I Reincarnated as the Villain in an E*oge, But Before I Realized, I Became a Capture Target

Really enjoying this novel so far. It’s a cute read with smut included!

I won’t lie, I initially started reading it for the promise of smut, and it definitely delivers! Frequently and at a pretty good quality!

But what really has me hooked is the story. The translators are doing an excellent job with the translations!

To me, the story starts off with a bang (LOL) and then becomes a bit of a slog to get through, but as it progresses and little hints about the world are revealed, the mystery really pulls me in.

It begins as a pretty generic Medieval Fantasy setting, but soon we get more history, and some things just don’t add up.

The characters start off quite simple and remain that way for most of the beginning, but they do begin to grow beyond their archetypal roles as the story goes on. Even the Generic Evil Bad Guys get some depth!

The main character is incredibly strong, but since he’s such a moe-type guy, he rarely comes across as overly overpowered.

The details are left for the smut. And as expected of an eroge protagonist, the love interest is... quite a lot.

Anyway, don’t take it too seriously; it’s a light read and doesn’t try to delve too deep into heavy topics.

**Spoiler:**  
Although it does touch on issues of discrimination, especially for aspects of oneself that can’t be changed, it’s still half an eroge novel. So while change will happen in this world, don’t be too disappointed if one moment they’re discussing families being torn apart, and the next chapter we’re deep into some tentacle smut. Very literally.

Also, a side note, I want to applaud the author for:

**Spoiler:**  
As pointed out by the translation team, the author’s one and only content warning is something like, "This chapter contains lingerie." That’s so freaking funny, bro.

The only reason I gave it at least one star is because of the main character (MC) and the overall storyline. I genuinely enjoyed how the story unfolded and the MC’s strong character, except when he’s with the male lead (ML). It feels like he completely drops his guard in a way that seems strange and concerning to me. As for the ML, that guy is so manipulative that I wanted to slap him. I don’t understand how others and the MC think he loves him so much. Sure, he *might* love him, but to me, he just seems obsessed. His so-called care and worry for the MC felt fake and hypocritical.

To be honest, I’ve read my fair share of noncon stories, but in my entire life, I’ve never seen such gaslighting, manipulation, emotional abuse, and hypocrisy from an ML. He’s so fake because he’s always saying sweet things to the MC, talking about how much he worries and loves him... but he never really asks for the MC’s opinion on their relationship or his consent. He doesn’t stop when the MC is literally begging and crying for him to stop, and even falls unconscious. I hated that so much! The MC was a crying mess and had a complete breakdown, but that MF ML didn’t stop just because the MC refused to tell him something. There’s something called privacy, even in a relationship. No one has the right to invade that, so don’t force him just because he refused to tell you something. Stop making excuses like you’re “worried” about him—you hypocrite. You’re clearly not worried; you just want to control the MC. If you really cared, you would have asked him gently, giving him space and a safe environment. But no, you just made the MC feel guilty by gaslighting him for keeping his privacy. That’s f*cking terrible, you MF!

And even though the MC was so strong, stronger than the ML, why the hell didn’t he do anything physically to stop him from forcing him? Just stand up for yourself! No matter how you look at it, this so-called "loving relationship" is f*ckING ABUSIVE. F*ck that ML, I hope your d*ck rots and falls off!

This is a very enjoyable read. Although the main lead's (ML) use of explicit language wasn't quite my cup of tea, his sincere feelings towards the main character (MC) are very evident. The character development of the MC, the detailed world-building, and the likable supporting characters all contribute to a compelling narrative.

I personally don’t quite like the term 'shirimanko,' which literally translates to a combination of 'buttocks' and a woman's private parts. It seems odd to refer to a man’s anatomy using a term associated with a woman’s. The ML frequently uses this term during intimate scenes. Up to chapter 42, these scenes occur quite often, roughly once every three chapters. The ML is also quite typical of an eroge protagonist, being almost constantly triggered (in a sexual sense) by the MC.

However, what sets this apart is that there are clear reasons behind every event that occurs. Many eroge or otome game-style novels tend to gloss over the 'why' with vague explanations like "it's just the scenario." Despite its roots in an eroge scenario, I found the adventure aspects of the story particularly engaging. If you're on the fence about reading it, give it a try! Honestly, I’m reading this more for its story than for the explicit content. Even if the intimate scenes were less frequent, it would still be a very enjoyable read.

Pretty good as long as you don't take it too seriously. The first chapter is quite intense, but it becomes much fluffier and softer later on, with some intriguing hints of plot development. (Don't quote me on that though, HAHAHA) It's a cute and sweet fantasy/adventurer/isekai BL once you get past the initial (⚠️TW) non/dub-con.

