chapter - 6

 Supporting an artist is a way of encouraging them to continue their creative activities.

This might be seen as a token of appreciation from fans, but it’s more akin to a demand for more work.

“Having trouble creating due to financial issues? Here’s some money. Use it.”

“Income instability due to fluctuations? Here’s some money. Use it.”

“Feeling your work isn’t getting the recognition it deserves? Here’s some money. Use it.”

Although it’s a bit of a simplification, the essence remains the same. Artists might call their creations “works” rather than “products,” but true patrons consume art just like any other commodity.

Thus, as someone sponsored by a prince, I had to continue my writing activities.

In truth, even without the money, I intended to introduce works from my previous life to advance literature in this world. In that sense, the prince’s and my objectives aligned.

“I need to publish a new piece...!”

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Thirty minutes had passed since I sat in front of a blank sheet with my pen.

Inspiration wouldn’t come.

I wasn’t trying to create an original piece out of a sudden desire for creativity.

“What kind of work should I write...?”

“Whatever you write will surely be a masterpiece, young master!”

“Thank you.”

It would indeed be a masterpiece since I planned to plagiarize a classic from my past life.

But I didn’t know which one to copy.

“Zion, if you were a reader, what kind of novel would you want to read?”

“Hm, something humorous and touching like Don Quixote, I suppose.”

“That’s a typical response.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s just a thought.”

Many works came to mind. Anna Karenina, The Little Prince, Les Misérables... even introducing science fiction could be interesting.

However, merely plagiarizing literature from my past life wasn’t enough.

My goal was to increase the number of enjoyable novels. For that, I needed a genre novel that could serve as a reference. Pure literature could flourish afterward.

“I wish I could write a mystery novel...”

“A mystery novel with a detective protagonist? That sounds difficult.”

“No, I mean, mysteries or thrillers in a general sense would be fine too.”

“All right?”

All (genre) novels use the three plots of ‘mystery,’ ‘fantasy,’ and ‘romance.’

For instance, chivalric literature combines the fantasy plot of ‘the hero’s journey’ and the romantic plot of ‘the knight protecting a noble lady.’ These fundamental plots form the backbone of all novels.

And in this era, the most lacking plot was ‘mystery.’

Foreshadowing and twists, suspense and mystery, questions and answers, pursuit and analysis. The mystery plot is a product of modern rationalist thought.

“But writing that myself is a different story...”

The problem is that this world has magic and mysticism.

To adapt a mystery novel like Sherlock Holmes or And Then There Were None to this world, I would have to rewrite the story from its roots.

“Are you feeling burdened?”

“Yes, it’s a burden.”

“Because of the sponsorship?”

“That’s part of it...”

Thinking of the prince gave me a headache.

The empire’s third prince identified as a woman. Thanks to subtle clues, I realized he was a man, but outwardly, he appeared to be a woman. He had no Adam’s apple and a high-pitched voice.

He had a quite progressive view on ‘souls.’

So progressive that the church would consider it heresy if they found out.

“Zion, what do you think a soul is?”

“A soul...? Well, I’ve heard it’s the immortal spirit and life.”

“What about the relationship between the soul and the body?”

“The soul, as a unique spiritual entity, combines with the body to form a complete being... right?”

Zion’s answer was religious.

Most people in this world probably think similarly, except for the prince, who was born with an incomplete union of soul and body.

It didn’t mean the prince was an unbeliever or indifferent.

On the contrary, he had reached his own religious conclusion based on his experience: that the imperfect union of soul and body is more beautiful, a romantic answer.

“From my perspective, both views are correct...”

The mind and body influence each other.

This happens on complex levels such as hormones, tendencies, and socialization. Hence, they can sometimes clash severely.

Someone might identify as ‘male’ on one level and ‘female’ on another.

“We simplify things into mind or instincts, but actually... huh?”

I felt like I had read a novel dealing with this topic.

Yes, that novel was...

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...”

At that moment, a strange certainty overcame me.

This is it.

“Zion.”

“Yes, young master?”

“Prepare for research.”

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[I have been steadily approaching the conclusion that ‘human souls are not one but two,’ in terms of both ethics and intellect.]

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a mystery novel.

The story follows Dr. Jekyll’s friend Utterson as he tracks the mysterious figure known as ‘Hyde.’ Since I knew the ‘solution’ to the novel, my writing process reversed from the ‘solution’ to the ‘question.’

I wrote the revelation of Jekyll and Hyde’s identity first, then added foreshadowing bit by bit.

Hyde’s unforgivable crimes, the unsettling descriptions of Hyde, and testimonies about Hyde from others. Adding these elements gradually formed a proper mystery novel.

“This is fun.”

Once the puzzle was completed, my loyal servant Zion was the first to read it.

With an excited expression, Zion accepted the manuscript.

“This novel is quite short.”

“Unlike Don Quixote, there’s no need for many episodes.”

The style of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is close to hardboiled.

Hyde’s crimes are described dryly and roughly. The contrast between these descriptions and the horrified reactions of others creates a strange fear in the reader.

Zion sat on the floor to read the manuscript.

He could have read it sitting on a chair, but he was too excited to notice anything around him.

“...”

Even his wildly moving eyes showed how absorbed he was in the story.

Occasionally, he shuddered.

I found his reactions amusing and couldn’t help but watch.

About an hour passed.

“Ah...?”

A sigh escaped Zion’s lips.

It was the kind of sigh one makes when hearing an unexpected fact, slightly shocked.

Zion looked at me briefly after finishing the manuscript.

Then he returned to reading, finishing the remaining pages quickly.

When Zion finally closed the manuscript, he sighed in a voice still tinged with shock.

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were the same person...”

“Quite a shocking twist, right?”

“Really, I didn’t expect it at all. Now that I think about it, there were enough hints, but I was completely convinced they were different people. Like being possessed by a demon...”

“That’s the charm of a mystery novel.”

“I felt like I was committing a sin while reading it.”

Zion confessed with a dazed expression, as if in a confessional.

“It was unpleasant, scary, and left an uncomfortable feeling in my chest... but I was captivated by a strange mystery... It felt like reading a forbidden book. I had to turn the page to find out the secret.”

“Have you read a forbidden book?”

“Oh, no! I meant it must feel like this to read one!”

His frantic denial was a bit suspicious, but it wasn’t important.

“So, did you enjoy it?”

“Yes! I think I’ll be haunted by the ending all night.”

“But don’t go around spoiling the ending, okay?”

“Of course! I’ll take it to my grave!”

Good.

Now all that’s left is to publish it.

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The news of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’s publication quickly spread throughout the empire.

Thanks to my reputation as the author of Don Quixote, the first edition sold out much faster than the first part of Don Quixote did.

“Hey, have you read Homer’s new book, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?”

“No, I haven’t had the time yet. I hear it’s another masterpiece, especially the final twist.”

And with the rise of a famous mystery novel came an inevitable issue.

“I’m telling you, at the end, it’s revealed that Dr. Jekyll and Hyde are actually the same person, and it’s chilling─”

“You bastard?!”

Spoilers.

“This calls for a duel!”