How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

13 – 13. When the Genius Author Looks for a Publisher

13.

The speech that Allen made in the literature class caused quite a stir.

Especially, the Art Department students expressed an exceptionally positive response to his remarks.

“I thought, honestly, being from the Mueller aristocracy, he might disregard art…”

“To be honest, I was moved. A person who speaks like that would pour sincerity into their novels too.”

“Hmm. It seems like the international students from Krunyug aren’t very fond of it, though.”

“What can we do? Frankly, from the outside, Allen looks rather fragile.”

“That he does.”

The topic of their conversation naturally shifted to Allen’s appearance.

“But, that hair… It’s not a color you commonly see in the Empire.”

“That’s right. I’ve heard rumors, though.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“About Lady Mueller. It’s quite a famous story within the imperial court, but there were more than a couple of people who were against the marriage because the Duchess was of Krunyug descent.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah.”

Within the Empire, this was a favorite topic of gossip among the nobility.

Although she has now retired to her hometown for recuperation, Lady Mueller still remains a subject of relentless chatter.

The blame falls on her for passing on the non-Imperial hair color and appearance to Allen.

While Albert and Alice are said to take after their father, Duke Mueller, Allen is said to resemble their mother.

“Do you think Allen would look good in women’s clothing?”

“I agree. He has a slim build, and there is a significant distance between him and muscularity.”

“Yep, he’s a pretty boy.”

“How about casting him in the role of the heroine for this year’s academic festival?”

“That could work.”

In the Art Department, a plot unknown to Allen is budding.

“Fuwettsu!”

Allen was in the midst of a violent sneeze, feeling a sudden chill.

Just as he was about to sneeze, Maia naturally took out the paper with the manuscript written on it. Fortunately, she did so. Otherwise, he might have had to rewrite the entire manuscript.

“Ah, thank you, Maia.”

“Responding to unexpected sneezes is also part of a maid’s job.”

“Are you superhuman?!”

“That’s what I was taught by the lady of the house.”

“What on earth did mom teach you?!”

He spat out as if absurd, but Allen knew well that Maia had learned swordsmanship directly from her mother.

Lowering his head, Allen sighed and took back the manuscript.

She quickly scanned the contents, or so it seemed, and then Maia said.

“This volume also seems to have considerable repercussions. A Black Magician Lord.”

“It’s based on actual records.”

“I knew you went to the library frequently, but I didn’t realize you were researching that side too.”

Allen nodded as he took the manuscript from her.

Using a cliché that the true villainous power was hiding behind the forced appearance of Professor McKellan was just a mechanism.

Because it’s the easiest thing to weave such things.

“The basic keywords of Shuren War Chronicles are vengeance and travels. We need various episodes. Evil lords and magicians are common villains in the heroic tales of empires, right?”

At Allen’s words, Maia seemed to agree, nodding her head.

“There seems to be some malicious descriptions about the Black Magician Lord. Or is that just my imagination?”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“It seems you weren’t satisfied with just a dismissal.”

‘Quick to catch on.’

Allen shrugged his shoulders.

“Think whatever you like.”

“Is the manuscript almost finished now?”

“It’s almost complete.”

While quickly scribbling on the manuscript he got back, Allen said,

“I have to go to the publisher in the morning.”

“I’ll make the call in advance.”

“Okay.”

“What, he’s coming here in person again?”

“Yes, in person once again.”

“Good grief…”

The owner of a small publishing company hidden away in the corners of Hwangdo, Carl O’Donnell scratched his cheek.

Despite starting his firm from scratch as a commoner and swelling it just enough to live on, Allen’s Shuren chronicles were akin to a mana bomb dropped on him.

Not that it was inherently bad.

The problem was that the pressure from the nobles coming to Carl was far more intense than anticipated.

“He could just send us the manuscript.”

“He wanted to come in person as we’re near to the academy.”

“He could’ve just sent it through that maid like before.”

“I relayed the sentiment, but he insisted on coming.”

“Why in the world?!”

Carl felt like tearing his hair out.

He didn’t understand why he insisted on coming when there was no need to.

The reason why Carl begged him not to come to the publishing house and simply send the manuscript was simple.

The noble members of the Empire’s Author Association were pressuring O’Donnell’s publishing house heavily.

