"Brother… do you know what sorcerers are?"
At the weight of that question, one of the men behind Ray coughed, while Mikael's eyes widened briefly.
He then set his cutlery aside and laced his fingers together beneath his chin.
He stared at Ray for a moment with a serious expression, before returning a smile and asking in a low voice—one that carried a subtle chill beneath it
"Ray… where did you hear about that?"
Ray felt an inner unease, especially since the reactions to his question were not something he could easily ignore.
It was enough to confirm that the stranger's words from his dream were true.
Even so, he decided to continue the conversation. He had spent a long time thinking about how to bring the topic up with his brother, and now there was no room left to retreat.
He finally opened his mouth and, in his usual friendly tone—careful not to reveal his hesitation—said
"On my way back to the student dormitory, I heard some people mentioning it.
I've heard various stories before, but this is the first time I've come across this name…"
Ray exchanged a brief glance with his brother before Mikael replied in a serious tone
"Ray, listen to me…
This is a dangerous tale, something like a curse passed down through history.
If you're ready to risk being cursed yourself, all you need to do is dig deep into its depths."
Ray blinked, an odd sense of confusion washing over him.
Mikael's uncharacteristically serious manner and his steady gaze were enough to plant discomfort in his chest.
Ray looked around at the silence that had settled over the place, at the gazes of the men surrounding them, and his unease only grew.
Then, suddenly, Mikael smiled—and the men burst into laughter.
"Come on, Mikael … it looks like your brother really believed you!"
"Stop messing with him using that serious face, man!"
Ray's face flushed red, something boiling inside him with irritation.
He stood up abruptly and slapped the table, then looked at Mikael in annoyance.
"Even you, brother—are you not taking me seriously?!"
Mikael wore a sly smile and added mockingly
"My apologies. I couldn't help myself.
Looks like I went a bit too far."
"Even your apology doesn't sound sincere—not even a little!"
A man from a nearby table commented, directing his words at Mikael
"Looks like you've made your brother hate you now."
Mikael looked at Ray's expression, then stood and gestured for him to sit, trying to calm him.
"Alright, I won't do it again.
I'll answer you seriously this time."
Ray sighed and leaned back in his chair with a dissatisfied expression, but Mikael's hesitant tone when he called his name made him look up.
"So… what do you say?" Ray asked in a low voice.
Mikael smiled wearily and replied
"Well, you said sorcerers, didn't you?
That name is part of a long-forgotten legend, which is why we don't hear much about it these days."
Ray's eyes widened slightly, curiosity surfacing on his features as he listened.
"The story begins hundreds of years ago, when races other than humans existed in this world.
It's said that humans were the first to inhabit it, while those creatures came from other worlds within the universe."
"Other creatures?" Ray asked with interest.
Mikael smiled when he noticed Ray's genuine curiosity and continued
"It's said they resembled humans in appearance, but each possessed distinct traits.
They were also said to wield extraordinary powers humans didn't have. And the moment they set foot in this world, a long war broke out…"
At the mention of beings that looked human yet bore unique features, the image of the young man from Ray's dream surfaced in his mind, causing a slight disturbance.
Still, he became certain of one thing in that moment—
This wasn't just a passing legend.
"And what does this story have to do with my question?" Ray asked at last.
Mikael nodded.
"And that's where the heart of your question lies… There can be no sorcerers without demihumans.
Both are the result of a distortion that afflicted the world."
A distortion of the world? Ray thought, his eyes filling with deep confusion.
Mikael caught that subtle change in his gaze and explained
"It's said that the universe contains countless worlds—perhaps versions of the same world across different eras, or worlds inhabited by other beings, just as humans live here.
But there is one world considered the heart of the universe, known as 'the Source' or 'the Aether World.'
No one truly knows its nature, but it's said that all souls originate from it and eventually return to it, and that it's the sole link between all worlds."
He paused briefly before continuing
"But for some reason, a flaw occurred in that Source, opening rifts—like gateways—between worlds.
The same thing happened in the human world.
Those creatures entered, and with them leaked invisible energies that affected humans."
"The effects of those energies varied. At first, many people died after battling a mysterious illness, something like a curse.
Others survived it—and gained strange abilities humans had never possessed before. This is what we call adaptation."
"Those who adapted to that power came to be known as sorcerers, gaining extraordinary abilities similar to demihumans.
And since humanity couldn't accept this invasion, they chose—led by the sorcerers—to kill those creatures and drive them out. A long war followed, ending with both sides annihilating one another."
As Mikael finished his tale, several men chimed in with admiration.
"Your storytelling is still exceptional, Mikael."
"There are details I'd never heard before… truly impressive."
Another man added hesitantly
"But I don't quite understand the point of the story. Even if it's a children's legend, it should be frightening or have some clear meaning."
Someone else replied
"Who knows what the author was thinking? If it were important, it wouldn't be mentioned so rarely."
While the men continued their discussion, Ray remained silent, lost in thought—until Mikael interrupted him.
"Is your curiosity satisfied now, Ray? See? It's just a passing story, not worth all that thinking."
Ray raised his head, staring at his brother with an unreadable expression.
He was about to say—
What if I told you I saw someone like the ones you described two days ago? Would you believe me?
But he swallowed the words.
He was only trying to understand what that young man in his dream meant when he said Ray would understand himself once he heard about sorcerers… yet all it had done was deepen his confusion.
Why had he believed from the beginning that what he saw was real?
Perhaps it was just an illusion… And if that were truly the case, he'd probably need to visit a therapist soon.
Ray sighed tiredly and finally said
"Yes… it didn't even sound like an interesting story to listen to."
Mikael nodded, then gestured for him to continue eating before the food grew any colder.
