Chapter 1

I spent years working on my mission to win over Jenny Green, the second female lead with a villain arc. At last, the points I earned added up to the number I'd been dreaming about.

I made it!

I was so excited that I nearly launched myself off the couch. I immediately tried to pull up the system's store in my head, ready to redeem that one-way ticket home.

At that moment, the robotic system notification rang out in my head, and the system spoke to me in a sickeningly sweet tone that sounded insincere.

"Dear Host, I have detected that your points have reached the required amount. Would you consider redeeming the 'World Guardian' renewal package? Sign up now to receive an S-Class item and the chance to participate even more actively in the next installment!

"You'll personally cultivate the Chosen One—your son in name. Stay here and accompany him. It will be a very meaningful choice!"

I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes.

World Guardian? The Chosen One?

Jenny and that precious son of hers, Ryan Green, were a pair of complete lunatics.

Ryan, that little brat, treated my belongings like his toys. Only yesterday, he tossed a pair of my bespoke leather shoes into the pool. And today, he used my tie to play tug-of-war with the dog.

As for Jenny, she would always just stand on the sidelines and brush me off with a simple excuse like "He's still young."

Then, she'd turn right around and check on her dearest lover, Aaron Fuller, to see if he was having a good day.

All the sacrifices I made and the effort I put into this family were worth even less than one of Aaron's sneezes.

Why the hell would I care about these people now?

"No! Redeem the one–way ticket home. I'm going home immediately!" I swiftly commanded the system without any hesitation.

But just then, the study door was flung open. Jenny stormed in and glared at me with reddened eyes.

"Nathan Burke! You're leaving?"

She strode forward, spreading her arms to block my way. After making it seem like she was devastated, she launched into her usual tactic of resorting to guilt-tripping and emotional blackmail.

"Can you act more like a responsible father? Do you really feel nothing for us?"

This again.

I stared at her expression, which was supposedly meant to convey that she was heartbroken over my decision. All the years of frustration and disgust that had built up inside of me finally reached the breaking point.

She wanted to know if I felt nothing, huh?

Sneering, I retorted, "The only thing I feel is joy that I'm finally going to be rid of you guys."

Before the words had even fully settled, I raised my hand and slapped her. The sound echoed in the otherwise silent room.

"Get out!" I snapped at her.

No one was going to stop me from going home!

That night, I locked my door and messaged Hugo Langdon. "It's done. I'm getting ready to go home."

Hugo replied at once. He sent me a string of cheering emoticons. "Nathan! You're finally going home!"

Hugo was the only friend I'd made after transmigrating into this world—and the only one like me. We were both unlucky enough to transmigrate here and be bound to systems that forced us to win over the leading characters of this world.

His target was the female lead whose heart belonged only to her beloved first love, while my target was the second female lead who was madly in love with the male lead.

Hugo and I were brothers in adversity. Neither one of us had it easier than the other.

As I was lamenting over our situation, Hugo sent me another text. "You don't have much time left. I just got a new mission here, too. It's a little tricky."

What new mission was that?

I was about to ask for details when the damned system notification rang out again, this time cold and utterly devoid of emotion.

"Warning! Target Jenny Green is experiencing an emotional breakdown. Her villain transformation gauge has reached 99%. World stability is under severe threat. Forced mission assigned. Before departure, you must stabilize the target's emotional state."