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

57 – 57. Long Live the Emperor!(2)

57.

Time passed peacefully.

The war had stopped, the world had changed to peaceful exchange. Although it was a somewhat anxious peace because each other was hiding what they were thinking under the surface.

No one denied it was a peaceful era though.

If it wasn’t a time of peace, it would be difficult for culture to flourish.

In peaceful times, culture progresses, while in war times, war techniques are developed. This is not strange.

Time at the Bertha Imperial Academy naturally flew by like an arrow.

“…Finally, it’s finished!”

“Man, it was really hard to get the approval from the original creator.”

“It’s all because Alan is too picky!”

Even as the drama students pointed fingers at him, Alan could only laugh softly.

It’s natural for an author’s review to be included.

As for the comic, Leila was tremendously skilled so Alan did not need to criticize it, but turning it into a play was made with more caution because it was pretty much like making a live action.

It was a live action of their first work. The play about the Chronology of Shuren, a work that had not been finished yet, was only a prologue now.

‘That means it can be made into a series.’

For Alan, there was nothing bad about this.

If the play created by the students at the Academy achieves success, it was obvious that famous theater companies and theaters would be interested in it.

No, first of all, the famous theater companies were already protesting why Alan had entrusted this work to the students. Letters of objection were continually arriving to him.

“Everyone worked hard. In music, in art, everyone strived significantly. Should we… have a celebration party?”

“Uh? Really?”

Allen nodded his head.

These are his academy peers who had struggled to make his work into new pieces. The only thing that Allen had done himself was to inspect them.

Of course, that inspection work was not easy either.

Among the arts students, there were those who wanted to become playwrights that write theatre scripts. They drafted the first version in the playwright’s club, Allen inspected it, and then the script was revised.

The passion of the theater students was so great that they wished to pass the author’s inspection at almost every stage.

Even during exam periods, they went to the extent of troubling Allen.

“Yes. Everyone has worked hard.”

“What do you mean worked hard. Allen, you’ve struggled more, haven’t you?”

“Well, let’s just say that.”

Smirking, Allen shrugged his shoulders.

After all, he had to deal with theater students seeking advice even during the exam period while preparing for his own exams.

Allen stood up from the chair and clapped.

“So let’s meet tonight. Everyone’s schedule is free, right?”

“So that’s why you told us to clear our schedule on the day this got finished?”

“That’s right. Everyone has worked hard, so I’ll pay for it.”

“Hurrah!”

Possibly due to the joy of finally escaping from the hardship of the production process, everyone was screaming with joy while hugging each other.

Allen moved away laughing lightly.

“Let’s meet tonight. Mei Ah, let’s go.”

“Yes, Your Lordship.”

***

The scale of gathering Allen was planning was not just a small party.

None other than the youngest son of the Mueller Ducal Family was hosting this large-scale party. A majority of the theater, art, and music students were invited, and it was a really large-scale party where even the members of the novel comic club, which Allen had founded himself, were participating.

The participation of Felicia and Lynn had also been confirmed, so virtually all the academians of noble birth were drawing near and it became a super large-scale party.

“…People seem to have dressed up quite a lot.”

“The scale has become glamorous rather than modest, Your Lordship.”

“Indeed.”

Allen scratched his cheek.

They didn’t like him, but it was evident that the fools, longing for any possible connection with Felicia, kept circling around her.

Alan scoffed and took a sip of his drink.

His palate, long accustomed to modern carbonated drinks, implied that this beverage was nothing extraordinary. However, for Alan, it didn’t matter at all.

It was sweet and delicious.

A little lacking compared to modern drinks made by blending fruits and sweeteners, but it certainly had the taste of nature.

“… Alan.”

“Oh, what is it, Leila. You came dressed pretty.”

Alan’s words caused a blush to rise on Leila’s face. She was wearing a white dress that complemented her silver hair.

As usual today, her shoulders were shrouded with a shawl and cape, hiding her upper body. However, the feeling was that her overflowing-detail Skirt, pouring down from her waistline, greatly flaunted her charm.

“…It’s a party.”

“Our family is also hosting it.”

Leila nodded.

When going to parties hosted by other nobles, no matter how much you dislike it, it was courteous to match the dress code. It’s a basic manners in the noble society.

Of course, the fact that she had also wore a cape today was primarily because of overwhelming shyness.

Alan did not bother to nitpick about it.

“Enjoy and have a good time. You’ve been working hard too.”

“…I will gladly.”

“Oh, Lord Alan! You’re here!”

“Diabella?”

Alan leaned his head slightly to see Diabella standing behind Leila.

The librarian from the central library of the academy, with her neatly braided leaf-green hair, wore a dress in which the color became darker towards its end.

The dress was mainly a blend of light green and white in the upper half, but as it descended, it took on a deeper green color, giving it an impression of being symbolism of the forest.