Though they could bear the pressure now as the Shuren chronicles were doing well, there were valid concerns about what the future might hold.

To Carl’s lament, his secretary responded.

“…The two princesses will be accompanying him.”

“Princesses? Princesses?! Do you mean Felicia?”

“Yes. And the princess of the Eastern empire as well…”

“Why would they?!”

Carl who was pulling at his hair, and the secretary who was sighing.

“I’m not sure either. That’s the message Mr. Allen sent us.”

“I’m going bananas, seriously.”

The sound of a firm knock resonated in the ears of Carl, who was clutching his head.

“What now?”

“Sir, Mr. Allen has arrived.”

“What, already?!”

“Yes. He is waiting downstairs.”

“Bring him up to the reception room! No, I’ll go down to him!! Get the car ready!”

Watching Karl hurriedly get up without even smoothing out his clothes, the secretary touched his forehead.

“I should prepare some refreshments.”

It seemed that haste was necessary as they had a guest.

The secretary’s steps quickened.

***

“Mr. Allen, you’ve arrived!!”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Karl.”

“hahahaha, Mr. Karl! Just call me Karl! Didn’t I tell you the last time!”

At Karl’s oversensitive reaction, Allen scratched his cheek.

Behind him trailed two princesses, as if it was only natural. Felicia looked up at the building of Adonel Publishing House, as though something didn’t suit her fancy.

“Why are they publishing the Schuren Chronicles in such a place, necessarily…?”

“I chose it myself.”

“By Allen?”

“Yes.”

Following Karl’s guidance into the publishing house, Felicia and Lin follow Allen’s steps.

“Why did you choose this place, Prince Allen?”

“There was no special reason… It was obvious that a noble-led publishing company, with my name written on it, would try to publicize my name even by force.”

“Is that a problem?”

At Lin’s query, Allen laughed.

“At that time, I wanted to test how far I could go without using the name of my family.”

But the Schuren Chronicles did better than expected.

The unintended noise marketing was a huge success. If the Master of the Imperial Literary Circle hadn’t blatantly criticized the Schuren Chronicles in the newspaper, it probably would have quietly flopped.

Felicia spoke as if puzzled.

“Given the name of the Mueller family, wasn’t it inevitable that the name would spread quickly?”

“That was the problem, I didn’t take that into consideration. I should have concealed the pseudonym instead.”

Allen exclaimed regretfully.

Lin laughed.

“Even so, it would have been an interesting situation.”

“Well, there are merits in revealing your pseudonym and operating thus.”

“Sounds like something Professor McMillan would say, right, Allen?”

“I won’t comment.”

Felicia laughed knowingly.

Behind her followed Stella with a stiff face. An evidently perceivable tension decorated her face.

As the princess’s escort, she could never stray far from Felicia.

However, facing Allen made her uncomfortable. It was clear from her facial expressions.

Felicia read her countenance.

‘Are you still upset over the past, Stella?’

Not that she didn’t understand.

Despite being appointed as the princess’s escort, the Evans family was of lower nobility. They were decidedly smaller compared to Allen’s immediate family, the Duke of Mueller.

If Allen was upset by Stella’s words or tripped over something, the Evans family had no choice but to surrender.

The title of princess’s escort didn’t protect them.

-‘Loyalty is good, but remember, excessive loyalty can be poisonous, Stella.’

Stella startled at Felicia’s words conveyed through magical messaging.

-‘Prepare a place, and apologize directly to Allen.’

‘Well, there’s no need to…!’

Whether she understood Stella’s mind or not, Felicia just moved on.

The only one paying attention to her mood was Meia, walking a step or two behind.

‘The one who offended him was this lady.’

The princess’s escort, Stella Von Evans.

She heard that she was rude to Allen.

‘They said he even had a hard time understanding.’

It’s normal for nobles to get angry when they hear about someone of lower rank offending, whether that be a noble or commoner. Of course, it’s not incomprehensible for Stella, as the princess’s escort, to react this way.

Anyway, Allen didn’t take Stella’s words too seriously.

She had even discouraged the need for her to contact the Duke.

‘…I need to keep an eye on this.’

Meia’s hair fluttered in the breeze.