First Chapter and First Quest

"Is it possible…?"

The translucent blue system window shone. It was as if someone was smiling at me from behind the screen.

[The goal is to become a Webnovel Author.]

For someone at that level, just 800 would be nothing, huh?

To become a Webnovel Author…

"Is it possible…"

[That depends on you.]

"What will I have to sacrifice?"

[That too depends on you, host.]

It was a slightly stupid question.

This life was bland. There was no spice, no sweetness, no sugar, no salt. I already had nothing.

What did I even have to sacrifice?

Something this interesting was finally in front of me. For once, it felt as if…

As if…

Things weren't as bland as before…

"I'll do it…" A smile spread on my face on its own. I didn't even realize how it inched up my lips and tugged at my cheeks. "Your Webnovel Author. I'll become it."

***

"That competition, should I register for it? Or is there an easier way to earn money?"

The system window was much more interactive than I thought. It seemed as if I had a guidebook instead of just a threatening, omnipresent to-do list that existed in most novels I had read.

[Negative. You are only focusing on the rewards, host. At this rate, you'll quit before you even finish a chapter.]

It felt like the system's words were stabbing straight at my chest. It was very rude. I wasn't someone to just quit like that. It's just that nothing interested me so far.

[Unlike common thought, the most important thing when you start something new is not to plan but to begin right away.]

"That's utterly stupid. What do you mean do things without planning?"

[And how many times have you planned to do something and given up before starting? Worse yet, how many times have you given up in just a few days?]

I pursed my lips. That still did not excuse any reason to take action without planning it out. It was only natural to think things through.

"I haven't given up on things… it's just that nothing interested me so much."

There was silence from the system window for a few seconds.

I was a little nervous about it. Was the system silent because it was thinking or was it silent because it was pissed?

It was true though. I had tried many things, from art and programming to piano and digital music, but all of them just didn't interest me all that much. I tried them for a few days and let them be. It just wasn't where I was supposed to be.

I was about to look for the competition again when something popped open in front of my eyes.

[First Quest! Write the first chapter of your novel and publish it within sixty minutes]

[Failure Penalty: Death]

"Death?!" I scoffed. This system wouldn't have acted like a friend if it could kill me. "As if. Try me. You won't do anything—"

[Affirmative. The Host has asked for a trial. The host's request has been approved.]

A stabbing pain pierced my chest. My breath was stuck in my throat while my eyes bulged outward. It was as if someone was choking, beating, and burning me all at the same time.

All my life I had thought I was a very resilient guy. Getting hit now and then, I thought I would be able to handle it even if I broke bones.

How foolish.

A pain of a magnitude I couldn't ever imagine assaulted me mercilessly. I tripped from my chair and fell on the ground, writhing and squirming in pain.

"S-stop… already… how long…"

The pain stopped right then.

"HAAH!" I took in a giant breath and coughed. My hand grabbed my neck as I tried to feel air passing into my lungs once more. Torture… this was torture.

How long had this thing kept me like this—

[The three-second trial has ended.]

Three… seconds…? That was it?

[Sixty Minute timer begins now.]

I pushed myself off the ground and jumped on my chair again. My hands went to whichever site was closest to the mouse and registered right away.

A site called Bite Novel. Focusing on works with shorter chapters.

"What do I write about? I can't just start a damn novel! I need to practice. A trial run, something like a rehearsal…" My eyes widened right then. Rehearsal. A starter attempt.

I quickly went over to the write function and clicked on 'Create a book'.

A rehearsal. If I had to try something like that, I bet my characters would too.

Ideas unfurled in my head as the clicking of the countdown remained steadfast. In the title, I typed in the letters.

{REVERSAL}

The page changed right over to tags and a description. But I didn't have time for it.

I clicked on the text editor and opened the slot for the first chapter. I was about to start writing, but my hands froze.

How… did you even start a novel?

I had no idea. I had no clue.

Wasn't that why one was supposed to learn first?

But… a painting, a program, or a song on the piano… how did one start any of those either? It was something I had no clue about.

Of course, one needed pre-requisites. For the piano, it was the keys, for programs it was the syntax. That is what learning taught me. The prerequisites for writing were just knowing the language and grammar.

Then… how did one start?

Click.

Click.

The sound of the continuing timer haunted me. It rang in my ears as my fingers trembled.

Click.

If I didn't write, I would die.

"Fuck… there's only one way to find out!"

The way to start a novel, the only way to figure it out was by doing it. So what if it got messed up? I would always have another go!

Taps resounded as the first words of the story started to appear on the screen. Within moments, before I knew it, the taps turned rhythmic and started playing out the song of the story.

I had read the description many times, but this was the first time I had felt like a man who had seen water in a desert. Was it euphoric?

No. It wasn't like that at all. A man who had just found water in the desert felt his heart tremble. He worried sick if it was just an illusion of his mind.

His feet did not run ahead with strength but with fear of collapsing before he reached the oasis. He shouted not in joy, but in desperation because shouting was the only thing that could give him strength.

[44 minutes…]

Every single word had my eye glued to it. I kept erasing typos as soon as I made them, only to lose my rhythm. But the executioner's blade was always at my neck and good god was it the best motivator in the world.

[32 minutes…]

For the first time in my life, my thoughts returned even if they wandered. I spent time without even glancing at my phone or social media.

[22 minutes]

A story of a single man in a world filled with the pain of magic. The story of a young boy who had no magic to himself. The story of a man who possessed the rare ability of reversal.

The ability to turn back time by a small amount, just once a day.

Just once a day, he could make anything into a rehearsal, a trial attempt.

And with that ability by his side, the weak boy without any magic takes on a large goal.

[12 minutes.]

The goal to take over the world.

[7 minutes]

My eyes had stopped searching for the timer. With all my attention, I typed the first chapter in.

[5 minutes]

And finally, it was done.

"D-done… done! I am done! Publish!"

I clicked on the button right away and—

{Error! You must complete the description first.}

"W-what… fuck fuck fuck!"

[4 minutes]

I scrambled over to the top of the screen and found the description box. I first clicked on random tags to clear that out and switched over to the description.

My hands scrambled for the letters, typing them all down.

[2 minutes.]

[1 minute]

"Submit!"

I clicked on publish once more and bit my lips tight.

{Uploading…}

{Upload succeeded. Your work has been published}

I turned my gaze to the system window. And there…

[0 minutes 11 seconds.]

The timer had stopped.

All the tension left my body at once as I leaned back in my chair…

Heavy breaths left me as my neck fell back, taking my gaze up to the ceiling. The translucent blue window of the system changed letters once more.

[First Quest: Completed!]

"Since when…"

I stretched my hands out at the ceiling. They hurt. Everything in my body hurt. My heart was still trembling. But only my lips remained smiling.

"Since when was something this simple, this fun?"

[Do you get it, host? You do not hope for your dreams to begin. To come true.]

[You make it happen.]