Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 30: Drinking Session

Warning This fiction contains:

Graphic Violence Profanity Sensitive Content

Summary – Level 1:

Delve is an isekai litrpg that follows an average guy who just happened to wake up in a forest one day. He wasn’t summoned to defeat the demon lord or to save the world or anything like that, at least as far as he can tell. The only creature there to greet him was a regular old squirrel.

Soon enough, he meets other people, only to discover that he can’t speak the language, and that not everybody immediately trusts random pajama-wearing strangers they met in the middle of the wilderness. Things generally go downhill from there, at least until the blue boxes start appearing.

Delve is a story about finding your way in a new, strange, and dangerous world. It’s about avoiding death, figuring out what the heck is going on, and trying to make some friends along the way. It’s not about getting home, so much as finding a new one.

Did I mention that there will be math?

Summary – Level 2:

Okay, but what are you in for, really?

Well, this story is supposed to be realistic, or at least, as realistic as a fantasy litrpg can be. The main character doesn’t instantly become an all-powerful god and murder-hobo his way across the universe. Delve is, at its heart, a progression fantasy, but that progression is meant to feel earned. The numbers in this story actually mean something. Everything is calculated, and if you find a rounding error, I expect you to tell me about it. That said, if math isn’t your cup of tea, there is plenty more that the story has to offer. Characters are meant to feel real, and progression isn’t only about personal power; it’s also about allies, connections, and above all, knowledge. Figuring out how the system works is a significant theme.

...

What, you want more details? Okay, fine, but this is going to get a bit spoiler-y. Are you sure?

Yes!

Really sure? I mean, this summary is practically half as long as the first chap–

Now!

Okay, okay!

The main character becomes a magic user, but he takes a route that is not very popular in adventurer culture, namely that of a support. There is a full magic system with various spells, skills, and abilities, but our MC decides that aura magic is the way to go, and that the only stat worth investing in is mana regeneration. Most people at the Adventurer’s Guild think that this makes him a bit of a dumbass, but he’s playing the long game. We’ll see how that works out for him, won’t we?

Because of his build, the MC levels up fast, at least compared to normal people. There are no cheats, though, and he is limited in other ways. There are some clear and pretty obvious downsides to his build. That’s what makes it fun, no?

Morals? Our MC has them. Again, we’ll see how that works out for him. Realism, remember? Would you be okay with killing someone and looting their body? I sure hope not.

POV? The focus is on the main character, but there will be occasional varying perspectives from people around him, or involved in the events related to the main plot. It isn’t going to jump all over the place.

Tech is standard medieval stasis. No smartphones, but the MC does have a technical background. Computers and their programming might be involved. There might even be a bit of uplifting down the road, who knows? Anyway, it isn’t the focus. He isn’t going to invent the gun in chapter 1 and change the face of warfare.

Romance is not a major focus. Friendships are more the name of the game, though there will be some characters in romantic relationships.

There is exploration, though not as much of the geographical nature as you might expect. It is more about exploration of the system and the culture.

The pace is slow and detailed, sometimes verging on slice-of-life. The action is meant to be realistic and grounded in the numbers, and it is intended to have meaning beyond simply punching things until they stop moving.

The general tone of the story is grey, and some parts can get quite dark. People die. Sometimes, people with names, but not anywhere near GoT level. There is plenty of light, too, though, to balance the darkness. The world is dangerous, but overcoming that danger is why we’re all here, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you’ve made it this far through the summary, you clearly like words. I hope you enjoy the story!

Themes: Black Market Trading, Global Crime Networks, Boundaries of Human Nature and Morality, The Struggle Between Truth and SurvivalStory Background:In a modern metropolis, the surface level of prosperity conceals the darkness and corruption lurking beneath. Ethan, a highly skilled detective, spends his life navigating the shadowy corners of the city, uncovering the hidden secrets buried beneath the mundane facade of everyday life. When he is drawn into what initially seems like a simple suicide case, he becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the global black market, power struggles, and transnational crime.Main Characters:Ethan (Protagonist): A seasoned, calm, and intuitive detective who excels at finding the truth in complex cases. On the surface, he is a quiet, solitary man who prefers to avoid social interaction, but deep down, he is haunted by unresolved cases from his past. Faced with dark forces, he is both determined and full of doubt.Lila (Female Protagonist/Key Ally): Ethan's investigative partner, an intelligent and resourceful intelligence officer with a mysterious background. Her past is also shrouded in secrecy, and she seems to have an undisclosed connection to the “Black Angels” organization. She provides crucial assistance in Ethan's investigation, but her motives remain unclear, casting suspicion on her true intentions.Victor Saville (Antagonist/Main Adversary): A charismatic yet dangerous businessman, who appears to be a successful entrepreneur but is, in fact, one of the central figures of the global crime syndicate “The Black Angels.” Cold-hearted, clever, and ruthless, he controls a global black market network, overseeing arms trafficking, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. He is not only a key figure in Langley's death but also the biggest obstacle in Ethan's investigation.The Mysterious Woman (Key Character): An elusive woman who repeatedly appears during Ethan's investigation, warning him not to delve deeper into Saville and the “Black Angels” organization. Her identity is unclear, but it is evident that she holds vital secrets about Saville and his network. Her appearances leave Ethan bewildered—whether she is an enemy or his only ally remains uncertain.

The Chinese medicine major who stayed up all night to cultivate immortals fell to the ground, and then woke up to the beginning of the Tang Dynasty!

It turns out that this is not the Tang Dynasty in a history textbook, nor the mythical Tang Dynasty in Journey to the West.

However, an unexpected trip to the rat country opened up the mystery of the cultivation path.

Li Dandao, who was inspired to become a member of the immortal spectrum of the Tang Dynasty, started a journey to become a Taoist doctor.

Inherit a small pharmacy at the beginning! Being immortal is not a dream.

What? Your name is Lu Yan? What? Are you Zhong Liquan?

How can the Eight Immortals of Shangdong be without me, Li Dan?

Beijing famous prostitute Bai Peony! Ghost-devouring scholar Zhong Kui.

Qinglian Sword Immortal Li Taibai!

Merry Tang characters! How can it be without me?

Here comes the wine! Sword come! Poetry!

The 1.5 million-word novel “Beixuanmen” has been completed. Welcome to subscribe. If you like this book, you can join the group: 1033419729, 554255447, you can ask questions in the group.

- Description from novelbuddy

Tens of thousands of races invaded, [God’s Domain] online game came to reality, and the world became digitized.

Everyone can awaken their talents in [Divine Domain], improve their level and strength, and resist alien races!

In the divine battle against the invasion of thousands of races, after encountering the backstab of Qianye Yuan, the patron saint of the island nation, Lin Feng, the God of War of the Dragon Kingdom, discovered that he was actually reborn back to the moment before he entered the university and participated in the [God’s Domain] talent test.

Unprecedented sss-level talent before awakening at the beginning of the game [all skills]!

You can learn any skills of any profession, and use experience points to upgrade skills, and skills are not limited by the level cap!

[Qingdi Longevity Physique: For each level up, the host’s current basic attributes will increase by 100%! 】

[Space Shuttle: Instant shuttle (500+50% magic power) * skill level/meter range! 】

[Ice Shards: Throw an ice spear, the ice spear will shatter after hitting an enemy, and deal 200% magic damage of the spell attack to that enemy. The shattered ice spear fragments will pass through the target, splashing the surrounding enemies within 30 meters, causing 80% damage of magic attack to the splashed enemies. Damaged targets are slowed by 50% for one minute. 】

【Flame Storm】

…

- Description from novelbuddy