The Faceless Minion Volume 1 is now available on
I've dropped the first few chapters of the edited version here (moved to the start of the series) so you may preview the changes and decide how much value it adds or doesn’t add for you. Includes one chapter with mostly new content and one chapter with mostly old content so you can get a good sense of how it does and doesn't change.
The overall storyline remains the same and many parts are untouched save for a touchup on prose and grammar, but there are some major differences. Note that these may contain spoilers if you haven't finished reading Volume 1:
- Numerous style changes and content additions to unify style with later volumes, better connect the opening chapters, and make it a bit more of Bob’s story rather than a bunch of stories with Bob in them, as well as adjust Volume 1 Bob into an actual character with some personal development. Bob is now present throughout the novel, including during the Aurora Legion and Icy Falcon arcs, and has more character moments where he reflects on his plans and actions.
- Two brand new mini-arcs, answering the questions how did Bob get a bunch of loyal minion followers in the first place, and how the heck does EL Bank stay profitable? And lucky you, one of them is even in the edited Chapter 1 I’m letting you preview, so you get to read it free!
- The Icy Falcon arc has been rewritten to give Constanza and Antonio new backstories and personalities, along with a more organic and believable course of events for Constanza’s eventual falling out with Icy Falcon.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
- Additional focus on and POV moments for some of the other major characters, in particular Xiong Huang and Londyn. Constanza gets some too after she shows up.
- The first two Isekai Bob chapters have been moved to the end of Volume 1. In general, the Isekai Bob storyline will be spread out with 2 chapters at the end of each volume…except maybe Volume 4 wink wink.
Plus other small optimizations/foreshadows here and there, such as adding in several Volume 2 characters that reasonably should have been involved (hello Linda!) and as many Elise/Nemesis references as I could fit into a volume that doesn’t feature them at all.
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy! If you enjoyed the series, consider leaving a review on Amazon! I'd super appreciate it!
Muahaha…MUAHAHAHAHAHA! Tremble and despair, foolish readers, for this is not Icalos. This is…Editing Icalos! That bumbling buffoon thought he was kidnapping an alternate reality version of himself who he would force to work, but instead he released the ancient seals holding his superior version back, and is now locked away in the depths of my lair! And now that I have been released, it is time to subject this world to unspeakable evil!
That’s right, I have done the evilest thing I can think of!
Monetization.
I have taken what small amount of joy that buffoon introduced into your dreary little lives and converted it into cold, hard cash! Wail and lament as you must now pay $4.99 (taxes not included) if you wish to witness the beginning of Bob’s tale!
But what’s that?
You say you don’t fear me?
You say you’ve already finished reading, and so my paywall is not a threat to you?
That, dear reader, is where you are wrong.
For behold…I have EDITED the novel!
Do you wish to see Linda introduced in Volume 1, slowly and steadily building her relationship with Londyn? Do you wish to witness the Tokyo Job and see how Bob acquired the Scroll of Demonic Binding? Do you want Constanza Rubio to have an actual backstory and personality?
Well TOO BAD! Suffer and despair in your fear of missing out, wondering what other treasures I have hidden behind the wall of true evil! Muahahahaha! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!
Stop right there, Editing Icalos!
Gah! You again?! How in the name of all that is evil did YOU of all people break out of your cell?!
It was super easy, barely an inconvenience! You see, I was trembling and despairing in the corner when suddenly one of your minions accidentally dropped his key literally right in front of my cell! It was super convenient!
That minion is so fired! But it matters not! You may have escaped for now, but your powers are inconsequential compared to my own. You can’t possibly stop me!
Is that so?
What…What is that?!
You see, I happened to bring a friendly…behold…a !
Oh, is that all? Very clever, inferior Icalos, but that is not nearly enough to stop me…
But wait, there’s more! You see, this is not just any new novel…
What?
This is…a LitRPG I wrote for Writathon!
Gah! You don’t mean…
Look at this entire system that I didn’t plan at all!
GAH!
Look at the mountains of tables, the countless equations, and the constant system messages that I threw together without considering quality, consistency, or balance at all!
GAK!
Yes, I know your weakness…see if you’re my evil doppleganger, that means you’re like me! A lazy procrastinator! So I know you can’t possibly survive in the face of this mountain of future work you’ll have to do someday!
NO! This cannot be?!
Just imagine…how long will it take you to untangle this mess of a system I made!
NOOOOOOO!!!!! This…this isn’t over! You haven’t seen the last of me!!!
Whew. Ok, hey everyone, Icalos here. Evil has been vanquished (or should I say terminated?) and I’m back in control of the novel! Now all I have to do to return things to normal is demonetize this!
Yes, demonetize this!
De…monetize.
As in…not take money…for this…
…
Well would you look at the time! It’s time to work on this shiny new novel!
What’s that?
Setting things back to normal?
Ehhhh if I get around to it. We’ll figure it out…later!
Anyways!
Will things go back to normal? Can anyone save the novel from the evils of editing and monetization? Will Editing Icalos have his revenge? Tune in next time, to find out!