I just uploaded this announcement chapter to let everyone know that I've decided to put this novel on indefinite hiatus.
As for the reasons, it's mainly due to financial problems, and I can't dedicate my time to this novel since I have other novels to complete. Life is so damn stressful.
When I write novels, I usually plan for them to be long-term projects, with a minimum of 400 chapters and sometimes even reaching 1k chapters. But right now, I just don't have the time to complete this one.
Well, let's be real—most authors on this platform can't finish a novel, or even if they do, they half-ass the ending. I'm struggling with the same problem, which is why I want to focus on completing my main novels that already have 300+ chapters, like World Travel Simulator System in Modern Society. That's my top priority.
On another note, I've seen feedback about Barbatos being a simp, especially toward Restara, like how he caters to her needs and cooks for her. But people seem to forget that Restara is the one giving Barbatos a ton of benefits—she's basically a wealthy goddess, like a sugar mommy.
In any relationship, you can't always be the one on the receiving end. Both parties need to give and take and have some equality in their status.
I don't want the romance or harem in my novel to be just about collecting beautiful vases or sex dolls. I want it to be a healthy relationship between Barbatos and his (future) wives.
I get that it's rare because most novels on this platform are all about Villain MCs who NTR others, steal their women, and treat them like sex toys. Some even glorify things like rape and other messed-up stuff.
Most of these novels just throw in smut and then sideline the women, rarely mentioning them again because the Villain MC is off chasing new women to fuck.
Then there's the other kind of Villain MC who treats women as tools and doesn't genuinely love them.
Even when it's not like that, you get the other extreme where the MC is super dominant, and all his wives are described as "loyal" and "deeply in love" with him. But the MC does nothing to keep that relationship alive.
How can you breed loyalty and love that easily? Even if it starts out that way, a one-sided and dull relationship won't last long.
It's like readers and even authors overlook these problems, as if they've never been in a healthy relationship (or don't even have one).
Or maybe they just don't care, because it's fiction. If the narrative says the MC's wives are loyal, then sure, they must be loyal, right?
In Barbatos' case, he needs divine energy strands, and Restara has plenty of it. If he wanted to, Barbatos could get a job in the Divine God City, but he chooses not to because of his close relationship with Restara, who's willing to give him what he needs.
But Barbatos doesn't want to just leech off her and use her as a tool. That's why he visits her villa every day when he's free, cooks for her, and spends time with her.
Even though they're gods, and Restara doesn't need to eat, she still does because Barbatos prepares the meals. It's their way of spending time together since they've both been so busy after becoming gods.
It's the little things in life that add color to a relationship. The worst thing you can do is neglect each other's needs.
Even when a flower has bloomed, you still need to water it to keep it from withering. Just like love, even if it has blossomed, it needs constant care and attention to maintain its beauty.
I know I went off on a tangent, but that's just my take. In the end, it's up to you how you define things since everyone has different opinions, and that's okay.
I also think part of why Barbatos might seem simp-ish is because I started the novel just a month after the Global God Transmigration.
If I ever continue this novel, I plan to rewrite it and change the beginning so that Barbatos, Restara, and their classmates are transmigrated while attending a class reunion.
I know my writing isn't perfect, but I'm always trying to improve.
I've been writing for 4 years now, so I can't call myself a newbie anymore. But damn, I've come to realize that maybe I don't have much talent for writing.
It's like you work hard on something because you enjoy doing it, but then, after years of grinding, reality slaps you in the face and says, "You're not good enough."
It's taken me this long to write something halfway decent, while other authors who just started have already become a top author.
Sigh, I guess people are just built different.
Then again, I started writing when I was 14, so my oldest novel reeks of amateur writing.
Anyway, whether you see this as an announcement or just me ranting, I hope you're all doing well in your lives.
***
TLDR: This novel is on indefinite hiatus, meaning updates are paused, and there's no set time for when it will resume. If I do continue it, the novel will be rewritten.