Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

While the plot of this book isn't exactly something new, it does offer a peculiar approach that sets it apart from the usual otome game-themed stories. As a fan of certain game commentators, it feels super refreshing for me.

This isn't isekai or time rewind, though it is technically a villainess story. It focuses on Lieselotte, the villainess of an otome game, and that's who she really is. A fictional character in a game. We follow her through the eyes of her fiancé and the crown prince, Siegwald, but the ones moving the plot along are Endou and Kobayashi, two high school students playing this otome game in the real world and providing commentaries for Siegwald to follow. Their objective is to save Lieselotte, who dies in every single route except for the harem ending where she goes yuri for the game's main character, Fiene.

At a glance, the plot seems to follow the usual otome game template with stereotypical character... except it doesn't. It quickly strays off that path and turns into something completely different, sprinkled with moments of Endou and Kobayashi's relationship in the real world. It feels like reading several genres in a single book, but honestly? The seemingly weird mix is working for me. I like how youthful love is blossoming in both worlds, and how everyone adores Lieselotte after they figure out that she's just a huge “tsun de rais”.

It does feel like the main issue with Lieselotte could've been solved in a single book, but there are definitely loose ends that could use another volume to be tied up properly. Like the question why Fiene has become an absolute gorilla in terms of stats, and also the truth about the hidden route that hasn't come to light. This is a quick, easy read that doesn't require much thinking, and I'm definitely picking up the next book.