The dress did not touch the floor and was cut off slightly above her calves.

Was it like a fairy’s dress?

At this, Diabella let out a bashful smile.

“Pretty, isn’t it?”

“It’s beautiful. I wonder who’s the designer? It surely took a lot of effort to achieve this gradient.”

If the color intensifies towards the end, it’s apparent that much effort was put into during the dying process.

At Alan’s comment, Diabella chuckled.

“A craftsman from my hometown made it. I was told that I might have to attend noble parties at the academy.”

“The outfits are impressive. The design as well. Gives the feel of a fairy’s dress.”

“Because they’re elves!”

“Ah, right.”

Allen had a light conversation with Diabella while grinning.

Diabella blushingly felt good about Allen’s compliments.

“Am I, really pretty, Allen?”

“I’ve never thought of Diabella as not pretty.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie? If it’s pretty, it’s pretty. Would I say it’s ugly?”

At Allen’s words, Diabella laughed brightly.

It was cute how Diabella, who is usually so cold to others, ended up with a sloppy smile.

Diabella quickly recovered her sloppy face and cleared her throat humbly.

“Can, can we pretend this last conversation didn’t happen?”

“Sure. Anything else you curious about?”

“Of course! Is volume 6 not ready yet, Allen?”

I wondered when this question would come.

Allen laughed and bit into the apple that Maya had brought. It was a sweet and delicious apple grown in the Alsace region of the western empire.

Holding another apple, Allen said,

“The play is completed, so it should be out soon. The manuscript has been handed over some time ago.”

“Oh, so it’s not immediately released?”

“Um, we decided to link volume 6 and the play for now.”

“Link?”

Allen nodded.

“Volume 6 itself should already have some initial copies out. As you know, Diabella, since the first edition prints the least copies, it has high rarity.”

“Of course.”

Diabella herself also ran around like crazy to get a first edition.

She wasn’t the only one.

The first edition of the Schurion chronicles was literally small in copies compared to other editions. It wasn’t that they intentionally printed fewer copies, but despite Adornell Publishing House’s efforts to secure as many initial copies as possible, they got sold off in a flash.

Even the imperial bookstores compete with each other for these copies, and the main clientele of academy students and imperial citizens are not free from this competition.

So the day of a new release was always a war.

The students without morning classes would always wait in front of the bookstore, ready to buy books.

‘I had never considered doing an open run just to sell books,’ thought Allen, intrigued by the unusual popularity.

As he switched his cup of a drink, Allen said, “This time, we’re giving a sneak peak of the six books to those who come to watch the play. Something like that.”

“So, the official publication will be postponed a bit longer, then?”

“You’re quick on the uptake, Diabella.”

“Ahem. Of course, I am.”

Seeing Diabella blush after her confident response, Allen chuckled.

Laila interjected, “Are you announcing this today?”

“Sure thing.”

Allen drank a sip of his apple-scented drink.

“It seems we have a decent crowd. It’s about time for the main character to make an appearance.”

Students from the drama, art, and music departments were too busy complimenting each other on their hard work to notice anything else, while Felicia and Lynn were surrounded by those wanting to spend a bit more time talking to them.

Allen, with Maia, Laila, and Diabella tagging along behind, slowly moved his steps.

As he moved, people stepped out of his way, naturally creating a path. No one was inconsiderate enough to block the way of the host of today’s party.

As he moved past the students who were greeting him, Allen took a stand in the center and raised his voice.

“Welcome, all, to the completion party of the ‘Shuren Chronicles’ play! Since we have an announcement before the actual performance of the ‘Shuren Chronicles’, we have arranged this gathering.”

All eyes quickly shifted to him.

Allen had used the word ‘announcement’ formally.

“Publication of the 6th volume of the ‘Shuren Chronicles’ will be in 6 weeks. Also, the ‘Shuren Chronicles’ play will start performing two weeks from now.”

Everyone’s eyes were glued to his lips.

They were filled with anticipation about what he was going to say next.

After another sip of his drink, Allen continued.

“‘Shuren Chronicles’ volume 6 will be exclusively pre-released to those who will watch the ‘Shuren Chronicles’ play.”

There were exclamations of disbelief from every corner.

Allen smiled at the reactions.

“If you want to get a sneak peak, you might want to consider watching the ‘Shuren Chronicles’ play. You can enjoy both the play and the plot of the sixth volume in advance. And of course, because this is a pre-release, it will be distributed for free.”

It’s a strategy to boost interest in the Shuren Chronicles play, even at a slight loss.

Even though it was a free distribution, the quantity wouldn’t be substantial.

Just a taste was usually provided, and from those who had tasted, word of mouth would spread, maximising the anticipation of those who hadn’t had a taste. It was an essential sales tactic.

Alan was all for exploiting this tactic.

“We’ll have to see the play, won’t we?”

Alan laughed.