Chapter One: When I Signed the Contract
My name is Issa.
When my novel was accepted for electronic publication on the "Web Novel" platform, I almost took flight from joy. Why wouldn't I? I was living on the edge of bankruptcy, and that email was the last light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. It could move me to a better place—financially and mentally.
At that time, I had seven thousand Iraqi dinars in my pocket. Roughly five dollars. An amount barely enough to sustain a small creature in a world of parasites.
Even so, driven by overwhelming joy, I decided—without thinking—to celebrate.
There's no harm in a little luxury, even if just once.
I put on my only pair of sandals and left my cramped apartment, which—if my parents hadn't been careful enough to secure for me before they passed away—I would have been homeless without any shelter.
Heading toward the store, I thought about buying some juice, maybe ice cream, and maybe—if the budget allowed—a small piece of meat.
My steps quickened… and a fog enveloped my mind, hiding many details.
Then—
The moment I crossed the middle of the street…
Out of nowhere… it appeared.
A massive truck.
I had only ever seen something like it in anime scenes…
After that—
An explosion of sound, darkness swallowing the image, and then there was no street, no meat, no novel.
No pain. No collision. I felt nothing… as if I had been completely uprooted from reality into another one.
Suddenly—
My eyes opened.
A different place… a place unlike anything I had ever intended to go to before.
One moment, I was standing in the street, waiting for my inevitable fate.
The next moment… my eyes were gazing upon a green island, surrounded by water on all sides.
It didn't take long for the fog in my mind to settle and for me to begin grasping the situation.
I wasn't injured. I wasn't dead. But…
I was on an island of medium size, surrounded by trees from every direction. Based on my estimate of its area, my mind told me that I could reach from one end to the other in a single day of walking.
Fine. I didn't spare my mind the attempt.
After making sure the place was free of danger—not that I'm an expert at inspection or investigation, but my eyes were my only measure, and I found no trace of any animal. No danger, nor anything close to it. So my heart was somewhat at ease.
Eventually, I actually tried.
It was early morning. I tried to move forward, push through the trees, and explore—but in vain. Every time I approached a certain boundary, I felt as if an invisible wall was blocking me. A clear barrier. Unseen, yet it would not allow passage.
In the end… I surrendered to the truth in front of me.
Yes. I am trapped within a limited area, and I have to adapt.
And worse than that…
I woke up naked.
Thank God no one else is on the island, but even so, the clothing problem needs a solution. I had to find something to wear—or… buy it.
Buy? Here?
Yes… it sounds strange. But it isn't stranger than the way purchasing itself exists here.
The red circle on my left wrist. When I first saw it, I thought it was paint. But when I pressed it, trying to wipe it away, a transparent blue interface appeared before me, displaying simplified information about the place. The language was strange, but for some reason I can't explain… I was able to read it.
The interface also contained a shop menu with tools, food, and multiple tabs—but unfortunately, only one was currently available.
And you might ask: how did I accept this so quickly?
Well, to be honest… I'm somewhat excited. It feels like a new opportunity.
I feel no burning pain in my heart. Not even longing.
Maybe because I didn't leave family behind.
Maybe because friends—if they existed—were never really friends.
Or maybe, and this is most likely, because I still feel like I'm in a dream.
And when you're in a dream, you walk through it—no matter how strange it seems—without asking too many questions.
Before, I once dreamed I was an inflated balloon, rising and falling. And yet, I kept floating like a balloon, drifting farther and farther away.
Another dream—I was like a samurai on rooftops, jumping and fighting. And I fought, faced enemies, and even when I failed to block one of their swords…
Hahaha. Well, because it was a dream, I changed the equation, revealed I had inner power, and defeated him quickly.
So… why not continue with this dream?
Even if it feels very real—screen and shop included—I'm already inside it, and I simply have to adapt.
If I wake up from the dream, I have a signed novel that will earn me money.
And if I don't wake up, then I'm in a new world where I must survive. Simple as that.
Alright. Back to the screen and the shop.
Thanks to my long years with the "Isekai" genre in the anime world, I wasn't too shocked.
Yes, I expected to wake up in a white space, a girl with the body of a woman in her thirties and the head of a ten-year-old appearing to grant me a cheat power.
Or for some strange creature to fall on me, give me a hidden power, and then I'd begin my adventure surrounded by beautiful girls and princesses fighting over my heart.
But it seems bad luck followed me from the old world… into this one.
A new place? Yes.
Another world? Maybe.
But the beginning?
It really does look ridiculous.
Why can't I be in a normal world where the louder I scream, the stronger I get?
Why am I in a world with an island that has no details and no name?
Ah yes—the name. That's not hard.
Since I'm a genius with unparalleled imagination, I shall name this island…
"Earth 2."
Yes. Simplicity is the essence of genius.
My friend, the one reading my adventure—watch me become the greatest emperor of this new land.
