So, you can do it better, huh?

God! Yet another stupid MC! I am tired of this stupid trope. And the excuse is 'the MC is just a normal man that has his flaws and blah blah blah'. It's fucking lame. The real point is the author needs to setup challenging encounters for our MC. There are 2 ways to go about it. Make the MC smart with decent powers or make the MC dumb with OP powers. And 99 out 100 novels go with the second route cause it's easier to write.

Nothing sucks more than reading about a dumb MC that messes about with an OP golden finger. I just want to snatch it! `Give it to me, bitch, I'll do a better job` - is what I scream to myself.

What I am I supposed to do? I'm not a good writer, so I can't just write the novel I want myself to satisfy my desires.

...

That was what I was thinking as I crossed the rode. No, I'm not dumb. As much I want to meet truck-kun, I still check the road before crossing. What if I get hit by a car instead of a truck? That's going to be lame.

But sometimes even if you put your best efforts in, life just fucks you over. Truck-kun showed up out of nowhere. Like a damn magic trick. The 2 glowing headlights looked as if it were eyes with the bumper seemed like a mouth. It gave me a smile and a wink and then it swallowed me whole. You read it right! At least I didn't have to experience any bones crushing in slow motion.

...

I felt as if I was on one of those water slides. It went on for a full 5 minutes.

"So, you are one of those angry commenters that thinks they can do a better job?" - asks author.

I see the 'Author'. He is sitting on his couch with some chips beside him and a laptop on his lap. With a blue sleek spectacle that didn't have any glass. It was fucking empty. Is this man freaking cosplaying as an author? Looks like I will have to keep up with the act.

"Nah, people like what they like. I do curse you in my heart a lot though. You writers have nothing against writing underage Loli characters, but wtf is your problem creating a smart MC? And no, don't give a - 'but we do though'. I'm talking about fantasy genre. And even when you do create a smart MC you just make the villains smarter. Wtf man! I just want to see a smart MC with OP powers bitch slapping some young masters and old ancestors and use the power of science in some fantasy worlds to show them what is what, you know?" - I take in deep breaths as I gasp for air after my nonstop rant

The author adjusts his glasses and takes a long look at me.

"So, you think you can do a better job?"

"Yes. On the condition that you don't mess with fate. I'm not a dumb MC that needs his ass saved with plot armor every chapter. And even if I die, so what? It's not like there are no abandoned novels. So, what do you have to lose? Give the readers what they want man!"

"Alright. I will see how you will do a better job."

...

This damn water slide feeling again. I feel like I am about to throw up. Nauseating. One day I will master space travel, just out of spite. Or is it soul travel. Idk this shit yet.

After some stupidly long time I felt a 'plop' sound.

I felt my head hurting.

{Ding: Skill Seeker System successfully bound}

I take a minute to calm down. I didn't bother with the system. I first observed my situation for any immediate threats. I couldn't find any, but my situation does tell me things.

I am in some forest area. And I am beaten to pulp. It seemed that whoever did the job wanted me to die in the hands of the monsters, so they don't take the blame. I am assuming there are monsters. Which fantasy novel doesn't have monsters? When author runs out of villains, he needs some rubbish for the MC to vent his testosterone on.

{Ding: Do you want to merge with memories of the body?}

Haha, so I get to choose? Good. What will happen if I say yes? And can I delay it to a later time?

{Ding: If you say yes, then you will receive 15 years of memories. Because of your weak will power and mental strength you could potentially faint or feel tired or mild headaches. If you say no, you can do it at a later time from the system interface.}

Ah, see now that's the benefits of not being a dumb MC that would have said yes without thinking by now. By the way, Can I selectively merge memories I need or is it a 'all or nothing' kinda deal?

{Ding: Yes, you can query the system to receive the memories you seek. But you will have to receive the rest of the memories within 24 hours, or they will dissipate.}

Hmm. I need to patch myself up and make a camp for myself within 24 hours? If I am beaten to pulp and thrown here, it means the culprits want my body to be found by others. That means if I make a camp in this area I could be found. And I want my killers to think I am eaten whole by a monster.

So, I need to be on the move. Alright delay the memory merge for now.

...

First, I need to patch myself a little. I look at my bag only to find it almost looted. Hmm, did they want to make it seem like a bandit attack or something or was it really bandit attack? Nah, how can the author not put in a revenge hook? Will have to figure it out later.

I found an encyclopedia book. Hmm, I can't understand the text. But there are pictures in it. Quite colorful and good pictures. The pictures tell a lot. Don't get me wrong, but if I was a dumb MC the pictures wouldn't be of any help.

I take a super close look at the pictures. I'm trying see if there are any printing patters on it. Usually if it's a printed picture there will be dots or colors. But I couldn't find any. As expected how can the dumb NPCs of a fantasy novel have technology like printers. So, this is probably some sort of skill. All of the creatures' pictures were with creatures in cages. And few creatures that were not in cages were sleeping. I can guess that the painter's skill is not instantaneous, or memory based. It takes time.

