"Damn… Feels like I drank my liver away last night… and part of my soul along with it. I need to get up and wash my face, or I'll just die like this."
Hans barely managed to drag himself out of bed and stagger toward the bathroom, nearly slamming into the washroom door on the way. Once inside, he immediately shoved his head under the sink and yanked the cold water open.
When the cold water hit his head, he felt a sharp, biting chill for a split second—then a jolt ran through his entire body, and he instantly felt much better.
After slapping his cheeks a couple of times, he looked into the mirror, studying every detail of his face as if admiring himself. Blue eyes, neat blond hair, a well-defined jawline, slightly sunken cheeks the only thing ruining the picture were the faint bags under his eyes from exhaustion and lack of sleep.
"Well then, even after hell, I still look damn good. It'd be even better if these nightmares didn't torture me every single day."
[Signal…][System initializing… 1%… 5%… 12%…]
"…What the hell?"
["Villain" System activating…][Synchronizing with host…][34%… 67%… 100%]
"Oh, perfect. Interface hallucinations. I've really outdone myself this time."
[Welcome, Hans Nightmare.][You have been granted access to the Villain System.]
"Alright, that's it—I'm never drinking myself into oblivion again. My brain's completely fried."
[Primary directive: growth through domination, control, and sinful interactions.]
Reading the incomprehensible interface in front of his eyes, Hans made what seemed to him like the only reasonable decision—he left the bathroom and headed for the terrace connected to his room.
Enjoying the view of the family vineyard stretching all the way to the horizon, he took a deep breath and pulled out a cigarette.
Honestly, he had no idea how else you were supposed to act when you were having hallucinations.
[Reminder: you are wasting time.]
"I don't see anything. I don't hear anything. In fact—I'm not even here."
[Error: user cannot ignore the system.]
Hans took a drag from his cigarette, staring out over the vineyards as if nothing had happened.
"What? Did someone say something?"
He kept pretending he couldn't hear anything, completely ignoring the so-called system. As if he didn't already have enough problems with his head—he definitely didn't need some system in there too.
[Error: ignoring is ineffective.]
"Alright… if you're not going away, then go on—show me what you can do."
[Function: Hero & Heroine Map]Allows you to view key characters connected to the current storyline.Available options: view storylines related to a hero or heroine, as well as determine the target's location.
[Function: Lottery]Use Villain Points to spin the reward system and obtain random prizes.
[Function: Status Screen]Displays all available user parameters.
[Function: Harem]Displays linked targets and their current status.Additionally: generates daily Villain Points income based on relationship level and target quality.
"Alright then… let's see what kind of stats I've got."
[User Status Window]
Name: Hans Nightmare
[Attributes]Physique: 18 (Average: 10)Mentality: 22 (Average: 10)Luck: 1 (Average: 10)Charisma: 97 (Max: 100)
[Resources]Villain Points: 0
[Passive Abilities]Fated Villain
[Skills]Martial Arts — Master, Firearms — Expert, Driving — Expert, Intimidation — Novice, Stealth — Novice, Stock Market Knowledge — Beginner, Reaction — Beginner, Combat Intuition — Beginner… and many more.
"I always knew I was good-looking… but what's with my luck? And what the hell is this passive ability?"
[Reason: low Luck stat]The user has been designated as a villain with a predetermined negative fate.Probable outcome: death.
[Passive Ability: Fated Villain]You are marked by fate as an antagonist.
Effects:• All main protagonists subconsciously perceive you as a threat and are initially predisposed against you.• Nullifies the influence of the "Protagonist Halo," which reduces the intelligence and critical thinking of those around them.• Increases the initial loyalty of all villains toward the user.
"Yeah… I need another cigarette."
After going through two more cigarettes, he gradually shook off the morning hangover and calmed down after the system's appearance.
"Then I can just get rid of all those so-called protagonists… and send them to the bottom of a lake for a swim. Let them cool off."
[Warning]This action is not recommended.You will not receive Villain Points.There is an increased risk of falling under the negative influence of fate.
