The game Chaos Path of Heroine was famous for being very hard. People loved its magic, sword skills, black arts, dating system, and beautiful characters.
The story was about the female lead, who awakened as a Hero, protected the man she loved, defeated enemies, and reached a happy ending.
But in the background, many NPCs suffered.
One of those NPCs… was Nox von Deon.
He was born as a duke's son.
But his mother died during childbirth, and everyone blamed him.
The duke could not accept reality, so he pushed Nox far away to a small mansion.
He never visited.
Nox only saw his father once—on his tenth birthday. The duke walked past him without even looking.
After that, nothing.
The duke remarried and had new children.
Nox was completely forgotten.
What a painful life, Nox thought sometimes.
---
This was Nox's second life.
In his first life, he was Shashank, an ordinary guy who liked games, anime, and manhwa.
He died suddenly.
And when he opened his eyes, he was in this game world.
This body—Nox von Deon—was a minor villain in the game.
A weak noble who later obsessed over a princess, acted crazy, and died at the hands of the female lead.
Yeah… that death scene was terrible. But that's not going to be me now.
He stretched his thin arms and sighed.
In stories, reincarnated people always fix the villain's fate. But I just want to survive. Maybe even enjoy this rich noble life a little… quietly.
Even if his father hated him, the money sent to this mansion was enough to live.
But to avoid dying the same way as the original Nox, he had to make changes.
The first change?
Leave the room.
The original Nox was a complete shut-in.
He never stepped outside until he went to the Academy.
That was how he later met the princess, went crazy, and died.
I should not repeat that.
---
The mansion was quiet.
Maids walked through the halls, cleaning and gossiping like normal.
So when a certain door opened, they froze.
One maid dropped a cup.
Another gasped loudly.
A brave maid approached him.
"Young Master, do you need anything?"
Nox walked out wearing clean clothes. His hair was messy, but he looked better than before.
These maids came from his mother's side of the family. They always treated him gently.
"I'm just going for a walk," Nox said softly.
Behind him, the maids whispered:
"He looks pale…"
"He must've skipped meals again!"
"Bring tea! Call the healer!"
Nox acted like he didn't hear them.
Their concern is more scary than monsters…
He walked to the large mansion doors and pushed them open.
Fresh air hit his face.
The garden outside was beautiful—flowers glowing with mana, green grass shining under the sun, soft breeze brushing past him.
"…Wow."
He walked to a quiet spot, sat down, then lay on the grass.
For the first time, he felt relaxed.
A maid placed food near him. She stayed nearby in case he needed something.
Nox picked up a piece of bread—
And suddenly—
Something moved under him.
A cold shiver ran up his back.
…No way. Already?
The shadow beneath the grass shook slightly.
Black. Cold. Alive.
It pulsed softly.
And then a blue screen appeared in front of Nox's eyes.
[Hidden System Awakening…]
[Class Detected: Necromanix – Mythical Grade]
[Shadow Core Reacting]
Nox's eyes widened.
Wait—wait—WAIT. I didn't summon anything! I'm too weak to summon! Right!? RIGHT!?
The shadow stretched like a hand reaching toward him.
No one else noticed.
Only Nox.
[Shadow Undead: Proto Form Detected]
[Would you like to stabilize the shadow?]
[Yes / No]
Nox swallowed nervously.
This… this is dangerous. But if I refuse… I'll die like the original Nox. I need this power to survive.
His finger trembled.
Then he pressed—
[Yes]
Class: Necromanix — Shadow Type
In the game, Nox once awakened the class Necromanix.
But before players even got to see him fight, he died in the tutorial.
Everyone thought he was just a normal NPC… until the developers revealed he was actually a hidden Dark-Star character.
There were three human star-grades:
White Star, Red Star, and Black Star.
Black Star was the strongest from the start.
Nox had been one of them.
And he was Shadow-type, not Skeleton-type.
A rare type.
