THE MASTER’S DESCENT ~【Taekook】
| ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴsɪᴏɴ ~ ⁰¹ |
[ Night had fallen over the mansion, but it brought no peace. Inside, the air was thick with the copper tang of blood and the echoes of dying screams. ]
？ ？ ？
𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 : Oh, my God!
？ ？ ？
𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 : Please help me. Please... Please!
？ ？ ？
𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 : Young Master...!
[ People were dying right before Taehyung’s eyes. He watched in a detached horror as limbs that had walked the halls normally yesterday now rolled across the floor. Those still alive crawled on all fours, dragging themselves through the gore in a desperate, futile bid for escape. ]
[ Taehyung’s father was already dead, slumped at the dining table with a sword driven through his heart. It was a gruesome sight; one eye socket was a hollow, empty ruin, with blood dripping down his cheek like a singular, crimson tear. Taehyung tried to move his legs, but they were leaden, rooted to the spot. Shadowy figures flickered in his periphery, indistinguishable and menacing. ]
[ It wasn't just fear that paralyzed him. Taehyung felt no regret for the family members being slaughtered around him; he knew they were finally being punished for the atrocities they had committed. The problem was the lack of an exit. No matter how much he struggled, his body remained as rigid as a marble statue. The only things that moved according to his will were his eyes. ]
？ ？ ？
I’ve never heard of you in my life.
[ A light voice, laced with the hint of a laugh, brushed against his ears. Long, silvery-white hair—a rarity in this world—swayed just above the speaker's waist. The eyes Taehyung had once thought were like rubies now revealed their true nature: they were the color of fresh blood, glowing with an unmistakable madness. ]
[ The heavy, reinforced doors of the dining room swung open. A scream pierced the air. Two beautiful women and a servant were kicked through the threshold by men in black robes, tossed like unwanted dogs. ]
？ ？ ？
𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 : Please save me!
？ ？ ？
𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 : Monster! I hate you!
[ The screams died instantly. Under the weight of that cold voice, the survivors' mouths clamped shut. Taehyung watched them, his vision finally clearing. They were pathetic, shivering figures, but he found he could not pity them. He was in no position to offer sympathy to anyone. ]
？ ？ ？
𝙍𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙣 : These are the last ones alive in the mansion.
**Stated, voice devoid of emotion**
？ ？ ？
It’s a mansion; there are always vermin to deal with. [❄]
[ He walked lightly toward Taehyung, a refreshing, almost innocent smile playing on his lips. As he passed, he tapped Taehyung’s cheek with fingers slick with blood. He headed straight for a maidservant cowering in the corner. Taehyung’s eyes followed him as far as they could, catching sight of the man’s expensive shoes, now stained dark. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Skin crawled and desperately wanted to wipe his cheek, but remained frozen**
？ ？ ？
I’m getting tired of this, and there’s still a delicious main dish left...
**Mused, glancing back at Taehyung**
[ Taehyung couldn't turn his head to see the corner, but he didn't need to. He knew exactly who the "Main dish" was. ]
？ ？ ？
𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙙 : Young Master, please... I’ll do anything...
**Sobbed**
？ ？ ？
Hahaha! It seems I’ll be hearing 'Young Master' quite a lot today.
[ The man’s red eyes curved into crescents of delight. He reached out, slowly rubbing the blood from his hands onto the maid’s trembling face. ]
？ ？ ？
I’ll kill you all in one go.
**Whispered with a merciless gentleness**
[ With a sharp flick of his fingers, spears of ice—huge, jagged icicles—manifested in the air. ]
[ The sound of rushing wind was followed by the dull thud of impact. The three servants died without a sound. The man grew quiet, twirling around like a dancer in the center of the carnage. Taehyung heard the footsteps approaching from behind and inhaled sharply. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 I should have killed him when I had the chance, If my father had listened to me, this wouldn't have happened. I should have run the moment they refused to listen. I shouldn't have stayed! 💭
[ He screamed at his limbs to move, and suddenly, the intangible power binding him snapped. His balance vanished, and his body tilted forward. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Huh...?
