Sept ‘24 Situation Report

Hey all,

Today was the last chapter of this arc. Nero is finally officially free of the societal weight his nobility has been trying to chain him down with. Although still technically a noble, as a unique, his responsibilities are now his to decide. It's like a dream come true for a scoundrel like Nero.

You probably all know where the next arc is going to happen. Nero and his new wackos are heading into the mountain. The dwarves are going to be coming along for the ride as well. You've probably also realized who was behind their proposed city location being in Nero's mining town.

Also, just so you don't get too excited, I'm warning you now that this upcoming arc will see Nero still avoiding heading to Hennings. While stuff there will continue to brew, Nero will have other things on his mind. Namely the kobalds, their portals, the dwarves, their teleportation tech, and his growing mercenary force.

You can expect Nero's off-handed opinions to heavily influence his house's operations as the followers of House Walker work on determining their identity. Also, in the background, the density shift's repercussions will still be growing, and the city will become even more overburdened with immigrants from the outlying villages and towns.

However, you need to keep in mind that Nero will be spending a great deal of time under the mountain, learning about the kobalds and exploring the human's former mountain city. I can't wait to play with the change of scenery.

I'm still enjoying writing this story, and have no plans at the moment to change the release schedule. I'm currently very slowly working on two other books, but I'm still debating whether or not to post any of their chapters.

Rather than being web serials like this one, they are intended to be fully realized novels with a firm beginning and end. One isn't even a fantasy novel... so I doubt there will be very many people interested in reading it. As for the other one, it's a magic-type sci-fi book that I want to get written fully before I go back and fill out the outline.

Most of my energy is still taken up by Nero Walker, as I just can't quit the little shit. It's too fun to write him floundering around like an idiot as the world continues to progress all around him. Very rarely in life do we get a chance to be a driving force in our own lives, and it is fun to write a character that has to deal with the world around him pulling his strings while he tries and fails to focus on himself.

That covers most of what I wanted to talk about... so I guess I'll just end it there.

As for you all, I'd like to thank you for sticking around. While our numbers aren't high, together we are mighty! You following and supporting this story gives me the energy and feels to keep going. From the bottom of my heart... I love you all. Perhaps it's because I've tried to keep my emotional distance, or because none of you have ever snuck into my fridge to eat my leftovers... but seriously... I don't have a single bad thing to say about any of you. You're all golden gods that deserve to be worshiped by uncivilized barbarians and drunk college students. Thank you all for being you.

Happy September everybody!

-L.S.