Xu Zhaixing’s idol, Cen Feng, was a new star, slowly rising in the entertainment circle. She firmly believed that everyone would see the brilliance of her idol one day. But she could no longer wait for the day to arrive…... more>>

Cen Feng had committed su*cide at home because of depression. It was only after his death that the injustices he had suffered had been revealed to the public.

It turned out that he was an adopted orphan, and his biological father was actually a mu*derer.

It turned out that the reason he never touched the piano again was that his little finger was intentionally trampled by his teammates.

It turned out that the team was harassing him, and he offended a higher-up company, resulting in resources being divided.

It turned out that the treasure, which she had been so afraid to hold on to her palm in fear of breaking it, had been trampled on, had been beaten black and blue…

Six months later, Xu Zhaixing died in a car accident, only to be reborn as a high school student. She was just a freshman that year.

It was ten years before Cen Feng committed su*cide.

I’m going to use these ten years to build the best road just for you. All those who hurt you will never appear in front of you. Brother, let’s walk the flowery road together this time. <<less

Zhu Lexing finds herself transmigrated into an ABO school romance novel as the notorious scummy Alpha.... more>>

The original host came from a prestigious background, but after her parents’ divorce, she developed an intense grudge against the daughter of her father’s new partner—Yan Mian. She humiliated Yan Mian at home, insulted her in public, and after differentiating into an Alpha, even used her heat cycle as an excuse to forcibly mark her. She spread damaging rumors that cost Yan Mian a guaranteed college spot. Eventually, after fully caging Yan Mian into submission, the original host grew bored and started playing around. But by the time Yan Mian, who had endured in silence for years, finally showed her true strength, the original host had already lost everything and died a miserable, lonely death.

On her first day in the story, Zhu Lexing is bound to a system and told that Yan Mian’s favorability toward her will determine her own future.

Determined, she sets a clear goal: treat Yan Mian well.

But the damage had already been done. Yan Mian avoids her like the plague. With no other choice, Zhu Lexing starts helping her from the shadows.

When Yan Mian is bullied, she steps in and quietly retaliates. When Yan Mian is framed, she defends her in public, then plays it off as upholding the Zhu family’s reputation. During Yan Mian’s heat cycles, she behaves like a proper Alpha—administers inhibitors and immediately leaves, never lingering.

As time passes, their relationship begins to thaw. And when Yan Mian finally undergoes surgery to change her fate and avoid her inevitable tragic ending, Zhu Lexing earns enough system points to return to her original world.

Though reluctant, Zhu Lexing decides to give Yan Mian a proper goodbye.

At her lavish 20th birthday party, Yan Mian clasps her hands together and makes a wish: “I hope Zhu Lexing will confess to me.”

But when she opens her eyes, Zhu Lexing simply says: “I’m leaving. I hope you’ll live a happy life.”

In the first eighteen years of her life, Yan Mian had survived through hardship like a puppet with no will of her own. She had never shed a single tear—until now.

For the first time, the quiet and obedient Yan Mian’s eyes turned red. “…I finally convinced myself it was okay to love you. And now you’re just going to leave me like this?”

CP: Righteous, loyal Alpha × Cold, ethereal, sickly Omega <<less

Shu Wan traveled through time and space, becoming the cruel female villain in her own book.... more>>

The female villain was ruthless and favored the male protagonist, yet she took pleasure in bullying and torturing the male villain, which led to his eventual evil transformation.

In the end, she was stabbed with three thousand blades by the villain, who returned from Nirvana and defeated everyone. She died a tragic death.

Upon her arrival in this new life, Shu Wan trembled and comforted herself: "Both the male protagonist and the villain are like sons to me, since they are both my creations. As long as I treat them equally, don’t favor the male protagonist too much, and don’t bully the villain, I’ll definitely be blessed with prosperity and live a long life."

But after some time, Shu Wan realized that treating them equally was truly impossible.

Shu Wan was left speechless: "My villain is handsome, intelligent, and talented. He hasn’t done anything wrong. Why are they all bullying him together?”

Yi Chenlan washed the blood off his hands, lowered his head, and chuckled softly. "It doesn’t matter."

Shu Wan became truly angry: "It was clearly the male protagonist’s fault! Why does my villain have to take the blame? I’m going to seek justice for him!”

Yi Chenlan suppressed his dark, destructive thoughts and quietly looked at her. "Alright."

