The Devilish Genius of Time and Effort. That Cheating Bastard. Idiot Savant. A man known by countless names in the Three Realms, one who collected every treasure, every ancient art, whose Dao of 'Accumulation' made him the richest and most hated person even amongst the Eternal Emperors.
The strongest Transcendent, the one envied by all beneath the heavens. After breaking past the bounds of existence, he-
"I'm heading home."
"W-Wait! Master!"
-Promptly packed his bags and returned to Earth.
A story about a laidback overpowered guy who underestimated how hard it is to be abnormal in a normal world and gets swept up into the flow too quickly... And also ended up opening an idol agency.
Thus begins the tale of John Smith and his daily adventures back on Earth.
At least one update every day. :fingerscrossed:
Glossary: https://www.scribblehub.com/series/221239/returning-transcendent-opens-an-idol-agency/glossary/
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Unauthorized translations and rehosts are not allowed. You have been put on notice.
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A stripped down version of just the text is available on Webnovel.
From one rabbit hole into another...
I'll preface this by saying that while I tried to be objective, there's still some bias that leaked out due to how big of a fan I am of this story. tl;dr at bottom.
Warning: I kept spoilers to the minimum, but there's still some vague ones out there. Also, cringe ahead. Read at your own risk!
Where do I even begin? This story is just a joy to read. I've fallen in love with the story so much to the point I reread it multiple times and check on it every hour or so. 2020 had been a hard year but vtubers helped through that. This novel has been serving the same purpose this year. A daily dose of sunshine that just brightens up my day. But anyway, I digress.
The plot is compelling. There's a sudden rise of popularity with this phenomenon but it still managed to retain its novelty. Given how it's a slice of life, you'd expect it to mostly be fluff, but while it does have those in spades, it's also so much more. And of course since John, the MC, is a transcendent, conflicts get solved as you would expect; however, the way it delivers such is nothing short of amazing. There's tons of references scattered around too, with some of the mini arcs based on them. Still though, they're resolved in a way that has managed to remain original, like an ideal ending with a hint of John. The pacing is quite good too; not too fast that it would feel lacking in content, yet also not slow enough to the point it would get stale. It shifts when it matters, and allows the readers to focus on the details at hand. Although, streams can get a bit dragged out and ironically be short at the same time. It feels to be a matter of striking a balance between events and the livestream chat. Personally though I wouldn't have it any other way, as the conversations and interactions are gold. Not to mention the welcome change of pace from other stories where the character being in-game spans for hundreds of chapters... not that there's anything wrong with that.
The worldbuilding is also interesting. It can get confusing as to what exists and what doesn't in this world, but it's a case-by-case basis that's better tackled when encountered. I also didn't really see any apparent info dumps, which is great. The knowledge handed out is more spread throughout and just flows with the natural progression of the story. It does throw in a fair bit of terms from xianxia, so readers who aren't familiar with those might get somewhat lost, but as of now it's just a small part of the story and not something that would make it hard to follow. There's not much in the room for the business aspect though, as the agency already starts with top-notch and unrivaled equipment, as well as with the MC probably being the richest entity in the universe. Its development and growth falls more to hiring (read: collecting) the idols and staff as well as facing any issues with legality and competition, which is really not much considering the premise. But then again it's not really the focus. That honor belongs to what's next.
The characters. My favorite part. They are just.. just- oh so lovable. From how they're portrayed, to their interactions and development, it's all there. The characters are fleshed out and done in a way that it's their words and actions themselves that do the talking, and not just the author's. You just can't help but get attached to them. Their dynamics make them much more realistic, going so far as to make you both love and hate them. I could gush over how adorable some of the characters are (especially a certain crimson-haired automaton) but this is a review so I'll just have to keep that to myself.
To start with, the MC. A Gary Stu. Or at least I would think so based on the title and synopsis. But he is actually so much more. It's true to an extent, but for all his powers, for all that he is seen as a miracle worker by others, we can see just how he's human too. An unrivaled being, yes, but one with faults all the same. One who continues to 'accumulate' and grow on his self-imposed journey to relax, while still trying to enjoy what life has to offer. We see snippets of his past sometimes, and while his full capabilities are still shrouded in mystery, said past seems to be catching up to him now. There's not much action for an OP protagonist, but he's trying to live a normal life anyway.
