Ever since deciding on revenge, I’ve found myself surprisingly calm. The mories of that fateful day and the seething hatred I harbored for Baek Hyung-won and Kim Yoo-jung had beco so vivid and constant that they were like an old companion.
"Of course, it’s only natural," I thought.
I relived those mories every single day—replaying the monts of betrayal, the excruciating pain inflicted by the villains, and the hatred for my parents. With ti, maintaining my composure beca less an effort and more a necessity for survival.
"Still giving
orders? That’s impressive," I said with a mocking smirk.
Baek Hyung-won’s face flushed red with anger. His frustration was palpable, and I could see the disdain for
radiating from his very being.
Gone was the feigned affection he’d shown
when I was a helpless ten-year-old. For the past 14 years, in his eyes, I was nothing more than a tool, sothing beneath even human consideration.
It reminded
of the arrogance of colonial powers, who, even after losing their colonies, continued to view the people of those lands as inherently inferior.
If I were still “Kim Ho-jun” in his mind, Hyung-won would have been all smiles and deference. But as “Baek Seo-jun,” it was clear he couldn’t bring himself to treat
with even a shred of respect.
"Tch!"
Hyung-won probably knew that showing humility would be the smarter move. But to him, lowering himself to
was unthinkable.
"Well, you two were never the type to exceed expectations," I said leisurely, watching the frustration boil beneath his surface.
Though my relaxed deanor irritated him, he managed to restrain himself—for now.
"So, you’re asking about Baek Seo-jin’s condition, right?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
At my words, Hyung-won’s expression twisted in barely contained rage, while Kim Yoo-jung watched silently, her glare sharp as a blade.
With deliberate calm, I began explaining the situation.
"I’ve let Seo-jin experience what I’ve felt—every mont of agony, betrayal, and hatred I endured. He’s reliving those monts as vividly as if they were his own. That’s what’s happening to him."
"What…?"
Hyung-won’s voice trembled, his anger montarily replaced by confusion.
"In short, Seo-jin is feeling what it’s like to be . He’s experiencing the pain of being tortured by villains, the despair of being abandoned, and the burning hatred I’ve carried for both of you."
My words seed to freeze them in place for a mont as they tried to comprehend. Then, as the reality set in, they erupted.
"You cruel bastard! How could you do that to your own brother?!" Hyung-won roared.
"Undo it imdiately! How could you be so heartless to your own blood?" Yoo-jung shrieked, her voice trembling with fury.
Predictably, nothing about them had changed.
To them, shouting at
and demanding obedience was as natural as breathing. Even now, they didn’t see
as a person, just a tool that had outlived its usefulness.
"You still don’t understand your place," I said coldly.
But it didn’t matter. Their fate was sealed.
"Anyway, Hyung-won, here’s what you’re going to do," I said with a smirk. "Go back, release the video, and finish what you promised. Once that’s done, I’ll tell you how to undo what you’re calling a ‘curse’ on Seo-jin."
"Can’t you just lift it now?" he snapped.
"I’m experiencing it in real-ti myself," I replied nonchalantly. "Even if I wanted to, it’s not sothing I can just ‘lift.’"
That was, of course, a lie. I could easily remove the connection between Seo-jin and my mories if I chose to. But I had no intention of revealing that.
Watching their frustration boil was satisfying, but that wasn’t enough. Their true downfall hadn’t even begun.
"So, before I change my mind, Hyung-won, you’d better handle this quickly. That’s the only way to help Seo-jin."
"Tch… Fine," Hyung-won growled through gritted teeth.
Despite his clear desire to lash out, he held himself back for Seo-jin’s sake. The internal battle was written all over his face. He was probably imagining all the ways he wanted to kill , but he knew he couldn’t.
"Kim Yoo-jung stays," I added casually.
"What?" Hyung-won glared at .
"If you don’t like it, you can both leave to handle the video together," I said with a smirk. "You could even do a joint interview to publicly admit to everything. That would make things easier for everyone."
Hyung-won clenched his fists but said nothing. Turning to Yoo-jung, he spoke softly.
"Stay here. I’ll handle this and co back quickly."
"But…"
"It’s fine. I’ll be back soon," he said, forcing a reassuring smile.
With that, Hyung-won left the room, leaving Yoo-jung alone with .
"Why are you making
stay?" she hissed, glaring at .
"You’ll see soon enough," I said, dismissing her question.