[ Expecting the hard impact of the floor, Taehyung closed his eyes. Instead, he felt strong hands catch his shoulders and pull him into a firm embrace. His head pressed against a broad chest. Taehyung sighed inwardly; he knew this scent, this heat. But he was too afraid to open his eyes. ]
？ ？ ？
My heartless Master begged his foolish Father every day to abandon me, but now he’s in my arms.
**Whispered directly into his ear**
[ Taehyung felt the hot breath on his skin and hurriedly pushed the man away, stumbling back to find his own footing. Up close, the man’s beauty was ethereal, almost alien. His voice was as enchanting as a fairy tale, but Taehyung knew better. This was the Dark Lord, the King of the Magic Tower. And until an hour ago, he had been Taehyung’s slave. ]
？ ？ ？
Now, you’re the only one left, Master ~
**Said sweetly**
[ Taehyung looked for an escape, but the two wizards blocked the only exit. ]
？ ？ ？
Do you want to live?
[ It sounded like a demon offering a contract. Taehyung took a step back; the man took a long stride forward, closing the gap instantly. The laughter vanished from his red eyes. ]
[ He flicked his fingers, mirroring the exact command Taehyung had given him the day they first met. Taehyung gritted his teeth and stepped back again, but his heel caught on something soft and heavy. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Ugh!
**Looked down**
[ He had tripped over one of the many corpses littering the rug. The silver-haired man leaned down, his long hair cascading toward the bloody floor. ]
？ ？ ？
Very well. Very well, Master ~
**Reached out, stroking Taehyung’s hair with a blood-stained hand**
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 I knew he was a lunatic, but I didn't think he was this far gone. 💭
[ He hadn't intended to obey, but he ended up collapsing onto the floor anyway. Taehyung had foreseen this. He had begged his father to dispose of the man, but his father had been blinded by the man's potential power. Everyone else in the house had treated the "Slave" with arrogance, unaware that behind that sweet tongue and submissive smile, a monster was whetting its blade. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 If I'm going to die anyway, I should have fought back. 💭
**Thought, his heart hammering against his ribs**
[ The man stared at him, then reached out and snatched the necklace from Taehyung's neck, snapping the string. Attached to it was a red, transparent glass bead—the size of a coin. It was the seal of "Humanity Magic," a tether carved into the man's heart. As long as Taehyung held that bead, he could inflict agonizing pain on the man to force obedience. Taehyung had never wanted to use it. But now, he had to survive. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Jin!
**Shouted**
[ A violent whirlwind erupted in the dining room. The man's eyes widened in genuine surprise. ]
？ ？ ？
𝙒𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙧𝙙 : The Supreme Spirit of the Wind?
**Muttered, at the door**
Taehyung Valerius ~
Please help me! Take me far away from here. Anywhere but here.
**Pleaded with the spirit**
[ The spirit, manifesting as a massive, translucent hawk, let out a silent cry. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
I’ll give you my blood.
**Promised**
[ The hawk spread its wings, ready to lift him. But as Taehyung reached for the spirit, an explosion of agony detonated in his chest. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Aaaaaaah!
[ The pain was blinding. The hawk flickered and vanished instantly. Taehyung collapsed, rolling on the floor and gasping for air. ]
？ ？ ？
Oh, my God. I’m sorry, Master. I was so surprised that I...
[ The man squatted in front of Taehyung, who was curled into a ball, drenched in cold sweat. ]
？ ？ ？
My Master is quite impressive. I'm sorry, was that too much?
**Said, patting Taehyung’s head affectionately**
Taehyung Valerius ~
What... What did you do?
**Managed to lift his head, vision blurring**
？ ？ ？
Oh... I simply removed the seal from my heart and placed it on yours. I was so afraid you might abandon me and leave.
**Took a strand of Taehyung’s hair and kissed it**
？ ？ ？
Master, please call my name. Then you can go to sleep.
[ He whispered with the same gentle, submissive look he had worn as a slave, while the red bead rolled playfully between his fingers. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 Damn it! Where do I even begin to describe how crazy this man is? 💭
**Eyelids are growing heavy**
？ ？ ？
Come on, say it ~
**Urged**
Taehyung Valerius ~
Jungkook...
**Lips moved against his will as the darkness claimed him**
Jeon Jungkook ~
Good boy. You may sleep now, Master ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
What Do You All Think About This Story?
