[Incomplete story, diverges from the blurb, not recommended]
[Steampunk setting + supernatural powers]
In a world of strange mysteries where the supernatural reigns supreme, Charlie is an ordinary person.
Until a job interview puts a choice before him:
1. Executioner: the condemned might turn into vengeful evil spirits
2. Prison guard: but supposedly no one has ever made it out of that eerie prison alive
(▼皿▼#)
Charlie turns around and walks away.
"Wait! Nobody works at that prison. You can go straight to being the warden."
The next day, a silver key to Tessa Prison hangs from the young man's belt, jingling softly.
He has become the newly appointed warden, with not a single guard under him.
Fortunately, this lone commander gets a generous salary, flexible hours, and no performance targets.
The only problem is that the silence inside the prison has gone unbroken for decades.
Are its cells filled with heaps of bones, or with prisoners who have wasted away?
Yet even time itself has failed to pass judgment on the hardened criminals of Tessa Prison.
From the dark cells, one after another, these "heinous sinners" reach out to Charlie.
**
Day after day, Charlie finally manages to meet every prisoner and stay alive, and somehow even reaches an understanding with each of these "monsters."
[Understanding 1]: Warden Charlie is the weakest loser in the prison, but the inmates must love and cherish him and humor him in all things.
[Understanding 2]: The warden's job is to keep everyone fed, while everyone's duty is to control their supernatural powers and avoid accidentally getting the warden killed.
[Understanding 3]: If anyone is unhappy with the prison's conditions, they can complain to the warden. If they have a grievance, it will be heard; if they have a score to settle, then once their sentence is over, considerate Warden Charlie will do his best to help them settle it.
With rules that seem fairly reliable in place, Charlie relaxes a little and prepares to be a dedicated, hardworking warden.
Who could have guessed!
Before long, disaster strikes and the entire prison is destroyed.
After the predicament of having no guards, Charlie faces his next challenge.
Help! How is a warden without a prison supposed to manage a bunch of vicious criminals?
Later, weak, pitiful, and helpless Charlie discovers that the "monsters" still remember their understanding.
Then we can still be friends.
●▽●*
PS: The prisoners were all locked up because of "accidents." None of them have done anything terrible, and they are all competing to be the prison's most wronged inmates.
PPS: My previous girls' love novel, [Let's Take the Two-Person Route Together (Esports)], is complete. Anyone interested is welcome to drop by!
---- Forthcoming GL Novel ----
Title: Kindling Flames [Cyberpunk]
Neon City.
A dazzling city painted over a graveyard.
Behind its dazzling facade, decay and debauchery intertwine, while reality and illusion overlap.
A group of dreamers struggling to make a name for themselves have gathered in this city.
The dreamers have another name: mercenaries.
Nia is one of them.
Rumor has it that Nia takes any job, but she has two rules.
One: Only take deals that are worth it.
Two: Keep clear of corporations.
When the gentle, delicate female engineer Mo Qing comes calling, the beautiful, rebellious mercenary curls her lips in a mocking smile.
"Pretty face, but what a corporate scumbag..."
**
Word in the industry is that Nia has actually broken her second rule.
Mo Qing assumes her offer was tempting enough to sway her.
This woman who talks about ideals but has nothing but business on her mind.
And yet.
When Mo Qing runs into Nia again, ruthless pursuers are hot on her heels.
There is no mercenary contract between them, yet someone steps in to help without hesitation.
"This time, you broke both rules..."
"No, I'm still keeping one."
"You think this is still a worthwhile deal?"
"Of course."
"Even though your client has nothing?"
Nia laughs with wild, uninhibited confidence, just like the most alluring and deadly twin flower beyond the city walls.
"But I see the best bargaining chip."
Some say Neon City is a jungle thriving on steel, a wasteland lost to technology.
In this rotting wasteland, corporations have assigned a price to every soul.
An engineer once tried to put a new price on things and reshape the order of the world.
Now someone is telling her to bid maliciously and break the rules.
Theme: Stay positive and optimistic, and break through the darkness.
