The Post

Today, I came across a post on LinkedIn that I really like it wholeheartedly. 

Don't think you deserve the job?

Apply for it anyways.

Don't think your article is good enough?

Publish it anyways.

Don't think they'll reply to your email?

Send it anyways.

It really heals my heart. These few days, I am in a infinite loop of self-doubting, hesitating whether I am suitable for the new job as it is a brand new field that I have never touched before. 

Don't self-reject when you haven't even tried. Don't overthink, just go ahead with whatever you're thinking, if you think it is worth doing irrespective of the consequences.

The Story Part Two

A small figure draped in dark hijab trod lightly towards the corner of the seemingly deserted alley. Only his apathetic dark walnut eyes were visible. Those were the eyes that belonged to a war-torn veteran who has seen enough lifeless bodies on the battlefield. He skillfully avoided any possible human encounter and knocked on the hazel-colored wooden door.

"Today's favorite snack?" a low and hoarse voice apparently belonging to a man was heard. 

"Blueberry pie," the small figure replied monotonously.

"Come in," the man gestured.

After the door was closed, the small figure heaved a sigh of relief.

"Finally," he proceeded to removing the piece of cloth covering his head, "where's my pay?"

"Why did you always disguise yourself as a weird mercenary when you are a fine lady?"

"You see, nobody would have linked a cute girl like me to a haggard,"

"Why did you disguise yourself in the first place? It's not like being a writer is illegal,"

"Just give me my pay, Henry," Charlotte cut him short impatiently, "and I will be on a break for a year,"

"Why?" Henry exclaimed, "Your books are selling like hotcakes! Why don't you continue the momentum?"

"I just have some matters to attend to," Charlotte snatched the bag of money from him and started counting the gold.

It has been three years since she started as an author, creating her own fantasies. The first installment described a forbidden interstellar love story in an alternate universe. The brand new concept was heralded warmly by females in their twenties and thirties. It has been her main source of income, while being an adventurer is just a cover. But of course, to her, the relationship between money and happiness is directly proportional.

The more the merrier.

The Story Part One

I am exhausted. I don't want to even move my limbs, they're so sore to the point that they feel like jellies. I am hungry. But tiredness prevailed over hunger. 

I lied back on the cold and hard floor. 

Then, it came to my thought that, it has been five years since I was reincarnated in this fantasy world.

Suddenly, an ear-splitting bang on the frail-looking wooden door was heard.

"Charlotte! Charlotte! Are you home? I have good news! Absolutely good news!"

The door creaked open, nimble footsteps were heard.

"Hey, why are you on the floor again? It's so dusty! Please, at least, sit on somewhere proper!"

"I don't want to risk dirtying my furniture,"

"Then you prefer dirtying yourself!"

I kept silent. No one can make me budge on this matter.

"Spill the beans, what makes you so excited that your tone of speech is at a note higher than usual?"

"New task at the adventurer's guild! This time, it's 3 gold per head! As easy as pie! I have jotted our names at the reception of the guild, the money's now ours!"

I squinted at him disagreeably. Last time when he said that, he led us to a cave full of not-so-friendly man-eating ants. It could be a dragon's lair next time.

 

"What exactly is the task?"

 

"An escort. Just to escort a unicorn from Lenova Town to Mugan's Square."

 

"A unicorn? You mean the one that exists in fairy tales?"

 

"I know your concerns but don't worry, they have a team full of elite escorts, they just need the numbers to fulfill the agreement. We are just there to sight-see and get free money!"

The average household uses 200 to 300 silver per month, which makes up 2 to 3 gold per year. Since 20 percent of the reward will be commissioned by the guild, I will get a net gain of 16 gold. 

 

I can sit and stare at the ceiling of my cozy little hut for a whole year.

 

Let's weigh the risks. 

 

A group of twenty white-belt elites. They're the highest rank private escorts that you can find in this country, on par with royal guards. Another twenty adventurers, which means an adequate number of meat shields. 

 

We will be safe, I thought. Imagine holding the gold in my palms.

 

"Why are you grinning so hard, you looked stupid!"

A Challenge

Challenges, fear not!

A hero never turns away from trials and tribulations!

The Dream

I didn't make it to the train. The apocalypse came, monsters emerged and the world ended.

I was reincarnated. This time around, I rode the train. Apparently, this is a train that pick us up to the academy. The academy that trains us to face the apocalypse. 

In the first stage, there were rations. The size of the item is huge, apparently not designed for humans, but for (maybe) other intelligent life form? They were nicely arranged on a rack. But I knew, if you take it, the monster from that world where the item came from will appear. Some of trainees thought I was spouting gibberish. They took the rations nonchalantly. I saw an enormous shadow appeared and screams were heard.

Korean Novels

I am an avid fan of Korean novels. 

I like how most writers portrayed their characters realistically, unlike some Chinese novels wherein the main lead is unnecessarily overpowered and disregard all kinds of morals and ethics. (For example, I’m talking about ahem… Versatile Mage, the ML is extremely OP, and all the protagonists in the novel are just brainless and rotten to the core)

Reincarnation/transmigration tropes are ubiquitous nowadays, but some are creative, for example, Death is the Only Ending for the Villainess. 

I really dislike s*ave and r*pe tropes. I despise authors who normalise these.

Gaming universe tropes are also my cup of tea. Some of the novels that caught my attention are Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint and Solo Levelling.

Runaway female lead tropes are a bit too common. The story usually starts will a female lead who reincarnated/transmigrated, knew her fate beforehand, planned to run away from the main leads. And failed miserably.

I have read a post saying about Isekai bloom. Isekai literally means otherworld or alternate universe. People are feeling content and bored with their current life and are looking for something challenging and different. 

In simple words, it means that the current world is peaceful. 

A good thing, I reckon.

死亡

是不是死了才会怀念

死了便什么都没有了