What’s gone wrong this time?
“I’ve… crossed over?”
Mu’en stared blankly at the reflection staring back at him in the mirror.
His golden short hair laid out like the first rays of sunlight, his handsome face carved to perfection, like an artwork chiseled from marble. His light blue eyes held the profound tranquility of a serene lake.
So handsome!
Mu’en couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat at the sight of this striking figure. Even after all those modern idol dramas that had twisted his aesthetics beyond recognition, he couldn’t help but marvel at how such a handsome man could exist in this world.
But this wasn’t him.
No, this was him—well, he had become another person.
After an exhausting day at work, pulling a crazy ten-pull summon at 2:30 AM and then getting squished by a passing dump truck, he had somehow crossed into another world, taking over the body of another guy.
“Mu’en Campbell.”
A flood of memories crashed into his mind, leaving him dizzy as he muttered his new name.
The exact same name as in his past life.
But the name made his heart drop a bit.
“No way… what a coincidence?”
Mu’en Campbell.
Because the name was so similar, it stuck in his mind like a burr.
It was a character from a recent over-the-top Western fantasy novel he’d been following.
The son of a duke, high status, elegant demeanor, and a face that could launch a thousand ships—not to mention, he was even engaged to the Third Princess of the Empire!
Talk about a dream life, born with a golden key in hand!
The odds of crossing over into such a character were probably lower than China’s national football team winning the World Cup.
But the one catch was—
He was the early-stage golden retriever villain of the story.
Yep, handsome, rich, arrogant—his specialty was making the protagonist’s life a living hell, basically the embodiment of every antagonist cliché you could think of.
His sole purpose? To bully the protagonist into growing stronger, sending his various subordinates to pick on them like a grimy video game, ensuring the hero would achieve rocket-speed growth and feel the ultimate satisfaction of turning the tables.
Of course, Mu’en Campbell would eventually face his deserved downfall, successfully creating a romantic tension between the protagonist and one of the female leads—his fiancée.
When he read that part of the plot, even he couldn’t help but curse at his past self.
—Mu’en Campbell, the original, naively believed that because Celicia had gotten close to the protagonist and became distant with him, she was “cheating” on him, so he stupidly drugged her at a banquet, thinking he could claim her before anyone else.
Naturally, the protagonist saved the day and foiled his plans.
Ironically, this incident was what sparked some feelings in Celicia towards the protagonist, who had been merely a growing concern before that.
Talk about a classic case of a failed schemer!
As for the original Mu’en, he got the royal boot for attempting to take liberties with the princess, facing the wrath of the king personally, losing his noble title—and his doting parents couldn’t save him.
The end result? Quite tragic.
In Mu’en’s memories of the original, although he didn’t die, by the time the protagonist and his gang encountered him later, he’d been reduced to a one-handed, one-legged beggar struggling to survive on the streets.
“I can’t believe I’ve crossed over as a golden retriever villain—this is outrageous! As a transmigrator, shouldn’t I be rolling in buffs and game-changers, able to flip the world upside down, and create my own destiny? Shouldn’t I just take out the protagonist and take their place?”
Mu’en wanted to cry but had no tears left.
But he couldn’t think that way.
Because this wasn’t just any ordinary overpowered fantasy novel.
This was a yuri overpowered fantasy novel.
Yeap, the so-called “Phoenix Overlord.”
The main character was a lady! A lady! A lady!
And because of the world’s settings, the romance was extremely free-spirited; same-sex relationships were perfectly normal, even to the point of having magic that allowed women to have children together!
Magic really can do anything! So the original had gotten jealous upon seeing the odd blossoming relationship between Celicia and the protagonist, feeling his territory was invaded.
But does a male antagonist in a yuri novel ever pull a comeback?
How is that even possible? That kind of plot twist would get the author blasted by readers!
So even someone like Mu’en Campbell would have to fulfill the role of a minor villain, doomed to get wrecked and shifted into the princess storyline before hitting chapter twenty.
“What a weird apocalypse of a start.”
Mu’en stroked his chin as he sank into thought.
“But when you think about it, this position isn’t all bad. As long as I don’t oppose the protagonist and play the part of a low-key duke’s son, I can still totally find a beautiful noble girl to marry and live a lavish life—sounds pretty sweet, right?”
“The only issue is—I wonder how far along the original’s conflict with the protagonist had escalated. Hopefully, it’s before the academy arc begins.”
Only someone who had read the original story would know how ludicrous the protagonist’s destiny and powers were, so Mu’en was no fool, thinking he could challenge the Phoenix Overlord in a pure fanfare world.
Accepting his mediocrity means I’m essentially invincible!
Looking at it this way, isn’t my identity quite enjoyable?
“Master Mu’en.”
Just as Mu’en was lost in his musings, a knock came at the door behind him.
A graceful and pretty maid walked in.
“It’s An.”
Mu’en recognized this maid from a scene or two in the story; she was the original’s personal attendant and confidante, closely bonded with him. Many strategies against the protagonist had originated from her clever mind.
“Is something the matter?”
“Madam calls for you.”
An placed her hands neatly before her, offering a respectful bow.
“They say your outfit for tomorrow’s banquet has arrived.”
“Oh, I see. Got it.”
Mu’en waved nonchalantly, preparing to send An away. After all, he just crossed over and still needed to adjust. There was a high chance he might accidentally give away some oddities.
“Wait, what did you say?”
But just as An was about to leave, Mu’en suddenly stopped her, his expression stiff as he asked, “Banquet? What banquet?”
“Your coming-of-age banquet, young master.”
An frowned a bit, worry crossing her features. “Are you feeling alright, young master? How could you forget about this?”
“No, no, I’m fine! Just… just woke up, and my brain is a bit foggy. Sorry, could you please head out for now?”
Mu’en forced a smile, ushering An outside.
She still looked a bit puzzled and concerned, but didn’t dare disobey, and obediently left the room.
The moment she left, the room fell silent again.
Mu’en slowly turned to face the mirror, staring at the familiar yet alien reflection that stared back.
Memories continued to swirl as the recollections of both Mu’ens attempted to blend together.
Some hazy images gradually solidified, becoming clear.
He was now Mu’en, and Mu’en Campbell.
His cause, his effect, was merely his cause, his effect.
There was no escaping it.
“Ahhh, how could this happen!”
Mu’en suddenly clutched his head in despair, letting out a tragic wail, “Why does tomorrow have to be my coming-of-age banquet!”
Becoming a careless duke’s son, marrying a beautiful noble girl, leading a blissful, worry-free life—all of it hinged on one condition:
—He must not provoke the protagonist and avoid being that endlessly dumb villain.
It would be best not to have any involvement with that Phoenix Overlord at all.
That would be his happy ending.
But now that ending was entirely out of the question.
Because according to the current timeline, he had already tangled with the protagonist, and with the way things were escalating, it was like a powder keg just waiting for the slightest spark to blow!
And tomorrow, Mu’en Campbell’s coming-of-age banquet would be the day he intended to drug the Third Princess of the Empire, Celicia.
That was the spark.
And the time of his destruction.
