Is 'I Became The Lousy Side Top' Based On A Novel?

Hey, fellow BL readers, can anyone confirm the manhwa's novel source? Desperate to read the web novel version but unsure where to start.
2026-06-03 00:01:27
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6 Answers

Best Answer
MyDesk
MyDesk
Plot Explainer Police Officer
That title isn't familiar to me as a novel source, though plenty of similar-sounding stories originate from web novels. For instance, I've been reading 'The Substitute Villainess', which is based on a novel about a woman forced into the role of a story's antagonist. It's interesting to see how that premise plays out from the original prose, with the main character's internal struggle against a scripted fate being a major draw. It's currently serializing online with free early chapters, if you want to check out another novel-based story.
2026-08-01 10:07:57
10
Ursula
Ursula
Reviewer Lawyer
I stumbled upon 'I Became the Lousy Side Top' while scrolling through recommendations, and it instantly piqued my curiosity. The title alone had this self-deprecating charm that made me chuckle. After digging around, I discovered it’s actually adapted from a web novel! The original work has this dry, sarcastic tone that’s surprisingly hard to pull off in adaptations, but the manga version nails it. The protagonist’s inner monologues are gold—full of witty complaints about being stuck in a cliché role. It’s one of those stories where the humor comes from the character’s awareness of tropes, almost like they’re rolling their eyes at the plot alongside you.

What’s fascinating is how the adaptation expands on side characters who were barely mentioned in the novel. There’s this one rival who got like two paragraphs in the source material but became a fan favorite in the manga because the artist gave them this ridiculous, over-the-top design. It’s a great example of how adaptations can breathe new life into material. The novel’s still worth reading if you enjoy meta-humor, though—it’s like the author took every isekai trope and gave it a playful shove.
2026-06-04 01:35:31
4
Eva
Eva
Bibliophile HR Specialist
Turns out, 'I Became the Lousy Side Top' started as a niche web novel before gaining traction. The author originally posted it on a forum as a joke response to overpowered isekai protagonists, and it somehow blew up. The novel’s raw version is even more sarcastic—imagine footnotes mocking the protagonist’s life choices mid-sentence. The manga tones that down a bit but keeps the spirit by having characters break the fourth wall constantly. One scene I love involves the main guy complaining about his 'generic villain face' while the artist deliberately draws him with increasingly ridiculous expressions.
2026-06-05 10:37:24
4
Elijah
Elijah
Book Scout UX Designer
You know how some stories just feel like they’ve got novel roots? 'I Became the Lousy Side Top' totally gives off that vibe. The pacing’s a bit uneven in places—classic web novel syndrome—but the core idea is so fun. It’s about this guy who gets reincarnated as the forgettable rival in a dating sim, except he’s weirdly proud of being mediocre. The novel version dives deeper into his internal logic, like his obsession with maintaining 'balanced stats' so he never becomes OP. There’s a whole chapter where he agonizes over leveling up too much by accident, which reads like a parody of gamer min-max culture.

What’s cool is comparing how the manga handles action scenes versus the novel. The written version relies heavily on absurd analogies ('my sword moved like a disappointed teacher dragging a chalkboard eraser'), while the adaptation goes for visual gags, like showing the protagonist’s 'ultimate attack' as just him tripping into enemies. Both versions have their charm, but the novel’s wordplay might be lost if you’re not into pun-heavy narration.
2026-06-07 16:18:53
7
CatoAdams
CatoAdams
Reviewer Translator
You know, I don't really care about the origin. What fascinates me is why everyone wants it to be a novel adaptation. Is it a legitimacy thing? Does a story feel more substantial if it has a prose foundation? Or is it just the desire for more content, a longer, deeper version of the story we're already enjoying?

I think it speaks to the power of the webtoon's premise. It's left people wanting more, so they're hoping a novel exists to satisfy that craving. That's a great problem for a creator to have. It means they've built a world people want to live in beyond the weekly update.
2026-08-03 22:00:18
6
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