Fame and Lewd Marks
While the world buzzed with talk of the Eternal Nightmare and the "Crow Sorcerer," Jinwoo—the man at the center of it all—tied the laces of his worn-out sneakers and stepped out of his semi-basement room.
A heavy Rolex watch, handed over by David, weighed down his pocket.
But he wasn't heading to a flashy luxury boutique in the bustling shopping district. Instead, he deliberately switched subway lines several times, making his way to a dingy secondhand luxury shop tucked away behind Jongno's jewelry street, where CCTV cameras were scarce.
It was the bare minimum caution to evade any potential tracking.
"How much can you give me for this?"
Jinwoo casually slid the watch across the counter. The elderly shop owner, peering through his magnifying glasses, turned it over and clicked his tongue.
"Heh heh, rare model, sure... but no certificate, and scratches everywhere. That one on the crystal is a killer. Looks like it got roughed up pretty bad, huh?"
'Rolled around in hell a bit.' Jinwoo shrugged inwardly.
After a long, tedious haggle, Jinwoo pocketed a thick envelope stuffed with just over 5 million won in cash.
He hadn't gotten full value, but for him right now, it was more than enough—practically overflowing.
Stepping out, Jinwoo savored the unfamiliar heft of the cash bundle, his mood lifting.
As if drawn by it, he wandered into a nearby burger joint. In his grinding poverty, even a franchise burger set had been a luxury.
He ordered the priciest double-patty bacon burger combo and headed to an empty window seat, tray in hand.
That was when it happened.
"Ah!"
A woman, nose buried in her smartphone and striding quickly, slammed right into Jinwoo's shoulder. Cola sloshed over the rim of his cup on the tray.
Before Jinwoo could say a word, she scowled and looked up, her puffed lips and heavy makeup framing eyes blazing with irritation.
She didn't even consider her own fault, snapping at him with a shrill voice.
"Ugh, shit! Where are your eyes? Can't you dodge when someone's coming? Aren't you gonna apologize?"
It was sheer audacity. Jinwoo stared at her in disbelief.
In that moment, the Magic Grimoire's cold voice echoed in his mind from the bag at his waist.
"My liege. Do you sense the arrogance of that pathetic bitch? Shifting her blame onto others, thinking a loud voice wins every time—that base survival tactic."
With no response from Jinwoo, the woman grew bolder. "What? Why are you staring? I said apologize! What if this spills on my clothes—are you gonna pay for it?"
"Repulsive. For such a thing to dare block your path."
Contempt dripped from the Grimoire's voice.
"Allow me to demonstrate your power. Watch closely. Behold the true gap in strength."
Before Jinwoo could react, an invisible ripple of mana seeped faintly from the bag holding the Grimoire.
It sank into the floor.
The woman took an aggressive step forward to berate him again.
"Kyaaah!"
Suddenly, her foot slipped as if the floor had been freshly waxed.
Her body flailed comically in midair.
Her tray flew up, and ketchup-and-mustard-drenched fries and cola arced perfectly onto her own face and expensive white blouse.
Then, with a heavy thud!, she crashed butt-first to the floor in a spectacular sprawl.
The shop fell silent.
Every eye locked on the woman, slumped amid the cola-and-ketchup mess.
Her face flushed red—first shock, then pain, finally humiliation.
Giggles erupted from around the room.
Too mortified even to glare at Jinwoo, she staggered up and fled the shop.
Jinwoo watched it all stone-faced.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he sat.
It felt good.
Crushing an opponent in the most pathetic, humiliating way—without lifting a finger.
This was a sorcerer's power.
Jinwoo unwrapped his burger contentedly.
"Time to get greasy. Been ages since a proper burger."
He muttered low, taking a massive bite.
One hand on the burger, the other pulled out his phone to open the Mystery Gallery.
The forum was ablaze with Eternal Nightmare posts.
Mainly hits in fog or mist—shitty visibility.
Pulls you to random spots. North American skinwalker tales, Japanese eight-foot ghost crap—local legends turning real, probably.
No survival method. Just luck. Or meeting a transcendent like the 'Crow Sorcerer.' Stay safe, folks.
Just scooped from 2ch. Girl from a group of high schoolers missing on Hokkaido camping found in Sapporo city. Ranting like "Po... Po... Po..." Nonstop. Said a ridiculously tall woman took her friends one by one. Straight-up eight-foot ghost? Country-specific horror tours starting now...?
Cops call it runaway, won't investigate. But bro kept saying weird dreams before vanishing. Blood-red skies, freaky monsters... This post's got me terrified. Bro, where the hell are you...?
Jinwoo scrolled indifferently, as if it were someone else's problem.
Then his finger paused on a popular post's comments.
Amid the flood, one username stood out.
Jinwoo stopped chewing.
Unlike vague fears or praise, this was specific. Desperate. A clear request.
A lost lamb bleating its position to the shepherd.
A cold smile curved Jinwoo's lips.
He tapped "PleaseSavior-nim" to check past posts. The feed was spammed with identical pleas.
Blocked by mods, recent ones stopped days ago.
He clicked the oldest with a photo attachment.
He tapped the attached missing person flyer. Her face filled the screen.
For a split second, Jinwoo's thoughts and movements froze like a buck shot dead.
She wasn't the plain sister he'd imagined.
Porcelain-white, translucent skin rare for a Korean. Upturned eyes with Eastern allure, but misty ash-brown irises like a fog-shrouded forest.
High nose bridge, sharp yet delicate features—exotic beauty, the mystical aura of Russian-Korean blood.
In the photo, she smiled shyly at the unfamiliar camera.
That fragile, pure smile stirred the viewer's sadism.
Jinwoo set down his burger.
Appetite vanished.
In its place surged a primal, viscous hunger. Heat welled from his gut.
His lower body reacted instantly, against his will. Veins throbbing, flesh swelling. Even through his pants, his desire strained prominently, rigid.
Prey? No.
Jinwoo's eyes shifted. Not mere prey. Not a disposable plaything.
That innocent face twisting in despair and ecstasy. Those mystical eyes begging only for him. That noble bloodline's body branded as his, tamed perfectly.
She would be his first.
The cornerstone of his empire. The first masterpiece remade by his hands.
The one he marked for conquest and dominion.
The Grimoire at his waist couldn't miss the roiling waves of lust, possession, and cruel conquest in Jinwoo's soul.
...Kuhuhuhu.
"Yes... that's it, my liege. That is the proper mindset of a true conqueror."