---
Akira's chambers were a study in controlled darkness.
After the war council, he'd returned to find Hana-obaa-san had prepared tea and left, giving him privacy. Now he sat at his desk—a massive thing carved from black oak—surrounded by the accumulated evidence of the original Akira's life.
And it was... uncomfortable.
The desk held military treatises annotated in precise handwriting. Strategic maps marked with invasion routes. Letters from nobles pledging support for the Hikari campaign. A journal—*gods, the original kept a journal*—filled with coldly analytical observations about eliminating threats to Kagerou's power.
Takeshi leafed through it, his stomach churning.
*"Kaito spoke against Father's expansion plans again today. His idealism will get him killed. I should break him of this weakness before someone else does."*
*"The Shirogane princess is reportedly a prodigy in light magic. Troublesome. If war comes, she must be eliminated first. A martyr can inspire resistance; a corpse cannot."*
*"Hana-obaa-san asked if I was eating properly. Sentiment is a liability, but she's served loyally for forty years. I'll tolerate it until she becomes inconvenient."*
Akira closed the journal, feeling sick.
*This wasn't just a villain. This was someone who'd systematically killed everything human inside himself in pursuit of strength.*
He understood it, intellectually. In a world where power determined survival, weakness was death. The original Akira had simply taken that logic to its extreme conclusion.
But understanding didn't make it less horrific.
"I'm not you," Akira whispered to the empty room. "I won't be you."
He stood, moving to the floor-to-ceiling window that dominated one wall of his chambers. Outside, the view was breathtaking in a severe way.
Mount Kageyama stretched below, its slopes covered in twisted pines that grew despite the thin air and rocky soil. The Kurogane fortress-palace was built into the mountain's eastern face, its architecture blending seamlessly with natural stone. From this height—the Duke's chambers occupied the highest residential level—Akira could see the entire Northern Shadowlands spread out like a tactical map.
**The Northern Shadowlands** - Akira's personal domain, granted at age sixteen when he'd proven himself in border skirmishes.
The land was harsh. Rocky terrain, long winters, sparse farmland. But it was also rich in iron, obsidian, and other minerals. The people here were tough, pragmatic, loyal to strength rather than sentiment.
Looking down, Akira could see:
**Yamikazura** - The capital city of Kagerou Dominion, sprawling at the mountain's base. Population roughly 300,000, with another 200,000 in surrounding territories. The city was built in concentric rings, each level representing social strata.
- **Outer Ring:** Common districts. Craftsmen, merchants, laborers. Wooden buildings with dark tile roofs.
- **Middle Ring:** Military barracks, training grounds, weapon forges. Where Kagerou's legendary army was housed.
- **Inner Ring:** Noble estates, administrative buildings, the Grand Temple of Shadows.
- **Mountain Ring:** The palace itself, carved into living rock, where the imperial family resided.
Even from here, Akira could see the systematic efficiency. Patrols moving in coordinated patterns. Supply wagons flowing through designated routes. A city designed for war.
*No wonder the original Akira turned out this way. This entire culture is built on conflict.*
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Young master, you have a visitor." Hana-obaa-san's voice, carefully neutral.
"Who?"
"Your brother, Prince Kaito. He's quite insistent."
Akira smiled despite himself. "Send him in."
The door opened, and Kaito burst through with the energy of a puppy who'd been told no too many times. At sixteen, he was still growing into his frame—tall but lanky, with their father's strong features softened by youth. His blue eyes were bright with something Akira recognized: hope.
*Dangerous thing, hope.*
"Brother!" Kaito closed the door behind him, then stopped, suddenly uncertain. "I... can we talk?"
"We're talking now."
"I mean really talk. Not the..." Kaito gestured vaguely, "the formal political dance we do at councils."
Akira studied his younger brother. In the original novel, Kaito had been a minor character—the idealistic prince who died meaninglessly, proof that goodness couldn't survive in a world of power. The author had used him to show how even the purest intentions were crushed by reality.
*Fuck that,* Akira thought. *He's not dying on my watch.*
"Sit," Akira gestured to the chairs by his desk. "Want tea?"
