From Afar, a Gathering of Heroes; Up Close, a Meeting of Male Ghosts

[The world you live in is a dark shonen manga. The protagonist gives everything he has and sacrifices himself to bring light to the world.]

[As a humanitarian aid System, we don't need you to face the world boss. Your only task is to offer the protagonist emotional support and end-of-life care.]

[The protagonist is a classic sunny boy, a little sun. The world may be full of danger, but as long as you stay by his side, he'll definitely protect you.]

Xie Zheng: Understood.

A low-key person, Xie Zheng isn't very surprised to learn that she's an NPC in a comic. She accepts the situation calmly.

At first, everything goes normally.

The red-faced savior turns into a steaming-hot kettle whenever Xie Zheng hugs him. His eyes shine as he makes a vow: "Classmate Xie Zheng, I will definitely protect you!"

When did things start to change?

Every night, evil tentacles crawl onto Xie Zheng's bed.

An omnipresent gaze, like a dark snake, coils tightly around her.

Watched, monitored, tempted.

The supposedly righteous and radiant hero of the shonen manga is no longer energetic and bright.

He often hurts himself. As his wounds gradually heal, his sunset-gold eyes turn to Xie Zheng, and he smiles. "Classmate Xie Zheng, Classmate Xie Zheng, I'm in so much pain..."

After seeing the protagonist lose it over and over, Xie Zheng asks, "Could the protagonist be getting corrupted?"

System: [...Impossible! He's the protagonist! And look, isn't he still protecting you!!]

All right.

Since that's the case, the male lead must have his reasons for doing this.

Xie Zheng persuades herself.

Then, one night.

Woken up again by the tentacles, Xie Zheng looks down calmly at the black substance trying to nuzzle her. "If you keep crawling around, you won't be allowed on the bed tomorrow. I'll be mad."

Moonlight pours down.

The whole room is filled with twisting, writhing, black, mist-like tentacles.

They are viscous, terrifying, and beyond description.

[Reader's Guide]

1. A low-key person falls in love with a ghostly man.

2. Cosmic horror, with plenty of sanity-draining descriptions.

3. The blurb may be revised, but the central premise won't change.

4. More to come if I think of anything.

Theme: Love is the most magnificent of all subjects.