HeHeHe: Fallen One (VOL I Complete)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Good help is hard to find. Mac is flattered when a multi-national, cross-time corporation offers him a job in his hour of need. It loses its allure when their relentless HR refuses to take, “no” for an answer. Having survived an extended internship with an uncaring meatgrinder Mac has proved he’s a step up from your average mook. That makes him leadership material and qualified for “advanced training” delivered straight from the corporate executives. Further complications include an angry mechanic and the hostile AI she vengefully installs in Mac’s battle suit, a safety instructor who only sweats the small stuff, and a shark tank in the “cutting edge” childcare facility. The door is locked, so none of the children will accidentally hurt the shark. Mac won’t have to go it alone. A luckless troll and a vampire that spends far too much time hanging around his neck lend support as they learn the ropes together. At least the food is to die for, when he’s not having to dodge it. What to expect: ☑Slow build relationships with a large cast of misfit characters that grows over time. ☑Situation and character driven humor ☑Clean language and laughs ☑Comedic romantic subplot ☑Zombies (some in less debt than others), vampires and other fantastical races ☑Edge of tomorrow setting in an alternate world ☑An AI that should never have escaped the lab once, let alone twice. ☑There are no shapeshifting dragons, werewolves, or ghosts that inhabit computers. They’re not real. ☑Ideally shelved between Douglass Adams and Sir Terry Pratchett *No AI was used in the making of this story. Miss Windsor would not tolerate that kind of thing. We're not telling her about the cover art. Updates every Monday and Thursday Copyright 2026 Starting APRIL 6th: ARC II HeHeHe:Fallen in L.O.V.E. Only villains have harems. Mac is sent to assist the newly acquiredLovingOrder ofViolentEnforcement magical girl agency in restoring profitability and morale. The desperate situation leads to accepting a dangerous contract to remove an intrenched band of harem cultivating oninoko from a leading battle suit academy before they can destroy it. Thanks to a project management error and a desperate headmaster, Guidance Counselor Mac soon finds himself mentoring a group of overzealous teenagers and potential HeHeHe recruits. It's not exactly his wheelhouse, but he knows how to be a dad. Natalia, Safety Ed, Tiera, Amethyst, Joe, and a rich corporate heiress with a price on her head return to help Mac save the merger, the academy, and each other’s lives. What to Expect: ☑ Stand alone read with Prologue ☑Comedic urban fantasy set on the edge ☑ A wider cast of highly developed characters ☑ An emotional range of highs and lows ☑ Magical girls, vampires, catgirls, kobolds, and teenagers ☑ Plenty of gritty action ☑ Comedic romantic subplots(I pointed out teenagers above, didn't I? What did you expect?) ☑ The band of five... as villains ☑ Akari of tomorrow ☑Uncomfortably shelved between Sir Terry Pratchett and Madoka Magica ♥ UPDATES MONDAY AND THURSDAY ♥

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Mori Friedman

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 183
Views: 18,850

What readers say about HeHeHe: Fallen One (VOL I Complete)

“The first thing you notice about HeHeHe is its title. And then its this witty, wry humor present through almost every chapter that not only makes you laugh, but makes you stop and think. All this witty humor is wrapped in a corporate narrative following the…”
kal-10Royal Road5.0 / 5
“This novel has me thoroughly entertained. The world-building is creative, the corporate satire is biting and the characters are misfits, but the lovable sort.The story follows Vivian Mcdonald (yes that is His name), a down-on-his-luck single father trying t…”
HeadlessRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

kal-10Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The first thing you notice about HeHeHe is its title. And then its this witty, wry humor present through almost every chapter that not only makes you laugh, but makes you stop and think.
All this witty humor is wrapped in a corporate narrative following the adventures of Mac, who is employed for the titular company HeHeHe for the sake of his son, Zach. Anyone who's been through a corporate hell can relate with the snarky humour and the morbid bureaucracy. But what HeHeHe does extremely well, is tie this plot about working for a fantasy megacorp with an emotional and resonant through line of a father-son duo, making HeHeHe not only satirically humorous, but heartwarming.
