Struggling as a Villain

Richard Scarlette was frozen in shock at his place as he stared at the golden screen floating in front of his eyes.

When he raised his hand, his hand went past through the screen—further confirming that he wasn't hallucinating right now. A system, just like those novels he used to read, awakened just after Richard realized his identity.

'What a cliche set-up....' Richard frowned as he looked at the system message again and contemplated.

If this all is true, which seemed to be most likely, then accepting the system seemed to be disadvantageous for him. He has seen many systems in those novels imposing tasks and inflicting severe punishment upon failures. One of those systems directly states 'Finish the task or die like a dog'.

Richard doesn't know how people liked such novels.

[Before the Host decides whether to accept the System or not, the System would like to list some features and advantages.]

Richard raised his brows. What was this? Marketing?

[The world the Host is aware of, isn't the same as this one. In the final battle against the King of Dead, the Protagonist had to sacrifice his life.]

Richard frowned deeply at that. This wasn't something he expected.

The novel he read in his last life, clearly stated that after a lot of struggle and sacrifice, the King of the Dead was finally eradicated from the world, and no one from the main cast died.

And in the end, they lived a happy life. The end.

Then....how come this System was stating something differently?

[The Host must be confused but this is how the world works. The King of the Dead was too strong to be defeated by some mortal beings. And as a repercussion of sealing the Demon Lord, the Protagonist died.]

Richard interjected, "Then...how does this world still exist? Sealing that deity-class demon wouldn't do any good. Wait...are we in the past and the story hasn't begun?"

Richard suddenly came to a conclusion which sounded absurd to his ears. However, his speculation was on point,

[Indeed, host. After the Emissary of Light—the Protagonist—was defeated the God of Fortune mourned as their last hope to save this world and disaster befell the heavens with the downfall of the Protagonist. That's why, the Goddess of Fate allowed this time reversal.]

Richard was having a hard time believing in this all...however, for now, he didn't outrightly reject the system and further asked,

"Then...do I need to become stronger and support the Protagonist so he can defeat the final boss?" That seemed the most probable conclusion of all the explanations he had heard until now from the system.

However,

[Saving the world or not, is entirely in the hands of the Host. The System would be more focused on guiding a safe life for the Host.]

Richard asked in confusion, "But why do I need protection? I just won't be a little prick and stay away from the Protagonist's way?"

That was what Richard had decided the moment he realised where he was and what character he had become.

Being a mid-rank boss was cool and dope, but what benefit would it bring if the villain didn't get plot armour and the Protagonist, in one way or another, beat the crap out of every villain in the name of 'Power of Love'?

However, the next thing that appeared on the screen, nearly made his mind numb,

[...Host, if the Goddess of Fate has reversed the time then the deity must have some plan in my mind right? If everything happens in the same way as it had in the last timeline, then the result would remain the same.]

"Then...what changed?"

[The lovers of the Protagonist, retain their memories of the previous timeline.]

"..."

*********

It took some time for Richard to finally realise his current stance.

The fact is, in this world, not only Richard but four other people also know the future. And those four people are the four main heroines who would definitely get rid of any and every obstacle that could hurt their beloved.

'Fuck...I am screwed.' Exiting the bathroom, Richard walked outside the room without informing the maid and his mother, who both had fallen asleep.

He walked aimlessly into the mansion while being ignorant of the numerous looks he was receiving.

His current dilemma didn't allow him to be aware of the surroundings, as he asked the system,

'Is there any chance that if I act differently than how I was supposed to, then they wouldn't come for my life?'

[To provide you with the answer, the Host needs to be reminded of a certain Space-Time theory: In theory, reversing time creates several dimensional cracks which allow the passing souls to enter the world that they are not supposed to enter. And Host is one of those souls who entered the world when it was thrown back in time.]

[And this theory is known by the regressors as well; that's why, if the Host acts differently, the regressors would suspect that you must be someone else in the body of Richard—and on the orders of Goddess of Destiny and Fate the regressors would immediately get rid of you.]

Those words brought his feet to a gradual pause.

Wasn't he royally fucked?

'Wait...could it be that this System is toying with me so I can allow it to assimilate?' Richard had spent most of his previous life between people who could lie for a piece of bread. And if this system's existence depends on whether Richard accepts it or not, then spouting such a lengthy lie doesn't seem implausible.

"Young master!" Suddenly, his reverie was broken as a maid dashed in his direction with sweat trickling down her face.

She was holding someone in her hand which looked like a scroll.

As she reached him, Richard maintained a composed front and asked her, "What is it?"

Hearing his voice, the maid straightened her back and tried to stand properly but her rough breathing turned her attempt into an utter failure.

"Young master...and envoy arrived from Count Cravenford's family and delivered this letter for you. I asked them to stay a little but it seemed the envoy was told explicitly by their master to return immediately after delivering the letter."

Richard's brows knitted close. This was... somewhat rude. Thankfully, the Duchess didn't hear about it or this could have become problematic.

Count Cravenford is not only lower in rank, but also, Duchess Scarlette—Richard's mother—and Count William Cravenford were on good terms. Most prominently, Count William's daughter was one of the heroines and engaged to Richard.

"You may go." The maid bowed upon being commanded before she walked away.

Emily Cravenford—the main reason why Richard was so hateful toward the Protagonist. The reason why Richard always wanted to become better than the Protagonist. And also, she is the reason for his demise as well.

From what Richard remembered, Emily never had contacted him on her own initiative before and even in the novel he read, it was clearly stated that Emily kept her distance from Richard because of his rude personality.

Then how come this letter all of a sudden arrived from the same Emily?

'Does it mean...the System isn't lying?' Richard had woken up in this world just an hour ago so there was no chance his action could have altered the plot.

'No...I shouldn't land on a conclusion...' Deciding to check the content of the scroll first, Richard removed the seat and slowly unfolded the scroll.

[Sir Richard,

I trust this letter finds you in good health. I wish to invite you to a meeting over tea at my family's manor on the morrow, at the hour of three in the afternoon. There are matters regarding our engagement that require our discussion.

I look forward to your presence.

Emily Cravenford.]

Now...this was something unexpected.

In general, Emily is the type of person who follows her father's words as a command and does whatever he asks her to. However here, it was clearly stated that it was Emily who wanted to talk about engagement.

This was definitely something that shouldn't have been happening.

'So...should I accept the System?'

********

A/N:- Yeeeeees.