After dealing with Flarrio, Karbile promptly summoned his soldiers to take care of the body. With clever words and calm composure, he convinced them that Flarrio had tried to poison him—claiming that he had swapped the cups in a show of generosity, intending to offer Karbile the larger portion and take the smaller one himself. As a result, Flarrio ended up ingesting the poisoned drink.
And what about the stab wound? Another lie was quickly fabricated. Karbile explained that after being poisoned, Flarrio attacked him in a frenzy, and he had no choice but to defend himself.
Of course, no one knew the truth.
What truly solidified the story was Hyung Ryo's cunning. He violently ransacked the room to simulate a chaotic struggle and inflicted visible injuries on the body, making it appear as if Flarrio had fought desperately for his life.
Thanks to that, Karbile avoided suspicion. Flarrio's corpse was removed, and the servants gathered to clean the bloodied chamber. During all this, Karbile Hogbor sat quietly in the serene garden, shaded beneath the wide branches of a tree, resting in a wheelchair.
Even though my plan worked, and everyone believed the lie… I was just a hair's breadth away from being exposed.
Even with Karbile Hogbor's memories—his speech patterns, his habits—it's nearly impossible to fully impersonate him. It's like trying to play the role of a child while being an old man.
Still… I have to admit something…
Karbile's expression tightened, reflecting Hyung Ryo's unease from within.
That man's daughter—Flarrio Andreo's daughter—was killed, and her body was burned… But I never gave that order. I might be a bit of a bastard, but I'm not someone who would hurt a girl just because of a grudge between men.
He sighed and lowered his gaze.
The order was given directly by Karbile Hogbor himself. I don't even know how or when it happened… but it was already done before I realized.
A bitter smile flickered on his face—tinged with guilt.
Who am I trying to fool? Even if I had learned about it earlier, how would I explain her father's death? She would never believe a word I said. She'd come after me without hesitation.
The cruel irony… The daughter died by Karbile's command, and the father… by my hand.
Me—Hyung Ryo. Half-European, half-Asian. A complete outsider to this world.
That guilty smile faded, replaced by something unfamiliar—a quiet smile, empty of emotion.
A stranger…
Yeah. That's the title that fits me best. No matter what I do—now or in the future—even in another body, it won't change the truth…
I don't belong in this world.
Suddenly, he rose from the wheelchair. He clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the sky, lifting one hand to shield his face from the sunlight—its rays piercing through the branches, reaching not just the shell known as Karbile Hogbor, but the soul hidden deep inside.
Itdoesn't matter. I'll keep moving forward—until I truly become a part of this world. If I can learn its systems, its power structure… then I can surely—
Rise, and prove myself. Not as an outsider from another realm, but as a rightful inhabitant of this one.
He turned away, leaving the garden behind. Karbile's face now bore a firm, serious expression—beneath it, the quiet determination of Hyung Ryo burned.
Hours later, night fell. The room was dimly lit. Outside, guards stood watch—alert and vigilant, tasked with protecting Karbile Hogbor as he slept peacefully in his chambers.
Or so it seemed.
In truth, his body lay as nothing more than an empty shell. Hyung Ryo had returned once more to the void—the liminal space where he could commune with the system.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, System?" Hyung Ryo said clearly, his voice slightly raised.
> [ Welcome back, Hyung Ryo. ]
> [ How was your experience? ]
"Thrilling, to say the least. A few downsides… but overall? Solid."
> [ I'm glad to hear that. ]
"Now tell me… what's the deal with this 'Karbile Hogbor'? After spending time in his body and accessing some of his memories, he just seems like a degenerate lowlife."
His arms were crossed as he spoke, irritation evident in his tone.
> [ Searching… ]
> [ According to your memory cache—which now contains Karbile Hogbor's as well—he was unmarried for most of his life, largely due to his violent treatment of women, especially under the influence of alcohol and other substances. ]
> [ However, he was highly intelligent and deeply cunning. Since you now possess his most crucial memories, you'll be able to leverage his knowledge—particularly if you continue using his body. ]
Hyung Ryo hummed thoughtfully, then muttered,
"Alright, I'll admit he was smart… but he was still a son of a bitch."
He sighed.
"Anyway… I have another question. Something more important. I realized something recently: the bodies I now possess—they were already dead before I took them, right?"
> [ Correct. That is a fundamental requirement for your reincarnation. You cannot possess the body of someone who is still alive—unless you intend to forcibly seize it. That is an entirely different case. ]
"You've piqued my interest with that last bit… but I'll ask about it later. For now, I want to know: What happens if one of my two bodies is destroyed? Say… completely obliterated?"
> [ In such an event, a default protocol will activate. All the memories contained in the destroyed body will be transferred to your remaining, intact body. ]
"And what if both bodies are destroyed?"
> [ … ]
> [ Your soul will cease to exist. ]
The words hit him hard. Cold. Final.
So if both bodies are lost… I'm gone for good.
He fell into a long silence, his mind racing for ways to protect both bodies—to use them wisely and avoid total loss.
Yet for a moment… a strange emptiness swept through him.
Do I even have a purpose anymore? I have wealth and power in one body… freedom and mobility in the other. So what's left?
Before he could answer himself, the system triggered a notification—this time, with a different tone. The usual soft, translucent blue of the interface had turned a harsh, foreboding red.
"What's going on, System?" he asked with clear tension in his voice.
> [ An error has occurred. ]
> [ One of your bodies has been damaged. ]
> [ Damaged body: Karbile Hogbor. Type of damage: Decapitation. ]
Hyung Ryo froze.
Then suddenly—his lips curled into a wide, nervous grin, forming from nothing like a crack in the void.
"My rotten, cursed luck really did follow me here from my original world… didn't it?! Damn it all!"