"Wait… Could it be?"
A crazy idea suddenly crossed his mind. One he had read over and over again in countless transmigration novels.
Nanael muttered to himself, voice low with hesitation—but there was a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"System..."
DING!
A sharp chime rang out, echoing not in front of him, but inside his head, like someone had shouted it right beside his ear.
A system window popped into existence in front of Nanael, hovering in mid-air. Its background was pitch black, with crimson-red edges that flickered like embers from a fire.
His eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't actually expected it to work. Just saying "System" summoned something?
This was exactly like those novels he used to read!
But… what the hell was this? Why did it look so damn evil?
The system began syncing itself, a loading bar appearing from 0% to 100%, slowly inching its way forward as it matched with Nanael's body.
And then, a mechanical female voice, rang inside his mind.
[Welcome, Master. You have successfully transmigrated into the body of Benedict Veritas.]
Nanael froze.
So it's real... He really had transmigrated. Just like the protagonists in those fantasy stories—trapped in another world, armed with a system.
His curiosity boiled over.
"System," he asked, voice trembling slightly, "did I… transmigrate into the novel I was reading back at the office?"
The system replied immediately, without any fluff.
[Correct. You have transmigrated into the novel titled The Chronicles of Enzo, the one you were reading.]
Nanael's breath caught.
That exact novel?
The one he hated?
The one with the slow, frustrating protagonist—and the manipulative bastard villain, Benedict?
The system's voice continued, calm and informative.
[As your starting bonus, the system will now grant you a beginner reward.]
Congratulations!
You have acquired the skill: [SSS Hypnosis]!
Skill Details:
[SSS Hypnosis]: This skill allows you to hypnotize a target. Once a person is hypnotized, you can manipulate their thoughts and actions at will.
However, the skill cannot hypnotize just anyone. Individuals with strong willpower, powerful magic, or significant potential cannot be hypnotized directly.
For example: Your father, Duke Veritas, is immune to direct hypnosis.
To hypnotize such people, you must first earn their trust and loyalty. The deeper their trust, the weaker their mental resistance becomes."
Nanael eyes lit up as he read the description.
Now it made sense. That's why, in the original story, Benedict could never hypnotize the protagonist right away.
The hypnosis alone wasn't strong enough to override the hero's determination.
It also explained why Benedict often tried to befriend or manipulate his targets before using his ability. He wasn't just being creepy, he was strategic.
Nanael stroked his chin, thinking.
This was a huge advantage. He knew the future events. Now he had the power of the villain he once hated. And with that kind of power…
Wait.
Could he hypnotize himself?
The strange idea popped into his head out of nowhere.
"System," he asked, hesitant, "can I use this skill… on myself?"
The system responded promptly.
[Yes, Master. Self-hypnosis is possible. However, it requires deeper concentration and advanced understanding of your skill.]
A small smirk tugged at Nanael's lips.
For the first time in a long while, he felt something close to hope.
If he could hypnotize himself… maybe he could remove his fatigue. Maybe even numb his heartbreak after being betrayed by Lia.
And just as he was getting excited by the endless possibilities—
DING!
The same chime blared again, louder than before, cutting through his thoughts like a blade.
The System Window changed.
The [SSS Hypnosis] description vanished, replaced by something new. Lines of glowing red text began appearing rapidly.
Nanael's eyes locked onto the screen. His pupils shrank, and a nervous smile crept across his face.
What the hell…?
---
Main Quest Unlocked!
Objective: Steal the Heroines from the Protagonist and tame them into becoming yours.
Heroines Tamed: 0/5
Completion Reward:
1x Wish Ticket – Allows you to make any wish, including returning to your original world with high luck and full health.
Failure Penalty:
Death. Your existence will be erased completely. No one will remember you. Your soul will suffer in eternal darkness, forever.
Note: The system will occasionally provide hints and strategies to help tame the heroines.
---
Nanael's face turned pale.
The nervous smirk vanished instantly. His eyes scanned the words again and again, as if rereading them might change what they said.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!" he shouted.
"Steal the heroines?! Then return to my world? And if I fail… I'll die and be erased from existence?! This is insane! This is absolutely fucking insane!"
Rage and panic surged through him.
He had just died. Just been betrayed. And now, dumped into the body of a villain he despised... only to be told to steal heroines from the protagonist?
This wasn't survival anymore. This was some twisted game set up by the system.
His glare turned toward the System Window, eyes filled with bitterness and contempt.
W-what kind of messed up joke is this…?