Chapter Text
“Savior of the Broken Realms” was a fantasy turn-based game Kim Rok Soo once played to satisfy his boredom with corporate life. Until one day, he accidentally slipped on a puddle of water and hit his head. The next thing he knew, he woke up in the body of the redheaded noble he was staring at in front of the mirror.
Kim Rok Soo stroked his chin calmly and observed his features. Sleek red hair, a well-kept appearance, and a white robe that complimented his physique. With a single glance, you could tell that he was a pampered beauty. Suddenly waking up one day and being in both an unfamiliar body and environment would have shocked him… if it weren’t for the blue text window hovering at the corner of his eye, its futuristic design contrasting with his more medieval-styled surroundings.
‘Welcome, player Kim Rok Soo! I am system 001 of the Villain Reformation Department, happy to serve you!’ A high-pitched, androgynous voice piped in his brain. Text appeared on the blue window that put the voice’s words into subtitles.
‘Please speak freely in your mind, and 001 shall respond to you. Would you like to begin with the tutorial?’
Kim Rok Soo combed a hand through his hair and sighed.
“I’m guessing I’ve transmigrated then?” He spoke nonchalantly.
He expected this to happen to him someday. Sure, it was shocking at first, but avid transmigration readers like him would have dreamt of these kinds of scenarios occurring to them at least once or twice. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that they’re the people who are most likely to accept their situation the fastest.
‘Funny how you suddenly ask me to start with the tutorial without explaining a thing to me,’ Kim Rok Soo told the system through his thoughts, turning around to walk to a nearby chair and sitting on it. He immediately sank into its pearly white cushions.
The blue window followed him wherever he went, stubbornly remaining at the corner of his vision no matter the direction he faced. ‘At least tell me where I am and why I’m here.’
‘001 sincerely apologizes to the player for the confusion 001 has caused.’ 001 replied.
‘The player has been chosen to participate in the game “Savior of the Broken Realms” due to the high rate of compatibility the player possessed with the minor villain “Cale Henituse”. The player has been chosen to reform the villain and give the villain the happy life that we believe he deserves. You are currently in the body of “Cale Henituse”, and you are in the Henituse territory. Please feel free to ask whatever questions you need answers to.’
001’s words immediately confirmed the questions that Kim Rok Soo had.
With his memory, it was difficult to forget the beautiful art style that “Savior of the Broken Realms” had. He had a sneaking suspicion that he was indeed Cale Henituse, but he couldn’t know for sure since the only impression he had of Cale was in his artwork for the game. His appearance was a very realistic recreation of the anime style of Cale’s art.
Kim Rok Soo, now Cale, reached out to the blue window that housed the text to 001’s words. His hand passed through it. Safe to assume only he could see this thing.
‘Why does a scumbag like Cale need reformation or a happy life?’ Cale asked.
The Cale Henituse in “Savior of the Broken Realms” was a self-centered and egocentric man. It was due to this personality he had that Choi Han, the main character of the game, eventually executed Cale. But… now that he was in Cale’s body, he’d prefer to not have his head chopped up by a guillotine.
‘The Villain Reformation Department has determined that the minor villain ‘Cale Henituse’ is tragic and misunderstood. Our department prides itself on bringing justice to misunderstood villains, pulling in players from various worlds to aid in reforming the characters’ lives for the better.’ 001 spoke.
‘Okay, yeah, but why me?’
‘Your compatibility with the villain was the highest among all other candidates.’
The blue window screen in front of him showed a large, white text, with numbers rising right next to a percent sign. Eventually, the counting stopped, showing a big “95.3%”.
Cale stared at it in silence for a few beats. He tapped his finger rhythmically on his elegant seat. He opened his mouth and asked, “...You said something about the tutorial?”
–
The tutorial was simple enough. The blue window would change text and show something similar to “New Task: Walk 5 steps” and have a timer for it. Upon completing the task, he would be given these system points which he could use to buy things in the system shop, but that didn’t matter much since most of them were out of reach due to his evident poverty. Most of the items were over 30-100 points—he only had 5 from the tutorial.
