Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Obtained a National Power-Level Ability
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People can't live without eating.
What, you think that's obvious? Yeah, I do too.
But it seems like webnovel authors don't get it.
Especially in Survival Game. Lol.
Apocalypse hits, zombies and monsters crawling all over the streets, total chaos breaking out.
Seoul's even sealed off—no leaving, no comms. Obviously, food shortages should be a massive issue, right?
But nope. Nothing.
Food, clothes, medicine—where the hell do they come from? No scenes of scavenging for them. No depictions of supply shortages at all.
The story says months have passed since the apocalypse started. Fine, first 1-2 weeks, whatever. But months? No way in hell.
There are mentions of survivor groups scattered around Seoul. Where the fuck are they getting food? Seriously.
And the protagonist's crew? Small group, but they're all eating three square meals a day. What are they even eating? It's never shown.
Think about it. Seoul's locked down. Lol.
Were they farming in Seoul? Or did all the stockpiled food just sit there without rotting for months?
Nothing's explained, but the protagonist—and even guys leading hundreds of survivors—are living fat and happy.
You've all had school lunch before. You know how much food hundreds of people plow through in one meal.
But in an apocalypse, where stepping outside means getting shredded by monsters, they're feeding hundreds every damn day?
Authors, write with some common sense, yeah?
If that apocalypse hit tomorrow, food would run out in a week. Starvation, cannibalism, looting—total shitshow.
Protagonist would ditch missions after a month to hunt for canned goods.
That's a real apocalypse. But these days, authors lack imagination. They just brainlessly clear missions, recruit allies, snag lucky encounters, troll gods, and get OP as fuck.
No real thought on basic human survival needs.
That's why modern webnovels are trash.
Authors are too busy plotting protagonist power fantasies to think about it. Tsk tsk. I get it.
If the Survival Game author sees this, defend yourself. Lol.
Agree? Upvote.
💬 Comments — Anon1 This guy's at it again. — Anon2 Today's bait is this? — Anon3 Survival Game this time? Lol. Kya. Still a masterpiece on reread. This should pull plenty of aggro. Click.
[Post]
The post goes up, and aggro-hungry masses swarm in, flooding the comments.
I'm already a beloved troll in the webnovel reader community from past baits. One post, and I've hijacked the gallery's hot topics in seconds.
Not bad for something scribbled out of boredom during lunch at the office.
— Anon4 But he's not wrong, right? — Anon5 Fr. Never seen a single scavenging scene in Survival Game. — Anon6 Hundreds of survivors? That's a whole school. Think about your school lunches. Can't last months in an apocalypse. — Anon7 One-shot. Lol. — Anon8 Now that you mention it... There was winter too. Normally, they'd all freeze. Where's the heating? No gas coming in. Just like that, agreeing comments pile up, proving me right. Of course, some clueless idiots chime in denying it.
— Anon9 ↳ Reply Why's this dude obsessed with food? What's eating matter in a novel? Lol. — Anon10 ↳ Reply Of course it's important. You skipping meals or what? — Anon11 ↳ Reply That's why you're a NEET. Eating too much. NEET? Kinda stings. But facts hurt. Still, I don't delete comments. I'm magnanimous.
Comments keep rolling in—replies, fights, even new posts debating. Same old community chaos, everyone yelling past each other.
"Burning~ nicely."
Me, the bait-thrower? Haven't commented once. Just lurking, watching the fire.
Way easier than joining in. Work's about to start anyway—no time for keyboard wars.
Don't these losers feel ashamed arguing on a weekday afternoon? Pathetic unemployed bastards.
"What've you been staring at since earlier, Daebu?"
"Huh? Oh..."
Sudden voice from behind. I quickly turn off my phone screen.
Turn around—my mentor Gong Ga-eun, toothbrush and cup in hand.
My eyes naturally drift to Gong Ga-eun's chest.
Sales Team / Assistant Manager / Gong Ga-eun
Her ID badge on the necklace is buried between those massive tits. At least E-cup.
"What? Hiding something by shutting your screen?"
"W-Well, yeah..."
"It's fine. Show me. Lunch break anyway—no biggie. Just curious."
She's either oblivious or genuinely curious, gesturing for the phone.
But I can't just show her.
"Caught you reading aggro bait on a webnovel forum..." No way.
"Not stocks or crypto, right? Can't get caught trading during work."
"Not that."
"Good. Hurry and prep for afternoon work. You finished what I asked, right?"
"...I'll get right on it."
"As quick as you can."
