Real Protagonist?

 At the age of seven, I woke up one day with an epiphany that shook me to my core: I wasn't just Lina, the daughter of a well-off merchant family attending a military academy. No, I was Lina, the protagonist of a game I had played in my previous life—a game where the plot was filled with tragedy, betrayal, and heartbreak. Supreme Shadow wasn't just a story anymore; it was my reality.

The realization hit me like a thunderbolt. I could remember my past life vividly—the hours I'd spent unraveling the lore, the theories I'd written about characters, and the countless times I'd replayed Kyler's tragic arc. And now, here I was, inside that same world. The sheer absurdity of it was terrifying, but my survival instincts kicked in. If I did nothing, I'd be swept along by the game's narrative like any other heroine, doomed to a predestined path if I was lucky—a bittersweet ending.

That wasn't going to happen. Not to me.

The first thing I did was plan. At seven years old, I might not have had the physical or political power to change much, but I had knowledge—knowledge of every major event, every significant character, and, most importantly, the hidden treasures and relics scattered throughout the game world. These weren't just pretty accessories; they were powerful tools that could turn the tide of the game.

My first goal was to secure the Chalice of Reflection, a minor artifact mentioned in passing dialogue that allowed its user to peek into their own future for brief moments. It wasn't the kind of treasure that could defeat enemies or win battles, but it was invaluable for planning. At the age of nine, after feigning a childish fascination with archaeology, I convinced my parents to sponsor an excavation expedition in a nearby ruin. The chalice wasn't even guarded—just sitting in a forgotten corner, waiting for someone to find it.

Next was the Moonlight Pendant, an item that boosted charisma and persuasion. This was critical for navigating the academy's alliances and rivalries, especially since I'd need allies to enact my plans. Acquiring it required a bit more finesse—it was a family heirloom held by one of my future classmates. I carefully befriended her over the years, subtly steering conversations until she willingly gifted it to me as a token of friendship. She didn't even notice its effect NOOB.

By the time I was twelve, I had already started shaping the story around me. Small changes at first—helping certain friends avoid dangerous events, encouraging others to focus on activity's that would keep them out of harm's way. It wasn't always successful, but I knew the ripple effects would grow with time. I'm such a good person.

The hardest part, though, was preparing for Kyler. He wasn't just a character anymore; he was a ticking time bomb, and every decision I made could either save him or hasten his descent into villainy. I knew that my actions alone wouldn't be enough. I needed leverage—knowledge, resources, and allies who could influence events in ways I couldn't predict.

And so, I hunted for more relics, trained in combat, and ingratiated myself with every influential figure I could find. At the same time, I avoided the romantic entanglements that the game tried to push me toward. Caesar, Lucas, Rein—they were all potential love interests in the original storyline, but pursuing them would only complicate things. Especially Caesar with his mind reading how do I even counter that? My focus was on Kyler, and Kyler alone.

Looking back now, it feels surreal. Gaining sentience at seven years old and realizing I was trapped in a game might sound like a nightmare to most, but for me, it was an fun opportunity—a chance to rewrite a story I had loved and hated in equal measure. I wasn't going to let Supreme Shadow dictate anyone's fate.

My past ten years have been chaotic, to say the least. I died and was reincarnated into a video game—an admittedly trashy one at that—called Supreme Shadow. Despite its edgy title, it wasn't the typical grind fest or overly dramatic setup you'd expect. It was an Otome game targeting a female audience, complete with capture targets and a reverse harem. But the plot? Far from degenerate fluff. The game had a rich tapestry of backstory and lore, so detailed that many players stuck around just to read the dialogue.

The academy extras had their fair share of third-rate lines, but the key characters? They were layered with psychological depth and moral dilemmas that flew over the heads of most casual players. For me, though, the story was captivating. In my free time, I'd make game-theory fanfics, piecing together all the hidden lore. My favorite character was Kyler—not because he was the overpowered villain, but because I saw myself in him.

The three main heroines—Jennifer, Aria, and, ironically, my new body, Lina—were designed to capture the hearts of heroes like Caesar, Lucas, and the anti-hero Rein. But I had a different goal. I wanted to sway Kyler, to somehow pull him from his descent into darkness. The odds, of course, were stacked against me.

First, Kyler was absurdly cautious. On the surface, he seemed like a normal teenager, but anyone who looked closer could see the cracks. Second, there was Rebbeca, his psychotic and arrogant stalker. She was infamous for ruthlessly attacking any heroine who dared approach him—and that was if you were lucky. Third, and most damning, romance was the last thing on Kyler's mind.

Why? His memories were fractured, and his psyche was a battlefield. The gaming community had coined an acronym for his three distinct personalities: M.A.N.

Manipulative: Cold, calculating, and willing to do whatever it took to survive. Autopilot: A mechanical, emotionless state designed to shield him from further trauma. Naive: The optimistic, innocent side that constantly clashed with the others, viewing M and A as nothing but evil.

At the beginning of the game, Kyler's Naive personality was dominant, but the internal war with M and A eroded his trust in everyone, including himself. Convinced he was trapped in a future world he couldn't escape, surrounded by 'psychopaths' in his head, his already fragile mental health crumbled.

Desperate, Kyler tried to flee the academy, hoping for a secluded life. But, in typical shounen fashion, he was stopped by the "power of friendship" and a plot that refused to let him leave. Forced to stay, he became entangled in a series of escalating incidents. The attack of the three Primordial Emotions was the tipping point. Kyler was forced to absorb their essence, his strongest personality, Autopilot, taking the reins. Misunderstandings piled up, and even those who once stood by his side turned against him.

