I Just Won't Play By The Book - Chapter 5: What Godd*mn Grudge Do You Have Against Me?

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move.

Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this.

Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored.

Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange?

Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was.

Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word.

You.

Notes:
(1): Chu Yuan is using the royal ‘we’ here.

- Description from Novelupdates

Yu Xinyan was a tragedy in her previous life. She grew up well, studied well, and should have a bright future, but was used by her adoptive parents to pay off her debts.

It’s okay to marry a second-married man, but she was also used by a scumbag to become a hen that doesn’t lay eggs, and she was blinded, cursed, and bullied by her stepson and stepdaughter for most of her life.

In the end, Yu Jie suffered from an incurable disease, and she didn’t wait for her husband’s greetings, but was kicked out of the house.

It happened that fate tricked people, and accidentally learned the real reason for her infertility. She wanted to be strong for a lifetime, but her life became a joke.

After rebirth, whoever loves this nanny wife should be whoever she wants.

Just as he was thinking about how to change the situation, he found a small space by chance and smiled at the golden finger given by God.

Cleanly kicked the so-called dedicated man, turned around and married the boss in the factory, who had a hard time getting a wife, and lived a sweet little life without shame or embarrassment, who knows who is happy.

- Description from novelbuddy

The year is 2025. A devout Christian named Arthur Bennett wins a lottery to participate in a revolutionary virtual reality experience at a high-tech company called Elysium. The program utilizes a unique VR pod to immerse users in a world based on a popular anime.As the other participants—a mix of personalities with varying degrees of anime knowledge—prepare to enter the simulation, Arthur remains the only one who has never indulged in anime. Upon entering this new world, he discovers an unsettling truth: pain is excruciatingly real, despite the creators' claims of a dampened pain response.He eventually finds himself trapped in prison, unable to log out, and demanding to be released from the program. Calls go unanswered, and the world of ninjas becomes a nightmare where hunger, thirst, hygiene, and even death are all real.Angered that he was deceived, he abandons all sense of logic and vows to become a villain no one would have ever anticipated.

"In this world, morality is but a thin line away from depravity, and the most captivating tales are often shrouded behind the veil of insanity."
____________________

I was just an ordinary guy, living a dull and unremarkable life as an editor.

But when a maniac author killed me for rejecting his novel in a writing competition, I reopened my eyes in a modern fantasy world.

"Hmm? Wait, this world…."

But fate, being a prude little bitch, played a twisted joke on me.

I reincarnated into the very same novel that I rejected for the competition award, written by the very same author who killed me for it.

Not only that, but I transmigrated into the body of a disowned noble named Lucas Morningstar.

Lucas was a minor antagonist in a novel who served as a stepping stone for the protagonist and their allies.

Arghh….

Of all the people, I just had to be reborn as someone who was despised by the main characters the most at this point in the story?

B-But hey, with my knowledge of the future and understanding of the main characters, I can at least live an easy life!

Right...?

"Yeah, I can work with this!"

Or so I thought until I remembered the ending arcs of the book.

This world is destined for doom!

And not so long after, I started to realize that the novel and the world I transmigrated into might not be as similar as I had originally thought….

=================

[Disclaimer: Caution while reading is advised. Tighten your seatbelts and brace yourself for a bumpy rollercoaster-like journey. Don't blame the Author if you fall from your seat while reading a plot twist. Thank you.]
____________________

AN: MC is NOT a villain, so don't expect one.

*The MC will seem a little bit (ok let's be honest, more than a little bit) foolish in the first 30-35 chaps but don't be fooled. I ask you to read till first 50 chaps before deciding to trash-talk the MC because that's where his borderline psychopathic strategist personality starts to surface.