And then there's the idols. Each with a story of their own. Each able to be an MC of their own story with how much they've been through. It makes me genuinely thankful that John is here and thus brought them together, because just as they put a smile on ours and the (fictional) viewers' faces, they deserve their own happiness too. The supporting cast is also done in a way that they're not just extras, but true characters in the story. There's even some that just seem to be there to progress the story at first, only to come back some chapters later as a relevant character. There's no clear antagonist however, but that's understandable given the genre.
As for the writing, it's superb. I've been reading machine-translated novels for a good while now, to the point I've gotten used to them, so reading a story as well-written as this is just so pleasing to the mind. It's written in a multiple third person point of view, which allows it to showcase the different perspectives, but it never got to the point where the MC feels forgotten or a scene gets repeated just for the sake of showing such. There are also barely any errors, and what little I see, if they can even be called that, are just minor ones like redundancy or structure. Not at all disruptive and instead makes me question if it's a personal peeve or not.
I would also like to commend the author for how much effort is put into this. Update speed is fast but doesn't sacrifice quality. The livestream chat is entertaining, and the interactions with it more so. Some of the names and comments are even based on actual ones from the reader community and sometimes, if you're lucky enough, you'll even get a reply or get to interact with the 'mods'. Again, there's tidbits of references here and there coming from a good variety that's always a treat to spot. There's also portraits of the characters, a glossary, as well as recommended music to listen to in some scenes to help set the mood (and they do). Not to mention its very own site with secrets to find and a fun little game as well!
All in all, I really recommend this story. It's a great amount of fun and is actually quite inspirational. It caught my interest from the start and since then haven't left.
I'm thankful for such a wonderful read... truthfully, I wish this story never ends! (I know that's not possible but still)
tl;dr - It's an addicting novel with a lighthearted theme but also some serious moments. And fluff. Lots of fluff.
If you enjoy following the life of a laid-back guy going around helping others and causing shenanigans, as well as seeing the change he brings to people's lives, then there's a high chance you'll like this! Also, have I mentioned how cute the characters can get?
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Lovely story, binged it in 2 days since I just couldn't put it down. The writing is vastly overqualified for this genre, with many funny references, good pacing, and solid character development. I came into this novel expecting some generic OP MC ecchi harem story, but instead got a supremely fluffy slice-of-life parody of a both the xianxa/wuxia genre and vtubers/otaku culture. Have I mentioned already that the character development is great? It really is, go read to find out what I mean.
I hope the author is having as much fun writing this story as I am having reading this story, because it is a genuine delight.
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A emotional yet solid story is present the, story building is fine, and the relationship of characters have been fleshed out well enough that very little suspense of disbelief in needed to get into the story.
The MC John is OP but that is not the point of the story and because it's not what he wants it to be, it is about feeling and the action said feelings make them take. Think One Punch Saitama and Saiki K.
Definitely better than most hope it ends well.
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I know you are just like me, already deep within rabbit hole. Too late for help. You also don't know how you gotten so deep, but one thing for sure, there is no escape.
One day, you opened up yo*tube to check if your favorite H*lolive mems are streaming, but to your shock and agony, none seems to be on!
Oh no, you can already feel the withdrawal syndrome of not being fueled with seiso (???) energy. Your surrounding turns stale and everything starts to lose meaning. You wanted to watch another w*r crime by certain rabbit comedian, see another victim of certain psych*path sipping ringo juice, or tune into sweet whispers of mother nature because... for science, but now you are forced to wait.
Then you come across this piece of work. Of course, having plenty of doubt in mind, but as dedicated rabbit hole resident, you still give a try. Why not.
First chapter? Interesting premise. Well off to second... and then you realize one of them might share the fate of Ak*i Ha*to, which means even here you are not safe from the curse of HA*CH*MA. Her cooking still haunts you and you can just feel it, it is going to be Ri-... all of sudden, something grabs your shoulder. "HA*CH*MA...? Dare da...?"