The characters aren't 5 stars just because of the main duo, though. All other characters have hints of depth in them just waiting to be explored. Natalia is one of my favorites. Scenes with her feel real and human, which is a huge accomplishment because she's a vampire.
Did I mention that there are vampires? Trolls, trollips, and zombies, too? I can already see a unique cast of vastly different characters coming together in a 'found family' sort of trope, with Mac and his son in the middle.
And of course, I already can imagine all sorts of challenges an urban fantasy mega corporation can throw at our characters. Right now I am still in the training arc, but I can see the potential.
All this is wrapped up in grammar that's almost perfect (and perhaps the best you can find on RR). If you want a story that pokes holes into corporate traditions and norms combined with cast of well-written characters, in a world that seamlessly blends both fantasy and corporate life, HeHeHe is for you.
HeadlessRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This novel has me thoroughly entertained. The world-building is creative, the corporate satire is biting and the characters are misfits, but the lovable sort.The story follows Vivian Mcdonald (yes that is His name), a down-on-his-luck single father trying to survive in an absurd world where fantasy tropes(elves, trolls, magic, dragons) have been aggressively integrated into mundane corporate capitalism. I think there's some metaphors in here about the absurdity of bureaucracy. Even in a world filled with monsters and dragons, everyone still kneels to paperwork.The author does a great job of explaining the world through mechanics rather than exposition dumps. The world feels lived in and grimy, which is perfect for this setting in particular.I think the strongest selling point here are the characters and the voice. There's a solid found family dynamic forming between the main trio, and the addition of the MC's son adds a necessary sweetness that keeps the story from becoming too cynical. Also, I really like Safety Ed. He wears a tinfoil hat under a scarecrow hat, c'mon guys.I only have one critique. The typos. I think there are a bit too many typos. I found them less and less as I got further into the story, but I think a few of the earlier chapters could use a good copy-edit to elevate them significantly. Hopefully by the time you've read this review, they've all been edited out.Overall, I think this novel has incredible potential. Just need a bit of touching up.
I L ShadeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This book is amazing.
I love the starts. The character from the beginning of the story is hilarious. The world is unexpected and keeps you guessing from the get go. The whole zombification to pay your debts angle had me laughing out load.
The story up till now has me going - 'what in the world'. Just when you think you have got a handle on the story, it throws you for a loop and you just can't stop reading the next chapter to see what happens next or what the world is going to throw at Mac.
The sentences can be a bit tough to read sometimes. That is because each character is so well developed that they all have their own tone and speech patterns.
Now Mac. Oh man, I love Mac. He is cynical, sarcastic, and goes on long tangents. And you can't help but laugh and chuckle. He is also clever, smart, quick to adapt, and very very likable. What was his ex thinking leaving him like that.
This book is so different that I don't even know how to describe it when I recommend this to others. All I will say is that this story it is a must read.
Jagger_johnsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So HeHeHe, (lol. Love the name) is kind of hard to explain but I'll try. Imagine someone took chosen hero fantasy and soul crushing corporate jobs and mashed them together into a satire. That's basically it.
The main character is Mac. Or Vivian. He put Vivian on his resume so that's what he goes by in interviews now. Anyway he gets targeted by this insane corporation that operates across time and dimensions or something. And their HR department literally will not take no for an answer. Like recruitment as actual predation. It's absurd but also weirdly relatable if you've ever dealt with pushy recruiters.
The humor is what carries it for me. It's not trying too hard with constant jokes. It's more dry and self aware and comes from the characters just being themselves in weird situations. I appreciate that.
There's also this found family thing building with a troll who has terrible luck and a vampire who can't sleep. They just kind of orbit Mac's life and it gives the story some warmth under all the cynicism.