So, back to the present moment…
The time is now 3:00 PM.
I've been on the island for over six hours.
According to what I read in the guidelines, work after 6:00 PM is prohibited.
Not explicitly forbidden, but the system does not count any activity after that time. I don't yet understand what "not counting" means, but everything will become clear in time. I'm absolutely certain of that.
I'm also supposed to rest by the fire or inside a hut… which I don't have yet.
Thinking it through—
I'm currently confined to this small area on the island. I need to start here, build my empire, and expand my territory just like in video games.
But to expand and leave the restricted area, I must meet five conditions—according to the system:
I must own a house. — I don't.
I must hire three servants. — Hahaha, as if I have that.
I must own livestock. — I don't even have wool, let alone livestock.
I must own a weapon. — I don't.
And finally…
My daily income of food, water, and wood must exceed the consumption needs of my servants and livestock by 400%.
Alright then. In simple terms, I've learned that my mission is to build an empire and develop myself step by step.
Hard work—but no escape.
Honestly… if you could see my smile, you'd know how excited I am about this idea. I've always dreamed of the day games would exist that you could enter and begin your journey inside.
And now, I've found something even better—a whole new world where I can do whatever I want.
Well… it's scary too.
It's not like the world itself will stop and applaud while I carve my path.
Of course, it will try to carve me instead. Hahaha. No problem—I'll carve it. Hahahaha. I'll eat them before they eat me.
Alright. Back to the blue menu and its shop.
Currently, I have only 200 dinars inside the shop. I don't know where they came from, but it seems the system assigned them as starting funds.
I can buy food with them—but I must act wisely, or I'll end up broke again.
As for what the shop contains—
There are only three types of food:
Food — Bread:
1 piece: 20 dinars
3 pieces: 50 dinars
6 pieces: 80 dinars
9 pieces: 100 dinars
Note: Bread trading unlocks upon reaching a new progression land.
Food — Cheese:
1 piece: 30 dinars
2 pieces: 50 dinars
Note: Cheese trading unlocks upon reaching a new progression land.
Food — Meat and Chicken:
Small slice: 40 dinars
Medium: 60 dinars
Large: 80 dinars
The food list is extremely short. Only three items, with no explanation of how much is needed to feel full.
Does hunger work the same here as on Earth? I don't know.
But there's no time to experiment. Money is scarce, and gambling isn't an option.
As for water—there is no pond or river within my current area.
Fortunately, I found five wooden barrels filled with water, placed beside the fire.
I've already drunk five cups. My body's reaction to thirst is normal—just like in the previous world.
Each barrel contains about fifty cups, meaning I have enough water for roughly twenty days.
But what comes after that?
I need to prepare early, before the water runs out. But I have no solution and no signs yet. If I occupy myself with what I can't do, nothing good will happen.
I must focus on what's in my hands now. Everything else can wait.
It's 3:00 PM.
The notification I received earlier suggests that the tools menu opens at this time.
Alright—let's see what's there.
The "Open" button began to glow… then I pressed it.
The press felt like pressing into empty space—but a slight shiver ran through my fingers whenever I touched anything in that blue window.
Before my eyes, a new list appeared.
"Tools — Wood:"
"Axe: 50 dinars"
My eyes widened in anger, and I cursed—
With words you should not hear.
Yes. In truth, waiting several hours just to get an axe… what stupidity is this?
Alright. Calm down.
Thinking logically, this makes sense. An axe to cut trees—a simple beginning. After that, everything develops.
I must calm myself and move step by step.
Still, the axe is expensive, and I'll need food too. I only have 200 dinars.
But priorities are clear: no food without money, no money without production.
And the axe is the first step in the production cycle.
"The purchase button glows."
I didn't hesitate long.
One press—and the axe appeared directly on the ground. Magic, as if it came from nothing.
What a world.
The axe is wooden. Dull. It looks like the tools from free-to-play games during the first ten minutes… before breaking after two trees.
High price, short lifespan.
Bad omens keep appearing in this new world.
There's a nearby tree—the closest to the center of the area, and closest to the fire. It seems easy enough to start with.
It's good to clear the area in case I decide to build later.
"First strike."
"Panting."
"Second strike."
"Panting."
Damn it… what's going on?
Fifteen minutes passed, and the axe dropped nothing.
The effort feels exactly like on Earth.
I was already starting to get angry.
Suddenly, a red indicator appeared above the axe.
— Wear rate increasing. Reached 30%. —
I laughed bitterly and muttered:
Is this normal? Will it break this fast?
And the tree? It doesn't move. Doesn't groan. Shows no signs of weakness.
Damn it.
No health bar. No indicator. Not even a small cracking sound.
I need to catch my breath. No need to kill myself over this cursed tree.
Alright. After two cups of water to recover… I must continue.
"Strike."
