I Got Isekai'd Into a Novel with a Tragedy Tag

I've always had this deep-seated aversion to novels with a 'tragedy' tag. Well, calling it a mere aversion is putting it nicely. I'm downright disgusted by them, to be honest. And you're probably wondering, "Why the strong reaction?" Well, the reason is actually quite simple.

I mean, seriously, who in their right mind would willingly choose to read a story that inevitably leads to a sad or even downright miserable ending? Take Romeo and Juliet, for instance. Sure, it's an interesting and beautifully written tale, but come on, Shakespeare! Did you really have to go and kill off the two main characters? When I watched the movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, I remember feeling utterly perplexed, almost shouting at the screen, "Why, Shakespeare?! Why?!"

But hey, he was the writer, and it was his call. Still, it left a seriously bitter taste in my mouth to witness these two characters I had grown to love meet such a tragic end. It was heart-wrenching, to say the least.

And let's not forget about movies. There have been plenty of tragic ones too, like Titanic. I mean, we all knew what was going to happen, right? The ship was going down, and Jack and Rose's love story was doomed. Yet, despite that sinking feeling in my gut, pun intended, I couldn't help but get invested in their relationship. I rooted for them, hoping against hope that somehow they would find a way to survive together. But alas, it wasn't meant to be. The ending was inevitable, and it left me feeling a mix of sadness and frustration.

Why am I talking about this, you might ask?

Well, you won't believe what happened to me recently. I got hooked on this webnovel, I mean seriously hooked. I was so engrossed in it that I willingly put aside my studies just to devour the entire thing. Every day, I eagerly awaited the updates like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I even went as far as supporting the author financially because I loved it that much.

The novel was set in a fantasy world, and it revolved around a brave duke's daughter who took it upon herself to challenge the kingdom's corrupt system and initiate a coup. Let me tell you, I was totally invested in this story. I loved every twist, every turn, and every ounce of determination the protagonist displayed. It had become a part of my daily routine, and I couldn't get enough of it.

Then, today, the final chapter was released. I was ecstatic, but little did I know that I was in for a shock. The ending... Oh my goodness, the ending. I couldn't believe what I was reading. It felt like a punch to the gut. The author had thrown in a tragedy out of nowhere! I mean, seriously, why would they do that to me? It wasn't even hinted at throughout the entire novel. When I initially checked the tags before diving into the story, there was no mention of tragedy anywhere. And now, suddenly, there it was, slapped on at the end like an afterthought. I felt like I'd been deceived, lured into this amazing story only to be hit with a tragic ending when I least expected it. It was a total bait-and-switch.

I was so perplexed, confused, and let's be honest, pissed off, that I just dropped my phone right then and there. In that moment, I wished I hadn't even started reading it. I felt betrayed, man. Like I'd wasted my time and money on something that ended up screwing me over. It almost felt like the author had scammed me, extorted my hard-earned cash.

I had initially held this story in such high regard, rating it a perfect five stars. But now, it had plummeted to a measly one-star rating. I felt like my trust had been shattered, and I couldn't help but feel cheated. How could the author do this to their readers? It was a letdown of epic proportions, and I couldn't shake off the disappointment.

I was so mad that at one point, I even wished the author had some sort of karmic payback for what they did. Yeah, that's how angry I was when I went to sleep last night. But let me tell you, waking up today was a whole other story...

Okay, seriously, where the heck am I? I swear I fell asleep in my cozy bed, wrapped up in my nice, comfy blanket, with the sweet relief of air conditioning. But when I opened my eyes, I found myself in...well, I couldn't even begin to describe it.

The air was filled with the distinct sound of horse hooves hitting the cobblestone streets. You know, like those scenes from anime where you hear that clippity-clop sound. And there was this rumble, like a carriage rolling along. I guess that's what it was. A carriage. But why the heck am I in it? Did I get kidnapped or something? Man, I really wish that hadn't happened...

I glanced around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The whole place seemed to be made of wood, so it's safe to assume I'm inside the carriage. And then, my eyes landed on a person. Oh boy, this person. His arm was bound by a thick rope, and his feet were chained with a heavy metal ball. Like, seriously? What kind of messed-up situation is this?

When our eyes met, I couldn't help but let out a shriek, "Eek!" I mean, come on, the guy was huge! He had this intense gaze, as sharp as a hawk, and a face covered in wild facial hair. He looked like a mix between Wolverine and Hercules. And those muscles...I swear, it seemed like he could break free from those ropes and chains with ease.

