Vaudevillain - VV4, 77 - Black Licorice

“Players are welcome to board the special train for the Dimension Crack game. This train will go from the E-level departure station to the D-level station. Please ensure that your life is safe and orderly get on the train and abide by the rules of the ride.”

“Ride rules are as follows:”

“1. Please do not bring non-game items on the train. (Except underwear)”

“2. Must consume. (The train staff are all working without pay)”

“3. Do not turn on the lights after turning off the lights. (Except for those who are daring and talented)”

“In addition, the train encourages a variety of leisure methods such as sneak attacks, fights, and hunting. Players are invited to choose at will.”

“I wish you a pleasant journey.”

- Description from novelbuddy

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

Arnold never thought his gaming skills would land him in a romance novel—as a doomed side character, no less. To survive, he hijacks the heroine's “system,” bending the story to his will. But when he dodges a deadly duel, he catches the eye of the heroine, Lara, his own step sister—and her love is a dangerous game. Arnold must outwit the plot and his step sister who's not afraid to kill for love. In this LitRPG romance gone wrong, survival isn't just about beating the system—it's about escaping the heart of a yandere.