章節 2: The Author’s Helper

**** POV (The book demon)

HEHE. They won't notice me here. I will be safe in this place, at least that's what I thought. Born from the greed and imagination of desperate humans most book demons are now extinct. Hunted and burned one after the others. They almost got me, but then I found something amazing. Something truly, truly amazing.

I am a creature born of the power of words. There is more to words than just physical books. Oh, way more! I discovered … the internet!

That's when I realized that my kind disappeared because we couldn't adapt. Binding oneself to a single book being way too dangerous. That is because one manuscript can easily be disposed of. When that happens our entire being goes bye-bye!

I figured out the future of my race. My future! Web novels are the shit! These things are meant to be addictive and are shared all over the world. This is but a step to my demonic cultivation plan.

I first came to this one author in a dream and tried taking over his soul. It was both the worst mistake of my life and a fortuitous coincidence. I thrive in the madness. Yet I found something that I didn't believe possible, a mind so mad that the demonic I paled in comparison.

I was given a choice. I could get annihilated right there and then, disappear like smoke in the wind. Or, I could become his summon.

How does a novelist know about beings such as I? I do not even want to know. I fear the answers. Some knowledge is better left buried.

Thus, I came to reside here. The deal was simple. I will interact with the readers. Keep them entertained. If they like the story, I will keep my life. The day no one reads this is the day I will perish.

But with such a deal came an opportunity. The more popular this novel becomes the more powerful I will be. Now I have a message for anyone that is reading this.

The logical thing would be to beg you guys to keep reading…. but …actually…. that wouldn't be in style with my being. What I'm about to do may even cause my own demise. No, this is the message I have:

"You guys just stood by as a character was getting murdered in the first chapter! What kind of sadists are you guys?! Am I the demon or are you guys the demons?! You guys disgust me. Acting all proper and all when you guys thrive on the death of innocent characters just to have them transmigrate expediently! DISGUSTING! Well, you better enjoy it! The MC is transmigrating alright!"

This book demon is out! Well…I'll always be lurking. I live here after all.

****

I am dead, aren't I? Died of blood loss after getting stabbed. This is disappointing. There is nothing at all. No bodily sensation, no vision, nothing.

I get the feeling I am a soul floating about in the universe. I am only saying that because I can still think. I think I can speak too, but not in a conventional way.

I have no clue what I am doing here.

I have no clue what this place is.

I have no clue what I even am right now.

So, what do I do?

I go where the wind takes me. I mean the expression, there is no real wind here. You deal with whatever is happening and you adapt.

How does one adapt to death? I'm guessing the same way one adapts to life. I swear I thought I heard someone comment about me having a pitiful death when I came here. But might have been my inner thoughts resurfacing.

I did die pointlessly. I should have died after the date at least! Oh well, such is life…. or death, I guess.

Actually, what is this? For all I know, this is some kind of judgment awaiting room. I could almost imagine the afterlife being overcrowded because of how much we love to reproduce as a species. Well, that and a lack of predators.

Could you picture godly beings going around screaming wondering how come there are more and more humans appearing? Haha. This place could also be some sort of intricate torture too.

I heard some interesting theories in my life. There is a theory that says hell is nothing more than us left with our own conscience. Well, this whole philosophy has one big flaw. Assuming it is real, one could bypass hell by never learning about morals.

Wherever or whatever this is …I really hope something happens soon. I'm waiting and waiting. That's when I get the feeling something is approaching. I wouldn't know how to describe it at all. Let's just call it a consciousness for now.

One just like I.

It seems to be reaching out to me and wondering what I am. For all I know, this thing could be some god or an eldritch creature of some sort. At this point I just want anything to happen no matter what. No matter if good or bad I just want to know what exactly I am dealing with here.

I feel it come closer and closer to me. Then I realize its curiosity. Don't know how again, I am just feeling it. That's when I hear it.

["$%?*%!]

Yeah. I had high hopes, but this seems pretty disappointing. Expecting a cool interaction with an unknown being just to be faced with gibberish.

Well, it is gibberish to me for sure. Either some weird language or just random sounds. I have no way to know actually.

You know all those movies about finding some other lifeforms? Or anything involving supernatural beings? You know, where everyone is speaking English? It is all bullshit! All of it!

This is what actually happens when a man is confronted with the unknown. Lots of incomprehension. Lots of wondering what the fuck one is supposed to do with that.

It feels relatively friendly. At least I think... This whole soul state is a complete mystery to me. But seriously what is this place?

And what the hell am I supposed to be doing right now?!

I need answers!