What did matter to him was the amount of staring he received from other people when he left his room and walked through the halls.
It was uncomfortable, to say the least. The judgment in the eyes of the servants he passed through sent a prickling sensation to his skin. It didn’t hurt him personally—he wasn’t truly Cale, didn’t live his life—but it did bother him enough since he was experiencing the scorn firsthand.
The first real task he’d been assigned after finishing the tutorial was “Go to Deruth Henituse’s room and discuss Cale Henituse’s participation in the war” and a little blue arrow appeared, replacing the window at the corner of his vision. It was placed right on the floor in front of him, and it pointed in the direction he had to go. He followed it.
The Henituse territory was grand and beautiful. In the game, it was made aware that Cale was wealthy, but the player never really knew how wealthy he was because the events of the game all took place in the war between the Roan kingdom and the malicious forces of a mysterious organization. Kim Rok Soo inwardly gawked at all the gold, the marble, and the extravagance of everything.
‘Is there a way for me to just stay as a pampered young master instead of throwing myself into the middle of the war, 001?’ He asked, humming softly in approval at the way the gold shone at him at a particular angle. Even the air ran thick with the scent of wealth and prosperity.
‘Answering the player, no. The task must be completed at the allotted time or the player will receive a punishment.’ Came 001’s bland response. Cale clicked his tongue.
‘I’m pretty certain that just staying here will give you guys the happy ending you all want Cale to have though. Are you sure I can’t just stay?’ Cale tried again.
‘As 001 has stated before, our department prides itself on bringing justice to misunderstood villains, reforming their characters and lives for the better. Simply staying where the player is will not achieve the justice and reformation we desire for the villain. Once again, the task must be completed at the allotted time or the player will receive a punishment.’
As if to emphasize its point, 001 summoned a small blue window in front of Cale. The timer, which initially displayed “11:45” minutes, became replaced with a shortened countdown of merely “05:30” remaining minutes.
Cale sighed and sped up his steps. Wouldn’t want to find out what the punishment is for his first task.
Eventually, Cale reached a pair of large, extravagant doors. Since the blue arrow at his feet disappeared and the doors began to glow blue, Cale reached out to knock on the door two times.
“Cale? Come in,” A deep, muffled voice spoke from beyond the doors. At those words, Cale pushed the doors open.
The room inside was rather large, with bookcases lining the walls. The surroundings were dimly lit, but not to the point where the redhead couldn’t see anything. A man sat at the desk in the center of the room, his head perking up at Cale’s entry.
“Sit here,” Deruth Henituse gently commanded, gesturing to one of the chairs in front of his desk. Cale nodded stiffly, gathering his long white robes into his hands to better seat himself on the chair.
‘Smells like money.’ Cale thought. His whole priestly aesthetic contrasted with the style of the office. He almost felt ashamed being in here.
There were lamps around the room, illuminating the surroundings in a cozy manner. The whole place looked straight out of a set for some sort of historical detective movie. Even Deruth was dressed up for the part, blending in nicely with the rest of the environment.
A new blue window appeared at the corner of his eye. It wrote, “New Task: Successfully Raise Deruth Henituse’s Favorability to 45%”.
Besides the introduction of the task time limit, the system also introduced Cale the favorability system.
The system’s explanation was simple enough to understand—speak the right words to raise character favorability. But that was easier said than done. He didn’t expect to have to raise favorability as his very second task.
Cale swallowed nervously. Text appeared above the count’s head. It read, “Deruth Henituse”, and underneath it was “Favorability: 38%”.
‘Okay,’ Cale thought. ‘Not too far from 45% at least.’
‘The first few tasks will always be doable for the player.’ 001 piped, something sounding like confidence ringing clear in its androgynous voice. ‘Just ask if you require further assistance, player.’
“I see you’re already prepared for departure,” Count Deruth spoke, his intelligent eyes washing over Cale’s form. There was something uncanny about the way the Count’s eyes bore into the redhead. “How do you feel about it? Participating in the war, healing the wounded for the kingdom.”
