IRAW - Chapter 1

 Note: This is still a concept-check and obviously some parts might change (or they could not). Will see how it goes. So far having some fun. Need to think up more restrictions though :D

Chapter 1.

Hm.

Such profound writing I do as I ponder on my new-found existence.

Oh, Truck-kun, please! What am I supposed to do now? What kind of messed up existence is this? What if the Scrawl Nerve Center ceases to function? Will I just get erased from existence? Huh, wouldn’t that be the same as when I died as a human? I would’ve much rather reincarnated as chainmail bikini! At least then I’d get to have some kind of interaction with naked female—Oh, crap, almost forgot. Let me check… Yep, I was about to write my perverted fantasies into the first chapter of… myself?

But what else is there to do? Sigh, these types of reincarnation stories usually at least give a [Status] screen to the protagonist, to help him or her get acquainted with the world through a familiar gaming system—

“Status!”

[Webnovel Information
Name: Unnamed
Level: 1
Webnovel rank: K
Chapters: 1
Readers: 1
…]

Strange ranking system. Aren’t webnovels ranked numerically? Be it popularity or readers. I suppose it comes with the territory of a gamifying system. More importantly, I have a single chapter now? Heh, as if anyone is going to read this trash… Oh, they did? Oh. My. Truck-kun. I have a reader? For real? Ahh!

[New achievement!
First reader.
You have managed to gain a single reader! Congratulations!
Reward: 2 Points]

Woah. What was that? It felt like… Nevermind. What was that story about people feeling good while eating food? Is that the same for stories? I’m writing though, not reading. It still felt good. Like eating my favorite ice cream during a hot summer day. What would happen if I got more readers? Would that feeling return? Would it be stronger?

What do I write though? I mean watching anime while sitting in my chair and eating chips is one thing…

Of course! Anime! I’ve watched a lot of it back in the day! This should be easy! Let’s see, what else is there in my status.

[Webnovel Information
Name: Unnamed
Level: 1
Webnovel rank: K
Chapters: 1
Readers: 1
Achievements: 1
Points: 2
Word limit: 50
0D Named Character Limit: 1
0Q Unnamed Character Limit: 0

Skills:
Series Reset: (Max lvl)]

Word limit “50”?? That’s a glorified tweet! What kind of webnovel is that? And a single character? And what exactly is “0D”? How can I write my epic fantasy story spanning eleven novels with these restrictions? Wait, how did I write the previous chapter in that case? I look back at my previous chapter… Oh. It’s nothing but “Author’s Notes”? I guess it technically still counts as a chapter.

It’s alright. It’s fine. I can do this! After all, with just the fifty words and one character, it shouldn’t take me more than a couple of minutes!

[New Quest! “First Story”
Write your first story.
Reward: 10 points]

Oh, nice! I’ll need to check what do those points do, right after I write this story…

I’ll just check it now!

“Point… shop?”

[Point Shop
Shop rank: K
+1 Named Character: 50 Points
+1 Unnamed Character: 10 Points
+1st Dimension for a Named Character: 50 Points
+1 Quirk for an Unnamed Character: 20 Points]

… Is there going to be a sale? More importantly, that means that 0D means the character can have no dimensions to him whatsoever? I should do some research into zero-dimensional characters—

No! I have to write my story! I can do it! It’s just 50 words. With a single character… with no dimensions… What will happen if I just ignore the limitations? Next time. I’ll keep it simple for now, no need to test my luck straight away by potentially angering the system.

_______________________________________________

Chapter 1.

In a world overtaken by darkness, one boy dares to challenge that darkness. Fusomasu-kun, born in a common village, with no discernable qualities or personality. Little could anyone suspect that having no personality was the key to salvation. Thus, the darkness was defeated, and peace restored.

The End.

_________________________________________________

…

That sucked.

[Quest “First Story” Complete!
Reward: 10 points]

Yeah, kind of feels like pity points.

[Hidden Quest Complete!
Write exactly to the word limit.
Reward: 10 points]

Woah! I did make sure to not exceed the limit, though I didn’t plan to end up with exactly fifty words.

[Level Up!]

Eh? I don’t feel any different. Let’s check the [Status] screen.

[Webnovel Information
Name: Unnamed
Level: 2
Webnovel rank: K
Chapters: 1
Readers: 1
Achievements: 1
Points: 22
Word limit: 100
0D Named Character Limit: 1
0Q Unnamed Character Limit: 0

Skills:
Series Reset: (Max lvl)]

Still one chapter? Probably because this one is not finished yet. Though, I’m back in “Author’s Notes” now. Word limit increase helps! Probably. I can afford to buy an additional character for my story now. Even two, if needed, but it’s probably a better idea to save up for a quirk or dimension to flesh out my story. But what’s better?

I need some advice! Maybe the other webnovels can help me? I try asking some of the more popular ones. Some of them ignore me. I suppose I can understand that – they’re already busy writing all the time, and are probably asked for advice every single day. One of the webnovels literally has a sign that reads ‘Don’t fucking disturb me.’

I do get some advice though:

Random Novel A: “Show don’t tell.”

Random Novel B: “Wait for a couple of months then go back and edit it.”

Random Novel C: “Write a trashy smut story! Those always get popular.”

First of all. What does show even mean? I only have letters to work with. How can I show anything? My non-existent lips tighten in pointless frustration. I should have taken drawing classes when I had the chance. All the cool webnovels have awesome covers with pretty girls. And waiting a couple of months? I can’t wait for so long! I want to feel ice cream again! Not to mention I have hardly anything to edit.

Monarch’s Pooch: “There are too few webnovels that have an octopus. You should add one. Better add five! Can never have too many!”

Huh? Well, I suppose that’s the best advice I’ve gotten so far.

Killer Bun: “Heey Monarch~! Who you’re talking to?”

Monarch’s Pooch: “Ah, just giving some tips to a struggling newcomer.”

Killer Bun: “Aw, you’re always so helpful to noname, garbage strangers, despite being so busy!”

Killer Bun glances at me. For a split second, I feel evil intent.

Killer Bun: “Run along now, little ant! I hope that you don’t end up in a horrible accident that forces you to slip into obscurity and out of everyone’s memory!”

What?

Killer Bun: “Nothing~! Good luck!”

As I scout the Nerve Center I hear a conversation between a couple of webnovels. I never was a fan of eavesdropping, yet it is so difficult to resist. I’m sorry. After only a minute I start to regret it, as both webnovels seem really weird. I’m convinced one of them is currently high as a kite. But through their… peculiar conversation about thousand-year-old lolis and mental health I do head one interesting phrase. Just two words.

Writing Meta Novel While Slipping Into The Meta: “…Fail faster…”

I slip away back to my spot before they notice me.

If I keep talking to other webnovels all day I’m not going to write anything anyway. Huh? Maybe that’s it? If I’m going to fail anyway, might as well get it out of the way as fast as possible? More ice cream, here I come!