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I Became the Mastermind in a Dark Fantasy Chapter 6

Shining Talent

1.

 

Stay calm.

 

– I’ve told you before, you’re too quick to anger. Just take it slow, one step at a time.

– …Fine.

 

Just like my only friend taught me.

 

If I grill the meat and simmer the vegetables slowly, step by step, I can overcome anything.

 

‘So let’s start by bringing Ruby in first.’

 

If I keep wasting time without reason, that woman’s suspicion will only grow.

 

Wiping the cold sweat off my forehead and steadying my breathing, I finally spoke up.

 

“Is this the last room?”

 

My tone was lower and more serious than before, shifting from casual to something befitting the worst and strongest mastermind of <Babylonia>, the <Black Wolf>’s Captain.

 

“…Yes, Captain.”
“How long will it take?”
“If you allow only me to enter, it should take roughly five minutes.”

 

As if responding to my resolve, Ruby’s voice had lost its usual madness.

 

Thanks to that, I could regain even more composure. I stepped forward and opened the door.

 

At the same time, a red silhouette came into view.

 

“I’ve been waiting for you, Captain.”

 

Her thin, curved smile gleamed ominously, and behind it, crimson eyes flickered with unsettling light.

Ruby Red.

 

The branch manager of the <Mercenary Alliance> in the Babylonia capital, she carried herself with elegance and wielded power befitting her rank.

 

Yet, in truth, she was the sixth member of the <Black Wolf>, the organization of the greatest villains in the novel.

Known as the <Red Witch>, she would descend into madness at the sight of blood.

 

No. 6. <Ruby Red – Red Witch (New!)>

 

I ignored the newly updated status window and nodded toward Viscount Gapelt’s room.

 

“Clean it up.”

 

I didn’t wait for a response before leaving the room.

 

‘This is how the ‘Black Wolf’ interacts with its members, as described in <Babylonia>.’

 

A man who forms no attachments, speaking only out of necessity.

 

Looking back, Ruby had been chattering nonstop on the way here, hoping to gather information from me. No wonder she was suspicious.

 

‘Let’s wrap this up as quickly as possible and return to the <Black Wolf> Mercenary Corps.’

 

If the lore in the setting guide was accurate, the other members—apart from Ruby—wouldn’t even think to doubt me.

 

‘I’ll figure out a way to deceive Ruby. If that’s impossible…’

 

…Then I’d have to use the other members to kill her.

 

As I walked, the answer to my problem naturally came to me: death.

 

“Thirty-two.”

“…?”
“That’s how many trash dared to impersonate the name <Black Wolf> so far.”

 

A cold, detached voice flowed into my ears, completely different from before.

 

“Oh my… Now thirty-three.”

 

Clink.

 

The sharp bone fragments of her grotesque puppets clattered against each other as they turned to face me.

 

Snap!

 

Ruby Red, the <Red Witch> of the <Black Wolf>, her crimson eyes burning with fury, asked in a voice drenched with anger even madness couldn’t consume.

 

“Our Captain. Where is he?”

 

Death was right before me.

 

2.

 

Stay calm.

Please stay calm.
Please… don’t tremble…!!

 

Nahan instinctively understood.

 

‘If I tremble, I die.’

 

Even if his heart raced,
Even if his breathing grew uneven,
Even if cold sweat dripped down his back—he would die.

 

‘This world isn’t the lawful country I used to live in. It’s a place where <monsters> the law can’t restrain run rampant.’

 

And now, one of the top monsters in this world had just turned her “suspicion” into “certainty” about Nahan’s true identity.

 

Calm down.

 

Take it slow, step by step.

 

Barely managing to steady himself, Nahan began to think.

 

‘What do I have right now?’

 

The first effect of his EX-rank skill <Veil of Shadows>: Terror.
And the not-too-shallow, not-too-deep information he gleaned from <Babylonia Full Content> and <Encyclopedia>.

 

The first option.

 

‘Can I subdue Ruby with fear?’

 

The answer came almost immediately.

 

‘Impossible.’

 

The activation condition for Intimidation required Ruby to feel even a moment of fear toward Nahan.

 

Not toward the Nahan before his possession, but toward the Nahan he had become after.

 

The second option.

 

‘Is there information only Nahan and the members know?’

 

…No, none.

 

‘Even with the full timeline of <Babylonia> I obtained as a reward and the additional setting guide, the information about the <Black Wolf> is still limited.’

 

Nahan had detailed knowledge of the <Hero>, the companions, and the unfolding future events. But when it came to the <Empress> and the <Black Wolf>, he remained clueless.

 

His conclusion after deliberation.

 

‘I’m going to die.’

 

Even if he wasn’t a mere C-rank mercenary but the shadowy mastermind leading above countless S-ranks, there was no escaping an unexpected calamity like this.

 

“…Haah.”

 

Fine. Let’s just die.

 

After all, there’s no one waiting for me back there anyway.

 

At the moment I sighed in frustration, I heard the voice of my only friend again.

