[That depends, Master. What kind of man are you?]
"What do you mean?"
[What kind of villain do you want to be?]
Her voice was suddenly serious.
[Do you want to burn this world to ash? Rule it all from a throne of bones? Or perhaps just protect what's yours with ruthless efficiency?]
Damien frowned, considering the question. "What makes the more compelling story?"
[Ah, thinking like a writer already.] Satana chuckled, her tail swishing. [The most compelling villains have vision, Master. They aren't evil for the sake of being evil. They have purpose.]
Damien walked to the window, looking out at the frontier town of Harrow's End.
The early morning sun cast long shadows across the decrepit buildings and muddy streets. In the distance, a dark forest loomed ominously.
"I want to rewrite the story," he said finally. "This world had a script—the original novel where I was just a stepping stone for the hero. I want to tear that script apart and write my own ending."
[Mmm, I like that.] Satana floated beside him, her crimson skin glowing in the sunlight. [And what will your ending be?]
"I don't know yet," Damien admitted with a smirk. "But I'm damn sure it won't involve me getting expelled in chapter sixty."
[That's a start.] Satana nodded. [So, what's your first move, Master?]
Damien turned toward the door where Sabrina had exited. "I think it's time I get to know my red-eyed maid better. From what I remember of this world's lore, she's got quite the story."
[Ooh, starting with her? Excellent choice.] Satana licked her lips. [That girl has been through hell. Slave crest binding her powers. Family slaughtered. Forced to serve nobles she hates. She's a pot of rage just waiting to boil over.]
"Slave crest?" Damien's eyes narrowed. "That wasn't in the original novel."
[The original novel didn't explore many side characters, Master. But I know everything about this world.] Satana tapped her temple. [Sabrina Vael. Former minor noble. House destroyed when she was thirteen. The sole survivor, captured and sold into slavery. Purchased by your father as a servant. Her abilities are halved by the slave crest on her stomach.]
"And the original Damien?"
[Treated her like property,] Satana said bluntly. [Made crude comments. Occasional 'accidental' touching. She hates your guts.]
"No wonder," Damien muttered. "So she's powerful, but suppressed. Intelligent, but forced to serve. And she hates nobility, but can't disobey."
[A perfect first target for contract and corruption,] Satana agreed. [But be careful. She's not just some wilting flower waiting for rescue. She's a survivor. She'll use you if she thinks she can.]
"Good," Damien said with a grin. "That makes it more interesting."
He approached the wardrobe, finding clothes laid out as Sabrina had mentioned. As he dressed in what appeared to be finely tailored noble clothing—dark pants, white shirt, and a vest with silver embroidery—he considered his approach.
"If I'm going to do this right, I need information," he said, buttoning the vest. "About this town. About my current situation. About my family."
[Most of that you already know,] Satana replied. [Your memories are merging with the original Damien's. What feels like foreign information now will soon feel like your own memories.]
As if on cue, fragments surfaced in Damien's mind: A grand manor in the capital. A stern father who never smiled. An older brother who excelled at everything. The shame of being the third son, the failure, the disappointment. The drunken duel. The public humiliation. The exile to this backwater town called Harrow's End.
"So I'm stuck here for now," Damien said, adjusting his collar. "Exiled to this frontier town until... what? Until my father decides I've learned my lesson?"
[Until the Academy semester starts in two months,] Satana clarified. [Your father arranged for you to attend Grand Nexus Academy despite your disgrace. One last chance to prove your worth. In the original story, you get expelled within the first semester for harassing the hero's childhood friend.]
"Not this time," Damien muttered. "This time, the story's going to be very different."
He looked at himself in the mirror, still startled by the aristocratic features and golden eyes that looked back at him.
The body might be weak now, but with the Depraved System...
"First order of business," he said, straightening his vest. "Breakfast with Sabrina. Time to see if I can start changing her opinion of me."
[Good luck with that,] Satana snickered. [Her hatred runs deep. You'll need more than good manners to win her over.]
"I don't need to win her over yet," Damien replied with a confident smirk. "I just need to confuse her enough that she starts getting curious about why I've changed."
He strode toward the door, his mind racing with plans. Contracts. Corruption. Infamy Points. Building a power base in this frontier town before heading to the Academy. Rewriting the story from the villain's perspective.
"Let's get this show started," he said, opening the door. "Time to earn some Infamy Points."
Satana's laughter echoed in his mind as he stepped into the hallway, ready to begin his life as a proper villain.
[Show me what you've got, Master\~]