Chapter 38
I ordered Karl to dig one large pit and three smaller ones. We needed graves to bury the corpses that had fallen from the disaster.
‘Since he just got back from receiving the slave sentence today, I thought he might refuse my orders.’
He had once been a crown prince, so I assumed he might feel humiliated. But unexpectedly, Karl obediently followed my command.
As I watched his back while he diligently shoveled, I thought to myself:
‘Check status window.’
[ Hatred Level: Cannot Check (Conditions Not Met) ]
[ Because the status window is in an “incomplete” state, you cannot view Karl’s specific hatred level. ]
As expected, that infuriating message popped up again.
‘I don’t get it. Why is it only Karl’s hatred level that I can’t see?’
This necklace was supposed to let me check the hatred levels of every character in <DanGuwon>, even the extras.
‘And what the hell does it mean that the status window is incomplete?’
I wracked my brain, but I’d never seen anything like that in any route of <DanGuwon>.
There was some vague lore about “the first Transcendent’s necklace” having hidden functions…
‘But why is it only Karl’s hatred level that has special conditions?’
My plan to use Karl for revenge was based on the assumption that I could read his hatred level.
Otherwise, how could I manipulate him?
Sure, Karl was the “good dog” type male lead officially recognized in <DanGuwon>.
Of the four capture targets, he was the easiest to conquer, and once he gave his loyalty, he never wavered—a true romantic.
He even had a favorability level that never dropped once it was raised.
But he had one fatal flaw: he never showed his emotions in his face or behavior.
His expression was always as blank as a machine. Without the status window, it was impossible to guess his feelings.
‘Just look at that face while he shovels. Even a construction excavator would have more emotion.’
My original plan was something I called the “Odette-sama is the best!” strategy—lower his hatred level by granting all his wishes, win his trust and favor.
The kid had tons of wishes related to the Fenrir clan, and I had plenty of money to grant them.
Once his favorability peaked, he would awaken as a Transcendent. Then, I’d tell him what Father did to the Fenrir clan.
Karl would, of his own volition, sever Father’s head.
…But unless I could check his hatred level, using Karl as a chess piece was out of the question.
‘That emotionless bastard could hate me to death and I’d never even know.’
After being trapped in a hellhole like this prison camp for three years, there’s no way his hatred toward me was zero.
If it was actually close to 100 and I got involved with Karl without knowing… that would be suicide.
‘Maybe it’s better to leave things as they are and part ways as the benefactor who saved him.’
…Haah. I don’t like this. I’d have to revise my entire revenge plan from the ground up without Karl.
‘Why go through so much for revenge in the first place? Because I want my family to suffer just as I did…’
The despair of being chased by a divine monster was just the cherry on top of the cake. The highlight of the pain I needed to return to my father.
That instinct, that stamina, that obsession—
Playing tag with a superior being was exhilarating. If I didn’t return that living hell to him, it would be a hollow revenge.
‘…Still, it can’t be helped. I’ll talk to Zion and cancel the slave sentence—’
And just then, a bright red status window popped up before my eyes.
[ Hatred level reduction detected for “Karl.” (-5) ]
[ After first detection, changes can be tracked for 1 hour. (One usage of the necklace will be consumed.) ]
It was a blood-red window, just like Karl’s eyes.
[ Specific hatred level cannot be confirmed (Conditions not met) ]
[ A warning will be issued when hatred nears or exceeds 100. ]
Then, a pale white window appeared. I carefully read it over.
‘So I can’t see his current hatred level, but I can monitor changes to it?’
And it’ll alert me if it gets dangerously close to 100?
‘That changes everything. As long as I can track the changes… I can definitely win Karl over to my side.’
I already knew all of Karl’s wishes from <DanGuwon>.
If I granted him even more than Charlotte ever did in the game, maybe—just maybe—
“…Odette-nim.”
Karl’s voice broke my train of thought.
“I’ve buried all the corpses as you commanded.”
“Ah, good work, Karl. Thank you.”
“…”
“Now, place this in front of the graves.”
I handed Karl a carved wooden sign. It was an epitaph.
“Theodore. Luca. Lara. May you run free and happy in heaven.”
“….”
His red eyes looked at me as if interrogating me. I calmly explained:
“The graves you just dug… will be the resting place of the Fenrir children.”
At that, Karl instantly tensed up. His whole body bristled with murderous energy, his muscles tight and ready to strike.
He looked like a killing machine built solely for slaughter.
Even so, his face remained expressionless, which made it all the more unnerving.
“Calm down. I didn’t mean I’d actually kill them. We’re faking their deaths.”
“Faking…?”
“Yes. I’m getting them out of this camp. From now on, I’ll personally protect them in the capital.”
Earlier, the bell tower of the Fenrir camp had rung.
The fact that a disaster had occurred here was already public knowledge. Given the rule that no Fenrir children may leave the camp, people would come to the obvious conclusion.
That the Fenrir children had died.
Tomorrow, when the warden comes for an inspection, this grave would seal the story.
Once Karl understood my plan, the overwhelming bloodlust finally faded from his body.
“Did you have any reason to protect the children, Odette-nim? I thought you hated the Fenrir.”
His tone was detached, as if it didn’t concern him.
“I do have a reason.”
I handed him the epitaph and said,
“Didn’t you go to the capital today to receive the slave sentence? You must’ve heard from Marquis Kleist that you’ll soon be my slave.”
“Odette-nim.”
“When you’re gone, what’s going to happen to the kids left behind in this wasteland, where disasters strike all the time?”
“…”
“Sending them out alone without you—what would that accomplish? Do you really think the empire’s orphanages will take them in?”
Once the Founding Festival ends, all the earl’s other requests will lose their power.
But Karl’s slave sentence was going to proceed just like it did in my previous life.
When I made my deal with Zion, I specifically requested to leave Karl’s enslavement as my father had asked.
‘I made it very clear to skip the branding part, but for some reason, there’s a burn mark on his shoulder now…’
“So, I’m just being merciful—for your sake. I plan to be a benevolent master.”
I thought he might feel insulted, but thankfully, no status alert popped up. Apparently, he didn’t mind the slave sentence.
Karl continued to watch me with that unreadable face. I went on with my prepared excuse.
“You used to be a crown prince. Becoming my slave must be humiliating. So I figured I should at least treat the kids well, as a consolation.”
“I don’t feel humiliated at all.”
But Karl raised the corner of his lips ever so slightly, as if amused by the word ‘humiliation.’
“I’m only concerned about the children’s safety. You might enslave them, too.”
“Don’t worry. I have no interest in the Fenrir children. You’re the only one I want as my slave.”
[ Hatred level reduction detected for “Karl.” (-5) ]
The red window popped up again. Looks like he believed me.
“The kids will live in luxury compared to this place. It’s just a fake gravestone—it’s not hard, right?”
I smiled at him coolly, and Karl stared back.
The children were both a way to win Karl’s favor and… hostages.
Karl wasn’t a Transcendent yet. Which meant that even someone like me, a known Purifier, could be killed by him if he wanted to.
There was no “Transcendent’s Curse”—the eternal punishment for killing a Purifier—binding him yet.
‘If he gets angry one day while staying at the Count’s estate, he could just kill me and that’d be the end.’
It hit me how much I was acting like a hostage-taker… but what choice did I have? Living in the same house as a human weapon like him, I needed insurance too.
Then, Karl asked a question I hadn’t anticipated.
“Why do you want me as your slave?”
