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

5 – 05. A fleeting encounter can turn into fate.

05.

Well, that makes sense, thought Alan.

The stories about ‘Shuren Electrics’ were flowing from the Empire day by day. Alan even heard stories while incognito, no matter where he went.

There were good reviews as well, although the majority of them were rather negative.

Although he didn’t pay them much mind.

Innovation always brings about pain in its wake, and the backlash from the existing regime compounded it, as if a hot sauce was added into the mix.

-“My homeland is in the distant Far East, far removed from Westland. It’s a joy that you would take an interest in such a place. When I heard that the author of ‘Schreiben Chronicle’ was from the sword lineage of Westland… the Mueller Duke’s lineage, I was unable to hide my surprise.”

Alan could feel the color draining from his face.

He felt as if thousands, not just dozens or hundreds, of stares were piercing through him like arrows from all around.

He felt like fainting right on the spot.

‘What the hell…!’

-“I was surprised. To discover that there are those in Westland who understand Kunlun.”

-“I hope this study abroad experience will greatly benefit me and Kunlun, as well as Westland. Oh, and.”

Lynn momentarily paused, her gaze subtly turning toward Alan.

As if finding him hidden among the crowd, the eyes of the princess from the East twinkled with laughter.

He felt as if he was choking.

-“Alan Edgard von Mueller, my thanks to you. I hope for your continued good writings. Now, I must take my leave.”

With a smile, Lynn finished speaking and left the stage.

Alan could feel his vision blurring.

‘I’m ruined.’

His academy life seemed to be off to a terrible start even before it had officially begun.

***

“…Meiya.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I think I’m going to puke… now I feel like dying…”

Immediately after the entrance ceremony, Alan rushed out of the auditorium and fell flat onto the bed at his lodging near the academy.

His maid, Meiya—as emotionless as ever—was by his side.

“I can get you a refreshing drink.”

“Just water… I think I will really die if I don’t drink…”

“I’ll bring it right away.”

Not long after Meiya left, there was a knock at the door.

“Alan! Are you in there?”

“Brother…?”

The familiar voice.

Albert Elring von Mueller, his brother.

Meiya’s voice followed soon after.

“Big brother, I would like to excuse myself for a moment.”

“I didn’t realize there were maids here. Come in.”

“Thank you.”

As the door opened, the maid entered, followed by Albert.

Alan had sprawled out on the bed to greet his older brother.

“What’s going on, bro…”

“It has already been rumored that the school entrance ceremony was spectacular. Even the princess of Kunlun fell for you.”

“…I feel sick to my stomach.”

Albert broke out laughing at Alan’s reaction.

“It means your novel is that famous. You should be happy about it. Even the Princess of Kunlun found it worth reading.”

“It’s because the noise marketing worked well.”

“Getting it talked about to grab attention? Isn’t that a strategy?”

Albert confirmed that a noble with deep knowledge is different. He understood the term ‘noise marketing’ right away.

Alan grunted, getting up from the bed. He finished the glass of water offered by the maid and placed it back.

“It’s not applicable only to strategies, bro. It applies to any product sold in the market.”

“Is it related to the backlash from the literary world of the empire?”

“Thanks to their opposition, it was disseminated all over instead. If they hadn’t overtly attacked my novel, it wouldn’t have spread this far.”

This was true.

Alan’s novel, published under his name, wouldn’t have attracted much attention, it would have been buried in obscurity.

They didn’t do any promotion in the first place.

Even though they could have promoted it everywhere using Muller’s Family name, they didn’t.

To put it simply, they wanted to test how far the novel of a new author without promotion could climb.

But it just so happened that a noble with connections to a literary master of the empire found it in a bookstore and spoke about it. This is what started the spread.

The butterfly effect couldn’t be denied.

“By the way, where’s our sister?”

“Alice? She took a dungeon-clearing request a while ago and isn’t here. She’ll be back soon though.”

“She isn’t hurt, is she…?”

“Hurt? Alice?”

Albert chuckled heartily.

“I may feel confident against others, but when it comes to Alice, confidence is hard to find. Do you get what I mean?”

“That confident?”

It wasn’t strange for Allen to question this.

Older brother Albert was in his third year at the academy, and sister Alice in her second year.

