I Rely On Poverty To Sweep Through Survival Games

A well-crafted infinite flow story. The world-building is robust. The comedy is pure gold. And while it’s gory, it maintains a shounen-like optimism, which is perfect for a faint-hearted reader like me.

The romance isn’t a slow burn, but it burns gently. While the male lead (ML) may have yandere tendencies, he ultimately shows his love in the gentlest way possible. The dynamics between the main character (MC) and the ML are truly endearing.

The supporting characters are also vibrant and well-developed, adding both humor and a touch of somber realism to the narrative.

Despite a few hasty cover-ups that felt like minor plot holes, it remains a well-written story. I might consider reading more novels by this author.

A special shout-out to the translation team; the translation was outstanding.

Great story, I enjoy the dynamic between the main character (MC) and the male lead (ML), along with the instances.

I find the humor enjoyable, though that might be because my sense of humor is similar. The instances are well-crafted and well-written, in my opinion. I notice that the horror aspect isn't heavy; it leans more towards comedy. So, if you're looking for intense, dark, and terrifying elements, you won't find much here. The strength of both the MC and ML is reassuring, as I enjoy seeing them power through the instances. The fact that the MC doesn't always rely on the ML during these challenges adds a refreshing twist.

The MC is a lighthearted, adaptable, strong, and skilled protagonist. He’s neither an idiot nor a pushover. He’s willing to help others but won’t go out of his way to do so, which I appreciate. The ML is somewhat of a passive yandere, but I still consider him a good guy. He’s sweet but has a butler-like vibe. As for the romance—

**Spoiler**

Absolute slow burn. The romance starts to develop around Chapter 134. While there are occasional hints (like the MC’s heart rate speeding up or the ML showing obvious interest), this chapter marks when they both start to acknowledge each other as potential romantic interests, rather than it being one-sided (with the ML already harboring feelings for the MC). This gradual build-up is satisfying for me. However, their first technical meeting occurs when the MC is 15 years old, and the ML takes a platonic but peculiar interest in him. This makes me slightly uncomfortable, but it isn’t overly concerning since they don’t meet again after that. It’s just a bit odd, in my opinion.

Recommended for those who enjoy unlimited flow with a comedic undertone and a lighter horror setting. Also, if you’re into a slow-burn, ambiguous romance, this is a great choice.

Ahhh, I love this novel so much 😭💖 The main character is so likable. The male lead is such a loyal and devoted character, but he’s not pushy with his feelings toward the main character; instead, he gradually draws her in. It’s a slow-burning romance, but it’s incredibly sweet!!

I really enjoy how the story unfolds, and the character development is excellent. However, I do have a small complaint. Why isn’t the extra chapter after the ending about what happens next in the story? 😭 I’m a bit disappointed that the extras, while cute, don’t continue the main narrative.

I feel so much for Qi Ning; he’s my favorite side character 😭 Can I consider the extra chapter for Qi Ning as a happy ending? 😩 I just want Qi Ning to have his happy ending too 😭 Why, author, why? 😭

But despite this, and considering my personal love for Qi Ning, overall, this story is amazing. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did 💖

I love this story about MC and ML. They perfectly match my ideal horror character requirements—brave and not easily startled. While MC does have some bad luck in one area, he has good fortune in others. I don’t think MC is overpowered, but ML certainly is. However, ML doesn’t flaunt his power much; he seems more like an admin or game master in a video game.

My Impression (which is just fangirling, so feel free to skip)

Solid 4.5. A great first novel with excellent world-building, minor plot holes, and superb characters and character development. It’s the perfect blend of a shounen/BL novel, incorporating a wonderful amount of humor to lighten the severity of the situation at times. It can really detoxify your stress in an instant. Do keep in mind this is a feel-good novel, so don’t expect the characters to walk a thorn-filled, anguished, and deeply realistic path, though they will have their fair share of struggles. Anyways, back to the objective rating of this novel (I’m going to add no spoilers, so pardon me if my review is vague)....

