System Programmer Chapter 25: Christmas Q&A!

h.e.l.lo everyone!

So as promised, here is the Christmas Q&A for System Programmer. Special thanks to everyone who asked a question. :)

Let's start with the questions aimed at me personally :

Q: Can you tell us more about yourself?

Sure. I'm a 33 year old Belgian. I guess I'm a lot of older of the average web novel writer, lol. I've been working as a software developer for about a decade now. I used to write a lot back in high school but college & real-life work kinda got in the way and I only recently picked up this hobby again and System Programmer is the first novel I'm writing.

Q: What were some of the inspirations for this novel?

So I'm sure most of you have read a system novel. The main character lives an ordinary life and suddenly gets a system out of nowhere, most of the time by dying and being reincarnated. Have you never wondered? Who the h.e.l.l is making those systems? Is there like a company in heaven distributing them to heroes? Someone should write a book about that! Wait a minute…

Q: What's your favorite color?

Blue

Q: What made you come up with the idea of having the MC, Joshua, being a summoned soul instead of having him reincarnate and being able to summon a soul?

To continue on the previous question: my first idea was that Catherine would be the world's chosen heroine and she would be granted a system by the heavens to complete her task. However, the system was still a beta version and would be buggy as h.e.l.l. So the heavens would send her a recently deceased programmer in order to debug the system. In this early draft, Joshua was stuck inside Catherine's head that would look like some sort of sci-fi command center, trying to figure stuff out.

I ended up alternating it for several reasons:

Having Joshua being the creator of the system makes the whole world much more personal for him. While it would have been funny to have him press random b.u.t.tons to see what it does and accidentally turn Catherine's skin blue or some other dumb stuff would have been amusing, it would also have gotten old quickly. Besides, if Joshua had wasted like 10 chapters figuring out how to use the system to program a 'h.e.l.lo World!' command, the plot would be moving at a snail's pace. In the current version, Joshua knows how the system works since he made it and is slowly adding functionalities to it. Luna is his life's work, Joshua considers it his magnum opus.

As for why have him being summoned & not vice-versa, I always saw Joshua more as a tactician than a fighter, while Catherine has been training for more than a decade now. Being inside Catherine's head allows him on developing stuff, which he loves, while Catherine does most of the day to day business.

Q: Where do you stop on power levels? Is there a chance main characters could have powers rivaling of G.o.d in the future?

I do not intend to go past the 10 ranks I've introduced, as for how powerful they will be then, we'll see.

Q: What are some of your favorite books, in print or online?

Hmm, let's see. I'm a big fan of fantasy novels (Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, A Song of Fire and Ice, currently reading the Kingkiller Chronicles)

I also like good mystery novel like Agatha Christie.

I do love Lovecraftian horror, even though I've read some Lovecraft and I find his style very hard to read.

As for Joshua, I would say his favorite novel is probably 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea'.

Q: Why hasn't Joshua done …. (insert OP thing here) yet? / Will Joshua ever do ….?

This is a grouping of several questions. So, I think you all understand I'm not going to reveal future plot points in this Q&A. I'm not going to ruin my own story. :D

However, I'll address the issue: Please consider that since the start of the novel, less than 2 months have pa.s.sed. In that regard, we can say Joshua has accomplished a LOT. If any real programmer could do 1% of what Joshua did in 2 months he would probably be a billionaire. :D

Also, please consider I'm already spending a lot of time about Joshua developing the system. I could increase the number of experiments, but then the plot would barely advance, so I keep alternating between Joshua making new stuff and their adventures.

I hope this clarifies it for everyone, although there is one thing in particular...

Q: WHERE IS THE FREAKING RAILGUN???????????

So, I know a LOT of people have commented about Joshua developing a railgun. He may do it eventually. But keep in mind, at his core, Joshua is a programmer. What's interesting him right now is runes and he's not really interested in guns. The way he developed those combat drones matches his personality a lot more than a firearm.

Q: There's one thing that everyone wants to know, and that is:

Will Joshua and Catherine end up together? Or will Catherine end up with someone else, and our man Joshua will end up forever alone?

Oh boy, what did I say about no future spoilers, lol. Let me say this: I consider the relations.h.i.+p between Joshua & Catherine one of the most important parts of the novel. Now, as you all have noticed, the link between the two is pretty unusual. I dare say, Joshua does love Catherine. He said so himself a few times. Although, he doesn't consider it romantic love and he's very happy with his current situation. I do believe if there is ever a change in that, it will most likely come from Catherine & not him.

Joshua: I don't see why everyone is so confused, how many men can claim to be inside their soulmate 24/7? Most don't even last 5 minutes.

*Catherine appears and smashes Joshua with a sledgehammer.*

Q: What is your personal view on whether or not catnip is good for catgirls?

I wasn't expecting this one, lol. If it makes your catgirl happy, go for it!

Q: This might sound like something straight from Joshua, but could two different Lunas communicate with each other and if they can, is the original world already under Luna's control?

