Idol Gunner [Yuri Villainess LitRPG]

WARNING - Contains Spoilers for up to Track 100

Hello there!

It's-a-me, the guy who writes all this. And also the guy who can't believe we actually hit 100 chapters. Or, well, 106 chapters, but that's not a very romantic title or idea.

Anyway, thanks for reading. I have lost count of how many times I've said that until now, but I think it really counts now if you've read close to 250k words of this story. Just for your information, though, we're only about 1/3rd of the way through it! I've got six volumes planned, and I can assure you that you won't be prepared for the places we'll be going in the next four. If you thought the ending of Volume 2 was something, just you wait until you see what awaits you from here on out...

I'm going to divide this little (kind of long) post into sections so that it's easier for you to access the information you might be here for. Would be cool if you read everything and supported a struggling artist, of course (emotional manipulation always works, I think). Still, the topics which contain major announcements have a * next to them to let you know. And the announcements are in bold, too.

JUST A RETROSPECTIVE

My biggest fear when writing this story was that it was far too radical in its progression. If you go back and read the first chapter after everything that has happened, there is absolutely nothing that might potentially prepare you for the brutality that is to come. That was partially by design, yes, but it was also due to the simple fact that I needed to be as honest to Kana's character as I could. Pulling out her grenade launcher in front of those three bullies in Track 7 was a half-funny, half-unhinged joke that I soon realized could not be continuously treated as such. Kana Minami is, and will always be, kind of a psychopath. It was only natural for her to end up where she did.

The same idea applies to the other characters. On principle, I believe there are two endings that every character must receive. The first is the ending they wish for, and the second is the ending they deserve. Whether this succeeds, or fails, or is subverted is how character deaths truly work in this series. Let's look at Ryu Sakai, for example. His lifelong dream was, perhaps, to be able to one up Kenji Tanaka. He always wanted to be the strongest. The one at the top. And as of Track 89, he achieves precisely that. Using the pipeline he created, he successfully manipulates an entire meeting into believing that Kana needs to be kept alive. But at the same time, the weight of his actions never quite disappears. He appropriately pays for them in Track 99, where his end comes in the most brutal, disrespectful manner possible.

Naomi Yamazaki, on the other hand, is forced to be in a position which subverts this idea. Not only because of her own actions, but also because of the combined actions of the people around her. Naomi's death, unfortunately, occurs because of a series of positive choices. Kana wants to help Keiko, Kelsey willingly decides to help Kana for this, and Naomi herself goes down there to also save an innocent girl. Sachiyo is only present at the scene to help Akiko out. In the end, too, Sakai only gets the information he does because Yamazaki kept doing his work (out of a wish to become a more confident person). This all collides when Naomi is able to help a lot of other people get better. Ultimately, she is the one who saves Keiko from a potentially dangerous future. But in return for many different arcs defined by kindness, the rot of the world robs her of her life. It was a difficult chapter to write. Really difficult. It took me a long time to get there, but it was necessary.

This is something that I hope continues as we move on to the next four volumes. I will do my best to ensure that weight remains.

Things will get much darker from here on, as the situation demands. At the same time, they will get more honest and heartfelt. You cannot write someone at their lowest without touching upon more reinforcing, hopeful ideas. If there will be more deaths, I promise you that there will also be more people confronting their emotions in response. There will be more attempts at doing something good for the sake of those they love.

Kana Minami and Manta Nak, who are perhaps destined to intersect their paths one day, are characters who go to places I never ever saw myself writing about. It has been an absolute blast writing their parallels and trying to deal with different responses people can have when faced with cruelty. Will both of them end up becoming worse people? Will both of them become better people because the name of their mothers is Martha? Will either of them truly face simple truths to fix their lives? Even I don't know (lie). But we'll see!

I keep saying this, but I will do it again. Volume 3 is going to be unexpected. If you have preconceptions about where this might go, you can throw them out. If there's one thing I've always wanted to do with this story, it's to surprise the people who read it. Will the upcoming volume be an action epic? Will it be a slice-of-life romantic drama? Or will it be a dumb comedy disguised as a Shakespearean tragedy? Even I don't know (lie)!

WRITING, IN GENERAL*

I do not think that art of any kind, writing included, should be locked behind a paywall. If it exists, people have a right to experience it even if they do not have the means to pay for it. Especially, in fact, if they do not have the means to pay for it. To repeat the incredible quote by the Ultrakill developer - "Culture shouldn't exist only for those who can afford it."

Ever since I started writing 16 years ago, when I was only 5 years old, there is nothing I have found more joy in than having people read what I write. Some people write to earn, and some people write to express themselves. I agree with both of those sentiments, and I myself throw in quite a lot of philosophy and personal sentiment into my works, but I also personally like to make people feel something. And so, I have always vowed that no matter what I write, I will strive to make it available for free in some way or form. Always.

