Author's Gambit
Lyle Vance was once an author, the mastermind behind a classic hero’s journey—a tale of valor, prophecy, and the destined battle against the Demon King. But when he wakes up inside his own novel, not as the hero, nor the villain, but as a nameless extra, his carefully crafted world becomes his new reality.
Armed with two powerful cheats—his knowledge of the future and a mysterious book that turns written words into reality—Lyle treads carefully. But there’s a catch: using the book drains an absurd amount of mana, making even the smallest change a costly gamble.
Choosing to remain hidden, he dons the mask of a fool—an unremarkable background character who no one would suspect. While the hero embarks on his fated journey, Lyle sets his own plans in motion, gathering wealth, strength, and influence from the shadows.
His goal is simple: ensure the Demon King’s defeat so he can retire in peace. But as he manipulates the world from behind the scenes, fate proves to be more unpredictable than even an author could foresee…