 

-… Hyung, no matter what, never… ever give up, okay?

 

The voice of my dearest friend, the one who saved someone as utterly unremarkable as me.

 

– Open your eyes, all right?
– Promise? You… you promised, didn’t you?

 

Even at the moment they left this world, they pushed aside the oxygen mask and held out their pinky finger.

 

‘…Yeah. Get it together.’

 

I made a promise that day.

 

I nodded and hooked my pinky with theirs. Until I fulfilled my friend’s dream, I couldn’t die over something as trivial as this.

 

Nahan’s eyes lit up once more.

 

The thought “I’m going to die shattered, replaced by a third possibility.

 

This wasn’t something from the skills he had gained here or the content of the original work as a reward.

 

It was a talent Nahan had carried from his previous world—a part of him that shone brightly amidst all the darkness.

Something only one person had ever recognized.

 

That talent was…

 

– One day, amaze everyone with your acting, okay?

– Yeah. I promise I will.

 

It was <Acting>.

 

As Nahan finished recalling that memory, he closed his eyes.

 

‘Black Wolf.’

 

He hadn’t appeared yet, as the story was still in its <Prologue>, but eventually, they would surpass the Babylonia Empire and strike fear into the entire continent. The worst and strongest underworld organization.

 

‘Cold-blooded, silent, ruthless, overwhelmingly strong, indifferent. Even the S-rank members fear him, silenced under his absolute pressure. When a subordinate makes a mistake, he often overlooks it without a word.’

 

[Notification – Starting <Acting>!]

 

[<Stage 1> – <Analysis> complete.]

 

[Your understanding of the character <Black Wolf> increases exponentially!]

 

Crack!

 

Nahan abandoned his crumbling poker face and fully embodied the <Black Wolf>.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Ruby instinctively sensed the shift in the atmosphere and took an involuntary step back. But Nahan ignored her reaction, focusing entirely on his role.

 

The rising black aura.
The razor-sharp gaze.
The deepening darkness in his eyes.

 

Like a caterpillar shedding its skin and becoming a butterfly, the possessed Nahan transformed into the Black Wolf.

 

‘But it’s not enough yet.’

 

So he recalled more.

 

‘A faint tapping noise breaks the silence whenever the Black Wolf falls deep into thought. He taps his right index finger against his thigh.’

 

Every description of the Black Wolf from the original <Babylonia> text.

 

At the same time, he pieced them together.

 

‘Ironically, what Ruby fears most is blood and flesh. She doesn’t revel in it out of joy but instead masks her terror with madness.’

 

Anything useful was adapted and applied to act like the Black Wolf.

 

Swoosh.

 

A gloved hand lowered to rest on Nahan’s right thigh.

 

Tap. Tap-tap.

 

The movements of the Black Wolf, as reconstructed from the text, were brought to life through Nahan.

 

[<Stage 2> – <Immersion> complete.]

 

[You perfectly replicate the <Black Wolf> based on your understanding.]

 

Finally, Stage 2 was complete.

 

“W-what? W-wait, something’s…!!”

 

Crash!

 

Ruby, who had been retreating in a panic, tripped over her grotesque dolls and fell backward.

 

Nahan hesitated.

 

‘I don’t know the Black Wolf’s tone or speech patterns well enough yet. If I say too much, she’ll grow suspicious again.’

 

Fortunately…

 

‘Cold-blooded, taciturn, indifferent.’

 

Based on his prior analysis, he quickly decided his next action before the silence could stretch.

 

Tap.

 

Nahan stopped tapping his thigh and lowered his gaze to meet Ruby’s.

 

If he truly were the Black Wolf, the punishment for a subordinate who dared to question his existence would be—

 

“Let’s go.”

 

—Nothing. That was the correct answer.

 

If the person who made a mistake is a member of <Black Wolf>, most mistakes are overlooked without a word.

 

With that cold remark, he turned away indifferently.

 

<Stage 3> Entry Failed!

 

Reason: Lack of information about the character.

 

Nahan realized instinctively.

 

If he had reached Stage 3, he wouldn’t have felt so tense. Deceiving Ruby would have been effortless.

 

‘But that opportunity has already passed.’

 

All he could do now was continue acting as the Black Wolf and hope Ruby’s suspicions would fade.

 

‘Of course, they won’t fade immediately.’

 

The analyzed character of the Black Wolf was far too different from the real Nahan after possession.

 

If the other members had been as suspicious as Ruby, he would’ve been beheaded long ago.

 

‘…What if Ruby keeps doubting me? What if she tells the others? How am I supposed to explain and convince them of the changes from the past month?’

 

Even as he walked calmly, his insides burned with anxiety.

But then, the next moment—

 

“…I’ll lead the way.”

 

Clap!
Crash!

 

Ruby collected the scattered remains of her grotesque puppets and walked past Nahan, taking the lead.

 

Silence.
More silence.

 

They left behind the grand and opulent mansion, watching as Ruby set it ablaze until nothing but ash remained.

