All things in this world exist in contrast—where there is prosperity and light, darkness and shadow naturally fester in equal measure.

For a massive city like Bellrand, one of the most prominent metropolises on the continent, its underbelly had long since bloated into something monstrous. The infamous underground black market, where supposedly anything could be bought, was merely the tip of the iceberg.

It was a grotesque form of overgrowth.

Yet due to the tacit approval—or perhaps indulgence—of certain powers, these shadows had not only failed to shrink in recent years, they had even begun to stretch outward, creeping boldly toward the light.

But shadows, by nature, cannot withstand the sun. They may flourish in the dark, spreading unchecked... but the moment they catch the eye of this nation’s supreme authority—His Majesty the Emperor—they’re bound to face utter annihilation.

"I remember there was a similar event in the original novel..."

"It started when someone posted a bounty in the black market for the life of the Emperor’s favorite concubine. And someone actually took the job—and succeeded."

"Enraged, the Emperor ordered the Royal Knights to cleanse Bellrand’s entire underground network. The brutal purge lasted a full three months. So many bodies piled up that the sewers of the royal capital ran red. That’s why it came to be known as the ‘Blood River Incident.’"

"Afterward, the protagonist even joked that for a long time, not a single pickpocket could be found anywhere in the capital."

"But that was supposed to happen two years later!"

As the realization struck, Muen’s face went pale.

"Which means... just because I gave my housemaid two days off, I accidentally triggered one of the main storyline’s most important ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) events a full two years early!"

"Fuck—what kind of butterfly effect is this?!"

Muen couldn’t help blurting out the curse.

"Hmm? A butterfly?" Anne turned to him with a confused look.

"N-No! I was just saying that this year’s butterflies are really beautiful. Yeah. Really beautiful."

"Hehe."

Muen brushed her off with a forced smile before falling back into deep thought.

"But actually... maybe it doesn’t count as ‘early’ after all. This incident couldn’t possibly compare to the original Blood River Incident. The assassination failed this time, so it’s probably just a warning shot."

"Still, Bellrand’s underground network should quiet down for a while. At least long enough that no one would dare target the royal family again."

"Which means... maybe the assassination attempt on the concubine won’t happen anymore either."

"If she doesn’t die, the real Blood River Incident won’t happen."

"But that was a major plot point for the protagonist’s development in the original story!"

"The protagonist got caught up in the clash between the Royal Knights and the underground syndicates while attending a black market auction. He nearly died several times, but in those moments of crisis, his strength skyrocketed under the glow of plot armor!"

"In a way, the Blood River arc marked the shift from the ‘Academy Arc’ to the ‘Savior Arc.’"

"But now... it’s gone. Poof. All because I, Muen Campbell, gave my maid two days off!"

"Shit. What if I ruined the protagonist’s future chances of saving the world?"

A cold sweat trickled down Muen’s back.

If the protagonist couldn’t defeat the final boss—the unsealed Demon God—the entire world would be doomed.

And it would all be because he let his maid rest for two days!

"No, no, no, this is overthinking. The world isn’t that fragile!"

"Even if the Blood River arc is gone, there’ll be other trials for the protagonist. He’ll still grow strong!"

"Besides, it’s not even confirmed that the Blood River arc won’t happen. I’m just making assumptions!"

"And it’s not like the protagonist needs me to worry about him anyway. He’s covered in plot armor from head to toe."

Muen kept reassuring himself, until he finally calmed down.

Truthfully, it was because the storyline had deviated once before—when Celicia was nearly assassinated—that Muen had developed a kind of trauma. He was terrified that every tiny flap of his butterfly wings would cascade into another massive disaster.

"In any case, I’ll just believe in the protagonist!"

Muen shook his head, brushing the thoughts away.

...

"Then please rest well, Young Master. I’ll take my leave now," said Anne, bowing politely as the hour grew late.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Oh, by the way—Young Master, you received a letter."

Anne suddenly handed him an envelope.

"A letter?"

Muen turned it over in his hands. There was no postage mark, no sender name.

"Who’s it from?"

"It’s from Her Highness, Princess Celicia," Anne replied respectfully.

"She personally asked me to deliver it to you."

"...Her?"

Muen blinked in surprise but didn’t comment further. He dismissed Anne for the night and sat there, silently staring at the pristine white envelope for a long time.

"It’s probably just a bunch of scolding."

He chuckled bitterly to himself.

For a princess like Celicia, someone who valued her chastity more than her life, there was no way she would send a letter just to thank him—even if he had saved her.

"I just hope she doesn’t scold me too harshly..."

Muen opened the envelope.

To his surprise, the letter didn’t contain any curses, rebukes, or condemnation.

In elegant, clean handwriting, there was only a single line:

[I’ll begrudgingly consider you half a man, Muen Campbell.]

...Half a man?

Can men be divided into halves?

Muen was dumbfounded.

But then he remembered the reason Celicia might say something like this.

It was because of that line he’d spoken earlier.

[Now... do I look like a man to you, My Lady?]

He’d said it while shielding her from the dagger—trying to look cool and dramatic in that final moment.

If he’d really died, it would’ve been an epic last line. One that Celicia might never forget.

But... he didn’t die.

Since he lived, that line was now just unbearably cringe.

Like something out of a cliché romance webnovel, where the overconfident male lead tilts the heroine’s chin and smirks darkly:

"Do you think I’m manly, woman?"

Aaaaaaaagh!

So embarrassing!

Can I go back in time and slap the shit out of myself?!

If you’re gonna die, just die! Why did you have to act cool?! And in such a corny way!

Even the princess couldn’t take it. She personally wrote a letter just to mock you!

"I can’t take this!!"

Muen immediately tore up the letter, rolled himself into his blanket, and began wriggling like an earthworm in pure secondhand shame.

...

"Half a man?"

Outside Muen’s room, Anne stood still, eyes locked on the door, whispering to herself:

"So that means... to Her Highness the Princess, Young Master Muen still has the potential to become a full man?"

"And if he does... you’ll fall for him?"

"Ah... no. That won’t do."

Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper.

"Young Master Muen must never receive another woman’s affection besides mine."

Her eyes darkened.

"It seems... I’ll have to speed up the plan."