"You're offering me tea." Kaito sat slowly, like approaching a dangerous animal. "You haven't offered me tea since we were children."
Had the original Akira really been that cold to his own brother?
Akira poured two cups from the still-warm pot, using the moment to organize his thoughts. The tea was good—some kind of dark blend with subtle spice notes. Even villains apparently had taste.
"What's on your mind, Kaito?"
"What happened at the council." Kaito accepted the tea but didn't drink, staring into the dark liquid. "Brother, I've been trying to stop that invasion for months. Presenting economic arguments, moral arguments, strategic concerns. Father dismissed all of it. Lady Kaguya said I was naive. General Tesshin called me soft."
"You're not soft. You're different."
"And then you—" Kaito looked up, blue eyes searching. "You convinced him in five minutes. Using logic I'd already presented. Why did it work when you said it?"
*Because power respects power, and you don't have enough yet.*
But Akira couldn't say that without sounding like the original villain.
"Timing," he said instead. "You were arguing against a decided course. I caught him before commitment hardened into pride. And..." Akira paused, considering honesty. "Father trusts my strategic judgment. When I said the invasion would fail, he believed me."
"Because you're the brilliant one. The strong one. The heir." Kaito's voice wasn't bitter, just resigned. "I'm the spare who reads poetry and wants peace."
"Poetry?" Akira latched onto that detail—he didn't remember it from the novel.
Kaito flushed. "I... yes. I write sometimes. Terrible stuff, probably. But it helps me think."
*The original Akira would have mocked him. Called it weakness.*
"Can I read some?"
Kaito's head snapped up. "What?"
"Your poetry. I'd like to read it." Akira sipped his tea. "If you're willing to share."
For a long moment, Kaito just stared. Then, carefully, he pulled a small leather-bound book from his jacket. "This... no one's ever asked before."
The book was worn, well-loved. Akira opened it to a random page:
*In shadows deep where dragons sleep,*
*A brother's heart may secrets keep.*
*What strength is this that breaks the soul?*
*What victory worth the human toll?*
*If conquest means to stand alone,*
*A king upon an empty throne,*
*Then give me weakness, give me loss—*
*At least I'll know what strength might cost.*
Akira felt something crack in his chest. This wasn't terrible. This was *good*. Raw, honest, asking questions the original Akira had refused to consider.
"Kaito, this is beautiful."
"You're mocking me."
"I'm not." Akira met his brother's eyes. "This is real. You're asking the questions everyone else is too afraid to ask."
Kaito's expression transformed—surprise melting into something vulnerable and grateful. "Father says questions are for the weak. The strong take action."
"Father's wrong." The words were out before Akira could stop them.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Kaito leaned forward, voice dropping to a whisper. "What happened to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Three weeks ago, you told me sentiment was a luxury neither of us could afford. You said Kagerou needed warriors, not poets. You..." Kaito's voice caught. "You looked at me like I was a stranger. A disappointment."
*Gods, the original Akira had been a complete bastard even to his own family.*
"And now you're praising my poetry and stopping invasions and—" Kaito stopped, searching Akira's face. "Who are you?"
*A transmigrated software engineer from another world, currently occupying your brother's body and trying desperately not to fuck everything up.*
But again, couldn't say that.
"I'm someone who had a wake-up call," Akira said quietly. "Someone who saw where his path was leading and decided to change direction."
"The dream you mentioned at council?"
"Something like that."
Kaito was quiet for a long moment. Then: "Can I tell you something? Something I've never told anyone?"
"Of course."
"I'm glad the invasion was stopped. Not just because it's moral or strategic or any of the reasons I presented to Father." Kaito's hands clenched around his teacup. "I'm glad because I was terrified you'd die. That you'd lead the vanguard into Hikari territory and never come back, and the last conversation we'd had would be you calling me weak."
The raw honesty hit Akira like a physical blow.
"I'm not dying," Akira said firmly. "And you're not weak. You're what this dominion needs—someone who remembers we're fighting *for* something, not just against everyone else."