Ga-eun leaves, ID badge jiggling. I sigh only after she's fully gone.
"Hoo..."
Glance at the keyboard—my own ID badge.
Sales Team / Intern / Park Daebu
"Tch."
Fiddle with it, flip it over.
"Become a leader who commands people, Daebu."
Sorry, Dad. Nailed commanding people—as a troll. Leader? Nah.
Dad loved The Godfather, named me "Godfather" hoping I'd be a big shot.
Didn't happen. Grades, looks, sports—all below average.
Even got bullied in school when someone spread that "debu" means fat in Japanese. I was obese then.
Led to some hikikomori days...
Thought I'd NEET forever, but Dad died. Forced me out into the world.
No money.
That's when I learned hunger makes you do anything. Know the delivery guy's face when you steal scraps from next door? I do.
Learned even NEET life needs cash the hard way. Started part-timing, entered society.
Eventually landed here as an intern. That's the peak.
Age 33. No experience, fresh intern. Tiny company sales gig.
Talent: Pulling aggro on webnovel forums.
I wouldn't hire me either.
Everything compared to my mentor Ga-eun.
Young, sharp, hardworking, kind, pretty, huge tits.
Old, useless, ignored, ugly, beer gut me.
She's seven years younger. I'm the senior.
When I was in college, she was in elementary. When I was drilling in the army, she was scarfing school lunch in middle school. Now she scolds me.
Makes my blood boil. But gotta endure. To eat.
Only one treating this office outcast decently? Ga-eun.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [A new post has been registered.] "...?"
Phone notification pings. Can't resist—turn it on. A post grabs my eye.
Specifically, the poster's nickname.
⭐ Top Comment — todwhswkrrk [3] [Look at the guy who sniped me earlier] "...The author."
Survival Game's author posted it.
Author directly sniping me? Why? Because of my post? Hit a nerve?
Thoughts racing, but finger clicks anyway.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Check out the dude ranting about apocalypse survival and food.
You even know what a novel is?
Think I never considered food? Common sense?
Zombie stories always start with food shortages. Obviously I thought of it.
But I cut it out on purpose.
Why? My story's core isn't the protagonist scraping by in the city. It's him dominating badassly.
That's what people want to see.
So I axed that crap, didn't mention it at all.
Common sense: hundreds of chapters of protagonist foraging breakfast? You'd read that?
Novel ain't a diary. "Ate this from there today." I'd be a beggar author, bottom of this gallery.
Again: core is protagonist soloing lucky breaks, gear, heroines, winning Survival Game.
Not scavenging convenience stores daily. Got it?
Makes sense you're obsessed with food, living paycheck to paycheck. I get it. Lol.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Fuck... shit..."
Hand shakes holding the phone. Comments pouring in, all praising the author.
— Anon12 Real author appears. — Anon13 Whoa, author stepping in himself? Lol. — Anon14 This is how it's done. Lol. — Anon15 What food? Lol. — Anon16 Can't separate fiction from reality. That type would complain movies skip travel scenes: "Why'd he cross 30 minutes in 3 seconds?" Lol. — Anon17 Author-nim, reading you loud and clear! — Anon18 Ignore those idiots. Catering to them makes it boring AF. — Anon19 Doesn't even know what a "story" is. Lol. "These fucking assholes?"
Even guys who agreed with me earlier are sucking up to the author. Flip-flops.
Gallery mood shifted—treating me like an idiot.
Can't take this. One rebuttal post, and I'd crush that author's bullshit.
[You have been banned from the gallery.] [Ban duration: 720 days] [Reason: Dickhead] "Ha... fucking bastards."
Wanna chuck the phone, but coworkers watching, plus installments. Quietly turn off, set on desk.
— Internal Message [Daebu, that thing I mentioned earlier? Still not done? Not slacking, are you?] Ga-eun's company message. Clock says work started ages ago. Neighbor glances, giving side-eye. Heard my muttering. Properly screwed.
Push it all aside, back to reality—work.
Grinding reports, but can't shake that my take's right.
Anyone who's been hungry knows how vital daily meals are.
Most overlook it. No one starves in modern life. Except guys like me.
But if—just if.
A world where everyone starves.
Can't meet basic survival needs.
Then everyone would bone-deep learn a meal's value.
Beg then? I ain't giving you a grain of rice.
If Ga-eun lets me grope her tits... maybe her!
......
Nah. Pointless.
Such a world won't come.
Apocalypse? As if.
Even if, I'd need the food stock for it to matter. Don't.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Survival Game has begun.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The ability granted to you is 1+1.] ...?