I finally took the time to research the web novel industry of this world. I will admit, I was a little taken aback.

An industry with a lot of potential? Contracts deals here and there, writers academy, commission services illustrators to help you create cover art. Systems designed to publish work on various sites at a single command.

Asides from the contracts, there were also plenty of freelance writers who are able to make a living through selling their NFTs. Story-integrated NFTs.

I did try to skim through a few novels to see if any familiar writing comes up. Through the sea of it all, I wasn’t able to determine if any of these are from Novelle. Typed up her pen name, it doesn’t exist.

If she exists in this world, I don’t believe she won’t publish her works.

“Can’t you even leave a clue?”

Maybe I need to be patient. Even though Novelle is a crazy fast writer, it still takes time to come up with the manuscript.

Top novels clinch popularity, but underneath all that fame are a million other failing, or struggling authors.

Struggling.

All humans struggle. There isn’t such a thing as a flowery path.

I remember hearing Novelle tell me why it’s a lot more practical to follow your passion than to keep your head low and let society determine how you should live.

As we progress towards adulthood as a child, we spend more than two decades learning. In kindergarten, elementary school, highschool, college and university combined, just to prepare ourselves to work a job we may not like and earn a living.

Even if it takes a decade of dedicated effort to make one's passion a reality, isn’t that a lot faster than two decades of preparing your life to become a cog?

It doesn’t matter if you don't have the support from your parents. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the qualifications. And it certainly doesn’t matter if you think you can’t do it.

If you can’t, just give up.

You lose all commitments.

And sometime soon, you’ll eventually find yourself coming back to try again.

Because what else is there to do in life?

That’s what kept me drawing.

And this similar philosophy we held was why I became her illustrator.

I completed a cover art concept and submitted it on the art category of the TeaReads platform.

My skills are way too good. How is it possible to create this level of art with only my finger? And it only took me 6 hours. Back in my previous life, I couldn't even achieve this feat with a stylus and drawing pad.

Whatever. I’ll take it. I would’ve hoped for a system shop like what Novelle’s brother had.

Eventually, I’ll need to generate an income stream because chances are, in the near future, Avner’s family will face a divorce incident.

I don’t know what will happen then.

[This isn’t the Avner I know.]

“Sorry Randell.”

[Randell is unable to diagnose Avner’s condition. I have no choice but to believe that Avner is somehow another person.]

“I was once a guy named Shin Dew that came from a country called Gilgamesh.”

[Shin Dew. I will keep that in mind.]

I didn’t think Randell would take it seriously.

“Is it almost 5?”

[Five minutes.]

“Okay.”

I got up from the living room table and stretched my body. Lia should be awake by now. Better prepare my bag and supplies.

Today was exam day.

===

“What time does the exam end?”

“11:30.”

“Same.”

“Your father will pick you up slightly late at 1.”

“No problems.”

“Good luck on your exams.”

“You’ve been studying hard the past few days, believe in yourself alright?”

“Thank you.”

“Un.”

Breakfast was quick and light with insect protein bars and cereal. Not the most proper meal, but a meal nonetheless. Having now stayed in this world for a few days at least, I still find it hard to believe that insects and bugs are a staple food.

“Nm..”

On the way to school, Lia was staring at the screen, studying. I on the other hand, sat back and listened to more podcasts.

Today’s subject was English Literature and Mathematics.

Easy subjects.

Again, the moment I reached school, notifications popped up warning me of the exam. Our teachers even gave us last minute tips to study. What a way to ruin academics.

“Big bro. Are you scared?”

“No really. How about you?”

“I don’t have enough time to study..”

Lia looked like a frightened cat.

“You’ll do fine.”

Lia is the last-minute kind. It’s totally possible, acing the test by burning the midnight oil. I slept in while Lia did just that.

Shin will have to pull off the carry for Avner this time.

At class, people staring hard at their screens. I saw the top student, Allen, pacing up and down the aisle. And he would drop by some random classmates’ seats to test them with questions.

I got to my seat and began studying like everyone else. Basic skimming. Nothing too serious. The poems and short stories that need to be memorized are down in my head, only superficially. I plan to score on the other sections.

[“Can we meet up?”]

How unexpected.

[“Sure. Where? What time?”]

[“You’re having exams today, correct? After the exam, can you spare some time at 12?”]

School normally lasts all the way till the afternoon on a normal day. Today, we only have 2 subjects.

For seniors in highschool, they have more subjects, so while us juniors get to leave early. Their exams only end at around 3 pm.

[“Can do.”]

“Morning Avner. How’s prep?”

“Morning Ares. Okay, I guess.”

[“4I. I’ll meet you there.”]

“Who’s that?”

“Lynda.”

“Huh? What? You two are banging?”

I paused and regained my calm before continuing.

“Not quite. It’s a confidential matter, so that’s that.”

[“Is this something you can discuss in your class?”]

[“Not my class. We need to meet up first don’t we?”]

“Yo. Yo. Pu’er will be so jealous.”

“I thought xe made it clear xe doesn’t like me.”

“Huh? Since when?”

“Do you use ShareWiw?”

“You saw that post? I thought you don’t even use that anymore.”

“Actually, why are we even talking about this? Shouldn’t we be more concerned about our exam?”

“You’re right. But seriously though, I thought you don't use ShareWiw? What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

[“Okay. Will see you then. And good luck with your exam.”]

“You’re so weird.. you’re definitely a vampire.”

“I just went to the hospital to get myself tested last Saturday. The result came back negative. You want proof?”

I was just about to show him the image of the result when he shook his head.

Ares was being quite pushy. I suppose it’s because I changed to a more introverted personality. It wasn’t just him, the cronies that Avner normally hangs out with also came to bicker around me after he left.

“You okay?”

“Good luck with your exam.”

“I didn't even study, lel.”

“Lel is so old school.”

“What? You want DYA?”

“No way!”

Dildo your aeth..

You fill in the blanks yourself. Apparently, dildos are still a thing in this time and age.

I checked the time, another 15 minutes to go before class starts, and 30 minutes to go before the exam. I took this chance to visit the washroom. As I got up from my seat, I snuck a glance at Pu’er. Our eyes met, xe looked away.

Hopefully xe didn’t misunderstand my intentions. I don’t know when hirs personality will undergo a shift, or when hirs angel system will show up.

I’m merely being prudent.