-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 001
Chapter Title: The Web Novel Written by God
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I woke up to find everything had changed.
A typical one-room apartment.
Clothes and daily necessities piled up in that cramped space made it an utter mess.
I had no idea why I'd opened my eyes here. I just woke up and there I was.
Only then did I realize my vision was crystal clear without my glasses. As I glanced around, my gaze fell on my own body.
Something felt off.
It was when I yanked the blanket away.
A beer gut?
The gut of a man barreling toward middle age was gone, replaced by long, lean legs stretched out straight.
My oversized hands, big enough to palm a basketball, moved at my command.
"What... is this...?"
⚙ NOVEL PAGE ⚙ Lee Hwan seemed utterly incredulous. He looked around, then muttered to himself while checking his body for some mad reason. The fist of Paecheon, slayer of ten thousand demons, had turned into delicate, childlike hands. "What... is this...?"
The thing that popped up right in my field of vision was a hologram—or something like it.
A window that appeared just like a hologram.
It looked like a page from a web novel magnified in front of me.
[First paragraph initiated. - Prologue]
I knew what to call the next thing that appeared, too.
It was exactly how a status window from a web novel would look if made real.
I couldn't tear my eyes from the bizarre sight.
Who could?
My heart started pounding faster at the faint hope. I swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth and uttered the word that made my heart race.
"Status window."
⚙ NOVEL PAGE ⚙ For a moment, Lee Hwan said with excitement plain on his face. "Status window."
A new sentence was added—right then!
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
[The world is collapsing.]
[Do not use words that do not fit the worldview.]
[Collapse reason: Inappropriate word usage. "Status window."] [* This web novel's genre is modern fantasy, but no system elements.]
["Something fresh is needed."]
A web novel?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
My eyes opened again.
I was lying down just like before.
The massive vibrations that had shaken my whole body were gone.
I sat up, feeling my face and arms.
This definitely wasn't my body. Yet these long arms and legs felt perfectly natural, like they'd always been mine.
When I touched my face, the chubby cheeks were gone, replaced by a sharp jawline.
I didn't need to look to know what face was attached.
Oh? This body was clearly that of a tall, handsome guy?
"Whoa... this is real?"
⚙ NOVEL PAGE ⚙ The first thing Lee Hwan did upon regaining his senses was inspect his body. But something was strange. The fist of Paecheon, slayer of ten thousand demons, had become delicate hands. When he felt his face next, he seemed convinced. As he got out of bed, he said, "Whoa... this is real?" He grinned foolishly. There was no doubt he'd returned from death.
It popped up again!
[First paragraph initiated. - Prologue]
My eyes were drawn to the text filling the space before me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Putting aside everything happening to me, one thing had to be said.
As a working web novel author and twenty-year veteran reader, my verdict on this prologue: it was outdated from the jump.
Protagonist's name: Lee Hwan.
Easy to read—solid choice.
But the material? A cliché regression story. The intro needed something fresh, and this wasn't it.
Pure template.
Trite.
No hook to grab readers—just diving straight into the regression moment.
The opening line sets the tone for the whole novel!
Half expectant, half disappointed, I spoke up.
Aimed at whoever might be overseeing this from somewhere.
"I don't know who you are, but you should rewrite this. Change the genre, too."
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
[The world is collapsing.]
[Collapse reason: Inappropriate dialogue usage.]
["I don't know who you are, but you should rewrite this. Change the genre, too."]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I pondered my reality.
Everything I saw, felt, and experienced pointed to one truth.
This was the world of a novel some author had begun writing.
I was the protagonist, Lee Hwan, regressed for some reason.
My actions and words shaped the story directly.
Honestly, whether this was a dream, illusion, or happening in some author's mind didn't matter.
I just hoped this mystical experience lasted.
And I could help with it.
After all, I was the protagonist.
The third round arrived.
It started the usual way: lying down.
If I'd chosen regression as the hook, I'd have agonized over the opener. But regression was already done.
So the intro hinged on the protagonist's—my—first action.
I focused on thoughts alone, eyes closed.
How to hook readers right away?
It didn't need action or description.
An inner monologue setting the protagonist's direction, intriguing enough, would pass muster as an opener.
One line of monologue that built anticipation for what was next.
After much deliberation, I said it.
"This time... I'll live a life of pure personal greed."
⚙ NOVEL PAGE ⚙ These were Lee Hwan's first words upon regressing to the past. "This time... I'll live a life of pure personal greed."
Eyes closed, I could sense the sentence filling the novel window.
Yes. Right here.
With regression as the premise, no need to waste prologue pages on cliché plots.
Cut it off.
Any longer, and it'd drag.
[The author has completed (Prologue).]
Yes! Good job!
I cheered inwardly at the unknown author.
[The author is pondering (Title).] [① Fist King of Pure Personal Greed.] [② Screw Justice, Personal Greed Rules.] [③ The Fist King Tires of Upholding Justice.] [④ The Fist King Pursues Personal Greed.] [This novel's title has been set: 'Fist King of Pure Personal Greed'.] [The author is satisfied.]
["This has a good vibe?"]
Everything was happening so suddenly, and the voice from nowhere was no different.
"This has a good vibe?"
Footsteps sounded from the entryway.
The newcomer was a man whose white suit fit him perfectly.
"Phew. Creation's tough work, huh?"
His casual tone didn't bother me. I didn't know who he was, but he clearly controlled this mystery.
"Looks like you're pretty pleased with this place too? Not that you have much choice."
"Who... are you?"
"You folks call me all sorts of things—God, whatever. But now I want to be called Author. That's why I brought you into my story's world."
He finished with,
"The way I write web novels is a bit different from what you're used to."