Characters

The main character (MC) Xie Lan and the male lead (ML) Luo are both strong in their own right. Xie Lan has a straight-man persona that can get you laughing, and his way of handling high-stress situations showcases his capability and level-headedness. His poverty is also quite humorous, and I love how what was once considered a flaw in his reality becomes his strength in the Advent World (in multiple, sometimes questionable ways). He doesn’t run away from anything, nor does his personality change drastically when he gets together with Luo (like becoming overly shy or blushing all the time), which only boosts his character points to a 100/10.

On the other hand, our dear Luo is not an omnipotent ML, as you often see in escape game novels, and is ironically human in many aspects related to strengths and weaknesses. I can’t really give away much about him because he has a pretty mysterious persona in the summary, but just know he is one of the healthiest MLs I have ever seen, and you are guaranteed to love him.

Another bonus point to the character section: the author develops the side characters wonderfully, each with their own growth and personalities (instead of mindless MC followers) without taking away focus from the main plotline—quite commendable, considering I get very annoyed when authors try to develop side characters because they often do it poorly and detract from the original story. So, you’ll get a dash of side characters (that can actually get you attached to them) but not to the point where you will be impatiently scrolling, trying to get back to the scenes with the ML and MC.

Haha, also, the number of times I got close to tearing up and then one of the characters ruined the mood with their endearing straight-man personas really did something to my heart.

Romance

In terms of their relationship, what I love the most about them is that it barely follows any of the clichés. The author injects originality into her characters that allows you to stop predicting their actions—which is the ultimate refresher in my opinion.

Their relationship is built on trust, and there is no useless drama to prove how strong that relationship is. There is endless respect between them when faced with each other's actions, and both are capable of standing their own ground. There’s no dynamic such as "one strong, one weak, and the strong constantly saves the weak." If that isn’t a sign to pick up this novel, I’m not sure what is.

Plot

This is going to be very short because I want you all to go into the novel with surprises, not spoilers. However, the author develops the plot well, with minimal plot holes and a story that engages you and makes you question what happens next. While I believe the author had the potential to further enrich the plot, she did well for her first novel.

The author is also very talented in setting the scene but leaving just enough to your imagination while not transcending common sense (at least not obviously in her novel—common sense is one of the main strong points of this novel). I also appreciate that she didn’t make the monsters omnipotent, emotionless beings; instead, they are an existence with their own character and flaws. Additionally, the ending wasn’t anticlimactic and rather built up the suspense to the point where my eyes were glued to the screen. Not a spoiler at all, but if you like music, Lacrimosa and Clouds (Huma-Huma) really fit the near-ending of this novel. Hey, I like listening to classic, creepy music while reading escape game novels—don’t judge.

Conclusion (TLDR)

Read it.

This was the first infinite flow novel I read. As someone who usually avoids the horror genre because it repels me, I found this novel surprisingly unscary. I even read it between 10 PM and 4 AM without feeling afraid. While the deaths are quite graphic, that’s the extent of the horror.

In terms of romance, it feels like a slow burn from the main character’s (MC) perspective. The MC is very likable, but the main love interest (ML) is almost too perfect for my taste. The MC’s skills can sometimes feel overpowered, and even when he’s at a disadvantage, the ML is always there to help.

, it’s a good read if you’re new to infinite flow, especially if you don’t mind or even prefer stories that aren’t overly scary. However, I would advise against reading it if you’re sensitive to graphic violence.

Plot Quality: 4/5

Entertainment Value: 4/5

Very engaging horror worlds, charming main couple.

The story is highly engaging. Both main and side characters have their own arcs, making you feel connected to them. In my opinion, each character has a well-developed background that makes their personalities believable.

It shares a similar main plot with other reality game novels, but this one has a unique twist.

**Spoiler**
The game has less actual gameplay compared to others. Even for a beginner player, they only need to play once a week. For more experienced players, playing once every six months is sufficient. This means the protagonist's timeline moves quickly. In just a few chapters, two years can pass because the protagonist rarely enters a game instance voluntarily.
**[End Spoiler]**

Give it a try! I loved the story!