Lucien Ashborne was supposed to be a nobody — an early-game villain who existed only to be crushed by the protagonist. After provoking the wrong person, he vanished from the story without even a dramatic death scene.

When a player named James dies and wakes up in Lucien’s body, he inherits every bit of the villain’s broken reputation and zero of his privileges. Bullied, scorned, and abandoned by his own noble family, Lucien now stands at the bottom of the academy hierarchy.

To make matters worse, the world he knew as a game has no guaranteed happy ending… and the protagonist’s party treats him like a criminal.

But James isn’t the Lucien they think he is.

With fragments of meta-knowledge, a half-broken system that barely works, and a determination to avoid becoming cannon fodder, he chooses a different path.

He doesn’t seek glory.
He just refuses to disappear.

This is the story of a former villain trying to rewrite his role — not as a hero, but as someone who survives on his own terms.

Holy hell… that was half another skill right there.


But I didn't have time to admire the notification.


This place now smelled like someone drowned a dead cow in boiled vinegar and lit it on fire.


I coughed sharply, turned on my heel and rushed out of the boss room.


The corridor outside was already quieter — stale dungeon air never smelled so fresh.


Kael's team was there — limping, bruised, bandaged by sheer adrenaline. Celestia sat against the rock wall, pale and exhausted, while Mariella's cane trembled in her hand. Elisha had broken arrows still stuck in her quiver — empty, spent.


Their eyes snapped to me the moment I stepped out.


Kael was the first to speak — voice hoarse, bitter.


I saved their asses — and the first thing he says is accusation?


Chapter 38 - Practical Assessment [End]