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
Answer Honestly ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙇𝙄𝙆𝙀 ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙀 ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙎𝙐𝘽𝙎𝘾𝙍𝙄𝘽𝙀 ~
| ᴀ ᴘᴏɪsᴏɴᴇᴅ ɢɪғᴛ ~ ⁰² | | ᴘᴀsᴛ |
[ It was roughly ten years ago that Taehyung first met Jungkook. At nine years old, Taehyung was the only son of Count Valerius, touted by the world as the family’s most treasured jewel. At least, that was the facade the Count maintained for high society. ]
[ One afternoon, returning from a brutal conflict with the border barbarians, his father threw a dirty, scrawny boy onto the marble floor in front of Taehyung. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Father?
**Small voice**
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
I found him scavenging on the battlefield.
**Said, carelessly unbuckling his blood-stained armor**
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
He has a pretty face. I thought he’d make a suitable slave for you.
**Voice was dry, matching his cold, purple eyes**
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Bowed his head, expression troubled**
[ The boy on the floor was a wreck. His shoulder was mangled as if pierced by a spear, and he was shivering violently from a high fever. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the pristine floor. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
I don't have a need for a slave, Father...
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
Nonsense. You are to be a pillar of this Empire. It is necessary for you to have a shield—someone who will protect your life with their own when the time comes.
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
It was not a suggestion, Taehyung.
[ The finality in his father’s voice made Taehyung’s lips quiver. Though he had been born and raised in this world, he was burdened by the memories of a previous life. His moral compass was skewed by modern values that simply did not exist here. He looked at the silver-haired boy moaning in pain and felt a sickening sense of déjà vu. He had seen this boy before—or rather, he had read about him. ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
Taehyung Valerius, are you talking back to me now? [❄]
**Gaze sharpened**
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Went silent**
[ His father’s "Love" was an obsession born of greed; Taehyung possessed the rare qualities of a high-ranking alchemist. In the Empire, such a talent was a gold mine, a way to tether the Valerius family to the Imperial throne. ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
In a week, you will attend the banquet to secure a friendship with the Crown Prince, and make sure to charm the other nobles. We don't know which way the wind will blow when the Emperor falls. [❄]
**Commanded**
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Stared at the floor**
Yes, Father.
[ He knew he was being raised as a high-priced commodity. Despite being a child of only nine, he understood that he had no money, no authority, and no escape. He was a bird in a gilded cage, and now, his father was putting another bird in with him—one with much sharper talons. ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
I’ve put a proper leash on him, he won't be able to disobey.
**Remarked, voice as monotonous as if he were explaining the mechanics of a clock**
[ The boy on the floor finally opened his eyes. They were a startling, brilliant ruby red. He looked around blankly until his gaze landed on Taehyung. ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
If he doesn't listen, you squeeze this, the seal is engraved directly onto his heart. You can order him to do anything.
**Said, placing a necklace around Taehyung’s neck**
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
[ A single red bead hung from the chain, deep and translucent, looking like a drop of congealed blood. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Stared at the bead, feeling sick**
What? No, perhaps later...
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
You’ve become quite talkative lately, haven't you?
**Eyes turned predatory**
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Flinched**
[ His father didn't use his fists—that would ruin the "Merchandise." Instead, he used psychological torture. He had killed Taehyung’s pets, locked him in windowless rooms for days without water, and once hung him upside down until he blacked out. The Count was a madman who played the part of a saint to the public while running a secret slave trade in the shadows. ]
[ Taehyung knew why his father would eventually die. He remembered a line from the novel he had once read: 'The future master of the Magic Tower was brought in as a slave by the Count, but the Count failed to control the monster he had unleashed.' ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
Hurry up! Give him an order!
**Barked**
[ Panicked, Taehyung’s mind went blank. The only command that surfaced was the most basic one. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Ah... Sit down!
**Blurted out and immediately stiffened**
[ Sit down? He had ordered a human being as if he were a common stray dog. The silver-haired boy looked up at Taehyung with a flash of pure disgust. But before Taehyung could apologize or change the command, the Count reached out and brushed his hand against the red bead. ]
[ The boy let out a choked groan of agony. His body spasmed as the seal in his heart tightened. Shaking and gasping for air, he forced himself onto his knees at Taehyung's feet. ]
？ ？ ？
Master.
