Broadcasting My Death-Flags in Real Time

"Prisoner F-105, step forward immediately."

The mechanical echo from the loudspeaker in the corner of the room only made me more uneasy.

There was no cooling system here, yet my entire body was covered in goosebumps.

In just a few moments, I would be face-to-face with the most dangerous and lethal person on this continent.

A faint crackle of static came from the microphone on the other side.

She was here.

Elise Einsbern.

A ruthless criminal, rumored to have slaughtered an entire village in a single night—all for a stack of money.

I shouldn't have been surprised to see a maniac like her in the form of a disheveled girl with messy pink hair.

She looked filthy and unkempt, but what truly caught me off guard was her small stature.

Even standing, she barely reached my chest.

Elise stared at me blankly.

"So?"

I swallowed hard. "I want to make a contract."

A slow grin spread across her face—the kind that could make anyone uncomfortable.

"How much?"

"Seven days, six nights. 300 Kuon upfront, the remaining 200 upon completion."

"500 Kuon. Upfront."

That had been my original offer anyway, so I agreed without hesitation.

"Can… you start tonight?"

Elise paused, then bowed in an elegant, almost noble-like manner.

But her awkward movements made the gesture feel unnatural—unsettling.

"As you wish, my lord."

And with that, I had just sealed a deal with the devil.

*#*

I couldn't help but wonder how someone like Elise—who could take on a hundred men in open combat—ended up imprisoned in such a mediocre facility.

Sure, the Institution of Compassion was a strict institution with experienced personnel.

But a criminal of Elise's caliber should have been locked away in a high-security, isolated prison—not somewhere this close to civilization.

Well, maybe close wasn't the right word. The prison was located in the westernmost part of the city patrol barracks, with nearly a thousand soldiers stationed near the entrance.

Even so, was that really enough?

Then, I finally understood.

After nearly two hours of waiting at the exit—where visitors typically awaited their turn—I saw Elise emerge, escorted by four heavily armed guards.

Yet, something felt off. This didn't seem like a typical prisoner transfer.

The wardens kept an unusual distance, as if they weren't too concerned about Elise escaping.

It was almost as if she was the one keeping them in place—not the other way around.

The squad leader approached me. "Eight days. 1000 Kuon."

I frowned. "What? I said seven days."

"One extra day for reintegration. Temporary releases can negatively impact inmates when they return. One extra day as a precaution—or no deal at all."

I clicked my tongue and pulled out my wallet. My checkbook was inside. I simply wrote down the number he wanted.

"Happy now?"

The squad leader—who was also the head warden—gave a small, sarcastic smirk. "Eight days. No delays." He signaled the guards to remove Elise's restraints.

The moment the chains fell away, Elise stretched her arms.

A dense, grayish aura seeped from her body, wrapping around us like an oppressive force.

Magical Aura.

Those at Elise's level could manifest it so strongly that it could leave others completely paralyzed.

"Ah… finally. After all this time. When was the last time I saw the outside? My back and shoulders are so stiff."

"Show-off," the head warden muttered.

Unlike his fellow guards, he never once showed fear or submission in the face of Elise's power.

"Did you say something, sir?"

"I said, stop showing off, or I'll break every bone in your body—again."

Elise grimaced. "So scary. I was just stretching a little."

The head warden gave her a look of pure disgust before turning back to me. "Remember, don't be late. Always keep your eyes on her."

He repeated the warning, as if it were the most important thing.

"There's no need to be so cautious. I'm bound by the Contract, remember? Not even I can break a Contract's terms."

But the warden ignored her words completely.

Was he still waiting for my confirmation?

I cleared my throat. "O-of course. But… about my visit here and—"

"Nothing happened here."

I let out a relieved sigh.

"So… what are you waiting for? Your time already started."

"R-right." I turned to Elise, unsure of how to act.

Should I command her? Position myself as her master?

But before I could decide, she stepped toward me. "Why don't we start by getting to know each other?"

"Ah, I—"

"No, I'm not interested in you," Elise smirked. "I want to get to know… my prey."

At that moment, her eyes seemed to gaze off into the distance.

"Of course." If I was hiring someone who was essentially a cold-blooded maniac, it was only natural that I should provide a target.

"But this isn't an assassination mission."

"Hmm…" Elise didn't look the least bit surprised.

"You don't mind?"

"I'm used to being a bodyguard."

That was a side of Elise Einsbern I hadn't expected. There wasn't much detailed information about her, either in official records or online forums.

But I had confirmed one thing—I've made the right decision.

After all, Elise Einsbern was a 'must-obtain' character you need, at least for the first half of the story.

Her absurdly easy-to-trigger critical attack made it possible to defeat the first boss in a single attempt.

Recognizing her overpowered potential, the developers labeled her as a premium SSS-tier character, only obtainable after spending hundreds of dollars.

By now, you might have noticed something strange about how I describe her.

Yes.

Elise Einsbern wasn't just a maniac—she was a playable character in a game.

Crimson Butterfly.

A semi-turn-based game that took the internet by storm five years ago, evolving into a massive online community.

And in that wildly popular game—

I had transmigrated.