chapter - 30

 The Is Princess I hadn't seen in a long time seemed more cheerful.

She looked free.

Like someone who had put down a heavy burden for a moment and was smiling comfortably with a sigh of relief. Such a smile was subtly present on her face.

"It's been a while since I last came by. Can't you be a little more welcoming? I'm a bit disappointed..."

"...I am inwardly very pleased to see you."

"You should express it! Stoic men aren't popular, you know?"

"Haha..."

Cold sweat trickled down my back. I felt like a frog in front of a snake.

The Is Princess felt even more serpentine than the Lazy King with dragon eyes.

"I'll try my best..."

"Well, it's fine! These things can be adjusted slowly. By the way, it seems the Haren Royal Family paid a visit?"

"Yes, the Lazy King visited."

There was no need to hide it since she already knew the Haren Royal Family had come.

"The Lazy King himself? How unusual."

"Are you acquainted with him?"

"No. Well, maybe? I only saw him once when I was a child, at the International Conference... He's famously reclusive, so it's surprising. Hmm~."

"‥‥‥."

Silence hung between us.

Just as my back became soaked with cold sweat, the Is Princess broke the silence.

"Is he a fan?"

"Pardon?"

"The Lazy King. Didn't he come because he's a fan of Homeros, the writer?"

"Well, he did seem to be a fan."

Although that didn't seem to be the main reason for his visit.

Even thinking back on it, he was a difficult person to understand.

"Really? Then it makes sense."

"Pardon?"

"A fan's passion is hard to control. Haha. But remember, I was your first fan and patron, okay?"

"...Yes."

Are all royals and nobles so unpredictable?

For some reason, I relaxed and leaned back in my chair.

"Ah, you've relaxed!"

"Well... yes."

"That's much better. Stay comfortable like that. You can even lie down on the sofa."

"Isn't that a bit inappropriate in front of royalty?"

"Is it? I don't mind."

It's me who minds...

"Did you come to ask about the Haren Royal Family's visit?"

"No? That's part of it, but hmm~."

The Is Princess tapped her cheek with her finger, thinking.

She soon spoke in a sing-song voice.

"Was Hamlet written to criticize my father?"

"Pardon?"

"My father... I mean, the current Emperor."

"No, it wasn't."

I answered immediately.

I'm not crazy enough to write a story criticizing the Emperor.

Even in a constitutional monarchy, insulting the royal family is still a serious crime. Laws may be equal, but ranks are not.

The reason I plagiarize literature from my past life is simple.

To advance literature. So that I can enjoy more literary works. Nothing more.

"Really? Then that's fine."

"‥‥‥."

"I mean, it would be a bit off-putting if a play I enjoyed was actually criticizing my father. Even if it's just a rumor, it bothered me a bit..."

"Oh, I see."

"No matter how frustrating he is, he's still my father..."

The Is Princess averted her gaze and blushed, looking embarrassed.

So, she wasn't warning me about insulting the royal family.

She was just worried as a daughter that the play might be about her father?

"...Pfft."

"Hey, you just laughed at me!"

"No, I just thought that even royals are still kids at heart."

"Homeros, you're younger than me... So cheeky."

Even though she's royalty, she's still just starting out in life.

Realizing this made me feel more at ease.

"So, what's your next work? Are you planning to write it with your students again?"

"Hmm, I'm still thinking about it."

"Or will you serialize it like The Count of Monte Cristo?"

"That’s also under consideration... Hmm?"

Had I ever mentioned the pen name 'Herodotus' to the Princess?

"Why do you look so surprised?"

"Oh, I just didn't expect you to know."

"I know everything about you, writer."

The Is Princess gave a mischievous smile.

Hmm.

Perhaps I should remain a bit tense around her...

"Don't worry about the dedication! I'm happy just to read your works."

"Yes..."

"So, when is the next work coming out?"

"I'm actually contemplating a piece."

"A piece you're contemplating?"

"Yes."

In recent events, I've felt that this world hasn't fully embraced rationalism.

Due to magical advancements, people seem somewhat indifferent to religion... but magic itself is another form of mystery.

While it can replace religious belief, it cannot spark rationalism like scientific philosophy did on Earth.

"I'm thinking of writing a novel that encourages people to think more 'rationally' based on 'evidence' and 'logic'."

"That sounds difficult..."

"It won't be. It will actually be very entertaining and... quite popular."

.

.

.

"Hello, Herodotus! Welcome!"

"Yes, Mr. President."

"I'm so honored that you visited this humble place! Sniff..."

"It's nothing..."

The president of Half and Half pretended to cry dramatically.

The success of The Count of Monte Cristo seemed quite impressive. It was a work that remained purely for entertainment in history.

"I'm here to start a new serial novel."

"Of course! We'll definitely reserve a serialization slot for you!"

"Ah, not immediately. I need to do some research first."

There are a few key serialized novels.

Pure entertainment in The Count of Monte Cristo. Padding in Les Misérables. Cosmic horror in Lovecraft...

But if you ask which is the most famous in modern times─.

"The novel I'm going to write is a detective story."

I couldn't help but mention that work.

"A detective story... you mean?"

"Yes."

Sherlock Holmes, the one from "Why Did You Kill Holmes?"

"Specifically, it will be a detective novel. So, I need some expert advice."

"Yes, yes! We'll get the best detectives in the Empire for consultation─."

"Ah, not that kind of consultation."

I already knew the episodes I would include in the novel.

What I needed was someone who could adapt those episodes to fit this world's 'setting'.

And I already knew just the person.

When I mentioned the name, President Ryan nodded enthusiastically.

"The chief mage of the Gray Tower, Cleang? I'll sell my publishing house to bring them here!"

"If you sell the publishing house, I can't serialize the novel..."

This person is similar to the president of Kindersling...

.

.

.

[Greetings. I am Cleang, the chief mage of the Gray Tower. I am writing because there are some inaccuracies in the depiction of magic in your work. In the story... ]

.

.

.

"Hello... I am Milly Cleang, the chief mage of the Gray Tower."

"Ah, hello. You look quite different from your letter."

Dark circles like a panda and messy hair. She looked like a graduate student.

That was Milly Cleang.

She spoke in a slow, relaxed voice.

"Letters have a format... I was surprised that you look so young..."

I hadn't taken the 'Hyde potion'. I planned to be 'Herodotus' with my real appearance.

I probably looked like I had just entered the academy, so her reaction was understandable.

"Ah, yes. I invited you because I need your magical expertise to complete my work."

I pulled out the 'fan letter' she had sent me.

She had pointed out inaccuracies in the depiction of magic, showing a deep understanding of the 'story'. She explained how each magic worked, making it easy to understand.

She offered advice that preserved the story while maintaining accuracy.

It was a difficult task without a deep love for the work.

"I was very impressed by this fan letter. As you can see, I'm young and lack some knowledge. I need your advice to complete my work."

"Chief..."

"Yes?"

"Call me Chief Mage..."

"Ah, yes. Chief Mage."

"I'm really a great mage... The best in the Gray Tower... None of my peers come close... Really..."

"Yes. Now, about the magical consultation─."

"Aren't you curious how I became chief...?"

"No."

"I'll tell you anyway... It all started when I first joined the tower..."

...This person─.

"Since then... the tower master immediately recognized my talent... It was a bit overwhelming, but unavoidable..."

─Was an incredibly slow talker and a relentless chatterbox!