Shu Wan felt deep distress: "My villain is the kindest and gentlest. Even after everything, he hasn’t turned evil. I’ll help him change the plot! I’ll give him the best!”

For the first time, Yi Chenlan showed a genuine, heartfelt smile. "I already have the best.”

———

He had lived again, returning to the weak, disabled state he once was—bullied by all.

When he opened his eyes and saw that female villain, he only wanted her life.

But later, he gave her his heart.

—There was a legend in the martial world that the notorious leader of the demonic sect, Yi Chenlan, whose evil deeds brought turmoil and bloodshed, was actually searching for the woman he loved.

"In this world, you love me the most. You’ve agreed to everything I’ve asked."

"...Please, don't leave me." <<less

Entering a clichéd female novel world by accident. As long as he changes the negative perceptions of four female protagonists towards men, he can return to the real world with a reward of one billion. At first, Ji Mu thought this was a way to get rich, but as time went by, he gradually realized that something was wrong.... more>>

"System, didn't you tell me that these female protagonists extremely despise men, and no matter how good I am to them, it would purely be a friendship?"

As Ji Mu looked at the few female protagonists in front of him, their cheeks blushing, their eyes filled with pink hearts, and constantly closing in on him, he broke out in a cold sweat, shrinking into a corner and shaking.

"I'm going to ask you one last time, are you really sure that this is just pure friendship?"

[Host, forget about friendship, do you know what a juicer is?]

Faced with the system's sudden nonsensical question, he swallowed nervously, feeling an increasingly ominous premonition.

"W-what do you mean?"

[Just a friendly reminder…]

The system paused, its tone filled with helplessness and despair.

[All four of them are in front of you.]

...

If you were simultaneously pursued by beautiful girls with different personalities, what would you choose?

Only children make choices; normal people know to turn around and run.

"I can't even handle one, let alone four!"

Ji Mu desperately clung to the doorframe and struggled in desperation before being dragged into the room: "System, save me!!!" <<less

Enemies meet at a narrow bridge…Or in this case, on a dating app.... more>>

“Oh, I was wondering who it was… Turns out it’s Teacher Chae, the one I’d love to sink my teeth into.”

The moment Doh Joo-won laid eyes on a profile named “Beom” a self-proclaimed leopard, he knew. It was definitely Chae Hyeong-seok.

And with that, his mind was made up.

He was going to take revenge…no, repay his teacher for all he had done.

How? Of course, through direct physical means.

Hiding his identity, Joo-won began chatting with "Beom" under the alias “J”, and before long, he successfully lured him into a hotel room.

Mr Chae, always so proud of his “leopard” strength. Turns out he’s actually… a cheetah, notorious for his hypersensitive body.

“There’s one thing you should never say in front of me.”

“That you’re a bottom? That you’re a cheetah?”

“You little!…”

“Or is it that you don’t want anyone knowing you slept with your former student?” <<less

There are still differences even in rebirth.... more>>

—— Ye Bufan has been reborn. In his past life, he saved a girl from school bullying. With that opportunity, he took control of both the criminal and righteous worlds, and was ready to marry three beauties. But on the night before his wedding, he got too excited, had a heart attack, and died.

Luckily, he’s been reborn. Looking at the girl being bullied in front of him, he decides to follow the same script and walk the invincible path once more.

—— Yin Tian has also been reborn. In his past life, he was a school tyrant who bullied classmates. By a twist of fate, he was transported to the cultivation world to temper his heart and ended up becoming a righteous leader.

Now reborn back into the modern world, staring at the girl he once bullied, Yin Tian decides to be kind to others and quietly pursue immortality.

—— After waiting for so long, just when Ye Bufan thought the girl had finally fallen deep into bullying and was waiting to be rescued, he discovered that the once pitiful little thing was now tagging along behind Yin Tian like a loyal lackey, all smiles.

An Qing: “Brother Tian, Brother Tian, I finished your homework for you!”

An Qing: “Brother Tian, Brother Tian, here’s your breakfast for today!”

……

An Qing: “Brother Tian, Brother Tian, do you want to eat first, take a shower first, or... eat me first～” <<less

A collection of short stories written to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the professional debut of Alice Arisugawa, a prolific mystery novelist and founder and first president of the Honkaku Mystery Writers Club of Japan. ... more>>

Each story was written by a different young author, using characters, settings, and concepts appearing in Arisugawa’s stories.