Then, I glanced to his side and saw another person. This one was about my age, and he had this grin plastered on his face. I had to do a double take just to make sure he was actually wearing a grin. I mean, seriously? How on earth could he be happy when he's bound up like that? It boggled my mind.

And then it hit me. I tried to move my hands, only to realize that I couldn't. What the heck? Like these two guys, I was also bound up. Oh man, have I really been kidnapped?

"Kid, why are you so restless? Are you sick or something?" the huge man asked. His voice matched his physique perfectly—deep and intimidating.

"Eek! Don't eat me!" I blurted out without thinking.

"Eat you? Why on earth would I do that?"

"Eh? I mean...never mind. Actually, can I ask you something?" I mustered up the courage to speak, pushing aside my fear. If I didn't ask anything, I'd probably be left in the dark forever about why I ended up in this crazy situation. I had to know, even if it meant being eaten!

"Sure, go ahead," the man replied.

"Well, uh, would you mind explaining what's going on here?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean...why am I in this kind of situation? Where am I? And where the heck are we headed?" I took a deep breath before continuing, "And by the way, who exactly are you guys?"

"Huh, I don't know who you are. Just like you two, I was recently purchased. And how come you don't know where you are or why you're here? Weren't you bought as well?"

"B-bought?" I stammered.

"That's right. Bought," he replied, matter-of-factly.

My mind started racing. Bought? Purchased? This situation was getting stranger by the second. I had no recollection of being bought or how I ended up here. It was like a surreal nightmare.

"Wait, wait, wait," I interjected. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I didn't get bought or anything. I was just minding my own business, reading a webnovel, and then bam! Next thing I know, I'm waking up here with you guys. Can you please shed some light on what's happening?"

"Webnovel? What the heck are you talking about?" the man asked, clearly confused. "Look, if you genuinely don't know what's going on, I'll fill you in. You, him, and I are slaves who were purchased. I've never met you guys at the slave market before, so I don't know your names. And as for where we're headed, we're being taken to the Carnarose house. I heard the duke bought us to work there. Oh, by the way, my name's Simon," he introduced himself.

"And I'm Luke," the other man chimed in with his signature smile.

"And my name is—" I was about to introduce myself when something strange struck me. No, wait... Why did the name Carnarose sound familiar? And the mention of a duke? W-Wait a minute. This couldn't be happening... I mean, that only happens in anime, right? There's no way I got isekai'd into that novel. It's just not possible...right? "Um, c-could you tell me the name of our destination one more time?"

"Duchy of Carnarose," Simon replied.

It was at that moment that everything started to click into place. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't deny the truth any longer. This was too much of a coincidence. Somehow, someway, I had ended up in the very world of the webnovel I had been reading. Isekai'd into a fantasy novel... just like in those over-the-top anime stories.

'No, no, no, wait! This has to be a coincidence! I mean, getting isekai'd? That's absurd! And even if by some crazy chance it did happen, please, please let it not be that dreaded novel!'

I tried my best to convince myself that it couldn't possibly be true, that I hadn't really been isekai'd into that dreaded novel. But deep down, I couldn't ignore the unease creeping within me. My palms were sweating, and my heart raced with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

"Um, can you please tell me if the duke has a daughter?" I finally mustered the courage to ask.

Simon and Luke exchanged a puzzled look before turning their attention back to me. "Are you thinking of trying to pursue the daughter of a noble or something?" Simon raised an eyebrow.

"W-What? No!" I stammered, taken aback by the assumption. "I'm just genuinely curious, that's all."

"Alright, alright. But I'm starting to get confused here. Why are you so interested in the duke's daughter? I mean, she's quite well-known. A strong and independent woman, if you ask me."

"W-Wait, really?" My blood ran cold as their words sank in.

"Yeah, really. So even if you had any thoughts of getting involved with her, I'd advise against it. She's not the type to entertain romantic pursuits easily."

"No, no, I wouldn't even think of doing something like that!" I hurriedly protested. "I'm just trying to clarify things, you know? Can you at least tell me her name?"

Simon seemed genuinely perplexed. "You seriously don't know?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking," I replied, growing more anxious by the second.

"Her name is Amelia Seraphina Carnarose."

Amelia. The name echoed in my mind, confirming my fears. So, it was true. I had indeed been isekai'd into that very novel—the one with Amelia Carnarose as the central character. I couldn't believe it. This was definitely not what I had signed up for, and let me tell you, I was not loving it. Not one bit.