I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense - Chapter 23 - Playing for Real

[Delicate Wife VS Tough Guy, Spoiling Wife + Double Virtue + Raising Kids Daily Life]The foodie livestreamer Shen Mingzhu transmigrated into the role of a wicked stepmother from a bygone era's novel, becoming a contrasting figure to the village's Shen Baolan.Shen Baolan was kind and virtuous, treating her stepson as her own, while the original character was harsh and mean, either beating or scolding the stepson.Shen Baolan enjoyed her twilight years thanks to her promising stepson, whereas the original character was burned alive by her twisted and sinister stepson.In order to change the tragic outcome, Shen Mingzhu rolled up her sleeves, prepared to sort things out properly.——Shen Baolan had a dream.The man she was about to marry would die half a year later, leaving her a widow with nothing, bound to lead a life of misery.Meanwhile, Shen Mingzhu, for having married the right man, became an enviable rich lady.Both from the same village, both becoming stepmothers to someone, why should Shen Mingzhu live a better life than her?She would marry the man Shen Mingzhu was married to, and live Shen Mingzhu's good life!——Five years passed.Shen Mingzhu had become a college student, Shen Mingzhu's man didn't die but instead became a big boss, and Shen Mingzhu's stepson turned into a child prodigy.Shen Baolan, who pined for her husband to succeed, was still bitterly waiting for the day her man would rise to greatness.

Crimson Vale Academy—where reputation is currency, and failure is a stain you wear on your sleeve.Behind gothic walls and spotless uniforms, students aren't just educated—they're measured, ranked, and pitted against each other in a brutal meritocracy. Privileges are earned, not given. The strong rise. The weak vanish.Enter Kairon Vale, a transfer student marked Rank D—the bottom of the bottom. No badge. Just a stitched black fang, branding him as “Obsidian”—a warning to others.In a system where points dictate your value, Obsidian-ranked students claw for every opportunity to ascend into the prestigious Golden or Platinum ranks—where comfort, power, and influence await. But for most, it’s a losing battle.Yet Kairon isn’t here to fit in, impress, or play by their rules. Cold, calculating, and impossible to read, he watches the system… and waits. Because while the academy judges worth by numbers and names—he understands something deeper:Everyone wears a mask. And every mask can be cracked.Let the games begin.

Sivis was transported into the game Gandanyir.In a world where nobles monopolize extraordinary powers while commoners, barely better than pigs and dogs, suffer endless torment, he inherited the title of the Evil God.By continuously slaying enemies, Sivis could earn Soul Points, which allowed him to enhance his monsters.Goblin → Elemental Goblin → High-level Goblin.Skeleton Soldier → Skeleton Mage → Bone Dragon.Stone Golem → Fire Demon → Carved Gargoyle....In order to strengthen his monsters, Sivis started wars, annexed nations, and slaughtered countless nobles and kings.He also casually gathered numerous helpless commoners, bringing them under his domain system, improving agricultural and industrial technologies, ensuring that these people had enough to eat, teaching them to read, and turning them into the creators of his domain's wealth, which he ruthlessly exploited.But... Sivis had two doubts.First, why is it that his subordinates are always bringing him women?First, it was the Saintess from the Church, then a peerless female knight, followed by a princess from the kingdom, a succubus from hell, an angel from the Holy Hall...Second, why, as an Evil God, are countless people calling him the Savior, the Wise King, and the Benevolent Father of all beings???