Within a Hollow Heart - Chapter 96: Volume 2, : "Paths of Broken Threads"

“The masterminds are cooler than heroes,” I mutter as I stare at the chess pieces before me. It is easier to be the one who sits in the shadows and moves the pieces, likewise deciding the flow of the game.Heroes will foolishly sacrifice their lives for the good cause and villains will sacrifice the world for their own gain, but masterminds will use both the heroes and villains to their own benefit.Why, you ask? Well, that's because I've lost my life once while trying to be a hero so, I don't want that anymore. I'd rather be a mastermind who molds the world as per my convenience and live peacefully. Because, why not?***[Defender of Divine Glory says you are the hope of this world.]What?[Goddess of Wisdom believes that you will be the one to save the world.]Wait, what?![Propose the Grand Duke the idea of a fake marriage.]And, why would I do that?![Stop the assassination of Prince Eric.]Why would I save him?![The candidates for the throne are:... Who will you choose?]Ah! I give up...It seems like a curse that anyone who wishes for a slacker life in Isekai will have to go through the most troublesome things.In my past life, I died because of one rookie mistake but after being transmigrated in the world of fantasy I've gotten an opportunity to start afresh, but unlike the protagonists who look for their love and glory, I'd rather make money and live a life of a slacker.I have magic, I have power and I have money, what else do I need?Well, that was the plan but this damn system is getting on my nerves. I mean who in their sane mind would want to mess with the complicated royal family and political affairs? But that's not all though.I've also become the saviour of this world. Things just can't be anymore worse!Besides, the penalty of failing this quest is...[Failure: Destruction of the World.]It seems like if I screw up in selecting the right person then the destruction that is going to befall the world won't be stopped.If I speak of my reward then it's this vague thing.[Reward: Fulfillment of any wish.]“If that's the case then, I'd rather choose the person who would be the best fit for the throne.”And that's how I decided that I would become the Kingmaker.

Becoming the physician of the villainess who brought about the world’s destruction, I tried to escape to survive, but the reactions were strange. ______________________________________________ “The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away” is a Korean web novel authored by 긘가 (Geun-ga). The story follows a protagonist who becomes the personal physician to a villainess responsible for multiple world destructions. After curing her, he attempts to escape, leading to unexpected reactions. The novel was first serialized on October 5, 2023, on the platform Novelpia. It gained recognition by receiving an honorable mention in the 2023 Novelpia Universe's Strongest Web Novel Contest. Readers have praised the novel for its engaging narrative and well-developed characters. A review on Naver Blog highlights the protagonist's repeated attempts to prevent the world's destruction and his complex relationship with the villainess, emphasizing the story's depth and emotional resonance. The novel is available for reading on platforms like Novelpia and has been published as an eBook on Kyobo Book Centre. In summary, “The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away” offers a compelling blend of fantasy and romance, exploring themes of redemption and the complexities of human relationships.

On the day his parents died, Aleric was cursed and became hated by all.His flesh took on the pallor of the undead, marking him as a monster in the eyes of the living. From that day, Aleric was forced to survive alone in the world that despised him.Everything changed when he uncovered an ancient necromancer’s crypt and a staff that promised him the knowledge of Dark magic and uncovered what the curse truly was.Aleric was a death-touched–a person to whom all Dark magic was as natural as breathing! He learned in days spells that took years to others.Dark magic had long been branded evil. The kingdom of Dark mages was destroyed and its people killed. To accept this power was to become hunted as well... But to the world, Aleric was already a villain.So he chose to become not just a villain, but one so powerful that not even the entire world couldn’t bring him down! He will build a kingdom that will stand eternal, and every killed foe would join his undead legions!The nations of the living shook in fear. The age of the living was ending, and the armies of the Supreme Necromancer were going to reshape the world.

Julian Weber is an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a graduate of Westpoint Military Academy with a degree in civil engineering. As U.S. involvement in Afghanistan comes to an end, Lt. Julian Weber finds himself involved in a terrorist attack by the Taliban, which claims his life.

However, he quickly finds out that death is not always final as he is reincarnated into the body of a Baron’s son and heir in an alternate Earth set in Late-Medieval Europe. In an era of political turmoil and civil strife, the Baron’s young son is named Regent of the Barony of Kufstein and forced to contend with feudal powers. Will he be able to institute reforms leading his Barony into the age of industry?

Or will he succumb to the pressure of his feudal overlords and a corrupt church that seek dominion overall?