Straight From The Bookshelf: The Greatest Estate Developer

When I first came across this webtoon, I was at my wits end with the isekai/transmigration/game-system formula. I had read and dropped maybe twenty or so in the past few days leading up to this discovery because the characters were unlikable, the stories were unpalatable, or just… I flat out didn’t agree with the story’s execution. And I wholeheartedly believe that you should always drop what doesn’t vibe with you without fanfare. If it sucks, hit da bricks! (Real winners quit.)

Of course, I say this as someone who ended up sinking years into their life with two webtoons they hated. I’m a primary target of the Sunk Cost Fallacy… Don’t repeat my mistakes.

And how to not repeat them is to praise the things you love, get real weird about them, and share them with other people. So, let me lead by example and tell you all about The Greatest Estate Developer.

[Heartless] The Fateful Encounter

I found some inspiration lately in the form of ABD Illustrates. A friend sent me his YouTube channel, and I ended up navigating to his Concept Corner playlist wherein I saw his characters for a still-in-progress idea called Heartless. I highly recommend.

A disclaimer: these are my interpretations of things. While watching the CC playlist, I thought of a scene with the main character having a mission go wrong and also coming in contact with (one or two of) the BBEG(s). Nothing’s set in stone here. Just having a bit of fun.

In any case, preamble aside, let’s get into it.

     It was hard to see past the smoke billowing from the crater. Every time Heartless tried to call out to his friends, he choked on his voice. “Alche—!” Another cough. “F… Flint—!” He grabbed his throat and backed away from the smoke.

     “We’re all right!” shouted a voice past the cloud.

     “Get the crystal and go!” shouted someone else.

     Heartless spun around, looking frantically for the dull coloured crystal. “I can’t! I won’t leave you!” But he needed to find that crystal. It helped take the burden off his magical core; it empowered him. It… spoke to him? It was hard for him to understand, but if he could grab it, he knew that he’d get some answers.

     “Can you really afford to say such a thing with that bleeding heart of yours?”