“You. Are. FIRED.”

When I first heard these three life-changing words, my world shattered.

…

Alright, maybe that was a little too dramatic of a description.

More like…well, I was surprised yet not surprised at the same time?

“Your main characters are always so bland. Have some variety, will you?”

Yeah…but Madame Gracious Most Honored Holy Lord Editor, I’m bad at characterization.

And also, it takes too much effort to set up different personalities for different fictions. I mean, let’s be honest here. If one is going to do a c*** job of trying to play off a Tsundere character, might as well as go Kuudere and make him say one line the entire story. I mean-

“Why are all your characters loners, too overpowered for their own good, and so handsome, talented, rich, whatever…that all the female leads fall for him at first sight?”

Ok. Ok. I can explain.

One, because the mangaka is a loner himself.

He understands the way of the loner; he eats, sleeps, bathes, and thinks loner-style 24/7. It’s only natural that he’s going turn his MC into one of his buddies. Don’t exactly know the correct term for it, but it’s something like mitosis. No, I didn’t just google the word, I know what it means-

“And why are you staying silent? Do you have anything you want to say here?”

Shh. Shh. Shh.

Wait, the mastermind is thinking. Can’t you hear the gears turning? If I talk now, I can’t think at the same time. And plus, I read somewhere that most women prefer guys who can look good thinking. You know, like that guy statue called the “Thinker” or something…honestly, I think he’s just taking his time in the bathroom, but hey, that’s just my opinion.

“???”

Ok, back to the main topic.

Hanzo: Goemon, we are best pals for life.

Goemon: Hanzo, I will follow you everywhere!

Hanzo: Goemon!

Goemon: Hanzo!

Random: -stabs Goemon-

Hanzo: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! -powers up-

*The world turns into a ball of raging fire as Hanzo unleashes his ultimate power. The end*

“Yukimura-san???”

Three, all the females fall for him at first sight. That’s obvious though. I mean, he’s the main character, he’s supposed to have a harem. And I believe in love at first sight, you know. Sometimes you are just attracted to someone because they have a weirdly-shaped mole on their face or something, or looks like your favorite anime character. I believe it’s called natural selection (something like that).

…

Fine. I’ll admit it. All the females fall for him at first sight because I don’t know how else they are supposed to fall for him. I mean, girls are complex creatures. The role model of the MC, aka the author, has been single for all his 28 years of life, so what do you expect!? Also, if the master can’t get a girlfriend, why should the disciple get one first? That makes no sense to me. I-

“Y.u.k.i.m.u.r.a.-san!!!”

I jumped a bit in my seat, taken by surprise.

“Hai…?”

“I was going to let you have one last chance today…but I decided not to after all.”

…

How are you giving me a chance when you begin with “You are fired?”

“You are fired.”

…You know, some things become better the second time around. But that is definitely not one of them.

“No chance of overturning that decision.”

Life sucks when your editor is also the daughter of your company’s boss.

“So pack your bags and leave as soon as possible.”

S***.

Quick, Shin, think of something. You will be homeless and unemployed if you don’t! Summon the inner genius tactician in you…come out…come out…

My editor gazed at me for a moment more, before sighing, her beautiful dark-red eyes full of resignation.

“I wish you luck in the future.”

She turned to leave.

…

F*** the L!ght Yagam! plans.

I threw myself to her feet, attaching myself to them like a sack of potatoes.

“Noooooo, please!!!! Give me another chance, I will do anything!!!”

“Kyaah! Hentai!!!”

She kicked me with her heels.

“Urg- Please, I’m desperate here!!! I’ll do anything…You can even make me your sex slave, I-”

Bam.

…

Twinkle, twinkle, little star…

Adios, cruel world.

The last kick knocked me out flat.

—————-

Two hours later…

“You said you will do anything, right?”

“Yes…”

“Then go in.”

“…Erm, that portal looks kind of shady, if you know what I mean.”

“Just go.”

She pushed me into the virtual reality machine that the company is secretly developing.

A prototype.

…Most likely a defect too.

“EHHHHHHHHH!???!?!”

That was how I, Yukimura Shin, ended up in the first virtual world…as an ordinary Soldier A.

But wait, here’s the catch.

In order to avoid getting fired, I must track the MCs’ process in the stories!?

And, I am supposed to play the role of every side character there is!?

Wait wait wait for a moment here…so if I die in the virtual world as Soldier A, I will become another Soldier A?

That’s confusing as hell!!!

…

Either way…

At least I can take some good notes along the way.

Because after all, “In order to create the Ultimate MC…”

“I became Soldier A.”

To be continued...