‘Please be careful with what you say, player. Your words will impact the villain’s image and the favorability of the characters around you!’
‘You aren’t exactly encouraging me, 001. This is a lot of pressure.’
Cale lifted a hand and pulled at the white cloth wrapped around his neck. His movements carried an inherent elegance, an automatic sophistication that betrayed the nervousness that bubbled within his belly. “I’ll do what I have to do. Besides, the Prince said he’ll pay me handsomely for coming, considering that the kingdom lacks healers. I’m fine so long as they give me the proper rewards and they have good wine.”
‘From what I remember, this is how the original Cale always talked,’ Cale thought as he smoothly avoided coming in contact with the count’s gaze. ‘Whenever he opened his mouth, all he seemed to care about was himself and the potential benefits he’d receive. Thinking about it now, it’s understandable that the people would hate him so much. He only thought about benefitting when he did nothing to deserve it.’
“Are you sure you’d be okay with going there? It’s dangerous. You’ll be at the frontlines while healing others. Besides, your… you already know about the consequences of your healing.” Deruth’s eyes softened.
Cale blinked at the count and watched as the favorability rose by 1%.
‘System, what’s wrong with Cale’s healing?’ Cale asked 001. Silence filled the space between Deruth and Cale as he talked to the system.
‘Whenever Cale Henituse uses his healing, he will experience a bit of pain.’ 001 answered.
‘You didn’t tell me I had to experience pain to use his healing!’ Cale retorted roughly. ‘Is this the reason why he always avoided using his abilities in the game?’
‘That is correct, player.’
‘Damn it.’
Cale’s face turned serious. To Deruth, Cale’s expression, coupled with the silence that spread between them, made it seem as if Cale was in a moment of deep contemplation. Deruth rubbed his hands gently, concern etched within his features as he gazed upon his son.
The favorability rose to 40%.
“I know the situation is difficult for you, Cale.” Despite the distance between the two of them and Cale’s rough attitude towards him, he still cared about his eldest child. “Even if the prince himself was the one to call for your presence, if you don’t wish to join the war, I will find a way for you to not have to go.”
Cale was his own blood, after all. The only remaining thing he had left of his late wife.
Cale, however, only paid half attention to what Deruth was saying. ‘Is there any way to reduce the pain—no, to not feel the pain at all?’
‘Answering the player, yes. In the system shop, you will be able to buy pain-relieving potions.’
‘How much are they?’
‘Low-grade potions cost 30 points. They only relieve at most 15% of the pain you experience. High-grade potions that completely remove all of the pain cost around 300 points. But fear not, player. It won’t hurt very much when you use your healing spells.’
Cale was still skeptical. ‘How much will it hurt?’
‘A sting for minor healing.’
‘Okay,’ Relief spread over him. ‘That sounds bearable enough.’
One of the things he hated the most in the world was experiencing pain. As long as he avoided healing others too much, he should be fine.
Cale relaxed his shoulders and eyed the favorability value once again. He replied to the count, “...Thank you for your concern, father, but I have to go. The prince requested it himself after all. And the advantages I'll receive from this are too good to pass up."
As much as he wanted to stay in this cushy mansion, he still had to do his tasks. He wasn’t willing to test whatever the consequences would be for not fulfilling a task successfully.
He crossed his arms and thought about the pain he’d have to go through with healing others. He wasn’t looking forward to whatever he may feel, but whatever.
‘As long as I can complete my tas…’
Cale’s thoughts came to a pause as his eyes idly trailed upwards and landed on Deruth’s favorability.
His words were simple and were spoken half-heartedly, but to his surprise, Deruth’s favorability soared up to 45%.
A blue window appeared in front of him, and at the same time, fireworks resounded in his head. It wasn’t too loud, but it made him stiffen slightly due to shock. Trumpets began to ring in his mind. It was the same victory sounds he’d heard upon completing a battle in the “Savior of the Broken Realms”!
“Congratulations on completing your very first tasks!” The blue window wrote. Underneath it, the text said, “+10 system points”.
‘...Huh. That was strangely easy?’
