[SOLVED] Need help with shader node, faking normal that is flatter than its geometry. - eviltoast

Without using normal map, how do I make something look flatter in arbitrary direction?

model: Godette by Pablo Dobarro
Figure 1

Let’s say I want to smoosh character face to make lighting appear flatter while keeping the geometry. What kind of shader node setup can do this in a simple non-destructive way?