[Condition for interacting with a protagonist]You must first disrupt their storyline and reduce the influence of the Protagonist Halo.Once the condition is fulfilled, the restrictions will be lifted.
[Current Restrictions]All actions toward the target are permitted, except for elimination.
"And what if I just don't interact with them? Then there won't be any conflict, right?"
[Analysis]Ignoring targets does not stop the story from progressing.Conflict with any protagonist is inevitable.Reason: overlapping interests the user will be unable to ignore.
[Conflict Probability: 100% with any protagonist]
"Alright then, not like I was planning to sit this one out anyway. Can you open the story map?"
[Error]Insufficient resources.
[Condition]Villain Points are required to locate unknown protagonists.Current amount: 0.
"What, no beginner bonus?"
Hans felt a hint of disappointment. In all the novels he'd read, there were always beginner rewards but his newly acquired system had completely stiffed him.
[Response]Issuing free bonuses to users with a high level of arrogance is not provided for.
"…Wow. Stingy."
Hans let out a breath. He looked like someone who had just been emotionally traumatized and cut off from their allowance. Truly a pitiful sight—he stared into the void with the eyes of Puss in Boots.
[Analysis]The user appears pitiful.
[Conclusion]This is an ineffective strategy for acquiring resources.
[Advice]Try acting instead of suffering.
"Well, not like I wanted it that badly anyway…" he muttered. "By the way, I can talk to you in my head, right? Otherwise, they'll lock me up as insane pretty quickly."
[Confirmation]The user can interact with the system via internal dialogue.
[Note]Verbal communication is not required.
[Additional]Probability of being perceived as insane by others when speaking out loud: 89%.
[Recommendation]Use the mental channel.
And couldn't this system have mentioned that earlier? Sure, there was no one at the family villa except him, his sister, and his great-grandparents… but it was still awkward having to explain why he was talking to himself.
"Ahem… ahem."
An old, frail voice coughed behind Hans. Startled, he turned sharply and saw his ninety-nine-year-old great-grandfather, who was looking at him with a hint of concern.
"Oh! Great-Grandpa. How long have you been standing there?" Hans asked awkwardly.
"Well, about ten minutes. You were standing here talking some nonsense after"
His great-grandfather was about to continue grumbling, but when he noticed Hans's pleading look one that practically screamed, "Just pretend you didn't see anything"—he fell silent.
The old man let out a sigh, as if deciding that old age was no longer the worst thing that could happen to him.
Looking at his great-grandson, who had been in a terrible state for the past few months—constantly exhausted from lack of sleep—the old man could only let out a heavy sigh.
Of course, they had called in the best doctors—their family connections made that easy. But the only thing they had been able to determine was that it wasn't a physical illness, but something related to his mental state.
Hans, who trusted his family, had never thought of hiding anything from them. And yet, no one had been able to identify the cause of his condition, let alone fix it.
And now hallucinations had been added to the mix and how to deal with that, no one knew. At his age, he had seen many things… but this kind of helplessness was what frightened him the most.
"Your great-grandmother made lunch… well, a late lunch. It's almost four already."
There was no way Hans could refuse. If nothing else, the women of the Nightmare family were exceptional when it came to cooking.
That, however, was largely due to the fact that the family didn't keep servants—no cooks, no maids, no nannies, nothing of the sort. There had been several poisoning incidents in the past, and over time it had evolved into something close to a genetic paranoia—no outsiders were allowed into the house anymore.
No guests at the family villa, except for the closest of friends or relatives… and even then, there was always a certain tension in the air—strangers were never truly welcomed in this home.
After all, the Nightmares were a rather ancient dynasty—an old Anglo-Saxon lineage whose family tree stretched back over fourteen hundred years.
They hadn't become wealthy all that long ago, though. More precisely, their fortune came from the man who founded a weapons manufacturing business and effectively monopolized it worldwide. That was his late great-great-grandfather—Reinhard Nightmare.
