Chapter 66: Storm (1)

What makes the Xenon’s Biography a true masterpiece of this era, revered by people regardless of nationality, is due to various reasons.

However, it’s mostly because Xenon’s Biography is a novel that can be easily accessed by anyone, regardless of their social status or gender.

It is not filled with difficult and obscure words nor does it speak in circles. Rather, it succinctly and clearly tells a story that stimulates the imagination. Through this imagination, it unfolds a whole new world in the reader’s mind.

With this one feature alone, Xenon’s Biography meets the requirements for global popularity. In addition, with its exciting story, it is no surprise that its popularity continues to soar.

Furthermore, even people who were illiterate would learn how to read, so that they can read Xenon’s Biography, highlighting its significance.

In fact, many readers who come across unfamiliar words or phrases in Xenon’s Biography often look them up in the dictionary or figure out the meaning on their own.

However, when popularity rises to the point of reaching the sky, there are naturally side effects.

Other than Xenon’s Biography, hardly any other books are selling, and there have been numerous cases of people who have read the book and become obsessed with becoming the protagonist, resulting in unfortunate consequences.

In a way, this may seem like a natural phenomenon, but unfortunately, no one in this world has ever experienced such a thing, where a “culture” that became popular, regardless of gender, age, class, or race, did not exist.

So far, there have been no side effects to enjoying that culture, but after the release of the tenth volume of Xenon’s Biography, hidden problems have surfaced.

“Open the door quickly! You’re a publishing company! You must know who Xenon is!”

“Please at least tell us the situation! You said last time that there were concerns about his health!”

“Why are you suddenly taking a break?! What does it mean that you’re suffering mentally? Come out and explain yourself right now!”

The entrance of the publishing company famous for signing the rights to Xenon’s Biography was crowded with numerous people shouting and making noise.

From ordinary citizens to adventurers with thick bones, as well as people from various professions, they all gather together to raise their voices.

It is extremely rare for such a diverse group of people with no common ground to come together and protest. Moreover, there are hardly any instigators inciting them to do so.

Oh, of course, there is one thing they all have in common: they are all fans of Xenon’s Biography, who have come together after reading the tenth volume.

“We don’t know either! We only receive the manuscript and print the book!”

“Yes! Even if you scream like this, nothing will come out!”

The employees who were struggling to hold back the protesters were really on edge. They felt somewhat unfair, as they themselves didn’t know the reason why the author declared a long hiatus.

Just two days after the release of Xenon’s Biography volume 10, the crowd rushed in like a tsunami, making it urgent to stop them. Fortunately, the protesters didn’t become violent, so they could stop them for the time being.

However, if they were provoked any further, the publishing company could really be occupied. They had to find a way to calm things down before it was too late, but there wasn’t even a hint of a solution.

‘Do something about this!’

The employee holding back the protesters screamed in a silent shout while looking at their company with resentful eyes.

So, how was the situation within the publishing company progressing?

“How could it not work? You’re obviously the publisher, so you must have a connection to Xenon.”

“Please send this letter at least. If he’s suffering mentally, I can take responsibility.”

He was struggling with the nobles who had gathered from all over the country. The CEO looked at the powerless nobles who were begging him with a disappointed expression.

He expected it, but it was dizzying to face it directly. This scenery was something he had never experienced before.

He was just a wealthy man who made an enormous amount of money since signing a contract with Xenon’s Biography. He didn’t have any power like the nobles in front of him or the ability to easily dismiss them.

However, not just one person, but a crowd rushed in and occupied the CEO’s office, going crazy and making a commotion.

‘I don’t know either. You bastards.’

The CEO inwardly chuckled in disappointment as he watched the nobles protesting in front of him.

The nobles were not much different from the protesters who had occupied the entrance of the publishing company, except in the way they expressed themselves. However, they all shared the same concern for the author of Xenon’s Biography.

Unlike the selfish nobles who were searching for the author for their own gain, these were true fans who loved Xenon’s Biography itself.

As if to prove this, most of the nobles in the CEO’s office were barons or lower. The viscounts and above were too busy with official duties to come to a publishing company like this, and even if they had the time, they would not come to such a place for a meeting, but hold a meeting among themselves.

“Um... Excuse me, everyone? I’m sorry, but even if you ask me again, I really don’t know. I don’t know why the author went on hiatus...”

“That’s why we’re asking you! Please tell us why the author is having a hard time, and why he’s going on hiatus for almost two years!”

The CEO tried to calm down the situation, sweating profusely, but it fell apart as one of the noblewomen retorted in a loud voice.

The CEO flinched at the noblewoman’s sharp voice and responded meekly.

I had sent a letter to the publisher, but I wondered if it would really make a difference.

As I was pondering this strange turn of events, Marie, who was sitting next to me, spoke up, fidgeting in her seat.

“So, how do you feel?”

“What about?”

“You know, feeling firsthand the global impact beyond the empire.”

I scratched my head, at a loss for words to respond to Marie’s question. As they say, experiencing something once is more effective than hearing about it a hundred times, and seeing the turmoil within the classroom made me realize it was real.

Even the students at the academy could sense the unease, so the situation outside must have been chaotic. I exhaled deeply through my nose and glanced at Marie.

She was smiling her characteristic serene smile as if she had no worries at all. Unlike others, Marie came from the powerful Requilis family, second only to the emperor in terms of influence.

So undoubtedly, Marie’s family must have been affected as well. There was no way not to worry.

“Do you not worry at all?”

“A little? But it’ll be calm soon. I can assure you of that.”

Doubt crept into my mind at her confident answer. As I blinked and tilted my head, Marie snickered.

Then she looked behind us and gestured towards me. As if asking me to lend her an ear, she slowly brought her face closer to mine.

“Whoo~”

“Hey!”

Startled by the sound of wind rushing into my ear, I flinched. Like a live fish, I leaped up and Marie burst out laughing mischievously.

“Hehe. Was that fun?”

“Ah, really... Don’t play pranks like that.”

“Sorry. Sorry. And can you look to your side for a moment?”

“What now...”

I thought she was playing another prank, but as I turned my head to the side as she asked, I couldn’t help but blink at the sight of a person who had just entered my view.

A beautiful woman with golden hair cascading like waves, jewel-like blue eyes, and a pure demeanor stood next to me.

It was Rina, the princess of the Minerva Empire.

For a moment, I was puzzled as to why Rina was standing next to me, but she looked at me with a dark expression. It was not her usual calm face but a face immersed in deep thought.

“Isaac.”

“Hmm... Yes?”

The girl who called my name glanced at Marie once. Marie shrugged her shoulders in response.

Having received permission from Marie, Rina looked at me with a determined expression and spoke in a low voice.

“Can you spare a moment?”

I was taken aback by her request. Marie, who was standing next to me, spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“That’s not how you ask for a favor, is it?”

“...”

“You should ask politely. Po. Lite. Ly.”

Marie’s manner of speaking, with each word enunciated precisely, seemed to irritate Rina. Rina shot Marie a slightly venomous look.

Marie snorted and relaxed a bit.

But Rina seemed to realize that there was no benefit to having this kind of confrontation, and she clenched her fists. Then she looked at me again and made her request.

“I need to ask you for a favor.”

Her voice sounded like it had lost some of its strength.

Translators note:

Diablo 4 is actually really good. Didn’t expect that honestly...

Bonus chapter for another 20 ratings.