds, I would only have my skill Mental Resistance (Passive).

Whose main function was not to maintain or suppress emotions but rather Psychic Shielding, Psychic Counterattacks, Willpower Battles, etc.

It would be tough.

Anyway, I had tried but failed to obtain anything, so I could only look for it later.

’For now, I will try to discipline myself.’

Speaking of which...

"System, how much time is left for natural world travel?"

[About two weeks]

’That means that there is a month long cooldown to travel between worlds naturally, without any props.’

Fortunately, it wasn’t either too long or too short.

Just enough time to wrap up loose ends and enjoy my spoils.

"What about my body in that world? Will it be different like in the Tutorial World?"

[The host must find that himself.]

[Notice: The Quick Instance World is a real world, and the host will be able to use his skills in that world.]

"What about my death?"

[Once the host dies in a real world, his soul will be transported back to this world.]

[Notice: The penalty would only apply for failing to kill the protagonist.]

"Does that mean if I can kill the protagonist and then die as a result, I will not receive any penalties, and even get the completion reward?"

[Theoretically, it’s possible]

’Bastard! Don’t twist the words with me.’

Inwardly, I cursed the System, but I knew that wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I gathered my composure and tried again.

"What about practically?"

[The host has to find it himself.]

’You know what? Fuck You!’

This bastard System was really not a good meat to chew.

After venting some of my frustration, I felt relieved.

Then, I locked the door of my room, and laid down on the bed again.

I had already stored everything I bought today in my system storage, and now it was finally time to leave.

"System, use [Time Dilation Authority] and slow down the time of this world to the maximum."

[The time ratio of Earth and Quick Instance World is set to, 1:730.]

’Oh, so twice that of what was in the Tutorial World, not bad.’

With this, I could do much more there and wouldn’t be as constrained by time.

’System, let’s go to the Quick Instance World.’

[Loading...]

[One Quick Instance Card detected.]

[Ding! Does the host want to use the Quick Instance Card?]

"Yes."

[Confirmation recieved]

[Proceeding with the Quick Instance World...]

As soon as that prompt appeared, my consciousness finally left my body.