Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples

Cielo held his breath and stared at the bird.

“…A m-monster!”

At someone’s scream, Ryan grabbed the nearest sharp object and rushed toward the window.

Without hesitation, he threw himself out the window and swiftly ended the creature’s life, which had been clinging to the glass.

“If you won’t come… then I’ll come get you myself…”

Its beak moved silently as the eerie voice seeped out again. But once Ryan cut off its breath completely, the voice stopped altogether.

Thump, thump, thump.

The tension made his heart pound, and his mouth went completely dry.

The more bizarre things happened, the more this ominous feeling crept up from deep inside his gut.

As if… his time of death was drawing near.

“…lo!”

Cielo gasped as someone grabbed his shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

Ryan’s voice brought him back, and Cielo caught his breath.

“You… didn’t hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“The monster’s voice…”

“Voice? You mean that screeching?”

Cielo swallowed hard.

It was the same during the last dispatch, the same when he had been alone with Oscar—

Even now.

No one else could hear the monsters speak.

‘Why is it only me…?’

And the ones speaking to him were none other than the Esteban twins. A suspicion flickered in his mind—was there some connection between the Esteban family and the monsters?

“Villain.”

That single word flashed through Cielo’s mind.

“…I see.”

It was clear now. The time had come.

Even in the novel, it hadn’t been made explicit—why Cielo was the true villain.

But now, those events were beginning to unfold.

“Cielo, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

“Huh? N-no. I was just… lost in thought.”

Thump.

Mid-sentence, Cielo suddenly felt his heart lurch violently.

This wasn’t a normal heartbeat. It felt like someone had seized his heart in a massive hand and was shaking it violently.

“Gah…!”

Even his breath was choked off. His whole body swayed uncontrollably.

“Cielo! Cielo!”

There had been no warning signs.

It was truly sudden.

From between his lips, thick blackened blood began to flow.

***

In the darkness, a row of snow-white teeth curved up in a mischievous grin.

“I heard Omegas give off a sweet scent. Where’s it coming from? Think it’ll get stronger if I stab you here?”

A gleaming needle drove sharply into “Cielo’s” skin.

“Ahhh!”

“Aww? Cielo, want to keep playing?”

The voice was light with laughter. But in those gently curving blue eyes, there was a glint of madness.

“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry…!”

A boy standing against the wall spoke through trembling lips, his wide eyes brimming with tears.

“You shouldn’t have come crawling in. You’re not even a real Esteban.”

“No, th-that’s not true! Mother said…”

As the tearful “Cielo” spoke, Sol slowly shook his head.

“You must be confused, Cielo.”

“…Hngh, ah…!”

“No matter what Mother said, if an Omega was born in the Esteban family… even if we look alike, it means you were born from someone else’s seed, doesn’t it? That would make you a half-blood—not a real Esteban.”

Sol’s gently curved eyes gleamed with menace.

Standing nearby, Pielago listened quietly, then smiled in the same way.

“But don’t worry. We’re good older brothers, so we’ll play with you.”

Like this.

The sharp needle pierced into “Cielo’s” thigh. Then his inner elbow. All the hidden places others wouldn’t easily see.

Pielago chuckled as he jabbed the needle again and again.

“Stabbing you all over doesn’t really make you smell more like an Omega…”

He mumbled as he grabbed a handful of Cielo’s hair and yanked it back. Then he stabbed the needle into the pale nape of his neck.

“Ahhh, aaaaah!”

As he screamed and jerked backward—

“Whoa, that scared me…”

Ryan was looking at Cielo, a wet cloth fallen from his hand.

Cielo, dazed, finally looked around slowly.

There was no glittering chandelier. No smiling Esteban twins.

It was clearly just a dream.

“Hah…”

As he let out the breath he had been holding, goosebumps rose all over his skin.

Even though it had only been a dream, he felt like his body still ached from the needle wounds. He dug his nails into the back of his neck and scratched, but Ryan quickly grabbed his hand.

“You’ll hurt yourself.”

“…”

“You haven’t had a nightmare like that in a while. Did something trigger it?”

“In a while…?”