Into the Apocalypse: Saving My Favorite Villain

"Cae... are we really heading toward those lunatics’ headquarters?"

I couldn’t help asking in confusion as I pushed Cassel’s hand away from my waist for what felt like the millionth time.

Ever since we got into the car, this shameless man had been touching me whenever he found the chance.

Didn’t he realize there were other people here?

...No.

Knowing him, he absolutely realized it.

He was doing it on purpose.

Probably because of what had happened earlier.

I glanced toward the seat in front of me, where Matthew sat motionless, staring ahead in silence.

The man who had once tried to assassinate me had already shocked me enough, but what truly surprised me were Matthew’s recent actions.

Earlier, he had nearly started a fight with Cassel for absolutely no reason.

It was true that I wanted to help him this time around—to save him from that monstrous family of his, to let him live a healthier life, and to reunite him with his real family instead of letting him rot in tragedy as he had in the original story.

But...

If he kept provoking Cassel like this, then I would have no choice but to simply tell him the truth about his family and let him walk his own path alone.

Suddenly, a strong hand wrapped around my neck.

Before I could react, Cassel turned my face toward him.

"Where are you looking, Rosalia?"

His smile was terrifyingly beautiful.

The kind of smile that looked soft on the surface yet carried something dark underneath. Something possessive.

"I’m not looking at anything," I muttered quickly. "I’m waiting for your answer. Are we really going to raid the Illuminators’ headquarters?"

Cassel stared at me for several long seconds.

Then he sighed heavily and pulled me against his chest.

I struggled instinctively, trying to push him away, but his arm only tightened around me.

Perhaps he felt me resisting, because his deep voice suddenly brushed against my ear in a dangerous whisper.

"Stop moving... or I’ll kiss you right here."

My entire body froze.

But apparently, he found his own threat unconvincing, because he continued in an even lower voice.

"A long, deep French kiss."

"H-Hey! Alright, alright, I get it! Shut up already!"

Heat exploded across my cheeks.

I was so embarrassed and furious that I couldn’t even raise my head from his chest anymore.

I genuinely wished the earth would open up and swallow me whole.

The car was small.

Far too small.

Matthew, Liz, Henry, and Robin were sitting in the front seats.

There was no way they hadn’t heard every single word Cassel said.

I wanted to die.

No—worse.

Unfortunately, the man in question looked perfectly satisfied with himself.

A low chuckle vibrated in his chest as he lazily stroked my hair.

Meanwhile, absolute silence filled the vehicle.

The kind of silence that screamed louder than words.

I didn’t dare look up to see anyone’s expressions.

Liz was probably pretending not to hear anything.

Henry likely wanted to laugh.

Robin was definitely judging us.

And Matthew...

I didn’t even want to know what Matthew was thinking.

Cassel spoke again after a while, his tone finally turning serious.

"Our mission is to find those researchers and bring them back safely. They may represent humanity’s last hope. If they can analyze the virus, they might even create a cure someday."

His voice remained calm and steady, but his eyes darkened slightly.

"However, we also need to retrieve proper research equipment and transport it back to the base."

Then, unexpectedly, a faintly mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"And since those people possess plenty of useful things... naturally, we’ll be taking them with us."

I stared at him quietly.

For some reason, I couldn’t feel at ease about these people.

The Illuminators.

I was certain I had read about them in the original novel.

But frustratingly enough, I couldn’t fully remember their role.

Were they powerful?

Dangerous?

Enemies?

Allies?

My memories remained blurry, like fragments hidden beneath thick fog.

Honestly...

I didn’t want Cassel going there at all.

Perhaps Cassel noticed my unease, because he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against the top of my head.

"Don’t worry," he murmured. "If I wasn’t certain I could handle them, I wouldn’t dare approach them."

I hesitated briefly before nodding.

If Cassel said so... then perhaps it was true.

This man was arrogant beyond reason, but he was rarely careless.

And besides...

I had just confirmed that my previous theory was correct.

Lowering my gaze, I slowly closed my eyes.

Then I focused entirely on the strange sensation spreading through my mind.

There.

I found it again.

That faint connection.

That eerie pull.

Come here.

Come closer.

Closer.

As I concentrated harder on the thought, tightening my mind around it, I felt something move in response.

Something obeying me.

My eyes snapped open.

Outside the car window, several scattered zombies wandered through the ruined streets.

Some were crushed beneath the wheels of the vehicle ahead of us.

Others were casually eliminated by members of our team as they cleared the road.

But farther away—

I noticed a figure suddenly sprinting toward our car at terrifying speed.

My heart pounded violently.

Then I tried something else.

Go away.

Farther.

Leave.

Instantly, the zombie stopped.

Its body jerked unnaturally before it abruptly turned and rushed in the opposite direction.

A faint smile spread across my lips.

Even though a sharp pain stabbed through my head.

Even though sweat had begun forming across my forehead.

This ability...

It definitely wasn’t easy to use.