**Whispered**
[ He looked up and smiled. It was a bright, dazzling smile that didn't reach his bloodshot eyes. He was bleeding from his shoulder, his breath coming in ragged hitches, yet he looked like a perfect, obedient doll. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
**A passage from the novel flashed in mind**
💭 'The boy was strikingly handsome. Taehyung instantly fell in love with his bright red eyes and the silver hair that sparkled like starlight.' 💭
[ The reality was far more terrifying. Taehyung looked at the boy—the future Great Wizard, the villain who would eventually slaughter the entire protagonist’s party—and felt only dread. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
U-um, yes. Hello... What... What is your name?
**Stuttered**
Jungkook ~ [ Slave ]
Jungkook, Master.
[ The name hit Taehyung like a physical blow. Jungkook. The master of the Magic Tower. The man who would eventually burn this mansion to the ground. ]
Count Valerius ~ [ Taehyung's Dad ]
It’s your birthday present. Use it well.
**Said, turning to leave**
Taehyung Valerius ~
Yes, Father.
**Replied hollowly**
[ As his father walked away, Taehyung looked down at the "Ticking time bomb" kneeling before him. He desperately wished for an internet connection, a guide, or a miracle—anything to tell him how to survive a birthday present that was destined to kill him. ]
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙇𝙄𝙆𝙀 ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙀 ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙎𝙐𝘽𝙎𝘾𝙍𝙄𝘽𝙀 ~
| ɴᴜʀsɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀ ~ ⁰³ | | ᴘᴀsᴛ |
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 I need to move him for now, but... 💭
[ Taehyung stood in the dimly lit hallway, his expression tight with conflict. He didn’t physically move the boy himself; instead, the chamberlain carried the limp, feverish body. Despite being a slave, Jungkook was assigned the room directly adjacent to Taehyung’s. ]
[ It was an explicit order from Count Valerius. The Count had decreed that at any moment, in any place, Jungkook was to act as Taehyung’s human shield, ready to sacrifice his life to preserve the "Precious" heir. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 I feel like he’s going to die before he ever gets the chance to protect me. 💭
**Thought grimly**
[ A servant had already attempted to dress Jungkook’s wounds, but the work was amateurish at best. Even with Taehyung’s limited medical knowledge, he could see the bandages were loose and poorly placed. It was a half-hearted effort for a life deemed expendable. ]
[ Taehyung turned as the wooden door creaked open. A young servant entered, carrying a basin of cold water and a stack of towels. She moved with a sluggish indifference, clearly resentful of being assigned to care for a slave. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Don’t bother with that, call the doctor. He’ll die if you don’t.
**Said, voice quiet but firm**
？ ？ ？
𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩 : **Paused, giving him a look of weary condescension**
Young Master, I don’t think you understand. A doctor is a luxury for someone like this. His kind are like weeds; even if you leave them alone, they have a uselessly long life. He’ll survive.
[ Taehyung’s brow furrowed. It was a chilling display of the mansion's hierarchy—the idea that a human being’s survival was an inconvenience because of their status. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Do you think I asked for your opinion? [❄]
？ ？ ？
𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩 : Excuse me...?
Taehyung Valerius ~
If I leave him like this, he’ll die. I am giving you an order: call the doctor. [❄]
[ The servant’s eyes widened in surprise. Taehyung rarely raised his voice, and he was usually the target of the servants' subtle bullying rather than the one giving commands. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Shall I tell my Father that you’ve chosen to disobey me? [❄]
**Added, voice dropping an octave**
[ The threat hit its mark. The servants only ignored Taehyung behind the Count’s back; the moment his father’s name was mentioned, their arrogance crumbled. ]
？ ？ ？
𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩 : N-no... I’m sorry, Young Master. I’ll fetch the doctor immediately. [😰]
Taehyung Valerius ~
Tell him to come at once. I’ll cover the costs from my own allowance. [❄]
？ ？ ？
𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩 : Yes, Young Master.
