NOVEL WEB Chapter 15
Knock, knock.
“Writer, it’s time for breakfast!”
“Mmm…”
I was having a nice, cozy sleep, and it’s already morning?
“Did you sleep well, Writer?”
“Oh, yes. Thanks to you, I had the sweetest sleep.”
Now I was quite used to having Rate as my pillow, so we could talk like this without any awkwardness.
I could ask how Rate sleeps, but I’ve heard that as one of the strongest heroes in history, she doesn’t need sleep.
“Um.. Belua. Can I open the door?”
As soon as I spoke, the door swung open, revealing a lavish breakfast.
For two servings.
“Let’s eat, Hero.”
“Got it.”
Since Rate kept staying in the same room as me, naturally, her share from the royal family got sent to my room as well.
“You’re always working hard. That…”
“I’m Belua!”
“Ah, right. Belua.”
‘There she goes again.’
This scene had become familiar.
Every morning, Belua brings breakfast, and Rate tries to thank Belua but hesitates because she doesn’t know her name.
Then Belua introduces herself with cheerful enthusiasm.
The fact that Rate’s memory was still unstable made this a daily occurrence.
But hey, at least she remembers me, so that’s something.
Anyway, after Belua left, we finished our breakfast chatting, and soon after, Belua returned to clear away the empty dishes and utensils.
“Phew… Today’s breakfast was delicious.”
“Indeed. Yesterday’s breakfast was… um…”
“I requested bacon and fried eggs.”
“Oh, right. Sorry for forgetting again.”
“It’s fine. This much is okay.”
She initially seemed just like a pigeon girl to me, but now that I knew the story, she was merely a poor hero who tried to save people but got betrayed.
“…Thank you.”
“No problem. Just paying off the debt for the knee pillow every week.”
Even though I had only used it twice so far, I’d be relying on her more in the future.
“Hehe, if you want, you can borrow my thighs anytime. Don’t feel burdened.”
‘That comment was a bit…’
That was a risky move.
“…Cough, thank you for your consideration.”
Feeling awkward, I headed straight to the desk.
“Hmm? You’re starting earlier than usual today? Or am I mistaken?”
“Cough, it’s correct that I’m starting earlier. I just feel really motivated today.”
“I see…”
While I was writing as usual, a knock came at the door.
“Belua, you can come in.”
“Thank you!”
After breakfast, she loved to sit next to me while I wrote, so now it was natural for her to take a seat by my side.
“Today’s newspaper!”
“What’s it say?”
“Let’s see… ‘Indeed, the Hero! Has Check Writer’s release frequency really shortened? It went from once a week to every six days!’ And… ‘The Hero’s Miracle! Cutting a week to six days!’ And… ‘Are Hero Rate and Check Writer in a romantic relationship?'”
“What the hell?!”
“Wh-what?!”
Upon hearing the last piece of news read by Belua, Rate and I both jumped up and stared at her.
“Eek! No, it really says that…”
Belua trembled as she extended the newspaper, and Rate snatched it quickly.
Leaning to look over her shoulder, it indeed said that.
“…Oh dear.”
What kind of lunatic did this to me?
Officially, I’m engaged to the Second Princess.
“If you want, we can just eliminate the person who wrote this…”
“No, that’s a bit…”
Not to that extent.
“Ah! The Second Princess must have seen the newspaper too, so I’m basically done for!”
“Ah.”
Goodbye, nameless friend.
I could have let it slide, but the mindset of this medieval age and the princess Eve wouldn’t let that happen.
“Cough, anyway, aside from that… everyone seems to be happy about my shortened release frequency.”
“Of course! Your novels could come out every day, and it wouldn’t be enough!”
“Haah…”
When will interesting books come out in this world?
How long will they keep lapping up my third-rate trash novel?
No one has ever looked at my writing and thought, ‘I could write better than this.’?
“Haah… Belua, when will books more interesting than mine come out?”
“Huh? Um… 200 years? 300 years?”
“Does it really take that long?”
“Well, your novels are easy for commoners to understand, they come out quickly, and everyone enjoys them regardless of age, so they’re the best novels.”
