The Villainess is a Marionette - Chapter 1: Scene 1. The Marionette with the Broken Strings

When a young woman is killed in a traffic accident on her way home from work at a tax bureau, she suddenly finds herself transported to the world of the otome game she was playing the night before – but instead of the heroine, she’s been reincarnated as the bad guy! Using her knowledge of the game, “Iris” manages to avert personal disaster and decides to rebuild her life with her modern-day economic know-how. This is one mean girl who isn’t going to let her perceived reputation stop her from being a heroine!

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.

In her past life, Michelle was an ordinary doctor who worked in a small hospital, but once in a while, a strange envelope would arrive at her apartment and she would take up a weaon and turn into a deadly assassin known for her stealthiness. But being a top assassin, Michelle had many enemies and ended up dying, only to wake up in the body of Michelle Grace, a pampered young miss in a world similar to ancient dynasties, except that cultivation existed there. Not everyone could cultivate, but Michelle Grace could.The original Michelle Grace was engaged to the Crown Prince, and he killed her before Michelle took over the body, so after making a deal with Michelle Grace's father, the Archduke, Michelle took on the name Grace and started a revenge plan on the Crown Prince, his lover, his mistress and his father, the Emperor.A bit troublesome: Michelle gained the attention of two men who together were the Dark Lord. They were horrifyingly powerful, so Michelle had to be careful around them. Luckily, they didn't have in their plans harming her, as they were intrigued by her constitution. Michelle possessed a rare blood, which they could use.

-- WSA 2025 Entry --“Five… Four… Three… Two… One…”As the countdown towards the new year went on to the last second, Miles looked up to the sky, just as everybody else did.In the middle of the crowded street, Miles for once felt like he belonged. Being a teenage gamer, living with his parents, and trying to build a life as a streamer, he did not feel like leaving his room every day.But there, in the middle of that crowded street, with everyone around him paying attention to the sky, the countdown on the digital billboard, and mostly anything else but him., Miles felt like a ghost.A welcomed ghost, but a ghost, after all.With a smile on his unseen face, he looked up as the countdown reached one, and everybody sang in unison.‘HAPPY NEW YEAR!”But Miles’ eyes widened as he watched in utter horror, and curiosity, even, hovering above him, a holographic screen with a few lines of text written in it.All around him, although he did not pay much attention to it, a few other people seemed to experience the same situation.[Updating home-world 39515’s version][Version 20.25 update brings a lot of fun and games with the new and improved survival mode][Do you want to convert your previous avatar to home-world 39515’s latest version?][Yes] [No]“Survival… Mode?” Miles’ lips quivered.Before he could think of anything else, though, the people around him began to scream…