The day after Baekho Guild's public apology and the widespread arrests of women's organization members that had shocked the entire nation, reports of corruption and crimes committed by these organizations continued to surface.

Embezzlement was just the tip of the iceberg. Framing innocent people and extorting settlement money were common practices.

In addition, crimes targeting children and countless other atrocities were being uncovered, though the full extent of their wrongdoing likely remained hidden due to the organizations' limited influence.

Women's organizations, by their very nature, seemed destined to act as villains.

"This seems endless," Seomun Ye-jin commented.

Since morning, she had been glued to her phone, watching the members of the organizations that had spewed venom and hatred toward her being publicly humiliated and held accountable.

She seemed noticeably satisfied.

"Well, just look at them. That’s what they are through and through," I replied.

"Yes. I was taught not to judge people by their appearance, but… seeing this makes it hard not to form certain prejudices."

She wasn’t wrong.

From the photos of the women’s organization members now circulating online, not a single one could be described as attractive.

Most of them were either unpleasant-looking or overweight.

Their personal details, including photos, had all been published online. In this world, villains’ appearances weren’t blurred or hidden.

There had been proposals to pixelate or mask villains’ appearances, but the Kangin Guild firmly opposed it.

Those who stubbornly advocated for such measures were silenced by reports that doing so would lead to a dramatic rise in large-scale crimes committed by villains, potentially culminating in nationwide destabilization.

In fact, many who championed villain rights ended up living alongside villains or falling victim to them. This madness ultimately thwarted such misguided legislation.

In this world, especially in South Korea, villains were viewed as akin to terrorists. To people living under constant threat of terrorism, the notion of protecting villains’ rights was utterly insane.

As a result, all the faces and personal details of the women’s organization members who were now designated as villains were made public.

"At least ten years in prison," Seomun Ye-jin read aloud.

But ten years would hardly be the end of it.

These people would never genuinely repent, and since they weren’t mana awakeners, they would face less scrutiny compared to awakened villains.

Still, I had no intention of letting them live comfortably. After sending them to prison, I would ensure they experienced a perpetual hell.

"I’ve already discussed this with Choi Kang-in. Those people will disappear, and no one will even notice."

Not just the women’s organization members, but also the reporters who had written those articles and the editors and executives of women-focused newspapers—all of them had been arrested.

Investigations revealed that these individuals had colluded with villains, instructing them to attack women to fabricate stories about a lack of women’s rights.

In particular, more than 98% of articles framing such villainous acts as "random misogynistic violence" had been orchestrated by these media outlets.

Of course, they wouldn’t escape through the mercy of death.

"Hehe~"

Beside me, Seomun Ye-jin let out a cheerful laugh and playfully fiddled with my hand.

"Miss, what’s so funny?"

"Nothing~ It just feels like Seo-jun is my black knight, protecting me! Hehe~"

I chuckled at the sight of Seomun Ye-jin grinning and giggling like that.

"A black knight, huh? I don’t think I’ll stop at just being that."

"Huh? Then what does Seo-jun want to be?"

As she spoke, she boldly moved closer to me. The sudden contact of her soft skin made me flinch for a moment.

Her sweet fragrance, the smoothness of her touch, and the sight of a girl destined to become one of the world’s most beautiful women—

"Something eternal," I said, revealing what I truly desired.

"Eternal?"

"Yes. I want you to be my woman forever. Eternally, without end."

A life where she wouldn’t age, wouldn’t die, and would remain by my side forever.

"Eternally… until death?"

"No, there won’t be any dying involved."

Seomun Ye-jin naturally assumed she would die when her time came. But I wouldn’t allow such an ending.

To me, she had become an irreplaceable part of my life. Without her, I doubted I could look at the world with any semblance of sanity.

"Granting you eternal youth and an unending lifespan isn’t difficult for me," I assured her.

"Eternal… I’ve never thought about it. Can Seo-jun really make someone immortal?"

