Dawn of Light - Reincarnated as a villain

The door creaked open as I stepped into the Adventurer's Guild, and the sheer liveliness of the place hit me like a wave. The atmosphere was electric—dozens of people chatting, laughing, and making deals. Some were at tables, bickering over strategies or dividing loot, while others stood at the large quest board, discussing their next jobs.

The vibrant energy tugged at something inside me. This was a new world, a new life, and it was nothing like the dull monotony of the life I had left behind. I swallowed my excitement, keeping my expression calm as I scanned the room. My gaze landed on the reception desk.

I made my way toward it, weaving through the crowd. The receptionist wasn't what I had imagined. A man with neatly combed hair, glasses, and a tailored uniform stood behind the desk. A part of me had hoped for the stereotypical cheerful female receptionist, but I quickly brushed that thought aside.

When I reached him, he glanced at me and raised a brow. His professional demeanor didn't waver, but I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes. I wasn't offended; it was rare to see someone my age in the guild, though not unheard of. Elowen had joined when she was just fourteen, after all.

"How may I help you, sir?" he asked in a polite, measured tone.

"I'd like to join the guild," I said firmly.

He nodded, as though he had expected that answer. "Of course. Please fill out this form."

He handed me a sheet of paper, and I quickly scanned it. Name, age, affinity, and a few other basic details were required. I wrote down my name, Zephyx, my age, 15, and listed my affinities as Ice and Fire. I deliberately left out my other affinities; even in this world, showing off too much could draw the wrong kind of attention. Even the protagonist of this world, Alric, was limited to three affinities at rank one.

When I handed the form back, the receptionist's professional mask slipped slightly. His eyes widened when he saw my dual affinity, and I caught the faintest glimmer of envy in his expression. I wasn't surprised; most people were lucky to have a single affinity.

"Impressive," he murmured, before quickly composing himself. "Here is your Guild ID."

He handed me a small card embossed with the Adventurer's Guild logo.

"You are currently ranked E, which means you can only accept E-rank or F-rank missions from the quest board."

I nodded, pocketing the card, and headed toward the quest board. It was massive, covered in papers detailing everything from simple errands to high-risk monster exterminations. My eyes settled on a low-risk herb collection quest.

Perfect. I wasn't ready to tackle anything dangerous yet, especially since my control over fire magic was laughable. I could barely manage a flicker of sparks, let alone something like a fireball.

I took the quest slip to the receptionist, who added it to my record. Before leaving, I purchased a map for five silver coins and made my way toward the city gates.

The guards at the gate gave me a cursory glance before checking the quest slip. Satisfied, they let me through, and I stepped out into the open world.

The path to the designated area was straightforward, and the map was easy to follow. After walking for about twenty minutes, I arrived at the location mentioned in the quest. It was a small clearing surrounded by dense bushes and trees. I began my search, crouching down to inspect the ground for the herbs described on the slip.

It took me about ten minutes, but I finally spotted the plant. Its distinct blue flowers and thick green stems matched the description perfectly. Smiling to myself, I began carefully plucking the herbs and storing them in my inventory.

As I reached for another bundle, I heard the faint rustling of bushes behind me. My body tensed, and I froze, straining to listen. The sound came again, closer this time—a distinct shuffling, followed by a low growl.

I turned quickly, my hand instinctively pulling the Ice Dagger from my inventory. The blade felt cool and solid in my grip, a reassuring weight against the unknown threat.

A goblin emerged from the bushes. Its face was hideous, with yellowed teeth and small, malicious eyes. It clutched a crude wooden club in one hand, and its only clothing was a tattered loincloth.

For a moment, I wondered why I even noticed its clothing. Perhaps it was my mind grasping at normalcy in the face of the grotesque.

The goblin snarled and charged at me. My grip on the dagger tightened as adrenaline surged through me.

Time seemed to slow as it raised its club, ready to swing. I didn't think—I acted. With a burst of speed, I lunged forward, aiming the dagger at its face.

The blade sank into its skull with a sickening squelch. I twisted the dagger, feeling the resistance give way as I drove it deeper. Blood spurted from the wound, splattering my hands and face.

The goblin's body jerked violently before going limp. I pulled the dagger free with a sharp, upward motion, and a chunk of brain matter splattered onto the ground—and onto me.

For a moment, I stood there, panting, staring at the lifeless body. My hands trembled, not with fear, but with... excitement.

A dark pleasure coursed through me, unfamiliar and yet deeply satisfying. It was the same rush I had felt in my previous life—the same twisted euphoria that had consumed me when I butchered my cheating girlfriend and her lover.

I tightened my grip on the dagger, staring at the blood dripping from its edge.

"This..." I whispered, my voice shaky. "This feels... good."

The realization hit me like a thunderclap.

[Psycho]

The trait listed in my status screen flashed in my mind. I had dismissed it earlier, but now I understood.

"Is this... why?" I muttered, staring at the goblin's corpse.

I wiped the blade clean on the goblin's loincloth and took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. Whatever this feeling was, I couldn't let it control me—not entirely. I had work to do.

After ensuring there were no more goblins in the area, I returned to collecting herbs. The task felt almost mundane after what had just happened, but it gave me time to process.

By the time I finished, the sun had begun to dip lower in the sky. I made my way back to the city, handing the herbs to the receptionist and collecting my reward.

That night, as I lay in bed, my mind replayed the day's events. The goblin's face. The thrill of the kill.

I didn't know what to make of it, but one thing was certain: this world had already begun to change me. Whether that was for better or worse, only time would tell.