Haha. This isn't Terminator. Joshua designed Luna to always protect its user, and Luna isn't a sentient being. Of course, Joshua died before the final version went in ma.s.s-production so who knows what the people who take over the project will do. :D

Q: Is the underground similar to the Dragon Age Deep Roads?

The main inspiration for the underworld is the Underdark found in D&D. I'm fairly certain the Deep Roads are also based on the Underdark. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, imagine gigantic caverns below ground spreading for kilometers without end, with bizarre civilizations living in some areas. (mostly evil b.a.s.t.a.r.ds)

Q: Are there different cultivation systems in other/current world's we know the summoner path are there other types?

Probably, if you take other worlds into account I guess each one has their specialty. They're most likely not be relevant to the plot though.

Q: Can animals use the summoner system and if not why?

Animals don't know how to cultivate as far as we know so nope.

Q: Will Joshua ever think to build a weapon platform in orbit of the planet and fire a metal rod at high speed to kill that Crow if they meet again?

*Hearing this Joshua's eyes started to s.h.i.+ne*

Joshua: PLEASE PUT THIS IN THE STORY!!!!!

Me: No.

Joshua: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! Catherine, he's being mean to me!

Q: Will Joshua create a mecha for Catherine?

Joshua: PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me: No.

Joshua: YOU'RE THE WORST WRITER EVER!

Q: To extrapolate on energy, I feel that Joshua with technology and Catherine on nature, the two are absolutely capable of growing off of each other. So should the concept of terraforming, genetics, and other forms of nature enrichment be introduced? (perhaps something like zoological domes and terrariums in Joshua's side, which could be breeding biodiversity to be released? As Catherine's world gets bigger, so does the amount of different biomes she can have. (Variations on forest or plains at first? jungle could get poison and the like? Magical biomes n stuff?)

So this is a very interesting question, but going into details would be very spoilerific. I do intend to have Catherine & Joshua grow together in some way like Joshua's been doing with his dams. We'll see how they evolve. :D

Q: What are the G.o.ds in this story's world? Every author that dabble with the divine have different interpretations of what G.o.ds are, so what's yours would be?

Interesting. So far, the only characters that are supposed to be G.o.ds so far are Leonard and the Crow. We have no idea what Leonard can do for now. As for the Crow, while he's obviously very powerful. He's clearly not as omnipotent he pretends to be. The simple fact that Joshua managed to escape from him indicates that. What the limit of their abilities is, that is something we'll find later on though, so please be patient.

Q: Say my greetings to Cynthia!

Cynthia, you have a fan!

Cynthia: I'm honored! *bows* I thought only Lady Catherine would have fans.

*Lydia cries in a corner.*

Q: For how long will this novel go on?

No one actually asked this, but I figure I'll add it myself. I have a general draft of the whole plot and I know how I want the story to end. I think it will come down to 4 or 5 volumes in total. I hope to finish the story by the end of next year, but no promises. :D

Q: (For Webnovel only) Have you consider going premium?

So I got contacted by the Webnovel staff about 2 months ago and they asked me if I was interested in becoming a contracted author. I did turn the offer down. The main reason is I do work full-time as a software developer. Webnovel mostly encourages the authors to release at least a chapter per day and once you're contracted you have to write X number of words every month. With my current job, this is an impossible rhythm for me and I like to write at my own pace.

I am working towards a release on Amazon Kindle, however. I hired someone to edit volume 1 and I have an artist friend who is making me a nice cover. :D The novel will remain free to read on both Webnovel and Royal Road though, don't worry. The Kindle release will be there for people who want to support this little writing project. We'll see how it goes, but for now, I'm aiming for a release around the end of January.

Q: Will you write other novels after this one?

Again no one asked this but whatever. :D

I'd like to! I got ideas for 5 other novels in my head actually. Of course, writing a novel is a big project, so I'll see how this one does once on Kindle.

That's for the questions aimed at me.

Let's now move to questions aimed at the characters from the story!

Ladies first, so let's start with the questions aimed at Catherine.

Q: Catherine, your Element is Water right? Can you with enough water in the air, create rain or stop the rain?

Catherine: Unfortunately with my current level, I can't create such a large phenomenon. We'll see once I grow stronger.

Joshua: The day it happens, I'll gladly perform 'singing in the the rain' for you!

Q: Can you split water into its components to breath underwater?

Catherine: Yes.

Q: What is your favorite Dress?

Catherine: I like the blue dress that I'm wearing in the upcoming cover! Look forward to it!

Q: Do you ever feel guilty about having summoned another human being, Joshua, and binding his soul - and therefore his life - to your own without his consent? (I don't recall Joshua getting a choice in it at all.) I'm asking since none of the other summoners we have met have had a human. Humanoid, sure, as seen with the Angel, but they don't relate as well as a normal human would, no?

Catherine: Honestly, I had my doubts initially, but Joshua looks very happy now, so I don't think I should feel guilty.