Featured stories:

Rope, Cable, Cord by Yugo Aosaki: The police ask professor of sociology and “Consulting Criminologist” Hideo Himura – and Himura in turn asks his friend, mystery novelist Alice Arisugawa – for assistance in an investigation. The victim of a robbery-mu*der is found, covered in marks due to having been bound by a rope, but no rope is left behind. Security camera footage shows that three people threw away objects that could have been used to tie her after the mu*der, but which of them was the culprit’s tool: the rope, the cable, or the cord?

Enclosed in Clothes by Michi Ichiho: Alice is asked by his neighbor Saori Mano, a teacher at an all-girls school, to help her with a problem. She is substituting as advisor to the Drama Club, and one of her students had her uniform stolen during club activities. The police can’t be involved due to the administration’s fear of scandal, so going to outside help is her only option. But even if they’re able to set foot on school grounds during the school festival, can two 34 year old men solve a case in the foreign land of a school for girls?

The Ghost Story Dedicated to Hideo Himua by Kyoya Origami: A fan of scary stories Alice met at a publishing event regales him and Himura with a series of true stories about horrifying events that happened to him. Himura and Alice attempt to come up with rational explanations for all his tales.

Black Mirror by Tomoyuki Shirai: The narrator, an arrogant yet neurotic man, is called out of the blue by an old college friend, Eiji Kagami, who will be in his area in a few months and wants to go out to eat. But at the meeting, Eiji behaves oddly, and the next day, the police call the narrator in for questioning. Eiji’s stepfather, a marriage fraudster who drove Eiji’s mother to su*cide, was mu*dered the day of their meeting, and the police suspect Eiji and his identical twin brother Koichi. But both brothers appear to have solid alibis…

The Man Who Read (And Disliked) Alice Arisugawa by Haruo Yuki: Mystery novelist Haruo Yuki is on a “research trip” (which he treats more like a paid vacation) to a small hot spring town in the mountains, where he meets a waitress with an unusual story: her cousin hates the works of Alice Arisugawa with a fiery, all-consuming passion, and yet he’s read everything the man ever published. Why has her cousin read over fifty stories by an author he knows he doesn’t like?

The Panic of Mountain Monk Jizō by Tatsumi Atsukawa: Twenty years ago, Ryoji Aono would go to Bar April every Sunday and meet with his friends to listen to the tales of Jizō, a man who dressed like a mountain ascetic and who claimed to come across tales of mystery everywhere he went. But Jizō hasn’t shown his face in two decades, and now, Ryoji’s video rental business has also closed down. Deciding to take some time off at a new bar, Ryoji is stunned to see Jizō once again, having not aged a day since their last meeting …So why is he so much worse at telling stories now?

The Molded Corpse Speaks by Masahiro Imamura: At a job-hunting event, Kōjirō Oda of the Eito University Mystery Club meets a man from another school with an interesting story: a member of his own school’s mystery club once pranked him by leaving a chalk outline and a dying message in his apartment while he was out. The members of the Eito U. Mystery Club put their heads together in an attempt to unravel the dying message, which was never solved, and uncover a much deeper truth than they suspected. <<less

A seventeen-year-old depressed teen, whose mother died at an early age and whose father often disappears, meets a small stuttering boy frequently ab*sed by his family and bullied by schoolmates. Day by day, they become each other’s sole friend, with gradual sparks of admiration. But the tumultuous course of life does not permit them a peaceful existence. The past surfaces, and the feelings of the two boys quietly change…... more>>

A mysterious past. A roving existence. Two insecure teenagers.

After both their fathers go missing, a detailed investigation begins to peel back the layers of the truth– what will the future hold for Yan Hang, who disappears without a word, and the kind-hearted Chu Yi? When they meet again years later, what path will they take? <<less

Seventeen-year-old Hajime Nagumo is your average, everyday otaku. However, his simple life of pulling all-nighters and sleeping in school is suddenly turned upside down when he, along with the rest of his class, is summoned to a fantasy world! ... more>>

They’re treated like heroes and tasked with the duty of saving the human race from utter extinction.

But what should have been any otaku’s wet dream quickly turns into Hajime’s nightmare? While the rest of his class are blessed with godlike powers, Hajime’s job, Synergist, only has a single transmutation skill. Ridiculed and bullied by his classmates for being weak, he soon finds himself in despair.

