— About the Title —

  To be honest, I hesitated for a long time before finalizing the title of this novel.

  The ideal title would actually have been "Ark," or simply "ARK,"

  just like the title of the first volume — "Ark: Elo."

  As I mentioned in Chapter-029.5,

  in the future, I hope to create a story centered around ordinary citizens of the Ark Empire,

  telling a completely different journey from their perspectives.

  At that time, the title would most likely be something like "Ark: XXX," where XXX would be the name of the protagonist of that volume.

  Of course, that's just a plan for now. It's still uncertain... who knows when I'll even have the chance to start the next book.

  ┐(‘～`；)┌

  In short, what I want to say is —

  I truly gave a lot of thought to the title of this novel.

  After considering many options,

  I ultimately chose the current title.

  The reason behind this choice is actually quite simple:

  — it’s straightforward, dynamic, concise, and most importantly, compelling enough to make people want to click on it.

  This title actually conveys two key pieces of information:

  First, it presents the character’s identity —

  "From Wage Slave to Humanity's Leader."

  Before becoming the leader of the Ark Civilization,

  Elo was truly just an ordinary wage slave.

  This point is clearly established in the story and forms an essential part of his character foundation.

  As for the phrase "Humanity's Leader,"

  under the story’s setting, it is accurate.

  In the background of the novel, the solar system of the 21st century has already been destroyed,

  and with it, the human civilization that once belonged to Earth was also wiped out.

  Only a remaining group of ten thousand survivors managed to build a new civilization — the Ark Civilization.

  Thus, the Ark Civilization is not just "a part of humanity,"

  but rather the complete continuation and sole legacy of 21st-century Earth’s human civilization.

  As the leader of the Ark Civilization,

  Elo has essentially taken on the responsibility of carrying forward the last hopes of 21st-century humanity.

  Second, it highlights the core conflict of the story —

  "I Don’t Want to Save the World."

  This subtitle clearly reflects one of the central internal conflicts throughout the novel:

  Elo's reluctance to become a savior

  is not due to cowardice or indifference,

  but stems from his personal values,

  his understanding of the world,

  his view of what it truly means to be a 'savior,'

  and his clear self-awareness regarding his role.

  This inner struggle and resistance runs through the entire story.

  Therefore, while the title may appear lighthearted on the surface,

  it actually precisely encapsulates the protagonist’s starting point and his inner conflict,

  laying a deep and powerful foundation for the tone of the entire novel.

  Aside from the two key points mentioned earlier,

  there is another crucial function that the title must serve — attractiveness.

  In today's world, where the pace of life keeps accelerating and the number of new works explodes exponentially,

  a title that can capture a reader’s attention within a few seconds has become more important than ever.

  If the title doesn't have enough impact,

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  many readers may not even feel inclined to click on it,

  let alone dive deeper into the story.

  Given my current limited resources,

  I'm not able to run large-scale advertising campaigns to promote my novel.

  Therefore, I have to think carefully and make the most of what I can control,

  using the title — the most immediate and visible aspect —

  to fight for every chance to catch a potential reader’s eye.

  Of course, I fully understand the core of the issue you pointed out —

  my story does indeed have depth;

  it genuinely explores human nature and social realities,

  and it is by no means a superficial, light-hearted entertainment piece.

  However, I also recognize that, to some extent,

  the title may have misled part of the audience's initial expectations.

  This brings up an even more fundamental question:

  What kind of novel do I truly want to create?

  My answer is very clear:

  A novel that I myself can read all the way through — and genuinely love.

  Reflecting on the current world, exploring humanity and society —

  these are certainly part of my creative motivation, but not the whole of it.

  I love stories that are passionate,

  stories that move the heart and carry a spirit of idealism,

  stories that are full of ups and downs, that can truly resonate.

  If the story itself cannot captivate me,

  then no matter how deep the underlying thoughts are,

  it would not be enough to sustain my drive to continue writing —

  let alone touch the hearts of other readers.

  That is why I never intended to write "depth" for the sake of depth.

  Pure depth, without any engaging narrative, would easily become dry, heavy, and inaccessible.

  In this era where the pace of life is accelerating, work and study have already left people physically and mentally exhausted.

  In their limited leisure time, what people seek most is true immersion — and a sense of release.

  I am no exception.

  Thus, what I aim to create is:

  A novel that is both profound and genuinely engaging.

  A story that can pull both myself and the reader in,

  one that you can devour in a single breath — and still want more.

  If I can achieve that,

  while still maintaining the depth of thought I care about,

  then for me—that would be true success.

  In order to achieve this goal,

  I have always been striving to balance depth and engagement.

