Should I be happy that I found a homeboy, or kill myself since all my knowledge advantage is gone?'
'This guy is clearly still the protagonist… the cheat he inherited alone makes him invincible. With plot knowledge, he probably already mastered it to the next level…'
Johan's cold eyes twitched uncontrollably. Offending Leor, as Johan was right now, would be very stupid.
"What did you just say? You monkey!!" Erwin's blood boiled.
As long as his ability was activated, he was invincible. He was quite confident that even Radhaan—the man who could move at the speed of light, the strongest in the world—wouldn't be able to defeat him when he went all out.
'Just like now, they will kill themselves first… who the fuck does this brat think he is?' He clenched his fists tight. As a warrior, his pride was even more important than his life.
This was the culture of the Aurelian Empire: even if you were alone and forty people mocked you, you were expected to brawl with them. Otherwise, be prepared to be called a coward the rest of your life.
"I said you're weak. Did your ears also die like your son?" Leor crossed one leg over the other, getting more comfortable as he asked in a tone that was genuinely curious—mocking Erwin thoroughly.
In a flash, Erwin moved his right hand, and a dark black sword manifested in his grip out of thin air.
Leonard gave Radhaan a look. Radhaan moved instantly, sliding his arms under Erwin's shoulders and locking him in place.
Selene watched with wide eyes, stunned by Leor's mocking words toward a Hero of the Empire.
As a commoner, this was akin to a death sentence—for not only the person but possibly everyone they knew.
'But… the King is trying to restrain Erwin instead?' The thought shook her. Nothing about today was going as expected.
Johan, catching her expression, smiled.
'What an idiot!! He'll probably even help me fix our relationship!' He thought about how easy it'd be to farm more rewards like this.
But then… another voice slapped the happy thought away.
'No, no. It doesn't even matter. He's most likely stronger than Erwin and has already charmed both the King and Radhaan. Victor is probably already giving him handies…' Johan sighed inwardly, giving himself a hard reality check.
The smile vanished. A confused expression took its place.
'His output is exceptional. Already befriending the strongest man physically and politically… Did he come earlier than me?' A deep frown formed on his forehead.
It was the only explanation that made sense—Johan had only entered this world last night. He hadn't had time to meet any major characters before being thrust toward death.
"Your Majesty! Didn't you hear what the monkey said?! Why are you stopping me??" Erwin struggled, unable to move.
He had deactivated his ability earlier and hadn't had time to reactivate it before Radhaan locked him down.
Radhaan calmly released small electric currents through Erwin's body, disrupting his Aether flow and paralyzing him.
Erwin's eyes turned bloodshot.
Why was everything collapsing around him? Why did it feel like someone was forcing him through this? Wasn't he known as the luckiest man alive?
"…Erwin. He probably knows more than you about the Doomsday Trial. Don't worry—I won't go back on my promise." Leonard sighed, annoyed at Leor's escalating behavior, but he needed him.
"Consider Leor's words just a warning to be cautious. You can still participate if you want. No one will stop you." His voice turned firm. It was directed more toward Leor than Erwin.
Leor got the cue and said no more. He didn't care about a side character like Erwin's life or death. He'd only said that to test something.
'I see… Johan is also a transmigrator, just like me…'He had dropped the words Doomsday Arc just to see if Johan would react, even slightly.
And Johan had widened his eyes the instant those words were said.
That confirmed it.
From the moment Johan had stood up for him, Leor had suspected it. The original Johan would've spat on him—Leor had planned to use that.
'Thankfully, Radhaan is obedient and stopped targeting my homeboy…'
But then Leor's thoughts turned cold.
'I can always get rid of him if he becomes a thorn between me and my Selene…'
He also noticed something else. Selene was changing. Too much. It wasn't just the butterfly effect.
Someone was actively influencing her mindset.
'He probably didn't receive any memories either… and struggles with social interactions like me…' Leor analyzed, but then his gaze shifted to the exceptionally beautiful girl standing behind Johan.
All useful thoughts disappeared.
'Don't worry, Selene. I will definitely keep you as my first wife. All the others… just fucktoys.' Leor licked his lips, eyes turning lustful.
Johan caught that look—and instantly, his blood boiled.
His face twisted with disgust and anger. But he suppressed it all behind a calm smile, stepping in front of Selene and gently pulling her behind him.
'Well fuck you too then. I'll make you wish your mother swallowed you.'
A cold smirk crept up his face.
Christopher and Paul, who had been observing him under the King's orders, frowned. Their faces darkened.
They knew that smirk. The Devil was waking up.
Leor noticed it, too. His frown deepened.
'I should get rid of him…' The decision was instant.
Both men—one driven by perverted obsession, the other by twisted memories and the peace he felt from Selene—were now natural enemies.
'System, does Leor also have a system?'
'System, does Johan also have a system?'
Both thought the same thing at once. They were transmigrators. They knew the rules. This was the most important question.
[Yes. Leor Milford possesses the Favorability System — the more others like him, the more he can absorb their abilities and earn their loyalty, almost as if he's controlling their minds.]
Johan's pupils shrank. His body trembled.
Sebastian looked toward him, concern on his face.
Selene and Olivia grew terrified.
They thought he was angry—and when Johan was angry, they usually became his stress relievers.
[No. Johan Von Matilda does not have any system.]
Leor's every worry evaporated. He exhaled with relief.
'It's not even a challenge now. I'm coming for you, my Selene…'
'This means… he probably has abilities like Radhaan's speed… definitely Victor's swordsmanship… even though he looks like a nerd, he's a Stage 0 Swordsman.'
'Leonard's sorcery—he must be a Stage 0 Sorcerer—and possibly even his Eye of Wisdom ability… who knows how many more…'
Johan felt his heart leap up to his throat.
'I don't even know how long he's been in this world…'
'He was already way more overpowered than me from the start. Now he also has a useful system…'
Johan shook his head in frustration.
A blue screen appeared.
[HOST COULD HAVE BEEN STRONGER THAN LEOR MILFORD IF HE JUST MADE THE RIGHT CHOICES. TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR YOUR INCOMPETENCE IS NOT SHAMEFUL.]
Johan looked away, pretending the capital letters weren't screaming at him.
If he knew what kind of system he really had, he might've tried to hug it.
His cold blue eyes met Leor's golden ones, now filled with mockery.
'He probably has a crush on Selene like every other fan of the game. But… she's my daughter. I won't let a monkey like him take her away.'
Johan straightened his back. His gaze grew firm.
He didn't notice that when he had pulled Selene behind him, he had grabbed her hand—clenching it tightly.
Like a dad making sure his daughter didn't run off while crossing the road.
Leor gave a subtle shake of the head toward Radhaan.
His expression said, You know what's up.
Radhaan nodded wordlessly.
Leonard returned to his throne, patting Erwin's back on the way.
Radhaan walked beside him, whispering something before taking his seat among the seven.
Erwin stood in silence. His shoulders drooped. His black eyes were empty—like a man who had lost everything. He stared at Leor hopelessly, gritting his teeth.
His Aether core was paralyzed. Even standing was hard. He had never felt this weak.
"But… what if I told you," Leor said, "it wasn't me who killed your son. It was someone else." His voice was solemn. Serious.
His muscles tensed—as if he had just squatted 200 kilograms.
Johan immediately realized it.
That was the animation of Schrödinger's Cat.
AN: Guys, I'll upload the next in 2–3 hours. It got a bit too long so I have to edit.
This one's already 1580 words, so enjoy 😼
Let me know if you prefer long or short chapters!