NXT_MARVEL

Our MC was an extreme introvert in his past life — a bookworm who avoided people like the plague, focused only on his studies, and had zero interest in anime, games, or romance. The only time he ever touched anime was when his one and only friend forced him to watch a single episode of some fantasy academy drama — and he hated every second of it.
So when he wakes up in an unfamiliar, lavish room and finds himself in the body of Lucien von Zephyr— a rich, handsome academy student — things seem… pretty okay. That is, until memory floods in and he realizes who  Lucien is: the pervy, obsessive side character doomed to die in Episode 7 for going too far with the main heroine!

Survive the Death Flag! (Or Die a Simp)

Lucien's mind raced as he sat shackled to the cold chair in the dimly lit interrogation room. His wrists burned against the iron cuffs, and the room's oppressive atmosphere pressed down on him. Across from him stood Leon Albright, the so-called hero of this world, his sword gleaming menacingly as he raised it with a deadly calm. Beside him, Cecilia Winslet watched with a look of cold detachment—and maybe just a flicker of satisfaction.

[So this is it, huh? All because the original Lucien couldn't take a hint and acted like a lunatic. Great job, past me.]

"System!" Lucien's voice was a frantic whisper in his head. "You've got to help me! I'm about to die!"

[Oh, I'd love to help you, Lucien. Really. But you see, I'm just a humble system. And this situation? Looks pretty hopeless. Should I start writing your eulogy?]

[Sure, sure. I'll put in a request for divine intervention. It should get processed in... never.]

Lucien's eye twitched. The system's unhelpfulness was reaching new heights.

Leon's sword inched closer. "Any last words, Lucien von Zephyr?" His voice was ice, his eyes blazing with righteous fury.

Lucien swallowed hard. He needed a plan—now. And then inspiration struck.

"Wait!" Lucien shouted, his voice cracking. "If you kill me, you're signing your own death warrant!"

Leon paused, his sword mere inches from Lucien's throat. Cecilia's eyes narrowed. "What nonsense are you spewing now?"

"It's not nonsense! Think about it!" Lucien said quickly, his brain working at lightning speed. "If I die here, my family—my incredibly powerful and influential family—will demand answers. And when they find out their only son was killed in the academy by the supposed 'hero' and his beloved fiancée? You think they'll just let that slide?!"

Cecilia scoffed. "You overestimate your importance. No one cares about you, Lucien. Everyone here hates you. Even your own family would likely disown you to avoid the scandal of your behavior."

Leon smirked. "And if they ask what happened, we'll simply say you ran away. Fled in disgrace after your latest pathetic attempt to force yourself on Cecilia. It's not like anyone would question it."

Lucien forced a panicked look onto his face, but inside, his mind was whirring. He needed to keep them talking, keep them distracted.

"Y-You'd never get away with it," he said, stalling for time. "There'd be an investigation! They'd interrogate witnesses—"

"And every witness would say the same thing," Cecilia interrupted coolly. "That you were a menace. That you deserved whatever happened to you."

[Wow. You're really popular, huh?]

Lucien ignored the system's commentary, his eyes flicking around the room. The chains on his wrists were sturdy, but the chair he was shackled to… the legs looked a little wobbly.

"You're making a huge mistake," Lucien said, his voice shaking. "If you kill me, you'll regret it."

"We'll take our chances," Leon replied, raising his sword again.

Lucien's heart pounded. It was now or never.

The Desperate Gamble