I am that male friend in the harem story - Chapter 46: Taiyaki in an Osaka-style

In a world where the very fabric of reality is held together by fragile threads known as the Veil, humanity faces an ever-present threat from the void—a dark, consuming force that seeks to unravel everything. The ancient Guardians once stood as protectors, weaving powerful Knots to keep the void at bay, but their knowledge has faded, and the Knots are beginning to fray.Cole, an unlikely Weaver with the rare ability to sense and manipulate the threads of the Veil, embarks on a perilous journey alongside the skilled warrior Selene, the stoic guardian Marcus, and the enigmatic scholar Elara. Together, they must navigate a land ravaged by void-touched creatures and discover the forgotten secrets of the Guardians to repair the Knots and stop the void from consuming their world.But the deeper they delve into the mysteries of the Veil, the more they realize that the void is not their only enemy. Hidden forces work from the shadows, manipulating the fraying threads for their own gain, and ancient powers thought long buried are stirring beneath the surface. As the Knots unravel and reality itself begins to fracture, Cole and his companions must face not only the void, but the dark truths of their own world—and themselves.withHeart is a gripping, character-driven epic of survival, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between light and darkness. The series explores themes of destiny, power, and the fragile threads that bind us all together, weaving a story where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and oblivion.

When an era came to an end, various forces set foot in cultivation to compete for immortality. A young boy who spent most of the time sleeping got lucky in the troubled times and became an unparalleled immortal who could cover the sky with a snap of fingers. Was he going to live forever?

- Description from Novelupdates

“She was supposed to be silent. She chose chaos instead.”At thirteen, Lorraine vowed to a boy, “I’ll be your poison. I’ll be your blade in the shadows. I’ll live for you.”The catch? She was supposed to be mute and deaf.The bigger catch? He was a hostage prince with no power.Raised in a household where her father adored her perfect half-sister Elyse, Lorraine was thrown into a political marriage with Prince Leroy. Unfortunately, he liked Elyse too. Of course he did.Lorraine played the role of the forgotten wife, but still gave it all. Loyalty, time, and space. The Silent Crown, they called her. Fitting, really. No one expected anything from her. Especially not betrayal.He came back from the war with a mistress, who was a living shadow of his first love.That was Lorraine’s breaking point. Divorce? Not allowed. Staying? Not an option.So, she gave herself one month. One month before she vanished from Vaeloria, from the life that had chewed her up and smiled while doing it.But before she left?She wanted revenge.On the father who put her through hell.On the sister who took her place.On everyone who hurt her and laughed at her.And continuing with… an affair… with Leroy.Yes, you read that right. Lorraine started a secret affair with her own husband. In the shadows. As someone else. Masked. Daring. Desired.And for the first time in her life, she was powerful.He doesn’t know it’s her.And she doesn’t care to correct him.She’ll ruin him with pleasure.Then leave him with regret.That was the plan.The kingdom has no idea what’s coming. The Silent Crown has stopped waiting to be loved. Now, she wants war. And she’ll watch it all burn from the shadows.

Born as a hybrid, I was ab*sed by my maternal grandfather because I was a useless child who didn’t inherit any abilities from my dad’s family, and ended up dying.I returned to the past with my memories, but my options weren’t so different from the past.I’ll either live like this and be ab*sed to death just like in my previous life, or I’ll go to my dad who hates me.‘I don’t want to die again.’Eventually I went to my dad who hated me, with a locket in my hand that would prove me to be the daughter of the Black Leopard family.“Let me…let me stay here.”All I asked for is protection until I became an adult. Then, when I was old enough to live alone, I was going to go out and live without causing trouble. Because I was going to be a good kid this time.But, somehow…“My beloved daughter, if there is anyone who touches you, I will kill them immediately.”My father, who I thought hated me, was so sweet to me.“Hey, Perfi, don’t keep hugging Thiel. At this time of year, I heard that girls are very delicate.”“Where did you learn that s*upid theory? Thiel likes to hug.”The two brothers who I thought were scary like me so much.“Thiel, I’m going to hand you over the head position of this Black Leopard family.”My paternal grandfather suddenly tells me that he is handing over his position to me.Hey …didn’t everyone hate me?