CHAPTER 20 – STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (2)

December 17, 2022 — 2 Comments

It’s been a fortnight since the release of the eighth volume of Xenon’s Saga.
I brought a newspaper that was placed in front of the dormitory door before beginning a new day today.

There were two kinds of newspapers available: one from Heutor Newspaper and one from Tutli.
The difference was that Heutor’s newspaper focused on humans, whereas Tutli’s newspaper covered a wide range of topics regardless of race.

Because I had subscribed to two newspapers instead of one, the subscription fee was a little high, but it wasn’t a big deal.
My parents’ allowance for living expenses was good enough.

“Hmm…”

After a quick breakfast, I opened the newspaper and began looking for the news I wanted.
As you all know, the news I wanted was about the publication of Xenon’s Saga’s eighth volume released this year.

Firstly, I read the Heutor newspaper, which focused on the human side, and the news I was looking for was listed on the first page.
I leaned forward slightly, checking the news.

[The Xenon’s Saga that touched the hearts of many readers finally shows up.
By the way…]

Just as expected.
Several reactions were listed.
While some critics criticized directly because they thought it was time, many others accurately viewed the bitter reality.
It was a natural reaction because aristocratic criticism was a sensitive and hot topic for them.

Nonetheless, there did not appear to be any major issues. To be honest, am I allowed to put this in the first place? I wanted to, but after hearing Leort’s story, I was able to make up my mind.
If someone decides to find me to kill me, I’ll just hide right away or entrust myself to the imperial family.

‘Well, it’s not just the dark side.’

If Count Crost, who trapped Xenon, was a figure who revealed the dark side of aristocrats,  Count Kay, on the contrary, is a figure who reveals the bright side of aristocrats.

Maybe that’s why there were quite a few reviews for Count Kay.
Most of them were praising the appearance of Count Kay as a virtue that nobility should aim for.

‘If it hadn’t been for the Zeros Revolution, it would have been a bit dangerous.’

Similar events to the French Revolution on Earth existed in this world.
Perhaps because of that, it was rare to see nobles ‘openly’ intimidating or discriminating against commoners.
The aristocratic practice of disrespecting commoners still exists, but I have not seen such a situation yet.

As the saying goes, ‘one loach muddies the water,’ there were many nobles whose ideas were deeply ingrained.
Even if they don’t go far at first, Marie’s family, the Duke of Requilis, was realizing noblesse oblige.

The Duke, the second highest in the hierarchy after the Emperor, lived by such a motto, and the nobles below him had no choice but to be wary.

I turned the pages after reading each country’s reaction one by one.
Because the Heutor newspaper was a company with roots in the Minerva Empire, the criticisms of other countries were at the back.

“Hmm…”

As expected, the Kingdom of Teres was showing the most intense reaction.
Since it was the Kingdom of Teres where the Zeros Revolution took place, it was more sensitive to this kind of story.

But the funny thing was that almost all of them were excited about Count Crost.
The commoners, as well as the nobles and even royalty, were no different.
All of them were of one mind and one heart and were enjoying the end of Count Crost.

‘Didn’t I say that there was not much difference between the commoners and the nobles in the Teres Kingdom?’

The Kingdom of Teres was implementing a method of governance that was close to a constitutional monarchy.
It did not mean reigning but not ruling, but rather not ruling as you please.
If an aristocrat commits discrimination due to a bout of measles, he is severely punished.

I kept flipping through the newspaper and checked the time.
Now it’s time to go to class.
I’d only read the Heutor newspaper and haven’t checked the Tutuli newspaper yet.

“I’ll just read it after class.”

I put the newspaper on the bed and got ready to head to the classroom.
I didn’t forget to check my lecture notes before going out. One fatal mistake was enough.

As I walked out the door, the fresh morning air greeted me.
I proceeded to the classroom with light steps.

‘By the way, how do I purchase Xenon’s Saga at the academy?’

As soon as the news that Xenon’s Saga was released, a huge number of people gathered in front of the bookstore.

After seeing it, I was more shocked than surprised and didn’t say anything.
Perhaps it would have lessened by now.

My parents have the first edition, so it shouldn’t be a problem for reading, but my older sister and older brother were the problems.
Right now, even the author himself cannot purchase the book except for the first edition, and it is questionable how to get those two.

‘It’s amazing how I bought it until now.’

As I walked down the street with that thought in mind, I arrive at the lecture hall.
As soon as I entered the classroom, various stories entered my ears one after another.

“Did you read the eighth volume that came out this time?”

“Of course, I read it.
It was a bit bitter, but it’s as expected.”

“A commoner made such an achievement, and there is probably no nobleman who will not stand in check.
What would happen if such a thing had actually happened?”

“Hey.
Did you buy the one that came out this time? If you bought it, lend me.”

“No.
I mean, I haven’t read it all yet.”

It was now a topic of discussion that entered through one ear and flowed through the other.
I’ve been listening to it a lot, so I’m passing it along lightly.
It was more important to ensure that my acquaintances were seated.

I rested my butt on a nearly empty seat and looked around the room.

“Cecily, did you read the eighth volume of Xenon’s Saga that came out this time?”

“No.
I haven’t even bought it yet.”

“Ah, I see.
I can lend it to you, can I?”

“It’s fine.
I’m curious about the content, but I can bear it.”

Cecily was the only one who drew my attention, but she was surrounded by female students.
She wore an awkward expression as she answered the barrage of questions from the female students gathered around her.
Apparently, the current situation was burdensome.

Even though I had my doubts about Rina not being by her side, I was able to confirm that they had been sitting apart for a while and belatedly.
When I looked over at Rina, I noticed a large group of female students gathered next to her.

