A man in his early thirties lay sprawled on the floor in the corner of a dimly lit room, half-buried under a pile of clothes. The room was a chaotic mess, a graveyard of discarded fast-food wrappers, unwashed plates, and scattered garments. Every corner screamed neglect, an unmistakable sign of an otaku's lair.
With a groggy grunt, the man stirred, pushing aside the heap of clothes that had engulfed him. He staggered to his feet, rubbing his face as if trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
His disheveled hair and deadpan expression mirrored the desolation around him. Moving towards a rickety chair at the center of the room, he slumped down, striking a dramatic villainous pose. One hand rested against his cheek as he cleared his throat, preparing to address an imaginary audience.
"My name is Frey," he began, his voice heavy with sarcasm and self-loathing. "You may be wondering why my room looks like this. But you may also be wondering why I'm living this kind of life." He leaned back slightly, his hollow eyes staring into the void. "If I were to explain it all, it'd take forever. So let me simplify it, I got NTR'd by my girlfriend. She cheated on me with my best friend. They'd been together behind my back the entire time we were dating."
Frey's gaze dropped to the floor, his eyes devoid of light, contrasting sharply with his animated delivery. "The reason I haven't yet committed suicide, you ask?" He straightened slightly, fingers tapping his chin as if deep in thought. Then, with a faint, bitter chuckle, he continued. "The reason might sound stupid to most people, but to fellow men of culture, it's perfectly reasonable."
"There's this 18+ romcom game I've been playing," he said, enthusiasm breaking through the gloom. "It has actual entertaining sex scenes and a genuinely good story a rare gem in this genre. And today, they're releasing the final episode. Coincidentally, it's also the day I plan to commit suicide. Ironic, right?"
Frey shifted his focus to the desk where his laptop rested, brushing away an empty soda can as he powered it on. "But let's not waste any time. The new update is launching right now," he declared, excitement creeping into his voice. Clicking into the app, the title screen lit up: "Mythic Hearts: Sovereign's Route."
"Yeah, the name's cringy, but who cares?" Frey muttered, smirking. "I came for the sex scenes but stayed for the plot. Hehehe." He laughed aloud, genuinely amused despite his desperation.
As the update bar on the screen filled, Frey's grin widened. "Updates completed," flashed on the monitor, followed by the prompt, "Launch the game." The wallpaper featured the game's protagonist surrounded by various smiling female characters, each more fantastical than the last. Frey stared at the image, his lips curling into a faint smile. He always pictured himself as the MC, living the dream life he could never have.
Without hesitation, he clicked the "Launch Game" button and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Yes! Let's get the final cour ready!"
Suddenly, everything went black. The laptop screen disappeared, along with the dim light of the room. Frey blinked rapidly, his surroundings swallowed by an abyss of darkness. Panic bubbled in his chest as he called out, "Hello? Is anybody here?" His voice echoed, bouncing back like a cruel mockery.
Fear crept in, tightening his throat. Frey began shouting louder, begging for help, but the void offered nothing in return. Each plea dissolved into silence, a reminder of his loneliness. As despair threatened to consume him, a sudden prompt flickered into view before his eyes, jolting him upright.
[YOU JUST DIED ALONE AND LONELY <•_•>]
"Huh? What is this?" Frey squinted at the floating text, confusion clear in his voice. "It's like one of those system interfaces from a manhwa. Am I dreaming?"
[YOU REALLY ARE AS DUMB AS YOU LOOK, AREN'T YOU? JUST A WASTE OF GOOD LOOKS, TRASH.]
"Hey, hey! Can't you calm down a little, you... box system thingy?" Frey snapped back, the insult stinging more than he cared to admit.
[LET ME GUESS, GETTING NTR'D BY YOUR GIRLFRIEND MADE YOU GIVE UP ON LIFE.]
"Yes, it did! You wouldn't understand how it feels unless you've been cheated on!" Frey shouted defensively.
[NOPE I WON'T BE AS FOOLISH AS YOU TO GIVE UP LIFE OVER SOMETHING SO TRIVIAL THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN OUT THERE.]
The system's blunt reply made Frey clench his fists, anger boiling over. "I'm dead, right? So just leave me alone! Take me to heaven or hell, it's better than being roasted by you!"
[<•¶•>]
[HMM, I WAS ABOUT TO OFFER YOU ANOTHER CHANCE AT LIFE, BUT SINCE YOU DON'T NEED IT, I'LL GIVE IT TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO DIES.]
"Wait, wait!" Frey panicked, his voice rising. "I heard you mention another life. What exactly are you?"
[TO YOU HUMANS, I MIGHT AS WELL BE A GOD OF REINCARNATION]
The floating prompt paused briefly before continuing.
[SO, WHAT WILL IT BE? WILL YOU TAKE THE OFFER OR NOT?]
"Yes, I'll take it! But... can I make a request, Mr. or Mrs. God?" Frey asked cautiously.
[WHAT IS IT?]
"Please, in my next life... let me not be the one getting NTR'd. Make me the one doing the NTR!" he said, conviction and bitterness mixing in his tone.
[YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND. OPEN AND CLOSE YOUR EYES.]
Frey complied, shutting his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, he found himself in an entirely different world. The air was fresh, the sun warm against his skin, and the surroundings were straight out of a fantasy novel. Towering castles, lush green fields, and bustling marketplaces filled the horizon.
"Is this... a new life?" Frey whispered, awe and disbelief coloring his voice.
To be continued in Chapter 2