Chapter 48: Side:

< Chapter 48: Side: “The Strange Adventure of Duke Kapeter.” >To write a story capturing Duke Kapeter’s experiences, I gathered the necessary people. First, I called upon the two authors who would be in charge of the upcoming ‘adventure story.’

“Homer, has the result come out?!”

“Haha! Of course, I won, didn’t I?”

It was Johann and Hans, who had decided to compete with their adventure stories. Their works, fueled by the marketing campaign of ‘planned publishing,’ were selling like hotcakes alongside ‘Fifteen Boys Adrift’ and ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.’

Although they didn’t receive as much response as the two classics, the results were good enough to be considered a success.

“Yes. First, let me announce the results.”

“Yes!”

“Mr. Johann.”

“Yes!”

“Congratulations. You received an average score of 3.8, the highest score.”

“Haha! Is that so!”

“Ugh─. Really? What was my score?”

“Hans, you really are pathetic! Well, it was a foregone conclusion.”

“Mr. Hans, your average score is 3.1.”

“That can’t be….”

In truth, this competition was disadvantageous for Hans. The overwhelming popularity of ‘Fifteen Boys Adrift’ and ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ overshadowed his work.

Hans, trying to win with a revenge plot for broader appeal, found it to be a double-edged sword. Although revenge stories were still intriguing and sold well, they couldn’t match the excitement of this world’s first ‘SF’ adventure set in a submarine. Johann’s choice to focus on historical narratives with a solid readership turned out to be the right one.

However, a competition was a competition, and since both had agreed to this method, they had no choice but to accept the outcome.

“But what was the theme you two were trying to settle through this competition?”

“Well, of course─, ah.”

“Huh, Johann, why can’t you speak confidently? That’s not very manly.”

“…Well, that, um.”

This time, Johann, sweating nervously, averted his gaze, while Hans became more assertive. Hans argued that Homer’s ‘Father Brown’ was better, while Johann insisted that Herodotus’ ‘Sherlock Holmes’ was superior.

“Mr. Johann, do you think Herodotus is a better mystery writer than I am?”

“Ah, that, um─ strictly speaking, in terms of ‘Sherlock Holmes,’ the grammar of mystery novels, and its influence, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Huh, Johann, didn’t you say last time that Herodotus was the god of mystery novels?”

“Hans, since you lost, just stay out of it!”

Watching them bicker again, I couldn’t help but chuckle. And then,

“What if the premise of that competition was wrong from the start?” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the n0vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“What?”

I took out the pre-prepared potion and swallowed it in one gulp. It was the antidote to the Hyde potion that I had received from an alchemist. In the case of the Lady, even if she drank the antidote, it wouldn’t work because the ‘Fixing Potion’ had made her ‘female state’ her ‘normal state.’

To be precise, it was called a state-determining potion. Anyway, after drinking the antidote, I transformed from ‘Homer’ back to my original self─.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Johann. Mr. Hans.”

“Herodotus…?”

He returned to his form as Herodotus. The two people stared at him with expressions as if they had seen a ghost. Hmm. Maybe his explanation had been too insufficient?

“I am both Homer and Herodotus. So, the premise of that debate was flawed from the start.”

In truth, it was actually ‘Conan Doyle’ and ‘Chesterton’s’ novels, but…

Since it was a fact that no one else could know besides him, it was irrelevant.

“So, shall we call it a draw this time?”

He liked both of them anyway.

* * *

The two of them snapped out of it 30 minutes later.

“I never would have guessed that Homer would also be Herodotus….”

“Please keep it a secret, or it will cause quite a stir.”

“Of course! Hans, be careful not to blabber in the tavern and get Homer into trouble!”

“Huh? You be careful, Johann! Don’t go showing off at social gatherings and say things you shouldn’t!”

“You bastard?! Did you say everything you wanted to say?!”

“Think I won’t say more?!”

He wasn’t sure why they were fighting like this.

Probably because they were close. Most likely.

They shared a hobby of reading, both had talent in writing, and it was rare to find friends to discuss their tastes with.

He, too, had a few friends like that.

Sion was like that, President Kindersley was like that, and Lady Es was like that. And… hmm. There seemed to be another friend he used to discuss books with when he was young. Who was it again?

Anyway, the two of them must have been fighting because they were so close.

“Both of you, calm down. The reason I revealed my identity to you is that I would like to ask you both to write an ‘adventure story.’”

“An adventure story… you say?”

“Yes. You are both very talented writers.”

“Thank you, but… aren’t we far less skilled compared to you, Homer?”