I’m here to say, this story really gets better over time, so if it sounds interesting, you should give it a chance. The translators and editors are doing a fantastic job! I actually dropped it early on because the story and the main characters seemed a bit too simple for my taste, and the smut was a little too cringy (if you’ve read Japanese smut, you know what I mean). However, after powering through to chapter 20+ (and skipping some of the smut because it wasn’t my thing), I got really invested in the story.

There is a lot of mystery here, particularly regarding how the Gods who rule the different countries might have their own dramas that translate into the discrimination and racism in the modern world. I always enjoy good world-building, so I’m excited to see how it all unfolds.

Other reasons to read it: The male lead (ML) is just so in love with the main character (MC), and after the life MC has had, he really deserves it. Additionally, MC has lived a life of discrimination and internalized a lot of it, so it’s heartwarming to see him realize that people love him (both ML and the original capture targets) despite his differences, and that he should actually want more for himself.

Sure, here is the rewritten content:

---

So reading some of these negative reviews, I'm starting to wonder if we're even reading the same novel?

Like the review from Monsters said: this story takes place in the world of a heterosexual hentai game. I would be shocked if the main lead (ML) was NOT kinky and obsessed with sex. Also, due to this setting,

**Spoiler**
- the sharing of life essence (which will keep people alive in dire situations) is completed through sex.
- Once you get a little further in and realize the above, the actions the ML chooses to take in the prologue (which loops back around after a few chapters) make a lot more sense.
- Effectively, Zagan was on death's door, and Luca was desperate to keep him alive at that point. He didn't exactly have time to ask first since Zagan wasn't conscious, and afterwards, Zagan was quite grateful to Luca for saving his life.

While I'm reading this story, Luca (ML) comes across as being utterly devoted to Zagan to the point of having no interest in what would have been his harem of girls in the original game. Where I'm currently at (around chapter 46), they're constantly flirting with each other, and if something bothers one of them, they actually talk to the other one about it. It's so nice to see communication happening instead of misunderstandings getting blown out of proportion.

Also, yes, the prologue is dub-con, but outside of one other situation so far where

**Spoiler**
- Zagan was again in very real danger of dying,
- Luca is very much about consent. The author clearly likes kinky stuff, but the really kinky stuff is generally kept to side stories and can be ignored if you're more after vanilla stuff.
- That balloon thing though—let's all pretend that never happened.

I could see an argument for the rape tag from the perspective of the "original game" this story is based on, which is not a nice one. When Zagan talks about "original events" in the game, there are several mentions of rape. Thankfully, the Zagan of this story is not interested in taking that path.

Maybe I'm seeing this in a different light because I've re-read it 5 or 6 times now? I don't know if that would change the way one sees this story or not, but I just felt like getting my thoughts on this one documented because I really don't see this story the way most of the negative reviews paint it.

I will certainly circle back if things change, but as it stands, this story is a 5-star for me.

<p></p>

I got really bored.

It’s pretty cliché, and even though I haven’t looked at any spoilers, I can already guess where the story is headed.

The smut isn’t sexy at all. And it doesn’t help that the smut has been the same throughout. Maybe this has something to do with it being a Japanese book, but the sound effects are grating. Every time the main lead "fufufu"s during intimate scenes, it just annoys me.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt since I was expecting way too much from a novel that has "eroge" in its title.

I don't know if you can see it, but I rated this two stars. Also, it’s my first time using the spoiler feature, so if it doesn’t work properly, sorry about that. I had a lot of things to say, and I’ll probably have more when I’m done reading the story.

The world-building and character development aren’t the best; they’re very minimal and fall flat most of the time. What I didn’t like was the vibe shift during the beach scene around chapter 26, which I skipped. You can see the possessive nature and emotional manipulation that’s going on. That’s how I started thinking about this novel critically. My first mistake.

**Spoiler**
I don’t understand how Luca, who is so loving and understanding in the beginning, does a 180 and becomes a filthy dog? I feel like everything I read before the tentacle beach scene was a hallucination or I changed my memories somehow. And then it continues. The MC no longer has any control over his plans or feelings. First of all, why does the MC need permission to pull an all-nighter? Second, while he is in a dangerous dungeon? Make it make sense. And the fact that this is being passed off as sweet and caring pisses me off. This is no longer a two-person relationship. Everything feels fake. The phone calls, the "I love yous," everything is down the drain. It’s a complete disconnect. I now don’t like him at all.
**[collapse]**

Another thing is the MC. Understanding that this is a Japanese novel, I expect the MC to be indecisive, an airhead, always underestimating themselves even when they are super OP, and not being clear in their wants and needs. However, the reasoning for the MC's character traits and behavior is baffling.