This betrayal pushed Kyler down a path from misunderstood anti-hero to full-blown villain. The world branded him as Evil Incarnate, and the weight of being everyone's scapegoat caused him to snap. M and A sought revenge, obliterating anyone in their way.

At this point, if you couldn't subjugate him before mid-game, you'd trigger the infamous "What-If" path—the alternate ending. By the time Kyler's personalities merged, it was game over. Continuing down this route revealed a vengeful, memories-restored Kyler: the most overpowered character in all of fiction. That's not too much of an exaggeration. In this form, Kyler was stronger than all of the Supreme Primordials combined, time, space and gravity, beings scaled near-omniversal in power (and yes, I'm a power scaler). He was an unstoppable force, and if you didn't stop him early, you automatically lost.

But here's the thing now living in that world: knowing Kyler's tragic backstory, understanding why he became what he was… how could I kill someone so pitiful and misunderstood? Wouldn't that make me the true monster? That's why I want to save the villain. Maybe it's an obsession, or maybe it's just me being greedy.

I know I sound like a typical shounen protagonist right now, but I don't care. I want everyone to be happy. Is that too much to ask?

Now when should i make my big appearance should it be before the triune gauge or the first official day to make a good impression? Im tired of talking to only NPCs.

***

Kyler stood apart from the chattering students, leaning against a stone pillar near the edge of the courtyard. His mind replayed the events over and over—the shattered Triune Gauge, the corpses of the five men, the Appraiser crawling away into the tunnel. And that final, chilling moment before everything changed:

"I wish to switch."

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The details after that were a blur, but those words had somehow turned the tide of what should have been his imprisonment into something far more terrifying. Now, he was the only one who remembered.

Across the courtyard, groups of students were being questioned by the instructors. Kyler listened intently, trying to gauge how much anyone else knew.

Instructor: "What do you remember about yesterday's events?"

The first student, a girl with curly brown hair, tilted her head in confusion. "Yesterday? I mean… I was at the training yard, wasn't I? Or… maybe I was reading?" Her voice trailed off as her brows furrowed. "Honestly, I don't remember much of anything. It's kind of… blank."

Instructor: "You don't recall the Triune Gauge test?"

The girl blinked, her confusion deepening. "Are you sure that happened?"

A boy beside her piped up, his tone equally puzzled. "Yeah, I think I remember taking a quick nap… but after that? Nothing. Woke up on the training field?"

The instructor's expression hardened. "So, none of you recall the Appraiser? Or the events in the Colosseum?"

The students exchanged uneasy glances. "There was an Appraiser?" one of them finally asked.

Kyler's stomach churned as he watched the interaction. None of them remembered. Not the Appraiser. Not the five men. Not the chaos that had unfolded.

How?

He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if expecting to see blood still clinging to them. Everything was so vivid in his mind—the glint of weapons, the rolling head of the dead, the cold clarity he'd felt in that moment. It was real. He knew it was real.

So why didn't anyone else?

One of the instructors approached another group, clipboard in hand.

Instructor: "Think carefully. Do any of you remember hearing anything unusual? Voices? Screams? Anything at all?"

Another round of confused shrugs and murmured denials followed.

Kyler leaned against the pillar, his heart pounding. This can't be right. They're lying. Or… no, they don't even know what to lie about.

The flashes of memory hit him again—the Appraiser's broken fingers, the distorted body of one of the intruders, the tunnel collapsing behind them. And above all, the weight in his chest that told him, deep down, he was responsible for those men's deaths.

Did I kill them?

He tightened his grip on the stone pillar, his hazel green eyes scanning the students as they milled about. They looked so clueless, so detached from the reality he was in.

I'm the only one who remembers. Why? Is this some kind of punishment? Did I do something to cause all this?

His gaze landed on Caesar, who stood at the far side of the courtyard, effortlessly charming a group of students with his usual charisma. His golden blonde hair caught the light, his confident grin firmly in place.

Caesar. Always so perfect. Too perfect. What does he know?

The suspicion clawed at him, a persistent whisper in the back of his mind. He has to know something. He's always watching, always prying. Maybe he's the one pulling the strings. Maybe he's the reason I'm stuck in this nightmare. After all I can tell that nothing he does feels genuine as if for a separate purpose.

He shook his head, trying to push the thought away, but it wouldn't leave. I don't think I can trust him. I can't trust anyone.

Kyler's heart raced as his thoughts spiraled further. The weight of being the only one who remembered, the fear of being discovered, and the gnawing doubt about his own actions were suffocating.

Do I stay here and risk them figuring it out? Or do I leave and hope they never find me? I'm not strong at all, at least not as much as they think I am.

But where could he go? The academy might not be safe, but out there? Alone? It wasn't an option. Not yet.

The instructors began dismissing students, their unanswered questions leaving an uneasy silence in the courtyard. Kyler pushed himself off the pillar, his movements stiff and deliberate as he turned toward the main building.

I'll stay for now. I'll watch, and I'll wait. But I can't trust them—not the instructors, not the students, not even Caesar. And if they find out what I know…

He didn't finish the thought. He couldn't.

With his jaw set and his fists clenched, Kyler walked away, keeping his head low as the world around him buzzed with ignorance. For now, he was safe. But deep down, he knew that safety wouldn't last.