Morning camel's, outside the window. The sun had barely risen, yet the courtyard was already alive with the sounds of swords clashing and disciples shouting their moves.
Seo Jin opened his eyes slowly. His body still felt heavy, like lead was in his veins. The shallow cut on his arm had stopped bleeding, but every movement pulled at the wound. He sat up with a low groan.
The fox stretched beside him, tail swishing lazily. "Host, get up, get up! You don't want to keep him waiting, do you? The Villain is scary enough when he's calm. Imagine him angry."
Seo Jin rubbed his face. "If he wants me to fight at dawn every day, I'll die before I finish the tutorial."
The fox wagged its tail. "Then don't die. Simple!"
Seo Jin ignored it and stood, tightening the ragged belt around his robes. His clothes were still the same ones he had arrived in yesterday. Dirty, torn, and uncomfortable. But it didn't matter. No one here cared if he looked presentable. They were only waiting to see when he would fail.
When he stepped into the courtyard, silence fell for a brief moment. Dozens of disciples glanced at him from the corners of their eyes. Some sneered. Some whispered. A few smirked openly.
"Still alive?" one muttered.
"Not for long," another chuckled.
Seo Jin didn't bother to respond. He had been a gamer long enough to know what trash talk sounded like. They wanted him rattled, but words couldn't kill him. Swords could. He'd focus on that.
At the far end of the courtyard stood the Villain. He was dressed in the same flowing black robes, long hair tied high, his presence still suffocating even from across the field. Just standing there, he looked untouchable, like a god who had descended to the mortal world.
Seo Jin's lips twitched. And I'm supposed to "seduce" that? System, you're insane.
The fox whispered in his ear, "He's looking at you, Host. Quick, fix your hair or something! Make yourself look charming!"
Seo Jin muttered under his breath, "If you don't shut up, I'll throw you into the well."
The Villain's cold gaze swept across the courtyard, silencing even the whispers. When his eyes landed on Seo Jin, it felt like something pressing against his skin.
"Step forward," he ordered.
Seo Jin obeyed, keeping his expression calm. Inside, his nerves hummed.
The Villain studied him for a long moment. Then he spoke, voice soft but heavy with command. "Draw your sword."
Seo Jin blinked. "Sword?"
The Villain's lips curved faintly, though his eyes were still ice. "Or will you fight with dirt again?"
Snickers rose from the crowd. Seo Jin's smirk returned immediately. "Dirt worked just fine yesterday."
Gasps echoed. Even the fox yelped, "Host! You're going to die!"
But the Villain didn't move. Instead, he raised a hand, and a black-robed servant stepped forward, holding a plain training sword. It was simple iron, not sharp, but heavy enough to bruise or break bones if used with force.
Seo Jin caught it one-handed. His arm dipped slightly from the weight, but he steadied it quickly.
The Villain turned, walking toward the center of the courtyard. "Come."
Seo Jin followed, the fox clinging to his shoulder with both paws.
The disciples whispered among themselves, excitement buzzing in their voices.
"He's going to spar with the Lord?"
"That trash body won't last one strike."
"This will be fun to watch."
The Villain stopped at the center and faced him. He drew his own weapon—a long, black-bladed sword that glinted faintly even in the weak sunlight. The aura around it was sharp enough to make the air feel thinner.
Seo Jin's grip tightened. Great. A level 100 boss against a level 1 newbie. Totally fair.
The Villain raised his blade slightly. "Attack me."
Seo Jin's smirk slipped. "…Come again?"
"Attack me," the Villain repeated, tone flat, leaving no room for refusal.
The fox gasped. "Host, this is your chance! Show him your charm with your moves! Maybe a cool spin—"
Seo Jin grabbed it and stuffed it into his robe. "Shut it."
He looked at the Villain again, narrowing his eyes. "You're serious."
"Now," the Villain said.
Seo Jin's instincts screamed at him, but he charged anyway. His body was weak, but he knew how to move. Years of games had trained his eyes to look for openings, to predict reactions.
He swung.
The Villain didn't even blink. With a flick of his wrist, his black sword knocked Seo Jin's blade aside like it was a child's toy. The force nearly tore the weapon from his hand.
Seo Jin gritted his teeth, regaining balance. He lunged again, this time feinting to the left before slashing right.
The Villain stepped forward smoothly. Seo Jin's strike met empty air. Before he could recover, a boot pressed against his chest and shoved him back.
He stumbled three steps before catching himself. His chest burned from the impact.
Whispers rose louder from the watching disciples.
Seo Jin's smirk returned, though his lungs screamed for air. "You call that training? Feels more like bullying."
For the first time, the Villain's eyes flashed with something faintly dangerous. His blade lifted again. "Then fight back."
Seo Jin's heart pounded. Every instinct told him this wasn't sparring. This was a test. If he failed too easily, he'd be discarded.
He took a deep breath. Fine. If I can't win with strength, then I'll play dirty again.
This time when he charged, he dragged his foot across the dirt, kicking up dust into the Villain's eyes. At the same moment, he slashed upward, aiming for the gap.
But the Villain moved like water. His blade swept through the dust cloud, cutting it apart, and his other hand grabbed Seo Jin's wrist mid-swing.
Seo Jin froze as cold fingers tightened like steel around his wrist.
The Villain leaned close, voice soft but deadly. "Tricks again?"
Seo Jin met his gaze, smirk sharp even as his wrist ached. "If it works, why not?"
The Villain's eyes narrowed, then in a flash, Seo Jin was on the ground, sword knocked away, chest pinned by the weight of a boot.
The disciples roared with laughter, pointing at him.
"Trash is trash after all!"
"Not even one exchange!"
Seo Jin clenched his teeth, glaring up at the man pressing him down. His pride screamed, but his lips still curled into a mocking smile. "So? Was that entertaining enough for you, Lord?"
The courtyard went silent. No one dared laugh anymore.
The Villain's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened. He lifted his foot and stepped back, letting Seo Jin breathe again.
"You're reckless," he said. "But not boring."
Seo Jin sat up slowly, chest aching. His smirk didn't falter. "Glad I could amuse you."
[Ding! Mission Update: Gain the Villain's Favor – Progress 35%]
The fox popped its head out of his robe, tail wagging wildly. "Host! It went up again! See? Even being crushed under his boot counts as progress! You're amazing!"
Seo Jin groaned. "If this is progress, I don't want to know what failure looks like."
The Villain turned away, his black robe flowing like shadows. "You will train with me again tomorrow. Do not die before then."
As he walked off, the disciples buzzed in shock.
Seo Jin sat there in the dirt, breathing hard, blood trickling from his lip where he'd bitten down during the fall. He wiped it with the back of his hand and smirked faintly.
Not boring, huh? I'll take that as a win.
But deep inside, he knew—this was only the start.
---
Cliffhanger End of Chapter Seven.