Chapter 1

"Buhi!!"

A sharp pain shot across his cheek. Stunned by the impact of the punch, he collapsed on the spot.

(Huh? What, what happened? Why did I get punched!?)

The man, who had no idea why he was punched, tried to understand the situation by looking around. However, another man approached him, and the man who was still in shock raised his head to notice him. There, a man with bright red hair and a spiky head was glaring down at him with a furious expression.

(W-Who is this? Could he be the one who punched me!?)

He knew who had punched him, but he still didn’t understand why. It seemed the matter wasn’t over, as the man was still angry.

"Listen up! Never get involved with Claris again! And get out of our sight!"

"H-Huh..."

The man, overwhelmed by the intensity, sat on the ground and let out a pitiful voice.

(Why am I being scolded so much...)

"Hmph!"

The red-haired man, who had been raging, heard the man’s response, calmed down, and left with a snort. The man, now able to assess his situation, stood up and looked around again. He found himself surrounded by young boys and girls dressed in unfamiliar attire.

(What is this...)

Moreover, upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a live venue with many people in the audience. It was an unusual scene, even when viewed calmly.

The man, becoming even more confused, took a deep breath to try to calm down.

(Calm down, calm down. First, why is this happening? Let me think about what happened today.)

To sort out the situation, he recalled the events of the day.

First, he remembered what he was doing just before he was punched.

(Um, I was playing Fate 48, which is known as a major erotic game, right?)

The Fate 48 he mentioned was an 18+ game created by a well-known erotic game company that aimed to produce a masterpiece that would be remembered in history. What was remarkable was that it was created with forty-eight scenario writers and forty-eight illustrators. The production cost was so enormous that consumers were left speechless.

Furthermore, it included additional scenarios and heroines through paid DLC, ultimately allowing players to clear sixty-four heroines.

(When it was announced, it was a big surprise. It was a huge hit with famous scenario writers and top illustrators. But, I was a student back then, so I couldn’t afford it...

But, when I got my first salary as a working adult, I was so happy to buy it.)

The man, lost in thought, switched his focus to the present.

(That’s right. I was playing Fate 48 during a long vacation, staying up all night. I bought the paid DLC and cleared all sixty-four stories, and then I fell asleep...)

Finally, the recollection ended. The man reached a conclusion.

(This is a dream!)

If it was a dream, it was easy to deal with. He just needed to wake up.

He immediately pinched his cheek, but he didn’t wake up. He should have realized it when he was punched that this was reality.

"Leord Harvest!"

A loud voice suddenly rang out, making the man shudder. It was a name he had heard many times.

Because that name was—

"I am Leord Harvest..."

— a side character in Fate 48.

He never thought he would end up in a different world, as he often read in web novels.

(Wait, wait!! Leord challenges the protagonist Siegfried to a duel in the early stages and loses, resulting in his expulsion from the academy and banishment to the frontier! Moreover, in some routes, he becomes the final boss, but he is guaranteed to die in all routes!

I, I don’t want to die!!)

No matter how much he shouted in his heart, reality was merciless. A voice yelled at the motionless Leord.

"What are you doing! Leord Harvest! Since you lost the duel, return to your room immediately!"

"Y-Yes..."

He had no will to resist. He only thought about what to do in this situation. If he was going to be reincarnated into a different world, he wished he had started as a baby. Shinjin, who had become Leord, sighed and left the venue.

(What should I do...)

Shinjin, now Leord, lay on the bed in his room and thought.

Since he had completed Fate 48 when he was Shinjin, all the scenarios were in his head. That’s why he was troubled, knowing that Leord was destined to die.

He had no idea how to survive. Since he was going to die anyway, he wanted to live as he pleased, but there was one thing that worried Leord.

"Is there a world’s compulsion?"

The term "world’s compulsion" was something he had seen many times in web novels. If you tried to resist a fate that was supposed to lead to death, the world would try to make you die.

Leord believed he was no exception, which made him even more troubled.

"Should I just die now? Ha, no way. I don’t have the guts."

He muttered these words in despair, but he lacked the courage to act. He rolled around on the bed, and time passed without any ideas coming to mind.

After an unknown amount of time, Leord got out of bed and looked at his body in the full-length mirror in his room.

(My body is just like the illustration. It’s full of fat, and I’ve lost my jaw. They call me a golden pig for a good reason."

Leord, now Shinjin, knew that Leord was a person of high status, a duke, with a strong sense of self-esteem and a haughty personality.

Because of this, he had lived a life of arrogance, becoming fat and being called a golden pig behind his back due to his blond hair.

"Ha..."

He sighed and sat in a chair, staring at the ceiling. Leord recalled his abilities.

"I’ve decided... I’ve decided! I will survive no matter what! What’s the world’s compulsion? I have the potential to become the final boss!!"

He thrust his hand upward and grabbed the air. Leord knew the potential within him. He resolved to use it to survive.

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