Chapter 1

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So, there’s been a meme floating around the internet lately.

A meme called “Monkey’s Paw.” This Monkey’s Paw grants people’s wishes, but not in the way you’d expect—it twists them into something warped and messed up.

For example, if someone prayed for their son to be revived, it would bring him back as a zombie or something equally absurd.

“Ah, I wish I could be born into a world where I only have to draw comics.”

While scrolling through the endless curses and toxic comments under the final chapter of my webtoon, this wish I had made came back to me.

Typically, the last episode of a webtoon is filled with congratulatory messages for the hardworking artist and appreciation for the completed work.

But my webtoon, The Youngest Son of the Royal Family, was drowning in insults.

Of course, it deserved such treatment.

“The protagonist getting killed by a dragon? This feels like something even I might’ve drawn in a fit of madness.”

This webtoon adaptation of the romance fantasy web novel The Youngest Son of the Royal Family still had so much more story left to tell…

But then—

-“We regret to inform you, dear author, but the publishing company we contracted with for the original novel has gone bankrupt. The rights are now tied up in litigation. We can’t continue the series. Please wrap it up by next week.”

Does that even make sense?

But since the webtoon platform reigns supreme, us mere artists had no choice but to comply.

And thus, the Dragon Ending was born.

-“Wow, who would’ve thought I’d see a dragon ending instead of a truck one?”

-“This will go down in Korean webtoon history… though probably for all the wrong reasons. You’re an asshole, author.”

-“Fucking amateurs trying to play artist without knowing how to write a proper story. They just ruin the original source material.”

I wanted to explain to the readers that I didn’t want things to end this way, but I never got the chance.

I wrote out a detailed explanation in the author’s note section—about 5,700 characters—but the editor cut it ruthlessly.

Desperate, I tried calling the editor, only to hear:

“The customer is unable to answer your call at this time. Please try again later…”

Ah, the editor has abandoned me. What’s the point of calling anymore?

I suddenly understood the feeling of receiving an empty tray after waiting forever.

With nothing left to do, I drank four cans of 12,000 won convenience store beer on an empty stomach and pondered…

“Where did it all go wrong?”

I just loved drawing comics ever since I was young, so I started making them. People always told me my art and storytelling were good, so I assumed success was inevitable…

-“Hyuk-ah, these days web novels are all the rage. Why don’t you try adapting one?”

The president of the publishing company I signed with recommended the romance fantasy web novel The Youngest Son of the Royal Family.

It was a pretty generic romance fantasy, but I couldn’t say no to the president, and here we are.

After pulling off such a ridiculous ending, I’ll probably never get to draw webtoons again.

[If there’s a Monkey’s Paw, I’d send this dumbass author straight into his own comic.]

As I read the real-time growing comments and drained my last can of beer, I thought,

“Monkey’s Paw? If only I could get another chance at anything…”

With that thought, I collapsed onto my desk and fell asleep.

*

When I woke up, I found myself in a strange place—cue the typical web novel plot twist.

In this unfamiliar setting, there was a young girl clinging to me, crying, and a middle-aged man sighing in relief upon seeing me awake.

[Rupert, are you hurt anywhere?]

At the sound of “Rupert,” it clicked immediately.

I had no idea about Rupert’s family because they never appeared in the story or my drawings. However, the name “Rupert Somerset” was unmistakably familiar to me.

How could I forget? He was a character I created myself.

Rupert appears in The Youngest Son of the Royal Family. In the story, he’s the stereotypical side character who pines for the female protagonist but always arrives too late.

“He was the guy who kept getting played but still smiled through it all.”

While I didn’t particularly care for Rupert, what annoyed me more was the female protagonist who teased him yet never gave him a clear shot.

What frustrated me even more was how Rupert kept sticking around her like some kind of slave, always rushing to help whenever she needed it.

“So, I’m Rupert now? This is insane.”

Why I ended up possessing Rupert specifically remains a mystery.

All I know is that the original Rupert lost consciousness after falling off a horse.

“Wait, wasn’t this scene part of the original story?”

Rupert was never a major character; he existed solely to prop up the female lead. His family background or personal history was never explored.

His appearance was vaguely described as having wavy blonde hair and glasses, so when I looked in the mirror, I was surprised to find my face sharper than expected.

“If I’d seen my webtoon, maybe I’d have realized how tall and imposing he actually was.”

Don’t blame me—blame the lazy original author for the vague descriptions.

Luckily, adapting to this new body wasn’t difficult.

Some sort of otherworldly perk allowed me to understand and speak the language freely. Moreover, Rupert’s status as the second son of a count meant I now lived like royalty.

Back in my old life, I was practically a slave to webtoon editors, constantly being ordered around to make changes. Here, all I had to do was pull a string on my canopy bed, and a maid appeared instantly.

When I asked for a pen and paper to organize my thoughts, the household butler swiftly provided them.

“Water.”

Merely uttering the word summoned a cup of water from a maid waiting outside the door—an almost magical occurrence.

Am I a dragon now? Is this draconic speech magic?

One word can summon such efficiency from nowhere!

“Thank you, dear readers. Your hateful comments have truly blessed me with this extravagant lifestyle. All thanks to you!”

Perhaps kindness does pay off in the end.

*

Recovering from the fall wasn’t too bad. After resting for a day, my body felt rejuvenated.

Clearly, Rupert’s youthful and healthy physique was leagues better than the worn-out shell I used to inhabit on Earth.

“In this condition, I could easily survive six-day-a-week all-nighters.”

Even with this fresh start, my mind still drifted toward my old life as a cartoonist.

I berated myself for still clinging to that past.

Once recovered, I feigned confusion about the fall to gather information from those around me.

I had skimmed through the web novel once for the webtoon adaptation and revisited certain parts multiple times, giving me a general understanding of the world. But romance fantasies rarely delve deep into intricate settings, so there was much I still needed to discover firsthand.

First off, the ‘Goldfull Valley’ region, home to the Somerset Count household, is known for its historical gold deposits. Though its glory days are long gone, it remains a modest yet stable land.

Still, as a noble, survival wouldn’t be an issue.

“Most importantly, I must avoid any entanglements with the imperial family or the House of Duke Bluewell at all costs.”

Getting mixed up with the third prince or the duke’s daughter would only lead to trouble. Due to the author’s convenience-driven storytelling, mysterious assassination groups and empire-destroying conspiracies always pop up unexpectedly.

Other male characters, especially side interests, often sacrifice themselves for the female protagonist, straying far from the core romance premise.

Meanwhile, the romance between the third prince and the duchess’s daughter blossoms amidst all the chaos.

“I don’t want to be anyone’s stepping stone for love.”

Anyway, Rupert isn’t a key player, so slipping away unnoticed shouldn’t cause issues.

His sole purpose is to cheer up the female protagonist when she’s heartbroken over the male lead.

“No matter how beautiful the female lead is, she’s someone else’s story. Best to stay clear of her.”

Any villains in the story will naturally be dealt with by the main characters.

Great power comes with great responsibility, and the protagonists have big roles to fulfill. Supporting characters like me should stick to our designated tasks.

Which is? To live freely and enjoy life as a noble.

So, I naively thought I’d just relax and enjoy life in this new world.

But of course, that wasn’t going to happen. That wouldn’t be the Monkey’s Paw way.