Chapter 2

I couldn’t sleep at all.

Even though the bed was big and warm with magic, I couldn’t fall asleep. After all, I had just been threatened by a gray bear that can tear people apart with its bare hands—and now I was lying next to it.

With swollen eyes that barely opened, I stared blankly out the window as the sky slowly turned light blue.

<I Thought It Was Just a Normal Possession Story>

I saw the title of the webtoon and thought it was just another basic possession story.

The original story was a reverse harem romance fantasy novel. There was even a red box warning: “Not for readers under 19.”

The main plot was about a disabled princess and four men who all wanted her. They fought over her, full of drama and intense love. At least, that’s what the description said.

Sadly, the ending wasn’t all love and peace. All the sub-male characters died, killed by the main male lead, Tessarion.

I possessed one of the sub-males—Roy Dover. He was the son of a ruined noble family who was taken by the Claremont Duke’s house to pay off a debt. He started as Tessarion’s servant, then became a knight serving the female lead.

Roy Dover secretly loved the female lead and stayed by her side like a loyal puppy. But after helping her escape and betraying Tessarion, he was the first to be killed by him.

Out of all people, I became Roy Dover. He had no wealth, no talent, and came from nowhere.

So, how could I survive in this terrible hardcore (romance) fantasy?

‘It’s gear power!’

As soon as I realized where I was, I found and made a contract with the ‘Sacred Sword of Requiem’—a powerful weapon the female lead discovers later in the story.

Just because I’m in a romance fantasy doesn’t mean I have to do romance, right? I chose to enjoy it like a real fantasy! I was only a side character anyway!

Thanks to my powerful weapon, I gained achievements from a young age. While I was successful with Tessarion’s trust, everything was good.

But then I died fighting the rebel crown prince, Heliot.

I thought I was dead. But—

‘Why am I back at the beginning? Was it all a dream?’

I looked around and realized I had returned to the moment I first possessed Roy Dover.

I didn’t know why, but since I was alive again, I decided to give up on being a knight.

Knights are part of the army. And I didn’t want to join the army twice.

‘This life is about money!’

I decided to make this fantasy world into a land development story.

Using the knowledge I gained in my past life, I started a meat bun and K-chicken business.

I also made big changes in farming, improved toilets, and promoted hygiene to reduce death rates.

But in the end, I was betrayed. People framed me, and I was tortured to death in prison.

This happened again and again. I died and came back 8 times.

When my 9th life began, I was so depressed I couldn’t do anything.

When I refused to serve Tessarion, he threw me into a deep mountain monastery.

From servant to knight, merchant, advisor, spy, and magic engineer—after many jobs, I finally became a priest.

I wasn’t very religious, but maybe because of the head priest’s kind prayers…

One night, I cried out in the church, “Why is this happening to me?!”

And then—

[You never respected romance in this romance fantasy.]

God gave me a message that made my depression even worse.

I thought it was just drunken nonsense, but now that I think about it… maybe it was true.

In all 9 lives, did I ever see the main male lead and female lead love each other?

No. Even though God made the strongest man and the most beautiful woman in this world…

They never loved each other.

Damn it. This is all your fault!

I turned and glared at the cause of all my bad luck lying next to me.

He was half-leaning on pillows with his arms crossed and eyes closed. He took a deep breath in and out.

Even that breath showed off his huge muscles. I clenched the bedsheet without meaning to.

Don’t be scared, Kim Roy.

Even if I die, I’ll say what I need to say!

“……”

“……”

But as soon as our eyes met, I looked away like a coward.

“Duke… I… I don’t think this is right.”

“What isn’t?”

His deep voice was scary. I swallowed hard.

“M-me lying in the same bed as you. You’re getting married soon. What if rumors spread?”

“……”

Tessarion frowned, and a vein popped on his forehead. I quickly waved my hands and pointed forward.

“I’m not refusing orders! I’ll just sleep… over there on the bench—”

“Someone once threw an axe, broke the window, and split that bench in two.”

“T-then… I’ll sleep near the fireplace.”

I pointed to the big fireplace on his right. It was warm and had a comfy sofa made of wolf and bear fur with a sturdy table.

“Assassins use that area often. After we fixed the broken traps, they started using snakes and scorpions.”

“……”

My fingers dropped. I looked around, panicked. Wasn’t there one spot I could rest in this huge room?

“The floor and ceiling have freezing magic. If you stay there for a few hours, you’ll die.”

I quickly turned my head.

“That area too.”

There really was no place to sleep except the bed.

I put my hand on my forehead and sighed. Then Tessarion said something crazy.

“Don’t worry. If those rumors cancel the royal wedding, it’d be a good thing.”

What?

“What do you mean by that?”

“I said it’d be nice if silly rumors break off the engagement.”

“Th-then what about me…?”

“You?”

“You want me to be the shameless seducer who ruined your royal marriage?!”

“……”

Tessarion said nothing. Roy Dover was already a short-lived character. The longer the silence, the more nervous I got.

Hey, say something! Defend me!

Aren’t you the main lead of a romance fantasy?

Even if you’re a tyrant full of regrets, this is too much!

“I…”

I felt angry and sad all over again. I used to think he was the best among all the male characters—but I was wrong.

Damn it, I’m supposed to match this jerk with my sweet, kind, angelic female lead sister?

“I don’t want this! I’d rather die than be shamed and pointed at by people!”

I pulled the sacred sword from my wrist. It glowed with a soft light as gray feathers floated and a white blade appeared.

I grabbed the blade (not the handle) and pointed it at my neck.

“Roy!”

Tessarion’s eyes widened and he rushed like a beast. He twisted my wrist and took the sword.

The sword disappeared into light again, but blood dripped from the long cut on my palm.

“What the hell are you doing, Roy Dover?!”

He yelled, but I didn’t care anymore. I was ready to restart from life #10.

“I don’t know what I did to make you treat me this way, Duke! But please forgive my poor siblings after my death!”

“Die?! Over some stupid rumor?! Get a grip!”

“Screw that! I’m more sane than you! Let me go! Just let me die already—wahhh!”

I fought back as hard as I could, but Tessarion grabbed both my wrists and pinned my kicking legs down with his knee.

No matter how much of a trained knight Roy Dover was, he couldn’t win against a bear-sized monster.

 

“Someone! Get a doctor, now!”