**Spoiler**
This man 🧍‍♂️ is an S-ranked adventurer. S-rank, okay. He is strong to the point where he can defeat high-level monsters with a few hits. Because he uses dark magic, he can’t go anywhere without being wrapped up or strapped up, even as an S-rank. Everyone hates dark magic users. It’s everyone’s life mission to throw tomatoes at them. These people are strong enough to go into dungeons. The civilians are that strong, okay. Keeping this in mind, MC Zagan was thrown into the dark woods at a young age by his father, who raised him in a basement.
**[collapse]**

**Spoiler**
🤦‍♀️ It makes no sense that Zagan has no hate, anger, or irritation towards these people. The MC doesn’t remember much of his past life other than it being peaceful and mundane. The worst thing that happened was his illness that slowly killed him, and even then, he remembers it fondly. Let’s say his brain is fully developed from the jump when he transmigrated into a child, okay. So, you’re telling me this modern man was thrown into the dangerous woods to face monsters and terrible people who want to kill him (literally) as a juicy child to live his adolescent and adult days in and carries no trauma. None at all?? Literally, in the story, it says that the original Zagan went mad and was consumed by darkness. And the MC has nothing? No psychological nothing. Okay.
**[collapse]**

**Spoiler**
Sorry, I am not done. This modern man is so rational he can call his father "father" by accident when talking to what’s-his-face Luca. Ain’t no way. Firstly, because this "father" only raised him until he was like what, 9? 10? And after 20+ years, he can still call him "father" by mistake? That’s crazy. Secondly, this "father" still threw his son into the dark woods. Doesn’t matter how well he educated or brainwashed his son into believing that the dark woods were his best chance of survival. And I don’t remember if the father watched over him for a couple of years, but even if he did, it’s not enough! Dead end!
**[collapse]**

**Spoiler**
This review is all over the place, but this is what I am getting to. There is no way for someone who has gone through everything the MC has to come out a normal person. Even though to us it’s a few sentences to wrap up his past, this man lived through it all for a long time. And not only that, but when he confronts the dark organization, he claims to understand and sympathize with them. But how is that possible when he says he loves and wants to protect the country they are in? I can’t handle the hypocrisy and the excessive need to make the MC an extreme Mary Sue. He acts like a dumb green tea bish. Especially to the ML! His attitude towards everything pisses me off. And to his flat character sister. She pisses me off too. You don’t remember your brother at all except for a vague bedtime story about the moon. Go harass your dad! He’s the one that threw your brother to the woods.
**[collapse]**

**Spoiler**
Now that I have started about the sister. I know she wouldn’t have gone this hard if it was the original Zagan. No sir. If she met the original Zagan around that same time as she did the MC, which I think she did in the dungeon, she would have run away. And don’t say it’s because the MC and original Zagan are different because the MC is still stone-faced, cold-attitude dark mage. They are the same on the outside.
**[collapse]**

I am not even done with the main plot line, and I’m still going because I want to see how it ends. I clearly don’t like myself to go through this madness. It’s a shame because, for a Japanese novel, it went hard at the start from what I remember. Tears down my face, bro. 🤧

It's still too early for me to make a definitive judgment. The characters are decent, but there’s nothing particularly outstanding about them. (Considering it’s an eroge, though...) Nonetheless, significant changes have occurred due to the main character’s transmigration. I can only hope for some character development in the later chapters. (Other reviews aren’t exactly boosting my optimism 😅)

The smut is definitely a highlight for me. However, there are some sensitive scenes involving:
**Spoiler**
- Rape/Non-con/Dubcon
**[collapse]**
So, proceed with caution.

TL;DR: Read for the smut!!! 🙈

Hey, I came here expecting some explicit content, and I wasn't disappointed.

Don't read this if you're looking for the most intellectually profound piece of literature; it's essentially pwp (porn with plot), and I'm not complaining at all.

It's like riding a high-speed roller coaster—you're barely on for a few seconds, and it's over. Especially since I doubt you'll finish this novel in one sitting (it can get a bit monotonous after a while), but it's enjoyable to revisit and savor slowly.

I recommend reading it, especially after an angsty novel, so you can have a good laugh and unwind. Just a warning, though—you might constantly feel like a third wheel to these fictional characters. 😭

The story isn't bad, and the smut is enjoyable. Zagan (MC) has good character development so far, and Luca (ML) is beginning to have more depth in his background.

If you plan to read the machine translations, be cautious of frequent perspective and pronoun switches, especially during smut scenes.