Chapter 1: Otome Game

"Aahh…. Why is it so hard to get past this point..? Choose one of the two options: rescue the villainess or divulge all of her secrets. Of course, ain't the obviously correct answer supposed to be the latter option?!"

Kendrick screamed in anguish as he fixedly stared at the display in front of him. The game he'd been playing for weeks continued showing these choices on and on for him to make, and he failed yet again to make the proper selection, with the cutscene of the pop culture classic "Game Over" that everyone and their mother had been accustomed to by now. He had already grown used to yet tired of seeing the reiteration of the projections of his failures to the point where he questioned why he'd even bother even booting up the game, to begin with.

It was an otome game.

A game of the shoujo genre designed for and targeted towards the female demographic. Isn't Kendrick supposed to be playing eroge games instead, because he's a man?

"Argh…. I don't want to play this game anymore, but I don't ever want to disappoint Ryan! I mean, he's the only one I can think of that...."

Despite the raging hormones in his body, he still preferred otome games over eroges.

Ryan was his seatmate. At first, they weren't close, but with some time and Kendrick's amiability, it didn't take more than a month before they befriended each other.

As they got to know each other, Ryan also revealed that he's a big fan of otome games. It is because he loves the fictional character of the 'Villainess' role in those sorts of games very much, all the way down to their mannerisms.

As a result, he couldn't say no to a friend's recommendation. He can't suddenly stop being Ryan's friend because he can't play a single game in his spare time. It took him a month to become close to him, so there's no way he'll abandon his only friend just because he couldn't play what Ryan suggested.

That's how Kendrick became addicted to playing this otome game in his spare time. Despite the game's brutal plot and circumstances, he found it interesting in some sense, which is why he didn't grow bored playing it for hours and hours on end. Furthermore, despite the sluggish character development, the characters led lives of their own. Even the main character of the story now has several options, such as "rescue her or expose her secrets," as opposed to the past, which just gave the player the option to "find out her secret."

"I suppose it's fine to unwind for the day."

His eye bags became wider and more gloomy. Kendrick began to contemplate surrendering. However, when he was ready to rise up from his seat, his buttocks appeared to freeze and he was unable to stand.

For a little period, he paused.

"If I give up because I'm weary, I'll be trapped playing this game for the rest of my life, and Ryan will keep asking me nonstop about what happened or if I enjoyed the gameplay. That's why I can't just quit yet... Yes, I can't just give up right now! I won't let my own impatience and unwillingness to play prevent me from completing this damn game!!"

He had no choice but to complete the game as soon as possible!

He was already sick of seeing "game over" again and over, and his pride in making the right decisions had been reduced to dust, so he had no option but to finish the game before another month would pass.

And thus, like a leaf dropping from a tree, the night passed by to what seemed like an instant.

Kendrick was still engrossed in the otome game that his friend had suggested Kendrick to play, his eyes gloomy with shadows. It was unclear if he was still sane or not.

And in the midst of it all, a faint but ecstatic chuckle erupted.

Kendrick began to chuckle, his eyes filled with wretchedness like a madman.

"Finally! I've finally finished the game!! HAHAHA! Just who is the pitiful bastard of a developer that created this shitty otome game?

His breath grew ragged after a lengthy gaming session, the air flowing unsteadily over his parched tongue, drying up and expelling more of the remaining oxygen in the process. The cracking of Kendrick's lips was becoming more noticeable. Kendrick rose up from his seat, shaking his head.

"I desperately need a cold soft drink…."

To relieve his sore throat, he craved a cool drink. He was so unsatisfied with the game's finale that he couldn't help but assume that all of the hours he had put into it had been for naught.

The main character, as in every other otome game, ended up selecting only one out of her numerous targets. By the way, they were all men. But, as a male, he finds it strange to choose a man as a lover, even if it's only a game taking place in a fictional world. No, it would be much more bizarre if he didn't feel uncomfortable about it at all.

Kendrick opted to save the villainess, and in the end, the main character ended up getting on the good side of the villainess and befriended her as well, having been officially acknowledged.

He also picked one of the target love interests from the start, based on the personality of the love interest. Of course, he picked the future monarch of the realm.

Why would he settle for a mere noble when he could pursue the charming and compassionate future king? Even though he is a man, Kendrick will select the attractive route that will benefit him the greatest, whether it is a game or not.

Kendrick began to shift his gaze away from his computer. The screen was still playing the closing credits cutscene, which listed who helped them with material for making the game, as well as the names of voice actors and other miscellaneous information.

He began to exit his room and opened the door to make a turn to the right. The stairs to the first level were just in front of him. Kendrick took a step forward and suddenly felt the urge to puke for no apparent reason.

"Pughh…."

Kendrick covered his lips in order to hold it in until he could arrive at the lower floor, however, before he did, he lost balance halfway as his vision grew hazier.

The last thing he saw before the darkness overtook him completely was the concrete floor his head was about to collide with.