"But Father—"
"Is a product of his generation. He grew up during the Third Demon Incursion, when Kagerou nearly fell. He learned that strength and ruthlessness keep people alive." Akira set down his tea. "But times change. The world changes. We can't keep fighting yesterday's wars."
"You sound like you've thought about this a lot."
*You have no idea.*
"I've had time to think. Too much time." Akira stood, moving to the window. Outside, the sun was setting over Yamikazura, painting the city in shades of crimson and gold. "Kaito, I need your help with something."
"Anything."
"The demonic threat I mentioned at council—I need to prove it's real. That means investigation. Research. Gathering evidence that Father can't dismiss." Akira turned to face his brother. "Your idealism, your different perspective... that's not weakness. That's exactly what I need."
Kaito stood, hope and determination warring in his expression. "What do you need me to do?"
"The Imperial Archives. You spend time there, right? Researching history for your poetry?"
"Every week. The archivists know me."
"Good. I need everything we have on previous demon incursions. Attack patterns, signs of corruption, testimonies from survivors. Especially anything about activity in the Jubaku no Chi over the past five years."
"The Cursed Lands?" Kaito frowned. "Why five years?"
*Because in the original novel, that's when the Demon Emperor started actively preparing his invasion. The first subtle signs that readers didn't recognize as important until later.*
"Demons don't just appear overnight. There will be patterns. Changes in the environment, disappearances, corrupted wildlife. I need to find those patterns."
Kaito nodded slowly. "I can do that. The Head Archivist, Master Fumio, he's helped me before. If I say it's for research—"
"Tell him it's for me. For strategic planning." Akira smiled slightly. "Might as well use my reputation for something useful."
"Right. Okay." Kaito moved toward the door, then stopped. "Brother? Thank you. For... for treating me like I matter."
"You've always mattered, Kaito. I was just too blind to see it."
After Kaito left, Akira slumped against the window, exhaustion hitting him all at once.
*One down. About a thousand more problems to go.*
He pulled out the original Akira's journal again, flipping to a specific section he'd noticed earlier:
*"Today I received correspondence from Duke Saburo regarding his 'special sources' in Hikari territory. His intelligence is too detailed, too specific. Either he's a genius at espionage, or he's being fed information deliberately. Must investigate further. If he's compromised..."*
The entry ended there, dated two months ago. The original Akira had suspected something but never acted on it.
*Because he wanted the invasion to succeed. The intelligence being false didn't matter if it gave him justification to attack.*
Akira grabbed fresh paper and began making notes:
**TIMELINE - 14 DAYS TO PROVE DEMON THREAT**
**Day 1 (Today):**
- ✓ Stopped invasion at war council
- ✓ Gained Kaito's cooperation
- ✓ Assigned archive research
- Next: Investigate Duke Saburo's sources
**Priorities:**
1. Find concrete evidence of demon activity
2. Expose Saburo's demon connections (carefully)
3. Prepare diplomatic approach to Hikari
4. Don't die
**Assets:**
- Meta-knowledge of future events
- Original Akira's strategic genius (muscle memory)
- Kaito's access to archives
- Hana-obaa-san's loyalty
- Lady Kaguya's interest (uncertain if ally or threat)
**Threats:**
- Duke Saburo (demon agent, actively hostile)
- Emperor Ryuzen (watching, suspicious of change)
- General Tesshin (loyal to empire, may oppose diplomacy)
- Time limit
- My own lack of experience in this body
**Unknown Variables:**
- Princess Yumeko Shirogane's current status
- Hikari Empire's actual preparedness
- Other demon agents in court
- Whether Lady Kaguya suspects I'm not the original Akira
That last one bothered him. Kaguya was described in the novel as having supernatural intuition—not actual magic, but uncanny ability to read people. If anyone would notice he wasn't quite right...
A gentle knock. "Young master, dinner is ready."
"Thank you, Hana-obaa-san. I'll take it here."
"You should eat in the dining hall. Your father expects—"
"Tell Father I'm researching the demonic evidence he requested. He'll understand."
A pause. Then: "As you wish. I'll bring a tray."
