It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists - Chapter 18: Black-Robed Man: NMSL*

After death, Gu Jin realized the child, whom she had fed only once in the past, was the only person who gave her proper burial and avenged her by any means. Once she’s reborn, she found him when he was being bullied. And despite objections, Gu Jin took this malnourished child under her care with help from the dimension in her possession. However, never did she expect she would lead him astray...Many years later, Gu Jin can’t help gritting her teeth as she is watching the elegant and handsome man on TV. He has grown up to be a successful and powerful businessman who is outwardly kind but inwardly ruthless. Most unexpectedly, he has turned into a man who is domineering and protective of her.

The protagonist transmigrates into a novel and gains a system where they grow stronger by simply writing in a diary.July 7th, sunny: “The boss’s outfit is hideous again. Wouldn’t it be better to wear something cooler?”July 7th, evening: “I’m about to have my engagement called off. So excited! How should I act?”July 7th, evening: “Lin Qingyue, the female lead, is probably going to drown her sorrows in alcohol.”The protagonist thought it would be easy—just jot down daily musings, record life’s events, and earn rewards. All while playing the part of a villainous, bootlicking second-generation rich kid, moving along with the original plot.But unexpectedly, the female leads gain access to copies of the diary entries.One by one, they stop following the script, and the plot spirals completely out of control.July 10th: “The female boss is an idiot—no one would want her.”Soon after, the protagonist gets punished at work, all because they entered the office with their left foot first.

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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Jonathan Brandit was once on the path to becoming a professional basketball player, but a car accident changed his life forever, leaving him wheelchair-bound and filled with regret. Haunted by thoughts of what could have been, Jonathan spends his days shooting hoops in a gym. One day, he suffers a heart attack and wakes up in a completely different world, in the body of another person.To his astonishment, Jonathan realizes he's now living inside the world of a novel he once read, titled “Turning Point,” which revolves around basketball. He has become an “extra” player name Ethan Albarado—a benchwarmer—on the protagonist's team, Lucas Graves.With this unexpected second chance, Jonathan or Ethan Albarado is determined to achieve his dream of becoming a pro basketball player.But in this new world, will he rise to greatness, or will he face new challenges that threaten to bring him down again?