At the dining table, a rich, deep-red borscht was waiting for him—a dish from his great-grandmother's homeland. And since she was the one who devoted the most time to taking care of the household, Slavic cuisine was the most common here… and, somewhat surprisingly, the most belov.
Adding a bit of sour cream, he quickly began to eat, savoring every spoonful.
Meanwhile, his great-grandmother quietly watched him. She was something of the soul of the family originally from Volhynia, with no particular status to her name. Hans's great-grandfather had fallen in love with her and had even come to blows with his own father for the right to marry her.
Back then, it was unheard of but no matter what, the Nightmares never married without love. And in the end, the old man had no choice but to accept his son's decision. That was how she became a Nightmare.
Hans ate in silence, not lifting his eyes from the plate.
"Tasty?" his great-grandmother asked softly.
"As always," he replied shortly, scooping up another spoonful. "You know there's no competition here."
She smiled faintly, but the worry remained in her eyes.
"You're not sleeping enough again."
Hans froze for a moment, then immediately continued eating as if he hadn't heard anything.
"I'm fine…"
In truth, after the system appeared, he felt better. It was as if a veil had lifted, and a strange warmth had settled in his chest.
At the same time, he felt a connection forming between himself and the system. A bond too strong so strong that nothing could sever it… except complete destruction of both him and the system.
Of course, it was only a feeling he had no proof of it. Well, problems and secrets could be dealt with as they came.
"Hans…" his great-grandmother said quietly, but firmly. There was worry in her voice.
Hans quickly finished his meal, stood up, and walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the cheek.
"Great-Grandma, I'm really fine. Actually, I feel much better today, and I think everything will pass in a couple of days," he reassured her.
"I can see that," she replied flatly, then started drying his hair with a towel. Her great-grandson was so helpless… he really needed to get married as soon as possible.
Hans just smiled in response. He had been so distracted by everything involving the system that he'd completely forgotten his hair had been wet for the past half hour. Well, the climate in Verona was warm—nothing bad was going to happen to him.
"Thanks, Great-Grandma. I'm going to take a ride around the city, clear my head," he tossed over his shoulder. He had to get out of there his instincts were practically screaming that if he stayed any longer, the conversation would head somewhere he definitely didn't want it to go.
He quickly ran to his room, changed into his street clothes, tidied himself up, and immediately headed for the garage.
"Alright, see you later, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa. I'll be back before dinner," he called out on the move.
He was just about to dash out when, out of nowhere, his great-grandfather delivered a solid kick to his back. For a ninety-nine-year-old man, the strike was surprisingly strong—Hans was certain it would leave a bruise for a few days.
"Where do you think you're going without your gun?" His voice this time was no longer as gentle as before. He was personally responsible for the family's safety—especially the younger ones—so going out unarmed wasn't an option.
"Oh, right. Forgot," Hans said, tapping his head. He quickly strapped the holster around his waist and slipped it under his motorcycle jacket so it wouldn't be visible. "Alright, I'm off."
"Well then… the game's begun," Hans muttered as he made his way toward the garages.
Meanwhile, back at the house…
"Well, it seems, my dear Wilhelm, he really is getting better," the old woman said with a smile. "By the way, Isabella mentioned that Aurora can't wait any longer and will be coming to visit us in a few days."
The old man seemed to freeze at those words. He wasn't sure whether to be pleased or not. She was, after all, his great-grandson's fiancée… but that was exactly the problem—she was only his fiancée for now.
Her presence in the house made him extremely uneasy. Even though everyone else approved of her, to him she was still an outsider. Besides, whether the marriage would even happen was still up in the air. A few months ago, Hans and Aurora had a major falling-out—and it was right after that his nightmares began.
Still, that was a matter for the young. Let him sort it out himself—his great-grandson wasn't so helpless that he needed to hide behind his family from his own fiancée.
Stepping up to his beloved, he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her.
"Well now, my dear Nastasya, why am I only hearing about this now? I need to prepare the house for her arrival."
"Oh, you and your paranoia," the old woman chuckled softly.