MTL - Demons Beside You (The Demons Beside Me) - Chapter 3278 negotiation

My handsome, overpowered dad, who only ever cared about me, ate something strange and turned into the Demon King. He used to be the sweetest, most doting father, but now he’s the final boss?! Because of this, my dad is fated to be killed by the male lead, and I’m destined to die lonely while mourning him. At that moment, I returned to the past and realized that this world is actually a game! I couldn’t prevent my dad’s descent into darkness, but no matter what, I must turn him back into his original self. If I succeed, I can get my loving dad back, right? For now, I need to get close to the male lead, who’s destined to kill my father…! So, I became a Holy Knight and even managed to be adopted as the ward of the Pluto Ducal House—the male lead’s family. …The problem is, I’ve become way too strong. As long as I get along with the male lead, my dad might avoid being labeled as the Demon King. “But that’s strange.” “…What is?” “Your lips… they’re heart-shaped.” “W-what? Don’t look at my lips!” At that, the male lead tried to avoid my hand and ended up rolling under the bed. “Ahhh!” “…?” He’s supposed to be the strongest person who’ll one day kill my dad, but for now, the male lead is just too cute.

Liam, a socially awkward college student, spends his days immersed in anime, video games, and hentai, escaping the monotony of his real life. Despite his fantasies, he’s never experienced a real relationship or intimacy. But when he is mysteriously transported to the fantastical world of Eryndor, Liam’s life takes a dramatic turn.In Eryndor, Liam is hailed as the ‘Lustforged Hero’, a legendary figure destined to save the realm from the tyrannical sorcerer, Maltheris. But there’s a catch: in this world, power is drawn from desire and intimacy. To grow stronger and unlock his true potential, Liam must navigate a delicate balance between his newfound responsibilities and his own untapped desires.Joined by a group of fiercely loyal followers—each with their own unique abilities and personal struggles—Liam embarks on a journey to master his powers, unite the fractured kingdoms of Eryndor, and confront Maltheris. Along the way, he forms deep bonds with his companions, including the enigmatic warrior Lysandra, the cunning mage Erynn, and the rebellious rogue Selene. But as Liam’s power grows, so does the temptation to lose himself in the very desires that fuel his strength.

“Let me tell you something honey, Revenge is the best dish served cold.’’****To her, betrayal was the most excruciating pain in the world—the kind that pierced her soul.The people she had loved with her entire heart had not only failed her, but ruthlessly deceived her.“How could you?” she had once cried, her voice shaking as she stared at the man she had chased like a madwoman. But he had already cheated on her—expecting a child with the very woman she despised with every fiber of her being.Her so-called “family ” was no better. The relatives she thought she could trust? They only wanted the inheritance meant for her and her little brother.The people who once smiled sweetly and flattered her? They were nowhere to be found when her glamorous and envious life crumbled to nothing.“I thought you all cared about me...” she whispered bitterly, watching as one by one, they all turned their backs on her when she needed them the most.In that devastating moment, everything became painfully clear. The bubble she had lived in popped and she finally saw their true faces.But....it was too late.Everything she had was gone, slipping through her fingers like sand in the wind.Except for him.Her former fiancé, the one man she had tried to ruin with every scheme she had planned, remained by her side until the end. He stood by her, even as she took her final breath.She had accepted her tragic fate—until something phenomenal happened. She woke up once again.Back to the past.Where nothing had happened yet.

Warning This fiction contains:

Graphic Violence Profanity Sensitive Content

Summary – Level 1:

Delve is an isekai litrpg that follows an average guy who just happened to wake up in a forest one day. He wasn’t summoned to defeat the demon lord or to save the world or anything like that, at least as far as he can tell. The only creature there to greet him was a regular old squirrel.

Soon enough, he meets other people, only to discover that he can’t speak the language, and that not everybody immediately trusts random pajama-wearing strangers they met in the middle of the wilderness. Things generally go downhill from there, at least until the blue boxes start appearing.

Delve is a story about finding your way in a new, strange, and dangerous world. It’s about avoiding death, figuring out what the heck is going on, and trying to make some friends along the way. It’s not about getting home, so much as finding a new one.

Did I mention that there will be math?

Summary – Level 2:

Okay, but what are you in for, really?

Well, this story is supposed to be realistic, or at least, as realistic as a fantasy litrpg can be. The main character doesn’t instantly become an all-powerful god and murder-hobo his way across the universe. Delve is, at its heart, a progression fantasy, but that progression is meant to feel earned. The numbers in this story actually mean something. Everything is calculated, and if you find a rounding error, I expect you to tell me about it. That said, if math isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty more that the story has to offer. Characters are meant to feel real, and progression isn’t only about personal power; it’s also about allies, connections, and above all, knowledge. Figuring out how the system works is a significant theme.

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What, you want more details? Okay, fine, but this is going to get a bit spoiler-y. Are you sure?

Yes!

Really sure? I mean, this summary is practically half as long as the first chap–

Now!

Okay, okay!

The main character becomes a magic user, but he takes a route that is not very popular in adventurer culture, namely that of a support. There is a full magic system with various spells, skills, and abilities, but our MC decides that aura magic is the way to go, and that the only stat worth investing in is mana regeneration. Most people at the Adventurer’s Guild think that this makes him a bit of a dumbass, but he’s playing the long game. We’ll see how that works out for him, won’t we?

Because of his build, the MC levels up fast, at least compared to normal people. There are no cheats, though, and he is limited in other ways. There are some clear and pretty obvious downsides to his build. That’s what makes it fun, no?

Morals? Our MC has them. Again, we’ll see how that works out for him. Realism, remember? Would you be okay with killing someone and looting their body? I sure hope not.

POV? The focus is on the main character, but there will be occasional varying perspectives from people around him, or involved in the events related to the main plot. It isn’t going to jump all over the place.

Tech is standard medieval stasis. No smartphones, but the MC does have a technical background. Computers and their programming might be involved. There might even be a bit of uplifting down the road, who knows? Anyway, it isn’t the focus. He isn’t going to invent the gun in chapter 1 and change the face of warfare.

Romance is not a major focus. Friendships are more the name of the game, though there will be some characters in romantic relationships.

There is exploration, though not as much of the geographical nature as you might expect. It is more about exploration of the system and the culture.

The pace is slow and detailed, sometimes verging on slice-of-life. The action is meant to be realistic and grounded in the numbers, and it is intended to have meaning beyond simply punching things until they stop moving.

The general tone of the story is grey, and some parts can get quite dark. People die. Sometimes, people with names, but not anywhere near GoT level. There is plenty of light, too, though, to balance the darkness. The world is dangerous, but overcoming that danger is why we’re all here, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you’ve made it this far through the summary, you clearly like words. I hope you enjoy the story!