Transmigrated into the Most Hated Scum. My Wives are Plentiful!

[Host has paid the price]

[The penalty has ended]

[Host has been rewarded] 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

....

I did it.

Koul threw his head back and exhaled. His eyes were dull and red.

His chest mounted and fell as he breathed slowly, hair poured back.

He tightened his grip around the sword that was still in his grasp to prevent his hand from trembling.

This was his first kill. No matter how much he thought it’d be easy, it wasn’t.

He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to feel anything if there was something to feel.

He forced his mind to only focus on the win. He did it. He stopped the penalty. He saved himself.

The cost shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t.

As Koul bathed in his own thoughts and struggles, faint voices hit his ears. They came from a distance but seemed to be closing in on him.

While he wouldn’t necessarily face any punishment for killing a guard, he still didn’t want to be found out.

He dropped the sword to the floor and immediately turned to run toward the other direction.

His garment swept some blood as he turned. It drew a faint trail along his path. But the farther he ran, the fainter it became.

Koul ran till he came into a familiar hallway. From there, he knew the way to his chamber.

As he hurriedly ran toward his room, stained in blood, the vice captain caught sight of him.

Just before Koul entered his chamber, he saw the blood on his garment and hand.

The vice captain’s brows furrowed. He had been out looking for Koul since he couldn’t find him in his chamber.

He was confused by Koul’s bloodied appearance and how distressed he looked. But that was until a palace worker came running to him.

The palace worker looked terrified as he told the vice captain about the dead body they’d just found.

A foreboding sense came over the vice captain. His gaze momentarily shot toward Koul’s chamber before he followed the palace worker to the scene.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Koul was sat on his bed. Even when he’d been trying to, he couldn’t stop his mind from replaying things.

His blood stained hand trembled lightly as it rested on his knee. His face was beaded with cold sweat that made his hair sticky.

His breaths came out in pants, loud and dry.

I should be happy, he raised his head.

Because they say the first time is hard. And after that, it should be easy.

This will make my revenge easier in some way.

But—

He glanced around, taking in the familiarities of his chamber. He looked to see if there’d be anything different but nothing.

I’ve paid the price though. And I clearly received an alert saying I have been rewarded.

Shouldn’t time rewind now and take me back to before I ran my mouth carelessly?

If time would rewind, then maybe, this murder wouldn’t count. But if time doesn’t rewind, then...

"Fuck it."

After a moment to calm himself, Koul summoned the system.

"Is time going to rewind or will things continue like this?"

[Host, time isn’t going to rewind. You paid the price and you have been rewarded. The reality where you told the vice captain the truth has been cut out. This is the current time.]

Koul sighed. He didn’t have much to say. But it was now clear to him than ever that he couldn’t afford to waste any time.

It could’ve been anyone there, he thought, replaying how he killed the guard.

What if it was Yui? Or Hera? Then I would’ve..... he trembled.

He didn’t want to even think about it. He blamed himself. Blamed his weakness.

It’s not going to work like this. This way that I have cho—

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock on his door.

Koul’s heart leapt for a brief moment, wondering who it could be. His wives, Yui or Hera. Or, the vice captain?

He didn’t respond. He kept silent, and simply stared.

But after a while of repeated knocks, his door was pushed open.

"Pardon me," the vice captain’s voice came through.

Koul was still sitting in the same garment that was stained in blood. His hand was still bloodied and even his face was stained.

THUMP! THUMP!

His heart started pounding. Even though the system has told him the reward has blotted out that reality of him slipping out the truth, he still feared.

And in his current appearance, the situation seemed worse.

"Your majesty," he called. "Pardon me for questioning you, but... did you kill the guard?"

Koul’s eyes widened for a fleeting moment before narrowing back. But this didn’t escape the vice captain’s eyes.

He saw the fleeting fear that flashed in Koul’s eyes. And along it was guilt.

"I did—"

"It doesn’t matter," Kanstiv cut in before Koul could finish.

Huh?

"It doesn’t matter whether or not you killed him. I mean, I know you killed him."

He stepped forward. He stood tall before Koul for a moment, then squatted in front of him.

"I’m only curious why you had to do it yourself," he said.

He took Koul’s bloodied hand into his and brought out a handkerchief from his pocket. With it, he started wiping Koul’s hand.

Koul was confused by his words. He didn’t understand so he said nothing.

"If your highness needs anyone to be eliminated, publicly or discreetly, you need only command it, and I will see to it that it is done."

Eh... is this what they call.. um... unbreaking loyalty?

If he isn’t upset that I killed a guard and is instead offering to be my dog, I will gladly take it.

Though I hope it isn’t a dog that will come back to bite me.

Before Koul could reply, a scream pierced their ears. It was a female voice.

Koul and Kanstiv’s gaze snapped to the door, then back at themselves in wonder. The moment didn’t even stretch when another scream came through.

Also a female’s voice but different.

Both of them shot to their feet, but before Koul could run out, Kanstiv pulled him back.

"Your clothes, your majesty."

In a hurry, Koul threw off his blood stained garment and hastily put on the new one Kanstiv brought for him.

Kanstiv wiped Koul’s face the best he could, then they both ran out toward the direction the scream came from.

When they reached, a small crowd had formed. Seeing Koul, everyone gave way and he passed through to see what had happened.

The moment he took in the sight, his muscles locked up.

On the cold floor and in the midst of pooled blood was the lifeless body of one of his wives.