“What do you think, Rina? Even though it’s a novel, don’t you think it’s gone too far?”

“Um… well? If we don’t do anything wrong, we can be proud.
If it were me, I’d take a hero like Xenon as it is.
In fact, that’s often the case.”

“Then why do you think Xenon didn’t receive the title of noble? Count Kay also suggested that he could become a noble if he joined the knighthood.”

“It must have been that Xenon decided that a free adventurer was better than a nobleman.”

Unlike Cecily, who was at a loss, Rina was dealing with female students with a calm and elegant tone.
She looked like a grown-up was telling a funny story to her children, and she almost let out a little laugh.

‘Why are they sitting apart?’

Cecily and Rina would always hang out together.
At least I never saw the two of them apart.

But now they were torn apart and were far away.
As I had only seen the two of them hanging out together, I couldn’t help but wonder.

‘Did they have a fight?’

I looked back and forth between the two of them, who were straining to deal with the group of female students, and then turned my gaze forward.
It’s not something I should be concerned about right now.

‘But where did Marie go…’

As I was thinking about it, someone sat next to me and greeted me brightly.

“Hello!”

Speak of the devil and here she is.

Marie waved at me with a bright smile.
I also waved my hand to say hello.

“…Yeah.
Hello.”

“Huh? What’s with the reaction?”

“Never mind.”

I was curious as to why she, who usually arrives early to class, came at this hour, but I didn’t bother to ask.

It could be because Cecily and Rina were sitting apart and the girls were swarming around them, so she was sitting next to me.

Meanwhile, Marie greeted me with her characteristically lively voice.

“What did you do over the weekend?”

“I read a book.”

“What book? Eighth volumes of Xenon’s Saga?”

“No.
A history book.”

“Eh.
A history book?”

Marie, who heard my answer, looked as if she heard something she couldn’t bear to hear.
Like I said before, Marie hated history to the point where she shudders.

I silently nodded, and Marie opened her mouth as if she couldn’t understand.

“Why do you have to find and read that uninteresting thing? There are so many good stories to read like Xenon’s Saga.”

“I was having fun.”

Moreover, in Professor Elena’s lab, there were piles of history books and papers that I have never been seen before.
These days, I live for the pleasure of reading them.

Teaching Cindy to write seemed like it would give me cancer.
Cindy’s comprehension was catastrophic, to the point that she had to chew and digest to barely understand.
Still, she wasn’t without passion, but she couldn’t bear to curse.

“Yeah.
Everyone has different tastes.
By the way…”

Marie looked back slightly and mumbled.
Her gaze turned to Cecily and Rina.

After that, she shook her head and opened her mouth with the nuance that she could not stop..

“They’re still like that.”

“What happened?”

“Oh.
You don’t know.
They had a fight at the cafe yesterday.”

As expected, they fought. I had roughly expected it, but it was equally astonishing.

I took turns looking at Rina and Cecily, who were still surrounded by girls, and then asked Marie.

“Why? What did they fight for?”

“I don’t know.
I happened to pass by and saw it.”

“Hmm…”

Is there a topic for those two to fight about?  No matter how much I thought about it, nothing came to mind.

“Anyway, did you read the new Xenon’s Saga book released this time?”

While I was thinking deeply, Marie asked me with a slightly joking accent.
I got out of my thoughts and faced her.

Her eyes were slightly folded, giving the impression of a smirk, but somehow it felt unlucky.
It’s like feeling a sense of superiority.
To this, I answered with a raised eyebrow.

“No.
You?”

“Wew.” 

She didn’t answer but let out a strange laugh.
As soon as I saw the reaction, I could predict that Marie had bought the eighth volume.

And sure enough.
As soon as Marie’s mouth opened, the answer I expected came out.

“Of course I got it.  Even the ones I couldn’t buy until now.
My father put a lot of effort into it.”

“I see.
You didn’t commit anything illegal, did you?”

“It can’t be.
I just mobilized my personal connections.
It’s absolutely not illegal, right?”

Do you need to mobilize your personal network too just to buy a few books? It was also the Duke’s family with the most power after the emperor.

While I was puzzled to myself, Marie said with an aggravated expression.

“Are you jealous? If you are jealous, say you’re jealous.
If you really want to, I can lend it to you.”

“It’s okay.
Even if it takes time, I can buy it later.”

I am, above all, the author.
It was time for me to raise my hand and respond directly.

Marie listened to my answer and looks at this? She smiled and let out a deep sigh.

“Huh… If it comes to this, I’ll have to come up with an irresistible story.”

“An irresistible story?”

What the hell is she talking about? Marie looked around while I asked myself that question.  She seemed to be careful that no one else would listen.

Then she waved her hand as if to ask me to come closer.
I brought my face close to her, holding my question in my heart.
Marie was momentarily taken aback, and she quietly shouted.

“Hey, hey! Bring your ears close, not your face.
Ears!”

“Ah.”

I turned around and brought forward my ears.
Marie sighed and brought her hands together to her ears to keep her voice from leaking out.

“Don’t be surprised to hear this.
Actually, my father told me something startling.”

“Really? Did the Duke send you a letter?”

“Yeah.
What was written in that letter…”

Marie paused for a moment, then looked around again.
Then she whispered in my ear.

“My father said he found the author of Xenon’s Saga.”

“… …”

With that one word, I felt my heart stop.

“I heard they even invited him to our house? The author said he readily accepted it.”

“…What?”

I couldn’t help but frown at the explanation that immediately followed.

I wonder what kind of bullshit this is.

{T/N:- I wonder want kind of punishment is there for scamming a Duke.}