Into the Apocalypse: Saving My Favorite Villain-Chapter 116: Sworn Enemies

Rosalia — POV

Upon reaching the room, Matthew was sitting in the same position as yesterday.

The dim light filtering through the cracked ceiling barely touched him, as though even the world itself hesitated to acknowledge his existence.

Dust drifted lazily in the air, settling on his shoulders and hair, making him look like part of the room—another forgotten object left behind in a decaying world.

He was still bound to the small wooden chair in the middle of the room.

The ropes dug into his wrists and ankles, rough fibers biting into pale skin, yet his posture remained unnervingly straight.

He didn’t look like a prisoner begging for mercy.

He looked like a man waiting, waiting patiently, coldly, as though time itself were beneath his concern.

Matthew lifted his gaze toward us languidly.

His eyes were dull at first—flat, empty, stripped of warmth.

But the moment he saw me standing beside Cassel, something shifted.

Bitterness surfaced like poison seeping through cracks.

"So you came," he said quietly, his voice hoarse but steady. "I thought you’d completely forgotten about me."

The words weren’t shouted. They weren’t dramatic.

That was what made them hurt.

For a brief moment, guilt stabbed straight through my chest.

Because... he wasn’t wrong.

I had forgotten about him.

Between the chaos of survival, the constant danger, and—most unforgivably—being wrapped up in Cassel’s presence, Matthew had slipped into the back of my mind like an unresolved subplot.

"Matthew, we—"

I took a step forward instinctively, wanting to close the distance between us, wanting to explain, to soften that look in his eyes—

Before I could take another step, an arm snapped around my waist.

Hard.

My back slammed into Cassel’s firm chest, knocking the breath from my lungs for a split second.

His grip was possessive, unyielding, as though he were anchoring me in place—or warning someone not to cross an invisible line.

Then heat brushed against my ear.

Cassel leaned down, his lips so close that I could feel every word before I heard it.

"Rosalia."

My name alone made my spine tense.

His voice was low and intimate, the kind of tone that belonged in the dark, whispered against skin.

Yet his words were the exact opposite of tender.

"I agreed to help him," he murmured. "That doesn’t mean I agreed to you interacting with him... personally."

"Ah—!"

Sharp pain shot through me as Cassel bit my earlobe—not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to make my knees weaken.

His breath was hot, uneven, restrained in a way that felt far more dangerous than losing control.

"I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself," he continued, voice dropping further, rough and feral, "if I see you specially treating him. And if I lose my temper..."

His teeth grazed my ear again.

"I don’t know what I might do."

I shoved my palm against his chest without thinking.

To my surprise, Cassel stepped back immediately—far too easily—retreating as though I were the one holding power.

The heat vanished, leaving behind only the faint sting on my ear and the echo of his presence.

I turned to glare at him.

He stood there, looking faintly wronged. Offended, even.

Excuse me?

Wasn’t I the one who’d just been bitten?

I was fairly certain his teeth marks were still imprinted on my ear.

I truly didn’t know how to deal with this version of my favorite villain.

One moment, he acted like an arrogant, domineering tyrant—

And the next, he looked like a discarded puppy, watching me with wounded eyes that made my chest ache despite myself.

Ignoring Cassel entirely, I faced Matthew and spoke plainly.

"We rescued you from inside that tree yesterday."

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Cassel’s expression darken again, his jaw tightening.

I sighed softly.

Then, deliberately, I raised my hand and looped it through his arm.

Cassel looked down at me, startled, his gaze flickering with confusion. I didn’t explain. I didn’t look at him. I turned back to Matthew and continued.

"This is my lover," I said calmly. "He’s the one who saved you—and he’s also the boss here. We came to ask if you’d like to join our team."

The change was immediate.

Cassel’s expression brightened like a storm clearing in an instant.

The tension drained from his shoulders.

His lips curved upward, satisfied, smug—radiant in a way that bordered on unsettling.

Yes.

Just as I’d said before—this villain’s emotions were more unpredictable than the weather at the end of the world.

Matthew, on the other hand, remained perfectly still.

His eyes never left my face as he listened in silence, absorbing every word, every implication.

His expression was blank—but not empty. There was calculation there. Weighing. Measuring.

