Ethan scoffed. His face twisted into an expression of sheer disbelief. "Your reader, my ass."
He pushed off the bed and pointed at her like he was about to charge into a courtroom. "And screw you, 'Goddess' or whatever you are."
The woman in front of him — no, the so-called goddess — simply clapped her hands as if none of his rage mattered.
The TV screen behind her showed footage from the burning wreck, Ethan's fight on the bus, his bloodied face, his battle with Serena, everything. The sound played on loop.
She squealed like a fan girl. "You were so cool! The way you blocked that blade, the way you flipped the guy with the rod—! Kyaa~ My amazing little reader, Dick… thatalwayshard."
Ethan choked. "Don't. Call. Me. That."
She grinned with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "What? That's your user ID, isn't it? 'DickThatAlwaysHard'? My precious reader! It's iconic!"
He covered his face with one hand, dragging it down in shame. "I made that account when I was fifteen!"
But she wasn't done yet.
Swaying toward him in her sleek assassin outfit, almost identical to Serena's, but cut more boldly around the chest and hips, she leaned in close. The curve of her body pressed just lightly against him as she brought her lips near his ear.
"You really lived up to that name on that bus…" she whispered playfully.
Ethan's eyes darted to her neckline, immediately looking away again. This is bad. This is very bad.
He gulped, his face flushed. God help me, the view is incredible. Wait she is the goddess
Then he shook his head violently. FOCUS. Damn it, focus!
The goddess burst out laughing. "You're adorable."
She finally backed off, still giggling, and patted the bed next to her. "Come. Sit. Time for your reward."
Still wary, Ethan sat stiffly beside her. She didn't miss the way he tensed up when she leaned a little closer.
"I'll answer one question," she said, touching his lips with her finger. "One, and only one."
Ethan inhaled deeply.
He spoke slowly. "Who is the original Ethan?"
The goddess blinked. Her smile faded. "Why do you ask that?"
Ethan looked down at his hands. "When I transmigrated, the system told me that Ethan was a mob character — someone who never showed up on screen. But that doesn't make sense."
He looked at her, eyes sharp.
"The university I'm attending? It's elite. It should be impossible for a poor family like mine — his — to afford. And yet… they did. And my instinct as reader says that, it means either they have some hidden background or they are hiding something"
She said nothing.
"And that's not all. Two major heroines — Rhea and Jasmine — are in my class. Jasmine was supposed to be a hidden character, wasn't she? So why would she be hanging around someone like Ethan?"
The goddess raised a brow.
"And last," Ethan continued, his voice low, "you're the one who gave me this system. You said I was your best reader. You wouldn't dump your favorite into a 'lousy mob role' unless there was something more."
Silence followed.
Then… she laughed.
Not just a chuckle — a full, delighted laugh. "As expected of you… Dickthatalwayshard."
Ethan groaned and buried his face in the pillow. "I'm going to punch myself."
The goddess laughed like a maniac.
Her voice echoed through the plush, absurdly luxurious bedroom, until, in the blink of an eye, the entire space shattered like glass.
Ethan instinctively raised his arms, but there was no danger. Just a rush of wind and power.
When he opened his eyes, he stood inside a vast throne room.
The ceiling soared above, supported by dark crystal pillars veined with glowing gold. Hanging from them were ethereal banners embroidered with the triangle-skull insignia, their ends flickering like fire. The floor was obsidian, polished to a mirror sheen, and at the very center stood a throne—massive, angular, with edges of silver and velvet so dark it looked carved from midnight.
But it wasn't just the room that had changed.
So had she.
The goddess no longer wore the assassin bodysuit. Instead, she now stood atop a marble platform, adorned in a queen's gown that could only be described as sin incarnate. Royal purple fabric clung to her body like a second skin. A deep neckline exposed far too much, and twin slits down the sides of her dress revealed toned thighs wrapped in silk. Her golden crown shimmered, resting atop her cascading hair.
Ethan's eyes twitched.
What she's doing now is absolutely going to make my reader name come true.
She smiled down at him, twirling once like she was presenting herself on a runway.
"You must've read those 'extra' novels, right?"
Ethan blinked, dragging his gaze back to her face. "Yeah… I've read a few."
She nodded, walking slowly toward the throne.
"In those stories," she said, voice echoing in the divine hall, "the ones who reincarnate or transmigrate always end up in the body of some extra… some mob characters… the forgotten filler in the background."
She paused and turned to look over her shoulder, eyes glowing.
"But that's a lie."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"In the end… the real protagonist becomes the extra. And the extra? He becomes the protagonist."
Ethan stared blankly.
Is this goddess also crazy? What is she even blabbering about? Did she read too many 'Extra Becomes Main Character' webnovels?
She continued, waving her hand with a grand flourish.
"But me—me, my precious reader—I didn't do that."
She pointed directly at him.
"I transmigrated you not into just anybody... but into the body of the protagonist."
Ethan coughed. "What the fuck?"
The goddess smiled wider.
"Rejoice. You are the protagonist now."
She floated up into the air, her queen's gown fluttering around her as she hovered above the obsidian throne.
"As you had read," she said, "there were many main characters in my novel. Rhea. Jasmine . But not anymore."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"Now there's only one. You, Ethan."
Ethan went silent. He thought for a minute, digesting that truth.
"…So what happens to the original main characters?" he asked.
The goddess spun slowly in the air, golden hair trailing behind her.
"As I said earlier, they now have their own will. Their own freedom. They will choose what they want. Who they want. Some may become friends. Others… enemies."
She floated back down, landing softly in front of him.
"But here's a spoiler for you," she whispered.
Ethan blinked. "Spoiler?"
The goddess's lips curved upward.
"You haven't encountered any villains yet. Or any true heroes. But soon, they'll appear."
She raised one finger.
"Some will have power."
Another finger.
"Some… money."
Another.
"Others will be backed by skills, talent, even luck. But all of them…"
She stepped closer, until their shadows merged on the marble floor.
"…you must defeat."
Her voice lowered to a whisper. "You must rise above them all. With the system. With your will. With your girls by your side."
"Become the ultimate tycoon with system and heroines," she said. "Live your perfect life.
Ethan felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
His mind raced with possibilities of villains, money battles, city-wide influence, heroines and the absurd power of the system at his fingertips.
His blood burned with excitement.
He stepped toward her, grin growing.
"But as I said before…" he muttered, eyes flickering with heat, "…it won't be a perfect tycoon's life…"
He leaned in, voice deep and playful.
"…if I can't have the goddess."
The goddess raised an eyebrow.
Then smiled like a queen ready to grant a kingdom.