Not long after, the restaurant began to empty.
The brothers decided to leave after spending a fair amount of time there.
They bade farewell to the owner and the men, then headed toward the capital—where Mikael suggested taking a short walk to help digest the meal and pick up a few necessities.
______________
Not all stories are told in noisy places.
Some begin…
behind silent glass.
In one of the capital's suburbs, inside a jewelry store called Astra Anima, the atmosphere was far from loud.
On the contrary, a gentle silence hung in the air, broken only by hushed whispers and the soft footsteps of customers against the polished floor.
Warm yellow lights reflected off glass displays, making the rings and necklaces inside their black cases gleam like distant night stars—beautiful… yet untouchable.
Athena stood beside Beatrice in front of one of the displays, quietly discussing several pieces, while Gilbert remained a step back, seated on a small bench near the glass wall.
He wasn't interested in the price, the designs, or even the value the salesman spoke of with practiced enthusiasm.
All he could see was his pale reflection in the glass.
A familiar face…
Yet one that didn't feel like it belonged to him.
His thoughts wandered, uninvited, to his last encounter with Alice.
To that family, broken in a painfully obvious way.
And to his own presence among them… his existence itself.
He recalled his contract with the Marchioness, and her words during their last meeting.
This mission was supposed to end with checking on Alice's condition and helping her if necessary.
Yet Alice clearly wanted no one meddling in her affairs.
Contrary to appearances, it seemed the Marchioness had another goal in mind—one far removed from what she had told him back then, further complicating his state of mind.
Now, he found himself uncertain…
Should he withdraw for the time being?
Or wait a little longer?
The instructions he'd been given lacked a clear objective, leaving him stuck in stagnation for quite some time.
Is this really what my final mission is meant to be?
Gilbert wondered with a sigh.
He remembered the Marchioness saying that even if she didn't tell him anything about the identity of the man she had brought into her home, the truth would reveal itself in due time.
But… when would that time come?
In moments like these—when he found himself unable to take a single step forward due to the obscurity of the path—his patience wore thin.
And with it, that persistent question returned to knock insistently at his mind:
Was his existence in this world ever truly wanted?
Or was he merely the remnant of some decision… a child left behind because someone chose that outcome?
Gilbert lowered his gaze, clasping his fingers tightly, as if trying to grasp something invisible before it slipped away completely.
There was no place in this world he could truly call home.
No name he felt he had genuinely been born with.
And although he now considered Athena his family—and had chosen to protect and support her since making that promise to himself seven years ago—these thoughts still crowded his mind from time to time.
She was a family he was meant to protect… but a family that wouldn't last long.
After all, he would be leaving soon.
And the one thing he knew he would regret—
Was leaving her alone once again.
Something he could do nothing about, even if he wanted to.
All this truth left behind only a bitter sensation he couldn't erase.
Lost in himself, he noticed a familiar figure passing a few meters away from the shopfront.
That face…
It was Ray, walking beside another person.
Ray had said he was going to meet his brother, and he had seemed happy about it.
Gilbert thought to himself, unable to stop a faint smile from forming on his lips for no clear reason.
And when he recalled Ray's expression at the time, he couldn't help but let the smile linger a moment longer.
After we barely escaped the collapsing building, he said he remembered something about the "white room."
From his description, it sounded similar to what I see in my dreams from time to time…
Gilbert's expression darkened.
If what I saw was real, then that means I was part of the series of biological experiments banned ten years ago…
And if what Ray saw matches what I saw, then there's only one possible conclusion—he's in the exact same position.
He paused.
But… why didn't I think of this when he told me?
Why didn't I ask him for details back then?
Gilbert lifted his gaze again.
But instead of seeing beyond the glass…
All he saw was his own pale reflection.
Suddenly, his head tightened.
As if something inside him had crashed into an invisible wall.
The pain rose swiftly—
a sharp headache tearing through his thoughts like a silent warning.
Then…
the memory seeped in.
Darkness.
A transparent liquid.
Thick glass.
People dressed in white.
One of them gripping a black-haired child by the collar—
their features blurred.
Shattered glass.
Bloodstains scattered across the floor.
A small hand clutching the edge of the child's clothing.
And a gentle voice breaking the silence:
"Calm down… everything will be fine."
Then the same voice, firmer this time:
"Even if it costs me my life… I'll protect you this time."
And the scene cut off.
This time… it lasted longer than usual.
Gilbert thought, clutching his temple, his breathing uneven.
He opened his eyes with difficulty, only to be met with the store's reflected façade.
Outside, everything moved as it always did.
The world continued on, indifferent to what took place inside anyone's mind.
Time stops for no one.
And even moments that seem eternal… eventually turn into memories.
Gilbert realized that once again in that instant.
The world is far too big to revolve around a single person.
He thought with a bitter smile.
Soon, he regained his composure and lifted his gaze toward the clouds drifting freely across the sky.
A serious glint reflected in his eyes as he thought
*This confirms one thing for me…
There's no way all of this is just an illusion.
It seems my mind is constantly trying to remind me of something.
And something like that… must be part of the past I've been searching for.*
_________________________________
Author's Note:
Dear valued readers,
You may have noticed a change in the novel's title and synopsis.
As the story has progressed, the outlines of its true core have begun to emerge, and it became necessary for both the title and the summary to reflect this shift in tone and meaning.
The new title
"I Was Meant to Die as a Villain… But the Curse Won't Let My Story End"
does not offer answers—rather, it places the reader before the very question around which the next stage of the story will revolve.
The upcoming chapter marks an important turning point.
What came before was only a prelude,
and what follows will be far less forgiving.
Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy the read.