Sai lay there for a moment longer, catching his breath, before pushing himself up. The aftertaste of blood still coated his tongue, sweet and vile in equal measure. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, sneering.
"Yeah, no. I'm not playing your demon-king-in-a-dark-cave game," he said flatly. "This world's got magic, cool reapers, and even probably some waifus out there. You think I'm gonna waste it sitting on some creepy throne eating scraps in a dungeon? Hell no. I've had enough of being boxed in."
The golden-haired woman tilted her head, expression unreadable. Then she gave a little shrug, as if his declaration barely fazed her. "Whatever your choice, I am bound to follow. You hold the reins. I merely… ride along."
Sai chuckled at that, rubbing his temples. "Great. So you're just here to make sure I get my blood breakfast every day."
"Or keep you from eating yourself fat." she teased lightly, a faint curve tugging her lips.
"Uh-huh. Speaking of which… you got a name, or am I supposed to call you 'halo demon'?"
She placed a finger thoughtfully on her chin, gaze drifting upward. "My old name… no longer applies. My existence has shifted. I suppose that means, for now, I have no name."
Sai scratched the back of his neck, then smirked. "How about Vyriss? Kinda sharp, kinda mysterious. Feels like it suits you."
Her golden eyes blinked, then softened as she rolled the name across her tongue. "Vy...riss. Hm. Yes. I suppose that could work."
He gave a mock bow. "Then it's settled. I'm Sai. Sai Nirvan."
Her brows rose. "Won't you change your name as well? Yours should have become invalid through reincarnation. Plus, what's the point of carrying an old name like that in a new world."
Sai paused, stroking his chin like a philosopher in deep thought. "…I actually like Sai. But maybe—" He smirked. "Voidnir. Yeah. That's got a nice ring to it."
"Whatever works for you, my lord." Vyriss's faint smile carried a shade of amusement, but also a strange warmth.
Sai stretched, rolling his shoulders, and turned to head for the chamber the cultists had nervously prepared. Vyriss fell in step behind him, her presence oddly grounding despite everything.
Then—
Ding!
A translucent pane shimmered into existence before his eyes. He froze, staring as glowing letters carved themselves across the surface.
[Awakening Class…]
[Class Awakened: Villain 1]
[Race: Pseudo Demon (Void Variant) / Human (r£|n¢@rnat0r ERROR!!!)]
[Name: Sai Voidnir]
[Innate Skill: Villain's Aura]
Sai's eye twitched. "…Of course. A system screen, reincarnator 101. And of course it brands me the bad guy." He let out a long, world-weary sigh. "This world really has it out for me."
Beside him, Vyriss' expression didn't flicker. She simply placed her hands behind her back, her halo catching faint violet reflections from the obsidian walls.
"Do not let it bother you, my lord," she said calmly. "Some things are simply as they are, no matter how unfair."
Sai smirked faintly, though his eyes still burned. "Story of my life."
Sai's eyes bulged as the system lines finished writing themselves across the translucent screen.
[Innate Skill: Villain's Aura]
[Passive: Most existences under the darkness faction fear and respect you, while those of even the slightest light alignment revile your existence. You automatically gain the distrust of most entities. 0.1% chance on forming a friendly relationship with entities not under the dark faction.]
[Active: A dark-attributed oppressive presence that distorts mana and celestial energy. Can be manipulated to form constructs with enough mastery.]
He stared for a long second, then let out a dry laugh. "Oh, fantastic. A god-tier offensive skill married to a social life-killer. Beautiful." His voice dripped sarcasm. "I see why no one likes the villains. This damn thing is way too annoying."
The worst part was that he actually needed someone human to help him navigate this place. And here he was—soaked in blood, standing among corpses, exuding a literal aura of evil. Yeah, real approachable.
Sai dragged a hand through his hair and exhaled. "Hey, Vyriss. Can you, I don't know, tone down the whole halo thing? You sort of look more like an angel than a demon right now. Pretty sure the locals here won't appreciate it."
Veylith's lips curled faintly. With a soft shimmer, her halo faded from sight. Her golden eyes sharpened, pupils slitting with a crimson glint, while her white cloak reshaped into a flowing deep-crimson two-piece dress. She strode to his side without hesitation and—linking her arm through his—gave him a sly glance.
Sai arched a brow. "Really?"
"Just so no one asks any questions," she replied smoothly. But the look in her eyes lingered a little too long, betraying that she liked it this way.
Sai sighed but didn't shake her off. Together, they pushed through the ornate double doors, where the High Priest was pacing like a rat in a trap.
The man froze at the sight of them, fear and fanaticism colliding on his face. His gaze drifting to Vyriss—and staying there, however—her charm was effortless, lethal. Even the cultists at the far end of the hall were entranced, their eyes forgetting for a particularly long moment who she was clinging to.
Sai's irritation rose, sharp and cold. He cleared his throat deliberately, the sound slicing through the daze like a blade.
The High Priest flinched, realizing his blunder. He collapsed to the ground, forehead slamming against the black marble floor. "F-forgive me, my Lord! I have dishonored you with my insolence!"
Sai considered ripping the asshole's throat out there and then. His fingers twitched with the urge. Instead, he filed the thought away for later and said coolly, "Lead me to my chambers."
"Yes, your Eminence!"
The corridors twisted like intestines, torches flickering weakly along the blood-carved walls. Finally, they arrived at a massive crimson door etched with runes and grotesque motifs of writhing bodies.
Sai cringed inwardly. Subtle. Real subtle.
The doors creaked open to reveal a chamber dripping with excess. A sprawling bed dressed in silk sheets the color of fresh blood. Curtains dyed crimson. Chandeliers laden with unholy flames that wept violet light across obsidian walls. A carved table of darkwood with strange silver inlay, shelves stacked with tomes bound in skin, a polished mirror framed in bone, an onyx vanity lined with vials and perfumes that reeked of metal. Luxury and madness intertwined.
But two details stood out oddly against the grandeur:
The siblings.
They hung limply from the ceiling, bound in rune-laden chains. The boy was barely conscious, clinging to breath; the girl, bruised and bloodied, still glared with a fire that hadn't gone out.
Sai ignored the High Priest's muttering explanations and collapsed onto the bed with a groan, sinking into the silk. "Leave my presence p," he ordered coldly. "I'll… eat later."
The guards hesitated. Then, with shared looks of dread and awe, they obeyed.
The moment the doors shut, Sai rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Vyriss. Release them. They look like they've been dragged through hell."
Vyriss inclined her head gracefully. A snap of her fingers, and the runes shattered. Chains fell.
The boy collapsed into his sister's arms, sobbing. She gritted her teeth, eyes burning with suspicion. A trick, she thought. It had to be. She'd seen it before—bandits who gave a taste of hope only to snatch it away.
Snatching up a lamp from the nearby desk, she raised it like a weapon.
Sai, still face-down in the pillow, waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Do whatever. Just… gods, you stink. Vyriss, get her a bath before the room starts to rot."
The boy cried harder as Vyriss approached. The girl stiffened, lamp shaking in her grip.
"No," she snapped. "I'm not falling for this."
Sai lifted his head slightly, one violet eye gleaming. "I don't care. Go all together if you want. Just get the smell off you."
She didn't move.
Sai sighed, then let his gaze meet hers. His eyes flickered with unnatural light.
[Skill Activated: Devil's Charm]
"Go," he said simply.
Her resistance faltered instantly, her body moving against her will. She blinked, dazed, before grabbing her brother's hand protectively. Wordless, she led him toward the adjoining chamber, Vyriss guiding them with a patient smile.
Sai dropped his head back onto the pillow with a groan. "This… is going to be annoying."