"Of course. And I’ll only grow stronger as time goes on."

My power was still growing. If it wasn’t, how could I hope to protect the world from The Fox That Devours Worlds?

At this rate, I would eventually become something that could only be described as a god.

"If I’m by Seo-jun’s side, I suppose immortality wouldn’t be so bad," Seomun Ye-jin said.

For a 15-year-old like her, the concept probably felt distant, like a story from another world.

"By the way, Seo-jun, do you have any thoughts on what I should wear today?"

She abruptly shifted the topic, seemingly wanting to move away from heavier conversations.

"Clothes? Hmm, you always have a good sense of style. Whatever you pick will look great on you. Your face and figure make any outfit look perfect, so it’s hard to choose."

"Hehe~ Isn’t that true? Seo-jun, aren’t you happy to have such a pretty girlfriend? I’m confident I’ll make a great wife someday~ Hmm~ When we get married, you’ll be thrilled to have a perfect wife like me every day!"

Though it was only our second day together, she was already talking about marriage and confidently declaring herself a perfect wife. I couldn’t help but laugh.

"Of course."

Then I pulled her into my arms.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Seomun Ye-jin’s confident demeanor vanished. Blushing furiously, she turned into a shy girl, nestled in my embrace.

"Your lips yesterday… they were delicious. Honestly, the best thing I’ve ever tasted."

"E-Eh…"

As I added more teasing words, she fell deeper into flustered panic.

Leaning in, I kissed her again.

"Mm… Mmph~ Chuup!"

But this time, she quickly adapted. Her lips and tongue moved with mine, responding as though she had always known how.

In that moment, I realized something.

‘I must have been longing for human warmth more than I thought.’

And thanks to this girl who had entered my life, I couldn’t imagine a world without Seomun Ye-jin.

I would keep her by my side. Always.

Forever.

And as for those who had hurt her—

‘She feels relieved now, but in a few days, every single one of them will…’

They would experience the full depth of hell.

"Hehe~ Seo-jun~"

But for now, I needed to focus on the mischievous girl snuggled in my arms, grinning and testing the limits of my patience with her playful charm.

"Miss, why are you acting so coy all of a sudden?"

"Isn’t this normal? Besides, don’t you like it, Seo-jun?"

"Well… I do, but your actions right now feel like deliberate temptation. It’s testing my self-control."

"Hehe~ Testing your patience? Are you saying I’m so pretty that you can’t resist me?"

I planned to hold back until she was older, but at this rate, every day was going to be a test of willpower.

***

Somalia.

This place, where a ritual that could have led the world to ruin nearly succeeded, remained inaccessible to people due to the monsters that now infested it.

"Ughhhh…"

"Please, just kill me…"

Amid the desolate landscape, eerie groans echoed.

Once brilliant minds who had conducted all manner of inhumane experiments now lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies grotesquely disfigured.

Some had limbs resembling insect appendages or shriveled plants, while others had entire bodies transformed to resemble elongated worms. These pitiable figures writhed in agony, desperately craving death.

But soon, it was time for their torment to begin anew.

"AAAAAGGGHHHH!"

"It's burning! Burning so much!"

"AAAAHHHH! IT HURTS TOO MUCH!"

Waves of unimaginable pain overtook them in staggered intervals: the sensation of their insides being consumed by flames, muscles twisting into knots, and every other conceivable torment.

Yet measures had been put in place to ensure they remained fully conscious, preventing them from succumbing to madness. All they could do was scream in endless agony.

"Ugh…"

"It’s starting again…"

Villains, nailed to walls like grotesque ornaments, watched the scene unfold with a mix of terror and relief.

As horrifying as their own fates were—scarred, broken, and monstrous—they found solace in knowing that the suffering of the former researchers in front of them was far worse. Compared to the torment those researchers endured, their pain felt almost comfortable.

And soon, new arrivals were to join them—dozens, maybe hundreds—condemned to share this hellish existence.