“No.”

This wasn’t something he could do himself.

What he intended to do was… to ‘expand the worldview’ in order to develop this world’s culture from a more fundamental aspect. And that had to be done by the people of this world.

He was just a mere plagiarist. In truth, that part was more significant.

“You two are the only ones who can do it.”

Johann, who was adept at capturing fine details and the atmosphere of the background, and Hans, who had the knack for telling a compelling story centered around the protagonist.

If the two of them created an adventure story together, it would surely be an interesting work.

* * *

To ensure the smooth writing activities of the two, he promised to provide ‘the maximum support’ he could offer.

It was a kind of research support.

Under the name of Herodotus, he sought advice from the chief magician of the Gray Tower, and with the authority of the Venerable, he also allowed them to investigate the ‘forbidden’ places off-limits to anyone but priests.

But the core was the handwritten record of the testimony of Duke Kapeter.

“Is this… really a World Tree? I’m not doubting you, but this is too… ridiculously enormous. Even the chief magician of the tower said it was impossible.”

“Well, Duke Kapeter might have been lying.”

“Hmm, I also don’t quite understand this concept of a communal extreme point.”

“There’s no Nazism, they say.”

“What?”

Through various efforts, the adventure story gradually took shape.

“Homer, what should we call the title of the novel?”

“You two should decide that. It’s your novel, after all.”

“Oh, um, Hans, what do you think would be a good title?”

“Of course, it should be *The World Chronicle*.”

“That sounds like a boring title… In my opinion, you lack sense.”

“What?”

“So let’s think about it together a bit more. Hmm, how about *The Adventures of Duke Kapeter*?”

“The Duke’s family would never allow their land’s name to be used in a book title.”

“Ugh… well, that’s true.”

During the process of completing the book, the two clashed and argued several times.

But now, they were starting to compromise with each other.

After a few more exchanges, they finally decided on the title of the book.

“Homer! Here’s the completed manuscript!”

“Yes. I was thinking of publishing it with Kindersley Publishing. Is that alright with you?”

“Yes! Please take care of it!”

“Thank you, I will.”

The Adventures of the Blowhard Duke

Authors: Johannes Merchant Guild (Johann, Hans)

The Adventures of the Blowhard Duke.

Filled with unbelievable stories, the adventure book was published in the empire.

* * *

The joint work of Johann and Hans, *The Adventures of the Blowhard Duke*, didn’t initially attract much attention.

A few readers who had read their previous works during the ‘Adventure Planning Publication’ purchased the book.

“Haha, a tree that’s 30,000 kilometers tall? There’s no way such a thing could exist.”

“Johann’s previous works were quite faithful to actual history, but this one is too outrageous.”

“The title itself says ‘blowhard,’ so they must have been aiming for something like Don Quixote.”

“Maybe. Hmm, but it’s still entertaining. Since I’ve picked it up, I might as well read it today.”

However, it didn’t receive very good reviews.

At best, it was considered a derivative work of Don Quixote.

[This adventure is based on the actual experiences of ‘Duke Kapeter.’ All the regions, cultures, and species in the book are real.]

[This fact is guaranteed by ‘Homer’ and ‘Herodotus.’]

“What?”

Until it was revealed that this entire story was based on actual experiences. Of course, just because a writer claims something to be true doesn’t make it so.

Especially in adventure stories, it was common for exaggeration and tall tales to be heavily mixed in. But if this claim was guaranteed by ‘Homer’ and ‘Herodotus,’ it was a different story altogether.

“Is this… real?”

“This can’t be true!”

Doubt. Suspicion. Distrust. Denial.

Even those who didn’t want to believe it had to acknowledge it after inquiring with Kindersley Publishing.

And then…

“Build a ship! A colossal vessel that can reach the center of the world! Request assistance from the Gray Tower and the Blue Tower! No matter the cost!”

“Summon merchants and sailors skilled in long-distance voyages! We’re heading to the open seas!”

An adventure began.

An adventure towards a broader world.

“Father… what on earth have you been up to…”

And in the Kapeter estate, Anthony, the proxy for the Duke Kapeter and his son, tore at his hair as he read the book. He would rather have joined the adventure bandwagon. At least then, he’d have fewer headaches…

“Lord Proxy! These are the documents you need to review today! I’ve separated the ones that only need your signature, but just in case, please check these directly and sign them! Also, these are the documents sent from Ohenny, Proshell, Provia, Cahen, and L’Puye!”

“Can I just quit being the lord’s proxy?”

“No, you cannot!”

“Yes, ma’am…”