「There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. I have
forgotten some of them now. However, one thing is certain: you
who are currently reading these words will survive.
–Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World [Complete]」
A web novel platform filled the screen of my old smartphone. I
scrolled down and then up again. How many times have I been
doing this?
"Really? This is the end?"
I looked again, and the 'complete' was unmistakable. The story was
over.
[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World]
Author: tls123
3,149 chapters.
'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' was a feature-length
fantasy novel with 3,149 chapters. Its shortened name was 'Ways of Survival'.
I have been steadily reading this novel since the third year of
middle school. Even when I was bullied by the delinquents at my
school, even when I had to enter a third-rate, local university since I
screwed up my entrance exams, even when I was assigned to a
military unit at the frontlines since the damn military draft lottery
went wrong, and even now, working as a contractor for a large
subsidiary, still without a full-time job... damn it, let's stop thinking
about this. Anyway.
「Author's words: Thank you so much for reading 'Ways of Survival'
up to here. I will come back to you with an epilogue!]
"Ah… The epilogue still remains. Then the next chapter is really the
last one."
From the end of my childhood all the way to adulthood—a long
journey spanning over ten years. I felt a mixture of desolation that a
world was coming to an end along with a sense of fulfillment from
finally being able to reach the conclusion of that world. I opened
the comment box for the last chapter and re-wrote a sentence
several times.
–Kim Dokja: Writer, thank you for everything in the meantime. I am
looking forward to the epilogue.
They were sincere sentences. Ways of Survival was my life's novel.
It wasn't the most popular, but it was the best novel for me. There
were many words I wanted to say but I couldn't write them. I was
afraid that my careless words would hurt the writer.
–An average of 1.9 hits per chapter.
–An average of 1.08 comments.
This was the average popularity index of 'Ways of Survival'. The
number of views for the first chapter was 1,2000, but it fell to 120
for the 10th chapter, and then 12 for the 50th chapter. By the time
it was the 100th chapter, it was only 1.
Hits= 1.
I was overwhelmed by the feeling I got when I saw the numerous '1'
that appeared next to the list of chapters. In some cases, there was a
'2', but it was likely someone pressing the wrong button.
'Thank you'.
The author published a novel with more than 3,000 chapters with
just 1 hit per chapter over a period of 10 years. It was truly a story
just for me. I pressed on the 'Recommendation Board' and
immediately started tapping on the keyboard,
–I have a dope novel to recommend
The author wrote me a free completed novel, so I should give him a
recommendation. I clicked on the completed button, and comments
quickly appeared.
–It looks like a new anti. I searched for this person's ID, and they
recommended the same novel several times.
–Isn't his recommendation banned? The author shouldn't do this
here.
Belatedly, it occurred to me that I wrote a recommendation a few
months ago. In an instant, dozens of comments were covered with
rhetoric such as "attention seeker" or "dumbass." My face became
flushed.
I was sure the author would also read this. So, I hurriedly tried to
delete my post, but I only got a message saying that it couldn't be
deleted because it had already been reported.
"This…"
There was a bitter taste in my mouth at the thought that the
sincerely written recommendation ended up becoming a stain on
the novel's reputation. If they even looked a little bit, why didn't
anyone try reading the interesting novel? I wanted to give a
donation to the writer, but I couldn't afford it because I was a salary
worker barely able to make a living. Then I received a notification
that a 'message has arrived'.
–tls123: Thank you.
A message flew in from out of nowhere. It took me a while to grasp
the situation.
–Kim Dokja: The author?
tls123—it was the author of 'Ways of Survival'.
–tls123: I was able to complete it to the end thanks to you. I also
won the competition.
I couldn't believe it. Ways of Survival won a competition?
–Kim Dokja: Congratulations! What is the competition?
tls123: You won't know it because it is an unknown competition.
I wondered if he lied because he was ashamed, but I wanted it to be
true. Perhaps I really didn't know. It might be a bit hit on other
platforms. I was a little sad, but it was good to have an excellent
story spreading.
–tls123: I would like to send a special gift to you as a thank you.
–Kim Dokja: Gift?
–tls123: It is thanks to my dear reader that this story has come into
the world.
I gave the writer my email address as he asked.
–tls123: Ah, right. I got the monetization schedule.
–Kim Dokja: Wow, really? When will it start? This masterpiece
should've been paid from the beginning…
It was a lie. The Ways of Survival was a daily series, so I would've
had to spend 3,000 won a month. 3,000 won was one convenience-
store lunch for me.
–tls123: The monetization starts tomorrow.
–Kim Dokja: Then the epilogue coming tomorrow will be paid?
–tls123: Yes, I'm afraid you need to pay for it.
–Kim Dokja: Of course, I have to pay! I will buy the last one!
After that, there was no reply from the author. It looked like they
logged out of the site. A sense of despondency settled in. Were they
leaving without even replying now that they were successful? My
admiration turned into petty jealousy. What was I so excited about?
It wasn't like I had written the novel anyway.
"Will they give me a gift certificate? It'd be nice if it has around
50,000 won."
Those were the naive thoughts I had back then.
I knew nothing about what would happen to the world the next
day.