Will he be able to survive in this dangerous world of monsters and demons with only a glorified blacksmith’s level of strength? <<less

“Go Yohan, you really are a terrible bastard.”... more>>

“I can’t help it. Bullying is more fun than being bullied.”

Despite his outer appearance of a kind model student, Kang Jun was filled to the brim with an inferiority complex.

As he advanced into his second year, he grew closer to Go Yohan, who was in the same class as him.

“I’ll treat you especially different.”

At some point, as if it were only natural, Go Yohan claimed his seat at the very summit of the pyramid inside the school.

He, whose second nature seemed to be ignoring and suppressing others, showed interest in Kang Jun.

Kang Jun, who was subtly ignored by his friends for being weak, didn’t dislike Go Yohan’s interest, but…

Eighteen, the period where one’s pride took the lead and held fear of crossing the line.

Kang Jun had to make a choice to survive.

A very wise choice. <<less

Jiang Zhihuo was a poor student at No. 1 High School, growing up on the streets. He was known for being pretentious and relied on his status as an alpha to act daringly all day. He openly pursued the school beauty and hated Yan Mu the most.... more>>

Yan Mu was the top student at No. 1 High School and consistently at the top of various competitions. He was also considered a god-level alpha. He was currently chasing the school beauty and hated Jiang Zhihuo the most.

Jiang Zhihuo and Yan Mu were rivals and sworn enemies. They had different personalities and academic performances; their relationships were like fire and water—always incompatible.

One day, Jiang Zhihuo challenged Yan Mu to a fight in a small alley after school, and Yan Mu gladly accepted the challenge.

Just as he was about to make a move, Jiang Zhihuo suddenly paused.

Within the next second, an incredibly sweet fragrance swept through the entire alley—

As an alpha, Jiang Zhihuo unexpectedly went through a second differentiation without any warning! He actually turned into an omga right in front of his rival!!

Jiang Zhihuo: ……

Due to the second differentiation, Jiang Zhihuo’s gland was extremely erratic, resulting in his physical condition being unstable. He constantly needed alpha’s pheromones, but only Yan Mu’s pheromones could calm him down.

Therefore, whenever his body became unstable, Jiang Zhihuo would pull Yan Mu out of the classroom, releasing a sweet fragrance, and confront the other party aggressively.

“From now on, you can only be my alpha.”

Yan Mu: ……

*

Yan Mu had suffered from tactile defensiveness disorder, unable to touch others since childhood. He had a strong sense of rejection and disgust toward physical contact, including the pheromones.

Except for Jiang Zhihuo.

When surrounded by those sweet fragrances, his mind went blank.

Insane, Yan Mu thought.

Gradually, he realized that he didn’t want Jiang Zhihuo to be in contact with anyone. He wanted to imprint his pheromones on him, so everyone would know that he was his omega.

— Totally insane.

As a result, when Yan Mu found out that Jiang Zhihuo planned to give birthday gifts to others, extreme jealousy surged in his heart. He grabbed the other person by the collar as his eyes darkened and his voice became hoarse.

“I’ll let you have my pheromones, but you’re not allowed to go.” <<less

Li Po transmigrates into an Omega who is forcibly placed in the S District. His face is strikingly beautiful, like a rose blooming high on a pedestal. But this is a secret military district, where a delicate and stunning Omega is like a piece of meat thrown into a pack of wolves—Alpha wolves that have been starved for too long, none of them able to resist coveting him.... more>>

Not to mention, there are brutal training regimens, psychological torment, and elimination based on performance… It’s so cruel that it has driven several Alphas to the brink of madness.

As an Omega with no real strength, how long can he survive?

The Alphas even start betting on when he’ll break down and beg for mercy, completely at their mercy.

With wolves surrounding him, ready to pounce, it seems like he’s been handed a script for an impending showdown in hell. How to deal with it?

Answer: Li Po (tears it up).

Submissive and gentle? An act.

Fragile and weak? Also an act.

Playing the role of a pig to eat a tiger? Well, that part is real.

Gradually, the way the Alphas look at him completely changes.

No one could have imagined that he would dare to get close to that person.

Jiang Yu, the chief combat officer of S District, is as infamous for his strength as he is for his cold and strict demeanour.

Dressed in his perfectly pressed military uniform, Jiang Yu’s powerful and icy pheromones command even Alphas to bow before him. No one dares approach this embodiment of authority—except for the Omega who seems to have no fear.

