Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

The levitating Red Flame Mana Stone radiated a brilliant glow.

Within that fist-sized magic stone, mana flowed like flickering flames.

The Red Flame Mana Stone itself was practically an artifact.

Its name might misleadingly imply a fire-attribute magic stone at first glance, but this had been discovered in the Village of Vampires.

Why would a magic stone born from the bodies of vampires who had drained the blood of thousands, if not tens of thousands of humans, be associated with flames?

Moreover, the Chinese character ‘yeom’ in its name did not refer to the ‘yeom (炎)’ meaning ‘blaze,’ but rather the ‘yeom (念)’ implying human sentiments and obsessions.

Typically, a magic stone took on attributes matching the monster that had harbored it.

The fears and terrors consumed by that monster-

That was the essence cultivated within this magic stone.

—If this were crafted into an artifact, it would make for a terribly ominous weapon. It clearly craves human blood.

‘Yes, which is precisely why it must not be fashioned into a weapon. That thing would inevitably cause untold disasters if unleashed.’

While its name ‘Red Flame Mana Stone’ hadn’t rung any bells initially, upon direct contact I realized the subsequent truth.

That a staff later created from this mana stone would be stolen by a top-tier villain, triggering all sorts of catastrophic incidents.

Which was why I intended to utilize it here instead.

—You expect to get any sleep with something like this above your head? It practically reeks of nightmares.

‘They say clenching your fists prevents scissors from stabbing you.’

—What bizarre nonsense is that now?

Admittedly, constructing a dwelling from such an ominous material might invite spiritual torments. But if we could instead harness those haunting forces as our own defensive shields?

Would that not prove a remarkably useful application?

Calmly channeling my mana into the magic stone, I slowly knelt and pressed my hands to the ground.

Upon this earth, and across the countless brick surfaces, were the mana circuits I had spent an entire sleepless week engraving – managing less than eight hours of rest in total.

The airborne magic stone would serve as the tolling bell.

By striking that bell, the resulting ripples would stimulate the mana circuits throughout my body and all those connected to me.

The mana circuits gradually began linking as one cohesive network. Progress was sluggish due to the sheer scale involved, but it was undoubtedly proceeding.

Like water filling a channel, mana began seeping into the engraved mana circuits.

To saturate this colossal canvas, the mana within my body alone was woefully inadequate. I simultaneously drew upon all the mana stone powder packed into my bracelet.

“Kuhk.”

The strain overloaded my body. Even with Ray’s assistance in shouldering the burden upon the mana circuits, it was still immensely taxing.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Pulsing like a human heartbeat, the Red Flame Mana Stone’s reverberations soon propagated throughout the entire engraved mana circuit network.

And now was the moment.

I activated the mana circuits etched into the dwelling itself. The mana within my body served as the ignition spark to ‘activate’ this entire mana circuit array.

An agonizing trauma beyond comparison flooded my every fiber.

“Uughh.”

Despite clenching my lips tightly, the searing torment – as if my flesh, my bodily mana circuits, my very veins were boiling – was beyond my solitary capacity to endure.

Blood vessels ruptured throughout my body, gushing crimson from every orifice.

—Endure it! You’re almost there!

Had it not been for Ray’s voice, I might have lost consciousness. Barely holding on, I strained the last of my willpower to complete the mana linkage.

The mana originating from my hands flowed through the levitating magic stone, then surged along the circuits etched into the bricks.

A perfect, seamless stream of mana.

The instant that flow was established, a prompt window materialized before my eyes:

=====

Haunted House / B-Rank

—–

Residential・Multi-Family Dwelling

Owned by Kang Yi-sin

A multi-family residence constructed from bricks baked from soil and the Red Flame Mana Stone.

Crudely finished workmanship resulted in a rank deduction.

Utilizes the Red Flame Mana Stone as its core to perpetually activate Concealment, Cloaking, and Confusion effects.

Registered cohabitants are exempted from these effects.

Extremely durable, self-repairing by drawing upon the magic stone’s mana if more than 60% remains intact.

Plumbing and electricity installed.

Comprises 5 Rooms/1 Kitchen/1 Living Room/3 Bathrooms.

=====

Its construction was complete.

I collapsed backwards onto the ground.

“Boss! Are you alright?”

Han Seo-hyeon rushed over in alarm.

“Hahaha!”

Despite being ranked down to B due to the subpar finishing work, this dwelling’s potential was ridiculously promising.

‘Concealment,’ ‘Cloaking,’ and finally, ‘Confusion’ – all three intended functions had been successfully incorporated, just as I had envisioned.

To any outsider, this cavern would merely appear as an impassable cliffside. Anyone who breached that facade would be assailed by horrifying illusions.

Ordinary mental fortitude would render approaching nigh impossible.

I had succeeded – the vision within my mind had been fully realized.

Even if the current state resembled nothing more than a bare-bones ramshackle hovel, I had created it.

A sanctuary where we could all be safe, impervious to casual trespass.

And with that achievement, I collapsed in a gush of blood, rendered unconscious.

* * *

It took two full days before I regained consciousness.

When I opened my eyes, Han Seo-hyeon sat kneeling before me, his eyes swollen and puffy.

“Uwaah, I thought you were going to die right then and there. The blood, nearly a whole bowl’s worth gushed out, I’d say.”

To have shown such a gruesome sight to the poor child who had only recently lost his own brother. I sheepishly scratched the back of my head in apology. Not that I had intended it, but then again, perhaps I had.

“My apologies.”

“It’s alright. Just eat something.”

After replenishing myself with the unappetizing porridge Han Seo-hyeon had prepared, I rose and inspected the dwelling we had constructed.