Just giving two simple commands had already exhausted me.

Still—

I finally understood.

I could control zombies.

I had first suspected it during my previous escape from the kidnappers.

At the time, I had desperately wished for a zombie to attack the car chasing me.

My emotions had been intense.

Violent.

Overwhelming.

And then...

Boom.

Exactly what I wanted happened.

At first, I thought it was merely a coincidence.

But now I knew better.

That was why I’d been secretly testing the theory ever since.

And it worked.

It actually worked.

I could control them.

Not all of them, though.

That was the strange part.

It felt as though only certain zombies responded to me.

Whenever I sensed that peculiar connection, I could influence them.

If I didn’t feel it...

Then no matter how hard I tried, nothing happened.

Which meant the zombie that attacked the car before—the one powerful enough to overturn it—was probably one of the controllable ones.

But why?

Was it different from ordinary zombies?

Did it possess traits that set it apart from the typical undead?

Perhaps it belonged to a higher level, more evolved, or dangerous.

Was it stronger, able to overpower its counterparts with ease?

Smarter, capable of strategic thinking and deception?

I didn’t know for certain.

But one thing was undeniable—this ability was priceless in a world overflowing with monsters.

If I could eventually learn to control all zombies, I might just have a chance.

Then maybe—

Just maybe—

I could build a truly safe city, a fortress amidst the chaos, surrounded by endless undead armies that served as both shield and weapon.

No human enemies would dare approach this impregnable sanctuary, and within its walls, hope might still survive.

Anyone who wanted to hurt me...

Anyone who wanted to hurt Cassel...

Would have to face walls made entirely of monsters first.

The thought alone felt absurdly powerful.

Beautiful, even.

For the first time since arriving in this cruel world, I glimpsed something resembling hope of being helpful to him.

To protect him with my own strength.

Not fragile hope born from dreams.

But terrifying hope born from power.

My eyelids gradually grew heavier.

The headache worsened with every passing second, exhaustion consuming my body completely.

Without realizing it, I leaned deeper into Cassel’s embrace.

Warm.

Safe.

His scent surrounded me.

Strong arms tightened around my body protectively.

I barely heard the faint sound of rain beginning outside.

Nor did I notice the ruined city passing by beyond the windows.

My consciousness slowly drifted away.

Right before sleep claimed me, I vaguely felt Cassel lower his head against my hair.

And though I couldn’t see his expression...

I sensed something dark and complicated hiding beneath his silence.

Something dangerous.

Possessive.

Almost frightening.

As though he were thinking about something darker, something bigger.

His embrace tightened further around me.

Like he was afraid someone might steal me away the moment he let go.

Or perhaps—

Like he wanted to lock me beside him forever.

But I was too exhausted to question it.

Too tired to think.

So in the end, I simply surrendered to the warmth surrounding me and fell asleep in his arms while the world outside continued collapsing into darkness.

Sleep did not welcome me gently.

Darkness swallowed me whole the moment I closed my eyes.

Cold air brushed against my skin.

At first, I thought I was still inside the car, still wrapped safely in Cassel’s arms...

But when I opened my eyes, I found myself standing alone in the middle of a dead city.

Everything around me was black.

The sky.

The streets.

Even the buildings looked rotten, covered in pulsating veins of flesh as if the entire city itself had become a living monster.

A horrible smell filled the air.

Blood.

Rot.

Death.

My breathing became uneven.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Suddenly—

A distant scream echoed somewhere behind me.

I turned sharply.

Nothing.

Only endless darkness.

Then another sound came.

Slow footsteps.

Heavy.

Dragging.

Closer.

Closer.

My body froze instinctively.

A strange pressure wrapped around my throat, making it hard to breathe.

And then—

A voice spoke.

Low.

Hoarse.

Inhuman.

"You cannot escape me... Rosalia."

My heart nearly stopped.

The voice sounded as though dozens of people were speaking at once.

Some whispering.

Some screaming.

Some laughing.

I stumbled backward in terror.

"W-Who are you?!"

Silence.

Then the voice laughed.

The sound was enough to make my skin crawl.

"I am coming."

The ground beneath my feet trembled violently.

Far away in the darkness, two enormous crimson eyes slowly opened.

My entire body turned cold.

Those eyes...

They were not human.

Not zombie.

Something worse.

Something ancient.

Something hungry.

"You changed fate once," the voice whispered. "But this world still belongs to me."

The shadows around me began moving.

Hundreds of figures crawled out from the darkness.

Zombies.

Thousands of them.

All staring at me.

Watching me.

Waiting.

"You did reach him this time" the creature continued softly. "That is why he escaped my control."

He?

Before I could think further, the massive eyes moved closer.

And closer.

Until the entire world seemed consumed by red.

"When I find you..."

A horrible growl echoed through the city.

"...I will tear him apart in front of you."

Cassel.

My blood ran cold instantly.

"And then," the creature whispered lovingly, almost gently, "I will kill you last."