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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Devoted Reader's Reformation Life
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[Would you like to save him?]
"You dog bastard!
What the hell did I do wrong to deserve this!"
Kim Yu-hyeon swung his sword vertically downward as if there was no need to hear more.
It was the moment that put an end to their long and bitter enmity.
――――――――――
Gas-nim: Wow, he's finally dying.
That motherfucker.
Serene Black Frost: Honestly, isn't that too merciful?
If it were me, I'd chop off his limbs.
Tadadada: The protagonist is such an idiot.
He should've killed him sooner, and the heroine wouldn't have died ㅉㅉ
Zipongkiki: Thanks for the great read.
IkoooUU: Isn't the catharsis way too lacking?
Frankly, that bastard fucked over the protagonist, stalked him like a pervert, ruined everything at every turn, and even got his girl killed, and now it's ending on this weak note?
Ix Pelatura Mus: The guy who was a pathetic loser at the start ends up committing all sorts of heinous shit, then whines "What did I do wrong?" at the end lol. Deserves to die ㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇ
The comment section, quiet for a while, suddenly erupted in noise.
It was because the character they'd all been waiting to see meet his end had finally died.
An antagonist who appeared early on, showed his face briefly, and everyone thought would vanish.
But that character stuck around until the late game, committing all sorts of evils while trailing the protagonist.
He even met a gruesome end to the heroine supported by a significant number of readers, and only at the very end of the novel was he killed by the protagonist.
"…A bit disappointing."
After a moment of thought, he slowly placed his hands on the keyboard.
And as a devoted reader who'd meticulously read every single chapter without missing one, leaving comments and recommendations each time, he left a comment this time too.
ReadingHard: Great chapter as always, author-nim.
So he meets his end at the protagonist's hands after all.
He totally deserved to die, but honestly, there were a lot of parts that felt lacking.
The constant pop-up ambushes messing with the protagonist felt off, and the character was so one-dimensional that even as a late-game villain, he couldn't deliver any real impact and just stayed a third-rate baddie.
The other villains too…
Up to now, it's been decent enough.
But the villains are too flat and get used up too quickly. It's a shame.
If they were more well-rounded characters, it wouldn't feel like the protagonist is carrying the whole story solo.
"Whew."
After writing it, he clicked 'Post.'
The comment went up, and soon after, replies started pouring in.
From agreements like "You're right, the villains are all boring," to snide remarks like "Did you kill the author? If you're so smart, write it yourself."
Of course, he didn't respond to any of them one by one.
He was just sharing his honest thoughts as a reader of this author's work—criticism, not baseless hate, politely phrased. No need to care what others said.
He just idly imagined, as a devoted reader, how much more fun it might've been if the story had gone this way.
―A new message has arrived.
―
The notification popped up at the bottom of the screen.
Maybe it's the novel usage rights event I entered? He went to check the messages.
But the sender wasn't the event banner admin.
The message was from "Do you believe?"
It was none other than the ID of the author who'd written the novel he'd been avidly reading and commenting on.
―Message from Do you believe?
Hello, ReadingHard-nim.
I'm messaging to thank you for all the advice and constructive criticism you've left from start to finish.
Also, to talk about the comment you just posted.
It was the first time an author had messaged him while reading a novel.
After pondering how to reply, he sent a simple greeting and reiterated his point about some villains being too one-note and getting discarded too fast.
In hopes that the next work would improve on those flaws.
―A new message has arrived.
―
But the content of the next message was completely unexpected.
―Message from Do you believe?
I see you're disappointed with how quickly the villains get used up.
In that case, reader-nim, would you like to save one yourself?
"…Did they get pissed?"
The message felt off somehow.
An author asking a reader to "save" one?
Worried his words might've been misinterpreted, he reached for the keyboard to write a more detailed explanation when—
―――――――――――
"No!
Please, please let me go!
Don't do this!"
"Shut your trap!
A commoner like you should be grateful the Young Lord is bestowing his grace—why keep resisting!"
With those words, Trey shoved the woman's body forward with all his might.
A burly man—no, a knight—hurling her like that sent the woman tumbling to the floor like a ragdoll.
"Whew.
Like father, like daughter.
Stubborn as a bull."
Having stretched, Trey waited for his young master's next words.
The command to rip her clothes and expose her tasty white flesh.
The thrill of tearing the clothes off a resisting woman who ultimately couldn't do a thing—it was exquisite.
"Young Lord.
She's finally quiet.
Shall we move to the next step?"
"…"
No reply came.
Trey waited a bit for his young master's response, but when it dragged on too long, he cautiously spoke up again.
"Young Lord?
Shall we proceed?"
"…"
"Young Lord?
Is something wrong?"
"…"
"Young Lord?"
"Shut up for a sec."
It wasn't the usual voice of his young master that he'd always heard.
Normally, he'd be thrilled at the "meal" in front of him, trembling with excitement, but now it was different.