Furthermore, in the noble family of Mueller, Albert’s swordsmanship was so highly esteemed that it was recognized by their father, Duke Mueller, against whom Albert trained directly with the sword.

Of course, sister Alice was no different in this respect, but nevertheless, Albert was generally rated as the stronger of the two.

Yet, against Alice, Albert admitted he didn’t feel confident.

“That is the reality of the situation. But don’t worry. I haven’t trained haphazardly enough to risk getting hurt elsewhere. The knights of the Mueller family aren’t raised to be weak.”

“All except you, Allen,” Albert added with a laugh.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Do I need a reason to see my brother’s face? I came since the entrance ceremony is taking place, but the hall was noisy as soon as we arrived.”

Albert added, “It was noisier than when Alice was admitted,” and continued speaking.

“Upon asking around, I heard Kuenruong’s princess herself called out your name?”

“My head hurts, brother.”

“hahahaha, I understand. If the prince or princess had called out my name on the day of admission, I would have reacted the same way.”

Even if the prince or princess of the Empire directly named him, it would be surprising, but the important thing was that it was the princess of the Kuenruong Empire, not their own, who did so.

Albert, leaning on his sword, spoke.

“Honestly, the actual reason I visited is because of that. The prince and princess seem to have taken an interest in you.”

“Huh?”

Being pointed out alone by the Kuenruong princess was giving him a headache, let alone having the prince and princess of their empire gaining an interest in him. He was dreading to face the princess.

Seeing Allen’s expression crumble as though he was stung by a wasp, Albert chuckled.

“Don’t react too much. I mean they are purely interested in you. Even if our family doesn’t have any links in that direction, it’s just too much of a coincidence.”

“Is it because I am different, they are showing interest?”

“Well, similar. Furthermore, both the prince and the princess have a high interest in Kuenruong. Do you know about the relationship between our empire and Kuenruong?”

Allen shook his head.

The Eastern Empire Kuenruong and the Western Empire Tyranto.

In truth, it was quite recent when he came to know that Kuenruong wasn’t a territory, but the name of an empire itself.

A massive Eastern Empire, overseeing a region centered around Kuenruong, hence Kuenruong.

Albert spoke.

“The higher-ups in the empire have been extraordinarily attentive since the princess of Kunlun came to the academy. They’re maintaining a close watch on the princess and prince.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“The princess from the Eastern Empire seems to have taken an interest in you, of all people.”

Allen slightly furrowed his brow.

“They’re also hoping that a relationship can be improved with Kunlun through you.”

“You’re out of line, brother.”

“Well, that’s just talk.”

Albert shrugged his shoulders.

“Either way, expectations are high. Your first novel has already caused quite a stir. Our father will probably be pleased.”

“I’m feeling sick.”

“hahahaha, enjoy it. It’s not like anything changes if you pine over it.”

“Perhaps.”

Once he gets his dorm assignment, hell is likely to break loose.

Allen sighed.

“…My academy debut turned out to be splendid.”

“Think of it as a good thing. Since you’re part of the Muller family, attracting attention is inevitable.”

At the words of Albert, Allen scratched his cheek.

He wasn’t wrong.

As a noble’s child, there would be people intent on befriending Allen, and even if not, there would be people interested in him.

His name was already being circulated as the author of Shuren’s Chronicles, so people were likely to take notice.

In other words, he wasn’t sure when or where an assassination attempt might come.

‘…This is unsettling.’

Not knowing whether Albert knew of his inner turmoil, he merely grinned happily.

“If you’re feeling better, let’s go eat. I know a good place.”

“Ah.”

“Hurry up and rise.”

Thinking there wouldn’t be a huge shift in the situation even if he stayed in his dorm, Allen also stood from his seat.

***

“I never expected to meet you here.”

Allen screamed internally at the sight of the beautiful girl in red, Lyn, standing in front of him.

‘Why on earth is the princess from the East Empire dining with my brother in a restaurant?!’

He could feel the burning gaze from the bodyguard, Shen, standing behind Lyn who approached him with a natural smile. It was like something out of a martial arts novel or a fantasy story, a fiercely loyal guard tasked with protecting a lady.

It was a gaze that strongly conveyed the message: any approach meant death.

“There is a saying in Kunlun, ‘Even a passing touch creates a bond’. How about sharing a meal together?”

At Lyn’s words, Allen broke out in a cold sweat.

‘…I’m done for.’