A man in his early thirties lay sprawled on the floor in the corner of a dimly lit room, half-buried under a pile of clothes. The room was a chaotic mess, a graveyard of discarded fast-food wrappers, unwashed plates, and scattered garments. Every corner screamed neglect, an unmistakable sign of an otaku's lair.
With a groggy grunt, the man stirred, pushing aside the heap of clothes that had engulfed him. He staggered to his feet, rubbing his face with a hand as if trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
His disheveled hair and deadpan expression mirrored the desolation of his surroundings. Moving towards a rickety chair at the center of the room, he slumped down, striking a dramatic villainous pose. One hand rested against his cheek as he cleared his throat, preparing to address an imaginary audience.
"My name is Dennis," he began, his voice heavy with a mixture of sarcasm and self-loathing. "You may be wondering why my room looks like this. But you may also be wondering why I'm living this kind of life." He leaned back slightly, his hollow eyes staring into the void. "If I were to explain it all, it'd take forever. So let me simplify it, I got NTR'd by my wife. She cheated on me with my best friend. They'd been together behind my back the entire time we were dating."
Dennis's gaze dropped to the floor, his eyes devoid of light, a stark contrast to the animated delivery of his words. "The reason I haven't yet committed suicide, you ask?" He straightened slightly, his fingers tapping his chin as if deep in thought. Then, with a faint, bitter chuckle, he continued. "The reason might sound stupid to most people, but to fellow men of culture, it's perfectly reasonable."
"There's this 18+ romcom game I've been playing," he said with a hint of enthusiasm breaking through the gloom. "It has actual entertaining sex scenes and a genuinely good story, a rare gem in this genre. And today, they're releasing the final episode. Coincidentally, it's also the day I plan to commit suicide. Ironic, right?"
Dennis shifted his focus to the desk where his laptop rested, brushing away an empty soda can as he powered it on. "But let's not waste any time. The new update is launching right now," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. Clicking into the app, the title screen lit up: "Welcome to Throne of Hearts: Conqueror's Route."
"Yeah, the name's cringy, but who cares?" Dennis muttered, smirking. "I came for the sex scenes but stayed for the plot. Hehehe." He laughed aloud, a strange mix of genuine amusement and desperation.
As the update bar on the screen filled, Dennis's grin widened. "Updates completed," flashed on the monitor, followed by the prompt, "Launch the game." The wallpaper featured the game's protagonist surrounded by various smiling female characters, each more fantastical than the last. Dennis stared at the image, his lips curling into a faint smile. He always pictured himself as the MC, living the dream life he could never have.
Without hesitation, he clicked the "Launch Game" button and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Yes! Let's get the final course ready!"
Suddenly, everything went black. The laptop screen disappeared, along with the dim light of the room. Dennis blinked rapidly, his surroundings swallowed by an abyss of darkness. Panic bubbled in his chest as he called out, "Hello? Is anybody here?" His voice echoed, bouncing back to him like a cruel mockery.
Fear crept in, tightening his throat. Dennis began shouting louder, begging for help, but the void offered nothing in return. Each plea dissolved into silence, a reminder of his loneliness. As despair threatened to consume him, a sudden prompt flickered into view before his eyes, jolting him upright.
[You Just Died Alone and Lonely <•_•>]
"Huh? What is this?" Dennis squinted at the floating text, his voice laced with confusion. "It's like one of those system interfaces from a manhwa. Am I dreaming?"
[You really are as dumb as you look, aren't you? Just a waste of good looks, trash.]
"Hey, hey! Can't you calm down a little, you... box system thingy?" Dennis snapped back, the insult stinging more than he cared to admit.
[Let me guess, getting NTR'd by your wife made you give up on life.]
"Yes, it did! You wouldn't understand how it feels unless you've been cheated on!" Dennis shouted defensively.
[Nope. And I wouldn't be as foolish as you to give up on life over something so trivial. There are thousands of women out there.]
The system's blunt reply made Dennis clench his fists, anger boiling over. "I'm dead, right? So just leave me alone! Take me to heaven or hell, it's better than being roasted by you!"
[<•‖•>]
[Hmm, I was about to offer you another chance at life, but since you don't need it, I'll give it to the next person who dies.]
"Wait, wait!" Dennis panicked, his voice rising. "I heard you mention another life. What exactly are you?"
[To you humans, I might as well be a god of reincarnation.]
The floating prompt paused briefly before continuing.
[So, what will it be? Will you take the offer or not?]
"Yes, I'll take it! But... Can I make a request, Mr. or Mrs. God?" Dennis asked cautiously.
[What is it?]
"Please, in my next life... let me not be the one getting NTR'd. Make me the one doing the NTR!" he said, his voice filled with a strange mix of conviction and bitterness.
[Your wish is my command. Open and close your eyes.]
Dennis complied, shutting his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, he found himself in an entirely different world. The air was fresh, the sun warm against his skin, and the surroundings were straight out of a fantasy novel. Towering castles, lush green fields, and bustling marketplaces filled the horizon.
"Is this... a new life?" Dennis whispered, a mixture of awe and disbelief coloring his voice.