"Ramisa," I called.
Shhhhhh—
The massive form of Ramisa rose, her serpentine body towering over Yoo-jung.
"What do you think?" I asked.
— She’s decent. Not quite on par with your wives, who bear the world’s blessings, but she’ll suffice. It’s more than enough for what you have in mind.
"Exactly what I thought," I replied, nodding.
Yoo-jung frowned, clearly unable to understand Ramisa’s words.
"Who are you talking to right now?"
Kim Yoo-jung’s question was sharp, laced with suspicion.
I didn’t answer her imdiately. Instead, I rose from my seat and approached her slowly.
"What are you—uhk?!"
Before she could finish her question, I immobilized her with my mana. Her body froze in place, held tightly by the invisible force, rendering her completely incapable of movent. I let my gaze sweep over her from head to toe.
For all her vile nature, there was no denying her beauty. Her striking appearance had been ntioned repeatedly in the original novel, and seeing her up close, it was easy to understand why.
"If it were Yoo-cheon, he’d probably take this opportunity to punish her by force," I mused.
My old friend Seomun Yoo-cheon had been a man who wouldn’t hesitate to deliver justice through unspeakable ans, especially if his target was soone like Kang Mi-hyun, one of the garbage heroines from his own reincarnated world. Yoo-cheon would have destroyed such people without a second thought, believing it a fitting retribution.
Even if soone like Kim Yoo-jung were an evil stepmother in his world, Yoo-cheon likely wouldn’t have hesitated to take things a step further, claiming it as part of his brand of justice.
"If it were Yoo-cheon, he’d probably see her as nothing more than an amusing plaything," I thought with a dry smile.
Looking at Yoo-jung now, paralyzed and helpless, I could imagine how he’d view her. To him, she’d be nothing more than a al served on a silver platter, ripe for exploitation.
But I wasn’t Yoo-cheon.
Unlike him, I had no interest in laying a hand on Kim Yoo-jung. Even if using her in such a way would be more efficient for my purposes, I had no desire to engage with soone who wasn’t my wife.
My wives were all silently watching this scene unfold, but even if they weren’t here, I wouldn’t have touched her.
Still, I wasn’t going to let her off easily either.
"None of my wives have any sadistic tendencies," I reminded myself.
Their inherently kind and compassionate personalities made them incapable of finding pleasure in soone else’s suffering.
That left
to make the most of Kim Yoo-jung in another way. She’d beco an invaluable tool—a ans to not only ensure her complete destruction but also save the world in the process.
"Kim Yoo-jung," I said softly, leaning down to look her in the eye, "you don’t need to make any more pointless moves from now on. Your ruin will save this world."
Her eyes widened in fear, but there was nothing she could do. From this mont on, she would witness everything that was about to happen with full awareness.
I reached out and gently patted her head, speaking in the calst voice I could muster.
"Just wait here until Baek Hyung-won cos back. Once he returns… I’ll show you both a ruin so complete, so agonizing, that you’ll wish you’d never crossed ."
Kim Yoo-jung, still bound by my power, couldn’t even move her lips to respond. All she could do was glare at
with a mixture of rage and desperation.
— "Seo-jun, are you just going to leave her like this?" Ramisa’s voice echoed in my mind.
"Yes," I replied aloud. "I’ll explain exactly how they’ll et their end once Hyung-won is back. Until then, let her stew in her fear of the unknown."
***
"What is he planning?"
Kim Yoo-jung trembled in fear, unable to even twitch a finger. Immobilized by my power, she could only stew in her rising anxiety.
What kind of ruin was he about to unleash on them? What fate could possibly be worse than losing the Baekho Guild and having their beloved son, Baek Seo-jin, reduced to his current state?
"What is he scheming?"
The uncertainty gnawed at her. Without answers, the fear of the unknown took hold, its grip tightening around her heart.
She prayed silently, "Please, my love, don’t co back here. This place is dangerous."
If her husband returned, it would mark the mont of their ultimate downfall.
For a fleeting mont, she entertained the thought of Baek Hyung-won taking Seo-jin and fleeing sowhere far away, escaping this nightmare altogether. But she knew it was a futile hope.
Even if they managed to evade Baek Seo-jun’s gaze and fled to the farthest reaches of the earth, it wouldn’t matter. They wouldn’t last long.
He would find them.
And when he did, their suffering would only be prolonged.
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