“…I guess so.”
“Yes! If you play your cards right, they might even treat it as a ‘Holy Book’!”
“!! Don’t say that!”
I hurriedly covered Belua’s mouth and looked at Rate.
Even if I’m used to it now, I’m still a Hero, and casually mentioning something like a Holy Book…
“Hmmm… there’s certainly potential. I mean, ‘The Betrayed Hero Has Returned’ is almost a carbon copy of my story, just made more interesting, and your first work, ‘The Betrayed Hero Does Not Return,’ became the reason I came looking for you.”
Rate nodded and gave a thumbs up.
“Before long, the Holy Kingdom might come looking for you, Writer.”
“…No way.”
Would the clergy of a country devoted to the Divine read my trash book?
***
“I will now begin the 97th Emergency Congregation of the Holy See.”
Sunlight streamed into the sacred space between the colorful stained glasses.
In a church used only for meetings, individuals dressed in untouched white robes gathered around the round table for an emergency meeting.
The agenda for the emergency meeting was…
“As you all know, the topic of discussion is about ‘Check Writer.’
The one leading the emergency meeting, the Chief Priest, said.
“Through today’s meeting, the Holy Father will make a fair judgment, and based on the results, the Holy Kingdom’s attitude towards Check Writer will be determined. Is there anyone who wishes to oppose this?”
“Nope.”
“Nope.”
“Nope.”
After confirming the reactions, the Chief Priest promptly placed a book in the center of the table.
“As everyone knows, this book is ‘The Betrayed Hero Has Returned,’ which contains details about the atrocities committed against the Hero by the goddess’s recent decree in the Empire. The contents of this book have been proven true by the Holy Father through the goddess’s revelation.”
The Chief Priest and the other clergy members turned their gaze towards the Pope.
The Pope nodded slightly, as if to confirm.
“Cough, there are two things we need to discuss.”
Whether this book should go through censorship upon entering the Holy Kingdom.
How should we view Check Writer?
“First, it’s confirmed that this book will be brought into the Holy Kingdom. However, even if it contains truth, the content is very provocative and might adversely affect the young clergy’s sentiments. But the events it describes are not entirely fiction; they were experiences that the Hero actually went through. What should we do?”
Numerous opinions arose regarding the first agenda, ‘Should this book undergo censorship when entering the Holy Kingdom?’
Given that the Holy Kingdom’s motto is to restrain all desires, there was strong consensus that censorship would be advisable due to the book’s extremely provocative content.
Just as it seemed they were about to decide that all betrayer heroes would undergo censorship before entering the Holy Kingdom…
“No, everyone.”
A woman entered through the meeting room’s door and halted the discussion.
With her white hair and black blindfold covering her eyes, she was…
“S-saint!”
“What brings the Saint here…”
“The Saint has…”
She was the ‘Saint,’ whose authority could rival that of the Pope—if not surpass it.
Chief Priest, sweating coldly, asked the Saint.
“W-what brings you here, Saint?”
“Gozé Evan. Check Writer’s book must not undergo censorship.”
“B-but…”
Since the majority opinion favored censorship, he desperately tried to convince the Saint.
“Saint, you probably haven’t read this book yet. The content is true, but it’s so provocative that even the high priests gathered here have struggled to restrain themselves…”
“I have read it. Therefore, I know very well how provocative and addictive the content of this book is. But everyone, the Hero stands by the Writer’s side. The reason he is with the Writer is to reveal the truth.”
With her hands joined in a prayer-like manner, she pleaded.
“Please reconsider so that the truth the Hero wishes to reveal is not subjected to censorship…”
At her words, the clergy members around the round table fell silent.
“Thus, it has been decided that ‘The Betrayed Hero Has Returned’ will be brought into the Holy Kingdom without censorship! Is there anyone who objects?”
Censorship was promptly dismissed.
And regarding the second agenda, ‘How should we view Check Writer?’…
“I will visit him personally. As the Saint, it would be appropriate for me, who has been told the truth, to visit him myself.”