You jerk awake, sweating profusely. To your relief, hand is no longer there, but a fate worse than eating HA*CH*MA cooking and working in bunkr*nii awaits you. You have been binging for hours, days or weeks even, and 'next' button is greyed out. For a moment or two, you do not comprehend what that actually means and keep trying to click on the greyed out button, only to realize you have caught up with the story. And like how you check yo*tube for your favorite member's stream, you have another page to refresh now. (at least wait is super short per chapter!)
Yet again, you don't know how you fell inside yet another rabbit hole, and yet again, there seems to be no escape.
Welcome and enjoy your read. The journey will be blast and we got plenty of room down here inside cozy hole!
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We don't need any power up scenes because MC is already OP AF.
Binge read it and I have to say I am satisfied. Not even a moment was my interest decreased.
As of this chapter, I can't wait for MC's wife to arrive and for him to notice she is pregnant. Plus Omega and Beta joining the MirAIs, making the Titor Sisters a reality
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If you’re checking the comments for a reader opinion I highly recommend you to give this novel a go. The novel has a bit of a loose start but it all really comes together at around the first idol arc, and after that it just keeps getting better.
Story wise: This book is a comedy slice of life but don’t let that tag fool you, when things are slow the story is quite cute and wholesome but when john’s karma caught up to him its like watching someone got bondage-tied and drag along the road by the karma truck; full-on Wild West Style. The story has its up and down but what really makes it great are the events cause and effects. In this story, one event tends to lead to another and each has their own causes, that is well explains, and actually effects the future ones which makes the story just flow smoothly.
characters: Oh boy the characters, if I have to name one thing that makes this story stands out it is the characters. Admittedly whenever a new character is newly introduced their first 2 or 3 chapters are a bit shaky but once the author fully integrated them into the story they suddenly comes to life. In this story each character is unique in their own way, they each have their flaws that makes them more real, they have different desires and needs and sometimes that makes them acts irrationally just like a real person, and better yet the characters here actually learn from their mistakes and develop their character as the story goes on. There is just so much more but you will have to read it to experience it yourself.
grammar: eh, not my place to judge. I could read a story that has the grammar of a dumpster fire but has a good story line and would probably still love it, so yeah my opinion on this doesn’t worth much.
So, point is if you’re checking the comments for opinion on should you read this, I absolutely recommend you to give it a go, at least to the end of first idol arc.
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This is easily one of the most fun stories on SH.
The writing and plot are unique and the characters are very well done and likable. Grammar is on point and there are very few, if any, typos or issues with word choice. What really sets it apart is the community interaction via a website the author created to be part of the story. It makes the whole thing seem more meaningful and makes me more invested in the chapters and the characters.
Looking forward to more. =D
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That's a god-tier story, I did a sleepless night to finish all the chapters in a day.
Insanely good character development, enough comedy and the story have a very good pace.
I recommend this novel.
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This novel deserves nothing but a five star rating. Probably one of the most immersive novels I read so far.
Lastly, Alfi is #1.
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Gone are the days of me imagining of a novel plot revolving around vtubers. Bless you for turning my daydreams to reality (TvT)
This would only be the second time I made a review within my more than half a decade time of reading literature mostly WN's and LN's so pardon this rough format
In my opinion, this novel is a breath of fresh air. I've read at least a couple cultivation novels and fewer idol novels but never a novel with both, and involving the latest trend of virtual idols on top of that. Honestly, I might be a little biased towards the whole vtuber thing, but objectively speaking, so far the two main concepts of the story is handled fairly well. The concepts are well balanced with a little sprinkle of spices tp the side, e.g. Cooking, racing, etc. Each of the concepts by itself would drown in the oversaturated library of stories today, but with the concepts, skillfully blended together, it created a refreshing feeling
In conclusion, I am really glad I came across this story for it felt like a beautiful blend of concepts carefully and skillfully woven together. Considering this though, a mix of concepts is great and all but too many ingredients could spoil the broth, and I believe the key around this is to find that perfect balance while remaining faithful to the original concepts.
I pray for this story to get the recognition it deserves and for the author to never lose heart as I continue to read in anticipation (^-^)
P.S. I love the nod to the "US-Canadian Super Chat War" a few months back
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ( ^ω^) b
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