"Strike."
"Strike."
The axe reached 45%.
The tree is still standing.
A full hour passed.
Nothing fell. No reward. No system applauding my patience.
It takes far too long to cut down a tree… what kind of building system is this?!
It's just like Earth.
Did I miss something?
Did I forget to read the instructions?
Is there a hidden skill to activate?
Is the axe fake?
I honestly don't know.
I feel like my mind is starting to lose balance.
But if this is the pace of the new world…
Then I need nerves of steel.
And maybe a little bread too.
But what if one piece of bread isn't enough?
"5:30"
Only half an hour separates me from 6:00 PM.
I never imagined cutting down a single tree would be like this—
Exhausting. Boring. Humiliating.
More than two hours, and the axe reached 50%.
It seems every axe in this world cuts down only two trees—just as I expected.
Tools with "poor" efficiency.
"The felled tree glows green. Then—"
"It disappears."
"Ding… Ding… Ding."
"New notification appears on the screen."
"Balance increased to 300 dinars."
Alright. That means…
Each tree = 150 dinars.
If the axe costs 50 dinars and cuts two trees, then the net profit per tree is about 125 dinars.
Not bad.
Two hours of work for 125 dinars… not terrible, despite the effort.
Alright. Time to rest.
And eat.
"6:00"
Darkness begins to creep in lightly, as if sneaking up behind me.
Hunger climbs my ribs.
And fear…
I won't lie and say I'm not afraid. I truly am.
No time to think. Hunger must be dealt with now.
Bread and cheese will do.
Maybe meat?
No. Not now. I can't afford luxury.
And I don't know what tomorrow will bring.
The world can't be that simple: cut wood, eat, sleep.
I'm not stupid enough to think everything will stay the same.
So I must build myself quickly—before something happens to me.
Even though the imagined smell of grilled meat started to toy with my thoughts…
Damn it.
My appetite is starting to control my decisions.
I must buy bread first—quickly—before my despicable self pounces on the meat.
3 pieces of bread, 50 dinars.
"Purchase button flashes."
"Purchased."
"The three loaves appeared from nothing, atop a small pile of wood."
This digital magic has a pleasant flavor—no delivery wait, no location description, no GPS suddenly showing you somewhere else.
Just press—and it appears like magic.
Now… the cheese.
Cheese…
Cheese…
…Meat?
Daaaaamn it!
"6:20"
I actually bought a medium slice of meat.
What is this stupidity?
What is this nonsense?
I am…
An idiot.
Stupid.
An idiot and stupid.
An idiot, stupid, and—oooh…
Daaaaamn it!!
On the first day, I commit this financial crime.
Sixty dinars gone in a moment of weakness.
I cursed and cursed until I calmed down a bit.
Alright. Fine. I have to adapt to my foolishness.
But…
How do I grill this cursed piece?!
There's nothing around me except the pile of wood the food appeared on.
Let's try putting it in the fire.
I placed it in the fire—but, as expected…
It doesn't burn. It doesn't block the flames.
It serves only one purpose.
Free grilling wood is non-flammable.
Nice-looking. Completely useless.
I kicked the wood away. Fine—it didn't scatter far as I expected, but that doesn't matter.
I need to look around.
I can barely see anything… but what about those pebbles?
A crazy idea… but what if?
Let's pile the pebbles over the fire.
If they heat up enough, I might be able to throw the meat on them.
"7:20"
The meat is still raw. Just darker.
It seems the pebble method is slower than waiting for One Piece to end.
No turning back.
Hunger is beating war drums inside me.
I must continue—or sleep tonight to the sound of my stomach.
"9:20"
The piece has actually changed color.
A mix between grilled and burnt.
Perfect. Truly perfect—just the way I like it.
Not like those light-grill lovers…
They throw the meat on and say, "That's enough! Bring it to eat?!"
Damn them.
Meat was made to be burned—and enjoyed with that delightful scent of char—not eaten raw.
Alright. As my first day in this world ends, I deserve to reward myself with this irresistible taste—even if my behavior is still reckless.
Still… yes.
This is how food should be on the first day of the end of the world.
A piece of bread, with a burnt slice of meat inside.
My first bite—
Oh…
How wonderful.
It's as if life is smiling at me amidst the ashes of catastrophe.
The meat is grilled to near charcoal.
The bread is still warm.
And my stomach applauds.
All I'm missing is onion, tomato, pickles, and… a little salt.
When will I reach that stage?
When will I have servants who place the meat on the pebbles for me…
And let it cook while I sleep?
Maybe soon.
Maybe…
"11:58"
"11:59"
"12:00"
"Ding… Ding… Ding."
What's happening? I barely drifted off.
What is this?
{ System Notification }
{ 30 days remain… before the first minor catastrophe strikes your land. Protect your land… or death will be your fate. }
HAAAAA?!