‘I told you so, player.’ Spoke 001. ‘The first few tasks for new players are doable.’
Hearing Cale call him father made Deruth freeze.
The Count’s eyes shook as he looked at his son.
Interactions with Cale were always difficult for him. No matter how hard Deruth attempted to get closer to his child, he’d always be pushed away by him.
It was hard to miss the cold dismissal and resentment in the child’s gaze when he so strongly displayed it for Deruth. At times, he doubted ever remarrying just because of the way Cale looked at him.
Drew’s death drove a wedge between their relationship. Although Cale had always been closer to his mother, it was she who placed a bridge between him and his son. Gone were the days when Cale would happily greet him in the morning and tell him miscellaneous stories that would send Deruth into a fit of laughter. He could no longer teach his son the knowledge he possessed, no longer personally tutor him, no longer bond with him, hug him, or be a father to him.
Sure, he had Basen and Lily, and he loved them just as dearly, but Cale was his first son.
It hurt.
Hearing Cale call him father, something he hadn’t heard from him in a very long time, struck something within him. Deruth clenched his hands into tight fists and scanned Cale’s face.
There was a new maturity in there. Like he’d accepted his current situation. There were no visible fluctuations in his gaze.
…Did something happen to Cale? Had he experienced something that made him have some sort of change of heart? Regardless, he couldn’t deny that newfound clarity in Cale’s eyes.
A satisfied smile spread across Deruth’s mouth.
“Alright, then,” Deruth stood up, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “I trust you.”
Cale looked at him strangely.
‘Why is this guy so happy?’
What was it about what he said that made the Count so weirdly satisfied?
Cale smoothly stood up from his seat, his white robes cascading elegantly throughout his form. “I’ll be going then, Fathe—”
Deruth reached out and hugged Cale. The redhead froze in his embrace.
‘What…’
Dumbfounded, Cale was at a loss for words. He stood there, his eyes wide, as the Count continued to hug his son. It wasn’t a tight hug, but it was firm enough that Cale found himself unable to move.
How was Cale supposed to be reacting in this situation?
His parents had died a long time ago. How should he conduct himself? Should he hug back, should he say something? Was the count always this affectionate towards Cale? If so, that would be very difficult for him. He didn’t know how to act towards parental figures.
But unlike Cale, who was facing immense inner turmoil, a thrum of contentment spread within Deruth’s chest.
Cale simply allowing his father to hug him was enough.
It felt almost surreal, having his child in his arms. Cale hasn’t allowed him to hug him in a long, long time. And just the fact that Cale has yet to push him away made him happy.
…Cale really has changed.
Deruth pulled away quickly, the smile on his face making him glow. Cale was shocked, but he maintained his cool expression on the outside.
“I’ll be sending Beacrox and Ron with you. They will protect you,” Deruth spoke, nodding at Cale.
“...Thank you.” Cale replied stiffly, and as if he were fleeing, walked out of the count’s office.
Deruth’s favorability rose to 50%.
–
During the tutorial, Cale had asked the system, ‘Usually, these system transmigration things have some sort of reward, right? What do I get in return for completing your Villain Reformation quest thing?’
‘Answering the player, the Department grants one wish that the player has upon the quest’s completion. As long as it is doable and is not something similar to “I would like to possess the ability to end all of reality," then the player will be able to wish for anything.’
Cale thought about what he wanted to wish for as the servants of the Henituse County loaded the carriage with Cale’s luggage.
‘...Do I seriously need this many items?’ Cale grumbled inwardly as he watched them load more and more things into the carriage. Surprisingly though, the carriage was still able to withstand the sheer amount of things that Cale had. He would have prevented this from happening if he could, but it seemed like the original Cale had ordered for these things to be loaded, and it was too late to stop the servants now.
‘What a hassle.’
Cale turned his head. Standing next to him were the father-son assassin duo Ron and Beacrox. Due to the reasonable fear he held for these two, he maintained his distance. Not too far off were the members of the Henituse family, ready to see him off. All four of them held different expressions as they watched Cale get ready to depart. Countess Violan held her stoic expression as always. Basen didn’t look that much different from her. Lily gazed at Cale, holding an expression that was a mix of curiosity and apprehension, and Deruth smiled slightly at the sight of Cale looking at him.