When Hana entered with the meal, Akira studied her properly for the first time. She was maybe seventy, with silver hair pulled into a neat bun, weathered skin that spoke of a hard life, but eyes that were sharp and kind. She moved with the efficiency of forty years' service, setting out dishes without wasted motion.
*In Chapter 487, she dies trying to protect the original Akira from Yumeko's soldiers. Throws herself in front of a blade meant for him, buying him thirty seconds of escape time he wastes begging for mercy instead of running.*
Akira felt his throat tighten.
"Hana-obaa-san, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, young master."
"Why do you serve me? After everything... after how I've treated you."
She stopped, surprise flickering across her face. Then, carefully: "You were six years old when your mother died. Do you remember?"
Akira accessed the original's memories—they were there, buried deep, painful. "Yes."
"You didn't cry at the funeral. Everyone said you were strong, taking after your father. But I found you later, in the gardens, trying to bury a dead bird you'd found. You were crying then."
She poured tea, her movements gentle.
"You said, 'Everything dies, Hana-obaa-san. Mother died. The bird died. Someday I'll die too. So why does it hurt?' And I told you it hurts because you have a heart. Because you can love."
Hana met his eyes.
"The next day, your father began your combat training. By the time you were ten, you'd learned to hide that heart. By fifteen, you'd convinced everyone—maybe even yourself—that you'd killed it entirely." She smiled, sad and knowing. "But I've served this family for forty years. I've seen many try to bury their hearts. It never works. The heart just waits."
"And if the heart never comes back?"
"Then I'll have been wrong. But I don't think I am. Not about you." She moved toward the door. "Eat. You'll need your strength for whatever you're planning."
After she left, Akira stared at the meal—grilled fish, rice, pickled vegetables, miso soup. Simple food, well-prepared.
*The original Akira barely noticed what he ate. Fuel for the body, nothing more.*
Akira took a bite of the fish. It was delicious—seasoned with something citrusy and sharp.
*When did he forget how to enjoy things? When did survival become more important than living?*
He ate slowly, actually tasting the food, and wondered if the original Akira had ever been happy. The memories suggested no. Just endless striving, endless pursuit of strength, endless fear of weakness.
*What a lonely way to exist.*
After dinner, Akira turned his attention to the real work: understanding this world's power system.
He pulled out several texts from the original Akira's collection:
**"Principles of Mana Cultivation" by Grand Sage Ryōiki**
**"Bloodline Inheritance and Magical Affinities" by Scholar Tenshi**
**"The Seven Tiers of Power" - Imperial Military Manual**
The original Akira had annotated all of them extensively. Takeshi's software engineering brain appreciated the systematic approach—this world's magic followed rules, could be optimized, improved with the right techniques.
---
## THE POWER SYSTEM OF ELYRIA
### **CORE CONCEPT: MANA**
Every living thing possessed mana—life energy that could be refined and directed through will and training. Humans were born with a "mana core" located roughly where the solar plexus would be. This core determined potential.
**Mana Core Grades (at birth):**
- **Broken Core:** Cannot cultivate. Roughly 30% of population. Live as normal humans.
- **Cracked Core:** Limited cultivation. Can reach Tier 2 maximum. 40% of population.
- **Whole Core:** Normal cultivation. Can reach Tier 4 with training. 25% of population.
- **Pristine Core:** High potential. Can reach Tier 6 with dedication. 4.9% of population.
- **Divine Core:** Legendary potential. Tier 7 possible. 0.1% of population.