During one mission, the supposedly “delicate” Omega is drenched in blood, his appearance utterly broken. Hiding certain scars, he raises his head and places a bloodied knife into the combat officer’s cold hand, eyes full of fear:

“Kill it for me.”

To outsiders, Jiang Yu appears cold and distant, a human weapon designed solely for battle. Even he believes this about himself.

Until one day, an Omega in heat, eyes flushed red, grips his wrist tightly.

The Omega’s pale fingers trembling as a deep, hoarse breath escapes from his lips:

“You… mark me.” <<less

In the summer of my twentieth year, wishing to be loved by my family, a being from another dimension transmigrated into my body.... more>>

Only after undoing the traces he left behind did I realize.

It wasn’t because I was Liriel Wecker that I wasn’t loved.

It was because I was me.

So, I no longer wanted to be loved.

But then.

After abandoning the Wecker family, which was my whole life, I met him in the North.

A strange man with iolite-colored eyes, wearing just a thin shirt even on the white snowfield.

⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚ ⋆⭒˚☾⋆.˚

“I-I was wrong.”

Liriel squeezed his eyes shut and added hastily.

“I ate Your Grace’s strawberries!”

His lowered shoulders trembled. Almost on the verge of tears, Liriel peeked up when no response came for a while.

A white sword blade glinted before his eyes.

Uh… it’s a sword?

With eyes more puzzled than fearful, Cassius replied with a slightly troubled expression.

“Don’t apologize without a reason from now on.”

“But I have a reason…”

I ate the strawberries.

“Don’t.” <<less

Seon Wooyeon was someone who couldn’t stand Alphas, both before and after presenting as an Omega.... more>>

The only exception was his private tutor, who happened to be not an Alpha. That’s why Wooyeon couldn’t correct him when he called him by the wrong name; it made his heart flutter too much.

“Yeon-ah.”

“Teacher, are you going to the military?”

Four years after an unrequited first love, Wooyeon enters the same university as his teacher.

Even though he doesn’t recognize him, Wooyeon recognizes him at first sight.

Kim Dohyun.

Those three letters made his heart flutter without reason.

However, he said, “…Are you an Alpha?”

Even though he had denied it before, his first love, the teacher, was actually an Alpha.

If he had known that fact, he might not have liked him.

Now was the time to straighten out the traces of the past.

“I’m Seon Wooyeon. Seon Wooyeon.”

“Wooyeon. Your name is the same as a student I used to tutor.” <<less

Under the order of his father, Urien Martritz (18) had to marry Rodrick Edel (27), the kingdom’s most fearsome and ruthless warrior. No noble dared to propose a marriage to the young, yet formidable duke, all due to the rumors surrounding him; him having a hideous face, him having extremely pe*verted tendencies, his violent nature to kill anyone who opposes him, and so on…... more>>

And yet, he proposed a marriage with Urien Martritz.

However, Urien himself was known as a man-sl*t.

Due to his younger brother, Arnault’s influence, Urien, who had been branded as someone who’d seduce any men he could lay his hands on, arrived at the duke’s mansion with nothing but the clothes on his back to fulfill his father’s order.

There, Rodrick presented a ‘contract marriage’ to him.

First, the contract period was two years,

Second, they weren’t to interfere with each others’ lives.

“There’s no need for love between us.”

Despite Rodrick’s cold words, Urien was overjoyed.

Because as long as he could fulfil this contract, his wish would definitely come true. <<less

Two high school first-years who don’t quite fit in with their class grow closer through their shared struggles—... more>>

This is the story of how they take each other’s hand and grow together.

It starts out serious, but once they begin dating, it turns into a pure, lovey-dovey sweet romance!

We're aiming for a warm, gentle world here, so please enjoy it at ease. <<less

Aono Eiji, an ordinary high school student, is dating the most beautiful girl in his class, Amada Miyuki, his childhood friend… They had been in... more>> the same class since elementary school and lived near each other. They should spend their youth happily and be together for the rest of their lives… But Eiji not only misses his birthday, but he also catches Miyuki cheating on him with Kondo-senpai, the ace of the soccer team. When Eiji tries to confront Miyuki about the affair, he is tricked by Kondo, and worse, Miyuki betrays him, calling him a lousy domestic ab*ser who is violent towards his girlfriend and isolates him from everyone around him… To escape the cold looks of the people around him, he eats onigiri on the rooftop, but when a junior student, said to be the most beautiful girl in the school, is about to jump off the roof, Eiji manages to save her with desperate persuasion and his honor begins to be restored, along with many students who see Eiji befriend and hang out with her… Life reversal: Kondo and Miyuki go into a hard life mode and start to fall down the hill… <<less

After being falsely accused and forcibly transferred, Seonwoo’s only goal is to graduate quietly. Then, Siwon approaches him, showing interest.... more>>

“How can I become friends with you?”

