The Tutorial Level

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

A story of new and humble beginnings, combined with aggressive amounts of procrastination.

The World of Niwaki is one of endless possibilities. It is a whimsical world of fantasy and imagination, with promises of anything and everything being possible! With grand adventures comes humble beginnings, however, as every "new arrival" of Niwaki must go through a "tutorial" to prepare them for the wild. The very first lesson: how to conjure an axe to chop down a tree.

But what happens when a reincarnated soul cannot get past the first step of this basic tutorial? How will this person live in this world of wonder if they cannot explore any further than the beginning path? Follow the story of Noel Nakamura, a stubborn man who denies this new reality, forced to survive with nothing but his stubbornness, his laziness, and the insistent tutorial creature bound to him by promise and determination.

[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Quiet_Cicada

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.2/ 5.0
Followers: 25
Views: 11,052

What readers say about The Tutorial Level

“Overall: I've really enjoyed the story so far! The Tutorial Level offers a refreshing twist on the isekai genre by centering a protagonist who struggles not with the world itself, but with the tutorial system meant to ease them into it. The world of Niwaki…”
sincieRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Overall: 4/5 A mostly-lighthearted story about a guy trapped in the tutorial quest. So far, it's delivered on its promise as Noel struggles to make any progress with the introduction, befriending the Guide Jelly and learning a little more about his potentia…”
TrafulgothRoyal Road4.0 / 5

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(2)

sincieRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall:
I've really enjoyed the story so far! The Tutorial Level offers a refreshing twist on the isekai genre by centering a protagonist who struggles not with the world itself, but with the tutorial system meant to ease them into it. The world of Niwaki is well-rendered, and the characters are quite lively! I'm especially impressed by the implied depth of the world-building. From what I've gathered, there's a strong sense that much lies beneath the surface, and I'm eager to read more about it.
Story and Characters:
So far, this tale's core narrative subverts the usual expectations of the genre, and that’s a strength. Noel, the protagonist, is transported to another world in classic isekai fashion. Rather than breezing through the tutorial phase, he remains within it, and that space becomes a crucible for nuanced growth rather than a mere stepping stone. Characters are handled generally well. Noel and Guide Jelly, the two main characters we've been introduced to, serve as both mirrors and foils for each other. Noel is like a feather attempting to fell a tree (wink wink), and Guide Jelly is akin to a program unfamiliar with a particular set of data.
Grammar and Style:
I didn't observe many glaring grammatical errors in my reading, but some tense shifts and repetitive phrasing suggest a fast drafting pace, understandable given the Writathon context. A careful edit could easily elevate the prose to match the story’s inventiveness. Apart from technical issues, the style the author went for is great! The censored swearing and meta nods to gaming tropes add some levity without drowning the story's emotional beats. Highly recommended.
TrafulgothRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Overall: 4/5
A mostly-lighthearted story about a guy trapped in the tutorial quest. So far, it's delivered on its promise as Noel struggles to make any progress with the introduction, befriending the Guide Jelly and learning a little more about his potential power.
Style: 2.5/5
Ok, but could use some improvement. The tone is consistent and clear. The pacing can drag, though, with story beats routinely taking several paragraphs to say the same thing over and over. Slow pacing isn't a problem to me, but being able to skip a few paragraphs because without missing anything is.
Grammar: 5/5
Near-perfect grammar and spelling, nothing to pull the reader away from enjoying the story.
Story: 4/5
So far, the story is very introspective and psychological. I'm not sure how much farther the premise can go--"I can't do the tutorial actions or leave this tiny area" doesn't seem like it has much room for growth--but I'm excited to see where it goes from here.
Character: 4.5/5
There are only two real characters so far, and they are polar opposites. The contrast and conflict between them propels the story. Hopefully, we'll see them deal with new situations and their relationship will develop in interesting ways. Can the Guide Jelly ever leave the tutorial area? What will Noel do if the answer is 'no'? OR if the answer is 'yes'? We shall see.