*The original Akira had a Pristine Core. So did Yumeko.*
### **THE SEVEN TIERS OF POWER**
**TIER 1 - AWAKENED (Mana Core Activated)**
- Basic mana manipulation
- Enhanced physical abilities (2x normal human)
- Simple spells from affinity element
- Most soldiers reach this level
- Approximately 60% of military forces
**TIER 2 - ADEPT (Mana Circulation Established)**
- Internal mana pathways fully developed
- Can fight multiple Tier 1s simultaneously
- Intermediate spells, sustained combat capability
- Officers, skilled knights
- Approximately 30% of military forces
**TIER 3 - EXPERT (Mana Resonance Achieved)**
- Mana synchronized with body and soul
- Can manifest aura—visible energy field
- Advanced techniques, elemental mastery
- Elite warriors, court mages
- Approximately 8% of military forces
**TIER 4 - MASTER (Domain Formation)**
- Creates personal "domain"—area of absolute control
- Within domain, user's power increases 50-100%
- Can suppress lower-tier opponents completely
- Generals, archmages, duke-level nobles
- Approximately 1.5% of military forces
*The original Akira was Tier 4, specialized in Blood Domain. In his domain, he could manipulate anyone's blood within a 50-meter radius.*
**TIER 5 - GRANDMASTER (Law Comprehension)**
- Understands fundamental "laws" of their element
- Can bend reality within specialty
- Single grandmaster can turn tide of battles
- Kingdom-level threats
- Fewer than 100 in all of Elyria
*Emperor Ryuzen was Tier 5, mastering the Law of Dominance—his will literally overpowered weaker opponents.*
**TIER 6 - SAGE (Dao Manifestation)**
- Embodies a concept/philosophy completely
- Reality warps around them
- Can fight armies alone
- Continental-level powers
- Fewer than 20 confirmed in current era
*The High Pontiff of Seisen Theocracy was Tier 6, embodying the Dao of Redemption.*
**TIER 7 - TRANSCENDENT (Beyond Mortal Limits)**
- Semi-divine existence
- Can reshape landscapes
- Functionally immortal without violence
- Legends, barely human anymore
- Only 3 confirmed: The Demon Emperor, and two others lost to history
### **AFFINITIES AND BLOODLINES**
Everyone had elemental affinity—some stronger than others:
**Common Affinities:**
- Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning
**Uncommon Affinities:**
- Ice, Metal, Wood, Light, Shadow
**Rare Affinities:**
- Space, Time, Life, Death
Unique/Bloodline Affinities:
Blood (Kurogane family)
Divine Light (Shirogane family)
Holy Flame (Seisen Theocracy)
Volcanic Earth (Kazan Shogunate)
The Kurogane bloodline specialized in Crimson Authority—blood manipulation. At low levels, this meant controlling their own blood for weapons or healing. At high levels, they could manipulate enemy blood directly, causing hemorrhages or puppet-control.
Extremely effective. Also extremely disturbing.
The Shirogane bloodline possessed Radiant Blessing—divine light magic. Healing, purification, barriers, and holy weapons. The polar opposite of Kurogane's dark power.
Which is why readers loved the original conflict. Light versus darkness, literally.
CULTIVATION METHODS
Advancement required three things:
Mana Accumulation - Absorbing ambient mana through meditation/combat
Comprehension - Understanding your element/concept deeper
Tribulation - Breaking through to new tiers required overcoming challenges
The original Akira's notes on his own advancement:
"Tier 1→2: Age 8. Simple accumulation through Father's training."
"Tier 2→3: Age 12. Comprehended that blood is life, not just fluid. Tribulation: Survived assassination attempt, used attacker's blood against them."
"Tier 3→4: Age 16. Formed Blood Domain. Tribulation: Solo mission against bandits, outnumbered 50:1. Domain awakened when death was certain."
"Next breakthrough to Tier 5 requires deeper comprehension. Blood is life... but what is life? What is the fundamental truth I'm missing?"
In the original novel, Akira never reached Tier 5. He died at Tier 4, age 23.
But Yumeko? She reached Tier 6 by age 30. The novel's final arc had her fighting the Demon Emperor (Tier 7) with help from her companions and barely winning.
Akira set down the cultivation manual, rubbing his temples.
Okay. So power-wise, I'm currently upper-mid tier in this world. Yumeko at age 15 is probably Tier 2, maybe early Tier 3 if she's been training hard. By the original timeline age 23, she was Tier 5.
The gap would close as she grew stronger and he... didn't. The original Akira had stagnated, unable to advance further because his comprehension of "blood" was incomplete.
But I'm not the original Akira. I have different perspective. Different knowledge.
What if blood wasn't just life? What if it was connection? Every person's blood connected them to family, to ancestors, to humanity itself?