---
Servants in Panic
Nox walked through the mansion courtyard and saw a circle of servants gathered around someone.
He stepped closer.
It was Servant Jil, holding his swollen cheek, trembling.
Nox frowned lightly.
"Jil, what happened?"
Jil lowered his head. He looked terrified, as if saying the truth would get him killed.
"If you don't want to tell me, it's fine," Nox said calmly. "But listen—if anyone wants to leave this job forever, you can go home right now."
All the servants gasped.
"Y-Young Master! N-No! Please don't fire us!"
"We didn't do anything wrong!"
Their panic made Jil finally speak.
"Young Master… I will explain…"
---
Flashback — Jil's morning
That morning, Jil had gone to the city market to buy supplies.
After finishing, he returned to the mansion.
At the entrance of the market, he saw a group of men surrounding a young girl. She was crying. No one else tried to help.
Jil clenched his teeth and stepped forward.
The men turned to him.
They wore the mark of the Black Spider Gang.
He showed them the badge of the Duke's household.
But instead of backing off, the gang members laughed.
"Oh? From that mansion?"
"Even your Duke doesn't care about his young master."
"No one in this territory can stop us."
They mocked Nox. They mocked the whole family.
Jil tried to protect the girl.
The gang beat him until he collapsed.
Even then, he crawled back to the mansion to warn the guards.
But Nox found out before any guard reacted.
---
Jil finished explaining, shaking.
Nox nodded slowly.
"You did well. All of you, take medicine and rest. Leave the rest to me."
A maid stepped forward, pale.
"Young Master… please don't go. It's dangerous."
Another servant added, "They're criminals… you might get hurt…"
But Nox did not waver.
"I'm not stopping."
---
At the Mansion Gate
Nox stood at the main entrance.
Two knights arrived as he ordered:
Sir Rowan — the old knight, calm and quiet.
Sir Belton — the young knight, loyal but cautious.
Both looked uneasy.
They already guessed why Nox summoned them… and neither wanted trouble outside the mansion.
Nox cleared his throat.
"We are going to beat the gang."
Belton's eyes widened. "Y-Young Master, it's not your business. You could get injured—"
Rowan stayed silent, observing Nox.
He seemed ready to follow whatever order came.
Nox stepped forward and looked directly at Belton.
"Sir Belton, do you know what they did?"
Belton hesitated. "I… heard they attacked a servant but—"
"They insulted the Duke. They insulted my father. And they claim no one in this land can stop them."
Nox's voice grew colder.
"Isn't that enough reason for me to punish them myself?"
Belton swallowed hard.
Before he could argue again, Rowan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Enough. Our duty is to protect the Young Master."
Nox smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Sir Rowan."
Rowan bowed. "We follow you."
Belton sighed. "…I will join too."
Nox turned toward the city.
"Good. Let's make the Black Spider Gang regret touching our people."
---
The carriage stopped in front of a noisy bar called Ragged Fang Tavern.
Rowan looked at the signboard and sighed.
"This place… it's a branch of the Black Spider Gang."
Nox stared at the huge spider symbol on the door.
"How are they still open? How are they not in jail?"
He held out his hand. "Rowan, the sword."
Rowan immediately handed over his greatsword. Nox lifted it with a small stretch of his shoulders.
He kicked the tavern door open.
Inside, a group of thugs looked up.
Belton and Rowan stood behind Nox like silent walls.
Rowan bowed slightly, introducing Nox without waiting for orders:
"This is Young Master Nox, heir of the Duke."
The thugs blinked, confused.
One of them walked up, clicking his tongue.
"Kid, go home before you get beaten.this is not a place to play "
Nox sighed.
"Rowan, don't move unless I give permission.and do anything"
"Yes, Young Master."
Nox lifted the sword slightly—
—and smacked the thug across the head.
The man dropped like a sack of potatoes.
"As expected from a Black Star character," Nox murmured.