I feel like I am sherlock, only with no homes as I am now abandoned and lost.

Anyways, I try to learn anything I can from the creature pictures. I can easily make some predictions based on their look and feel. Some seemed defense focused creatures. Probably herbivores. And some probably are very aggressive with good strength or speed. But some were strange, I couldn't really figure them out.

There is only so much I can learn from pictures without being able to read the rest of it. So put it back in the bag and pick up the bag. If my guess is right this is probably the sort-of-safe outskirt area near a human settlement. So, I'm gonna go to a nearby river or find something that can help my situation.

Petty villains are too full of themselves. Even if I pickup my bag and leave they will probably find any excuse they can, other than me surviving. It's probably not a surprise if a person was swallowed whole by a monster, so I don't need to make it look like I bravely struggled.

...

After some 30 minutes I found some water flowing out of a small hole in a rock. I threw a leaf in it. Alright, it's not some sneaky acid. It could be poison. But I saw a neat line of ants taking the water. Alright it's safe then. Unless the ants have poison resistance. Aarghh, I don't have the luxury to overthink now. Just have to risk it before I faint.

I drink some water. It tastes sweet! Ah when you are thirsty water is as good as coke. After quenching my thirst, I decide to make a makeshift bottle for myself. After 2 minutes, I found that I didn't know how to do it! Those damn primitive-build videos are really a scam.

With some water in, I take finally take a minute to see what my golden finger really is.

STATUS!!

{Name: Chinmay}

{Age: 15}

{Golden Finger: Skill Seeker}

Huh, no hp, mp, strength or speed stats? Hmm that's good. Only dumb MCs need stupid numbers that over simply and gamify things. Real MCs can learn to introspect. Alright let's see what my golden finger is about.

{Skill Seeker: You can use the skill on a target that is executing a skill to copy their understanding of the skill. You also understand the faults in them.}

So that's my golden finger. There are some things not explained fully.

- What counts as a target? Only humans or can I use it on monsters? What if there is a group skill? Can a group of entities count as a target? What is there is a robot or golem or undead or plants or weapons? Can they count as targets?

- And what do you mean I can copy their understanding? People have different bodies, more so with monsters. Even I understand their perspective, how will it translate to my body? Is it theoretical understanding or do I get their instincts? Do I get to filter the understandings? What if there is some demonic skill or something. I might want to understand it to prepare counter measures, but I don't to have the instincts of the skill engraved into me.

- What do you mean I can find faults in them? Faults according to who? The system? Me? The skill creator?

- can I use it on myself? Can I use it indefinity or does it cost some mana or something?

- What counts as a skill?

I mind fart my complaints and nit-picks at the system.

After 5 mins I get a response.

{Ding: Message from author: Kid, are you trying to fuck with me? Which MC asks so many questions? If I don't keep things vague, how am I supposed to get away with plot holes? You are putting me in a tight spot.}

What? That is so difficult for you? Common! How about I answer them myself and you just say accept it? Here:

- A target can be a sentient being, automaton, or groups of such. As long as they are within your perception, and they are carrying out a singular task.

- I can understand their perceptive, but I will have to translate it to my own body myself. It's only theoretical knowledge with memory replays from their perspective. If I want instincts, I will have to develop them myself.

- Faults according to the difference between the goal of the task they are performing in their intent and their actual execution. The skill-creator can go rest in the grave. They have no role.

- I can use it on myself. There is already a cost to keep my perception active. It drains mental energy.

- Any task that is cohesive enough towards a particular intent can count as a skill. A set of skills meshed well together to perform a new task can also be its own skill.

See? Was that difficult? I'm not only a better MC I can also write the story better. But I won't, I too lazy for that. You can take your time reading it. I made it quite balanced.

After I drank a little bit more water and washed my face and wounds while waiting for the author to reply.

{Ding: Message from author: Ah, my head hurts. Fine. It seems good enough. I knew you would nit-pick too much. That why I didn't bother to show you your HP or any other stats. Couldn't be bothered.}

Ah, so you didn't do that so I could develop my introspection skills. And here I was thinking highly of you.

`Hehe! Those details are almost balanced, but not really. Thats what you get for ignoring the fine print. See how I abuse the skill! `

{Ding: Message from author: damn, what did you do?}

Hey, you are supposed ignore my inner monologues. It's supposed to be good humor. If you read it, then the readers will take a shit in your comment section for being a party pooper.

Hehe, that will keep him off me. Keyboard warriors are annoying to deal with. I know, I was one.

So, time to abuse my fine print scam. You see, when I gave my interpretation of copying a skill, I gave myself a backdoor. First, I can use the golden finger on myself. Second, I only need a intent for the skill and the golden finger can guide me to learning it from scratch. So as long as I can be imaginative, I can create all sorts of skills. Hehe! Now don't let the author know. Keep it between us.