Now fair warning the genre tags on this thing are all over the place. VR. Time travel. Urban fantasy. Mecha. War. Comedy. If you need a story to pick one lane this might give you whiplash. Also there's a graphic violence tag so don't expect it to stay silly the whole time.
But yeah if you're into weird genre mashups with actual personality this one's fun.
LastDaysRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
In a literary landscape teeming with chosen ones wielding ancient spells or cybernetic gods hacking the matrix, there is something profoundly refreshing about Mac. Vivian "Mac" MacDonald is a man whose superpower is being aggressively, stubbornly, and unimpressively normal. In a world where "Old Physics" is being bullied into retirement by "quantum drivel" and magical flux, Mac is a "Static Element"—a human so skeptical that reality has no choice but to behave itself when he’s watching.
The story follows Mac, a recently divorced father and former armored car driver, as he navigates a world that has quite literally lost its grip on cause and effect. After a failed robbery involving elven bandits and a moon-dark troll, Mac finds himself unemployed, indebted to a "clown-like" necromancer, and facing a landlord who would accept a kidney in lieu of rent. Desperate to provide for his four-year-old son, Zach, Mac accepts a position with Hench Helpful Help (HeHeHe), a shadowy multi-national conglomerate that operates on the fringes of reality.
The brilliance of the narrative lies in its tonal tightrope walk. It is a masterful satire of corporate bureaucracy, blending the mundane horrors of HR interviews and fifteen-page tax forms with the surreal terror of zombie receptionists and "High-Flux" zones. The interview with Vlad, a vampire HR representative who asks about blood types and childhood trauma with a straight face, is a comedic highlight. The author perfectly captures the soul-crushing weight of corporate culture, only here, the "soul-crushing" might be a literal clause in your reanimation insurance.
Mac is an expertly drawn protagonist. His internal monologue—a mixture of "get-off-my-lawn" cynicism regarding magic and a tender, driving love for his son—makes him instantly relatable. He doesn't want to save the world; he just wants a paycheck that doesn't turn into dead leaves and a daycare center that won't let a dragon eat his kid. His relationship with Zach provides
Phantom SageRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story reads like a fully realized satirical saga rather than an early arc finding its footing. By the time you reach the later chapters, it is clear this is not simply a comedic fantasy workplace novel, but a layered survival story disguised in humor, absurdity, and relentless bureaucracy. The world feels lived in and cruel in very specific, administrative ways. Governments are useless, corporations are terrifyingly competent, and survival is often less about combat and more about filling out the correct form at the right time.
Mac is an excellent anchor for the narrative. He is not exceptional in power, but he is observant, adaptable, and stubbornly human in a world that keeps trying to classify him as expendable. His relationship with his son grounds the story emotionally and prevents the humor from becoming hollow. The supporting cast is consistently strong. Natalia, Grist, Janessa, and the rotating parade of unsettling authority figures all feel distinct and purposeful. Even minor characters leave an impression, which gives the setting weight and continuity.
The humor works because it is situation driven and character consistent rather than relying on punchlines. The longer arcs reveal a careful balance between comedy and real stakes. By the time safety training escalates into live tests and psychological pressure, it feels earned. The corporate values, insurance clauses, and training rituals form a coherent internal logic that makes the absurd believable. This feels like a story that knows exactly where it is going, even when it pretends to be improvising.
PurpleharpRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
For anyone who has ever played the tabletop RPGs Paranoia or Shadowrun, HeHeHe: Fallen One should feel very familiar. Mori has created a universe where the absurdity and bureaucracy of Paranoia comfortably sit hand in hand with the grimdark reality of a man just trying to do his job and earn that cash.
I laughed multiple times throughout my reading and felt bad for poor Mac. The author's writing style comes across as a little too absurdist for my personal taste, but it fits the genre and world they're writing very well.
