The night sky was choked with pitch-black storm clouds, fat raindrops pelting down.

The streets reeked of wet earth and mud.

Beneath his feet, the rainwater had turned murky.

He closed his umbrella, stepped inside, then couldn’t help glancing back once at the glistening street—his heart remained mired in mud.

You think he’s a poet?

No. He’s an office drone.

Just too exhausted after overtime, making everything seem poetic.

A hot shower brought slight comfort.

Though drowsy, he ruffled his damp hair and decided to stay up a while longer.

How to kill the remaining time?

His gaze drifted to the laptop on the desk…

A dazzling streak of light flashed across the screen, revealing a new world adorned with ornate golden-lettered English—*Destiny*.

The game was called "Destiny."

To elaborate…

Better not.

It’s an R18 title. Too much detail, and it’d get censored.

But believe it or not—he’d come for the masterful storytelling of its writer.

Yes, he was an upright person.

Upright people play R18 games too!

The game offered multiple story routes, packed with fun and deeply fleshed-out characters.

He’d already cleared six routes in *Destiny*.

Ah, don’t get the wrong idea—it meant defeating the bosses. Depending on player choices, each route had a different final boss.

As for how many times he’d "cleared" characters…

He pushed his glasses up his nose. The lenses gleamed with philosophical light.

Creating a new save file, he aimed for the seventh route this time: *Destiny·Pride*.

The opening was familiar. With experience from six prior routes, he navigated effortlessly.

Soon, he’d gathered several powerful companions.

Luck was absurdly on his side this run!

In *Destiny*, allies were random encounters—yet here he was, blessed with a perfect start. This route was locked in.

As the story progressed, a character named Derek Wudewen appeared.

This silver-haired handsome guy was the Duke’s adopted son—not a companion.

He’d shown up briefly in previous routes, just a side character.

But this time, Derek appeared far more often. If his guess was right, Derek Wudewen would likely become the final boss of the "Pride" route.

*Click.* The mouse tapped lightly. He could interact with Derek now…

Derek: "Do you wish to dance too?"

Derek: "Mere ants. You don’t measure up to half of me."

Derek: "Would I bother remembering the names of those I’ve crushed?"

…

What’s wrong with this guy?!

So damn annoying!

I’ll wipe that smirk off your face!

*Click. Click.* The mouse clicks turned frantic, skipping even the R18 scenes.

After hasty clicks, the moment to face Derek finally arrived. Time to pummel that insufferable Derek Wudewen!

…

"Character: Leon has fallen."

"Character: Teresia has fallen."

"Character: Angelica has fallen."

"…"

"Your party has been wiped out."

How?!

He froze before the screen, unable to accept the wipe. Then Derek’s handsome face flashed onscreen again.

Derek’s gaze was disdainful. A line of dialogue appeared beneath him:

"Your weakness fails even to entertain me."

"Damn it!"

The exhausted office worker jolted upright. *I’m* the rookie?!

He refused to believe it!

*Click. Click. Click.* With each mouse tap, his killing intent thickened.

After countless clashes, following one spectacular assault, the detestable Derek finally collapsed.

"You have defeated Derek Wudewen."

Vengeance achieved. He exhaled in relief.

Too drained to watch the ending cutscene, he slumped onto his bed.

He’d planned to play just one chapter, sleep once his hair dried—but Derek’s provocation had him clearing the entire route.

Revenge was sweet, but after overtime shifts and gaming till dawn, exhaustion crushed him…

He closed his eyes. Outside, the rain had stopped.

Night faded. Gentle morning light spilled through the window, brightening the room…

…

Amidst a hazy glow, he seemed to see a golden-haired beauty.

She approached slowly, arms opening tenderly to embrace him.

Addictive warmth and softness washed over him. Before he could react, sweet lips sealed his own.

He closed his eyes, savoring it all, intoxicated by the bliss.

"I love you."

A sultry whisper brushed his ear.

"I love you, love you, love you…"

But the sweet words suddenly turned urgent, twisting into an unhinged frenzy!

Something felt wrong. He tried pulling away from her embrace.

Yet her grip was iron-strong. He couldn’t break free—not even to part their lips!

Thick black mist surged, coiling around him. Light vanished, devoured by darkness.

In a blink, all was pitch black.

He strained to see, but in this lightless world, he felt utterly powerless.

He was sinking into an abyss.

Just as the suffocating dark threatened to drown him, another dreamlike whisper echoed…

"I love you, Derek."

…

What the hell?!

Did playing R18 games before bed overstimulate him?!

Terrified, he snapped his eyes open, wrenching himself from that endless void.

But reality proved even more surreal…

Before him stretched a vast courtyard. An impeccably manicured emerald lawn lay beneath flourishing oak trees. Nearby, white stone flowerbeds carved with elegant patterns bloomed with vibrant tulips.

This unfamiliar scene stunned him. Was he still dreaming? Yet the crisp breeze carried real floral scents.

Beside him stood figures dressed in medieval European attire.

He’d never seen them, yet their faces felt oddly familiar.

Where was this?!

What the hell was happening?!

As the thought struck, his head throbbed. Memories flooded in—this once-alien world now felt intimately known…

And among the torrent, one name burned brightest: Derek Wudewen!

Because…

He’d reincarnated as Derek Wudewen—the final boss of the "Pride" route in *Destiny*!

How could this be?

What happened to his original self?

He strained to recall…

Overtime shifts. Grinding through the "Pride" route. Crushing fatigue. Falling asleep.

No way… had he…

Dying from exhaustion was absurd. But regret wouldn’t change anything.

Accepting fate, he resolved: from now on, he *was* Derek Wudewen.

Though Derek was a villain in the "Pride" route, he possessed intel from all seven routes. With careful maneuvering, he could avoid his doomed ending and live comfortably.