Seeing the Count smile like that, Cale averted his gaze.
“Ready to go then, Cale?” Countess Violan spoke first. She stepped up to go closer to Cale—then she stopped, retreating to where she first stood.
Cale looked at this and thought, ‘Was Cale really that hostile to his family members?’
‘Yes, player.’ 001 replied. ‘You will be able to unlock the villain’s lore as you progress through the story and your quest.’
‘...Cale has lore?’
‘Naturally! All characters do in every existing universe.’
‘Hard to tell.’ Cale Henituse was a rather minor nuisance in the end with very little content in the whole game. He was presented as a tool to progress the main character’s story, had a few lines about his family, and then that was it. Death.
Cale was never able to finish “Savior of the Broken Realms”, but he progressed far enough in the story to be sure that the original Cale Henituse had very little significance in the game.
“Yes,” Cale replied smoothly, crossing his arms in a habitual manner. His white robes fluttered with each movement. It was a bit of a hassle, having to wear these robes, but he had to since he was participating in the war as a healer.
“Have you packed everything you need for the trip?” Deruth asked this time, placing a hand on Violan’s shoulder.
“...I’m pretty sure I have more than enough packed already.” Cale winced at the sheer amount of luggage.
He almost felt bad for Ron and Beacrox. Is their luggage even going to fit?
Cale’s thoughts wandered as all of them descended into silence once more. They watched as the servants packed the last of the items into the carriage. Cale’s departure was imminent.
Looking at the four Henituse family members packed at a distance, they looked every bit like the perfect family. They all had brown hair, were huddled together in a gesture of familiarity. They were all so close to one another.
It made Kim Rok Soo ponder about how distant Cale was to his own family. Shocking red hair as opposed to the rest of them, his violent and rowdy behavior, the fact that he had to participate in war and eventually got executed while they all remained here.
Eyeing the tense attitude that Cale’s siblings had for their older brother, Cale seemed almost like a stain to the picture-perfect family. Like he was never meant to be a part of this.
There weren’t many lines about the rest of the Henituse family members after Cale’s execution, but they all lived. From the beginning, Cale was alone.
But perhaps some part of Cale really cared about them. He didn’t know how the original Cale thought, but you weren’t human if you didn’t feel at least a little bit for your own family.
Suddenly, Cale spoke, “If I don’t return, have a good life.”
‘I don’t know what’ll happen if I fail to complete my so-called Villain Reformation quest, so I at least hope that if I do fail and die, their lives continue peacefully.’
‘…That is very kind of you, player.’ 001 replied after a brief pause.
Cale scoffed inwardly. He turned his head back to the carriage as the last luggage was packed. ‘How is that kind? It’s called basic human decency.’
‘A lot of the other players that I have cooperated with prefer to focus on themselves and their quest to return home. Seldom do I have any players that care about the characters.’
‘That’s weird. Why’s that?’
001’s androgynous voice seemed to turn serious as it responded, ‘They all think that the characters are fictional. While that is true, it’s also true that all of these characters have souls. Personality. Lives.’
001 continued, ‘That is why the Villain Reformation Department always tries to summon new players to help the misunderstood villains. They deserve second chances because, while they were indeed written as works of fiction, the authors’ imaginations breathed life into them. They are real too. As real as can be.’
‘Hmm.’ Cale hummed inwardly, taking in the new information.
Unbeknownst to him, while Cale was communicating with the system, the faces of the Henituse family and the two assassins hardened as they looked at Cale.
Deruth’s eyes quaked, and Violan’s grip around her fan tightened. Basen housed a small frown, and his eyes shot up to scan Cale’s unmoving face, while Lily occupied the same expression as Basen.
Ron stared at the back of the young master’s head intently.
Something seemed to have changed about this puppy young master of his. The whole air about him was different.
Ron maintained his typical, benign smile.