All the thugs froze.
Nox placed one foot on the unconscious thug's head and rested the sword on his shoulder.
"So, uncles… I'm bored. Wanna play with me?"
The provocation worked.
Two thugs rushed from behind.
Rowan stepped forward, but Belton grabbed him.
"The young Master said not to interfere. Without any order"
Rowan clicked his tongue but obeyed.
Nox fought with everything he had.
Kicks, punches, slams—he didn't even bother drawing his sword properly.
Hours passed.
Rowan was speechless.
These thugs needed protection from Nox, not the other way around.
Nox sat on the back of a groaning thug, using him like a cushion, then waved to his knights.
"Come on, join me. Don't be shy. Juice for all three of us."
---
After finishing his drink, Nox looked at the beaten men.
"Now… where is the girl you kidnapped? Tell me jil say you kidnap on the street this morning"
No one answered.
Nox frowned. "Rowan Where's my sword?"
He smiled at them.
A thug immediately broke.
"W-We don't know! Only our boss knows where he sends the girls!"
"Good. Where is your boss?"
"U-Upper floor! But… you can't go. He's strong… and you can't win"
Nox kicked him lightly.
"Strong? You say that while lying like a dead dog? And beat up like a pupil you need spanking again"
The thug started crying.
Another stammered, "T-The upper floor is soundproof for meetings! Boss is… sleeping with someone!"
Nox stood.
"Belton, stay here. Rowan, come with me."
"Yes, Young Master."
---
The second floor hallway smelled like perfume and cheap alcohol.
"This must be the boss's room," Rowan said.
From inside, indecent noises echoed".ahh"
Nox exhaled. "Ignore it. I'll beat him extra for both of us."
He knocked loudly.
"Room service."
A half-dressed man opened the door.
Nox punched him in the face before he could speak.
Someone inside threw a dagger toward Nox.
Nox pushed Rowan aside and dodged.
"Ohhh. I like that kind of greeting," Nox said. "Now I get why you're called strong."
The man stepped out of the room wearing only pants.
He was muscular and had the aura of an Awakened.
"So the kid is here. Didn't your parents teach you not to disturb adults?"
Nox smiled.
"Sorry if I disturbed you. I'm looking for a kidnapped girl. Maybe you know her."
The boss scoffed.
"Why should I tell anything to a brat?"
"you kid even know what and where you are ha haha haa you just idiot brat"
He laughed like a lunatic, cursing Nox for interrupting his sleep.
Nox grew bored.
He grabbed the man by the collar—
—and threw him out the window of the second floor.
The boss twisted in the air and landed safely, shocked.
"Hey, kid—"
"Shut it. I'm busy.man or maybe boy but. Whatever "
Nox jumped down from the window.
Belton and Rowan froze when Nox landed with a perfect kick on the boss's chest."young Master what—"
The man coughed blood.
"H-How are you this strong…? you are just a kid "
Nox clenched his fist.
"Excuse me. Say hello to my punch. We talk later and say hello to your mama"
---
Nox swung.
The boss dodged and countered, but his movements were sloppy.
"Zero Star, huh?" Nox muttered. "Just awakened, nothing more."
The man tried to hit him again, but Nox countered every move.
Even as an adult fighter, he was losing badly.
They exchanged blows.
Nox's strength overwhelmed him.
Finally, Nox grabbed a sword lying on the ground.
"Time to spank my little boss."
A few minutes later, the boss lay on the street, swollen and barely conscious.
Nox grabbed his chin.
"Where is the girl?"
The man couldn't speak. His face was too damaged.
Belton and Rowan both sighed.
"Young Master…"
Nox blinked.
"Oh. Sorry. I lost control."
He dragged the boss onto a chair, slapped his cheek lightly to wake him up, and placed paper in front of him.
"Write the address. All the girls. Everything about the Black Spider Gang."
The man trembled and wrote everything he knew.