For a better tomorrow, he assessed his starting point.

Derek stood in the courtyard of Duke Wudewen’s estate in the Doranbar Kingdom. Beside him stood a middle-aged man in lavish robes, ash-brown hair swept back.

This was Yuri Wudewen—the estate’s master.

Duke Wudewen gazed ahead, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Don’t be fooled by that smile. His hidden identity? A high-ranking member of the Witch Cult.

He’d adopted Derek, becoming his gateway into villainy—a dangerously manipulative figure.

A step behind the Duke stood an elderly butler. Snow-white hair framed his gaunt face, yet his posture was rigidly upright. His eyes seemed half-lidded, weary—but held profound depth.

Xinzel Yuka. A Gold-tier assassin from the Assassins Guild.

He’d once taken a contract to kill Duke Wudewen. Pity he’d chosen the wrong target…

After failing, Xinzel had been forced into a life-binding contract to survive. Now, he served Yuri Wudewen.

Flanked by two powerhouses, Derek felt immense pressure.

Beyond Yuri and Xinzel, the servants trembling nearby were ordinary folk.

But one stood out…

Directly before him knelt a thirty-ish, fair-haired maid of average looks. Her face was deathly pale.

Today, she’d been pushing a tea cart to serve the Duke’s afternoon refreshments.

At a corridor corner, she’d collided with Derek, who’d suddenly rushed out.

By sheer coincidence, tea had soaked Derek’s clothes…

This was Duke Wudewen’s estate. Naturally, the fault lay with the maid—nobles were always right.

The offending maid would be punished.

Some might think such a small mistake warranted light punishment. But here, commoners offending nobles was a grave crime.

Now, all servants were gathered in the courtyard. The punishment would be public.

Annoying, but seemingly irrelevant to Derek’s survival.

Yet he noticed one crucial detail: the maid’s name was Kana Shalier…

In *Destiny*, the protagonist’s party had an exceptional healer: Teresia Shalier.

Teresia had lost her father young, clinging to her mother.

But at age ten, her mother had been cruelly wronged while serving nobles in the capital. This tragedy fueled Teresia’s hatred for the Wudewen bloodline.

If Derek wanted a comfortable life here, being marked by a protagonist’s party member was absolutely unacceptable.

A chance to alter his doomed fate had appeared!

He *had* to save Teresia’s mother—Kana Shalier!

…

"I’m sorry, Your Grace! It was an accident! Please spare me!"

Kana’s plea was etched with terror.

Duke Wudewen’s cruel reputation was infamous across the capital. Only the need to raise Teresia had driven her to risk working here.

Yuri Wudewen merely smiled faintly.

Elegantly, he raised a hand. Fingers danced. A flickering flame ignited in his palm.

The dancing fire was mesmerizing—yet chilling.

Magic. Revered as miraculous here.

The searing flame in the Duke’s hand could reduce Kana to ashes in seconds!

"Your Grace, please spare me! My husband is gone! My daughter is only ten! I must go back to her!"

Bathed in firelight, Kana’s fear deepened into despair.

Duke Wudewen’s smile widened with delight.

He relished this. Time to climax his afternoon entertainment.

Servants averted their eyes, pained. Even Xinzel closed his.

As the Duke prepared to unleash the flame, a cold voice cut through the courtyard…

"Hold, Father."

Duke Wudewen’s brow furrowed. He turned to Derek.

"Father, may I handle her punishment?"

Derek’s request hung in the air.

"Derek, you wish to punish her yourself? That’s acceptable—she offended you, after all. But understand this…" The Duke’s tone sharpened. "Meaningless mercy is weakness too."

A warning. A demand not to disappoint him.

"I understand, Father."

Derek knew the Duke’s expectations. But…

So what?!

He didn’t *want* Yuri Wudewen’s approval!

Gaining the Duke’s favor would drag him into the evil Witch Cult.

Joining that villainous faction meant no salvation.

To survive, he needed to distance himself from Yuri Wudewen—and avoid making enemies of the protagonists.

If he could flee somewhere beyond the heroes’ reach? Even better.

To avoid any connection with Teresia, Kana absolutely could not die here.

Derek decided to ignore Duke Wudewen's demands and rescue Kana right before him.

This might anger Yuri Wudwen, but as long as it helped avoid the apocalyptic ending, it was worth it.

Derek had said, "Kana, get up. As punishment, I've decided to banish you..."

But...

...

Kana collapsed to her knees, powerless, her heart heavy with sorrow.

She wasn't afraid of death; to her, death was even a relief.

But she couldn't let go.

She couldn't die now!

If she were gone, what would happen to poor Teresia?

She pleaded desperately, but the flames in Duke Wudewen's hand crept closer.

Just as despair overwhelmed her, a young man suddenly spoke...

"Wait, Father."

Though his voice was cold, to her it was like heavenly music—those words delayed her death sentence and gave her hope for life!

After a brief discussion with Duke Wudewen, the youth walked toward her.

He had silver hair, a cold and stern face, eyes as brilliant as sapphires, yet his gaze was calm, constantly radiating a faint chill.

This beautiful young man was the duke's son, Derek Wudewen.

Young Master Derek was about the same age as Teresia, but he appeared far more composed. Kana believed the young Derek Wudewen was different from Duke Wudewen—his heart was still kind.

Kana held onto that hope, but the next second, all her expectations were shattered by his emotionless words...

"Want to live? Fine, I'll let you go. But you must pay for your mistakes. Let your daughter take your place to please me!"

Kana froze.

She saw Derek looking down at her with utter coldness, his icy gaze dripping with disdain.

It turned out she hadn't met an angel, but a new demon...

A demon named Derek Wudewen!