The story is as old as... well, not time, but as old as divorce law, at least. Man gets injured at job, wife leaves man, man has to take care of son, man gets new jobto avoid becoming a zombie, new job is fraught with dangers, man deals with it competently despite questionable coworkers. You know, classic. You can tell the author has had to deal with the panoply of interview questions a job seeker has to answer, and i think I laughed the hardest during the job interview portion.
Authors grammar is spot on, and all of the immediate characters around Mac are fleshed out and real. Well, as real as a stomach-spewing troll can feel. Also, Zach is DEFINITELY a troublemaker.
SpencerHedrickRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The blending of the fantastical and the real is really well done in HeHeHe: Fallen One. The fantasy elements are woven into a world that feels like our own, and it’s executed in a way that makes you feel there’s a lot more to unravel about this setting and the secrets it’s hiding. I was getting strong The Wolf Among Us vibes, just with a bit more emphasis on humor.
The characters are quirky and distinct in a way that makes you want to keep reading just to learn more about them. The MC, Mac, is an endearing mix of proactive and disaster-prone, which keeps things moving and makes his wins feel earned. His relationship with his son is genuinely heartwarming, and it raises the stakes in a grounded way as he tries to balance being a father with being a provider.
I also love the attention given to even the smallest characters. They add texture and make the world feel lived-in and believable. A standout for me so far is the unenthusiastic daycare vampire. Little details like that bring everything to life.
If you like big, beefy chapters, a mysterious world to explore, and compelling characters, this is a great fiction to dive into.
Sunny_Shad0wRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An incredible novel and legacy SO FAR, could not stop reading after chapter three. This novel shows immense character growth and developmental characters with few flashy scenes here and there. What I loved most about is the scene and conflict creation. Though it may be bland in the beginning, later on it gradually improves just like the author and their writing skills. Usually in writing, it’s hard to show progression, but this novel evidently proves that monsters can mix well with pretty much anything. Very interesting concept, and I would like to see this novel flourish. If I had suggestions, I would say create an advertisement so that your novel can garner opportunities and growth. And even if you can’t publish chapters, try to write daily as that would grant growth. My head is filled with imaginative thoughts with this novel. Such a great read. Character designs, though not evident, can appear in my head like water retreating the sand into the waves. Took a long time to make this review but I hope that gets you somewhere in your journey that we shall share together from this point forth. Thanks. Your writing has proven time and time again to be skillful and expert.
drinklotsofsodaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I had a great time reading this. On the surface it’s a comedy—but there’s hints at something deeper throughout. Before I give a more detailed review, I’ll say this: Read this story if you like fun characters, found family, and compelling worldbuilding. The seventeen chapters that I’ve read so far mostly focus on fleshing out the world and the people we follow, while dropping a few tidbits that the waters are deeper than they appear on the surface.
So if you’re into fun character dynamics, please read this.
Now for a more detailed review.
The Plot: A man named Vivian McDonald (who is nicknamed Mac—which he prefers) gets ambushed while driving a truck, falls into a coma, and wakes to find that his wife has left him and he’s lost his job. Not a great day. With his four-year-old son Zach, his only remaining family, by his side, he lands a job at Hench Helpful Help—which is probably a supervillain corporation. He’s placed into training with some wacky characters where he pilots giant mech suits, does combat drills, and tries to survive an insane combat drill instructor.
The Mysteries: The plot has been mostly character-driven so far, but there’s interesting kernels that have kept me looking forward to what comes next. There was a girl who was present at Mac’s initial ambush who I suspect has reappeared throughout the story. Mac also has a mysterious background he doesn’t discuss much (he just mentioned a bit about it as of the latest chapter I read). Mac’s son is also being casually given weapons at his daycare, which is slightly concerning.
The World: The worldbuilding is a highlight of the novel. We have vampires, trolls, and dragons (although Mac doesn’t believe in them). Seems like we’re getting werewolves too. The charm is that they’re integrated into a modern setting in a way I can’t recall having seen before. Vampires work in HR, trolls get carsick. It’s presented in a mundane way—and the frankness of the prose creates some comedy. And the consequences are felt. I