A cold, sunken tone, a deeply furrowed brow like something displeased him.
His eyes were tightly shut, pressing his temples as if his head ached.
This was no behavior for someone facing their "meal."
'What's suddenly up with him?'
Even with the woman huddled and trembling right in front of him, his young master just sat there, not moving.
Just roughly exhaling, stroking his forehead, clutching his face with a sigh, then removing his hands to stare at the ceiling, muttering to himself.
Finally, the young man seated there turned his gaze to the woman cowering before him.
Despite the sudden weird reaction, he figured it'd be like always—clapping, saying it was good, urging to move on.
"…Ah, damn it. This won't do."
But the words that burst from his mouth were utterly unexpected.
"Young Lord?"
At the abrupt statement, Trey stared straight at his young master, manners be damned.
In that instant, the young man's eyes flashed as he looked down at him.
Was he offended by the rudeness and about to mete out fitting punishment?
"…"
The young man crooked a finger.
Trey hurriedly bowed his head and rushed forward, dropping to his knees the moment he arrived.
He'd stared straight at this notoriously temperamental young master without permission, so whatever rebuke or blow came, even if it was violence, he had to endure it.
"Is the sun outside… "
"Pardon?"
"Whether the sun's still up outside, or if it's already set…"
A string of utterly unforeseen events.
He'd been tense, bracing for some outburst, and this was it?
Relieved inwardly, Trey politely explained that the sun had set and it was dark night.
The young man clutched his face even more desperately, murmuring "Oh, God."
"Uh, why are you suddenly like this?
Young Lord?
Young Lord Sion?"
Sion.
Yes, that was the name.
Sion Klauzen.
The villain who appeared early in the novel, seemed like a disposable playboy who'd show up briefly and get axed, but turned into the worst antagonist persistently tormenting the protagonist afterward.
His debut was kidnapping Lucia—the only daughter of Raido, who was both the novel's protagonist Kim Yu-hyeon's benefactor and mentor—to assault her, only to get beaten to a pulp by Kim Yu-hyeon, who rushed in like a madman to save her.
The exact time wasn't specified, but it was clear: as he rescued Lucia and escaped, beautiful moonlight illuminated the two.
In other words, that terrifying novel protagonist was right now charging straight here like a maniac.
'Fuck!'
Sion—no, Lee Ji-hoon—cursed.
This wasn't a dream.
Too vivid for that.
Beyond that, everything was unfolding exactly as described in the novel.
The kidnapped woman and the protagonist approaching at light speed to save her.
And the antagonist, oblivious, cackling away while toying with the woman before him.
'I have to survive!'
No ordinary protagonist.
A returnee student from ordinary Korea, forcibly transferred to a martial world where he rose to supremacy, then fell through a dimensional rift by chance and landed in this fantasy world.
With just one sword, he could fell any foe—hence his moniker, Sword Saint.
And that monster was flying here now to save his master's daughter.
He was about to get smashed by that terrifying guy!
'What do I do, what do I do?'
Lee Ji-hoon—no, Sion—clutched his head, racking his brain furiously.
Starting off as mortal enemies with the world's strongest.
If there'd been more time, maybe he could've avoided meeting Kim Yu-hyeon.
But the deed was done, and the man scarier than a dragon was approaching.
No time.
He might burst through that door any second, turning him to mincemeat.
'Beg?'
Say he blacked out briefly, admit the mistake?
Thinking that, Sion recalled Kim Yu-hyeon from the novel.
He didn't take lives lightly, but his "punishments" were more brutal than anyone's.
For kidnapping his master's daughter, he'd lop off one of Sion's arms.
The protagonist heading here now was that kind of man.
'No way. With that guy's temper, no "Oh, I see. There's such a thing as redemption, so I'll let it slide this once" with a smile.'
Only one option left.
Sion swallowed hard and glanced alternately at the trembling Lucia before him and Trey kneeling in what was either deference or groveling.
"Knight Trey?"
"Yes, Young Lord."
The knight's name was indeed Trey.
A pitiful villainous errand boy who appears for exactly two chapters and dies with his head exploded by Kim Yu-hyeon.
Sion beckoned the knight over and picked up the candlestick beside him.
He blew out the flickering candle with a puff!
Pulled out the candle, gripped just the holder.
'No clue if it'll work… but no choice.'
Fortunately, as an ordinary Korean youth, Lee Ji-hoon had received many useful lessons from various people.
"Young Lord?"
And to the head of the man staring blankly at him.
He swung it as hard as he could, just like that.
"You fucking idiot!
I told you to bring her properly, and you pull this rude shit!
You worthless extra scum!"
"Gahk!"
One lesson Lee Ji-hoon from Korea had learned was passing the buck.
Or "blame the other guy"—always useful, anytime, anywhere!
[Author's Note] Please take good care of me again!