[ She bowed hurriedly and scrambled out, leaving the basin and towels behind. Taehyung let out a long, shaky sigh and scratched the back of his head. He wasn't used to this kind of authority. In the Valerius household, Taehyung was often treated as "Useless" by the Count, which led the staff to treat him with varying degrees of mockery. He usually stayed quiet to avoid his father’s wrath, but today, he couldn't let it slide. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 If I let this child suffer... I’m the one who will pay for it later. 💭
[ Taehyung knew the Jungkook from the novel. He wasn't a man who forgot a slight. He was the type to meticulously document every insult, every bruise, and every moment of neglect in his mind, only to repay it all at once with interest. ]
[ In the original story, the more talent a wizard possessed, the later they awakened. Most mages found their spark in their teens, but Jungkook wouldn't awaken until his twentieth birthday—the day Taehyung was set to come of age. On that day, Jungkook would become the Master of the Magic Tower and slaughter everyone in the Valerius mansion. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 Including me. 💭
[ Taehyung looked at the boy on the bed. Jungkook’s breathing was ragged, his silver-white hair damp with sweat. It was a miracle he had managed to kneel earlier. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 I’ll heal him, then I’ll get rid of him. I have to give him his freedom and avoid my own death. 💭
**Decided**
[ He wrung out a towel in the cold water and placed it gently on Jungkook’s forehead. The boy shivered at the contact, his eyelids trembling. Slowly, those ruby eyes opened, clouded with fever and confusion. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
I’ve called a doctor, so just rest. When you’re better, I’m going to let you go. You need to get out of this house, do you understand?
**Whispered**
Jungkook ~ [ Slave ]
Why...?
**Voice was a mere rasp**
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Heart skipped a beat**
💭 Because you’re going to kill me, and I’m trying to survive. 💭
[ He thought of the old proverb about not raising a "Black-headed beast"—a creature that would surely bite the hand that fed it. Jungkook was exactly that: a disaster in human form. ]
Jungkook ~ [ Slave ]
Unusual... I’m... human...?
**Muttered, his eyes drifting shut again**
[ The doctor arrived an hour later. After a brief examination, he turned to Taehyung with a surprisingly positive outlook. ]
？ ？ ？
𝘿𝙤𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 : The wound is from a blade, but it’s cleaner than it looks. The lacerations are deep, but he should recover. Give him this medicine three times a day, and use this powder on the wounds. Keep the bandages dry.
Taehyung Valerius ~
Thank you. Send the bill to the chamberlain; it will be paid from my personal funds. [❄]
[ After the doctor left, Jungkook’s complexion seemed to settle as the painkillers took hold. Taehyung watched him, repeating his plan like a mantra. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
💭 When he’s better, I’ll give him money. I’ll get him out. 💭
[ In the novel, Jungkook’s presence was terrifying. He was a villain who could wipe out entire villages with a flick of his wrist. He was a man who would smile warmly at you while cutting off your head. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
**Remembered a specific scene from the book**
Jeon Jungkook ~
Do you love me, Taehyung?
Taehyung Valerius ~
Yes, I love you, Jungkook. I’ll go anywhere with you... Let’s leave this place together.
Jeon Jungkook ~
Is that so? What should I do, then? Because I don’t love you at all.
**Whispered, stroking his cheek with a sweet, lethal smile**
[ In the original plot, Jungkook used the "Real" Taehyung’s love to dismantle the Valerius family before killing Taehyung himself. Taehyung couldn't remember exactly why Jungkook killed him too, but the memory was enough to make him shudder. ]
Taehyung Valerius ~
I’m getting rid of him.
**Told himself with finality**
[ Glancing one last time at the sleeping monster, Taehyung slipped out of the room and closed the door softly behind him. ]
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙇𝙄𝙆𝙀 ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙀 ~
Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]
𝙎𝙐𝘽𝙎𝘾𝙍𝙄𝘽𝙀 ~
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![Berry Berry ~ [ Author ]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/12407897/avatar/49464473/1771321475325.jpeg-s200webp?sign=9ab405a62f96d3c85a1f62062261eb87&t=69e17876)
![Jungkook ~ [ Slave ]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/12407897/avatar/49464473/1773241793970.png-s200webp?sign=24c8428773f09b892d0490480795acb7&t=69e17876)