Akira felt something shift in his chest—his mana core resonating with the thought.
Interesting. That might be the key to Tier 5 eventually.
But that was future problems. Current problems: proving demons existed and not getting killed in the next two weeks.
A sharp knock on the door—different from Hana-obaa-san's gentle tap.
"Enter."
Lady Kaguya swept in, elegant and dangerous in her evening robes of deep purple. Her eyes—that distinctive violet shade unique to her branch of the family—fixed on Akira with predatory interest.
"Nephew. Working late?"
"Research."
"Mmm." She moved through his chambers with the confidence of someone who'd been coming here for years. "I thought we should talk. Privately."
"About?"
"About your sudden change of heart. Your convenient dream. Your masterful performance at council that saved Duke Saburo from immediate execution." Kaguya settled into a chair, crossing her legs. "You're planning something. I want to know what."
Shit. Of course the spymaster would be suspicious.
"I told Father the truth. I had a prophetic dream—"
"Please." Kaguya's smile was sharp. "We both know the Kurogane bloodline doesn't produce prophets. It produces warriors. So either you're lying about the dream, or something else happened."
Akira met her eyes, calculating. Kaguya was dangerous, but in the original novel, she'd been loyal to the family until the end. She died during Yumeko's siege, fighting to protect Kaito.
She can be trusted. Maybe. If I'm careful.
"What would you say," Akira began slowly, "if I told you I've seen the future? Not through prophecy, but through... certainty. Mathematical certainty that our current path leads to disaster."
"I'd say you've either gone insane or become very interesting." Kaguya leaned forward. "Continue."
"The Hikari invasion. Even if we won—which we wouldn't have, not with Saburo's poisoned intelligence—it would have gutted our military. Killed tens of thousands. Exhausted our resources. And then when the demons came..."
"We'd have been defenseless. Yes, you made that argument at council." Kaguya's eyes narrowed. "But you knew that three weeks ago too. The strategic realities haven't changed. What changed in you?"
Do I tell her? Risk it?
"I died," Akira said quietly.
Kaguya went very still.
"Not literally. But the person I was—the duke who thought strength meant crushing everyone, who saw sentiment as weakness, who would have led that invasion and damned the consequences—he died. And someone else woke up in his place."
"Someone who stops invasions and praises his brother's poetry?"
She knew about that already? Of course she did. Spymaster.
"Someone who wants to survive. Actually survive, not just delay death while becoming a monster." Akira stood, moving to the window. "The path I was on ended in failure. In death. In everything I claimed to protect destroyed. So I'm choosing a different path."
"Just like that? A revelation and sudden change?"
"Is it really sudden? Or have I been heading toward this for months, and just finally admitted it?" Akira turned to face her. "You read people, Aunt Kaguya. You've watched me grow up. Was I ever actually happy being the cold, ruthless duke everyone expected?"
Kaguya was quiet for a long moment. Then: "No. You were efficient. Effective. But never happy. I always wondered what broke in you after your mother died."
"Nothing broke. I just buried it so deep I forgot it existed." Akira met her violet eyes. "Until now."
"And Saburo? Your investigation into his sources?"
"Will reveal he's compromised by demons. I'd bet my life on it." Akira returned to his desk, pulling out a map. "Look at his intelligence. It's too perfect. Too convenient. Designed to draw us into a trap that would benefit neither Kagerou nor Hikari."
"But would benefit a third party waiting for us to weaken each other."
"Exactly."
Kaguya studied the map, her expression thoughtful. Finally: "If you're right—if Saburo is a demon agent—exposing him will require absolute proof. Father won't execute a duke on suspicion."
"I know. That's part of what I'm researching."
"And the diplomatic mission to Hikari? That's really your plan?"
"Yes."
"You'll be killed the moment you cross the border. The Shirogane family has no reason to trust you."
"Then I'll give them one." Akira pulled out another document—a rough draft he'd been working on. "A proposal for a non-aggression pact. Shared intelligence on demonic activity. Joint patrols of the northern wastes. And a summit hosted by neutral territory to discuss formal alliance."
