Rosalia — POV
"Girl, are you a university student or a high-schooler?"
"Are you blind? If she were a high-schooler, she'd be in her uniform."
"You're the blind one, you stupid bear."
"Boss, look at this idiot, Frederick, He serves his mouth more than his muscles."
"You bastard…"
…
"Ha Ha Ha..."
"Hey, Liz — don't laugh. Come help me push this zombie dog back. It's vicious. Oh my God, I hate dogs."
"Coming, you bear."
"Don't call me that disgusting nickname."
…
I was standing beside the black jeep next to Cassel, and I didn't know what expression my face wore.
Especially after I saw, with my own eyes, every secondary and main character I had imagined again and again whenever I read my favorite novel.
I had always considered this my second life, but only now did this world feel so real — the people in it alive, breathing.
Well, there were the dead too.
About two hours had passed.
Two hours ago, my dear Cassel had accepted me into his team.
I was stunned, excited, terrified, and tenderhearted.
My emotions were jumbled.
But above all, I felt an overwhelming joy — joy at being beside my beloved Cassel.
That bastard Henry offered to let me get into the car so I wouldn't be frightened by the zombies, but I refused.
How could I sit in a dark car while my light and lantern stand proud right here?
Of course, I chose to stay beside my beloved villain.
For some reason, Cassel didn't move a muscle. Not only him — that sly fox stood at the side watching. Nearby, five people — four men and a woman — were fighting the zombies, while others pushed vehicles off the road.
I called the others "strangers" because I didn't know them, but I knew those five.
They were the same characters, really. They were Cassel's original team — people whose loyalty to him would never die.
As their savior and the one who gave them an honorable, comfortable life, it was no exaggeration to say they worshipped him like a god.
"Ugly child, why are you smiling?"
"Ugh."
A warm gust passed my ear and made every hair on my body stand up.
"You rude fox. If you want to talk, speak from a distance. Don't you know manners? Why must you blow in my ear? And I'm not a child I'm a grown-up woman., And have a name."
I shouted angrily.
That man, Henry, had been getting on my nerves since the first time his eyes fell on me. Why was he like that? Did he enjoy angering me? Or did he still doubt my identity?
"If I'm the fox, then you look like a rabbit now — so cute, the way your ears flush and you shy away, you look just like a little, adorable ( ugly ) child," the fox smirked.
That bastard.
He looked at me with his deep blue eyes; his smile widened when he saw the red bloom on my cheeks.
How could I not blush when I was trying so hard to keep my temper? I couldn't erupt at Henry and insult him freely — not because I feared him, but because my beloved Cassel was still here.
I didn't want him to see my worst side.
Besides, Cassel hated swearing and disliked those who cursed too much.
It was driving me mad.
"Henry—"
A hoarse, dark voice rang from nearby.
It was Cassel's voice. It sounded cold and devoid of any feeling.
Henry hid his smile and stopped teasing me.
Another hour later, the team finally cleared the road.
"Leader, you're cold as always. You stood aside and let us wallow in zombie blood," the only woman in the group said.
Her hair was light brown in a neck-length bob, her eyes long and dark, her skin healthily bronzed. She had an attractive, commanding bearing, like the heroine of the Lara Croft films. I had always admired the strength of this woman; as I remembered, her name was Liz Falcon.
Like Cassel's other close subordinates, she had been brutally killed when she refused to betray her leader.
I drew a long breath.
Anyone who supported Cassel, anyone who loved him sincerely and considered him a friend and leader, had lost their lives.
Cassel's life had always been like that: no one truly cared for him, and those who did met grim ends.
It was the curse of the main role of the last boss.
As The Villain.
He was fated to suffer, to endure tragedy, to live alone, and to die alone…
"Hi—my name's Liz. Liz Falcon. I heard you're a new member of the team. I hope we'll get along," Liz said, smiling as she extended her hand to shake mine.
Liz was one of my role models and one of the few characters I both respected and loved, so I took her hand quickly.
"Rosalia. Rosalia Ashbourne. Pleased to meet you too."
I couldn't stop smiling.
"Hey Girl, are you a university student or still in high school?"
A muscular man with coal-black hair and eyes, short black stubble, and a face smudged with blood and dirt stepped forward.
"Bear, are you trying to scare the girl into fainting with that look of yours? Why don't you look at the mirror?" someone hit the man, a slightly smaller but still powerful fellow, nearly two meters tall.
"Miss, don't be afraid. We were just debating whether you're a university student or a high-schooler, that's why he asked."
"You're the bear, you stupid bastard—"
"Want to fight, old man?"
"Whoever loses his new title will be Rotten Dog Dung."
…
"Forget them. They're both idiots."
Liz placed her hand on my shoulder and led me toward one of the jeeps where Cassel and Henry were standing, talking to someone inside the worn car that had been surrounded by other vehicles.
Obviously, that car was well secured.
"That huge bearded man is named Robin Aldric. Despite his size, he's actually simple. The long-tongued one is Frederick Waverlyn. His name is complicated so we call him Freddy — he won't mind."
Liz introduced the members and sketched their personalities too; I felt genuinely proud.
To be clear, I was a stranger who had only met them a few hours ago, but Liz didn't seem to mind at all — she treated me like a little sister.
Well, you could say Cassel's strict orders and the fact that he accepted me into his group were the reasons everyone accepted me so quickly. After all, these people had blind trust in Cassel's judgment — so much that if he told them to jump off a dangerous cliff, they'd jump with their eyes closed.
But that trust had cause.
Cassel and his team had gone through many life-and-death moments, protecting each other's backs. It was natural for comrades-in-arms to trust the one who had their backs without question.
"Why did it take you so long to deal with a few disgusting dead things? Do you know how boring and painful it is to stay in the car? My butt nearly froze…"
When we reached where Cassel was parked, I heard those words.
Cassel was speaking with the people inside the car, his back turned to me.
"Cassel, you and your team are useless trash. It took you almost four hours just to clear the road…"
That was the voice of a young man, it seemed. Before my mind could process the sound and the words, a louder, older voice spoke — a voice of a man near his late fifties.
"Yes. This old man almost suffocated in that car. What rotten luck — there isn't even a cooler or cold water. Cassel, tell me the truth: have you grown tired of this old man and want to get rid of him, huh? How can you not care at all for your useless old father?"
"What…"
I muttered unconsciously.
What did that man say?
Cassel stood up and stepped a little away from the car. So I could see the people sitting inside from my angle.
I could see two heads: one older man, whose wrinkled face still looked quite healthy enough to shout and slap at the car window with his hand.
The other was young, with golden hair that was a little longer than his ears, and green eyes with a touch of yellow. He really was good-looking, but the moment he opened his mouth the words he spoke came out vile, and his tone made my skin crawl.
Even before they spoke, disgust had reached its peak just at the sight of those two. When I'd heard their words earlier, I'd felt revulsion and immediately understood why.
Now I knew.
Why did I feel so much hatred?
Why did I feel such sorrow?
...And why I felt this murderous intent.
I wanted to kill them.
I truly wanted to kill them.
I wanted to smash their heads in.
If I did that, all of Cassel's problems would vanish.
If I killed them, Cassel would live happily.
If I killed them, my beloved Cassel would not suffer or die miserably.
If only I could kill—
Suddenly I met two deep, empty black eyes — cold and focused.
I don't know what happened, but that single look drained the strength from my legs. Yes, I nearly collapsed if not for Liz supporting my waist.
"Cassel…"
[To Be Continued...]