 

When the charred remnants fell, shaking the ground, and the swirling ash finally settled, Ruby turned back.

 

“I’m sorry, Captain.”

 

Before Nahan could even react, Ruby approached, hugging him and burying her face into his chest.

 

Her voice, damp with tears, mumbled against him.

 

“There were secret reports… that some of the continent’s top ten had their bodies taken over by unidentified beings. That’s why I…”

 

Nahan remained silent.

 

Because the Black Wolf would have done the same.

 

To the Black Wolf, the fates of subordinates didn’t matter; only his veiled <Objective> was important.

 

But unlike the Black Wolf, Nahan slowly reached out and placed his hand gently on Ruby’s head.

 

“…?”

 

Of course, he still didn’t speak.

 

But—

 

‘If I want to move freely again someday, it wouldn’t hurt to act like I’m changing—slowly.’

 

As if responding to that thought, Ruby clung to him tighter, her sobs growing louder.

 

“…I’m sorry, Captain. Truly, I’m sorry.”

 

Pat, Pat.

 

“…Thank you. Always.”

 

.

.

 

─『Subquest (Completed!)』─

 

 

Puppet Play.
: The 6th member of <Black Wolf>, <Ruby Red (S-)>, is beginning to suspect your identity. Choose: fool her completely, kill her, or turn her into the perfect puppet friend.

 

Conditions (Completed!)
: Kill <Ruby Red (S-)> or deceive her flawlessly.

 

Reward
: If Ruby Red dies – <None>.
: If Ruby Red survives – <Memories of Black Wolf>. (Completed!)

 

Failure or Refusal (…Deleting.)

: Special Ending – <?. Puppet Friend>.

 

.

.

.

 

Gently stroking Ruby, who was sobbing bitterly, I stared blankly at the system window that had appeared before me.

 

Memories of Black Wolf.

 

A reward more precious than any treasure at the moment—something that would guarantee my future life.

 

‘I’ll need to study his intonation, speech patterns, behavior, and even the past of the members as soon as I get back…’

 

As I began sorting what I had already acquired and what I still needed to learn, the system issued a warning:

 

Warning.

 

The Tyrant – <Reina Babylonia (S+)> encounters <No.3 Tal>.

Bad Ending – <5. Tyrant’s Omen (A)> is accelerating exponentially.

 

Something completely unexpected had occurred.

 

‘If it’s Tal, that must mean Han-Ryang? Does that mean the Bad Ending is closely tied to the <Black Wolf>?’

 

I tried to search through the original work and the reference materials for a reason, but I was so immersed that my thoughts slowed down.

 

‘I need to gather information faster.’

 

And to make that happen…

 

“Oh, is it because of the artifact? It seems like Viscount Gapelt might still be alive…”

 

I needed to get answers from Ruby. That was the most logical course of action.

 

After hesitating for a moment, I spoke the information I had obtained from the system window.

 

“Han-Ryang met the Empress.”

 

As Ruby had mentioned before, the members of <Black Wolf> disliked the Empress.

 

But since the Bad Ending had already accelerated, I brought it up to prepare for any possible situation.

 

As I observed Ruby’s reaction, it happened.

 

Grab!

 

“Hurry, Captain! We have to go now!”

 

Ruby, pale as a ghost, grabbed my hand and took off toward the Blue Magic Tower.

 

‘Didn’t she say we couldn’t use the gates because we’d leave records?’

 

Swallowing the question, I kept quiet and followed her lead.

Ruby’s hand trembled as she muttered under her breath.

 

“…That crazy woman might kill Han-Ryang.”

 

3.

 

The night market of the Babylonia Empire.

 

Under the dazzling lights, the Empress, her golden hair shining like sunlight, wore a faint, enigmatic smile.

 

“How bright it is. One could mistake it for midday.”

 

Merchants, upon hearing of the Empress’s visit, had collaborated to light up the streets with glowing orbs.

 

Endless lines of food.
Various goods.
Shimmering shops.

 

The night market had its own unique charm, and it glittered as if trying to draw people in. Yet, aside from the Empress and the Imperial Guards surrounding her, only one person stood in the street.

 

“So? Let’s hear your reason.”

 

The Empress, plucking a skewer of fruit from a nearby stall, smiled and spoke to that lone figure.

 

“Why did you destroy my carriage?”

 

In response to the Empress’s question, the hulking figure, wearing a thick stone mask, gave a curt reply.

 

“You. Must—die.”

 

Now.

 

To me.

 

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I Became the Mastermind in a Dark Fantasy

I Became the Mastermind in a Dark Fantasy

다크 판타지의 흑막 수장이 되었다
Score 8
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2025 Native Language: Korean
I didn’t know. “We killed all the trash just as the Captain wanted!” “He told us to take care of it, so we cleaned it all out.” “Order. Carried out─with utmost resolve.” I just thought they were a bit ... dim-witted. “Kyahaha, Captain, can I kill more!?” Not that they were S-rank monsters.

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