Unfortunately, romanticism often meets reality and gets crushed. I am 21 years old, do not have a formal degree, and rely on the tips and payments I get from this work to make a living. To survive, really. And since I have now lost the one person I had subscribed to me on Patreon, you might see why that is a bit of a problem. Even then, don't worry. I will not be uploading this book to Amazon, or any other website which would require me to stub it here. If you do it see on these platforms, know that it is not by me! You cannot expect me to write a story about how greed ruins people, and then sell my very free NovelPhoenixs.

Anyway, compromises need to be reached. There is a comfortable middle ground I have found that I am quite satisfied with.

If you have been here for long enough, you might remember that I gave away the PDF's and EPUB's of the first volume of Idol Gunner for free for a week after it ended. That will no longer be happening. Why!? Why such horror after waxing philosophical!?

Well, that's because they will now always be available for free for everyone. As of today, all finished volume PDFs and EPUB files will be uploaded to itch.io. You can download these for free to keep forever. But at the same time, the platform allows for you to pay what you want (if you want to!). This ensures that I get to keep all of my work accessible to all, while also hopefully keeping an avenue open to earn a little from tips.

Similarly, my Patreon will still keep up as always. There's a new chapter out right now, in fact, and we're well into Volume 3 there already. If you find that you have the financial stability to help me out, then please do consider it. Tiers start from $3 for 6 chapters in advance, and go up to $15 for 21 chapters in advance. There is also a bragging rights $50 tier just in case I have some maniac reading my works. But that's not it, really. The $50 tier also gives you one free commission of up to 3000 words per month. Anything you want, even if it is not related to any of my stories!

So, that is to say - everything for free, unless you feel like supporting me. It would be great. I will probably be able to keep going for much longer if you do, but I still won't stop writing even if you don't. As long as you're having fun reading, that's what matters most to me.

ALBUM 3 STUFF*

The big stuff. Well, some big stuff. Volume/Album 3 is well underway in terms of writing, but there are some things I would like to announce about it - both to inform and to build a little hype.

As you might know, we have two styles of covers. One is the main cover on the page, and then we have album covers that I design myself. So, just to act like I am some big shot creator announcing something at Comic Con, here we go. If you've paid attention to the album titles until now, you might know that they follow the "X and X" formula of the main titles. But, as you might also know, the chapters gave up on that formula recently. So, will the album titles too? Well...

The title of Album 3 is "Apostles and A Heart Goes Crack".

So, I guess? Here's the cover, which I am quite proud of -

Spooky! I wonder what's going to happen for so much blood to splatter everywhere.

Another little announcement is that I have started working with an artist on a proper cover for the series! It will ideally be up with Volume 3 as it comes out, but could be delayed due to scheduling issues. But rest assured that the AI cover will be gone within a couple of weeks. Super excited for all of you to see what I have worked on with someone very, very talented at their job. Look forward to it!!

And if you thought that was it...here's another announcement!

Album 3 will begin from October 6 at 14:22 UTC, and follow the same Tue/Thu/Sat schedule.

And if you thought that was it...here's ANOTHER another announcement!

Album 3 of Idol Gunner will be participating in the November 2026 RoyalRoad Writathon. This will also reflect here on NovelPhoenix for the release. This means that for November, I will be releasing chapters 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday, with breaks on Sunday. This hopefully pairs well with the more fast-paced and immediate stakes of the story.

For the month of October, we will stick to the 3 days a week schedule, but then shift to the writathon schedule for November, before switching back to the 3 days a week schedule once the month ends. This means the album will probably end sooner than Album 2, but at least you get some good stuff at a fast pace. And don't worry - the chapter length and quality will remain consistent. I am used to writing about 3000 or so words every day, so there will be no issues as far as I can see.

BUT! I do not want to alienate all of you and act like I know best. If enough people have an issue with the new release schedule (like maybe it being too much and difficult to keep up), I will consider not participating. Let me know!

And if you thought that was it...you're right. That's about it.

As always, ratings and reviews are highly appreciated. I would love it if some of you took the time to let me know your thoughts. Even comments will do, as usual.

In fact, let's try this. If we get 5 total reviews by the end of the month, only then will Idol Gunner participate in the November RoyalRoad Writathon! Or, uh, never mind. I think we'll be participating regardless. But still consider it...

You can find all relevant links for stuff announced here in the Author's Note below. This includes itch.io for the volumes, and my Patreon if you want to show your support. Please check them out!!

Thanks for reading. Love you all <3!