01. What a shitty novel
The dim light of the single, flickering bulb in Mike's one-room apartment cast long shadows over the cluttered space.
Trash piled up in corners—empty takeout containers, crumpled papers, and forgotten soda cans. The room smelled of neglect and stale air, a stark contrast to the vibrant world Mike was about to escape into.
Sitting on a worn-out mattress pushed against the wall, Mike hunched over his phone, his eyes fixed on the screen.
His fingers trembled as they scrolled through the Webnovel he had become obsessed with—A Hero's Rise to Power. The novel was his escape, his sanctuary from the crushing weight of his reality.
Mike's life had been a series of misfortunes.
His parents had died in a tragic accident when he was just a child, leaving him to fend for himself. School had been a battleground where he was relentlessly bullied, his only reprieve coming from the pages of his beloved novel.
Every chapter was a temporary escape, a fleeting glimpse into a world where he could be powerful and respected.
Tonight, however, that escape was shattered. His heart raced as he reached the final chapter of A Hero's Rise to Power. He had been eagerly anticipating this moment, but as he read, his excitement turned to horror.
The story had taken a dark turn, one he hadn't seen coming. Hiroko, the powerful, charismatic protagonist with a harem of devoted heroines, had been left betrayed and humiliated.
The author had not only abandoned the heroic arc but had NTR'd all the heroines, leaving them with someone else. The story ended on a bleak note, with Hiroko's rise reduced to ashes.
Mike's hand shook violently as he finished the last lines. The finality of it all hit him like a sledgehammer.
He hurled his phone against the wall, where it shattered into pieces. "FUCK!" he screamed, the sound echoing through the empty room. His voice cracked with raw, unfiltered anguish.
Tears streamed down Mike's face, blurring his vision. He had found solace in Hiroko's world, a stark contrast to his own miserable existence.
Hiroko was everything Mike wished he could be—handsome, popular, and powerful. Mike's own life, marked by loneliness and despair, felt even more unbearable now that his escape had been so cruelly taken from him.
"FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!" he screamed into the void, the frustration and sorrow pouring out of him. Why had the author done this? Why had they taken away the one thing that helped him cope with his own dreary life?
His cries eventually subsided into quiet sobs as exhaustion took over. Mike collapsed onto his mattress, the tears continuing to flow as he clutched his pillow tightly.
The world outside faded away as he wept, the loneliness and disappointment overwhelming him. The novel, which had been his escape, had ended in such a crushing manner that it left him feeling more lost than ever.
The room grew silent except for the occasional sniffle and the hum of the city outside. Mike eventually cried himself to sleep, the darkness of the night echoing the emptiness he felt inside.
* * *
Mike jolted awake, his heart racing.
He sat up, only to find himself in a room that was anything but his own. The space was bright, clean, and immaculate, with modern furnishings and a large window that bathed the room in natural light.
The contrast to his previous surroundings was stark, and his confusion grew as he looked around.
A sudden flash of blue appeared in front of him, like a holographic screen. It hovered in the air, pulsating softly. The message it displayed was clear:
[You have been transmigrated into the novel.]
[Change its fate]
Mike blinked at the screen, his mind racing to process the information. The reality of the situation sank in quickly.
He had been transmigrated into A Hero's Rise to Power. This was not some mere dream; it was the world of the novel he had been obsessively reading.
He felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with a spark of hope. The chance to actually change the fate of the characters, to alter the story that had left him devastated, was within his grasp.
Without wasting a moment, Mike gathered his belongings. He quickly packed his things and made his way to the airport.
He had to move to Japan, the place where the beginning of The Hero's Rise to Power takes place.
The trip to Japan was long, but his determination was unwavering. He was on a mission to find Hiroko and set things right.
Upon arriving in Japan, Mike's knowledge of the novel's plot and characters proved invaluable. The world fell into chaos; the apocalypse had begun just like the book. It was a chaotic free-for-all with various factions battling for dominance.
Mike used the knowledge he had from the novel to his advantage. He managed to locate Hiroko, the protagonist of the novel, who was already leading a group of survivors.
Hiroko was everything Mike had imagined—handsome, charismatic, and brimming with potential.
Mike introduced himself as an experienced fighter and quickly proved his worth. He used his knowledge of the novel to help Hiroko defeat enemies more efficiently, avoiding dangerous traps and uncovering hidden resources.
With his guidance, Hiroko and his group discovered rare weapons and valuable items that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Mike became Hiroko's right-hand man, earning the trust and respect of the group. He navigated the treacherous world of the apocalypse with Hiroko, playing a crucial role in their survival and success.
Despite the chaos, Mike never lost sight of his mission.
His goal was clear: to save Hiroko from the NTR that awaited him and ensure that the heroines would fall in love with Hiroko and remain loyal.
