The Novel’s Villain - Chapter 0.4: Strange People (4)

'I'm not an ambitious person,' is something Reiner often says. He just wants to hang around with the Straw Hat crew, traveling the world while collecting the souls of the dead. From Kuro... Arlong, then to 'Old Sand' (Crocodile)... the Golden Lion (Shiki)... As he gathered more and more, the 'style' started getting progressively weirder.A demon with goat horns and a snake tail? Okay, maybe I can understand that. But a 'Chainsaw Demon'? What the heck is that? And where did you even pull this 'Sukuna' from?!When the Summit War kicks off, Sengoku and the Three Admirals stare at Reiner, who is sitting calmly upon the execution platform.'What? You're saying these incredibly strong individuals are undead beings controlled by him?!''How is that possible! Isn't he just some handyman doing chores for the Straw Hat crew?''Seriously, man... You call *this* logistics?!'Hearing this, Reiner gets annoyed: 'If doing literally every kind of job isn't called logistics, then what is!?'------(Story follows the Straw Hats' journey + original plot elements. The main character is neither overly righteous/naive nor does he turn evil/dark.)

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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Why do Gods of Transmigration love to murder their benefactors instead of asking for their help a normal way?That's how Karl got started as well. Murdered by a goddamn goddess, dumped into another world, and told to save her from her problems. You'd think gods would have their shit together, being gods and all. But apparently they do not.Karl, a teenager, who felt the inequality in his already struggling life more than ever before, finds himself transmigrated as a vice principal of a magical academy. The council accuses him of his incapability and his inexperience, believing he's not fit to lead them to the top.[ Mana meter unlocked: capacity F ]Even his cheat skill seems like a useless gimmick as Karl faces the worst students of the academy and the most difficult professors.That goddess better sends his paycheck to his parents in his old world because Karl isn't going to work for free, and if he does this job, the least she could do is pay off their debts.But then again...“I won't accept this fate handed out to me. This world might offer me the fantasies but they can't give me the warmth of my loved ones.”Would he be able to meet the Goddess and return back to his world or would he gets buried under the history of the lands that had once housed Gods and Demons alike?

I got drunk during the Annual Alpha Conference and accidentally slept with Anton, the Alpha of the rivaling clan!I managed to sneak out of the hotel so that I wouldn’t embarrass the pack. I told no one other than my younger sister, although I did not mention who he was.The present: Three weeks later, I reached adulthood and was about to take over as the pack’s Alpha. I would be transforming for the first time at eighteen, awakening my inner wolf as everyone watched. I was on my knees, using all my strength to transform… But nothing happened. Had I failed?Not resigned to my fate, I tried again. But that was when my heart hurt as if someone was grabbing it and my belly heated up as the rest of my body screamed in pain… I drop to the floor, unconscious.When I woke up, the first words I heard were from the doctor.“She’s pregnant…”In our world, any werewolf pregnant with children not belonging to their mates were treated as pariahs, oppressed by one and all. I did not dare to look up at my parents, who would obviously be disappointed.“Baby,” said my mother. “Just get an abortion, and we’ll continue the ceremony. You are still the Alpha of our pack.“Ellie,” said my father. “If you don’t get an abortion, you will never be my daughter ever again.As much as I loved my family, I was the only one my child could count on. That was why I decided to leave home.Thankfully, my younger sister managed to get Anton’s number, but the only thing he said over the phone was, “It’s been so long. I can’t remember what really happened.”So, from now on, I would be a single parent to my child! I swore to give him the good life and to help all pariah wolves find a place to settle!Years passed, and Anton was almost thirty. With his father’s insistence, Anton finally found himself a mate… But who could explain why she was so disgusted with him?