Joshua: Living inside your head is the second best thing that ever happened to me! The best one is discovering the existence of French Fries!

Q: What does Catherine think of her family?

Catherine: We haven't seen them much, but I'm very close to them. I hope I get the chance to hang out more with them later in the story!

That's all of Catherine. We actually have a question for Boris of all people!

Q: Boris, what do you and Eric usually do whenever you hang? And how is it not being able to talk to anyone besides Eric?

Boris: …..

Eric: Hum, allow me to ask him. Uhu I see.

So I can answer the first part myself: We like to drink while playing card games! Of course, now we're on a mission so we don't really have time to party. As for talking to other people, he was never a talkative one anyway so he doesn't really mind. Besides, I'm here should the need arise!

Thanks you two!

Finally, we arrive at what everyone has been expecting: The questions aimed at Joshua!

*Joshua arrives on the stage, wearing a full tuxedo. He throws a flower bouquet at the audience and starts blowing kisses in every direction.*

Joshua: h.e.l.looooooooooooooooo! I'm everyone's favorite protagonist! Bring on the questions!

Q: If you were stuck in an island, and could only bring one thing with him, what would he bring?

Joshua: Obviously, a teleportation device!

Q: When you tried making a laser sword did you try to create cold plasma and keep it in a stable rotational bladelike form by utilizing magnetic fields or how was your approach on it?

Joshua: Honestly I just tried to make a Star Wars weapon. That obviously failed since they're not real, which is why I altered the design until I got something that worked.

Q: Can you make a Jojo reference?

Joshua: Yare Yare Daze *poses*

Q; Joshua, if you can create things in your soul world through imagination, can you theoretically create incredible computer/generators with zero resistance using superconductors?

Joshua: Even for imaginary objects, there has to be some logic behind them. If I try to make an object that's literally impossible to make, it won't work. Imagine if Catherine asked me to create a sword that could cut through anything. The only way I could make this is if I had knowledge of every material in the universe and had a method on how to cut them then combine them into a single weapon. It's just impossible.

Q: Do you think you can after leveling up more create a Virtual World (like Matrix) in your Soul World?

Joshua: Only if I get to cosplay as Neo.

Q: Does T-Rex taste like chicken? I mean it is its ancestor.

Joshua: It does actually, I recommend it with mayonnaise.

Q: How do you feel about putting pineapple on pizza?

Joshua: Arrest this madman!

Q: If you were transported 400 years into the past with no clothes or anything else, how would you prove that you were from the future?

Joshua: I wouldn't, I would kick off the industrial revolution 200 years in advance. This would allow my alternate self in that timeline to be even more tech savvy.

Q: Toilet paper, over or under?

Joshua: I don't need to use it since I became a ghost.

Q: Is a hot dog a sandwich?

Joshua: Depends, are you talking about the meal or the hot female dogs you find on furry sites?

Q: If life were a video game, what would some of the cheat codes be?

Joshua:

f.u.c.kTAHCROW

JOSHXCATOTP

EATBANANAS

Q:How many chickens would it take to kill an elephant?

Joshua: 64

Q: What's the best Wi-Fi name you've seen?

Joshua: @JoshuaLockman

Q: What's the most ridiculous fact you know?

Joshua: Catherine sometimes sleepwalks while dancing the Macarena

Catherine: You made that up.

Joshua: … I did.

Q: If animals could talk, which would be the rudest?

Joshua: Quite obviously, the Hydra.

Q: Does your amount of jokes equal infinity?

Joshua: Infinity +1 actually

Q: You're a mad scientist, what scientific experiment would you run if money and ethics weren't an issue?

Joshua: I would create 2000 clones of Catherine. The world never has enough Catherine.

Q: Do you miss your family?

Joshua: A bit, but I'm a scientist at heart. Maybe, someday, I'll find a way to meet them again.

Q: What about Joshua's favorite genre of film?

Joshua: Obviously, comedy.

Q: Does Luna have Indian Tech support?

Joshua: Only if Venkat Subramaniam agrees to do it.

Q: What is the meaning of life as a ghost?

Joshua: 42

Q: So, Joshua. What's your qualified guess to the real Meaning behind the Question for the Answer 42?

Joshua: More seriously, I believe it's different for everyone else. People often say all human lives are equal and all life is precious. I disagree. I believe life by itself has little meaning, it's how people live their lives that give it value. I also think the life of a single human is not that important, you have to take humanity as a whole. If you dedicate your life to a cause that's productive to mankind and allow it progress further, then yes, your life a lot of value. If, on the contrary, you're a sc.u.mbag who murders people in their sleep for fun, then your contribution to the global effort is negative, and you're better off dead. Bottom line is, everyone must find their own answer. I already stated mine in the story, I want to see mankind evolve and see where progress takes it. I don't know what the endpoint will be for me, as a continue to evolve Luna, but the simple prospect is wonderful.

And with this, we're done. :D

Thanks, everyone for your support so far!

If you have any more questions, feel free to post them in the comments.

Merry Christmas everyone!