Kaguya read through it, eyebrows rising. "This is... surprisingly reasonable. Almost like it was written by Kaito instead of you."
"Maybe I learned something from my idealistic brother."
"Or maybe," Kaguya's eyes pinned him, "you're playing a deeper game I haven't figured out yet."
"Can't it be both?"
She laughed—genuine surprise in the sound. "You've never made me laugh before. The old Akira wouldn't have had the humor."
"The old Akira was boring."
"He was terrifying. There's a difference." Kaguya stood, moving toward the door. "I'll support your investigation. Quietly. If Saburo is compromised, I want to know. But Akira?"
"Yes?"
"If you're lying to me—if this is some elaborate manipulation I haven't seen through—I will end you myself. Family or not."
"I'd expect nothing less."
After she left, Akira sagged into his chair.
Two allies gained: Kaito and Kaguya. Probably. Maybe.
He looked at the clock—a mechanical thing powered by mana crystals. Nearly midnight.
Tomorrow, he'd start investigating Saburo's sources. Tonight...
Akira pulled out the original novel from where he'd hidden it—not literally, the book didn't exist here. But his memories of it were perfect. 700+ chapters, every plot point, every character arc.
"Hikari no Joō: Seifuku no Michi"
He remembered reading it obsessively. The story had everything: strong female lead, political intrigue, epic battles, a revenge plot that actually felt earned. Readers had loved watching Yumeko grow from traumatized princess to conquering empress.
And they'd loved hating Akira. The cold villain who destroyed her family, who represented everything wrong with the power-hungry nobility.
But Chapter 487—his death scene—had been controversial.
Some readers felt it was too sympathetic, giving the villain a "redemption equals death" moment that felt unearned. Others argued it was perfect tragedy—showing that even monsters could realize their mistakes, but too late to matter.
Takeshi had been in the second camp. He'd actually cried reading that chapter, seeing the moment Akira finally understood what he'd lost in his pursuit of strength.
"Please... I only wanted... to be strong..."
Those were his last words. Not begging for life. Begging for understanding.
And Yumeko's response had broken readers' hearts:
"You were strong. That was the problem."
Then her blade pierced his heart, and the villain arc ended.
Except now I'm living it. And I don't plan on reaching that ending.
Akira stood, moving to his private bathroom—a luxury even in this world, with heated water piped in through magic-powered systems.
He stripped off his formal attire, catching glimpses of the body he now inhabited. Lean muscle, scars from training, the crimson dragon tattoo. He looked like a character from an anime.
Because I basically am one.
The hot water was wonderful. Takeshi's Earth body had barely had time for showers, much less actual baths. Here, apparently even villains took care of themselves.
As steam filled the room, Akira let himself process everything:
He was in a web novel world
He was the villain destined to die
He had roughly 5 years before that death in the original timeline
He'd already changed major events
He had meta-knowledge but no guarantee it would stay accurate
He needed to win over the heroine who was supposed to kill him
And oh yeah, actual demons were planning to invade
No pressure at all.
But as he sank into the hot water, Akira felt something surprising:
Excitement.
For the first time since waking up in this world, since the initial panic faded, he felt genuinely excited.
Takeshi's life had been monotonous. Wake up, work, read novels to escape, sleep, repeat. He'd been good at his job but not passionate. Had friends but not close ones. Existed but didn't really live.
This world was dangerous, yes. But it was also real in a way nothing had been before. Every choice mattered. Every action had weight.
And he had a chance to rewrite a story he'd loved. To save characters who'd died. To change a tragic ending into something better.
Plus, a treacherous part of his brain added, you get to meet Yumeko Shirogane. The character you had a massive fictional crush on.
Akira dunked his head underwater, trying to drown that thought.
She's the protagonist. She's supposed to kill me. Romance is NOT the priority.
But he remembered how the novel described her. Not just beautiful—lots of characters were beautiful. But fierce, determined, growing from tragedy into strength without losing her compassion. A character who made difficult choices and lived with consequences. Who could be ruthless in war but gentle with those she protected.
*And in the original timeline, I destroyed her family. Gave her every reason to hate me