Return of the Swallow - Chapter 184: Slaughtering the Donkey After It Finishes the Job at the Mill

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

Iruma Takumi, a 40-year old salary man, was dragged into a hero summoning just like in a template. What was his fate? The Goddess sent him and the heroes to the other world separately.

With the Goddess’ overprotective support, he landed in a different world looking handsome, rejuvenated, and quite different from a Japanese.

Although he wanted a slow life while working in the manufacturing trade, that was not permitted by the Goddess’ special body and abilities.

Would Takumi be able to live a peaceful life in a different world?

Fear breaks the boundaries between dreams and reality, and it is impossible to tell which is reality and which is illusory. When the nightmare really comes, no one can be alone.

This is both a danger and an opportunity.

- Description from novelbuddy

Zoe Bell was the foster daughter of the Bell Family. On the night she was thrown out, her fiancé was already wrapping his arm around his new love, making headlines in the entertainment news.Afterwards, Zoe found herself caught in one scandal after another, all because she was seen with the most powerful man in Capital City. Everyone sneered, convinced she was nothing more than a fleeting plaything for Mr. Hale.But little did they know that from the very first moment when he laid eyes on her, Mr. Hale had only one thought -He was going to seize love with boldness!People were all waiting to find something to mock Zoe about, so they intentionally asked William Hale what relationship he was holding with Zoe Bell. Mr. Hale merely laughed and said, “Maybe I haven’t tried hard enough, because after being married for so long, Mrs. Hale still refuses to announce it publicly or give me my rightful title.”It was a night with thick, humid air, Zoe was left breathless as William kissed her with arms firmly wrapping around her waist.His voice was low and scorching, “Mrs. Hale, am I trying hard enough?”Zoe gritted her teeth - He was trying way too hard!【See how the aloof CEO falls for love】【Love After Marriage】