“There’s nothing here yet. I just brought over some stuff from the tent to furnish it a bit.”

As Han Seo-hyeon said, the interior remained completely bare.

Having only erected the brick framework, it lacked any wall coverings or decor, leaving it hollowly empty. In truth, it could scarcely be called a proper ‘dwelling’ yet.

Without any lighting installations, that gloomy darkness hardly qualified as a livable residence.

“We’ll need lighting too.”

Electricity could be provided by channeling the magic stone’s mana permeating this area.

“The walls need proper finishing work as well.”

I paced about, listing the necessary tasks.

“And we should lay down tiling for the floors.”

“You’re really going all out with this, aren’t you?”

“Well, I only just erected the basic structure before collapsing. It’s still far from being a proper home.”

Surveying our surroundings, I remarked:

“Yes, it may be severely lacking and barren for now. But this is our home from now on.”

From the orphanage where I had lived, to the academy dormitories where I had scavenged scraps, even the goshiwon where I had crashed between side gigs, and the extravagant wealth showered upon me under Seol Rok-jin’s employ – not once had I ever felt a sense of having an actual ‘home.’

But now, I finally had a place where I could truly settle my heart.

—You’re not bothered by its name, ‘Haunted House?’

‘On the contrary, that makes it even better.’

I stepped outside.

I was resonating with this magic stone. This dwelling acknowledged me as its master. And it would extend that same recognition to Han Seo-hyeon and Kim Jae-ho, who accompanied me.

But for anyone else, for all others, it would present a terrifying nightmare.

The moment they attempted entry, they would experience the full depths of its ‘Haunted House’ moniker.

Which was why I found this dwelling so endearing.

Throughout my life, I had only been trampled underfoot by others.

Before Seol Rok-jin, there had been those academy bastards. And prior to them, the orphanage assholes.

This world had never willingly granted me anything.

But this dwelling was different. From the bricks comprising its very foundations to the final construction – my own hands had touched every aspect.

How could I not feel affection for it?

From this place, I would begin.

I would tear down Seol Rok-jin, topple those corrupted leaders ruining this world.

* * *

Clap clap clap.

Thunderous applause erupted as blinding camera flashes illuminated the scene. Straining against the glaring lights, Do Chae-hee forced a smile.

Such formal settings were still unfamiliar territory for her. She wanted nothing more than to immediately flee this place, but the burdens now weighing upon her prevented any such thoughts.

And so she obediently posed for the photographers, playing the role of a gracious lady.

It didn’t take long before her benefactor, the one who had elevated her to this position, ascended the stage bearing an extravagant bouquet of flowers.

“Congratulations.”

At Representative Seol Rok-jin’s words, Do Chae-hee nodded.

“You’ve finally gained complete independence.”

The Awakener Crimes Team, previously under the prosecution’s jurisdiction, had now been restructured into an entirely separate Awakener Crimes Department. With this organizational overhaul, Do Chae-hee, formerly just a team member, could properly establish her own dedicated team.

Moreover, their authority had been significantly bolstered by the political sphere’s unequivocal push to empower this new Awakener Crimes Department.

Undoubtedly, Representative Seol Rok-jin’s influence had driven this sweeping reform. He had been vocal in supporting her under the banner of combating the recent surge in awakener-related crimes.

Ironically, the catalyst behind all these developments had been that very Weltschmerz who had caused an uproar even at the auction. Without that incident, it might have taken another year or more to spur these slothful assemblymen into action.

Of course, Do Chae-hee harbored no gratitude towards that culprit. But it was indeed ironic how his provocations had unleashed this whirlwind of change.

Setting aside those thoughts, Do Chae-hee accepted the bouquet Seol Rok-jin handed her.

“Thank you.”

“I anticipate even greater achievements from you.”

Nodding at Seol Rok-jin’s words, Do Chae-hee forced a smile as the reporters incessantly snapped photos of the two together. If allowing herself to be exploited like this aided Seol Rok-jin’s influence, she could endure it.

Seol Rok-jin whispered apologetically:

“My apologies for entangling you in politics on a day that should be solely celebratory.”

“Not at all. You have provided me invaluable assistance. It’s only natural that I reciprocate in whatever way I can.”

Seol Rok-jin was a good person. The more his influence grew, the better this world would become.

That was what she believed.

“Then I wish you perseverance in your endeavors.”

“Yes! The same to you, Representative!”

Do Chae-hee bowed deeply towards Seol Rok-jin’s retreating figure. Afterward, she endured further photo sessions with various unrecognizable assemblymen, interviews with numerous media outlets, and recited the obligatory platitudes devoid of substance.

Only then was she finally liberated.

“I thought I would die from how tedious that was.”

Once all the reporters had departed, Do Chae-hee could freely vent her grievances.

While a necessary formality she had grudgingly tolerated, an indescribable sense of self-loathing still lingered.

Yet that single bout of playing the fool had yielded considerable gains.

Now, she and Park Cheol-wan no longer answered to the prosecution’s authority.

As a completely independent department, they would possess autonomous investigative and arrest powers.

But despite this long-awaited positive development, her expression remained somber.

The very target she needed to apprehend with these new powers had completely vanished without a trace.

“As if he just vanished into some remote mountain region, never to emerge again.”

Damn that bastard. Inwardly cursing, Do Chae-hee inadvertently muttered aloud:

“If only he would give us some leads…”

Essentially pleading for the criminal to commit further crimes, but how else could she apprehend him without any leads unless she possessed actual precognitive abilities?

Evil never ceased.

It merely waited.

But for how long?

Spewing vile curses under her breath, Do Chae-hee vowed to capture that fiend with her own hands, no matter what.