Arrogant hypocrite, cunning opportunist. Despite his first impression, Seonwoo gradually opens his heart to Siwon.

“You’re special to me.”

Confused by Siwon’s sudden confession, Seonwoo is swayed by him, the only person who seems to see his true self. But somehow, he has a bad feeling about this.

“But, this is kind of… between guys…”

“Don’t worry about it. No one will think it’s weird.”

He caught a glimpse of the other boy’s lips curving into a subtle, cunning smile.

“Trust me.”

Can I really trust this guy? <<less

“To think the prize for a life-risking bet would be just this kid…”... more>>

Moon-beom, who came seeking the Wolhwa Sword as his ultimate weapon for revenge, was given only a sniffling white rabbit… no, a half-dokkaebi.

Is this a dokkaebi’s prank?

Or is this truly the prize of the bet?

While assessing Eun-hwi’s usefulness, Moon-beom realizes that physical contact transfers the ghost’s abilities. He begins to craftily seduce the naive half-dokkaebi, intending to corrupt them.

“I’ll help you become human.” <<less

The Empire's Influential Duke Reinhardt's House's Unbearable Nuisance Lady.... more>>

An adopted child who doesn't know her place, a woman who ruins social gatherings.

The woman who tried to poison Aria Reinhardt, the Duke's biological daughter.

That was me, Mindia Reinhardt.

"Your Grace! Please, spare me!"
"Beg Aria, whom you nearly killed!"

The moment I was beheaded, I realized.

This place is the novel I read, and I'm the minor villain who dies early in the story. After returning, I vowed not to live like that in this life. I tried to grab any man and marry him to escape the Duke's household.

"You think I don't know you were flirting with another man at the party?!"

Thus, my second life ended in ab*se. In the next life, I decided to run away. I planned to leave for a place where no one knew me and live freely.

"Traitor, Mindia Reinhardt, come out!"
"She did it alone!"
"We're not involved!"

The sins of the Duke's house had somehow become my sins. The third life, in which I dreamed of freedom, melted away like a dream.

And now, the fourth.

I decided I would not endure anymore. For that, I needed someone.

"I will be of help. And at the right time, I will leave you, Your Grace."
"Leave?"
"Yes. As if I never existed. I will definitely do that for you."

...That was my plan.

"Where do you think you're going now?"
"I..."
"Didn't I tell you? The Reinhardt who stands by my side, my partner, can only be you."

Why are the hands holding me so strong and warm? <<less

My male childhood friend was a hero. A goddess transferred him to another world to become a hero.... more>>

He was tasked with preventing the revival of the evil god that threatened the entire world. That was the setting of the story. What about me then? I’m just an extra, supporting role. The reason why I ended up in this situation was simply that I died together with that b*stard, my so-called childhood friend. Thus, the goddess sent me along to act as a supporting, behind-the-scenes player.

According to legend, the hero would appear when the evil god was about to be revived. It was his duty to defeat the evil god along with four shrine maidens chosen by the goddess and bring about a peaceful era. Otherwise, the world would be destroyed. My job was to pave the way for him to achieve this goal and help love blossom between him and the shrine maidens.

To be honest, I’d rather die than have to babysit that b*stard, but… I’m not even allowed to complain about it. I don’t care about the criticism from the peanut gallery about me being inadequate or incompetent. I did what I had to do, saving the world and getting the reward from the goddess—as a supporting role for the hero party.

That’s why, please, O childhood friend of mine, PLEASE FIX THAT ROTTEN PERSONALITY OF YOURS ASAP!

Please do so before we reach the point of no return, while my sanity is still intact—or should I say, before I get a stomach ulcer due to stress.

Oh cr*p, those four are co— <<less

If one must strive to be loved, then I will give up such trivial pursuit.... more>>

I will no longer try to kill myself.

* * *

Kalia Estelle, the cursed daughter of a count, had spent her entire life trying to be loved.

She had done everything to prove that she was different from her mad father, who killed their people and burned their land.