  Not to force reflection for the sake of reflection,

  but to allow my thoughts on the world to naturally surface —

  through the characters’ words, actions, and psychological changes as the story unfolds.

  Of course, you are right —

  the title does, to a certain extent, mislead readers' initial expectations.

  That is also why some readers may feel frustrated after entering the story and choose to give it a low rating.

  I understand this, and I fully accept it.

  It is the cost I must bear for choosing a title that prioritizes attracting more readers.

  However, I would like to pose a counter-question:

  Why can’t an engaging title correspond to a story with real depth?

  Who decided that serious works must always be presented in a heavy and oppressive manner?

  Isn’t it possible that we have simply become too accustomed to certain stereotypes?

  Isn’t it true that truly "engaging yet profound" works are extremely rare in today’s market?

  In fact, this rarity means:

  few competitors, great opportunity.

  If I can fill this gap,

  if I can help more readers realize that a novel can be both captivating and thought-provoking —

  then that, too, would be a valuable achievement.

  Just as I wrote in Chapter-033.5:

  With the continuous advancement of AI technology, AI can now write highly entertaining novels.

  Not to mention today's anime, movies, and games, which use more intuitive visuals and immersive experiences to constantly challenge the position of novels.

  So, what does the future hold for novels? What is the value of literature?

  My answer is clear:

  It is not enough for a novel to have depth — it must also be genuinely engaging.

  And just as I further wrote in Chapter-033.5:

  In this era, what creative path have I chosen?

  The answer is clear—

  —I want to write works that AI cannot easily generate, works that even other creators would struggle to replicate.

  —My novels need to carry my thoughts on today’s society and my imagination for the future world;

  —My novels need to carry the emotions within me, as well as the "boring" fantasies in my mind.

  —At the same time, I must ensure that enough readers accept it and enjoy it.

  This is my choice, and it is the path I must persist on.

  This is the path I have chosen,

  and it is the path I must continue to follow.

  Because of this, at least at this stage, I do not plan to change the title.

  In the future, once the story has progressed to a new stage,

  I will carefully reconsider whether an adjustment is necessary.

  If some readers feel disappointed because the story does not match their initial expectations and give it a low rating,

  I can fully accept that.

  Even if it is just 0.5 points,

  I would still feel grateful —

  because it means:

  The reader took the time to read my story,

  and left behind their honest thoughts.

  And for that alone,

  I am deeply thankful.

  — About the Cover —

  As for the cover — that’s where the real mismatch lies.

  The biggest issue is that the cover art doesn’t quite match the setting and story of the first stage ("First Stop: Xian Dao and Fantasy — The Steam Era").

  The villain-like figure shown on the cover won’t actually appear until the "Second Stop",

  and even then, the real resolution won’t come until the final part of the "Third Stop".

  In my draft ideas for the "Third Stop":

  the protagonist ventures beyond the solar system,

  explores the broader universe,

  and uncovers the true cause behind Earth's devastation.

  The final antagonist of the "Second Stop" and "Third Stop" doesn't even look like the figure shown on the current cover.

  I chose this image not for its accuracy, but because it captures the feeling of oppressive power —

  the emotional atmosphere I want readers to experience when facing the true enemies later on.

  As for the artistic quality of the current cover... honestly, it's quite rough.

  The details are messy, and the execution is weak.

  Right now, I simply don't have the budget to commission a better one.

  But once I can afford it, I definitely plan to hire a proper artist to create a new, high-quality cover that better matches the tone and depth of the story.

  — About the Tags —

  On the matter of tags, you are absolutely right —

  I had completely overlooked such a crucial tag — Psychological!

  That was my mistake, and I truly appreciate your reminder!

  I have already added the tag as soon as I saw your suggestion!

  ?(?>?
  I'm genuinely grateful for you pointing this out so carefully,

  and I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read my work and offer such an important suggestion!

  — Conclusion —

  Once again, I want to sincerely thank you for spending so much time,

  carefully reading my novel, and providing such thoughtful and detailed feedback.

  Some of your suggestions I have already seriously adopted — such as adding the "Psychological" tag.

  Other suggestions, like updating the cover, I will temporarily set aside;

  when the time is right, I fully intend to revisit and adjust it.

  As for the title, at this moment I still have my own considerations and long-term plans.

  While I have not made changes for now, your comments have made me even more aware

  of how important it is to consider presentation carefully in the future.

  Being able to meet a reader like you, someone willing to engage so thoughtfully,

  is truly a precious piece of good fortune for me.

  Even if we don’t completely agree on every detail,

  your attention and feedback

  have only made me more determined to continue walking the creative path I have chosen.

  Thank you.

  Truly, thank you very much.