Mike worked tirelessly to guide the heroines toward Hiroko, using every trick he knew from the novel.
He orchestrated scenarios that would put Hiroko in the best light and endeavored to win their affection for him. For a while, it seemed like his efforts were succeeding. The heroines were beginning to show signs of interest in Hiroko, and the dynamics seemed to be shifting in their favor.
Or so he thought...
* * *
The night was beautiful, a clear, starry sky stretched above, and cherry blossoms danced in the gentle breeze. The delicate pink petals drifted through the air, creating a serene and picturesque scene.
Mike climbed the hill, each step carrying a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Kosaki, the main heroine of the novel, had requested to meet him here, and he wondered if she needed advice on how to approach Hiroko, the protagonist.
As he reached the top of the hill, he spotted Kosaki standing by the edge, her silhouette framed by the moonlight.
The cherry blossoms fluttered around her, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the scene. Mike's heart raced as he approached, expecting a conversation about Hiroko.
Kosaki turned to him with a soft, conflicted expression. Her eyes, usually so vibrant and full of life, were clouded with a mix of regret and vulnerability.
"Mike," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I wanted to talk to you about something."
Mike nodded, trying to keep his expression neutral despite his growing concern. "Sure, Kosaki. What's on your mind?"
She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage. "I... I like you, Mike. I've been meaning to tell you this for a while. I know you've been helping Hiroko and trying to make things right, but… I can't help how I feel."
The words struck Mike like a physical blow.
His mind raced, struggling to process the betrayal.
Kosaki, the heroine who was supposed to be enamored with Hiroko, was expressing her feelings for him instead. How had things gone so wrong?
"Why?" Mike's voice cracked with confusion and anguish. "I thought you liked Hiroko! Why would you... why would you like me?"
Mike felt a wave of despair wash over him. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
He had worked so hard to align everything with the novel's plot, to ensure Hiroko was the one to receive the heroines' affection.
Yet here he was, confronted with a devastating twist he had not anticipated.
The realization of his failure hit him hard. The weight of his incompetence and the futility of his efforts crashed down on him.
Everything he had done, all his efforts to rewrite the story, had led to this moment of despair.
"I don't understand," Mike muttered, his voice barely audible. "Where did everything go wrong?"
Without waiting for a response, he turned and fled from the hill, his heart heavy with the crushing weight of defeat.
He ran back to his apartment, the cool night air doing little to ease his burning shame.
Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed, the weight of his failure feeling like an unbearable burden. Tears streamed down his face as he cried uncontrollably, each sob a raw expression of his broken spirit.
He felt utterly useless, his attempts to change the fate of the novel and its characters having only led to more pain and confusion.
In his desolation, Mike's mind became clouded with thoughts of hopelessness. He could see no way out of the mess he had created, no way to fix the tangled threads of fate he had tried to manipulate.
The thought of continuing in this state of despair seemed unbearable.
In his darkest moment, he made a tragic decision. The pain, regret, and sense of failure overwhelmed him, leading him to end his life in a final, desperate act.
...
* * *
"What a shitty novel," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I threw my phone onto the restaurant table.
Mike, the protagonist of the novel I was reading, was nothing but a whiny, pathetic loser.
I had expected so much more from the story. Instead, I got a disappointing ending where Mike, after failing to live up to any expectations, ends up killing himself.
Just then, a voice broke through my ranting. "Seriously? You're on your phone during our date?"
I looked up to see the source of the voice—an exceptionally stunning girl with pink hair and piercing blue eyes, sitting across from me. Her gaze held a mix of annoyance and curiosity.
"Yeah," I said with a dismissive wave. "You don't understand. This is the ending I've been waiting for? What a joke."
The novel in question was Hero's Hero, featuring a guy called Mike getting transmigrated into a story he adored, attempting to prevent the main character, Hiroko, from being betrayed and losing his heroines.
But honestly, if I were in Mike's shoes, I'd have done things differently.
Fuck the main character! I'd have taken the story in a direction that suited me.
Mike's continual whining and self-doubt grated on me.
It was clear to anyone with eyes that the heroines were interested in him. It was so obvious it was almost painful. Yet, Mike kept denying it, stumbling around in his own misery.
The only reason I kept reading was because the world-building and plot were unique—far more engaging than the usual mass-produced shit novel that flooded the market.
"Whatever," I said, shaking my head. "It was a shit novel anyway."
I looked back at the girl sitting across from me. "I'm sorry about that," I said, my tone softening. "Let's get back to enjoying our date."
She gave me a playful smile. "I'll let you off the hook this time, just because it's you."
With a relieved nod, I pushed the thoughts of that frustrating novel out of my mind.
For now, I focused on the girl in front of me and the evening we had planned. It was time to enjoy the present and leave the disappointments of fiction behind.
But I never could have expected what would happen the next day.
That the novel I had so casually shitted on would become reality.