But all she achieved was the accusation of being the “devil’s daughter.”

The day before she came of age, Kalia made up her mind.

She would no longer seek cheap affection.

She wouldn’t sacrifice her soul for a fleeting love.

And if there was a next life, she wouldn’t seek love again.

As her consciousness faded and her breathing became labored, she suddenly found herself transported back five years to the past.

* * *

“I love you.”

I hesitated and backed away as Claude approached me.

But my back was against the wall, and before I knew it, he was standing right in front of me.

“Kalia.”

He peered through the small gap between his fingers that covered his face, carefully watching my reaction.

Despite his disheveled appearance, he was radiant at the moment.

He kneeled down and gently took my trembling right hand, making me feel as if this had all been a dream.

His lips touched the back of my dry hand.

“Just as you showed me the light and opened a new life for me, I want to do the same for you.”

Beneath his long, thick lashes, his eyes were filled with an unfamiliar emotion.

“You know why I live. Kalia, please let me love you.” <<less

"It used to be soft and squishy, which was nice..."... more>>

"......"

"Why did you lose so much weight? It's disappointing, hyung."

His drowsy, languid voice tickled the nape of my neck. Along with that, the warmth of his body against my back made my heart flutter. His words, spoken so tenderly, stirred something inside me while simultaneously sending a chill through my solar plexus. There's no way it could be good. Something like a wobbling mass of flesh, a sight so repulsive just to look at, couldn't possibly be good.

Ha-min's face noticeably fell at the playful, yet excessive comment. His slight, nervous movements came to a stop, as if he didn't know what to do.

"......"

Sensing this, Tae-rim slowly opened his eyes. Beyond his previously closed vision, he could see Ha-min's profile, quietly staring into space. It was a rare expression for Ha-min. Deeply sunken. Tae-rim, feeling something was off, furrowed his brow and once again tightly hugged Ha-min's waist.

Soon after, Ha-min's tightly closed lips parted. His voice was quiet, almost crawling.

"Because it doesn't look good..."

"...?"

"When you're fat, you smell... it's dirty, so..."

The last syllable trembled slightly. His voice, muttering as if self-harming, and his bitter tone were unnaturally dark.

Clearly sensing something was wrong, Tae-rim tickled the back of Ha-min's neck with the tip of his nose, like a puppy. With a rustle, Ha-min's hair touched Tae-rim's nose bridge, and he could feel Tae-rim's skin nuzzling against him.

"Don't say such foolish things..."

He whispered in Ha-min's ear, comforting him.

"I like everything about you, hyung."

Affectionately.

"Even the smell of grass and milk that comes from you."

Sweetly.

"...Ever since we were young."

With such unfair words. <<less

The Soulless Messengers, a despised and persecuted people, wander the continent collecting gold coins from the emperor to escape a curse that has been passed down through generations.... more>>

Among them is Azadine, who was born under the worst of curses. With no magical talents, he becomes the lowest-ranked messenger, traveling the continent and fulfilling the requests of petitioners in exchange for gold.

As a powerful mage appears to unlock the clan’s curse, a vast conspiracy hidden by his twin sister Arael’s rebellion slowly comes to light.

How will Azadine face the impending doom that awaits him? <<less

I was cursed to regress forever.
I lived the same life hundreds of times, while my body scattered to ashes.... more>>

‘Finally.’

Just before I lost my mind, I finally managed to restore peace to the world.
I reached the ‘end’, dying in the arms of my beloved family.
…At least, that’s what I thought.

“…What is this?”

I had returned again. What the hell!

I’m tired of endless battles and tired of playing the hero.
This time, I will achieve complete rest.

…However.

“Edith Crowell. Do you think I would give up on you?”
The war demon duke, who has slaughtered thousands of monsters, clings me, claiming he doesn’t want to lose me.

“Lady Edith… You can’t die like this. We have a contract.”
An unidentified prodigy of divine magic clasps my hand tightly with a shy smile.

“Please let me repay my debt. Edith, I want you to be happy.”
The head of the Assassin Guild rubs his cheek against my knee, vowing to sacrifice his life for me.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
To top it off, my childhood friend, now a priest, looking at me with eyes full of desire.

It’s fine. All of this is fine.

Why are all my ex-boyfriends and even strangers trying to stop me from dying?

Hey. You all…
In this life, we have nothing to do with each other.
Can’t you just let me die? <<less