If I had to describe Matthew, I’d say he resembled my favorite villain in an almost frightening way.

Not physically.

But fundamentally.

Both of them suppressed their emotions beneath layers of logic and restraint.

Both analyzed situations with chilling clarity, even when surrounded by danger.

And both were intelligent to the point of self-destruction.

Too smart to be manipulated—yet somehow always allowing the cruelest people to control their lives with pathetic ease.

I glanced between the two men.

They were staring at each other now.

Not openly hostile—but sharp.

Like two predators assessing which one would strike first.

Had they been mortal enemies in a past life?

...Oh.

Right.

They were.

In the novel, these two had fought to the death.

This time, I had to make sure they didn’t.

If they worked together, their combined strength would be terrifying.

If they didn’t... the consequences would be catastrophic.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Cassel snapped suddenly. "Do you want to get beaten?"

Matthew answered without raising his voice.

"Who’s staring at you? You’re the one glaring at me. And you’ll be the one getting beaten—severely."

Cassel let out a short, mocking laugh, looking Matthew up and down with blatant disdain.

"Oh? You?" he sneered. "In that state?"

The ropes binding Matthew were an obvious provocation.

"Yes," Matthew replied calmly. "Like this. Want to try?"

The air crackled.

It wasn’t just tension anymore—it was the kind of pressure that came right before violence. Muscles tightened.

Killing intent surfaced, sharp enough to cut skin.

"Will you two just stop it!"

My shout echoed through the room.

I stepped forward and planted myself slightly in front of Cassel, gripping his hand tightly.

My fingers dug into his palm—not gently, but firmly, grounding him.

For a moment, I felt resistance.

Then Cassel exhaled slowly.

The fire in his eyes dimmed.

He intertwined his fingers with mine, squeezing once in silent acknowledgment, and turned his gaze away from Matthew.

Only then did I face Matthew again.

His expression was unchanged—but his eyes had dropped to our joined hands.

They lingered there.

I didn’t comment on it.

"So," I asked quietly, "will you stay with us and join our team?"

Truthfully, I was prepared for rejection.

I wanted to help Matthew—but I wouldn’t force him. If he chose to walk away, to chase vengeance alone, I’d have to let him go.

Some paths couldn’t be altered, no matter how much you cared.

I expected him to refuse.

Especially knowing Cassel was the leader.

Especially after witnessing their mutual hostility.

But once again, Matthew surprised me.

He looked at Cassel as though he wanted him dead.

Then he spoke.

"Since the boss and Miss Rosalia saved me," he said evenly, "I’ll repay your kindness. I want to join your team."

Just like that.

I nearly laughed in disbelief.

If only you’d hide that murderous glare while thanking him, I thought, this would be much more convincing.

I turned to Cassel, waiting.

Despite everything he’d agreed to before... this was different.

But Cassel merely smiled.

A slow, dangerous smile.

"Then," he said softly, eyes gleaming, "I’ll be waiting to see you kneel and kiss my hand, Sir Matthew."

That was acceptance.

"Let’s go, Rosalia."

Cassel tugged my hand and started walking without pause, dragging me behind him.

"Wait—wait!" I protested, glancing back. "We haven’t untied Matthew yet."

Cassel slowed and looked over his shoulder, his gaze sharp and knowing.

"This man is more than capable of freeing himself."

Matthew met his eyes.

Then—he smiled.

The ropes fell loose.

He stood effortlessly, stepping forward until he was face-to-face with Cassel.

I somehow ended up behind Cassel, watching two dangerously handsome men of equal height and presence stand inches apart.

Then Matthew bowed slightly, extending his hand with impeccable grace.

"Boss," he said smoothly. "After you."

"..."

I officially gave up trying to understand these unhinged characters.

Because I am certain that, no matter how long I live, I will never understand.

In any case, our plan was to allow Matthew to stay with us and offer him help—and we succeeded in persuading him to remain.

I completely ignored the death glares he and Cassel exchanged with one another.

After all, looks don’t kill... but other things do—and every situation has its own consequences.

---

We left the room together.

Everything set.

Ready to step once more—

Into a world that no longer belonged solely to humanity.