Ah… what could be better? A cold wooden floor tickling my bare ass, my member left out in the open—no protection, no dignity—while my hands are tied behind me like some helpless maiden waiting to be rescued… or worse. Just perfect. And now it's nighttime, the house creaking with every gust of wind, old wooden walls and a sagging roof threatening to cave in at any moment.
Well, since there's literally nothing else I can do, how about we play a game, readers?
Tonight, I'll try to answer as many comments as possible—especially from those of you I haven't featured yet. (Sorry, ObservantReader, you'll always be the GOAT in my heart.)
No quill, huh… So how am I supposed to do this? Did I ever actually need it? I mean, I am the author. Doesn't it make sense if I can just… see the comments?
"Show the comments to me."
The system responds instantly, popping up the first comment of the night…
I'm gonna get at least a little mana from this, right? It's not much, but hey, I'll take what I can get.
[New comment on chapter 12 from BoredObserver: I have a question for you, Quill. As an author who can change the character's fate, do you have control over your own?...]
As long as Big Boss doesn't slam me with its stupid remarks or force me back onto the hero's "true path," then yeah—I actually can. I can think freely and move as I please… at least, as far as I know. Unless, of course, I'm proven wrong.
[...Could you write a sentence like, 'Quill runs through the village faster than lightning'? Can you give yourself a superpower?...]
That question hit me right in the core. I… I've never actually tried that before. That's a great idea! I'll have to test it out as soon as I'm… uh… you know… not tied up and naked. Ahem...
[...And I know it's impossible to kill a main character but maybe you can inconvenience Glorius—such as by making him stink or wet himself ? {End of the comment}]
Pfft, that's a good one. No, no… I'd never do that… But if you've got any good ideas, go ahead and send them my way. Not that I'm actually going to try them or anything… ahem. Right, right—moving on.
[Comment from UelUel on chapter 10: How's the book going, my dude? 😎]
Great! I think? Honestly, it's exhausting, so thanks for asking. Sometimes I wish I could just live a normal life, but… it's not so bad like this either. Hehe.
[New comment from jeonglove on chapter 5: 독창적이고 참신한 아이디어 ! 마음에 들어요. 흥미롭고 재미 있을 것 같아 기대가 큽니다. 작가님! 항상 응원합니다 ^^]
Umm… System, a little translation here, please?!
[...Initiating...]
[Here's your translation: An original and fresh idea! I really like it. It seems interesting and fun. I have high expectations. Author! I'm always cheering for you ^^]
Thank you so much! Or should I say, 감사합니다. It really means a lot to get comments in a language I don't know yet—but I'd love to learn it someday!
[New comment from Doom_Shark on chapter 5: We are not gods. We are just life forms of a superior dimension, but - as you - we are weak as your old form and superior at the same time.]
It's hard to believe… Someone who can see everything I do, while I can't see you at all—it's so mysterious. It's almost like we live in separate dimensions, right? And yet, to hear that your bodies are both weak and superior at the same time… I wonder what that really means. Maybe you are a god, after all. I knew it…
[New comment from Doom_Shark on chapter 12: A hero huh? You have dangerous thoughts little one. I'm sure you're seeking a direct path to power, but you need to choose wisely, because there are enemies strength won't destroy. Your mind is your castle, no defenses shall stop your walk if you can destroy your enemies' castle.]
Wise words. Thank you so much for your enlightenment… But my path is clear. I'll reach heights no one ever has, no matter how difficult it gets.
I clench my hands together, and even the ropes barely hurt anymore. That feeling in my chest. It'll never fade.
[New comment from EratoChronicles on chapter 3: useless system all u do is stalking the poor boy 😠]
I couldn't agree more! Stupid system, stupid Big Boss!
[New comment from EratoChronicles on chapter 4: ohh little MC you're a minor ? I'll watch my words from now on, don't want u to see the comments]
I'm almost an adult… okay? Just one more year and I'll be considered an adult in my village. Ahem… I already saw all the comments, hehe. But honestly, I love every single one of them!
[New comment from ObservantReader on chapter 10: honestly, Finquill sounds a lot more nice and elegant than Quillger, that one sounds like a pirate ready to sink your ship]
Did you think I'd actually leave you out of this? Hah! No way. And Finquill, huh… I'll give it some thought. Maybe we should hold a reader vote—what sounds better, Finquill or Quillger? I do feel like a pirate of the book, though honestly, I'm not even sure what pirates are…
My face heats up. That's something I've never heard about before, at least, not yet. Maybe there are pirates somewhere in this world too.
Crash! Boom!
Suddenly, my attention snaps to the sound of doors slamming. I make the system window vanish, just in case…
The wooden door bursts open, and there she stands—a young woman, maybe fifteen, in an elegant short dress that clings to her curves, the fabric swirling with flower designs. A massive iron axe rests casually on her shoulder…
"Roxy…" I mutter under my breath. "How nice to see you again… ha… haha…" I force a laugh, but there's not a trace of joy on her face; just pure anger and a murderous glare.
Gulp.
I swallow hard, like there's a stone lodged in my throat.
"You…" She lets the axe drop, and the boom rattles the entire house, sending dust swirling everywhere. The floorboards tremble beneath me.
She steps forward, dragging her axe with a slow, grinding screech across the wood, leaving a long scar in its wake. My nerves spike. I start to panic. What is she going to do? Do I have to use my powers on her? Could I even do that without the quill in my hand? Should I… could I…?
But then, the system's words echo in my mind. Wait… is it possible? Could I manifest the quill in my fingers at any time…?
Before I can try, the ground shudders right in front of me, cold sweat pouring down my back. She plants her axe on the floor, right in front of my… brother in arms.
"W-what are you?" My voice barely comes out as I stare at that axe, inches from ending any hope I ever had of children.
But then her next words shake me even harder.
"Who are you?" she demands, her voice tight with anger, but her eyes… watery, her teeth clenched so hard I can hear them grind. "What did you do to my Quill? My original Quill?!"
I blink. "Yours…?"