MTL - To Raise a Soul - ~ 31. The fragrance of knowledge

How long I’d been here, I couldn’t quite recall. From this sorry situation, I as always raised my eyes to the sky; a sky in which the great, massive sun was clad in levity. Sunlight poured gently upon all. What a blessing it would have been for the world if only the skies could remain clear. For tomorrow too, and for all days to come, I was to continue to pray for calm. To endure for those who cried, with desperation I remained in prayer.

And then, one freezing, forlorn, soulless, stagnant, drizzly day we died. Or so I thought…

Born and raised as a nameless shadow guard for his kingdom’s crown prince, his life’s purpose was to be used and discarded at the whims of his liege.

And his meaningless life ended when the gaze of a princess lingered on him for too long. The crown prince had him beheaded without a second thought, as if throwing out trash.

Transmigrating into the body of a baby girl, the nameless shadow finally had a name, a family, and a place to call her own. Throwing away his past, the shadow guard was now called ‘Emilia’, and walked on a new path to seek fulfillment.

It was not meant to be, however, as the girl whom she had loved with all her heart and soul ended up mercilessly plunging a dagger through Emilia's love-struck heart at the highest point in her life.

The crowd clamored at the ‘deserved death of the villainess’, and at that moment, the shadow could only wonder… why?

Why am I always the one to dedicate myself fully to someone, only to be thrown away like trash in the end?

And thus, as her soul floated away while cursing in resentment, ‘Emilia’ vowed to herself that in her next life she shall never be the one to fully dedicate herself.

Whatever she likes shall be held in her palm, and shall never escape.

The moment the vow was made, a self-proclaimed villainess system proposed to partner with her, to explore and conquer the worlds through their anchors—the heroes and heroines.

And by cultivating this energy, she shall one day go back. Back to the world she was born as ‘Emilia’ in, and face the so-called heroine once more.

The second time they meet, Emilia won’t be the one drowning in regret!

...

Author's Note: The heroines are not just trophies she’s collecting, only to be forgotten once she collects them. Each of them will remain relevant throughout the story. And it won’t become a mess, promise!

Jake had spent his entire life buried in textbooks, chasing one exam after another — until he finally graduated from one of the world's top universities as a nuclear engineer. He thought the hard part was over. It wasn't.On the very first day of his new job, a speeding truck ended it all.But fate had other plans.Jake woke up in the arms of a stunning goddess who offered him a second chance — along with one extraordinary skill of his choosing.[Hypnosis (SSS-Rank): The power to control minds and issue irresistible commands.]Reborn as the bastard son of a noble house in a fantasy world, Jake quickly realized he held a power that could change everything.“Lady Aria,” Jake said, his voice low and calm, “you'll find yourself wanting to obey me more than anything else.”The cold, dignified head maid stiffened, her eyes clouding with confusion — then softening into eager submission.“Stepmother,” Jake smiled lazily, “you've been working too hard. You need to let me take care of you... personally.”The once-proud woman faltered, her cheeks flushing as she nodded without hesitation.“Miss Evelynn, heir of House Marlow,” Jake said casually to the visiting noble, “you'll trust me more than anyone else in the world.”With every whispered command, Jake planted a seed deep inside their minds — seeds that would soon blossom into absolute devotion.***Check out my discord for character illustrations: https://discord.gg/Z9pY9tE9e8(No Yuri/No NTR)

When Orion is mysteriously transmigrated into a primitive world where sex and other goods and services can be bartered for, he is determined to make the most of his second chance at life.

But as he delves deeper into this dangerous world filled with temptation and magic, Orion must use his wit, charm, and thirst for adventure to survive and make the most of his second chance at life.